The Radar: Vintage Monorails, Pilots Revolt Against TSA, Budget Travel Errors

• When it comes to the popularity of various modes of transportation, the monorail is certainly not sitting at the cool-kids table. Time to show it some love. Check-out these nine photos of vintage monorails and vote for your favorite. [Oobject via 27Clouds.com]

• American Airlines pilots are revolting against TSA's revamped pat-down policy. The President of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 11,000 American Airlines pilots, has written a letter to his members asking they demand greater "privacy and dignity" in the airline security screening process. He demands private pat-downs and urges pilots to refuse "back-scatter" screenings which expose individuals to higher levels of radiation. [The Atlantic]

• Mark Kahler writes about the "Top 10 Budget Travel Errors" on his About.com Budget Travel blog. On the list: trading safety or cleanliness for a low price, failing to check airfares from nearby airports, and (my favorite) expecting to win big in Vegas. [About.com]

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Photo: Alberto Pelliccione/MyShot

Post originale: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2010/11/the-radar-pilots-revolt-agains.html

The Radar: LP's Top Countries for 2011, TSA Secure Flight Policy, Places You'll Never Visit

• Hope you wrote that bucket list in pencil. Lonely Planet has culled the knowledge of its in-house travel experts to put together an "it-list" of top ten countries to visit in 2011. Coming in at number one is Albania, the off-the-radar Balkans' country stepping-out with a new tourist motto, "Albania: A New Mediterranean Love." Rounding off the list: Brazil, Cape Verde, Panama, Bulgaria, Vanuatu, Italy, Tanzania, Syria, and Japan. [Lonely Planet]

• On Monday, TSA's Secure Flight program took full effect meaning all travelers making airline reservations-- whether booking online, over-the-phone, or with a travel agent--must provide complete passenger data before a boarding pass will be issued. TSA will use this data (name, date of birth, and gender) to conduct an identity check and cross-reference with the no-fly list. Read more on TSA's website, but the most important thing to remember is the name on your reservation must match the name on your government-issued ID. [IndependentTraveler.com]

• Inspired by Ian Frazier's Travels in Siberia, Flavorwire put together a list of "10 Books About Places You'll Never Visit." Sounds like a challenge. [Flavorwire]
  

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Photo: Elenita Roshi/MyShot

Post originale: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2010/11/the-radar-lps-top-countries-fo.html