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Wednesday January 16, 2019

Editor’s Note — TRO wants to remind its Travelgram readers the articles presented here are meant to assist you in remaining informed and prepared to discuss travel news of the day with clients.


Destinations

The Best 2019 Travel Destinations For Each Zodiac Sign
Ready to escape town this year but unsure where to book your next trip? Follow the stars! Seriously. Your horoscope may predict what's ahead, so why not look to the zodiac to figure out where to next? Your sign interprets your personality better than any airline mile calculator can, whether you're an adventure-seeking Aries or homebody-ish Cancer…

An expert travel guide to Dublin
Gregarious, energetic Dublin has turned its face to the world ever since the Vikings established a trading settlement here in the ninth century. Today, it continues as a vibrant urban centre and a developing international transport hub, as well as a European national capital with a cultural infrastructure to match. Come here to appreciate an evident way with words,…

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Tours and Activities

Feeling adventurous? Try your hand at travel roulette
Travel roulette. Shoe mogul Stuart Weitzman does it. Instagram influencers are playing it to up their follower-game. And regular people are trying it to get out of their travel ruts. The rules are simple: Show up at the airport. Book the first flight you see. Leave. Sure, there are practicalities to consider: How do you pack for a trip that could take you to Alaska or to…

These Romantic Valentine's Day Travel Experiences Will Bring Couples Closer Than Ever
It’s no secret that travel compatibility is important in a relationship. And the more you travel with your partner, the more you learn about each other. Traveling with someone you love is an opportunity to not just experience new places and cultures together, but to see sides of yourself and your S.O. that you didn’t even know existed. Recently in Bali, my fiancé and I…

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Cruise

16-year-old dies after falling from Royal Caribbean cruise ship
A teenage passenger lost his footing while trying to get onto the balcony of his room aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and plummeted to his death, officials say. The 16-year-old, identified by the Broward Medical Examiner’s Office as Laurent Mercer, was with his family on the cruise, which was docked in Haiti when the fall happened Jan. 11, according to…

Here’s what Virgin has planned for its cruise ship suites. Think party like a rockstar.
Want a spot at “Richard’s Rooftop” — a members-only club named for Virgin’s founder, Sir Richard Branson — aboard Virgin Voyages’ first cruise ship? Then you’ll have to book one of its 78 suites when tickets go on sale next month, the company said Wednesday. The suites — dubbed RockStar Suites — will have a retro style, featuring black, mirror-like wall sections, gold accents, and mounted guitars, an homage to Virgin’s roots as a record…

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Transportation

TSA Confirms 'Sick Out' Affecting Airports: What to Know Before You Travel During the Government Shutdown
The government shutdown is having a major impact on the country’s airports. Here’s everything you need to know before you travel. As the longest shutdown in U.S. history continues, more agencies are feeling its impact. While airlines are privately owned and can continue to operate, an estimated 51,000 TSA agents are among the 800,000 government employees who…

How To Use Stopovers And Open Jaws To Save On Travel
We all want to maximize our return on investment when it comes to airline miles. After all, the farther you can stretch those hard-earned miles, the more destinations you can check off the map without having to shell out any extra miles. Stopovers and open jaws are an excellent way to do just that. With a little research and planning, you can use these tools to…

Amtrak Is Giving Away Free Trips on Its Most Scenic Routes
There's no question that planes are most efficient when you need to get somewhere quickly, but there will always be something charming about trekking cross-country by train. Yeah, it's slower, but it's also arguably a more comfortable and social experience, not to mention it comes with some uniquely scenic views you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere…

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Lodging

The best wellness retreats for 2019
Once, a simple hangover breakfast might have sufficed for a reset on January 1, but not today: The world is moving lightning fast and keeping up doesn't generally include taking a moment to breathe. So, it's no surprise that the retreat trend continues to grow: According to the Global Wellness Institute, worldwide wellness was a $4.2 trillion industry in 2017, with $639…

This Charlotte hotel is about to get a million-dollar renovation
The DoubleTree by Hilton Charlotte Airport hotel is getting a $1.5 million facelift thanks to new management. The hotel on Yorkmont Road was purchased by Phoenix American Hospitality, a Dallas-based hotel fund manager, in 2015 for just over $14 million, property records show. But the company just took over management of the hotel on Jan. 1. The new…

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Other and Odd

The Race to Visit Every Country in the World: Women Who Travel Podcast
It isn't every day that we have someone Skype into the podcast from Lake Malawi—but this week's guest is Jessica Nabongo, who's well on her way to becoming the first black woman to visit every country in the world. This episode, we're catching up with Jessica (currently on 151 of 195 U.N.-recognized countries) about everything she's learned so…

The Upgrade: 4 Apps For Women Who Travel Solo
Solo travel is one of those journeys that can help you discover yourself and change your mindset forever. We believe that every woman should go on a solo adventure at least once, but we’d be lying if we didn’t acknowledge that it can be scary and challenging for many people. From worries over navigating foreign language barriers to safety and combating loneliness,…

Australia wants you to stop taking wombat selfies
Australia is home to some of the world's creepiest creatures (drop bears, anyone?), but it's also home to some of the cutest. Maria Island, just off the eastern coast of Tasmania, is inhabited by a large number of wombats, the adorable marsupials known for their resemblance to teddy…

Today in History

The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution Ratified
On this day in 1920, the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution went into effect, initiating Prohibition. The new law forbade the sale, manufacture, transportation and consumption of alcohol throughout the United States. The primary support for Prohibition came from Protestants of…

Press Releases of Interest

‘New Year New Career’ Kicks Off 2019
FRAMINGHAM, MA, January 8, 2019 – The Travel Institute is kicking off 2019 with its New Year New Career focus on new agent training and specialization in continued support of the influx of new agents entering the travel industry and for experienced advisors looking to continue…

Point-to-Point

Top 10 Best Experiences to Have in Europe
by ShoreTrips
Wednesday January 16, 2019

If you don’t have your Europe wish list handy, go ahead and toss it aside because you’re going to need a new one altogether after this. Instead of the usual European vacation, conjure up the kind of bucket list experiences you’ll always remember from speed boats, golf cart tours, icy hideaways, and snowmobiling across glaciers. Here’s what to do and see in Europe to remember for a lifetime.

1. Ride on a Glacier in Iceland

  — Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives

A Reminder From Talk Show Host — Larry King

I may be dating myself on this one, but I will give it a shot knowing that many of my readers do not know of or have ever heard of Larry King. In a nutshell, he was a TV interviewer who invited famous people to his show to entertain viewers wanting to see behind the curtain. It was a good show. Similar to today’s night-time shows hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth McFarland among a host of others.

Here is a message I received while watching Larry King one evening a few years…

  — Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities


Small Group Touring through Europe

Small Group Touring through Europe

Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST

Join us for an informative webinar as we learn more about Small Group Touring with the newly rebranded, Blue-Roads Touring Co! Within this webinar, we will uncover the story behind their new North American name, Blue-Roads Touring Co, explore their 6 key selling features to help you sell more effectively and efficiently, gain insight into their European and Asia tour portfolio, and finish with an exciting announcement on a new destination coming this summer!

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