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If you’ve traveled through Nashville International Airport (BNA) in the past few months, hopefully you had a chance to check out the great art and hear some of the free music concerts, which include a noontime performance today by David Anderson.

But if you’ve stopped to get something to eat at the airport recently, be sure to look closely at your bank and credit card statements.  Officials thought they’d stopped a debit/credit card scam being operated at one of the food vendors back in October, but it looks like the problem is back.

This article includes a contact number in case you think your card may have been compromised at the airport.

Too bad Johnny Cash isn’t around; he’d know what to do…

(Photo of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, taken by Marty Stuart. Part of an exhibit of Stuart’s photos that will be at Nashville International Airport through June. Courtesy Nashville International Airport)

Categories: Art, Food, Music
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We say we want Wi-Fi everywhere – in the airport, on the airplane, and in our hotel rooms. And some folks keep a BlackBerry by the bedside in case an important message arrives in the middle of night.

But according to research put together by the folks Crowne Plaza hotels:

“Checking emails just before hitting the sack halts the production of sleep enhancing melatonin and has the same effect as drinking a double espresso at bedtime…”

So the hotel chain is testing a program that offers travelers a “switch-off call” telling them it’s time to power down, relax, and go to bed.  If needed, a guest can request a fresh mint or calming ginger tea as well.

Crowne Plaza is testing the “switch off call” at some of its properties in the United Kingdom. If folks like it, the service will spread to the more than 300 Crowne Plaza hotels around the world.

Good idea????

Categories: Sleeping
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Jason Barger wants folks to be nicer to each other at the airport – and everywhere else  -  and he’s written a book that he hopes will convince people to turn off their personal auto-pilots and start paying attention to what’s going on around them.

In the self-published Step Back from the Baggage Claim, Barger describes how a week spent watching travelers in airports convinced him that the world would be a better place if people took a few steps back from the baggage claim – literally and figuratively- and tried to help each other out.

It’s not as woo-woo as it sounds.  People are generally wound way too tight, especially when they’re stuck at an airport or pushing their way up to that baggage claim carousel.

So I agree with Barger: step back and relax.

And if you are at an airport, mellow out by looking around for some art, some new shops, or one of those swanky new airport wine bars.

Categories: Etiquette
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When I heard there was a power outage on Oahu last week and that thousands of people were stuck overnight at Honolulu International Airport, all I could think about was the bathrooms.

(Photo courtesy Flickr user bsktcase)

Yes, the bathrooms.

I was in Honolulu back in October, 2006 when an earthquake knocked out power to the island.  More than five thousand people got stuck at the airport back then too – and there was a big problem with the bathrooms.

Turns out that without electricity the airport’s newfangled automatic-flush toilets wouldn’t flush. And pretty much all the toilets at the airport had just recently been switched over to automatic flush.

You get the picture….

In 2006, it took a while to get the electricity turned back on at the airport, so the non-flushing toilets were a big problem. This time, the airport’s generators kicked in much sooner, so it seems that the bathrooms had to be shut down for just a short time.

Lesson learned? At the airport, use the can when you can…

Categories: Bathrooms
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If you’re planning on being in New York City anytime before January 25^th, you can go ice-skating for free at The Pond at Bryant Park. (Lockers are free as well, but there is a charge to rent locks and ice-skates, if you don’t have those with you.)

(Courtesy The Pond at Bryant Park)

Tomorrow morning (Tues, Dec 30^th) MetLife has four-walled the rink so that 400 NYC school children can skate with the Peanuts gang, but Snoopy will be hanging around between 1:30 and 3:30 pm to take photos with anyone who shows up for public skating in the afternoon.

Don’t know how to skate? Free lessons are offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9am – 11am, courtesy of Citi.

And – here’s the fly part – from now through January 25^th, Delta Air Lines is giving away round-trip airline tickets to any destination their fleet flies.  Ask about details when you show up and lace up.

Categories: Free Stuff, Recreation
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