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Thursday December 12, 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

10 of the trendiest destinations you should really visit in 2020
Trendy destinations may vary from year to year or season to season, but often the biggest hot spots remain the same. Or do they? Recent data suggests people are beginning to explore other parts of popular regions. Companies including Expedia, VRBO, Scott's Cheap Flights, Lonely Planet, Contiki and others have all released travel trends for 2020. And some reports showed an uptick…

13 best things to do in the Brazilian state of São Paulo
The biggest city in Brazil justifiably hogs the superlatives -- the biggest this! The most that! The tallest this! The longest that! -- but São Paulo is not only about its headline-stealing concrete jungle of a capital. The state of the same name plays no second fiddle, clocking in at slightly bigger than the United Kingdom, much of it rolling pastoral countryside, jungly Atlantic rainforest and…

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Tours and Activities

The mystery that still surrounds Turin Shroud
When she was 24, Emanuela Marinelli was walking near the Vatican in Rome when she caught a glimpse of a "beautiful face of Christ" printed on a souvenir in the window of a shop run by nuns. The image, she said, stood out among the other items for sale -- a kitschy array of ashtrays with the face of the Pope and plastic representations of Jesus on the cross, with eyes that opened and closed. "It…

You Can Meet Santa's Reindeer on This Farm in Washington
We know there’s Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen... but wouldn’t you love to see Santa’s reindeer team in person? Thanks to the many animal experiences that are now available on Airbnb, people can get into the spirit of Christmas by visiting Santa’s Reindeer Herd on a farm in western Washington. The farm, Santa’s Reindeer Company in Eatonville, is a small, family-owned…

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Cruise

California official floats a new idea: House homeless on a cruise ship
Rebecca Kaplan was reading an old article about hurricanes when she got the idea. The violent wind storms typically aren’t a concern for the Oakland, California, City Council president's constituents, but a creative solution for housing the storm victims caught her eye. If cruise ships could be used as emergency housing in natural disasters, maybe they could be used to help in Oakland’s…

National Geographic Endurance Cruise Ship Floats Out in Norway
Lindblad Expeditions celebrated the float out of National Geographic Endurance, the line's first-ever cruise ship designed specifically for polar cruising, at the Ulstein Verft shipyard in Norway on Dec. 7. The float-out milestone marks the first time a ship touches water. The 126-passenger vessel is built with the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) of any purpose-built passenger ship, which means that…

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Transportation

Southwest’s Latest Sale Has $39 One-way Tickets — but You Have to Act Fast
Southwest Airlines is at it again. On Tuesday, the U.S.-based airline launched yet another stellar sale on airline tickets across the country. And, like its previous sales this year, this one comes with tickets as low as $39 one-way. But, again like its other sales, this one has a pretty tight time limit so if you want in, you better act fast. The four-day sale only runs through midnight (Pacific Time)…

The best new European rail journeys for 2020
And now for some good news … rail operators across Europe are responding to a growing interest in travel by train with the launch of a number of new services. Particularly exciting for fans of sleeper trains is the launch of several new overnight services, in a welcome reversal of a recent trend among operators to drop night trains. The switchover to new 2020 timetables takes place in the early…

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Lodging

Hot Hotels: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Back in November, the creator of Le Manoir, Raymond Blanc OBE celebrated a double milestone: his 70th birthday and 35 years as the holder of two Michelin stars. But, when V.F. visited his Oxfordshire bolthole, we found his finger more on the pulse than ever. Jump on a train from Marylebone and speed out of London towards rural bliss, reaching the hotel’s nearest station in just 45 minutes. If…

Hotel serves Buddy the Elf's chocolate spaghetti
Buddy the Elf's famous spaghetti dish just got chocolatey upgrade -- and "son of a nutcracker," does it sound sweet. The dish, inspired by Will Ferrell's character's favorite food in the holiday film "Elf" is available to order on Dec. 16 at Chicago's Virgin Hotel. The is the second year the spaghetti is on the menu, but this time, it features hand-made chocolate pasta and is part of a pop-up candy…

The Top Pet-Friendly Hotels In Washington, D.C.
The capital of the United States should be a place for everyone, including its four-legged citizens. Fortunately, it is. Diplomatic dogs and federally-minded felines will find they’re welcome at many hotels throughout Washington, D.C.’s distinct neighborhoods, and they won’t even have to make donations to get ahead here; unlike many cities, it’s common for hotels to welcome pets free of charge…

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Other and Odd

Fake travel agent scammed people out of $400K for 'tickets to nowhere,' authorities say
A Pennsylvania woman was charged Wednesday after allegedly posing as a fake travel agent in a scheme that raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Christine Hayes, 38, is accused of stealing money from at least 82 people by tricking them into buying $400,000 worth of vacation deals, according to a press release from Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “She misled…

More Cuba Travel Restrictions Just Took Effect
In June, the Trump administration announced new measures for travel and trade to Cuba that barred Americans from visiting the island via cruise or under the “people to people” visa, formerly two of the most popular ways to travel to the island. Then, in October, Trump announced that he would be cutting flights from the United States to most Cuban airports, which finally rolled into effect…

Today in History

The First African American Congressman
On December 12, 1870, Joseph Hayne Rainey became the first African American to be elected and serve in the United States House of Representatives. Another African American, Hiram Revels, had earlier been appointed to the U.S. Senate, but Rainey was elected a congressman from the state of South…

Departures

Shirakawa-go: Forgotten By Time

Deep in the heart of mountains, Shirakawa-go is a vivid image of old Japan. Thatched roof houses sit under forest covered mountains. Every season seems to be accentuated, from the white snow of winter to the bright green grass of summer. National parks dot the area around, while a gorgeous river runs directly through the small village. Shirakawa-go is a view of ancient Japan and splendor of lush country…

  — Travel Research Online
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Spotlight

Santorini: Weddings and Honeymoons
by Joseph DeLoach
Thursday December 12, 2019

There are many reasons to visit the paradise known as Santorini. It is home to some of the famous and stunning white-washed houses found along many of the islands in the Cyclades. Almost all cafes and restaurants have a view of the azure waters. Nights bring starry skies, the revelry of nightclubs and bars. These traits make Santorini perfect for the start of a new life together - whether it be weddings or honeymoons.

The setting for a wedding creates the mood for a lifetime of partnership; and, there are many options on the island for this aesthetic when tying the knot. For instance, the dramatic background of the caldera cliff side. Suspended 200 meters above the Aegean…

  — Travel Research Online
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Luxury Travel Tips

Life and the Holidays are all about the Choices We Make
by Dan Chappelle
Thursday December 12, 2019

First, you must know how much our family loves the holidays. When we were shopping for our home years ago, the first thing my wife looked for is where to put the Christmas tree. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is required viewing for some families. For us, Love Actually is our favorite as we gather in our home for this annual event.

As is tradition, the day after Thanksgiving, we all pile into the truck and head out to a local tree farm nestled in hills of the lower Cascades – not far from our home. This is the story of an experience we had several years ago. Like a great vacation, it made for lasting memories.

Over the years our entourage has grown from the four of…

  — Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives

Coaching Beats Good Intentions

The single most important difference between amateurs and elite performers is that the elite performers sought out teachers and coaches while they were still amateurs.

The more skilled a person is at their craft, the more likely it is that they have a coach to guide them. This goes for Olympic athletes, pro football players, musicians, TV celebrities, movie stars, and singers.

All of these “competitors” and “students” know and appreciate the difference between criticism and coaching. At virtually every award ceremony, isn’t it the coach who is publicly recognized early in the acceptance…

  — Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities


Australis 101

Australis 101

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST

Navigating the Patagonian waterways for 29 years, Australis offers passengers an exclusive look into remote areas of the region, that include visits to glaciers, sub-polar forests and a view of amazing marine and terrestrial wildlife.

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