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When I fill up my Saturn coupe and it costs me nearly $50 you know there is trouble. While gas prices continue to rise the problem seems to not only be limited to travel by car.

“The good news? There isn't any,” says the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Other negative consumer impacts from the ailing airline industry:

·         Higher luggage fees.

·         More add-on costs.

·         Low budget airlines already sell sodas and snacks; expect more of the same from the regular carriers.

·         The next frontier will be for airlines to start charging passengers for buying their tickets with a credit card, suggests travel expert Joe Brancatelli.

·         "Booking fees," charged merely for the privilege of buying a ticket no matter how you pay, are also a real possibility, he said. So is the idea of charging a fee for carry-on luggage.

·         As the cost of everything involved with flying goes up, expect to pay more just to get to the airport. Cabdrivers in Miami, for example, got the go-ahead to begin adding a fuel surcharge to their fares: At gas prices of $4 a gallon, an extra $1.50 will be tacked on to each fare.

Aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia said with fuel prices steadily increasing, air travel will soon be dramatically altered as airlines attempt to compensate for such additional costs, reported The Washington Post.

"The party is coming to an end," Mr Aboulafia said. "With fuel prices like this, it's going to get much worse for fliers. It has to get much worse, or airlines are going to continue to lose billions of dollars."

The Air Transport Association says US airlines are expected to spend more than $40 billion on jet fuel in 2008 alone and those costs could rise to $61.2 billion in 2009.

The future does not look good at all. Will flying once again become something that only the affluent can do? Will camping make a comeback? Will the mom and pop roadside motels surge in popularity like the 50's? Only time will tell...and we will be here for you!

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Now THAT'S Italian!

The Bar At Timpano

Traveling on business is always a double edged sword for me. Being away from family and home is always a bit of a downer but the road does provide chances to enjoy some great dining experiences and I had one of those on a recent trip to Orlando. The experience? Timpano Italian Chophouse .

THE DECOR: Once inside Timpano you feel like you have been transported to one of those great New York Supper Clubs of years gone by. Big black leather booths. White table clothes. Classic Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra being played overhead (and later by a live jazz trio that was incredible). All these elements work together to create the perfect backdrop against which some great food was created.

THE FOOD: Billing itself as an Italian Chophouse Timpano is able to offer its patrons the best of both culinary worlds. Traditional Italian dishes like lasagna, chicken parmisagna and bucatina corbanara are prominent throughout the menu. But Timpano is also a first rate steak house offering wonderful sirloin, rib-eye and filet cuts of fine meat. Chicken and fish are readily available as well.

We began our business meal with two appetizers. The spinach and artichoke formaggio. A delicate blend of four cheeses, spinach and artichoke served with their fresh crisp flat bread. This is a smooth tasting starter that had everyone fighting for the last spoonful of the spread.

We also ordered a tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella flat bread. Crispy, clean and fresh are the best ways to describe this dish. It was topped with a sweet balsamic reduction that truly gave a beautiful balance to savory flavors of the cheese and basil.

For the main course I enjoyed a gorgonzola encrusted filet that was as good as any piece of meat I have enjoyed. The cheese proved a great contrast to the perfectly medium grilled filet. This Italian Chophouse knows how to cook a good steak. This piece of meat is almost reason enough for me to take another trip back to Orlando...it really was that good. As sides I enjoyed their garlic mashed potatoes which truth be told were nothing special. The filet was the real star. Others at my table enjoyed the rib eye, shrimp Fra Diablo and a second filet. All agreed that this was a terrific meal.

For dessert we enjoyed their Cheesecake Tree which came with 8 lollipop/bite size cheesecakes in assorted flavors. This was a perfect way to end a meal...with 'just a taste' of dessert. There was no way that any of us at the table could have eaten a whole dessert and the tree provided everyone a chance without going too far.

OVERALL: I cannot say enough about this experience. The atmosphere, the food and the service (we had the wonderful Patti who truly made us feel at home and did not pressure us in the least to rush through our meal) were all top rate making this a TUESDAY RECOMMENDED EATERY!

Timpano is currently located in just three states with locations in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Rockville Maryland and Frisco Texas. If you live near any of these...go...whether for business or a romantic evening out Timpano is the perfect destination.

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