International Travel News

Online travel buddy site reaches 10000

2007-02-08T02:44:00.000-08:00

A U.S. based fast-growing social networking website for travellers announced that it has reached a membership milestone of 10,000 registered members. Members take advantage of TravBuddy's numerous features to find travel buddies, record travel experiences in thousands of online travel blogs, and share candid travel advice with first-hand travel reviews and photos. "The recent upsurge in social-networking and user-powered communities is revolutionizing the way people share travel information online," says Eric Bjorndahl, Co-Founder of TravBuddy. "Rather than relying solely on guidebooks, which may contain dated information, savvy travelers can now research destinations by browsing the experiences of other, like-minded travelers. Our recent membership milestone validates our position as one of the leading sites in the exciting new wave of travel community startups." .

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Some Canucks change plans for Mexican travel

2007-02-06T02:42:00.000-08:00

Snowbirds are heading south, but the number flocking to Mexico has dropped in light of the latest string of tragedies involving Canadian tourists, some travel agents said yesterday. The latest violence involved two Niagara-region residents who were shot in Acapulco. "People are trying to stay away from Mexico, especially with regard to what's been happening lately," said Luigina Muto, manager of Avon Travel in Woodbridge. "The incidents are so close together and people are diverting their holidays to other hot spots. People are starting to get paranoid. "Also since the people are from right here in Woodbridge," Muto said. Vicky Sorbara, a travel agent for Suntur Travel in Woodbridge agrees. "Sales have changed a bit, especially in the younger generation.

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The last honest travel site.

2007-02-02T02:40:00.000-08:00

Last month, I was talking with some friends about the joys and tribulations of traveling with the kids. As a single dad, I have done my share of jet-setting with kids in tow, so I felt free to impart my wisdom. Out of that conversation came a list of 10 tips for taking the stress out of family travel. Here they are. 1. Involve the kids. Your ideal vacation may not be what your children have in mind. It's a good idea to get the kids' input at the very start of the planning process so they will have a stake in making things go right. Above all, make sure everyone is on board with the destination. European opera houses? Wait for your 50th anniversary! 2. Do your homework. The better your grasp on where you are going and what you want to do there, the more enjoyable the experience will be.

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Tremendous response to Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair 07

2007-01-31T02:45:00.000-08:00

The week-long Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair 2007 (MATF) got off to a tremendous start on Jan 31 with the airline reporting RM1 million sales via the Internet for the domestic sector within the first hour. MAS commercial director Datuk Rashid Khan said on Jan 31 this was excluding the international ticket sales and Golden Holidays packages. “Our call centre received 6,400 calls within the first two hours today and on Tuesday there were 14,500 calls enquiring on MATF. On a normal day, we receive about 8,500 calls," he said. He was speaking to reporters after visiting MAS ticketing office at the Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station on Jan 31. Also present to brief the press was MAS senior general manager for network and revenue management, Bernard Francis. .

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NFL's New Game: Travel Packages

2007-01-29T02:43:00.000-08:00

Just as everyone seems to be getting out of the travel agent business, the National Football League is jumping in. Since last season, a bank of phones in the middle of the league's headquarters on Manhattan's Park Avenue has been devoted to taking orders for packages of game tickets and hotel rooms. It is a tiny enterprise -- there are four people staffing the phones -- amid the giant television and merchandising machine that is America's most successful sports organization. But even the mighty NFL is looking for ways to diversify and grow, and the all-American game remains an iffy ... .

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Fossil Wrist Net Smart Watch for MSN Direct (AU4000)

2007-01-23T03:16:00.000-08:00

It's a great idea, and, for the most part a great product: a watch that keeps time with atomic clock accuracy and displays useful, timely information. The Smart Watch gives you stock prices, news, and weather, and personal messages, all right on your watch face. You get all that stuff on your cell phone already, right? But the idea of the Smart Watch though is that it offers this information in glanceable form, and on a device that is always at hand. Simplicity and unobtrusiveness are key--you can rapidly navigate through all the different types of information quickly, and immediately read your text messages the moment they arrive with a discreet little beep. MSN Direct is the subscription service that broadcasts data to the Smart Watch via an FM signal. The first thing you have to do when you get your watch is set up an account and customize your information channels. It's a fairly quick process, though you have to jump through a few Microsoft hoops (like getting a .NET Passport). Immediate gratification junkies should be warned, however, that you most likely won't start getting any data until about 12 or more hours after set up. Also, the channels are very much a work in progress--the news I was getting initially had a random quality to it, but more recently the watch's timeliness has compared favorably with CNN.com in breaking major stories. Information delivered to your watch includes: Stock quotes: Get updates on the stocks you care about, as well as information on the major high-volume stocks and indices. News: Get headlines and the full text of local, national, international, business, entertainment, sports, health, and travel news stories. Time: Wrist Net watches display the current time, automatically updated for different time zones, and include a chronometer, an alarm, and a timer. You can choose from a wide variety of watch faces for just the right look. Weather: Get the latest reports for cities all over the world. Local city weather information includes current conditions, a three-day forecast, sunrise and sunset information, humidity, barometric pressure, and ultraviolet (UV) index. Text messages: Receive messages from friends and family through MSN Messenger version 6.0 or later. Sports: Continuous sports updates keep consumers current on game times, scores, pre- and post-game stories, and standings for their favorite collegiate and professional sports teams. Daily Diversions: Currently, consumers can select from Word of the Day, Quote of the Day, Born on This Day, and This Day in History. Horoscope: Consumers can receive a personalized horoscope based on their specific time and place of birth. The need to recharge frequently--a single charge will last two to seven days, depending on usage--has some users unhappy, but for me it is a non-issue. You charge the watch by simply placing it on its cradle, so if you set the cradle up wherever you stash the watch at night, the watch will always be charged. There are a few real drawbacks, however, most prominent (literally) being the size of the watch, which is on the humongous side of fashionably chunky. Another downer is the strap which is hard to close and, since it contains the watch's antenna, tends to spring open. The most serious complaint however is that reception can be sporadic--there were entire days that I got no new data at all. When MSN Direct improves service--and it has shown signs of doing so since the watch launched--they will have a truly revolutionary product on their hands (and the nation's wrists). --David Stoesz Pros Geek factor is through the roof Intuitive navigation Recharging is a snap Cons It's HUGE Coverage can be sporadic Strap is unwieldy

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Avoiding travel scamsters and thieves

2007-01-23T02:53:00.000-08:00

Let's all take an oath: "I promise to be a smart traveler in 2007. I will not succumb to phony last-minute travel deals. And when I travel, I will be alert at all times and protect my personal property to the utmost of my ability." Over the years I have known travelers who couldn't bear to pass up a nearly free cruise or resort vacation, only to learn later that they were scammed. I've known people who have had their cameras stolen, not to mention passports and cash. In most instances, these travel disasters could have been avoided. Not all - there are a lot of smart thieves out there - but most. People need to be skeptical when they receive offers that sound too good to be true. In fact, they probably are. And, by being attentive and cautious, people can protect their valuables while on the road.

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It's time for our Travel Photo Contest

2007-01-21T02:47:00.000-08:00

Hit us with your best shot - for our annual Travel Photo Contest. The categories again this year are People and Places. Three winners will be selected in each and will receive prizes. The deadline for entries to be received at the newspaper is Feb. 1. All photos must be from 2006. Send photos to Travel Photo Contest, The Huntsville Times, P.O. Box 1487 West Station, Huntsville 35807. Entries should be 5-by-7 inches or smaller. Digital photos may be entered only as high-resolution 5-by-7 or smaller printouts. Include a little about where and when the photo was taken and a daytime phone number. Send a stamped, self-addressed return envelope for photos to be returned. E-mailed photos will not be accepted. Winners will be announced later in Travel.

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US eases travel warning on Mexico's Oaxaca state

2007-01-19T02:53:00.000-08:00

The U.S. government has eased its travel warning for Mexico's troubled southern state of Oaxaca, saying Americans should use caution in the region instead of avoiding it altogether. Oaxaca City, the state's capital, was beset by six months of unrest last in which at least nine people died during protests seeking the ouster of state Gov. Ulises Ruiz. Before the conflict the city had been a popular destination for visitors interested in its historic, colonial buildings and artistic/cultural heritage. The city has largely returned to normal since federal and state police took control in November but Ruiz has refused to resign and opposition groups still launch occasional protests. The new U.S. stance on Oaxaca, detailed in a statement issued Wednesday by the U.S.

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Club's free travel offer for Arsenal clash

2007-01-17T02:58:00.000-08:00

WANDERERS are laying on free coach travel to fans in an attempt to boost support for the FA Cup tie at Arsenal. The offer means supporters travelling with the official travel club to the Fourth Round tie at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, January 28, will save £25 on the normal coach price. A Wanderers' spokesman said: "The club is picking up the tab to reward its supporters for their fantastic support this season - and to hopefully help Sam Allardyce's men progress into the next round of the competition as they bid to repeat history and once again become the first team to play at the new Wembley." .

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CSA Travel Protection Spotlights Travel Insurance, New Passport ...

2007-01-15T02:58:00.000-08:00

CSA Travel Protection encourages consumers to "travel well and travel wisely," and in that spirit, offers up it's Consumer TraveList, a periodic roundup of important travel notes and seasonal happenings. Equally important, the Consumer TraveList identifies how travel insurance enhances and safeguards vacations. San Diego, CA (PRWEB) January 15, 2007 -- CSA Travel Protection ushers in 2007 with a reminder to winter vacationers--particularly, skiers, snowboarders and cruise-takers--to strongly consider buying travel insurance. The ongoing potential for heightened airport security and wild winter weather patterns, requires business and leisure travelers to adapt to unpredictable circumstances. Plus, sudden, unforeseen medical situations (e.g., a child's sickness before a trip, personal health emergency during a trip) can also impact a vacation.

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Tories take lead in air travel carbon offsetting

2007-01-13T02:43:00.000-08:00

Senior politicians yesterday rushed to establish their green credentials by pledging to offset the environmental cost of future personal air travel. Following Tony Blair's U-turn this week, when the prime minister announced he would offset carbon emissions from his family flights only hours after insisting that he had no intention of cutting back on personal air travel, the Guardian contacted members of the cabinet and shadow cabinet to ask them for their attitudes towards carbon offsetting. .

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Travel to and between Caribbean countries made easier by historic ...

2007-01-11T02:47:00.000-08:00

A step towards operating as a single nation was taken Monday by Caribbean nations, making travel to and between the various islands and nations easier than ever before. The 10 nations participating in this so called Single Domestic Space are Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago. All of this has been precipitated by the hosting of the Cricket World Cup (CWC), the third largest global sporting event, by 10 Caribbean countries and enabling those visitors to move freely between those 10 countries during the time of Cricket World Cup as if they were a single country, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) said Monday. According to the CTO, this historic agreement which will be in effect between February 1st and May 15th 2007 (to cover the actual dates of March 5th to April 28th for the Cricket World Cup) promises to make travel to and between Caribbean countries much easier for cricket fans, other visitors and Caribbean nationals.

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Young people travel cheaper

2007-01-09T03:14:00.000-08:00

A CONCESSIONARY travel scheme for young people in Scotland was launched in Lerwick by Scottish transport minister Tavish Scott, yesterday lunchtime (Monday). The scheme gives 16 to 18 year olds living in Scotland a third off single bus and rail fares across the country. Those living in island communities will also benefit from two free return ferry trips to the Scottish mainland. Also entitled to the benefits under the scheme are full time volunteers up to the age of 25. Hailing the introduction of the scheme as a major commitment of the Scottish executive towards the younger population as well as public transport, Mr Scott said the scheme would give younger people more opportunities. He said: "The aim is to give young people access to services they want by providing better and cheaper bus, ferry and train services.

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'All Asia Pass' covers 3 weeks of travel

2007-01-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO -- Cathay Pacific Airways is offering an ''All Asia Pass'' for $1,399 that covers airfare to 23 Asian destinations over three weeks, including round-trip tickets to Hong Kong from San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York. Departure dates run Feb. 26 through May 17 or Aug. 20 through Dec. 1. All travel must be completed by Dec. 8. In addition to Hong Kong, where your flight from the United States lands, your itinerary can include flights to and from as many of the following destinations as you like, as long as your travel is completed within the 21-day period: Bali, Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia; Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo and Tokyo in Japan; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Karachi, Pakistan; Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia; Cebu and Manila in the Philippines; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Seoul, South Korea; Singapore; and Taipei, Taiwan.

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Franchise deal secures future for travel agency

2007-01-03T03:05:00.000-08:00

JUST Go, the fourth largest independent travel agent in the UK, with 16 shops in the North West of England and North Wales, has struck a six-figure franchise deal with leading international leisure travel company First Choice. The tie-up sees the business founded seven years ago by Don Bircham and Mark Johnson officially become a First Choice Partner, and the shops rebranded as First Choice Travel Shops. But the two founders are retaining 100% ownership of the business and believe there is scope, with backing from First Choice, for further expansion. Mr Bircham said: "We took a long strategic review of where the whole travel industry was going. It is getting more and more difficult out there for the independents. "After careful consideration we felt the First Choice Franchise Partnership was a very good option as it offered us long-term security, commercial strength and product availability, while allowing us to retain a high level of autonomy.

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Travel writers honour three Canadian attractions

2006-12-30T02:53:00.000-08:00

The Irving Eco-Centre in New Brunswick is one of three Canadian tourist attractions to receive Phoenix Awards from the Society of America Travel Writers. Cape Enrage, also in New Brunswick, and the Forks in Winnipeg were the other Canadian winners of the awards, which honour efforts to restore or preserve natural and historic attractions. The Eco-Centre in St. Edouard de Kent, N.B., was built to increase public awareness of the fragility of the 12-kilometre Boutouche sand dune. The centre attracts 140,000 people each year. Cape Enrage is a restored light station on the Bay of Fundy where visitors can view the tides rising as much as 16 metres. Rappelling and kayaking are among adventures offered, as well as more low-key activities such as art classes.

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Spring travel peak coming up

2006-12-26T02:55:00.000-08:00

The coming travel peak during the Spring Festival holidays is expected to break the record. Officials have warned that there would be huge pressure to the transportation departments. The forty-day travel peak season, starting from February the 3rd, is estimated to witness about 156 million people travelling by train, four percent more than this year. Passengers will mainly flow into Beijing and Guangzhou before the Spring Festival, and in Chengdu, Wuhan and Hefei after the festival. .

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Retirement panel hit for travel expenses

2006-12-17T02:54:00.000-08:00

Natick selectmen have asked members of the town retirement board to appear before them at a meeting next month to discuss the board's travel spending and investment performance. Selectmen chairman Charles Hughes said he was frustrated by the more than $63,000 the Natick Retirement Board spent on travel from 2003 to 2005. "We are disappointed in the fact that the travel costs are so high and the returns are so low," said Hughes, who added that he had gotten several calls from concerned residents after a Globe West story last week detailing the travel spending. "People were disappointed and questioned why their expenses are so high." Board members and staff took six out-of-state trips and eight within the state during the three-year period to attend conferences, according to board records obtained under the state open records law.

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Last-minute travel deals are disappearing

2006-12-15T02:49:00.000-08:00

Let's face it: If you're going to book a trip at the last minute, you're going to get leftovers. As anyone who's been late for Thanksgiving dinner knows, if you dawdle, the choice bits are going to be gone by the time you get there. That doesn't mean there aren't bargains just days before departure. But the sorts of great deals that emerged in 2000 and 2001 are getting harder to find — and many of those that remain have to be booked 10 days or so in advance instead of just a few days. Don't be surprised if your choices are limited to inconvenient flights, long layovers, hotels far from the center of action — and higher prices. .

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06WBB20: Mavericks Travel to South Dakota this Weekend

2006-12-13T02:59:00.000-08:00

Mankato, Minn. After defeating the University of Wisconsin-Stout Monday, the Minnesota State University womens basketball team is now 8-1 overall, opening the season with the most wins since the 1997-98 season. The 1997-98 Mavericks, who opened the season 9-0, were coached by Paula Buscher and concluded the season 17-10. Bench Depth: In nine games played this season, the Mavericks have had six different players as their leading scorers. Here is the game-by-game breakdown: Date Leading Scorer Points Nov. 17 Trauger 17 Nov. 18 Foster 23 Nov. 22 Voltmer 10 Nov. 25 Johnson 12 Nov. 26 Parker, Andrews, Trauger 12 Dec. 1 Andrews 17 Dec. 2 Parker 16 Dec. 8 Trauger 20 Dec. 11 Johnson 16 Webcast Information: To listen to a live Internet broadcast of Minnesota State womens basketball, please visit http://www.msumavericks.com/broadcast.php.

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Chinese officials below vice minister banned from first-class ...

2006-12-09T03:04:00.000-08:00

Chinese officials below the rank of vice minister have been banned from flying first-class at public expense on business trips in a move to cut costs. New regulations, issued by the Ministry of Fiance (MOF) and due to take effect from next year, raised the spending criteria and clarified the rankings for different levels of business travel. The current criteria for central government offices and institutions were drawn up in the 1990s and needed to be updated, said Li Linchi, a senior official with the MOF. The gap between the expense criteria and the "actual accommodation level" had led to confused accounting, making it a focus of both the public and the government. The regulations classify transportation into first class or business class for planes; hard seats, cushioned seats, hard berth or sleeper berth for trains; and different classes for ships.

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MAPS: Internet travel directions need to be checked carefully

2006-12-07T03:01:00.000-08:00

Authorities believe James Kim and his family were using a paper map when they became stranded in a snowstorm, but many people following the case suspected Kim's high-tech background had led him to pick his route over Oregon's coastal mountains using an Internet-produced map. And those rumors brought warnings of how dicey Internet maps can be, with routes that appear short but really are seasonal or dangerous -- or routes that contain outright errors. It remains unclear exactly how the Kims decided to take the one-lane Bear Camp Road west from Grants Pass toward the coast. But about 50 miles short of their destination of Gold Beach, James Kim turned from Bear Camp onto a side road and drove another 15 miles before the car got stuck. His wife and two children were found alive near the car Monday.

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US travel data system criticised

2006-12-03T02:57:00.000-08:00

A leader of the coming Democratic congress is among those concerned about US government systems that collect data on the movements of travellers. Patrick Leahy, incoming senate judiciary chairman, promised more scrutiny of government database-mining projects after reading that millions of Americans have been evaluated without their knowledge. "“Data banks like this are overdue for oversight," said Leahy. "That is going to change in the new congress." Americans and foreigners crossing US borders since 2002 have been assessed by US homeland security's computerised Automated Targeting System, or ATS. Assessment Almost every person entering and leaving the United States by air, sea or land is assessed, based on ATS's analysis of their travel records. Other data is also analysed, including items such as where a person is from, how they paid for tickets, their motor vehicle records, past one-way travel, seating preferences and the kinds of meals they ordered.

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Dangerous Day During Holiday Travel

2006-11-27T03:07:00.000-08:00

The Holiday weekend is coming to a close, and that means millions of motorists travelling the highways. Sunday, proved to be dangerous, even deadly, on the roads. Sunday evening, a man driving a motorcycle down I-75 southbound slammed into the rear of a car. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the driver of the car put on the brakes for slow traffic, but the motorcycle didn't stop in time. Lifeforce airlifted the biker to the hospital. We do not know his condition. Also, a man is dead after crashing his motorcycle earlier in the day. He and his three friends were travelling on Highway 27 when the accident happened. Chattanooga police said while trying to slow down, the man lost control of his bike and crashed. He died on the scene. Both sides of the highway were shut down while crews cleaned up the scene.

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Travel ban slapped on journalist

2006-11-25T02:58:00.000-08:00

EGYPTIAN security forces barred Al Jazeera television's Cairo bureau chief from travelling and briefly detained him overnight, security sources said. Hussein Abdel Ghani, who was scheduled to fly to Qatar, appeared on Al Jazeera and said authorities at Cairo airport had told him public prosecutors had barred him from travel over his coverage of April's Sinai bombings. While covering the aftermath of the bombings, Mr Abdel Ghani reported militants had attacked a police checkpoint in an eastern Egyptian province. The Interior Ministry denied Mr Abdel Ghani's report. Prosecutors ordered his arrest for broadcasting false information aimed at spreading chaos in the country. He was released the same day. Mr Abdel Ghani told Al Jazeera that when he attempted to leave the airport overnight after missing his plane, police told him he also faced a court case over a traffic accident and could face a one-year jail sentence.

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Woman-led travel agency ranks 19

2006-11-23T02:45:00.000-08:00

Great International Travel, a full-service travel agency specializing in corporate travel, is ranked number 19 in "The Top Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts," a report released last month by Babson College and The Commonwealth Institute. Founded in 1978 by president and CEO Carole B. Swartz, Great International Travel is headquartered in Needham, and has branches in Burlington and Boston.Gas station gets excellence award North Andover Shell gas station in North Andover recently received Mutual Oil Company 's Silver Pinnacle Award for Excellence. The award is given annually to Mutual Oil's top dealers. Headquartered in Brockton, Mutual Oil is the largest independent gasoline distributor in New England. Founded in 1942, the company has grown to become a distributor of Citgo, Valero, Getty, Exxon, Gulf, Shell, Sunoco, and Texaco brands throughout the region.Builders honored for best addition Platt Builders of Groton was awarded earlier this month the Gold Award at the 2006 Eastern Massachusetts chapter of National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Contractor of the Year Awards.

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Allegiant Travel Files for IPO

2006-11-21T02:48:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Allegiant Travel Co., which operates an airline marketed to leisure travelers in small cities, on Monday filed for an initial public offering of 5 million shares of stock. The company expects the shares to be offered at between $15 and $17 per share, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company expects its shares to trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker "ALGT." .

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Holiday travel: Think ahead about security rules

2006-11-19T02:43:00.000-08:00

Every flight for Dawn Gonzales is a worst-case scenario - three children under 7 and enough luggage, including child seats and a collapsible crib, to overwhelm any baggage cart. But despite the holiday travel season that began this weekend, Gonzales, daughters Elena and Isabel, son Mark and husband Mark arrived at Salt Lake City International on Saturday still smiling. Even an unexpected additional security screening in Chicago - the kids' identification was scrutinized - failed to ruin their day. "No problems at all. Everything went smooth," Gonzales said as she distributed celebratory cookies at the baggage carousel. Gonzales' secret to sailing through airports under tight restrictions is simple: "If you have any doubts about something getting through security - don't bring it," she advises.

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US air travel passport rule is on standby

2006-11-17T02:53:00.000-08:00

A requirement that all air travellers entering the U.S. carry passports beginning in early January will have to be pushed back because officials missed a crucial deadline. Washington initially had set Jan. 8 as the day the new program was to begin, but homeland security acknowledged yesterday it had missed a requirement that final rules be published 60 days before implementation. It didn't announce the delay, a spokesperson said yesterday, "because we don't want people to disregard the January deadline.'' She said the rules will be published in the "very, very near future." Officials want some flexibility in the early stages, largely so Americans who travel to Canada before the implementation date without a passport are not turned back when they try to return without one after the rules take effect.

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Rearden Commerce books American Express travel arm

2006-11-15T02:51:00.000-08:00

Rearden Commerce has signed a deal with American Express Business Travel, which will use the online services provider's hosted software, the companies said on Tuesday. American Express Busines Travel will also make a minority investment in Rearden Commerce. Rearden Commerce provides a range of hosted services for businesses, designed to ease jobs such as booking travel or ordering package shipping. American Express Business Travel is launching an "online marketplace" that will rely on aspects of Reardon Commerce's services, including its online personal assistant for booking travel, the travel company said. As part of the deal, an executive from American Express travel services will join the Rearden Commerce board. .

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'Zero-fee' practice damages travel industry

2006-11-09T03:49:00.000-08:00

Buqueduojie, a shepherd in Northwest China's Qinghai Province, was the first member of his family to travel. He paid 3,000 yuan (US$375) the price of 13 sheep for a package tour to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. When he returned home, his family were excited to know everything about his trip, and Buqueduojie told them, except for one part. .

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Travel sickness foils Celtic

2006-11-05T02:40:00.000-08:00

IT IS NOT just revelling fans who can become incontinent on the continent. Celtic need to find a cure for a nasty case of Champions League travel sickness. From 11 away games in the group stages, they have taken just one point from a possible 33. They have conceded three goals seven times in this run, part of a total of 27 against, and have scored just nine times. It is an illness inherited from Martin O’Neill which has persisted despite changes in style and personnel under Gordon Strachan, who has now seen his side leak 11 goals in three European away games if the Artmedia qualifier debacle is taken into account. The Slovakians were then promptly beaten 4-0 at Celtic Park and only a fortnight separates a 3-0 win over Benfica in Glasgow and last week’s loss by the same score in Lisbon.

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Diller plans to buy up British travel websites

2006-10-30T03:06:00.000-08:00

Barry Diller, the American entrepreneur behind internet conglomerate IAC/InterActiveCorp and the online travel company Expedia, is looking at "several" potential acquisitions in the UK. In an interview with the Guardian, he said: "We are looking at several things in the UK. We are definitely looking in the travel space. There's lots of little entrepreneurship that intrigues us." One potential target could be Cheapflights, the price comparison website which has confirmed it is considering a £200m sale or flotation. Cheapflights handles £1bn in travel sales annually, including referrals to British Airways that are estimated to cover 3% to 4% of BA's sales. Speaking from IAC's New York head office, Mr Diller declined to comment on any specific deals. "Whether we will or not I don't know, but we're always talking to somebody," he said.

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Handling travel is Lava Man's last hurdle

2006-10-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

LEXINGTON, Ky. - For a horse as remarkably consistent as Lava Man, his travels out of state have been puzzling, abject failures. The California-bred gelding has raced and won on turf and dirt at Del Mar, Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields, and Fairplex, so he obviously has no trouble moving from town to town, and surface to surface. Except, it seems, when an airplane ride is involved. Lava Man in January 2005 went to Florida for the Sunshine Millions Classic. He finished seventh of 12. Last fall, he went to New York for the Jockey Club Gold Cup and finished seventh of eight. And last November, in the Japan Cup Dirt, he finished 11th of 16. He was beaten a total of 77 1/4 lengths in those races. They are glaring blemishes on an otherwise praiseworthy resume.

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E Timor travel warning alert

2006-10-26T03:42:00.000-07:00

THE Federal Government has issued new travel advice for East Timor warning that Australians could be targeted by rioting gangs. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) continues to caution that people planning to travel to the country reconsider their need to do so. "Australians and Australian interests may be specifically targeted and we advise all Australians to exercise extreme caution," the new travel advice reads. "The situation could change without notice and Australians could be caught up in any violence directed at others." DFAT said people in East Timor should seek good accommodation with good security and avoid unnecessary travel, particularly at night. "Some gangs in Dili have attacked cars with potentially lethal stones and darts fired from slingshots, particularly during the early evening and at night." Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today said four people are likely to have died in the renewed violence, not two as reported.

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Travel Report: Visiting Kolkata, City Of Life

2006-10-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

The beauty of Kolkata, the erstwhile Calcutta, lies in its melding of bygone colonial architecture with fast-paced modern development. The blatant discrepancies in this city give it the character of an old matriarch trying to be 'in' with the times and yet lagging behind due to its rich heritage being very much a part of its present. Poverty is an accepted part and parcel of the city, people can be seen sleeping on the roadsides, human rickshaws continue to thrive despite the apparent ban and the presence of the Communist government continues to overshadow the need for swift development despite the cosmetic changes made in terms of swanky new flyovers and generic malls. For a newcomer to this city there is a lot to be be seen starting from the grandeur of Victoria Memorial, to the home of Mother Teresa, Nirmala Niketan.

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Soccer fans face travel ban

2006-10-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

Soccer fans should not be allowed to travel to away matches, Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras said yesterday after clashes between Panathinaikos and AEK supporters at the Olympic Stadium led to 24 people being injured. The fights between hundreds of fans of the rival teams on Monday resulted in five people being arrested and caused the match to be delayed for 20 minutes. The issue of fan clubs and the systematic mass movement [of supporters] is the main matter of concern, said Polydoras. Systematic, mass movement, almost like mobile army units, has to be banned. It makes no sense. It is provocative and it uses up too much police effort. Mondays clashes were the latest incidence of violence this season which has seen the launch of the new Super League.

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Packaged independence - Exodus launches independent travel

2006-10-25T04:58:00.000-07:00

For many, the idea of exploring the enchanted Galapagos Islands, taking an elephant ride on the spice island of Sri Lanka or trekking the Sherpa heartland of Nepal are occasions to experience with those closest to you - which is why leading adventure tour operator, Exodus, has introduced ‘Independent Trips' for 2007/08 across a range of its brochures. With a minimum of two people on an Independent Trip, couples, families and friends can travel on scheduled departure dates, seeking out new destinations and cultures, whilst still experiencing the action-packed itineraries of Exodus' group tours. Prices start at £445 per person for an 8-day Mt Toubkal Climb in Morocco (excluding flights. Inclusive prices on request from Exodus). As ever with an Exodus organised tour, the ‘Independent Trips' enable travellers to get off the beaten track, with destinations including A Week In Jordan discovering the Roman cities of the region, camping under the stars in the desert of Wadi Rum and exploring the must-see ‘rose-red city' of Petra.

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Brothers travel with tribute mural

2006-10-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

Twin brothers David and Paul Eisemann have been traveling the state with their mural tribute to American troops. They're collecting the signatures of military veterans and first responders on the mural and ultimately plan to send it to troops in the Middle East.On Tuesday, the brothers stopped at the state police barracks in Somerset to collect the signatures of the officers who were the first to respond to the crash of United Flight 93 on Sept. 11. .

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The Adventures in Travel Expo showcases peace through tourism

2006-10-25T04:55:00.000-07:00

This November when The Adventures in Travel Expo touches down in Sydney, a draw card for visitors to the inaugural Australian event will be the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT). Founded in 1986, IIPT is a not for profit organisation dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international collaboration and understanding, an improved quality of environment and the preservation of heritage. Based on a vision of travel and tourism, the world`s largest industry, becoming the first global peace organisation; along with the belief that every traveler is potentially an "Ambassador for Peace," a primary goal of IIPT is mobilising the travel industry to be a principal force behind poverty reduction. The IIPT seminars at The Adventures in Travel Expo will provide invaluable information on movement efforts designed to build a culture of peace through tourism while creating added awareness of the social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefits of travel.

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People travel throughout time

2006-10-25T04:54:00.000-07:00

Some 200 years ago{M3, people used the phrase that someone has "come for horse and harness," which meant the person intends to settle accounts or resolve conflicts. The metaphor shows how prominent personal transportation is our thinking. Getting around was in the news for the fourth week of October, with trains in 1906, an aviator in 1931, with asphalt in 1956 and buses in 1981.100 years agoConveyance -- Rail lines east of Casper were burdened with heavy snowfall in the last half of October 1906. The No. 506 train was given two locomotives and embarked from Casper Oct. 23, 1906, to open the line to Chadron, Neb., but the train got as far as Orin Junction before it had to return late that night.People were also waiting in Chadron to get to Casper on the 505 train. Another consequence of the impassible rail lines was that the Natrona County Tribune didn't get its shipment of ready prints, the interior pages of the newspaper with national and international news, features and commentary, so the Oct.

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NYC Plans Program To Speed Up Bus Travel

2006-10-25T04:53:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Plans are under way to create five rapid transit bus routes in New York City to speed up some of the citys busier bus lines. One bus route for each borough will be converted to an express route like those in other major cities. This news comes at the same time the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign released the list of Pokey Award winners, buses that are the slowest in New York. .

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Montco clamps down on travel

2006-10-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Montgomery County expects to save about $200,000 next year because of a new policy on county employee travel that will go into effect in January. The policy grew out of attention the county commissioners placed upon employee travel in the wake of an uproar among residents over pay raises — since repealed — that state lawmakers gave themselves last year. .

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'Trade, travel, tourism' raise threat to trees

2006-10-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

Seventy-five years ago, Dutch elm disease invaded the United States and began killing shade trees along thousands of city streets. As the fungus from Europe decimated the American elm, communities replaced it with the ash tree, another stately native, from the Midwest to the East. Now another pest, the emerald ash borer, is killing the replacements - and a battle is under way to save the trees. .

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Special passes needed to travel from eastern province to other ...

2006-10-25T04:49:00.000-07:00

Colombo, 25 October, (Asiantribune.com): The security forces have implemented a new checking procedure for all vehicles exiting the Eastern Province from where most of the suicide vehicles have entered other areas in country during the last few weeks. In addition in adjacent areas like the North Central Province the Police have been rounding up people who do are unable to show any kind of identity. An explosive laden truck driven by a suicide bomber came and rammed against a convoy of buses carrying Sri Navy sailors and killed more than 100 of them at Digampathana in Habarana recently. LTTE terrorists came and fixed two claymore bombs before at Kebithigollewa near Anuradhapura and killed 65 civilian bus passengers. In both incidents the culprits have come from Eastern Province, the police suspect.

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Swimming and Diving to Travel to Face a Pair of Nationally-Ranked ...

2006-10-25T04:28:00.000-07:00

Following its decisive sweep over the UNLV Rebels on Friday, Oct. 20, Arizona State University prepares take to the road for the first time during the 2006-07 season. The men's and women's swimming and diving teams will travel to the state of Indiana to compete against a pair of nationally-ranked Big Ten Conference squads, beginning in West Lafayette, Ind., as ASU takes on the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, Oct. 27. From there, the Sun Devils will venture to Bloomington, Ind., where the ASU will face the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, Oct. 28. ASU was led by its accomplished veterans in its dual meet sweep against UNLV, as its No. 19 men's team won 184-116 and the women were largely victorious, to the tune of a 233-65 final tally. Juniors All-American Caitlin Andrew and CJ Nuess guided the women's and men's teams, respectively, as each picked up three individual victories over the course of the meet. Sophomore Jen Beckberger, freshman Ashley Evans and junior Sarah Fischer each picked up a pair of victories for the Sun Devil women, as did All-American junior Lucas Azevedo, sophomore Sean Boyle, freshman Ante Cvitkovic and junior Steve Neuwart for the men's team.

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Travel bugs

2006-10-25T04:27:00.000-07:00

The council spent more than $56,000 in the last financial year on trips to places including Perth, Brisbane, Darwin and Canada. Council chief executive officer Graeme Brennan dismissed concern about the figure, after the Herald Sun published an article on the hefty travel expenditure of local councils, quickly followed by criticism from the City of Whittlesea Ratepayers Association. We make no apology for ensuring that councillors and staff are well equipped and skilled so that better services and infrastructure can be delivered to the community, Mr Brennan said. A rational look at this expenditure will reveal it is not excessive. In fact it is about 0.05 per cent of the entire annual council budget. Mr Brennan said each of the conferences attended was essential in helping to keep councillors and staff informed, educated and exposed to different ideas that benefit our growing community.

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AFL DRAW RELEASED; CATS TO TRAVEL INTERSTATE FIVE TIMES; STILL NO ...

2006-10-25T04:26:00.001-07:00

The release had been delayed for weeks, waiting for the deadlock between pay TV operator Foxtel and free to air channels Seven and Ten to break. While the two camps remain at war, the AFL believes the draw, while based around channels Seven and Ten sharing all eight games, will accommodate Pay TV involvement should it eventuate. (See 'DEAL DONE FOR FOOTY ON FOXTEL?'). Geelong open their season against rivals the Western Bulldogs at the Telstra Dome in round two. While the Cats 'host' Carlton at the Dome the following week, it is not until round five, when the Cats host the Kangaroos, that Skilled Stadium hosts its first game of the season. Geelong's Draw: 2007 GFC DRAW Geelong will travel interstate five times, the first of which is the clash with Hawthorn at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.

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PAKISTAN: Eid travel brings dengue fever north

2006-10-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

RAWALPINDI, 24 October (IRIN) - An outbreak of the deadly dengue virus in southern Pakistan has now spread to the north, partly because more people have been travelling across the country for Eid, medical officials say. The four-day national Eid ul-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan, started on Tuesday and has seen thousands boarding trains, buses or coaches to visit family or return home. Microbiologist Dr Abbas Hayat, head of the pathology department at Rawalpindi Medical College, close to the capital, Islamabad, expressed apprehension that "as more and more people arrive from areas in Sindh where the disease is endemic, there is a danger the epidemic will spread". Mosquitoes spreading the disease have ended up in buses or trains heading north; or those already infected with the virus in the south have been bitten by local mosquitoes at their destination, causing the disease to spread further.

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Skiers urged to check travel insurance

2006-10-25T04:25:00.002-07:00

Holidaymakers planning to take a ski break this winter are being advised to ensure they have adequate travel insurance to cover all eventualities.Over 374,000 tourists could be set to travel abroad without the right level of insurance cover, according to AA Travel Insurance.This may be because they do not check the terms and conditions of their policies and fail to inform their insurer of pre-existing medical conditions, the firm warns."Customers often simply tick a box without properly understanding what they are paying for, because important terms and conditions are not drawn to their attention," comments Clare Emsley, head of AA Travel Insurance.She adds that it is "vital" travellers make sure they are protected against all possible incidents in case of a skiing accident.Earlier this month, insurance provider esure advised parents planning on taking a trip this half-term to check their holiday insurance covers the family both in the UK and abroad.

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Visa hopefuls plan to travel as tourists - then find a job

2006-10-25T04:25:00.001-07:00

NEWS that Britain is to limit immigrant workers has had little effect on the number of Romanians and Bulgarians queuing for visas in the hope of getting work in the UK before the borders open officially. The British Embassy in Bucharest has introduced a ticketing system to get rid of the long queues outside. But an embassy worker said that the numbers were as high as ever and were not expected to fall. .

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Travel agents demand more flights

2006-10-25T04:25:00.000-07:00

Thiruvananthapuram : The Kerala Association of Travel Agents has urged the State Government and the Members of Parliament from the southern districts to exert pressure on the Civil Aviation Ministry to commence more flights of Air-India and Indian and grant permission for more airlines to operate to Thiruvananthapuram. The MP's should take the issue up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is scheduled to visit the State capital on November 1, association president K.V. Muraleedharan and general secretary Channankara M.P. Kunju told a press conference here on Sunday. The association leaders said permission was not granted by the Civil Aviation Ministry to foreign airlines like Saudi Air, Mahan Air, Malaysian Airlines, Air Arabia and Ethihad Air to operate to the State capital. Mr. Muraleedharan alleged that Air-India and Indian were refusing to operate more flights from the premier airport of the State.

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Mashaal to travel to Cairo for Shalit talks

2006-10-25T04:24:00.001-07:00

Syria-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal is destined to travel to Cairo this weekend in order to discuss the release of captured IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit with Egyptian mediators, Palestinian sources said on Tuesday night. Army Radio reported that according to the sources, Mashaal was not making the trip "merely to say no and to reject the new deal." The new proposal was similar to the previous offer presented to Hamas which would constitute releasing Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails in exchange for the IDF soldier. Channel 10 reported that Mashaal's arrival in Egypt instilled hope into the hearts of the mediators who have been trying for some time to secure a deal for Shalit's release. In recent weeks negotiations have frozen but Mashaal's proposed trip would amount to a certain degree of progress.

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Liberia: Travel Ban Reprieve

2006-10-25T04:24:00.000-07:00

The speaker of Liberia's parliament, Edwin Snowe, is on a United Nations travel ban for his close association with former Liberian President Charles Taylor. He's also on the UN's assets freeze list. So why is Speaker Snowe leaving Liberia this weekend to Doha, Qatar in the Middle East? He explains to VOA English to Africa reporter James Butty why. “First, let me extend thanks to the United Nations through the Special Representative of the Secretary General here in Liberia, Ambassador Alan Doss, as well as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. They have been working to show that we have some light regarding these sanctions against Liberia. Having said that, I've been invited to Qatar for the sixth international conference on Restore or Renew Democracy around the World," Snowe said.

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