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Gadlinks for Wednesday, 5.26.2010

Aaron Hotfelder — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:30:00 +0000

Time once again for our daily look at the best of the rest from the world of travel. Here goes...

Our friends over at World Hum take an unscientific, Onion-esque and completely arbitrary statistical look" at travel writing.
Two views on France's proposed burqa ban: Christopher Hitchens supports the ban; Wajahat Ali opposes it. Where do you stand, Gadling faithful?
Matador's Dave Francois visits a Russian banya, or bath house, where he endures a "lashing of birch twigs from an obese Russian man." (Where do I sign up?)
Still haven't seen the "World Map of Touristiness"? Check it out here.
And if you still haven't checked out Kayak Explore (as our own Scott Carmichael recommended this morning) head on over there and take a look. It's pretty cool.

More Gadlinks here.

Gadlinks for Wednesday, 5.26.2010 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 May 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dive Potato…

Sea Moon — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:20:10 +0000

Sea Moon posted a photo:

Too broke to snorkel somewhere…

Tourists flock to erupting Iceland volcano

Jeremy Kressmann — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:30:00 +0000

Filed under: Hiking, Europe, Iceland, Ecotourism, News

A recent volcanic eruption in Iceland has proven a much-needed shot in the arm for country's tourist industry. The Fimmvorduhals Volcano in Southern Iceland began pouring molten lava late last month, Iceland's first volcanic eruption since 2004. Although the initial eruption triggered evacuations of nearby residents, the event was minor enough to allow most locals to return home. A steady stream of visitors has soon followed.

The volcano, which lies approximately 125 kilometers east of the capital Reykjavik, has proven to be quite a sight. Not only does the lava-spewing eruption make for a dramatic show, it also happens to be set among two massive glaciers. The eruption has also triggered a stream of visitor activity in the region. A hiking trail leading the volcano was reopened, another company is offering bus tours, and the nearby Hotel Ranga has seen a surge in new bookings.

You can check out a photo gallery of the volcano, in all its erupting glory, here.

Tourists flock to erupting Iceland volcano originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beijing tackles trash stench with 100 deodorant guns

Scott Carmichael — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Asia, China

Fed up with the smell from their largest trash dump, municipal authorities in Beijing are installing 100 deodorant guns aimed to reduce the stench.

The guns can spray about ten gallons of deodorizing liquid up to 175 feet away, but there is no information on what scents will be used. The Beijing landfills are overflowing beyond capacity due to public opposition of 6 incinerator facilities that had been scheduled to open as early as 2007.

Recycling programs are still very rare in the city, and even projects that do sort their trash end up combining the sorted sources once they reach the dumps.

Part of the growing trash problem is being blamed on the "Western lifestyle" adopted by many Chinese, and the move to a more "throwaway culture".

Now, can someone please develop a deodorizing gun that I can use when I'm sitting next to someone on an airplane who has no sense of smell (or hygiene)?

Beijing tackles trash stench with 100 deodorant guns originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White Collar Travel: Airline reward programs do it wrong

Tom Johansmeyer — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Business, North America, United States, Airlines

It's always amazed me that airlines reward passengers for the distances they go rather than the outlay of dough. Think back tothe mileage run made a few months ago by Gadling's esteemed top dog, Grant Martin. He sought the cheapest fare he could find to rack up the miles he needed for the next status level. The upside, of course, was another year of premier treatment, and the dollars he put out were essentially irrelevant. Meanwhile, a business traveler who spent the year dropping a few hundred bucks a week on shorter flights doesn't get the same level of recognition, despite having spent far more. The airlines take care of the wrong passengers.

A better model for rewarding customer loyalty can be found in the hotel space. It doesn't matter how many nights you spend in a hotel throughout the year - the points you pick up are based on the money you spend. Yet, frequency isn't overlooked: you can amass status levels based on how often you stay. So, as long as you're in a room, you benefit from how often you stay. When it comes to cashing in your points, you are recognized for how much you've spent.

Continue reading White Collar Travel: Airline reward programs do it wrong

White Collar Travel: Airline reward programs do it wrong originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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