Monday, December 31, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


End of the line for historic Buenos Aires trains

Posted: 30 Dec 2012 08:07 PM PST

Buenos Aires is putting the brakes on one of its most historic pieces of public transport -- the wooden "La Brugeoise" cars of the city subway system's Line A. 

Opened on December 1, 1913, Buenos Airies Metro's Line A was the first subway line to operate in the southern hemisphere, featuring trains made by Belgian company La Brugeoise et Nicaise et Delcuve between 1912 and 1919. 

Today, the trains are among the world's oldest still in regular commercial service.  

Vertical: 
Cities: 
Country: 
Region: 
Show map at bottom of page
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Insider guide: Best of Manila

Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:03 PM PST

Eat, drink, explore and, eventually, sleep in Southeast Asia's most overlooked capital. Here's how to do it all
Article Page

The best of Manila is most easily found in its confluence of identities.

Country: 
Cities: 
Region: 
Vertical: 
Show map at bottom of page
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Cafe culture: Amsterdam's 7 coolest hangouts

Posted: 30 Dec 2012 04:29 PM PST

Nobody does it like the Dutch: Whether for late-night snacks or relaxing in the afternoon, here's where the locals chill
Article Page

If you've been to the capital of the Netherlands, you've seen those joints -- the ones we want to avoid. Overpriced big plaza cafés packed with loud customers -- easy to find, but nothing to do with the real charm of Amsterdam.

If you want to meet "Amsterdammers" and experience the city's café culture you have to look beyond the ubiquitous coffee shops and English pubs.

Think not miserable potheads and trustifarians; instead we're on a quest for the city's easygoing waterside terraces, singing bartenders (no, really) and high-class cocktail bars.

Region: 
Groups: 
Cities: 
Country: 
Vertical: 
Show map at bottom of page
Amsterdam's cafe culture
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Sunday, December 30, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


The joy of the towel elephant: Hospitality loves and hates

Posted: 29 Dec 2012 10:10 AM PST

Sometimes the travel industry gets it right, sometimes it leaves us with a pillow chocolate stuck to our face
Article Page

In many ways our relationship with the hospitality industry is like a fledgling romance.

Sometimes, it pulls some smooth moves, everything just clicks and we walk hand in hand into the sunset. 

But just as often, its fumbling advances leave us feeling cheap, embarrassed and more than a little concerned about an itchy rash.

So, in the interest of seeing this relationship through its growing pains, here are a few hints about what we'd like to see more of -- and less of -- if the hospitality industry hopes to get us past first base.

Vertical: 
Show map at bottom of page
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Friday, December 28, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


China eyes April opening of world’s largest building

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 08:45 PM PST

Chengdu's New Century Global Centre is latest symbol of China's economic might and massive ambition
Article Page

Ready capital, cheap labor, loads of ambition.

With these magic ingredients, China is in the midst of one of the most phenomenal national construction booms in history.

The latest symbol of the country's "bigger is much, much better" ethos is the nearly completed New Century Global Centre, located in Chengdu (population 14 million), capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China.

Region: 
Cities: 
Country: 
Vertical: 
Show map at bottom of page
New Century Global Centre in Chengdu
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
1
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Gallery: Spectacular camel and falcon competition in Abu Dhabi showcases Bedouin culture

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 08:18 PM PST

Al Dhafra Festival, December 15-29, 2012, Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia, United Arab Emirates; aldhafrafestival.ae

More on CNN Travel: Insider Guide: Best of Abu Dhabi

 

Region: 
Cities: 
Show map at bottom of page
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Beirut: Souvenir shopping just got chic

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 10:02 AM PST

Never mind the souks -- Lebanon's capital offers traditional shopping with upscale, contemporary twists
Article Page

If you're expecting to haggle for a bargain in Beirut's souks, think again.

"Beirut is the only city in the Middle East that doesn't have a souk," says tour guide Ronnie Chatah from BeBeirut. "In its place we built a shopping mall with a Ferrari dealership and valet parking."

While there are certainly plenty of big labels on show, Beirut has a thriving art and design scene that values individuality and craftsmanship.

Region: 
Groups: 
Cities: 
Country: 
Vertical: 
Show map at bottom of page
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Thursday, December 27, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


Dutch yearn for return of mythic ice skating race: Will 2013 be the year?

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 07:10 PM PST

For 15 years, it's been too warm for the Elfstedentocht ice skating marathon. But there are still places you can skate in the Netherlands
Article Page

As winter deepens in the Netherlands, the Dutch keep watch on their thermometers, anxiously trying to will the temperature to drop low enough to freeze the many canals that crisscross the country.

Once that happens, they'll rush outside to take part in the country's favorite winter activity: ice skating.

But locals are particularly keen for the "Big Freeze" in the northern province of Friesland, where, when the conditions permit, an 11-city speed and leisure skating race, or Elfstedentocht, is held.

Country: 
Vertical: 
Region: 
Show map at bottom of page
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

No office, no boss, no boundaries -- rise of the nomadic rich

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 10:02 AM PST

A new breed of cash-rich, entrepreneurial mavericks is taking the dream and traveling with it. But they also pay a price
Article Page

It's 12:20 p.m. and I'm 19 stories high in a Bangkok hotel, settling down to the start of what was meant to be an 11 a.m. conference.

I nurse a Singha beer and look around at a motley bunch of co-attendees: mostly single men in their twenties and thirties, wearing flip-flops or Converse sneakers, blazers or tank tops.

One would never guess this was a conference for Internet entrepreneurs and business owners from around the world, most of whom earn an annual income well into six figures.

Vertical: 
Show map at bottom of page
New nomads
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0

Business hotel introduces world's first smart hotel key

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 07:39 AM PST

Smartphone key opens doors, surfs web and controls temperature, lights and television
Article Page

This is one hotel key you don't want to lose.

A new business hotel in Seoul has started using smartphones for hotel keys that also allow guests to surf the Internet and control room lights, television and temperature.

Hotel Skypark Central in Seoul's financial district launched the smart-key service on December 26, changing the locks and room controls in 16 of its rooms.

Guests pick up the smartphone when they check in at the front desk.

Country: 
Cities: 
Region: 
Show map at bottom of page
Promoted to homepage blogroll: 
0
Promoted to homepage hero: 
0