Destinations
48 Hours In New York
There’s never a bad time to take a bite out of the Big Apple, but the gentle months of spring, sandwiched between bitter winter and sweltering summer, are when New York is at its most welcoming. But there’s more to entice you beyond the blissfully sunny days…
— The Independent
36 Hours in Louisville
While the world turns its attention to Louisville annually on the first Saturday in May for the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby (May 7 this year), the city itself has been on a development tear that warrants attention beyond race season…
— New York Times
Tours and Activities
Exclusive: Disney announces weddings inside the Magic Kingdom
Is marriage on your horizon? Do you love the Disney theme parks almost as much as you love your fiancé? Imagine this fantasy scenario: It's your wedding day, and you ride up Main Street U.S.A. in Cinderella's horse-drawn carriage accompanied by bewigged, royal coachmen…
— USA Today
Something else to see in Canada's polar bear country: white whales
The Canadian town of Churchill on Hudson Bay has its share of polar bears, but in summer you can see the all-white beluga whales that migrate into the warm waters. This trip takes you there -- with plenty of wildlife viewing opps…
— LA Times
Family-friendly festivals, fun and adventures for the May Day weekend
If you’re after a timeless outdoor escapade, then the brand new A Day At The Lake festival (30 April-2 May) is worth travelling for. The beautiful Rudyard Lake, in Staffordshire, was a popular spot for day-trippers in the late 1800s, and the festival re-imagines the lake as it was during its Victorian heyday…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Crystal to Offer Most Tours for Free on River Ships
Crystal River Cruises, the river arm of luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises, has published the list of shore excursions for Crystal Mozart's maiden season, and the majority of them will be complimentary…
— CruiseCritic.com
Disney cruise ship rescues 3 fugitives wanted in New Orleans
A Walt Disney Co. cruise ship has rescued three fugitives off the coast of Cuba who were wanted in New Orleans. U.S. Marshal Amos Rojas Jr. said in a news release that last Thursday, the Disney Fantasy cruise ship found the fugitives clinging to a capsized boat. He says all three were wanted for violating their supervised release on federal credit card fraud charges in New Orleans…
— The Times-Picayune
Transportation
How to survive a long-haul flight
As the ambitions and expansion plans of low-cost airlines such as Norwegian and Wow suggest, the demand for long-haul leisure travel is growing fast. It’s a trend which was confirmed by the results of our survey of Telegraph Travel readers which we published this month. Some 16 out of your top 20 favourite countries involve a flight of more than 12 hours - if you are travelling from Britain of course. Only one - Italy - is less than eight hours away…
— Telegraph (London)
United Airlines pilot surprises solider son by flying him home after deployment
A United Airlines pilot pulled off the welcome home party of a lifetime by surprising his son returning to the U.S after a long deployment in Kuwait. Captain Mario Lopes, who is based in the Washington, D.C. area, agreed to pilot a military-chartered flight on April 14, taking his son’s unit back to the states—and the young soldier had no idea his father was in the cockpit…
— Fox Travel News
Baby born mid-flight named after airline
Chances are baby boy Saw Jet Star will raise more than a few eyebrows when…
— CNN
Lodging
The 5 Best New Design Hotels in the World
In an age when any pretender can plop an Eames chair in the lobby and call itself a design hotel, these challengers are reclaiming the name…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Among America's Hottest Hotels, What's Old is New Again
For a while there, it seemed like every search for a boutique hotel resulted in slick-design this and oontz-oontz that. But nowadays there’s a different trend afoot. Instead of the most cutting-edge materials and severe looks, rooms are tricked out with the original bones of a century-old building, or wooden floorboards with nicks and scuffs…
— Travel Leisure
Other and Odd
Comcast buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8 billion deal
On Thursday, Comcast (CMCSA) said shareholders in DreamWorks will receive $41 in cash per share of stock -- a roughly 50% premium from where the stock was trading before the merger talks were reported earlier this week. Comcast said it expects the deal to pass regulatory muster and take effect by the end of the year…
— CNN Money
The Time Is Now: Why More Millennials Are Choosing World Travel Over Steady Careers
You’ve seen the articles and photos from young travel bloggers as they backpack their way through Europe and relax on tropical beaches. It seems like such a glamorous life, but is it really all it’s cracked up to be? Millennials are making it their mission to find out…
— The Huffington Post
Today in History
Joan of Arc enters Orleans
For over 116 years, France and England were at war. The English House of Plantagenet and the French House of Valois both claimed the French throne based on lineage. In April of 1429, the French city of Orleans was under siege by the English. The battle was a stalemate. English forces were not strong enough to break through the city's wall, but supplies within Orleans were dangerously low…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
Carmen Schaffer, Viva La Vida Travel
by Susan Schaefer
Friday April 29, 2016
 What do you do when your low-paying, nonprofit job lays you off due to budget cuts? If you are Carmen Schaffer, Viva La Vida Travel, you assess your passions and end up in the travel industry. We recently caught up with Carmen and talked to her about her transition into the travel industry and what the past five years have been like for her.
Travel Research Online (TRO): What was the impetus for your entrance into the travel industry?
Carmen Shaffer (CS): I had been doing social work since I graduated college, primarily working for nonprofit organizations, but about 5 years ago I was the victim of budget cuts. I have always been intrigued by travel and other cultures. I went to France when I was…
— Travel Research Online
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Reading Between the Lines
Putting Out of Your Mind: Stop Worrying
“Your problem is that you’re worrying about speed instead of putting to make it.”
Putting Out of Your Mind: Dr. Bob Rotella, page 100
Speed: The Light Is Always Green
The white ball is not moving. It is still and it is right in front of you. The hole is off in the distance, not too far away. All you have to do is aim at the hole and hit the ball with the stick you are holding. How hard can it be?…
— Travel Research Online
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Luxury Travel Tips
Travel Consumerism Comes With A Price – The Experience
by Dan Chappelle
Friday April 29, 2016
 The six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is a special time in our home. Like most families, we have our “Griswold” like traditions. The biggest being the annual tree excursion. This always takes place the day after Thanksgiving – no exceptions. As our girls have gotten older, their boyfriends have thankfully helped out. They have been good sports as we (my wife) often spend hours searching for that “perfect” tree.
Once we get home, the annual ordeal of getting the tree just right in the stand, and then the decorating begins. This is one of our favorite traditions. When we travel, we always purchase a simple ornament from each country or city we visit to hang on the tree. As each ornament is strategically placed on a branch, we fondly recall each trip and what it meant to us. The wonderful family times we had including the teenage meltdowns (particularly the one in Budapest). Needless to say, this process goes on into the night…
— Travel Research Online
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TRO and The Travel Institute Scholarship Program
TRO believes ongoing training is important to the health of the travel professional. Therefore, we have partnered with The Travel Institute to assist travel agents to earn their Certified Travel Associate designation. TRO will be awarding a $100 scholarship to at least one attendee of TRO webinars each webinar. If you want to be considered for the scholarship you need only to register here:
http://www.thetravelinstitute.com/troscholarship/
…and then attend TRO’s webinars. Winners will be selected and notified immediately after each webinar!
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