Mobissimo

If you imagine life on the road writing for a guidebook is all about staying in posh places and getting the white glove treatment, sure, I'm sure that exists for some, but in realit, most guidebook writers are day to day, constantly checking facts, addresses, and prices while desparately waiting for that wire payment to come through.  Here's a little more.

While working in Europe, a guidebook writer's entire day is dedicated to research. I need to be a lint brush, picking up local tips, leads and feedback. My secret research weapon is taking time to interview people running the hotels and restaurants already listed in my guidebook. They think I'm friendly and gracious to take time to chat, and while I truly enjoy it, it's also the best way for me to learn what works and what doesn't and to discover the pitfalls and frustrations experienced by people traveling with my guidebooks.

This one is pretty funny. The usually staid public railway/subway/bus announcers worldwide are usually pretty mellow, 'the next stop is ...' or 'please mind the gap' or 'the next train is ...' but this London Tube announcer used her own website's PA system to voice other views.

In one she says: "We would like to remind our American tourist friends that you are almost certainly talking too loudly."

In another she announces that the passenger pretending to read a paper but actually staring at a woman's chest should stop, since he was "not fooling anyone, you filthy pervert"

To wake up to, or ride home from work to such witty barbs would be a welcome change from the monotonous, rote scripts that announcers must use. Yet the London Tube has the last laugh, they have sacked her for her criticisms of the system.

"London Underground is sorry to have to announce that further contracts for Ms Clarke are experiencing severe delays," he added, according to the London Evening Standard.

Clarke told the daily she was surprised by the decision. "I don't feel that I have been slagging them off -- that was never my intention. It was just a bit of a laugh," she said.

But said a Tube spokesman: "We won't be providing her with any more work. It's not because of the spoof announcements. It's because she has criticised the Underground system."

While not a good idea to make fun of your employer, I'm sure the general populace would side with her and this will be a major PR disaster for the London Transportation and Ms. Clarke will be soon employed again. After all, how can democracy exist without one man, one voice?

The MobiTeam would like to wish all of our beloved MobiTravelers a Happy Thanksgiving*  We hope you are traveling safe and in the destination of your choice with your loved ones.  All the best and enjoy the holiday.  - The MobiTeam

Nice, you could buy out the plane, potentially.  Oh our crazy brothers down under, when will they cease to amaze us.  Although Ryanair gives away seats for free, this is a step in the right direction.

BUDGET airline Jetstar will boast Australia's lowest-ever domestic air fares on its website tonight when it offers 5000 seats for sale for just five cents.

The five-cent fares, which include taxes and other charges, will go on sale from 7pm to 11.59pm (AEDT), and come as competitor Tiger Airways prepares to launch its operations in Australia.

Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said the fares, offered on a seven of Jetstar's routes, are a bonus for travellers.

Airline food is horrible.  Even business and first class food is crap because it's not really made, it's just heated up, and how good can that be?  I like to take nice Korean Dooboo Gighee in a claypot aboard my flights, the stench usually clears a row for me.  Teehee*  Anyway, here's a guide to make a sandwich and eat it - at altitude.

It's a given that most airlines don't serve meals, and airport to-go options are pathetic, so your best bet is to pack your own eats. But if you're bringing a sandwich on board (the best option because it doesn't need a container or utensils), you have to build it to last. After all, you probably won't be eating the darn thing for at least three hours.

Here, Sisha Ortuzar, executive chef of sandwich chain 'Wichcraft chain, offers tips on how to create a sandwich that'll still be appetizing once you're in the air.

I don't really know anything about podcasting, but I guess you can do a monologue about something and put on the web and then other people can listen to you ramble.  Great*  You always see those tourists in the museums with them on, why not do it for the larger city in general.  Here's a guide on how to do it.

Let’s face it – when it comes to highlighting diverse and wonderful locations around the world, words sometimes don’t cut it. Travelers want images. They want sounds. They want local flavor. They want authenticity. They want the next-best-thing to actually being there.

The Thanksgiving rush is on and President Bush has opened up military airspace to commercial flights.  Also, some carriers are offering solutions for weather and other problems that may arise.  Nice, for once the carriers are being pro-active instead of reactive.  Yay*

To improve the holiday travel experience, many airlines will hire more employees, expand online check-in capabilities, and add more self-check-in kiosks. Airlines are also being encouraged by the ATA to block out seats on popular routes to accommodate passengers whose flights are cancelled due to weather issues, and to waive change fees for passengers who need to change flights due to weather.

Well, everyone is scrambling for an exit, somehow, but when hedge funds call the shots, shows you money talks.  Northwest, Continental, and Delta should merge with America West/US Airways and form the greatest 2nd tier American domestic airline.  Yay*

The reported talks come as all airline executives are wrestling with the implication of oil prices hovering close to $100 a barrel. That has sharply boosted jet fuel expenses -- and accelerated a search for ways to cut costs, which typically are the result of airline takeovers.

The USA Today tossed three travel experts in a room and asked them to describe their dream airline. An airline that restores the grandeur of flight by focusing on passenger value and convenience. Pay attention airlines, and consider giving us the following:

Think about your last vacation.  Perhaps a relaxing vacation in the Bahamas, sunning yourself, eating a good meal, taking it easy.  Better yet though, maybe take it sleazy.  With the whole 'what happens in Vegas ...' campaign, perhaps a vacation of getting hammered, one night stands, and blowing tons of money is exactly what you need.

It is a far cry from the civilised city break, relaxing package holiday by the beach, or wholesome trekking trip in the mountains. Inspired by tales of the hedonistic getaways enjoyed by celebrities, the latest fashion for twenty- and thirtysomething holidaymakers is "debauchery tourism" - or debaucherism - according to a global travel trends report released today.

Life is busy enough without having to deal with queues and traffic jams on the mountains. Here are 10 of the best spots for avoiding the ski crowds.

Nothing new here, but the stats are kinda shocking. Most of go on holiday to get away, enjoy ourselves, relax. Brits, well they like to explore new cultures and then have sex with them. Does this increase the risk of STDs? Absolutely. A little more here.

LONDON (Reuters) - One in five young Britons has sex with a new partner when travelling abroad, putting them at risk of contracting HIV and other diseases, researchers said on Thursday.

Most pick fellow Britons or Europeans, apparently believing this minimises the chances of HIV infection, but they are largely unaware of the dangers of other sexually transmitted infections.

Why does business equate to drinking?  Strange how that combination is engrained in the American psyche.  Power lunch, happy hour, morning briefing ... Anyway, Southwest and business service seem to be oxymorons, but what the hell, everyone's tired of the singing flight attendant and quirky ads, so maybe this is the next step.

Southwest Airlines is offering prized business customers a chance to jump to the front of its boarding lines.

The Texas-based carrier, known for its low fares and egalitarian approach to customers, unveiled Wednesday the first concerted push in its 36-year history to win corporate travelers.

Effective tomorrow, Southwest will roll out new "Business Select" fares, priced about 10 percent above its regular non-refundable tickets, that will guarantee travelers a spot in the first group of passengers to board the plane -- and a free cocktail once they're in the air.

Well, I mean besides all the landmark casinos in Las Vegas, which seem to get destroyed on a whim, these are the top 10 you need to see before they succumb to destruction, decay, or malaise.  Here's Number 1.

1. Nauru

This tiny island in the South Pacific may soon be completely uninhabitable, and it's all because the locals forgot to follow the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.