Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Ukraine’s Kolesnikov Fixes UEFA PR Disaster

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Since UEFA president Michel Platini blasted hotel owners in Ukraine for alleged price gouging of fans intent on visiting for the 2012 Championships, officials there have been on something of a charming political rampage. Everything from guarantees of more rooms to cut rate airfares now garnish what should have always been a fair sports travel shake.

European Vacation Rentals: Room At the Top

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Key findings from PhoCusWright, presented by Tnooz, reveal the strength of Europe’s holiday rental segment. Despite the complexities of the European holiday rental market, the potential for revenue there is undeniable, PCW estimates the current in the report titled: PhoCusWright’s European Vacation Rental Marketplace: 2011-2013. €20 billion euro is one powerful incentive for studying rentals.

Monday Travel Deal Favorites

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Okay, so you’re headed to Europe, or at least thinking about it for the Summer. Argo Travel News came across a few deals that bear closer scrutiny for the traveler who’s plans are not completely filled out. From boutique hotels to full fledged luxury resorts, bad economic times can spell big time savings, as you’ll see below.

Tune Hotels Extends £9 London Room Sale

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Tune Hotels extends their winning £9 room sale for a fourth Tune London accomidation, Tune Kings Cross. This brings Tune Hotels’ properties in London to total 4. With the Olympics at the door, Tune Hotels may have ensured 100 percent occupancy with this move. If customers repeat, Tune Hotels just unleashed a dynamite marketing strategy.

Akrotiri, Window Into the Bronze Age, Reopens

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Seven years after the roof of Santorini’s Akrotiri archaeological site fell, killing a British tourist, the Bronze Age wonder has reopened to the public. This prehistoric town, called by many the “Pompeii of the Aegean”, was for centuries buried beneath tons of volcanic ash. On Wednesday, visitors were once again allowed in to see one of the world’s lost wonders.

Seebad Prora: One Hitler Vision Comes to Pass

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In a bit of nostalgia news from Germany, the Baltic Sea resort monstrosity, the Colossus of Prora, is slated to become a luxury German resort of some proportions soon. One of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s projects for the Thousand Year Reich, Prora was built in the 1930’s as a Nazi resort complex by the sea, but never actually used as such.

Places You Never Heard Of: Armenia’s Yerevan Flea Market

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Armenia is one of the least understood, and most fascinating places in the world. Today we want to bring you a little piece of culture from there, a place you undoubtedly never heard of, the Yerevan Flea Market. Called Vernissage from the French meaning “varnishing” (or an art preview), this world class flea market slash swap […]

“Hope and Heroes”- the 40th Istanbul Music Festival

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Coming soon, the Istanbul Music Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary from May 31st until June 29. The first festival of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), the event has seen some 3000 plus performances over the last 4 decades, and this year’s festivities promise a memorable event for those in attendance. This year’s theme is “Hope and Heroes.”

Indian Ocean Tsunami Watch

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A tsunami watch has gone into effect for the entire Indian Ocean after a massive magnitude 8.7 earthquake occurred 270 miles Southwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the tsunami warning at 0845 local time, with predicted landing times for various regions should a tsunami occur.

Should Google Buy Travelzoo?

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What could Google do with Travelzoo (NASDAQ:TZOO)? This is the question some insiders may be asking if reports of the beleaguered travel deal company’s sale ring true. Having had shared plummet over 70 percent since last year, Travelzoo would seem ripe for the picking, but just who’s plucking online booking portals these days? Reuters has it the company is seeking advisers on a potential sell.

Bulgaria Tourism 2012: Government Focus

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Ivo Marinov, Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy, and Tourism for Bulgaria, predicts 2012 will see a 5 to 6 percent increase in tourism to his country. Marinov was on hand Monday for the signing of contracts totaling over 20 million Lev slated to increase the country’s travel industry.

Maribor 2012 Presents Homage to Stravinsky

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Coming this Friday to Maribor, Art Director of SNG Maribor Ballet, Edward Clug, will stage Hommage a’ Stravinsky, a modern ballet creation. To celebrate the 130th anniversary of the great composer’s birthday, the Maribor Slovenian National Theater will host this synthesis of the Stravinsky ballets Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

Argo Exclusive: A Peek at Hotel Félicien

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Planning a visit to Paris this year. Well, a new hotel from the people who envisioned Hotel Seven, Hotel Crayon, designer boutiques hoteliers Elegancia Hotels will unveil Félicien this coming November. This latest thematic fashion stay in Paris arises once again from the imagination of entrepreneur Philippe Vaurs, and the added creative genius of one Olivier Lapidus, one of the world’s great clothing designers. Argophilia Travel News offers a sneak peek at a fantastic Paris stay.

Accor Hotels’ First MGallery in Downtown Doha

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Accor Group, the world’s leading hotel operator with some 4400 plus hotels in 90 countries, has just announced a deal with Qatar’s Msheireb Hospitality for operating the Msheireb Downtown Doha project., an Accor Hotels MGallery hotel in the city’s prime business district. This luxury boutique offering expands upon traditional Qatari hospitality with a truly original thematic scheduled to open in 2015.

Hotel Berati Joins Argophilia Albania

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In a bit of our own company news, Argophilia Travel Albania has signed on another business this week. Our semi-behind the scenes distribution channel dedicated to Eastern Europe, the telling about people and places not so many ever took the time or energy to, is working, slowly, but surely.

Great Hotels: Entre Cielos Argentina

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One of the great things about travel, on the ground and on the web, is discovering fantastic new places, experiences, and people. When all is said and done, human beings are discoverers. Well, the other day we discovered a little bit of wonderment all the way down there in Argentina, Hotel Entre Cielos in Mendoza. […]

Hôtel des Académies et des Arts: Paris Art-form

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Our recent excursion to Paris enlightened us about quite a few Parisian attractions, hidden secrets, legendary and lesser known wonders within the confines of the place the ancient Parisii settled and worked. Our own enlightenment, mirroring an historic one, embodied in the nickname of this place on the Sein, La Ville-Lumière. The City of Light, is in fact an ongoing work of art, a living canvas painted familiar and anew each day. Like children, this is the way to discover Paris.

Sofia INTRO!FESTIVAL 2012 – Days Away

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In 44 days the very first Sofia INTRO!FESTIVAL kicks off May 10 to May 12. To begin the Bulgarian season of entertainment, music, and fun this year, organizers have put on this new music fest at the Sofia Airport, with a big focus on bands.

Hotel Seven: “Paris As You’ll Like It”

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Given your choices for a romantic getaway to Paris, what hotel would you spend a weekend or a week with? The Hilton, the Ritz Paris perhaps, the Westin Paris, or maybe Hotel de Crillon? Possibly, but remember I asked about a romantic getaway.