ITB Berlin Daily: Maldives is the partner country of ITB Berlin 2016 +++ The rise and rise of smartphones and tablets in the travel world +++ Alternative tourism in Tunisia +++ New Social Media Newsroom: news, photos and posts from Facebook and Twitter

Berlin --At ITB Berlin the Maldives and the world's largest travel trade show have signed a contract sealing their partnership in 2016. The rise and rise of mobile devices means the tourism market faces new challenges. Improved tourism products await those travelling to Tunisia in the years to come.

The Social Media Newsroom of ITB Berlin has online information at http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en on this story as well as other news from the world's leading travel trade show.

The three top stories on Thursday, 5 March 2015

Maldives: the official partner country of ITB Berlin 2016http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/contract-signed-maldives-will-be-partner-country-itb-berlin-2016

The Maldives expects that the partnership with ITB Berlin will attract a visitor increase of around eight per cent. Next year this island paradise will be the partner country of the world's largest travel trade show. Preparations for the rise in tourist numbers are going apace. New resorts including the new Thumburi project will provide additional accommodation for holidaymakers in the mid-range price segment. As of December 2015 Lufthansa will be flying once a week from Frankfurt to Mal on the largest island in the Maldives.

The future of bookings belongs to mobile devices http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/mobile-usage-dominating-travel-market-easy-quick-and-relevant-information-one-page

Mobile devices are tightening their grip on the travel market. By 2020 there will be around 18 billion smartphones and tablets in use around the world, said Arne Erichsen, Market Manager Expedia at the ITB Berlin Convention. In 2016 mobile devices will be used to book one in every five overnights in Germany, twice as many as in 2013. The tourism markets need to be prepared for this demand with products and interfaces to suit. Features required will include easy and quick smartphone navigation for obtaining relevant information that can fit onto one page.

Tunisia has a new tourism concept http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/tunisia-looking-stability-and-growth

Following the political upheavals of 2011 Tunisia is looking for stability and growth again. Besides beach tourism, which remains the mainstay of the tourism market, the aim is to establish alternative tourism, for example tours with the country's historical train line, and music festivals. Thalasso therapy, city and cultural tourism are among other areas intended to attract more visitors. Tourism numbers have already risen. In 2014 figures increased by 0.3 per cent compared to 2013. The same year Tunisia was visited by 425,648 tourists from Germany, which after France was the second most important source market.

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The three top stories from ITB Berlin on Thursday, 5 March 2015

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San Diego, CA (PRWEB) March 04, 2015

Travel To Go knows that vacations are long anticipated experiences. Many travelers plan and save for a long time before they can take a long awaited dream vacation. However, many travelers also want to make sure that they can enjoy their vacations without over spending. To help travelers save, here are some free attractions and activities in amazing destinations that travelers can take advantage of when they visit.

When vacations are filled with amazing activities, it is easy for travelers to create memories with their friends and families, and these fun activities and attractions will help do just that. For more information on visiting any of these destinations with Travel To Go visit http://www.traveltogo.com/.

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Travel To Go Reveals Travel Attractions to Explore in 2015

Berlin (dpa) - Germans wanderlust shows no sign of abating with the nations tourism sector expecting a record year, despite the series of crises gripping parts of the world.

"Everything indicates that 2015 will be an excellent travel year," the president of the Federation of the German Tourism Industry, Michael Frenzel, said on Tuesday ahead of the opening of the annual travel fair ITB in Berlin.

The association is expecting revenue to grow by between 1.5 and 2 per cent in the coming months as a solid jobs market, rising wages, low interest rates and a high propensity to spend allows Germans to lay aside worries about crises such as in Greece and Ukraine.

"The Germans already have their bags packed for the new travel season," said Norbert Fiebig, the president of Germanys Travel Associations. "They are ready to spend more on vacation."

Often considered the worlds travel champions, German bookings for the all-important summer holiday period are already 5 per cent up on last year, in particular for destinations such North Africa, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka and Greece, where bookings have surged by 17.2 per cent.

This is good news for cash-strapped Greece, which needs a robust summer travel season to help its economy get back on its feet and to ward off the threat of a major crisis that could ultimately force it to exit the eurozone.

More than 10,000 exhibitors from 186 nations are expected to attend this years ITB, which opens its doors on Wednesday for industry representatives. The travel fair, the worlds biggest and now in its 49th year, is open to the general public on March 7 and 8.

The ITBs partner country this year is Mongolia, whose president Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj travelled to Berlin for the fairs opening.

At a press conference in Berlin, Elbegdorj joined Chancellor Angela Merkel in calling for Germanys flag carrier Lufthansa and Mongolian Airlines to step up their relationship to boost economic as well as travel ties between their two nations.

"The Mongolian airline connection to Europe is very important because Mongolia does not have direct access to sea," Elbegdorj said. "We wish to keep working with Lufthansa."

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Germans shrug off global crises to remain world travel champions

Brighton, UK (PRWEB UK) 2 March 2015

The prestigious awards scheme, co-founded and organised by Responsible Travel, is part of World Travel Markets World Responsible Tourism Day the largest day of responsible tourism action in the world which takes place on Wednesday, 4 November and celebrates the most inspiring and innovative examples of responsible tourism in practice globally.

Tourism businesses, organisations, initiatives and destinations across the industry are now being invited to submit themselves for consideration in the 2015 awards at http://www.worldresponsibletourismawards.com/submissions by Monday 6th April 2015.

Commenting on the variety of organisations expected to submit themselves for consideration, Responsible Travel managing director Justin Francis says The principles of responsible tourism can apply to any business, mainstream or niche its what makes the awards so exciting.

We want to play an active role in creating and encouraging a more caring tourism industry and the winners of these awards, big or small, will set examples the rest of the tourism industry can and should follow.

Im very excited about being able to discover and share their stories this year.

The 2015 Awards reflect some of the key trends in responsible tourism with a new category Best Innovation for Carbon Reduction searching out some of the most successful, replicable examples of innovation in carbon reduction in the tourism industry in light of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris later this year. 2015 will also see the return of a category for cruise lines, with submissions invited for the Best Sea or River Cruise.

Chair of Judges, Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism at Manchester Metropolitan University and Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism explains why the cruise category is so important this year. The cruise industry is one of the largest sectors of the tourism market, but also one of the most irresponsible, and progress towards more responsible cruising has generally been slow.

One of the primary purposes of the Awards is to identify good practice and to challenge and inspire others to follow.

After the success of the panel on freshwater cruising at WTM in November 2014 where three businesses were able to report in detail on their impressive Responsible Tourism practices, we are keen to see how far the cruise industry has come and what can be learnt from this years Awards.

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Cruise and climate change top the agenda for World Responsible Tourism Awards 2015 at WTM

This is a great time for Americans to travel internationally. A host of factors have come together to make the prospect more affordable: the American economy is showing real strength, the dollar has greater buying power compared to almost all worldwide currencies, and hotel prices overseas are down, sometimes significantly.

TripAdvisor recently released its survey of 2015 hotel room pricesshowing an average seven percent decline overseas overall -- and an even bigger drop of nine percent in Europe. That decline came from a combination of better currency exchange rates for Americans using dollars and lower rates set by hotel owners.TripAdvisor found hotel nightly booking prices down almost 13 percent in France, almost 11 percent in Germany, and more than eight percent in Spain and Italy compared to 2014. There are surprising deals, too, in Sweden and Norway where hotel prices are down 19percent and 17 percent, respectively.

Throughout the world, in fact, from Russia to Brazil and Turkey, there are deals to be had. You can use this interactive map to see where hotel prices have fallen the most. Below, a top 10list, as well as a deeper dive into the strength of the dollararound the world.

Top 10 biggest hotel price declines: Country, average hotel room price a night, decline from last year

It's not just hotels, however. The economic slowdown in Europe has led to an overall decline in prices. While prices rose slightlyin Germany and France -- .1 percent --prices were down in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and many other countries. So shoppers can find bargains in accommodations, food and local products.

Meanwhile, the stronger dollar makes the differences even bigger. The dollar is worth 21 percent more than it was a year ago against the euro.

Partly as a result, on the leisure side, Europe is really, really hot, said Kurt Crowl, senior vice president of Connoisseur Travel in Washington. Iceland is very popular. Extremely popular. There are now direct flights from our area. Its new and different and for somebody whos done Europe, its an alternative to that.

The dollar has also gained buying power against countries that don't use the euro. The dollar is up 79 percent against the Russian ruble over the past year. And Ukrainian officials areconcerned that unrest has driven the value of the local currency so low that the dollar isworth three times as many hryvni as it was last year.

You can use this map to explore currency declines across the world:

Across Scandinavia, the dollar is up 29 percent against the Swedish krona, 25 percent against the Norwegian krone and 21 percent against the Danish krone. TripAdvisor found hotel prices in Sweden, Norway and Denmark down 19 percent, 17 percent and 11 percent this year.

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Wonkblog: The best places in the world to visit while the dollar is this strong

LOS ANGELES, March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Civic Resource Group Int'l (CRG) today announced the appointment of Geoffrey Lipman as Special Advisor, Global Travel & Tourism. CRG has also entered a strategic partnership with Greenearth.travel of which Mr. Lipman is Chairman.

Professor Lipman will work with CRG specifically to promote green growth and sustainability related to Travel & Tourism, which is a key component of CRG's international expansion plans in the government and related civic sectors in 2015. Lipman's stature and experience in the industry will reinforce the Company's commitment to promote Sustainable Tourism on a global level.

In addition to serving as Chairman of Greenearth Travel, Lipman is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on New Models of Tourism. He is President of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), Chair of GreenGrowth2050.travel and founder of the Maurice Strong University Network for Sustainable Tourism. Lipman holds visiting Professorships at Universities in Australia, Belgium, Korea and UK. He is co-author of two books and numerous articles on Green Growth & Travelism.

Lipman joined the International Air Transport Association in the 1960s, ultimately leading its government relationships, before his appointment as the first President of the World Travel & Tourism Council from 1990 to 1999. Between 2006 and 2010, he served as Assistant Secretary General and spokesperson of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). He was a Member of EU Commissions on Aviation Liberalization and on Tourism Employment.

About Greenearth.Travel:

Greenearth.travel is an EU-based global research and commercial network to advance Green Growth & Travelism (Travel and Tourism) as a key engine of sustainable trade and development. It is currently building the "SUN" consortium to help deliver climate responsive Travel & Tourism.

About Civic Resource Group (CRG):

Civic Resource Group International is one of the world's leading providers of digital government solutions. Founded by Gregory Curtin, Ph.D. CRG pioneered Civic Connect, its Mobile/Cloud/Data First platform and product line. Since 2000, CRG has been "Fulfilling the promise of technology" for clients in the broad public sector, helping them to harness digital advances to effectively connect with their audiences. CRG is a new breed of Company, innovating digital solutions that support Sustainable Communities, Efficient Public Services, Engaged Citizens and Better Quality of Life.

Media Contact: Genia Kushner geniak@civicresource.com

This release was issued through Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

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FSX VATSIM HELI Helicopter World Travel Flight 61 BIKF -- Watch live at http://www.twitch.tv/jacktung077.

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Colorful China Town at night - SAN FRANCISCO | World Travel Vlog
China town was much better that I expected. Sure we found the souvenir shops, but also saw a lot of modern Chinese boutiques, with really funky stuff:) Like ...

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Colorful China Town at night - SAN FRANCISCO | World Travel Vlog - Video

KINABATANGAN: The Sukau Rainforest Lodge has become the first in South East Asia to be selected as a member of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World National Geographic Societys newest foray in world-class travel experiences.

National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World is a collection of boutique hotels in extraordinary places around the world with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability, authenticity and excellence.

Selected through a rigorous evaluation process, each lodge offers an outstanding guest experience while supporting the protection of cultural and natural heritage and embracing sustainable tourism practices.

National Geographic deployed experts to each site to evaluate operations, meet staff at all levels, scrutinize the lodges impact on the local environment and community and ensure that these criteria were met.

Costas Christ, a world-renowned sustainable tourism expert cum editor for National Geographic Traveller magazine, said that the newest addition of Sukau Rainforest Lodge further builds National Geographics travel portfolio, which includes National Geographic Expeditions, Traveller magazine, travel books, photography courses and the @NatGeoTravel digital and photography community.

By creating this carefully curated group of hotels, lodges and retreats that meet internationally recognized sustainable tourism criteria while providing top-notch guest experiences, National Geographic opens a new chapter in the power of travel to protect our planet.

Travellers can feel confident when they stay in one of these lodges that they are helping to safeguard cultural and natural treasures in some of the worlds most incredible places Christ explained.

Christ, who is also responsible to coordinate an international team to inspect each of the lodges, said the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World has an initial collection of 24 properties on six continents.

Other members of the collection include Fogo Island Inn, Canada; Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, South Africa; Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Peru; Kapari Natural Resort, Greece; Kasbah du Toubkal, Morocco; Lapa Rios Eco Lodge, Costa Rica and Lizard Island, Australia.

According to the managing director of Borneo Eco Tours and Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Albert Teo, the branding (National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World) presents a unique opportunity not just for the lodge but the whole state and country.

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stroller world travel - Indonesia Yogyakarta(jogjakarta)
I and my wife traveled Yogyakarta(jogjakarta) with our two babies - one year old boy and two year old girl. We used rental car from travel agency so it #39;s qui...

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stroller world travel - Indonesia Yogyakarta(jogjakarta) - Video

Chippenham, Wiltshire UK (PRWEB UK) 28 February 2015

The Luxury Train Club presents the latest information and promotions about luxury train travel throughout the world, such as 2016 rates & dates, Spanish luxury train discounts, exclusive group fares on the Blue Train and more.

2016 Luxury Train Rates and Dates: Useful for planning 2016 journeys, this is a summary page of information on fares, departures and itineraries.

10% off Spanish Luxury Trains for new booking made for travel in April 2015 on Al Andalus or El Transcantbrico, in addition to your regular Club discount.

For those planning holidays in South Africa , the Club has 2016 information for both The Blue Train (with free hotel night, pre- or post-trip) and Rovos Rails Pride of Africa.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & 2 Free Nights, Hotel Cipriani - Travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice to London in March or April 2015 for two complimentary nights at the Hotel Cipriani, another legend (quote code VOFN).

The Golden Chariot in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India - 2016 rates and dates are now available. Some of the charm of luxury train travel is the ability to enjoy the sights, sounds and scenery of the country through which one passes, in comfort with attentive service; the Golden Chariot delivers this and more.

British Pullman from London - 100 discount per couple on many British Pullman journeys in March 2015; book before 25 March, quoting P100. Also valid on some Northern Belle journeys throughout Britain.

The Luxury Train Club now offers exclusive group rates on the Blue Train in South Africa - great for 'family together' travel, or for 'finally, they've organised a fantastic incentive' comments. The Club can also advise about safaris and tailored plans, pre- or post-journey.

Royal Scotsman Grand Tour Of Britain: the Luxury Train Club announces 2016 dates for this journey, which always fills early. They are 8-14 July 2016.

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News about Luxury Train Travel World-Wide from The Luxury Train Club

Story highlights It's summer in some of our favorite parts of the globe Australia, Africa and parts of Latin America are actually warm

For people living in North America, it's been an especially brutal winter. The first day of spring -- March 20 -- can't come too soon.

Yet travelers willing to venture south can find sunshine, shorts weather and beaches right now in the parts of the world where summer is just winding down.

Here are some of our favorite warm spots around the globe.

One of the world's most livable cities, sunny Brisbane has a beach right on the doorstep of its central business district. Known as South Bank, it's where people go to eat, drink and play on the south bank of the Brisbane River.

Never mind that it doesn't feel like summer when you're hiking on a glacier. It would be much colder in winter! National Geographic's 12-day adventure exploring New Zealand's South Island includes a helicopter ride to see the Franz Josef Glacier from the air. Then you'll be dropped off for a 2-mile hike. You'll also have a black-water cave rafting adventure in Paparoa National Park and a hike into Abel Tasman National Park.

Built among shanties on a mountainside in 2007, Medellin's Espana Library and the surrounding area are connected to the city by an amazing MetroCable system. It's just one of the developments that led the Washington-based Urban Land Institute to name this amazing city the 2012 "Innovative City of the Year."

Try a cafe tinto in the morning and an aguardiente when you want a harder drink.

While it can be hot in South Africa during the summer, it's still a wonderful time to explore the country's natural wonders. Book a tour to pack as much into your trip as possible. REI Adventures offers an 11-day trip that includes hiking Cape Town's Table Mountain, kayaking to an African penguin colony, a three-day safari at Sabi Sand Reserve and tasting local wines in the Cape Winelands area.

Stop to get a picture of yourself near the enormous ships passing through the Panama Canal, an amazing feat of construction.

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Travel where it's still summer

India World Travel sur le tl TLC France
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OSHKOSH, WI (PRWEB) February 27, 2015

In five and a half decades Fox World Travel has grown from one travel agency location founded by Harold H. Juedes in 1960, to an award-winning, full-service travel agency with 11 locations throughout Wisconsin. The company owes its longevity to innovative strategies, staying abreast in technological advances, and their travel experts who are constantly striving to live up to the company motto, Find-a-Way.

Fox has operated under their mission to build long-lasting relationships with travel customers through exceptional service and mutually beneficial partner relationships. The company also strives to create a great work experience for associates and exhibit passion, integrity, and pursuit of perfection in everything they do.

Through new business development, organic growth and acquisitions, Fox World Travel has earned the distinction of being one of the most respected travel companie s in the Midwest and ranked among the top 20 of more than 20,000 travel management companies across the nation.

About Fox World Travel, Inc.:

Fox World Travel was founded in 1960 and is ranked as top travel agency in the United States, according to the Business Travel Survey in Business Travel News. Fox World Travel owns and operates 11 retail travel locations throughout Wisconsin as well as a full service corporate travel division and Premier Meetings and Incentives in Oshkosh and Fox World Travel School. Fox World Travel is the largest vacation travel agency in Wisconsin. Fox World Travels corporate travel division is a leading provider of travel management solutions, serving travelers as they navigate the globe while guiding organizations toward successful policies, compliance and financial advantages in their domestic and global travel programs. Visit Fox World Travel online at http://www.GoFox.com.

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Fox World Travel Celebrates 55 Years of Success

As the Cricket World Cup heats up, research has revealed that Australians and New Zealanders want faster, cheaper travel across the ditch to make attending sporting events easier. Reducing airport red tape and lowering taxes are key to encouraging more sports fans to cross the Tasman Sea more often, according to Australia and New Zealands peak tourism bodies Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) and Tourism Industry Association (TIA).

The survey, conducted in Australia and New Zealand, shows that one-third of trans-Tasman travel is by those attending a major event, with the majority watching a sporting fixture. However, two thirds of those polled said they would be more likely to travel if the journey time was shorter.

TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond said: "Australians and New Zealanders are sports-loving people so its no surprise that sport is such a popular reason to skip across the Ditch. Our survey showed that the most popular sports to travel for were rugby union, cricket and rugby league - all codes where there is a strong rivalry between our two nations.

"The real shocker is that 70 per cent of Kiwis said there was a major event they had wanted to attend in Australia, but didnt, citing cost as the key deterrent. This should be a real wake up call for the Australian government. There is huge interest in visiting our country, but were turning away potential visitors through our sky-high tax on air tickets.

"The Australians surveyed in particular told us theyd like to see quicker journey times, which can be achieved by reducing the unnecessary queues we face leaving and entering our two countries.

Mrs Osmond said the research reinforced the view that cost was a barrier to travel. "As a first step, Australias $55 departure tax should be dropped. The research clearly shows New Zealanders are particularly-price sensitive. Removing this tax - which can add up to over $200 for a family of four with teenage kids - would make air fares cheaper and Australia more attractive.

Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) commended the research, noting it also highlighted the need for serious reform at the borders. "If we are to get more weekend and short-break trips from across the Tasman to watch sports, the research clearly shows we need to cut the total travel time from 6.5 hours today to closer to five.

"Stepping off trans-Tasman flight should feel like stepping off a domestic one, rather than the more complicated offload at an international terminal. Technology can replace all the time-consuming manual checks like passport control and bag inspections.

Mrs Osmond said we should be aiming for a true common border between Australia and New Zealand, "but in the meantime there are some simple steps both our governments can take to shave over an hour off the current airport experience.

"When asked about these proposals, over 80 per cent of respondents agreed this would be a good idea. Two in three said a quicker passage through the airports would make them more likely to travel across the Tasman.

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Sports fans 'want easier travel across the Tasman'

CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --United Airlines today unveiled new cruise-travel benefits for members of the carrier's MileagePlus loyalty program, enabling members who live in the 50 United States to set sail using miles or a combination of miles and money.

With MileagePlus Cruise Awards, more than two dozen cruise lines are available for mileage redemption for exciting journeys to destinations around the world, including the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii.

Customers may research trips and make reservations at cruises.mileageplus.com or by contacting cruise consultants at 1-800-474-2052.

"Our cruise-travel redemption program provides MileagePlus members a unique new way to use their miles for exceptional travel experiences," said Praveen Sharma, United's vice president of loyalty. "The program is an excellent addition to the other diverse options we offer to redeem miles, including hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise and auctions for once-in-a-lifetime adventures."

MileagePlus members also may earn miles for cruise travel by booking through United Cruises, which launched in 2011.

United offers its MileagePlus cruise-travel programs through a partnership with World Travel Holdings, the world's largest cruise agency.

About MileagePlus

MileagePlus is United's industry-leading loyalty program. Members earn award miles by flying United, United Express, Star Alliance airlines or other airline partners, and by purchasing products or services from partners around the globe. United also offers members a host of options to redeem their miles.

According to the fifth annual Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey, published by IdeaWorksCompany in May 2014, MileagePlus offers the most "Saver" award-seat availability among the largest U.S. global airlines. Additionally, Global Traveler magazine has named MileagePlus the "Best Frequent-Flyer Program" for 11 consecutive years.

About United

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United Airlines Expands MileagePlus Travel Awards With New Cruise-Redemption Program

Shannon O'Donnell saved for five months and sold her car to raise the initial funds to travel She then departed on an 11-month adventure to 15 countries around the globe and worked freelance on the road The adventurer runs the successful travel blog, A Little Adrift, which includes a breakdown spreadsheet of expenses

By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline

Published: 02:48 EST, 26 February 2015 | Updated: 15:26 EST, 26 February 2015

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It is the kind of trip we all dream of, a chance to give up work and spend a year travelling the world.

But backpacking tours don't come cheap, and it is likely most people wanting to get away from it all will never quite get around to planning that dream trip.

But globetrotter Shannon O'Donnell, based in LA, has revealed the secret to a budget-friendly world trip after circumnavigating the world in 11 months, without spending a penny more than $17,985.34 (11,604.76).

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How to travel the world for less than 12k! Backpacker reveals secret to global travel on a budget (tip: you'll need a ...

Gray Malin photographs sites most travelers never see. That's because the L.A. photographer creates his own vision of places around the world and then goes to work with his camera.

Now you'll be able to see hisview of the world 24/7 in lobbies ofLe Meridien hotels worldwide. The two have partnered to bring fresh images to travelers who appreciate fine art photography in an unexpected setting.

"My work is a far cry from Apple computer screen savers," Malin says. "I want to create work that makes someone feel joy, and stop for just a moment and escape to that destination."

The #FollowMe campaign, as it's called, will join Malin's photos in a video art installation that sometimes features stills and sometimes features video clips of the photographer at work.

And the photos extend to hotel key cards. Each will bear one of Malin's images, which guests may take with them.

Malin's subjects vary widely, from wide aerial shots of seaside bathers and skiers on slopes that make you want to jump into the frame. Then there are the ones that take you completely by surprise: Polo players in the snow in St. Moritz, Switzerland and llamas in the desert covered in balloons ... you get the idea.

When Malin was visiting the Barcelona Meridien and took a brief tour of the property, he saw the potential in the hotel's pool from the roof.

"I thought, 'How fun would this be if it were covered in inner tubes?' " Malin says. The sketch he made of his photographic vision led to Le Meridien creating 1,000 inner tubes in different colors. And the whimsical photos flowed.

Malin's work will start appearing as video art installations in hotel lobbies, includingLe Meridien Delfina Santa Monica at 530 Pico Blvd., over the next few weeks. Images will change depending on the time of day and will feature destinations such as Bhutan; Dubai; Split, Croatia; the Seychelles, and others.

In May, his photographs of exotic animals on the grounds of Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs will debut and will be integrated into the video too.

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Travel the world with photographer Gray Malin, at a Le Meridien near you

Clock-tower,Podgorica,Montenegro
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