Johnny Jet's Travel Blog

FEATURED STORY: V AUSTRALIA

2009-07-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

G'day from Australia! I'm back in one of my favorite countries and getting here was seriously half the fun ... and half the price! I flew Richard Branson's newest airline V Australia, which recently entered this lucrative route once dominated by Qantas and United. Along with Delta (who began flying to Sydney on July 1), they have ruffled all kinds of feathers and fares have been slashed as the competition heats up. Read on to discover why you should visit Australia now and what makes V Australia so special.

FRANKFURT RIDDLE

2009-07-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm in Frankfurt staying at an airport hotel. Early morning to ... 3hrs away & where I used to think the residents of Hungary should move to.

TRAVEL UPDATE: LUXEMBOURG

2009-07-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

TRAVEL UPDATE:

LUXEMBOURG

Bonjour! I’m currently in Luxembourg which is a small fascinating landlocked country. I had no idea that from it’s capital city (Luxembourg City) it’s just 15km to France and 20km to both Belgium and Germany. It’s so close that I went across the border to get some Belgium fries – when was the last time you did that? As for Luxembourg – this place is like a fairy tale and a full report will be in an upcoming Johnny Jet’s Travel Newsletter! Bon Voyage.

# WEBSITE OF THE DAY: iMapWeather.com

2009-07-11T00:16:00.000-07:00

iMapWeather.com

Most travelers love weather maps and I'm always looking for the best. The newest one on the Internet is iMapWeather and it's billed as the first weather site to incorporate social media in a Google map display. Hence travelers can post and share photos, videos and tweets on the iMap. It's weather and other information "by the people, for the people." iMapWeather is really an eye-pleasing way to get five-day forecasts and current conditions, view radar and satellite images. You can even see real-time lightning strikes and get nautical information. It could be more user-friendly but bottom line: weather maps merged with Google Maps is genius.

Destination: Los Cabos, Mexico

2009-07-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

Destination: Los Cabos
Visit an exclusive vacation destination, catering to golfers, sport fishers and sunbathers alike.
By Mike Manna

The sun starts to set behind the western stretch of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountain range, its golden rays shimmer off the surface of the Pacific Ocean. On the eastern edge of the desolate tract lies the Sea of Cortes, whose serene waters outline the white sandy shore. The two bodies of water become one at the natural stone arch of El Arco, the peninsula's southernmost point and the region's most celebrated landmark. The captivating desert terrain located on the southern tip of Baja California Mexico is Los Cabos, a beautiful parched landscape surrounded by endless blue water. It's where the desert meets the sea and where vacationers have come to discover a relaxing and comforting oasis. Boasting an average of 360 sun-filled days and a rainfall rate of less than 10 inches per year, the arid region has become an exclusive vacation destination, catering to golfers, sport fishers and sunbathers alike.
Read on ...

New York City Family Vacation

2009-07-09T23:28:00.000-07:00

Destination: New York City
Surprisingly, New York can be a family friendly city if you know what to look for and where to go.
By Margot Black
New York is all hustle and bustle: crowded sidewalks, horn-happy traffic and impatient office workers vying for attention at deli counters. So how do you enjoy this vibrantly crazy city with a toddler in tow? Is it possible to find a truly family-friendly hotel and keep a 22-month-old amused when they're forced to spend most of their time in a stroller avoiding potholes in the rain (and boy, did it rain!)? And what about us adults? We deserve to have some fun too! Read on ...

This Week's Feature Story: Aruba

2009-07-08T23:27:00.001-07:00

Bon bini from the island of Aruba! I'm here because it's such a popular island destination for Americans (and the Dutch, too) and to be quite honest, I'm tired of having people ask me for tips on travel to Aruba, only to see their faces register horror and shock when I say I've never been. Although this Happy Island wasn't my first choice, you're about to see why I was so pleasantly surprised. Ariba, ariba, Aruba! Read on ...

Grignan, France

2009-07-07T21:39:00.000-07:00

My next stop was Grignan, France which is a fairy tale of a village about 2 hours south of Lyon. The main attraction is the Château de Grignan which was built in the middle ages as an acropolis. In the 16th century it was rebuilt and transformed into one of the greatest Renaissance châteaux of South-East France. Further building in the 17th century made it into "one of the finest antiquities in France". For more see http://pagesperso-orange.fr/jane/GrignanEnglish.html

Lyon, France

2009-07-07T21:31:00.001-07:00

My first stop was Lyon, France. It's France's third or fourth largest city and is just like a mini Paris. The main River (Rhone) is the focal point like the Seine but here there's a path that runs parallel. The best way to get around is by renting (like borrowing) a bicycle from one of the 310 bike stations. Around the city there are countless outdoor cafes and lots to see as well. More later ...

LAX-CDG-LYS

2009-07-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

I'm in France! The first leg of my trip from Los Angeles to Paris was 10 hours and 15 minutes and an joy (I got upgraded to Air France's business class- Woo Hoo!). The second flight was just 58 minutes and as can be. I can't wait to share my stories with you in a future JohnnyJet.com newsletters. For now I just be blogging short updates and daily pictures like the one above which I snapped we were landing at Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: DiscoverAsiaNow.com

2009-07-02T22:06:00.000-07:00

DiscoverAsiaNow.com
Almost every hour, at least one person emails me asking where they should go on their vacation and which destination will give them the best value. These days, you can pretty much go anywhere since almost the whole world is on sale, trying to ride out the recession. But one place that's always a value is Asia (especially Southeast Asia). The most expensive part of your journey will be the flight over there but from then on, it's savings galore. You will be amazed at how inexpensive hotels, food, transportation and souvenirs are. I'm in love with the Asian culture and would move to Hong Kong in a nanosecond! A great new website showcasing what Asia has to offer is DiscoverAsiaNow.com. It's a group effort from the tourism boards of Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. They highlight incredible deals like Cathay Pacific's All Asia Pass; roundtrip ticket between L.A, San Francisco or N.Y. to Hong Kong and up to four other Asian destinations for $1,499. Or a 14- day trip to see China and India including the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China for under $2,000 per person.

I was JUST there!

2009-07-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

Your guide to: Restaurants in Maui

2009-07-01T16:24:00.001-07:00

Your guide to: Restaurants in Maui
Set your taste buds watering with thoughts of fabulous dining in Maui.
By Kim Kessler

There are a variety of spectacular restaurants on the island of Maui, offering the freshest fish and local produce. For a casual oceanfront dining experience, I recommend Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina for dinner at sunset, where you can often spot green sea turtles from your table! They present a fresh "guacamole" made out of soybeans paired with salsa and chips and a large variety of salads, appetizers, Kobe beef burgers and fresh fish. My favorite starters are the ahi tuna bruschetta and quartet made of homemade hummus, raita, babaganoush and Greek feta cheese. I also love going to Mala for brunch on the weekends and especially suggest ordering the huevos rancheros with black beans, feta cheese, tortillas, eggs over easy and salsa. Read on ...

Destination: Four Seasons, Maui

2009-07-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

The Four Seasons on the island of Maui offers a family-friendly holiday that will thrill both adults and children. By Margot Black

Heaven is here on earth and the Four Seasons Maui is proof of that. The gleaming white sandy island of Maui is an enchanted destination that nestles in the Pacific Ocean, embracing the weary traveler like a kindly, yet glamorous aunt. Looking for a family-friendly holiday that could also offer a degree of comfort and would lift our vacation out of the ordinary and into the superlative, I packed up my husband and 21-month-old son, for a week of sunshine, pampering and five-star wonder at the Four Seasons resort hotel and spa in Maui. Read on ...

THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER: Aitutaki

2009-07-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

Kia orana! We left off last week from the South Pacific island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. This week, we visit neighboring Aitutaki, which many compare to Bora Bora ... minus the French. If you're looking for a tropical island setting for a family adventure or a romantic escape that's cheaper than Tahiti, but with the same incredible views and a ton of sea life (though not much human life) and all the comforts of home (Internet, TV, five-star hotel), then READ ON...

LAX'S NEW SERVICE

2009-06-30T23:22:00.000-07:00

LAX NEW SERVICE
I'm back in L.A. and a few major announcements took place this week at my home airport of Los Angeles International (LAX) that might be of interest to you. First, Continental just announced they're launching weekly nonstop service to Havana, Cuba. Unfortunately, at this time, only Cuban-Americans (100,000 live in California) can travel there as well as government officials, journalists, researchers and other groups.

VOLARIS
Another new service comes from Mexico's leading low-fare air carrier Volaris, which began its first international route with service from LAX to Toluca, Mexico. They will also soon be flying Oakland to Tijuana and they operate a modern fleet (average aircraft age is 2.3 years) of Airbus A320s. At Tuesday's press conference, they stated that beginning next year, Southwest Airlines will be in a code share agreement. What may matter to you, besides their low introductory rates, is that they're offering an on-time guarantee like nothing I've ever seen before. According to the CEO, Enrique Beltranena, if the plane arrives 30 minutes late, they'll refund the amount you paid for the flight -- even if it's due to a weather delay. I will believe it when I see it but I bet they'll be padding those flight times!

NEW SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA
The last bit of news is that Northwest has finally shifted all of their departures and arrivals from Terminal 2 to 5 (my cousin Willem was on their second to last flight out of T2). Also, Delta is launching nonstop service to Sydney on July 1, making the fares even cheaper to Australia. So now, travelers have four choices of nonstop service: Qantas, United, Delta and V Australia. Round-trip tickets can be had for as low as $710 R/T including taxes and fees. I just flew V Australia this week and their plane and service were simply amazing (more later). Good on ya, mates!

Hamilton Island Update!

2009-06-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

If you’re following me on Twitter, then you know I’m on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. Hamilton is the jumping off point for much of the Great Barrier Reef and it’s really like a fairy tale. It’s lush, quaint, has lorikeets and cockatoos flying around and everyone drives electric buggies (except workmen). The only thing I don’t like about this island is that they don’t recycle. But hopefully, that will all change when Ben Southall, the island’s new caretaker begins what Tourism Queensland bills as the Best Job in the World next week (July 1st). Ben beat out 35,000 applicants to earn the highly coveted six-month gig with a salary of about $100,000 USD.

Yesterday, I drove by Ben’s new luxurious three-bedroom villa (pictured above) with sweeping views that he will be sharing with his Canadian girlfriend Bre. Be sure to keep up with his adventures as he explores the islands of the Great Barrier Reef through a blog and video diaries. You can learn more about Ben on his current (blog) and follow his Queensland journey at IslandReefJob.com.

BTW: I just checked fares on V Australia. I flew down on V Australia last week and absolutely loved it! They're offering – get this – roundtrip fares for $721! That’s incredible and the 14-hour flight is a piece of cake as their crew and entertainment systems are amazing.

# TRAVEL VIDEO OF THE WEEK: The Miniature Wunderland

2009-06-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

The Miniature Wunderland
We usually stray away from corporate videos but this one of Germany's model railroad is simply unbelievable. It's quickly become one of Germany's most popular attractions with over 5 million tourists and the video has received close to 2 million views on YouTube. The Miniature Wunderland, is the largest model railroad in the world and it's in Hamburg, Germany. It has 16,146 square feet of space with more than 10,000 train cars running around 6.8 miles of track. Watch the video to get a feel for this remarkable achievement but better yet, visit it in person if you can.

TRAVEL BOOK OF THE DAY: "The Third Tower Up from the Road"

2009-06-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

"The Third Tower Up from the Road" is a humorous, offbeat, and insightful collection of travel essays from Kevin Dolgin’s popular McSweeney’s Internet Tendency column, “Kevin Dolgin Tells You About Places You Should Go.” The book celebrates the distinctive qualities of locations from all over the world, and each globetrotting essay focuses on a specific place, capturing the flavors and cultures through individual observations and exceptional experiences. Funny, irreverent, and insightful, the essays cover a wide range of places and interests, from unusual experiences and humorous traveler’s foibles to voyages that are intensely personal and moving. Buy at Amazon.com.

TRAVEL VIDEO OF THE DAY: The Craziest Intersection in the World

2009-06-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Craziest Intersection in the World
I've never been to Vietnam but have always wanted to go. However, the one thing I'm not looking forward to is crossing the street. I thought India and Thailand were crazy but all my friends who have traveled there say Vietnam is worse by far! After seeing this video of the craziest intersection in the world, I'm not arguing. BTW: I hear the secret is to find a local who is crossing and shadow them.

TRAVEL BOOK OF THE DAY: Moleskine City Notebook

2009-06-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Part journal, part guidebook, the Moleskine City Notebook is the first guidebook you write yourself. Plenty of space to write your own itinerary, aided by maps, pull-off tabs to mark your favorite spots and room to scribble. The collection totals 45 cities in the US, Europe and Asia.

Visit www.Moleskine.com/MoleskineCity for more.

TRAVEL PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: Nintendo DS-es Professor Layton and the Curious Village Game Do you love to pass time on the plane or in a car by playing

2009-06-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Nintendo DS-es Professor Layton and the Curious Village Game
Do you love to pass time on the plane or in a car by playing video games? I'm currently addicted to Spider Solitaire but many of my female friends are plugging away on their shiny new Nintendo DS-es with the hot game of the season: the puzzle-based game of Professor Layton. I recently read that Nintendo targets women travelers specifically between the ages of 25 and 34 because for some reason they can't resist visiting Professor Layton's town of St. Mystere to help solve the mysterious puzzle. There's more than 130 mini-game puzzles around every corner of the curious village so it may be the perfect stimulating activity for summer travel or business trips.

jetBlue Now Flies From LAX to BOS and JFK

2009-06-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

jetBlue’s award-winning service is now available from Burbank, Long Beach and LAX. The airline just started twice daily nonstop service from LAX and sale fares are as low as $109 between LAX and New York or Boston through June 26, 2009. At today's announcement, JetBlue's CEO Dave Barger made a (up to) $30,000 donation to support music education (www.VH1SaveTheMusic.com/JetBlue) in public schools in New York, Boston and Los Angeles. Also on hand were fifth-graders from The Hooper Elementary School Mariachi Ensemble and when they sang La Cucaracha (The Mexican Cockroach Song) I almost spit my cake out. Another highlight, besides getting a tour of BetaBlue (their spacious Airbus A320 with WiFi), was carrying an oversize pair of scissors on the plane, making an announcement and meeting Los Angeles Dodgers legend Steve Garvey. For more info and JetBlue's schedule of service to/from LAX, click here.

TEL AVIV BEACH PARTY IN CENTRAL PARK

2009-06-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

TEL AVIV BEACH PARTY IN CENTRAL PARK, JUNE 21. FREE EVENT!

I was just in Tel Aviv and I haven’t gotten around to writing my story (I’m backlogged). However, Tel Aviv is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year and they are bringing the fun (and sun) of the Mediterranean to Central Park (at the Naumberg Bandshell) this Sunday, June 21, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, for an all-day beach party extravaganza. And...it's free!

The Tel Aviv Beach Party in Central Park will feature:

-Tons and tons of sparkling white sand, replicating the Tel Aviv beachfront complete with lifeguard stands, umbrellas and beach chairs

-Traditional Israeli beach games including backgammon and matkot (Israeli beach paddle ball)

-An appearance by former Miss Israel, Sivan Klein and Israeli supermodel Esti Ginzburg

-Performances by Hativka 6, Israel's most famous reggae band; FLOW, a multi-lingual Israeli rock n' roll band; and DJ Hadar Marks

-A raffle to win a free Tel Aviv beach vacation at the Prima Hotel Tel Aviv.

-All-day ice-pop giveaways, free sunscreen, and more...

For more information, visit www.tlv100.co.il.