Travel news: Passengers push a plane, the ugly list and more

Laucala Island Resort

Common myth-understanding
No matter how many news media outlets proclaim it, Thanksgiving eve is not the busiest travel day of the year. According to the Chicago Tribune, the following Sunday is always busier. Chicago’s O’Hare International, for example, expects to accommodate 300,000 passengers this Sunday, whereas Thanksgiving eve 2013 only ranked the 169th busiest day of the year. Statistics were not provided, however, on how many of those passengers were sneaking leftovers aboard in their carry-ons.

Sub standard
Laucala Island Resort in tropical Fiji has it all, including 25 private villas, an 18-hole golf course, five restaurants to choose from and now submarine tours. As for that last item, CNN reports that the private island property includes a ride in its own sub—a futuristic two-seater called DeepFlight Super Falcon. Sure, but does it have those fancy beds that shake when you put a quarter in them?

New York state of mine
Who says visiting New York has to cost an arm and a leg (and a month’s rent)? Buzzfeed.com has compiled 27 Big Apple bargains for the holiday season including free days at the MET and the Museum of Natural History, free ferry rides, free Lululemon yoga sessions, free Starbucks eggnog lattes and more. We came up with a few they missed, including free garbage on the streets and complimentary subway-rat viewings.

Hot or not?
In its November issue, Travel and Leisure readers ranked America’s most and least attractive people. Topping the ugly list are denizens of Detroit, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Baltimore and Philly, while the country’s most beautiful appear to reside in Miami, San Diego, Charleston, Los Angeles and Providence. No wonder Miami drivers are ranked the worst in the U.S.—they’re too busy staring at themselves in their rear view mirrors.

Russians on ice
In this week’s news of the weird, passengers aboard a stranded Russian aircraft were asked to get out and push. According to The Guardian, 74 passengers aboard an aircraft at Igarka Airport in Siberia learned their plane had become stuck on the ground in -59F degree temps and were asked to leave the plane and help push it along the tarmac. Please tell us free rounds of vodka were offered to all.

Tagged: Europe, Midwest, New York