Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

World

New Year’s Spring Festival Singapore

Phil Butler

Right now in Singapore visitors have a special treat as the Lunar New Year Spring Festival takes place from January 15th through February 28th in Chinatown. This occasion marks the importance of family, and celebrates happiness.

Fabulous Trekking Ops – the Ladajh Himalayas

Phil Butler

For the adventurous of the world, trekking the Indian Himalayas is certainly a dream come true. Himalayan Frontiers Cultural and Adventure Tours announces their offerings for 2011, for the stout hearted who have what it takes to visit the legendary land of Kashmir and Ladakh. From high desert plateau to river valley village, this trekking series is a cultural adventure as much as a physical one. Experience life as it has been for a dozen or more centuries.

Happy Birthday to Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park

Phil Butler

Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year with special prices and gifts for guests. The largest bird park in the world, Jurong is home to thousands of rare birds, and some of the world’s most fascinating exhibitions. Visitors this year are in for a rare treat indeed.

Ticket Prices Skyrocket – Google Shrugs

Phil Butler

The online travel war between OTA’s, airlines, and other interested parties has grown into an industry damaging PR nightmare. American Airlines, Google, Expedia, all the major players may not realize how frustrating their power moves are for the little people. These companies are jeopardizing their own future, and that of developers all over the world.

Portugal’s Travel Agents Sinking Fast

Phil Butler

Portugal’s travel sector is in grave trouble, perhaps far more serious than previous reports have suggested. The industry that represents 11 percent of the country’s GDP has lost fully one third of its travel agents to insolvency. The economic times and pressure from online travel agents have made the situation there untenable. But a double sided government effort has not helped either.

Vietnam’s Tet Holiday Bonanza Causes Chaos

Phil Butler

Travel agents and tour companies inside Vietnam are overwhelmed with clients who want to take advantage of the new Tet holiday. The government’s late announcement took the industry by surprise as government employees learned of additional time off for the New Year. A bookings bonanza there is turning into a booking nightmare.

Google’s Probability of Online Travel Success

Phil Butler

American Airlines and ITA penned a deal the other day which AA claims had nothing to do with Google’s acquisition of ITA technology. But the suggestion still remains as to what exactly Google is doing to fend off its opponents in the so called “Online Travel War.” Is Google silently orchestrating the downfall of Expedia and the others of FairSearch? Well, probably not anything so diabolical, but winning the ITA acquisition with underlying business relationships? This is not only possible, but probable.

Frontier Airlines Expands to Omaha

Mihaela Lica Butler

Frontier Airlines announced the beginning of Omaha expansion this weekend with the return of seasonal non-stop service to Orlando and St. Petersburg/Clearwater.