New airport lounges are popping up so often these days, you’d think the airlines are under the mistaken impression that travelers actually want to sit around at the airport. Nevertheless, airport lounges are great perks for business travelers and others willing to pay to access them. While the most impressive example I’ve heard of recently is the Qantas first class lounge in Sydney (free spa treatments while you await your flight), the UK’s Business Traveller doesn’t even mention it in its recent round-up Lounging Around.

Instead, the story mentions Club 48, the new lounge from Eos Airlines, at London Stansted airport. There, travelers are treated to wi-fi and 50-inch TVs, while in Tokyo, Virgin has opened a new Clubhouse with a sun deck and two swanky lounges for its first class (upper class) passengers. And that’s not all. Star Alliance recently opened a new lounge in Los Angeles, while Japan Airlines has revamped its lounges at Narita Airport.

Have you been to a fabulous airport lounge recently? Tell us about it, and maybe we’ll feature it here.

Many of us will never see the inside of the new Qantas First Lounge, opened this week in Sydney (another is set to open in Melbourne at the end of the month), but that shouldn’t stop us from drooling over it. The lounge, designed by international design impresario Marc Newson, is only open to the airline’s first class passengers. Upon arrival at the airport, passengers are ferried through security and customs by private escorts (no, not that kind sickos) and deposited in the lounge, where complimentary 30- and 50-minute Payot Paris spa treatments, dining and myriad entertainment options await. Neil Perry, a famous Aussie chef and owner of Sydney hotspot Rockpool, created the menu available at the 48-seat restaurant. The lounge also has its own library, “shower suites” for freshening up and an entertainment zone stocked with plasma TVs and video game stations. Or you can just kick back in a comfy recliner and watch the planes come in.

Students take note. STA Travel’s Blowout Sale is offering low fares on roundtrip tickets, hostels and other adventures in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Asia. Basically everywhere but the U.S. and Canada. The sale runs through Thursday, March 22. Among the discounted deals:

- $913 rountrip airfare to South Africa

- $5 hostel overnight stays

- Round the world tickets from $1193

- Roundtrip tickets to Europe starting at $139

Ch-ch-check it out.
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In an effort to make beverage service easier for both flight staff and passengers, Hawaiian Airlines has announced that it will no longer accept cash as payment for beverages on its interisland flights. You’ve got to do the truffle shuffle in the aisle instead.

Actually, you just have to have a credit card. After testing the no-cash policy on its Pacific flights, the airline has decided to use the same portable credit card devices on all of its flights.

Hawaiian Interisland Flights Go Cashless

Might want to leave the anti-Bush t-shirt at home the next time you fly. Or at least save it for the beach, not the airport. An Australian traveler was recently turned away from a flight on Qantas for wearing a shirt likening Mr. President to a terrorist. Airline officials say the shirt could have upset other travelers. The jilted passenger is threatening legal action.

Man kicked off flight for Bush-bashing T-shirt

Travelers can find lots of meaty “best of” picks in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2007 Gold List, its definitive guide to the best hotels and cruise accommodations the world has to offer. Search by location or categories like rooms, service, design, food and activities. If, for example, you wanted to know which hotels have the most impressive rooms on each continent, you’d find these results:

United States

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Hawaii)

Inn at Palmetto Bluff (Bluffton, SC)

Rancho Valencia Resort (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)

Africa

Bateleur Camp (Kenya)

Chobe Chilwero (Botswana)

Singita Private Game Reserve (South Africa)

Asia

Amandari (Indonesia)

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan (Indonesia)

JW Marriott Seoul (South Korea)

Australia and Pacific Nations

Rialto Hotel on Collins (Melbourne, Australia)

Park Hyatt Sydney (Australia)

Huka Lodge (Taupo, New Zealand)

Canada

Auberge du Vieux-Port (Montreal)

Pan Pacific WHistler Mountainside (Whistler)

Auberge Saint-Antoine (Quebec)

Caribbean and Atlantic Islands

Hotel St. Barth Isle de France (Guadeloupe)

Sandy Lane (St. James, Barbados)

Malliouhana Hotel & Spa (Anguilla)

Central America and South America

Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo (Costa Rica)

Swisshotel Quito (Ecuador)

Ritz Carlton Santiago (Chile)

Europe

Buckland Manor (Gloucestershire, UK)

Chateau Les Crayeres (Reims, Frances)

Four Seasons Gresham Palace (Budapest, Hungary)

Mexico

Las Casa Que Canta (Zihuatanejo)

Four Seasons Resort (Punta Mita)

JW Marriott Mexico City

Middle East

Four Seasons Cairo Nile Plaza (Cairo, Egypt)

Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence (Cairo, Egypt)

Burj Al Arab (Dubai)

The complete guide is too exhaustive to publish here, but this is definitely a good resource to browse if you’re planning a luxury getaway, honeymoon or world adventure for the coming year.

Those Aussies, with their Hungry Jacks, Vegemite, Mackers and tinnies. If you’re heading to Australia (great time to go considering that it’s summer Down Under), you’ll need to understand the native language. The article linked below will get you on your way.

Chundering Through Rooland

November’s issue of Conde Nast Traveler features the results of its annual Readers Choice Awards. The issue goes on sale Oct. 24th. In the mean time, you can check out the top three winners in each category. Real travel junkies can compare this list to last year’s Readers Choice Awards:

Top Cities - United States:

1. San Francisco, CA

2. Santa Fe, NM

3. New York, NY

Top Cities - Asia:

1. Bangkok, Thailand

2. Hong Kong

3. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Top Cities - Europe:

1. Florence, Italy

2. Rome, Italy

3. Venice, Italy

Top Cities - Africa/Middle East:

1. Cape Town, South Africa

2. Marrakech, Morocco

Top Cities - Pacific Rim:

1. Sydney, Australia

2. Melbourne, Australia

3. Queenstown, New Zealand

Top Cities - The Americas:

1. Vancouver, British Columbia

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

3. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Top Islands - Europe:

1. Mykonos & the Cyclades, Greece

2. Madeira, Portugal

3. Capri, Italy

Top Islands - Pacific Rim:

1. Maui, Hawaii

2. Kauai, Hawaii

3. Moorea, French Polynesia

Top Islands - Caribbean/Atlantic:

1. Bermuda

2. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

3. British Virgin Islands

Top Islands - North America:

1. Vancouver Island, Canada

2. Kiawah, South Carolina

3. Nantucket, Massachusetts

Top Islands - Asia:

1. Maldives

2. Bali, Indonesia

3. Phuket, Thailand

Top International Route Airlines:

1. Singapore Airlines

2. Emirates

3. Cathay Pacific

Top Domestic Route Airlines:

1. JetBlue

2. Midwest

3. Hawaiian

Top Car Rental Agencies:

1. Hertz

2. Renault Eurodrive

3. Avis

Top Large Ship Cruise Lines:

1. Regent Seven Seas

2. Crystal Cruises

3. Disney

Top Small Ship Cruise Lines:

1. SeaDream Yacht Club

2. Grand Circle Cruise Line

3. Regent Seven Seas

Top Resorts - Africa:

1. Singita - Ebony & Boulders Lodges

2. Chief’s Camp, Botswana

3. Chobe Chilwero, Botswana

Top Resorts - Canada:

1. Pan Pacific Mountainside, Whistler

2. Four Seasons, Whistler

3. Westin Resort, Whistler

Top Resorts - Atlantic:

1. One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas

2. The Reefs, Bermuda

3. Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Top Resorts - Central/South America:

1. Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo

2. Explora en Patagonia, Chile

3. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Argentina

Top Resorts - Asia:

1. Four Seasons Bali at Sayan

2. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand

3. Banyan Tree, Phuket, Thailand

Top Resorts - Mexico:

1. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo

2. Royal Hideaway Playacar, Riviera Maya

3. JW Marriott, Cancun

Top Resorts - Pacific Rim:

1. Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, Lanai

2. Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island

3. Voyages Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef

Top Resorts - Europe:

1. Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland

2. Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland

3. Mount Juliet Conrad, Co. Kilkenny

Top Resorts - Caribbean:

1. Malliouhana Hotel, Anguilla

2. Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

3. Sandy Lane, Barbados

Top Resorts - United States:

1. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, AZ

2. Inn at Palmetto Bluff, SC

3. Inn at Spanish Bay, CA

Top Hotels - Asia:

1. Fullerton Hotel, Singapore

2. Amandari, Bali

3. The Peninsula, Bangkok

Top Hotels - Caribbean/Atlantic:

1. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France

2. Ladera, St. Lucia

3. Waterloo House, Bermuda

Top Hotels - Pacific Rim:

1. Rialto Hotel on Collins, Melbourne

2. Park Hyatt, Sydney

3. Lilianfels Blue Mountains, Australia

Top Hotels - Africa:

1. Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza

2. Cape Grace, Cape Town

3. Sofitel Palais Jamai, Fez

Top Hotels - Europe:

1. Four Seasons Gresham Palace

2. Chateau Les Crayeres, Reims

3. Four Seasons George V, Paris

Top Hotels - South America:

1. Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru

2. Four Seasons, Buenos Aires

3. Swissotel, Quito, Ecuador

Top Hotels - United States:

1. The Peninsula, Chicago, IL

2. Watermark Hotel, San Antonio, TX

3. St. Regis, New York, NY

Top Hotels - Canada:

1. Auberge du Vieux-Port, Montreal

2. Hotel Dominion 1912, Quebec City

3. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City

Top Hotels - British Isles:

1. Buckland Manor, The Cotswolds

2. Gidleigh Park, Devon

3. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Top Hotels - Central America/Mexico:

1. JW Marriott, Mexico City

2. Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas

3. Casa Santo Domingo, Guatemala

Top Hotels - Middle East:

1. Grand Hyatt, Amman

2. King David, Jerusalem

3. David Citadel, Jerusalem

Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards

Newbie Australian discount carrier Jetstar had such success with its recent Hawaii fare sale that it’s offering up another one. Through midnight Oct. 6, the airline is selling tickets for travel in February and March 2007 between Hawaii and Sydney and Melbourne on the serious cheap. As always, supplies are limited:

Melbourne to Honolulu - $519 Economy Class, $1099 StarClass

Sydney to Honolulu - $469 Economy, $1099 StarClass

As an aside, I did some playing around with Jetstar’s booking engine. For travel from Honolulu to Sydney on February 17, 2007 with a return on March 7, 2007, the site spit out a round-trip fare of $495/person. Not bad, I say. That’s as much as I pay to fly to the East Coast sometimes!

JetStar Fare Sale

Carbon Offsetting has become a new trend in travel these days. Basically, it’s a way to pay to make up for the damage your travel is doing to the environment, whether you go by air, car, hotel, etc. A non-profit called Sustainable Travel International has a Carbon Offset Calculator that helps travelers determine their individual “carbon footprints” and calculates a donation amount that will offset the cost of the damage, if that makes any sense!

I won’t go into the nitty gritty details surrounding Carbon Offsetting because Sustainable Travel International’s web site does a way better job of that than I could ever hope to, but suffice to say, the calculator (linked below) is a pretty cool little tool. If you’re serious about sustainable travel, the environment or just plain taking responsibility for your own actions (now I sound like a mom), this is an easy way to find out just how much you should give back to cancel out the damage caused by your travels.

Sustainable Travel International Carbon Offset Calculator