Travel observer

— A survey of college students who traveled in the past year shows three-fourths are planning a spring break trip next year, but about half are budgeting just $500 or less for their trip, according to
, a student and youth travel organization.
The survey also found that students apparently believe they’ll get the best deals by planning early. Two-thirds of respondents have already started making arrangements for spring trips or said Read the rest of this entry »

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What with the price of gas, our embarrassing carbon footprint and the economic slowdown, it might just be time for us to take a hike.
Environmentalists have been suggesting that very thing for years, and now, more than ever, housing industry observers suggest that the walkable neighborhood concept might soon have its day in the sun.
A walkable neighborhood is not just a residential area with sidewalks, but it has numerous real destinations within Read the rest of this entry »

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SEATTLE, Nov. 7 WA-Alaska-Airlines

SEATTLE, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A family vacation to The Walt
Disney World(R) Resort in Florida just got more affordable thanks to Alaska
Airlines Vacations. Book a four-night Alaska Airlines Vacations package to the
Walt Disney World Resort by Dec. 20, 2008, for travel Jan. 4 through June 27,
2009, and get three additional nights free including theme park tickets.

"This is one of the best deals we've Read the rest of this entry »

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When my son was only 6, and we lived in Europe, I had the opportunity to take him to Paris with friends for just a long weekend. That was one of the best investments I made. Now, at 36, he still remembers the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Can you believe it?
worldwide, I joined in with my suggestions for family adventure in the
.
But what they put together was fascinating. Imagine, now there is a Disneyland in Paris! Or, closer to home, you can Read the rest of this entry »

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Stepping back in time, along the hippie trail
November 9, 2008
A traveller is retracing the original South-East Asia on a Shoestring route.
IT'S a novel way to chart the evolution of what for many young Australians has been a rite of passage for decades. Travel writer Brian Thacker is retracing the 1974 journey through South-East Asia of Lonely Planet founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler using their original guidebook — based on information Read the rest of this entry »

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World Travel Awards (WTA) will announce at World Travel Market its future destinations for the 2009 Grand Tour. Reigning Miss World, Zi Lin Zhang of China, is visiting World Travel Market to assist the official unveiling of the World Travel Awards Tour for 2009.
The announcement will be made at 15.00 Monday 10 November in the WTA VIP Lounge, South Gallery, 33.
Recognised as the hallmark of travel excellence, the World Travel Awards acknowledges Read the rest of this entry »

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Article published Sunday, November 9, 2008
No matter your income, age, or experience, you can visit the land of your dreams if you abide by Rick Steves’ sage advice: pinch your pennies and forgo or delay the purchase of (fill in the blank); plan your trip thoroughly, and travel frugally.
If you’re hamstrung by some personal Fear Factor that inhibits you from adventuring, immersion into Steves’ ideas (via his books, television program, and voluminous Read the rest of this entry »

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Ski destinations•Lake Tahoe will be this winter’s top ski destination, projected by the Orbitz Insider Index, a monthly survey of travel trends by the online travel company (
).
The rest of the top 10, in order: Breckenridge, Colo.; Park City, Utah; Vail, Colo.; Aspen, Colo.; Keystone and Winter Park, Colo. (tie); Whistler, British Columbia; Banff, Alberta; and Steamboat, Colo.
magazine has weighed in, too, ranking the 15 best ski-and-snowboard Read the rest of this entry »

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QI'm interested in flying to Dubai, to board a cruise ship that will be sailing to Oman and Bahrain. Last month I toured Israel for a week. Will there be a problem going to the above-mentioned Arab countries with my U.S. passport bearing Israeli stamps?
A: Not to those particular Arab countries. Spokespeople for the embassies of the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain all said your Israeli-stamped passport wouldn't pose a problem. But it's true Read the rest of this entry »

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