The Week's Top Travel News

For updates in real-ish time, follow TravelPost on Twitter.

• Scientists confirm that bedbugs are becoming pesticide-resistant. Doesn't reading that make you feel itchy? (Gadling)

• The Obama administration has rolled back the Bush restrictions on travel to Cuba. (New York Times)

• Marriott will not be offering porn adult entertainment (right) at new hotels. Gee, where will people ever find it now? (USA Today) 

• What to do if you're stranded at an airport because of bad weather. (Wall Street Journal)

• New routes on Qantas, Continental, Delta, Spirit, and Vision Airlines. (Jaunted)

• Vision Airlines also has cheap flights to Florida. (USA Today)

• And flights to Mexico are on sale. (Budget Travel)

• Disney news, part 1: Walt Disney World’s castle-projection show sounds trippy. (Gadling)

• Disney news, part 2: Details on Walt Disney World’s big Fantasyland revamp. (USA Today)

• Disney news, part 3: Take a look around Disney Cruise Line's new Disney Dream ship. (USA Today)

• A new hotel's rooms don't have doorknobs. But how do you locate the door when you're drunk? (HotelChatter)

• It can be hard to bring and/or locate prescription medications abroad. (New York Times)

• Leaving your cell phone on actually can interfere with plane electronics. (New York Times)

• Punks are tricking hotels into setting off their fire alarms. (USA Today)

• Is tight security making Washington D.C. feel more like Pyongyang? (USA Today)

Traveling Isn't Perfect, Nor Am I: Interview with Ayngelina Brogan of Bacon Is Magic

Ayngelina Brogan pressed pause on her corporate career to travel the way she had always dreamed—for a long period of time, going wherever the wind took her. She has been making her way through Latin America by herself, blogging about it at Bacon Is Magic.

How would you define your travel style?

I'm definitely a backpacker. I carry I giant backpack with my Canadian flag patch sewn proudly on it, sleep in hostel dorms, and often eat in markets. At $30 a day, I'm far from being a luxury traveler.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be and why?

When I planned this trip I had grand dreams of making it through Latin America, Africa, and then Mongolia. I changed those plans when I spent so much time in Central America to include just Latin America and India. Last week, I decided to just stay in Latin America. This is all to say I'm exactly where I want to be. I've given myself enough time that I can come and go on a whim and I often do. For example, I'm currently in northern Peru, and I met the woman sitting next to me on a bus who told me I had to go to Cajamarca. She said few foreign tourists go there but Peruvians love it. I had no idea what it looked like or what there was to do but she was so passionate that I took the next bus there. I'm in Cajamarca now and it's incredibly beautiful.

What was your best travel experience?

There's no one best experience. But I am one of the few people who loves travel days and it's often because I choose to take the cheapest form of transportation and the locals think I'm crazy. In Bangkok, I traveled with an ex-boyfriend, and I decided we would take the train to the Cambodian border. It was 50¢ and seven hours on wooden seats. It was crowded with 3–4 people on a bench, so we met lots of people and communicated through hand gestures. It's also one of my favorite food experiences—a woman came by selling rice topped with a fried egg and a baggie of liquid. I have no idea what the seasoning was but the best breakfast was the best I've ever eaten.

What was your worst travel experience?

Once I was in a rush and was on a series of buses in Colombia for 72 hours. The air conditioning was cranked and the roads were windy. I could barely sleep, I was freezing, I had motion sickness, and the AC dried my skin so much it looked like I had aged ten years. I promised myself that I would never rush again.

What's your best travel advice for the TravelPost community?

Take it slow. In the beginning, it sounds great to say you're traveling 3–4 countries in one month. Sure you can check the little pins on the map on your Facebook profile but you don't really get the true value of a country.

What have been the greatest challenges and rewards of travel writing?

Other travelers think I'm crazy to spend an hour or two a day working on my blog, but I think because I'm a career breaker it helps me feel focused and still productive. A couple of months back I had a really low day where I wanted to go home and hated everything; at the same time, I felt ridiculous because these were the complaints of a privileged person living her dream. I sat down and wrote about the 12 things I hate about traveling, and I was overwhelmed by the response and support from those reading my blog. I realized I wasn't alone. From that day, blogging has changed for me and I've felt such a connection with the people who read my posts. I'm no longer afraid to share my fears or the ridiculous tantrums I have when I'm on the road. Traveling isn't perfect, nor am I, and now I feel like it's OK to share that. 

This particular odyssey you're on took you to South America, and primarily Colombia. Why did you choose that destination?

Choosing to start in Latin America was kind of simple. I couldn't afford to go back to Europe. I had already lived and traveled through Southeast Asia, and Latin America is really affordable, so I could aim to budget $1,000 a month. I started in Mexico and traveled overland through Central America, and I'm now in South America. I had no idea that Latin America would capture my heart, but I think it was what I needed. In 'real life' I tend to be a bit of a closed person. I'm not open and warm when you first meet me. I usually try to scope people out before I open myself to them. This is not true of the Latin American culture, where you know exactly what they think of you; whether you're someone they'd like to take home or a son of a bitch. I've learned to open myself up a bit, express my feelings both good and bad. I also let go of being afraid of new experiences—in Colombia I learned salsa dancing even though I'm a terrible regular dancer.

$10 Massages on the Beach and $5 Authentic Meals: An Interview with the Ordinary Travelers

Like many surfers, Christy and Scott also love to travel. They started their website to prove that anyone can be a globetrotter—having a day job or a less-than-luxurious travel budget need not be an obstacle. Follow their journey at Ordinary Traveler, where they share tips, unique photography, and entertaining stories, or visit their Facebook page.

How would you define your travel style?

We prefer budget adventure travel. We like the outdoors, and we camp as much as possible. If camping is not an option, then we like to stay in budget hotels or hostels. We find we get along with the people who stay at these places, and meet lots of interesting people. And we're always hiking or surfing on our trips. Our ideal day while traveling is being exhausted from exercise by the end of the day. We do go out sometimes at night, but for the most part we go to bed early and get up early. Sunrise is the best time for photography!

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

Somewhere tropical, with warm water and good waves. Either Panama, Nicaragua, or Dominican Republic.

What was your best travel experience?

We really enjoyed our stay in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. We had our own villa with an amazing view of the ocean. We surfed perfect waves, had $10 massages on the beach and $5 authentic meals while listening to crashing waves, ocean kayaked, and went hiking in the Manuel Antonio National Park. We couldn't have asked for more!

What was your worst travel experience?

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The Week's Top Travel News

For updates in real-ish time, follow TravelPost on Twitter.

• A list of the big hotel openings expected in 2011. (HotelChatter)

• Here’s a new one: gas masks as a hotel-room amenity. (HotelChatter)

• A two-for-one deal on Broadway shows, à la Restaurant Week. (Crain’s New York)

• Speaking of which: Book now for New York City's Restaurant Week. (Jaunted)

• Beautiful maps—like the one of London pictured—comparing where tourists and locals take photos. (National Geographic Traveler)

• Hotel chain Joie de Vivre will give you a $100 credit if you book a stay around your birthday. (Los Angeles Times)

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Q&A: What an Airline Pilot Thinks About Air Travel Today

The pilot in question has been a commercial pilot for 12 years (with four airlines and two corporate aircraft charter/private companies), and he has an interesting blog, ryanthepilot.blogspot.com. If you know someone on the front lines of the travel industry who would make for an interesting Q&A, by all means let us know!

Do you eat airline food?

No, but that is because my airline does not offer any meals, only snacks. Occasionally I'll eat some cookies, but I try and stay away from those. When I ride on other airlines to get home, I will usually eat their food, but that's because most of the time it comes from first class.

What's the most amazing sight you've seen from the cockpit?

I see many amazing sights from the cockpit all the time, but I think the most incredible was a full moonrise right on our nose rising in the east, with the sunset in the west behind us, causing the moon to hover slightly above the terminator (the black line in the sky separating night and day). And the colors that early evening were simply gorgeous.

When were you most scared while flying?

The most scared I've been was on the van ride I took last week to the hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. Actually, it was early in my flight training, when I couldn't get the gear to come down in my small general aviation airplane. I finally got it lowered and landed uneventfully, but on the drive home I began shaking from fear.

Have you ever had a close call brought on by human error?

Yes, I've been cleared to take off on runways that were being used for landing aircraft less than a mile from touchdown. I've also been cleared by ATC to climb to a higher altitude with opposite-direct airline traffic just 1,000 feet above us. If we had started the climb, there would have been a lot of falling metal over North Carolina.

Click "Read more" to see the pilot's answers to questions about full-body scanners, compensation, those Northwest pilots who flew right past their destination, and more.

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Authentic Travel: Dipping More Than a Toe into a Place

A few months ago, I wrote about ways to have a more authentic travel experience, the idea being that authenticity is best achieved among people who actually live in the destination. I forgot a big one: exercising.

I tend to do my New Year's resolving in November, when my birthday is, and this year's major resolution was to start swimming laps again; it's the only exercise I truly enjoy. I'm sure you'll be happy to know it's working out so far. And while swimming, I've remembered fondly all the pools I've swam in over the years. (That could be because every other pool I've swam in is nicer.)

As a traveler, I try to see as many locals' haunts as possible, and the pools absolutely qualify. In San Francisco, there was the YMCA at one end of the spectrum, and the fancy Bay Club at the other. In Seattle, there was the pool at Allstar Fitness on the 14th floor of downtown's Seattle Municipal Tower. In Chicago, I remember walking through an underground passage from the Fairmont Chicago to an adjacent fitness club with a very appealing pool. In Stockholm, I treaded water in an ornate 1902 pool at Sturebadet, a legendary gym and day spa. The pool I recall most fondly was the 50-meter municipal pool in Sydney's Cook + Phillip Park. A lot of pools claim to be "Olympic-size," but that means 50 meters long, which is twice as long as the lap pools you commonly see. (To find pools around the world, by the way, check out the Swimmers Guide database.) I also have a wish list of pools I'd like to swim in one day, including the one at the private club accessible to guests of the Four Seasons Santa Barbara Biltmore and, if I ever get back to Sydney, the dramatic Bondi Icebergs (pictured at top).

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The Week's Top Travel News

For updates in real-ish time, follow TravelPost on Twitter.

• You know airlines are prepping to cancel flights because of the weather when they start waiving fees to rebook. (MSNBC)

• Delta is trying something new with voluntary bumping—it's asking passengers how much they'd accept. (Gadling)

• A Salvador Dalí museum (right) will open in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Tuesday. (Jaunted)

• Spain's smoking ban has gone into effect. (Gadling)

• After a spooky stay at the Skirvin Hilton, ESPN's Bill Simmons believes in ghosts—or at least one particular ghost. (ESPN via USA Today)

• California's Legoland will open a Star Wars Miniland on Mar. 31. (Gadling)

• The dates in 2011 when U.S. National Parks will be free. (USA Today)

• Updates on Disney developments in China and Israel. (USAToday)

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What Life Is Really Like for the Staff of a Cruise Ship

Most of us can't go on a cruise without wondering what the experience is like for the members of staff and crew—but good luck getting one to spill all the details, at least while you're on the ship. A friend of TravelPost who has worked as a musician on a cruise ship for 11 years agreed to answer our (and your) questions.

What are your living conditions like? Are most staff and crew members’ living conditions the same?

Living conditions are... bearable. You are on a ship, so space is at a premium. There is quite a disparity in living conditions, depending on your job description. Most of the crew live below decks, sometimes four to a small cabin, and occasionally with a shared bathroom. The officer and guest entertainer cabins are fairly spacious—usually featuring a porthole and a double bed. Generally, for staff (musicians, casino workers, cruise staff, boutique workers, etc.) it's two to an inside (i.e. no porthole) cabin. The cabin is functional—bunk beds, desk, and a bathroom. On some cruise lines, the staff have "deck privileges" (i.e., they're free to be in passenger areas when off-duty), which means they're not obliged to return to their cabin or crew areas after work. On other lines, not.

Do you go stir crazy?

Ha ha!! Well, on occasion. If there are a lot of sea days, or if you have a very long contract, it can get to you. But as long as you have things to keep you occupied in the off-hours, it's fine. I bring a lot of books, try to learn other languages, and there's always someone up for a game of chess.

Ever canoodled with a passenger?

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Living and Working Abroad: The yTravel Blog Style of Traveling

Caz & Craig Makepeace with their daughter, Kalyra

Caz Makepeace first started traveling in 1997. She married Craig in 2002 and they have been travelling and living around the world ever since. Their 3-year-old daughter, Kalyra, now joins them on their adventures around the world. They love to share their stories and tips at ytravel blog and you can join their community at their interactive fanpage.

1. How would you define your travel `style'?

Our travel style has always been to work in other countries and use that as a base to explore the surrounding areas. We love slow travel and are not about racing through places just to rack up our bragging list of countries visited. We want to experience life in each country and get to know the people who live there. We can’t think of any better way to do this then to work in other countries. We absolutely love living as foreigners.

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How Was Your Holiday Travel?

Welcome to 2011! I must say, I was feeling a little told-you-so-ish about the storm that made post-Christmas travel hell for an awful lot of people. And I quote (myself): "Airlines will cancel flights rather than risk having them out of place when the weather clears. […] Air capacity is really high these days, and it'll be worse at Thanksgiving—so there are unlikely to be empty seats on other flights, especially near the holiday." Then again, the weather is one of those things that you can't do much about.... Or can you? If your flight was canceled and you discovered new strategies as a result—for getting on another flight, for traveling home some other way, or for killing time at an airport—please share them on this TravelPost discussion. The more knowledge we all share, the better off we'll all be.

To that end, here are two non-storm-related tidbits I learned on my trip to California. (I was fortunate to have returned to New York City the day before the snow started.)

1. TV remotes for germophobes Because remote controls are so difficult to clean, the ones in hotel rooms creep many folks out. The Best Western Date Tree Hotel in Indio, however, had something called the Clean Remote, which has a "spill-proof, non-porous, easy-wipe surface." Logically enough, it's being marketed to hospitals and hotels, places where infection is an issue and/or a particular concern. Of course, there's no guarantee anyone wiped it down since the last guest handled it, fondled it, or wiped his nose with it. (The remote is actually white—my camera turned it yellow for unknown reasons.)

2. Has United Airlines no sense of decency?
Click "Read more" below to find out the answer.

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