360 DEGREES Weblog

Airport terminals pride themselves at being these huge structures, that commuting from one end to the other can be time consuming and tiring; especially with a heavy suitcase. If the fun-element in you has not yet died and are up for the quirk, how about suitcase-blading (think rollerblade and scooters) the concourse? Here’s the TITAN High-roller Suitcase, which turns into a kickbike when you pull out the footrest. I think it would be funny to see head-honchos of big companies ride their suitcases for a match, and if I were to pick 2 I’d pick Steve jobs and Bill Gates….who do you think would win?

Pet hospitality is on an all time high. From hotels to luxury jets, every enterprise is busy catering to the needs of their clients’ four legged buddies. Extending the hospitality even further, are Pet Jets who have established the new Pet Jet Pals program. The program was developed after seeing the response and requests of pet owners for pet flights. The program assists pet owners with the cost of chartering private aircraft for pets and their owner. Fiske, the founder of Pet Jets thought there should be a better way for pets to travel with their owners and hence created Pet Jets.
Pet Jets simply networks with the many FAA approved air carriers and seeks empty-leg or special one way pricing in private aircraft that allow pets. Flying with your pet in the same cabin is definitely much better than sending your pet alone in cargo holds. In fact, you will enjoy the experience with likeminded travelers who also have their pets as travel companions.

Those interested in sharing a flight in the new Pet Jet Pals program, visit the www.PetJets.net website or email them your requested travel dates, numbers of human passengers and pets at: info@petjets.net.

Private members club Quintessentially and Norwegian shipping company Kloster, have teamed up to offer the luxury loving globe trotters a luxurious voyage like no other. Their offering christened, the Quintessentially One is a luxury superyacht that will sail the well heeled folks on board to some of the most exclusive events in the world like the Monaco Yacht Show in Monte Carlo, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix or the Barbados Garrison Savannah horse racing or even the famed Cannes Film Festival. Dubbing itself as “’the world’s finest floating club”, the Quintessentially One will surely be the new residence of the rich and the famous. When ready the 220-metre liner will boast of 12 residential suites alongside a £750 ($1,182)-a-night boutique hotel run by CampbellGray Hotels, a Wolseley-run restaurant as a shopping mall. The superyacht is now offering its residencies for sale up to £10 million (15.7 million).

These amusing suitcase stickers are damned funny. Before parting with your money, however, you should remember that the folks that police the airports around the world are not known for having senses of humor. In fact, your little joke just might convince the TSA guy to put down the wand and don a pair of rubber gloves; which is something that neither you nor he want. So think carefully before buying.

Price $ 25

Do you find it frustrating that you’re often not able to get online when you’re in a flight? If everything goes according to plan, you might be choosing Cathay Pacific for your future flights, as the company has announced that it has penned a deal with Panasonic Avionics to provide 50Mbps broadband connectivity for all Cathay Pacific and Dragonair passenger aircraft by early 2012. Aside from the all-important broadband, in-flight GSM cell phone services that support voice, SMS, and data will also be offered, along with live and pay-per-view TV programs. The full details haven’t been finalized yet, but we are looking forward to seeing broadband becoming commonplace in airlines.

Some people are so crazy about their guitars that they don’t want to travel without their guitars, even more so if you are a professional musician. So if you make a mighty large living through music, and don’t have the legendary Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin as one of your idols, you just might change your reasoning.

One of the airplanes we’re excited to see next month in Oshkosh is the new Zlin iCub. As the name hints, the iCub brings together an updated version of the classic airplane design, with an Apple iPad front and center in the cockpit that can be used for navigation, checking the weather, or … well, the list goes on.

The idea makes a lot of sense. The airplane belongs to the Light Sport Aircraft category and is aimed at pilots who are looking for a fun-to-fly plane, not a serious transportation machine. So rather than spend thousands of dollars on a purpose-built, Federal Aviation Administration–approved GPS unit, the company instead went with a much more versatile and less-expensive option.

There are numerous aviation apps available for the iPad, including several with aviation-specific GPS navigation including FAA charts and real time weather. Sure an app might crash once in a while, but when you’re flying the iCub, you’re not relying on the iPad as your primary source of information. In fact simply looking down at the ground and comparing it to your sectional chart will always work as a good backup.

With the iPad on board, the pilot will be able to enjoy much of what is offered in expensive aviation GPS units for a fraction of the cost. And after arriving at your destination, you have an iPad that you can pop out of the panel (picture below) and enjoy watching movies, reading a book or whatever you think the iPad is best at doing.

Of course, Sport Air USA — the company importing the Czech-built airplane — did not want the person in the backseat to be totally left out of the loop. There will be an iPhone mount for the back-seater that will be able to talk to the iPad by on-board wireless.

As for the airplane itself, the iCub looks like a fun way to fly. With a 100-horsepower Rotax up front and tundra tires, the airplane is capable of landing in back-country landing strips or on the beach. The company says the takeoff run is just under 150 feet, and the plane can land in only 250 feet, impressive numbers for those who enjoy flying to out-of-the-way destinations.

The airplane will come equipped with an iPad 3G with several aviation apps already loaded. There aren’t any photos of the real thing yet, but the company provided the mock-up photo shown here and says the airplane will be at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh. We’ll be there, too, and will be sure to get a close look at this first effort to bring Steve Jobs into the pilot seat.

Thanks WIRED

If your thoughts are already vacation-centered let me help you on your way. Travel site TripAdvisor has created a list of the top ten most amazing hotel pools from around the world as ranked by TripAdvisor editors and travelers. What makes a pool a top ranker? The view is a major factor, an infinity edge is a help, basically the pool has to transport the lucky swimmer into another world.

The top spot went to the Hotel Caruso Ravello in Ravello, Italy shown above. The hotel is situated on top of the mountains on the Amalfi coast. The 11th century palace has a heated infinity pool that offers timeless views.

Second for me would be the Perivolas, Santorini, Greece. The infinity pool at Perivolas on Santorini is one of the most photographed hotel pools. Its enviable spot perched high on the cliffs above the Aegean Sea showcases jawdropping Aegean sunsets.

Very few resorts manage to get all the ingredients right when opening but we can assure you, this beauty of a hotel has ticked all the right boxes. The resort, the location, the backdrop, the mountain walks, the spa, the room, the excellent service, the attention to detail, the happy staff, and the food. According to The Coolhunter “Saffire is truly one of Australia’s most exciting places to stay.”

Amenities included, of course, wireless internet and remote controlled blinds, but the best part was the sweet turn-down service. They will supply a hot water bottle for the bed and a thermos of hot chocolate as it is winter in Tasmania.

Saffire’s restaurant Palate has multi-course degustation menus matched with the outstanding local wines are the specialty of head chef, Hugh Whitehouse, who is an Australian icon and a master of fresh, local, imaginative food prepared and served with style, love and care.

Designed by Tasmanian architects Morris Nunn and Associates, Saffire consists of only 20 suites ranging in size from 80 m² (860 sq. Ft.) to 140 m² (1506 sq. ft.). The buildings are super-modern yet reflect the surrounding environment perfectly. Waves, manta rays, sand dunes are all forms that come to mind both inside and out.

The interior design, by Chhada Siembieda Australia (CSA) www.chhada.com ,takes advantage of the surrounding materials and vistas. Stone and timber are the key materials but they are used in a light, airy fashion. The color palette reflects the surroundings as well focusing on soft grays, greens and a snap of orange.

Rates start from $1550 per night, per suite for 2 people and includes dinner, all beverages.

With retro looks that recall a time when your air hostess looked like this, and you could still light up a death stick at 30,000 feet, the F1 Flight Dopp Kit ($36) is a functional blast from the (fictional) past. Made from PVC, this carry-all features dual zippers that pull in tandem for easy access to the spacious, lined interior. An exterior pocket for smaller stuff and velcro to keep the top flap down round out this travel accessory that’s probably 10x cooler than the bag you’ll carry it in.