I’ve gathered up some great weekend reads, so grab a cup of coffee, and settle in.  These posts are sure to make for great Sunday (or any day) reading:

Filipina Soul introduces us to the Ayala Museum which houses world-class collections based on the history of the Philippines.  Beautiful!

Notre Dame in Paris as viewed from the top of the Pantheon (c)Mary Jo Manzanares

Travel Writers News lists the best online travel resources.  I was aware of most of these, but picked up a few that I’ve now added to my list.  You’ll find this very helpful.

The Los Angeles Guide introduces to the mobile food vendors are the latest, hippest, dining experience to hit LA, grazing haven for foodies.

The Sydney Traveler tell us about the new iPhone app, FoodWatch NSW.  This Aussie app used the phone’s GPS to show which nearby restaurants have breached food safety standards, helping you avoid those dodgy spots.

iTravelNet has a great photo of Three Countries Corner in Basel, Switzerland.  This spot on the Rhine River is where Switzerland, Germany and France meet.

The London Traveler intrigued me with her post on the often overlooked Benjamin Franklin House.  I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the man who spent time at this house in London hoping to avoid a war between England and the Colonies.

Almost Fearless starts a great discussion on whether or not you should start a travel blog.  There’s plenty to ponder before you say yes, no, or maybe.

The Paris Traveler makes the list again this week with her post about vespa-ing around the city.  While I’m still a fan of the Metro, this could be quite a fun way to tool around for a day.

Gadling has me scratching my head with its post about a fold-up hotel room.  The Flexotel is a container type room that claims it can be unpacked and furnished in about 10 minutes.

The Venice Guide has a fun post about a high school where wine and students are encouraged to mix. The Venice, Italy, high school teaches students how to make wine, olive oil, and other specialty products produced from the farm.  Visitors can even buy the wine that students make.

IAG Blog takes apart the fine print of Jet Blue’s $599/one month of unlimited travel offer.  Read up on it to see if it’s a good deal for you.  Or for the ailing airline industry.

Happy reading!

Photo credit:  personal collection

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Today’s questions comes from Joan, who asks:

Q.  How much would a flight to Italy be?  Before I go ahead, is there any pointers you might have?  Please point me in the right direction.  Thank you very much.

A.  First of all, I want to make it very clear that I don’t claim to be a guru of the air fare wars.  I am just as frustrated as everyone else with the nutty way of pricing that the airlines seem to have.  I may work in the industry, but that’s not to say I agree with the pricing model.  I want to know the full cost of a ticket, including all the taxes and special fees.  Don’t tempt me with superficially low fees, and then make me feel like I’ve been conned when I get to the part where I pay the bill.

I’m a fan of two sites that I use for every booking decision that I make – Kayak and Fare Compare.  While they may not work for everyone, and I have lots of friends who swear by other options, these are the ones that work for me.  I used Fare Compare and Kayak to watch prices for a trip to Italy last spring, and I also used my standard price checking process to make sure that I got the best deal.

For my trip to Italy this year (that’s where I am now), I used points to travel First/Business Class, which is an entirely different process.

The best advice that I can give is to do your homework, try to be as flexible as you can, and not lose sleep over $100.  I would never let the fact that I could have gotten a cheaper air fare ruin a wonderful vacation in Italy.

Buongiorno!

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

As I’ve written many times before, and most recently at the announcement that an airline would charge for a checked bag, the basic economics of flying vs. the price of a ticket are seriously out of whack!  Although the cost of doing business has risen substantially, the cost of flying has not.  In fact, even without taking into consideration the present day value of a dollar, it seems like in many cases, the fares have dropped.

As costs of airline travel rose, the airlines first went to its vendors and negotiated better contracts.  Then it went to its employees for concessions and tighter work rules.  When there was no more left to cut, it created new “fees” so that it could still advertise low, slash and burn fare sales.

BUT – and here’s a big BUT!  The airlines, with only a few exceptions, are failing using this business model.   Want proof?  Quick – name a handful of airlines that haven’t been in bankruptcy!  Hard, huh?! 

So the newest business strategy is to continue these add on fees, while still advertising those attractive, low, “come hither” fares.  Those low fare are all sexy and alluring.  Until you start adding on your fee to make a reservation, your fee to get a seat, your fee to check a bag, your fee for excess weight, your fee for fuel, and the list goes on.  Some of the fees may be legitimate, but some seem so silly that it makes you think the concept of Derrie-Aire is not such a joke after all.

Consider recent announcements that two more airlines are joining the “first checked bag fee.”  And another announcement that an airline will start charging for all beverages ($2 for a Coke!).  You have to know that it won’t be long till this is the standards industry-wide. 

For reference on the current state of extra fees, take a look at this great fee chart that Rick Seaney over at Fare Compare has put together.

Most industry analysts say that prices are going to have to go up, and go up a lot.  No one wants prices on anything to go up.  And I have a vested interest in wanting the airlines to succeed – I’m part of the industry, after all.  But something has to give! 

I don’t pretend to have the answers here, but it doesn’t appear that anyone else does either!  Do we want ala carte travel?  Are travelers getting close to their breaking point?  How many more additional fees are we willing to have tacked on?  Do we want one all-inclusive price quote? 

NOTE:  I work in the airline industry.  The opinions expressed here are solely my own, and do not represent the position of my employer, nor any employer within the industry.

Photo credit: SXC

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe