I got my bags packed on a roll heading out there and I'm ready to go looking real good

in my passport photo.

Amateur Traveler episode 268.

Today the Amateur Traveler goes to a destination that Lonely Planet says is the number one place you should visit in 2011.

Albania.

Albania.

I know that I should be heading home.

Maybe not, maybe not today.

Welcome to the amateur traveler. I'm your host Chris Christensen. Before we get

into this week's interview I do have three news stories for you. The first one

if you're a smoker there's bad news for you but good news for non smokers

Over 1,200 lodgings in the United States 1200 and 900 according to a recent survey have gone smoke-free.

One of the reasons is the call for non-smokers' rights, the other is the decline in people

in the U.S. who smoke, which is now down to 1 in 5. But you also have to believe that this has

some advantages for hotels who will have lower costs because of the cleaning charges related to people

who smoke.

Delta has decided that the owner of a kitten who died while being transported in the cargo hold is due $50.

So apparently, Delta is putting the value of a kitten's life at $50. So apparently Delta is putting the value of a kitten's life at $50. You can imagine

that this may cause some controversy. And then speaking of controversy, this episode, I said is going to be about Albania.

Since we recorded this episode and the airing of it, there have been violent protests in Albania

where three people at least have died. So if you're going to take our advice and go to Albania,

as this episode will be saying,

...