Author: News Team

Few travel destinations match Bali in variety. The Indonesian island plays home to backpackers and multi-millionaires, with a vast array of different accommodation and leisure options. A shining light in Asia’s tropical travel selection, the acclaimed ‘Island of the Gods’ offers more than meets the eye, with an extensive selection of cultural attractions rounding out its immense water sports offerings. There’s no shortage of information on Bali’s lower end – the ultra-cheap bungalows situated on its southern shores and tourism centres. What we’re more interested in is the island’s luxury side – the beachfront villas and private residences. The island’s…

Online hotel comparison websites were once considered the pinnacle of value, but a new method for sourcing low-cost hotel deals appears to have emerged. Nowadays, before tech-savvy travellers turn to Agoda or Priceline, they search on Twitter for their preferred cities and hotel chains. It’s the latest development in social media marketing, and it could become a revolutionary change for hoteliers. Twitter has changed a number of business models since its introduction in 2007. The micro-message service has millions of users and a dedicated business community, with chief executives and experts in finance posting their thoughts and findings daily. While…

California’s largest city is a slight enigma, housing an iconic film industry yet lacking a independent  identity, particularly in its central suburbs. While Los Angeles remains one of the nation’s top tourist draws, its lack of cult attractions is one of several factors holding it back from becoming a must-see international city. That is, of course, a lack of cult attractions within the city itself. Walk through Los Angeles’ suburban areas and you’ll constantly be confronted with reminders of its history – large ‘gold rush’ styled villas and equally expansive boulevards. The city comprises part of the nation’s largest economy…

Few travel industry experts could have predicted this season’s hot vacation spot. It’s not Miami, nor is it anywhere in the nation’s travel-friendly south-western region. The biggest surprise in America’s domestic travel industry was in fact Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, which recorded a record number of domestic and international visitors throughout the month of July. Park administrators counted over 950,000 visitors last month – a significant increase over the park’s figures from last year. Thanks to a more comfortable daytime temperature and increased wildlife in the park, July remains the most popular month for Americans to visit the nation’s oldest…

When William Shatner took a free job as Priceline’s corporate face, the acting world turned its head and looked the other way. The former Star Trek actor was as washed up as anyone could be, and his endorsement of what was – at the time – an inexpensive travel startup seemed like the ultimate hint that his career was over. But with almost fifty commercials completed, the situation has changed. Shatner’s contract with Priceline left little in the way of risk for the small company. In exchange for his services as a voice and commercial actor, Shatner would be paid…

For the second time in twelve months, American airline JetBlue is bringing back its unlimited one-month travel program. Dubbed the ‘All You Can Jet’ scheme by the company’s marketers, the deal allows pass holders to book unlimited flights within the contiguous United States for a flat fee of either $699 or $499. The previous deal was a huge success, with tickets sold out in just two days. The tickets will be available to consumers for just three days, with JetBlue offering service between the seventeenth and twentieth of August. Given that last year’s entire promotion sold out within two days,…

Overseas travel operators are tricking tourists into paying unnecessary ‘green travel’ fees, only to pocked their extra spending to increase profits. A series of recent exposes have covered one of the travel industry’s largest and most widespread scams – the addition of environmental service fees, ‘green’ recycling taxes, and other bogus charges to tourists’ hotel bills in an effort to boost income. Service fees and booking charges have attracted criticism from travellers, particularly those that discover the extra charges without being aware that they are being added to their bill. The service charges, however, at least maintain a basis in…

Consumers have taken to online price shopping travel websites in mass numbers. With the industry leader Priceline reporting steady profits and an ever-expanding market cap, it appears that shopping for air tickets by price is a winner for both customers and companies. But one online travel tool has been attracting all the wrong attention, racking up hundreds of consumer complaints last year. The website in question is Orbitz, a fairly popular online booking tool that’s listed on the New York Stock Exchange and advertised nationally. The website is considered a leader in the online tourism field, although a slew of…

Recent release Eat, Pray, Love is a travel movie that’s been capturing attention throughout the USA and bringing international travel back into the spotlight. Based on the New York Times best-seller by Elizabeth Gilbert, the film stars Julia Roberts as a recent divorcee who takes up a life of travel in an effort to put her past behind her and gain a new understanding of life. It’s a film that’s bringing a forgotten subject – long-term international travel – back into the spotlight and into the realm of possibility. But alongside the film’s encouraging tone and realistic portrayal of travel…

Occupancy rates are up, a ‘hotel tax’ is looming on the horizon, and room prices are scheduled to increase once again. It’s a typical scene in Rome, and it’s one that’s becoming a frustrating reality for the thousands of tourists that arrive in the Italian capital daily. Rome is big, beautiful, and all priced outside the reach of many British travellers, particularly those searching for a budget tour. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Tourists to Rome have typically spent their daytime hours soaking in the same tired attractions – viewing the Colosseum, walking the city’s cathedrals, and moving…