Happy Memorial Day weekend!  For those of us here in the United States, it’s the kickoff to summer.  And although it’s cloudy and rainy here in Seattle, I’m not letting that get in the way of celebrating the changing of the season.

I have a quick list of travel reads for today, so take a break and catch up with what’s happening:

• My Melange has a list of some free things to do in Florence,  It’s such a beautiful city, but the Euro valuation can also make it expensive, so these FREE ideas will help stretch your travel budget.
• PlanetEye Traveler – San Francisco has some great suggestions for cycling in Sonoma County.  There are fun choice for all ability levels.
• Euro Cheapo tackles the cash/credit/ATM debate.  Personally, I take a bit of cash, and then plan to strategically hit the ATM while on the road.  Yeah, there’s a fee, but I’d rather pay a small fee than lose or misplace some cash – something that I have seen happen all too many times.
• Sharing Travel Experiences acknowledges an occasional lack of confidence when it comes to travel, proving that even the most experienced among have our moments.
• Gadling has information about a great photography workshops in the National Parks this summer..  What a great way to celebrate the beauty of our parks!
• Off to Europe has a great list of boutique hotels in Paris.  A fashionable chic city, with hotels to match.
• PlanetEye Traveler – Cruises talks about staying connected while at sea.  She’s on a 100-plus day round-the-world cruise, so she’s looking for ways to maximize her time and minimize her cost.
• Chris Pirillo says he hates traveling, but loves the idea of opening his hotel room door with his smart phone.  Two Holiday Inn’s plan to launch this feature.this summer.
• Wall Street Journal has a great slide show about the ultimate in travel – space travel.  Enjoy the photos from the final trip of Atlantis.
• And finally, I’m a big Cirque du Soleil fan, so I invite you to take a read of my interview with the Head Prop Master for the touring show KOOZA.  The show is currently on a multi-week run here in Seattle, and I can’t wait to go see it.  Look for a review next week.

That’s it for this week.  Enjoy your weekend, and may your summer plans be full of wonderful travel experiences.

Photo credit:  personal collection

Share on Facebook

Just because I get most of my travel information online doesn’t eliminate my interest in getting information the old fashioned way – in print.  With so many newspaper travel sections (and newspapers entirely, for that matter) and magazines cutting back or closing, those print publications that I read and enjoy are becoming ever more precious to me.

To be honest, though, I need to stretch my purchasing dollars as far as they can go, and that’s why any sale on travel magazines is going to catch my eye.

Amazon is offering some additional discounts, to their already competitive prices, on a few travel and travel-related magazines,  Take a look and see if any of these are on your must-read or must-try list.:

• MissouriLife celebrates the people and places of  Missouri, showcasing little town and little-known places in the bigger cities.  You’ll discover restaurants, along with ideas for day trips and weekend get-aways.   $16.99 (1 year/6 issues).
• Cruise Travel explores the exciting and romantic world of cruise vacations, featuring information about ships, ports of call, cruises, itineraries, and prices.  You’ll learn how to plan a cruise, how to choose shore excursions, and the best shopping buys.  $18.94 (1 year/6 issues).
• Plane & Pilot covers lots of technical information for the recreational pilot, and also includes great information about flying destinations.  $4.95 (1 year/12 issues).
• Atlanta Magazine is all about the people, places, events, and heritage of this great southern city.  Subscribing to a city magazine is a great way to learn about it!  $7 (1 year/12 issues).
• Philadelphia is another city magazine, and provide information on issues facing the Philadelphia, along with info about travel, transportation, theater and more.  $4.95 (1 year/12 issues).
• Yachting will keep power and sailing enthusiasts up to date with equipment and trends, and also provides information about cruising, racing, and other travel destinations.  $10.97 (1 year/12 issues).
• Caribbean Travel & Life will keep you up to date on resorts, shopping, cuisine, and recreation in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda.   $11.97 (1 year/9 issues).
• Los Angeles Magazine explored the people, places, and events that make Southern California such an exciting and vibrant place to live.  $4.95 (1 year/12 issues).
• Backpacker is for people who love outdoor adventures, from the simple day hike to an amazing trek.  This magazine provides information on trails, adventure planning, destinations, and gear.  $9.95 (1 yr/9 issues).
• Texas Monthly will keep you up to date on music, arts, travel, restaurants, and Texas events with recommendations from local experts.  $7 (1 year/12 issues).

NOTE:  These are Amazon affiliate links.

Photo credit: Amazon

Share on Facebook

Yahoo! Travel recently released its list of the most popular cities of 2009.  Based on leading travel research and booking websites, here’s what travelers have to say about where they went this year:

1. Las Vegas
2. Miami
3. Cancun, Mexico
4. San Diego
5. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
6. New York City
7. San Francisco
8. Orlando
9. Honolulu
10. Paris, France

New York New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

Are there any surprises for you on that list?

I was a surprised to see two Mexico destinations on the list, in light of the Swine Flu scare of this year.  Mind you, that’s not that I think people should avoid travel to Mexico (I don’t), but more what I experienced there earlier this year with plummeting hotel occupancy rates.

I was a little surprised to see Las Vegas at the top of the list, too.  After a campaign promoting the city as one of excess (What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas), it seems like a good time to dial back a bit, and fill some of those hotel rooms.  Vegas Means Business is trying to remind people why the city is such a great business destination (value-priced rates, top-notch meeting facilities, and broad range of restaurants and other services, and I have a hunch that is a good part of why it ranks at the top of the list.

Of the cities on this Top 10 list, I visited the following this year:  Las Vegas (several times), Miami (for a week), Cancun (several times in the midst of the Swine Flu scare), San Diego, New York City (a quick trip, not nearly enough time), and San Francisco (still one of my all time favorite cities),.

Which of these cities did you visit this year?  Did your travel choices help shape this list?

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

Share on Facebook

I’m in Las Vegas enjoying meeting up with some other travel bloggers and learning about the state of the luxury travel market in today’s economy.  It’s more robust than I thought!

Yesterday there was a good session on viral marketing in the travel industry – although these people need to be a little less hostile toward online sites and writers.  Yes, having a travel agent is a personal relationship – but with busy lives we need to use tools that make our information gathering and decision making faster and easier.

And yes, there is a lot of bad info floating around out there on the internet and you should follow your brand.  BUT – there’s also a lot of good stuff out there, and nothing says viral like a hot story floating around the blogoshpere.  Ignore us at your peril.

The second session that I sat in on was about Hawaii.  The islands are attracting lots of new tourism projects and it looks like visitors are still headed that way.

I’m twittering nuggets of information throughout the sessions and events, and you can follow me on twitter at:  flyawaycafe.  And thanks to all my new followers – I’ll be catching up with you as time permits.

You can follow all the expo twitters by looking for #LTE.

Share on Facebook