Blogs

Despite the flight disruptions caused by Hurricane Sandy, 75 travel professionals will convene at the second Family Travel Conference (FTCDallas) to be held at the Omni Dallas Hotel at the Convention Center Nov. 9-11, 2012. You may recall my New Media Travel post about FTC1, in which I raved, "This group of bright, engaged mothers (and some dads) who travel with their kids and run homes and blogs, now run the family travel market and drive some of the most exciting conversations on line."

The tw

The current building, and second hotel on the site, was built in 1908 on the site where Andrew Jackson had his military headquarters during the War of 1812.  In the lobby, above a plush, circular banquette, is a beautiful domed Tiffany skylight.  The ornate molding has the portraits in the corners of the four leaders who ruled over Mobile: Louis XIV of France, English king George III, Spain´s Ferdinand V, and our very own George Washington. 

The Four Diamond hotel has been a favorite of entert

  I promised several people a trip report and blog entry from my latest travel adventure so here's an abbreviated entry.....


Friday, June 17:

My 5th annual group trip of FantasyFesters and KrewedeKrazyLife friends to Hedonism II resort in Negril, Jamaica is now within 24 hours. This will be my 7th trip to a SuperClubs Hedonism all-inclusive, clothing optional beachfront and tropical resort.

I’m so excited and packing my 3 luggage bags and 2 carry-ons only adds to the excitement as I try to

Provided by WineFoodGuide.com       
Barili Cellars of Washington State

Sometimes “smaller is better” when it comes to crafting limited amounts of premium wine. Serious wine lovers and connoisseurs are focusing their palates towards small producers who craft superior wines in small lots, using old world techniques, with limited non-commercial technology. Barili Cellars in downtown Spokane, Washington is one of those artisan venues who create “rare treasures of bottled delights.” A visit to their u

When you travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, do not miss try the transportation unique to Hanoi: the cyclo, A cyclo tour takes you around Hanoi's old quarter or around Hanoi Kiem lake, that will give you the different impression in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In a modern life, high-tech transportation seems determined to surpass the ancient rickshaws, even though the rickshaw remains a favorite with tourists. After wandering around Dong Xuan and Hanoi markets, I took a walk to the ancient town and reached Hang Du

Get in a cab and take a short taxi ride from Playa Del Carmen for a truly unique experience. Alux Restaurant & Lounge Noy is an underground bar, where you might need to go by a candlelight. Overcoming the stairsis half the battle and brings you to the hall, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Alux (pronounced “ah-LOOsh») – a whole system of caves, which are now established into a restaurant, bar, VIP-lounge. People are thinking that those who will be ready to spend here a lot of time will

For those times when life doesn't have you exploring new territory, there are certain qualities of travel that need to be cultivated regularly or they are quickly lost to the comfort zone that becomes your familiar routine. Trouble is, routine is the antithesis of rewarding travel. To make sure that you're best prepared for your next trip, here are some ways to maintain your travel fitness while immersed in a work-a-day lifestyle.

1. Exercise and Stretch Regularly

Travel often involves sharp cont

This morning I looked out off the window. It was mostly grey, but on the bright side....it didn't rain. Yeah, just another day in the fall. Falls here in the Netherlands are mostly like that. You are lucky when it doesn't rain and really, really lucky when you see some sunshine.

But the weather doesn't get me down, or at least i'm trying, but this make me also realise that I was really lucky in New Zealand. Even in the winter I got lots of sun. On the westcoast it was raining, buy hey...when does

It’s been a good year so far for Nataly Bernold. The 19-year-old from Jaco Beach, Costa Rica, was just crowned Costa Rica’s National Surfing Champion in the Women’s divisionin August (2012), making it her third national surfing title.

In May, she won the Quicksilver Cup on the Olympus National Surfing Circuit in Dominical, placing more than 8 points higher than her second-place competitor in the Women’s Open division. And Nataly is already ranking Central American Women’s Surf Champion.

Not bad co

Tourism security professionals and managers often (and justly) complain that they are considered expendable due to the fact that the other parts of the tourism industry perceive them as adding nothing to the bottom line.  In fact often tourism officials believe that security is simply and added and required expense that must be accepted, be that expense a burden. This month's Tourism Tidbits focuses on the other side of the coin, and emphasizes that not only is tourism security not simply a nece

Ten years ago, Moses Znaimer renamed the baby boomer generation into the 'Zoomers' to celebrate how they stay active in their retirement years. Five years ago someone got the bright idea to wrap a trade show around the notion and last weekend, October 27, 28 of 2012, the Zoomershow was hosted at the Direct Energy Building at Exhibition Place . The organizers use the mantra, 'If it's hot and it's important, and if it can benefit people age 45+, then it’s welcome at the Zoomershow!

The Zoomershow h

Hershey, Pennsylvania is called the “Sweetest Place on Earth” so it is only fitting that it has the sweetest spa.  The spa features a variety of chocolate-infused treatments in honor of our rich chocolate history. Sink into a frothy Whipped Cocoa Bath, relax in the warm cocoon of their Chocolate Fondue Wrap, and inhale the rich chocolate aromas that put a twist on traditional spa treatments such as the Cocoa Facial Experience and the Cocoa Massage. And there is more, chocolate and non-chocolate

A first time visitor to Egypt who wants a classical (pharaonic antiquities) experience would do well to book a Nile cruise. Of course modern airlines shuttle tourists to the southern region of Egypt, but historically the Nile cruise was really the only way to visit the temples and tombs located along this stretch of the river. It is still a popular means of visiting upper Egypt and has many advantages to other means of travel.

First of all, it is very nice to unpack once and have your hotel trave

por Cristóbal Ramírez

Intente hacer un cálculo: contar el número de veces que se le abrirá la boca en San Petersburgo. Lo más probable es que termine perdiendo la cuenta. Peter, como la denominan sus habitantes igual que si estuvieran llamando a un colega, está construida para impresionar. Al zar Pedro el Grande se le ocurrió levantarla a principios del siglo XVIII en medio de la nada. ¿Y a cuento de qué? Quería conectar Rusia con Europa y el mar. El invento le salió bien, porque hoy es una de

You can’t blame travel suppliers and companies for their myopia.  For all too many years they’ve had a Pavlovian response to their brands: promote them, and get around to taking care of customers later.

Or maybe never.

In spite of all the brouhaha that suggested social media is the way to connect with and service customers, the facts speak differently, according to Hotelmarketing.com.

They report that 62% of customers are looking for more support through social media. But, brand reputation an

When the coffee mill is roasting in my little town in Costa Rica, you can smell the aroma throughout our hills and valleys. The sweet, pungent fragrance entices you to a steaming cup or two in the morning, and following tradition, another at 3 p.m. When I first moved to this small Central American land, I was puzzled by how it seemed the entire country stops at 3 pm for its “cafecito”. After nearly 11 years of living here, I find the local custom lovely, and follow it quite strictly rain or shin

Today I left Taiwan. For three weeks I was there, taking each day one by one. The reason was a wedding - a reason I turned into an an opportunity to turn this trip to Asia into something far greater.

It was my second time to Taiwan - a fact that never ceased to amaze Taiwanese. But in reality it was I who never ceased to be amazed by the Taiwanese people, who by the end of the three weeks, left me wondering, "have I ever felt this welcome in a country before?"

The wedding was a fun and also com

In 1999 Paolo and Allison Domeneghetti departed careers in the fine and culinary arts to focus on a unified passion of

bringing the best spirits to market using sustainable partnerships with producers and suppliers. Since then they haven't looked back adhering to their philosophy that culture, art and science are equally expressed through wine and spirits. The craft of production reveals just as much heritage as the way it may taste on the palate. Time honored traditions and just the right ingred