Prepare to pay more to fly
The Sept. 11 security fee that was intended to fund the Transportation Security Administration is about to rise. Starting July 21, the fee will bump up from $2.50 per leg with a $5 cap, to a flat fee of $5.60 per one-way trip with no cap. The fee hike could increase the cost of air travel by as little as 60 cents or as much as $22.40 or more, depending on the number and length of layovers. The TSA, however, says it won't necessarily benefit from the extra revenue because Congress has directed that the new fees go to the U.S. Treasury to help reduce the government deficit.
Los Angeles Times
New stops for Sun Country
This winter, Sun Country Airlines will add service to three new destinations designed to ease winter's chill: Manzanillo, Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean; Nassau, Bahamas; and Playa Blanca, Panama (pending government approval).
Kerri Westenberg
hotel check-in
Compact but comfortable in Edinburgh
The high-design, low-budget chain Motel One has 50 outposts in cities such as Berlin, Vienna and Brussels. The 208-room Edinburgh-Royal property, in the Medieval Old Town, is a relative newcomer. The lobby's drop-ball chandeliers and Arco floor lamps add panache, while plaid egg chairs and communal breakfast tables made of whisky barrel staves lend it a cozy Scottish authenticity. Unlike similar brands, Motel One emphasizes comfort over scene, attracting an older traveler. Compact rooms have a wall-mounted TV playing an aquarium and ambient music loop. The ambience continued with a chocolate carpet and picture windows, with turquoise blackout curtains that opened fully. My room also included a double bed with a fluffy duvet, a small desk and a generous rack for hanging clothes. (From 69 pounds, or $118, at $1.68 to the pound; www.motel-one.com/en/hotels/edinburgh). New York Times
where to eat now: Mumbai
Modern spin on Indian cooking
Is ultramodern molecular gastronomy compatible with a centuries-old culinary tradition? That's what chef Jiggs Kalra set out to discover in October when he opened Masala Library, his temple of new-age Indian cuisine in Mumbai, India. His approach adds 21st-century twists to age-old classics. There's an amuse-bouche of papri chaat, a street-food snack of crispy fried dough and spicy toppings, here served with spherified pearls of yogurt. For an earthy wild-mushroom "chai," clear consommé is poured over dehydrated mushrooms and truffle oil dried into crumbs (www.masalalibrary.co.in).
new york times
Deal of the week
River cruises waive single supplements
Uniworld is waiving single supplements on select 2014 and 2015 European river cruises. For example, the Nov. 2 departure of the seven-night Bordeaux, Vineyards & Chateaux cruise in France is now priced starting at $3,399 per person single (plus $140 port charges); rate for a single is typically $5,298, for a savings of $1,899. Other discounted cruise itineraries include the seven-night Castles along the Rhine, sailing from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam, and Classic Christmas Markets from Nuremburg, Germany, to Frankfurt (Info: 1-800-257-2407; www.uniworld.com).
