|
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
As 2024 Travel Hits Pre-Covid Levels, Here’s When to Go to Europe
2024 is going to be the year when global tourism rebounds to pre-pandemic levels, making popular tourist destinations overcrowded. There are sweet spots, however—times when you can still visit firm favorites like Rome and Paris with fewer crowds, cheaper airfares and still find some pleasant weather (also avoiding the extreme heat that local summers now bring). Global tourism figures continued to grow…
— Forbes
Kyoto Is Implementing More Rules for Tourists — What to Know
The Japanese city of Kyoto is banning tourists from some private alleys in its geisha district. The city will place signs in both English and Japanese around the area, called Gion, warning tourists to stay clear as well as fine anyone who doesn’t listen, The Associated Press reported. The fine will amount to 10,000 yen ($67.97). The public streets in Gion will remain open. “We are going to put up signs in April…
— Travel+Leisure
I Have Visited Every Island in Spain and This Is the One You Can’t Miss
I love Spain but especially Spain’s islands. They’re the perfect destination for laid-back relaxation, boast beautiful beaches, outstanding natural beauty, fascinating culture, and (for the most part) warm and welcoming people. But which island is best? I’ve been lucky enough to visit every island in Spain, and this is the one I keep going back to. Here’s why you can’t miss it: The Balearics Or The Canary Islands?…
— Travel Off Path
Tours and Activities
A Local Food Writer’s Guide to Finding the Best Food in Disney World
Food writer and Disney World aficionado Shay Spence shares his picks for the best food in Disney World, from fresh seafood at Flying Fish to churros at Nomad Lounge. Mickey Mouse and nostalgic rides may be the bread and butter of Walt Disney World, but the "most magical place on Earth" is housing a secret right under your nose (and fork): its equally magical underground culinary scene. Fine dining in Orlando…
— BBC
They Used to Be Places Just for Women. Now They’re UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Ghent is a city of canals, its bridges studded with bursts of flowers. The Gothic architecture rises against the sky like elaborate sandcastles. As I navigate the cobbled streets, morning commuters whiz by me on bicycles, and the bells of St. Bavo’s Cathedral toll. I have traveled far and woken early to visit this first beguinage, a historic site that once housed spiritual medieval laywomen called beguines. Our-Lady Ter…
— AFAR
Cruise
These 3 Lesser-Known Cruise Lines Offer Amazing Voyages on Sail-Powered Ships
There is nothing quite as magical — or romantic — as a cruise on a sailing ship. To stand on the deck of a vessel topped with dozens of billowing sails, propelled through the waves by the power of the wind alone, is to go back in time to an earlier age of travel, when crossing the world's oceans was as adventurous as it was challenging. It's an experience that's all about the feeling of the wind in your hair, the lean…
— The Points Guy
Norwegian Cruise Line Completes Update of Norwegian Joy Onboard Spaces
Norwegian Cruise Line has completed a renovation project updating several spaces onboard Norwegian Joy, after the ship underwent a three-week dry dock in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The updates include the addition of a new Thermal Suite at the Mandara Spa and Salon, which is now the largest within the Breakaway-Plus class ships. The suite features a more centralised layout, and guests will arrive…
— Cruise and Ferry
Transportation
This Florida Airport Had the Most Delays: The Best, Worst Airports for Spring Break Travel
Nothing can ruin a spring break getaway faster than encountering a travel disruption at the airport. Half of all travelers with spring break plans are “concerned” about disruptions impacting their travel plans, according to travel platform Hopper’s 2024 Spring Break Travel Outlook. The report said last year saw a higher-than-average volume of disruptions. During spring break, 20.1% of flights were delayed…
— USA Today
TSA Facial Recognition Is Being Rolled Out at More US Airports
One of the most unpredictable aspects of flying these days just might be how long the security line will be when you get there. There's nothing worse than arriving at the airport to an endless string of passengers snaking through the terminal, as officers go through the essential but tedious task of ensuring that each flier’s boarding pass, government ID, and face all match up. But now, more airlines and…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Carriers Required to Verify ETIAS Authorisations 48 Hours Before Departure Once It Becomes Effective
Air and sea carriers will be required to verify that visa-exempt travellers hold a valid travel authorisation within 48 hours before departure once ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is launched. ETIAS will be implemented in mid-2025, and its launch means that significant changes will be brought up not only for travellers but also for international carriers, SchengenVisaInfo…
— SchengenVisaInfo.com
Lodging
5 of the Best Hotels in Vintage Train Stations
The joy of train travel is often about the journey – unless you're at these revamped rail stations, where the destination is the prize. Train travel's golden age, which lasted from the mid-1800s through the early 1930s, inspired ritzy rail companies to build palatial railroad stations worldwide. Architects designed these massive travel monuments to dazzle. In addition to luring potential customers with eye-popping…
— Lonely Planet
Sick of Airbnb? Here Are 11 Alternative Rental Platforms You Should Try Instead
From farm stays to glamping, we explore all the other rental platforms on the market. Done with Airbnb? You’re not alone. Horror stories are surfacing all over the world, and many are darn right ugly. There are the mounting little annoyances, too: unreasonably high cleaning fees, inaccurate room descriptions, and guests having to do the job of a host, like taking out the trash and changing the bed linens. It’s no…
— Fodor's Travel
12 Adults-Only St Lucia All-Inclusive Resorts You Should Book
St. Lucia is a beauty and mystique combined and boasts stunning destinations in the Caribbean. It's an unforgettable tropical paradise famous for its lush greenery, pristine shoreline, and picturesque beauty of the Piton Mountains, a great backdrop for outdoor activities, such as hiking and nature photography. For a true getaway, booking an all-inclusive resort means not worrying about the bill at the end of…
— The Travel
Other and Odd
I’ve Been Legally Blind for Decades — Here’s What It’s Like to Travel the World on My Own
I started to lose my sight as a young man. Even as a boy, I had trouble seeing at night. Turns out, I have a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa. It’s the equivalent of tunnel vision that turns to darkness at night. Then you can't see in the day, except in the center, and eventually not at all. It’s a common form of blindness, not that blindness is common. It affects people as they age, and they end up…
— Travel+Leisure
Points Pursuit: Why You Should Use Points and Miles for Last-Minute Bookings
Whether you’re in a last-minute grind to get home or about to leave for a dream trip of a lifetime, travel rewards remain one of the best ways to book travel on short notice. Some of the most desirable and valuable points and miles awards tend to magically appear just a few weeks or even days before departure. Today, we’ll look at a few real examples where points and miles come to the rescue on last-minute…
— CNN
Today in History
General MacArthur Leaves the Philippines
It was March 11, 1942. General Douglas MacArthur climbed aboard a gun ship in the Philippines under cover of darkness and ran a Japanese blockade. Speaking to the press in Adelaide, Australia, MacArthur told reporters, "I came through and I shall return."
Logistical problems had left MacArthur without reinforcements. President Roosevelt, fearing MacArthur would be captured or killed, ordered him to leave. On April 9, some 10,000 American troops surrendered to the Japanese.
MacArthur took…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Saving Your Rizz. How to Handle Customer Complaints and Resolve
by John Frenaye
Monday March 11, 2024
In our world, c omplaints are as inevitable as flight delays and lost luggage. But, as professionals, how we handle these complaints can be the make-or-break factor for our reputation and business success —or, as the kids say today, our rizz. Here are my thoughts on turning a potentially negative experience into a positive one.
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Mike's Monday Cup of Mo-Joe
Think Like A Pro!
 I was recently reminded how a true professional can really make a difference. Last month, while driving on the highway, I found myself flirting with disaster. Not knowing a worn ball bearing from a left-handed steering strut, I wasn’t sure what was happening when my steering wheel started to shimmy. My car suddenly veered to the left and the steering wheel was shaking wildly.
I quickly jumped to the worst-case conclusion. I figured my steering gizmo must’ve broken and my life, as well as everyone else’s lives in my proximity, was in danger. Worse yet, it was 6 a.m. when my car started to shimmy. And I heard myself repeating to no one in particular, “Just get me to the airport. Please get me to the…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Explore Spain & Portugal with Blue-Roads Touring
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT
From Madrid to Barcelona and Pamplona, Spain is a cultural melting pot, with a rich mix of Moorish, Roman and Basque influences. Followed by one of Europe’s most beautiful countries, Portugal is the ideal destination for any traveler, with green mountains, spectacular slopes, desert-like landscapes and pristine beaches.
Join the Blue-Roads Touring Global Head of Sales, Dylan Hearne, as we venture into all the highlights these destinations have to offer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The original small group touring company, Blue-Roads Touring offers a selection of small group tours in the UK and Europe. With plenty of opportunities to meet like-minded travelers and time to savor each moment, guests are invited to explore each unique destination in depth. Guided by passionate Tour Leaders and filled with new discoveries, breathtaking scenery and genuine local experiences, our tours are a cut above the rest.
And our small group sizes of up to 18 people mean you can expect a more personalized touring experience – traveling in a luxury mini-coach to avoid large crowds and overpopulated tourist spots.
Register Now ➠
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
