Saudi Arabia Parts the Veils on Tourism
Much as a woman in niqab may show her face for a flash as she adjusts the dark mask of her robes, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been exposing slivers of tourism possibilities to the west and then concealing them again in a play of calculated flirtation – until now. Travelers have long held […]
Global Travel Booms as Inbound US Travel Bombs
While people around the globe may be traveling more than ever tourism to the US is taking a dive, according to reports from the World Tourism Organization and the US Travel Association. The number of international tourist arrivals around the world reached 1.4 billion last year — a 6 percent increase and a bar reached […]
Haunted in America: Very Scary Places to Visit for Halloween
The popularity of haunted attractions continues to soar as a means to escape everyday routines, thwart real-life anxiety, and find selfie-worthy, action-filled experiences. Visitors don’t take this entertainment sitting down, the best haunted attractions keep things moving throughout their adrenaline-infused frights. These mega-haunts go well beyond the main haunt attraction. Business has expanded to include […]
Going Solo: Dispatches from the Next Frontier of Travel
This author’s first experience of traveling solo was not an easy one. I had broken with a group I had been traveling with from Europe to East Africa and ended up in Somalia. I was a seasoned wanderer by then so the fist-sized spiders on my wall, the uncrushable flying cockroaches and ubiquitous biting ants […]
Africa’s Green Season: A Hidden Gem for Safari Choices
Africa has its own seasons. From November to April, while American and European families are donning winter coats and pushing through winter’s wrath, the great plains of Kenya are springing to life with fresh green growth on hardy acacias and lofty crotons and flaming red blooms on ubiquitous tulip trees. In Southern Africa, along the […]
Economy, Climate Change: Top Concerns for Travelers
The results of a recently released annual survey paint a picture of rapidly changing priorities among travelers, driven by growing concerns over safety, more conscious travel values and the quick adoption new platforms in the sharing economy. The research hails from the 29thannual MMGY Travel Intelligence report: The 2019 Portrait of American Travelers® survey. According to the […]
Hotel Fees: Are They Here to Stay?
If you have been to a hotel or a resort lately, you likely saw some unexpected hotel fees tacked on to the bottom of your bill. Hotel and resort fees are nothing new. We have been seeing “fee creep” for years and find ourselves either accepting these unwanted pests as part of the price of […]
Best of the Best: Top Hotels 2019, According to Virtuoso
Global luxury travel network Virtuoso revealed this year’s winners in its Best of the Best awards, taking votes from its 20,000 travel advisors in 50 countries in categories ranging from best wellness program to best dining experience. Not surprisingly, Four Seasons Hotel George V was crowned with the most prestigious prize: Hotel of the Year. The 2019 Virtuoso Best […]
Thailand Tourism Plays for the Carefree, Adventurous, and Spontaneous Traveler
Thailand loves tourists. With some 40 million international visitors a year coming through its portals, the roaring tourism economy accounts for a fifth of its GDP. And while over-tourism has been a concern in some popular spots, a reduction in visitors from China, as well as a strong Thai baht are slowing down the regional […]
Koh Kood: Island Beyond Time in Thailand
Thailand is not an easy trot from the U.S. It takes strong intention and a lot of patience to sit in a plane for the 15- to 18-hour trek to this land of smiles. Yet, Americans are coming – in droves. More than a million Americans will visit Thailand this year as part of the […]
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