TSA Full-Body Scanners

The TSA's Full-Body Scanners have been dominating travel news lately as they're rolled out to an increasing number of airports. Now in use in the US at 65 airports nationwide, as more people encounter them we're seeing strong reactions.

Many are opposed to the scanners as a violation of their privacy, and opt for the alternative 'enhanced pat-down'. However, there are also a number of complaints from travellers who find the search invasive and inappropriate, likening it to sexual assault. (For an account of the experience by magician Penn Jillette, click here, and for a video of software programmer John Tyner's refusal, click here.)

The TSA claims that the majority of Americans support the new security procedures, but many travellers are expressing negative feelings about them. What do you think? Is it a violation of privacy, or a necessary evil? Would you submit to the body scan or a pat-down? Many of us flying in the US over the holiday season will soon be forced to make these decisions.

Here's a complete list of airports that now use full-body scanners:

Albuquerque International Sunport Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Boise Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Bradley International Airport, Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cleveland International Airport, Corpus Christi International Airport, Denver International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Detroit Metro Airport, El Paso International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Wayne International Airport, Fresno Air Terminal, Gerald R. Ford Grand Rapids International Airport, General Mitchell Milwaukee International Airport, Greater Rochester International Airport, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Harlingen/Valley International Airport, Harrisburg International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Honolulu International Airport, Houston William P. Hobby Airport, Indianapolis International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport, Kansas City International Airport, Lambert/St. Louis International Airport, Laredo International Airport, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Lihue Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, McAllen Miller Airport, Memphis International Airport, Miami International Airport, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, Nashville International Airport, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York La Guardia International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Omaha Eppley Airfield Airport, Orlando International Airport, Palm Beach International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, Port Columbus International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Richmond International Airport, Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport, Saipan International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, San Antonio International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, San Jose International Airport, San José Mineta International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Spokane International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Tulsa International Airport, Warwick T. F. Green International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport

Unclaimed Baggage

Ever wonder what becomes of lost and abandoned luggage? In the US, it probably ends up in Alabama at the Unclaimed Baggage Center. They buy up new and used unwanted items from airlines and sell them to the public for prices far below retail value. They'll be launching a new website soon, so you should be able to browse online as well.

If you're in the area, it's not a bad place to do some Christmas shopping!

Word Travels Forum Round-Up #02

Here's the latest hot topics on the Word Travels Forum:

Weather in Seoul

Sufficient Travel Fund Scams

Is It Safe to Visit Kenya?

Indian Visa Requirements

Remember, our network of local experts is ready to answer all your travel-related on visas, destinations, tour operators, flights, hotels, restaurants questions on ... give us a challenge!

Win a Trip to Germany!

Here's where we let you know how to win trips to all the fabulous destinations featured in Word Travels!

Today's contest is from McDonald's who will send you to Germany for your crazy MacRib story.

Entry form and info here.

Minneapolis

As depicted in movies like Grumpy Old Men, Fargo, and New in Town, Minneapolis has a single personality: cold! Filmmakers are eager to show ankle-deep snow, icicle-lined rooftops and sub-zero temperatures.

But this fair city has a split personality: summers in Minneapolis are when the entire city comes out to play, with a number of parties, concerts, and festivals taking advantage of the idyllic late-summer weather of August and September to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

August is when you’ll find the Minnesota State Fair in full swing, with fried food on a stick, 4H livestock competitions, and plenty of concerts, games and rides for everyone. It’s one of the biggest in the country, attracting millions of visitors every year.

Visitors can also get their thrills on the roller coasters at Valleyfair in Shakopee, or grab a burger in St Paul at the iconic Mickey’s Diner. You may find yourself wanting to stay a bit longer, as late September in Minnesota is when the leaves in Minnesota start to turn spectacular shades of red, yellow and orange.

Don't forget about great winter events though, like the St Paul Winter Carnival in January and February. If anyone knows how to have fun in the cold, it's Minnesotans!

Home Away from Home: House Swapping

For many travellers, the novelty of hotels has long worn off. Maybe you’re a seasoned traveller and can’t stomach the idea of more pastel paintings and single-serving soaps, maybe you’re a mother with four kids in tow that you’re tired of shushing for the benefit of other guests, maybe you’re just in search of something a bit more personal. You want to get away, but you still want to feel at home. Is that too much to ask?

Not anymore. The latest budget travel trend, popularised in the 2006 film The Holiday, is called ‘House Swapping’, where vacationers trade houses for the duration of their holiday. While many people might balk at the idea of allowing a stranger to sleep in their bed, drive their car, or care for their pet, most swappers have spent months corresponding with each other, exchanging emails, pictures, and phone calls.

Home swap sites offer exchange agreements allowing customers to be as specific as they like about what their guests may (and may not) do. While house swapping can be a great way to save money while on vacation, keep in mind that it involves a lot more work. Your home should be clean and well-maintained, and you’ll need to provide linens, basic food items, and detailed information on your area.

Many travellers are taking advantage of sites like Home Link and Home Exchange to find houses in exotic locations for their next trip. You can also visit 1st Home Exchange for more great tips on house swapping.

Travel Movie: Eat Pray Love

Who doesn’t want an all-expenses-paid trip around the world to get over a divorce? Based on the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love follows her journey to Italy, where she learns to eat; India, where she learns to pray; and Bali, where she finds love.

Played by queen of quirk Julia Roberts, the film has largely fallen flat with critics who adore the beautiful settings but can't quite reconcile the fast-food spiritualism. Nevertheless, it has grossed over $80 million dollars in the US.

Whether or not you're excited by the idea of a paint-by-numbers journey of spiritual discovery, the cinematography captures the charm of Rome and gorgeous Balinese vistas, with some mouth-watering shots of food (and Javier Bardem!) thrown in as a side dish.

Eat Pray Love is currently showing in South African theaters, and will be available on DVD in the US from November 23rd.