Tourism and Beyond

Smarter Travel

This post was intended to speak about navigation on your own city, but when we are travelling all those apps are quite more important than for your home-job-beer-home trip.

There’s no question that social media has brought us a lot closer by allowing anyone to communicate in virtual settings with people all over the world. But social media tools are also helping us to hack the way we interact with the real world. From figuring out the best route to get from point A to point B to helping people avoid speeding tickets, from simplifying public transportation to arranging carpools, social media tools are making it easier for people to get around the places they live.

We’ve collected a list of ten great social media tools to help you better navigate your city and connect with your neighbors. If you know of any others, please mention them in the comments.

1. Google Maps

Google Maps is the crème de la crème of online mapping applications, with satellite and terrain maps, embedded Wikipedia information, local business info, and turn-by-turn directions for car, walking, and public transit. Google doesn’t set the gold standard for mapping by being the prettiest mapping application (Microsoft’s mapping app is arguably easier on the eyes), but rather because of the pace at which the company innovates.

Their “Street View” technology, for example, offers impressive and highly useful 360 degree panoramic street-level photographs for an unmatched and growing number of cities around the world. And their live and predictive traffic maps can show users traffic congestion now or in the future (based on historical data) for at least 30 different cities. These types of innovative features are why Google Maps is one of the best tools any city navigator can have in his or her arsenal.

2. Waze

Like Google’s traffic maps, Waze collects real-time information from users using their mobile phone applications. If you’re stuck in traffic, the Waze app will send data about where you are and how fast you’re going to others in your area so they can reroute to a road with less traffic congestion. Where Waze one-ups Google is in the ability for people to report on the causes of traffic (such as an accident, downed tree, or construction) or to report speed traps.

If you’re just interested in avoiding speed traps, check out Trapster, a crowdsourced speed trap sharing system that alerts you to speed traps and red light cameras.

3. Wayfaring

Wayfaring is a great Google Maps mashup that helps users to easily create their own information maps. Whether mapping the route of your morning jog, keeping track of where you went on your road trip, or mapping out the best places for pizza in Chicago, Wayfaring lets users share their experiences with one another. It’s a great way to connect with other local travelers or find cool places or routes when in a new city.

4. Walk Score

Because not all transportation is done on wheels, Walk Score will tell you the most walkable places to live. What makes an area walkable? Public spaces, nearby amenities, a pedestrian centric design (with parking lots behind businesses and storefronts close to the sidewalk), slow traffic, count-down crosswalk timers, and accessibility features (like wheelchair ramps), among other things.

Enter your address into Walk Score to see how walkable your neighborhood is, and get details on nearby restaurants, grocery stores, libraries, public parks, schools, and other amenities. Any score above 80 means you live in an area where a car isn’t necessary to get by.

5. MapMyRide

For those of you who get around on two wheels, MapMyRide is for you. The site lets you plot your bike riding routes using Google Maps, and view other routes that fellow bikers have entered. You can view routes on a regular map, or add in elevation data to see how much uphill and downhill riding you’ll have to contend with. Where available, you can also preview what that route will look like at bike level by using Google’s Street View.

MapMyRide also offers a calculator to estimate how many calories your bike ride will burn, and premium memberships with workout tracking and printable maps. Also check out Bikely, a similar site where riders share their biking routes.

6. HopStop

Of course, sometimes the weather makes riding your bike or walking a less than desirable prospect — public transportation to the rescue! HopStop makes riding the subway or the bus in New York, New Jersey, Long Island, Boston Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, Philadelphia, London, and Paris a breeze. Unless you’re very familiar with a public transportation system, getting around in a new city can be tough. HopStop takes out the guesswork by telling you which trains and buses to take and how to get from station to station.
I use it to map out subway routes whenever I am traveling in a city where I don’t know the system very well. Also check out Google Transit, which gives transportation directions for more than 425 cities around the world.

7. Zimride

If you do plan to take a car, why not share a ride with someone else? Carpooling is better for the environment, it saves money, and it can save time if it makes you eligible for a high speed HOV lane during your commute. Zimride connects carpoolers together for one-time rides, regular commutes, and cab shares in the US and Canada. Because of Zimride’s clever integration with Facebook Connect, you can query your Facebook friends or your work or school network for rides to help ensure that you’re not getting into the car with an axe murderer (and increase the likelihood of finding someone in your area heading in the same direction as you). Also check out Avego.

8. RideCharge

If you neither own a car nor want to get into one with a complete stranger, then RideCharge might be for you. RideCharge lets you book taxis in 27 metro areas via your mobile device so that you never need to be caught out in the rain trying to hail a cab. The site is especially helpful for corporate travelers or those who need to be in a specific place at a specific time. If you pre-book your taxi, sedan, or shuttle, you can be sure you’ll get to your appointment on time.

9. GasBuddy

For those who need to travel by car, GasBuddy is a must-visit site. Relying on crowd submitted information, GasBuddy delivers up-to-date gas prices for cities across the US and Canada, so that you can always find the lowest gas prices in your area. Once you locate the cheapest gas station, use GasEdge to calculate if the extra driving for an out-of-the-way bargain will actually be worth it, or if going to your regular, but more expensive, station will actually save you money in the end.

10. FuelFrog

FuelFrog lets you log mileage between fill ups, how much gas cost, and how many gallons or liters you added to your tank simply by tweeting your daily fuel data. The site then creates handy graphs that can be helpful in charting your fuel usage, identifying trends in your local gas prices, and learning how your car uses fuel (which could help alert you to issues like the need for a tune-up or that your tires are low on air). The information could also help you adjust your transportation habits so that you burn less fuel and save money.

Also check out MyMileMarker, which lets you enter fuel data via its web site, right from the pump through a special mobile site, or on Twitter.

VIA: Smarter Planet

Gadgets, Tech, Travel media, smart, social, Travel

Before leaving for vacation you must check the security of your home, but you have to be alert during the weeks prior to your travel. Check with neighbours and let them know that you won’t be at home so they can notice if there are noises inside your house, tell them   to pick your correspondence…

This are 21 useful hints a burglar won’t tell you:

Safe travel

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

What a burglar won't tell you

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. 

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway. 

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy. 

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom—and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too. 

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door—understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather. 

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet. 

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms. 

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me. 

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.

14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors. 

16. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

17. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

18. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

21. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

VIA: Reader’s Digest

Travel burglar, family travel, safety, security, Travel

Biocase with fingerprint lock

Perhaps you’ve got plans for a trip abroad that include a ’seedy’ location with the potential for criminal threat lurking at every corner.  Sure, locking your luggage would be a great solution, but generally speaking fumbling for a key to access its contents is, well, just not cool or practical.  There to excel you into tech wowness is Heys USA, Inc., who will launch a 19-inch and 20-inch suitcase with built-in fingerprint reader.  The Biocase consists of a ‘indestructible’ hard shell and can be accessed by up to 8 stored fingerprints.  If your travels are longer than 90 days then you’ll want to tote along the included USB charger.

Full release below

Miami – March 1, 2009 – Heys USA, Inc., the inventor of the “The World’s Lightest Carry-on Luggage” and leader in innovative, hard side luggage, announces the BioCase, a line of both a 19” business case and a 20” carry-on luggage piece which both requires the owner’s fingerprint for accessibility when locked. Retailer availability will begin in April 2009.

The BioCase features exclusive biometric (fingerprint) technology that unlocks when memorized fingerprints access the case. The cases are nearly indestructible with their hard side design, adding even more security and protection during your travels.  The 19” business case converts to an overnighter, removing the need for two luggage items.  The 20” carry-on fits easily into airline overhead compartments.  Each case will “memorize” up to eight fingerprints with a memory that remains charged for 90 days.  Each case can be fully charged using a power adapter or USB plug. Both cases are lightweight and created with ease of transport in mind with ergonomic, non-slip TRP comfort grips.  Each comes with a full lined interior and is made with the highest quality materials.

“Heys has established a standard of excellence by providing function, quality, and durability without compromising style, “ commented Heys USA President and CEO, Harry Sheikh. “And now it is time for us to leverage technology to rewrite the rules of luggage.  It is what our customers have come to expect from Heys USA.”

VIA

Gadgets, Tech, Travel biocase, case, fingerprint, Travel

A new airline for pets is taking off with weekly flights to five airports across the country. Beginning July 14, Pet Airways is flying pets to and from Baltimore/Washington International; Midway in Chicago; Rocky Mountain Airport in Broomfield, Colo., near Denver; Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles; and Republic Airport on Long Island serving the New York City metro area.

The airline allows cats and dogs to travel in carriers in the main cabin of the plane, rather than the cargo hold. While some airlines allow small animals to fly in the cabin as long as their carriers fit under the seats, Pet Airways has no limit on size.

Travel with pets

The carrier will not transport human passengers other than crew and attendants to care for the animals during flights. Pet owners will have to fly separately.

One-way fares start at $149. Many of the flights on the airline’s limited initial itinerary are already booked full with a waiting list depending on the animal’s size.

To prevent pets from getting sick, there won’t be any beverage or snack service.

FROM: The Huffington Post

Airlines, Travel family travel, pets, Travel

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday called for tighter regulation of Antarctic tourism as delegates from 47 countries began a review conference of the now 50-year-old Antarctic Treaty.

Antarctic tourism, principally on cruise ships, has increased nearly ten-fold in the past 15 years and there is broad concern about tourism-related oil spills and damage to the delicate habitat of Antarctic penguins and other wildlife.

Giving the keynote address to a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, which preserved that land and ice shelves of the southern polar region for peaceful purposes, Secretary Clinton said strengthened environmental regulation is especially important as Antarctic tourism grows.

Ancartic tourism

“The United States is concerned about the safety of the tourists and the suitability of the ships that make the journey south. We have submitted a resolution that would place limits on landings from ships that carry large numbers of tourists,” she said. “We have also proposed new requirements for life boats on tourist ships to make sure they can keep passengers alive until rescue comes. And we urge greater international cooperation to prevent discharges from these ships that will further degrade the environment around Antarctica,” she noted.

Antarctic Sunset

Luxury, Travel, real ecology antarctic, clinton, regulated, tourism, Travel

In a recent survey by Expedia, European hoteliers called Britons the rudest tourists. The Japanese were called most polite (Domo arigato).

Maybe if we follow certain simple rules of behaviour while away? Let’s start with these:

- Airports and planes: In an airport lounge, take one seat, not one for you, one for your bag, and one for your lunch. Once on the plane, don’t grab the seat of the person in front of you when you get up. Recline your seat slowly so as not to put the lunch of the passenger behind you in her lap. Use your cellphone at a minimum and speak quietly.

In a survey by TripAdvisor, 78 per cent of respondents thought cellphones should be banned from airplanes. Seriously! You’re in a confined space. Try to keep your private conversation private.

- Queue busters: Apparently, people regularly try to jump queues at Disney World. What’s up with that? How un-Mickey like. Those Rudey Rudelers need to remember everyone else is on vacation, too. If you see a lineup, line up.

- Hotel manners: Like this hotel? Wanna come back? They’ll remember you if you’re rude to staff and will know if you steal towels. Tip your maid daily. She is not making a lot in wages and she is required to clean rooms on schedule so try not to leave it an abysmal mess. She should have room to manoeuvre so keep your items out of the way. And don’t leave a lot of belongings on the bed since this will slow her down when she has to strip the sheets.

You should also tidy up at the end of your stay. I can hear the groans already, but just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean your manners have to take one, too.

Travel family travel, manners, Travel

The top #1 tennis player, Rafael Nadal, is the protagonist of one video promotion of the Balearics

Rafael Nadal was born in Manacor, Majorca to Sebastián Nadal and Ana María Parera.

Rafa Nadal is the new face for promoting the Tourism in Majorca since a couple of months, and he is trying to install a National Center of High Performance Sports in Mallorca.

Celebrities, Sports balearic Islands, ibiza formentera, mallorca, menorca, rafa nadal, rafael nadal, Travel

Entrance of the Forn de Sant Joan

Last week I went to the restaurant “Forn de Sant Joan” with my wife. We had a lovely dinner chatting with his owner Carlos and his sommelier.

Is a family restaurant located in “La Lonja”, Palma’s old quarter. An emblematic place where you will be able to enjoy authentic Mediterranean cooking in a unique spot, situated in a building dated from 1890. It was originally a bakery where, decades earlier, neighbours bought their daily bread.

The food is exceptional, mixing the typical “tapas” with their own receipts, fresh fish that is bought at 200 meters direcly from the “lonja” (place where fishermen download after their work) or meat like beef, duck, kangaroo…

After the dinner we drank a couple of gins in the bar of the restaurant, but If you ever visit La Lonja I recommend you to make a reservation in “Jazz Café”, a live Jazz bar located at 15 meters from “Forn de Sant Joan”.

You can call for advance reservations at +34 971 728 422, which is highly recommended. If you show up between 9 and 11 without a reservation you can expect to wait at least 15 to 20 minutes for a table. If you don’t have a reservation and there is a wait, you can always put your name down and spend a good 20 to 30 minutes at few bars around.

Middle-high price range: starter, main dish, dessert, wine (25 €) and water was 60€ per pax.

Reservations
Telephone: (+34) 971 72 84 22
Mobile: (+34) 607 27 53 12

Mail:
forn@forndesantjoan.net

Address
San Juan, 4
07012
Palma Mallorca
Spain

Food and drinks, Palma de Mallorca, Restaurants, majorca Food and drinks, forn de sant joan, la lonja, lonja, restaurant, restaurants in Palma de Mallorca, Travel

It is undeniable: winter has arrived here in Europe. Piles of snow line the roads, white roofs and snowmen call for your attention. I can’t help but start thinking about skiing and snowboarding.

A very easy and visual way of checking the latest snowfalls in ski resorts in the Alp regions of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland is the new “Ski resorts in the Alps” layer in Google Earth. You can find it in the Gallery folder of the layers panel under “Travel and Tourism”.

All information on the ski resorts are provided by bergfex who aggregates the data from the ski resorts to make sure that you get the latest data in this layer. The icons represent the average snow depth of that area; the whiter the icon, the more snow you can expect. Check back often, as these snow depth readings are updated four times a day.

Every balloons displays useful information such as the fresh snow depth from within the last 24 hours (on the mountain and also in the valley), the altitude of the skiing area, the length of the slopes, useful phone numbers, and much more!

Now use Google Earth to get the latest info and then get outside to enjoy the snow, the real stuff, on-site!

SOURCE: GOOGLE LAT-LONG

Travel conditions, family travel, google earth, ski, ski travel, snow, Travel