Everything about Las Vegas feels indulgent – from the super-magnified nightlife and on-going gambling, to massive hotels whose lobbies are more akin to convention centers. Las Vegas serves to please all of your senses all of the time. In recent years, the desert town has revamped their image, slowly solidifying their relevance in the modern world as one of the top US cities to visit. We’ve seen the commercials – what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

But, Las Vegas has more to offer its tourists than an intense nightlife and gambling. The Las Vegas fashion scene has encountered a resurgence. Gone are the days of polyester suits and women with big hair. In today’s fickle fashion world, Las Vegas has worked hard to bring world renowned designers to its residents and tourists. While the Miracle Mile Shops and Fashion Show Mall can certainly hold their own with over 400 shops and restaurants combined. Ultimately there’s no comparison to the quintessential Barney’s New York...

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China’s Vice President, Xi Jinping, says it’s been “a century-old dream for the nation to host the Olympic Games.” With last week’s lighting of the torch, its 130 day long journey across the planet is surrounded by challenges and unpredictability due to ongoing protests in places like Lhasa.

As reported by the NY Times, “This week, the Olympic flame is actually being split into two torches. One will be flown on Tuesday to Almaty, Kazakhstan to begin an international relay that will cover five continents, including one stop in the United States in San Francisco.” The other torch will begin its trip to Lhasa and then onto Mount Everest where it will be stored until the two parts reunite for their final trip back to Beijing for the opening of the games on August 8.

The Times article mentioned above does a nice job describing the torch’s journey and the varying political perspectives surrounding the Olympic games. Be sure to check it out and the rest of today’s travel headlines by clicking Read More.

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If you’re looking for stunning places to visit, Conde Nast has seven suggestions. April’s issue of Conde Nast Traveler features their latest picks for the seven architectural wonders of the world. These places include Red Ribbon in Qinhuangdao, China, London’s new Wembley Stadium, and New York’s New Museum.

Globally, there are many examples of exciting and innovative architecture. It’s a feat in itself to narrow it down to seven. Where do you begin? But, overall we’d have to agree with Conde Nast’s selection. All seven are beautiful, and they independently suggest a wonderment that great architecture should produce…

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It’s been a rough week for airline passengers. Delta and American Airlines canceled hundreds of flights. And today, Heathrow’s BA Terminal 5 was hit with a host of cancellations. Among all of the confusion, it’s difficult to stay positive about airline travel.

Many questions have arisen out of this week’s affairs. There’s a brief article written by USA Today concerning the confusion of cancelled flights. In it they answer a lot of questions you might have in regard to the sweeping flight changes. Be sure to check it out. Also, click Read More for the rest of today’s travel headlines.

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DUMBO is arguably Brooklyn’s best-kept secret. Williamsburg and Greenpoint get the lion’s share of the borough’s positive press, while DUMBO continues to remain below the radar. It’s located between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. DUMBO (an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is an amalgamation of everything old and new about the city – filled with great boutiques, galleries, architecture and restaurants.

Similar to its locale, Hecho en Dumbo is a blend of modern and traditional. The restaurant is a celebration of cosmopolitan aspects of Mexican culture as well as time-honored techniques of Mexican handmade food preparation. The menu features fresh takes on classics like, wine-braised steak tacos and ciabatta bread with black bean puree and pico de gallo. The establishment also features live music, film and art. Be sure to visit Hecho en DUMBO next time you’re in New York. Click Read More for additional information about the restaurant.

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England’s popular transportation Virgin Trains is unhappy with the upgrade proposal submitted by Network Rail. According to The Guardian, Virgin warns of over crowded trains and increased bus replacement services if Network Rail’s proposal is approved by the Office of Rail Regulation. In a statement taken earlier today, “Virgin Trains has significant concerns over the viability of introducing this plan, due to the huge disruption that will be caused to our customers, inevitable severe overcrowding on many trains, effect on our revenue and the reputational damage that will be suffered in the longer term,” said Virgin Trains.

If you’ve lived in a major city you’ve probably experienced something similar to this situation. Fewer trains, rearranged schedules, increased car traffic and long days are nothing new. Our suggestion, begin planning now. It’s shocking to see how decision-makers underestimate a city’s dependency on public transportation. If possible, organize car pooling groups and determine alternate routes. We’ve found that plans made at the earliest inkling of a system upgrade or transit strike help avoid those unexpected system failures. Click Read More for the rest of today’s travel headlines.

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When we think of London, we think of red phone booths. Although we don’t consider using them, they are still there, quietly residing on foggy streets in our british imagination. Pretty soon, that may be the only place we’ll be able to see them… either there, a museum or on a european version of MTV Cribs where a celebrity has turned one into a refrigerator.

Since 2002 the iconic phone booth has been slowly disappearing. With an ever growing cellphone population – Britain has more cellphones than people – the need for a phone booth is becoming obsolete. For example, the use of pay phones has dropped by more than half in the past three years and 30,000 of them have been removed. Although many of them have been replaced with more modern booths that serve as wireless hotspots, we’ll miss the traditional british stylings of the red phone booth. Its design was timeless, too bad its technology didn’t fare the same.

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This morning American Airlines grounded 200 of its MD-80 flights for wire inspection. The voluntary cancellation was part of the FAA’s directive that monitors national air worthiness. If you’re flying American today, be sure to check your flight.

USA Today reports that the flight inspections take a few hours and many of the flights should return to service throughout the day. When asked about the situation, American Airlines responded, “We are reinspecting the MD-80s to make sure the wiring is installed and secured exactly according to the directive.” A few weeks ago, Southwest Airlines received a record $10.2 million dollar fine for not following regulations for regular maintenance checks. Click Read More for additional information and the rest of today’s daily travel headlines.

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Over the years I’ve found that there are two types of travelers – those who pack as if they will never see their homes again, and those who go commando style, no really… what I mean is they travel lean and mean carrying one small/medium sized carry-on bag for a full week of travel.

I have to admit I fall into the first category, I am always sure I am forgetting something so I empty the contents of my drawers into a lot of bags and end up cursing myself as I drag 50 lbs or more through the airport. I have read many “how to pack” articles and heard the advice to bring half of what you think you will need (but what do they know anyway). Somehow though I still end up with other passengers growling at me as I try to cram my bag into the overhead compartment…

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*Updated [March 29] Serero tells NY Times that there’s no redesign. It was simply a spontaneous design.

The Eiffel Tower is one of Paris’ most popular sites. Each year approximately 6.5 million people wait in line for an hour to travel to the top and take in the Parisian view. For the tower’s 120th birthday (next year) the french are building a temporary observation deck that will increase the quality of access for its many visitors.

Serero – the acclaimed architecture firm that won the competition to design the observation deck – explains the basis of their concept. Per their website, “The project will extend the top floor plate of the tower by grafting a high performance carbon Kevlar structure on it. The structure will be temporarily bolted to the slab without requiring any modification of the existing structure. It will [double the surface area of the viewing platform].” We’re looking forward to the project’s completion. The clever design defies physics. The expanded access will hopefully shrink the waiting lines and add to the experience many look forward to when they visit France’s beautiful city. Click Read More for addition information and photos of the Eiffel Tower Observation Deck.

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Since its debut, the TSA’s blog has received a lot of attention. Entitled, the Evolution of Security and edited by TSA Bob, it operates much like your usual corporate blog. Its main purpose is PR, which we think is a good idea. In the past there’s been a disconnect between travelers and the TSA. The blogging outreach is a step in the right direction.

For instance, the TSA recently responded to an issue concerning Apple’s MacBook Air. A few weeks back a passenger attempted to go through security with the Air, and because of its unique design and interior construction, Transportation Security Officers took extra time to examine the laptop which ultimately made him miss his flight. In response, the passenger wrote a post about his experience. The post was brought to TSA Bob’s attention and he responded via the blog. Click Read More to find out how it was resolved and for the rest of today’s headlines.

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A little more than a year ago, Trey Ratcliff visited Chernobyl despite warnings from his close friends and relatives. If you don’t remember, Chernobyl was home to one of the largest nuclear disasters in history. In 1986, the town of approximately 55,000 residents was urgently evacuated when one of the nuclear reactors at the power station exploded.

In Trey’s post, Nuclear Winter in Chernobyl, his writing and photography take us on a tour of the abandoned city. He also visits Prypiat, a neighboring town that was home to many of the plant workers. Here’s a sampling of his trip, “First, we stopped in Prypiat, a fascinating place right out of the Day After. Prypiat was built as the ultimate Soviet communist panacea, a place for Chernobyl plant workers and their families to live, go to school, play, and live their lives in master-planned bliss. Prypiat was immediately deserted after the accident – kids left schools with their books still on the desks, families rushed out without getting everything, just complete and instant desertion. While I was there, it was completely quiet, and it was extra surreal with the early 80’s styling of the Soviet buildings, windows ajar and stuff still sitting in all the windows.” Click Read more for additional information and photos.

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Starbucks steps up their WiFi offerings. With their recent switch from T-mobile to AT&T, all Starbucks gift-card holders will receive two hours of free WiFi access daily – no purchase is necessary.

As Upgrade and WiFi Net point out, this is a pretty sweet deal: “Walk in, buy a $5 gift card, activate it and you’re on for two hours a day from then forward. You can also use multiple devices with a single account, within reason.” Perhaps Starbucks is feeling pressure from the many independent coffee shops offering free WiFi. Between Starbucks and Cybercafes, you should be able to score some internet access while you’re on the road.

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On March 30, the Open Skies agreement goes into effect making it easier for travelers to cross the Atlantic. Once before, airline carriers traveling from the US to Europe had to stop in their native country before continuing to their final destination. After the 30th, carriers will be able to offer more flight options and hopefully cheaper fairs for trans-atlantic travelers.

Unfortunately, this news comes on the heals of increased fuel prices forcing US airlines to squeeze flights and potentially jobs. Last week USA Today reported that fewer planes, fewer flights, and fewer jobs were how US airlines responded to the 30% rise in fuel prices over the past six weeks. So while options for international travel may increase, flight options domestically will probably shrink over the next few months. Click Read More for additional news from today’s travel headlines.

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Bolt is coming to the eastern corridor. The low cost, wi-fi enabled bus will take passengers from New York to DC starting March 27th – and there’s plans to expand the route to Boston shortly thereafter. We’re looking forward to this alternative. We enjoy taking the train, but Bolt presents some enticing features.

Here are the details: Depending on when you book, one-way tickets can cost as low as $1 and as high as $40 dollars. If you buy 8 tickets you get one free. There’s free wifi. Power plugs for every seat. And, from what we hear, there’s a good amount of leg room. Click Read More for additional information and related links.

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Travel can be far less hazardous when we are fortified with knowledge and are diligent in taking the precautionary steps to minimize risks. Recently, the media reported an outbreak of typhoid fever affecting around 2,000 people in Calamba City near the Philippine’s capital, Manila. The salmonella bacteria causing the illness may have been spread by contaminated water. According to the Center for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 22 million cases of typhoid fever and 200,000 related deaths occur worldwide each year. Approximately 400 cases of the illness a year are reported in the U.S., most in persons who are recent travelers.

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As you page through travel magazines you often see ads for luxurious hotel suites, tranquil spa settings, someone sitting in a robe and comfy slippers, smiling as they sip what looks like a delicious beverage. Ahhh sleep is only minutes away. But in the real world, you just worked eight to five, sped to the airport and grabbed something to eat at the hotel (or if you are really unlucky from the local mini-mart). You finally make it to your room only to find your neighbor in the room next door blaring a Facts of Life rerun while a fellow business person across the hall is yelling into the phone, trying to vocally make up for the distance to his home. Even in the best of situations you are having trouble sleeping…

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We’ve been eyeing the Smart Car ever since rumors of its US debut. Living in the city can make you jaded when it comes to car ownership. Cars are often more of a burden than a convenience. However, Smart provides a strong solution for our car issues. The low cost ultra-ultra compact is nimble, parks just about anywhere and consumes approximately 45 miles per gallon. Could there be anything wrong with this car? Well, whenever we discuss the Smart Car the elephant in the room is safety…

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Passengers are moving closer to wide spread paperless check-in thanks to the work of Continental and a handful of other airline carriers. We look forward to downloading boarding passes to our mobile device and using that as our ticket. No more crumpled kiosk slips jammed in our pockets.

As the NY Times reports today, “First came the kiosk, a strange addition to airport terminals when Continental Airlines began offering it as a check-in option in 1995. It was followed by Web check-in, introduced by Alaska Airlines in 1999. Now, with 80 percent of passengers using these self-service options, the next step is electronic boarding passes, which essentially turn the hand-held devices and mobile phones of travelers into their boarding passes.” Click Read More for additional headlines and information in today’s travel briefing.

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One of our favorite artists, José Parlá, is opening an exhibit entitled Memory Documents in Galleria Il Trifoglio Nero located in Genoa, Italy. When we first saw Parla’s work, his striking color balance and effortless motion drew us in. We’ve been a fan ever since.

As Manon Slome from New York’s Chelsea Art Museum writes, “Parlá is fascinated with how the city constructs itself and functions as a palimpsest, upon which the experiences of those who pass through are materially inscribed on decaying walls. He sees the city as a vertical grid, from the bridges, to the streets, down to the subterranean warrens of train tunnels, pipes and wires connecting to people living life inside apartments. The construction of the city and the passing of time find their equivalent in the way he attacks a painting, how he sees the need to layer his surfaces the way the city itself is layered.” Parlá named this installation Memory Documents because his works become fragments of places he’s been. Click Read More for additional information about the exhibit.

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With summer around the corner, many of us will be taking vacations, some to tropical and sunny destinations. After a long winter, we naturally crave the warm soothing feel of the sun, the healthy skin glow and relaxed fresh look from being under the sun. However, there are also problems associated with direct sun exposure, such as skin and eye burns and hypersensitivity reactions. Sun exposure over a period of years may lead to premature aging of the skin and increased risk of skin cancers. There are steps that travelers can take to reduce these risks. Click Read More for tips and facts about your skin and the sun.

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Just minutes away from Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest and most famous intersections in Japan, is a tranquil and beautifully designed hotel – Cerulean Tower Tokyu. Once you leave the busy streets of Shibuya, cross over the airwalk (pictured above) and enter the hotel lobby, there’s an immediate sense of calm that comes over you. Although the lobby is large, its minimal and modern design suppresses feelings of chaos and disorganization with hotel staff providing each guest with warm greetings and assistance.

The Cerulean Tower is a massive structure that towers over Tokyo. The designers take advantage of its size and location by situating all the guestrooms between the 19th and 37th floor, ensuring that every room has a majestic view that immediately captures your attention the moment you walk in. Each room has a modern aesthetic while selected bathrooms feature steam showers that entice you to stay in them forever. With a number of restaurants, bars, an indoor pool and the Noh Theater providing traditional Japanese performance art – you’ll be more than satisfied with your stay. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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Ok, you were on the plane forever. They fed you a minuscule bag of “snacks”, gave you enough to drink to go to the teeny tiny restroom ten times and you have finally arrived safely at your home away from home – the hotel. Now all you can think about is eating. If life isn’t treating you too badly, room service is available. Or, if you’re in an out of the way place, you might find menus slipped under the door and if you are lucky they deliver!

Well, you don’t have to hide in your room and watch movies they won’t even show on a plane. It’s time to venture out and eat on your own.

Yes, most of us have experienced the heartbreak of eating alone – sitting in a restaurant by our lone selves. But you don’t have to be afraid – we can do this together. Here are a few tips for braving the venture of eating alone…

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Exciting design and great chocolate make Xocoa a special place among the shops in Barcelona. With the usual flavors – dark, milk and white chocolate – you’ll also find a few eccentric offerings. Have you ever considered Ginseng, Green Tea or Saffron chocolate combinations? Maybe not, but one taste and you’ll be hooked.

Xocoa’s daring efforts don’t end with their flavor selection. Visually, the store’s clean displays and hyper-color packaged products provide stunning distinction and branding. You can’t miss it. We know several cities claim the title of World’s Chocolate Capital, but with stores like Xocoa, it appears Barcelona may be making a run for the top spot. Click Read More for additional information and photos of Xocoa, Barcelona.

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Flying is purely functional. It’s not the trip. You take a flight to get to where you want to be. With seats that can be small and uncomfortable, food that is less than appetizing and flight delays that add unnecessary stress, flying is a part of the trip that some, including myself, would rather sleep through. But Eos Airlines is hoping to change that perspective.

The mission of Eos Airlines is to provide ultimate comfort and convenience while flying from NYC to London. And, although flights are geared for the business executive, we’d venture to say that the average person would enjoy stress free travel too. The ethos of Eos Airline is “uncrowded & uncompromising” which speaks to their ability to eliminate crowds and lines by using Eos Guides to quickly move you through security, provide each passenger with 21 square feet of space for work, listening to music on your personal entertainment system and sleeping in your 6’6” flat bed. I think this flight will be my next trip.

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Today’s travel health provides various ways to avoid motion sickness. People tend to experience motion sickness on a moving train, plane, boat or automobile. Planning ahead can minimize or even avoid the symptoms of motion sickness. Click Read More for details on how to avoid feeling sick.

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March 27 marks the opening of Heathrow’s Term 5. As we get closer to the date, the coverage continues to explode. Recently, the super-styled hub opened its doors to London based journalists for a preview. Writers from Iconeye and PSFK wrote interesting pieces providing an inside look at the Terminal. The massive structure, curated by Artwise, includes work from Troika, El Ultimo Grito, Oona Culley and Christopher Pearson. The group were commissioned to outfit six lounges with their work. From what we can tell, the end results looks really promising.

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While traveling, finding a strong cup of coffee and a reliable internet connection can prove challenging. That’s where Cybercafes comes in. The online database listing over 4000 internet cafes in 141 countries offers a great solution for those looking for wifi and caffeine. Simply enter your city and the site delivers a listing of locations detailing their address, phone number and homepage. The phone number is especially useful if you want to call ahead to verify that everything is up and running before going. [spotted via]

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We’ve wanted to travel to New Zealand ever since Kozyndan gave us a glimpse of Muriwai Beach. For the second year in a row, readers of Wanderlust – a UK based travel publication – voted it as the Top Country to visit. The magazine claims that New Zealand’s growing popularity as a filming location has helped raise their profile as a must-see destination and is consistently drawing visitors – especially when there are flight deals like this one. If you’re interested in seeing New Zealand, now is a good time.

In other news, today’s travel briefing highlights Germany’s Airport Strikes, Jet Lag Prevention, The New Yorker’s Spotlight of Lesser Known Music Venues and Virgin Atlantic’s Move for Green. Click Read More for additional information…

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Social networking sites have proven to be more than just a fad. They’ve become increasingly legitimate forms of communication – connecting people in strange, unthinkable ways. Enter the Couch Surfing Project; it’s a hospitality exchange network. Members alternate roles of host and surfer. Hosts can offer the possibility of accommodation, while surfers search for and request accommodation.

Couch Surfing may seem like something for an extremely adventurous traveler, but the organization goes out of its way to ensure security and trust. Members are encouraged to add personal references and other forms of verification to their profile pages. This added layer of security appears to encourage enrollment. Recently the site recorded 353,910 successful surf or host experiences and 442,974 friendships created. That’s pretty impressive.

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Experience driven photography makes us want to travel. Open the pages of Everywhere Magazine and you’ll feel like you’ve been to a hundred places and need to go to a hundred more. From the mind-labs of 8020, the new travel magazine delivers. Their innovative concept of building a magazine completely around the photo submissions of their readers is awesome. Like their tag line – Travel is all around you – imagine millions of photographers around the world capturing unique moments and delivering them to you in one well executed publication. That is Everywhere Magazine. Click “Read More” for additional photos and information.

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Although the number of community bookstores is shrinking, the ones that continue to exist often serve as a cultural epicenter. They’re a meeting place where conversations move from the pages of publications to community members and so on. In Berlin, Pro QM lives up to the strictest manifesto of a cultural center.

Established in 1999, Pro QM bookstore hosts art installations, community events, city debates and more. The store’s layout facilitates conversation and movement so you can comfortably move around and browse the books and magazines. After all, aside from the community activity, the store is most known for its diverse selection of publications ranging from art and design to economic critique to politics and pop. Located near Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, we recommend visiting Pro QM. Click Read More for additional information and photos…

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The FAA’s website for Flight Delay Information is a good source to bookmark. The travel industry is crowded with flight tracking and itinerary planning sites, but few possess the simplicity and real time information provided by the FAA. If you’re looking for a quick read of how flights are moving from any particular airport be sure to check out the FAA’s site.

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Madrid’s new CaixaForum has all the elements we enjoy about progressive art museums. The fine details, the fearless approach to architecture and the innovative applications catch our attention every time. For example, pictured above is a section of the building’s moss covered exterior. The color balance and texture is a great contrast to the rest of the building’s industrial theme.

Designed by Swiss architects, Jacques Herzog and Pierre De Meuron, CaixaForum completes Madrid’s art triangle that includes Prado and Reina Sofia & Thyssen Museums. The Forum will hold cinema screenings, concerts, conferences, debates and other art exhibits. Next time you visit the Spanish capital be sure to stop by. Until then, we have a few photos of the museum below…

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Next time you go to the airport you might stumble upon a new security system. According to CNN the TSA is implementing a trial system called Diamond Lanes. This will allow travelers to select one of three lanes that they feel fits their style as a traveler. Are you an expert, a casual traveler or a family? Depending on your self selected status there will be a lane just for you.

We’re interested in seeing how this will pan out. There’s a good chance, no matter what people consider themselves, they’re going to choose the lane that’s moving fastest.

Click Read More for additional headlines. Today’s travel briefing includes information about Beijing’s New Olympic Terminal, Increased European Tourism to the US and Expanding Options for Business Travel…

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WEJETSET is excited to welcome another writer to our team. Anne Rumpf has been a road warrior of varying degrees since the late 80’s. With more than 20 years of business travel experience to draw on, she has expert advice on the best tips, recommendations and ideas for business travelers.

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Some of my favorite memories stem from building snow forts with my dad. Chicago winters gave us a lot to work with and we were pretty good. We never knew it could be a profession. ICEHOTEL takes snow architecture to new levels. The Sweden based Art & Design Hotel, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, is one of the most beautiful hotels we’ve seen in recent memory.

Each year artists, architects and designers from all over converge in Jukkasjärvi to make ICEHOTEL. Using water and ice from the River Torne – which produces the clearest ice due to extremely cold temperatures and its unspoiled wilderness – they create a different interpretation of the hotel each winter. For instance, students from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm recently integrated various lighting installations in and around ICEHOTEL. The end result was stunning. Click Read More for additional information and photos from ICEHOTEL.

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