Here's a quick look at what's been going on in the travel world today...

• Norwegian Prime Minister stranded in U.S. because of volcanic ash over Europe. He's essentially running Norway's government from his iPad.
• As Continental and United discuss a possible merger, Slate's Daniel Engber explains why airlines are always merging anyway.
• Also on Slate, a stirring photo essay of improvised homes in Haiti.
• Got an extra couple thousand dollars lying around? How 'bout an Antarctic cruise?
• "Nothing really bad can happen to me," I always think when I travel. As WorldHum's Katherine Lonsdorf explains, sometimes it does.

More Gadlinks here.

When you think of zip lines, you might associate them with the thrill of sailing through a rain forest in an exotic location (especially if you caught Jeremy Kressmann's video taken from a zip line in Laos).

But this week, San Francisco has had a zip line installed near the Ferry Building to promote, of all things, tourism to British Columbia in order to bring more people to the site of the 2010 Olympics.

If you want to give it a try, you'll have to be quick. The last day to get your free ride down a zip line is this Sunday, April 18th.

So how did we discover this? Was it a press release from Tourism BC?

Not at all. We stumbled across it when we came up with this choice for our Video of the Week from Rick Greenberg.



Do you have a great travel related suggestion for our Video of the Week? Fill out this form or just include my twitter handle @veryjr in your tweet about it. Maybe we'll use it as next week's Video.

Ethiopia. Barbados. France. Chicago. New York. Seattle. These are just some of the places you'll find our travel experts at this exact moment.

If you'd like to keep a closer eye on some of our travels and hear about our insider travel tips, become Gadling's friend on Foursquare. Once you do you'll find out what we think is the best bar in Munster, Indiana; which place in New York has the best donuts; or where we found the best burger in South Florida, among other things.

For those of you who "don't get" Foursquare, don't worry - it's just a simple tool that allows you to "check in" at places you visit -- bars, restaurants, hotels, shops -- via your mobile device. You can share information about those places and get tips from others who've checked in, too. In addition, Foursquare offers its users a fun game: you can earn "badges" for your check-ins and even become the Mayor of an establishment, if you're the most frequent visitor there.

Still confused? See how Foursquare describes itself and read The Frugal Travelers' excellent description of the application, and how it has the potential to change the way we travel, the way we think about travel, and the way we collect information about our travels.

And don't forget to become our friend!

There's been a resolution of sorts for the recent kerfluffle at the W Hollywood hotel, which I wrote about two weeks ago. I found out first-hand that guests are not always permitted to use its gorgeous and enviably situated rooftop pool, despite the high room rates they pay.

The scandal made news around the Web, including at The Economist, which proclaimed itself "horrified" about the revelations here on Gadling. (It was indeed a proud day for me: I also got The Economist to repeat my coinage, "douche-tastic.")

The newly opened hotel hasn't broken things off with the Las Vegas promoter, Drai's, which runs its nightspot and organizes the Sunday "pool party" that guests have been told they're not cool enough for. But as a mea culpa for the unwanted attention, the W Hollywood is bending the rules.

This Switzerland retreat knows you've had a rough winter. All those hot totties by the fireplace skewed your usual caloric intake, and the cold winter winds wreaked havoc on your skin. No worries, the healing process is about to begin.

Zurich's Dolder Grand is offering "Detox" and "Retreat" packages with 30% savings to encourage health and wellness this spring. Whether you're in need of a detox escape or just a relaxing spa getaway, experience one of the world's most exceptional spas at Dolder Grand. The best part: both of these treatments are available through Dec. 31, 2010, so you have plenty of time to make your way to Zurich.

The Grand Detox Program:

• Five nights luxury accommodations at the Dolder Grand
• Complete five day detox nutritional meal plan, including introductory interview including "needs analysis" and daily coaching with the Dolder Grand Spa Team
• Fitness and body composition analysis
• Daily fitness and relaxation sessions
• Daily treatments of Cleansing and Detox Rituals with custom massage
• Consultation for continuation at home
• Unlimited use of Dolder Grand Spa
• Total cost: 8,600 CHF/ Double occupancy (approx. $8,000 USD) or 4,720 CHF/ Single occupancy (approx. $4,400 USD)

The Grand Spa Retreat:

• Three nights luxury accommodations at the Dolder Grand
• Daily breakfast at the Garden Restaurant per person
• One dinner in the Garden Restaurant per person (beverages not included)
• One 90-minute La Prairie Caviar Firming Facial per person
• One 90-minute Grand Body Ritual, with replenishing scrub, therapeutic bath and massage application, per person
• One 90-minute Bamboo Shiatsu Massage per person
• One 60-minute Kerstin Florian Classic Pedicure per person
• Unlimited use of Dolder Grand Spa
• Total cost: 3,100 CHF/ Double occupancy (approx. $2,880 USD) or 1,770 CHF/ Single occupancy (approx. $1,645 USD)

Sit back, relax and detox.

While some people may just give in and spend a couple of nights at the airport, funny man John Cleese is far too important to sit around and do nothing. So, instead of spending the rest of the week in Oslo, Cleese and his assistant got in a cab and asked the driver to head to Brussels. Thankfully, the cabbie was smart enough to make the 932 mile trek with a second driver.

Once in Brussels, Cleese will board a Eurostar train and continue his journey to London. Despite the hassles of his journey, he was still able to tell reporters a joke:

How do you get God to laugh? Tell him your plans.

According to some Oslo cabbies, the trip to Brussels wasn't even their longest drive - one passenger took a cab from Oslo to Paris - adding another 200 miles to the trip. To be honest, I'd probably pay good money to spend a day stuck in a cab with John Cleese - as far as I'm concerned, he's one of the funniest men around. Then again, I could also just sit back at the airport and enjoy hours of Fawlty Towers over and over again.

Because of the Icelandic volcanic ash, pretty much every airport in Europe has been shut down. Some passengers at Schiphol have been stranded at the airport for two days, and since the volcanic eruption can't be blamed on the airlines, nobody is getting any free hotel rooms.

So - the terminals have been transformed into one massive bedroom. Thankfully, Schiphol has put a lot of effort into trying to provide a little comfort for their temporary guests - free food and drinks and free beds with a sleep kit. Parts of the terminal even have free live music, massage therapy and Internet terminals.

The airport has even lifted its ban on public consumption of alcohol, allowing the duty free stores to sell alcohol till 9:30pm. With over 100 shops and a casino, there are worst places to be stranded. So, if you are stranded abroad because of the volcano, best of luck - try and make the best of it, and fingers crossed that the skies clear up tomorrow.

(Apologies for the Dutch spoken video clip - but the images give a decent idea of the situation)

Our Friday Travel Tunes series continues this week with nine songs that'll help make even the longest bus or plane ride feel, well, not quite so long. This playlist (the perfect cure for your "Landlocked Blues") features Swedish songwriters Jens Lekman and Kristoffer Ragnstam, the UK band Florence and the Machine, and several American acts like Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, and the Bon Savants.

Want more song recommendations? Check out previous episodes of Gadling's Friday Travel Tunes.

While millions of visitors flock to Hawaii's fabled golden shores, there are a number of sights around the state that are well-off the typical tourist map - and well worth a visit when in town.

Papohaku Beach, Moloka'i
Stoically occupying the west end of the island of Moloka'i, Papohaku Beach is one of the largest white sand beaches in the state of Hawaii, minus all of the crowds. Nearly three miles long and 100 yards wide, a day with more than 6 people is a crowded day at Papohaku. Visitors can gaze across the Kaiwi channel towards neighboring Oahu, its one million residents and crowded beaches merely an afterthought in this isolated corner of paradise. While campers must obtain a state permit for the campground, casual visits to this expanse of sand are free of charge.

Mo'okini Heiau, birthplace of King Kamehameha, Hawai'i
The first person to unite the Hawaiian Islands under a single system of rule, the journey of the revered King Kamehameha the Great began on this windswept pastureland out on Upolu Point. Set just outside of the sprawling Mo'okini heiau, an ancient Hawaiian temple erected in 480 A.D. to Ku., the Hawaiian God of War, a small sign marks where Kamehameha was born in 1858. The sight is reachable via the Upolu airport road, though the final two miles to the heiau are on an uneven dirt road, and four-wheel drive is highly recommended if the road is wet or muddy. Hiking is a good backup option. Free admission.

In New York, a rooftop lounge is one of the more coveted pieces of real estate. Combined with incomparable city views, the price of a cocktail in many rooftop bars can actually be less than admission to the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock. Unfortunately, most of the city's rooftop bars require VIP connections or are uncomfortably jam-packed.

One alternative to the madness is mad46, the Roosevelt Hotel's rooftop bar, which is kicking off its third summer season with a newly renovated interior space that opens right onto the terrace. Best of all, there's no cover or minimum charge -- a refreshing change when compared to other pricey skyscraper lounges in the neighborhood. If space is available, reservations are accepted for groups of any size, and there's no requirement to order bottle service. All of this helps to make the 19th-floor lounge an unexpected (and overlooked) treat amid all the office buildings in midtown Manhattan.

Cocktails range from $12 to $16, but look out for fun promotions, such as "When it rains, we pour" -- a clever name for when mad46 bartenders hand out half-priced drink specials as long as the rain lasts. This could be a real money-saver in the summer, when thunderstorms can be brief but thoroughly drenching. Plus, the rooftop bar has retractable awnings and a cozy interior lounge, so you won't have to cancel your plans if the forecast calls for some sprinkles.

Check www.mad46.com for other promotions, which may include Martini Mondays (possibly with manicures), Tequila Tuesdays, and sunset movie nights on Wednesdays.

Details: mad46 is on the 19th floor of the Roosevelt Hotel; enter on W. 46th Street at Madison Avenue. The rooftop bar is open in April from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays; the full summer season begins in May with hours extended until midnight on Mondays to Fridays and until 2 a.m. on Saturdays. Hotel guests generally will receive priority if there's a line, though reservations are the best way to nab a spot. Right now, www.theroosevelthotel.com is showing packages starting at $169 per night.

Gallery: mad46