Sherman's Travel

Those anxious to cruise through Midtown Manhattan on a sweet city-sanctioned ride will have to curb their enthusiasm just a bit longer. New Yorkers proud to call one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the country home have been anxiously awaiting the launch of a new bike share program. After suffering a delay earlier this year, the New York City bike share program will not begin until May 2013, according to the city’s Transportation Department. The start date has been postponed because of equipment damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy.

This is not the first time the city has pushed back the opening of the pedal-program. The program’s postponement in August was due to faulty software. Following the hiccup, the city announced the initiative would feature 7,000 bikes available at 420 stations by March of 2013. Originally, the city planned to expand to 10,000 bikes and 600 stations by summer of that same year, but the surge of Hurricane Sandy made those plans a wash. The warehouse storing the equipment, located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, took on “several feet of water,” said city transportation commissioner Janette Sadiq-Kahn. She added that, given the amount of issues the storm has caused, a spring launch is still excellent news.

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The approach of the holiday season brings to mind lots of cozy things: hot chocolate, fireplaces, watching the snow fall as evergreen-scented candles fill the air. But for the thousands of people in the Northeast displaced or severely affected by Hurricane Sandy, the holiday season threatens to be much less comfortable than usual. As you think of where you might travel this holiday season, we urge you to consider offers that not only cost you less but also give back to those who have recently lost so much.

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A week after Superstorm Sandy descended, people of the East Coast, many still without power, are attempting to return to normalcy. For a bulk of the area, this means braving the elements to venture back to work. Commuting can be frustrating, and in the wake of the storm, travelers have myriad obstacles to deal with: overcrowding, hours-long waits, limited schedules, downed lines, gas shortages, the list goes on. The most efficient solution is to, well, not travel at all, working from home as long as possible. But for those who need to present at the office, construction site, or space station to put in a 9-5, there are a few things to reduce stress.

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Fall in New York City is a great time to be a tourist. The temperatures are cooler, the holiday crowds have yet to descend, and, if you time your visit right, you can enjoy one of the few events that unites the entire city: the ING NYC Marathon. This year, however, thousands of New Yorkers find themselves without power, water, and, in some cases, their homes. Whole neighborhoods have been wiped out. All of Lower Manhattan is a dead zone, without power, cell service, and other utilities. As much as we love to encourage people to travel, enjoy major events, and make the most out of every day, now is simply not the time to run a marathon through a city that can’t even run its power. Read more

By now, you surely know all about the damage, chaos, and uncertainty created by Hurricane Sandy. This is more than a weather story, a travel story, or even a news story. It’s a massive event that has affected people in countless ways. At times like this, our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, seen their homes destroyed, or been forced to relocate. We certainly wish everyone the very best and hope that life can return to normal as soon as possible.

Of course, we are a travel company, so we tend to focus on that topic. As of today, nearly 20,000 flights have been cancelled because of the storm, leaving passengers stranded far from home or unable to begin their trips. Additionally, cruise ships have had to stay out at sea because of closed ports, with passengers forced to stay onboard for several extra days. With several bridges, tunnels, and highways closed, even car travel was nearly impossible.

It will take days, if not weeks, for the airlines and cruise operators to relocate all of their equipment to the necessary locations, so more cancellations, delays, and schedule changes are expected.

Have your plans been affected? Are you stuck somewhere hoping to get home before the weekend? Please share your travel stories with us in the comments.

Please be safe and patient out there!

Hurricane Sandy has been ravaging the East Coast for a couple of days now, and many homes have lost power. Hopefully, if you’re in the path of the storm, you’ve already stocked up on supplies, food, and water. Here at SkyMall Tuesday HQ, we’re getting by with macaroni and cheese, whiskey, and whatever animals we snare in the traps set out throughout the apartment building. Of course, we stocked up on canned goods and nonperishable items to get us through the week. However, we now realize that we made a grave mistake. Rather than relying on our own forethought and planning, we should have given ourselves over to the wisdom of SkyMall. Our favorite catalog is there for us in good times and bad, during celebrations and disasters. So, whether you’re still planning for Sandy or want to be prepared for the next emergency, be sure you stock up on the 72-Hour Emergency Meal Kit.

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With Hurricane Sandy already bringing flooding, high winds, and general chaos to a wide swath of the East Coast, airlines have begun to cancel flights at dozens of major airports. Additionally, many of those hubs have been closed due to unsafe conditions. All of this, of course, adds up to thousands of stranded travelers who are frustrated, angry, and unsure of what to do. Thankfully, airlines are waiving change fees and doing their best to assist those who need to make new plans on the fly (no pun intended). If you have travel plans over the new few days that involve areas that will be (or are currently being) affected by the storm, here are a few things that you should do to avoid making things even harder for yourself.

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