Parthenon Hostel in Chicago's Greek Town

Today we have Lost Girl Krista Johnson reporting on how she saved big bucks and booked a hostel for her group when she organized a trip to Chicago’s entrepreneurship conference. She's a public relations major at Syracuse University.
***
Just a short walk from the heart of Chicago, tucked between two Greek restaurants, is a glass door with a piece of paper that reads “Parthenon Hostel.” It wasn’t an official sign by any means, but for my weekend in Chicago, it was home. When the rest of the Entrepreneurship Club and I entered, we found a surprisingly well furnished dining room and bar where we stored our luggage until we received room assignments. Then it was up, up, up four rickety flights of stairs.

We entered our room that included four bunk beds, a 4x6 mirror framed in gold, and two sets of drawers with Grecian column accents. We explored the guys’ room, which also had lockers and an extra dresser (funny how the guys got extra wardrobe space and the girls didn’t). Romantic water color paintings lined the hostel’s hallways—some hung and some leaned against the wall adding a "look, but don't touch" feel to the hostel’s decor.

Weary from the road, I quickly looked for the bathroom to freshen up. From the negative feedback I’d heard of hostel bathrooms, I expected the worst. But, to my pleasant surprise, the facilities were a step up from my college dorm bathrooms. There was plenty of sunlight, roomy showers, and a piney fresh scent that cut traces of any locker-room smell in the air. As the night went on, groups of travelers continued to check into the hostel. We quickly met other visitors, who smiled and greeted us. We exchanged casual small talk—where we were from, what we were up to in Chicago, that sort of thing. One rowdy group of Irishmen even invited us in to enjoy their “spirits” and listen to stories. For $27 per guest, per night, we got a modernly furnished room, clean showers and quirky company. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. To explore more checkout the hostel's site.

The LG Weekly News Roundup: 11.26.09

by Molly Fergus
LG Travel News Editor

Missed the big travel stories of the week? And the weird, wacky and insignificant ones? We've got your round-up right here....

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It’s all about the money, honey
Mom always said to bring cash on vacation, but she didn’t mention that it could get you detained. Last March, TSA officials stopped Steve Bierfeldt at security in St. Louis after they spotted a tin case in his bag that contained $4,700 in greenbacks. When Bierfeldt refused what he did for a living, security held him for questioning. A savvy traveler, Bierfeldt recorded the whole debacle on his iPhone — then worked with the American Civil Liberties Union to file a lawsuit. Turns out, it isn’t illegal to carry cash on an airplane (but maybe buy some traveler’s checks, just in case).
Source: New York Times

Hush, little baby
In more atrocious-airline-behavior news, Allegiant Air kicked off a mom and her two kids for being too unruly on the plane before takeoff. After probably humiliating mom and making everyone else on the plane (let’s admit it) happy, Allegiant also denied the trio a refund and told them to rebook on another flight for an extra $900.
Source: Jaunted

Merry surfing!
If you’ve been hiding under a dial-up modem, you might not know that Google is sponsoring free WiFi in 47 airports across the country this holiday season. Free! Just in time for the busiest travel day of the year, this is sure to help travelers wait out the inevitable weather delays. Now, if they would only truck in some extra power outlets…
Source: CNET

Austen’s archives
This could be the best girly-geeky exhibit ever: The Morgan Library and Museum in New York City opened “A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy,” which features more than 100 of Austen’s works. The exhibit includes Austen’s most complete surviving manuscript, Lady Susan, but also explores the classic writer’s short life. Sorry, no scheduled Colin Firth appearances.
Source: National Geographic Intelligent Travel


*****
Happy Thanksgiving, all!

xo,

The Lost Girls

Best NYC Spas: Mama Spa in the LES

Jen: When it comes to Manhattan’s Lower East Side, there are certain images that instantly come to mind: Tourists fighting over the most authentic looking "Praado" and "Louis Fuax-tton" bags on Canal Street. Pastrami sandwiches stacked as high as the Chrysler Building lining the windows of Jewish delicatessens. Dimly lit dive bars advertising beer pong tournaments and Pabst Blue Ribbon specials. Clusters of hangover victims hovering on sidewalks seeking refuge from brunch legends like Prune or Clinton Street Baking Company. But a multi-tiered spa that’s as luxurious and posh as most of its uptown competitors, but that offers treatments at half the cost? Never! Well...that was until recently, when on a much needed break from the claustrophobic Lost Girls book editing headquarters (formerly known as our apartment) Amanda and I were lucky enough to stumble upon Mama Spa.

Nestled between a laundromat and a deli on 141 Allen Street near Rivington, this newly opened health spa offers a full menu of services––everything from Aromatherapy and Shiatsu massages to Anti-Wrinkle Facials and Thermal Salt Soaks in their in-house Jacuzzi––all at recession friendly prices. Naturally we felt it our duty to support our local business owners, so “forcing” Holly to join us, we scheduled an afternoon of pampering at Mama Spa. Boasting a spacious relaxation lounge complete with a juice bar, sauna, steam room and rain showers in the changing area, Mama Spa captured our devotion even before we’d donned the plush robes and slippers. And after expelling all the city grime and toxins from my body with a steam/sauna combo, receiving one of the best massages I’ve ever had on either side of the international dateline, and refueling with a complimentary fruit juice and grilled chicken salad (ordered from a local eatery), I was ready to set up camp permanently in this veritable den of Zen. But sadly, the real world beckoned once again and after bidding farewell to the friendly staff we were thrust back into our frenetic New York lives.

Hopefully someday soon, we’ll gather our girlfriends together for a Mama Spa reunion, but until then, we caught up with manager Ying-Thing to find out more about the philosophy behind the spa, the infusion of Eastern practices, and the treatments and services they provide their guests:

1. What inspired the design for the spa?

All the design ideas for the spa were contributed by the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Ma, who wanted to provide customers with a beautiful, tranquil space where they can relax. Mama Spa has simple and essential treatment rooms and a nice garden feel relaxation zone which allows our clients to forget about the hectic city life and getaway from their stresses. We use very soothing decorations to blend into the design to make the whole environment feel calm.

2. What are the five elements represented in the treatment rooms and how would a customer know which one they are?

The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water, which combine the philosophy of Feng Shui and Chinese Medicine. In our spa, we use color to represent the five elements. Wood = Green, Fire = Red, Earth = Yellow, Metal = White and Water = Black.

If a client has no preference about their element, we would arrange a treatment room for them. However, if the client has a special request to blend into their treatment, we would have our doctor evaluate them and inform them which element they are. To gain the best result from our Spa, we would advise clients to make an appointment with our doctor who will evaluate their element and also advise them about their health awareness.

3. How do you infuse Eastern philosophy into the treatments/services?

Under the Eastern philosophy, we believe that our health is related to pressure points and meridian in the body. We use the method of acupressure & Eastern massage to target these areas in order to improve overall health. These methods reduce stress and also relieve chronic muscle tension. For long-term results, regular treatments are recommended. Types and duration of the treatments will depend on individual health conditions which can be evaluated by our staff.

4. You mentioned that you have a licensed doctor on staff? What services does he provide and what are the prices?

We have a licensed acupuncturist available to our clients for consultation. He performs acupuncture, cupping and various herbal treatments. He also evaluates the client and makes custom recommendations in term of health, diet, and Eastern nutrition. He is available in our spa every Friday from 10:30 to 7:30 p.m. But we can book an appointment for a patient for another day upon request. First time consultation and treatment is $110 per hour. Thereafter, follow up acupuncture & treatment is $75 per hour. If herbal consultation only, it is only $50 per visit.

5. What sets your spa apart from others in Manhattan?
6. Is there a particular reason you chose this location? What was in the space before it was Mama Spa?

(For #5 and #6) The main reason that the spa was setup in this location is that the owners felt an energy “Qi” in this location. It’s very important as they want the client to feel the same thing when they check in. In Eastern philosophy, Qi is part of the energy in our body system. If this location naturally has the Qi, it will blend into our body and give us more energy. Clients will feel refreshed and full of energy after coming to our spa. Whereas, most of the Spas in the town are not looking into the Qi, they are looking into the commercial opportunity. Our spa is meant for treatment and therapy. Qi is very important to us.

The building was vacant before it was spa. No other business ever polluted this space. That’s why the owners felt the “Qi” there. Its purity and virginity makes this place full of energy. Everyone feels very relaxed and totally forgets about the outside world when they visit our spa.

7. What ingredients/product lines do you use at the spa?

We use the Kneipp product line which utilizes only natural ingredients without artificial preservatives. Since 1891, Kneipp has been manufacturing products with herbs to provide the same result as natural remedies. It’s one of the leading brands in Europe. The five elements of the Kneipp Philosophy are water, plants, exercise, nutrition and balance. Its philosophy is perfectly matched with our theme. Fusion of Chinese skills and European herbs make our clients love the effect after the treatment.

In addition, our facial products in the treatment rooms and for retail are all natural and organic--Phyt’s and Huiles & Baume are both certified under Cosmebio and EcoCert. By using organic natural ingredients, we bring pure beauty to our clients. Almost all of our clients especially with sensitive skin love this organic skin care line as it is so natural.

8. Is there anything else you’d like us to know about Mama Spa?

We would try to do our best to use Chinese remedies and herbs to help reduce stress of city people and bring a healthier life to them. We wish to bring more knowledge about Chinese remedies to share with Western countries so that we can use natural remedies to cure health problems.

In addition, we will have a talk in the beginning of December regarding Living healthy by using Eastern Philosophy. This talk is open for all clients. Entry is free and refreshments will be served. We will also offer a complimentary doctor evaluation and special promotional rate on massages after the talk.

For additional information on Mama Spa, or to book an appointment, please visit www.organicmamaspa.com or call 212-780-1913.

Select services from their menu include:

Massages

Swedish, Deep Therapeutic, Aromatherapy, Shaitsu, Sports Massage and Back/Shoulder/Neck/Head

$70 for 60 minutes and $100 for 90 minutes (add $15 for Steam & Sauna)

Facials

Basic, Sensitive Skin, Anti-Acne, Deep Pore Cleansing, Revitalizing, Nourishing and Anti-Wrinkle

Range from $70 - $150 for 45 minutes - 90 minutes

Manicure/Pedicure

Kneipp Apple Blossom Mani-Kur - $12 (30 minutes)

Kneipp Classic Pedi-Kur - $25 (30 minutes)

Kneipp Arnica Therapeutic Pedi-Kur - $60 (60 minutes)

Kneipp Moisturizing Pedi-Kur - $45 (45 minutes)

Kneipp Arnica Therapeutic Mani-Kur - $40 (60 minutes)

Foot Reflexology

$55 (30 minutes)

$65 (60 minutes)

Herbal Soak Bath and Thermal Salt Soak

$25 (20 minutes)

Lost in Africa: Molly Gallagher Explores Morocco

By Molly Gallagher
LG International Correspondent

When I arrived to Morocco I had no idea what to expect. I traveled to the country through a group called Morocco Exchange. The program is meant to give Americans a better understanding of Islam and the cultural differences that exist. I knew nothing about Morocco before I went and I knew very little about Islam, so I wanted to experience the country and religion for myself.

Some things to know before you go:
• Muslims pray five times a day. At some point you will hear the call to prayer. Some Moroccans go to the mosque when they hear the call and others continue on with their day.
• If you are a woman dress modestly. You do not have to cover yourself head to toe, but wear pants, at least a t-shirt, and a sweater or jacket.
• If you buy things at the market—BARGAIN. Often they will say no at first, but if you start to walk away they will most likely lower the price.
• Don’t drink the water! If you are planning to live in Morocco or stay for an extended period of time then start drinking and get used to it, but it you are only there for a few days stick to bottled! It’s not worth being sick.

Cities and Places to Visit:
• Tangier – Located on the northern most coast of Morocco. The city has great views of the Gibraltar.
• Rabat – This is the capital of Morocco. Some things to visit: Roman Ruins of Chellah. The Roman ruins in Rabat are special, because you can walk through the ruins and they are not gated off. The ruins are twenty minutes outside of the center city of Rabat. The Mausoleum contains the tombs of King Mohammed V (current King of Morocco’s grandfather) and his sons. The building in which they are buried is beautiful and covered in Moorish style tiles.


• Asilah - A town close to Tangier in northern Morocco. It is on the Atlantic Coast. There are white washed walls throughout the entire city and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. An arts festival takes place in the city once a year, so there are several wall murals all over the city.
• Rif Mountains – We visited a portion of the Rif mountain range in the northern part of Morocco.
• Chefchaouen – Also in the north, but not on the coast. This was the most touristy town I visited, but still beautiful. The buildings are all white and blue-washed. If you go, take a walk in the morning outside of the city gate to see the village while locals are heading to work and school, as well as to see amazing views of the town. The markets in Chefchauouen were a little cheaper than Rabat, so if you go to both cities wait to do your shopping in Chefchauouen

Food to Try:
• Couscous – In Morocco Couscous is traditionally eaten on Friday’s, because Friday is a religious day. In Morocco, couscous is made with potatoes, carrots, onions, chicken, zucchini and other vegetables. Moroccans eat the dish with a spoon or with their hands.
• Chicken Tajine – This chicken dish is stewed in a sauce similar to curry. However, the sauce contains olives and lemons. It is served with vegetables or potatoes.
• Bastilla – This food is a delicacy in Morocco. Moroccans serve it as restaurants, for special occasions or at weddings. The dish is a mixture of eggs, almonds, and chicken (sometimes seafood) encased in a pastry and topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
• Fresh Fruit – Especially the pomegranates and clementines
• Pastry Shop Treats – Visit a local shop to sample the bread and any sweet pastry!

Casseroles for Cancer Part II: To Travel Well, You Need Sparkle

Last summer, Blair Hickman retraced a 12,000 mile cross-country road trip in memory of her mom, who died from cancer in 2003. The girls retraced a path their mom had taken in 1977, serving dinner at 9 Ronald McDonald Houses and raising money for the charity along the way to raise awareness about the importance of non-medical support for families living with cancer. They blogged and vlogged the whole way, raised over $7,000 for the charity and in the end, found a little more than they’d bargained for.
****
I like the Container Store. I like shelves and drawer dividers and label makers, and if my time abroad in Prague taught me anything, it was that I hate living out of a backpack and spending more than 6 hours in a row with any single person. So was it a little stupid throw myself into a car with 2 other people and six weeks’ worth of stuff, including office supplies? Maybe.

From Chattanooga to Austin, we stayed in hotels and showered every day. We had to film the intro to our webisodes five times because I wanted to do it my way and turned into a bitch every time Stephanie, our resident film maker, told me that I needed more “sparkle.” My lack of personal space and inability to keep Stephanie from going to a bar and singing along with the pianist until 2 am caused daily nervous breakdowns.

And then we went to Western Texas.

I spent the first six hours in Western Texas thinking “I hate Western Texas.” The roads in this part of the country stretch on to nothing but sky, and every 30 minutes or so, you pass a cow or a house and wonder where, exactly, its food comes from. It’s the type of place that prompts comments like “I think this is a two-way road now; you might want to get in the other lane” and had me hoping I didn’t have to pee for the next 100 miles. I spent the majority of my time in the back seat, practicing breathing exercises and trying to ignore the fact that Stephanie had played the Taylor Swift CD three times in a row.
Ten hours into our drive, just before we hit our scheduled stop for the night, we passed the most American of American things: a drive-in! Despite growing up in the hills of Tennessee, I’ve never been and got a little too excited when I saw their double feature was “A Night at the Museum II” and “Up.” We screwed the hotel and parked it on the hood of Black Betty under the stars. It had finally reached a cool 77 degrees, and we even had to grab a blanket from the car. “Perhaps the netherlands aren’t so bad,” I thought.
Around 1 am, we pulled into the first hotel in the first town we passed--Hobbs, New Mexico. The man who checked us in had a rattail and wasn’t wearing any shoes, and our rooms were so gross that I slept on top of the bed, woke up at 7 am and proclaimed that we were leaving. In our groggy state, we left our donated video camera in the parking lot. An hour and a half later, Steph realized the camera was missing. We sped back to the hotel, but when we got there, at 9:30 am, it was already gone.

“Oh, yep,” the police said as we filed our report, “You guys were on the bad side of town.”

“What’s the bad side of town? It only takes 5 mintues to drive through Hobbs.”
“The side with all the hotels.”
Steph and I got into a screaming match at a gas station just outside of Hobbs, and I left her in the parking lot in the middle of the desert. Kelsea took the wheel away from both of us, and I sat in the front, watching the desert fly by, with nothing but my thoughts and a handful of Spanish radio stations.
The nearest electronics store was 5 hours up the road in Santa Fe, and though I really just wanted to get the camera, Kelsea forced us to stop in Roswell. Her holy grail. It’s a funny little town that seems to operate solely off its legends, slapping the word UFO on every storefront and sticking alien heads on all of their light poles. We took 45 minutes to stroll through the UFO Museum and then went across the street for alien paraphernalia. Sifting through a rack of t-shirts, I found a hot pink Hanes tee with a black silk screen of an alien. He looked a little confused, standing over just 4 words:

It’s not my fault.

Our motto from the beginning of the trip. We cracked up and bought four of them, and then went next door and convinced a café owner to re-open just for five minutes so we could get some lattes. We went back to the car laughing so hard we were crying. And Stephanie got behind the wheel.
When we got to the Best Buy in Santa Fe, they gave us another camera and set us up in a hotel for free. We were in town for two nights, stayed in two separate hotels, and though we heard that Santa Fe had a million billion fun things to do, we can’t tell you one thing about the city except for the things we read on the Internet. We’d started to get kind of tired. Which was actually fine, because we also found that we had the best times in hotel rooms and/or in the car. We just cracked jokes and farted and ate and laughed and then farted some more because we were laughing. After only one week, we had digressed to childhood, and we seemed to work best that way because when we went out in public, we just lost things and bitched at each other and got lost. So instead, we stayed in the car and drove through Starbucks. Steph and I were always on a mission. Grande soy skinny vanilla latte! Double double! Iced coffee, double Splenda! And then, Kelsea….”Uuuuummm….I think I’ll tryyyy….”
And for the first time, I started to get what traveling was really all about.

Book Review: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

by Blair Hickman
LG Book Reviewer

In Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, author Rhoda Janzen has a botched hysterectomy that leaves her incontinent, carrying her pee bag in a patent, aqua tote for months. Shortly after, her husband of 15 years, already bipolar and psychologically abusive, leaves her for Bob the Guy from Gay.com. And that very same week, driving on snowy back roads to a home that she can no longer afford, she gets into a debilitating car wreck. Talk about rough.

Bruised and battered, Janzen returns home to her Mennonite community, expecting quiet time to work and save money. Instead, she reintroduces herself to the Mustard Seed Praise Quartet, platz and her mother’s unapologetic flatulence. The book doesn’t have much of a plot, per se, but Janzen’s immaculate attention to detail creates rich scenes that give readers a peek into her eccentric family, and Mennonite life from the perspective of an insider gone rogue.

And what an entertaining peek it is. Her father, the “equivalent of the Mennonite Pope, with plaid shorts and black socks,” is a stoic, frugal man who refuses to purchase anything not on the Dollar menu at McDonald’s, and her upbeat, optimistic mother, by far the best character in this book, never fails to surprise. She tries to set Janzen up with her first cousin, who drives a tractor, mind you, has no qualms with bodily functions and will drink tuna juice straight from the can, exclaiming ‘Schmeckt gut! Tastes like tooooona!”

Every scene—from Mennonite food to road trips to the ban on dancing in her high school—is flat-out funny. I sat alone in my apartment at 9 pm on Halloween night in a toga, laughing at this book and wondering if I should fulfill my evening obligations. It’s that good.

But the real beauty of this book lies in Janzen’s ability to make deadpan jokes about pee bags next to honest insights and questions about our own morality. “Can a skeptic ever be anything but a skeptic?,” she asks. “Can a loner ever come to cherish group think?” or “Is it ever a waste of time to love someone truly, deeply, with everything you have?” She never wallows in her sorrow, and most of these questions come near the end of the book, a darker section and the only one where Janzen fully addresses her break from her community and the decline of her hazardous marriage. The book’s humor may drive its momentum, but it’s this ending, where we hear Janzen’s inner struggle, acceptance and release, that holds the book together.

Janzen is first and foremost a poet and a scholar, and her expansive vocabularly and academic tendencies occasionally serve the story and occasionally don’t. And she does have a tendency to ramble, what seems like a slight lack of control over a narrative work of such length. That said, this is her first narrative work of this kind, and it still sparkles and shines. I would pick up a sequel in a heartbeat.

As avid travelers, Lost Girls readers will especially appreciate this book. Returning to your roots after time away can be a difficult, enlightening and terrifying thing; Janzen portrays it all with hilarious prose and touching insights that remind us that sometimes, we all just need to go home and have some Platz (find another Mennonite food).

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home
published by Henry Holt and Company, 2009
* * * * 1/2 stars (out of 5)

You can support the Lost Girls site by buying the book now:

7 Holiday Airfare Savers and Ticket Tips

by Patty Hodapp
LG Travel Lifestyle Editor

Flying home for the holidays has the potential to be a total bank buster. You’re already saving up extra cash to buy presents for your family, so the last thing you want to worry about is setting aside extra money for a plane ticket to get home—especially during one of the worst economic crunches our country has ever experienced. But before you phone home to tell Mom and Dad you're opting out of family festivities this year in order to save cash, try these easy money-saving tips from David, our travel specialist at Airtrek.com. Whether you’re traveling across the country or just across the state, you'll still get home in time to give—and receive—your gifts.

1. It pays not to procrastinate “Prices will not go down,” says David. “It’s like reservations at a restaurant. Once the seat is gone, it’s gone. So book early! Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly on Christmas day, but that’s only if you take your chances that there will be a seat open, and this late in the season, I highly doubt it." So, if you haven’t booked yet, get on the phone with an agent and do it now. Tip for next year: Don’t let September go by without booking your flight home for Christmas.” To get the best possibly flight price, you need at least three months in advance,” says David.

2. Connect, connect, connect You can get anywhere in the United States with one connection. Most airlines only use two connections if you’re going to a very small airport. Business travelers fly direct because they want to get to their destination as quickly as possible, so if you have a few hours to spare, take advantage of a connection. “You’ll end up paying twice as much, or more, for a direct flight in most cases,” says David.

2. Bigger is (typically) better Learn what airports are in your area and shop around. “Newark is almost always cheaper than JFK, and L.A. has at least three main airports,” says David. “Keep in mind a smaller airport doesn’t necessarily mean more expensive tickets. It depends where you are flying and what time of the year, so keep your search wide.”

3. Watch out for forecasting websites While they are a worthwhile resource, these websites predict air ticket prices based on the previous year’s prices during that time so they are not always that accurate, David warns. “The rule of thumb is to book as early as possible, at least three months in advance.”

4. Stay through Saturday night Business travelers only travel Monday to Friday, so airlines know they can charge through the roof for tickets not booked to include a Saturday night stay. “If you stay the weekend and fly home Monday, your ticket price will almost always be reduced by a third,” says David. No matter where you’re going, try to stay Saturday night so your ticket will be distinguished from business travelers’ tickets.

5. Know when NOT to be your own travel agent Most airlines charge you a $20 booking fee when you call their 1-800 number and book through an agent. If you prefer talking to an agent, get the flight numbers priced out, go online, find the same flight and book it yourself for $20+ less. BUT, says David, if you are booking holiday flights this late in the season, call an agent because they may be able to make you cheaper connections than a computer website that generates high fares during this time.

6. Less luggage is more It’s important to have your cute pea coats, sweaters, jeans, blouses, a nice holiday dress, your blow dryer, your makeup bags and (let’s not forget) your family’s presents, but airlines are charging through the roof for extra bags. Most airlines will charge you $20 to $40 for your first piece of checked luggage, and much more for a second piece. If you can pack lightly, buy a carry-on size suitcase. Luggage charges are expensive and easily forgettable until you roll up to the check in counter. Southwest is the only domestic airline that doesn’t charge for luggage, so unless you’re lucky to score a SW ticket, expect hefty charges for every bag you bring.

7. Cash in on travel deals for education For students, travelers under 26, or teachers, STA Travel is a website designed to find the best airfare. It works like a regular airfare search engine, but it offers exclusive student deals and specials that regular search engines don’t get. It’s hit or miss depending on where you’re traveling, but it’s worth a look.

David’s Warning: There is a laptop thief in the JFK airport that has been stealing people’s laptops as they put them through security, so keep an eye on your things at all times. Also, remember baggage carousels aren’t guarded so someone can easily snatch your suitcase. Don’t pack valuables in your bag.

Have a safe and happy holidays!

The LG Weekly News Roundup: 11.19.09

by Molly Fergus
LG Travel News Editor

Missed the big travel stories of the week? And the weird, wacky and insignificant ones? We've got your round-up right here....

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Waiting on Magic

Finally! Disney unleashed the first official wait time app for mobile phones. Updated in real time, the app will map out wait times on popular rides and character lines at its parks.
The catch? The program only works on Verizon Wireless phones…and it doesn’t include Blackberrys or the new Motorola Droid. Factor in the Disney-fied $9.99 price tag, and this all seems a little inaccessible. A couple suggestions: Check out a (free!) third-party app, or cough up the cash for the Fast Pass.
Source: New York Times

Flying under the influence
If flying makes you nervous, stop reading now. At least 12 commercial pilots in the last year tested positive for alcohol when heading to the cockpit, according to the FAA. That means those pilots had a blood alcohol content of more than 0.04 percent, or half the legal limit for drivers in most states. The silver lining: No U.S. airline has had a crash because of inebriated pilots. Still, let’s keep the flowing drinks behind the curtain. Source: USA Today

Swipe it!
Beginning Dec. 1, Delta joins the ranks of Southwest, American and United to stop accepting cash for food, drinks and other purchases in-air. This makes sense from a traveler’s point of view — no need to worry about exchange rates or converting Euros to greenbacks — but also seems a little spendthrifty. After one or two mini Merlot bottles, that SkyMall Lawn Ghoul might look all the more attractive. Ok. Maybe not.
Source: Jaunted

On the road, but nowhere to "go"

Rest stops are just the next victim of budget cuts. Several states have cut highway-side pit stops to save money, and road trippers have noticed. Virginia closed 19 of its 42 stops, and Georgia has saved at least $600,000 by shuttering just two roadside rest areas. At least it’s not all bad news: In California, the Shandon Roadside Rest Area on Highway 46 is using economic stimulus money to rebuild rest centers.
Source: Chicago Tribune