Air traffic may be a little less congested this Thanksgiving holiday period as the FAA, in cooperation with the Defense Department, said it will allow commercial flights in otherwise restricted military airspace beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, November 23, a day earlier than last year.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced this morning that the Defense Department will open airspace over such highly congested areas as the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Southwest. Normal inland routes can continue to be used, according to the FAA.
The busiest Thanksgiving travel days are expected to be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Normal airspace restrictions will go back into effect at 6 a.m. Monday, November 29.
The announcement comes on the heels of new security procedures at the nation's airports. Passengers are routinely being required to pass through a controversial backscatter full body scanner or to undergo a thorough, some say invasive, pat down by a TSA agent. Whether the FAA's plan to ease air congestion this holiday period is enough to ease any passenger anxiety over the enhanced security methods is still up in the air.
Smart Traveler Mark Orwoll is the International Editor of Travel + Leisure.
St. John's Galley Bay has its trump cards (private plunge pools; a brand-new spa; meandering lagoons) but our hearts are set on the big city—the sights, the sounds, the hustle and bustle. Thankfully, Vacationist gets it right this week, with impressive hotel deals in the Caribbean and New York, Charleston, and sunny Palm Springs. The city sales go live tomorrow, so shine your shoes and back your bags, and sit tight until logging on at noon EST. Then the all of these getaways are yours to enjoy, for less!
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here to join.
It's even better than reading The Onion. The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has just released its latest list of cultural practices worth preserving. While some of them are obvious choices (French gastronomy, flamenco), others are certain to leave you baffled—and perhaps even asking, "Do we really want to preserve some of these things?!" Once you read the list, you'll be left wondering why they forgot to add goldfish swallowing, 1K charity walks, and the Macarena.
Here are some doozies from the 2010 list, along with our 10-point Intangible Rating Scale (IRS) score and commentary:
How would you like a tough-love security pat-down so thorough it would shame the most inveterate serial groper in the Tokyo subway system? No? Then how about a full-body backscatter X-ray that amounts to a virtual strip search (or as Stephen Colbert said, "that X-rays your X-rated parts")? If you're troubled by either option, voice your opinion in the new Your Travel Voice survey, sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association.
With so much hotel booking conducted online, it makes sense that chains—and even individual properties—would jump on the Cyber Monday bandwagon. This year, it seems, there are more than ever. Some notable sales scheduled for Nov. 29 (aka, the Monday after Thanksgiving):
- Following up on their successful 2009 Cyber Monday sale, Starwood Hotels & Resorts is once again appealing to online bookers. As part of their "One Day Wonders" promo, the luxury chain is offering deep discounts at several dozen properties around the world. For example: ocean-front rooms at the Westin Diplomat in Ft. Lauderdale from $179 (regularly $309) and deluxe rooms at the St. Regis Aspen from $399 (normally $749). For the complete list, visit their Cyber Monday specials page; or, text "MONDAY" to 95495 to be reminded when the sale starts.
A: The chefs make—and break—the rules of Test Kitchen.
At the experimental eatery on the southern edge of Beverly Hills, where a rotating cast of L.A.’s finest previews new menus and tries out specialty dishes, nothing stays the same except the location.
Fresh from the Carnival Splendor mess, the cruise industry is facing yet another public relations problem after armed robbers accosted a busload of Celebrity passengers in St. Kitts. The cruise company was quick to respond. AOL Travel explains:
A spokesman for Carnival Cruise Lines tells AOL Travel News a call at St. Kitts by the Carnival Miracle, scheduled for today, has been canceled "as a precautionary measure," while the line awaits information from tourism and law enforcement officials on the island...
The attack by the masked gunmen occurred over the weekend as passengers from the Celebrity Mercury were visiting Brimstone Hill Fortress, a popular tourist spot on bus tours of the island.
The masked robbers reportedly blocked the road with a fallen tree and then emerged from the bushes to rob those on the bus. The armed gunmen then disappeared into the woods.
No one was injured in the incident. The robbers made off with valuables including cash, jewelry and cameras. Local police are investigating.
The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the
slowest times of the year for travel, hence a great time to find bargains.JetBlue just announced a little more
incentive to forego holiday preparation and the end-of-year work scramble.A one-day sale of airfares (for travel
between November 29 and December 18) was announced this morning with fares that
start at $39 each way.
Besides flying to big cities (where you could take advantage of holiday
shopping and the height of the arts season), JetBlue can also deliver you to beachy
destinations in Puerto Rico, Cancun, Florida, Aruba, Barbados, and St.
Maarten.
For more information or to book, visit JetBlue.For other between-holiday travel bargains, we have 276 more come-hither options on our Deals page.
Ann Shields in an online senior editor at Travel + Leisure.
For many of us, daylight savings means shorter days and colder weather (brrr!). But you don't have to worry about frigid temperatures in Arizona, California, and the Caribbean, where pools and beaches beckon thanks to Vacationist—all for up to 40% off. At California's Miramonte Resort and Spa in Coachella Valley, red-tiled roofs and Moorish details will transport you to the Mediterranean. Or take it up a notch, and live like a King at L Mansion, Marrakesh. For these trips and more, read on or click here. Shouldn't you be planning your next getaway?
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here to join.
Once again, the competition was fierce at T+L's monthly photo contest. Nearly 2,000 "Funny Sign" photos were narrowed down to 10 finalists by a panel of T+L editors; the online community then voted for their favorites. The winner, "It's a Sign" (shown above), was submitted by T+L community member Harris Qureshi. To reward his sharp eye (and dry sense of humor), Harris will receive a set of Tumi luggage.
