#1 New York

Atlanta disputes travel magazine’s ‘dirtiest’ ranking

By Christopher Seward
Sept. 19, 2012

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sure Atlanta is big and vibrant, but it’s also dirty and unsafe, according to a national magazine’s survey of travelers.
So dirty is the city, Travel & Leisure ranks Atlanta as the fifth filthiest among 35 major metro areas, following New York (1), New Orleans (2), Baltimore (3) and Los Angeles (4).
Travel & Leisure’s 2012 America’s Favorite Cities report said Atlanta “moved up a full four spots” in the ranking of dirtiest cities from the previous year, partly because of its nightlife. The magazine said big cities that bustle with nightclubs attract plenty of young partiers who may not care much about the trash they leave behind.
“Studies have consistently found that youths and young adults are the most prone, or willing, to litter,” Steve Spacek, author of the “American State Litter Scorecard,” told the magazine. The group ranked Georgia as the seventh most littering state, tied with Illinois and Oklahoma.
A city spokeswoman took issue with the article.

State Department warns travelers away from Sudan, Tunisia

State Department warns travelers away from Sudan, Tunisia

Embassy staffing cut in Tunis and Khartoum as part of rising tide of violence.
September 17, 2012

By MATTHEW LEE
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The State Department on Saturday cut embassy staffing to minimum and issued travel warnings for Sudan and Tunisia due to security concerns over rising anti-American violence.

"Given the security situation in Tunis and Khartoum, the State Department has ordered the departure of all family members and nonemergency personnel from both posts, and issued parallel travel warnings to American citizens," said department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

Luxury Travel Misses The Point

Luxury Travel Misses The Point

09/18/2012 by Robert Schrader

This weekend, I decided to travel with my boyfriend Henrique to the island of Koh Samet. Less foreigner-infested than sex tourism hotspot Pattaya, but approximately the same distance from Bangkok, Koh Samet provides a more "real" Thailand travel experience.

Unfortunately, we succumbed to one the less-savory aspects of real Thailand travel: We got scammed. The driver of our bus abandoned us at a gas station in the middle of nowhere and, when we refused to pay the exorbitant rate the conveniently-placed taxi driver quoted us, found ourselves quickly stranded in a place where nobody spoke English.

Panda Mei Xiang Gives Birth to Cub

National Zoo’s giant panda gives birth to long-awaited cub

After five consecutive pseudopregnancies in as many years, Mei Xiang gave birth Sunday night although her cub has yet to be seen.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

The National Zoo’s female giant panda has given birth to a cub following five consecutive pseudopregnancies in as many years.
Mei Xiang gave birth Sunday at 10:46 p.m., the zoo said. The staff can hear the cub, but has yet to see it because Mei Xiang has built a large nest in her den.

India Travel Tours launches New Packages To Rajasthan And Golden Triangle

India Travel Tours launches New Packages To Rajasthan And Golden Triangle

By: Dinesh | Posted on September 17, 2012

As the festive season is fast approaching, so Delhi tour operators have already started the exercises to make their current packages more delivering and attracting. Joining the race, Delhi based India Travel Tours has also expanded its bucket of packages be it Rajasthan Tour, Golden Triangle, Wildlife Tour, Spiritual Tour or Goa Tour. As Rajasthan tours and Golden Triangle tours have always been at top in demand so special emphasis has been laid over these packages.

Ask a travel pro: What are charters?

Ask a travel pro: What are charters?
BY AMY BERTRAND
Every Monday we ask a few questions of a St. Louis travel professional. Last week, we talked about a charter to Huatulco, Mexico. We had a number of questions about this whole charter business, so this week, we talked to Joe Lang of Joe Lang Travel of Creve Coeur about charters.

What exactly is a charter?

A charter flight is a flight that a wholesaler such as Funjet has contracted with to offer seats prearranged in order to give you a nonstop flight to a specific destination, such as St. Louis to Cancun, St. Louis to Montego Bay, St. Louis to Punta Cana. Those are some of the main examples. Only a few cities in the country have this charter flight arrangement. One of the big things they do is save you time. Some of those destinations, it's hard to find a direct flight.

ROMANCE AND HONEYMOONS

ROMANCE AND HONEYMOONS

Destination Wedding Hot Spots
Take Your Wedding on the Road
by Jennifer Plum Auvil
Filed Under: Bermuda, Jamaica, Las Vegas, Orlando
Destination weddings aren't just for those lovebirds looking for a quiet elopement and an escape from the wedding mania that comes with a crowded roster of guests and to-do lists. Bring the whole wedding party with you or just a few of your nearest and dearest for a festive and painless destination wedding where you simply need to show up.

Bermuda
Bermuda attracts blushing brides with its mild weather, great beaches and lovely resorts. It's also a great option for East Coasters as quick direct flights make for limited travel time. As for location, you may opt for a classic church wedding or an outside ceremony on the beach, cliffs or a vibrant stretch of lawn outside of one of the area's tony hotels. Popular wedding spots include the Gibb's Hill Lighthouse, the beachfront park

NATIONAL PARK SAFETY TIPS

NATIONAL PARK SAFETY TIPS

2012/9/12

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CAMPSITE TRAPPED IN WILD FIRE

CAMPSITE TRAPPED IN WILD FIRE

2012/9/11

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ANDREW'S TOP 5 FOR FLORIDA

ANDREW'S TOP 5 FOR FLORIDA

2012/9/11

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Historic New York

Historic New York

by Jennifer Plum Auvil
2012/9/11

Explore the City of Immigrants

New York has evolved since its early days as the home of the Wappinger Indians and later the Dutch settlers who founded New Amsterdam in 1624. Today, it's true to its roots and remains a city of immigrants with inspiring architecture, a thriving arts scene and a starring role in the economy of the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Neighborhoods
From the refined brownstones of the Upper West Side to the tall office buildings lining the streets of the Financial District, New York is made up of a series of neighborhoods. There are countless enclaves with history, but here are some of the highlights.

Chicago Weekend Guide

Chicago Weekend Guide

A Whirlwind Tour of the Windy City
2012/9/8
by Erica Walsh
Filed Under: Chicago, Weekend

The Chicago metropolitan area, located along beautiful Lake Michigan, is also known as Chicagoland, and it's home to almost 10 million people. The city is full of breathtaking architecture and landscaped public parks. Here's a quick guide for seeing the best of the Windy City in just 48 hours.

Where to Stay
Hotel Burnham
Built by Daniel Burnham in 1895, this charming boutique hotel in the historic Reliance Building, served as a model for our nation's first skyscrapers. The hotel is an architectural treasure with a prime location near Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theater and Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The rooms feature plush beds and the mahogany writing desks echo the motif of the wood-paneled lobby. Its history is enhanced with modern design and amenities like complimentary Starbucks coffee in the lobby each morning and a wine reception each afternoon from 5 to 6 p.m.

Australian Outback Tours

Australian Outback Tours

Getting Down and Dirty Down Under
20129/8
by Erica Walsh
Filed Under: Australia, Oceania

In parts of the Australian Outback, it's possible to see the curve of the Earth's surface; at night, amidst this natural vastness, you can see more stars in the sky than almost any other place on Earth. The outback is begging to be explored, and we're showing you some of the best ways to do it.

By Bus
The most common way for travelers to experience the rugged Australian Outback is by partaking in a budget camping tour. Due to the popular demand for this type of exploration, there are a multitude of companies offering guided camping tours through the outback's popular Red Center.