BOOK YOUR VACATION
Just a few pages into “Knickers in a Twist: A Dictionary of British Slang” ($13, Canongate), and it’s hard to keep from trying out one or two of the newfound phrases on the next person you run into. “I’m on the dog and bone, do you mind?” which means telephone, or “You made a pig’s ear of that,” which means you made a mess. A good gift for someone about to head over to the UK, the dictionary is compact enough to tuck into a backpack or carry-on, but keep in mind that many of the phrases also are rather off-color. Author Jonathan Bernstein’s explanations make for fun perusing, though, and he has a dry sense of humor that adds to the merriment. The meanings are sectioned into categories so that when your kids find the book, they can immediately go to “Body Language” and find out all of the British ways to refer to private parts.
GEARING UP
It pushes the limits a bit for carry-on applications, but the GridZone Foam Mini Contour Pillow by Select Comfort is ideal for throwing in the backseat of the car or taking along to supplement those hotel pillows that feel as though they have been stuffed with carpet remnants. And, hey, if you have serious back problems or really can’t get comfy on a plane, and it sounds reasonable to carry a 10-by-14-by-5-inch pillow that is quite squishy and sports a wavy shape that bounces back when you move around (it’s made from something fun called “high-density memory foam”), then by all means, stuff this in a big rollaway. Not to mention that it comes covered in a nice, velvety soft pillowcase that is machine-washable, and the whole thing is hypoallergenic. Made by the same folks who bring you the Sleep Number Bed. | $49.99, selectcomfort.com or call 888-411-2188 for the nearest store location
GEARING UP
It pushes the limits a bit for carry-on applications, but the GridZone Foam Mini Contour Pillow by Select Comfort is ideal for throwing in the backseat of the car or taking along to supplement those hotel pillows that feel as though they have been stuffed with carpet remnants. And, hey, if you have serious back problems or really can’t get comfy on a plane, and it sounds reasonable to carry a 10-by-14-by-5-inch pillow that is quite squishy and sports a wavy shape that bounces back when you move around (it’s made from something fun called “high-density memory foam”), then by all means, stuff this in a big rollaway. Not to mention that it comes covered in a nice, velvety soft pillowcase that is machine-washable, and the whole thing is hypoallergenic. Made by the same folks who bring you the Sleep Number Bed. | $49.99, selectcomfort.com or call 888-411-2188 for the nearest store location
TRAVEL BY NUMBERS | 10 Hippest Hotels
TripAdvisor announces the world’s 10 hippest hotels, according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors.
1. Vibeful Views: Hotel Gansevoort, New York
2. Surreal Sanctuary: Sanderson, London
3. Style on the Strip: “THEhotel” at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
4. Down-to-Earth Haven: Hotel St. Paul, Montreal, Quebec
5. Museum Muse: Claris Hotel, Barcelona, Spain
6. Bay City Chic: Clift Hotel, San Francisco
7. SoBe Serenity: The Setai, Miami
8. Bellissimo: Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Australia
9. Your Cup of Tea: Morrison Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
10. A Lofty Idea: Sezz Hotel, Paris
zoomandgo.com
Some reviews on travel sites from alleged “real travelers” are so gooey they are obviously planted fakes from hotel employees or others trying to boost business. But zoomandgo claims it makes every effort to ensure that their reviews are legit, first by requesting plenty of personal info, then by following up with spot checks, such as phone calls to folks to chat about experiences, as well as check-ups on the reviews themselves. The result is a site that feels real, with great photos and videos.
GEOQUIZ | Where are these places?
1. In 1975, the mountain kingdom of Sikkim voted to become a state in which country?
2. The westernmost part of the Jura Mountains is located in which country?
3. Known for its leather goods and carpets, Marrakech is in the central part of which African country?
4. Banana plantations surround the port city of Puerto Limón, located on the Caribbean Sea in which country?
5. Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan are historic regions in which present-day African country?
6. Barriers at Woolwich protect what capital city against storm surges from the North Sea?
7. One of China’s most densely populated provinces and major agricultural regions has its provincial capital at Chengdu. Name this south- central province.
8. The 18-mile-long Tasman Glacier, the longest glacier in New Zealand, flows down the eastern slopes of New Zealand’s highest mountain. Name this mountain.
9. Peanuts are the principal export of the African country that is almost completely surrounded by Senegal. Name this country.
10. Honiara is the capital of an island country in the South Pacific. Name this country.
ANSWERS: 1. India 2. France 3. Morocco 4. Costa Rica 5. Libya 6. London 7. Sichuan 8. Mount Cook (Also acceptable: Mount Aoraki) 9. Gambia 10. Solomon Islands
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
