I’m off to Houston today, a city that I have yet to visit, so it’s sure to be a fun trip.  I always love going somewhere that I’ve never been!

Here are some travel posts from this past week to keep you busy reading while I’m busy traveling.  Please take a read, as I hope you’ll find something to interest you, and please leave a comment and tell them that MJ sent you.

Remember your first airplane ride?

• Galley Gossip over at Gadling shares a great story of a young man’s first flight.  These are the kinds of things that Flight Attendants do all the time, but no one every hears about it.
• New York Times Travel describes some of the new bars in Singapore.
• PlanetEye Traveler – London provides a great description of the Lord Mayor’s Show and where to get in on the action.  Almost as much fun as a Presidential inauguration.
• Vagabondish has a review of a floating B&B in Martha’s Vineyard.  As a fan of unusual accommodations, this sounds a bit different, while still providing a little luxury.
• Intelligent Travel has even more quirky hotels, teasing me with their roundup.  I’m putting a yurt on the list when the weather gets a little nicer.
• Travellious blogger Kelly provokes both my sympathy and jealousy as she transit Charles de Gaulle airport en route to Italy.
• Italy MONDO, since we were just speaking of Italy, takes us on the journey from olives to olive oil.  It’s a complicated process, but how grateful I am for the end result.
• PlanetEye Traveler – Las Vegas has a review of the Smother’s Brothers show.  It’s interesting to learn how their message has (and hasn’t) changed over the years.  Hard to believe these guys were a target of the censors.
• Decanterberry Tales shares a video showing us how to open a bottle of wine without an opener.  Haven’t we all been caught without a corkscrew?  (I’d love to know if anyone has actually tried this method.)
• Gadling reminds of us why everyone gets screened at airport security checkpoints – even the seemingly unlikely.
• Heather on her Travels has a nice profile, with accompanying photos, of nightlife in Beirut.
• Grinding has a funny flow chart of the decision process for buying a new gadget.  Since I’m always on the lookout for what’s new and what I have to have, this tickled my funny bone.
• Globe & Mail Travel profiles road warriors who are making Vancouver to London (round trip) flights without booking a hotel.  The ultimate single-day business trip.
• PlanetEye Traveler – Washington DC explains curling, just in time to be a primer for the winter Olympics.  Lots of leagues available, even for beginners.
• Girl on the Go gives tip for avoiding fake jewelry scams in Santa Fe, and where to find the real stuff.

That’s it for today.  Enjoy your weekend, and be sure to check back next Sunday for more of my travel favorites.

Photo credit: Mary Jo Manzanares

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I had lots of time for travel reading this week, finding great destination suggestions, tips, and following current events in the industry.  There’s a lot of great topics and writing, and I invite you to visit these blogs and bloggers who caught my eye.  Leave them a comment, and tell them that Flyaway Cafe sent you!

iTravelnet writes about ActionAid Australia’s TOTO project.  They’re looking for an outreach blogger to write about poverty.  Deadline to apply is August 30th, so if you’re interested move quickly.

(c)Mary Jo Manzanares, 2009

My Bella Vita explains how a simple geography question about how many continents there are can fuel an international discussion.  The answer may not be as simple as you think.

The Amsterdam Guide explains proper tram etiquette.  If you’ll be traveling Amsterdam by public transportation, this is good advice to make things easier for you.

AAA Travel Views writes about the AAA Roadside iPhone app that’s now available.  I love my apps, so you can bet that I’ll be using and reviewing this one soon.

My Mélange lists her travel regrets.  We all have some, of course, but reading her list will make you more determined that ever to travel to the fullest.

The Vancouver Traveler revisits Woodstock, British Columbia-style.  Not just a US phenomena, Woodstock resonated, and continues to resonate, around the world.

Intelligent Traveler has a writer putting Jet Blue’s Flight Pass to a test.  You can follow along as Katie travels and uses the pass for a month.

Money Hacker lists 12 ways to travel for free.  They won’t work for everyone, of course, but maybe you can find one that captures your attention and give it a try.

Upgrade Travel Better writes about Hertz’s decision to start photographing rental cars in order to avoid conflict about whether there’s been additional damage.  Sounds like a good idea to me.

The South Florida Traveler helps us learn how to prepare for a hurricane.  Good info to know before your need it, rather than after, but I still hope I never have to put it to a test.

Consumer Traveler names the world’s worst hotel, and spills the beans on a few others as well.

Richard P. Carpenter’s Travel & Trivia lists information to consider when deciding when to travel where.  It takes into account weather, special events, vacation times, currency valuation, and more.

Global Nomad has great photos and accompanying commentary about the beggars who work Sudder Street in Kolkata, India.

Northwest Cheapsleeps recommends things to do and see in Long Beach, Washington, reminding me that I haven’t been there in quite awhile.

Eye Flare picks up the discussion on whether or not TripAdvisor censors reviews – especially negative ones.  Jack’s advice is solid, always read with some skepticism.

Travel Rants points out how to spot a fake travel site.  Sad, but true, travelers continue to get hoodwinked by unscrupulous vendors.  Ignore this advice at your own peril.

Enjoy the week!

Photo credit:  personal collection

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Hello fellow travelers!

I’ve gathered up some great weekend reads, so grab a cup of coffee, and settle in.  These posts are sure to make for great Sunday (or any day) reading:

Filipina Soul introduces us to the Ayala Museum which houses world-class collections based on the history of the Philippines.  Beautiful!

Notre Dame in Paris as viewed from the top of the Pantheon (c)Mary Jo Manzanares

Travel Writers News lists the best online travel resources.  I was aware of most of these, but picked up a few that I’ve now added to my list.  You’ll find this very helpful.

The Los Angeles Guide introduces to the mobile food vendors are the latest, hippest, dining experience to hit LA, grazing haven for foodies.

The Sydney Traveler tell us about the new iPhone app, FoodWatch NSW.  This Aussie app used the phone’s GPS to show which nearby restaurants have breached food safety standards, helping you avoid those dodgy spots.

iTravelNet has a great photo of Three Countries Corner in Basel, Switzerland.  This spot on the Rhine River is where Switzerland, Germany and France meet.

The London Traveler intrigued me with her post on the often overlooked Benjamin Franklin House.  I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the man who spent time at this house in London hoping to avoid a war between England and the Colonies.

Almost Fearless starts a great discussion on whether or not you should start a travel blog.  There’s plenty to ponder before you say yes, no, or maybe.

The Paris Traveler makes the list again this week with her post about vespa-ing around the city.  While I’m still a fan of the Metro, this could be quite a fun way to tool around for a day.

Gadling has me scratching my head with its post about a fold-up hotel room.  The Flexotel is a container type room that claims it can be unpacked and furnished in about 10 minutes.

The Venice Guide has a fun post about a high school where wine and students are encouraged to mix. The Venice, Italy, high school teaches students how to make wine, olive oil, and other specialty products produced from the farm.  Visitors can even buy the wine that students make.

IAG Blog takes apart the fine print of Jet Blue’s $599/one month of unlimited travel offer.  Read up on it to see if it’s a good deal for you.  Or for the ailing airline industry.

Happy reading!

Photo credit:  personal collection

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Another great week of travel reads, covering topics both serious and fun.  Take a read at these great posts, and see if you agree.

The Edinburgh Guide – Although it has been called Auld Reekie, it never meant smelly until now.

Wisebread – Good tips for finding free wi-fi at airports.  Unfortunately, some of these means are getting encrypted and/or shut down, but it’s a great starting point.  And why, oh why, can’t there just be free wi-fi at the airport?!

Concierge – From Conde Nast Traveler comes this great guide to tipping around the world.  Read it, print it out for future reference, and understand how tipping appropriately maintains the culture of where you’re traveling.  It’s really not about throwing your money around to feel important!

The London Traveler – The Cult of Mithras, the patron god of the Roman Empire Army, is depicted in statues around the city.  Andrea puts it all together and explains why it’s important to the history of the area.

Wanderlust and Lipstick – What’s worth the money and what’s not.  Mostly not.  A good read on how to avoid the airline fees that plague us all.

Intelligent Travel – A review of S’Mac, in New York City, where the specialty is macaroni and cheese.  Ooooh, oooooh, I love my mac and cheese, and this lower east side restaurant serves their versions of it right in the skillet.  My mouth is watering even typing about it!

Tripso – A great discussion of how social media can help make your vacation better.  Twitter anyone?

Stood There – I love this fun site where there are lists and list of attractions and locations where you must have your photo taken.  Divided up by geography, these lists are a lot of fun.  How many can you check off?

Traveling the Green Way = Travel is certainly not the most green of activities, but seeing the world and learning about other cultures is important.  Jennifer lists a variety of ways to help minimize our traveling impact, giving us good food for thought.

Photo credit: SXC

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When looking for travel information you’ll want to take advantage of all the FREE resources that are available.  A good starting point is the tourism office of the country, state, or city that you’re planning to visit.

The tourism office will be full of information about places to stay, cultural events, special packages, maps, restaurants, history, and odds and ends of local color.  If you’re researching an international destination, you’ll find information about visa requirements, language, and currency information.

Tourism offices offer tons of information on their website, and most will be happy to mail you out information as well.  Keep in mind, though, that the job of the tourism office is to “sell” themselves to potential travelers.  While information will be accurate, it will be “spun” in a positive light and will not necessarily be unbiased.

Many sites offer newsletters, so you can sign up for regular delivery of news, current events, and lots of happenings going on in your vacation location.

You can locate a tourism office by looking up your destination in the Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory.  The directory list countries and states, and you can then narrow down your search to larger cities as needed.

Photo credit: SXC

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