Internet encyclopedia launches Wikivoyage.org

Wiki does travel: Internet encyclopedia launches Wikivoyage.org - Travel Kit on NBCNews.com: " . . . That combination, say observers, could present a powerful tool for travelers and a serious threat to traditional guidebook publishers. In fact, it’s not hard to imagine Wikivoyage having the same impact on guidebook publishers that its sister site has had on encyclopedias. . . . "

Wikipedia Takes On Travel Industry With Wikivoyage | Wired Business | Wired.com: " . . . even in the smartphone-enabled world, there’s probably still room for Wikivoyage. If you’re in the U.S. using Google on your phone for travel plans is easy, but once you go abroad it’s often not worth the hassle. Even if you can connect your smartphone to another carrier’s network on another continent, you’ll usually pay a premium on the data needed to load a website. It might be far easier (and cheaper) to whip out a Wikivoyage print-out, and go about your sightseeing (just don’t lose that sheet of paper). Whether we all end up doing that as much as we refer to Wikipedia will depend on how useful, which is to say, how comprehensive and accurate, Wikivoyage becomes.

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Best time to book a flight

When is the optimal time to book a flight?
CBS News
According to new research by CheapAir.com based on the travel site's review of 560 million airfares, the optimal time to book a domestic flight is 49 days in advance. If you're flying overseas, you should book almost three months -- 81 days, to be ...

CBS News

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Europe - 10 hottest destinations for 2013

Europe's 10 hottest destinations for 2013 | CNN Travel: "Come October 2013, Berlin will be much easier to fly into, thanks to the highly anticipated (and well overdue) opening of the Brandenburg Airport, replacing three other airports at a cost of more than €4.2 billion (US$5.4 billion). Needless to say, it will be one of the most modern terminal buildings in the world. And when you do finally touch down you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that Berlin is home to some of the most affordable five-star hotels in the world at the moment. Newcomers to look out for include the 232-room Waldorf Astoria Berlin (opening February), as well as boutique properties Bikini Berlin and Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte. The Waldorf will be part of a large retail complex with upscale boutiques, a cinema and office space and will feature a spacious rooftop terrace and bar. The Leonardo will resemble a glass-and-metal pyramid and has been designed by notable German architect Eike Becker."

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Voyages to Antiquity - Sailing to Myanmar

Voyages to Antiquity: Sailing to Myanmar | Travel News from Fodor's Travel Guides: "Launched in 2010 with a series of itineraries anchored on highlighting the history and culture of ancient Mediterranean civilizations, UK-based Voyages to Antiquity has branched out this fall to feature culture-focused cruises to the fabled ports of the Far East. I set sail aboard one of their inaugural Oriental voyages to Myanmar, Malaysia, and more, where shore excursions and expert onboard lecturers brought history to life on the high seas. The one-ship, premium cruise line is the latest in a series of small-ship cruise ventures for owner Gerry Herrod (former chairman of Ocean Cruise Line, Orient Lines, Pearl Cruises, and Discovery World Cruises), who partnered with various historians and author Lord John Julius Norwich (a chronicler of ancient Mediterranean civilizations) to craft the itinerary-driven sailings. Its 408-passenger Aegean Odyssey is small enough to navigate rivers, smaller harbors, and coastal cruising, which proved fruitful during our 15-night "Burma & the Malay Peninsula" sailing to old colonial ports and spice trading centers of Asia. . . ."

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Cruise Travel Rebounds

Cruise Travel, Once Thought Dead In The Water, Rebounds | Gadling.com: "Cruise travel was riding high before the grounding of Costa Cruises ill-fated Costa Concordia last January. Multiple cruise lines had delivered a record number of ships, offering more travel options than ever before. But the tragic Concordia grounding caused first-time cruise passengers to re-think their travel plans as cruise lines redeployed ships to seemingly safer waters. Now, just months after the worst maritime disaster since the sinking of the Titanic, passengers are booking, cruise ships are filling up and new vessels are on order for what looks to be a bright future."

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Dan Frommer launches new travel app

Dan Frommer launches new travel app | TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog: "Former Business Insider, Forbes, SplatF and ReadWriteWeb writer Dan Frommer has a new startup. As Frommer explains in a SplatF post, he wanted to do "something in mobile" and loves to travel, so he decided to combine those two interests into City Notes. City Notes is producing travel guides for iPhones and iPads -- and no, don't get the City Notes guides confused with the venerable Frommer's Travel Guides. Frommer had been keeping a bunch of text files of notes describing the best places to visit in various cities around the world. He decided to turn those notes into apps, keep them current and sell them to people. City Notes guides aren't going to be huge electronic books that cover every city block in detail. Instead, Frommer says that the goal is to "help you find the best and most interesting places in a city, not the most famous or most obvious, so you can have a great time.". . . "

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Solo Travel - 4 Top Cities

4 Top Cities For Solo Travel - Forbes: "Imagine lounging all day by the pool, lingering for hours at a museum, or rallying for a spontaneous adventure—all without having to crosscheck travel plans with someone else. Freedom to come and go as you please is just one reason solo travel is on the rise; a recent American Express survey found that 16 percent of Americans said they will take a trip alone, up 12 percent from last year. New to solo travel? Start by choosing cities that are safe, friendly and not too remote (bonus points for spots where English is spoken prevalently). For inspiration, our Startle.com editors chose four prime places to start your solo world tour. . . . Berlin - Somewhat underrated as a travel destination, Berlin is a hub of history and modernity, glamour and grit. Traveling alone is a great way to take in the magnitude of . . . "


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Time to book your travel for 2013 (video)

Time to book your travel for 2013 (video) 
If you're thinking of taking a vacation this year, the cost is likely a big concern. With airline tickets on the rise, the key to getting your money's worth is not only where you go, but when. Travel editor Peter Greenberg has the inside track on when you can get the best deals to the places on your travel wish list.

Five holiday tips for the travel industry

Travel suggestions for 2013

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The rage in the air

What's behind the rage in the air? [Google+ Hangout] - latimes.com: "If you cringe at the thought of flying on a commercial flight, you are not alone. You probably have lots of complaints about the long lines, intrusive security searches and fees for food, drinks and even pillows. But airline workers also have gripes, mostly about their tough working conditions and how they are treated by frustrated passengers. . . "

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Best sushi restaurants in the US

Best sushi restaurants in the U.S. - Yahoo! Travel: "Today, the American palate is more sophisticated than ever, and as a result, sushi’s popularity continues to soar. Ingredients once considered too hard to find are now commonplace at sushi restaurants from Manhattan toMinneapolis. Just one peek at the recent documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," which follows one of the most respected sushi masters, and it’s clear why diners love eating everything from raw clams to rice topped with precious caviar. Our list of the best sushi restaurants includes a range of options. While the price tag can be steep, as much as $500 for dinner, it’s is aimed at all budgets, with each experience worth the trip. Soto, New York City -  Soto remains under the radar among notable sushi restaurants in New York but is consistently ranked among the best by guidebooks like Zagat and Michelin. . . . "

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Crystal Cruises features top culinary experts on Arctic sailing

Crystal Cruises features top culinary experts on Arctic sailing
USA TODAY
While it may be a little chilly outside, the action's sure to be hot in the kitchen during Crystal Cruises' July Arctic cruise. The sailing will feature the work of a Norwegian chef of the year, a member of the family responsible for producing what has ...

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Cruises -- on rivers and oceans

Merry sailing aboard A-Rosa's Silva
Travel Weekly
German river cruise line A-Rosa has experienced nothing but smoothsailing since it launched in 2000, becoming Germany's most popular river cruise company. Now, the company is marketing its contemporary river cruise experience to the burgeoning U.S. ...

Travel Weekly

Sailing Atlantic Canada and New England on Le Boreal
About - News & Issues
Fall is the most popular time to visit New England and Atlantic Canada, but some cruise ships also sail to the area in the summer months. I sailed a September voyage from Boston to Montreal on the small ship Le Boreal of Compagnie du Ponant, and this ...

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Miami still busiest cruise port

" . . . PortMiami officials Monday said they had hosted 3,774,452 passengers during the same period . . .  Fort Lauderdale’s PortEverglades reported 3,689,000 passengers for the period, putting it slightly behind the others in third place. “We’re all very close,’’ said Paula Musto, PortMiami spokeswoman. PortMiami has slipped below its previous high of 4 million plus passengers because of changing ship deployments, she said. That number is expected to again cruise past 4 million in 2013 as several new ships homeport in Miami."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/24/3155903/miami-were-still-busiest-cruise.html#emlnl=Business#storylink=cpy 

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Ultimate Guide to the Caribbean Cruise Season

Ultimate Guide to the Caribbean Cruise Season | Travel News from Fodor's Travel Guides: "Decades ago, the Caribbean cruise season was much shorter than it is today. Ships really only plied the Caribbean Sea during "high" season—the prime months between December and March—when the seas are calm and the weather temperate. Now, the Caribbean has become a favored cruise destination with lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney staying in the region all year round. Our Caribbean Cruise Guide will have you carousing on the high seas no matter the time of year. . . ."

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