Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Eastern Europe

Crete Week Two: At the Top of the World

Phil Butler

The White Mountains of Crete (Lefka Ori) are a spectacle to behold. The white capped limestone peaks offer the most dramatic backdrop for an Island so famous for seaside pleasures and ancient seafaring. In fact, the spectacle of sheer cliffs rising into the clouds is almost as awe inspiring as the pristine beaches and aquamarine waters of the Cretan and Libyan Seas that surround Crete.

Crete Week One: Defining “Filoxenia”

Phil Butler

Three days ago we drove up the coast road of Crete from Heraklion, Crete to the port of Chania. Four days ago this old Florida Boy thought he knew how an orange is supposed to taste. Today life just tastes better in an oft disappointing world.

Porto Montenegro at the Moscow Boat Show

Phil Butler

In partnership with leading yacht brand, Azimut Benetti, Porto Montenegro is going to make its debut at the Moscow Boat Show from the 11th to 16th March, at Crosus Expo, Moscow. Yacht show visitors will be able to get detailed information of one of the most interesting and extensive maritime developments along the Adriatic coast.

Serbia at ITB Berlin 2014

Aleksandr Shatskih

This year at ITB Berlin the National Tourism Organization of Serbia (NTOS) headed to the international tourism fair to help promote Lifestyle Serbia, a city break initiative by the country’s tourism ministry.

Prague: A Certified Conference Mecca

Aleksandr Shatskih

As a European destination for meetings and conferences, there are few cities better suited to host than Prague, Czech Republic. Europe’s most beautiful town won the 2013 Meeting Star Award in that category last year among cities in Central and East Europe edging out Budapest and Dubrovnik.

Grace Hotels to Open in Greek Peloponnese

Aleksandr Shatskih

News last week from Grace Hotels revealed still more Greece developmental planning. The hotel group announced the intention to start a hotel and villa property in the Peloponnese near Kalamata.

Crete Summit Highlights Business Potential

Phil Butler

Coming next week to Heraklion, a two day free seminar organized by the Foundation for Youth and Lifelong Learning starts March 13th. Designed to help inform entrepreneurs in Greece to kick-start business, the seminar covers investment, risks, and opportunities, among other topics.

UNWTO Silk Road Ministers at ITB Berlin

Aleksandr Shatskih

News from the UNWTO at ITB Berlin. On this the 2oth Anniversary of the Samarkand Declaration on Silk Road Tourism, the 4th version of the UNWTO Silk Road Ministers discussed better facilitating visas to advance tourism along this famous trade route.

Albania: A Look at Peripheral #Ukraine Effects

Phil Butler

The crisis in Ukraine now threatens western Balkans nations like Albania with further stalled economies and more. Even despite the recent announcement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Urban Development and Tourism of Albania to commit to working together to promote tourism in Albania, the gridlocked detentes in between the US, EU, Britain, and Russia over Ukraine may well spell disaster for all Balkan’s travel.