Do the rest of the world think Australians are dumb, drunk and racist? Source: The Courier-Mail

THE good news is that, courtesy of the still sprightly though now falling Australian dollar, more of us than any time in our history have the ability to travel overseas, and in considerably more style than ever before.

The bad news is that with more and more Australians unleashed on the world the chances of the drongos, drunks and racists among us disgracing ourselves abroad must have, statistically, increased.

Paul Theroux infamously wrote in The Great Railway Bazaar, the classic travel book from the 1970s on his train journey from London to Hong Kong and back again, that whenever he was at his lowest ebb on his travels he always seemed to meet an Australian (and, no, he didn't mean he was glad to see us).

Recently Tim Hunter, boss of Canterbury & Christchurch Tourism, effectively accused normally bravura-driven Aussies of being wimps in shying away from a visit to New Zealand's quake-struck second biggest city.

Now there's a forthcoming ABC television series, provocatively-entitled Dumb, Drunk & Racist.

It tests the theory that Indians, based on call-centre training sessions, consider Australians to be "fat, lazy, drunk, low-class, dumb and racist".

This habit of Australians worrying what other nationalities think of us if they have a view of us at all - used to be known as "the cultural cringe".

In an increasing competitive world reputations do count, and it's fair to say that each and every one of us are ambassadors whenever and wherever we set foot abroad.

Here are some thoughts on how were perceived overseas.

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What does the world think of Aussie travellers?

02-06-2012 12:15 Vote link: PLEASE VOTE HERE - PLEASE VOTE HERE - PLEASE VOTE HERE 🙂 🙂 🙂

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World Travel - I am Intrepid - Video

02-06-2012 12:16 This specific beach was in Lima Peru. There aren't many paragliders in Peru, so you can imagine people's reaction to seeing one up close. Talk about an amazing way to explore another country. You get to see so much more than driving around or walking. It's the greatest freedom! If you have plans to travel abroad, take us with you! It's actually quite easy to bring a glider, some gear, or even a Flat Top Paramotor to other countries. You can see SUPERDELL doing just that in the Bahamas video previously uploaded. If you have any questions or are ready to begin your next great adventure, call 1-800-707-2525, or visit us on the web at

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Paragliding in South America! The ULTIMATE Way to Tour the World! 1-800-707-2525 - Video

Tivoli Gardens, one of Europe’s oldest amusement parks, is the view from your bedroom window when you stay at the Nimb hotel.

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Travel: Nimb hotel, Copenhagen

1. Trippy

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7 Travel Tools for Planning Your Family Adventure

Want to go where the elite go, where the rich and fabulous hide out and where the lavish bath in luxury amenities? Luxury lifestyle magazine, Robb Report, recently published its "Best of the Best" issue naming the best hotels, resorts, spas, golf courses and vacation homes in the world.

Whether sipping cocktails at the highest bar in the world in Hong Kong or putting on the green at the best golf course in Hawaii, these experiences will undoubtedly last a lifetime. And isn't that what travel is all about: the experience.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong Premier Executive Suite living room

Here are the top winners from Robb Report:

Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The hotel still holds the title of the "highest hotel in the world" and isn't afraid to boast it. The swimming pool, fitness center, and bar on the 118th floor of the hotel provide guests with the best views of Hong Kong and the islands. But it's more than just the views that capture the hearts of travelers. Ritz-Carlton is consistently rated top in customer service and performance, and the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is no exception.

Resorts: Ballyfin, Ireland. Located at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Ireland, just under two hours driving from both Dublin and Shannon airports, Ballyfin is an exclusive luxury 5 star hotel steeped in history and seeping with romance.

Spas: The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. The spa at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is the ultimate escape. After your massage, facial, body treatment, pedicure, manicure or all of the above, enjoy the views of London from the spa's 10th-floor rooftop retreat.

The Golf Course at Kukuiula, Hawaii

Golf Courses: The Golf Course at Kukuiula, Hawaii: Kukuiula golf course is the only private golf club on Kauai, making it an exclusive retreat for those who buy in. The 18-hole course was designed by Tom Weiskopf, and runs through 216 acres orchards, gardens, and ocean views.

Vacation Homes: One Sandy Lane, Barbados: Sandy Lane is set in Barbados overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and shelters by mahogany trees and the cool breeze of the Caribbean ocean. Vacation home owners have access to golf, gourmet dining, a spa, sports facilities and all the luxury amenities one would expect from a five-star resort.

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Robb Report picks world's best luxury travel experiences

02-06-2012 09:41 I travel the world building squads from various nations then i score some goals and show you them at the end. Hope you like it, if you do please thumb it up xx Check me out on Yeousch: Please Like and Comment. Add me: twitter:

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FIFA 12 - Ultimate Team World Tour - #1 Uruguay - Video

Everyone loves adventure with the chance of monetary reward.

On Sunday, the Travel Channel lets people live such excitement vicariously with "Gem Hunt." The one-hour special takes viewers along with veteran gem dealer Ron LeBlanc, geologist Bernie Gadboury and jewelry expert Diane Robinson, as they search remote regions of Madagascar for rare pink sapphires, premium blue sapphires and the country's best aquamarines.

Quests like these involve more than the ability to spot the prettiest jewels.

"You have to know your geology, your mineralogy, your topography, your politics, your economics," says Richard Houck, CEO of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg. "If you want to have a successful effort, you cannot go underprepared. Someone going down there without proper preparation and planning can find themselves in a very difficult and unproductive [situation]. You gotta do your homework."

Years ago, Houck went on expeditions at mining locations in Brazil, Peru, England, Sweden and Canada. He says that while such expeditions have gotten even more difficult now as so much of the planet has been explored and overmined the basic motivations remain the same.

"First is monetary compensation," says Houck. "You hope you are going to make some money, maybe some big money. [Second is] the adventure.

"There's also the Easter Egg Hunt Syndrome. We all like to seek, explore and discover."

Or watch others seek, explore and discover.

With cameras in tow, LeBlanc, Gadboury and Robinson travel to remote regions of the island nation off the coast of Africa. From them, viewers get a unique look into the gem industry, its risks and dangers and the obstacles faced getting a gem from a mine to the jewelry store.

It might even inspire a few to set off on adventures of their own.

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Seeking adventure and profit on Travel Channel's treasure hunt

Jack and Judy Stransky, Marge Welch and Rita Foral, all of Omaha, spent 24 days in February traveling in Italy. The four of them first met at Eppley Airport, where they found they were traveling to Italy on the same tour. This picture shows them in Rome in front of the Arch of Constantine. They got to see Rome as few people do in the snow!

Share your photos

Share your travel pictures with us. Just include a copy of The World-Herald in some photos you snap while traveling.

Use our easy online Travel Snaps submission form, and well publish the photos on Omaha.com. From there, readers can vote for their favorites.

We print the overall readers choice for a particular time period in the Living section on Sundays.

Find details, submit entries and vote for your favorites at Omaha.com/contests. Click on the Travel Snaps box.

Copyright 2012 Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.

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Travel Snaps

A busy round of action in South America sees the table-topping Celeste take on Cesar Farias' men, while Claudio Borghi takes his Roja side to the dizzying heights of La Paz

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World Cup Qualifying Preview: Uruguay play Venezuela, Chile travel to Bolivia and Peru face Colombia

After the postponement of Berlin's new airport, travel fans will have to make do with the maiden voyage of Carnival Breeze this weekend. Then, it's two major Pride events, in Sao Paulo and the World Pride Festival in London, beginning June 17.

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Travel agenda: Carnival Breeze sets sail

Bands performing at this weekends Wakarusa festival come from all over the world all points of the United States, Israel, Scandinavian countries and more. And as a result, they also have a very complicated travel schedule.

To get artists from the various states and foreign countries to the remote festival grounds, a fleet of nine vehicles and 24 drivers are assembled for the task.

Its a 24-hour per day job, said Nina Carter, the festivals assistant artist transportation director.

Trips from local airports are coordinated to the minute to ensure that artists arrive at the mountainside site on time. A trip to Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is 90 minutes round trip, and shuttles usually 15-passenger vans are in constant motion to get to artists to that airport or those in Fort Smith or Little Rock.

Trips are coordinated in attempt to bring as many musicians in the same shuttle as can be arranged.

We try to plan ahead as best as possible, says Carter, who has worked in the music business for years. Although shes at a festival where some 150 bands will perform about 200 sets of music, shell be lucky if she sees one act onstage.

Like an air traffic controller, constant radio updates help her plan a course of action and spreadsheets indicate which band is to be picked up from where.

Even with careful coordination, problems are common. One driver broke his foot, rendering him unable to drive and leaving the transportation team down a man. And after watching last nights first round of artists, at least one band decided to stay and party instead of catching their appointed departure time. Or, perhaps the same can be said about the volunteer drivers, who are spread out along the festival grounds.

Volunteers can oversleep, Carter said, And we dont always know where they camp.

About 50 of the festivals bands require transportation services, as many arrive in tour buses. Still even some of those travelers take advantage of the transportation services, such as the bus drivers, who often drive to the festival site and then sleep in a hotel in Ozark while their bands perform at the festival.

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Bands travel across US, world for Wakarusa festival

The Travel & Tourism industry in the UK is nearly five times the size of automotive manufacturing and supports almost as many jobs as the financial sector.(PRWEB UK) 1 June 2012 This is according to new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) sponsored by American Express.The research, undertaken by Oxford Economics, shows that the sector’s direct contribution to the UK GDP is ...

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Tourism in the UK contributes more to GDP than automotive manufacturing

31-05-2012 00:33 Laura and I took a year out to travel the world over 14 different countries. Follow us through our highs and lows over the stunning locations we saw. In part one we land in Beijing and spend our first month travelling down China. Over the next parts we visit Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia,Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

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Blake and Laura Do World The World. Part 1 - CHINA - Video

31-05-2012 08:52 Workshop 21 Social Media Lessons from World Travel Companies Wiki References We suck @ collaboration YouTube List Twitter list What's a zipcast? Zipcast Today Recorded with Screenr

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Social Media Lessons from World Travel Companies 05.2012 - Video

31-05-2012 15:04 I visit the Labaun War Memorial and Surrender Point with local expat Australian Peter Searle. Peter discusses the Sandakan Death March, the greatest single atrocity committed against Australians in war. It is believed that almost 3600 Indonesians, 1381 Australians, and 641 British prisoners died at, or between, Sandakan and Ranau. At Surrender Point on Labuan, the 32nd Japanese Southern Army surrendered to the 9th Division Australian Imperial Forces on 9th September 1945 which led to the end of World War II in Borneo. The Australian 9th Division, Rats of Tobruk, were heavily involved in reconstructing British North Borneo and rebuilt and re-established a considerable amount of civil infrastructure. The division developed a warm relationship with the local people and its efforts were recognised by the incorporation of the division's colour patch in the coat of arms of the new Colony of British Borneo. These arms were used until British Borneo became the Malaysian state of Sabah in 1963. A big thank you to Historian, Lynette Silver for clarifying some historical points via email. For more information on any of the above history visit: http Historical images: Australian War Memorial A pretty ordinary copy of a 60 minutes story on the Sandakan Death March gives a little more insight AROUND THE WORLD TRAVEL VIDEO ADVENTURE web: fb: twt: g+:

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Australian World War Two History, Labuan Island, Borneo, Malaysia - Video

In the modern world of technology revolution and development in the area of communication, nothing seems more accessible and more desirable than travel. Thanks to alltopics.com readers have received new free daily news source of the travel industry. Travel.alltopics.com is the easiest and fastest way to find articles, news, images and videos that determine the world of travel.(PRWEB) May 31 ...

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Alltopics.com Offers Newest Stories on Travel

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) (IHG) (IHG) (ADRs), one of the worlds largest hotel companies, is daring travelers to discover the Latin America and Caribbean they thought they knew with an enticing destination travel deal. Have you ever discovered Brazils tropical rainforest via a boat tour down the Amazon River? Or traveled back to colonial times by way of the old city of Quito, Ecuador? Have you visited a world-renowned museum in Panama City, or been witness to the historical structure of "El Morro," a fortress encapsulating Puerto Ricos role as a guardian of the New World? You thought you knew Latin America and the Caribbeanbut you have no idea.

The newly launched Discover Latin America and Caribbean promotion, valid on hotel stays from June 1st through September 15th, 2012, promises travelers an inspiring, culturally stimulating vacation experience for less. Travelers who book early from now to September 1st will be offered complimentary breakfast and save 20% at more than 75 exotic locations under the IHG family of hotel brands in Latin America and the Caribbean, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. Plus, loyal guests who are enrolled in Priority Club Rewards will earn points for stays.

Featuring a range of destinations from luxurious or family friendly, beachside resorts to urban, city-based hotels some of the IHG properties offering this promotion include: InterContinental Buenos Aires, where just steps away from the hotel guests can learn to tango at one of the citys famed dance schools; Holiday Inn Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino, where visitors can enjoy a day of snorkeling at the pristine Palm Beach; Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros, where guests can explore the colorful architecture of a charming and historically rich city declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 via afternoon strolls on cobble-stone streets; Crowne Plaza Lima, where sightseeing is enhanced with gardens and flower-filled parks and beaches; and Holiday Inn Express Santiago, located in las Condes Vitacura, where guests can live like a local in one of the most fashionable and upscale neighborhoods in Santiago. Choose from a variety of IHG-branded hotels located in a multitude of destinations and truly discover the Latin America and Caribbean you thought you knew.

The Discover Latin America and Caribbean promotion can be reserved anytime between now and September 1st for stays from June 1st through September 15th. For reservations and the full terms and conditions of this offer, please visit http://www.ihg.com/LAC.

*For photos or media inquiries please contact Cristina Planas/305.663.3543/cplanas@krepspr.com

Notes to Editors:

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organization with nine hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, as well as our two newest brands, EVENTMHotels and HUALUXETMHotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with over 65 million members worldwide.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,500 hotels and more than 661,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

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An IHG Travel Deal Worth Discovering

By Sean Captain, Managing Editor, TechNewsDaily

Credit: Google

Royal Palace at Caserta, Italy.

Summer is travel season, but also a time of high airfares and, for many, tight budgets. If you can't get to the great sites of the world in person, Google's new World Wonders Project can get you pretty close.

Launched on Thursday, the project is a mash-up of photos, YouTube videos, Google Earth 3D models and Google Street View panoramas. Brief write-ups on the locations round out the presentation.

World Wonders focuses heavily on buildings, from the Daigo-ji Temple in Kyoto to the Old City of Salamanca in Spain to the Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity in Brooklyn. But it also features a handful of natural wonders, including Kakadu National Park in Australia and Yosemite Park in California.

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Travel the Globe with Google World Wonders Project

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Expedia.com, the world's leading online travel agency, has found that the Dominican Republic is an increasingly popular destination for US travel, up 30%, making it the 2nd most popular destination for Americans to travel in Latin America and the Caribbean.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110121/SF33870LOGO-b)

As the largest and most diverse Caribbean destination, the Dominican Republic is an easy trip from Miami, New York City, Atlanta and even some European destinations. Known for its warm and hospitable people, the Dominican Republic is a destination like no other, featuring astounding nature, intriguing history and rich culture.

In additional to identifying the best deals, activities and tips for travelers planning a vacation to the Dominican Republic, Miriam Hernandez, head of the Dominic Republic market for Expedia.com, shared that, "The Dominican Republic has never been more popular for US travelers, especially those from the east coast, but surprisingly, room night costs have remained mostly flat, making it one of the best deals for getting to the beach this summer." A recent survey known as the Expedia Flip Flop report shows that beach travel is the number one type of trip most Americans prefer.

Dominican Republic travel trends at a glance

Where to stay in the Dominican Republic

For travelers looking for a romantic all-inclusive getaway, the Sanctuary Cap Cana, Zoetry Agua Punta Cana and Majestic Elegance Punta Cana all offer fantastic all-inclusive and romantic options. For families, the Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe and Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana Luxury all offer affordable and family friendly all-inclusive options. For travelers interested in trying their luck at a casino they should visit the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana featuring the largest gaming area in the country.

What to do in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has many of the most magnificent golf courses in the Caribbean and Latin America. From the mountains to the beaches, the golf courses there are uniquely designed and distinct.

Sports champions and golf enthusiasts alike cannot resist playing the island's challenging courses.

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Expedia Reports More Travelers Dream Dominican This Year