Posts from ‘Newsletter’
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:
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.)
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!
If you happen to be in New York next weekend, the NY Times is again hosting its annual New York Times Travel Show in Manhattan. And yes, it’s a big deal.
From their site:
Come to The New York Times Travel Show. The only place where you can:
- Explore more than 500 destinations, cruises, tours, adventures and travel services
- Receive exclusive deals and giveaways
- Enjoy live cultural performances, tastings, travel seminars and more
- Learn about the best tours and locations for your schedule, travel style and budget
- Book your adventure!
Admission: $15* (Free for those under 18)
It’s all happening February 26 – 28, in New York’s Midtown West neighborhood.
Friday is only open to invited industry professionals. Saturday and Sunday are open to the public.
“Continue Reading” for a discount code!
You’ve chosen, probably unknowingly, the best of the AirTreks blog for the first month of 2010. And from
the looks of it, it appears that money is still weighing heavy on people’s minds; 3 of the 5 top posts are related to saving money on their trip.
Here is your recap of the 5 most popular posts for January 2010:
Departing, by Elsie esq.
“You kids don’t know how good you’ve got it,” says Grandpa from the backseat. He may be right — especially when it comes to travel. What Grandpa had to endure for better leisure traveling these days can make your head spin around: the fickle, unreliable airlines, the volatile political situations, the disease, poverty and rampaging Godzillas just to name a few.
It’s hard to quantify just how much the traveling experience has improved from your grandpa’s, or even your dad’s era to ours, but there’s little doubt that as travelers we’ve got it pretty good. From the smooth transcontinental flights, that our bags typically arrive with us, our web check-ins, etickets, electronic itineraries, planning, booking and moving around the globe, there’s no doubt it’s better now than it ever has been. And it’s in no small part due to the pitfalls the previous generation was exposed to.
To demonstrate the point, here’s how modern traveling is better than it’s ever been:
![Presidential Office Building [ Taipei ] by d'n'c.](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2745512285_ef01ae8a0d.jpg "Presidential Office Building")
It’s a sad and unfortunate fact that many travelers don’t put Taiwan high on their travel wishlist; it may be the most underrated of all the South East Asian countries. To highlight the missed opportunities of skipping a connection in Taipei, this Wednesday we’ve put together enough things to do in Taiwan to keep you busy for half a day or half a year. If you’re on your way to Asia and are even mildly adventurous Taiwan will quickly surprise you.
Situated 80 miles off the coast of mainland China, the city is abuzz with what’s new and not so new. Surely, the past 50 years has had an adverse effect on the popular opinion, with its perceived endless sprawling factories, electronics assembly plants and swatches of endless neon glowing menacingly through some kind of dystopian gloom.
While the western half of the island may be somewhat overdone with urban sprawl there’s so much to do in the country you’ll forget the reputation and leave comfortable, relaxed and delighted you came, likely with a memory card full of photographs. Mist-covered mountains, hot springs, national parks and a culture as ancient and rich as any in the entire eastern hemisphere.
Taiwan offers visitors a hypermodern skin, an ancient Chinese skeleton and an aboriginal soul. And more than that, Taiwan has some of the world’s warmest people, affable to a fault and so filled with rénqíng wèi (which, roughly translated, means “personal affection”) that few who come to Taiwan a stranger leave that way. ~ Lonely Planet
It’s safe to say that most people who visit this blog are travelers. Therefore most of you probably have a story waiting in the wings about your experiences in the world, humorous or harrowing tales you feel are 
relevant to the public at large.
The AirTreks Travel Blog is now accepting guest posts!
If there’s something in your journal or a story you’ve been itching to tell, it’s time to share it.
This is your opportunity solicit your writing, your travels and your wisdom with people that wouldn’t otherwise be available to you.
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