Destinations
36 Hours in Budapest
One of the largest cities in Europe, Budapest is a regional powerhouse in terms of art, design and cuisine, home to a dynamic fashion scene and more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the former Eastern…
— New York Times
North and Middle Caicos: The Unspoiled Caribbean
You won't find butler service or a sunset concierge on North Caicos or Middle Caicos. What you will find is powdery sand, blissful quiet and just enough off-beach activity to interest the less languid day…
— CNN
Tours and Activities
Experience Makers: This New Generation of Travel Experts Will Take Your Trip to the Next Level
No matter how fearless a traveler you think you are, and no matter how many Internet rabbit holes you go down, there are some dream adventures, like trekking Papua New Guinea or venturing across Kashmir, that always seem just out of reach for mere…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Easing Into the Netherlands With Pickled Herring and a Polite Red-Light District
A Dutch Masters kind of town, Haarlem in the Netherlands is a good place to start a European trip. In small-town Holland, cultural differences are obvious and travel is…
— Miami Herald
Cruise
Is Bigger Better? Why Giant Cruise Ships Like Symphony of the Seas Are Hard to Resist
What is it about giant cruise ships that makes them so appealing to so many vacationers? Even the longtime cruise industry executive who is about to usher in the most giant cruise ship of them all isn't entirely sure.…
— KAGS(NBC)
7 Cruise Lines That Don't Nickel-and-Dime You at Sea
Adopting a ‘more inclusive’ model, these cruises lines offer considerable bang for the buck—and put an end to sticker-shock on the open…
— The Wall Street Journal
Transportation
All the Chaos Easter Weekend Travellers Will Face
After the last train from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington at 10.35pm on Thursday, the next service will not run until Wednesday 4 April. The busiest station in the west of England is closing for five days over Easter because of engineering work to upgrade signalling and improve reliability.…
— The Independent
Have Plane Seats Really Shrunk - And Which is the Worst Airline on Earth for Legroom?
Have plane seats shrunk? Of course they have - what a ludicrous question. Just take a look at the happy folk on board any passenger aircraft during the so-called “golden age” of flying. What luxury. There’s so much legroom they don’t know what to do with…
— Telegraph (London)
TSA Scanners Can Confuse Food, Explosives; Some Travelers Forced to Remove Munchies From Carry-Ons
Although it's okay to board an airplane with food, some Transportation Security Administration agents have been asking travelers to remove their food from carry-on bags at checkpoints before putting them on the conveyor…
— Chicago Tribune
Lodging
Airbnb Names Top Spring Break Destinations for Families
A survey conducted by Airbnb of 1,003 adults this month found that fewer than 10% of families were planning to travel…
— USA Today
Other and Odd
Labor Unrest Mars Countdown to Pilgrims' 400th Anniversary
Some of America’s first settlers — or at least the costumed players who depict them at a popular living history museum — are acting pretty unsettled…
— Vancouver Sun
Top Packing Tips From Royal Caribbean International Cruise Director, Mike Hunnerup
His job as cruise director for Royal Caribbean International takes Mike Hunnerup all over the world — from Australia to North America, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and then back again. He clocks up 12 long-haul flights annually, alongside multiple cruises — including a voyage on Australia’s biggest and newest ship, the Ovation of the Seas.…
— Escape
Today in History
Seward's Folly
On this day in 1867, the U.S. Senate purchased the territory of Alaska from the Russian Empire for the sum of 2 cents per acre, or $7.2 million (approximately $110 million in 2009 dollars). Russian knew the territory as Alyeska, the "great land", an Aleut word. William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State, negotiated the Alaskan purchase which came to be known as Seward's…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
CCRA's AirSelect Celebrates 5 Years of Growth
Fort Worth, TX – March 29, 2018
CCRA’s AirSelect program is marking 5 years of substantial growth since its launch in 2013. Since its inception, the air program has nearly doubled the number of participating travel agencies taking advantage of top-tier commissions on international…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
Britain in Brief
by Paull Tickner Friday March 30, 2018
Britain in Brief
If you’re working on a customised UK tour for a couple of clients or thinking seriously about developing a small group tour for a niche market, take a close look at this eclectic mix of bright ideas. One, or more, of them could be just what you’re looking for. The news gets even better as there’s plenty more where they come…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Is Customer Service Going To Hell In A Hand Basket?
I pride myself as being an upbeat, self-motivated, make-it-happen type of guy. In fact, my business card labels me as a “Motivational Speaker,” so I must be squared away more often than not.
I am also a seasoned realist: a guy who has been around the bases more than once and who has developed the skill of spotting a creep from down the block. I am a student of the customer service game and not much gets by me. I…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Soundings
Gratuities, Again
by Susan Schaefer Friday March 30, 2018
It seems that every time we turn around, one of the cruise lines increases their gratuity amounts. It was roughly 3 years ago that gratuities were approximately $12 per passenger, per day. With Norwegian Cruise Line’s most recent announcement, taking effect this Sunday April 1, 2018, their standard gratuities are increasing to $14.50 per passenger, per day. Their last increase was exactly one year ago, and before that there were two increases in 2015 (May 1 and August 1, increasing to $12.95 then to $13.50 respectively).
Norwegian isn’t the only one increasing gratuities. It was just a few months ago that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity both increased their gratuities to a new minimum of $14.50 per passenger, per day. In all fairness, Norwegian is now more…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Deck Plans
Six Tips for Smoother River Cruising
With the 2018 European river cruise season about to begin in a few weeks, we’re gearing up for a number of adventures on the rivers. How to make the most of those? Certainly, pre-planning is key to extracting the maximum enjoyment from time on the rivers. It’s important to note that pre-planning extends to both getting to the river cruise and being on the river…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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TRO and The Travel Institute Scholarship Program
TRO believes ongoing training is important to the health of the travel professional. Therefore, we have partnered with The Travel Institute to assist travel agents to earn their Certified Travel Associate designation. TRO will be awarding a $100 scholarship to at least one attendee of TRO webinars each webinar. If you want to be considered for the scholarship you need only to register here:
http://www.thetravelinstitute.com/troscholarship/
and then attend TRO’s webinars. Winners will be selected and notified immediately after each webinar!
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
5 Things You Need to Know about Rail Travel in Canada & Planning Your Clients Next Vacation
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
Canada is the perfect destination for a rail vacation during any season. From trips between cosmopolitan cities to overnight adventures across the country, Canada’s extensive rail network offers a unique vacation option in Canada.
Register Now ➠
BECOME AN EXPERT IN AWESOME
Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
With new attractions, new hotels, and the opening of a whole new water theme park, your clients may not be aware of all we have to do – or that they’ll need multiple days to see and do it all. Be sure to register to take our webinar course so you can stay an expert on everything going on at Universal Orlando Resort™.
Register Now ➠
NEW ZEALAND 101 WITH GOWAY AND TOURISM NEW ZEALAND
Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
What would be the major reasons to visit New Zealand? This makes for a long list. One has to say that one reason is nature at her best offering breathtaking landscapes of stunning and diverse natural beauty which include majestic and dramatic fjords, spectacular glaciers, rugged mountains, vast plains and farmland, long coastlines, wonderful sandy beaches and active geothermal regions plus so much more. The country also has history, culture and, not least, winelands producing excellent wines.
Register Now ➠
South Africa: A World in One Country
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Learn about South African Airways, the largest airline in Southern Africa. SAA offers convenient connections from more than 100 cities in North America and daily non-stops from New York JFK and daily direct service from Washington Dulles with connections to over 75 destinations on the continent.
Register Now ➠
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