Travel&Vacation

The passing of 2008 isn’t likely to be mourned by anyone with an interest in either providing or consuming travel services. Airlines and hotels saw traveler numbers dwindle, along with their profits. The suffering went well beyond paper losses, destabilizing the industry overall and jeopardizing the very existence of a number of carriers. Last year’s casualties included Aloha, Big Sky, Skybus, ATA, Silverjet, and Eos. Frontier and Sun Country are operating under protection of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. And those liquidations and bankruptcy filings took place earlier in the year, before the current global financial meltdown had pushed demand for travel off a cliff. Consumers bore their share of the industry’s misfortune. As profits plunged, the airlines imposed fees galore, and further
(Read the full post about ‘A Silver Lining to Travel Turndown: More Loyalty Points’…)

Statistics New Zealand figures showed a 4.3 percent decline in national accommodation sales for the month on a year-on-year basis. Most regions experienced a downturn, with Bay of Plenty, Otago and Auckland suffering the biggest drops. Alongside Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, Wellington posted an increase in guest nights. The western Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu regions also recorded small increases. While November figures were most likely boosted by political supporters and National Party entourages after the October election, the city held up resoundingly well all year. Wellington has had a single month of declining year-on-year visitor numbers in 2008, with August down 2.5 per cent on the previous August. Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks said
(Read the full post about ‘Capital tourism bucks trend’…)

For the mere act of transporting us from shore to shore we can thank Carnival Cruise Lines. But for making this cruise a special cruise, about you and me and the music, and not just an ordinary cruise, we have to thank Simple Man Cruise. And for the money they’re laying down to charter this wonderful cruise, we have to thank Sixthman. This cruise turned out to be four days of nonstop music and sun and fun. I even told my editors I’d need a week to recuperate when I got back. They thought I was joking! Obviously these wankers have never been on one of the Simple Man Cruises. Billed as the Simple Man 2009 Cruise, it was hosted by Lynyrd Skynyrd. We were due to cast off at 1600 hours, and when we weighed anchor it was to the sound of music on the Lido Deck. But you could hear the
(Read the full post about ‘Music Review … with a Cruise Thrown In’…)

The fake YouTube video is just another example of Australian advertising agencies' "crude" use of social media to promote brands, a marketing expert says. In its latest campaign, Tourism Queensland invited people to send in a 60-second video of themselves to apply for a $150,000 caretaker job for Hamilton Island, which it dubbed "the best job in the world". Local and international media outlets last week reported thousands of applicants had already sent in videos, including an Australian woman called "Tegan" who supposedly showed herself visiting a tattoo parlour to get a 10-centimetre tattoo proving her love for the Great Barrier Reef. But Tourism Queensland has since admitted "Tegan" was not a genuine applicant, but a member of the ad agency
(Read the full post about ‘Paradise job ad phoney revealed’…)

I pop the toasted grasshopper right in my mouth. It tastes kind of like bacon and is seasoned with chili and salt. Not bad! My kids wrinkle their noses. We are walking through a market in Oaxaca City, where we’ve arrived just this afternoon. Locals are selling the “chapulines”—there are big piles of them—for just three pesos a bag (about 40 cents). Oaxaca is in the southeastern part of Mexico and we’ve come here for a few days of cultural immersion after a week lazing on the beach near Playa del Carmen. (More about that in another column.) Mexico beaches are terrific, of course, but there is so much more to see and do in this country. To make the most of our time, we’ve arranged for Austin-Lehman Adventures to plan our stay so that I don’t have to fret the details. The
(Read the full post about ‘A Culinary Paradise in Oaxaca’…)

It's hard not to think of Norman when you're spending the weekend at The Vintage. His craggy, hatted features are festooned on posters throughout the development in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine district. The Queenslander, who notoriously blew more majors than he won, designed the course a decade ago. Today it is regarded as one of the finest golf courses in Australia. Friends will vouch for the fact that I'm a pathetic golfer. But the A$39 ($48) nine-hole dash after 4pm (including an electric buggy) is too attractive to miss. Especially as I've got two caddies on hand, not one. My six-year-old, no sports fan, loves being the scorer because he can practise his maths (though my embarrassing score isn't helped by the three or four shots he adds to each hole).
(Read the full post about ‘Fairway to heaven’…)

Wynn’s Encore Resort in Las Vegas offers an exciting new make-up service. It is not simply a make-up application, but an actual lesson. Jennifer — my tall, blonde, well dressed (and perfectly made-up) beautician — greets me in the super swank, very elegant Salon which looks out over the lush Wynn property and offers floor to ceiling views of the city. You will find the Salon so large and airy you feel good just being here, especially if you are lucky enough to be pampered by the expert staff. “Come to my table,” Jennifer says, beckoning me to her private and impeccably clean spot near the window. Introducing myself, I explain that I’ve been doing my make-up the same way for a few months now, and wanted an expert’s opinion of what I am doing right and what needs improvement.
(Read the full post about ‘Beauty Treatment Review: The Salon at Wynn Encore Resort, Las Vegas’…)

Finding a local to show you around is a great way to get to know a new city or rediscover an old favorite. But most travelers don’t have friends in every city they visit, which is what makes the greeter programs that have cropped up in recent years so genius. Locals volunteer to show visitors around their neighborhood or city, offering travelers the chance at a resident’s-eye-view, often for free! Here are some of the larger greeter programs: U.S. New York City: Big Apple Greeter has more than 300 volunteers and offers tours in 22 languages. To reserve a tour, fill out a visit request form at least three weeks in advance. Chicago: Chicago Greeter is run by the Chicago Office of Tourism. Tours of more than 25 neighborhoods and 40 themes are available in any of 15 languages. To reserve a
(Read the full post about ‘Discovering New Cities With Friendly Locals’…)

The three New Zealand sites are among 261 nominees from across the globe to make it through to the quarterfinal phase of the New Seven Wonders of Nature competition, run by a Swiss-based non-profit foundation. New Zealand's scenery is up against some tough competition – the Grand Canyon, the Dead Sea and Mt Everest are all on the list, while across the Tasman, nominations include Great Barrier Reef and Uluru. The public can help to whittle down the list to 77 semifinalists through online voting, open till July 7. A panel of nature experts chaired by Federico Mayor, former chief of Unesco, will then cull the list to 21 finalists. The seven winners will then be chosen in another round of public voting lasting till 2011, this time by Internet, telephone and text messages. The
(Read the full post about ‘New Zealand marvels make wonders shortlist’…)

From its large-scale beach resorts and bustling cities to its beautiful forests and tiny villages, Mexico is one of the most popular travel destinations around. However, this vast country is not known for being one of the safest options for vacationers. Despite this reputation, travelers can still have a fun-filled holiday! Sticking with these simple tips will help you have an enjoyable and safe vacation. Do Your ResearchResearching your destination prior to departure is a good way to learn about the history of Mexico and which places to visit. It can also warn you of any current travel precautions or health warnings. Websites such as the U.S. Department of State, WorldTravelWatch, and Visit Mexico have information about the country and provide a plethora of emergency numbers and
(Read the full post about ‘Traveling Safely in Mexico’…)