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Thursday February 07, 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

How this Australian tourist town rose from the ashes
It's only the forest of swaying Eucalyptus trees, marking the path up toward Steavenson Falls in Marysville, Victoria that betrays a hint of the calamity inflicted here 10 years ago. This forest tourist town in Australia was so badly ravaged by the intense flames of a raging bushfire on February 7, 2009 it was wiped off the map. Some trunks still wear a blackened…

36 Hours in San Juan
Nearly a year and a half after Hurricane Maria, stories of hope and progress are emerging in Puerto Rico, just as the island’s tropical vegetation is flourishing once again. While there is still much work to be done, and some rural areas might not fully recover for years, the capital of San Juan has been humming along for months. With a few exceptions, shops, hotels…

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Tours and Activities

Bosnia's intriguing dessert made by 12 hands
Winters are dear to 53-year-old Azemina Ahmedbegović. Not because she is a big fan of snow or the cold, but because when she was growing up in the central Bosnian city of Visoko, this is when important social events would take place. These were special occasions, where friends and family would come together for ćetenija, a traditional Bosnian dessert made of…

The UK’s best living museums: readers’ top 10 travel tips
My daughter loves the school at this living museum at Newtonmore (on the Highland train line). She is taken back to when Granny was at school, with a strict teacher overseeing proceedings. The challenge is completing the writing test without smudging the ink, avoiding the dreaded Tawse (the thick leather belt that sends a shiver down her granny’s spine). The…

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Cruise

Princess Cruises to Unveil Family-Friendly Pool Deck, Splash Zone on Caribbean Princess
In preparation for Caribbean Princess' summer season in the Caribbean, Princess Cruises will replace the ship's Pirate's View aft pool on Deck 17 with an all-new Reef Family Splash Zone. The line revealed details of the new concept, which will include a kiddie pool as well as ample lounging space; the existing pool, hot tub and bar also will be upgraded with new signage…

Princess Cruises resumes calls after private island in the Bahamas catches on fire
Princess Cruises is resuming calls to its Princess Cays private island in Eleuthera, Bahamas, after a fire Jan. 28 damaged an operations buildings on the island's south side. The first scheduled call is Monday. A fire broke out late Jan. 28 on Princess Cruises' private island in Eleuthera, Bahamas, the cruise line confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY. The fire occurred at…

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Transportation

Love Southwest Airlines? You could fly for free as a 'Storyteller'
If you've got an Instagram account, you could fly for free on Southwest Airlines as a winner of its Storyteller Contest. The budget airline is looking for 10 "social influencers" to explore its destinations in the United States, Mexico, Caribbean and Central America while creating "compelling content that will inspire others to create their own travel stories." To enter,…

United adds upgrade-friendly premium seats in battle for big spenders
Looking for an upgrade? Tired of cramped regional jets? United wants to be your airline. United says it’s adding more than 1,600 premium seats to about 250 of its aircraft, part of an effort to compete against rivals for high-spending road warriors. The carrier is even planning to introduce a new type of 50-seat regional jet. Complete with first-class seats and a…

Retired Boeing 747 makes epic final road trip
A decommissioned Boeing 747-400, once flown commercially by Dutch airline KLM, is now undertaking an unusual final trip. Acquired by Corendon Hotels & Resorts, the aircraft recently made its final departure from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport -- by road. On February 10, the plane formerly known as the "City of Bangkok" will travel almost eight miles (12.5 kilometers) to…

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Lodging

Checking Into a Former Monastery in Tel Aviv: Inside The Jaffa Hotel
Rumors flew in 2015 that W Hotels was bringing an outpost to Israel’s 24/7 beachfront metropolis. It seemed indicative of the feeling here—the cool hipster wave washing through Tel Aviv’s galleries, innovative restaurants, and buzzing nightlife, the neighborhood of Jaffa in the thick of it. Now, finally, the doors of the 120-room hotel are open—not as a W, but as part of…

The Chef Behind the World's Best Restaurant Is Opening an Inn in Italy This Spring
World-class Osteria Francescana chef, restaurateur, Chef’s Table star: Massimo Bottura has plenty of accolades under his belt, and he’s about to add another—innkeeper. This spring, Bottura and his wife, Lara Gilmore, will open a 12-room inn in Emilia-Romagna, near Modena, reports The Wall Street Journal. This is the first time Bottura has delved into the hotel realm,…

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Other and Odd

Discounts to insurance: Many ways seniors can save on travel
Most seniors have more free time for leisure activities including travel, but money is tighter when the paychecks stop at retirement. Retirees who want to travel can make those trips more affordable by taking advantage of senior discounts and through less obvious strategies. Many of the tips offered by travel experts work just as well for anyone, regardless of age,…

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: Travel Gifts To Spark Joy In Marie Kondo Fans
Since Netflix premiered “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on January 1, Americans have found themselves happily cleaning out their closets and following the tiny tidy-er’s advice to toss anything that doesn’t “spark joy.” Kondo has shown viewers how to fold, organize and experience what she originally called, in her bestselling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”…

Travel Agent Wanted for Defrauding Dozens
What seemed to be a great deal ended up being a giant farse. At least two dozen people tell Telemundo 44 they were scammed by a travel agency in Hyattsville, Maryland, that promised them airline tickets to Central America and Mexico at low costs. Police in Prince George's County are now looking for the accused travel agent. According to the victims, the…

Today in History

Charles Dickens is born
The great English novelist Charles Dickens, was born on February 7, 1812. Dickens was born in Landport, Portsmouth in Hampshire, the second of eight children in a solidly middle class family. However, financial hardship befell the family and his father was sent to a debtor's prison.…

Press Releases of Interest

South African Airways Offers Special Travel Industry Fares For 2019 Tourism Shows In South Africa
Fort Lauderdale, FL (February 6, 2019) - South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa is offering special travel fares in both Premium Business and Economy Class to our travel partners and industry colleagues that are planning to attend the International Luxury…

Luxury Travel Tips

Great Service in Unexpected Places
by Dan Chappelle
Thursday February 07, 2019

One recent afternoon, my wife decided the down cushions and covers from our sofa could use a good cleaning. Being too large for our own washer and dryer, a trip to a commercial laundry was in order.

That evening, armed with detergent, dryer sheets and about $15 in quarters, I loaded up the car and headed to the only laundromat I knew of close to our home. After hauling everything inside, I tried to stuff a cushion into a washer only to discover the equipment was actually smaller than our…

  — Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives

Here Is Another Great Idea

Have you ever had a good idea that went “south” faster than a Nolan Ryan fastball?

If not, then you are not doing enough of whatever it is you are doing. If failure is the fastest way to success, (which I have been known to say), I am fast on my way to the top shelf. A few days ago I thought I had a good idea. As it turned out…I didn’t.

Let me share my faux pas with you.…

  — Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »

Upcoming Training Opportunities


Selling Central Asia: Yearly Update

Selling Central Asia: Yearly Update

Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST

Very little information has appeared about the region of Central Asia in books and articles until recently due to two main two reasons:

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Fly the Dream of Africa with RwandAir

Fly the Dream of Africa with RwandAir

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST

Operating from Kigali, Rwanda as our hub at the heart of Africa, RwandAir is one of the fastest growing airlines and operates one of the youngest and state of the art fleet on the African continent.

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