New York is a great city to visit no matter what time of year. But at Christmas, there is even more to see and do. Here are a few things you should take in if you’re in Manhattan within the next few months:
Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Centre
Ice skating at Rockefeller Centre
Nutcracker ballet
Bryant Park: Holiday shops and free-admission skating rink
Christmas-themed department store display windows
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Read more…
If you’re traveling in Santa Monica, California and expect to go for a jog, beware: you could get a ticket for stopping to stretch. And don’t even think about doing sit-ups - you could be slapped with a $158 fine. It is illegal to congregate on grassy medians, and it just so happens that these medians have long been used in the city by the exercising community to stretch, or perform certain stationary exercises. But no more. Read more…
A referendum on the independence of Greenland was approved yesterday by the country’s residents.
Greenland has had home rule since 1973, however foreign and military policy is controlled by Denmark. The greater independence of Greeland means the official language would become the Inuit language, as opposed to Danish, and also gives Greenland control of all revenues from its natural resources. Read more…
Remember when traveling to Canada was affordable? Fortunately, that trend is back as the US dollar has gained against the Canadian loonie. If you do plan to take a trip to the Great White North, here a few tips about how you should navigate Toronto:
Getting around: Try the TTC, Toronto’s public transit system. A subway, streetcar or bus fare runs you CA$2.75. And try the shuttle from the airport to Union Station, Toronto’s transportation hub - that’ll run you CA$10.55. http://www.ttc.ca/
Getting around on foot: Grab an InfoTOgo map for CA$2 and check out the top tourist spots. http://www.toronto.ca/visitors/infotogo.htm
The waterfront: The harborfront isn’t much of a hike from Union Station, and the area offers fun activities year round. http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/
View from the top: Toronto is known for its view from the CN Tower; however experiencing that firsthand can be pretty pricey (between CA$21-$40). Instead, head to the Panorama restaurant in the Manulife Centre to sit on the 51st floor to take in the view. http://www.eatertainment.com/restaurants/panorama/
Read more (and there is MUCH more)…
Check out WatchMojo’s travel profile of Toronto for a few more ideas:
With prices for tickets going up along with security lines and lost luggage, travelling during the holidays can be anything but relaxing. The good news is that the better prepared the better you’ll be able to cope with airport stress during the holidays and keep your season cheer.
Read how.
A report has just come to light that says a flight attendant (who had a commercial pilot’s license) helped to land a plane after the co-pilot had a nervous breakdown on board. The Air Canada flight from Toronto’s Pearson Airport was heading to London on 28 January, when the incident occurred. The report commended the flight’s crew on their handling of the situation. Read more…
I have enough trouble trying to figure out what to tip in my own country - I can’t even begin to describe the issues I have when traveling and this problem arises. Fortunately, here is a guide to tipping around the world:
United States
Restaurants: 15% to 20%, with 20% being the norm at high-end restaurants.
Taxis: 15%, or round up to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: $1 per bag, but at luxury hotels such as Four Seasons properties, $2 to $5 per bag is the norm.
Hotel Concierge: $3 to $5 for a simple service, such as arranging airport transportation. For a more complicated request, such as a hard-to-score reservation, tip $20 and up.
Europe
Restaurants: Service charges are included in most meals, but add another 5% to 10%. If no service charge is included, add 15% to the bill.
Taxis: 10%.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $2 per bag (or about 1.50 euros)
Hotel Concierge: $2 is enough for easy requests, but this amount should increase to $30 or more for special requests, such as getting an after-hours tour of the Louvre.
Asia: Japan, China and Hong Kong
Restaurants: In Japan, it’s considered an insult to tip for anything. In China, 3% is the norm, and in Hong Kong, 10% to 15%, if it’s not already included in the bill.
Taxis: In China, no tip is necessary. In Hong Kong, round up to the next dollar.
Hotel Porters: $2 to $3 per bag at high-end hotels.
Hotel Concierge: $3 to $5 for basic requests such as dinner reservations. Incrementally increase the amount based on the complexity of your request.
Asia: India
Restaurants: If it’s factored in, leave a few dollars extra. If not, leave 10%.
Taxis: It is not necessary to tip.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: $2 for easy tasks and up to $20 for more intricate requests, such as arranging Mumbai’s top jeweler, Neelam Kothari, to bring her latest collection to your hotel room for a private viewing.
Africa (Major cities such as Cape Town or Nairobi)
Restaurants: In most cases, gratuity is already factored in. If not, 10% is the norm.
Taxis: 10% in major cities.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: $2 for simple tasks. Increase the amount based on the complexity of the request, but usually there’s no need to exceed $20.
Australia/New Zealand
Restaurants: For fine dining, 10% to 15% is acceptable. Otherwise, a service charge is almost always included.
Taxis: Round up the fare to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $2 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: $2 for each basic task, such as arranging transportation, and up to $50 for harder requests, such as scoring tickets to a sold-out opera at Sydney Opera House.
South America
Restaurants: There is no tipping in Argentina. Otherwise, if it’s not already included, leave 10%.
Taxis: Round up the fare to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: Nothing is required for basic requests such as dinner reservations, but you can leave $10 or more for trickier tasks, such as getting a private tour of one of the several wineries just outside of Santiago.
Mexico/Central America
Restaurants: 10% to 15% is expected.
Taxis: Round up to the next dollar amount.
Hotel Porters: The equivalent of $1 per bag.
Hotel Concierge: For simple tasks, $2 per request is enough. For more complicated ones, increase incrementally based on the task–up to $20.
Read more…
Keep this in mind if you’re traveling to New York anytime soon: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York is prepared to make serious cuts to its service, which could result in more crowded trains, reduced service and layoffs. Fare hikes are also a possibility, to help deal with an estimated $1.2 billion budgetary deficit. Read more…
Until the end of November, Alitalia will be cutting 100 flights a day because of strikes by pilots and flight attendants. The end of the month is when the deal for the sale of the airline is expected to close. Read more…
