GOING PL@CES

• Got a travel or outdoors question? Ask us!

May 01, 2008

Spread your wings

Fear of flying got you down? You're not the only one...

The San Mateo-based Fear of Flying Clinic claims a 90 percent success rate with getting white-knuckle fliers over their phobias. It offers occasional two-weekend programs at San Francisco International Airport geared to help clients master their fear through a combination of hard information about how airplanes fly and relaxation techniques to cope with panic attacks and claustrophobia.

The next session is set for the June 21, 22 and 28, with an optional flight on June 29. Cost is $545.

Posted by Janet Fullwood at 02:42 PM | Comments |

Lonely Planet writer not so lonely on the road

Guidebook publisher Lonely Planet is taking some serious heat over a tell-all memoir published by one of its authors.
“Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? A Swashbuckling Tale of High Adventures, Questionable Ethics and Professional Hedonism” by Thomas
Kohnstamm (Three Rivers Press,$13.95) is a hot seller getting so much dish in travel circles that the Times of London called "the talk of the London Book Fair."

Seems the 20-something Kohnstamm, assigned to write a guidebook on Brazil, squandered a substantial part of his advance money on, um, adventures not on the official research agenda and, um, came up so short of funds that he had to resort to fabrication, second-hand reports and the
Internet to write his guide. Entertaining adventure tales aside, the book raises serious questions about whether guidebooks - and especially low-paid authors who resort to freebies to get the job done - can be trusted.

Why is the sex-ploitful memoir getting so much buzz? "Partly because it's the
best-written, funniest book of travel literature since 'Phaic Tan'
(say that quickly)," reports The Philadelphia Inquirer. "But primarily because Kohnstamm has pulled back the curtain on the world of travel guides."

Freelance writer
Michael Shapiro, in an article published in The Washington Post, elicited a response from LP founder Tony Wheeler, who told him in an e-mail that Kohnstamm "spent so much time partying . . . I’m amazed he had any time to research anything.”

You have to read "Hell" to undertand, among other things, why it gives new meaning to the term "table service."

Posted by Janet Fullwood at 02:30 PM | Comments |

April 28, 2008

American to ding fliers with $25 charge for second bag

Travelers who don’t lighten their loads soon will have to lighten their wallets when flying American Airlines.

The Texas-based airline announced last week it will join Delta, Northwest and United in charging passengers for checking more than one bag.

According to American, customers who purchase the “lowest domestic economy fares” on or after May 12 will have to pony up $25 each way for a second bag. Third, fourth and fifth bags will be subject to a $100 extra charge each way.

The airline says its carry-on policy of one bag plus one personal item will remain in place.

Posted by Janet Fullwood at 10:40 AM | Comments |

April 16, 2008

Frozen waves in Antarctica?

Some fascinating images of what appears to be a giant wave frozen in place in Antarctica are making the Internet rounds. The photos are real, all right, but the explanation you might see attached to them - something about the coldest year in decades causing water to freeze the minute it hits the air - is bogus. A little Googling will turn up multiple images of a phenomenon caused primarily by freezing, not melting. Snopes.com has the best explanation we could find, but our search also led to discovery of the Amazing Images section of SlightlyWarped.com, where a little digging will turn up batch after batch of photos to make you scratch your head in wonder.

Posted by Janet Fullwood at 11:09 AM | Comments |

Ask a question

Please use the form below to submit your question. Because there is a 200-word limit for questions, a word counter is located directly beneath the box where you enter the your question.