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My Six Most Unforgettable Travel Experiences of 2014

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As a seasoned travel writer Im blessed with over-the-top opportunities that often seem dream-like when I return to the reality of deadlines and my otherwise normal life. To solidify the best memories, each January I look back on the past year and write down my most extraordinary travel experiences. This year was filled with contenders but I narrowed them down to the six I dont want to ever forget. I hope that by noting my favorites, you too get inspired to live your dream however, whenever and wherever.

Walking Among the Moai of Easter Island

Early in the winter of 2014, our ship traveling from Chile to French Polynesia docked at Easter Island for two nights. Theres something about those mysterious stone-faced Moai (not Maui, not Mooie theyre pronounced Moe-eye.) Some things are over-hyped and then disappoint. But like the Taj Mahal and the Egyptian Pyramids. Easter Island lived up to its rep. Hundreds of statues, some lined up in a stone chorus line, some toppled like the fabled statue of Ozymandius, compelled me to wonder about how and why and more. And wild horses more of them on this green island it seemed than people added to the stark drama.

meet the moai on Easter Island (photo: Lea Lane)

Seeing Paris Through a 10-Year-Olds Eyes

I took a darling girl to Paris for her 10th birthday this summer, hoping that the beauty of the city would enthrall her and shed a new perspective on my somewhat jaded eye about that city. It did, in small ways I didnt expect. She loved the sweets in the cafes, and the waiters who lavished her with whipped cream, almond croissants and macarons, and she loved walking among the creamy buildings, and the shopkeepers who presented her with trinkets. She discovered that saying bon jour gets a smiling response. At the Eiffel Tower she waited patiently on line to see the view from the top. And she had her ears pierced, just because she could say they were pierced in Paris.

on the bridge covered in locks of love, gazing at Notre Dame. Doesnt get much more Parisian than this {photo: Lea Lane)

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My Six Most Unforgettable Travel Experiences of 2014

World leaders in Saudi after king's death

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RIYADH: World leaders converged on Saudi Arabia on Saturday (Jan 24) to offer condolences following the death of King Abdullah, with US President Barack Obama cutting short a trip to India to pay respects.

Obama will travel to Riyadh on Tuesday to meet new King Salman, the White House said.

Since Abdullah took the throne in 2005, Saudi Arabia has been a prime Arab ally of Washington, and last year joined the coalition carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

One after another, foreign aircraft landed at a Riyadh military base where leaders from Africa, Europe and Asia descended a red-carpeted ramp to be welcomed by Saudi officials and served a traditional tiny cup of Arabic coffee.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made a rare visit to the regional rival to offer condolences, television pictures showed.

Others guests included French President Francois Hollande, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla, Spain's King Felipe VI and Jordan's King Abdullah II. Prince Charles and Prime Minister David Cameron came from Britain, while Russia sent Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. They gathered at the Al-Yamamah Palace, the royal court, to line up and greet King Salman and his heir Crown Prince Moqren, television pictures showed.

Outside, a helicopter patrolled overhead and four lanes of cars - everything from luxury Bentleys to everyday models - inched towards the palace grounds carrying Saudi well-wishers past guards with pistols strapped to their thighs.

Away from the palace and nearby roadblocks, shops were open and life continued with almost no indication that a new era had begun, except for billboards expressing condolences for Abdullah's death.

The government declared Sunday a holiday so citizens throughout the country could offer condolences and pledge symbolic allegiance to their new monarch.

Abdullah died on Friday at the age of about 90 after being hospitalised with pneumonia. He was a cautious reformer who led the Gulf state through a turbulent decade in a region shaken by the Arab Spring uprisings and Islamic extremism.

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World leaders in Saudi after king's death

World leaders travel to Saudi Arabia to pay respect to new king

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Mourners and family members bury King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday. Photograph: EPA/Saudo Press Agency

World leaders and top dignitaries have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia to give their condolences following the death of King Abdullah, who has died aged 90 after nearly two decades at the helm.

Despite deep tensions and rivalries between the nations, Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was among the first to arrive to the Sunni-ruled kingdom, where he was greeted at the airport by the late kings son, Prince Turki, who is governor of Riyadh.

The newly enthroned King Salman is also expected to receive in the coming days US president Barack Obama, Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Japans Crown Prince Naruhito, Spains King Felipe VI, Jordans King Abdullah, Denmarks Crown Prince Frederik, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prince Charles.

Moroccos Prince Moulay Rachid will pay his respects on the behalf of his brother King Mohammed VI. Talk of Mr Zarif visiting Saudi Arabia last year quickly dissipated after Iran protested comments made by Saudi Arabias foreign minister Saud al-Faisal in which he called on Tehran to withdraw its occupying forces from Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

Iran insists it has no combat forces on the ground in any of the three countries, though it says it has sent senior commanders as advisers to Syria and Iraq.

The diplomatic squabble, in many ways, exemplified how Abdullahs most pressing priority was to confront the Shia powerhouse across the Gulf.

The multiple conflicts across the region deepened Sunni-Shia hatreds and fueled militancy during his reign.

The king, who ascended to the throne in 2005 but had been de-facto ruler for a decade before that, was buried yesterday afternoon in an unmarked grave after a prayer service in the capital Riyadh.

The Muslim-only funeral was attended by Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan and the rulers of Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

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World leaders travel to Saudi Arabia to pay respect to new king

How not to travel, by the world's best-travelled man

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John Bougen, a 57-year-old New Zealand entrepreneur, has almost completed his quest to become the world's best-travelled man, visiting all 247 nations and territories.

Here, he gives Telegraph readers his five top travel tips:

1. Prior to any flight, set your body clock to wherever you are travelling to. Clicking into the sleeping, eating and drinking pattern of your destination before you get there is the best way to beat jet lag.

2. When packing a bag, put everything that you think you will need beside the suitcase and then remove 30 per cent of it. The trousers that you don't wear at home will never be near your hips when away.

3. Unless you are going to the source of the Nile, only take the medicines and salves that you use normally. Even in 3rd world countries just about everything you might need is readily available.

4. If there is choice, never arrive somewhere first thing in the morning. Your hotel won't be ready for you and with a bit of jet lag you won't enjoy the day anyway, let alone remember it.

5. Just about every hotel has free wifi now. When away, as a minimum, turn off data roaming on your phone. Best of all, turn off your phone altogether and have a real holiday.

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How not to travel, by the world's best-travelled man

Expedia Buys Travelocity For $280 Million

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Theres big news in the travel world: Expedia is buying Travelocity for $280 million in cash. The acquisition follows a 2013 deal in which Expedia powered the backend of Travelocitys North American website and provided the travel service access to Expedias supply and customer service program.

At press time, no details are available on Travelocitys future. In a statement published by Expedia and Travelocity parent company Sabre, Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said "Travelocity is one of the most recognized travel brands in North America, offering thousands of travel destinations to more than 20 million travelers per month. The strategic marketing agreement we've had in place has been a marriage of Travelocity's strong brand with our best-in-class booking platform, supply base, and customer service. Evolving this relationship strengthens the Expedia Inc. family's ability to continue to innovate and deliver the very best travel experiences to the widest set of travelers, all over the world."

Expedias acquisition of Travelocity is just the latest in a series of consolidations within the travel booking industry. Expedia already runs Hotwire, and rival Priceline owns Booking.com, Kayak, and OpenTable.

[via New York Times/DealBook]

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Expedia Buys Travelocity For $280 Million

National Geographic Society Launches Private Expeditions in Partnership with Virtuoso

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Announce Date: January 22, 2015

National Geographic Society Launches Private Expeditions in Partnership with Virtuoso

Trips for Independent Travelers Include Stays at New National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World

tell your twitter followers. URL: http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/triptypes/privateexpeditions

(January 2015) The National Geographic Society announced this month the launch of National Geographic Private Expeditions, a new line of trips geared toward independent travelers, offered in partnership with Virtuoso, the leading international network of luxury-focused travel agencies and advisors.

Private Expeditions are unique itineraries to destinations all over the world that are specially designed for those who seek the flexibility to travel when and with whom they wish. Travelers explore independently while enjoying the benefits of traveling with National Geographic: top local guides, access to sites and experiences, built-in free time to explore and excellent accommodations. Travelers simply select a Private Expedition, choose their travel dates and any number of traveling companions and leave the legwork to National Geographic Expeditions and Virtuoso.

With a lineup of 13 Private Expeditions at launch and more on the way, travelers can choose from a range of trips geared toward a wide spectrum of interests. Culture enthusiasts can venture into Buddhist temples and ancient fortresses in Bhutan, and join monks and nuns for prayer ceremonies. Adventure seekers can hike or ride horseback along the dramatic coasts of South Africas Western Cape before heading out on safari in Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park. Throughout each trip, travelers are treated to local perspectives and meaningful cultural experiences, such as examining dinosaur fossils with a paleontologist in Mongolia or sitting down to mint tea with a rural family in Morocco.

Many Private Expeditions feature National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, a new collection of world-class, sustainable hotels that were also announced today by the National Geographic Society. Spread across six continents, the lodges are linked by their dedication to providing an outstanding guest experience while celebrating the cultural and natural heritage of their region and embracing sustainable tourism practices.

Virtuoso comprises over 355 agencies with more than 8,900 elite travel specialists in 25 countries throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and Europe. As part of the partnership, Virtuoso has enlisted 20 top travel advisors to form a team of National Geographic specialists dedicated to managing Private Expeditions bookings. These specialists can also offer additional assistance with obtaining visas and arranging air travel.

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National Geographic Society Launches Private Expeditions in Partnership with Virtuoso

Orlando's Villas of Grand Cypress Resort Named in TripAdvisor 2015 Travelers Choice Awards

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Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) January 22, 2015

TripAdvisor, the worlds largest travel site*, announced the winners of its Travelers Choice awards for Hotels. Orlandos own Villas of Grand Cypress, a Personal Luxury Resort was ranked #4 in the Top 25 Luxury Hotels in the United States up from #21 last year; and #8 in the Top 25 Hotels Overall in the United States.

"With these awards, TripAdvisor has told the world our little secret," states Mark Cox, general manager. "Villas of Grand Cypress has dedicated decades to refining, redefining and reinforcing what it means to be a luxury resort, in an area with many options. Villas strives to provide intuitive service and transformative experiences. It is remarkably profound to be named not only the number one property in Orlando, with very esteemed competition, but also now #4 in Top Luxury Hotels (US) and #8 in Top 25 Hotels Overall."

The 13th annual awards showcase 8,151 winning properties worldwide, covering eight regions around the globe. Travelers Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. The hallmarks of Travelers Choice winners are remarkable service, quality and value.

TripAdvisors community of millions of travelers has helped us highlight some of the very best hotels from around the world, said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. The Travelers Choice list of thousands of award-winning properties is perfect to inspire travelers as they think about their 2015 travel plans.

Travelers Choice awards take into account the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and opinions and traveler ratings specific to each award category. A recent survey of TripAdvisor travelers revealed 82 percent of U.S. respondents feel Travelers Choice award recognition is important when considering a hotel.

# # #

About Villas of Grand Cypress Awarded the 2015 TripAdvisor Readers Choice Award Top 25 Luxury Hotels in the U.S.A and Top 25 Hotels Overall in the U.S.A. Villas of Grand Cypress is just miles from the Orlando International airport, but seems worlds away from the ordinary. In addition to its 45-holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed golf, the resort offers the award winning Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, Grand Cypress Racquet Club; in-suite spa services; Lake Windsong and marina; easy access to Orlando's famed attractions; on-site transportation services; two pools, and more.

Villas of Grand Cypress has been a continued recipient of the Gold Key Award from subscribers of Meetings and Conventions Magazine, receiving the award 18 times, most recently in 2014. In addition, Grand Cypress Academy of Golf rated as one of the "Top 25 Golf Schools in America". For more information, please visit http://www.grandcypress.com.

About Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels includes unique hand-picked properties in spectacular U.S. destinations coast to coast. Each hotel and resort delivers personal luxury in a spirit true to its own distinctive locale, yet in keeping with the collections shared mission. They represent a select portfolio of Benchmark Hospitality International, which has been a leading US-based hospitality management company for over 30 years. Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels is the preferred choice of guests who yearn for transformation over accommodation, customization over conformity, and inspiration over predictability. With Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels, luxury is always personal. http://www.personalluxuryresortsandhotels.com. To become a fan on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/PersonalLuxuryResortsandHotels, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/PersLuxResorts.

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Orlando's Villas of Grand Cypress Resort Named in TripAdvisor 2015 Travelers Choice Awards

Day 2 Traffic Jam, Annapurna Circuit, Nomadic Family World Travel Adventure, Nepal – Video

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Day 2 Traffic Jam, Annapurna Circuit, Nomadic Family World Travel Adventure, Nepal
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Day 2 Traffic Jam, Annapurna Circuit, Nomadic Family World Travel Adventure, Nepal - Video

CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. Experience Double-Digit Sales and Recruitment Increases in 2014

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Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (PRWEB) January 22, 2015

World Travel Holdings, the world's largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company, announces that 2014 was a successful year of growth and innovation for its home-based division, comprised of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. From opening its 900th franchise location and shattering new Cruises Inc. unit openings year over year to obtaining a new company leader and winning prestigious awards such as being named a Top Private Company in Florida by Florida Trend and South Florida Business Journal and Top Company for People on the Move by Sun Sentinel, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. realized many achievements this year.

2014 was a year of many positive changes at CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. and I am pleased with how our agent community and corporate headquarters team responded, said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. Our network is more engaged than ever and if 2014 is a sign of things to come, I know 2015 will be an even more impressive year.

Sales With many of the seismic industry events in the past, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. experienced double-digit sales growth year over year in 2014. Its cruise business continued as the main foundation and core strength in sales; however, in 2014 land sales experienced a roughly 30 percent increase.

Technology As a result of an incremental half million dollar investment, the information technology team grew to 20 members and not only implemented new Agile processes that enabled technology enhancements to be released every three weeks, but the team also made infrastructure changes in preparation for unrivaled features and enhancements in 2015 and beyond. Other major technology functions created this past year simplified the booking process for agents.

These technology innovations enabled members of the network to operate their businesses more efficiently and thus provide clients with a higher level of service.

Recruitment Fiorino noted The cornerstone of our business is not about being the largest in size, but being an organization that prides itself on helping our owners and agents in building their dream businesses.The franchise and network development team at CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. had a milestone year.

Also noteworthy, in early 2014 CruiseOne pledged that military veterans and active-duty spouses would comprise 25 percent of the network by the end of the year; the company exceeded this goal and is honored to report that military veterans and spouses make up 30 percent of its network. CruiseOne continued to be recognized as a military-friendly franchise in several industry publications and was even ranked #1 by Military Times in its annual Best for Vets: Franchises survey.

Marketing Enhanced marketing programs directly contributed to the increase in sales.

Additionally, in 2014 CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. further demonstrated its industry leadership by launching a revolutionary travel video library, consisting of nearly 40 travel vlogs. Beneficial to consumers and travel professionals, these videos

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CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. Experience Double-Digit Sales and Recruitment Increases in 2014


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