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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
Is It Safe to Travel to South Korea Right Now? I Just Got Back—Here’s What It’s Like
On December 3, I woke up to a flurry of texts from concerned friends. Overnight during a televised address, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law (temporary military rule over a civilian government), plummeting the country’s capital city into panic. A mere…
— Afar
36 Hours in Venice: Things to Do and See
A ban on cruise ships. Restrictions on large tour groups. Entrance fees for day-trippers during certain high-season periods. With millions of travelers annually vying to photograph Piazza San Marco, cross Rialto Bridge and experience the canal-filled city’s other famous draws, Venice is…
— New York Times
Official: Romania & Bulgaria Become Full Schengen Area Members on January 1, 2025
The European Union ministers have officially approved today, December 12, the land border accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Zone from January 1, 2025. Hungary, as the holder of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, which often considered the…
— Schengen.News
Tours and Activities
Thailand’s Full Moon Parties: Welcome to One of the World’s Craziest NYE Celebrations
I have a lot of thoughts on Thailand as a tourism destination. Many moons ago, I studied in Chiang Mai as part of a Global Studies degree program. The gist of the experiential learning course was this: Latch onto an interesting idea and study it using real-world, first-hand sources…
— Travel Awaits
Read This if You’re Planning on Skiing This Season
The ski and snowboard landscape has changed as dramatically as when fresh snow transforms bike and hike trails into a winter playland. Skiers and snowboarders have replaced long-held season passes at their local hill with multi-resort passes like Ikon, Epic, Indy, and Mountain…
— Fodor's Travel
Cruise
Royal Caribbean’s All-Inclusive Bahamas Beach Club Opening Late 2025
Lounging by the pool or on a beach is par for the course on a cruise vacation. But Royal Caribbean wants to take that to the next level with a new private destination in the Bahamas. “The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the ultimate pool and beach day,” Philip Simon, president of Royal…
— USA Today
Atlantic Canada Sets Record with Over 1 Million Passenger Visits
The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA) announced that the region recorded over 1 million cruise passengers in 2024, marking a record-breaking season with over 675 calls between April and November, according to a press release. “This year’s achievements underscore the dedication…
— Cruise Industry News
Is Your Cruise Booking Safe? How You Can Protect Yourself From Fraud
When News 4 in Jacksonville, Florida, reported on December 4 that several travelers were scammed out of their down payments for a Royal Caribbean cruise, it was an eye opener for cruisers. But, as is generally the case with scams in the travel world, it wasn’t a reputable travel…
— Cruise Critic
Transportation
Haiti Flight Restrictions Extended by FAA Until March
The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Wednesday that it was extending flight restrictions for U.S. aircraft operating in Hatian airspace until March 12. The Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibits flight operations below 10,000 feet in certain sectors of the sky over Haiti. The…
— USA Today
The Best Train Journeys in Sri Lanka
There are train rides, and then there are Sri Lankan train rides. The teardrop island in the Indian Ocean may be small, but it packs in some of the world’s most thrilling rail journeys. You could find yourself rattling past suburbs with a fellow commuter dozing on your shoulder, or perhaps weaving…
— Lonely Planet
An Even Faster Way Through Airport Security: Here’s What It’s Like Using Touchless ID
Biometric screening, or touchless ID, is coming to an airport near you, and it will speed up your journey — especially through airport security. I'm a huge fan, and now that more airports are rolling out this technology, I want to share what it's like to use it. Essentially, the new technology…
— The Points Guy
Lodging
17 Hotels Doing Wellness Travel Right
In the age of hyperproductivity, extreme optimization, and multi-function everything, even vacations are different. For many travelers, it seems we may be past the days of simple sightseeing. Now, travel has evolved to serve a purpose — or many purposes. There's the rise of…
— POPSUGAR
These 1,200+ Glamping Cabins in the U.S. Are Becoming Part of Marriott — and They're All Within a 3-hour Drive of Major Cities
If you're a glamping fan and a Marriott Bonvoy member, buckle up. Today, Marriott announced its acquisition of the Postcard Cabins brand, formerly Getaway, a glamping company with 29 locations all within a three-hour drive of major U.S. cities. “In joining Marriott, we’re excited to bring the…
— Travel+Leisure
Other and Odd
Americans Continue to Travel Despite Rising Expenses
People are shelling out more to travel the holiday road this season. About a third of Americans are planning to travel more this winter than in 2023, according to an October survey by rental fleet management company Zubie. And compared to last year, those travelers are shelling out more for…
— USA Today
You've Heard Of Destination Dupes, But What About 'Travel Twins?'
According to Mastercard, knowing “travel twins” might help you take more affordable vacations in the new year. On December 9, Mastercard Economics Institute published its 2025 outlook. The report detailed why travel twins should be on your radar. “Destination dupes” are places travelers…
— Travel Noire
The Big Changes Coming to UK and European Travel in 2025
Many international travellers will soon need to register for an online authorisation before touching down in the UK or many EU nations. Millions of travellers planning a trip to the UK will soon need to register for an online authorisation before landing – even if they're just transiting en route to…
— BBC
Today in History
The Abdication of Pope Celestine V
Pietro da Morrone became Pope of the Catholic Church in 1294. He had become a Benedictine monk at the age of 17 and had adopted an ascetic life, living in a cave on the Mountain of Maiella in south Italy. There, he…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Collette’s Premium Experience Defined in Upcoming Virtual Event
PAWTUCKET, RI (December 11, 2024) – In an upcoming virtual event, Collette will share what defines their premium experience and how it supports the needs and desires of the modern traveler. Led by Collette…
— Travel Research Online
The Rosen Report
The Perfect Reel for Winning Customers with a Brand New Kind of AI, Courtesy Meta and Kha Ly
by Cheryl Rosen
Friday December 13, 2024
I am bumping th e column I had written for this week because I just can’t wait to share this one.
I was just about to upload an interesting one, I think, about the Dream Vacations/CruiseOne annual conference held on Celebrity Ascent the week before Thanksgiving. It’s all ready to go, and I’m on deadline today. But just as I was about to enter it into the TRO system, I listened to a noon webinar by Kha Ly, the AI guru who caused such a stir at the Signature conference in Las Vegas just the week before Dream Vacations.
And I had to write that up and file it right this…
— Travel Research Online
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rs, I celebrated Christmas with friends and family in an unlikely setting — on the rivers of Europe. It’s a tradition that I have very much enjoyed and one that I hope to continue.