Travel Buddy

Geneva

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:39:36 -0800

The diversity of the landlocked, mountainous country is the essence of Switzerland and gives the country its unique identity. Still, it is best known for its financial institutions, fine cheeses and chocolate, watch making industry, for its scenery and an excellent network of public transportation.
Capital City:	Berne
Major Cities: Baden, Basel, Bellinzona, Bern, Biel, Brig, Chur, Fribourg, Genève, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Lausanne, Locarno, Lugano, Luzern, Martigny, Montreux-Vevey, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Sierre, Sion, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thun, Winterthur, Zug, Zürich
Bordering Countries:	Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein
Inhabitants:	7'261'200
Languages:	German, French, Italian, Romansch
Climate: Because of its central position, the weather is influenced by the four main European air currents - from the Atlantic, the eastern continent, the northern subpolar region and the Mediterranen south. The climate is temperate on the Central Plateau, otherwise it differs considerably from region to region.
Landforms:	Alps and Pre-Alps cover 60%, Central Plateau 30% and Jura 10% of the country.
Land Area:	41,284 km2

Geneva

Embedded between nearby Alpine peaks and the hilly terrain of the Jura, the French-speaking city of Geneva lies in the bay where the Rhone leaves Lake Geneva. With its humanitarian tradition and cosmopolitan flair, the European seat of the UNO and headquarters of the Red Cross is known as the “capital of peace”.

The symbol of the «world’s smallest metropolis» is the “Jet d’eau” – a fountain with a 140-metre-high water jet at the periphery of Lake Geneva. Most of the large hotels and many restaurants are situated on the right-hand shore of the lake. The old town, the heart of Geneva with the shopping and business quarter, holds sway over the left-hand shore. It is dominated by St. Peter’s Cathedral, however the actual centre of the old town is the Place du Bourg-de-Four, which is the oldest square in the city. Quays, lakeside promenades, countless parks, lively side streets in the old town and elegant shops invite guests to stroll. One of the best-maintained streets is the Grand-Rue, where Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born. The «mouettes», a type of water taxi, enable crossings to be made from one lakeshore to the other, while larger vessels invite visitors to enjoy cruises on Lake Geneva.

Geneva is Switzerland’s most international city, as it is where the European seat of the UNO is based. Even the International Red Cross directs its humanitarian campaigns from here. Besides being a congress city, Geneva is also a centre for culture and history, for trade fairs and exhibitions. The «Horloge Fleuri», the large flower clock in the “Jardin Anglais” (English Garden), is a world-renowned symbol of the Geneva watch industry.

Culturally, this city on the westernmost fringe of Switzerland has much to offer. International artists perform in the Grand Théâtre and Geneva Opera House, and an extremely diverse range of museums such as the “Musée international de l'horlogerie”, a watch museum with a collection of jewellery watches and musical clocks, and the International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which provides an insight into the work of these humanitarian organisations, invite city guests to visit them.

A rewarding excursion destination is Mont Salève, which is situated in neighbouring France. The cableway lifts visitors to an altitude of 1100 metres in less than five minutes, giving rise to outstanding vistas across the city of Geneva, Lake Geneva, the chain of Alps, the Jura and Montblanc.

Highlights

Jet d’eau – visible from afar, the 140-metre-high water jet is the ‘landmark’ of Geneva.
St. Pierre Cathedral – the north tower of the three-naved basilica in the old town of Geneva offers up a unique vista over the city and lake.
Palace of the United Nations – on passing through the paled gate of the Palace of the UNO, visitors enter international territory.
International Museum of the Red Cross – the birthplace of the International Red Cross houses the only museum dedicated to the history and work of this organisation.
Cruises on Lake Geneva – from the cruise boats, visitors can marvel at the unique scenery of castles and magnificent residences set against wonderful landscape and mountain panoramas.

How to get there

Public Transport: Direct train connections. The ride from to airport to Geneva City takes 6 minutes.

By car: Direct connection to the national and international Autobahn network.

Other/Air: International Airport Geneva, 10 minutes by car from the center of the city.

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Barcelona: Is it really been good in tourism?

nobody@vox.com(vonneclouie) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:00:18 -0800

Guggenheim_bilbao

Did someone gone to an awesome place of Barcelona? I am just wondering why hotel bookings in Barcelona center (hoteles centro Barcelona) as what they say are so difficult to avail, especially those at the heart of the city. Is this a promising approach that Barcelona city is really been good in terms of tourism?

How much more cheap hotels in Barcelona (hotel barato en Barcelona)? Is there any ways that someone could avail it without having any hardship upon falling in line? If that hotels are called cheap, are they guaranteed t be still cheerful though cheap one? How about luxurious hotels in Barcelona, are they really been the best, perfect place for vacation, for relaxation?

I am having all this questions, for I am planning to have my journey in Barcelona, Spain. I am afraid I could have shortfall of budget if I could not answer all of this questions. I am planning to have my hotel Barcelona accommodation, since I wanted to do my journey alone and free. Isn’t it great? Wish me luck and pray!!!

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Hi there

nobody@vox.com(kattt) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:14:36 -0700

I know that I'm only the second member to join, But I'm interested in meeting people in NY/Toronto while I'm traveling there in November 2008.

I'm also interested in meeting anyone who travels to my home town of Melbourne, Australia. I know all there is to know about Melbourne, and would love to show travelers around :)

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Recent major airline disasters

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:36:03 -0700

By reuters.com | Aug 25, 2008

A passenger plane crashed at the airport of Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek with around 120 people on board, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday.

Here is a chronology of major airline disasters in the last two years:

August 22, 2006 - A Russian Tu-154 operated by Pulkovo Airlines crashes 30 miles north of the east Ukrainian town of Donetsk, killing all 170 passengers and crew.

September 29 - One hundred and fifty-four people are killed when a Boeing 737-800 operated by the low-cost Gol airline crashes in the Amazon rain forest in Brazil’s worst plane disaster.

October 29 - A Boeing 737 operated by domestic carrier ADC, crashes after take off on a flight from Abuja to Sokoto. Only seven of the 106 people aboard the flight survived. Among the dead was Ibrahim Muhammadu, who as Sultan of Sokoto was the leader of the Muslim community.

January 1, 2007 - An Indonesian Boeing 737-400 operated by budget carrier Adam Air disappeared from radar screens during a flight from Java to Sulawesi islands. Wreckage was located at sea 10 days later. All 102 passengers and crew were killed.

May 5 - All 114 people on board a Kenya Airways Boeing 737 are killed after the plane crashed in torrential rain after takeoff from Douala in Cameroon en route to Nairobi.

July 17 - A Brazilian TAM passenger plane crashes into buildings when trying to land in Sao Paulo, killing 199 people aboard and on the ground.

September 16 - One-Two-Go, a budget Thai airliner carrying 123 passengers and several crew crashes on landing at the resort island of Phuket. At least 85 of the 123 passengers were killed and five of the seven crew.

November 30 - An Atlasjet MD83 crashes near Keciborlu, Turkey. The plane was on a domestic flight from Istanbul to Isparta when it disappeared from radar screens. All 57 people aboard were killed.

August 20, 2008 - A Spanair MD-82, flying to the Canary Islands with 166 passengers and six crew, crashes on takeoff at Madrid airport killing 154 people. The remaining 18 are seriously injured.

August 24 - A Boeing-737 belonging to a private Kyrgyz company Itek-Air and bound for Iran, crashes at Bishkek airport. Officials say 25 people out of 90 aboard survive the crash.

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Booking.com offers booking-engine for hotel websites

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:44:54 -0700

Through the launch of its new Booking Button, Booking.com now allows hotels of all sizes to offer direct bookings through their own websites. Neither a set-up fee nor an annual fee is charged for this service.

Amsterdam, 21 August 2008. The international online hotel portal Booking.com is now providing its partner hotels with a simple and cost-effective means of integrating a direct booking tool into their own websites. The new Booking Button service is highly affordable, as no set-up fee and no annual fee are charged. Hotels merely pay Booking.com a low, per-booking commission of 3 percent for bookings made through the Booking Button.

Once the hotels have inserted the Booking Button onto their websites, it connects consumers directly (and seamlessly) to Booking.com’s fully configured reservation system. The button requires no additional software or hardware investment by hotels. “Our Booking Button solution is particularly helpful for smaller hotels and chains that, until now, have only been able to process online availability enquiries via email or telephone,” says Martin Lamme who, as Project Manager Hotels, is responsible for the development of the tool. “Consumers seeking and reserving hotel accommodation today expect to receive an immediate booking confirmation, even from small hotels,” Lamme explains.

Booking Button available in seven languages and six designs

The Booking Button is available in six different designs and colours. When a reservation query is placed, the hotel website identifies all options which are available via the Booking.com system at the respective hotel. “Depending on the hotel, a generous list of options might be generated. Often, the options range from specials for early bookers to seasonal offers and long stays in apartments and family rooms,” says Rachel Howes, Managing Director Booking.com UK. The reservation tool provides guests with significantly more options than the service which smaller hotels could offer themselves. Now, hotels can present their online visitors with a new reservation system in seven languages. The content is currently available in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Polish. Other languages are to follow gradually.

It is this easy to get your own online reservation tool:

Booking.com hotels wishing to integrate an online reservation tool in their website only need to go to http://bookingbutton.booking.com and follow the easy instructions.

Here are some sample pages of hotels already working with the Booking Button:

Hotel 1
https://bookingbutton.booking.com/wl/servlet/booking/index.do?hotelid=84735&trkref=OWN

Hotel 2
http://www.brook-hotels.com/

Hotel 3
http://www.leshotelsderive.ch/index2.php?id=1032

Hotel 4
http://www.pension-absolutberlin.de/11.html

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Air Transport Association Statement On Hurricane Gustav Evacuation Procedures

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:37:23 -0700

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today provided a statement regarding evacuation procedures in advance of Hurricane Gustav:

"As Hurricane Gustav approaches the Gulf Coast, ticketed passengers and those wanting to leave the area should contact the individual airlines directly and travel to the airport as soon as possible. Government officials are advising individuals to leave the area immediately. Starting Sunday, only those with tickets will be permitted to enter the airport. The New Orleans airport tentatively will stop all operations by approximately 6 pm Sunday. We encourage ticketed passengers and those wanting to leave the area to contact the airlines as soon as possible."

Airline Weather Advisories and Travel Policies for Hurricane Gustav (http://www.airlines.org/news/releases/2008/GustavUpdates.htm)

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information about the industry, visit www.airlines.org.

SOURCE Air Transport Association of America

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India Beaches

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:03:58 -0700

India is home to one of the world’s oldest and richest civilizations, and a treasure trove of diversified cultures, historical monuments, art, dance, theatre, music, and philosophy that have roots in several millennia of history.

While India is richly endowed culturally, its geography is equally impressive.From the mighty snow-clad Himalayas, to the sun-drenched Beaches of Goa and Kerala, from teh exotic tiger habitats of Corbett National Park, to the sandy deserts of Rajasthan where rajahs once ruled, India is full of surprises.

Beaches

India has some of the most spectacular beaches anywhere in the world, Both the Wet and East Coast of India offer verdant vistas of the Arabian Sea shores or the Bay of Bengal, with different cultures, cuisine, luxurious spas, diving and water sports and resorts.

Goa -

goa-intercontinental-thumb.jpg

is the proverbial palm-fringed, lush-green-field-dappled paradise, bathed by sprays or irrepressible blue waves, This seaside state, is a charming mixture of Portuguese influence and Indian tradition. Goa is al about relaxed lifestyle, enlivened by the Goan love for music and dance, spiced up by its superb cuisine.

Diu - The island of Diu was a Portuguese colony, and today is one of the finest beaches in the Saurashtra Coast of Gujarat. Its soft sandy beach with swaying palm trees and fantastic forts and churches make it one of the most beautiful beach holiday destination in Gujarat.

Mahabalipuram - South of Madras on the shores of Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram was once a port city of the Pallava rulers. The chief attraction of this beach is the magnificent rock cut art. The monuments of Mahabalipuram are excellent specimen of Dravidian temple architecture and Pallava art.

Kovalam - The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay.The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories, makes this beach paradise.

Lakshadweep - India’s only coral islands, are situated off India’s west coast, in the Arabian sea.They are ideal for fishing, yachting, diving snorkeling, and deep sea fishing. Only two islands, Bangaram and Kadmat, are open to non-Indians. Luxuriant plantations of coconut provide coolness even during the hottest part of the day.

Andaman & Nicobar - On the east coast of India, the islands of Andaman and Nicobar are an idyllic archipelago of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise seas, and picturesque coral reefs, The clear waters of the Andamans are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving.

The deep dive offers a terrific variety of marine life including back coral and sightings of sharks.

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Desert Islands Resort & Spa, by Anantara in Sir Bani Yas Island.

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:23:48 -0700

The resort is going to be officially open in 01 October 2008.

Explore the diverse wildlife inhabiting one of the world’s most unique offshore wildlife sanctuaries. Revel in the history of a once-royal retreat.

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Desert Islands Resort & Spa Set on the verdant island haven of Sir Bani Yas, just off the coast of Abu Dhabi, housing the once-private Royal Nature Reserve of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Desert Islands Resort & Spa offers intrepid travellers an unforgettable island escape in the glittering waters of the Arabian Gulf.

desert-islands-resort-spa-thumb1.jpg

Just eight kilometres off the Abu Dhabi emirate’s western coastline, the island beckons with a mystique that is worlds away from the hustle and bustle of modern urban life.

desert-islands-resort-spa-rooms-thumb1.jpg

With 64 luxuriously appointed rooms, suites, spacious one-bedroom villas and truly luxurious two-bedroom Royal Villas, Desert Islands Resort & Spa invites you to live out your own Arabian nights in a destination that is anything but ordinary.

Have a look at this clip featured on CNN recently:

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/07/03/eccleston.uae.going.green.eco.island.cnn?iref=videosearch

Desert Islands Resort & Spa website : http://desertislands.anantara.com

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Airlines to lose US$5.2 billion in 2008

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:56:26 -0700

Airlines to lose US$5.2 billion in 2008
-Slowing Demand and High Oil to Blame-

Montreal - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today announced a revised industry financial forecast that would see the global airline industry post losses of US$5.2 billion in 2008 based on an average crude oil price of US$113 per barrel (US$140 for jet fuel).

“The situation remains bleak. The toxic combination of high oil prices and falling demand continues to poison the industry’s profitability. We expect losses of US$5.2 billion this year,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Fuel: “While there has been some relief in the oil price in recent months, the year-to-date average is US$113 per barrel. That’s US$40 per barrel more than the US$73 per barrel average for 2007, pushing the industry fuel bill up by US$50 billion to an expected US$186 billion this year,” said Bisignani. Fuel is expected to rise to 36% of operating costs, up from 13% in 2002.

Demand: IATA also announced industry traffic data for July which showed a continued slowing of demand.

July year-on-year passenger demand growth fell to 1.9% - the lowest in five years. Capacity increased by double that - 3.8% - indicating that service cuts are not keeping pace with the fall in demand. This pushed the load factor for the month to 79.9%, a drop of more than 1% compared to July 2007. The surprise of July was a 0.5% drop in passenger demand by Asia-Pacific carriers partly attributable to a change in Chinese visa requirements but also showing that economic weakness is spreading to previously robust economies.

Cargo demand in July contracted by 1.9% compared to 2007. Asia-Pacific carriers - the largest players in the cargo market - were hit hard with a 6.5% drop in demand.

As a result of the weaker economic outlook IATA significantly revised downward its traffic forecast for domestic and international markets combined. Passenger traffic is now expected to grow on average by 3.2% (was 3.9%) and air freight volumes by just 1.8% (was 3.9%). This is only half the pace of expansion seen in 2007 and is boosted by the stronger growth seen at the start of the year. Strong traffic growth allowed the industry to partly absorb the rise in fuel costs from 2003-2007. This is no longer the case.

Regional: “While some regions will show small profits, the negative impact of the industry crisis is universal,” said Bisignani.

North American carriers are expected to post losses of US$5.0 billion in 2008 making them the hardest hit by this industry crisis.
Asia Pacific is expected to see profits shrink from US$900 million in 2007 to US$300 million this year.
European profits will tumble seven-fold from US$2.1 billion in 2007 to US$300 million in 2008.
Middle Eastern profits will drop by US$100 million to US$200 million.
Latin American and African carriers will see losses deepen to US$300 million and US$700 million respectively.

2009: IATA announced its initial outlook for 2009. The difficult business environment is expected to continue. Most economies are expected to deliver even weaker economic growth next year, which will negatively impact air travel and freight. With an expected oil price of US$110 per barrel (US$ 136 for jet fuel) and continued weak growth (2.9% tkp), industry losses are expected to continue at US$4.1 billion. The 2009 fuel bill is expected to rise, as hedging offers less protection, to US$223 billion comprising 40% of operating expenses.

Change

“While we expect the bottom line to improve by about US$1 billion next year, the industry will be US$4.1 billon in the red,” said Bisignani. “This crisis is re-shaping the industry in more severe ways than the demand shocks of SARS or 9.11. When fuel goes from 13% of your costs to 40% in 7 years with an increased cost implication of US$183 billion, you simply cannot continue to do business in the same way. Fundamental change is needed,” said Bisignani.

“Airlines have reduced non-fuel unit costs by 18% since 2001. Airports and air navigation service providers must join the effort. Efficiency gains are critical but cannot fully absorb the impact of skyrocketing fuel prices,” said Bisignani.

“This crisis is highlighting the need for greater commercial freedom. Airlines are facing enormous challenges. To be successful and continue providing jobs to 32 million people and supporting US$3.5 trillion in economic activity, airlines must be able to do business like any other business,” said Bisignani.

“More airlines have gone bust in 2008 than in the aftermath of 9.11. To cure the structural sickness of the industry, made all the more obvious by the high price of oil, we need a strong dose of liberalisation. The US-EU talks later this month are one opportunity to address ownership restrictions in an important market. And IATA is taking the unusual step of facilitating a global dialogue on an Agenda for Freedom next month in Istanbul. Simply weathering the current storm is not an option. We must take the opportunity of these extraordinary times to facilitate extraordinary change to strengthen the industry with normal commercial freedoms,” said Bisignani.

Source : www.iata.org

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Holland America Wins More Awards

nobody@vox.com(alazzam) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:10:22 -0700

Seattle, WA, September 5, 2008 –Taking home more awards than any other company in the cruise category, Holland America Line has won nine Magellan Awards—three gold and six silver—from Travel Weekly Magazine.

“We are proud of our accomplishments and winning this number of awards is a testament to our leadership position in the premium market,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “We are honored to win in nine different categories. Our mission is to provide guests with a once in a lifetime experience, every time.”

Holland America won three gold awards: ms Eurodam, Premium Ship category; 2007/2008 Campaign, Advertising/Marketing Campaign category; ms Prinsendam, Mid-Size Cruise Ship category.

Six silver awards were won: Verandah Balcony Stateroom, Premium Ship Cabin Design category; Penthouse Verandah Suite, Premium Ship Suite Design category; Tamarind, Premium Ship Restaurant Design category; Greenhouse Spa & Salon, Premium Ship Spa Design category; Website, Cruise Marketing Website category.

“These awards reflect our commitment to offer an unparalleled cruise experience,” said Meadows. “And, our investment in Signature of Excellence is growing with more enhancements planned across the fleet including new amenities and innovative programs.”

The industry-leading Signature of Excellence initiative announced nearly five years ago in November 2003 has evolved into an ongoing and comprehensive review of every aspect of the Holland America Line experience. The line recently announced another $200 million investment bringing the total to $525 million.

This marks the first year of Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards honoring the best in travel. The travel trade magazine caters to travel professionals. The magazine employed an independent panel of travel professionals as judges for the awards. Less than 10% of entrants were selected for gold medals. Award winners receive a statuette and will be featured in the September issue.

Holland America Line is consistently rated as a top cruise line by Condé Nast Traveler readers and Travel & Leisure magazine. The line has won a Best Overall Cruise Value award for the past 16 years from the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society’s Ocean & Cruise News and has been recognized for multiple awards over the years by readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine. Last year, the line received a Green Planet award for outstanding environmental practices from Kuoni Switzerland.

Website : www.hollandamerica.com

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]

Holland America Line’s fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 314 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. A 15th ship is scheduled to join the fleet in 2010.

Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $525 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Café powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.

World’s Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World’s Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.

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