1. World Travel

Category Archives: World Travel

World Cup dream trip: $30,000

Posted on by

The Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro is scheduled to host seven games during the upcoming World Cup, including the final game on July 13.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

The upcoming FIFA World Cup runs for a month from June 12 in a dozen cities across Brazil. Fans from around the world will flock to the country to cheer on their national teams, party into the night and take in the sights.

Those hoping for last minute, budget deals will be disappointed since a wave of World Cup demand has already caused a big spike in air fares and hotel rates. People who booked in advance have already snapped up the bargains.

Total costs can vary widely, but a quick trip to see a match or two would set you back about $3,000, including flights, budget hotels, soccer tickets and spending money. If you hope to follow your team all the way to the final on July 13 in Rio de Janiero -- and upgrade to smarter hotels -- costs could balloon to over $30,000.

Related: CNN World Cup coverage

Economy flights from major U.S. cities to Rio are now priced between $1,200 and $4,200. But many of those cheaper flights include multiple stopovers and travel time of over 24 hours. Fares are rising all the time.

Travel website Hopper.com estimates that average prices for flights to Brazil have increased by nearly 40% compared to the same time last year.

Once you're there, finding a room is the next challenge. Travel agents are warning that most of Rio is booked solid, though availability in other cities is better.

Michael Fine, a travel consultant based in Sao Paulo, estimates typical hotels rooms in Rio will cost between $200 to $500 per night during the World Cup. That compares with an average rate of about $130 per night that Brazilian hotels usually charge in major cities.

Visit link:

World Cup dream trip: $30,000

AirAsia to pilot INTERPOL I-Checkit system

Posted on by

Home > News > world-news

Kuala Lumpur, May 13 : As part of ongoing efforts to enhance international travel security, AirAsia is to pilot INTERPOL's I-Checkit system to screen the passports of all its prospective passengers against the world police body's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.

Once implemented later this month the pilot project will see AirAsia become the first airline to integrate I-Checkit with their own check in systems during the passenger check-in phase across its entire international network, allowing passenger passport numbers to be compared against INTERPOL's SLTD database which contains more than 40 million records from 167 countries.

I-Checkit will allow the airline to query the SLTD database but not gain direct access to it. With the pilot project respecting national legislation linked to data protection, no personal data will be transmitted to INTERPOL, with only the travel document number, form of document and country code screened against SLTD.

Should a passenger's passport register a positive match against the database, AirAsia has procedures in place that will refer the passenger to local authorities.

INTERPOL's procedures would simultaneously be engaged to notify all relevant INTERPOL National Central Bureaus worldwide.

AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, said: "AirAsia is extremely pleased to be the first airline globally to collaborate with INTERPOL to implement I-Checkit. The partnership we have created will result in improved passenger security and will support our desire to offer low fares, but with the added assurance that this system and partnership provides."

The I-Checkit system will be deployed across all of AirAsia's international operations, covering a network of 100 airports across Asia and 600 international flights per day to more than 20 countries worldwide.

In the event of a positive match registered via I-Checkit, alerts for further verification will also be sent to INTERPOL's National Central Bureau (NCB) of the country that owns the travel document data, and to INTERPOL's General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France.

"INTERPOL is very proud to be piloting I-Checkit with AirAsia. This will raise the bar across the industry for passenger safety and security by preventing individuals using stolen or lost passports from boarding international flights," said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble during his visit AirAsia operations at Kuala Lumpur's klia2 terminal.

More here:

AirAsia to pilot INTERPOL I-Checkit system

Japanese soccer fans head for World Cup in Brazil, regardless of the cost

Posted on by

TOKYO - With only one month to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil, package tours are so popular that many football fans who have not been able to secure seats on the tours have joined waiting lists, regardless of the expense. To offset these high prices, an increasing number of fans are independently arranging air tickets and sharing hotel rooms.

Major travel agency tour packages for matches featuring the Japanese team are 200,000 (S$2,450)to 300,000 more than the cost for previous World Cup tours. JTB Corp.'s cheapest tour, for instance, is priced at 685,000 for watching one game in the tour that includes three nights and seven days. If fans wish to watch three games, the cost swells to 1.78 million for a 13-night, 17-day package. H.I.S. Co. offers a tour that includes one game, three nights and seven days for 648,000.

A JTB tour to watch a Milan derby game between Keisuke Honda's AC Milan and Yuto Nagatomo's Inter Milan on May 4 cost 238,000 for three nights and five days, including an admission ticket to the game. In addition to the long distance between Japan and Brazil, a major reason for these high World Cup tour costs are soaring Brazilian domestic airfares and hotel rates.

The ticket sales system this year has changed, and football's global governing body FIFA is selling tickets directly to spectators. In response, each travel agency has organised tours targeting people who have already acquired tickets.

Even under these circumstances, tour applications have been steady and many have a waiting list for cancellations. According to travel agencies, tours to watch the Japanese team's first and second games in a group league are especially popular. A JTB official in charge said, "Expectations for the Japanese team that includes many Japanese players active overseas has overwhelmingly boosted tour prices."

Faced with such conditions, there are many fans choosing to arrange tours by themselves. Hiroshi Shiga, 56, who runs a company in Chiba, has organised an association that offers packages that are about 20 per cent cheaper compared to those arranged by major travel agencies. Having worked at a travel agency, Shiga used this experience to his advantage and directly contacted airlines and local travel agencies in Brazil. He not only keeps prices down by chartering buses for travel to game venues, but also pays attention to safety.

Shiga used this method during the previous World Cup, which saw about 180 fans sign up. His reputation spread by word of mouth, and about 270 people have applied for his tours this year.

Mitsugu Okada, 40, a company employee from Kawasaki who attended Shiga's briefing session, said, "It's reassuring that I can go to Brazil to cheer on the Japanese team with like-minded people."

On Facebook, there are open pages being shared among fans planning to visit Brazil independently. More than 1,000 have participated and posted information about hotels, airlines and how to reach the stadiums. On the pages, such messages are posted as "Is there anyone who will share their hotel room with me?" and "We feel uneasy going as only two women. We need someone to accompany us."

Continue reading here:

Japanese soccer fans head for World Cup in Brazil, regardless of the cost

Apple World Adapter Travel Kit & Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader – Video

Posted on by


Apple World Adapter Travel Kit Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader
World Travel Adapter Kit:http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MB974ZM-World-Travel-Adapter/dp/B002CJNCS4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8 qid=1399840279 sr=8-1 keywords=world+travel+adapter+apple Lightning to SD...

By: HDAlexFilms

Read the original here:

Apple World Adapter Travel Kit & Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader - Video

Jaime Jesus Manuelian – Sydney International Zouk Festival MC 2014 – Video

Posted on by


Jaime Jesus Manuelian - Sydney International Zouk Festival MC 2014
http://www.sydneyzoukfestival.com.au for 3 nights 2 days Sydney will see an array of spectacular performances, parties and world class instruction from local international superstars of the Zouk...

By: Sydney International Zouk Festival

Read this article:

Jaime Jesus Manuelian - Sydney International Zouk Festival MC 2014 - Video

More S'poreans heading to Brazil, but after World Cup

Posted on by

SINGAPORE: It is exactly one month to the World Cup, which takes place from June 12 to July 13, and travel agents are seeing more bookings to Brazil.

However, the three-fold increase, compared to the same period last year, is seen in travellers going after the World Cup.

As to why, many travel agents point to hotel room rates going up by almost 10 times, and airfares by about 15 to 30 per cent.

They also say that demand to catch the matches in Brazil is not as high as in previous World Cups, especially when compared to when South Korea and Japan were hosts in 2002.

"The distance to Brazil is almost 20 hours via flight, which means you actually need about three days of flying in and out of the country, said Alicia Seah, director of marketing communications at Dynasty Travel.

Secondly, it's the high costs. The tour package to watch the world cup this year is about S$10,000 to S$15,000 per person which includes air tickets, four nights accommodation plus the match tickets."

But World Cup fever has clearly got newly-weds Simon Tam and Serena Tay hooked.

The two football fans held a football match for friends at the floating platform at Marina Bay as part of their pre-wedding festivities.

In addition, they will leave for their honeymoon next month -- a 23-day-long trip which includes a stop in Rio de Janeiro for a second round match.

"It is more expensive than the usual trips, like if you go to Europe or Japan or New Zealand, said Serena Tay, who is an asset manager.

Read more:

More S'poreans heading to Brazil, but after World Cup

The First Private Vietnamese Travel Firm Has Been Nominated for the Oscars of the Travel Industry 2014

Posted on by

Hanoi, Vietnam (PRWEB) May 12, 2014

The World Travel Awards serve to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

Hailed as the Oscars of the travel industry, the awards seek to raise the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry.

Now in their 21st year of operation, the World Travel Awards have evolved to represent a global search for the very best travel and tourism brands.

As a company, Luxury Travel (http://www.luxurytravels.asia) has contributed significantly to the benchmarking of experiential travel within Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia. In sharing their intimate knowledge of the region they have helped create the ultimate luxury travel experience, establishing a unique travel style of insightful and rewarding tourism.

As a company it is famous for providing travelers with the ultimate travel experience along with establishing a unique style of travel. Famous for their sophisticated and luxurious services, the company has its own offices and representatives in five continents.

After a rigorous selection procedure, Luxury Travel emerged with a nomination for Vietnams Leading Tour Operator for the first time, confirming its position as a leader within the Vietnam tourism industry.

As a company, Luxury Travel has contributed significantly to the benchmarking of experiential travel within Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia.

In receiving a nomination, Luxury Travel Ltd. (http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) has effectively been issued with a global endorsement from thousands of travel professionals who believe that their distinct blend of niche and experiential travel is worth sharing with the rest of the world.

Celebrating 10 years at the forefront of the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian travel industry, Luxury Travel promotes a style of travel that goes beyond the idea of the conventional sightseeing packages, paying particular focus on immersing clients in the local culture and venturing out to lesser-known destinations.

Read the original:

The First Private Vietnamese Travel Firm Has Been Nominated for the Oscars of the Travel Industry 2014

JoGuru Lists the best Backpacking Countries in the World

Posted on by

(PRWEB UK) 12 May 2014

As Eugene Fodor rightly put it; One doesnt have to be rich to travel well. Travelling is a great way to lose and also find oneself at the same time. Someone once truly said that to travel is to really take a journey within. What better way to travel than to be a part of the local culture, embracing life in a new city like one of its own? Backpacking is a form of budget travel where a tourist travels with nothing but his backpack, courage and lots of charm!

There are a number of countries that have special visas for backpackers that allow them to earn while they travel. JoGuru lists some of the best backpacking destinations around the world.

1.Mexico

Mexico is a backpackers paradise. A real bang for the buck and an absolute treat for solo travellers, Mexico becomes a friend the minute one steps foot on it. Its extremely safe and offers plenty of opportunities for all kinds of travellers it has a diverse cultural heritage, breathtaking natural beauty and lots of mystical towns to explore. The food is well renowned and the infamous Mexican chilli casts an intoxicating spell on the most seasoned gourmand. Wash all this down with a refreshing aguas frescas and finish up with the rich arroz con leche, one will find heaven on earth!

2.Portugal

Perhaps the best bet for a backpacker in Europe, Portugal is every bit as charming and captivating as its more glamorous and expensive sisters, Spain and Italy. Its location also makes it a good entry point to the rest of Europe. All good things in Portugal are, like they say about life...free! Most of the best sights in Porto are free of charge and Lisbon has an interesting variety of hostels for a budget traveller. Besides, most of what Portugal has to offer is hiding in plain sight; its old world, laid back elegance, the romance of the hill-side retreat Sintra, the jazz filled streets of the upper city in Lisbon. Portugal is exotic yet warm, overwhelming yet homely.

3.Indonesia

Its easy to forget that one is on a shoe string budget in Indonesia. Extremely cheap and multifarious, Indonesia offers so much more bounce for the ounce! Imagine a country that is made of 17000 islands, all which have different topographies and natural wonders! Indonesia is so much more than lying on the pristine beaches of Bali. A surfers paradise and a gypsys haven, this country is a small wonder in itself. Although transportation could get a little tricky here, the food and sleep options will more than make up for the discomfort.

4.Argentina

Follow this link:

JoGuru Lists the best Backpacking Countries in the World

JULIANA’S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: AMA Certo-Videologue of Budapest, Hungary – Video

Posted on by


JULIANA #39;S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: AMA Certo-Videologue of Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is home to the headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), and the first foreign office of the China Investment Promo...

By: Nessa Hall

The rest is here:

JULIANA'S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: AMA Certo-Videologue of Budapest, Hungary - Video

GOSSAMER GEAR MINIMALIST DAY PACK, OR BUG BIVY, EXPED UL BASIC AIRPAD, CLIMASHIELD APEX, CAPILENE 1, – Video

Posted on by


GOSSAMER GEAR MINIMALIST DAY PACK, OR BUG BIVY, EXPED UL BASIC AIRPAD, CLIMASHIELD APEX, CAPILENE 1,
WORLD TRAVEL WITH THE GOSSAMER GEAR MINIMALIST DAY PACK, THRU-HIKER CLIMASHIELD APEX QUILT, PATAGONIA CAPILENE 1, OUTDOOR RESEARCH BUG BIVY, EXPED BASIC UL AIRPAD, CUBEN FIBER STUFF SACKS.

By: Avram Klein

Read this article:

GOSSAMER GEAR MINIMALIST DAY PACK, OR BUG BIVY, EXPED UL BASIC AIRPAD, CLIMASHIELD APEX, CAPILENE 1, - Video


  1. World Travel