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• The Pearl Earring by Dorothee Golz

  Happy Hotelier

  GJE

  2 Feb 2012 | 5:15 am

  As the original is here in The Hague: The Pearl Earring by Dorothee Golz Can you tell us a little bit about your interest in the portraits you decided to use in your work? Was there something specific about them that worked well with the message of your work, or did you choose them because of their iconic recognisability? In the first instance I chose these paintings due to their photorealistic quality. The pictures almost look like arranged photos- take my image of Girl at the Window for example: the photo pretends to be the painting The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer, just as his…

• When hotel groups rewrite a story: RoomKey

  Hotel Blogs - When Hotel Marketing gets Social

  Guillaume Thevenot

  17 Jan 2012 | 1:25 pm

  We started the new year with a lot of news regarding the online travel world. Just by reading Tnooz, I can't keep up with the new stuff coming out of new ventures and also all these changes happening with OTAs....

• 25 Things to Do in Spain

  Europe a la Carte Travel Blog

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:01 pm

  Sunny Spain is a very popular holiday destination in Europe and it’s a country you can easily return to multiple times since there are so many different parts of it to explore. Figuring out where to go, in fact, is the biggest problem with visiting Spain! We’ve put together 25 travel tips on what to do in Spain, spread across the country, to give you plenty of ideas for your next trip. Climb the Maspalomas Dunes You can have fun climbing and then sliding down the Maspalmos Dunes on the island of Gran Canaria. Karen has more tips on beautiful Gran Canaria beaches. Maspalomas Dunes…

• Weekly Deals for Feb 8

  DeliciousBaby.com

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Featured Family Travel Deal Darya enjoys an Après-ski cookie at the Four Seasons Ski Concierge in Whistler The Four Seasons Whistler is offering a Family Ski Package that includes your room, lift passes, breakfast and more. My family visited last winter, here's my review of the Four Seasons Whistler The Hyatt Grand in Seattle is offering an American Girl Doll Package. Darya and I are going to check it out ourselves later this month... wish us luck on our very girly mom & daughter slumber party. Aulani, Disney's new resort in Hawaii is offering a sixth night free offer that includes a daily…

• Airlines transparent ‘administration fees’ are a joke

  Travel Rants

  Darren Cronian

  14 Jan 2012 | 6:52 am

  Earlier this morning I read on Europe a la Carte that EasyJet has ditched its free fee payment option for passengers using the Visa Electron card and now charges £9 administration fee for all debit cards payments. What has annoyed me though is that this move is supposedly to improve the transparency of surcharges for [...]This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Airlines transparent ‘administration fees’ are a joke

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  Happy Hotelier

• The Pearl Earring by Dorothee Golz

  GJE

  2 Feb 2012 | 5:15 am

  As the original is here in The Hague: The Pearl Earring by Dorothee Golz Can you tell us a little bit about your interest in the portraits you decided to use in your work? Was there something specific about them that worked well with the message of your work, or did you choose them because of their iconic recognisability? In the first instance I chose these paintings due to their photorealistic quality. The pictures almost look like arranged photos- take my image of Girl at the Window for example: the photo pretends to be the painting The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer, just as his…

• Dutch Queen Beatrix turns 74!

  GJE

  31 Jan 2012 | 6:42 am

  Today Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands turned 74. Happy Birthday to our Majesty! These two beautiful photos (from ANP) were taken a while ago when she visited a mosque in a Muslim country. Off course our peroxide blond parliamentarian asked the question why she made a political statement by covering her hat with a shawl. Luckily, according to certain polls, the guy lost 3 seats in Dutch Parliament after he’d posed the question on twitter. Dutch Queen Beatrix turns 74! is a post from: Happy Hotelier. Would you like to subscribe to my newsfeed, or my weekly newsletter?

• Honeymoon Suite Whirpool for Two

  GJE

  18 Jan 2012 | 5:31 pm

  Seedy, stylish, romantic or just fun this Whirlpool for 2 in your honeymoonsuite? Its in an all inclusive couples only resort in the Pocono Mountains PA, USA. Toast your romance with a sensual soak in the world-exclusive, 7-foot tall Champagne Glass Whirlpool Bath-for-Two. Set on Pocono Palace’s golf course, The Roman Towers are designed in a Grand Roman theme with floor to ceiling columns, stunning arches, vaulted ceilings, covered walkways and a private, arched underpass for parking. A cathedral window offers a panoramic view of Pocono Palace’s lush surrounding landscape. Via the Roman…

• What are You Thinking About? (2) – Carly’s Voice | Changing the World of Autism

  GJE

  18 Jan 2012 | 4:28 am

  Health, Precarious Health! I’m really happy with a healthy wife, two healthy kids and two healthy grand kids. Today somebody I follow on Twitter pointed me to this amazing Youtube video about Carly, an autistic Canadian girl who couldn’t speak, but eventually found a way to express herself, just by typing on a notebook. She finally was able to show she is far from backward. We now can know what she is thinking. I’m happy for her and she is an example for many other people out there including the “experts” who have to do with autism. Also it reminds me that people…

• What are You Thinking About? (1) – Lateral Thinking

  GJE

  13 Jan 2012 | 4:36 am

  Introduction I have a very associative mind. I see something and think of a totally different thing by association. Usually most of my relatives and friends totally fail to understand my associations at all. Obviously they need a decoder. I’ve honed my associative capabilities after reading a book from Edward De Bono. He is a business guru who had his hey days in 70ies and 80ies, but seems still alive and kicking. Lateral Thinking, he teaches will enhance your creativity. For me the Internet is a great tool to help me broaden my associations and creativity. Photo’s or images are a…

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  Hotel Blogs - When Hotel Marketing gets Social

• When hotel groups rewrite a story: RoomKey

  Guillaume Thevenot

  17 Jan 2012 | 1:25 pm

  We started the new year with a lot of news regarding the online travel world. Just by reading Tnooz, I can't keep up with the new stuff coming out of new ventures and also all these changes happening with OTAs....

• Twitter and French Hotel Chains - September 2011

  Guillaume Thevenot

  26 Sep 2011 | 3:39 am

  As every month, Thomas from Artisan Referenceur and I give a little update on the ranking of French hotel chains using Twitter. This is the September list where Accor and Relais & Chateaux are clearly leading the pack with more...

• Twitter and UK Hotel Chains - August 2011

  Guillaume Thevenot

  31 Aug 2011 | 4:30 am

  Quick update on where UK Hotel chains are doing on Twitter since our last post in July. The top 7 UK hotel chains remain at the same position in terms of their ranking based on number of followers. It would...

• Amadeus Hotel Roundtable 2011 (video) part.1

  Guillaume Thevenot

  16 Aug 2011 | 5:15 am

  Back in June, I was invited to participate in the Amadeus Hotel roundtable organised by Simon Taylor who heads up Product initiatives for hotel distribution in the UK. The panel was very interesting with executives from Premier Inn, HBAA, The...

• The 7 Fatal Mistakes Hoteliers Make In Getting More Business

  Guillaume Thevenot

  16 Aug 2011 | 2:27 am

  Are you letting new business opportunities slip through your fingers? Do you struggle to bring in business at certain times of the year? Are you unsure what marketing you should be doing and want to know how to make your...

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  Europe a la Carte Travel Blog

• 25 Things to Do in Spain

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:01 pm

  Sunny Spain is a very popular holiday destination in Europe and it’s a country you can easily return to multiple times since there are so many different parts of it to explore. Figuring out where to go, in fact, is the biggest problem with visiting Spain! We’ve put together 25 travel tips on what to do in Spain, spread across the country, to give you plenty of ideas for your next trip. Climb the Maspalomas Dunes You can have fun climbing and then sliding down the Maspalmos Dunes on the island of Gran Canaria. Karen has more tips on beautiful Gran Canaria beaches. Maspalomas Dunes…

• Premier Inn Now Offer 30 Minutes Free WiFi

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:56 am

  Premier Inn is now offering guests 30 minutes of free WiFi per day in all of their UK hotels.  I phoned Premier Inn to ask if the 30 minutes free WiFi is per room or per guest and they told me it’s per guest and that guests will be given a code on check-in to redeem the free access. Premier Inn have also reduced the cost of WiFi for guests who need to spend more than 30 minutes online to £3 for 24 hours, £10 for one week, £20 for one month and £125 for 12 months. Typical Premier Inn room I assume that Premier Inn’s decision has, to some degree, been taken in response to their…

• Exploring Europe Through Wine

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  5 Feb 2012 | 11:09 pm

  The vineyards and wine cellars of Europe are great tourist attractions and I can understand why – try some new wine, perhaps have a tasty meal and enjoy a good view while you’re there. When I lived in southern Germany, I thoroughly enjoyed having easy access to a variety of vineyards. Here at Europe a la Carte we’ve published serveral posts about European wine so I’ve put together this compilation of travel tips to help you explore Europe through wine. Vineyards near Heilbronn in Germany by Amanda Kendle France You probably won’t be surprised to hear that the…

• 25 Things to Do in the Netherlands

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  1 Feb 2012 | 11:01 pm

  For a small country, the Netherlands, often (incorrectlly) known as Holland,  has many features which are well-known throughout the world: tulips, windmills and cheeses, just to name a few, and not to mention one of the most famous capital cities in the world in Amsterdam. It’s a great place to travel because everything is nearby and the public transport is great, too – or if you’re more energetic, cycling around is very practical. Here are our travel tips for 25 things to do in the Netherlands to inspire you to plan a Dutch holiday soon. The Peace Palace in The Hague…

• 10 Places to Visit in Slovakia

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  29 Jan 2012 | 11:03 pm

  I spent a fantastic year living in Bratislava, but it’s not the capital of Slovakia that I’m going to tell you about today – instead, I’ve compiled a list of travel tips on what to do in Slovakia which are located outside of Bratislava. It’s still a relatively little-known country on the tourist trail but there is so much to see and do and I’d encourage you to get there soon. Bojnice Castle A decent day trip from Bratislava gets you to Bojnice Castle – a particularly picturesque castle dating back to the 12th century and rumoured to have inspired…

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  DeliciousBaby.com

• Weekly Deals for Feb 8

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Featured Family Travel Deal Darya enjoys an Après-ski cookie at the Four Seasons Ski Concierge in Whistler The Four Seasons Whistler is offering a Family Ski Package that includes your room, lift passes, breakfast and more. My family visited last winter, here's my review of the Four Seasons Whistler The Hyatt Grand in Seattle is offering an American Girl Doll Package. Darya and I are going to check it out ourselves later this month... wish us luck on our very girly mom & daughter slumber party. Aulani, Disney's new resort in Hawaii is offering a sixth night free offer that includes a daily…

• Whistler With Kids: Peak 2 Peak Gondola

  7 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  This is a memory from last year's Family Trip to Whistler Everest was done. Just through. He'd tried skiing for two days, and he hadn't quite gotten into a groove. To make things worse, his baby sister had surpassed him, speeding down the mountain on her first green run while he was still struggling with turns and snowplow stops. Everest is more cerebral than is sister, he needs time to think and reflect, and sports don't come easily to him. With two days of skiing under his belt, I felt that Everest had given the sport a fair try. We'd loop back around later, but at this point, adding a…

• Shhhh. Secret Giveaway: 3 Traveling Toddler Car Seat Travel Accessories

  6 Feb 2012 | 4:33 pm

  As a fun way to reward my regular readers, I'm giving away three Traveling Toddler Car Seat Travel Accessories (one per winner). This product lets you attach a carseat to your rolling bag so that you can cart it through the airport. You can even use it as a stroller with your child sitting in the seat. (One thing to be aware of, you'll need to disassemble it to put everything through the x-ray at airport security.) I'll publicize this giveaway just on Facebook and here, so your odds of winning one of the three accessories is great. To enter, just fill out the form below by Feb 8, 2012 at…

• Photo Friday: Seattle Library Escalator

  2 Feb 2012 | 2:12 pm

  Yellow escalator at the downtown branch of the Seattle Public Library People look at me like I'm a little nutty when I recommend the Rem Koolhaas designed Seattle Public Library as one of the best places to check out when you're visiting Seattle with a toddler. Afterall modern architecture is hardly a mainstay toddler interest. But really, what two year old wouldn't want to ride on that escalator? Related Links Seattle With Kids City Guide What is Photo Friday? Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated. The focus of the post should be on your photo.

• Weekly Deals for Feb 1

  1 Feb 2012 | 8:37 pm

  Featured Family Travel Deal The Metropolitan Hotel in Vancouver, Canada is offering a buy two nights get the third free package. I've stayed at this hotel (on my own dime) in the past, and it is well located and welcoming with marble bathrooms, down duvets, generally comforting and warmly decorated rooms. The hotel also was a very generous host to our Passports with Purpose Cupcake Party last summer. Featured Travel Gear Deal The Britax B-Ready Stroller is on sale for $319, that's a whopping $180 off of the retail price Eagle Creek's No Matter What Duffel Bag, Black, Medium is on sale for…

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  Travel Rants

• Airlines transparent ‘administration fees’ are a joke

  Darren Cronian

  14 Jan 2012 | 6:52 am

  Earlier this morning I read on Europe a la Carte that EasyJet has ditched its free fee payment option for passengers using the Visa Electron card and now charges £9 administration fee for all debit cards payments. What has annoyed me though is that this move is supposedly to improve the transparency of surcharges for [...]This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Airlines transparent ‘administration fees’ are a joke

• Air Passenger Duty to increase in April 2012

  Darren Cronian

  30 Nov 2011 | 8:45 am

  I am sat here wondering if the UK government gives a damn about tourism, or, do they even want the electorate to leave the country – frustration for travel consumers as we face more expensive holidays after the Chancellor announced that the Air Passenger Duty (APD) increase will go ahead as planned in April next [...]This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Air Passenger Duty to increase in April 2012

• Advice for passengers affected by airport strikes

  Darren Cronian

  28 Nov 2011 | 5:20 am

  Quite a lot of buzz this morning about the announcement that airport operator, BAA have warned passengers of delays of up to 12 hours on flights coming into London Heathrow on Wednesday 30 November. This has meant a number of airlines have cancelled flights or reduced services. News on other UK airports I spent some [...]This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Advice for passengers affected by airport strikes

• Thomas Cook financial troubles: don’t panic!

  Darren Cronian

  22 Nov 2011 | 12:05 pm

  As expected today I received a flurry of emails from consumers worrying about their holiday or concerns about booking a holiday with Europe’s second biggest tour operator, Thomas Cook, who are reportedly asking banks for an extra £100m to add to a debt that was £900m in September this year. Tough times for travel industry [...]This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Thomas Cook financial troubles: don’t panic!

• No surprise that domestic holidays go uninsured

  Darren Cronian

  30 Oct 2011 | 4:09 pm

  I dislike the term ‘Staycation’ and I don’t trust ‘consumer surveys’ when they are being used to promote travel products, but a recent press release from Columbus Direct caught my attention because it highlighted that 55% of domestic holidays are uninsured. To be honest, I am surprised that figure is not higher. Need for travel [...]This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. No surprise that domestic holidays go uninsured

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  Soul Travelers 3

• Travel Schooling - Learning Through Travel

  Soul Travelers3

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:10 am

  Travel Schooling - Learning Through Travel Road schooling, World schooling, homeschooling, unschooling...no matter what you call it Road schooling, World schooling, homeschooling, unschooling...no matter what you call it, I think our family has more experience at it than most on the planet since we've been traveling the world non-stop since our child was five and now she is eleven. I am still astounded by how rich her education has been on just $23/day as we've traveled to 43 countries on 5 continents. Lucky kid! We'd never be able to give her all this without our travel lifestyle. It's also…

• Beautiful Capitola - California's Oldest Beach

  Soul Travelers3

  3 Feb 2012 | 7:42 am

  Beautiful Capitola - California's Oldest Beach One of the most charming and family friendly beaches in California One of the most charming and family friendly beaches in California is also the oldest beach in the state and one of our fave places on the planet...Capitola! You can see the colorful and  iconic Venetian Court built in 1924 along with the wharf in this photo of Capitola beach. It was voted by Sunset Magazine as one of the best beach locations on the California coast. It's popular with the elites of Silicon Valley as a weekend getaway because of proximity ( many who live here…

• Bedouins in Jordan

  Soul Travelers3

  1 Feb 2012 | 4:35 am

  Bedouins in Jordan The majority of Jordan's population is of Bedouin origin The majority of Jordan's population is of Bedouin origin and they are known there as the "Bedu" or literally the "desert dwellers". They are famous for their hospitality and that is obvious all over Jordan as it was one of the friendliest places we have visited on our world tour. We got a closer look at this traditonal lifestyle when we stayed at a  Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, but this photo was taken at a random tiny camp in an isolated desert area. Our daughter Mozart even dressed in traditional Bedouin clothing…

• Beautiful Doors And Travel

  Soul Travelers3

  30 Jan 2012 | 7:33 am

  Beautiful Doors And Travel One of the joys of wandering the streetsof a foreign land, is One of the joys of wandering the streets of a foreign land, is taking in the unique architecture and I have endless photos of beautiful doors from our travels. I could do a whole series just from the beautiful doors in our little white village in Spain where we wintered for four years. Europe is especially rich with beautiful doors, but we've also loved them in Asia and almost every country and continent we have visited. Perhaps because we have built a house with beautiful hand-made doors or because…

• Mother Dolphin and Brand New Baby

  Soul Travelers3

  26 Jan 2012 | 8:31 am

  Mother Dolphin and New Baby One of the wonders of family travel is theincredible nature we see One of the wonders of family travel is the incredible nature we see as we travel the world on our super low budget. This mama and baby dolphin was seen where we swam with dolphins in Florida at Dolphins Plus research and education center. This baby dolphin was just two days old!We and our now eleven year old child have had quite a few amazing encounters with animals as we've traveled the world these last 6 years from swimming with sharks and feeding turtles in Bora Bora to riding camels and meeting…

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  Jaunted - The Pop Culture Travel Guide

• Beijing: What Not to Do in The Forbidden City: The Top Five Tourist Mistakes

  juliana

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:43 pm

  One of the top tourist sites to visit in Beijing is the Forbidden City, the former Imperial Palace. We told you the other month how powerful it was arriving at Tiananmen Square—which sits across from the Forbidden City—but today we're telling you what NOT TO DO when you actually step inside the imperial walls. As always, these are just our tips so by all means, please add your own! So without further ado, here is the Jaunted guide of What Not To Do In The Forbidden City: The Top 5 Tourist Mistakes. 5. Don't Pay for Your Tickets with a Credit Card Both locals and tourists mostly pay…

• The Newest Foursquare City Badges: Baltimore, Richmond, Des Moines, Oklahoma City and Stamford

  JetSetCD

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:56 am

  So, while Foursquare was churning out all those shiny new international city badges, they were also thinking about good ol' America, and the fact that there are plenty of towns with awesome venues that would benefit from the exposure and tourism that comes with a special badge. A contest pitted individual Foursquare user-created lists against each other, and the winners were named today. These winners, and therefore the next cities to have their own Foursquare badges, are: Baltimore, MD; Richmond, VA; Des Moines, IA; Oklahoma City, OK; and Stamford, CT. Some pretty random choices in there,…

• Madonna Will Kick Off Her 2012-2013 World Tour in Israel with Some 30,000 Tickets

  Omri

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:53 am

  The last time Madonna performed in Israel was in 2009, when she held two concerts as part of her record-shattering Sticky & Sweet tour. This time the newly-rechristianed Queen of Pop is not just holding any old concert in Israel, but using the event to kick off her entire 2012 world tour. The Israelis are, needless to say, pretty excited. They're not as excited as Perez Hilton—who brought out lots and lots of exclamation points for the announcement—but they are still pretty excited. The world tour will kick off on May 29th in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan and stretch all the way…

• Manchester: Mile High Club or Not, You Could Have Valentine's Dinner on the Concorde

  juliab

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:25 am

  The Concorde may technically be dead, but airline romance isn’t, if British Airways’ Valentine’s deal is anything to go by. A couple of years ago, the UK airline did a neat Valentine’s Day party kinda thing on flights between London and New York; this year, the celebration is on a more personal scale, though still rather spectacular: dinner for two on the Concorde. The bad news? You’ll have to pay for it. The good? It’s for charity! Just bid for it in a blind email auction, and you’ll win dinner for two on board BA’s flagship Concorde G-BOAC at…

• Virgin Atlantic's Big News: Sexy New Clubhouse, Sexy New Seats, Sexy New S & P Shakers

  JetSetCD

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:20 am

  When some sweet airline news comes down the pipeline, we get a little shiver of a thrill. The latest carrier to give us those goosebumps of expectation is Virgin Atlantic, as they've got a slew of updates hitting the sky later this year: · New Upper Class seats, coming Spring 2012. 100 million GBP. That's how much Virgin Atlantic is laying out to get you all laid out in "enhanced" Upper Class seats and enjoying all their spring 2012 upgrades. While we don't yet know specifics like seat width, gadgets or even the design, we do know that the seats will debut on the airline's London-New…

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  Viator Travel Blog

• Top 5 Venice Churches

  Laura

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:30 am

  It’s never easy trying to make sense of Venice’s meandering backstreets and dead-end alleys, but who in their right mind would try to follow a map in this famously confusing city? When you make it your mission to visit as many churches as you can squeeze into your five-day Venice itinerary, sometimes you just have to put on your reading glasses and do the hard yards. There are around 150 churches scattered across this sprawling city. Having run the gamut of Byzantine and medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, here is my selection of Top 5 Venice churches. And if you’re planning on visiting…

• Top Travel Deals of the Week

  Laura

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:20 am

  Looking for something new and fun to do while traveling this week? Check out the Viator Member-Only Deals available around the globe this week and make the most of your travel budget! Member-Only Deals provide exclusive access to deeply discounted travel deals you won’t find on any other website, with savings ranging from 20% to 75%! Viator members can enjoy instant, on-the-spot availability – but remember, these travel discounts are date-specific and go quickly – so when they’re gone, they’re gone! Choose from a wide array of activities each week in destinations from San Francisco…

• 5 Unexpected Highlights of Budapest, Hungary

  David Whitley

  7 Feb 2012 | 10:31 am

  In many ways, Budapest is a perfect city break destination. Like many perennial favourites, it is pretty – there are numerous spots for the postcard shot – but there’s also plenty to do. The city has two distinctive characters, split by the River Danube. On the western bank there is staid, leafy and traditional Buda. This is where a lot of the eye candy – such as the Castle District, Matthias Church and Citadel – can be found. Pest, on the eastern bank of the Danube, is where the city’s action and life is to be found. There are some pretty impressive tourist attractions here too,…

• Things to See in Dhaka, Bangladesh

  Laura

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:58 am

  Dhaka, Bangladesh is renowned for being a place that is overwhelming. Crowded yet diverse, neighborhoods full of citizens, constantly moving rickshaws, and spurting growth at an even faster pace, the city is alive in a way that many of the world’s urban destinations cannot compare. Take into account its main waterfront at Sadarghat, and the many plush ornaments of the Mughals, and you will quickly see that Dhaka is not just a city of rampant movement and life, but one of colorful beauty and deeply rich in history and culture. Take it as you will, once you go in, you shall never forget…

• Traveling on a Budget: 10 Ways to Save

  Laura

  6 Feb 2012 | 12:15 pm

  Traveling is always a costly endeavor, but if you have more time to take the bus or do some additional research on airfares and places to crash, then you will find yourself enjoying the pleasures of a more costly trip. 1. Location, Location, Location The first thing you’ll need to do when booking your low-budget trip is pick a place that won’t drain your expenses. Maybe hold off on that trip to Paris, and try something like Mongolia or Southeast Asia. The general rule of thumb is that the more developed a country, the more you will have to spend. Southeast Asia has a lot to offer the…

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  HOTELMARKETING.COM

• Hilton on hotel search marketing trends

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:05 pm

  With TripAdvisor becoming less dominant/ reliable, brands are beginning to regain some lost influence and the correct management of both mobile and mapping technology will be key to increasing any brand’s online reputation, says James Harrower, search marketing manager, International at Hilton Worldwide.

• TripAdvisor revenue up 30% in first quarter as a public company

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:04 pm

  After spinning off from Expedia and debuting on the NASDAQ in December, trip reviews site TripAdvisor posted fourth quarter 2011 revenues of $137.8 million, a 30% increase over fourth quarter 2010. Full year 2011 revenues were $637.1 million, a 31% increase over full year 2010.

• In spite of economic concerns, consumers plan to travel more, increase travel budgets

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:03 pm

  Travelocity’s annual “Traveler Confidence Report” reveals a majority of consumers, 53 percent, plan to travel more in 2012 than they did in 2011 despite a lack of confidence in the state of the economy.

• Wyndham launches new site to drive direct business

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:02 pm

  The new site is part of Wyndham Hotel Group’s Direct Strategy designed to recapture business by driving more bookings through the company’s own channels. The strategy calls for improved brand websites, and enhanced alternative sell, a distribution model enabling Wyndham Hotel Group brands to be sold on sister websites.

• Groupon will ‘trash your brand’, says BA and Tui

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:01 pm

  Two of the UK’s biggest travel companies have dismissed discount-deals site Groupon as of no interest, “appalling” and a way to “trash your brand”. The danger with Groupon is that you allow someone to subsume and ultimately trash your brand.

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  Articles for T+L Magazine

• Most Relaxing U.S. Resorts

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:25 pm

• Most Relaxing U.S. Resorts

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:37 pm

  <p>Escape to one of these fresh-air resorts where you can unplug with scientific spa treatments, wellness classes, and long walks on a private beach.</p>

• How to Avoid Luggage Theft

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:45 pm

• How to Avoid Luggage Theft

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:37 am

  <p>As if paying to check your bags weren’t bad enough, you also run the risk of pilferage. But there are ways to keep your valuables secure.</p>

• World's Least Romantic Places

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:49 am

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  USATODAY.com Feed

• Marriott lures edgy New Orleans hotel to system

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:52 am

  Just in time for Mardi Gras, Marriott's Autograph Collection added its first hotel in Louisiana - the eclectic Saint Hotel in New Orleans.

• Don Shula to headline 'NFL legends' cruise

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:35 am

  Don Shula and Larry Csonka are among the football notables taking part in the Crystal sailing.

• Will independent hotels sell on RoomKey.com?

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:03 am

  Will RoomKey.com - the hotel giant-backed search engine - offer more hotels than those with big brands such as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt?

• Journey to the unknown with 'mystery' travel

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:00 am

  The chance to outsource mystery and keep all travelers in suspense until the last minute is a relatively new, increasingly popular notion.

• Great American Bites: Epic fried chicken at Willie Mae's in New Orleans

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:00 am

  If it is not the best fried chicken you will ever taste, it will be close.

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  HotelChatter -

• Jaunted Tends an Airport Garden While VegasChatter Awaits The Nobu Hotel

  juliana

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:35 pm

  Finding a hotel is often only one part of your trip. The other half is getting there. And our bro Jaunted does a bang-up job of covering the latest news and trends in the travel world. Out in Vegas, VegasChatter is keeping us informed on what's going down in Sin City. JAUNTED · Virgin Atlantic Has a New Sexy Clubhouse · Skip the Zip Lines for the Aerial Tram in Panama · Hanging Out at Singapore's Changi Airport: So Many Gardens · Remembe When? JetBlue's Very First Website VEGASCHATTER · The Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace Now Set for a Fall Opening · Take Home…

• Dubai: JW Marriott Marquis Dubai to Be Tallest Hotel in the World

  juliana

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:36 pm

  Well it looks like Marriott Hotels won't be relinquishing their title of "World's Tallest Hotel" anytime soon. Though that distinction belongs currently to the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong come later this year, it will be wrested away by the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai.Marriott made the announcement today saying that the two towers of the 1,608-room hotel will stand 1,164 feet tall, making them just 85 feet shorter than the Empire State Building. And unlike other hotels in buildings this tall, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will be entirely dedicated to hotel operations.

• Tokyo: Where to Score a Royal View in Tokyo

  JetSetCD

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:45 pm

  A quick tip for a stay at the ridiculously well located Peninsula Tokyo: pay the extra to secure a Deluxe Park View, because that "Park" bit actually means Imperial Palace gardens. They may be out of focus in the photo above, but can you blame us for being far more focused on a large Japanese breakfast spread at the moment? Rooms on the park side of the hotel have commanding views of the Imperial Palace and its acres—bring mini binoculars to watch the processions, full of pomp, without having to even venture outside and join the throng of photo-snapping tourists. At night the view is…

• Where Not to Celebrate Valentine's Day This Year

  juliana

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:20 pm

  Last week we rounded up some hotels for lovers this Valentine's Day but if you're not currently attached, that doesn't mean you can't hit up a hotel for V-Day. Quite a few hotels have put together some fun packages and events for singletons. In fact, we're kind of jealous. These are waaaay more exciting than champagne and rose petals. Here's where you can let your single flag fly high and proud. · Four Seasons Miami: The downtown Miami hotels is hosting a "Lonely Hearts Club group dinner on Valentine's Day. Served in a communal table in the Hotel’s new restaurant, Edge Steak and…

• A Room at The Saguaro Hotel Comes with a Private Design Consultation

  juliana

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:08 am

  As you can see from this room shot above, what makes The Saguaro Scottsdale stand out from most other hotels is the abundance of eye-popping colors. And these happy hues aren't found just in the guest rooms but rather throughout the hotel's public spaces and even down by the pool area. The duo responsible for the colorful look is the design team of Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat of Stamberg Aferiat Architecture who used "12 vibrant tones found in native desert wildflowers" as the foundation for the color scheme. The colors also follow the light spectrum which then creates different…

• 

  Holy Kaw!

• The content marketing explosion [infographic]

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:44 am

  Via Blue Glass Interactive. Marketing infographics. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 8 historical figures who ate disgusting things

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:26 pm

  Before you read this article, you may have thought your dog had the grossest eating habits ever. But Fido's penchant for poo is nothing compared to some of these sickos highlighted in Cracked. For example, Victorian scientist William Buckland: He didn't just stop at the meat of animals, either. While on a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, a strange mark was found on the floor. A debate broke out as to what the stain could possibly be, at which point Buckland got on his hands and knees, licked the stain and confidently announced it to be bat piss. But the craziest thing Buckland ever did, at…

• 5 explanations of why teenagers act the way the do

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:22 pm

  Understanding the teenage mind could be a life's work. For those of you who don't have that kind of time, however, Mental Floss gives five things that could explain the mind of the teenager. For example, parents, have you ever wondered if your teenager is somehow getting dumber? Parents of teens often wonder what happened to the bright child they used to have. How can someone go from getting A’s to getting C’s when they seem to be doing the same amount of work? Once again, changes in the brain are to blame. While the merits of IQ tests are debatable, scientists used to think IQ…

• Surviving the loss of a star employee

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:16 pm

  Some groups have stellar members who carry the team. That's all well and good until that member leaves. Then what? This Smartblog video will help you answer that question: Full story at Smartblog on Leadership. Top news for leaders. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Disneyland circa 1957 [video]

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:14 pm

  This video was shot in 1957, less than two years after Disneyland had opened. The footage is newly restored and ready to take you to the happiest place on earth as it was in its early days.  Full story at Mental Floss. All the top Internet videos in one place. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 

  NYT > Netherlands

• Dutch May Ask Germany to Help Pay for Its Students

  22 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm

  The Dutch state secretary for education is considering the possibility of requesting financial reimbursement from Germany for the many German students who study in the Netherlands.

• Bird Flu Scientists Agree to Pause H5N1 Research

  20 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm

  A national biosecurity panel in the United States had asked researchers who produced a more contagious form of the bird flu virus to keep some data secret.

• DEALBOOK; ING Outlines a Strategy to Pay Back Its Government Bailout

  13 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Dutch financial services group ING says it will not pay a dividend to shareholders until it has repaid its bailout from the government. Photo

• Auditor Clears The Journal Of Improprieties in Europe

  4 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm

  The auditor said The Wall Street Journal Europe had “circuitious” arrangements but that an investigation had turned up “no clear evidence” of violations.

• Dutch Executive Quits in Governance Dispute

  3 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Carla Smits-Nusteling, KPN's chief financial officer, disagreed with a decision to quadruple the top management board to 12 members from three, the company said.

• 

  Nieuwsblog nrc.next

• Rayon

  Paulien Cornelisse

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:48 am

  Bij de tocht der tochten hoort een zin der zinnen. Bij de zin der zinnen denk je natuurlijk meteen aan: „It giet oan.” Toch is er wat mij betreft een zin waar ik het nog warmer van krijg, waarbij ik nog meer zin krijg in erwtensoep en waarbij ik de tv alvast wil opwarmen voor een lange dag passief sporten, en dat is deze: „De rayonhoofden zijn bij elkaar gekomen.” Dan weet je nog niets. Er kan nog niets tegenvallen. Je kunt je alleen maar verheugen. Sommige functies moeten mysterieus blijven, en onbereikbaar Rayon. Dat is een ander woord voor kunstzijde. Maar rayonhoofd! Wat een…

• Steevast

  Christiaan Weijts

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:30 am

  Gisteren is meldpuntmiddenenoosteuropeanen.nl geopend. Mocht u vandaag ineens een Midden- of Oost-Europeaan zien, dan weet u waar u dit kunt melden. Een soort Nationale Tuinvogeltelling, maar nu georganiseerd door de PVV, die zich herbront en nieuwe vijanden zoekt. De tuinvogeltelling is zelfs beter beveiligd dan dit PVV-meldpunt Verminder de hinder, maant de site. En: Meld steevast / Oost-Europese overlast. Sinterklaas is vroeg dit jaar. Klik je het meldingsformulier aan, dan blijkt dat je volledig anoniem kunt inzenden. Naam noch mailadres hoef je op te geven. Alleen een plaatsnaam is…

• Wow, hij wil me tongen!

  Renske

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:21 am

  Een e-mail versturen heeft zich langzaam maar zeker in het rijtje dagelijkse levensbehoeften genesteld, vlak naast ‘drinkwater’ en ‘boos zijn op de NS’. Toch blijft één aspect van de mail me altijd opvallen. Het is een statement, een keus, een soms gewaagde manier om persoonlijkheid weer te geven: de aanhef en afsluiting. Hieronder de verschillende mogelijkheden: wat je hoopt dat ze uitstralen – en wat ze écht uitstralen. Geachte: Je weet hoe het hoort en hebt een gepast respect voor de geadresseerde. Beste: Zakelijk en professioneel, maar toch ook vriendelijk. Hoi Vrolijk,…

• Next checkt: ‘Het ijs moet vijftien centimeter dik zijn’

  Wilmer Heck

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:20 am

  De Elfstedentochtkoorts steeg lange tijd: wordt de heilige vijftien centimeter gehaald voordat de dooi invalt? IJsmeester Jan Oosterburg van De Friesche Elf Steden was maandag stellig: “Het moet vijftien centimeter ijs zijn.” Gisteren werd bekendgemaakt dat de tocht er voorlopig niet komt, omdat de vijftien centimeter bijna nergens wordt gehaald. Maar moet het ijs dan echt zo dik zijn? Next checkt en concludeert dat deze bewering waar is. Mogelijke interpretaties Wie de website van De Friesche Elf Steden bekijkt, ziet dat op bijna de hele route het ijs vijftien centimeter dik moet…

• Alternatieve Valentijnskaarten

  Margot Poll

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:19 am

  Aanstaande dinsdag is het Valentijnsdag. Een commercieel liefdesfeest waar we niet aan mee willen doen. Kies daarom een alternatieve kaart van deze pagina. Een kaart krijgen of een kaart versturen – ook zonder Valentijn – is een goede manier om iemand te laten weten dat je aan hem of haar denkt. De kaarten op deze pagina zijn niet te koop, maar je kunt ze wel downloaden (klik met je rechtermuisknop op de afbeelding, open in een nieuw tabblad), uitprinten, op een card plakken en opsturen naar wie je maar wil. En o ja, als je de kaart op zondag op de post doet, zou hij er de 14de moeten…

• 

  TREND HUNTER - The Latest Trends

• Hurt Hand Branding - Boots First Aid Packaging Appeals to the Patient and Not the Nurse (TrendHunter.com)

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:43 am

  (TrendHunter.com) Manufacturers of clinical products seem to feel the need to express an equally clinical image so that consumers take their band-aids and solutions seriously. However, there is an undoubted visual appeal...

• Tap Water Packaging - Faucet Face Urges the Reuse of Bottles to Save the Earth and Aid the Thirsty (TrendHunter.com)

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:38 am

  (TrendHunter.com) Selfishly speaking, there are many reasons why drinking from the tap is the favorable option over purchasing filtered H2O in plastic water bottles. Faucet Face's campaign begins by appealing to those of...

• Beautifully Blurred Pictorials - 'In Dreams' by Konstantin Lunarine Features Fashionable Haze (TrendHunter.com)

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:08 am

  (TrendHunter.com) Photographer Konstantin Lunarine has captured a spellbinding photo shoot for the December 2011/January 2012 issue of Fashion Seasons magazine. Featuring model 'Olga,' this gorgeous black and white shoot...

• e-Tailer Physical Stores - Amazon Brick-and-Mortar Location Will Showcase Line of Electronics (TrendHunter.com)

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:57 am

  (TrendHunter.com) Recently, online auction site eBay opened up a physical pop-up store in London, with rumors that a more permanent location is in the works, and now the Amazon brick-and-mortar store will be joining in...

• Solar-Activated Billboards - Nivea Sunscreen Advertisement Can Only be Seen With Sunlight (TrendHunter.com)

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:42 am

  (TrendHunter.com) The skincare brand Nivea has rolled out an innovative campaign in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to promote Nivea sunscreen products. The billboard can only be seen when the sun is shining! How is this possible?...

• 

  Core77

• The 88 is seeking a Graphic Designer in New York, New York

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:00 am

  Graphic Designer The 88New York, New York The 88 is a digital agency offering creative services, social media management and content creation. Located in SoHo, they are seekign a full-time art director/designer to support their work for a variety of high-end clients. » view The best design jobs and portfolios hang out at Coroflot.(more...)

• Muji's Upcoming Product Fitness 80 Exhibition in London

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:00 am

  Londoners with a taste for minimalist design are in for a treat: A Muji exhibition revealing archives of their work, prototypes and some of their not-for-sale-in-Europe objects, opens March 9th at London's Design Museum. The somewhat baffling exhibition title, Product Fitness 80, makes sense when you read Muji's latest philosophical musings: The products in the exhibition all address the question, what would happen if we used 20% less materials and energy in the actual process of making products? And in terms of the final object, what is then the role of the user in customising, re-using and…

• Reykjavik's Interactive City Center Map

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  In 2009 Monocle took notice of Reykjavik's growing businesses and optimistic entrepreneurs, a hopeful sign that the city, and Iceland in general, might be on the brink of overcoming their 2008 economic collapse. The start-ups here are not deterred by conditions and take inspiration from successful forebears, such as CCP Games, [whose]...executive producer Nathan Richardsson notes, 'This wave of innovation happening in Iceland is a result of the dire consequences of 2008, which provides a useful constraint on developing ideas to find the simplest, best solution.' In stark contrast to the…

• IxDA Interaction12: Storytelling in the Emerald Isle

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

  Tour Guide at the Leprechaun Museum Storytelling is a concept that we are all familiar with, regardless of our background. As designers, it is often utilized as a tool during the design process. In Ireland it has been part of their culture for centuries. During Interaction12, IxDA organizers did a great job of incorporating Irish culture into the conference through different activities and performances at the venue. In between talks, I found myself attending an interactive storytelling experience called "Storytelling a la carte" with professional bard Coilín "The" Oh-Aissiex and Claire…

• The Long Road from Terrorist Attack to Bombproof Trash Cans

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm

  The nice thing about design school projects is that most are meant to be conceived of and completed within the same semester. In the absence of manufacturing problems and political issues, you're presented with a problem and expected to solve it with design in a matter of months. In the real world, of course, the process of going from problem presentation to design solution can seem interminably long. After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, cities like New York and London began removing trash cans from certain public spaces. In 2005 London suffered their own terrorist attack on…

• 

  How to Change the World

• Raising Money: What Not to Say and What Not to Believe #OfficeandGuyK

  GuyKawasaki

  20 Jan 2012 | 10:46 am

  Over the past two weeks via my partnership with Microsoft and Office Web Apps, I’ve provided templates of models for you to create enchanting PowerPoint pitches, Word business plans, and Excel financial models. They are all available for you to download from my SkyDrive account. I hope these documents and blog posts help you save a boatload of time and increase the quality of your efforts.I leave you with two sets of top ten lies: one of entrepreneurs and one of investors so that you know what not to say and what not to believe. Top Ten Lies of Entrepreneurs “Our projections are…

• Design a Sam Adams beer

  GuyKawasaki

  20 Jan 2012 | 8:24 am

  Now this is a fun project. I’m helping Sam Adams “tap” the knowledge of beer drinkers and crowd source its next brew. Join the party by getting the app and designing your beer: The final brew will be released in Austin in the first week of March. #sponsored

• How to Create an Enchanting Financial Forecast #OfficeandGuyK

  GuyKawasaki

  17 Jan 2012 | 1:52 pm

  This is the third post in my Microsoft partnership, and it’s all about numbers. The topic is crafting your financial forecast to include in your pitch. Bill Reichert, my partner at Garage Technology Ventures, created an Excel model and wrote this blog post. There’s a lesson in this too: Get the best person for the job. His grasp of financial models and how to present them exceeds mine by two orders of magnitude. The Purpose of Financial Projections When it comes to financial projections, there are two types of entrepreneurs: first, the “visionary entrepreneur” who…

• How to Create an Enchanting Business Plan #OfficeandGuyK

  GuyKawasaki

  12 Jan 2012 | 8:16 am

  Here is the second post in my series about planning, pitching, and launching a new business venture. In partnership with Microsoft and Office Web Apps, I’ve created a Word document that outlines a good business plan. It’s saved to my SkyDrive folder here. Feel free to download it and use it as inspiration. And if you’re working with a partner, you can use the free Word Web App to stay in sync. I provided the PowerPoint document before the Word document because a good business plan is an elaboration of a good pitch as opposed to a good pitch being a distillation of good business plan.

• How to Create an Enchanting Pitch #OfficeandGuyK

  GuyKawasaki

  9 Jan 2012 | 8:01 am

  Welcome to the first in a series of blog posts I’ll be doing as part of a partnership with Microsoft and Office Web Apps. Over the next two weeks, I’ll cover everything a budding entrepreneur needs to turn an idea into an enchanting investment opportunity—from the perfect pitch to a killer business plan to financial forecasts. I’m going to start with a little dissertation on creating effective PowerPoint pitches for your company. I embedded the sample deck for you to click through by using the PowerPoint Web App. When you’re ready to get started, you can download the…

• 

  nrc.nl :: /

• #3971: Belangrijke les: wil je Elfstedentocht, gebruik dan papier of bacterie

  Niels Posthumus

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:29 am

  De Elfstedentocht gaat dit jaar niet door, ondanks een week extreme kou. En de kans op zulke kou wordt bovendien steeds kleiner door klimaatverandering. Willen we de Tocht dus ooit weer houden, dan moeten we de natuur misschien een handje gaan helpen. Met papier, of met een bacterie. Lees verder

• Spaanse onderzoeksrechter Gárzon veroordeeld voor machtsmisbruik

  Pim van den Dool

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:28 am

  Het Spaanse hooggerechtshof heeft onderzoeksrechter Baltasar Garzón schuldig bevonden aan machtsmisbruik. Hij wordt voor een periode van elf jaar uit het ambt ontheven. Garzon is het gezicht geworden van de gepolitiseerde rechtspraak in Spanje. Met het vonnis is zo goed als zeker een einde gekomen aan de carrière van de 56-jarige Gárzon. De rechters moesten oordelen over Garzóns onderzoek naar corruptie binnen regeringspartij PP. In deze zogenoemde Gürtel-zaak liet de onderzoeksrechter gearresteerde politici en hun advocaten afluisteren – met een beroep op Spaanse wetgeving die dit…

• Griekenland sluit deal met EU en IMF

  Annemarie Coevert

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:26 am

  Griekse leiders hebben een overeenkomst gesloten met de Europese Unie en het IMF over een pakket bezuinigingen in het land in ruil voor nieuwe miljardensteun, zo melden bronnen binnen de Griekse overheid aan persbureau Reuters. Lees verder

• Opnieuw tientallen doden in Homs – China ontvangt Syrische oppositie

  Pim van den Dool

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:53 am

  Voor de zesde dag op rij neemt het Syrische leger een aantal wijken in de stad Homs zwaar onder vuur. Volgens activisten zijn daarbij vandaag weer tientallen doden gevallen. China maakte intussen bekend zijn eerste contacten te hebben gelegd met de Syrische oppositie. Het Syrische leger voerde ook vanochtend weer vooral aanvallen uit in de wijken Bab Amr en Khalidiya, waar de opstand tegen het regime van president Assad het hevigst is en waar het gewapende verzet het grootst is. Activisten vertelden aan Al Jazeera dat drie families werden gedood bij de beschieting van een wooncomplex in Bab…

• Journalisten niet bestraft na huisvredebreuk SS’er Boere

  Annemarie Coevert

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:17 am

  Twee journalisten van het actualiteitenprogramma Eenvandaag zijn vanmiddag vrijgesproken door de rechter in het Duitse Eschweiler. De heren werden beschuldigd van huisvredebreuk door oorlogsmisdadiger Heinrich Boere met verborgen camera te filmen. Lees verder

• 

  Travel news, travel guides and reviews | guardian.co.uk

• Baby-friendly hotel in Normandy

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:15 am

  An 1870s chateau in Normandy manages to be family-friendly and easy-going, yet with a dash of opulence and glamourWalk into Le Castel, a country house in the rural west of Normandy, and the first impression is of opulence. Chandeliers hang from the double-height ceiling, with doors leading out on to a terrace and a blindingly green expanse of lawn. The period furniture is dotted with vases of flowers and candelabras. There is even a baby grand piano. Then smaller details come into focus – a half-full pack of wet wipes on a window sill; an infant seat pushed next to the dining table, the rug…

• Country diary: Alturlie Point: Menace of a heron ready to strike

  Ray Collier

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:00 pm

  Alturlie Point: The solitary bird was stalking its prey just beyond the ice-free margin – it was almost motionlessIn the still air it seemed as though we could smell the cold that appeared to add to the view across the Moray Firth from the point. The tide was well out and the wide inter-tidal zone was covered with almost startling white ice which was an unusual surprise even at -6C. Most of the exposed area was iced over with small mounds of ice-covered rocks and seaweed, putting a strange perspective on the view.The cold was emphasised by the backcloth of the snow-covered Ben Wyvis hills…

• Pie town gets a bite of its TV chef, whose dad did the cooking at Castle Howard

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:42 am

  James Martin returns - sort-of - to Malton and Norton, whose gift to Charles Dickens in 1841 prompted the great man to write: "There never was such a pie. We sit and stare at it and grow dizzy in contemplation of its enormous magnitude"The pie-makers of Malton and Norton will be twitching at the news that celebrity chef and former local lad James Martin is returning to his roots to be executive chef at the new Talbot Hotel.Martin, who is more often seen on our television screens than actually in a restaurant these days, has agreed to work with the Talbot ahead of its reopening in the…

• Win a five-night holiday for two in Tokyo

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:31 am

  Enter this competition for the chance to win a fantastic trip to Japan's capital, including return flights and a stay at a luxury hotel

• Copenhagen - by Noma's chefs

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:26 am

  A new guidebook reveals where the staff from Noma eat in Copenhagen. From the head chef to the waitress, here are their favourite food and drink hangoutsRelaeCobblestoned streets, wide pavements, tables and benches outside small, simple cafes, delis, and all sorts of boutiques … Jaegersborggade, a small street on the outskirts of the Nørrebro neighbourhood, oozes creativity. You find things you never knew you needed. It's nice in the early evening when you can still catch a bit of sun. I often stick around for dinner at the exquisite Restaurant Relæ, named the city's Best New Restaurant…

• 

  Marriott on the Move

• The Super Bowl and Super Brands

  Marriott on the Move

  6 Feb 2012 | 1:35 pm

  Courtyard by Marriott guests love football. So you can imagine all the lobby buzz for the Big Game. Courtyard was right in the thick of it as the official hotel sponsor for the National Football League. We even set up a Courtyard by Marriott Lobby Zone at the NFL Experience where fans of both brands could meet players and really get into the spirit of the game. As you can see, it was a blast. The power brands have been great partners right from the start. When Courtyard was launched in 1983, it created a new segment in the lodging...

• Steve Jobs: Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

  Marriott on the Move

  30 Jan 2012 | 12:49 pm

  Recently, I had an opportunity to read the story of Apple’s Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I found it fascinating and well done. We all know that Jobs changed the world with his many creations at Apple and Pixar Films. Isaacson wrote, “Steve Jobs became the greatest business executive of our era. The one most certain to be remembered a century from now. History will place him in the pantheon right next to Edison and Ford. Was he smart, no, not exceptionally; instead, he was a genius. His imaginative leaps were instinctive, unexpected, and at times, magical.” I‘ve always been...

• The Year of the Dragon

  Marriott on the Move

  23 Jan 2012 | 9:03 am

  HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! 2012 is the year of the Dragon. Let the week-long celebrations begin. That’s right, an entire week of brilliant fireworks and colorful parades. It’s truly an amazing spectacle. Think Times Square – but a whole lot bigger! Our Marriott hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and Sanya, will have ceremonies featuring Chinese drummers and Kung Fu artists. Food is also very important to New Year's celebrations. The Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel created a unique dim sum dumpling menu in honor of the Dragon. Each dish is a work of art. Chinese New Year Coconut Pudding and…

• A Big Day for U.S. Tourism

  Marriott on the Move

  20 Jan 2012 | 9:26 am

  "The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work.” -- President Obama, January 19, 2012 Listen to Blog This year 1 billion people are expected to travel outside their own countries to see and experience the world. And for every 35 of those international visitors, one job is created. That's why President Obama went to Disneyworld this week to talk about the importance of travel and tourism in creating American jobs. He also knows that when someone from another country visits the United States, they generally go home a fan, and that's good for our...

• Lessons of a Soda Jerk

  Marriott on the Move

  17 Jan 2012 | 11:44 am

  My very first job was a soda jerk and that taught me a lot about customer service. It was very busy, especially on the weekends. Filling orders in a timely way was a challenge and great fun. I was thrown into the front lines and was stuck many times. When I got behind, it took a long time for me to build a banana split. This was back in 1952 at our Hot Shoppes Restaurant in Silver City, Utah. I worked as a soda jerk while I was a student at the University of Utah. My dad would often come...

• 

  OPUS Hotels' Blog

• Do you believe in Cupid?

  Nicholas Gandossi

  31 Jan 2012 | 12:05 pm

    Goodbye Santa, hello Cupid! February 14th is just around the corner and the arrows are already starting to fly.  We see it every year, millions of couples panicking and stressing in search of the perfect way to express their devotion.   Some choose the boring and predictable “go-to” box of chocolates ….but come on!?  Then, there are those who go to the other extreme, like giving a Rolex, or a shiny new BMW.    Don’t get me wrong, I would personally be very happy to receive either (hint), but just feel it’s a tad out there.   So, what is the perfect…

• The Day After…

  Nicholas Gandossi

  3 Dec 2011 | 4:47 am

  It’s done!  Our very own BC Lions are the 2011 Grey Cup Champions! For our friends south of the 49th parallel, the Grey Cup is the equivalent to the Super Bowl with a heavy dose of Canadian beer, spirit… For Vancouver, it meant a lot. It meant increased sales for restaurants and hotels, a chance for the city to shine, and for the local fans to celebrate. The energy and enthusiasm was clearly felt at OPUS Vancouver, as we benefited from being located within a 5 minute walk from the epicentre of the action, the newly refurbished BC Place Stadium. I loved every minute of the festivities,…

• OPUS Hotels Take Lead as Canada’s Premiere Boutique Brand

  Nicholas Gandossi

  15 Nov 2011 | 6:10 pm

  OPUS Hotels recognized as Best in the World by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine It’s time to say “bye-bye” to big hotel chains and their long lobby lineups and “hello!” to the friendly service of boutique hotels.Readers of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine have done just that. OPUS Hotels was recently recognized amongst the world’s hospitality elite as “Best in the World” and “Best in Business Travel” by readers of Condé Nast Traveler. In fact, OPUS Hotels was the only boutique brand included on the Best in Business Travel list which has us feeling very thankful considering that…

• OPUS Bar hosts The Global Party

  Nicholas Gandossi

  22 Sep 2011 | 1:24 pm

  Party around the globe, OPUS Hotels style! This past Thursday, September 15, OPUS Bar was one of 80 venues across the world, to be selected and invited into an exclusive membership to, well party… I mean really party. The event tagged as The “Global Party”  and hosted by the hottest bars, clubs and lounges across the world, from Paris to London, to New York to LA.  Yes, a prestigious list to be included in for international cities. There were only 3 locations in Canada chosen, along with Vancouver there was Toronto and our friends up in Whistler. The evening was a showcase of…

• Man’s Best Friend

  Nicholas Gandossi

  23 Aug 2011 | 10:15 pm

  We recently took a trip to Oregon State, and brought along our beloved puppy dog, Molly.  She is a well loved dog, to the extent that I feel she clearly ranks above me in every category at home, including who is the king of the castle a.k.a house.  We took a week to enjoy the fantastic beaches and outdoors that the Oregon Coast has to offer, which is a prefect road trip to have with your furry friend. The challenges though began early as we prepared for our vacation, starting with where to stay.  It’s interesting to see how most motels/cottages/hotels didn’t pay a lot of attention to…

• 

  A Luxury Travel Blog

• Free iPad with Powder White March ski breaks

  Paul Johnson

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:40 am

  Longer, sunnier days and blissfully emptier slopes are no longer the only reasons to ski in March. Book a week in a selected chalet in one of the ‘big five’ ski resorts of Val d’Isere, Courchevel, Verbier, Meribel and St Anton through the independent ski holiday provider Powder White and you’ll receive a free iPad 2 (16GB/Wi-Fi version). Keen skiers can use their new toy to download Powder White’s favourite ski Apps to help make the most of their holiday including: Ski Tracks, which allows skiers to track their day; Mammut Safety App, a clinometre, compass and…

• Top 3 luxury, boutique and eco-chic hotels in The Gambia

  Kathryn Burrington

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:32 am

  The Gambia in West Africa has been a popular destination for many years for seekers of winter sunshine. It is the smallest country on mainland Africa and is surrounded on three sides by its big brother, Senegal, with a small strip of coastline along which a thriving tourist industry has developed. Justifiably known as ‘the smiling coast of Africa’, The Gambia enjoys spacious sandy beaches that are never crowded; it is politically stable and the official language is English so there’s no communication problem. Plus if you are travelling from the UK it’s just 6 hours flying time away…

• Gourmet food on cruise ships

  Neil Page

  7 Feb 2012 | 7:03 am

  There is a common misconception that you’ll leave a cruise ship at least 5lbs heavier than you were when you boarded, and although this isn’t necessarily true, there is a very good reason for it. Most cruise ships have at least 10 different dining options, some up to 20, and what with one of them being an all you can eat buffet, its easy to see why some people do carry a little extra weight after a cruise. But as I said, there are plenty of other options, and we’re not talking buffet style – we’re talking top-notch, lip-smacking gourmet food. The gourmet food…

• Top 10 new luxury hotels for 2012

  Carole Booth

  30 Jan 2012 | 8:03 am

  Jumeirah Vittaveli, Maldives Having opened in December 2011 Jumeirah Vittaveli is already gathering outstanding reviews and it’s little wonder with the Beach Villa lead-in room types spanning an interior of a whopping 184 sq m. It’s space, comfort and luxury all the way as each villa comes with its own private L-shaped swimming pool with furnished sun deck, fully stocked wine cellar, exclusive stretch of beach, massage and dining Sala and a host of in-room gadgets like the Apple media centre and BOSE sound system with iPod and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Deep breaths……

• 12 reasons to visit Hamilton Island, Australia in 2012

  Paul Johnson

  29 Jan 2012 | 2:03 am

  From prestigious events to world-class cultural encounters and fabulous natural attractions, here are 12 defining reasons to include Hamilton Island, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, in an Australian itinerary in 2012: JANUARY Visitors to Hamilton Island have over 60 activities to choose from including go-karting, bushwalking, scuba diving, parasailing, squash, tennis, fishing, sailing, kayaking, target sports and windsurfing, not to mention the new nine-pin indoor Kegel bowling alley, perfect for anyone wanting to learn a new skill for 2012. FEBRUARY Whether you plan to pop the…

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  Front Desk

• Have We Reached Hotel Franchising Détente?

  Ed Watkins

  6 Feb 2012 | 1:16 pm

  They may not yet be ready to exchange gifts on holidays, but it looks as though Choice Hotels and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association have patched up their differences that nearly got the mega-franchisor booted out of the influential 10,000-plus-member hotel owners’ organization. In a letter sent late last month to Choice President & CEO Steve Joyce, AAHOA leadership outlined a list of changes Choice has promised to make that will qualify the company to renew its AAHOA membership. Most of the items were fairly basic and involve Choice’s impact policy. A few other things on…

• Bratty New Yorkers Want Tourists to Stay Away

  Ed Watkins

  2 Feb 2012 | 12:47 pm

  I got a big chuckle this week reading an online think piece in Crain’s New York Business. The story, titled “The Trauma of Tourism” and written by Erik Ipsen, recounts the disgust some New York residents have for tourists fouling their otherwise-perfect lives. In particular, people living in SoHo are ticked because so much retail has gone into the neighborhood that sidewalks and cafes are jammed with these out-of-town interlopers. Likewise, the hipsters in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn don’t like that some of the city’s 50 million annual tourists make their way across the…

• The $27,000-a-Year Hotel Revenue Manager

  Ed Watkins

  30 Jan 2012 | 9:14 am

  God bless, the revenue manager. He or she may be the most valuable player in any hotel organization. At any given moment, they’ve got multiple balls in the air and have multiple masters to please. Their job, of course, is to maximize the revenue stream of a particular hotel or set of properties using all of the distribution channels at their disposal. But that’s the problem: Every hotel has a plethora of distribution channels to employ, ranging from brand.com and its own website to transparent and opaque OTAs to the GDS to social media channels and more. What’s more, the revenue manager…

• Hints of Lending and Other Reflections from ALIS

  Eric Stoessel

  27 Jan 2012 | 7:22 am

  The first Americas Lodging Investment Summit at LA Live started Monday under dark clouds and heavy rain — at least by Los Angeles standards — but by the end of the event, the sun was shining outside the JW Marriott and inside the mood was just as bright. The forecasts and outlooks for the year from most speakers were positive, as were conversations I had and overheard with other attendees. There were no major news announcements, no new brands — a staple at past summits during the heyday — but the conference was definitely not as dire as the last few. The cautious optimism of the past…

• Nothing Else to Expect But Optimism at ALIS

  Ed Watkins

  23 Jan 2012 | 10:50 pm

  Day one of this year’s Americas Lodging Investment Summit underway in Los Angeles produced no surprises: no big announcements, no rhetorical gaffes, very few laughs and only a couple of spontaneous applause lines. It’s the beginning of the year, following a pretty good year for the industry, so the mood among the 2,400 delegates at the JW Marriott at LA Live is one of optimism on what the rest of 2012 will bring. At yesterday’s opening general session in the spacious (7,000 seats vs. 2,400 attendees at ALIS) Nokia Theater, conference chairman Jim Burba unveiled results of a delegate…

• 

  elliott.org

• TSA lost my hat — how do I get it back?

  Christopher Elliott

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Bill Marcolongo lost his hat when he was flying from Philadelphia to Anchorage last year. Or, more to the point, he thinks the TSA lost it.

• The Insider: Should I take a cruise?

  Christopher Elliott

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:53 pm

  The world of travel used to be divided into two groups: People who cruised -- and people who didn't.

• I have a seat but I don’t have a seat assignment

  Christopher Elliott

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  If you have a seat on a plane, shouldn't you also have a seat assignment?

• Did United Airlines do enough for mystery meat victim?

  Christopher Elliott

  6 Feb 2012 | 10:00 pm

  Something happened to Steve Mukherjee on his recent flight from Accra, Ghana, to Washington -- something that even to this day makes him "sick to my stomach."

• Don’t fall for these scams!

  Christopher Elliott

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  I‘m often asked about the worst “gotchas” out there, and given that I wrote the book on the subject, I ought to know. But as I discover in this week’s Mint.com personal finance column, the answer is constantly changing. You’ll want to read it to find out what scams to...

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  Travel Blog - Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique & Luxury Hotels

• February finds: new Smith hotels in Fiji, Cambodia, Bali and London

  Sarah L

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:41 am

  In an attempt to shake off that northern cold snap, and ease back-to-work woes in the south, we’re dishing up a host of hot new Smith hotels in Fiji, Siem Reap, Bali and London. Honeymoon hotspot Namale Resort & Spa (above), in Fiji’s tropical north-east, is home to oceanfront bures, pampering treatments and a raft of activities. Jungle-meets-beach getaway Matangi Private Island Resort makes romance easy, with its dreamy treehouse boudoirs and serene spa. Pristine private-isle escape Vomo Island Resort in the Mamanucas is a rarity: a sophisticated island stay that welcomes…

• Inside Austin: top TX restaurants

  Juliet

  6 Feb 2012 | 10:07 am

  March 9–18 Austin will be bursting with live music during South by Southwest. Whet your appetites for SXSW by celebrating this Texan city’s other all-sensory delights with a whirlwind tasting tour of its food trailers and star chefs… Tweet us your #EatinginAustin tips @smithhotels Dieters, look away now. ‘Keep Austin Weird’ was the turn-of-the-millennium bumper-sticker campaign that coined the slogan for a community that prizes all things locally owned and independent. With that in mind, we plotted up at a table in San José Lounge with a couple of Lone Star beers, and a…

• The James New York: hotel of the week

  Lucy

  3 Feb 2012 | 9:27 am

  Valentine’s Day advances… For those seeking a more art-full way to declare their devotion, what could be better than whisking your beloved away for a romantic rendezvous at The James New York, stylishly situated right in the beating heart of Downtown’s art scene? Style Skyscraping scenester Setting Southwest SoHo Why this week? Why not sneak away for a seductive stay on the 14th, or bank some brownie points by booking a mid-March break? To lend a hand, the helpful hoteliers at the James New York are offering Smith members an exclusive Smith offer, including breakfast and two tipples in…

• Listen up! TuneSmith’s musical recommendations for February

  Anthony

  3 Feb 2012 | 7:40 am

  As we segue into springtime, our TuneSmith’s taken to the decks with tracks ancient and modern. For February, he’s picked out Sam Genders’ superb, synthy sideline and dug out a cxhest of hidden treasures from the glory days of R’n'B… ALBUM OF THE MONTH Black Light by Diagrams When? You’re tempted into synth Why? This is machine-made pop of the human kind If you’ve ever caught yourself smiling along to the pared-down folk of Kings Of Convenience, the quirky pop of Gruff Rhys, the jerky rhythms of Metronomy or the warming songs of Elbow, you should schedule a slot…

• Inside LA #2: eat, drink and sleep like a star

  Lucy

  2 Feb 2012 | 12:06 pm

  To keep our inventory of insider city tips fresh and shiny, we regularly ask our style-spotting spies to report back from their trips with the latest travel news and views. Here, magician-slash-comedian-slash-hotel-reviewer Chris Cox shares his learnings from La-La Land and reveals how to live like a big-shot (Edinburgh Festival) star in Los Angeles… LA, the home of Hollywood, of movie stars and year-round sunshine. A recent jaunt there gave me the chance to spend a January morning lying by a pool, an afternoon seeing Beverly Hills stars head towards the Golden Globes, and an evening…

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  Get a Hotel Room

• Highlight of the Week: Lettings in Vale do Lobo

  16 Jan 2012 | 8:06 am

  Who can resist the Algarve for the perfect sunshine break? And where better than Vale de Lobo?  Think relaxing. Think calm sea. Think golden beaches. Sounds like utopia right? Well in Vale de Lobo you get all this and more! It seems that lettings are being booked up like decadent fish dishes in this region of the world.Just to wet your appetite let's take a look at what is currently on offer a stones throw away from your favourite Portuguese beaches:[Images Courtesy of : Haven on Earth - If you want to find More villas to rent in Vale do Lobo - visit www.havenonearth.co.uk]This lavish…

• Buzzerhut - Promote your Blog for Free on BuzzerHut.com

  1 Jan 2012 | 10:24 am

• Wanting to Meet some Travel Bloggers Online #Bloggers #LinkExchange

  29 Dec 2011 | 8:57 am

  Ok so I'm wanting to meet up and share travel and respite experiences online and I thought what better way to do this than to join blogglue.com and I'm also gonna check out http://blog-links-exchange.blogspot.com/p/submit-your-blog.html. I know that there's quite a few #hookups for bloggers in various cities close to home - but sometimes the inclination may be there but the hourglass simply keeps turning too fast if you know what I mean - so if you're a travel blogger who wants to write for me, or want to cross syndicate unique posts let me know...leave a comment...maybe you'll be a…

• A Romantic Break in Hunter Valley Daily

  28 Dec 2011 | 1:31 am

  A Romantic Break in Hunter Valley Daily The festive season is a bit of a struggle for me and my fiancé, don’t get me wrong I love Christmas and spending time with my family though we’re so busy running around after other people that we don’t get to spend much time with each other. As a treat for both of us I bought a romantic weekend off a daily deals website, I will give him it on Christmas Day and I know he’ll love it, it’s one of the best daily deals Sydney has to offer. The discount break is brilliant; it is a romantic getaway for both of us in the award winning Segenhoe Inn, a…

• What are the Advantages of Booking a Holiday Online?

  29 Nov 2011 | 11:52 am

  The travel and leisure industry has seen rapid expansion in the online arena over the last few years. As far back as 2007 official figures had found that over 55% of people in the UK had booked a holiday online within the preceding 12 months – an impressive statistic considering the wide range of individual demographics involved in the survey.  Looking into more recent figures: low cost airlines EasyJet had reportedly carried over 42.4 million people to holiday destinations in Europe – second in terms of volume to only their competitor and industry leader Ryanair. The online travel…

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  Travel - latimes.com

• Galveston Pleasure Pier brings thrill rides back to Texas coast

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:45 am

  A disaster-prone Texas tourist destination that for more than a century has been an on-again, off-again home to oceanfront amusements will once again lure thrill-seekers with roller coasters, midway games and carnival confections.

• Thursday Travel Ticker: New findings on blood clots

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  A new blood clot study finds that flying economy class is not any riskier than first class , as sometimes thought, but sitting by the window seems to play a role, because it makes people less likely to leave their seats. Still, even on long flights (four hours or more) the risk for most people is extremely low, an American College of Chest Physicians' committee reported. For details, go to http://www.chestjournal.org . . . . Salt Lake City retail shopping scene undergoes a major upgrade March 22 with the opening of City Creek Center , a shopping and dining destination downtown.  With a total…

• Wednesday Travel Ticker: Indianapolis scores at Super Bowl

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:14 am

  The final score, at least as far as Indianapolis is concerned: the Super Bowl Village welcomed 1.1-million visitors, and the NFL Experience exhibit/fest drew 265,039 to the Indiana Convention Center. And are ziplines now the must-have attraction for big events? Indy’s drew 10,429 riders.  The economic impact to the city has not yet been released but reviews of Indy's Super Bowl performance have been glowing . . . . Among the interesting golf packages now being offered at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach is a 50-minute “Golfer’s Massage,” which uses golf balls to apply…

• Southern California theme park fans will find savings in CityPass

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Winter always gets me thinking about going to theme parks in Southern California, even if I don't have visitors underfoot. The prospect of cooler temperatures and lighter crowds in February and March sends me looking for discounts on the high cost of tickets. I found that the Southern California CityPass -- with a flat rate for admission to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood and SeaWorld San Diego -- offers good savings, even when compared with incentives for SoCal residents.

• World's best bridge? Grand Canyon Skywalk, travel magazine says

  7 Feb 2012 | 6:39 pm

  It's hard to say what makes something a landmark -- and how long it takes to earn such status. For the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona, it took just five years. The glass walkway built as a tourist attraction over the western part of the Grand Canyon recently was selected by Travel + Leisure readers as the world's top new bridge.

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  Intelligent Travel

• China’s Wild West

  Annie Fitzsimmons

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:43 am

  By Annie Fitzsimmons “Welcome to the Wild West of China,” my guide said as we touched down in Lijiang after a 4-hour flight from Shanghai. Though I didn’t yet spot any cowboy boots, I was indeed far west in the Yunnan province, at the foothills of the Himalaya; bordered by Laos, Vietnam, and Burma. Impressions of Lijiang performance (Photo: Annie Fitzsimmons) For an instant introduction to the region, I attended a performance of “Impressions of Lijiang,” with the sacred Jade Dragon Mountain looming behind the outdoor theater.  It is truly a spectacle of local…

• Getting Lost on Florida’s “Forgotten” Coast

  Christopher Elliott

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:30 pm

  St. George Island, Fla., is in the middle of nowhere. And that’s the way they like it. Why else would they call this area, along the northeastern part of Florida’s panhandle, the “forgotten” coast? It is remote, undeveloped and, at this time of year, no one’s here. Oh, wait. I should have said, no tourists. Out in the flat-as-glass Apalachicola Bay every morning, we found dozens of oyster boats quietly harvesting the famous shellfish from the shallow sea floor. They say it gets busy during the summer, but it’s a different kind of busy than frenetic Panama…

• I Heart My City: Jennifer’s Abu Dhabi

  I Heart My City

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:57 am

  Jennifer Garcia-Alonso is co-founder of The Purple Passport, a web-based collection of chic, one-stop-shop guides to experiencing the world’s cities in style. She is a New Yorker who has been living in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, for the past three years (which we think qualifies her as a local at this point). Check out Jennifer’s take on her home away from home, then leave a comment below if you have anything to add. Abu Dhabi is My City The first place I take a visitor from out of town is Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, an architectural wonder. It is the largest…

• The Radar: Islands Made for Valentine’s Day, Barcelona Freebies, How to Enjoy the Australian Outback

  Elaura Rifkin

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:20 am

  Just because they’re free doesn’t mean they’re not beautiful. Five places in Barcelona you can enjoy without spending a dime (or a Euro). [Amateur Traveler] The Outback isn’t just a great spot for spotting kangaroos. Experience the beauty that Australia’s Northern Territory has to offer. [Matador Network] Just in time for Valentine’s Day: Check out these four heart-shaped islands. [LA Times] Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories from the web #ngtradar. Check back in the morning for our daily roundup. Photo: Kahouli Jawher/My Shot

• Photos: Where You Went

  Intelligent Travel

  7 Feb 2012 | 10:59 am

  Our readers boast impressive travel résumés. That’s why we ask you the same question on Facebook every Friday: Where are you traveling this weekend? See photos of where you — or readers like you — went, and get inspired to plan your next trip. Want to share your photos with the National Geographic community? Upload your favorites (don’t forget to add a caption, or we won’t know where you went) to Your Shot/Travel at ngm.com/yourshot. Tag all your submissions #travelshot, then look for your photos online in one of our My Shot galleries or here on the blog.

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  Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

• Chelsea Hotel Resident Threatens Chetrit with Lawsuit Over Missing Artwork

  Anonymous Blogger

  19 Jan 2012 | 8:59 am

  In an article in the New York Daily News Chelsea Hotel resident Collen Weinstein discusses her unsuccessful efforts to have her husband's artwork, which was removed from the walls of the Chelsea Hotel, returned.  Her lawyer says: " In November, ... the artwork was put on a truck and that his client saw one of the works loaded and "not properly wrapped."  He says Sirkin (Chelsea Hotel Manager Lilly Sirkin) refused to reveal where the art is and that the hotel won't let Weinstein remove a mobile of her husband's that hangs on the 10th…

• Patti Smith cancels chelsea hotel performance for tenants

  Anonymous Blogger

  12 Jan 2012 | 3:56 pm

  Thanks Patti for listening to the tenants and supporters of the Chelsea Hotel. Her statement is on her blog www.pattismith.net Kudos to all of the people who made this happen. This really does show that the people have the power. The biggest thanks go to Jeremiah Moss of Jeremiah's Vanishing New York who came up with the idea of the "die in" and organized it. Thanks to everbody else who had other protests planned. Lets just hope we don't have to fight Bob Dylan next week. Here is Patti's message in its entirety: In respect for the wishes of the Chelsea Hotel…

• Patti Smith Plays Guitar While the Chelsea Hotel Dies: "Die In" at Chelsea Hotel 8PM Tonite

  Anonymous Blogger

  12 Jan 2012 | 7:32 am

  We stole our headline from Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.  Jeremiah's brillant idea is to call for a "Die in" at the Chelsea Hotel tonight at 8 pm to coincide with Patti Smith's proposed concert in the Chelsea Hotel ballroom (Richard Bernstein's former apt.).  Patti played last night for the developers and their friends.  And tonight she is going to try to get the tenants on board with the developers program whatever it is. While the concert is going on with probably very few if any residents in attendance protesters will meet outside the…

• Global Media calls on Patti Smith to Cancel Controversial Chelsea Hotel Concert

  Anonymous Blogger

  12 Jan 2012 | 6:48 am

  Nobody seems to be buying Patti Smith's explanation of her involvement with the Chetrit's, and in truth, it does seem kind of evasive, like a non-answer cooked up by PR flacks. She doesn't really seem to address any of the issues we raised in any substantive manner. (She has no understanding of Landmarking issues, while on the other hand she seems ready to make a bogus legal judgment on who the rightful tenants are.) Besides, if she is not getting paid, that just raises the issue of what exactly she is getting out of it. Sorry Patti, but we don't quite buy the line that you…

• Chelsea Hotel Blog Response to Patti Smith

  Anonymous Blogger

  11 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm

  Thanks Patti, for responding.  If you are worried about the building being leveled, you can put your mind at rest – it’s landmarked and can’t be torn down.  As for management efforts to save and restore the building there aren’t any.  Instead they are gutting the rooms.   We are worried about who the rightful tenants are going to turn out to be – obviously not the more than 30 who are being evicted and as for the artist-in- residence program, there are already plenty of those here.  We are glad that you aren’t taking compensation but…

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  TravelingMamas.com

• The Dos and Don’ts of Visiting Fort McHenry, Maryland

  edVAcationMama

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:18 am

        I am not a history buff. In school I passed, but I guess I’m just not that much into learning from books compared to when I’m traveling with my kids. I love being put into the books, living out the story, and connecting the lessons of my youth. Seeing my kids learn and experience is an added bonus.  Here are 5 tips for a mom to enjoy and experience Fort McHenry. History buff or not, this is a must stop in Maryland. 1. Do: Spring the 8 dollars to see the movie about the place that inspired the National Anthem. The movie is filled with facts and special effects and even has a…

• A Dream Family Vacation for Less with @HomeAway

  CajunMama

  7 Feb 2012 | 5:54 am

  Brought to you by Most families dream of taking a vacation full of fun bonding that won’t break the bank. When I was growing up, my parents made sure that we always had a week together each summer. We would get a condo or house at the beach, sometimes with other families, and it would be a magical week of sun, swimming, and no worries. Now that I have my own family, we’ve continued the tradition of an annual family vacation. I’m always searching for destinations and lodging that offers a good value without compromising all our needs. One of our favorite destinations is the Northwest…

• Romantic Destinations for Valentines

  CajunMama

  30 Jan 2012 | 5:35 pm

  I’m a romantic at heart and love to hear stories of couples stealing away for a few days of romance. In fact, my travel writing career began by writing about romantic destinations and honeymoons. One thing many couples forget as they become parents, is that one day their kids will grow up and its just the two of them again. Just because you are parents doesn’t mean romance should go flying out the window. There are a few elements that make a place romantic in my book. There has to be a touch of luxury, with plush bedding, a big bathtub, a shower for two. There has to be Champagne…

• Why Now is the Best Time to Take a Cruise

  CajunMama

  24 Jan 2012 | 6:34 am

  TravelingMamas.com sends thoughts and prayers to the crew and passengers involved in the Costa Concordia accident. For recent updates from Costa Cruises, visit the official site. I was looking at the itinerary for the Carnival Breeze, set to launch in June of this year, when I saw the news about the Costa Concordia. Any time tragedy occurs, especially in the travel industry, consumers and the experts begin to criticize safety, and they analyze what could have or should have been done in the circumstances. One thing I’ve noticed about these types of events is that safety and security…

• Clearly, a good deal in Florida

  RollingMama

  21 Jan 2012 | 8:09 am

  Beat the winter blahs with a tranquil trip to sunny Florida. Travelers booking a flight plus hotel vacation package for four or more nights to St. Petersburg or Clearwater beaches can save $100 per reservation. Use code SUN100 when booking a flight and hotel on Southwest Airlines Vacations. Choose a participating hotel and receive one night free. Save as much as $120 per person roundtrip with the Bags Fly Free–even golf bags. Vacations must be booked between now and February 9, 2012, (6 pm CST). Trip must be taken between January 14 and May 25, 2012. Black out dates apply and one day…

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  Nancy D Brown

• Top 2011 Food Trends San Francisco Fancy Food Show

  Nancy Brown

  3 Feb 2012 | 12:07 am

  Food and travel connect at Fancy Food Show Imagine Willy Wonka stepping into his Chocolate Factory, suitcase or carry on bag in hand. I recently had my Willy Wonka moment as I sipped and sampled my way through 1,300 exhibitors presenting 80,00 food and beverages for me to taste in San Francisco, January 15-17, 2012 at [...]

• Dining in San Francisco Neighborhoods

  Nancy Brown

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:02 am

  Welcome to the Neighborhood, A Series About San Francisco Neighborhoods About the author. Dianne Admire is the co-owner of San Francisco company Carried Away. Carried Away offers private, custom, experiential tours of San Francisco and the Bay Area for up to 4 people. Dianne and her business partner Vikki Garrod (a.k.a. The Ladies of Carried [...]

• 4 Honolulu Bars with the Best Happy Hour

  Nancy Brown

  25 Jan 2012 | 3:24 pm

  Bars with the Best Happy Hour I love to experience the outdoors and jump at any chance to get my heart rate going while also exploring a new activity. In this regard, it’s safe to say that Hawaii pretty much has my name all over it. Of course, I also love good food and drinks. After [...]

• Things to See and Do in Florence, Italy

  Nancy Brown

  20 Jan 2012 | 12:01 am

  Florence – a must see in Italy My Italian sojourn in October of 2011 included a “mandatory” visit to the city of Florence, or Firenze in la lingua Italiano.  It is the cultural capital of Italy because it is home to many museums and renaissance structures. In fact, it is where the Renaissance actually began.   My [...]

• San Francisco 2012 Fancy Food Show – Food Entrepreneurs

  Nancy Brown

  13 Jan 2012 | 12:11 am

  San Francisco Fancy Food Show Now in its 37th year, the Winter Fancy Food Show is the largest marketplace devoted exclusively to specialty foods and beverages on the West Coast. It is strategically held in January when buyers are looking to stock up for the new year, and to plan way ahead [...]

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  Hotel Law Blog

• ADA Defense and Compliance Lawyer Advisory: DOJ clarifies March 15, 2012 mandatory pool lift requirement! (Uh-oh!)

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:32 am

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 8 February 2012 Hotel ADA defense and compliance lawyer As everyone scrambles to meet the March 15, 2012 deadline for complying with the new ADA Standards, the mandatory pool lift requirement is getting a lot of attention. Here is the latest from my partner, Marty Orlick, head of our ADA defense and compliance team. What the DOJ says about portable pool lifts and the new ADA Standards by Martin H. Orlick, Esq. | ADA Defense and Compliance Lawyer A hotel client called this morning to tell me that…

• ADA Defense & Compliance Lawyer: New ADA compliance standards for golf courses. What do they mean to you?

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:19 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 7 February 2012 ADA defense and compliance lawyer with some tips for owners and operators of GOLF COURSES. Golf courses are one type of "public accommodation" (along with hotels, restaurants, retail stores and the like) specifically targeted by the new ADA Standards that become effective March 15, 2012. The new ADA Standards, discussed below, represent a a big change in the legal standard applicable to golf facilities. If you have not analyzed this yet, you may be very surprised. If you have not…

• Hotel Lawyer on 2012: A good year to buy a hotel (and a bad year, if your hotel note is due)

  3 Feb 2012 | 1:27 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 3 February 2012 While no one has a crystal ball to accurately predict the future of the hospitality industry, Eric Stossel, Managing Editor of Lodging Hospitality has the next best thing: access to experts and insiders who have their fingers on the pulse of the industry. I was recently interviewed by Eric, along with other hospitality practitioners, for one of his articles that forecast the year ahead (see Capital Markets Key to Hotel Real Estate Rebound). There was plenty of prognosticating going…

• Quick! Can you pass this 3-question ADA pop quiz?

  20 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 20 January 2012 ADA pop quiz In less than 2 months, on March 15, 2012, new ADA Standards become mandatory. If you can't answer "YES" to each of the following three questions, you may be in trouble. Do you know what the new ADA Guidelines will require for your hotel, restaurant, or other "place of public accommodation"? Do you know that there is NO "grandfathering" to escape the most sweeping changes to the ADA Standards in 20 years? Have you done everything the law requires to bring your property…

• Hotel Lawyer in Los Angeles: ALIS - What's the commotion all about? Closing the conference hotel to outsiders.

  19 Jan 2012 | 8:52 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 19 January 2012 Hotel lawyer in Los Angeles, looking at a new first in the hotel conference industry. The Americas Lodging Investment Summit or ALIS runs next week from Monday through Wednesday, January 23-25, 2012, at the JW Marriott in downtown Los Angeles. ALIS is one of the major annual hotel investment conferences and gets some of the best attendance in the industry. In 2012, it returns to Los Angeles after several years of being held in San Diego. It is always a great way to get a handle on…

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  My Jet Set Life

• JSI 006 More Unreleased Bloopers, Meet Fat Rob the Nudist & We Almost Crash Flying to St. Barth’s

  Kim

  4 Feb 2012 | 6:10 am

  In This Episode: In This Weeks Podcast we show you more of our Jet Set Life bloopers, watch when Rob turns into a diva, take you on our fearful flight to St. Barth’s, show you what Rob looked like 40 pounds heavier and Kim finally concedes that Rob was right! Can’t get enough of Rob & Kim’s Jet Set Insider show? Then subscribe to this podcast and get a weekly update on Rob and Kim’s travel adventures. For more information about Rob and Kim and Jet Set Life please visit www.JetSetLife.TV Audio Only Player:

• JSI 005 Our Unreleased Blooper Reel, Rob’s Fear Factor Audition Tape, How We Became The Laughing Stock Of St.Tropez & Uncovering Cartagena’s Sweetest Weapon

  Kim

  21 Jan 2012 | 6:42 am

    In This Episode: Can’t get enough of Rob & Kim’s Jet Set Insider show? Then subscribe to this podcast and get a weekly update on Rob and Kim’s travel adventures. For more information about Rob and Kim and Jet Set Life please visit www.JetSetLife.TV Audio Only Player:

• JSI 004 Rob Get’s Caught Exiting a Rub & Tug, Whitie Takes Over Hosting Jet Set Life & Kim Uncovers the Table-Racket in NYC Nightclubs!

  Kim

  14 Jan 2012 | 7:25 am

    In This Episode: In this weeks podcast Rob tells you about his NYC rub & tug experience, we replace ourselves for a day hosting Jet Set Life and Kim uncovers the racket of table service in NYC! Audio Only Player:

• JSI 003 We’re In The Middle Of A Bar Fight, Worst Hotel Owner EVER & Our NYE Party Get’s Hijacked…[VIDEO]

  Kim

  6 Jan 2012 | 9:37 pm

    In This Episode: In this weeks podcast we tell you how we accidentally got caught in the middle of a bar fight, how we get into a fight with a hotel owner and how our New Years Eve countdown got hijacked. Audio Only Player:

• JSI 002: Rob Almost Goes to Jail in BsAs, Flying with Kids & We Re-Live Rob’s Worst Hangover

  Kim

  17 Dec 2011 | 5:16 am

    In This Episode: In this weeks podcast we tell you how Rob almost got thrown in jail in Buenos Aires, the do’s and don’t’s of flying with kids and one of Rob’s most embarrassing moments that has now become a You Tube sensation. Audio Only Player:

• 

  Gadling

• Ski resort offers Valentine's Day speed dating on the lift

  Kraig Becker

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Are you a lonely skier looking for love this Valentine's Day? If so, the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, located in Utah, just might be able to help you find that special someone you've been looking for. Next Tuesday, February 14, the resort will play host to a unique speed dating event, during which skiers and snowboarders will get a chance to get to know one another while riding the chairlift up the mountain. To entice single skiers and riders to visit Snowbird for Valentine's Day, the resort is offering all-day adult lift tickets for just $40. But that is just the start of the fun, as…

• Video: Disneyland 1957

  Elizabeth Seward

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

  Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, North America, United States, Video This footage of Disneyland 1957 was previously unreleased until recently. The film was cleaned up, edited, and paired with music, but all of the images are original. In 1957, the Disneyland park in Anaheim, California wasn't even yet two years old. The park opened in July of 1955. The best part about this footage is that it is actually good! The editing and overall cleanup job helps, of course, but the original filmmaker did a respectable job at capturing various aspects of the park and the young Disneyland…

• National Geographic has untold cruise disaster stories

  Chris Owen

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:00 pm

  A new National Geographic special coming up on Sunday, February 12 is promising to answer a whole lot of questions about the grounding of the Costa Concordia last month. Featuring first-hand accounts of American survivors who share their own home video, Nat Geo will present Italian Cruise Ship Disaster: The Untold Stories. "How did the ship sink? Could it have been prevented? Why weren't the passengers warned earlier? What are the similarities to and differences from the Titanic?" asks and answers NatGeo in the special episode Sunday night. Costa Concordia was carrying more than 3,200…

• Video: Haight Ashbury Museum of Psychedelic Art and History

  Elizabeth Seward

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, North America, United States, Video, News The Haight Ashbury movement may seem like a thing of the past. That's true or false, mostly depending on who you ask. But no matter how present the psychedelic spirit might still be in modern culture, its debut was art-altering, no one can deny that. That's why I hope the dream of the Haight Ashbury Museum of Psychedelic Art and History is soon realized. Tourists flock to Haight Ashbury in San Francisco as it is--maybe we should support giving them all a destination wherein they can view art from and learn…

• Kimpton helps foster boutique hotel expansion in midwest with planned Cleveland entry

  McLean Robbins

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is adding to its existing portfolio of 50+ hotels across with plans to expand into Cleveland, Ohio. The brand announced their plans to launch a 161-room hotel in the city's historic downtown Schofield Building. The hotel will open in 2013. "For us, it's especially exciting to see the demand for the boutique concept in general spreading to more mainstream cities in the Midwest and other areas of the country outside the urban centers of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco," said Kimpton CEO Michael Depatie. The brand…

• 

  Tony Wheeler

• Chinese Guidebooks, Chinese Authors

  Tony Wheeler

  4 Feb 2012 | 1:12 pm

  ▲ Lonely Planet guidebooks have been available in Chinese for nearly 6 years now, Maureen and I went to China to help launch them in 2006, you can even read the Lonely Planet Story in Chinese. ▲ The most exciting development, however, was when with our Chinese language partner we started to produce regional guidebooks to China researched and written by Chinese travel writers. It was a pioneering project for our writer-researchers and we were immensely pleased with the 8 books they produced. Here they are, guides to Yunnan, Sichuan & Chongqing, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Guangxi, Qinghai, Gansu…

• Bad Coffee in Paris?

  Tony Wheeler

  3 Feb 2012 | 1:34 pm

  ‘Why do the French make such horrible coffee?’ I used to think when I lived in Paris in 1996. If I’d bothered researching the question I’d quickly have found the answer – bad coffee was French government policy. The French government pushed the cheaper, lower quality Robusta coffee beans, rather than the more expensive, higher quality Arabica coffee, because Robusta was what grew in French colonies. Since Robusta was best for making those tiny cups of bitter sump-oil-black espresso, which is what the French think of as coffee, that’s what they learned to…

• Sites of Impact

  Tony Wheeler

  1 Feb 2012 | 10:10 am

  ▲ Wolfe Creek Crater, Western Australia Every now and then I pick up a ‘got to go there’ book, you read it or look at the pictures and that’s what you immediately think. Judith Schalansky’s Atlas of Remote Islandswas a fine example, she claimed she hadn’t been to any of the 50 weird and wonderful islands in her book. I could put ticks beside just five of them – Rapa Iti (in the Austral group of French Polynesia), Robinson Crusoe Island (off Chile), Easter Island (even further off Chile), Pitcairn Island (keep travelling west) and Deception Island…

• Afghanistan comes to Mildura, Australia

  Tony Wheeler

  26 Jan 2012 | 6:10 pm

  ▲ Afghan kite, Australian gum tree Australia Day on 26 January is Australia’s equivalent of the USA's 4th of July or France’s Bastille Day (there isn’t a UK equivalent). I go some- where in the state of Victoria every year as part of the ‘Australia Day Ambassador’ program and this year I went to Mildura, on the Murray River up in the north-west corner of the state. It’s a standard pattern, the Lions Club puts on a barbecue, the flag gets raised, the national anthem is sung, the local mayor and I make speeches, the brass band (and a local rock band) play,…

• The Otway Fly

  Tony Wheeler

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:50 pm

  My January spell at Apollo Bay in Victoria, Australia included a couple of days walking along the Great Ocean Walk and some interesting encounters with Aussie critters. Not this one, this rather fine looking pterodactyl model featured in a dinosaur walk at the Otway Fly. ▼◄  The Otway Fly is a 600metre treetop treewalk through some terrific forest with great views, a cantilever and a tower as added attractions. The Otway Fly is a fine example of the treetop walks and ziplines which seem to have popped up all over the place in recent years. I’ve also encountered them at:…

• 

  Budget Travel Tips - EuroCheapo

• When Rail Journeys are Disrupted: Meet the Railteam Alliance

  hiddeneurope

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:14 am

  The great majority of our many rail journeys across Europe work perfectly. Most trains really do arrive punctually. But from time to time Europe’s railways do have bad days, particularly when bad weather rolls in and plays havoc with schedules. When winter strikes In three of the last five winters, we have had at least one trip where we were seriously delayed on journeys back to our Berlin base, in each case not reaching home until a day later than anticipated. And that is just what happened last weekend: what should have been a routine journey from London to Berlin turned out to be a…

• Berlin: Cheapo events calendar for February – June 2012

  Tom Meyers

  7 Feb 2012 | 2:39 pm

  We’re always ready to head to Berlin. However, a number of Cheapo-friendly events taking place over the next several months has us ready to jam, dance, put on a wig and check out some art. (In other words, we’re ready for Berlin.) Here’s a quick run-down of free or cheapish events to attend in Berlin in the first half of 2012: The 62nd Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) February 9-19, 2012 The Berlinale is the city’s largest cultural event, bringing in tens of thousands of film professionals, journalists and fans. Up to 400 films will be shown during the…

• Paris: Cheapo day in the Marais; Free photo exhibit, cheap lunch, vintage shopping

  Theadora Brack

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:57 am

  By Theadora Brack— This week, I decided to get on the horn with the charismatic Caroline Simonds, founder of Le Rire Medecin, a troupe of hospital clowns that are currently the focus of a free photo exhibit at the Hotel de Ville. “Let’s make a Cheapo day of it in Paris,” I told her. Wasting no time, she created a Big Top-worthy tour through the Marais for us. She also threw in a few shopping tips. Grab a pencil and a red rubber nose, too! "Nez rouge, toi-meme" is on display at the Hotel de Ville through February 18, 2012 Free Exhibit: Hôtel de Ville Open: Monday through…

• Dublin When It’s Cold: Fun winter activities

  Jessica Colley

  3 Feb 2012 | 8:48 am

  By Jessica Colley— Winter is one of the best seasons for Cheapos to visit Dublin. Not only are airfares and hotel rates at their cheapest for the year, but the cold temperatures offer a great excuse to get snug in the pub and order up an Irish coffee. From shopping to sports to comedy, there is plenty to do in Dublin when the cold drives Cheapos indoors. Stay warm in Dublin this winter with the following indoor activities: Shopping Music, literature, and design all provide insight into Irish culture. Spend a day shopping at the following stores and find great deals along with local…

• Eurolines Coach Passes: Are they right for your trip?

  hiddeneurope

  1 Feb 2012 | 9:34 am

  Okay, chances are you know quite a bit about the fabulous range of rail passes which are available for exploring Europe. From Eurail and InterRail to BritRail and a great range of locally sold passes within individual countries, those keen to roam the rails are spoilt for choice. But for bus fiends, devotees of road transport who feel inclined to coach the highways of Europe, most rail passes are of little help (although some locally sold passes, such as the Explore Wales pass, do usefully combine road and rail transport). Euroline's London Victoria Coach Station ticket counter. Photo:…

• 

  World Hum

• Dispatch from the Yukon Quest Trail

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:57 am

  I’m on the road this week, doing some writing and social media work for the Yukon Quest. For those unfamiliar with it, the Quest is a 1,000-mile sled dog race that runs from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon (my hometown). I’m following along, and on the trail with me is a traveling crowd of volunteers, veterinarians, race officials, “handlers” (assistants to the mushers), and friends and family. We drive from checkpoint to checkpoint, meeting up with the dog teams whenever they intersect with the sparse road system. I’m writing this from Central Corner, an…

• 2012 Travel Writing Conferences

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  5 Feb 2012 | 10:22 pm

  Spring and summer are fast approaching, and that means warmer days, Major League Baseball and, yes, travel writing conferences. Gadling recently noted several upcoming conferences. Among them: Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) The annual travel blogger gathering created by Kim Mance lays claim to being “the world’s premiere and largest conference of travel bloggers, writers, and new media creators.” Discussions and workshops explore the art and business of travel blogging, including ethical considerations and social media best practices. For many, it’s a reunion, of sorts:…

• NATJA Announces 2011 Winners

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  3 Feb 2012 | 12:36 pm

  The complete roster of North American Travel Journalists Association award winners was announced this week. National Geographic Traveler took the grand prize for top travel publication, while Andrew McCarthy and Jill Schensul were named the travel journalists of the year. Several World Hum contributors were also among the winners. Larry Bleiberg took Gold in the Historical or Hobby Travel category, while Daisann McLane received a Gold award for Cultural, Educational or Self-Improvement Travel. Lola Akinmade Akerstrom received two Gold awards—one for Personality and Profiles and one for…

• ‘Downton Abbey’ and the Art of the English Library

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  1 Feb 2012 | 11:17 pm

  Like so many people, I’ve been glued to PBS’ “Downton Abbey” and the scheming and backstabbing unfolding in Highclere Castle. Here, series creator Julian Fellowes discusses his favorite room in the castle: the library. I love his take on it. The French have their drawing rooms. The Austrians have their ballrooms. Libraries, he says, are the rooms the English get right. Watch Downton Abbey: Julian Fellowes on a Favorite Room at Highclere on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

• Looking for the Old Hippie Trail

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  31 Jan 2012 | 5:44 am

  At Old World Wandering, Iain Manley has a long, worthwhile post on the classic overlander, mixing his personal experiences as a “novice traveller” on the route with a history of the trail’s literature, from “Across Asia on the Cheap” all the way back to the Romantics of the 1700. Here’s a taste: I knew something of the old Hippie Trail by the time we arrived in Goa, but only as much as I had read in Paul Theroux’s Great Railway Bazaar. Theroux had encountered the freaks making their way out east - “like small clans of tribesmen setting out for a…

• 

  Get a Hotel Room

• Highlight of the Week: Lettings in Vale do Lobo

  Red2Black

  16 Jan 2012 | 8:06 am

  Who can resist the Algarve for the perfect sunshine break? And where better than Vale de Lobo?  Think relaxing. Think calm sea. Think golden beaches. Sounds like utopia right? Well in Vale de Lobo you get all this and more! It seems that lettings are being booked up like decadent fish dishes in this region of the world.Just to wet your appetite let's take a look at what is currently on offer a stones throw away from your favourite Portuguese beaches:[Images Courtesy of : Haven on Earth - If you want to find More villas to rent in Vale do Lobo - visit www.havenonearth.co.uk]This lavish…

• Buzzerhut - Promote your Blog for Free on BuzzerHut.com

  Red2Black

  1 Jan 2012 | 10:24 am

• Wanting to Meet some Travel Bloggers Online #Bloggers #LinkExchange

  Red2Black

  29 Dec 2011 | 8:57 am

  Ok so I'm wanting to meet up and share travel and respite experiences online and I thought what better way to do this than to join blogglue.com and I'm also gonna check out http://blog-links-exchange.blogspot.com/p/submit-your-blog.html. I know that there's quite a few #hookups for bloggers in various cities close to home - but sometimes the inclination may be there but the hourglass simply keeps turning too fast if you know what I mean - so if you're a travel blogger who wants to write for me, or want to cross syndicate unique posts let me know...leave a comment...maybe you'll be a…

• A Romantic Break in Hunter Valley Daily

  Red2Black

  28 Dec 2011 | 1:31 am

  A Romantic Break in Hunter Valley Daily The festive season is a bit of a struggle for me and my fiancé, don’t get me wrong I love Christmas and spending time with my family though we’re so busy running around after other people that we don’t get to spend much time with each other. As a treat for both of us I bought a romantic weekend off a daily deals website, I will give him it on Christmas Day and I know he’ll love it, it’s one of the best daily deals Sydney has to offer. The discount break is brilliant; it is a romantic getaway for both of us in the award winning Segenhoe Inn, a…

• What are the Advantages of Booking a Holiday Online?

  Red2Black

  29 Nov 2011 | 11:52 am

  The travel and leisure industry has seen rapid expansion in the online arena over the last few years. As far back as 2007 official figures had found that over 55% of people in the UK had booked a holiday online within the preceding 12 months – an impressive statistic considering the wide range of individual demographics involved in the survey.  Looking into more recent figures: low cost airlines EasyJet had reportedly carried over 42.4 million people to holiday destinations in Europe – second in terms of volume to only their competitor and industry leader Ryanair. The online travel…

• 

  nerd's eye view

• The Castaways at Urban Coffee Lounge

  nerd's eye view

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:34 pm

  We’re doing it again. At the Urban Coffee Lounge in Kirkland, Friday, February 10th. Event details on the Facebook. “Like” us to find out where we’re playing next. Oh, and we have a snappy new website.

• Guest Post: More Than a Travel Writer

  nerd's eye view

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:14 am

  On a recent flight to New York City, my seat mate asked me what I did for a living. Still high from the release of my first book, I was all too happy to tell him I was a bona fide, true blue, working American writer. Two days post-release, I’m not afraid to say I was feeling pretty darn giddy about it. We chatted about the book for a few minutes before he asked, “So how does one get to write a book these days?” “Oh, well, I’m a freelance writer,” I started to explain. “Before the book, I wrote for magazines, mostly science and a lot travel stuff…” “Wait—you’re a travel…

• The Bubble Waffle Lady

  nerd's eye view

  6 Feb 2012 | 11:36 am

  We were in Richmond, BC in January and one of the places our guides (the stellar ladies of Richmond PR, thanks Kristen and Stacey!) took us to Mrs. Ma’s bubble waffle stand in the Parker Place food court. Mrs. Ma was quite the waffle show-woman, delighted to show off for us gringos. Plus, the waffles? Yummy. Warm, a little eggy tasting, and sweet and crunchy, nothing short of a perfect snack on a cold afternoon.

• Guest Post: Welcome to the Jungle

  nerd's eye view

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:08 am

  When the plane starts to head for the ground, I crane my neck to see what’s ahead. Seated in the co-pilot’s seat of a six-seater bush plane, all I can see is the same thing I’ve been looking at for the entire 45 minute flight, a vast pincushion of endless green forest canopy. We skim the treetops and finally, seconds before hitting the ground, I see the grass landing strip. A couple of bumps, and we have arrived in the tiny village of Quehueri’ono in Ecuador ’s Amazon rainforest. My husband and I are here to spend five days at Huaorani Ecolodge, a community project organized by…

• Guest Post: Chasing Mardi Gras Indians

  nerd's eye view

  4 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  An emerald sedan sped past with a black man standing in the passenger seat—the yellow feathers of his headdress streaming out the sun roof. “Follow that Indian!” Glen swung a quick U-turn on Rampart Street, the northwest division between the French Quarter and the Tremé—the nation’s oldest African American neighborhood. The car now headed east towards the Faubourg Marigny, another boundary of the Quarter. We’d been up since 8 a.m. searching for Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans on an unseasonably warm March 19th—St. Joseph’s Day. A newspaper had published the parade schedule,…

• 

  Galavanting Women's Travel Magazine & Web Series

• Infographic: Best Places in Europe to Ski on a Budget - 559

  4 Feb 2012 | 9:17 am

  As this winter’s ski season continues, Expedia came out with a fun infographic on the best places in Europe to ski on a budget. The infographic covers popular destinations in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain, Andorra, Bulgaria, France, and Slovenia, even including the best value après ski activities (including beer prices!). Have a look and let us know what you think. Are they spot on, or are there any great places missed that are your favorites? (Infographic courtesy Expedia.co.uk. Click for a larger image.)

• Flats, football, fannies and double-fisting: Speaking American vs. English

  25 Nov 2011 | 12:58 pm

• Beat the Travel Funk with Travalo!

  12 Oct 2011 | 11:45 am

• Come on, Irene: Hurricane Irene expected to affect travel plans - 558

  26 Aug 2011 | 7:33 am

  Hurricane Irene makes landfall on the East Coast. Image courtesy of National Weather ServiceAs 600-mile wide Hurricane Irene begins making its way upwards to the East Coast, travelers should be ready to make plans. The storm has already hit the Bahamas and is expected to reach the US as early as Saturday. According to CNN, American Airlines has already canceled 126 flights, with other carrier following suit. Many travelers Caribbean travelers can change their flights without incurring fees: Major airlines — including US Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines,…

• Room with an Orbital View - 557

  22 Aug 2011 | 6:48 am

  Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft on its way to launch. Photo by spatlanHere at Galavanting, we’ve made no secret about our obsession with space travel (alright, my obsession). And, surprise, surprise, here’s some more news about touring the final frontier. According to Reuters, several Russian companies unveiled plans to develop that country’s space tourism industry. One such company, Orbital Technologies, hopes to build an orbiting hotel by 2016. The hotel will accommodate seven guests for five days at $1 million a pop. Orbiting at 217 miles above the Earth, “the hotel…

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  Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

• The Weekly Photo: Bath, England

  NomadicMatt

  5 Feb 2012 | 6:30 am

  Looking out from the Roman baths in Bath, England

• Phnom Penh, I Love You!

  NomadicMatt

  4 Feb 2012 | 7:00 am

  It was 2007 and I was only meant to be in Phnom Penh for three days. I had less than a month in Cambodia before I moved to Thailand and I wanted to explore as much as possible and get off the tourist trail a bit. But three days became four, and four became seven, and seven became ten. Every day, I woke up and thought to myself “I’ll get the bus tomorrow” and rolled over and went back to bed.I’d walk out of my room into the common area overlooking the lake and slink down next to my friends. “What movie are we watching today?” I would ask. Later, we’d go out for lunch, relax…

• The Tragic Death of Phnom Penh’s Lake

  NomadicMatt

  1 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm

  In my close to six years travel the world, my days on the lake in Phnom Penh, Cambodia still remain some of my favorite. I had come for a few days and stayed for a few weeks. I spent my days in the famous Number 9 Guesthouse on the lake, watching movies, having a few cold beers, meeting fellow travelers from around the world, and watching the sun set over the lake. We had a perfect view as the bank of the lake faced due west. At night, my friends (all of whom also got “stuck” in the city) and I would eat cheap Indian food, play poker, and head to our local haunt – The Drunken Frog.

• How Much a Holiday in Thailand Costs

  NomadicMatt

  30 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Thailand can be as expensive or inexpensive a country to visit as you want it to be. This is a country where you can stay in $3 USD per night rooms or $1000 USD per night resorts. Twenty cent street food or 300 dollar gourmet dinners. Thailand really runs the gamut. When my friends came to visit last December, they budgeted $1,700 USD for their 3 week trip. “No problem,” I said, “that’s more than enough for Thailand. This country is cheap.” But what I realized as I traveled with people on a limited time frame, is that there is big difference in budgeting for a…

• The Weekly Photo: St. Stephen’s Basilica

  NomadicMatt

  29 Jan 2012 | 6:15 am

  The inside of St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, Hungary

• 

  Writing Travel

• The year is new, everywhere, every day, and not just for dragons

  Lanora @WritingTravel

  25 Jan 2012 | 7:53 pm

  Chinese New Year reminds me that a new year can start any day of one's life. Here are a few of my favorite sites celebrating this week's beginning of the Year of the Dragon. Based in Taiwan, Carrie Kellenberger shares her experience of last year's Year of the Lion Lunar New Year Celebrations in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Borneo. From Malaysia, Wilson Ng & Rachel Ting's PlacesandFoods.com blog features their Neroteca Meatilicous Chinese New Year 2012. Alas, no dragon meat appears among the many carnivorous treats.  In Southern California, Kayte Deioma lists all the Los Angeles-area Chinese…

• Passports with Purpose almost halfway to goal, six days to go

  Lanora @WritingTravel

  10 Dec 2011 | 3:37 pm

  Don't forget to add your ten bucks (or more) to help Passports with Purpose reach our $80,000 Room To Read fundraising goal. Prize entries close at 11:59PM PST on Friday, December 16. Besides the two prizes featured here on Writing Travel thanks to the generous donations of Authentic Seacoast Resorts and Think Tank Photo, there are dozens of other super travel-related prizes you could win for only $10.00. Just a few of the many great donations: Bike and cruise the coast of Thailand. Raft and camp the Lower Salmon River. Spend nine days in Costa Rica or eight days in the wilderness of the…

• Super prizes for Passports with Purpose 2011 fundraiser donated by Think Tank Photo and Authentic Seacoast Resorts of Guysborough, Nova Scotia

  Lanora @WritingTravel

  30 Nov 2011 | 1:25 am

  Passports with Purpose 2011, the travel bloggers fundraiser, begins today, November 30, and runs through December 16 with the aggressive goal of raising $80,000 to build not one but two libraries for children in Zambia in partnership with Room To Read. For more information about how to donate and possibly win one of the valuable prizes secured by the dozens of participating travel bloggers, check out the PwP donation page. I'm delighted to be promoting two prizes this year. Authentic Seacoast Resorts is again donating a getaway to their properties on the scenic eastern shore of Nova…

• Wednesday Window: Galerie Christian Bergeron, Old Quebec City

  Lanora @WritingTravel

  23 Nov 2011 | 9:20 am

• Guitar serenade, Algonquin Mill, Carollton County, Ohio

  Lanora @WritingTravel

  22 Nov 2011 | 8:00 pm

• 

  My Itchy Travel Feet

• Dining like a local in Madrid

  Donna Hull

  7 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

   Alan and I are boomers who like nothing better than to dine with the locals, like we did on our road trip through Northern Italy. To us, it’s an excellent way of experiencing another culture. Today, Nicole Jewell, an ex-pat living in Madrid, who blogs at Pass the Ham?, shares her suggestions for Madrid dining like a local. Someone once told me that there are more than 400,000 bars and restaurants in Madrid. I don’t know if this number is accurate, but after living here for six years, I can tell you that this city is packed with great restaurants offering a range of choices from…

• Saturday’s scene: beyond Sydney

  Donna Hull

  3 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Sydney Opera house A Sydney to Los Angeles cruise is next on our boomer travel schedule. Alan and I are boomers who can’t get enough of small ship cruising. After Virgin Australia whisks us across the Pacific, we’ll be ready to spend a couple of days exploring Sydney from our headquarters at the Four Seasons Sydney before cruising the Pacific on Seabourn Odyssey. Since this is our second trip to Australia’s Harbor City, we’ll be looking for adventure beyond the opera house and zoo. Here’s hoping that the weather won’t be as steamy as last time. Once we…

• Sponsor News for January and February

  Donna Hull

  1 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Wow! Our first two months of 2012 have been so busy that we’ve had to combine sponsor news for January and February. Be sure to check out the health assessment from REAL Powered by Humana. It’s cool. With the start of the new year comes the opportunity for new beginnings. Why not start this year off on the right track? Get some help with your health goals with this Exercise and Nutrition Planner from your well-being experts, REAL Powered by Humana. Do you have a travel product or service that appeals to our baby boomer audience? Your company could be highlighted on this page.

• New Mexico Backroads Adventure

  Donna Hull

  30 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

  Jennifer will discover handprints on her New Mexico backroads adventure Last week at the My Itchy Travel Feet page on Facebook (you have clicked the like button, right?) Jennifer asked, “I’m no Boomer, but I’m interested in taking a road trip to New Mexico. We’ve done Taos and Santa Fe, any hidden gems that you or your readers suggest we check out this spring?” Alan and I thought it would be fun to create a New Mexico road trip for Jennifer to a secret destination. Well, it’s not really a secret but does involve driving the backroads of New Mexico to an…

• Saturday’s scene: waiting for carnival

  Donna Hull

  28 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

  Carnival costume in Rio de Janeiro What does a well-dressed boomer wear to carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil? How about one of the costumes from the Carnival Museum? When our Regent Seven Seas Navigator cruise ended in Rio, after sailing across the Atlantic from Cape Town, we had the entire day to tour with a private guide before our plane left for the U.S.  Madson Arajúo proudly showed us the sites of his hometown, including the Sambadrome. When our van parked along the concrete runway bordered by towering concrete stands, I thought we were at a racetrack. But Madson assured us that…

• 

  tripwolf travel blog - your travel guide

• Where (and How) to Waltz in Vienna

  Miruna Corneanu

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:49 am

  What would be more romantic than dancing a waltz in Vienna for Valentine’s Day? St Valentine’s Day is waiting just around the corner impatient to revive February’s frozen gloomy days and I am sitting in my kitchen fancying the perfect romantic break.  Digging into my memories, there are not many things that reflect true romance [...]

• Wallace Collection: free art in London

  Megan Eaves

  7 Feb 2012 | 3:20 am

  A lot of the museums in London are free and I love it. I find that one visit usually isn’t enough for me to really take in a museum, plus my feet start to hurt and, after about an hour, my brain has absorbed all it can. So being able to go back multiple times [...]

• Virginia Wineries

  deannanmc

  6 Feb 2012 | 7:30 am

  When most people think of American wines, their thoughts gravitate toward California–specifically Napa and Sonoma. Nothing wrong with that; California turns out an excellent product. On the opposite coast, however, is Virginia. While not as prolific as California, Virginia’s wineries turn out several complex and tasty varieties amid scenic surroundings that are just as lovely [...]

• Five Ways to Improve Your Long-Haul Flight Experience

  Eva

  2 Feb 2012 | 10:51 am

  You’ve always longed to visit Tahiti, but that coconut-perfumed dream never includes the utter, abject misery of being stuck on a plane for close to an entire day. Don’t let fear of confined spaces, boredom or blood clots keep you from taking that exotic trip; there are things you can do to make your long-haul [...]

• Our Picks for the 10 Most Romantic Places on Earth

  adena

  31 Jan 2012 | 7:23 am

  A romantic mood can strike in surprising places.  It seems that many of us have found ourselves on a secluded beach somewhere, perhaps enjoying a golden sunset or spectacular view…but *gasp* alone.  We’ve pooled our bloggers and our community to find out where they’d like to return with a lover.  Some have held on to these [...]

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  Hotel News

• Marriott names regional director for MICE

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:19 am

  Marriott International has announced the appointment of Paul Rushton as Asia-Pacific regional director of MICE sales in a bid to capitalise on the burgeoning market for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions in the region.

• Hotel chain HQ to add 60 local jobs in finance

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:04 am

  Extended Stay Hotels is looking for about 60 to 65 new employees in its finance division as the company completes its headquarters move to Charlotte.

• Kristofferson to be honored in Nashville March 26

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:50 pm

  With 100 years under its belt and a new cookie line to help boost its profits, the Girl Scouts of... The singer-songwriter-actor will receive the Frances Williams Preston Lifetime Music Industry Award at a fundraising gala to benefit medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia.

• Marriott International Debuts in Gabon with Signing of Management...

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:49 pm

  The Libreville Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments, expected to open in 2015, will be located on a prime waterfront site in Libreville's central business district.

• Autograph Collection Expands Portfolio With Addition of Three Hotels...

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:35 pm

  Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider.

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  USATODAY.com Feed

• Marriott lures edgy New Orleans hotel to system

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:52 am

  Just in time for Mardi Gras, Marriott's Autograph Collection added its first hotel in Louisiana - the eclectic Saint Hotel in New Orleans.

• Goodbye potato chips; Hotel mini-bars turn exotic and even healthy

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:47 pm

  Hotels are revamping their mini-bars. They're adding upscale products, healthier choices and customized menus.

• Four Seasons Toronto gets closer to opening

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:11 am

  Here's a good shot - on a sunny day - of the new Four Seasons hotel that's being completed in the company's headquarters city of Toronto.

• How the choice of brick almost toppled a hotel

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:11 am

  A hotel developer's choice of brick almost brought a Hampton Inn project along Des Moines' downtown riverfront to a screeching halt.

• Swissotel to open new hotel in Germany

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:37 am

  On April 1, Swissôtel Hotels will open a hotel in Dresden, which will be its fourth in Germany.

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  How To Make My Blog

• How to Write 100 Consecutive Daily Blog Posts

  Marko Saric

  7 Feb 2012 | 1:00 am

  To celebrate my new blog I made a promise to my readers (even though I didn’t have any!) that I would write 100 consecutive daily blog posts. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 11 Blogging Lessons From The Daily Mail Traffic Growth

  Marko Saric

  2 Feb 2012 | 1:00 am

  The Daily Mail is the biggest newspaper website online. Let’s take a look at the key ingredients for the success and what lessons bloggers can learn. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Should I blog for free or self-host my blog?

  Marko Saric

  31 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am

  Free blog hosting platforms like Blogspot, Tumblr and WordPress.com are a great way to get introduced to blogging and are a fine place to start. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Blogspot Blogger or WordPress: Which one should I use?

  Marko Saric

  26 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am

  Blogspot Blogger or WordPress - If you have bigger ambitions like creating a professional web presence or building a business from your blog, read on. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• How To Prevent A Facebook Epic Fail!

  Marko Saric

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am

  Facebook is great and growing at an impressive rate, but many blog owners have been extremely slow to react with Facebook’s ever changing marketing environment. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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  Shoemoney - Skills To Pay The Bills

• Why Most Affiliate Bloggers Don’t Last

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  8 Feb 2012 | 4:55 am

  Recently I got a interesting question: Shoe – How come you see all these affiliate bloggers startup,  deliver awesome content,  then dissapear into the woodwork?  I am talking about sites like Nickycakes,  bluehatseo, seoblackhat, ppc.bz and the like. That is a really good question. There are several reasons why people stop.  I would say the average lifespan of an affiliate blog is about 1 year… or 200 posts on average. When people start an affiliate blog they are super gung ho and want to show the world how smart they are.   And they are unbelievably smart……

• Questions About Affiliate Marketing

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  7 Feb 2012 | 5:53 pm

  I leave this morning to head to Los Angeles for the Startups Uncensored Event The morning of the event I am filming a 30 video series which will part of a free iPad/iPhone application. My section of the application is on affiliate marketing. I have a pretty extensive list of questions that I think people have on affiliate marketing but would love to hear from you. Please post what questions about affiliate marketing you would like to see in the series in the comments below.

• So you want to take over linkcontrol.com ?

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  7 Feb 2012 | 6:38 am

  Since we announced we were going to look for a partner for LinkControl.com to take it open source. The main qualification is pretty simple.  We are just looking for someone who has managed an opensoure project before. We have had a lot of people offer to do it but nobody has really maintained an opensource project. Please let us know if you are interested. 

• Retention and Aquisition Email Sequences

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:21 am

  About 6 months ago we started a new division of ShoeMoney called Elite Internet Solutions. This is a full service internet marketing company for business in the 1 million to 100 million in gross revenue range. We don’t solicit any business. Its all been word of mouth so far. One thing that amazes me is how many businesses neglect email. We divide emails into 2 things. Retention and Acquisition. The acquisition sequence is when a person gives their email directly on the site or the data was obtained by a 3rd party. We send them a series of emails which educate them about the company,…

• UFC143 Nick Diaz VS Carlos Condit

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  4 Feb 2012 | 2:58 pm

  All regular readers know I am a huge fan of the sport. Tonights UFC 143 event is so stacked with great fights. I am super pumped. JOSH KOSCHECK (@joshkoscheck) VS. MIKE PIERCE (@mikepierce170) I have known Josh going back to when we sponsored him in UFC 66. I have gone out with him a couple times in Las Vegas. Mike Pierce is a really good up and coming fighter. He had a very close fight with Kos’s teammate Jon Fitch not to long ago. Usually Kos is a little worse than Fitch so this is going to be a really close fight. I predict Josh Koscheck win by decision (lay and pray). Probably…

• 

  @ProBlogger

• How to Succinctly Report a Blog Issue to Tech Support

  Guest Blogger

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:07 am

  This guest post is by Matthew Setter of Malt Blue. How often do you find it happening to you? You discover an issue with your site, or one of your community members emails you to tell you about it, and soon you start to see tweets about it too. Maybe it’s as simple as an error message that detracts from the professional appearance of your site. Perhaps the contact form doesn’t send messages to your contact email address. Or is it that the whole site just displays as a blank page, otherwise known as the white page of death? You’re not a programmer, a software engineer or a seasoned…

• Make Your Blog Load Faster than ProBlogger: Part 2

  Guest Blogger

  7 Feb 2012 | 12:05 pm

  This guest post is by Devesh of WP Kube. A few months ago, I wrote a guest post here called How to Make Your Blog Load Faster than ProBlogger. Today, I’ll go into some more detailed advice to help you speed up your site even more. If you’re a blogger, you already know about the importance of blog loading speed, and the role it plays in search engine rank and marketing your blog. But if this is new territory for you, here are three quick reasons why you need to speed up your blog: Google includes website loading speed as an important metric in their ranking algorithm. If you want…

• How I Beat my Best Month Ever by Doing Something Good, Better [Case Study]

  Darren Rowse

  7 Feb 2012 | 6:04 am

  Mid-December 2010: on my photography site, we launched a new campaign—our first ever 12 Days of Christmas promotion. The result was my biggest month of earnings ever up to that point. The idea was simple: offer discounts on 12 products over the 12 days leading up to Christmas. I used a mix of my own ebooks and products from other photography sites with affiliate commissions. The result was massive. Not only did we see some great revenue generated, it created some lovely buzz on the site. Due to the success of the 2010 campaign, in mid-December 2011 we launched our second 12 Days of…

• Six Steps to Make Sure Your Site Is Ready to Go Viral

  Guest Blogger

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  This guest post is by Nancy Sathre-Vogel of Family on Bikes. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Surely Google Analytics was confusing my site with another, way more popular site. There was no way my visitor numbers could be so high! And yet they were. One of my posts had taken off and was spreading like wildfire. Those viral post phenomena that happen to others were now happening to me. The first day, 17,000 visitors came to my website. The next day we topped out at 56,000. Readers were coming in droves. It was exciting. It was exhilarating. My site, viral! Wow! And then I took a…

• How to Handle Criticism: a Practical Guide

  Darren Rowse

  5 Feb 2012 | 12:03 pm

  Image by Stuart RichardsAs bloggers, each of us has to deal with criticism. Blogging is a very public activity—almost all of us has the goal of gaining readers to our blogs—and the more people you reach, the more likely it is that you’ll hear criticisms. “You’re wrong…” “How can you say that? You don’t know what you’re talking about.” “I couldn’t disagree more…” “This is the last time I read this blog!” These are just some of the criticisms bloggers regularly face—I’ve received versions of…

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  Copyblogger

• How to Recover From a Social Media Hangover

  Cori Padgett

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  “Hello. My name is Cori and I’m a social media addict. “Today is day 1 of my commitment to give myself a regular break from technology and the foggy, uncreative haze it can unwittingly lead to.” I was reading a post the other day by blogger Michael Brenner at B2B Marketing Insider, talking about getting your social media game on. Of course, being the skimmer that I am, the first thing that caught my attention and made me go back and read the whole thing was his mention of having a Social Media Hangover. His hangover was induced by sometimes (as we all do) forgetting to…

• The “New” SEO Secret Weapon

  Sonia Simone

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  If you have a web site, you may have noticed one of two things about the traffic you get from search engines. Your search traffic may have dried up overnight, with once-healthy streams turning into a sad little trickle. Or you may have noticed a nice, steady improvement as you’ve climbed higher in the SERPs (search engine results pages), while other sites that used to outrank you suddenly evaporated. There’s a super-secret new ingredient in SEO. It was always a factor, but it’s become even more important recently, as the Google team relentlessly declares war on what they see…

• 8 Quick Tips for Writing Bullet Points People Actually Want to Read

  Robert Bruce

  7 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  It’s a Twitterized world, we’re just living in it. Blog posts, Tweets, quick videos, Google+, the Facebook Timeline, and tens of thousands of images pinned to digital boards are flying past us faster than we can read them. Faster than we can even scan them, depending on the time of day. What does this mean for writers trying to cut through it all? At least two things that I can think of: You’d better know how to write a compelling headline You’d better know how to write bullet points that grab (and keep) your reader We’re not telling you to keep your copy short.

• 7 Crucial Tactics for Writing a Wildly Successful Guest Post

  The Blog Tyrant

  6 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  We all know that guest posts grow blogs. But not many people realize that tactical guest posting grows careers. Most bloggers I see pump out these articles while reciting the mantra “quantity over quality”; there’s no real strategy and there are no real long-term benefits. In this post I am going to show you the seven crucial tactics for writing a radically successful guest post. Done right, these strategies will get you more email subscribers, coveted Google ranking positions, and a big head-start on your content marketing goals. Who am I to teach you about guest blogging?

• 7 Smashing Social Media Marketing Links

  Robert Bruce

  4 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  This week on The Lede … What really works on Twitter One thing social media copywriters should never do 9 productive social media hacks A reminder of the power of the original social media If you just can’t wait for The Lede every Saturday, and you want even more practical, useable links than the seven we highlight here every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter. It’s painless. Really. // 9 Social Media Hacks You Need to Embrace Now Mr. Baer makes a good case that though social media is inexpensive in monetary terms, it can get good and costly when it comes to spending your…

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  Lorelle on WordPress

• Prove It: What Makes You Trust a Website?

  Lorelle VanFossen

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:48 pm

  What makes you trust this site? What makes you trust me? What makes you trust any website you visit? What is it about the site that earns your trust? I’ve asked this question at most of the conferences and keynotes I’ve given over the past seven years. The answers are all over the map but [...]

• This Site Will Blackout Against SOPA and PIPA

  Lorelle VanFossen

  17 Jan 2012 | 12:09 pm

  I’m joining Wikipedia, Reddit, and millions of other concerned web users across the United States to blackout my site on January 18, 2012. WordPress is even against this. Traction is happening. SOPA appears to be dead in congress but PIPA is still alive and just as bad. When you land on Lorelle on WordPress on [...]

• Clark College WordPress Class in the News

  Lorelle VanFossen

  16 Jan 2012 | 12:42 pm

  Wow! I knew my Introduction to WordPress course at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, was getting a lot of attention around the world from those eager to get WordPress into their curriculum, I didn’t realize it would make so much noise so close to home. Check out “Blogging pioneer blazes trail for WordPress at Clark [...]

• Prove It: Kym Huynh Exposed

  Lorelle VanFossen

  16 Jan 2012 | 12:08 pm

  After reading Prove It: It’s Starts With Defining Who You Are as part of my Prove It Campaign, one of my best friends volunteered himself for a bio tearing and ripping as he is now involved in several startups that are gaining the attention of investors, which means everything he does online is now subject [...]

• January 18: Join Reddit in a National Blackout Day of Protest Against SOPA

  Lorelle VanFossen

  11 Jan 2012 | 9:25 pm

  On January 18, join Reddit and the country in protesting SOPA. Reddit announced they will black out their site January 18 for 12 hours in protest of the US government’s pursuit of the horrible SOPA act: The freedom, innovation, and economic opportunity that the Internet enables is in jeopardy. Congress is considering legislation that will [...]