Travel requires money, in larger and smaller amounts. But it does take money for one to see the places they want to, indulge in the cultures that spike their interest, relish in new experiences. Or does it? A new project, The Wedding Tour 2012, self-proclaimed the world’s first sponsored honeymoon, shows travelers that they can replace money with influence. In the end travel brands need visibility to gain more visitors, so giving them a powerful outlet for their marketing efforts translates into a great way to pay for your travels.

Wedding Tour 2012, scheduled to be launched on July 23^rd, 2012, is the brain child of Andrea Petroni, the owner and developer of VoloGratis.org. After creating a travel website that was ranked the third most influential in Italy, Andrea came with a deal for hotels, restaurants, sightseeing and tours resellers, and other tourist attractions along the path of his dream honeymoon: they provide the services for free in exchange for visibility on the honeymoon site. Simply brilliant!

As Andrea points out, this is an initiative designed to help travelers and travel companies alike to survive the economic crisis. In a time where money is low on both travelers’ side and in what tourism industry marketing budgets are concerned, such an exchange is not only smart, but also mutually beneficial.

The sponsored honeymoon will be carefully recorded, in video, text and photos, which will all be posted on the project site. After the wedding of July 21^st, which will take place in Rome, the couple will start their journey two days later and explore California, Arizona, Nevada, New York, and Antigua. There are already several partners that took their challenge and joined the sponsored honeymoon in exchange for visibility on Andrea’s websites, the social media profiles associated with the Wedding Tour 2012, and by other magazines and shows, online and off, talking about this smart project.

The Travel Tweaks team wishes the honeymooners to enjoy every second of their dream vacation!

Alaska Airlines is trying out a new option for air travelers, self-bag tagging, which takes some of the hassle from the check-in process, making it quicker than usual. Alaska Airlines passengers departing from the Tacoma International Airport in Seattle are now able to print and attach their own baggage tags by visiting the self-service kiosk placed in the lobby. All they have to do next is show their ID and drop off their luggage with an airline representative, thus moving straight to the security screening part of the check-in.

The first test run of the self-tagging system for Alaska Airlines customers was carried out last year in Oregon. Following the successful trial of back then and this official debut in their largest hub, the airline will expand this option to more airports across their routes later in the next few months.

“Customers who have used the service are delighted to be able to help themselves by tagging their own bags, dropping them off and going on their way,” said Jeff Butler, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of customer service-airports. “We are committed to making Alaska the easiest airline to fly on and self-bag tagging is another step toward that goal.”

The self-bag tagging option has already been approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for Seattle and other airports where Alaska and Horizon Air operate. This fresh option is part of Alaska Airlines target of making travel easier for its passengers. Within the same program, a mobile website allowing air travelers to access their boarding pass via smartphone, tabled or other mobile devices, was recently launched, together with an expedited security screening for ‘known travelers,’ provided through a partnership with the TSA for the Seattle and Portland airports where Alaska operates.

Sydney can be a pretty fast-paced place. But don’t fret, you can still set a sedate pace if a more relaxing experience in the harbour city is more your style. If you need to unwind then we have the places you need to go with everything from Sydney Harbour cruises to the best restaurants. The best thing is, there is a wide choice to take your fancy and everything is close to the very best Sydney accommodation.

Take to the water

There is nothing quite like taking to cool blue waters of Sydney Harbour where you can take in stunning sights in a thoroughly relaxing atmosphere. The best part is you don’t have to do it yourself as there is a huge range of options when it comes to getting your feet wet.

Cruises on the harbour are hugely popular and can be as long or short and you want. Many can involve lunches, afternoon teas or stop-offs at popular spots. There are even evening cruises where you can take in the city lights and enjoy a meal. If you want to take it to the next level, you can even enjoy a romantic overnight stay on a yacht.

Be pampered

Sydney boasts world-class pampering packages designed to relax and rejuvenate. You can even enjoy some of them with spectacular views of Sydney’s iconic sights. There is something for all tastes with massage, makeovers, facials, and pedicures – everything to get your body glowing again. There are even packages for couples so you can enjoy your pampering with someone you love.

Anyone for golf?

Most of us may actually think of golf as frustrating, especially if after all these years you haven’t been able to eliminate that slice! But for many, a leisurely round of golf is actually quite relaxing – even therapeutic. If golf is your pleasure then Sydney is a Mecca for those who love to hit the white ball around manicured fairways.

Many of the most renowned courses cater for regular green fee players so you can get to experience some of the best playing conditions and most challenging courses in the country.

Bars

Sydney boasts drinking establishments that go from chic and retro to contemporary and classic pubs. Many of them are by the water or have views of iconic landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. There are plenty of places, such as wine bars, that offer a relaxing place to unwind and watch the world go by without having to contend with loud music and crushing crowds.

Restaurants

Dining in Sydney is an experience thanks to its location and the high quality of fresh produce and restaurateurs in the city. It all depends on your taste and the culinary journey you wish to embark on.

If it’s a fun and funky vibe you are after then you can’t go past the Blackbird Café, which overlooks Cockle Bay. If it’s innovation and contemporary cuisine you are after then you can’t go past ARIA Sydney, which is owned and operated by culinary luminaries Matthew Moran and Peter Sullivan.

Or if it is a taste of the sea you crave, try Nick’s Seafood Restaurant at Darling Harbour and make sure you order the famous seafood platter.

About the author
Tom Mallet is an Australian freelance writer and journalist. He writes extensively in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the US, adding an Asian twist once in a while. He’s published more than 500 articles about various topics.

So you’ve finally done it. You made plans to go to the alluring exotic island of Hawaii. So what will you do while you’re there? Hopefully, you will do a little bit of everything. One thing’s for certain though, you’ll have to make sure that watching Hawaiian fire dancers is on the list.

Things to Do in Hawaii

• Go to a luau
• Watch fire dancers
• Taste new foods
• Go shopping

The Polynesian Cultural Center

You can achieve all four activities in one place: the Polynesian Cultural Center. The Polynesian Cultural Center is located on the island of Oahu about an hour north of Honolulu on the northeastern side of the island in the city of Laie. Prepare to spend a lot of money and even more time to enjoy a full day’s worth of events at the family-friendly center of 42 acres. You can visit the villages from the Polynesian islands of Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Tonga, Tahiti, and Marquesas when you visit the center.

Go to a Luau

The most authentic luau is said by the Kahili Awards to be the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Their dinner and show packages are not to be missed. The three main options for dinner and a luau are Ali’i Luau, Prime Dining, and Island Buffet Dining. Whichever you choose, they each include a fresh flower lei greeting, Hawaiian entertainment (which includes fire dancing), and authentic Hawaiian cuisine.

Watch Fire Dancers

As part of the show at the Polynesian Cultural Center, you will see amazing performers dancing with fire. They will dazzle you with their swirling fire sticks and staggering fire tricks. The performance takes place in a lagoon-style arena that seats about 1,000 diners. The stunning backdrop includes gentle 15-ft. waterfalls, palms, and hibiscus blossoms amid the meandering lagoon. The fire dancing is just part of the 100-performer song and dance show that sometimes includes fire knife dancing as well.

Taste New Foods

Through exploring the various Polynesian cultures, you will have a chance to taste authentic signature foods native to each island. Poi is a Hawaiian dish made from mashing cooked corm from the taro plant. It is delicate and sweet, but must be eaten when fresh and cannot be stored. Samoan poi is a creamy dessert of mashed ripe bananas and coconut cream. Tahitian poi is a sweet, pudding-like dessert made from papaya, bananas, or mangoes cooked with cassava and coconut cream. Another must-taste food is fire-roasted pig. While strolling through the park and tasting the foods, you may catch a glimpse of several fire dancers throughout. They perform their natural activities in the villages, some of which are practicing hula dancing and fire dancing.

Go Shopping

You could go shopping anywhere in Hawaii such as Walmart or the airport, but why would you want to? The gift shop at the Polynesian Cultural Center allows you to make authentic gift purchases for those loved ones left back home. Be sure to get a few gifts for yourself as well. If you happen to go shopping at an outdoor market or shopping mall, you may be lucky enough to see a smaller scale fire dancing show.

No matter what you choose to do or where you choose to go in Hawaii, your trip won’t be complete without seeing a little fire dancing. Another show that includes some fire dancing is the Magic of Polynesia, starring John Hirokawa. If you happen to pass by the beach at night, you may also catch a glimpse of a fire dancer at a wedding or a family luau, or you may see a lone fire dancer practicing in front of a small group of passersby. If you’re lucky, you could be one of them.

Steve Mahelona is a native Hawaiian and resident of Honolulu. Besides being engaged in promoting traditional Polynesian cultural practices, he has been known to hire fire dancers for his backyard luaus.

As travel becomes more and more social, a service allowing for near-instant translation of social media messages such as the freshly released SociaLingo by ComTranslations promises to help tourism companies tremendously in better targeting their international customers. While English still is the preferred communication language for travel companies, hoteliers or bar and restaurants owners that try to attract the international crowd, it is not even close to being a safe bet if they want to grab the attention of all potential customers.

While some limit themselves to engaging tourists in their native tongue and in English,  the real-time social media translation service introduced today by ComTranslations seems like the best answer to travel and tourism companies’ multilingual marketing needs. SociaLingo supports translations in about 140 languages and the best part is that these are not automatic, engine-driven interpretations. There are human translators behind the services, allowing for greater accuracy and proper cultural adaptation of your social media marketing messages.

“With 93% of marketers using Social Media for businesses, social media tools are giving businesses and corporations an outlet to communicate with their target audience in a way that wasn’t possible before,” explained Carlos Garcia, ComTranslations CEO. “This enables instantaneous dissemination of various content. But while businesses may be actively engaging in social media, unless they are participating across a wide spectrum of languages, they are missing the boat. An estimated 50% of social media users communicate in languages other than English. This is where SociaLingo comes in, offering businesses a near real-time translation solution, available in over 140 languages.”

Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube are only the most popular of the social media channels supported by SociaLingo. Using the services, what a travel company marketer has to do is select his social media channels, come up with the message and choose the languages they want them translated into. The rest – translating the message and posting the localized version on social networks is carried out by a large team of native translators.

Here’s a video better explaining why and how travel industry players need to use ComTranslations’ SociaLingo:

Whilst walking along the quaint cobblestoned area of the gorgeous UNESCO site, it is quite a rich platter of visionary, sensory and historicstimulus. San Cristóbal de la Laguna was the first Spanish non-fortified colonial town, its layout providing the model for many more colonial towns in the Americas. The peaceful and free concept the town was based upon from its birth just before the 1500’s, feels almost palpable. In its beginning people were not allocated plots, but were given free rein to build wherever they wanted. Initially mainly housing soldiers, the land was offered as public and ‘free’, people being allowed to freely build their homes. Although soldiers predominantly, the town has been relatively peaceful under this almost utopian birth.

Photo source

Amidst my musings upon the area’s history, and trying to take in its heritage, I found suddenly that I had happened upon the heavily renaissanceinfluencedtown centre. Here would have been where hunters and poachers alike would have sold their questionable game. Speaking of which, accidentally getting so lost in my surroundings, and in time itself, I found that I was very hungry. Between St Catherine’sConvent and the Neo-Classical Cathedral, I found nestled a quaint, traditional looking Italian Restaurant. It was called Osteria da Andrea.

It had a very artistic, sophisticated feel whilst being minimal and unpretentious. It seemed to be very traditionally Italian, and being very cosy I felt it was just what I needed after my days ramblings. They had cleverly extended out over the patio of this old Canary townhouse so they had a decent amount of space for therestaurant, and this is where I sat. With such a great setting I had pretty high hopes for the food now I had sat and took in the ambience. It was nice to have found somewhere that serves something other than the usual hearty Canary cuisine.

I went ahead and ordered Spaghetti al Nero di Sepia for my main, and Bruschetta for my starter. The service was most friendly and the gorgeous young waitress made me feel almost like an old friend, which was nice and relaxing. The service was also swift and I had before me my starter within 10 minutes. Without further ado, I was eagerly tucking into my Bruschetta. The food was very well presented but was not the tastiest Bruschetta I had ever had, and I’m not particularly much of a connoisseur.

Photo source

However as I would not judge a book by its cover, I would not judge the main by the starter. My Spaghetti al Nero di Sepia arrived and looked fantastic, gleaming black from the squid’s ink. I am a great lover of seafood, and this dish really did live up to expectations, aromatic, rich and tasty without being overbearing. Not having a sweet tooth I did not go for pudding, but was nonetheless absolutely satisfied with the 2 courses, both of which were very genuine in portion size. I would definitely recommend this restaurant, excellent food for excellent prices.

About the author
Peter has been travelling all over the Canary Islands and all the coasts around Spain, he enjoys writing about the epic treks he finds himself on. Peter loves staying in villas that he books at http://www.housetrip.com/en/tenerife

If you are going to London or already live there, a wide variety of food options are available. This is one of the best places in the world to enjoy a meal, so why not go all out for one of them? Going to a top Michelin Star restaurant is going to be an amazing experience. While the food is going to cost more, it’s well worth it for the quality and taste you get! Restaurants to consider include:

1) Galvin La Chapelle

Photo source

Right when you walk into this restaurant you will be impressed. There are lavish decorations and beautifully plated dishes. This is one of the top London restaurants to visit that has some pretty amazing reviews from both professional chefs and everyday people! Some of the most popular dishes on the menu include: crab lasagna, roasted peach and lavender ice cream, pumpkin voulete with mushroom and chestnut with parmesan gnocchi.

2) Rasoi

This restaurant features both Indian and Pakistani dishes. It’s in the Chelsea area and close to a lot of other trendy restaurants. Their chocolate mimosas and chai ice cream are some of the most popular desserts on the menu that aren’t available anywhere else! There are a lot of kebabs available to choose from that are quite popular on the menu for a main dish. The naan is also freshly made and comes in a variety of different flavors.

Photo source

3) Amaya

This is another Indian and Pakistani restaurant that tops the list. Some of the best food items on the menu include: Canadian lobster with masala sauce, tandoori black pepper chicken tikka, grilled lamb chops, crisp apple brioche and monk fish! With each bite of the dishes you can tell the ingredients are both unique and extremely fresh.

4) North Road

This restaurant specializes in serving Scandanavian and modern European dishes. This is food that most other restaurants don’t serve, so it can make for a unique experience. The inside is decorated to be warm and inviting, which makes the meal even better. Some of the highest rated dishes include: steak tartar, amuse bouche, rolls with caramelized butter and venison with artichokes.

5) Club Gascon

This French restaurant has a very cosy and romantic atmosphere. There are a wide variety of dishes available, including some great desserts. The amuse bouche is one of the most popular appetizers that are ordered. There is also a vegetarian menu available for people with certain dietary restrictions. Popular menu items include: frogs legs, foie gras flan, roasted sea trout and black sturgeon.

Photo source

There are a wide variety of other restaurants in and near London available to choose from. It’s a good idea to go outside your comfort zone and try a different cuisine than what you are used to. Since Michelin star rated restaurants have to be the best in order to get this rating, you will be experiencing the best of the best! Out of all the London restaurants, these are going to offer you a lot of great dishes that are made by chefs who have a lot of experience.
About the author
Steve loves fine dining, but when at home orders takeaway from www.urbanbite.com or www.just-eat.co.uk to cure any food cravings.

Vacations are about relaxing and getting away from it all, so the last thing on your mind as you prepare for your trip is whether or not your personal health insurance is sufficient to cover you while you’re away. Unfortunately, accidents and illnesses happen, even on vacation. Before you head for the airport or board a cruise ship, you should know what kind of coverage your health insurance will provide if you get sick or hurt while you’re traveling outside of the U.S.

How to Read Your Policy

Rather than wade through every page of your policy, head straight for the section marked “Medical Emergencies” or “Emergency Care.” Look for wording that states whether you’re covered when you’re out of the country. Most health insurance policies provide at least some coverage for emergencies when you’re traveling. But what constitutes an emergency?

In the case of your health, an emergency is anything an average person would consider life-threatening or that has the potential to result in permanent injury. If you pass out or experience chest pains, most people would agree these could be symptoms of life-threatening conditions and would thus constitute a medical emergency – even if you turn out to be suffering from the effects of an over-indulgent meal or not getting enough sleep. An injury that results in loss of consciousness, potentially broken bones or significant blood loss would also qualify as an emergency. A sore throat, a rash or a cut that doesn’t require stitches probably wouldn’t qualify as an emergency unless these symptoms persisted and/or worsened over time.

Talk It Over

If you have any questions or are still unsure about anything, call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card and ask the company to verify its policy for overseas medical coverage. Explain you’ll be traveling and ask for advice for what to do if you or your loved ones become sick or are hurt while on vacation.

How It Works

Your insurance card will be useless while you’re overseas, since foreign countries don’t accept U.S. insurance. You’ll be expected to pay for your medical care upfront and turn in your bills when you get home. Be sure to get an itemized receipt of all medical care you received. File these papers with your insurance company, and they will pay according to its schedule of usual charges. In general, if your insurance only covers 80 percent of the cost of emergency care in the U.S., or requires a co-pay, these same conditions will apply to any care you received overseas.

Exception to the Rule

Medicare is a U.S.-only insurance program. If you travel outside the U.S. and need medical care, Medicare won’t supply coverage. In this case, look to your supplemental medical insurance policy for help. Review your policy and call customer service to find out if your policy will reimburse you for emergency medical care overseas.

Like staterooms on a cruise ship and seating on a plane, not all health insurance plans are created equal. If you’re a frequent traveler, your policy’s coverage for overseas emergencies matters when it comes down to buying the health coverage that’s right for you. Before you set sail for your next vacation, find out if your insurance will be there for you, even when you’re far away from home.

About the author

Felicia Baratz is a freelance writer and designer living in Indianapolis. As a contributor to Cooks & Travel Books, she discusses the latest in cultural trends and their relation to travel and education.

World Independent Hotels Promotion (WIHP), a marketing agency dedicated to the hotels and accommodation industry, has signed a recent deal with content globalization solutions provider ComTranslations to access translation services in about 140 languages. WIHP will use the content services of ComTranslations in its campaign aimed at raising awareness and increasing visibility for the hotels they represent through outreach programs in local languages.

The translation services they have just contracted will help WIHP hotels to better target travelers from across the globe in their mother tongue, making the venues more attractive and far easier to get to know. This recent deal doesn’t only help hotels WIHP already represents, it also helps the agency attract more customers as they can expand their all-inclusive marketing solutions for hoteliers into various markets from across the world.

“We chose to work with ComTranslations because of the firm’s demonstrated ability to provide quality translations in an exacting and timely manner. More than this, ComTranslations translators are native to each target country, they understand local culture and public perceptions, and will help us leverage our influence to build greater appeal to travelers for the hotels we represent,” explained Clement Landes, Production Director at WIHP.

The new hotel marketing services offered by WIHP and ComTranslations will include localization efforts targeting both hotel websites and all relevant marketing materials, which will be translated in all languages relevant to the countries a certain hotel is trying to reach.

With jet fuel prices being a big issue for airlines, it’s not at all surprising air carriers are trying to find new ways to keep their costs down and their prices from going up. Delta Airlines has decided the acquisition of an oil refinery from Pennsylvania is the best option to cut costs. The airline estimates they will save about 300 million US dollars per year after this move.

The deal announced early this week was closed by Delta subsidiary Monroe Energy LLC and Phillips 66. Other than the huge cut in costs for the air carrier, Monroe Energy LLC also received 30 million US dollars from the state of Pennsylvania as a reward for their efforts to create jobs and improve infrastructure.

The jet fuel produced by the newly acquired refinery, along with other similar deals, will make up for about 80% of the fuel Delta Airlines needs for its flights within the US. While empowering local businesses and creating jobs which is always welcome in a time of financial struggle, the airline will also manage to prevent prices from going up and driving air travelers away.