CNN recently ran a story called the 5 Dirty Secrets of Airfares. You can check out the story to read them all, but my favorite, meaning one I whole-heartedly endorse trying, is this:

Delete cookies on your computer each time you search for airfares on a travel booking site. Cookies can alert the site to the fact that you’ve been checking in frequently to snag low fares. The site may end up giving you fares you’ve already seen before instead of ones you’d get if you were conducting a new search.

How to delete your cookies: Go to your Internet browser’s Tools menu. Select Options (Firefox) or Internet Options (IE). You’ll then see a tab for Cookies (Firefox) or a button that says Delete Cookies (IE).

No, I’m not even kidding. I kind of wish I were, because something about Oasis band members (and brothers) Liam and Noel Gallagher launching a hotel chain called Supernova Heights makes me depressed. Maybe it’s because I’m sick of celebrities launching their own hotel chains. Maybe it reminds me that Oasis never did anything good after Wonderwall and yet they claimed for years to be the next Beatles.

Anyway, so the brothers Gallagher reportedly have U.S. business bigwigs onboard the project, but there’s no word on names, except that one of them has allegedly worked with Donald Trump. Wouldn’t it be funny if the supposed business developer was actually some flack who got booted off the Apprentice? Ha.

But from the information floating around the web, it sounds like Liam and Noel need a crash course in appealing to the American consumer. One of their initial ideas involved installing cigarette machines and booze dispensers in every hotel room. We all dream about living the rock ‘n roll lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean we want to sleep in a room smells like a dive bar shortly after closing on Saturday night. Nor does it sound like a good place to leave unattended teenagers, slacker boyfriends, alcoholics, ex-smokers, asthmatics, nuns, airline pilots or spring breakers. Travel bloggers? That’s a different story.

Oasis Band Members to Launch Nationwide Hotel Chain

Ever considered vacationing in a Polish swamp? I certainly had not until I ran across one TravelPoster’s review of the Zagroda Kawasy Hotel. Located in Poland’s Biebrza National Park, an area near Russia that’s home to vast swathes of marshland and forest, the lodge is a truly rustic destination - none of that fancy pants Americanized rustic stuff that hotels are always touting (you know what I mean, like $1,200/night “rustic” accommodations in Aspen).

Why would you go? You’d have to be a nature lover (there’s no TV). Elk, boars, roe-deer, vipers, wolves and over 273 species of birds also call the region home. History buffs will find scenic view points commemorating World War II events, while fans of equestrian recreation will find ample horse trails and trusty steeds available for explorations. Canoeing, fishing and swimming in the surrounding lakes, ponds and winding rivers are also popular activities in summer months.

Rooms rangle from singles to two-room apartments. Each has its own bathroom. Decor is cabin-like and simple. Think handmade rugs, tapestries, local handicrafts and furniture constructed from locally sourced timber.

Crunchy travelers will find an environmentally-friendly heating system installed in the lodge, as well as an onsite sewage system - which makes the lodge self-sustainable. Produce, meats and even prepared items like condiments come from farms in the surrounding region, and vegetarians will find meat less options at every meal.

Rooms range from 40 to 90 euro/night. The rate includes breakfast and dinner.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I would have never known about this hotel or this region had it not been for one TravelPoster’s review. You can always review and upload pictures of hotels even when they aren’t in the TravelPost.com system. The minute you add your comments about your stay, the hotel becomes available to hundreds of thousands of other viewers.

Zagroda Kuwasy Hotel official site

Can’t get to Rome as soon as you’d like? Perhaps a silk scarf printed with a map of the city will tide you over. Okay, we know a scarf is a poor substitute for an adventure abroad, but one printed with your favorite city’s streets might lift your spirits the next time you’re jonesing for a getaway. Map Scarves are available in two sizes and two colors for the following cities:

London
Paris
Rome
Venice
Vienna
New York
Washington DC
San Francisco
Berlin

Map Scarves official site

As a restaurant repeatedly counted among the best in the country, the French Laundry in Yountville, CA is notorious for its hard-to-come-by reservations. Just Google the restaurant, and you’ll find myriad message boards and blogs trading tips for scoring tables, as well as just as many tales of woe from those who’ve tried and failed.

Last night, my husband and I scored a reservation for 4. It wasn’t that difficult. Of course, we were trying for a Monday night table - I expect there’s a lot more competition for Thu-Sun reservations. But I’ll stand by this method.

A few caveats:

- We skipped calling and went straight for the online reservation route. You obviously can call the restaurant, but we’ve read that it gets something insane like 400 calls a day. Neither of us wanted to spend the time calling and redialing to get through.

- We live on the West Coast. Our method for scoring reservations required staying up until midnight, which may be a bit of a tall order for East Coasters.

- We wanted a table for 4. OpenTable only offers tables for 4. You’ll have to call the restaurant to book at table for 2.

The background:

- The restaurant will take reservations up to two months in advance.

- Two tables for four become available at midnight PST each day on OpenTable, one for the early seating, one for the second seating.

Making the reservation:

- Decide which day you want to visit the restaurant. You will need to make your reservation at midnight exactly two months from the day you wish to visit the restaurant. For example, we wanted a reservation for Oct. 30, 2006. We made our reservations at exactly 12am last night, technically Aug. 30.

- At about 11:30pm, go to your computer. Open one browser window to the OpenTable French Laundry reservation page (use this link, it’s hard to find on the web site). Enter the date you wish to visit. For the time, select 7:15. According to our sources, OpenTable offers a 5:30pm table and a 9:00pm table. Choosing 7:15 puts you in the running for both of them.

- Open another browser to the official U.S. time clock, which matches the time for the OpenTable server.

- Get a credit card ready. If you are lucky enough to get an available reservation, you’ll want to fill out all the information asap.

- When the clock hits 11:59:56, click the red search button on OpenTable. If you get a page that offers a time, you’ve gotten in. Last night, my husband and I were using separate computers, but followed this method. He got the 5:30pm time, and I got the 9pm.

- Choose your time, fill in the customer information, including a credit card number, and you’re done.

- If you click before the time hits midnight, you will see a message that says something like, your time exceeds the acceptable date range. Keep refreshing your browser until you get an available time or a message saying there are no reservations for your requested date.

A few other tips:

- The restaurant serves lunch on weekends. These reservations are rumored to be easier to snag.

- If you are staying in a wine country hotel, contact the hotel’s concierge. Many Napa Valley concierges will try to make reservations for you.

- If possible, stop by the restaurant in person to make a reservation.

- For tables of two, you’ll have to make reservations via telephone or in person. Both tables on OpenTable are for four.

- You can also hire this guy to get a reservation for you.

The Tranquilo Traveler blog, written by avid traveler and Moon guidebook writer Joshua Berman, is one part personal travel blog, one part resource. After spending over a year traveling the world with his wife, Berman has amassed quite an array of colorful advice and tidbits for the world wanderer, as well as the average joe who’s longing for the next three-day weekend.

In
Moleskine: The Books Behind the Blog, Berman’s meditation on the famous brand of blank books left me quite close to ditching Word Press and going back to simple pen and paper.

Taken from earlier in his adventures (last fall to be precise), Berman’s take on the ubiquitous Indian dish kichuri (It’s What’s For Lunch. For Dinner. And in Between) not only chronicles his humorous and frequent run-ins with this staple food, but also includes a recipe. I love those practical touches.

And it’s all done completely without any clever marketing speak, advertising or other commercial miscellany.

Check it out…

Tranquilo Traveler blog

Looking for a Florida hotel with earth-awareness? The state certifies hotels according to their environmental practices through its Florida Green Lodging certification program. Click the link to search for “green” hotels by city and major metropolitan area.

Next Tuesday, a new company that sells sample-size liquid toiletries and then delivers them to hotels in time for the customer’s arrival hopes to be one of the first to actually make m0ney from the new airline restrictions. To whet your curiosity, MyWetStuff is offering $15 off each of the first 70,000 orders.

I’m intrigued and may even test this service out for the hell of it when I head out of town the first week in September. But I’m a little skeptical. Here are my issues with the concept:

- Better for men than women: The product list isn’t up yet, but I doubt they’ll have sample-size versions of the products I prefer. I mean, they certainly aren’t going to carry my organic face wash, Bumble and bumble hair tonic and Bobbi Brown lip gloss. If you’re okay with going back to the basics for a few nights, then you might make it.

- What if you don’t use up all of your items during your trip? You just throw them away at your hotel? It would be cool if travelers had the option to send the items back home at the end of a trip.

- The web site says it will deliver products to hotels. What about private residences, vacation rentals, etc.?

- Will the shipping costs be really high? Because at the end of the day, you’ve got to weigh the extra money you’re spending against the time you’ll save at the baggage claim carousel.

I’m definitely keeping an eye on this company. If they can pull it off, it will offer some low maintenance travelers a new way to circumvent the liquid/gel ban.

Where in the world would one encounter this hotel sign? I’ll give you one guess. It starts with an H and ends with an Ooters. Hey, at least they warn you in advance. And besides, thinking blondes can be a serious issue. Let’s just hope they don’t let them do anything really dangerous, like tinker with the buffalo wings recipe. Because everyone knows how hairy things could get if real buffalos infiltrated the kitchen. Thanks to one brunette TravelPoster for sending this one in…