Hospitality Management Schools

Most people think of rest, relaxation, and euphoria when they think of going on vacation.  Vacations are supposed to be enjoyable and meant to bring people together to have a great time, whether it’s with friends, families, or couples.   Here are 5 stories of when vacations have crossed calm and happy and went horribly wrong:

Natalee Holloway- In what has been one of the most highly televised disappearances, Natalee Holloway, just 18 at the time, disappeared when she and 124 other high school graduates went on a vacation trip to Aruba in May 2005.  What was supposed to be a celebration and all around good time turned into a nightmare for Holloway’s family- the day the graduates were supposed to fly back to the US, Natalee was nowhere to be found.  Holloway was last seen the night before leaving a popular hot-spot, Carlos N Charlie’s, with some locals she had met.  Natalee’s parents immediately flew to Aruba and started a massive hunt for the missing teen.  Several people have been arrested and questioned, and some even re-arrested and released in her disappearance, but no one was charged and she has not been found.

George Allen Smith- A couple’s honeymoon dream vacation turned sour on the night of July 5, 2005.  The couples, both 26, were just married and had embarked on a lavish 12 day Mediterranean cruise.  A couple of days into the cruise, on July 5^th the couple spent their night drinking heavily and gambling with a group of young men they had met- George Smith was never seen again.  It was reported early on that the cruise line had dismissed any foul play was involved in the disappearance and that he probably slipped and fell overboard.  However, blood had reportedly been found in and around his cabin and the FBI became involved in the disappearance.  While his wife, Jennifer Hagel Smith and several others on the cruise have raised suspicion, no one was ever charged of a crime and George was never found.

Arturo Gatti- Arturo Gatti, a well-known Canadian boxer, and his wife were vacationing with their 10 month old son in Porto de Galinhas for their honeymoon.  On July 11, 2009, Arturo’s body was found dead at the sea-side Brazil resort that the couple had been staying in, his death ruled a homicide.  Gatti’s wife, Amanda Rodrigues was arrested after she couldn’t explain to police why it took her more than 10 hours to call for help and after police found blood stains on her purse.  On July 30^th Gatti’s death was ruled a suicide and Rodrigues was released from prison.  Gatti’s death still remains a mystery and some of his friends and family refuse to believe Gatti would kill himself, and have started their own investigations.

Monica Beresford-Redman- Monica Beresford Redman went on a Mexican vacation in April of 2010 with her husband and their two children.  What should have been a great vacation in the beautiful Mexican city of Cancun, took a quick turn for the worse when Monica was reported missing on the morning after leaving to go shopping the day before.  Her body was found strangled and beaten in a sewer at the resort where the family was staying.  Employees and vacationers at the resort were investigated and questioned and recalled stories that the couple were seen arguing the night before.  Her husband, Bruce Beresford Redman, who is known for producing shows such as Survivor and MTV’s Pimp My Ride, was immediately considered a suspect and arrested and released under the condition he stay in the country until the murder was solved.

Adam Pemberton- A luxary romantic getaway to Cancun ended in horror when a 24 year old British tourist fell to his death in June 2010.  Adam Pemberton and his fiancée’s vacation were cut short when she and some friends went to the store.  It was reported that after returning from the store and not being able to find Adam the friends kept up the night, until he was discovered dead 3 hours later.  It appeared Adam had fallen from the 9^th floor resort balcony and fell 100 feet to his death.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

The juicy gossip provided on the internet knows no bounds. Amid the speculation of breakups, temper tantrums and all-around bizarre behavior are the now oh-so-prevalent reports of celebrity deaths. It’s no coincidence that as the internet has expanded and become more commonplace in our lives, false rumors have become more prevalent, spreading like wildfire on social networking sites. These days, it seems that if you’re a celebrity and you haven’t been rumored to have died in a fall or car accident, then your star just isn’t that bright. Below are the 10 most infamous death hoaxes, ranging from teeny bopper Miley Cirus to veteran actor Abe Vigoda.

1. Paul McCartney – 1969
   A longstanding rumor is that Paul McCartney perished in a car accident in 1966 and was replaced with an equally-talented lookalike. The reports of his demise first surfaced in an article in a Drake University paper and reappeared in a University of Michigan paper after a Detroit radio station DJ listened to “Revolution 9″ backwards, claiming he heard “Turn me on, dead man.” The two UM students who wrote the satirical piece fabricated clues that were taken seriously by established publications. Rumors proliferated after a radio broadcast from New York soon after, and Life Magazine eventually tracked down McCartney and interviewed him. The cover of that issue read “Paul is still with us.”
2. Abe Vigoda – 1982 and 1987
   In 1982, People Magazine referred to the 61-year-old Hollywood legend as “the late Abe Vigoda” despite the fact that he was alive and well. Although he said that the error cost him jobs, he spoofed it by posing for a photograph in which he sat in a coffin while holding up the magazine. Five years later, a New Jersey anchorwoman made the same mistake, causing his supposed demise to become a running joke on late night television. As of 2010, Vigoda is still kickin’ it at the ripe age of 89.
3. Eminem – 2000
   There has been more than one Eminem death hoax, but the most notable occurred in December of 2000 when reports appeared that he had died in an early-morning car accident while drunk and high on drugs. But the rumor was quickly refuted on the rapper’s website, though it reappeared in the same form in September of 2008 and December of 2009.
4. Britney Spears – 2001
   A year after the first Eminem hoax, a Dallas radio station claimed that Britney Spears died in a car accident with her then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, who was said to have been in a coma. Reports were seemingly legitimized when a fake story was circulated that looked like it had come from the BBC News website. Hundreds of her most devoted fans reacted by calling police and fire departments, but their worry was for naught – Spears’ publicist affirmed there was no truth to the rumor.
5. Johnny Knoxville – 2002
   Given the perilous stunts performed by the crew of “Jackass,” it wasn’t a huge surprise when internet rumors surfaced that he had fallen to his death while filming. The accident was supposedly caused by parachute failure after he jumped from a biplane – while eating a jar of baked beans. The report came from a fake obituary from a website that resembled the layout of MTV’s website.
6. Will Ferrell – 2006
   The tragic news of funnyman Will Ferrell’s fake death was written by a user on a free press release website. The anonymous rumormonger claimed that Ferrell had died in a paragliding accident after a gust of wind carried him and his instructor into a dense forest. The details of the story added to its realness, and even tricked some of the most skeptical rumor readers.
7. Tom Hanks – 2006
   A story generated by a user of a prank website stated that Hanks had plummeted to his death from a cliff while filming a movie in New Zealand. As it turned out, he was actually in California at the time working on “Charlie Wilson’s War.” The story of Tom Hanks’ fake death was so good that it was reused for other celebrities.
8. Tom Cruise – 2008
   Tom Cruise was another notable celeb who suffered the same fake fate as Hanks, falling from atop the Kauri Cliffs in the Land of the Kiwi. But the rumor was quickly killed by a Cruise spokesperson who said “This is completely not true. Tom is not in New Zealand nor has he been there recently. This is erroneous and unreliable Internet garbage.”
9. Miley Cyrus – 2008
   A hacker who gained access to Miley’s YouTube account gave her fans quite the scare, leaving this message: “Hey, guys, this is Mandy and I have some very sad news …We’re very hurt to tell everyone this, but Miley died this morning after being hit by a drunk driver. Miley told us if anything ever happened to her, then we should let her fans know before the public…R.I.P. honey, we will miss you so much.” She was said to have been killed by a drunk driver on the way to the set of “Hannah Montana.”
10. Jeff Goldblum – 2009
    During a string of celebrity deaths that included Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon, an internet rumor surfaced that Jeff Goldblum had also died. What’s more, it was claimed that he plunged to his death from the Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand – a story that apparently never gets old. Twitter was used in the spreading and quashing of the rumors. Even Kevin Spacey posted that Goldblum was in fact alive, and demanded that people “Stop these stupid rumors.”

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

If you want to eat like Italians, dress like Parisians and navigate like New Yorkers, you’ve got to ditch the chain restaurants, the fanny packs and the obtrusive maps when you’re on vacation. If you follow these 10 ways to blend in on vacation, you’ll be the only one who knows you’re really a tourist.

• Hide the Map

  If you’re going to carry a map or dictionary for translations around, try to be discreet while reading it in public. Instead of standing in the middle of the street to study your map, go inside a restaurant or store, sit down and open up your map. There, you can more calmly ask workers or customers about directions.

• Avoid U.S. Brand Names and American Clothing

  The best way to blend in when you’re in a foreign country is to avoid wearing American brands and clothes with slogans or symbols that will identify you as an American. For domestic travel, leave behind your home state t-shirts, and don’t wear a souvenir Chicago t-shirt when you’re visiting Chicago.

• Take the Camera Off Your Neck

  Wearing a camera around your neck is a tell-tale sign that you’re not a native to the area. Taking pictures is perfectly acceptable on trips, but leave the camera in the bag when you aren’t using it. Blend in even better with a small pocket-sized camera that’s discrete and easy to tote around.

• Leave the Athletic Shoes at Home

  Traveling usually involves quite a bit of walking, which is why so many people pack their sneakers on trips. Athletic shoes, particularly chalk white kinds, are ubiquitous to the U.S. and should be avoided if you’re trying to blend in. Instead of wearing clunky, white sneakers, opt for some dark colored ones with subtle or no visible logos. When wearing shorts or skirts with athletic shoes, forgo the knee-high socks for ankle socks. Less is always more.

• Forgo the Fanny Pack

  The fanny pack screams tourist. If you want to blend in and have hands-free wear, try using a travel wallet with a shoulder strap that can be secured across your body or underneath your outerwear. To blend in with the locals even more, carry a purse, man bag or tote with you, but still keep the maps and translators out of sight.

• Don’t be Matchy-Matchy

  As if traveling in a large group wasn’t touristy enough, having everyone wear the same bright colored t-shirt so you can spot them from miles away is not the way to blend in. At all costs, avoid the matchy-matchy look by not wearing hot pink t-shirts with “fifty and fabulous” printed on them or any other look-at-us getups.

• Know and Use the Correct Currency

  Don’t try paying for meals in Spain with your American dollar bills. Always use the correct currency for your specific location, and familiarize yourself with the exchange rate beforehand. This way, you can count the money on your own and not get ripped off like many tourists.

• Eat Like Locals

  Whether you’re in New York City or Hong Kong, trying the local food is a major part of traveling. Instead of opting for McDonald’s or another chain restaurant, eat the local cuisine to fit in with the locals and get a true cultural experience.

• Learn Some of the Language

  Learning some basic words and phrases of the local language will help you blend in better than simply speaking English to every local you meet. Ideally, you’d want to memorize some common words before asking a question or ordering food, but referring to your pocket dictionary is completely acceptable while traveling in a foreign country.

• Act the Part

  One of the best ways to blend in with the locals is to act like them. If you notice that most locals are reserved or soft spoken, try to tone down your volume and watch your mannerisms. Being mindful of your behavior will help you keep a low profile and blend in with the locals.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

Looking like a tourist can certainly have its ups and downs. In some countries, tourists are treated like royalty because they go to the best restaurants, they receive better service than locals and people go out of their way to help those who are lost. While, other places truly frown upon tourists, won’t help them with directions and try to scam them out of money whenever possible. It all depends on the culture of the area and how their locals treat tourists to determine whether you should dress the part or leave the fanny pack at home. To see if you are an obvious tourist, check out these 10 tell-tale signs:

• Obvious Map
  Maps aren’t always a dead giveaway that you’re a tourist — even locals look at street maps, subway maps or GPS devices when they’re lost. However, unfolding a large map on a busy street corner and arguing with your spouse about which way to go, makes you an obvious tourist.
• American or U.S. Brand T-shirts
  Clothing is a big statement in foreign countries, but you won’t find them wearing U.S. brand names or any American clothing for that matter. If you just can’t resist from wearing your favorite American flag t-shirt or your ‘I Love New York’ hoodie, you’re going to stand out like a tourist.
• Camera Around Your Neck
  Having a camera won’t immediately pin you as a tourist, but wearing one around your neck because you don’t want to miss any potential photo ops, like Changing the Guard, holding the Tower of Pisa or standing in a red telephone box, will make you look like a tourist.
• White Athletic Shoes
  There’s something completely American and touristy about wearing white athletic shoes with a brand name plastered across the sides. Pair them with knee-high socks and you’ve got the quintessential tourist look.
• Fanny Packs
  Sure, fanny packs are practical and handy for storing your money, passport, hotel key and other valuables on a trip, but let’s be honest, they are 100 percent tourist. Whether your fanny pack is black, brown or every color of the rainbow, fanny packs are the first and most obvious indicator that you’re a tourist.
• Matching Shirts
  If your family of eight all wears neon green t-shirts with “The Smiths” written on the front, you might as well put “we are tourists” underneath. Wearing bright colors on an international trip is a quick indicator that you’re not a native, and it only makes you stand out that much more.
• Using the Wrong Currency
  If you go to another country and try to use American dollars to pay for meals, clothes or your hotel room and they don’t accept it, you’re obviously a tourist. Also, if you ask your waiter to convert the amount in U.S. dollars because you can’t count the currency, they’ll know you’re a tourist right off the bat.
• Eating at Chains
  Traveling is a time to explore the various cuisines of different states and countries, so if you opt for McDonald’s over authentic Chinese food or Pizza Hut over real Italian pizza, you’re clearly a tourist.
• Speaking English to Everyone
  If you find yourself speaking English to everyone and complaining about the lack of English speakers in Russia, they’ll know you’re a tourist. Of course, pulling out your pocket dictionary or digital translator and stumbling over words doesn’t help you blend in either.
• Louder than Others
  Americans have been known to be a bit louder than people in other countries, which explains some of the stares and dirty looks you might get when you travel internationally and forget your manners. So, if you’re hollering at your kids, talking loudly at dinner or being your normal boisterous self in public, you may get pegged as a tourist.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

Visiting a haunted place can make for a mysterious and fun adventure. Since the early days of this country, Americans have been captivated by the prospect of supernatural activity, and interest has risen in recent years with the success of shows like “Ghost Hunters.” Resultantly, most people have become familiar with the typical haunted hotspots, which tend to be in single houses, hotels and hospitals. But if you dig deeper, you’ll find a wide variety of locations in which ghostly encounters are common. If you’re in the mood to be spooked, take a look at these 10 bizarre places for haunted tours.

1. The Old Bell Farm – Adams, Tennessee
   Located 36 miles north of Nashville, the Old Bell Farm features the ghost of the Bell Witch, who haunted John Bell and his family during the early 19th century. As legend has it, Andrew Jackson bestowed the name upon her during a visit to the property after word spread to Nashville about the peculiar activity for which she was responsible. Her torment reached its peak in 1821, when she is said to have killed John Bell after she steadily poisoned him during the course of a year. She continued to haunt the family for almost two more centuries and still lingers around the farm to this day. The property includes a haunted cave that can be toured when it’s not inundated by the Red River.
2. East Tennessee State University – Johnson City, Tennessee
   ETSU is widely recognized as one the South’s most haunted colleges. Students, professors and campus visitors have experienced odd occurrences for years, including screams in Cooper Hall and the spotting of a long-dead former ETSU president. The stacks at the old Sherrod Library and Yoakley Hall – a former female dormitory where a student is said to have committed suicide by jumping out a window – are the most infamous haunted buildings on campus.
3. Various Bars in the French Quarter – New Orleans, Louisiana
   Given that New Orleans is perhaps America’s most haunted city, it’s no surprise the more than 275-year-old French Quarter is the home of a ghost or two. However, the presence of ghosts in several bars and the creation of a haunted pub crawl ensure this haunted tour is one of the most unique in the country. Tourists can guzzle spirits as they as they visit the spirits of former patrons who died at the hands of others or committed suicide.
4. John’s Pass – Madeira Beach, Florida
   When Tampa/St. Petersburg area tourists are tired of the beach, they can visit John’s pass, where residents near the boardwalk and village tell stories of hauntings dating back centuries. Notably, the spirits of two pro-Union farmers from the Civil War era are said to reside by the bridge – they were murdered by confederate militiamen and buried at the south end it.
5. Mansfield Reformatory – Mansfield, Ohio
   Ghost hunts of 100 people are currently organized at Mansfield Reformatory, which exudes spookiness based on its outward appearance. Its design was patterned after old German Castles, featuring Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque architectural styles. There’s plenty of space for the spirits of tortured inmates to roam freely inside – the reformatory is home to the largest free-standing steel cell block in the world.
6. Old Town Key West – Key West, Florida
   Known as a charming place frequented by beachgoers from around the country, Old Town Key West possesses an eerie dark side. Residents have endured years of inhabitance by the spirits of pirates, smugglers and wreckers who frequented the island centuries ago. Included in the tour of the Old Town is a visit to Robert the Doll, which is possessed with evil spirits. Robert has been known to black out photos, tap on the glass of his display case and shift the position of his toy lion.
7. Shanghai Tunnels – Portland, Oregon
   The Shanghai Tunnels in Portland were used to house men and women who were randomly kidnapped from the street, transported to the harbor and shipped to the orient for slave labor and prostitution. It’s believed by locals that the ghosts of some of the kidnapped reside in the tunnels, haunting those who set foot inside of their now permanent home.
8. Naperville Neighborhood – Naperville, Illinois
   Author and Naperville ghost historian Diane Ladley dubbed the Chicago suburb as the “The Most Phantom-friendly City in the Midwest.” Several events are blamed for the haunting of the town, including the Naperville train wreck of 1946. Ghost tourists get to experience the eerie-feeling neighborhood, featuring Victorian style mansions and brick walkways lit by old fashioned street lanterns.
9. State of Capitol of New York – Albany, New York
   During the fall, the State of Capitol of New York offers Capitol Hauntings Tours, which give visitors the chance to view the spot where a night watchman named Samuel Abbot perished during the Capitol fire of 1911, learn about the two presidents who visited the capitol after they died, listen to the story of the Secret Demon, and view other areas that have been deemed haunted within the building. Of course, the spookiness only pertains to the supernatural beings that may live in the capitol and not the dealings of the politicians who work in it.
10. Provost Dungeon – Charleston, South Carolina
    The Provost Dungeon located below the Old Exchange Building in Charleston predates the 19th century. It was constructed not long after the Revolutionary War to hold prisoners who were both hardened criminals and innocents – many of whom died from diseases and illnesses fostered by the damp and unsanitary conditions. The Dungeon is a hotspot for ghosts in a town that’s one of the most haunted in the nation.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

The South has taken a beating from the rest of the country since the conclusion of the Civil War. Not only was the recovery long and arduous, but the region has also taken a psychological thrashing that has included scathing stereotypes perpetuated by outsiders who are unfamiliar with its culture. True Southerners, however, pay little mind to those who besmirch their home and heritage. Their love for all things Southern is undying – it has been instilled from generation to generation – and they wouldn’t change their lifestyle for anything in the world. If you’re a true Southerner, you likely possess most of the characteristics, habits, hobbies, preferences and beliefs listed below.

1. You speak like you’ve never left the South
   Your accent is thick and twang is sharp. You speak slower than your Yankee friends. And when you leave the region, heads immediately turn when you speak up. Your accent combined with your liberal usage of Southern sayings like “that dog won’t hunt” and “fixin’ to go” gives people the impression that you’re speaking an entirely different language.
2. You’d rather be hunting or fishing right now
   Southern men enjoy spending their free time hunting and fishing – it has long been a favorite pastime of the region. Previous generations had an intimate knowledge of the land, utilizing its natural resources. Each state is adorned with an abundance of rivers, lakes, creeks and forests that supply endless amounts of fish and game. If you’re from the South, chances are, you’ve fried catfish and cooked venison that you caught on your own.
3. If it’s below 60 degrees outside, you think it’s cold
   You dust off the winter coat when temperatures dip below 60 degrees, especially if you live in states in the Deep South like Mississippi and Louisiana, where the average yearly temperature is well above the national average. And if there’s even a half-inch of snow, your entire town shuts down as if the End Times are upon us.
4. Sweet tea accompanies every meal
   When you ask for tea at a restaurant in the South, it always comes back sweet. If you want unsweet tea, it must be requested, but your Southern-ness may be called into question. Sweet tea accompanies almost every meal – it’s excellent with a couple of pieces of fried chicken and tater salad. A sweaty pitcher filled with ice, a couple of lemons and sugary tea is a staple of every Southern dinner table.
5. You don’t hesitate to befriend strangers
   You’re a promoter of Southern Hospitality. You strike up conversations with random people and they instantly become your friends. You wave to passersby who you’ve never seen before and welcome new neighbors into your home as if they were a part of your family.
6. You think manners are important
   You’ve always addressed men as “sir” and women as “ma’am.” You say “please” and “thank you” often. You use proper etiquette at the dinner table regardless of where you’re eating. You dress nicely when you’re in the presence of others. If you’re a guy, you always hold doors open for Southern belles and stand when they leave the room.
7. You attend church religiously
   And if you didn’t, your pastor and family would think you’ve lost your mind. Your community is heavily influenced by the local church, which is likely Southern Baptist. After all, the South is a part of the Bible Belt, and religion plays a big role in the daily lives of Southerners. You believe in family values and raise your children in a socially conservative environment.
8. Your great-grandparents were Democrats and you’re a Republican
   From the Civil War era to the mid-20th century, the Southern states voted Democratic because the party was the defender of states’ rights. As the parties realigned and the Republican Party began to represent the fiscal and social conservatism, the South became entirely red. Resultantly, families that had voted Democratic for generations started to vote Republican. If you’re great-grandfather was a Democrat and you’re a Republican, but your ideologies are essentially the same, you’re a true Southerner.
9. You think it was a War of Northern Aggression
   You’re adamant that the Civil War was a War of Northern Aggression and it was fought over states’ rights. Your great-great-great-grandfather dreaded the prospect of an expanded federal government, and you hold the same believes today regarding the current government. You despise William Tecumseh Sherman and cringe every time you hear his name.
10. You have a lingering hatred for Yankees
    Sure, you may have no direct descendants who fought in the war – you may even be just a third generation American – but your hatred for the destruction and lifestyle changes caused by those damn Yankees still burns your hide. Although you welcome them to visit, you wish they’d stop moving to the region.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

For better or for worse, attempting to bring a liquid item onto a plane has become a hassle. Because of the threats posed to flight security in recent years, restrictive measures have been taken to ensure that no potentially harmful substance makes it past check-in areas. Items that are considered flammable, explosive, corrosive and infectious are banned, and everyday items that are necessary for hygiene and grooming purposes often fail to make the cut due to their sizes. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), items that weigh less than 3.4 ounces are allowed on flights, though exceptions are made for baby formula, breast milk, food and medication because they’re absolutely necessary. If you plan to transport a few liquid items, take a look at the liquids listed below that are commonly discarded by airport security and adjust accordingly.

• Alcoholic Beverages
  Although you can include a container of alcohol in your checked luggage, it’s subject to international rules and regulations when you’re flying abroad. For example, some Middle Eastern countries prohibit alcohol altogether. If you wish to bring it in your carry-on bag domestically, it must meet weight requirements. In many cases, travelers are unfamiliar with the requirement and don’t have room for a container of alcohol in their checked bags – that’s when it goes to waste.
• Most Shampoos
  Again, if your bottle of shampoo weighs less than 3.4 ounces, you can include it in your carry-on bags. If it’s larger, you can transport it as a part of your checked luggage. However, many people incur the same problem pertaining to a lack of space with shampoo bottles as they do with liquor bottles.
• Sloppy Food
  If it jiggles and drips, it’s a no-go in carry-on luggage. So an average jar of jam, for example, is prohibited. You can include as many as you like in your checked bags as long as they are appropriately wrapped.
• Most Aerosols
  The few aerosols that are allowed aboard must be 3.4 ounces or smaller and for personal care or toiletries. Otherwise they won’t be permitted for inclusion in either carry-on or checked bags.
• Mace
  Mace isn’t entirely banned from flights, but it must be equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. Only one four ounce container is allowed in checked bags. Sprays that contain more than two percent by mass of tear gas are prohibited altogether. That leaves little margin for error, so it’s not uncommon to see mace containers piling up with other liquids that missed the cut.
• Pepper Spray
  Pepper spray – an inflammatory agent made from hot peppers – is a different substance from mace, but it poses an equal danger to passengers and the flight crew if utilized inappropriately. For that reason, it’s subject to the same rules.
• Lighter Fluid
  Lighter fluid made from butane is highly flammable and unsafe to bring aboard a plane. So regardless if it’s in your carry-on bag or checked bag, it’ll end up discarded once security finds it.
• Cooking Fuel
  Any type of cooking fuel is banned. Nobody wants the plane to become a giant barbecue pit. If you have barbecue plans at your next destination, buy cooking fuel after you arrive.
• Gasoline
  The only gasoline that’s allowed in an airplane is held in the fuel tank. Passengers who attempt to bring their own containers of gasoline aboard – for who know’s what reason – never see them again.
• Spillable Batteries (corrosive liquid inside)
  An exception is made if the spillable battery is necessary for the use of a wheelchair, but it must be inspected before permission is given to board a flight. These batteries possess openings that make the highly corrosive liquid chemical inside spillable.
• Paint
  Flammable paint – including spray paint – is not permitted to fly; however, if it’s non-flammable liquid, gel or aerosol, then it can accompany you to your destination.
• Paint Stripper
  Some paint strippers are highly flammable, while others may cause harm upon exposure by irritating eyes and skin, causing drowsiness, nausea, dizziness and headaches. All paint strippers are banned from boarding planes.
• Turpentine
  When turpentine is inhaled, it’s capable of irritating eyes and skin, and damaging the central respiratory system. And, of course, it’s flammable. Leave it behind.
• Bleach
  Bleach is an essential household cleaner and brightener, so you might be tempted to bring a container along during lengthy trips. Because the substance is corrosive and produces unhealthy fumes, airlines exclude it from carry-on and checked bags.
• Mercury
  Items that contain mercury are barred from flight because of the liquid’s ability to damage a plane’s aluminum frame. If you’re transporting an old school thermometer, for example, prepare to part with it.
• Pool Chlorine
  Chlorine is another substance that isn’t meant to come into contact with humans in large doses, and therefore it’s not permitted on planes.
• Weed Killer
  Airport security prefers not to take chances with potentially harmful chemical substances, and weed killer fits the bill. Such containers are rounded up before they board a plane.
• Insecticide
  If it kills insects, it likely poses a health threat to humans as well. Nobody wants to deal with the unpleasantness of spilled insecticide during a long flight.
• Medical Lab Specimens
  For obvious reasons, medical lab specimens – like white blood, plasma, serum, urine and other body fluids – are barred from luggage. Of course, they aren’t just carelessly thrown away after being removed from a bag. Safety always prevails.
• Bacterial Cultures
  Liquid bacterial cultures en route from one lab to another are halted when they reach airport security. Like the medical lab specimens, they pose health risks to flight passengers.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

Remember when traveling was almost as difficult as it was fun or productive? Not too long ago, finding your way to a desired location involved trial and error. If you wanted to find a restaurant or hotel in a place with which you were unfamiliar, what you saw was what you got. And when you were flying, navigating through unfamiliar airports and obtaining information related to your flight were near-impossible tasks. Thankfully, those days have ended. With the use of the helpful iPhone travel apps listed below, your travel experiences will be a breeze.

1. World Mate
   The World Mate app synchronizes your travel itinerary, accesses maps and directions, searches for hotel options best-suited for you, converts currency, provides automatic weather updates, alerts you of flight delays, changes and cancellations, and much more.
2. AAA TripTik Travel Planner
   Free to AAA users, the TripTik Travel Planner app assists you in finding gas rates and comparing prices, enabling you to budget your trips. Additionally, it provides lists of AAA approved hotels, restaurants and entertainment spots. In order to meet approval, these places of business must first meet 27 requirements pertaining to members’ expectations.
3. FlightCaster
   If you don’t like to be blindsided by flight delays, this is the app for you. FlightCaster predicts delays by using data compiled from every domestic flight from the past decade and matching it with real-time conditions. Its website boasts that it can predict 95 percent of delays, leaving a little room for error.
4. My Gate Maps
   My Gate Maps comes in handy when your flight is running late and you need to get to your connecting gate quickly. You can view a clutter-free and easy-to-view map of the airport. This app is a good alternative to the cluttered PDF airport maps that are accessed online.
5. GateGuru
   Now you won’t have to aimlessly wander around each new airport you visit in an effort to find restaurants, shops and services. GateGuru provides a comprehensive database of airport amenities, enabling you to read reviews and bookmark your favorite places.
6. Urbanspoon
   Before, after or during a busy day with your family or coworkers, you deserve a good meal � and not from just any random restaurant that you come across. The Urbanspoon app allows you to pinpoint a restaurant of your desire in a specific area. It classifies results by food types and price range, and of course, provides ratings and user reviews.
7. Free WiFi Finder
   When you need to get work done fast with the use of the internet, utilize your Free Wifi Finder and the locations of the closest wireless hotspots will be provided for you. Results are filtered by the type of place that provides WiFi, including restaurants, coffee shops and libraries.
8. SitOrSquat
   Need a bathroom fast? No problem. SitOrSquat locates the nearest open men’s or lady’s room by using information given by fellow users. More than 65,000 toilets and counting worldwide are included in the database. You can even read reviews and view pictures of the bathrooms, allowing you to be choosy if nature allows you.
9. Pano
   Apple considered Pano one of the finer apps of 2009, and it remains an excellent tool for capturing beautiful panoramic photos from your phone. The app is praised by iPhone users for its simplicity and ability to line up photos. It’s the perfect tool to have during scenic trips that involve breathtaking views of beaches, mountain ranges and cityscapes.
10. Packing Pro
    Packing Pro is a basic app that’s highly useful, especially if you’ve ever forgotten to pack something important for a trip. You can customize your own list or utilize the Expert Help feature that predicts what you’ll need to pack depending on the type of trip, how many people are going and how long you’ll be gone.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

Summertime beach getaways are an American pastime. Each year, millions flock to the coasts in order to bask in the sun, feel the warm sand in between their toes, and take a dip in the cool greenish-blue waters of the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf. Unfortunately, those who usually enjoy hotspots like Destin and Pensacola have been forced to alter their plans because of the Gulf oil spill. But luckily for them, there are numerous other seashores to visit that offer the same scenic beauty – the only difference is that the non-Gulf waters may be a bit cooler. Below are ten beaches not on the Gulf Coast that meet the standards of every expert beach bum.

• Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
  The death place of legendary pirate Blackbeard contains more than three centuries of history and culture left behind by traders and sailors from all over the world. The village of Ocracoke – home to the 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouses and the century-old David Williams house – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The breathtaking beach is protected by 20-foot high sand dunes, which cover miles of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.



• Bahia Honda State Park, Florida
  Widely considered home to Florida’s most beautiful beaches, Bahia Honda State Park possesses soft sand and crystal clear water. It’s a snorkeler’s paradise because of the deep waters near shore, and kayaking and fishing opportunities are aplenty. The island boasts the highest quantity of colorful subtropical flowers in the Keys, including bay cedar, tiger lily and sea lavender. Silver and thatch palms ensure the beaches are authentically tropical.



• Hamoa Beach, Hawaii
  Towering sea cliffs surround this less populated section of Maui, where the currents are strong and the surf is dangerous. Swimmers are encouraged to test the waters in the summer and early fall when conditions are safest. Those who prefer to stay dry can enjoy a picnic on the shore while observing the lush greenery.



• Kailua Beach, Hawaii
  Located in the small town of Kilua – 30 minutes from Honolulu and 20 minutes from Waikiki – Kailua Beach lacks the hoards of people who occupy the rest of the island. Beachgoers enjoy the best conditions for swimming and wind surfing on the island. In fact, windsurfing champion Robby Naish honed is craft on Kailua’s waves.



• Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hawaii
  Hanauma Bay Nature preserve is a protected marine life conservation area that offers snorkelers the opportunity to observe an abundance of marine life and large reefs. The circular-shaped beach, which sits on a volcanic crater, features Technicolor-quality blue waters. Visitors can find the most picturesque views of the bay by following one of the hiking trails along the coastline.



• Kiawah Beachwalker Park, South Carolina
  The refreshing water of the Atlantic Ocean and the clean tan sand make Beachwalker Park one of the best summer hotspots on the East Coast. It’s family friendly; it has lifeguards, restrooms and a snack bar, so long days on the beach are easier to enjoy. A boardwalk gives beachgoers a chance to observe vegetation and wildlife when they aren’t taking a dip.



• East Hampton Main Beach, New York
  Long Islanders flock with umbrellas in tow to East Hampton Main Beach during the summertime, where they enjoy hotdogs and lobster rolls while taking in the pleasant sounds of the crashing Atlantic waves. Of course, the area is kept in tip-top shape; a who’s who of celebrities and important people live nearby.



• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Florida
  Known for the 185-year-old lighthouse that overlooks the Atlantic, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park has long been a favorite place for Floridians to spend their summer days. The clear blue water is home to a wide variety of fish, making the area a fisherman’s paradise. After a day out in the water – or catching fish – beachgoers can enjoy a meal in one of the picnic pavilions.



• Cumberland Island, Georgia
  When people think of beautiful beach scenery, Georgia doesn’t often come to mind. But Cumberland Island – Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island – offers 17 miles of pristine undeveloped beaches that sit alongside thick seaside forests, making it uniquely Georgian. The island boasts one of the largest coastal wilderness areas on the East Coast.



• Coronado Beach, California
  California is known for its beaches. Coronado Beach is the gem of Southern California; perfect for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life. When visitors aren’t enjoying the Pacific waters, they can visit the nearby parks, stores, restaurants and historic Hotel del Coronado.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

Even people who don’t believe in ghosts like a good ghost story. They’re creepy but fun, and the places ghosts are rumored to haunt wind up becoming tourist attractions. The rule applies to hotels, too, and there are plenty of them across the country with their own eerie tales of lost loves, bad killings, and spirits doomed to haunt the living.

1. Hotel Provincial (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Located in the city’s French Quarter, the Hotel Provincial dates back to before the Civil War. One of its buildings originally housed a medical hospital, and to this day people claim to see Confederate soldiers and doctors walking around or asking for help. One story talks of a ghost of a soldier from the 1930s who loved country music, and who will tune the room’s radio to the country station if it’s changed.

2. Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado)
Opened in 1909, this classic American hotel is best known for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining after he and his wife stayed there. There have been numerous reports of hauntings, including staff claiming to hear a party in the ballroom only to find it empty. Some also claim to have seen a man standing over their bed, and believe this ghost to be responsible for stealing some guests’ personal effects.

3. Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, California)
One of the city’s most popular hotels, the Hotel del Coronado is the site of many strange happenings, some related to the death of Kate Morgan at the turn of the century. Morgan checked in under an alias in November 1892, looking sick but claiming her brother, a doctor, was arriving later. No doctor ever came, and a few days later, she went into town and bought a gun. She was found dead outside the hotel the next morning.

4. Menger Hotel (San Antonio, Texas)
San Antonio’s Menger Hotel is one of the oldest in the state with tons of history, so it’s no surprise that it’s become a hot spot for reports of otherworldy sightings. Some claim to have seen President Teddy Roosevelt drinking at the bar; Roosevelt used the hotel as a recruiting place for Rough Riders. But it’s the ghost of Sallie White that’s proven to be the most popular. White was a maid there in the late 1800s, and she was attacked in the building by her husband and wound up dying days later. People say she can still be seen walking the halls, carrying linens for guests.

5. Sheraton Gunter Hotel (San Antonio, Texas)
Another south Texas landmark, the Gunter Hotel was built in 1909. In 1965, a young man using an alias checked in alone to room 636 but began spending time with an unidentified blonde woman. A few days later, a maid entered the room to find the man standing next to the bed covered in blood. He grabbed a bundle of sheets and ran out. Police came and found the woman’s blood everywhere and parts of her flesh in the toilet. The man was located at a nearby hospital, but he shot himself as police approached. The woman’s body was never found. People have since reported strange happenings in room 636, including sightings of the spirit and the woman’s sudden appearance in photographs in the room.

6. Bullock Hotel (Deadwood, South Dakota)
Sheriff and hotelier Seth Bullock is best known to modern audiences as one of the main characters on HBO’s “Deadwood,” but the man was real. Present-day visitors to the Bullock Hotel in South Dakota have reportedly seen Bullock himself walking through the building or heard a male voice call their names when no one else is present.

7. Crescent Hotel (Eureka Springs, Arkansas)
Opened in 1886, the Crescent Hotel looks a little creepy from the outside, with its old-style architecture. Originally built to capitalize on the popularity of Eureka Springs’ reputed “healing waters,” the hotel has had ups and downs over its long life, as well as quite a few brushes with the supernatural. One spirit, whom the staff have named Michael, is reportedly the ghost of one of the stone masons who built the hotel and who died in a fall on the second floor. As a result, room 218 is said to be the most haunted of all of them, and Michael reportedly loves to turn appliances off and on and pound on the walls.

8. Imperial Hotel (Cripple Creek, Colorado)
The Imperial Hotel opened at the turn of last century in part to house the miners and visitors who needed a place to stay after the 1896 fire wrecked most of the town. It’s rumored that George Long, the hotel’s former owner, haunts the building to this day and can be seen playing the slot machines and flirting with women. Night guards have reported hearing sounds from the casino floor at but found no one there.

9. Ghost City Inn (Jerome, Arizona)
Jerome is a tiny tourist town in the Arizona desert, and the Ghost City Inn is rumored to be the home of multiple spirits who haunt the building and its inhabitants. A female and male spirit have been spotted lurking in different rooms, and some guests have reported having their doors slam shut on their own.

10. Lumber Baron Inn (Denver, Colorado)
This elegant bead & breakfast was once the mansion home of lumber baron John Mouat. The inn was restored and reopened in the early 1990s, at which point people began to hear strange sounds like phantom footsteps. Some paranormal investigators claim to have made contact with the spirits of two women who were killed at the hotel in 1970: One girl was 17 who was raped and killed, and the other was her 18-year-old friend who came across the scene and was killed by the murderer. The case is still unsolved.

11. Skirvin Hotel (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Constructed with oil money earned by W.B. Skirvin, this Oklahoma landmark was a popular speakeasy during Prohibition. Rumor has it that Skirvin had an affair with a maid who became pregnant and was subsequently confined to a room on the top floor to prevent the scandal from leaking out. After the baby was born, the woman became so depressed at her imprisonment that she took the child and jumped out the window. For decades, random guests reported an inability to sleep over the cries of a child coming from somewhere nearby. The hotel was closed in 1988 but recently reopened, and the maid’s spirit is alleged to still haunt its halls.

12. Tutwiler Hotel (Birmingham, Alabama)
The ghost of the titular Colonel Tutwiler is rumored to haunt this Southern hotel. After a string of occurences in which the bartender came to work to find the kitchen appliances running despite having been turned off the night before, the staff began to half-jokingly admonish the ghost of Tutwiler for messing up the kitchen and ask him to not do it again. Weirdly enough, that fixed things, though some people still say you can see the ghost of Tutwiler around the hotel.

13. Plains Hotel (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Cheyenne’s Plains Hotel opened in 1911 with much fanfare and soon became known for catering to wealthy visitors in the oil and cattle industries. But a sinister event led to what many believe to be the hotel’s haunting. A bride and groom checked into the Plains Hotel on their honeymoon, and one evening the husband met a prostitute in the hotel bar and went back to her room, his wife watching the whole time. The wife took her husband’s gun and followed the couple to their room where she killed them both and then shot herself in the honeymoon suite. All three spirits are said to still linger in the hotel, and staff claim to have heard weeping and crying coming from the couple’s former room even when it’s empty.

14. The Inn at Merridun (Union, South Carolina)
The innkeepers at Merridun cheekily play along with their hotel’s ghostly past. Rumor goes that ten different ghosts or “energy forces” linger at the inn, leading to unusual happenings, freaky sightings, and minor issues like missing or moved possessions.

15. Ballastone Inn (Savannah, Georgia)
Before it was an inn, the Ballastone was the home of General Robert Anderson and his wife, Sarah. Robert fought in the Civil War, and the family lived there into the 1880s. People say you can still see Sarah’s ghost walking along the second floor, or using the elevator.

16. Sheridan Inn (Sheridan, Wyoming)
At one time operated by Buffalo Bill Cody, this inn near the northern border of Wyoming is now the home of Miss Kate, the ghost of a woman who worked at the hotel for 64 years in a variety of positions, including desk clerk and hostess. When Miss Kate died in 1968, her ashes were interred in the wall of her third-floor room, which is prone now to chills and erratic light behavior.

17. Buxton Inn (Granville, Ohio)
One of the most ghost-filled places in the state, Ohio’s Buxton Inn is known for its many hauntings. Reports of spirit sightings date back to the 1920s, when people saw what looked like Orrin Granger, the man who built the inn early in the 1800s. There’s also Bonnie, a former innkeeper who died in room 9 and reportedly haunts it to this day. Guests in the room claim to have seen a woman dressed in blue, which was Bonnie’s favorite color.

18. Laguna Vista (Eagle Nest, New Mexico)
This one’s another honeymoon of heartbreak. There are many spirits said to be stuck haunting the Laguna Vista, including a young bride whose husband went out on a hunting trip and never returned, forcing her to work as a saloon girl to suppoert herself. Some people say they’ve seen her spirit hanging around the building, looking for husband. Other ghostly occurences include a piano that plays when no one is around.

19. Glick Mansion Bed & Breakfast (Atchison, Kansas)
Billed as the most haunted town in Kansas, Atchison has its share of attractions rumored to be populated by spirits from beyond the grave. The Glick Mansion, home of one-time Kansas governor George Washington Glick (in office from 1883-1885), is a tourist destination that’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also the supposed home to a benevolent ghost that’s prone to open and close doors at random.

20. Lemp Mansion (St. Louis, Missouri)
The Lemp Mansion has seen several incarnations before its current status as a hotel. The Lemp family was a major name in breweries in St. Louis before Prohibition, but their family empire fell to ruin, divorce, and death by suicide. The building is considered one of the most haunted in the country, and the various members of the Lemp clan have been seen roaming the halls. People have also said they’ve seen candles light themselves, doors open on their own, and glasses flying off shelves to crash on the floor.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This