About Matt Long
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
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Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11 April 2013 11:55 PM | 14 Comments -
20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
11 March 2013 11:55 PM | 33 Comments -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
12 November 2012 8:10 PM | 23 Comments -
Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
16 April 2012 11:55 PM | 44 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
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News and Deals Archive
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LandLopers Picks of the Week
Posted on May 17, 2013 | 1 Comment1. Adventurous Kate The first impressions we have of a new place are not only the strongest, but they are usually the most honest. We reflect without the filters of time and memory and instead provide an unfettered look at our experiences. Such is the... -
News and Deals: May 17, 2013 – Early word on new mega-cruise ship: It’s a winner, Vice Premier to Chinese tourists: Be polite!, American Airlines: Passengers without rolling suitcases can board first and ‘Amazing’ hotel deals in Europe, but getting there ….
Posted on May 17, 2013 | No CommentsEarly word on new mega-cruise ship: It’s a winner USA TODAY And the verdict is … it’s a winner. After a week of inaugural festivities for Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Breakaway that included orientation tours for thousands of travel agents and journalists, the early... -
News and Deals: May 16, 2013 – Flier’s Whitney Houston cover forces AA flight to divert, Nonsmoking’ Hotel Rooms May Not Fully Protect You, Another cruise line cuts back in Europe and UK Foreign Office Reveals List Of Weird Requests
Posted on May 16, 2013 | No CommentsFlier’s Whitney Houston cover forces AA flight to divert USA Today An American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York diverted to Kansas City last week after a passenger refused to stop singing Whitney Houston songs. The story, one of the more unusual unruly... -
News and Deals: May 15, 2013 – Bulldozers destroy Mayan pyramid in Belize, Tourism Australia’s Best Jobs in the World finalists named, Europeans turn crisis into tourist attractions and Airline fees set a record at $6 billion in 2012
Posted on May 15, 2013 | No CommentsBulldozers destroy Mayan pyramid in Belize CBS News A construction company has essentially destroyed one of Belize’s largest Mayan pyramids with backhoes and bulldozers to extract crushed rock for a road-building project, authorities announced on Monday. The head of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, Jaime... -
News and Deals: May 14, 2013 – Budget resort mooted to promote tourism among ordinary South Africans, Louisiana State, local tourism offices paying $375000 to underwrite ‘Top Chef, Drunk tourist charges elephant and Canada simply gives up competing for the American tourist
Posted on May 14, 2013 | 2 CommentsBudget resort mooted to promote tourism among ordinary South Africans BDlive THE Department of Tourism had commissioned a feasibility study for a pilot budget resort chain which would aim to make domestic tourism more accessible to ordinary South Africans, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said... -
News and Deals: May 13, 2013 – Responsible tourism valued at Indaba, Epecuen, Argentina’s ‘Atlantis’ Reemerges As A Tourist Destination, Airlines look to make a killing, without informing you of extra charges and SeaWorld Orlando brings Antarctica’s penguins to Florida
Posted on May 13, 2013 | No CommentsResponsible tourism valued at Indaba News24 Delegates at this weekend’s Tourism Indaba will contribute to the future sustainability of tourism in Cape Town when they vote for the beneficiary of a development prize which will be awarded by the City of Cape Town and Cape... -
LandLopers Picks of the Week
Posted on May 11, 2013 | 1 CommentThis week for my Picks of the Week, I want to do something a little different. Instead of individual posts, I want to introduce you to some great social media feeds from truly great bloggers. So take a look and see a different side to... -
News and Deals: May 10, 2013 – Spirit Airlines dumps toll-free number ‘to better assist you’, ABBA Museum Gives Stockholm Tourism ‘Money, Money, Money’, Chile launches ambitious tourism campaign and Thailand considers launching tourist courts
Posted on May 10, 2013 | No CommentsSpirit Airlines dumps toll-free number ‘to better assist you’ Yahoo! Music Want to call Spirit Airlines? Chat up a friendly res agent? Maybe change a flight date or time? You’ll search long and hard on the airline’s website to find a phone number. And when... -
News and Deals: May 9, 2013 – The New Airline Change Fees That Hurt Family Travelers Most, IATTO expects Antarctic tourism to grow 3% next 2013/14 season, How Hotels May Charge You For Internet in the Near Future and Southwest ‘de-hubs’ Atlanta, adds more AirTran cities
Posted on May 9, 2013 | No CommentsThe New Airline Change Fees That Hurt Family Travelers Most Condé Nast Traveler Recently the Big Three airlines—American, Delta, and United—all announced an increase in their ticket change fees to the eye-popping level of $200 per seat on top of any difference in fare. While... -
News and Deals: May 8, 2013 – ABBA museum opens in Stockholm, Egypt’s first non-alcohol serving hotel promotes “new kind of tourism”, Your Klout Score Could Get You Into American Airlines’ First Class Lounge and US Customs adopts electronic forms to speed arrivals
Posted on May 7, 2013 | No CommentsABBA museum opens in Stockholm USA Today There’s nothing like an ABBA tune to drive an earworm deep inside the skull. Maybe that’s the key to the group’s longevity. Thanks to such films as Mama Mia! the blow-dried, spandex-clad ’70s superstars are back in the... -
News and Deals: May 7, 2013 – Rome tourist rip-off: four ice creams $82, Nepal floods change river course and threaten tourism, European tourism council to give Laos best destination award and Cruise prices drop due to lack of bookings
Posted on May 7, 2013 | No CommentsRome tourist rip-off: four ice creams, $82 smh.com.au No visit to Rome is complete without a gelato but two British couples had a nasty shock when they asked for four ice creams. When the bill arrived, the four tourists realised they were being charged €64... -
News and Deals: May 6, 2013 – Alaska volcano erupts, may affect air travel, Booze, bikinis are welcome in Egypt, Tourism Minister says, Royal Caribbean cutting back on Europe sailings and Another river line expands in Europe
Posted on May 6, 2013 | No CommentsAnother river line expands in Europe USA Today Add Scenic Cruises to the list of river lines expanding rapidly in Europe. The Australia-based company in April officially launched its seventh ship on the Continent after rebuilding five of the six older vessels it has in... -
LandLopers Picks of the Week
Posted on May 3, 2013 | 2 Comments1. GloboTreks I’ve always said that travel isn’t all puppies and rainbows, but Norbert’s experience in Morocco is not your average bad travel experience. This is a must read post in my opinion not just for the story, but for the lessons as well. And... -
News and Deals: May 3, 2013 – New Zealand brand could be tarnished following a spate of ‘tourist attacks’,Tourist helicopter flights start over London, US airports don’t stack up and Turkish Airlines Bans Flight Attendants From Wearing Bright Lipstick
Posted on May 2, 2013 | No CommentsNew Zealand brand could be tarnished following a spate of ‘tourist attacks’ TVNZ The tourism industry says international visitors, especially Asians, need to be reassured that New Zealand is safe following a string of robberies targeting tourists. This week a group of British visitors had... -
News and Deals: May 2, 2013 – L.A. approves major $4.8 billion overhaul for LAX, North Korea imprisons American tourist with hard labour, Frontier Airlines to charge for drinks, carry-on bags and Obama quietly signs bill easing air travel delays
Posted on May 2, 2013 | No CommentsL.A. approves major $4.8 billion overhaul for LAX USA Today Los Angeles International Airport is a step closer to major renovations that have some neighbors vowing to sue, after the City Council approved a $4.8 billion project Tuesday. The council’s 10-3 vote OKs plans to... -
Monthly #TripItChat Twitter Chat
Posted on May 1, 2013 | 1 Comment#TripItChat is a monthly chat on Twitter, sponsored by TripIt and hosted by me. The chat usually takes place on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 2:00 PM Pacific/5:00 PM Eastern until 3:00 PM Pacific/6:00 PM Eastern. I’m joined in the chat by TripIt... -
News and Deals: May 1, 2013 – Hopes ‘best restaurant in the world’ will boost tourism, London-based group launches tourist boycott of Andamans, All Dreamliner airlines to resume flights and Budget cuts close areas of Smithsonian museums
Posted on May 1, 2013 | No CommentsHopes ‘best restaurant in the world’ will boost tourism Sydney Morning Herald An avante-garde restaurant run by three brothers in north-east Spain hopes that being crowned the world’s best restaurant will boost food tourism in recession-bound Spain. El Celler de Can Roca in Girona scooped... -
News and Deals: April 30, 2013 – Virgin Galactic takes important step toward space tourism, Iceland grapples with 19 percent spike in tourism, Cruise company buys much-needed Loch Ness Monster collision insurance and Lindblad Expeditions Announces Free Air Deal
Posted on April 30, 2013 | No CommentsVirgin Galactic takes important step toward space tourism San Jose Mercury News Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo made its first powered flight Monday, breaking the sound barrier in a test over the Mojave Desert that moves the company closer to its goal of flying paying passengers on... -
News and Deals: April 29, 2013 – Psy named Korea tourism ambassador, US tourist faces death penalty in North Korea, Alaska Airlines’ new seats have power outlets but less cushion and Memorial Day airfares down from last year
Posted on April 29, 2013 | No CommentsPsy named Korea tourism ambassador CNN International Psy’s new song “Gentleman” has confirmed he’s more than a one-hit wonder — the music video already has 244 million views on YouTube since it dropped two weeks ago. So it makes sense that Korea is using the... -
News and Deals: April 25, 2013 – Virgin Launches In-Flight Creeping to Make Air Travel Even Worse, Oof! Airline Fees Rise Yet Again: At Least $200 to Change a Flight, Survey shows visitors gamble less and Marriott Launches 1-million Points Contest
Posted on April 25, 2013 | No CommentsVirgin Launches In-Flight Creeping to Make Air Travel Even Worse Gawker In an effort to promote the launch of its ultra-cheap Los Angeles to Las Vegas route, Virgin introduced a new “Seat-to-Seat Delivery” option that allows passengers to hit on other passengers by sending them... -
News and Deals: April 24, 2013 – Giant Staten Island Ferris Wheel May Have Google Glass, TSA postpones allowing small knives back on planes, Federal budget cuts spark cascading travel delays at New York airports and Berlin to introduce tax on tourist hotel stays
Posted on April 23, 2013 | No CommentsGiant Staten Island Ferris Wheel May Have Google Glass Gothamist You the know huge Ferris wheel—to be the world’s biggest if actually built—planned for Staten Island? Well, the New York Wheel’s developers are working hard on making it happen—and there might be Google Glass. ALL... -
News and Deals: April 23, 2013 – Tasmania makes gay-friendly tourism official, Sharp drop in Japanese visitors spells trouble for S Korea’s tourism, World’s Most Dishonest Travelers Come From These Nations and Holiday Inn Resort Launches “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” Offer
Posted on April 23, 2013 | 1 CommentTasmania makes gay-friendly tourism official NEWS.com.au TASMANIA has become the first state to accredit gay-friendly tourism businesses just months after it snubbed a projected $100 million windfall from same-sex marriage. The Rainbow Tasmanian Tourism Accreditation program will allow tourism operators to officially declare themselves gay-friendly,... -
Get to Know the Big Apple: 5 Fabulous Ways to See NYC
Posted on April 22, 2013 | No CommentsThe following guest post is brought to you by smartsave but as always all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. There’s so much to see and do in New York but it’s hard to know where to start. Taking a tour of the city... -
News and Deals: April 22, 2013 – FAA Furloughs Kick in, Some Flight Delays Appear, Four Seasons seeks a new boss and a faster growth strategy, Israel’s 3 Airlines Strike Over EU Proposal and Rwanda targets medical tourism
Posted on April 22, 2013 | 1 CommentFAA Furloughs Kick in, Some Flight Delays Appear ABC News Commercial airline flights moved smoothly throughout most of the country on Sunday, the first day air traffic controllers were subject to furloughs resulting from government spending cuts, though some delays appeared in the late evening... -
LandLopers Picks of the Week
Posted on April 19, 2013 | 2 Comments1. Twenty-Something Travel I really related to this post, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. Since leaving my job I’m one of the many without proper health care and the promise of medical tourism can be alluring. Well it was, until I... -
News and Deals: April 19, 2013 – Travel delays ahead: FAA furloughs begin Sunday, Social media helps travel companies bag deals, Two-tonne bell crashes down on tourist and AirAsia to replicate low-cost model in hotels
Posted on April 18, 2013 | No CommentsTravel delays ahead: FAA furloughs begin Sunday CNN International Fliers beware. As soon as Monday, travelers nationwide could face flight delays because of the federal spending cuts, with delays averaging 10, 20, and 30 minutes at major hub airports during peak periods, but soaring on... -
News and Deals: April 18, 2013 – 287 ‘Unsafe’ Airlines That Are Banned From Europe, U.S. Tourist, Faces Trial In Turkey For Collecting Stones That May Be Historical Artifacts, Despite Tensions, Tourism To North Korea Continues and Scottish tourism facing tough times say bosses
Posted on April 17, 2013 | No Comments287 ‘Unsafe’ Airlines That Are Banned From Europe Business Insider The European Union bans dozens of airlines it deems “unsafe” from flying in its airspace, saying they operate “in conditions below essential safety levels.” The blacklist includes all the carriers based in Afghanistan, the Democratic... -
News and Deals: April 17, 2013 – American Airlines Resumes Flights After a Computer Problem, South Africa’s tourism growth outstrips world average, Tourist-thronged cable cars cost San Francisco millions in lawsuits and Senators push FAA to allow more electronics on planes
Posted on April 17, 2013 | No CommentsAmerican Airlines Resumes Flights After a Computer Problem New York Times American Airlines was forced to ground all of its flights for several hours on Tuesday after a nationwide problem with its computer systems. By late afternoon, its computers were back up and its operation... -
The Lesser-Known Treasures of Egypt
Posted on April 16, 2013 | No CommentsThe following guest post is brought to you by smartsave but as always all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. The weather in Egypt may be glorious but it’s the stunning Red Coast region, the largest city on the continent and literally thousands of... -
News and Deals: April 16, 2013 – Hotels tighten security after Boston Marathon bombings, Europe’s Top Airlines Squeezed by Emirates-Ryanair Growth, Florida Hit By Outbreak Of Giant Land Snails and 55 Cruise Passengers Robbed On St Lucia Near Celebrity Event
Posted on April 16, 2013 | No CommentsHotels tighten security after Boston Marathon bombings USA TODAY Hotels in Boston and to a lesser extent, New York and Washington D.C., have tightened security in the wake of the bombing attacks near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Some are restricting access to... -
News and Deals: April 15, 2013 – Eurostar imitates airlines to stay on track, Hundreds of armed police guard Paris tourist attractions after influx of criminal gangs, Airline seat that slides makes debut at expo and Graffiti force closure of Joshua Tree park sites
Posted on April 15, 2013 | No CommentsEurostar imitates airlines to stay on track CNN International Eurostar, the high-speed train company connecting London with Brussels and Paris, is undergoing a massive overhaul. Its chief executive, Nicolas Petrovic, says a new fleet of trains will be ready by 2015, and to go with... -
Reader Survey and a Chance to Win Great Stuff
Posted on April 14, 2013 | 3 CommentsSo now that LandLopers has successfully celebrated its 3rd birthday, I think it’s time to conduct another reader survey to make sure I’m still on track. There have been a lot of changes, especially in the past year, both on my site and in my... -
LandLopers Picks of the Week
Posted on April 12, 2013 | 3 Comments1. Lee Abbamonte Hawaii holds a special place in my heart, but the small island of Lanai is my absolute favorite. It’s small and not often visited, which is probably why I love it so much. At the heart of the Lanai experience are two... -
News and Deals: April 12, 2013 – Egypt holidays: Nile tourism plummets, Plans for customs checkpoint in Middle East questioned, Carnival Cheaper Than Motel 6? Not Exactly and Marriott Caribbean & Mexico Resorts Announces De-Stress For Less Event
Posted on April 12, 2013 | No CommentsEgypt holidays: Nile tourism plummets Telegraph.co.uk The Old Cataract hotel in Aswan that was used as a location for the film of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, and which underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in 2011, stands almost empty. This year, the biggest casualty... -
News and Deals: April 11, 2013 – 5 tons of Nutella stolen in Germany heist, Canada’s Porter Airlines plots big expansion, Pickpockets force Paris’ Louvre Museum to close its doors and Rue Margaret Thatcher in Paris? Pourquoi pas, some ask
Posted on April 11, 2013 | No Comments5 tons of Nutella stolen in Germany heist Mother Nature Network Pity the food thief. While the thefts of famous works of art and giant diamonds inspire Hollywood movies starring matinee idols in smart suits, the lowly food heist is generally relegated to a police report... -
News and Deals: April 10, 2013 – WTM reveals huge growth anticipated for outbound China travel, Google sold Frommer’s Travel — but kept all the social media data, Australia’s passenger movement charge on tourists slammed at world forum and Survey: 73% of frequent-fliers unsure of mileage totals
Posted on April 10, 2013 | No CommentsWTM reveals huge growth anticipated for outbound China travel eTurboNews Increasing Chinese incomes plus growing Internet bookings equals an expected 15 percent growth of China outbound travelers from 2012-2017 in Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). This exclusive research was unveiled today (April 8) at the... -
News and Deals: April 9, 2013 – Florida lawmakers cry foul after Jay-Z, Beyonce travel to Cuba, United flight diverted after family complains about movie, Billions Spent on ‘Oblication’ Travel and Kate Middleton to become godmother – of a cruise ship
Posted on April 9, 2013 | 2 CommentsFlorida lawmakers cry foul after Jay-Z, Beyonce travel to Cuba Fox News Beyonce’s and Jay-Z’s trip to Cuba has angered two Cuban-American politicians who are demanding information on whether the couple’s visit to the communist island was licensed. U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario... -
News and Deals: April 8, 2013 – Rising Middle Class Fuels Hotel Boom in China, Airline passenger complaints skyrocket, Average ticket prices for Vegas shows hit a record high and TSA stands firm on knife
Posted on April 8, 2013 | No CommentsRising Middle Class Fuels Hotel Boom in China CNBC.com If there’s one U.S. industry that’s found a home in China, it’s the lodging business. Building ramped up leading to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Shanghai World Expo, one-time incentives for growth in marquee destinations.... -
LandLopers Picks of the Week
Posted on April 5, 2013 | 7 Comments1. Seek New Travel Food is an integral part of anyone’s travel experience and one of my unexpected favorite foodie destinations is Hawaii. This yummy post not only demonstrates why I love eating in the islands so much, but it highlights a personal favorite snack.... -
News and Deals: April 5, 2013 – North Korea tourism ‘booming’ despite war threats, Airline Customizes In-Flight Meals, Customs lines delayed by hours at some big airports and Zimbabwe asks SA for tourism bailout
Posted on April 5, 2013 | No CommentsNorth Korea tourism ‘booming’ despite war threats CBC.ca A handful of state-sanctioned travel operators have been guiding tourists through the otherwise secretive North Korea for several years now, and they say business is booming despite the nation’s recent threats of nuclear war against neighbouring South... -
Quick Update and Exciting Travel Plans
Posted on April 4, 2013 | 4 CommentsI don’t usually post updates about LandLopers here on the site; I usually reserve those for my newsletter. (Which you can sign up for here) But I have a lot of travel coming up in the next 3 months and I don’t want to inundate... -
News and Deals: April 4, 2013 – Arthur Frommer reacquires travel book brand from Google, Carnival Triumph breaks loose from dock at Alabama shipyard, Egypt’s tourism still in decline after uprising and Cambodia Tycoon To Launch New Airline With Philippine Flag Carrier
Posted on April 4, 2013 | No CommentsArthur Frommer reacquires travel book brand from Google CNET If you were lamenting the loss of Arthur Frommer’s travel books, take heart: the travel expert has acquired the brand from Google and plans to resume publishing. The search giant acquired the Frommer’s brand last summer,... -
News and Deals: April 3, 2013 – Hertz on Demand and Zipcar face off over corporate car-sharing leadership, Luxury Spending in Europe Hit by Drop in Tourist Demand, Samoa airline to price tickets by passenger weight and Do travel deals change based on your browsing history?
Posted on April 3, 2013 | No CommentsHertz on Demand and Zipcar face off over corporate car-sharing leadership Skift If the big money in the car-sharing sector will eventually be in business travel, then both Hertz on Demand and AvisBudget’s Zipcar are starting to position themselves to cash in. Herz announced today... -
News and Deals: April 2, 2013 – USA’s first ‘pot tourism’ firm touts Colorado trip, Tourist raped on minibus in Rio, OMG, a Glass-Bottomed Jet?!: Um, April Fools and Cathay Pacific Airways Kicks off Noodles of Asia Campaign
Posted on April 2, 2013 | No CommentsUSA’s first ‘pot tourism’ firm touts Colorado trip USA TODAY Cue those “Rocky Mountain High” jokes: A Denver-based company is offering what’s being billed as the nation’s “first legal marijuana tour,” keyed to events surrounding the cannabis-themed holiday of April 20. Taking advantage of Colorado... -
Five Fun Family Activities in Gatlinburg
Posted on April 1, 2013 | No CommentsThe following is a sponsored post, but as always all thoughts, words and opinions are entirely my own. There are certain locations around the country that are great for kids, and the Gatlinburg region is one of them. Tucked away in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg... -
News and Deals: April 1, 2013 – India tourist visits down 25% following fatal Delhi gang rape, TSA screener accidentally pepper sprays co-workers, Qantas/Emirates partnership launches with incredible Sydney flyover and Over 50 Iranian Tourists Visit Southern Egypt
Posted on April 1, 2013 | No CommentsIndia tourist visits down 25% following fatal Delhi gang rape The Guardian The number of foreign tourists arriving in India dropped by 25% during the first three months of this year, largely because of fears about the risk of sexual assault, according to an industry... -
Top Skiing Locations in the French Alps
Posted on March 31, 2013 | No CommentsThe following is a sponsored post but as always all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. Skiing is an activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family and France is a particularly popular location for those looking for a wintery break. With plenty... -
LandLopers Picks of the Week
Posted on March 29, 2013 | 3 Comments1. 1 Dad, 1 Kid, 1 Crazy Adventure The issue of gay rights has been in the media a lot lately and frankly we in the LGBT community are enjoying acceptance like we’ve never before seen. Life is infinitely easier for those coming out of... -
News and Deals: March 29, 2013 – Vienna aims to muscle into growing gay travel market, Economist suggests airlines charge obese passengers more, Airlines slash mileage rewards offer $3700 chocolates instead and Horn on new Princess ship to play ‘Love Boat’ theme
Posted on March 29, 2013 | 1 CommentVienna aims to muscle into growing gay travel market Reuters Vienna has joined a growing list of European cities seeking to attract lesbian and gay tourists who are expected to remain willing to spend on travel while other recession-hit travellers cut back. City authorities in... -
News and Deals: March 28, 2013 – Asiana flight attendants win fight against ‘skirts-only’ rule, Man stuck on ‘It’s a Small World’ ride sues Disney & wins, Court approves American Airlines-US Airways merger and Tourism Montreal head warns language bickering bruising city’s image
Posted on March 28, 2013 | 1 CommentAsiana flight attendants win fight against ‘skirts-only’ rule CNN International Following a long-running discussion between Asiana Airlines and its flight attendants union about ending a skirts-only dress code for female cabin crew, the Seoul-based airline says it will be introducing a pants option to its...
