Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Dia Island: Ancient Atlantis Reemerges As a Resort?

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News Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal is interested in Crete as a touristic development bears mixed blessings. The prince, who’s transformed every place he’s invested in quite literally, says he wants to develop the island of Dia, just off Heraklion. But Crete is a special case study in protected antiquity, and Dia may hold secretes the Greeks don”t want destroyed by overzealous development.

President, or Not, Hillary Clinton Demands the Treatment

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If your business or organization plans on featuring former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a speaker, get ready for some steep demands. According to the New York Post, Clinton is not above demanding the Presidential Suite when she stays at hotels. The wife of former President Bill Clinton also demands to be ferried to the destination via private jet.

BUONGUSTO Ristorante Off the Hauptmarkt Trier

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Mihaela and I set out for downtown Trier for day two of our annual “birthday week” yesterday. Having plopped down in nearly every eatery in Germany’s oldest city these last 7 years, finding a new hidden gem was our mission on a perfect summer’s day. Relegated to the side alleys of the pedestrian zone, choosing from off the beaten path seemed logical. So confronted with the typical schnitzel garden, or a classy looking Italian cafe/restaurant, we gave Deutsche cuisine “the boot” on this cheery day.

Top 10 Chania “In and Out of Town” Attractions

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Crete’s second biggest city, is probably the most well know and picturesque. Chania, a Minoan settlement known to the Greeks as Kydonia, is famous for it’s Venetian Harbor photogenically. The capital of the provence of the same name, Chania is about as iconic a destination as you can imagine. Surrounded by a host of smaller villages and immeasurable natural beauty, the west of Crete’s gem of tourism deserves every accolade. Here’s a bucket list of things any visitor “must see” before leaving this magical Cretan getaway.

The Truth of Knossos: Discovering What the Eteocretans Knew

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Entering the site at Knossos for the first time, I was immediately captivated by an unexpected experience. The 70s-ish architecture in the welcome area outside the palace, these too spoke to me from a special place. Knossos, you see, it’s one of those sites one cannot forget, but for mysterious reasons. Let me show you a bit of one of Greece and Crete’s most underestimated treasures, the lost and found Palace of the Minoan civilization.

EU Sanctions On Russia Provoke Airline Economics War

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This morning business daily Vedomosti has reported, Russia may begin restricting European airlines from flying over Siberia on Asian routes. The move, if enacted, would imposed crippling costs on some European carriers. To make matters worse, the underlying business infrastructure of all countries will certainly be negatively affected.

eDigitalResearch Numbers Show Expedia Social Prowess

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With over 4 million “likes” on its Facebook profile, Expedia is now in second place among travel brands just beneath KLM. Expedia’s expanded benchmark numbers in results from eDigitalResearch, show the travel giant topping the Google+ league table to gain in excess of 2.5 million news followers in half a year.

hotelBrain and Other Smart Ideas to Transform Greek Hospitality

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hotelBrain, Greece’s largest hotel management company, has taken aim on ramping up the branding and management of existing hotels. With Greek tourism revenues and economies at the forefront of the resurfacing economy there, the marketing company with gray matter shows promise in a land of largely unwired hotels. With some additives, this management firm could […]

Greece Loses Russia Travelers to Agency Flop

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For the Greece tourism sector sanctions against Russia may have already spoiled the end of an otherwise record summer touristic season. At least this is partially true for customers of one of Russia’s largest Greek focused tourism agencies, Labirint. The company, the third to fail in Russia ins the last few months, has put Russian travelers at a disadvantage even though officials say current trips are secure.

Russia’s Dobrolet Airlines in Holding Pattern Over Europe

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The “boomerang effect” of US and EU sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin foretold of may be about to hit Europe travel businesses hard. The newly launched Russian low-cost Russian airline, has been forced to suspend its operations after the European Union (EU) sanctioned the airline over the Ukraine crisis.

Priceline Says Aloha! to OpenTable and Sayonara! to Competition

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Priceline buying restaurant reservation website OpenTable for $2.6 billion shows the expansion of the hospitality space growing ever more competitive. It was only a matter of time until restaurants became a bigger part of the tourism mix. If ever there were an “all in one” travel company emerging, Priceline may have just bid Sayonara! to its competition.