PRI: Talking Travel with Lonely Planet

This week our topic is: drumroll please ... airports. Good airports, bad airports, airports that are a complete drag, airports that are remarkably small for the area they serve, the airport you never want to descend into again ... ever, abandoned airports, and ghost airports - those big projects that politicians sometimes push with the promise of jobs - and that then just sit there idle.

A president toppled and protests in the streets, mudslides rolling down mountains and killing villagers, and flood waters cresting through through the streets of a major city. Not exactly what Tunisia, Brazil and Australia (respectively) want during the height of their tourist season. American Airlines says 'get lost' to Orbitz and Expedia, and in the northern hemisphere, it's still winter. How do you avoid getting stuck at the airport?

Imagine you're in London and trying to get home to some other continent for the holidays. Suddenly there's an unprecedented dump of snow, below zero temperatures (and we're talking Fahrenheit!), and Heathrow grinds to a halt. Well, that's what's happened to thousands of passengers now stranded at the airport, in hotels, on some friend's floor.

In this episode, we'll boldly go where few travelers want to go these days. We mean through those TSA scanning machines. We'll also hear about traveling to Burma, and we'll have an appreciation for that delightful travel experience known as the Road Trip. More information at www.theworld.org/travel.

In this episode, we'll talk about the final tourism frontier - space. Would you pay tens of thousands of dollars to experience six minutes of weightlessness? Also, we'll talk about traveling to Mexico, and we'll spin through some haunted Halloween happenings in various parts of the world. More information at www.theworld.org/travel.

In this episode, we talk about the recent terror alerts issued for Europe. Scary enough to cancel a trip? Probably not. Also, we assess eight overnight train rides in Europe that are worth the time and money. And, we end with a question for listeners: what's the best, or worst, moment you've had while traveling as a couple. More information at www.theworld.org/travel.

Episode 20 includes a look at what's on offer in India at the Commonwealth Games. Also, Amsterdam's airport bucks the digital trend and opens a library. Plus, why Oprah is taking herself, her studio audience and 150 crew to Australia. More information at www.theworld.org/travel.

Episode 19 of Talking Travel takes a look at London's new bicycle rental program. You'll find out how much it costs, what the bikes are like, and what other cities around the world you can take similar advantage of the two-wheeled iron horse. Plus, a look at a new "pay-as-you-go" hotel opening in London. What's that you say? Two bucks for a towel? More information at www.theworld.org/travel.

For this episode, The World's Clark Boyd and Lonely Planet's Robert Reid discuss the recent rise in airplane anger, not just among flight attendants, but among passengers as well. Also, we assess the travel disruptions caused by those wildfires in Russia, and we hear about a bear who, well, just wanted to go for a drive. More information at www.theworld.org/travel.

Episode 17 of Talking Travel will help you make sense of some new legislation moving through Congress that would make it legal, and easier, for Americans to travel to Cuba. Also, Tom Hall discusses a list of blacklisted airlines, and Robert Reid brings news that more than half of the airline caterers in the United States did not pass recent health inspections. We also talk about historical reenactments and national park volunteer opportunities. More information at www.theworld.org/travel.