On March 17,2006, I started writing about travel here at Flyaway Cafe.  I knew a lot about travel, but nothing about blogging, technology, social media, photo editing or building readership.  I knew airport codes, not HTML code.  And I knew airline route structures, and how to find a good hotel deal. but not a thing about Digg or Twitter.
But boy did I learn!
Now, after more than 3 1/2 years, and 1,325 posts, Flyaway Cafe is being retired.  Today’s post, my 1,326th, will be my last.
As I write this, there is an incredible range of emotions rushing through me, the …read more

It’s been a week of big travel news, although some of centered around flying hoaxes.  That’s why you need to read these blogs posts that will give you real scoop!
SoSauce (travel geek blog) an Indian cooking lesson, including Naan.  Yummmmmmm!
LA Times Travel compares and contrasts Halloween activities at Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios.
PlanetEye Traveler – Philippine Culture (formerly Filipina Soul) shares a delicious and easy  lumpia recipe.  I’m going to give it a try.
Intelligent Travel asks us if we’d take the Titanic cruise.
Consumer Traveler debates the issue of whether airport lounges are worth the price of admission.  For …read more

I have a short list of travel posts this week, not because there was any shortage in great stuff, but because I had a little health scare that landed me in the emergency room.  I’ve spent a rather low key week as I’ve been nursing myself back to health, and so I just haven’t had the typical online time that I usually do.  Still, I think you’ll find plenty to like from these posts:
The Vacation Gals entreat the airlines and the FAA not to allow lap children.  The fares are cheap these days, but the costs add up.  Still, …read more

Have you ever found a website that just sort of sucks you in and you waste too much time spend lots of time researching all the options you find there?
That’s how I feel about Friend Mosaic, in beta, a site that will take all you Twitter followers and create a mosaic photo of you.  Sounds strange, I know, all these photos of other people going to create a larger photo of you.  But it’s actually kind of cool.  So cool that I spent an hour or so playing around with it, using my own @twitter name as well as …read more

Reading time once again.  I offer up a good variety to keep you informed and entertained this Sunday afternoon.
Consumer Traveler – Chris Elliott shares good advice about dealing with a bankrupt, or soon-to-be bankrupt, airline.  Ignore this advice at your peril.
Ciao Amalfi – Taking the boat from Salerno to Amalfi.  Just a little slice of heaven.
Travel Blog Camp – Registration for this travel blogger meet up opens. . . and closes.  If you’ll be in London next month, it may still be worth getting on the waiting list.  I’ll be there, so let me know if you will too!
Almost …read more

We’ll just consider this a little shameless self-promotion!
Earlier today I was interviewed by Addison Schonland from IAG (Innovation Analysis Group), an airline industry consulting company.
Addison and I talked about what it was like to travel these days, managing airport security and the TSA, dealing with potential confrontational situations on the airplane, and ways to deal with potentially difficult situations.
My simple answer is that when you can’t change something, you have to change the way you think about it.  And for air travel, there’s lots that you can’t change – at least at the very moment it’s happening to you.
I hope …read more

What’s better than a wonderful cruise vacation?  A wonderful cruise vacation that’s FREE, of course!
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and USA Today newspaper have launched the Reporter at Sea contest, looking for a talented citizen journalist (blogger?) to cover the pre-inaugural voyage of the Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.
Oasis of the Sea has 16 decks and can carry 5,400 guests in 2,700 staterooms.  It’s themed around a neighborhood concept, with specific themed areas:  Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place.
Starting today, …read more

I scour the travel feeds all week so you don’t have to!  And while I can’t possibly include all of the great blog posts from this week, I offer up this assortment of information and adventure to keep you entertained.  Grab a cup of coffee and settle in, and if you enjoy any of these posts, please let them know that you heard about it at Flyaway Cafe.
Consumer Traveler thinks that when it comes to tarmac delays that we want to have our cake and eat it, too.  See what you think.
West Seattle Blog gives us a peek at …read more

When I’m on the road there never seems to be enough time to follow all my favorites travel bloggers, let alone find new ones.  This week, with travels to Las Vegas for five days, followed by a quick trip to Dallas,  was one of those weeks!
Here’s some posts you won’t want to miss:
The New York City Traveler combines two of my favorite food groups, bacon and beer, in his post about a limited production beer at the Brooklyn Brewery.  Another reason to make the trek across the bridge!
Nerds Eye View takes us along her road trip – in a …read more

If you’re interested in seeing the end to the ban on travel to Cuba, mark September 30th on your calendar.  CubaGO! has set up that date as the National Call-In Day to End the Travel Bend on Cuba.  The call in day has been set up as part of the effort to pass the “Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act” which is House bill HR 874 and the companion Senate bill S. 428.
What can you do on the day to help get these bills passed?
Let your Senator and Congressional representative know that you want to go to Cuba now!  …read more