Vacation Destinations

(Newser) - Italy? Ugly. Grand Canyon? A pain. No travel hot spot is safe after cranky readers filled Los Angeles Times inboxes with their picks for "overrated travel destinations." Bali: "Mosquitoes ate us up," wrote two travelers, and "there was poverty everywhere." Austin: "About the only thing Austin has going for it is a plethora of Tex-Mex restaurants," wrote one Yankee who ventured South. Seattle: "The city is nothing more than an overcaffeinated shopping mall filled with upper-middle-class white people," sniffed a Virginian. More »

(Newser) - Extra-marital sex and public displays of affection might be OK in France or Spain, but it’s a big no-no in Dubai and other Muslim nations, the British government is reminding citizens. The Foreign Office has released a list of do’s and don’ts for Britons planning a trip abroad, the Guardian reports, as figures show many will take vacations outside the eurozone. More »

(Newser) - Britain's deadliest spy not only ducks bullets and beds babes—he lives a life of high luxury around the world. Travel and Leisure reveals where you can vacation like a glamorous spy: Fifty London: This casino/bar/restaurant/nightclub charges $1,165 for a year-long membership. Bond actor Daniel Crag has been seen shooting dice here. More »

(Newser) - Taking aim at travelers who want more than just Wi-Fi or a pool, hoteliers are converting former prisons, schools, factories, and other odd sites into luxury hotels, Portfolio reports. Younger guests who travel for leisure are demanding distinctive experiences, and the unusual locations help hotels market their rooms in a way Conrad Hilton never imagined. More »

(Newser) - Americans can stop longing for trips to mysterious locales like the Bermuda Triangle and Stonehenge, Travel + Leisure reports. Even stranger vacation spots exist within the 50 states: Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, Calif: So-called "sailing stones" move strangely over the sandy surface. Some blame strong winds, which reach 90 mph, but no one knows why they slide around. Skinwalker Ranch in Uintah Basin, Utah: Underground roars, floating blue lights, and animal mutilations haunt this 480-acre compound. More »

(Newser) - Conservatives are pressuring Marriott to remove adult films from its pay-per-view programming, saying porn doesn't jibe with the hotel chain's commitment to families, the St. Petersburg Times reports . "It's corporate greed,'' said the head of a Christian group. Marriott contends nixing the flicks isn't so easy: It owns only a few of the 3,000 properties operating under the brand. More »

(Newser) - Jean-Georges Vongerichten has been busy indeed outside the kitchen—too busy, in the minds of some. In the next 5 years, the restaurateur plans to open between 30 and 50 new establishments in Starwood Hotels worldwide. The dramatic move, brokered by a private-equity firm, will make consistency a challenge and could lessen his cachet before long, Portfolio reports. More »