Www.Refund.me Reveals Top 10 Airports For Delays And Cancellations

refund.me flight compensation statistics show passengers have suffered the most delays and cancellations in Frankfurt Airport

In just 9 months, refund.me has already served claims in over 50 countries from 5 continents and 122 airlines

New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport ranks 10^th worldwide in terms of claims for delayed arrivals processed by refund.me

 refund.me, the international service provider which helps passengers claim their right to monetary compensation for flight delays, cancellations, diversions and missed connections, has revealed a list of the airports where users of its online widget and mobile app have suffered the most inconveniences. In only 9 months since its birth, the German start-up has served claims for passengers in over 50 countries from 5 continents and 122 airlines.

The breakthrough online system was recently awarded the Top Sabre Red Appy Award which recognizes the innovative business idea and its design for the Sabre Red Workspace, used by travel agents to shop for and book travel, and the efforts of refund.me in making passenger rights more transparent and accessible.

According to refund.me statistics^[*], Frankfurt Airport has generated the most claims for delayed arrivals, followed by three British airports, Manchester, Stansted and Gatwick. Dusseldorf’s Airport slots in at 5^th, followed by Tegel (Berlin), Antalya (Turkey), Barajas and Birmingham. New York’s JFK closes out the Top 10. 

Passengers have also suffered the most flight cancellations in Frankfurt Airport^[†], followed by Franz Joseph Strauss Airport (Munich) and Charles de Gaulle (Paris). Gatwick follows close behind in 4^th, followed in turn by Schiphol (Amsterdam), Copenhagen and Dusseldorf airports. Heathrow slots in at 8^th, with Barajas (Madrid) holding the down the 9^th position and Manchester Airport rounding out the Top 10. 

World’s most on-time airports

Major airports in the US are among the best in the world in terms of on-time performance, according to the April on-time report published by flightstats.com. Indeed, 5 of the Top 10 airports are in the US, including Seattle (3^rd), Minneapolis (7^th), Charlotte Douglas (8^th), Phoenix (9^th) and Boston (10^th).

About refund.me

refund.me is an international service provider that helps passengers enforce their claims to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and missed connections quickly and easily. Thanks to its specially developed, high-precision Advanced Business Logic System (ABL) system, claims can be submitted through the website or the free mobile app. refund.me can quickly enforce claims of up to €600 according to EU Regulation 261/2004.

This start-up created in August 2012 has made it its mission to make passenger rights worldwide transparent and attainable. Under its current services, refund.me also helps bus, ship and rail passengers file and enforce their claims under the relevant EU regulations (EU 181/11, EU 1177/10, EU 1371/07), and in the future will provide service for mishandled luggage according to the principles of the Montreal Convention. With regard to air travel, passenger rights have been enforced for hundreds of customers in over 50 countries from 5 continents and 122 airlines and 215 airports. The corporate headquarters of refund.me are located in Potsdam.

Top 10 Free Things To Do In New York City This Summer

Free things to do in New York City in the summer? I know that it sounds like an oxymoron. Let’s face it, the words “free” and “New York City” are rarely used in the same sentence, but visitors to the city are often surprised both at how expensive it can be ($400 for a hotel room?) as well as the number of free things there are to do and see around New York, especially come summer when the weather is usually sunny and urban dwellers are itching to escape from their cubicles and cramped apartments as often as possible.

For those looking to save money and experience some of the best of what New York City has to offer, here are 10 free things to do in New York City this summer.

1) Explore Governors Island

Originally developed as a military base, in recent years Governors Island has been an unpopulated 172-acre island sitting enticingly close to the tip of Manhattan (and even closer to Brooklyn). Then, in 2003, the island was sold to New York City from the federal government, and the island was opened up for free to the public for access to its amazing views and open parkland.

The island itself is made up of bike lanes, parks, the remains of the military base and even the homes that the military families lived in, which are all ripe for exploration. You can rent bikes at a kiosk just down the hill from the ferry dock, and the rest of the island is easily accessible by foot. Head to Picnic Point at the far tip of the island for views of the harbor and open space to have lunch or throw a frisbee around.

Throughout the summer there are free events every weekend, including the FIGMENT NYC art festival (June 8- 9), the Bang on a Can music festival (July 13), and even a bocce tournament (August 24) and unicycle festival (August 31) to round out everyone’s needs.

• Governors Island Calendar of Events

• Governors Island Home Page

2) See Free Music Outside

Music lovers in New York know that one of the best times in the city to see live music (often free) is during the summer when the many ongoing music festivals around the city begin, offering everything from indie rock, classical, jazz and world music on a daily basis. Here are a few of the biggest and best of the lineups.

Central Park SummerStage

This year’s SuumerStage lineup is eclectic as ever, with performances from Fela Kuti (June 23), Lights (Canada Day: June 29), and a Metropolitan Opera recital (July 16).

• Central Park Summerstage Full Calendar

Prospect Park Bandshell Celebrate Brooklyn Series

Of course one of the best music festivals in the city is in Brooklyn — Prospect Park’s bandshell to be exact. I’ve been going to concerts here every summer, and they easily have one of the best lineup in the city, and this year is no exception.

This year they kick things off with a performance by Patty Griffin (June 5), followed by shows by Big Boi (June 20), Amadou & Mariam (June 21), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (June 28), Os Mutantes (June 29), Belle and Sebastian (July 11), Jamie Lidell and Dan Deacon (August 2), Eddie Palmieri (August 3), and They Might be Giants (August 10).

• Prospect Park Celebrate Brooklyn Full Calendar

6 Places To Spend A Night At The Museum

Ever since Ben Stiller discovered what happens to exhibits after the sun goes down in the blockbuster movie Night at the Museum, sleepover experiences have taken off at attractions across the country. These overnight adventures invite big kids, 'tweens and sometimes young teens (and a parent) for an overnight stay that delivers fewer crowds and the chance to explore with some exclusive, VIP activities thrown in.

As you might expect, overnight events at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the National Museum of Natural History in D.C. -- the backdrops for Night at the Museum and its sequel -- are hot tickets that can sell out months in advance. Programs at other museums can often have shorter waiting lists.

What can you expect? In general, museum overnights are aimed at the 6-to-12 crowd, but be sure to check the age range at each institution. Count on paying between $100 and $140 per person and bringing a sleeping bag, flashlight and sense of adventure.

Still game? Here are six more can't-miss museum sleepovers around the country.

(photo: Jon Mountjoy/Flickr Creative Commons)

Field Museum of Natural History: Chicago, IL
The wildly popular Dozin' with the Dinos overnight program is always a sellout as parents and children ages 6-12 bring their sleeping bags to explore one of the most beloved attractions in Chi-Town. The evening is filled with self-guided tours and workshop activities, leading up to bedtime stories in the shadow of Sue, the Field's famous T-Rex.

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Cooperstown, NY
Little sluggers can spend an evening with legends of baseball as part of Extra Innings Overnights. This sleepover lets kids ages 7-12 explore the museum's collection of baseball artifacts after hours and enjoy special interactive activities, like re-creating radio broadcasts of famous homerun calls. Kids can also take in a private multimedia screening of "The Baseball Experience" for a look into the history of baseball.

(photo: waitscm/Flickr Creative Commons)

International Spy Museum: Washington, D.C.
Every few months, the International Spy Museum lets kids ages 9-13 channel their inner Bond, James Bond at Operation Secret Slumber. Young agents are given top-secret KidSpy training as they take on secret identities, perfect cover stories, and gather intelligence. Throughout the night, kids make and break secret codes, uncover secrets, and hunt for a mole within the ranks. As day breaks, enemy agents are exposed and participants revert back to their true identities.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Los Angeles, CA
Themed family overnight adventures feature hands-on science demonstrations, after-dark tours, and family games and activities. Junior paleontologists can make casts of fossils atCamp Dino while budding Indiana Joneses get to take part in a mock excavation withCamp Archaeology. Tip: On another night, consider heading over to the nearby La Brea Tar Pits for special flashlight tours and scavenger hunts.

(photo: Stacy Spensley/Flickr Creative Commons)

Maritime Museum of San Diego: San Diego, CA
Overnight adventurers get to sleep aboard the Star of India, the world's oldest active sailing ship. On an imaginary voyage back to the 1870s, kids can raise sails, hoist cargo, sing sea shanties, and learn the principles of celestial navigation. Museum staff serve as time-travel guides who share what life was like for immigrants and crew who lived aboard the ship.

University of Pennsylvania Museum: Philadelphia, PA
The Penn Museum's 40 Winks with the Sphinx lets kids ages 6-12 take a journey through time and across continents to explore mummies, hieroglyphics, the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and more. Games, crafts, a scavenger hunt, and an evening expedition by flashlight are all part of the fun.

-- Erin Gifford of Kidventurous contributed this to MiniTime.com.

6 Ways To Save On A Trip To Europe

Contributed by Erin Gifford 

Ask anyone and they will tell you that traveling to Europe this summer will not be cheap, unless of course you want to go very early June or late August. Even then, it will still cost you more than a few bones thanks to record-level fuel surcharges and airport fees tacked onto each ticket. Fortunately, we have a few ways to help you save. Here are six of our favorite money-saving tips.

Choose Budget Airlines for Intra-Europe Flights

When traveling between cities in Europe, you won't always find the best deals by taking the train. A variety of budget carriers have cropped up in Europe, like Wizz Air and SmartWings, making it fairly inexpensive to travel between cities and countries. Mara Gorman of The Mother of All Trips flew from Geneva to Bordeaux last summer on EasyJet, largely because it cost one-third the train fare and she arrived in one-quarter the time.

Hunt for Fares Outside the Major Sites

Don't assume that online travel agents, like Expedia and Orbitz, have the best fares. In fact, some airlines, like Turkish Airlines and Ryanair, are not included, so you'll need to find airfares for those airlines separately on their websites. AirlineConsolidator.com is another site worth checking into since they specialize in discount international airline tickets.

Go for a Home Exchange

A variety of home exchange sites, like HomeExchange.com, HomeAway, and Love Home Swap, make it easy to swap your home with the house of another person or family in Europe or anywhere around the world. It's an easy way to save on lodging, particularly if you're planning a stay of two weeks or more. Listing fees run $10-$15 per month, but then you don't pay anything to stay in the home swap. You can even exchange cars and pets. Try Shelley Miller of Home Exchange Expert for loads of home swap tips. 

Consider Different Neighborhoods

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, look for small hotels and B&Bs in welcoming neighborhoods just outside the main tourist thoroughfares. Large, chain hotels in tourist districts are often more expensive, largely due to taxes, which are passed along to hotel guests. Compare several hotels to find the best deals and book directly through the hotel to save. You may even be able to cut a deal directly with the hotelier.

Look for Discounts and Free Activities

During the summer, you'll find complimentary outdoor festivals and wine tastings all across Europe. Many cities also offer free walking tours. Guides work on a tips-only basis, so it's in their interests to offer the best tours around. Many cities, like London, have free museums aplenty, and many more cities set aside select days and times during the week for free and deeply-discounted admissions, making it wise to hit their websites before you go.

Eat Lunches Out, Stay In for Dinners

We all want to be able to experience the culinary delights specific to each region in Europe, but opting for lunches out on the town rather than dinners can save up to half the price. Many department stores in Europe, like Harrod's and Printemps Paris, offer lovely self-service lunches. Keep in mind, too, that many restaurants and bars will charge you a few Euros to sit down, so stand up at the bar if you want to keep your meal costs down. Also, eat away from the main tourist drags to save a bit more.

Photo credit: Florence in summer via Shutterstock

Cruise Industry Unveils Passenger Bill Of Rights

The cruise industry has taken plenty of criticism over the past 18 months, starting with the partial sinking of Costa Concordia on January 13, 2012, in which 32 people tragically lost their lives. And already this year we've seen trouble with three different Carnival ships. On February 10, an engine room fire crippled Carnival Triumph, leaving the ship adrift for four days in the Gulf of Mexico. Passengers complained of unsanitary conditions, food shortages, and a lack of communication from the cruise line during that ordeal. A month later Carnival Dream's emergency generator went kaput while in Saint Maarten. Passengers were flown back to Florida, missing out on the rest of their vacation. And, on March 15, Carnival Legend lost use of one of its propulsion pods, which made it impossible to call on the scheduled port of Grand Cayman. The ship returned to its debarkation port of Tampa.

All of these incidents have raised questions about the seaworthiness of vessels and passenger safety, the training of crewmembers in emergency preparedness, the need for contingency plans when mechanical failures do happen, the responsibility of a cruise line to communicate emergency information in a clear and speedy way, and the company's responsibility to make restitution to affected passengers.

Cruise lines around the world took these questions seriously and got together under the auspices of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) to draft a series of promises to their passengers. The result is the adoption of the Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights. All North American CLIA members have pledged to abide by these 10 principles and any new CLIA member must agree to the bill before gaining entrance into the organization.

CLIA plans to submit the bill to the International Maritime Organization(IMO) to request formal global recognition of the plan.

Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights

1. The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities, and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Master's concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port.

2. The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures.

3. The right to have available on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shore side medical care becomes available.

4. The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures.

5. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures.

6. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure.

7. The right to transportation to the ship's scheduled port of disembarkation or the passenger's home city in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.

8. The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.

9. The right to have included on each cruise line's website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations.

10. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each line's website.

What This Means to You

These "rights" apply to any US passenger that bought their cruise in North America for a vacation aboard one of their member cruise lines' ships. These rights apply to all voyages, no matter the itinerary.

In actuality, many items outlined on the bill are practices that have been in place on most CLIA-member cruise lines for some time. However, the formal adoption of the bill is meant to show travelers how seriously they take the issues of passenger safety and customer satisfaction.

Of course, in practice, each individual cruise line will interpret these rights so a consistent approach may not be taken. For example, item #2 states, in part, that a passenger has the right to receive a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to mechanical failures. Yet, guidelines for how that partial refund will be calculated are not stated.

The CLIA-sponsored Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights is a good start from which the industry will surely build as it works with the IMO and other maritime organizations to improve safety and satisfaction at sea.

Andrea M. Rotondo is a freelance writer based in New York City. She covers cruise news and luxury travel trends for Fodors.com and writes for a variety of outlets, including her website Luxury Travel Mavens. Follow her on Twitter: @luxtravelmavens.

Photo credit: Cruise ship at sunset via Shutterstock/NAN728

JetBlue Enters Philadelphia To Compete Against US Airways And Fares Plunge

Contributed BY LINDA LOYD, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

With a water cannon salute on the airfield welcoming the first JetBlue Airways flight from Boston Thursday, the popular low-fare carrier treated Philadelphia passengers and guests to cheese steaks, a Mummers band, pretzels, Boston creme pie doughnuts, Bassetts ice cream and peanut chews.

The inaugural flight taxied to Gate E-4 at Philadelphia International Airport at 9:12 a.m. Two hours later, the Embraer-190 jet was scheduled to head back to Boston with 76 on board.

JetBlue, which will operate five daily nonstops to Boston, hopes to succeed whereSouthwest, AirTran and Delta Air Lines could not successfully compete against US Airways Group, which operates an international hub here and 20 nonstop weekday flights between Philadelphia and Boston.

US Airways has lately been the only carrier offering nonstop Boston service, after Southwest pulled the route in February. Airfares suddenly skyrocketed.

JetBlue’s arrival has already sent ticket prices plunging.

A check on US Airways’ website Tuesday for travel to and from Boston on Wednesday, one day before JetBlue arrived, listed a $816 round-trip nonstop coach seat.

The same flights on Friday, a day after the new service, showed that round-trip fare was $308.

“JetBlue likes to find markets that have really high fares where we can make a difference,” said Marty St. George, JetBlue’s senior vice president of marketing.

If the Boston route proves successful, JetBlue would look to add flights to other cities, George said.

“The arrival of JetBlue is yet another accomplishment for Philadelphia International Airport in our quest to be the best airport in the nation,” said Philadelphia airport CEO Mark Gale. “We continuously strive to provide the highest standards of service to our customers. I am pleased that our ongoing efforts have brought to us an airline that also highly values customer service.”

Why does JetBlue think it can succeed where three other airlines failed?

JetBlue says it offers amenities that passengers want: the most legroom in the coach cabin of any U.S. airline, free live TV with 36 channels at every seat, and 100 channels of free XM satellite radio. And the first checked bag is free.

JetBlue is the dominant carrier in Boston, with 100 flights a day.

“Many of our corporate customers in Boston came to us and said, ‘Please, we need you to fly this route because our fares are too high.’ We’ve got a base of current business customers in Boston who are already committed to fly us,” George said.

“We’re not going to take anything for granted,” he added. “Even though we have a good base of corporate customers, we need a lot more customers. We recognize that US Airways is a very effective competitor.”

Travelers for the ninth consecutive year in 2012 gave JetBlue the top overall passenger satisfaction rating among low-fare carriers in North America, despite the airline’s on-time performance (arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time) lagging behind some competitors.

“It’s the way JetBlue handles the delays,” said airline analyst Helane Becker withCowen Securities L.L.C. JetBlue rolls out food and drinks, and keep passengers updated. “JetBlue definitely handles it differently than the pier group,” she said.

JetBlue says its on-time record is “a major challenge” because nearly 70 percent of flights depart, arrive or pass through heavily-congested New York airspace. “We don’t have fair weather hubs, like Phoenix or Charlotte, to bring our on-time ratings up,” George said. JetBlue is based at N.Y.’s John F. Kennedy Airport.

New York area airports always have delays, Becker said. “On a clear day, not a cloud in the sky, 65-degree temperatures, New York could be delayed by an hour. It’s just a disaster.”

Becker said JetBlue’s strategy has been to “build out” Boston, which is a big business market. “They are looking at being relevant to the business traveler by serving as many business destinations as they can.”

The difficulty may be when US Airways matches JetBlue’s lower fares, will US Airways’ frequent fliers opt to fly US Airways in order to accumulate travel miles toward free tickets?

“History has proved that’s a pretty short-sighted decision,” George said. “Because fundamentally if you can’t support vibrant competition, ultimately flights will go away and fares will go back up again. The question for the customers is which do they value more? Do they value the miles, or do they value the money in their pocket?”

“We’ll find out,” he said. “Our experience in places like Newark and Washington is that we’ve been very effective competing with low fares, and we’re very optimistic in Philadelphia.”

– — – — – –

Contact staff writer Linda Loyd at 215-854-2831 or lloyd@phillynews.com.___

(c)2013 The Philadelphia Inquirer

Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.philly.com

Ten Hidden Gems Of Europe

• Contributed by Anita Isalska
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There’s no place like Paris, Barcelona or Rome – but Europe has untouched corners that match the big hitters on beauty and charm, and with far fewer tourists. Take the road less travelled with these ten hidden gems of Europe.

1. Burg Satzvey, Germany

Whisper it: this fairytale castle is a short ride from touristed Bonn and Cologne but remains off most travellers’ radar. Its medieval castle walls, moat and quaint setting will delight even the most jaded visitor. Depending on when you go, you could find witches, jousting or even confused camels. And even Christmas market refuseniks will feel stirrings of seasonal cheer come wintertime, when the castle grounds transform into a medieval-style market with pageantry, gothic trinket shops and the clanking sound of mulled wine served by the mug. Learn more at www.burgsatzvey.de.

2. Battle, England

Image by Snake3yes

The Battle of Hastings may be well known as the bloody standoff in 1066 that inspired the Bayeux tapestry, but few make the journey to see where it happened. Take a spin around the evocative fields where the arrows flew and complete your visit with shopping in the village’s deliciously quaint streets – discover the way on www.visit1066country.com. Don’t miss out on rambling around the glorious Sussex countryside; the dramatic white cliffs of Beachy Head are one of England’s most iconic sights and a less than an hour’s drive from Battle.

3. Amiens, France

Image by AiresAlmeida

With a cathedral twice the size of Paris’ Notre Dame, it’s sacrilège that this town is seldom visited. Amiens’ cathedral is a marvel of engineering, with intricate stonework that will leave you goggle-eyed, as well as some of the goriest carvings around (the severed head of John the Baptist is a recurring theme). And the local delicacy, the macaron d’Amiens, will please the sweetest of teeth: try one at Jean Trogneux (www.trogneux.fr) where five generations of artisan baking have left the simple recipe of honey, almonds, sugar and egg whites unchanged. These succulent cakes are best served with an impossibly thick chocolat chaud.

4. Haarlem, The Netherlands

Image by curtis_ovid_poe

Sure, it’s hard to tear yourself away from the many pleasures of Amsterdam. But rewards are great for visitors to Haarlem: 17th-century Dutch master Frans Hals painted some of his finest work here, and you’ll find his luminous oil paintings at the museum named after him. You can also crane your neck at the church organ in Grote Kerk van St Bavo, once played by a young Mozart. After a pancake overlooking the bustling and achingly pretty Grote Markt, you’ll be glad you made the trip.

5. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

It’s strange for a capital city to be an unsung wonder, even if it is in one of Europe’s most petite nations. Rarely seen on bucket lists, Luxembourg City has intriguing contrasts, an intellectual and multi-lingual population, and some of the slickest modern art around. Luxembourg is awash with big spenders, but there’s more to its big city than banks and suits. See cutting edge art at MUDAM Luxembourg (www.mudam.lu), cycle your way around the city streets, and catch a view – the city is perched overlooking gorges, valleys and forests. Size certainly isn’t everything with this European gem.

6. La Coruña, Spain

As the end destination of the famous Way of St James pilgrimage, evocative Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain gets plenty of love. But less than 45 minutes’ drive away lies a largely overlooked city, La Coruña, which has a wealth of history, enviable beaches and throbbing nightlife. Visit María Pita square to see the javelin-wielding statue of the old city’s heroine defender and the grand façade of the Palacio Municipal; just nearby you can admire the twin bell-towers of the Iglesia de San Jorge. Don’t miss the Torre de Hércules, a lighthouse with Roman era origins – check out the lovely views from the top, and go people-watching along the Passeo Maritimo. When the sun sets, sample some tapas in the Panaderas area – but if you really want to burn the midnight oil, join the party animals in Santa Cristina, Oleiros.

7. Olomouc, Czech Republic

Image by Ana Paula Hirama

While other travellers bump elbows on the tourist magnet Charles Bridge in Prague, you can chuckle quietly into your potato pancakes. For you are in Olomouc, arguably the Czech Republic’s most beautiful town. It has all the architectural charms of the Czech capital without the chaos. And it has a few aces up its sleeve, too: raise an eyebrow at the communist-style astronomical clock in Horni Namesti, wander the hallowed halls of the 12th-century cloisters and eat yourself silly at a hearty eaterie like U Anděla. Learn more at www.tourism.olomouc.eu.

8. Klaipėda, Lithuania

A lively port city with German-style taverns dotted around the waterfront, Klaipėda might just be Europe’s jolliest spot. Take a table at Memelis for brimming platefuls of cheeses, olives and sausage, washed down with an array of beers. Once you’ve drunk the town dry, you’re perfectly positioned to explore the unspoiled sands of the Curonian Spit, which juts out into the Baltic Sea. Take a lazy roadtrip to experience its forests, seafood and local folklore.

9. Tartu, Estonia

Image by decade_null

Travellers who make it to this beautiful Baltic country usually hang out in fairytale Tallinn or test the island spas, but vibrant university town Tartu is not to be missed. Steep yourself in centuries-old student history as you visit the Student’s Lock-up, where errant students were held in solitary confinement, and wander around the sculpted Toomemägi park. And in student central, dining out won’t break the bank so make your way to a cafe near the university and blend in.

10. Łańcut, Poland

Poland has castles aplenty, but Łańcut has a real showstopper. The detail of this truly enormous aristocratic residence is breathtaking, and a tour of the palace will steer you across polished ballrooms with chandeliers bigger than you are. Plan your visit at www.zamek-lancut.pl/en. The town has a rich Jewish history, and it’s worth seeking out Łańcut Synagogue: its unassuming exterior hides a baroque masterpiece of dazzling pillars and colourful frescoes.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/travel-tips-and-articles/77032#ixzz2UPNO5dl9

Museums Offer Free Admission For Military Families For Memorial Holiday Weekend

Contributed by Harriet Baskas

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Courtesy Blue Star Families

The Blue Star Museum program offers free admission at more than 2,000 arts, science and history museums around the country to active duty military and their families.

Active duty military personnel and their families now have one more tradition to add to the Memorial Day holiday weekend: free admission at more than 2,000 arts, science and history museums around the country.

The patriotic perk comes courtesy of the "Blue Star Museums" program and includes complimentary entrance to sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa for all active duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel and their families from Memorial Day right through Labor Day. The Blue Star Museums program is a partnership between Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of Defense, MetLife Foundation and participating museums.

“Summer is moving season for a lot of military families and this not only provides a free way for them to get to know their new towns while they’re acclimating to their new stations, it’s a way for communities to give back to active duty military members,” said AnnaMaria White, spokeswoman for Blue Star Families, a non-profit organization offering support programs for military families.

Blue Star Museums kicks off its fourth season this weekend with Butte, Montana's World Museum of Mining and 450 other new museums on the roster in addition to museums such as Seattle’s Museum of Flight, which has been participating since the program’s inception.

Regular admission to the Museum of Flight is $18 for adults and $10 for kids 5 to 17 years of age, but “we’re happy to be offer free admission as part of this summer program because we’re right up the road from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma,” said museum spokesperson Ted Huetter.

The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY is also a charter member of the Blue Star Museums program. “We participate because it feels like a good way to give back,” CMOG spokesperson Yvette Sterbenk told NBC News. “We are just a few hours drive from major military bases – most notably Ft. Drum in upstate NY – and it's a great opportunity to invite those families to experience the museum.”

According to a Department of Defense demographics report, there are over 2.2 million active, National Guard and Reserve service members, with over 3.1 million family members. That means more than 5.3 million people might be able to take advantage of this program.

“Museum admission prices for a family can really add up, so it helps that the program provides free admission for the active military person and up to five family members each visit,” said White.

The program means more than free admission to Rheanna Bernard. Her husband is in the Air Force and they have three children under six years old. “Whenever we go somewhere we look on the list of participating museums to help us plan the trip,” said Bernard. “It just really means a lot to us that they go out of their way to acknowledge us and say than-you.”

Annual Consumer Reports Study Ranks US Airlines

Contributed by by Seth Miller

Which airline will provide you the best overall experience in the USA? According to the annual Consumer Reports study the best options for travelers are Virgin America, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines round out the top five and are the only carriers to score above an 80 in the survey. At the other end of the spectrum, Spirit Airlines scored a 50 in this year's poll, a number described by Consumer Reports as "one of the lowest overall scores for any company we've ever rated."

The top airlines all scored high in customer service, baggage handling, and in-flight service. Both JetBlue and Virgin America received high marks for in-flight entertainment as well, despite JetBlue not yet having WiFi available on board (it is expected later this year). Both Virgin America and Southwest do. Virgin America and JetBlue have individual in-seat screens at all seats which customers enjoy.

Towards the bottom of the rankings were all the legacy airlines. Delta topped that group with a score of 71 while United, struggling last year to complete their integration with merger partner Continental, came in at the bottom with a score of 63. Low marks for these airlines were seen in the categories of cabin cleanliness, in-flight entertainment, and seat comfort.

Respondents also complained about flights being more crowded (they are at or near all-time highs across the industry) and cramped seating. With the legacy carriers (and Spirit) having, on average, the least personal space for passengers, it is not surprising that they showed up at the bottom of the list.

Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza took umbrage with the rankings, noting that they ignored the fare paid by travelers. While many Spirit customers in the survey noted they felt constantly "dinged" for more fees, the base fares are often the lowest. Baldanza believes that his airline's passengers are still getting good value given the lower fares.

The rankings of the 11 airlines are based on a survey of more than 16,000 subscribers conducted in February 2013. Those surveyed flew a combined total of more than 31,000 domestic flights.

Photo credit: Virgin America via Shutterstock