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Friday February 21, 2020

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

Coronavirus: CDC issues new travel notices for Hong Kong, Japan
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new advisories on Wednesday for travelers going to Hong Kong and Japan in the wake of the deadly coronavirus spreading across the world. The advisories are notably only a "level 1," a "watch," meaning travelers should exercise "usual precautions," unlike the "level 3" issued for China Jan. 27, which warns to "avoid nonessential travel."…

Travel trend: the magnetism of the Arctic Circle
The irresistible pull of going off-grid has travellers swapping sand for snow in increasing numbers. Touted as ‘the new exotic’, this region, which encompasses the northernmost territories of Norway, Sweden and Finland, plus swathes of Russia, Canada, Alaska and Greenland, is a trending destination in experiential tourism. The industry is taking heed; adventure holiday advocate Scott Dunn is sailing 45…

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Tours and Activities

10 great restaurants near stations in Europe
With time to kill in Warsaw between trains, I wandered out of the central station for food and within five minutes stumbled upon the Radio Café on Nowogrodzka. Inside, I found walls covered in cold war memorabilia and learned that the owners worked for Radio Free Europe at that time, giving the authentic Polish restaurant its name. I decided against the pierogi (dumpling) menu (from £5.50)…

The mysterious inverted tower steeped in Templar myth
Near the manicured gardens and hilltop villas of Sintra, Portugal, lies the fairytale estate of Quinta da Regaleira. Protected within a Unesco World Heritage landscape, Quinta da Regaleira is a postcard-perfect mix of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance architecture. But it’s what lies beneath the palace’s gardens that truly sets the estate’s design apart. A pair of wells, called the…

Meet Mr. Apollo, the Apollo Theater’s Tour Guide, Historian, and Lifelong Legend
When Billy Mitchell’s mom sent him to Harlem from the South Bronx one fateful day in 1965, he had no idea that the trip would change his life forever. While his mission was simple — borrow some money from an aunt who lived in the area, across from the world-famous Apollo theater — it would set him on the path to coming face-to-face with some of the biggest names in music. It was while running…

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Cruise

Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady Cruise Ship Arrives in Dover
Scarlet Lady, the first of four new ships from Virgin Voyages, has made its debut in Dover, U.K. The 2,770-passenger ship will be docked in Dover over the weekend welcoming media including Cruise Critic, trade partners and VIP guests -- including Sir Richard Branson -- before setting sail to Liverpool on Monday. The Virgin Group founder, said: "I have dreamed of starting my own cruise line since I was…

Norwegian cancels all Asia summer cruises amid coronavirus outbreak
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced Thursday it would cancel all voyages in Asia across its three cruise brands through the summer months due to the coronavirus outbreak,and that it will temporarily remove the company's ships from the region. Norwegian CEO Frank Del Rio announced on the company's earnings conference call that 40 voyages have been canceled or modified through…

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Transportation

Coronavirus: air travel demand 'will fall for first time in 11 years'
The spread of the coronavirus will result in the first fall in global air travel in more than a decade, the international airline industry body has predicted. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) warned that falling passenger demand as a result of the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus would cost the airline industry $29.3bn (£23.7bn) in lost revenues this year. In its initial assessment of the impact,…

Born again: Decommissioned airplanes get a new lease on life
When airliners have passed their twilight years -- on average, after 26 years of service -- many end up in the tumbleweed-strewn "plane boneyards" of California, Arizona and New Mexico. Sure, the pilots' seats will probably end up taking pride of place in somebody's man cave, and there are other aeronautical curios that specialist companies salvage and transform into avgeek knick-knacks. But once…

Spring airfare lowest in 4 years: How to spot a deal
What is considered a good deal with it comes to airfare during spring break? Depending on whether you're shopping for a domestic or international flight, the answer is $246 or $601. According to Hopper, the flight prediction app, $246 and $601 are the average prices per ticket for spring break flights. And here's the really good news: spring break airfare is the lowest it's been in four years. So if you've…

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Lodging

France launches bedbug hotline in campaign to stamp out the itchy menace
France thought it had gotten rid of bedbugs in the 1950s, but in recent years the blood-sucking insects have made a comeback. In response to this unwelcome resergence, the French government launched an anti-bedbug campaign Thursday, which includes a dedicated website and an information hotline. "We can all be affected," reads the website, which provides information on…

How to get the best hotel rates according to experts
Planning a vacation usually means you need to find a place to stay. And just like airline fares, hotel rates fluctuate based on timing and demand. Booking the first room you see generally won’t yield the best deal, according to travel experts. You’ll need to put a little work in to get significant savings, which may include sifting through several hotel websites and offers or strategically planning your arrival…

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Other and Odd

Why I Stopped Making Travel Bucket Lists—And Won’t Make One Again
We live in a day and age of road trips and budget travel. If possible, we can take a long weekend and drive a few hours within the United States to a new city, or have the luxury of staying home for a staycation. Travel bucket lists were a great way for me to organize dreams into one consolidated list. One of my dreams is still to hike the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, along the Camino…

Gay-Listers Guide: Honolulu With Latrice Royale
In this edition of Gay-Listers Guide, RuPaul’s Drag Race legend Latrice Royale of Season 4, All Stars 1 and All Stars 4 takes us to her favorite vacation spot, Honolulu, Hawaii. How many times have you traveled to Honolulu? Four separate times since 2014! Honolulu is the most beautiful tropical paradise in the world. I never felt more grounded than I did when I was there. What’s your best memory…

Today in History

Malcolm X is assassinated
"I live like a man who is already dead", he said two weeks before his death. "I'm a marked man." On February 21, 1965, assassins from the Black Muslims shot and killed Malcolm X as he was about to address a gathering in New York City. He was 39 years old. Eighteen months earlier, Malcolm X had been…

Deck Plans

Cheatsheet: Is This Included In My River Cruise?

Knowing what’s included in your river cruise (and what’s not) can sometimes be a deciding factor as to which river cruise company to book.  While our comparisons identify much of what’s included, sometimes the answer requires more than a simple yes or no. For example, while most of the river cruise companies that we write about offer complimentary shore excursions in ports of call, some charge for “optional” excursions. Also, airport transfers are included when air tickets are purchased with the river cruise company, but may not be included otherwise. What about port charges? Not all companies include those either. What follows is our cheatsheet for what each company includes in their river…

  — Travel Research Online
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Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos

Talk is Cheap, Communication is Gold
by Mike Marchev
Friday February 21, 2020

Once you have the proper competitive attitude in place, have clearly selected a specialty that warrants your full attention, and you have listed a number of prospects whom you want to become customers, it is time to begin communicating with them on a regular…

  — Travel Research Online
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