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Travel

Hertz trial service makes returning rental car easier, gets travelers to airport terminal faster

I Love Hertz
I Love Hertz

Web Watch has been talking with a number number of people who have been traveling all over the country recently, and has heard about what HERTZ has been doing as a trial out at Denver International Airport (DEN) this summer. 

As cars are returned to the Hertz Car Return lot by people anxious to get their paperwork taken care of so they can hop onto the shuttle bus to take them to the airport terminal — random Hertz customers are selected to be given “white glove” service:  after being checked in by the helpful Hertz employee, an Aramark contractor then hops into the driver’s seat and drives you and your luggage directly to the terminal.

No need to schlep your baggage from the car return area onto the shuttle bus.

No need to wait for enough people to hop onto the shuttle to make it worthwhile to make that trip.

Depending on the time of day, this service – if rolled out into wide use in Denver or other airports – could save the average traveler 15-30 minutes.

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How To Travel Websites

How to accurately map the state of Michigan to your hand


World Map Wallpaper
World Map Wallpaper

We all know that your right hand (palm up) is the Internationally Known Map of the state of Michigan.

But everyone always points to the wrong part of the hand when saying where they are from, whether it be Detroit, Midland, Flint, Kohler, or Battle Creek.

Everyone is always a little bit off.

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10 Things News Travel

The Manliest City in America is…. Charlotte?


Pink Carolina Panthers Cap
Pink Carolina Panthers Cap

Charlotte, North Carolina – the “Queen City of the South” – has been named the MANLIEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY by Combos snacks.

We know.  Web Watch was shocked too.

This was the same city where the Carolina Panthers’ Fight Song was deemed too cheesy to be played after a touchdown.  No wonder the team struggled for a few years, even posting a 1-15 record one season.  What good is an NFL team without a Fight Song?

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News Travel

Sleeping with your co-worker is okay, as long as it’s for a legitimate business reason


Office Mate - Your Guide to Romance at the Office
Office Mate – Your Guide to Romance at the Office

And by “sleeping with a co-worker”, we mean “share a hotel room with while on a business trip”.

And this has happened to Web Watch more than once, as we’re sure it has happened to many others.

One occasion was due to a winter business trip that required a cross-country flight through a few major snow storms — resulting in delayed… then diverted flights into an overnight stay in a city with very few available hotel rooms.  Luckily, our travel department found an Embassy Suites with one room available – and it allowed for all parties involved to have their own bit of privacy until the next day’s flight.

Another was just a situation where there were more people than available rooms, and everyone in the group was bunked up with another.  Luckily, our hotel buddy decided to hook up with someone they had just met earlier that day, so Web Watch ended up having the entire room to ourselves all night.   I suppose that this one didn’t officially count as sharing a room, but it could have been, so we’ll count it.

In any case, both of these were perfectly good, legitimate business-oriented reasons for co-workers to share a hotel room.   And it ends up that Web Watch was just at the beginning of this new trend in business travel.

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Disney Travel Video

Meet David Rosdeitcher – The Zip Code Man


The Adventures of the ZipCodeMan
The Adventures of the Zip Code Man

David Rosdeitcher has an affinity for numbers, or just a really good memory. He is a street performer from Boulder, Colorado, and his act consists of asking the audience for their zip code.  He then proceeds to tell those people not only what city they’re from, but also about a restaurant or other local point of interest that’s located there.

He’s been called THE ZIP CODE MAN, THE MIGHTY ZIP CODE MAN, and MR ZIP CODE.

As a busker, he earns money based on the tips that people provide from the entertainment he offers.  His pitch line is “give me money, because I know where you live.”  It seems to be effective.

Categories
How To Science Travel

Little known NASA fact: astronauts can propel themselves in space by peeing in different directions


Astronaut Costume
Astronaut Costume

Here’s a LITTLE KNOWN NASA FACT that you won’t often hear on any space-oriented TV show or VIP tour:  astronauts can propel themselves through space by using their pee as a propulsion method.

It’s true.

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Disney News Travel

Another Disney Bus Accident: Improving Disney Transportation part 2


Disney Monorail
Disney Monorail

Today marks yet another accident on the Walt Disney World transportation system — this time, a 10-year-old boy was struck and killed by Disney bus while he was riding his bike near Fort Wilderness with an 11-year-old friend (who was unhurt).  Initial reports say that both children were wearing proper safety gear, but bike helmets are no match versus a bus.

This past year has seen an unfortunate growing number of major accidents involving guest transportation at Disney World.  Two other bus incidents – one of which just occurred last week – sent park guests to area hospitals with mostly minor injuries and one serious one.  Combined with the Monorail cast member death last July, these accidents seem to be happening with more and more frequency, especially troubling as Walt Disney World prides itself on creating a safe environment for its guests.

So while Web Watch has talked about HOW TO IMPROVE DISNEY TRANSPORTATION in the past, perhaps its time to take another look at what else could be done.

Categories
Travel Websites

March 20th is Obscura Day. How are you celebrating?


Camera Obscura

March 20th is OBSCURA DAY.

This is a day celebrated around the world as a way to highlight obscure activities and hidden gems found in cities all over the world.

Perhaps there’s a secret underground tour that you’ve been dying to take, or a unique museum in an out-of-the-way town that nobody ever visits that should be brought to someone’s attention.  Obscura Day is your invitation to do those things that you’ve always wanted to check out.