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Airline Madness on Gadling

Mar 14th, 2012
by mike barish.
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Like I did last year with hotel pet peeves, I’ve created a tournament of airline annoyances on Gadling. Airline Madness is up and running:

It’s that time of year again! All around the country, people are filling out their brackets and arguing over match-ups. That’s right; it’s March Madness Airline Madness! Just like last year’s Hotel Madness, we’ve compiled a list of travel pet peeves. Only this time around the competition is for the title of Worst Airline Annoyance. Our selection committee vetted the pool of candidates and chose the 16 worst offenders. Now it’s time for you to vote. Over the next two days, all of the first round match-ups will be posted here on Gadling for you to weigh in. The winners will advance to the second round, then the Final Four and so on until we crown an Airline Madness champion.

Head over to Gadling and vote in all eight first round match-ups.

Snazzy Napper Giveaways

May 10th, 2011
by mike barish.
4 comments

 

Thanks to my SkyMall Monday columns, I’ve developed a reputation for reviewing bizarre gear. As such, I tend to accumulate more odd paraphernalia than any one person (in a New York City apartment) truly needs. I was sorting through that collection this past weekend and came across the Snazzy Napper. You remember the Snazzy Napper, right? It’s the blanket/eye mask/burka combo that allows you to sleep just about anywhere. I reviewed it for Gadling. In fact, I actually gave it a positive review. The thing is, I just don’t need it. I already sleep really well just about anywhere. So, I’ve decided to give Snazzy Nappers to TWO lucky readers in my first ever giveaway. (more…)

Top 5 travel fashion trends for summer 2011

Apr 1st, 2011
by mike barish.
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speedo fashion trends travel summerWith summer just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at what travelers will be wearing as temperatures rise and vacations abound. Before you know it, schools will be out, beaches will be packed and road trips will be in full effect. So, what are the hot fashion trends for tourists and travelers alike? We attended fashion shows from Milan to Albuquerque so that we could report back on the styles that will have everyone looking chic, sassy and, of course, functional as they hit the road for summer fun. Grab some sunscreen, a good book and your camera because we’re going to have you looking your best. These are the Top 5 travel fashion trends for summer 2011.

Read Top 5 travel fashion trends for summer 2011 on Gadling.

 

Hotel Breakfast Buffets: An Exercise in Awesome

Feb 9th, 2011
by mike barish.
5 comments

breakfast buffet bacon sausage

I’ve been thinking a lot about hotel breakfast buffets lately. I plan to write an elaborate love letter to them in the near future, for they are glorious. In the interim, I just want to say that breakfast buffets are the best part of the hotel experience. No matter how ugly the bedspread is, how thin the walls are and how grimy the bathroom looks, all sins are forgiven when I enter the breakfast buffet. (more…)

There’s No Shame In Travel

Feb 3rd, 2011
by mike barish.
7 comments

san francisco golden gate bridge california travelOver drinks last night with Kim Mance of TBEX and Galivanting fame, we got to talking about places we had never been. Eventually, we began to confess about places that we visited way later in our lives than we’d ever hoped or expected. What we realized, however, was that there was nothing wrong with us. While some people might say, “You’ve never been to [insert name of place],” while staring at you incredulously, you should never feel bad about how or where you’ve traveled. Having a wish list is great. Being envious of your friends’ trips is natural. But there is nothing wrong with you if you haven’t been to as many places as you’d like. There’s no shame in travel. (more…)

Travel Tip #192: Leave Some Camera Equipment At Home

Feb 2nd, 2011
by mike barish.
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camera camcorder video camera Turkey harness

In the past, I’ve urged you to put your camera down at times during your travels. I’m going to piggyback off of that here and encourage you to not bring your entire arsenal of camera equipment to every corner of the world.

Just because you have four cameras, six lenses, two video recorders and special cases for each piece of equipment doesn’t mean that you need to give yourself a hernia before you even get to the airport. Sure, we all want to document our trips, but unless you have been commissioned to do so an a professional level, you can probably get by with a single camera (and it doesn’t even have to be that great).

As a chronic overpacker, I am probably being a bit of a hypocrite here. But I speak from experience when I say that lugging around extra weight makes any trip significantly less enjoyable. Prior to your departure, decide what camera equipment is most essential to accomplishing your goals. Then leave the rest at home. You don’t need a big lens to impress the ladies.

Why Hotel Beds Suck

Jan 31st, 2011
by mike barish.
1 comment

hotel bed pillows bedspread comforter travel

There are many perks to staying at a hotel. You get to crank the air conditioner without having to pay the electric bill. You can leave your wet towels on the floor and find dry news ones perfectly folded in your bathroom later. M&M’s are always close by (assuming you don’t mind the minibar price of $34.98 for a single-service bag). What often does bother me in hotels, however, is the beds. Hotel beds are a mixed bag, but I can usually count on certain things that always grind my gears, Here’s what bugs me most: (more…)

Five Ways Travelers Can Make the Best of Winter

Jan 28th, 2011
by mike barish.
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whitehorse winter snow trees mountains yukon

The Northeast is (once again) blanketed in snow. In New York City, this has been one of the snowier winters in recent memory. Not surprisingly, my Twitter feed has been littered with 140 character complaints about the cold, the snow and the slush. Why does winter get a bum rap? It doesn’t take that much effort to enjoy this season. Here are five ways to make the best of winter. (more…)

Should You Eat At American Chain Restaurants When You Travel?

Jan 26th, 2011
by mike barish.
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denny's japan chainsFor people traveling the world in search of culture, adventure and, in a philosophical sense, themselves, it’s probably discouraging to see so many signs of American consumerism all across the globe. Virtually anywhere you go, you’re bound to see American restaurant chains serving variations on the “classics.” Is that a bad thing? Should we be avoiding these establishments in favor of eating only in local restaurants? I’ve been giving this topic a lot of thought lately and don’t profess to have the answers to all of these questions. Like most travel conundrums, this one comes down to personal preference. So, how do I feel about American chains overseas? My travel experiences will make that pretty clear.

Read the rest of Should You Eat At American Chains When You Travel? on Gadling.

Favorite Road Trip Foods

Jan 25th, 2011
by mike barish.
13 comments

"road trip" snacks "junk food" "fast food" travelI’m heading down to Charleston, SC later this week on a good ol’ fashioned road trip for a Cruze-arati shoot. It’s been a while since I did a multi-day road trip (I’ll be stopping along the way rather than plowing through to Charleston in one shot). Unlike trips involving flights, my road trip preparation is less about what to pack and more about what to eat. Road trip snacking is essential and one’s choice of foods-on-the-go is as personal as one’s preference in mates. (more…)

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