Tagged With "More strikes planned for London's Tube."
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Re: "New American" May Get Old Look: Employees to pick design
At this point, ironically, "change" would mean cancelling the plan to use the new logo!
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Re: "New American" May Get Old Look: Employees to pick design
Originally Posted by PHeymont: "... "change" would mean cancelling the plan to use the new logo!" I give them points for even considering the reverse publically. If it ain't broke, etc.
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Re: Not Again!? British Air Tax Increase confirmed
Tourism isn't hurting from the Tax increases. Passengers through Heathrow have increased steadily: 2011 - 69 Million 2012 - 70 Million All 5 London airports have reached a joint record of 133 Million passengers in 2012 ! So our Government will continue to squeeze the Golden Goose !
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Re: Not Again!? British Air Tax Increase confirmed
It's always hard to prove a negative, and I'm glad that there is growth in passenger traffic through the London airports, but I suspect these numbers would be a lot higher if it weren't for the tax. Can't prove that, though, but it makes sense that they would be. The golden goose will be squeezed until it's dead and then -- surprise, no more golden eggs.
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Re: Where is the 6th largest French City ?
There are many reasons. London has been an escape from France since the 1700s. Another reason for the current wave is : "Others are escaping from things in France such as family problems, educational problems and areas like Department 93, because people who live in that part of Paris sometimes have trouble finding a job."
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Re: Love Italian Style: 2 for 1 rail tix for "San Valentino"
In case you find yourself in London on the 14th, Londonist has listed their favorite variations on the theme of celebration, as ranked on their " Sopometer ", or it's full name, 'Londonist Sopometer Of Dewey Eyed Love-Gush'. For you alternative souls.
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Re: Strasbourg & Route Du Vin
DrFumblefinger— A few days could be enough in Strasbourg itself, but if you want to tour the vineyards, I'd stay a week in the area. You could stay two nights in Strasbourg and then a night or two in Riquewihr and beyond. And I'd suggest renting a car to go at your own pace. For my next trip, I will plan at least full week in the region because I want to stop at the vineyards and visit more of the museums. And don't forget Chateau Haut Koenigsburg.
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Re: Would You Walk to Mexico to Save 100s on Airfare?
The plan is to charge about $13 for use of the bridge (about the cost of a taxi from the other crossings to the airport...didn't say what the parking was, although I assume you could also be dropped off at the lot without a car. The article cited a family of 4 that was saving $250 each on the cost of tickets, which makes the savings sizable. If they end up setting the rate too high, of course, they'll end up with what they have now: an empty lot.
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Re: The Dempster Highway: a Drive to the Arctic Coast of Canada
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: It sounds like a great adventure! Thanks for sharing it with us. This road trip has been on my bucket list for some time, but sounds like it's worth delaying until the road to Tuk is completed. I've heard fall is a nice time to go. Not only is the tundra vividly colored, but there are no mosquitos (frozen to death by evening frost). Know any downsides to this, Tom? Yes, I would wait until the road is finished. I had to fly from Inuvik to Tuk and return by...
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Re: Tuktoyaktuk: A village on the Arctic Coast of Canada
Hi Tom. I live in the UK. We're not lovers of cold weather, but we did have a night 10 months ago when it fell below freezing for a few hours. Some say "Global Warming" but I say the Jet Stream got stuck in its usual "Summer" position and Caribbean winds kept us warm. We don't have a mosquito problem here ( 200 miles north of London) but I'm curious to know. Are there any noticeable changes to your weather ? Longer summers or wetter winters ? I remember studying the shifting Polar Ice Caps...
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Re: Tuktoyaktuk: A village on the Arctic Coast of Canada
I don't know much about global warming. I suspect that pollution contributes to it, but these things also happen on their own as we know from ice ages and warming periods in the past. I have noticed long periods of warm weather but then it gets cold again. I have read that the Arctic ice is melting but this coming winter is predicted to be very cold here in Canada. Although I have travelled in the Arctic, I have not spent enough time there to observe any climate changes. There are scientists...
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Re: Vineyards, Burgundy, France
This isn't the walking part, DrF, this is the drinking part. I do plan to tell the story of the walk along the Burgundy Canal soon but the answer to your question about gear is, neither. When I walk I carry a day pack, period. I leave my bigger bag at a hotel, in Burgundy it was in Dijon, and just have essentials with me, a change and toiletries, any guides and maps I may want and little else, about 10 lbs. altogether including rain gear. The less stuff, I've found over the years, the better...
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Re: Yosemite National Park: A walk among Giants. Hiking in the Mariposa Grove
Thanks for all your comments. Followup: DrY. Yes, you and your family should see this sometime. You would love it! We need to plan out a trip to California for you that includes its best parks and some city sites. PHeymont. Yes, you must DO Yosemite. I recommend mid to late May as the best time to go as the waterfalls are brimming with meltwater. I like hikes of all types and can still do "moderate" hikes, though no longer take on "challenging" ones. But the Mariposa grove is doable by...
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Re: Finding Reiner #3: Inside Old Shadows
This makes a fascinating read, well done! My father-in-law Hans Esser was from Cologne (had sung as part of the choir in Cologne cathedral) and served on submarines (unwillingly) during the 2nd W.W. war. Their sub was attacked several times and finally they were forced to surrender. He was taken prisoner and interned in England. The prisoners then helped on the local farms which was where he met his future wife Vera. They married just after the end of the war and had the difficult privilege...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#48)
I think that it is Europe, but not London or Paris.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#48)
JonathanL is right—it is Europe, and not London or Paris. I've seen lots of European skaters with no helmet (bikers, too, for that matter) so don't draw too many conclusions from that. Concentrate on the details of the scene...that's all you get for now!
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Re: If you're happy and you know it...press here, please!
It certainly has seemed to me that Heathrow doesn't care (it's probably true for JFK, too, but I'm not a stranger there). In fact, I go out of my way to avoid Heathrow. Between the airport experience itself (especially with a T3-T5 transfer) and BA's high surcharges, I've taken to trying to make all my transfers through Madrid or Barcelona. In fact, on my trip this month, I save a good bit by taking American on award tickets to Barcelona and paying my way on Vueling to Marseille. I could...
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Re: Banff National Park: Hiking in the Subalpine Splendor of Sunshine Meadows
Those photographs are wonderful, they're really giving me the itch to be there in person again. My visit to Banff and Lake Louise many years ago is one of my fondest travel memories. Imo, Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful, majestic and peaceful places to spend time. Recently, I've been considering going back, but I'm not one for cold weather. So it's gone on my list for next summer and I'm really looking forward to it. The last time I went, we drove from Seattle, and the drive through...
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Re: London Hits Visitor Record, Manchester Wants More
I'm not sure if all of their reasons to why tourism is up in Manchester are right, but at least some of them are. I think the main reasons tourism's up is that people are discovering how nice a destination it is and how inexpensive the city can be compared to London. And they tell their friends. Visit Manchester has really done a great job promoting the city and it's paying off. Here's a trip report from Gumbo! https://www.travelgumbo.com/blo...ty-will-surprise-you
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #32: Solved!
Might that be the old decommissioned World War II naval mine, probably located at 108 Old Brompton Rd, London SW7 3RA ...??
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Re: Hoi An, Vietnam, on Lunar New Year
Amazing photos, Mac! (as always, I should add!!) I'm curious -- did you plan your visit to coincide with the Lunar New Year, or were you just lucky to stumble across this during your stay?
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Re: Eurostar: New Amenities, New Routes
Thanks for this. You gave me the idea to book the Eurostar for our train travel from Cologne, Germany via Brussels, to London.
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Re: Stockholm's Skansen Museum Park: Where Gumbo Was #27
I'd never heard of this museum, PHeymont, and find it all fascinating. Another reason to visit Stockholm! But I did guess the building was a cache (name used in Canada for structures like these people use to store meat in the winter without any access except a ladder). Not claiming victory as I had no idea where it was, but you want a building without windows, large doors (although you need a way in, be it from the bottom or side) or an ability to chew threw on ground level to protect your...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 22, 2014: Orvieto
I was fascinated enough by this brief taste to do a little more reading—and found that Orvieto not only has a funicular, it has an underground. No, not like London, but an extensive system of tunnels cut through the soft rock. Some may have been used for mining or for supplies, but it appears that most of them were created to allow escape from sieges!
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Re: The beautiful and charming town, Gjirokastra
Originally Posted by My Thatched Hut: Great article. Thank you. Would like to go. Thank you. It is a great destination, combining history, beautiful surroundings, friendly people and tasty food. Feel free to read my other post from Albania on www.travellinn.net to plan a full round trip.
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Re: Lufthansa flights cancelled by pilot strike
Believe these pilots strikes have been a recurring (if minor -- unless your flight is canceled) problem for Lufthansa.
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Re: All the Tea In...Charleston?
While I'm on the subject, here are the places Fodor's regards as the best 10 places in the world for afternoon tea: http://www.fodors.com/news/pho...ts-for-afternoon-tea I wonder if those who chose them have actually been in all 10? I've been in 5 of the 10, although had tea in just 3 of them (Penang, Orangery London, Victoria BC). To their list I'd add the Peninsula HKG and the Strand in Rangoon.
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Travel Bucket List Goals Biggest Motivator for Baby Boomer Travel
According to the 2015 AARP Top Trends for 50+ Travelers survey ,the biggest motivator for International travel for baby boomers 50+ will be marking off their travel bucket list goals. Some interesting results in this survey also...
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What if the exit row weren't a row?
That's the kind of question that comes to mind at first glance at an idea Airbus has asked a patent for...a circular seating arrangement, in tiers. OK, that's a little hard to grasp, so here's a drawing submitted with the patent application. ...
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Qatar to get world's first A350 next month
Qatar Airways will be taking delivery in mid-December as the "launch customer" for Airbus's newest plan, the A350, designed to be a rival for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Like the 787, its fuselage is largely made of carbon-composite fibers and is aimed...
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Lufthansa flights cancelled by pilot strike
Lufthansa has cancelled about 1350 flights, due to a pilot strike. The strike is hitting medium and short haul flights today (Monday, 12/1) and long-haul flights on Tuesday. About 150,000 passengers are affected. The main strike issue is...
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A Remote Canadian Village offers Indescribable Natural Discoveries
As I left the hotel in Winnipeg I was outfitted in all my brand new cold-weather gear headed for the airport and a two hour flight to the remote village of Churchill. I prayed my preparation for facing the sub-zero temperatures and brutal...
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Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower is an igneous intrusion or laccolith in the Bear Lodge Mountains (part of the Black Hills) in northeastern Wyoming, above the Belle Fourche River. It rises dramatically 1,267 feet (386 m) above the surrounding terrain and...
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New Eurostar Service, London - Provence
Eurostar is expanding its service and, beginning May 1, 2015, offering direct trains to Lyon and the South of France, Avignon and Marseille, from London. It's a particular benefit to those not stopping in Paris (although I can't imagine not...
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Lonely Planet's Best Bang for Your Buck in 2015
While some of the destinations they include will be no surprise to the well-traveled group here on Travel Gumbo, I was interested in some of the places mentioned. Samoa, for instance, I wouldn't have expected, or South Africa. And I'd...
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Gulf rivals show off new fleets
It's sort of Fleet Week in the air this week...Qatar Airways took possession of the first Airbus A350 delivered to anyone and plans to put it in service Jan 15 on a Doha-Frankfurt route, followed by Doha-NY as more planes are delivered. MORE...
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Italian Competition Authority fines TripAdvisor €500,000
The London Telegraph reported that the Italian Competition Authority fined travel website TripAdvisor€500,000 for publishing misleading information in its reviews. TripAdvisor, said it disagreed with the antitrust decision and would appeal it....
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Montreal: Je Me Souviens
There are many great cities to visit in Canada, two of my favorites (for different reasons) being Vancouver and Montreal. Vancouver has one of the most breath-takingly beautiful settings of any city in the world, and I’ll be discussing it...
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Quebec — A Walled European Fortress In America
Quebec, like New York, is both a city and a state (or rather, a province). It’s an island of French heritage and culture within our Anglo-North American continent. We combined this visit with stops in Montreal and...
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Verona: More than Romeo & Juliet
Verona from the hills, looking toward St. Anastasia and the Ponte Pietra My visit to Verona last summer was almost an accident—but a lucky one. It wasn’t on the original plan for our three weeks in Northern Italy, but online...
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A springtime hike on the Yakima Rim Skyline Trail
After a rather long winter I was ready for a pleasant dayhike. While I’d rather head up to the mountains for a stroll in an alpine meadow, there’s way too much snow up there in April. Fortunately in the Northwest there are some...
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Washington State’s Long Beach Peninsula
For most travelers, the southwestern corner of Washington state is easy to bypass. It lies well over an hour’s drive from the busy I-5 Interstate Freeway. The broad mouth of the Columbia River limits access from the Oregon...
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Wow! Iceland Express successor adds U.S. flights
The headline's not a pun; Wow Air is the company that bought budget carrier Iceland Express in 2012. The carrier will now re-enter the U.S. market with roundtrip Boston-Reykjavik-London Gatwick flights, connecting in Reykjavik with its other European...
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Spirit's New Plan: Higher 'Rush Hour' Bag Fees!
Spirit Airlines--the one that sometimes makes Grinch seem like a good guy--is planning a new revenue-squeezer. It's planning to raise checked bag fees at high-travel times such as Christmas and other holidays. Spirit already has some of the...
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ET, Call Home: A visit to the Arecibo Observatory
On our recent visit to Puerto Rico, we took an unplanned side trip to what might be called ET’s phone booth—a vast radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory that “listens” to space both for astronomical information and any...
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Ten Top Art Shows for 2015
If you're one of those people (I am) who sometimes picks a travel destination because of a spate of good exhibits, here's some help or temptation from The Guardian (UK). They've published a list of ten good ones for 2015, scattered across Europe,...
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Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
In July 2006 I gave in to curiosity and realized my ambition to visit West Greenland. I returned 6 times in the next 8 years! I knew that about 10% of the world’s freshwater was sitting on Greenland with the capacity to raise...
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Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Part I covered three Greenlandic towns I have visited but my real passion is being out in West Greenland’s wilderness. So this part is about what it has to offer those willing to get out there on foot and under canvas! I...
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San Juan, Puerto Rico: Outside the Walls
Because Puerto Rico was the first freshwater island for 16th-century travelers from Spain, and because it guards the entrance to the Caribbean, its Spanish masters went out of their way to defend it, not only with the huge fortifications at the...
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HotelTonight Targets Mobile Device Location For Discount Offers
HotelTonight is offering two new tools for hotels that may offer discounts depending on the location of your mobile device when booking. 1. RateDrop- available today. Hotels can offer discount rates to those with mobile...