The best countries in the world

Everyone has their take on what the best countries might be and, of course, as travelers we might approach this from a slightly different angle, the traveler’s perspective. Newsweek has come out with it’s list of best countries on the planet which you can review here: http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/15/best-countries-in-the-world.html
We’re eager to know your take on the world’s best countries to visit on…keep reading

Do you want to be a (professional) travel agent?

TravelStore will be conducting a 10-week program to train a small, select group who are serious about pursuing a career in travel. Travel classes meet once a week in the evenings, with the next session scheduled to commence in September.  Read more for details and to apply.

Wherefore the vacation getaway these days

With the challenges the struggling economy presents us, some have responded by delaying their vacations, choosing to save up for that special dream trip on their bucket list.  Others have decided to take shorter getaways. And some choose not to compromise on the value they place on vacations and stick to plan. Then there are those that preach the “staycation” gospel, which…keep reading

Family vacation in Hawaii and zipline update

Our Hawaii vacation was great.  The Hilton Waikoloa was opulent but really too big. It became tedious walking, tramming or boating to all the different activities. If we were traveling with smaller children and wanted to stay in one place this would be my choice. Of all the properties the Kaanapalii Alii was the best fit for us. We felt like we…keep reading

Waiting to rent an electric car?

A growing number of travelers are more conscientuous about their carbon footprint when traveling.  This is bound to continue.  While we’re quite limited in our choice when it comes to air transportation, we can make greener choices when it comes to other modes of transport, such as car rentals. Many rental car companies, after all, already have hybrid vehicles available.
The…keep reading

Still waiting to get your passport renewed or issued?

Previously we encouraged travelers without passports to get them before rates are hiked. Starting Tuesday, fees for new [first-time] passports go up 35%, from the current $100 fee to $135. If your passport is up for renewal soon, the fee will go up from $75 to $110. (The cost of the wallet-size passport card, which Americans can use on certain trips…keep reading

London’s Lanesborough Hotel

At the end of a transatlantic voyage on the QM2 we checked into the Lanesborough Hotel in London. “All guests at the Lanesborough are received as honored guests in a private home and are cared for by private butlers” is the promise on the hotel’s website.
The Lanesborough is ideally located in prestigious Knightsbridge overlooking Hyde Park, featuring 95 guest…keep reading

Plaza Athenee New York

My recent trip took me to New York. We knew we were off to a good start when checking into the PLAZA ATHENEE NEW YORK. The upper east side of Manhattan is undoubtedly the most fashionable part of Manhattan and this hotel is discreetly located right in a tree lined, residential street, off Madison Avenue and 1 ½ blocks off 5th…keep reading

Every so often I pick up a travel brochure to see how companies we work with position themselves, and I was struck by this comment from Sven Lindblad of Lindblad Expeditions:
“Our [trips]… are philosophically aligned with the governing idea that you deserve an extraordinary experience. And that memories of this experience will last a lifetime, giving you a store of …keep reading

Revisiting travel insurance in the aftermath of Eyjafjallajokull

Marnie Hunter from CNN reports: “Travelers who racked up unforeseen expenses during Europe’s recent volcanic ash cloud chaos — and those observing nervously from the sidelines — may want to look into travel insurance for their next trip.  The right coverage can protect globetrotters from tacking thousands of dollars onto their trip costs when something such as a natural disaster, a…keep reading