Weekly International Travel News Roundup

Want to catch up on what’s been happening in the world of travel?

We’ve rounded up the week’s top travel stories in one convenient post.

First up, Peter’s newest book, Tough Times, Great Travels: The Travel Detective’s Guide to Hidden Deals, Unadvertised Bargains, and Great Experiences came out on Tuesday, March 3.
Click here for more information on getting a copy!

Investigators have already discovered what caused a jet to crash near Schiphol airport last week, killing nine people. Get all the details in Faulty Altimeter Contributed to Turkish Airlines Crash Near Amsterdam.

Cruise lines are seeing a spike in business, even as other sectors of the travel industry are suffering. Read about the “wave season” surge in Despite Recession, Cruise Lines Sees Record Number of Bookings.

It’s March, and for college students that means one thing – spring break! However, students (and others) are being advised that certain countries may be too dangerous to travel to. Get all the details in Spring Breakers Warned to Avoid Mexico Amid Increasing Violence.

If you live on the East Coast you know there was a pretty bad blizzard earlier this week. For the rest of you, read Massive Storm Causes Travel Havoc Across Northeast to get the details on how transit was affected from Maine to the Carolinas.

Eyebrows went up all over the world last week when one airline CEO said fliers may soon have to pay to use the bathroom. But was he serious? In Will Ryanair Really Charge Passengers to Use Toilets? we evaluate how realistic the proposal really is, and why it’s being considered at all.

Planning on traveling internationally? Don’t miss helpful hints with Tips on Avoiding “Ugly American” Stereotype.

If you’ve ever thought about taking a cruise, now is the time to book. In Last Chance for ‘Wave Season’ Deals? Maybe Not we tell you why cruise lines are extending their deadlines, and we give you some amazing discount deals through 2009.

Check out the deals we found this week: Save 51% at Antigua’s Galley Bay Resort & Spa; fly to Hawaii on Continental for as low as $149 each way; or stay in Beaver Creek, Colorado at President Ford’s former home for 30% off regular rates.

When most people think of Las Vegas, they think of the famous casinos and over-the-top hotels on the Strip. But there are lots of other places you can stay in Vegas where you’ll have a great time and maybe even pay a little less. We tell you about three of them in Staying Off the Strip in Las Vegas.

Journalists normally stay one step removed from their subjects. But when one producer learned about an amazing program to help African women pull themselves out of poverty, she couldn’t help but get involved. In From Tourist to Traveler on a Journey to Uganda, Grateful Traveler Jamie Simons tells the story.

Last week was a wild one in the world of travel. A Turkish jet crashed under mysterious circumstances in Amsterdam, one airline considered charging to use the toilet, and another dropped its fees for coffee and juice. Read Peter’s unique – and often hilarious – take on these news items in his latest blog post.

Peter’s old friend Suzy is still doing what she does best – shopping! In Suzy Gershman’s Postcard from Pescadero, California she tells us where to get farm-fresh cheese, produce and flowers in this quaint hidden enclave on the coast.

The recession is hardly news, but it is having a surprising effect on travel and tourism. In Some Destinations Actually Faring Well in Economic Slump we tell you about a few second-tier markets where tourism is actually growing, not shrinking.

In The Virtuous Traveler: Yellowstone National Park – Hot(ter)and Bothered Leslie Garrett discusses how climate change is warming up the park in dramatic and devastating ways.

And of course, Peter’s radio show comes to you live every weekend. Yesterday he broadcast from Oahu, Hawaii. Check out more here.