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Tuesday April 30, 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

What it's like to vacation in Iraq
When you're deciding your next vacation destination, it's unlikely that Iraq will be top of your list. The Middle Eastern country has long been synonymous with conflict or turmoil -- and the idea of wandering Baghdad snapping photos seems pretty far fetched. But Norwegian photographer Christian Lindgren did just that -- jetting off to Iraq for…

How a DNA test led to a Kenyan safari adventure
Tracey Cheatham didn't come to Kenya for the animals. She came for the people. The doctor from Las Vegas has spent a year planning this trip with her lawyer husband Mark McIntire to celebrate her 50th birthday. They've flown the 300-kilometer trip from Nairobi to The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, in the far north of the Laikipia Plateau,…

A Friend's Final Wish In Ireland
I watched tremulously as my fiancé, Alan, steadied himself and his camera on a craggy edge of the Cliffs of Moher, facing the wild Irish waters. Through the torrent of rain and gusts, all I could think was ‘please don’t fall in’. We had caravanned from the nearby village of Doolin alongside a crew of friends for a rehearsal. The next day, in the…

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Tours and Activities

The Best Summer Trips for Solo Travelers
Craving some adventure this summer? The notion of a solo trip might be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get past the initial fear of traveling alone, the benefits of vacationing by yourself become evident. For starters, there’s something incredibly fulfilling and empowering about embarking on an independent getaway. It’s an…

Visiting Tokyo's Imperial Palace
Didn't receive an invitation to this week's abdication ceremony of Japanese Emperor Akihito on May 30 or the coronation of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, on May 1? The good news is you can join the country's biggest "after party" at their home. On May 4, the newly crowned Naruhito and his wife, Masako, will make their first…

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Cruise

New Royal Caribbean Cruise Dining Packages Now Available for Purchase
Royal Caribbean spent the month of April introducing two new dining packages, which are now available to booked cruisers for purchase. The new Unlimited Dining Package and Chops Plus 1 Package are essentially updated versions of the line's previous dining packages, with a wider variety of inclusions and more flexibility, but also higher price…

Chartering A Yacht Instead Of Booking A Luxury Hotel
For her 40th birthday two years ago, Sam Owens knew she wanted to have a blowout bash with friends. Owens—who lives in London and works in fashion merchandising—debated between booking out a boutique hotel or renting a large house. The group wanted the space a house would provide, but also hotel amenities and service. She was…

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Transportation

JetBlue Is Expanding Its Use of Facial Recognition Technology
Having your face scanned to ensure you are who you say you are may sound like something out of a dystopian film or science-fiction movie, but that’s exactly where the future of air travel is heading. Through a partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, JetBlue has been verifying the identity of passengers using facial recognition…

American, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines hit by brief computer outage — again
Travelers on American, Alaska and JetBlue airlines ran into travel trouble Monday during a brief computer outage, the second in a month. Passengers took to Twitter to complain about not being able to check in for flights or book flights among other issues, and lines began to form at some airports as some airlines had to write manual tickets.…

Two planes collide at East Midlands airport
Two planes collided during foggy weather this morning at East Midlands airport. A Ryanair plane clipped a stationary Jet2 aircraft while it was taxiing to the stand at the Derbyshire airport. No passengers were onboard either aircraft at the time of the incident and no-one was injured. A Ryanair spokesperson told The Independent: “One of our…

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Lodging

Airbnb Faces New Competition as Marriott Offers Home Rentals
Marriott is hitting back at Airbnb, which has been expanding its reach into the hotel industry, by rolling out its own home-rental service. Next week, Marriott said it would start renting 2,000 homes in 100 cities across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. Its expansion into the home-rental space coincides with Airbnb’s expansion into the hotel…

Pretend You Live in 'Jurassic Park' With These Bubble Hotels on a Volcanic Island
The main attraction of Jurassic Park was clearly the dinosaurs. But if there were no dinosaurs on Isla Nublar, it would have made for a pretty solid vacation anyhow. (Especially if Mr. DNA was still your tour guide for no particular reason.) That's not far from what you'll get with a new adventure from Off the Map Travel. The journey will take you to…

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Other and Odd

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Great Travel Headphones That Aren't Bose
For most travelers, the first name that comes up when talking about headphones is Bose. You can see passengers of every age, gender and dress donning them on pretty much every flight and, in fact, Forbes Finds named the Bose QuietComfort 35 II the best travel headphones of the year. But there are so many other brands out there offering…

16 Diaper Bags and Backpacks to Keep You Organized When Traveling With Baby
Parenthood may be the most rewarding experiences ever but it’s also one that challenges and overwhelms you on a daily basis. And taking the first trip with baby is often one of those challenges. Even a short flight or a train ride requires you to take half of your little one’s items — toys, diapers, wipes, more toys, pacifiers, bottles, a change…

Today in History

George Washington Takes Office
On this date in 1789, George Washington took the oath of office at Federal Hall in New York City to become the first president of the United States. He remains the only president ever to have received 100% of the Electoral College votes. John Adams was elected as his…

Press Releases of Interest

Katarina Line Offers Last-Minute Two-for-One Cruise Specials On Popular Routes Along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast
Award-winning small ship cruise company Katarina Line is offering last-minute two-for-one specials on select cruises along the Adriatic coastline that include some of the company’s most popular routes, available only during the month of May 2019. The specials represent…

Central Holidays Presents Week-long Booking Bonus for Travel Advisor Appreciation Day
Moonachie, NJ – April 30, 2019 – Central Holidays is honoring travel advisor partners by offering a $100 gift card for every new booking! The award-winning travel brand is celebrating National Travel Advisor Day all week long from May 1 - May 7, 2019!…

60-Second Geography

Uyuni's Bare Beauty
by Joseph DeLoach
Tuesday April 30, 2019

In the southwest corner of Bolivia, nestled in between rugged mountainous terrain and the world’s biggest salt flats, Uyuni is often overlooked town in the middle of nowhere. Yet, this small town of approximately 10,000 people receives almost 60,000 tourists a year. Thanks to Marnella Tours, today’s 60-Second Geography is all about this fascinating town and what to do there.

  — Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives

Change Your World

Some people walk around looking as if they have just lost their best friend. These people are communicating to the world that life is, and will continue to be, an unfair experience. Daily existence is a total drag while life offers nothing in return for their “showing up.”

If you know one or more of these types (and I’m betting that you do) let me suggest that trying to improve the future of anyone engaged in an exercise in self-pity is often an exercise in futility.

Don't think that it is your responsibility to get these people singing happy songs. Your job is to get your thinking straight, in gear and firmly positioned so that you can contribute to those eager to enjoy the…

  — Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities


Journey to Laos and Beyond with Lao Airlines

Journey to Laos and Beyond with Lao Airlines

Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT

Join us for an educational and fun journey to Laos and beyond with Lao Airlines.

Register Now ➠


Culinary Travel in China and Asia

Culinary Travel in China and Asia

Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT

Thanks to Food Network launched in 1993, America has become more sophisticated with how food should look, prepared and taste. Thanks to Food Network success, many TV culinary shows are dominating our TV landscapes now with celebrity chefs such Gordon Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen), Mario Batali and Bobby Flay (Iron Chef America), Andrew Zimmern with Bizarre Foods, and of course from the late Anthony Bourdain. Chef Bourdain is well-known to bridge the food and the local culture that makes it more up-close and personal, on how we look at food preparation and how the locals consume them.

Register Now ➠


Blue-Roads Touring Co Expands Small Group Touring Portfolio!

Blue-Roads Touring Co Expands Small Group Touring Portfolio!

Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT

Join us for an informative webinar about Blue-Roads Touring Co, the experts in small group travel for almost 30 years! Known for their leisurely paced itineraries through Europe, Blue-Roads Touring Co has now expanded into Asia, and by the end of May will expand into the USA as well.

Register Now ➠


Learn About Air Astana: award winning carrier from the Heart of Eurasia

Learn About Air Astana: award winning carrier from the Heart of Eurasia

Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT

Join us for a webinar featuring Eurasia’s Awards wining 4-Star SkyTrax carrier - Air Astana.

Register Now ➠







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