The results are in for the most wanted articles on the AirTreks Travel Blog last month. The winner? Planners!
It’s evident people are in the planning stages of their summer travel season. Last month’s top posts were the ones focusing on choosing destinations and deciding where to go. Fairly common for late winter.
Here are the trending posts for February, 2010:
Red Shirts on the roll
Trouble is looming over the weekend in Bangkok as the “United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship” assembles its largest protest in recent memory, predicting up to 600,000 protesters will be in the capital by Sunday. According to CNBC:
“Anti-government demonstrators prepared to launch Friday what they hope will be one of the country’s biggest protests ever, aiming to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call new elections.
Leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, called the Red Shirts because of their hallmark garb, have vowed to keep their “Million-man march” protest nonviolent. Demonstrators will start meeting around the country Friday, and converge in the Thai capital Bangkok on Sunday.
The group’s last major protest in Bangkok in April last year deteriorated into rioting that saw two people killed, more than 120 people injured and buses burned on major thoroughfares. The army was called in to quash the unrest.”
Dave, one of AirTreks’ skilled travel consultants, has a penchant for long stays in exotic countries. After spending a year of his life in the island nation of the Maldives and over four years in Thailand, Dave is very familiar with the world traveler’s state of mind.
To Dave I posed the Your Agent’s Dream Trip question:
“Without having to state your reasons, and if cost was of no importance, what would be your dream around-the-world trip in 10 stops or less.”
Here’s what Dave came up with, starting in his current home town of San Francisco:
Destination Tuesday: A series celebrating world travel destinations. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
It sounds like a country-western song, but you need money to make it on the road. Food, lodging, transportation, activities, each require you to pay and pay alike. Unfortunately, to best know how to spend your money practically requires a degree in economics. With fees, limits, percentages and acres of fine print it’s extremely difficult to avoid being nickled and dimed.
Here’s your how-to for avoiding the dreaded “fee fatigue”:
While not specifically related to travel, other than it’s French, this is a great way to move into your weekend.
A scene from François Truffaut’s 1960 movie “Tirez sur le Pianiste” or “Shoot the Piano Player”. Bobby Lapoint singing the very fun “Framboise”, with subtitles. See if you can follow along.
Have a Frenchtastic weekend!
If you’re someone who thinks you can’t do anything fun for free, let me be the first to tell you otherwise. While the activities may not be as white-knuckle inducing as zip-lining across a jungle canopy or tumbling down a hill inside a giant plastic ball, there are a host of different things you can do that are completely free of charge and will make you smile at your good fortune for finding them.
Here are some of the best free enterprises to be had on any standard round the world trip. Take THAT budget woes!
Glenn has been in the business a long time, and as one of AirTrek’s longest-standing employees he’s a seasoned traveler. His passport will show you — with recent trips to Borneo, Malaysia and Argentina, plus the 20+ years he’s been under the influence of the travel bug, Glenn knows his geography.
With this in mind I expected his dream trip to be pretty exotic — he didn’t let me down.
To Glenn I posed the Your Agent’s Dream Trip question:
“Without having to state your reasons, and if cost was of no importance, what would be your dream around-the-world trip in 10 stops or less.”
Here’s what he offered. (Glenn lives in Oakland, CA but said he’d be willing to come across the Bay to catch his international flight. He’s nice that way.)
All Nippon 747 decked out in Pokeman livery
To the delight of women everywhere, All Nippon Airlines (ANA) will be the first airline to officially take a stance on the timeless toilet seat versus gender controversy.
According to an March 1st ANA press release:
Following numerous requests from passengers for this service, one women-only lavatory will be designated in the passenger cabin….and will be available for use by women passengers [only].
For anyone in currently in Europe, that had to miss the New York Times Travel Show or who doesn’t already know about it, the ITB Berlin Travel Show is happening next week in Germany.
If you like these kind of exhibitions, this one will blow your mind. With over 11,000 exhibitors from 180 countries it pretty much lives up to its hype about being the world’s largest.
Not an industry professional but want to take a look? Not to worry. The show isn’t just for insiders. Last year 80,000 of the 300,000 visitors were general public travel-loving folks. There’s sure to be events, activities and symposia galore. And no doubt plenty of schwag for the taking.
The show is on March 10 – 14, with the weekend dates open to the public. Tickets are €12 per day in advance or €14 at the door.
So pack your comfortable shoes, hop in a plane, train or automobile and get to Berlin. The most current trends in the travel industry will be on display. This year’s show is dedicated to the happy topic of industry sustainability.
Enjoy the show!
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