Perhaps this is a safer bet?
AP Photo

by Tom Loftus and Julia Bainbridge

Next time you pack for an island vacation, you might want to think twice about what sunblock you throw in your bag. The New York Times reported on a study from an organization called the Environmental Working Group that questioned sunscreen safety--mainly because of an ingredient called oxybenzone.

The Environmental Working Group tested nearly 1,000 sunscreen products and found that four out of five either offered skimpy protection or contained ingredients that posed possible health risks. 

The Times noted some disagreement.

But dermatologists who reviewed the group's research say the biggest problem is that it lacks scientific rigor. In particular, they are critical of a sunscreen rating system that they say is arbitrary and without basis in any accepted scientific standard.

The Times article also said:

Another study, published two years ago in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, raised troubling concerns about what happens when sunscreen is absorbed into the skin and reacts with the sun. The report suggested that under certain conditions, sunscreens with oxybenzone and other ultraviolet filters could lead to free-radical damage to the skin, a process that in theory could lead to skin cancer. The study used laboratory models of skin, so some researchers say it is not a reliable indicator of what happens in people.

In the end, it looks like doctors still recommend applying (and re-applying) sunscreens with a high SPF. Keep in mind, though, that this is only one way to protect your skin.

"People focus so much on sunscreens," Dr. Morison said. "It should be a package of protection. A hat, staying out of the sun, avoiding the hottest part of the day, and covering up are all part of the whole story. It's not just the sunscreen."

Amen to that.

Further reading:
* "Sunscreen Safety Is Called Into Question"
* "Sunscreen Summary--What Works and What's Safe"
* The FDA aims to upgrade sunscreen labeling
* The CDC's breakdown of oxybenzone, a toxic sunscreen chemical

The Daily Traveler's editors don't brag about being mathematical geniuses (we live and die by our calculators), but it seems obvious to us that a straight line is the most efficient way to get from point A to point B. When it comes to air travel, though, this is not the case--neither economically nor environmentally.

The Wall Street Journal says airlines are cutting long intercontinental flights to save on fuel costs because, for example, "a passenger on a 15-hour flight uses more fuel for each mile of the trip than someone on an eight-hour trip, but the airfare per mile generally doesn't rise proportionally."

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has been hyped as the industry's magic (green) bullet, but the release of this super-efficient plane has been delayed by software glitches and hiccups in assembly production. The airliner's target launch date is now early 2009.

Thoughts? Post 'em.

Hurricane Bertha as of yesterday.
Photo: NOAA

Hurricane season is upon us, and if recent years are any indication, Bertha is the first-born of many sisters. Travelers headed south for summer getaways have had to deal with the possibility of hurricanes interrupting their beaching and mai tai-ing, but resorts are wising up and softening the blow with hurricane protection.

The Bermuda Department of Tourism, for example, is reassuring pink sand-loving travelers with a Hurricane Guarantee. Here's how it works:

* In the event that a hurricane-force storm is predicted by the Bermuda Weather Service to approach within 200 miles of Bermuda and within five days, guests can cancel their reservations without penalty. Deposits can be refunded or applied to any future booking.
* If a hotel's services are affected by a hurricane, guests will not be charged for rooms, food, beverage, or other essential services used during that time.
* If a hotel is not able to continue its operations, guests can return for a complimentary stay within one year from the hotel's reopening. (Other expenses, including airfare, food and beverage, and incidental room charges are not covered by the guarantee.)

Check the Bermuda Tourism Web site for more information and for participating properties. Hotels not listed there might have their own policies in place; just contact your hotel directly for details.

Aloft Cucamonga's colorful lounge.
Photo: msnbc.com

HotelChatter has the first-ever review of a Starwood's first Aloft hotel in the United States--Ontario, CA, to be exact. Check out their video, ratings, and run-down of the much-hyped Aloft Rancho Cucamonga here.

And here's what else the popular site has to say about the new digs:

Rates for this weekend were a little pricey for this area in between Los Angeles and Palm Springs at $139 a night (that's an Internet/no cancellations rate). Considering we stayed at a Palm Desert resort (albeit an aging one) for $94 a night two weeks ago, this is not really a budget stay. So Aloft--you better live up to the hype!

Starwood plans on opening an additional 16 Aloft hotels worldwide this year.

Further reading:
* About Aloft
* HotelChatter partnered up with Conde Nast Traveler for our Layover Nation Contest. Enter now!
* Check out what's new in nearby LA from chef Jose Andres

Rick Steves in Iran

Just a week after Rick Steves' return from a ten-day shoot in Iran, the Daily Traveler's Julia Bainbridge chatted with the travel guidebook writer and television host about what he calls "the most poorly understood yet fascinating land" he's ever visited. His upcoming hour-long public television special will air in January 2009.

CNT: So, why Iran?

Rick Steves: The whole mission of a travel writer is to help his countrymen better understand the world. Our understanding of Iran is miserable; [it's] stuck in 1978. We can learn a lot by going there.

When I teach about Iran, I'm not saying we're right and they're wrong or we're wrong and they're right or anything like that. We have to deal with Iran; it's a powerful, rich culture that's been a leader in its corner of the world for years. We have to learn more about it. I went in there with all sorts of misperceptions and had a fascinating ten days.

Alaffia founder Olowo-n'djo
Tchala with bike recipients

by Julia Bainbridge

As a follow-up to our post on Alaffia's Bicycles for Education project, we found ways you can donate:

* If you happen to live in the Puget Sound area of Washington, you can donate bicycles by calling 360-866-0080 or emailing bike@alaffia.com.

* People the outside this area can donate bike parts such as inner tubes, chains, helmets, cables, and tires by mailing them to 540 B Ronlee Lane NW, Olympia, WA 98502. 

* Don't have bikes or bike parts but want to help? You can donate funds through the Alaffia website. Shipping from the US to Togo, initial repairs, and maintenance for two years costs about $40 per bike, so these donations really help. You can also mail a check to Alaffia's non profit, the Global Alliance for Community Empowerment (GACE) at PO Box 12114, Olympia, WA 98508-2114.

Further reading:
* Learn how you can improve children's health worldwide
* Make a difference

In September, Conde Nast Traveler contributor Michael Kinsley will be racing around the globe, testing some of the best activities you can do during airport downtime.  But there's one problem:  We don't have his itinerary.  That's where YOU come in.  Send us your best ideas for things to do between flights when you're in or near major international air hubs.

An example? Here's what consumer news editor Wendy Perrin thinks:

Munich Airport: If Michael has four hours to kill, he has time to take the S-Bahn train from the airport to Marienplatz, Munich's medieval town square, see the sights--the Rathaus (City Hall) with its famous glockenspiel, the beautiful old Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady), et al.--then walk 10 minutes to the Hofbrauhaus, the world's most famous beer hall, dating from 1589. Sit down at one of the long communal wooden tables of old, order up a liter (you won't drink the whole thing, of course, but you want to have to use both hands to lift that giant mug; makes for the best snapshot), listen to the oompah band, and soak up the Bavarian atmosphere. Yeah, sometimes it can get a little touristy, but it's one of the most colorful places in the world to have a beer, what with the Stammtisch (a table reserved for the regulars) and the locals dressed in traditional lederhosen and Bayern hats adorned with feathers and brushes. Michael can even strike up a conversation with the locals sitting next to him; enough of them speak English.  Caveat: IF Michael is making this trip between September 20 and October 5, forget Marienplatz and the Hofbrauhaus: Just go straight from the airport to Oktoberfest!

Check out her blog, the Perrin Post for how to enter--and what you might win!

Shea butter production for
Alaffia skin care products

As responsible travelers, the Daily Travelers are always looking for ways to give back to the communities they journey through. Condé Nast Traveler's Five & Alive Fund, for example, created in partnership with Population Services International, helps children five and under access malaria prevention and treatment, nutritional supplements, pneumonia treatment and safe water. Here's another cool project we found in West Africa called Bicycles for Education.

by Julia Bainbridge

Bicycles for Education, a project founded by Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care and the Global Alliance for Community Empowerment, just shipped its second round of over 2,000 bicycles to disadvantaged students (mainly girls) in Togo, West Africa.

About 90% of girls in rural areas of Togo drop out before finishing secondary school, according to UNICEF. Only large towns house these schools, so students from outlying villages can walk up to 10 miles just to get to class every day (there is no bus service). It's physically demanding, often leaving them tired and unproductive, and given girls' household roles as their mothers' assistants, domestic responsibilities come first. So, in the end, the choice is simple for them: stay home.

Enter Alaffia. By supplying qualifying individuals (depending on household income, distance from school, and gender) with a bicycle, helmet, and training session, the people behind the Bicycles for Education project believe they will gradually reduce the reliance of African countries on Western societies. The thinking goes something like this: Get girls back in school, reduce gender and economic inequalities, increase self-empowerment, and eradicate poverty.

Since the first shipment in 2006, bicycle recipients in the 15 communities where they were distributed are still using the bikes for their intended purpose (getting to school). The next 2,000 used bikes were collected through drives in the US and shipped to Togo, where they will be repaired by local mechanics and prepared for distribution. (Bicycles for Education impacts donor communities, as well: It keeps bikes from ending up in landfills and recycles those in bad condition.) Funding for all aspects of the project comes from the sales of Alaffia's skin care line.

Further reading:
* Learn how you can improve children's health worldwide
* Make a difference

With big relief efforts stunted by the junta, whatever help reaching Myanmar cyclone victims is occurring at the community level. A dispatch from Brett Melzer, owner of tour company Balloons Over Bagan and Malikha Lodge in northern Myanmar, follows.

May 29, Yangon, Myanmar

Dear friends: Following our first update, on May 15, on the Balloons Over Bagan/Malikha Lodge cyclone relief fund, I would like to take this opportunity to update you.

Thanks to your generosity together with Friends of the Rainforest Myanmar (FORM), we have raised over $20,000 so far. From this amount, Balloons Over Bagan and Malikha Lodge has spent approximately $2,500 in local currency in purchasing supplies and arranging their safe passage down to the delta area. Our efforts and your donations have been divided as follows:

Rice distribution in Rangoon.
Associated Press

After an exhausting week dealing with (and living through) Cyclone Nargis and meeting with Washington, D.C., decision makers, John Hetherington, Myanmar's country representative for Population Services International, sat down with Conde Nast Traveler's Julia Bainbridge to tell her what the situation in Myanmar is like now, how PSI plans to address problems there, and how you can help.

Conde Nast Traveler launched the Five & Alive Fund with Population Services International.

CNT: Have you been on the ground in Myanmar since the cyclone? Could you briefly describe what the situation was like there?

JH: I was in Yangun with my family during the cyclone, which was pretty intense--130-mph winds sustained for six hours. We slowly got our things and moved into a one-room house where rain wasn't coming through the roof. We got the team together, assessed our own staff--we have 400 staff in the region--and helped them get on their feet. Most of them lost roofs; many lost families. This was a major task: We had no electricity, no water, no phone, no fuel, no access to money. We started by counting money in the safe, taking inventory of petrol, and getting in vehicles to drive around and talk to people, but this was difficult since 80 percent of the trees were ripped up (100-year-old oak-size trees). So sort of like on planes when they tell you to put on your oxygen mask before those of your children--we had a meeting, got our own staff up, and then turned towards others.

CNT: How many people does PSI currently have in Myanmar?

JH: We have 500 core staff, but when you count field outreach workers and those from the community who work with us on a daily basis, it's somewhere between 600 and 700.

CNT: What services did PSI provide before the cyclone hit?

JH: We're a health organization in Myanmar; we've been there for 12 years and it's a pretty broad program. There's a network of 800 private-sector doctors who deliver health care to low-income populations, addressing malaria, TB, pneumonia, reproductive health, and AIDS prevention, among other things. Beyond that network, we have around 22 drop-in centers for female sex workers and men who have sex with men (where we distribute condoms, provide sex education, etc.).

Associated Press

by Julia Bainbridge

As news reports continue to come in on the difficulties in supplying aid to the people of Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, we're happy to report that at least one organization, Population Services International (PSI), Conde Nast Traveler's partner in the Five & Alive Fund, has managed to make a difference.

So far PSI's 600 in-country staffers have been able to:

* Help deliver a water purification solution capable of treating enough water for 998,000 people for one month.
* Work with its network of Sun Quality Health doctors to deliver medicine and health services to those desperately seeking medical attention.

But the work has just begun. The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that the number of deaths caused by Cyclone Nargis may be as high as 200,000. With millions still homeless and without access to food, clean water, and medicine, the number could skyrocket.

In the coming months, PSI will require an additional $1 million to address the longer-term health implications of Cyclone Nargis. If you're looking to help, Conde Nast Traveler cannot more strongly recommend that you consider PSI as a possible recipient of your donation.

Stay tuned to the Daily Traveler later in the week, when we talk to PSI Myanmar's Country Representative (who is currently in Washington, D.C.) about ways to help the organization's efforts.

by Tom Loftus

With parts of Sichuan Province in southwest China in ruins following a 7.9 magnitude earthquake that is already blamed for 19,500 confirmed deaths, travel is discouraged. But for those who have no choice, travel service Abercrombie & Kent has this report.

* The government has ordered that the military make it a top priority to open the roads for aid. Airlines are also ferrying in rescue personnel to help.

* Chongqing Airport is open and most of the flights are expected to arrive/depart as per original schedule.

* Yichang Airport is open and flights are on time. No damage has been found on the dam.

* Xian Airport is open and flights are on time. All tour sites are also open.

* Chengdu Airport was closed right after the quake, but it has reopened.  Because Chengdu has become the major destination for aid flowing into the area we recommend that travelers defer travel there until June.

The Associated Press

by Tom Loftus

Leading the news on the cyclone that devastated Myanmar last week has been the challenge in delivering aid to the victims. We are fortunate to have a dispatch from Simon Laxton of luxury travel service Abercrombie & Kent, who was in Myanmar when the cyclone hit. Still there now, he shares below first-hand experiences from the Delta region and discusses the actions A&K is taking to provide direct aid.

Want to help?  Abercrombie & Kent is coordinating fundraising efforts through the Friends of Conservation, which will donate 100 percent of all funds collected directly to purchasing and distributing life-saving supplies to those most in need.  

On the evening the cyclone struck we had just concluded a two-day meeting in Yangon, hosted by A&K Myanmar. There was little or no warning of the impending weather other than news that the airport had closed. The cyclone raced across the Delta area and into Yangon early in the morning of 03 May. . . . Huge trees were uprooted and thrown into buildings, homes, and across roads. Power lines were severely damaged throughout the region.

The devastation in the Delta has been truly beyond comprehension and more or less every home has been severely damaged or completely destroyed. . . .[T]he amount of water still lying on the ground is enormous and of course potentially the source of water-borne disease. Families have been split up and young children left without their parents. Many are injured . . . caused by people holding onto trees and any other protection they could find as the storm water surged through and debris in the water bruising and cutting them.

by Julia Bainbridge

Last Friday I attended the mid-year meeting for the Clinton Global Initiative, a nonpartisan project of the William J. Clinton Foundation. In just two hours, President Clinton brought members up to speed with CGI goings-on and discussed outstanding so-called Commitments to Action. (To be a member, you must make one of these pledges, which in turn must be a new, specific, and measurable way to address global challenges. Think health, climate change, education, poverty alleviation.) Politics aside, people had a lot to say.