Vietnam: Take notes! Travel writing, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Sightseeing and writing go hand and hand on this 11-day tour of Vietnam that explores the country's cities in the north and south as well as the Mekong Delta, the country's fertile "rice bowl," and the islands of Halong Bay.

The 11-day tour starts at the Duxton Hotel Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) with a full day of travel writing and photography classes. Developing story angles, shooting good photos, pitching story ideas and self-publishing are taught by Go World Travel Magazine editor Janna Graber and photographer-videographer Ben Rader, who has worked for Travel Channel, Discovery and other TV shows.

Sightseeing begins the following day with tours of the city and the Cu Chi Tunnels where guerrillas hid out while fighting the French and later the Americans in the 1950s until the '70s.

Participants go boating on the Mekong Delta, touring Hue on the Perfume River, drive to the UNICEF World Heritage Site of Hoi An, and visit Danang and Hanoi before taking an overnight cruise on Halong Bay. The small-group tour is organized by Colorado-based Travel Writing On Location in partnership with Travel Indochina.

When: The trip runs from April 26 to May 6.

Price: $2,995 per person, double occupancy; $650 for single supplement. It includes accommodations, ground transportation, airport transfers and some meals. International airfare is extra.

Info: Travel Writing on Location, Vietnam Highlights

Mary.Forgione@latimes.com Follow us on Twitter @latimestravel, like us on Facebook @Los Angeles Times Travel.

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Vietnam: Take notes! Travel writing, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

PH outbound travel spending notches 2nd fastest growth in 2013

By Donnabelle L. Gatdula, The Philippine Star

MANILA - Filipinos have been identified as one of the fastest growing travel spenders among emerging markets in 2013, data from the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) showed.

In a statement, UNWTO said the Philippines outbound expenditure last year grew 18 percent, second highest in the list of top travel spenders following Turkey, which registered a 24 percent growth.

Other emerging markets with substantial growth in outbound expenditure were Qatar (18 percent); Kuwait (15 percent); Indonesia, (15 percent); Ukraine (15 percent); and Brazil (14 percent).

UNWTO noted that international tourist arrivals grew five percent in 2013, reaching a record 1.08 billion arrivals, based on its latest World Tourism Barometer.

UNWTO said growth was realized despite global economic challenges.

These international tourism results were well above expectations, with an additional 52 million international tourists traveling the world in 2013, it said.

For 2014, UNWTO forecasts a four to five percent expansion, above the long term projections.

Demand for international tourism was strongest for destinations in Asia and the Pacific with growth of six percent; Africa, six percent and Europe, five percent.

The leading sub-regions were Southeast Asia, 10 percent; Central and Eastern Europe, seven percent; Southern and Mediterranean Europe, six percent; and North Africa, six percent.

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PH outbound travel spending notches 2nd fastest growth in 2013

TripAdvisor Names World’s Best Accommodations With 2014 Travelers’ Choice Awards For Hotels

12th Annual Global Awards Honor Top Hotels Overall and in Categories Including Bargain, B&Bs and Inns, Family, Luxury, Romance, and Small Hotels

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its 2014 Travelers' Choice awards for hotels. In the 12th year of the awards, the world's most outstanding properties were identified in the categories of Top Hotels, Bargain, B&Bs and Inns, Family, Luxury, Romance, and Small Hotels.

"We're excited to recognize the world's best properties, based on the opinions of those who know them best the millions of travelers around the globe who come to TripAdvisor to share their experiences," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "For those seeking inspiration for their 2014 travel planning, this list of spectacular accommodations that received 2014 Travelers' Choice awards is a perfect place to start."

Travelers' Choice award winners were determined based on the reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers around the globe. In total, 7,123 unique properties worldwide won awards in 2014. Italy featured the most unique hotel winners with 152, the U.K. had 145 properties recognized and the U.S. and France each featured 144 award winners.

Top 10 Hotels in the World:

Top 10 Hotels in the U.S.:

Additional Select 2014 Winners:

The average nightly rate of Travelers' Choice award-winning Top Hotels is $366; Bargain is $91; B&Bs and Inns is $138; Family is $237; Luxury is $467; Romance is $356; and Small Hotels is $301.

All 7,123 unique winners of the 2014 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards for hotels can be found at http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice. Travelers can also follow the conversation on Twitter at #travelerschoice.

TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 260 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 100 million reviews and opinions covering more than 2.7 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

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TripAdvisor Names World’s Best Accommodations With 2014 Travelers’ Choice Awards For Hotels

ITB Berlin Business Travel Days: Knowing what is important tomorrow

Meeting place for business travel and event managers at the world's leading travel trade show outstanding papers and workshops latest: Peter Schaar, former Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, will speak about "leaving a data trail on one's travels how accessible should traveller information be?"

Berlin, 22 January 2014 From 5 to 7 March 2014 the Business Travel Days at ITB Berlin will be where business travel and event managers can meet to find out about new ideas and obtain first-hand knowledge. The two slogans of the three-day event are "Creating added value for today" and "Knowing what is important tomorrow."

The paper due to be held by Peter Schaar, until late in 2013 the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, is certain to spark debate. On Thursday, 8 March he will be speaking about "leaving a data trail on one's travels how accessible should traveller information be?" One of the items he will discuss is the topical and controversial issue of IATA's new distribution capability, which is a main element of its sales concept. He will also address the issue of the excessive amounts of data being collected by security agencies. Another highlight will be the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Walter, who in 1993 was an astronaut on board the Space Shuttle and who is currently the chair of the Aerospace Systems Department at the Technical University of Munich. His report entitled 'Travelling with NASA', which is sponsored by AirPlus International, includes a fascinating 'Photographic journey around the Earth', his view on the prospects for space tourism and his personal experiences of settling travel expenses with NASA.

This year, a Business Travel Theme Day will be taking place for the first time. On Friday, 7 March the focus will be on "efficiently managing employees abroad." Michael H. Wurche's report, which is sponsored by the Result Group, is equally fascinating. Formerly a national Lufthansa representative in Bolivia, in 1983 he was held captive by kidnappers for eleven days. He has exploited this brutal experience in a positive way and is now able to give advice on how to avoid dangerous situations. Full details of the programme are available at http://www.itb-convention.com/program.

The Home of Business Travel by ITB & VDR, a lounge in Hall 7.1a, will provide visitors with an opportunity to exchange knowledge and network in a relaxed atmosphere. Following its successful launch last year, the Home of Business Travel, which was set up by Messe Berlin and the German Travel Management Association (VDR), offers a unique meeting area for travel and event managers, young professionals, buyers and office workers from around the world, and is a place where they can find out more about services and options that enable them to optimise their business trips. Co-exhibitors including AirPlus International, Business Visum GmbH, Concur (Germany) GmbH, Derpart Travel Service, Egencia GmbH, FCm Travel Solutions, Holiday Inn Berlin Airport Conference Centre, SAP and TS24 Travel Solutions will be showcasing solutions for professional management before, during and after business trips. The Home of Business Travel will also focus on furthering participants' knowledge, with the display area being devoted to holding lectures and discussion rounds at the ITB Business Travel Days.

A trade visitor pass to ITB Berlin grants admission to all the lectures and seminars at the Business Travel Days.

ITB Berlin 2014 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 5 to 9 March. From the Wednesday to the Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only. The ITB Berlin Convention is held parallel with the trade fair, from Wednesday to Friday, 5 to 7 March 2014. It is the world's largest specialist convention for the industry. More details are available at http://www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the leading trade fair for the worldwide travel industry. In 2013 a total of 10,086 companies and organisations from 188 countries exhibited their products and services to 170,000 visitors, who included 110,000 trade visitors.

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ITB Berlin Business Travel Days: Knowing what is important tomorrow

World Travel – At the Kjeragbolten in Norway: Behind the Scenes Part 2 – Video


World Travel - At the Kjeragbolten in Norway: Behind the Scenes Part 2
There is no experience quite like it - getting into the Kjeragbolten, a 5 cubic metre stone located between two rocks in the Kjerag, a Norwegian mountain loc...

By: A World Travellers Life

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World Travel - At the Kjeragbolten in Norway: Behind the Scenes Part 2 - Video

World Premiere of Craving for Travel , Featuring Michele Ragusa and Thom Sesma Playing 30 Roles, Opens Jan. 22

World Premiere of Craving for Travel, Featuring Michele Ragusa and Thom Sesma Playing 30 Roles, Opens Jan. 22

By Carey Purcell 22 Jan 2014

The world premiere of Craving for Travel, starring Michele Ragusa and Thom Sesma, officially opens Jan. 22, following previews that began Jan. 9at the Peter J. Sharp Theater.

Greg Edwards (Neurosis: A New Musical,Taking the Plunge)and Andy Sandberg's (Shida, The Last Smoker in America) play continues through Feb 9.

Directed by Sandberg, Craving for Travel features Ragusa (Young Frankenstein, Disaster!) and Sesma (The Lion King, The Times They Are A-Changin') playing 30 characters, including rival travel agents (and former spouses) vying for their industry's most prestigious honor: The Globel Prize.

"With their reputations on the line, travel agents Joanne and Gary will tackle any request, no matter how impossible, and any client, no matter how unreasonable," press notes state. "Full of overzealous travelers, overbooked flights, and hoteliers who are just over it, Craving for Travel reminds us why we travel and everything that can happen when we do."

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Tickets and more information are available by calling (212) 279-4200 or visiting CravingForTravel.com.

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World Premiere of Craving for Travel , Featuring Michele Ragusa and Thom Sesma Playing 30 Roles, Opens Jan. 22

In delay-plagued Brazil, World Cup airport welcome to include a tent

(Reuters) -Brazilpromised the world it would roll out the red carpet at 21st century airports for this years World Cup, but soccer fans landing in Fortaleza, which will host six matches including a quarter final, will instead be shepherded through a temporary canvas structure.

The delays at Fortaleza are the latest embarrassing evidence that several crucialupgradeswill not be ready when the tournament starts in mid-June. The deadline for a new airport terminal in Fortaleza has been pushed back to 2017.

The provisional structure is not what we wanted, but its what we have to resolve the problem in Fortaleza, Wellington Moreira Franco, Brazils civil aviation secretary, told local media late on Monday.

Work on Brazils chronically overcrowded airports is much further behind schedule than theconstructionof new stadiums, many of which have missed deadlines and run over budgets but should be ready for kickoff according to World Cup organizers.

The Sports Ministry reported in September that half of the airport renovations under way would be completed by May, but those time lines look unrealistic despite workers toiling around the clock in many cities.

The world will clearly be watching what happens. An estimated 600,000 foreigners are expected at the month-long World Cup, and 3 million Brazilians are expected to travel during the tournament.

In Fortaleza, where the sixgamesbeing hosted will include Brazils match againstMexicoas well as a quarter final, the new terminal is one quarter finished and authorities have decided to break work into two phases, wrapping up in 2017.

Delays at airports in Salvador and Cuiaba have also forced officials to consider backup plans, although Moreira Franco has held back definitive judgment in those cases.

The worries dont end there.

The new terminal at the international airport in Sao Paulo, Brazils biggest city and a likely stopover for most foreign fans, is still looking skeletal.Airlinesare concerned about shifting operations to new gates without enough time ahead of the tournament.

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In delay-plagued Brazil, World Cup airport welcome to include a tent

Kiwi travel firm gets Samoan College connected

Kiwi company House of Travel is helping to connect Samoa to the modern world by donating computer equipment and skilled labour to a college in Apia.

House of Travel Holdings donated 85 second-hand computers, monitors and servers, plus a week of IT technician Adrian Millers time to Chanel College, a struggling Catholic school which now has the capacity to get its students online.

For Adrian, who had never travelled to the Pacific Islands before, it proved to be a life-changing experience.

"It felt amazing to do something selfless, altruistic, knowing that I was part of something that was beneficial to so many people. Im sincerely grateful for that experience. Ive always wanted to do something like that and my company gave me that opportunity."

Formerly Christchurch-based but now in Wellington, Adrian jumped at the opportunity when his employer sought volunteers for the work, part of a larger, ongoing project being led by Kiwi John Ryan. He and his wife are former volunteer teachers at the school.

Adrian and John had just five days to set in place the infrastructure to enable the college to get connected and Adrian has been following up with school staff in Samoa since his return to New Zealand to test the system and guide teachers there to getting it up and running.

"When I volunteered to go to Samoa I didnt really think about how the work I would be doing would impact on the college and its staff, students and the community. It started to sink in as the work over there progressed," Adrian says.

"I realised that donating my skills and expertise were a lot more valuable than donating $20 would have been - it will make a huge difference to the people there and its great to be part of helping to upskill the Samoan people to bring them into the technical age.

"Many people there have no computer skills at all. Being able to get on the internet is basically a human right these days and has the potential to make a huge difference to the likes of students at Chanel College. It will open up many opportunities for them in the future."

The hospitality and kindness of the Samoan people made the experience all the more meaningful for Adrian who says being immersed in the local culture was a real eye-opener and something he will never forget.

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Kiwi travel firm gets Samoan College connected

L.A. Times Travel Show: 5 travel tips for music festival fans

Music insiders offered insights and travel tips about the world of music festivals at a Saturday panel at the L.A. Times Travel Show called "On the Road: Traveling for Music & Festivals." The panel returns noon Sunday.

Times staff writer Jessica Gelt led the discussion with Betto Arcos, host of KPFKs Global Village; Rick Farman, creator of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and Outside Lands; and Nigel Dick, filmmaker.

Secrets to tickets

If tickets sell out quickly, Farman recommended companies that sell packages, noting most are VIP packages. Bottom line: Be prepared to spend more if you really want in to a particular festival.

If you miss out on buying tickets to the multi-day Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts in England or other big festivals, Nigel Dick suggests checking out smaller festivals in Europe, even if there are no big acts. It's still a chance to have a cool cultural experience.

Navigating a festival

Do not get overwhelmed by all there is to see and do. "Festivals are not programmed for people to see everything. Theyre for people to have lots of different experiences, Farman said.

Arcos said to spend some time looking at the program, highlight those shows you have to see and then if you feel youve seen enough you can leave and go see another act.

Farman recommends that you budget more than half of your time for just wandering around. That is how you learn about new artists and acts, he said.

Split time between city and festival

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L.A. Times Travel Show: 5 travel tips for music festival fans

Travel Channel’s "Hotel Fixer" Anthony Melchiorri Kicks Off The New Year With Six Covert-Style "Hotel Impossible …

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you have any questions or comments about this page please contact pressreleases@worldnow.com.

SOURCE Travel Channel

New Specials Lead In To The Compelling Fourth Season Of "Hotel Impossible" On Monday, January 27 At 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As host of Travel Channel's popular series "Hotel Impossible," "hotel fixer" Anthony Melchiorri is relentless when it comes to getting struggling hotels all over the world back on their feet and on the path to success. His no-nonsense approach may put some owners off, but his advice can transform even the most down-and-out properties. Yet it's ultimately up to the hotel owners to implement and maintain his changes. On "Hotel Impossible Undercover," a series of six half-hour specials premiering Monday, January 6 at 10:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. ET/PT with back-to-back episodes, Melchiorri returns to check up on six properties he previously overhauled on past seasons of "Hotel Impossible." Following the run of specials, a compelling new fourth season of "Hotel Impossible" premieres on Monday, January 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. With thirteen hour-long episodes, Melchiorri's management skills, emotions and patience are put to the test once again.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64287-travel-channels-hotel-impossible-anthony-melchiorri-undercover-specials

(Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131210/MM28535)

"Each hotel presents its own set of challenges whether it's strong personalities, conflicting goals or just plain physical neglect of the hotel. For me, it can be emotionally exhausting to become so deeply invested in all of these properties, with only a short window of time to help them," said Melchiorri. "However, I'm addicted to the excitement of pushing through these obstacles and leaving the owners with a newfound sense of hope and confidence for their future."

Melchiorri makes himself available to clients long after the cameras leavebut what really happens when he packs up and checks out? Did the hotel owners heed his advice? Did renovations continue or fall to the wayside? Have reviews and profits improved, or did the hotel return to its previous state? In each half-hour episode of "Hotel Impossible Undercover," Melchiorri visits hotels from seasons past, sending in a team of undercover investigators from Coyle Hospitality prior to his visit. Pretending to be guests, they are armed with the latest technology in hidden cameras to record secret footage so Melchiorri can see how business is really going. In the premiere, airing on Monday, January 6 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, Melchiorri checks back in to Alaska's Glacier Bear Lodge. After reviewing findings from the undercover operation, he confronts the general manager about a few shocking discoveries including dirty rooms and poor food service. In the second episode airing at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, Melchiorri returns to California's Hotel Leger where he discovers poor housekeeping practices and even more surprising new owners! Featured properties Melchiorri returns to in "Hotel Impossible Undercover" include Casa Verde (Puerto Rico), Holbrooke Hotel (Sacramento, CA), Ocean Manor (Fort Lauderdale, FL) and Triangle T Ranch (Dragoon, AZ).

After the final special airs, an all-new season of "Hotel Impossible" begins on Monday, January 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The premiere episode brings Melchiorri back to Alaska to help save the Alaskan Hotel & Bar, which is celebrating its 100th year. The hotel is the oldest, continually-operated hotel in the state. After forty years, the hotel's current owner, Bettye, is ready to hand over managerial duties to her son, despite how they often feud over management styles. Years of cosmetic neglect have left the property and guest rooms in less-than-desirable conditions; and the hotel's security systems are dangerously lackingboth bears and humans have snuck into the property! The rowdy bar the hotel's biggest moneymaker is still a draw for the local crowd. But an uncooperative, belligerent bar manager is less-than-thrilled to see Melchiorri and the TV crew arrive, and is insistent that his services are neither needed nor welcome. Melchiorri brings in designer Blanche Garcia to help with much-needed renovations, along with a respected bar consultant to pinpoint the bar's major areas for improvement. When resistance from the bar manager stalls the proper course of change, a face-off ensues. Additional locations featured in the fourth season of "Hotel Impossible" include Estes Park, CO; Hollywood, CA; Homestead, FL; Islamorada, FL (Florida Keys); Las Vegas, NV; Myrtle Beach, SC; New Brunswick, Canada; St. John, USVI and more.

"Hotel Impossible" is produced by Atlas Media Corp. for Travel Channel. For Atlas, executive producers are Bruce David Klein, Lorri Leighton and Rob Green. Anthony Melchiorri is a co-executive producer. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Brian Leonard.

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Travel Channel's "Hotel Fixer" Anthony Melchiorri Kicks Off The New Year With Six Covert-Style "Hotel Impossible ...