YumSugar

Would You Eat This Taco Salad?

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:50:10 PDT

While it's true that airlines have recently expanded their food offerings, the airport still dominates the market when it comes to travel meals. But - like Party and I witnessed during last year's trip to Aspen - airport food often falls incredibly flat. During recent travels, I experienced something similar when I ordered what I expected to be a taco salad, only to be greeted by a heaping pile of white rice, stringy chicken, overcooked corn, and wilted cilantro. Although I was starving, I was also completely grossed out, and tossed my takeout after just a few bites. Does this bowl of overcooked matter look like something you'd be willing to eat?

Would You Eat From These Vending Machines?

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:30:13 PDT

I was at a New York airport recently when I came across these vending machines. Rather than vending typical fare like chips and sodas, these machines sold warmed-up hot dogs, fries, onion rings, and other prepared foods. I wasn't hungry (and I was about to miss my flight), so I didn't spring for them, but otherwise I might have. What about you - would you have given them a try?

Do You Dine in Airport Restaurants?

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:45:07 PDT

When PartySugar and I attended the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, we ended up changing flights around dinner time. Being a bit peckish, and always in the mood to eat, we headed straight for the airport restaurant to grab some food. When we got there I remembered a friend of mine who never eats in airports. She feels they're too expensive and overpriced. I agree, but sometimes you need food. What do you think? Do you eat in airport restaurants?

Would You Eat These Nachos?

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:45:03 PDT

I'm not afraid to admit it, PartySugar and I actually chowed through this plate of nachos. It was late, we were waiting for a plane, and we were hungry. And as always, nachos sounded great. When they arrived we were disappointed by the canned cheese, the ice cream scoop of sour cream, the rubbery chicken, and the processed guacamole, but that didn't stop us. Tell me, would it have stopped you, or would you have eaten these nachos?

A Day in the Life . . . of Airplane Travel

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:15:00 PST

With all this holiday travel going on, can you navigate your way through a day of airport eating. For this quiz, you want to try and pick the food with the fewest amount of calories. Good luck!

Source

Take the Quiz

Making the Schlotzsky's Connection

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:15:58 PST

When it comes to quality sandwiches, how does Texas-based chain Schlotzsky's fare? Sandwich maven Between the Bread weighs in.

For years, I've been connecting through Houston airport and longingly passing by a Schlotzsky's counter, but I never seem to end up there at meal time. This year, our stop en route to Pensacola fell around lunch hour, so we finally got to enjoy one of the muffuletta-inspired sandwiches.

It's judgment day for this deli sandwich! See its deli board score when you keep reading.

Travel Tips For the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:22 PST

Traveling this holiday? Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which makes one big mess at the airport. If you can't take a car or a train, be sure to check out these packing and travel tips to make your life easier while booking flights, getting through security checkpoints, and beyond.

Booking Flights

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals at Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.
My TSA - Can homemade fruit cakes go through security? How early should you show up to the airport for a flight on the eve of Thanksgiving? Answer the pressing travel questions that could otherwise cause delays or stress by adding the TSA's free iOS app to your device. The app's airport security line estimator may become the most crucial feature on your phone when planning your airport arrival.
HearPlanet ($3) - Take the time to discover the cultural side of your holiday destination. This interactive app highlights attractions in over 300,000 locations and uses geolocation features so that you don't miss any of the nearby fun, plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house and move around in fresh air.
GasBuddy - Hitting the open road instead of the air? Use the free GasBuddy app to locate the cheapest fuel on the interstate. Show your fellow travelers some love and share the low-price gas station you discover within the app.

Gadget Essentials

iPad or Tablet - If you have the luxury of spending upwards of $500 on a tablet, it's probably the only gadget you'll need to tote during travel season since it can hold your ebooks, surf the Internet, and keep you connected.
eReader - If you're sans tablet, pack up your favorite ereader. Whether it's the latest Kindle or the new Nook Simple Touch, you can read the entire Game of Thrones series without all the paper weight.
Compact laptop - Though the MacBook Air is arguably the most popular lightweight laptop out there, there's plenty of compact PCs and ultrabooks to choose from as well.
Chargers - If you're toting all these gadgets, you're going to (obviously) need some chargers to keep things juiced. Thankfully, many airlines are offering charging stations in the terminal and even seat-side outlets on board, so you can stay 100 percent charged throughout your trip.
Headphones - Keep the roar of 35,000 feet at bay with some nice sound-isolating headphones. If you're going over-the-ear, consider Skullcandy Aviators ($149), which offer great sound and deep bass and are even comfy for those geeks who wear glasses.

Get more tips on how to pack your bag and save some dough after the break.

Stock Up: 5 Snacks to Pack For Holiday Shopping and Travel

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:55:01 PST

You don't have to be a Boy Scout to be prepared. Whether simply stocking a bag for a trip to the grocery store, or packing for a cross-country flight, moms know a thing or two about preparing for the unexpected. And while mama's regular stash of goodies can tame a fussy and hungry tot on a good day, when airport delays and holiday shopping crowds are on the agenda, it's a good time to step it up a notch. Check out five snack-time picks that do more than occupy lil ones during the holiday madness!

Clif Mojo Dipped Bars ($15 for 12): Chocolate-covered peanuts? Yes, please! Available in a variety of flavor combinations, Clif's Mojo line of bars combine the sweet and salty by mixing fruits, nuts, and pretzels and then dipping them in sweet vanilla or chocolate. The kids will never know it isn't a candy bar!
Happy Baby Happy Munchies ($3): Happy Baby's allergy-free sticks are perfectly sized for toddler hands. Made with whole grain corn and packed with choline (to help with brain development), the snacks keep sodium to a minimum so your tot won't be begging for drinks as you try to pass through the airport security line!
Funky Monkey Snacks ($12 for 12): All-natural, freeze-dried fruit may sound boring, but with Funky Monkey's fun flavors (like Jivealime, a pineapple and lime combo), kids will love testing them out. Best of all, their satisfying crunch will have lil ones thinking they're eating chips!
That's It bars ($20 for 12): Made from just fruit, these bars are perfect pick-me-ups during a long day. They're nut-free, GMO-free, and just plain good!
Revolution Foods Fruit Shredz ($4): Think of these as the modern-day interpretation of the Fun Fruit. Made without high fructose corn syrup and glycerin, they're healthy, tasty, and unbelievably kid-friendly!

Tricks for Stress-Free Travel

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:52:52 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

John DiScala, or Johnny Jet, as road warriors know him, is no amateur when it comes to hitting the road. The Travel Channel expert has flown 127,467 miles this year alone! Since a day at the airport can be more exhausting than a day at the gym, we screened Johnny Jet for his secrets to book, fly, and sleep - minus the stress - just like an expert jet-setter.

Be flexible! "I just bought a ticket to Florida a couple days ago and only paid $168 because I left a few days earlier than planned (the 21st). You can sign up for airfare alerts to be notified when the best deals are available."
Go postal. "Ship bags and gifts ahead of time via FedEx or UPS ground, five to seven days before your trip, to make it affordable. If you do pack presents, don't wrap them, because there's a good chance the TSA will unwrap them."
But do come bearing goodies. "Bring a box of chocolates for the gate agents and flight attendants! You will get the best service and possibly even an upgrade."

Read on for more of Johnny's stress-free travel tricks.

More from FITNESS Magazine:

Healthy Travel Diet: The Best Food to Eat on the Road

Beat Stress, Weigh Less: Calorie-Burning Yoga Workout

Find Your Happy Weight

How to Travel Cheaply in Europe

LearnVest — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:15:51 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

I recently embarked on a 16-day adventure through Europe: five nights in Paris, two nights in Milan, two nights in Rome and five nights in London. Sounds expensive, doesn't it? It doesn't have to be. Here are my secrets on how I saved tons of money on this vacation!

Rewards Programs. About a year in advance of the trip, I applied for a Marriott Rewards credit card (I pay off the balance each month and just accumulate points). The person I went with travels for work on a weekly basis and only stayed in Marriott hotels for a year. Between the two of us, our hotel stays were free for this trip. Even further, with Gold Status we got free breakfast every morning, and unlimited bottled water and snacks. Goes without saying that this was a huge money saver!
Fly Round Trip. I started scoping out flights months in advance, and what I noticed is that round trip flights to Europe were way cheaper than flying to one country and then home from another. So I booked a round trip to London, which only cost about $600 per person (including taxes and fees). The trip started in Paris, which meant getting on another (separately booked) flight from London to Paris once we arrived, but then I ended our trip in London for easy access going home.

Read on for more tips on traveling cheaply in Europe.