PALO ALTO, Calif., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced that City Guides, the highly rated and free mobile app, is now available for 50 leading destinations around the world, more than doubling its original portfolio of travel guides. Conveniently accessible even when the user is offline, the app now includes three new features on its Android version, giving travelers the ability to view local transit stations, create personalized maps, and see itinerary suggestions from travel experts, in addition to reviews and opinions from the greater TripAdvisor community.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/49266-tripadvisor-city-guides-mobile-app

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"Users have already raved about the ease of use and helpfulness of TripAdvisor City Guides, with more than a million app downloads to date," said Adam Medros, vice president of global product at TripAdvisor. "We are excited to bring more cities and enhanced functionality to travelers, and ultimately help them enjoy their trips even more."

New App Features for Android Users

1.Transit Users can now view metro or subway stations on a map.The "Nearby Station" feature helps travelers find the closest station to their current location, or to the restaurant, hotel, or attraction that they want to visit.

2.TripIdeas TripIdeas are customized itinerary recommendations based on popular travel themes, such as traveling with family, foodie destinations, and places off the beaten path. Each itinerary includes beautiful large photos for inspiration. Users can keep track of their favorite TripIdeas in their "Saves" list.

3.Offline Map Update Users can now fully customize their own maps. This feature displays saved destinations, metro stations, and any restaurants, hotels, and attractions of interest, to help travelers plan and have their perfect trip.

30 New City Guides, Now Available for Download on Android and iOS

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TripAdvisor City Guides Now Available For 50 Global Travel Destinations

21-05-2012 07:34 We are going on a mystical journey travel with us and see Thailand through the eyes of light workers stay tuned for messages from shamans , great heath tips for travelling in 3rd world countries , raw food insights and a looks in to difference parts of our collective dream . filmed live in the adventure of life.

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Jess

21-05-2012 18:26 Members of the World Cruise Travel Club were on the MSC Opera in April 2012 for the 19-night Transatlantic crossing from Buenos Aires to Southampton. On the way we called in at Rio de Janeiro - what a city - vibrant and alive.

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World Cruise Travel Club goes to RIO de JANEIRO - Video

LONDON, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced that it is awarding highly rated accommodations, restaurants and attractions with the 2012 Certificate of Excellence Award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Approximately 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

"TripAdvisor is pleased to honour exceptional businesses for consistent excellence, as reviewed by travellers on the site," said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business. "The Certificate of Excellence award gives highly rated establishments around the world the recognition they deserve. From exceptional accommodations in Beijing to remarkable restaurants in Boston, we want to applaud these businesses for offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience."

Certificate of Excellence honourees can showcase their achievement in multiple ways, including prominently displaying their certificate that they will receive in the coming weeks, exhibiting an award widget on their business's website, and celebrating their award with a press release. The array of promotional items can be downloaded through the TripAdvisor Management Center.

"Best Western is honoured that so many of our hotels have earned the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence," said Dorothy Dowling, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Best Western International. "We're proud to have more than 1,000 winning hotels around the world. TripAdvisor awards are highly regarded by travellers and our staff alike, because they reflect the opinions of the people who matter most: our guests."

The Certificate of Excellence programme does not replace the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards, but is an extension of TripAdvisor's recognition of highly rated businesses, as reviewed by travellers on the world's largest travel site.

For more information and materials on the Certificate of Excellence programme, as well as other resources to help businesses engage with travellers, please visit the TripAdvisor Management Center at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Owners.

About TripAdvisor 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 50 million unique monthly visitors*, and over 60 million reviews and opinions. 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 TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (TRIP) manages and operates websites under 19 other travel media brands, and together the sites attract more than 69 million unique monthly visitors**. TripAdvisor's travel media brands include http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.everytrail.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.holidaywatchdog.com, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.onetime.com, http://www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.tingo.com, http://www.travel-library.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com, http://www.whereivebeen.com, and http://www.kuxun.cn.

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TripAdvisor Honours Top Businesses with 2012 Certificate of Excellence

NEWTON, Mass., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced that it is awarding highly rated accommodations, restaurants and attractions with the 2012 Certificate of Excellence Award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Approximately 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO )

To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

"TripAdvisor is pleased to honor exceptional businesses for consistent excellence, as reviewed by travelers on the site," said Christine Petersen, President, TripAdvisor for Business. "The Certificate of Excellence Award gives highly rated establishments around the world the recognition they deserve. From exceptional accommodations in Beijing to remarkable restaurants in Boston, we want to applaud these businesses for offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience."

Certificate of Excellence honorees can showcase their achievement in multiple ways, including prominently displaying their certificate that they will receive in the coming weeks, exhibiting an award widget on their business's website, and celebrating their award with a press release. The array of promotional items can be downloaded through the TripAdvisor Management Center.

"Best Western is honored that so many of our hotels have earned the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence," said Dorothy Dowling, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Best Western International. "We're proud to have more than 1,000 winning hotels around the world. TripAdvisor awards are highly regarded by travelers and our staff alike, because they reflect the opinions of the people who matter most: our guests."

The Certificate of Excellence program does not replace the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards, but is an extension of TripAdvisor's recognition of highly rated businesses, as reviewed by travelers on the world's largest travel site.

For more information and materials on the Certificate of Excellence program, as well as other resources to help businesses engage with travelers, please visit the TripAdvisor Management Center at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Owners.

About TripAdvisor 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 50 million unique monthly visitors*, and over 60 million reviews and opinions. 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 TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (TRIP) manages and operates websites under 19 other travel media brands, and together the sites attract more than 69 million unique monthly visitors**. TripAdvisor's travel media brands include http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.everytrail.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.holidaywatchdog.com, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.onetime.com,www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.tingo.com, http://www.travel-library.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com, http://www.whereivebeen.com, and http://www.kuxun.cn.

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TripAdvisor Honors Top Businesses with 2012 Certificate of Excellence

21 May 2012

The Travel & Tourism industry in the Americas region is three times the size of automotive manufacturing and roughly one-third larger than chemicals manufacturing and mining.

This is according to new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) sponsored by American Express, launched on the first day of WTTC"s first Regional Summit of the Americas in the Riviera Maya, Mexico from 16-18 May.

This is according to new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) sponsored by American Express, launched on the first day of WTTC"s first Regional Summit of the Americas in the Riviera Maya, Mexico from 16-18 May.

The research, undertaken by Oxford Economics, shows that the sector"s direct contribution to the Americas GDP is US$666 billion which is more than three times the GDP of automotive manufacturing and one-third larger than the global chemicals and mining industry.

Travel & Tourism"s total contribution to GDP in the Americas was US$1.9trillion in 2011, or 8.6% of total GDP. This compares to 6% for automotive and mining and 7% for chemicals.

With 15 million direct employees in the Americas, Travel & Tourism is one of the leading employers in the region, surpassing the job creation of mining (2.5m), chemicals manufacturing (2.5m), automotive (4m) and financial services (10m). The new research also showed that Travel & Tourism"s contribution to GDP is faster than most other sectors in the Americas. It will grow by 3.6% over the next ten years, a faster growth rate than mining (1.5%), Education (2%), chemicals (2.5%) and financial services (3.4%). As the Americas Summit in the Riviera Maya commences, the research highlights the importance of Travel & Tourism in Mexico in terms of generating income and GDP in economies. It shows that Travel & Tourism spend is more powerful than most other sectors.

For example in Mexico, every US$1 million spent on Travel & Tourism generates a further US$1.5 million to the economy as a whole, and 66 jobs (compared to an average of 42 for all sectors). The industry generates more jobs than all other sectors considered - double that of the automotive industry, twenty times that of mining and six times that of the financial services sector.

The story in other countries across the region is similar. The study looked at the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Brazil and Argentina as well as Mexico.

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Travel & Tourism in the Americas contributes more to GDP than automotive manufacturing

HARVEY World Travel The Ridge has been named Travel Agency of the Year for QLD at the Harvey World Travel National Symposium.

Harvey World Travel managing director David Rivers said the win reflected the shop's expertise and passion for travel.

"We are extremely proud of Bernie Freyling and his team on their outstanding performance," Mr Rivers said.

"Harvey World Travel consistently rates among the highest in the industry for 'knowledge and experience' and 'travel agency likely to call or visit' in Newspoll research.

"These awards celebrate the best of the best and it's a remarkable achievement given our overall high standards of customer service.

"The win sets a new standard for the other franchisees and I have no doubt we will - as a brand - continue to grow even stronger for many years to come."

Owner Bernie Freyling, who also runs Harvey World Travel agencies in Toowoomba and Indooroopilly, said the award is a great honour and the recognition rewarding.

"This is an enormous accolade to our success and really tells us that we are doing everything right - it's very encouraging and makes going the extra mile for our customers all worthwhile," Mr Freyling said.

"Office manager Leah Fuller and the team at Harvey World Travel The Ridge has been sending their customers on dream holidays for more than four years.

"The team pride themselves on being the travel professionals and they love what they do.

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Local agency snaps national award

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire -05/21/12)- Travel to South Africa from the USA is on the rise, just behind the UK and growing still, according to figures released at the Indaba 2012 travel expo in Durban, South Africa this month. South Africa's Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told reporters at this year's Africa travel show that South Africa expects to nearly double the number of international arrivals by 2020 from 8.3 million to 15 million.

Indaba is Africa's largest and most important travel conference, held annually in Durban, South Africa since 1979. This year was no exception as 2,000 exhibitors of travel products, mostly in South and East Africa, showed what's new and noteworthy for travel to the continent. Travel-Intel was there and reveals findings in the May 15 issue.

South African Airways told reporters at this year's gathering that plans are on target for expansion -- a five-year plan calls for the delivery of 22 A320s and six A330-200s -- despite what CEO Siza Mzimela calls the worst era ever for the airline business. Travel-Intel interviews SAA's Executive Vice President for North America, Todd Neuman, about SAA's plans and future.

Travel-Intel's all Africa May 15 issue also looks at Durban as a sleeper destination for tourism with its business hotels, extensive beach walk refurbishments and new developments following the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Similarly, Travel-Intel presents options for wonderful wine country drives as day trips from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth on the southernmost coast. An interview with the US marketing representative from Rovos Rail shows the privately owned, 1920s luxury Pullman train company based in Cape Town is preparing a Cape Town to Cairo itinerary for 2014 that will take in all the sights and wildlife Africa can offer in by-gone style with three-week rail journeys through the continent.

Travel-Intel sends its reporters around the world to get the latest news in travel first hand, by visiting the great cities of the world, testing the products and interviewing the people behind the emerging trends in travel. This month Travel-Intel travels to South Africa, Ethiopia and Thailand to see what these destinations have in store for visitors.

Tours.com's Travel-Intel is a newsletter that goes out twice a month to the travel industry to keep more than 100,000 North American travel agents and travel sellers up on what's happening in the constantly changing world of travel.

Recent issues of Travel-Intel have looked at the changing trends in the cruise, hospitality and airline industries, and featured destination close-ups.

The May 1 issue archives, which can be viewed at http://www.travel-intel.com, examined the dark side of tourism and what happens when trips go bad. That issue also featured the odd destination of Jeju Island in South Korea to find theme parks made of glass and museums devoted to teddy bears and tea.

All issues of Travel-Intel are posted on Tours.com for those seeking answers through Tours.com's comprehensive directory of tour companies and travel information.

"Travel is a constantly changing business. We try to keep up with what is happening by being on the scene and talking to the influencers so we can get the news out to travel agents, the people who need it most," says Lark Ellen Gould, content director for Travel-Intel and Tours.com.

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Travel to South Africa Thriving Despite Sluggish World Economy; USA Visitors Edging Out Europe; Tours.com's Travel ...

Senior group travel provides the opportunity to satisfy the wanderlust in you and to form friendships that last over time. Group travel gives you the freedom to see the world without any logistical worries.

The Community Resources Department for the city of Fairfield is seeking adult travelers to attend a travel presentation at the Fairfield Senior Center at 10 a.m. today in the Christiansen Room. The center is at 1200 Civic Center Drive.

Premier World Discovery will highlight all of their trips planned for this year and beyond. Come hear about the itineraries for Eastern Europe, Great Canadian Cities, Chicago, an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, and the Great Trains heading to the Sedona area. Adults are encouraged to sign up six months in advance, especially for the most popular destinations. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other itineraries available, but not on the presentation schedule this month are trips to South Lake Tahoe, Pageant of the Masters, multiple trips to Reno, Netherlands with Belgium and Paris for the Floriade, Colors of New England, Italy, Australia, San Antonio for the holidays, Christmas in the Ozarks, and even more for 2013, including a cruise up the Yangtze River.

For more information on senior group travel experiences, as well as the Fairfield Senior Center, contact Senior Services Coordinator Jane Kibbey at 429-6291 or e-mail jkibbey@

fairfield.ca.gov.

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A world of travel info awaits at presentation in Fairfield

BELLEVUE, WA--(Marketwire -05/22/12)- Expedia.com, the world's leading online travel agency, today launched Expedia Kids in the City Guide, a compilation of 12 distinct guides to top US summer vacation destinations. Each online guide is curated by a family travel blogger who is a mom herself from cities such as Boston, New York and Chicago. They feature the best places to see, stay, eat and play with children of all ages in the summer months.

The Expedia Kids in the City Guide comes on the heels of the launch of Expedia's largest summer sale ever, with over 12,000 hotels and resorts from 700+ destinations offering up to 35% off. New Expedia research shows that 91% of US family getaways are for travel within the US and that 56% of these trips were to an urban destination. Further, 32% of those booking a family getaway reported that they were going to a destination they've never been to before.

The full set of guides will appear on Expedia.com on May 22, 2012. To review the guides, visit expedia.com/kidsinthecity and follow Expedia on twitter @Expedia using #ExpediaKids as the hashtag for the discussion.

"In everyday life, moms rely on other moms for the recommendations relating to their family: the best pediatrician, childcare, babysitters, schools, you name it. Moms are usually the Chief Travel Officer of the family so vacation and travel shouldn't be any different," said Sarah Keeling, director of travel communications, Expedia Worldwide. "When parents commit to a family vacation, to spend their precious time and resources on that special summer trip, they want to feel confident that they've found the best services and attractions for their kids. The Expedia Kids in the City Guide gives moms the peace of mind that these trips are mom-approved."

Participating bloggers and their corresponding cities include:

"Who better to recommend kid-friendly attractions than travel-savvy moms who live in or near these key cities across America? We share our insider tips for visiting famous city sights with kids, as well as some of our favorite lesser-known activities in each area," said Kara Williams, travel blogger for The Vacation Gals. "We hope our suggestions will inspire parents across the country to grab their kids and set out to explore some of the United States' most popular urban destinations!"

About Expedia.comExpedia.com is the world's leading online travel site, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (http://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, and services. With the Expedia Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available online for all types of travel.

2012 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia, Expedia.com and the Airplane logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. CST # 2029030-50

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Moms Helping Moms: Expedia Launches "Kids in the City" Family Travel Guide

The CONCACAF Champions League has provided a wealth of new opportunities for MLS teams to cut their teeth on the international stage since its 2008 inception, but as fans of teams lucky enough to be in the tournament will tell you, those opportunities are not the only benefits North Americas premier club competition offers.

Along with the added exposure for the teams, the greatly expanded competition (from eight to 24 teams, including preliminary rounds), has offered MLS fans a new way to travel to places they might otherwise never consider going.

Upon arriving, the first thing I remember was wondering, What the heck am I doing here? Sounders fan John Neuharth recalled after arriving in El Salvador. I had spent the last couple weeks convincing my friends and family that no, I was not crazy for traveling to a third-world country with a history of unrest in order to watch a Sounders match. In reality, the country was a wonderful experience.

By virtue of three straight US Open Cup wins, the Seattle Sounders have been regular participants in the competition since 2010. To book their debut appearance in the competition, the Sounders had to travel to El Salvador holding a slender 1-0 lead over Isidro Metapn in the preliminary round, and a small group of fans made the trip to Central America along with the team.

Once we deplaned, we stayed at the airport for about an hour because we'd heard the team flight was right behind us and we wanted to welcome them with scarves up and some songs, Sounders fan Aaron Reed told to MLSsoccer.com. The looks on their faces were priceless when they realized that we were there.

Though Metapn are based in the northwestern Santa Ana province of El Salvador, their stadium did not meet CONCACAF standards, meaning the game was played in San Salvadors Estadio Cuscatln, El Salvadors national stadium and the largest venue in Central Ameica.

Once in the stadium, though the Sounders fans encountered something completely unlike what theyd seen in away venues across MLS.

We got some light heckling when we first arrived at the stadium, but most people just looked at us like we were from another planet, Reed recalled.

The security guard [who was carrying a gun] led us through three empty sections, each separated from each other with a chain link fence and barbed wire, until we got to our section for the match, he continued. We were in a true terrace. It was large concrete slabs with no seats. There was a moat, a chain link fence and an armed guard between us and the pitch.

Having come from Seattle, the ECS members were no strangers to wet weather, yet they were still shocked at the conditions presented by Central Americas rainy season, where torrential rain is the norm throughout the summer.

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Supporters Week: CCL gives fans unique way to travel world

At the end of the summer, two students from the North Hall High School class of 2012 will find themselves heading westward to California.

For the next two years, they will travel the nation, even the world, with The Young Americans, a performing group that puts on workshops for the worlds youth.

Mary Catherine Scozzari and Reed Partrick, two recent graduates of North Hall, have been extended an invitation to join the group and are taking the leap.

Im really excited about being a part of it, said Scozzari. Theres not a lot of people that are willing to take this risk. She and Partrick, who have been friends for a long time, have been on the stage since eighth grade and both have a rooted passion for the performing arts.

And both have known since freshman year that The Young Americans was the end goal after high school. When they were freshman, during the 2007-08 school year, The Young Americans visited their school to put on a three-day workshop.

I knew right then thats what I wanted to do, said Partrick. This has been my dream since freshman year. The two both hosted some of the groups performers and after that workshop, both knew what they wanted to do.

You get really close with (the performers) over those three days and they really impact your life, said Scozzari.

Scozzari and Partrick arent the first Hall County graduates or even the first North Hall graduates to join Young Americans. Andrew Fields, who graduated from North Hall in 2009, has been part of the group. So has Rob Whelchel, who graduated from Gainesville High School the same year.

When the Young American group came back to town this year, Scozzari and Partrick auditioned for the group, and both are taking the leap.

They will stay in Corona, Calif., where the group is based out of, and spend the first year training for the shows. After that time, they will audition to go on three-month tours with the group.

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North Hall students set to travel the world

The Barnstaple branch of Vacation World, in Joy Street

Tony Gussin Saturday, May 19, 2012 8:00 AM

Vacation World ceases trading as staff are in formed by a mass telephone call.

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THE Barnstaple and Braunton branches of Vacation World have shut down after the travel agent ceased trading.

The news was broken to staff at 9.15am on Wednesday via a conference telephone call.

They were also told they would not receive any pay for their work from May 1.

Originally posted here:

Barnstaple and Braunton travel agents close down

GENEVA For 52 years, Cole Travel Service arranged tours and vacations all over the world, but especially for folks traveling to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and other Scandinavian countries.

We did Scandinavian travel all over the U.S., said Barbara Cox, who managed the travel agency for 28 years. We are the ones to call for Scandinavian travel. We did so good for so many years. But in the last six years, there was a huge slow down. We still did Scandinavia travel, which is what we specialized in, but it was not enough to keep the business going.

Cox said she would retire now that Cole Travel, at 310 W. State St. in Geneva, will close June 1.

The travel agency shares the same space with The Gift Box, specializing in Scandinavian imports, which will stay open.

Gift Box manager Jane Gaffney said the travel agency space likely would be made into the Christmas room to hold specialty holiday items.

We sell Swedish coffee, medium and dark Arvid Nordquist brand and Lofbergs Lila, Gaffney said. We have chocolate, candies, cookies, Bing and Grondahl and Royal Copenhagen Blue plates. We also serve glogg during the Christmas walk, which we make ourselves from a recipe from the 1700s. And we also carry lutefisk once a year at Christmas.

Lutefisk is a traditional Nordic dish of dried salted whitefish saturated with lye.

The travel agencys original owner, Edythe Anderson, opened the business in 1960 as an additional service to customers of the Gift Box, which opened in 1947.

The current owner, Lennart Jonsson, contributed to the success of both businesses because of his extensive knowledge of Scandinavian countries.

An immigrant from Sweden, Lennart, 87, of St. Charles, said it was unfortunate the travel agency could not support itself any longer.

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Cole Travel in Geneva closes after 52 years

Do you want to travel the world, but are afraid you dont have enough money? Are you nervous about the unknowns of traveling? Sampson California Realty will be hosting a free special event and book signing on Plan Your Escape: How To Travel the World For Less Than the Cost of Living at Home on Thursday, May 31, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Sampson California Realty office at 12702 Via Cortina, Suite 101 in Del Mar. Wayne and Pat Dunlap, a Del Mar couple, rented their home and traveled the world for two years, visiting 51 countries. As a result of their travels, they wrote a book called Plan Your Escape: Secrets of Traveling the World for Less Than the Cost of Living at Home. This step-by-step guide to traveling the world gets people exploring possibilities they never thought of, said Wayne Dunlap. During this fabulous evening, you will learn how to safely realize and afford your travel dreams for trips from a weekend getaway to a month or more.

Wayne Dunlap, a former economics professor and experienced world traveler and his travel partner and wife, Pat Dunlap, will discuss powerful cost-saving tips, including proven secrets the travel industry does not want you to know. Learn how to get the best deals on airfare, hotels, tours, car rentals, restaurants, cruises and more. To register for this event, contact SCR at 858-699-1145 or via email at info@scr-sandiego.com.

Short URL: http://www.ranchosantafereview.com/?p=10079

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Sampson California Realty to host special event on ‘How To Travel The World For Less Than The Cost of Living at Home’

Tourists who want a taste of the Philippines will be spoiled for choice, with tasty dishes from adobo to pinikpikan. But for the busy traveler, perhaps a meal of Chickenjoy or palabok will do just the trick.

The famous Chickenjoy. Laurel Fantauzzo

The list released in May 2012 includes maritime-themed chain Nordsee in Germany, noodle chain Mr. Lee in China, and street snack chain Old Chang Kee in Singapore.

At Jollibee, fast food gets a Filipino twistthe burgers come with a sweet, creamy sauce and the spaghetti comes with hotdogs. But it's the fried chicken and local noodle dish that star in Travel and Leisure's list.

"There are more than 700 locations across the country, serving everything from fried chicken and hamburgers to local favorites like palabok, rice noodles with meat sauce, shrimp, and hard-boiled egg," they say, recommending the Spicy Chickenjoy.

According to Travel and Leisure, "fast-food chains aren't exactly hidden gems...but they have their own quirky appeal and dish out a quick fix of local culture and cuisine."

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Travel magazine lists Jollibee among the world's best fast-food chains

In the West, online travel has long since eclipsed the brick-and-mortar industry, but in China, real-world travel agencies are very much alive. Travel patterns are also very different here; Chinese tourists ...

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Online Travel Grows in China: An Interview with Tuniu CEO Donald Yu

(MoneyWatch) Life in the U.S. in the debris of the Great Recession is slowly beginning to improve. Consumer confidence, while still sensitive to trouble signs (Greece, anyone?), is creeping up. One sure sign: More American are taking vacations. According to recent data from the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries(OTTI), 8.1 million people traveled abroad in the first two months of the year. That's a six percent increase over the same time period in 2011.

Americans who want to travel internationally but not contend with Europe's unfavorable exchange rate are turning to less expensive destinations. Through February, travel to Central American had risen 25 percent and was up 11 percent to Asia, according to OTTI. Along with affordability, increased travel to these parts of the world was driven partly by the many tourist-friendly cities in the regions.

Most affordable places to retire

TheUN World Tourism Organization(UNWTO) reports that Thailand is quickly becoming a go-to tourist destination. It's the most popular country in Southeast Asia for international travelers and last year came in as the No. 11 country in the world as ranked by tourism receipts. Malaysia was No. 14 and Singapore No. 15

According to UNWTO, Thailand was one of five international destinations whose tourism receipts grew by more than $5 billion in 2011. The other four countries who saw a similar jump in tourism were the U.S., Spain, France, and Hong Kong.

Although a growing number of Americans are traveling to Latin America and Asia, Europe remains the most popular destination, with travel to the region up 9 percent in the first two months of the year. It's not just U.S. tourists flocking to Europe -- despite its economic woes, Europe draws the largest share of global tourism, at 45 percent. Tourism brought $463 billion into the European economy in 2011.

If Europe as a whole is the most popular region for travel, the U.S. is easily the world's most visited country as ranked by how much foreign travelers spend. The U.S. last year brought in more than $116 billion in tourism receipts, nearly double second-place Spain ($59.3 billion), according to UNWTO. France ($53.8 billion), China ($58.5 billion), and Italy ($43 billion round out the top five.

United Nations World Tourism Barometer Top destinations by international tourism receipts (based on 2011 data)

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World's top 15 travel destinations

15-05-2012 05:03 Brett Tollman, chief executive of The Travel Corporation (TTC), showed his support for a global unification of the travel industry at the 2012 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Tokyo/Sendai. TTC has been a member of the WTTC since 1997, but Brett Tollman (www.bretttollman.biz) has long been an advocate for educating government and industry as to the importance of the tourism industry on global economy, after all, tourism currently employs over 250 million people worldwide, and that number is expected to grow. By uniting under the auspices of the WTTC, TTC and other travel services providers can speak in one voice to educate and influence governments to removing barriers that keep visitors from coming in and out of their countries.

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Brett Tollman Interview at 2012 World Travel and Tourism Council - Video

Al Faisaliah Hotel, managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, was recognized as “Saudi Arabia’s Leading Hotel” for the second consecutive year, as well as “Middle East’s Leading Luxury City Hotel”.Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (PRWEB) May 15, 2012 In a demonstration of all-round distinction & superiority, Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel, scooped two international awards at the annual World Travel Awards ...

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Al Faisaliah Hotel Gains International Recognition at World Travel Awards