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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 21 Best Budget Travel Destinations For 2020
From Milos, Greece to Dahab, Egypt this year’s list of the best budget travel destinations has something for every kind of traveler. Whether you want to explore vibrant Rajasthan in India or relax in style on Lovina, the lesser-known side of Bali, Indonesia, this list has you covered. This is the sixth iteration of my annual Forbes list and in the spirit of keeping…
— Forbes
Kylie Minogue's 'Matesong' Will Convince You to Go to Australia in 2020
Kylie Minogue has a message for Brexit-weary British tourists: It’s time to relax. The pop icon teamed up with Australia’s tourism board for a brand-new song and music video specifically aimed at British would-be travelers who are in need of a vacation amid the never-ending Brexit news cycle. "I'm such a proud Australian that I've spent most of my life…
— Travel+Leisure
Tours and Activities
Travel on Trial: Soaring above Rio in a helicopter with no doors
They don’t call Rio de Janeiro Cidade Maravilhosa – the Marvellous City – for nothing. As well as its massive carnival and New Year’s Eve celebrations, Rio is blessed by geography and climate, not to mention its impressive roster of global icons. From Sugarloaf Mountain to Christ the Redeemer and the sandy sweep of Copacabana, its landmarks are legendary –…
— Telegraph (London)
Reinventing Abu Dhabi's oldest building
Considered the symbolic birthplace of Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn is arguably the most captivating site in the United Arab Emirates capital. With foundations dating back to around 1760, it also happens to be its oldest building. Surrounded by sprawling skyscrapers in the center of the city, the magnificent white fortress has served as a fort, a seat of power,…
— CNN
From rowing to kendo: Why I learn new sports on trips and you should, too
When friends ask me about my recent trip to Tokyo, kaleidoscope slides of orange fish, thick yakitori smoke, light-green tea and color-changing leaves rush through my brain. But then my mind usually stops on one moment in particular. I’m wearing a royal-blue robe and kneeling on a wooden floor. The windowless room is stuffy but spacious, with shelves holding…
— USA Today
Cruise
Travel trend 2020: Mekong River cruises are booming — here’s why
Mekong River cruises are booming, particularly in Cambodia and Vietnam. In 2020, at least 10 river boats — some quite luxurious — will cruise the lush and navigable lower Mekong. Most resemble the river boats of Europe, staffed with chefs who prepare authentic regional fare and local guides who share cultural histories as well as personal stories. Cruising…
— CNBC
Port 'on course' for cruise ship shore power first
Associated British Ports (ABP) said it would meet a previous pledge to install the technology in Southampton in 2020. However the firm said it had not yet resolved issues over funding and a potential drain on the National Grid. On a recent visit to the port, prime minister Boris Johnson said he was "very interested" in shore power as a means of limiting…
— BBC
Transportation
South Western train strike to hit New Year's Eve travel
A lengthy strike in the dispute over guards on trains enters its final week on Monday, causing continued travel misery for passengers, including those attending New Year’s Eve events. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union on South Western Railway (SWR) have been on strike since the start of the month, with industrial action continuing until…
— The Guardian
The Real Reason Airplanes Never Seem to Have Enough Overhead Bin Space
As any seasoned traveler knows, the secret to a smooth, efficient flight is to travel light. When you limit yourself to a carry-on and a personal item, you avoid bag fees and can head straight to security without waiting in line to check a bag. Baggage claims become a thing of the past, and a flight feels like less of an ordeal and more of a streamlined, dare we…
— Travel+Leisure
Japan Airlines is giving away 50,000 free tickets
Japan Airlines is giving away 50,000 free round-trip domestic air tickets to international tourists next summer -- but there's a catch. The giveaway aims to encourage tourists to see less visited parts of Japan, and perhaps take some of the strain off Tokyo between July 1 and September 30 next year as the capital hosts the Olympic Summer Games. However to win…
— CNN
Lodging
Travel: A slice of France with Moët & Chandon
It is early evening, the last day of harvest in the vineyards. As we go up a row of vines, picking grapes that are at the perfect ripeness for the champagne that Moët & Chandon plans to use them for, someone yells out, “Panier!” One of the two people assigned to be basket carriers comes over to pick up the basket full of grapes and replaces it with an empty…
— Forbes
'Screens kill the vibe': the hotels confiscating willing guests' phones
Once the sight of someone by a hotel pool with a laptop would have been weird. What’s he doing? Work? Relax dude. But things have changed. No matter where I’ve travelled in the past five years – everywhere from Sri Lanka to Istanbul – the same sight has greeted me by hotel swimming pools, lobbies and dining rooms. It is the tops of peoples’ heads as…
— The Guardian
Other and Odd
Winter storm: Snow, ice, heavy rains threaten chaos as holiday travel season wraps up
A weather front that brought record rains to Southern California on Christmas Day marched east on Sunday, threatening parts of the Midwest and East with more than a foot of snow, ice and whiteout conditions. In Minnesota, State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Jesse Grabow advised would-be travelers to stay at home Sunday, citing low visibility and…
— USA Today
The 10 places you shouldn't visit next year
You’ll have read plenty of articles about where you should be going in 2020 – The Independent travel team’s own list included – but what about the cities and regions you should avoid in the 12 months? Whether a destination has concerns of overtourism or over-inflated entry fees, here are the places you should leave off your bucket list for 2020. Anyone…
— The Independent
Today in History
Establishment Of The USSR
On this day in 1922, the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR was approved and finalized, forming the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, aka the Soviet Union. The USSR was created by Vladimir Lenin, who closely followed the teachings of Karl Marx. The USSR was the first country in…
— Travel Research Online
Publishers Corner
The fallacy of cheap
by Richard Earls
Monday December 30, 2019
We have an obse ssion in this country with cheap. Every travel professional knows that client who will spend relentless hours on the internet trying to beat the great cruise or tour package rate. Chances are pretty good with enough time on their hands your client can beat your "price." After all, they now know exactly what to look for, and there is always someone willing to sell cheaper. It's easy for the client, armed with your information, to beat your price and then to invite you to participate, actually demand that you participate, in the race to the bottom.
Will the situation ever change? Possibly, but not until travel planners of all stripes start training their clients on…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
The Year 2020 is Almost Here!
 I am not going to bore you with an article highlighting the importance of making meaningful goals for the New Year. Nor am I going to highlight the folly most individuals experience who spend an inordinate amount of time making such superfluous goals.
You know what time it is, and you know you have a full 12 months ahead to do whatever it is you are going to do. As Gloria Estefan once reminded us in song, You determine your fate by the choices you make.
Before entering the New Year, after sharing over 200 plus messages with you during the past twelve months, I want to remind you of one simple meaningful fact. I happen to know that the following advice is true. I learned it…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Sales Success in 30 Days or Less!
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 11 am EST/8 am PST
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