In February of this year, Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth closed the Waipio Valley Road to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, for all but residents. Access is now being restored with the partial reopening of the road to more traffic effective September 19th.

Officials cited the hazardous conditions present due to the deterioration of the steep roadway. Since that time, road crews have been working on safety improvements for the only vehicle entrance into the popular tourist area, held sacred by many native Hawaiians.

The Waipi’o Valley Road is one of the steepest roads in the United States, with a 45% grade and hairpin turns on the 1.5 mile stretch. Cars can barely pass each other in differing directions on the narrow road, and a four-wheel-drive vehicle is a necessity.  Reaction to the closure was mixed, with some applauding the effort to reduce traffic into the secluded valley and others protesting the closure on cultural grounds. Security guards were posted at the entrance to the road to check for proof of land ownership or residence.

The black sand beach at the bottom of the road is popular with surfers. Waipi’o Valley, (meaning “curved water” in Hawaiian), now hosts fewer than 100 actual residents, but traffic in and out by surfers, locals, and tourists on any given day can be quite heavy.

This recent story saddened me. It could easily be equated to a number of similar situations in the travel industry. In this case, it involved a wedding planner and a bubbly, well-intentioned bride to be. A wedding is an important event. A vacation is also an important event. I am confident you can make the connection.

Due to the rush to the alter following a year of postponements, thanks to the Covid pandemic, this particular couple finally found a venue that would serve their purpose to a “t.” Unfortunately, the space available was a full year away… not until July of 2023.

I usually do not get terribly excited about software updates. For the most part, they are mundane and usually are just tweaks under the hood.  But this time, it is different. Last week, Apple released their new iOS 16 for the iPhones (iPhone 8 and later), and it has some great features like editing text messages and even un-sending them. But one feature added to photos can be a game changer in terms of saving time. Read the rest of this entry »

We sometimes exhibit auto-magical thinking about websites much like Field of Dreams. We believe if we build a site, then people will just come to it, and “Sales” will happen.  I hate to break it to you, but that is not the way it works. Read the rest of this entry »

Southwest Airlines is offering fares as low as $59  available for departures through February 2023. The deep discount applies to select domestic and international flights.   Read the rest of this entry »

UnCruise Adventures launches an extended specialty sailing perfectly positioned for the viewing of the annular eclipse in 2023. The one-time 9-Day cruise will offer magnificent landscapes, natural surroundings, and ocean viewing from a private vessel for the atmospheric event. Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier this week, we heard from a reader who was “stuck” in Passau on Uniworld’s River Duchess. Underway now, the ship had been stationary since September 3 due to low water levels on the Danube. “The River Duchess has been impacted by the low water near Passau,” Uniworld’s CEO Ellen Bettridge told us on Wednesday. “Good news is that it is raining.”

The stretch of river between Passau and Regensburg had been impassable until Thursday of this week. This afternoon (Saturday), River Duchess was heading toward Bamberg, doing six knots per hour (~7 mph), according to cruisemapper.com.

To understand the new Norwegian Prima, it helps to keep in mind that for Norwegian Cruise Line—and on a personal level, for Norwegian Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio—Prima is not just the newest ship in the fleet. From the curves in the stateroom dressers to the floor-to-ceiling chandeliers in the Orca dining room; from her intimate and upscale little nooks to her seven-deck, 107-suite Haven complex; from the $10,000 painting on the wall to the $12,000 bottle of wine, Prima was designed to usher in a new luxurious vacation experience that will guide its growth over the next six years.

It’s a new ship on a new itinerary, sailing with Avalon Waterways’ first onboard pool. And Pam Hoffee is excited about all three elements.

The new all-suite Avalon Alegria will join the fleet in 2024, sailing the line’s first-ever itineraries on the Douro River in Portugal. Read the rest of this entry »

Rental Escapes, a full-service luxury villa company specializing in providing unparalleled private villa rentals worldwide, today announced the launch of a new series of bonus commission rewards for travel advisors. In anticipation of the company’s 10-year anniversary taking place in December, Rental Escapes will offer a new travel advisor promotion each month, commending the important role that the constant support and dedication of travel advisors have played throughout its history.

This September, travel advisors can now take advantage of a bonus commission of up to $2,500 on every booking made throughout the month. The commission is valid on bookings made through the end of September for stays between October 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Bonus commissions will be paid out and included with the travel advisor commission check upon the guest’s departure.

“Travel advisors remain our most valued partners, and we feel it is important to express our gratitude with a series of celebratory offerings designed to benefit these advisors,” says Willie Fernandez, chief marketing officer of Rental Escapes. “Over the next four months, we will introduce new, month-long offerings that travel advisors can take advantage of to convey our immense appreciation for their support.”

After 10 years in the business, Rental Escapes has continued to prioritize its partnerships with the travel advisor community, evidenced through its various tools to help advisors grow their business, as well as their absence of booking fees. In addition, advisors have the ideal opportunity to work alongside Rental Escapes’ dedicated villa specialists and concierge team to provide around-the-clock care for guests. Rental Escapes even offers the opportunity for advisors to earn commission on customized concierge packages when working with the concierge team. When banded together, advisors and Rental Escapes are able to deliver unparalleled support to guests, ensuring the ultimate vacation.

“Over the last 10 years, we have rapidly expanded our unforgettable product offerings, our first-in-class team, and our network of loyal travel advisors who have played an essential role in our business,” says Brian Schwimmer, chief executive officer of Rental Escapes. “When creating Rental Escapes, we sought to establish a customer-centric culture, where exceeding travelers’ expectations is the goal. This philosophy has helped forge our relationship with advisors and made Rental Escapes one of the leading luxury villa rental companies in the world today.”

For more information on Rental Escapes, visit RentalEscapes.com. Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following Rental Escapes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Bruce Hodge, an Australian who met his South African wife in Europe, settled in Canada, and started a global tour operation in 1970, was not about to sit around twiddling his thumbs when the COVID lockdown paralyzed the travel industry. For Bruce, it was a chance to launch Goway 2.0.

“Goway 2.0 was Bruce’s vision of re-engineering the business from top to bottom,” said Craig Canvin, Goway’s senior vice president, in a conversation last week.

“Bruce’s plans for growth of the company are exceptional,” said Canvin. “It’s hard to keep up with them.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The Viking Kvasir. a 443-foot long vessel accommodating as many as  190 passengers, collided with a large cargo ship near Wesel, Germany, on the Rhine in heavy fog last weekend.  Though several crew and passengers reported cuts and bruises, there were no serious injuries. In May of this year, The Viking Aegir, ran into a pillar of a bridge on the Danube near Slovakia, injuring eleven people.

In May of 2019, the Viking Sigyn collided with a sightseeing boat near Hungary, hitting the small boat from behind. The sightseeing boat sank in just 7 seconds. The Viking Sigyn accident resulted in the deaths of 26 Korean tourists and 2 crew members from the sightseeing boat.

The news was announced by Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks chair, at Disney’s D23 Expo that their cruise line division would be unveiling a new ship, Disney Treasure. This new ship will be styled like the setting of the Disney movie Aladdin, including a statue of Aladdin and Jasmine riding the magic carpet character and an opulent interior similar to the grand palace of Agrobah (also featured in Aladdin).

Norwegian Cruise Line has its Haven; Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay has its CocoBeach Club. And now Hilton Hotels is rolling out a new high-end room category that promises privacy, exclusivity, and special amenities.

Now available to book at the Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort but planned to expand shortly, the new Hilton Enclave offers discerning travelers a private lounge serving three meals a day, a private beach, a separate pool with lounge chairs, private check-in, exclusive amenities and benefits, and “dedicated wellness and fitness activities.” Rates start at $344.

Hilton currently has 14 all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, South America, Europe, and Africa, and by year-end 2024 “with the current pipeline, HLT is expected to grow its All-Inclusive Supply in the Caribbean and Latin America by a further 22%,” a Hilton spokesperson told TRO. In the Caribbean and Latin America, the all-inclusive room supply grew by nearly 75% in 2021.

“With Enclave, Hilton has taken the next step to redefine the all-inclusive stay with an exclusive and premium experience, offering guests even more privacy, exclusivity, and elevated offerings not available with other all-inclusive experiences,” she said. “The plan is to roll Enclave out to both existing and new all-inclusive resorts,” though she declined to share an exact timeline at this time.

Travel advisors with whom we spoke liked the idea. “I love the Enclave concept,” says Lisa Zwissler at Beach Bum Vacations in Floyds Knobs, IN. “So many guests love an exclusive getaway but still want the amenities of a luxury all-inclusive. The Enclave captures that desire!

Grace DeVita, the owner of Post Haste Travel, is already looking at the property for a “huge group” in 2023. And Sarah Kline, at Time for Travel in Davidsonville, MD, “It just helped me close a 40-room wedding group. The bride and groom wanted the option of slipping away from guests for privacy at the exclusive pool and beach area, and the priority dinner reservations also were a key factor, as they plan to stay and honeymoon there.”

Hilton’s largest resort in the Caribbean and Latin America, the 735-room resort opened in May sharing a campus with the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya. Thirty additional Hilton-branded properties are scheduled to open in Mexico in the next few years, the company said.

Jungle Experiences Amazon River Cruises was recognized as “South America´s leading river cruise company 2022”, winning the award for the 4^th consecutive year.

World Travel Awards, known as the “Oscars” in tourism, distinguishes Jungle Experiences Amazon River Cruises, Peruvian company with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, for its quality and excellence in the service.

One more time, Jungle Experiences Amazon River Cruises has the honor to participate and obtain this great recognition by World Travel Awards, one of the most important awards in tourism, for its vast trajectory of more than 30 years in the industry, as well as the high quality and luxury services offered. Without a doubt, this award motivates us to continue offering unforgettable experiences to each and every one of our passengers.

“Winning for the 4th consecutive year shows the commitment of our travelers and motivates us to continue offering the highest quality service on our cruises. As Jungle Experiences, we are ambassadors of Perú, and our goal is that each experience becomes unforgettable for our guests”.

“For the ones who chose us, we express our profound gratitude for your preference”, mentioned Claudia Rodriguez, CEO at Jungle Experiences Amazon River Cruises.

The evolution of this company is due to the wonderful work of our team, which is continuously trained to adapt to the challenges that happen throughout the way. For that, during the last few years, we have been innovating on our itineraries and included themed departures that offer an added value to the travelers with different experiences, such as self-healing and motivational departures, as well as yoga and wellness departures, activities that are hosted by leaders in their field and allow the travelers to connect mind, body, and soul during their trip through the Amazon, in the ideal location to connect with nature.

Jungle Experiences is strongly committed to sustainability, offering continuous support to local communities, providing them with resources that help them improve their quality of life, as well as using 100% ecological products on board the cruises, hence contributing to the preservation of the environment.

Moreover, Jungle Experiences is an active collaborator with non-profit organizations such as Amazon Forever, taking care of the white sand forests in the Amazon, as well as CREA (Manatees Rescue Center), helping endangered animal species.

Jungle Experiences is the only family-owned river cruise company in Peru, hiring local people only and strongly contributing to the economy in the Peruvian Amazon.

The emblematic vessel in Jungle Experiences is Zafiro, a luxury river cruise, together with La Perla Adventure cruise and Amatista Expedition cruise, offering an array of cruise options for every traveler´s interests.

Zafiro luxury cruise, with an elegant design and spectacular panoramic windows from floor to ceiling, 19 suites for 40 travelers, who can enjoy a spa on board, exercise room and massage room, indoor and outdoor bars, an incredible outdoor Jacuzzi, ideal for enjoying panoramic views of the river and breathtaking sunsets surrounded by vegetation and characteristic sounds of the animals and insects in the Peruvian Amazon.

La Perla adventure cruise, with a capacity for 30 travelers in 14 cabins, has a reading room, bar, a hammocks area with a privileged observation deck to appreciate the flora and fauna as they sail along the Peruvian Amazon.

Amatista expedition cruise is a traditional-looking cruise with 15 cabins, a capacity for 29 travelers, a bar, reading room, and deck. For travelers who wish to live an original experience traveling along the Amazon, as it used to be traditionally, on a historic boat.

All the vessels offer the travelers unique itineraries to sail along the Pacaya-Samiria buffer zone, rivers Ucayali, Marañon, and Amazon, for 4, 6 and 8 days. Two to three excursions a day include birdwatching and searching for animals in their natural habitat from the skiffs, piranha fishing, swimming in the river, authentic blessings performed by a local shaman, always accompanied by naturalist guides that are biologists and know the jungle like no one else can.

This week’s article has to do once again with the concept of Kaizen, the practice of incremental improvement.

The truth is that you don’t have to be twice as good as your competition in order to become enormously successful. I have previously labeled this mindset The 1.6% Rule, referring to a downhill Olympic skiing event where the difference between first place and seventeenth place is commonly less than 1.6% in overall time.

The following borrowed quote was responsible for my recalling this all-important reminder:

Last week, I suggested that after Labor Day, you need to bet on the ball and develop your marketing and business plans for 2023. And hopefully, you have started that or are planning to shortly. Today, I have another task for you once that is done. Time to clean house! Read the rest of this entry »

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that Eebbers, an 11-year-old explosive detection canine who works at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) in St. Paul, Minnesota, was voted the winner of TSA’s 2022 Cutest Canine Contest.

The TSA held a nationwide social media contest on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and encouraged members of the public to vote for the agency’s “cutest canine.” Once all the votes were tallied, Eebbers emerged the winner. The contest was held in recognition of National Dog Day to acknowledge the important role TSA’s hardworking canines play in protecting the nation’s transportation system. Preliminary voting among TSA employees narrowed the field of 92 contenders to the final four canines.

This year’s winner was one of four TSA canine candidates that also included Ava and Messi from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Tom-Magnum from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The canines were nominated by TSA handlers from airports around the country and voted on by dog lovers nationwide.

Eebbers, a Vizsla-Labrador mix, is a passenger screening canine (PSC) who works at ­­­MSP alongside his handler as they screen travelers and their belongings for explosives at the security checkpoint as an added layer of security. Eebbers has worked at MSP for almost 10 years. He was born into TSA’s Puppy Program at Lackland and was named in memory of 19 year old U.S. Army Pvt. James Ebbers who passed away October 14, 2002 in Dijbuoti, Africa while assigned to the 551^st Military Police Company, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He is the last remaining canine from the Puppy Program still working daily for TSA.

Eebbers has assisted with security for two Super Bowls, the Special Olympics World Games, a NCAA National Championship Football game, the Indianapolis 500 and a NASCAR event. He stays very active every day, even during the cold Minnesota winters, and he loves swimming in any of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes in the summer.

TSA utilizes canines like Eebbers in its security operations nationwide. They are trained to detect the scent of explosives or explosive materials. These highly-skilled dogs are paired with handlers who utilize the working canine’s keen sense of smell when on duty throughout busy transportation environments.

Travelers departing, arriving, and walking through the nation’s airports routinely see PSC teams working around passengers. These teams nimbly work through large groups of people to detect the source of a potential explosive. PSC handlers train frequently with their canines and learn how to interpret canine behaviors when the dog detects an explosive scent.

If a dog alerts its handler to the presence of an explosive odor, TSA follows an established procedure to resolve the alarm. The use of these highly-trained canines is an effective tool in deterring and detecting the introduction of explosive devices into the nation’s transportation systems.

Because explosives are known to be the greatest threat to the aviation system, TSA’s working canines are regularly tested to ensure they maintain a high standard of operational effectiveness. This continual training allows for all teams to be a reliable resource in detecting an explosive threat, maintaining proper acclimation within the airport, and mitigating against potential distractions in a busy transportation environment.

Currently, TSA has more than 1,000 canine teams that were trained at the TSA Canine Training Center in San Antonio. They are deployed nationally. While TSA’s canine partners are sociable, they are working dogs and should only be touched and fed by their handlers.

Later this year, TSA will announce the availability of its 2023 Canine Calendar, featuring the top 12 runners up in the 2022 Cutest Canine Contest. Eebers will be the canine featured on the cover of the 2023 calendar. 

American Cruise Lines proudly announces a brand new 15-Day National Parks & Legendary Rivers itinerary for 2023. Following successful product testing this year, the itinerary will be the country’s largest land-cruise package and the first-ever coupling of a river cruise with the mountain states’ national parks. Read the rest of this entry »

Intrepid Travel has introduced ten new tours as part of its Intrepid Premium range. The new tours come a year and a half after Intrepid launched their inaugural Premium collection, a range of tours appealing to discerning travelers that feature hand-picked accommodations, private transportation, train journeys, and an array of signature stays and exclusive experiences. The addition of 10 new tours, which include 6 new trips in Europe and 4 new trips in North and South America, bring the total number of Intrepid Premium trips to 97, giving travelers a more sustainable choice for higher-end adventures.

With the introduction of these new itineraries, the Intrepid Premium range will now span across 42 countries and 5 continents. While Africa and Asia have been the two top-selling regions for the Premium range so far, the addition of these new trips will help bolster the Premium offering in other key destinations around the world, specifically in Europe. The 6 new Europe itineraries will mark the first Premium tours in the Baltics, Balkans, and Northern Spain and bring the total Intrepid Premium offering in Europe to 25 tours.

The launch will also mark the first Intrepid Premium itinerary in the United States with the introduction of Premium Alaska. It is one of 4 tours being launched across the Americas, including Premium Costa Rica and Premium Patagonia.

“Trends show that passengers are willing to pay for premium trips that offer an exceptional experience at an excellent value,” says Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel President, North America. “Like all Intrepid trips, these new itineraries are designed to minimize travelers’ environmental footprint and maximize their positive impact for local communities – this is what makes Intrepid Travel so special.”

Highlights of the signature stays and experiences on the new tours include:

Premium Sicily

• Spend 2 unforgettable nights in the Sicilian countryside at your Feature Stay accommodation, Baglio della Luna Foresteria, a countryside estate built within a medieval watch tower.

Premium Patagonia

• Spend three nights in a beautiful and sustainable Feature Stay hotel offering fantastic amenities and first-class views of the surrounding mountains and fjord – your gateway to Torres del Paine National Park.
• Spend the day with penguins on Martillo Island in the Southernmost city in the world.

Premium Alaska

• Take a private transfer to Fairbanks rail depot, where you will board your Deluxe Dome rail car for the scenic journey south to the town of Denali, the gateway to Denali National Park.

Premium Costa Rica in Depth:

• Learn about the culture of Costa Rica with Premium exclusive experiences: spend time with a local family and learn how to create traditional dishes in their kitchen, and visit Matambu, the only indigenous territory of the Chorotegan people, to learn ancient pottery techniques passed down for generations.
• Enjoy two nights at your Feature Stay – a stunning and sustainable jungle hotel next to the electric-blue Rio Celeste River. Settle into your cozy casita (bungalow), an exclusive retreat just for you, and surround yourself with the sounds of nature.

The 10 new Intrepid Premium tours are:

• Premium Northern Spain, 10 days starting from $5,575
• Premium Baltics, 10 days starting from $3,970
• Premium Balkans, 9 days starting from $3,970
• Premium Belgrade to Bucharest, 11 days starting from $3,875
• Premium Turkey, 8 days starting from $3,060
• Premium Sicily, 10 days starting from $4,760
• Premium Costa Rica, 9 days starting from $3,340
• Premium Costa Rica in Depth, 12 days starting from $5,455
• Premium Alaska, 10 days starting from $8,020
• Premium Patagonia, 9 days

Every Premium itinerary is led by Intrepid’s most experienced leaders and includes a feature stay and signature experience that will not be available on any other Intrepid trips.

I have a fondness for words both simultaneously a noun and a verb. The word “craft” is a wonderful word. “Craft” denotes expertise, intelligence, intuition, and skill. A craft is more than a hobby, more than a pastime. When you craft an answer, you work it, paying attention to details, to the magic that is in the turns and twists in the subtleties of language and insight. A craftsman is devoted to a chosen trade, and practitioners of a craft are both learned and wise in the application of their practice. Read the rest of this entry »