Info on the go for travelers without smart phones

Here is how my in-laws use the Internet to get a hotel room when they’re traveling the 650 miles between their home in Canada and their cabin in Idaho: They call us from the road, and we book the room online for them. The in-laws are comfortable with the Internet. But to them, a portable [...]

Trains, buses steal gold for Vancouver

Vancouver’s driverless trains have been steady winners at the Winter Olympics during which passengers have poured on to a transit system that has stretched way beyond expected capacity but not snapped. Vancouver’s Translink local transit system says usage has averaged 1.6 million people a day over the Games so far, more than twice the normal [...]

In praise of wild rivers and first descents

It was in the winter of 1971 when I came across a tattered copy of Argosy Magazine, a quasi-men’s magazine that featured a report on a 1968 expedition down the Blue Nile by a British Army team. The article told of super-financing and over-the-top publicity, of an expedition that compared in pomp and stature to [...]

6 essential computer accessories for travel

Taking your laptop on your next trip? Don’t forget the extras! We’re not just talking about the power cord, especially if you’re headed overseas — computer accessories you may need to pack include converters, adapters, wireless Internet cards, Ethernet cables, surge protectors and, of course, a sturdy carrying case. This list may seem overwhelming, but [...]

Advanced social networking for travelers

Got a travel problem? Just tweet about your troubles, and the airline, car rental company or hotel will fix it. At least that’s the conventional wisdom. And while it’s true that travel companies are spending a lot of time online listening to their customers, they’re not necessarily paying attention to all of us. “Travel companies [...]

iPhones keep ski resorts honest on snowfall

Ever hit the slopes only to find 4 inches of fresh snow instead of the 8 inches you were promised? That may be because ski areas have exaggerated their snowfalls on weekends to entice skiers, according to a study by two Dartmouth College professors. That depth deception may fall by the wayside, however, as skiers [...]

Cypress Gardens park in Florida to become Legoland

Legoland will open a new park in Florida in 2011 on the site of the old Cypress Gardens attraction, which closed last fall. Merlin Entertainments, the owner and operator of Legoland, said Legoland Florida would include resort facilities with accommodations, along with more than 50 rides, shows and other attractions, including Lego models and interactive [...]