The Seattle Times: Travel & Outdoors http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ en-us Copyright 2008 The Seattle Times Company Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:00:12 PST Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:00:12 PST MattBase 1 The Seattle Times: Travel & Outdoors http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/stlogo_231.gif http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ Finding holiday joy far from Europe — in Nicaragua http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ricksteveseurope/2008460089_websteves02.html?syndication=rss Travel writer Rick Steves goes afar for holiday celebrations — to La Purisima festival in the city of Leon, Nicaragua Rick Steves' Europe http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ricksteveseurope/2008460089_websteves02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST Thai airports to reopen after PM ousted by court http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008442515_apasthailandpoliticalunrest.html?syndication=rss Anti-government demonstrators in Thailand declared victory and said they would end their occupation of the country's two main airports Wednesday after a court decision forced the country's prime minister from office. Nation & World http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008442515_apasthailandpoliticalunrest.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:40:37 PST Capitol Visitor Center in DC opens to public http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008459410_apcapitolvisitorcenter.html?syndication=rss Hundreds of visitors got their first look at the Capitol Visitor Center - an underground museum and now the first stop for people touring Congress - as it opened Tuesday three years late and $360 million over budget. Nation & World http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008459410_apcapitolvisitorcenter.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:02:36 PST American tourists staying home, leaving some European businesses hurting http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008459447_webtravslowdown02.html?syndication=rss Travel is pinched by global financial crisis, and European cities are feeling the lack of American tourists Travel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008459447_webtravslowdown02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST Even Southwest, usually the growth-happy U.S. airline, is suffering http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460420_websouthwest02.html?syndication=rss Southwest Airlines won't increase its fleet next year; carrier suffered 10.7-percent drop in passengers in November compared to year ago Travel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460420_websouthwest02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:13:12 PST Major U.S. airlines poised to cut more flights in 2009 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460592_webairlinecuts02.html?syndication=rss Airlines ready to dump more flights next year as travel demand slumps because of global financial meltdown Travel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460592_webairlinecuts02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:25:02 PST Some travelers cancel India trips after terrorist attacks; others are undaunted http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008459489_webindiatourism02.html?syndication=rss Terrorist attacks in Mumbai prompt some travelers to cancel India trips; U.S. issues travel alert Travel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008459489_webindiatourism02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST High tide wallops Venice for 2nd straight day http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008454669_apeuitalyvenicehighwater.html?syndication=rss Strong southern winds pushed the Adriatic Sea into Venice again Tuesday, submerging parts of the lagoon city a day after an unusually high tide caused the worst flooding in 20 years. Nation & World http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008454669_apeuitalyvenicehighwater.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST California company announces its first space tourist for 2011 flight http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460527_webspacetravel02.html?syndication=rss Xcor Aerospace names its first passenger for space flight; company is competing for space tourism with Virgin Galactic Travel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460527_webspacetravel02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:00:03 PST India siege raises fears — and security — at some U.S. hotels http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460442_webhotelsecurity02.html?syndication=rss Terrorist attacks in Mumbai a wake-up call for U.S. hotels, say some security specialists Travel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008460442_webhotelsecurity02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:27:02 PST Thai tourism faces long-term pain after airport blockade http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008459613_webthaiairport02.html?syndication=rss Long-term slump in Thailand tourism feared even after Bangkok airport reopens later this week Travel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008459613_webthaiairport02.html?syndication=rss Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST