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| Travel Notes Blog |
| Where to travel next? Find travel and tourist information and insider tips on every country in the world. Web site reviews, original photo-stories, maps and national anthems. The Travel Notes Blog is a part of TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel. |
| Language: English |
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| Total Unique Visitors: 2 |
| Visitors Out: 902 |
| Total Visitors Out: 1752 |
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| Down at The Planet |
| 2008-06-04 07:48:00 |
My apologies for the on-off situation with Travel Notes lately.Our server is located at The Planet (Houston); where there have been major problems over the last few days. I believe they had an electrical blow-out.Not only were the servers affected with massive down-time (like two days) but the DNS servers were troubled too.Then just when things started to propagate again, the generator failed.The sites are working again (for now) but I was up until 4am trying to find another host. I've made a few contacts but still haven't moved anywhere.I need reliabilty fast, because apart from the TravelNotes.org website I also have a number of other domains on the server - 1800-WorldCup.com, 1800-Olympics.com, Travel-Write.com, 1800-France.com, 1800-UStravel.com and 18...
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| Website Hosting |
| 2008-04-26 06:08:00 |
Just when I was feeling content that we had almost renovated all the destination pages and checked the dead links, the hosting service we used for 1800-Counties.com, Meta-Travel.com, 1800-Olympics.com and 1800-WorldCup.com websites pulled out of their data centre and closed down operations.Sadly, although they had a notice on their homepage, I only found out about the closure the day everything went dead; having been on the road a lot lately.Rather than spend time looking for another host, I've moved these properties onto the main Travel Notes server.The Olympics and World Cup pages are static HTML, so that wasn't a problem to get back online, but the database tables for the favourite countries travel articles, meta-travel forums and topsites were lost.Wh...
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| The Guide to Travel Guides |
| 2008-04-02 18:37:00 |
Travel Guides are a Godsend and a tremendous amount of research has gone into them, but they can be a little patronising at times.Don't cling to them religiously, as many travellers do. They are not the bibles that they are made out to be, and are often out of date before they are published.Travel Guidebooks.To get the most out of guidebooks, use them sparingly for basic orientation, then discover the towns and cities on your own.The information on museums and places of interest are great when all other signs look foreign.But when it comes to hotels and restaurants, every one to their own taste and budget. Believe me, the gems are never in black and white for all to see. If word gets out, t...
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| Travel Notes - April 2008 |
| 2008-04-02 05:40:00 |
The Africa section is now updated, we just have to hunt out the dead links.While doing the link-checking on the North America pages I realised that the Canada page was getting too long and looking scruffy.It really was time to split Canada up into Territories and Provinces - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory.When I get the time, I'll have to split those pages up even further but things are looking better organised now; although some of the pages need a little more content.I'll be working on that.Work in ProgressThe time spent on the Canada project means that the Airlines and Airports sections were pushed back in the line list of things to do.I wa...
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| F1 Travel Guide - 2008 |
| 2008-03-13 13:17:00 |
With the Formula 1 season revving up for the 2008 start this weekend in Australia, I know I've left my F1 Travel Guide a little late.But the article has been totally updated with all this season's race fixtures and all the links checked and altered where necessary.There are two new street circuits to visit this season: Valencia (August 24th) and Singapore (for night racing, on September 28th).I fancy making the trip down to Valencia myself but don't think I'll manage (or afford) to travel to Singapore the following month; unless anyone feels generous enought to sponsor me.Hopefully I'll get around to updating the Monaco GP article soon.If you want to travel to one of the Grand Prix races this season, read the article.Techno...
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| Tourism For Tomorrow |
| 2008-03-05 04:50:00 |
The finalists for the 2008 'Tourism for Tomorrow Awards' have been announced by the World Travel & Tourism Council.The 12 finalists showcase some of the world's leading examples in sustainable tourism development; from among a pool of 150 exceptional applications, from over 40 countries.Destination AwardBlackstone Valley, USA:Since 1985 the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has been a force behind the rebirth of the Blackstone River Valley, Rhode Island USA.Rinjani Trek Ecotourism Programme, Indonesia:The Rinjani Trek Ecotourism Programme - located in Lombok, Indonesia - began in 1999; to strengthen conservation and to ensure that communities on the boundary of the National Park benefit from tourism revenues.Town of Bouctouche, Canada:Bouctouche was a...
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| Travel Notes Linking Policy |
| 2008-03-04 07:40:00 |
When I started Travel Notes, in 1997, it was a pleasure linking to other travel sites that expanded on our content. But with the explosion of the Internet, every little 'room for rent' and 'tour guide' is trying to promote their 'business' without giving anything back or, even worse, trying to get their list of affiliate links noticed.There are no automated robots adding the links at Travel Notes, so reviewing websites is rather time-consuming; especially as we have to trawl through a lot of rubbish in our inbox to get to the gems.Therefore, the Add URLs now go here first; to better seperate the wheat from the chaff - when I have the spare time.We don't do 'link exchanges' at Travel Notes and don't like linking to website...
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| March 2008 Update |
| 2008-03-04 04:54:00 |
As many of you may have noticed, we're now curating travel videos on Travel Notes.Some of the videos I've seen are enlightening and very professionally produced, some are little more than company adverts and some are really quite personal.Deciding which videos to keep and which to drop is never easy as what doesn't work for me might still interest you. Hopefully the community can help me decide.Video Reviewers:If you like to travel and are interested in the moving image, you can now join Travel Notes as a video reviewer and enlighten the community with your comments and general insights into travel and video content.We've also added a cruise section to Travel Notes, something I've been meaning to do for ages, but still need to expand on all the cruise ship pages.Work in ProgressSadly, what...
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| Destination Videos |
| 2008-02-29 03:39:00 |
After some of the feedback to our Video Blogging post, I'll comply with your requests to add the destination video previews; so that you can easily grab the video content for your own websites - by clicking on the 'embed this' link.I'll add the Outdoor Activity Video previews later.Michel.Technorati: Destination Videos, Travel Videos, Video Blogging...
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| Prince Harry at War in Afghanistan |
| 2008-02-28 14:12:00 |
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II's grandson and third in line to the throne, has been fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.View the breaking news on video....Prince Harry Fighting in Afghanistan.Prince Harry at War in Afghanistan.Prince Harry a 'Taliban Target'....
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| Video Blogging |
| 2008-02-28 07:52:00 |
No, I'm not going to be talking to you into a webcam - well, not yet anyway - nor feature too many of those who are.What we are doing though, is adding a video section to Travel Notes; listing some of the better travel videos that get submitted to us.Travel Notes is going to be curating travel videos, to give you a selection of 'playlists' sorted by destination:Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, North America, Oceania and South America.You can even embed the video on your own website, to engage your visitors - and keep them coming back - with updated video content; and profit from any ads you have around the video playlists yourself.Of course, if you have any travel videos that you would like us to feature, then submit them.You may also want to b...
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| Interview With Arthur Frommer |
| 2008-02-28 06:11:00 |
Listen to Arthur Frommer, founder of Frommer's Travel Guides, in this three part video-interview series.Interviews With Arther Frommer:Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3. Frommer's Travel Guides.More Travel Videos.Technorati: Frommer, travel, guides....
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| Uncovering America by Horseback |
| 2008-02-27 06:53:00 |
To 'Uncover America' and document the adventure, horseman Bill Inman travels across America on horseback; slowing down the pace to find interesting places, individuals, groups and history that inspire pride or lift the spirit.Bill and his horse Blackie started the journey from their home in Lebanon, Oregon - destination North Carolina.This video shows clips of the journey while Bill talks on radio.Technorati: America, horseback, travel...
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| Tallest Hotel on Earth |
| 2008-02-26 05:53:00 |
One of the most incredible buildings on the planet stands off the coast of Dubai; at 321 metres it soars higher than the Eiffel Tower.Currently the tallest hotel on earth, the Burj Al Arab (Arabian Tower) is also the most luxurious.But how did they go about building an icon to compete with the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House?It started with a few sketched lines; a sail rising out of the water like a massive yaght. But it needed an island to stand on.View The Video....
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| Get Paid to Travel |
| 2008-02-26 04:12:00 |
There's no secret really and the talking heads, Mark Ewing and Carl Meadows, take over twenty minutes to let you know how a former carpenter now travels for free; by organising group travel.Get connected with the right people and do the numbers, then one day you might be flying to Rio with 200 people too.But start out with a group size of ten; fifteen to thirty might be the next step to aim for.By getting a group of ten, you'll start qualifying for group discounts.Just do your site inspection first.Of course there's a sell here - Write Your Own Ticket wants your money; to share the 'secrets'.More Travel Videos.Technorati: travel, free...
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| Weather Updates |
| 2008-02-08 14:07:00 |
I've finally made the effort to renovate and expand the Travel Notes Weather Centre; to include more animated weather maps and regularly updated weather videos.We've also added more weather links to destinations in every country (also available on our destination pages) and have improved the US Weather section; to split the weather centre into regional forecasts and included weather forecast links along the Interstate driving routes.If you're making a road trip across the USA it's now even easier to find out what the weather conditions will be like along your way, and you can click on the 'City Hotels' link, from the weather returns, if you need to book any overnight accommodation before you set out on your journey. We've split the Interstate Driving Cond...
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| Luxury Villas in Costa Rica |
| 2007-12-20 13:27:00 |
We get a lot of website submissions at Travel Notes and some of them are really not worth the free hosting they take up.It was therefore a pleasant surprise to look at the Villas Corcovado offering; a luxury accommodation website, actually looking luxurious.If you're thinking about visiting Costa Rica's Golfo Dulce and are interested in a little luxury, then this could be the place for you.The rates are probably out of reach of most budget travellers but they do include three meals per day and there's the private ocean view.If nothing else, just take a look at how a website promoting luxury should look....
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| Hostelling International Celebrates 75 Years |
| 2007-11-07 14:20:00 |
It's been a while since I've used Youth Hostels but while I was updating our Budget Travel section (and adding to the Budget Accommodation listings) I went onto the Hostelling International site; remembering the days when I carried a hostel membership card on my hitch-hiking travels.Wow, an anniversary!Hostelling International was founded on 20th October 1932, by member youth hostel associations from around the world.Since 1909, when hostelling was born out of the excursions of German schoolteacher Richard Schirrmann and his pupils, it has become one of the world's biggest international membership organizations for youth, with over 3 million members.To celebrate 75 years of Hostelling International, German radio station WDR 5 broadcast a special po...
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| Four Days in Switzerland |
| 2007-09-18 08:31:00 |
I'm often asked what are the 'must-see' places in Switzerland and what's best to see in only a few days.A similar question was posed in the Travel Notes forum, and as I spent a lot of time on the answer I thought I'd post it on the blog; to reach a wider audience.Basically, kelly wants to fly in to Zurich on a Thursday or Friday morning and fly out again around noon on the Monday. In this time, kelly wanted to know what there is to see in Zurich and aims to travel to Geneva (for a cruise on Lac Leman) and hopes to see The Alps.If you plan to do a similar itinerary, then this post is for you.Luckily Switzerland is a fairly small country and the train/bus connections are very good. The downside is, there are no night trains where you could save on accommodation.With the short amount of tim...
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| Destination Jersey City |
| 2007-09-14 05:49:00 |
With plenty of art galleries, historic buildings, museums, parks, restaurants, shops and theatres, visitors to New York City should also consider a trip across to Jersey City - by either using the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) Subway or the more scenic, NY Waterway ferry-ride across the Hudson; with plenty of sailing routes to choose from.Boasting one of the most diverse populations in the United States, Jersey City can be called a 'Tapestry of Nations'; with communities of African, Arab, Asian, Cuban, Dominican, Filipino, Indian, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Polish and Puerto Rican decent all helping to make up the cultural potpourri.Ellis Island is within its borders, and Jersey City’s close proximity to New York City ...
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| Blogasian |
| 2007-09-14 04:03:00 |
I'm often wary when asked to look at a blog by someone whose main aim is to sell hotel bookings. But I do always look at all links submitted to Travel Notes (eventually).I was pleasantly surprised with the blog from Asia Hotels.Instead of blog entries describing different hotels, there's actually some very useful and interesting articles for travellers wishing to visit Asia and in need of some ideas. So good, that we've added the Asia Hotels newsfeed; for our visitors to reach in a click, from our Travel News page.Some of the recent entries that you might find interesting are: Best Beaches in Asia, Three Cheapest Cities For Shopaholics (one of them was not in Asia); and Guide to Taj Mahal (they did slip an hotel link in this one).Blog posts only started in July, 2007 so let's hope they hav...
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| Last Call on Airline Tickets |
| 2007-08-31 23:36:00 |
Airline Tickets will soon become a collector's item, as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it had just placed its final order of around 16.5 million paper tickets, from 7 specialised printers; to supply the 60,000 accredited IATA travel agents, in 162 markets around the world, until the end of May.From June 1st, 2008 all tickets issued through the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) will be electronic.It is estimated that each e-ticket will produce a saving of $9 (£4.50) to the industry - or some $3 billion US dollars annually - and save the planet another 50,000 mature trees a year in the bargain.Technorati: airline tickets...
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| Quick Tour of The Travel Notes Toolbar |
| 2007-08-21 11:02:00 |
- The logo is the direct link to the Travel Notes homepage; especially useful if you want to run a quick flight search or get to one of our other sections from the front page. - The pull-down arrow, beside the logo, presents you with a list of toolbar options.As we improve the toolbar, there's no need to install an 'upgrade'; just refresh the toolbar and you'll be where we are.Using The Travel Notes Toolbar SearchThe quickest way to search is just type your keywords into the search box and use the power of Google.On the search-returns page, you'll also get links to other search resources we think are useful. No need to type the search terms again, just click the link you want to re-try the search on. - Alternatively, you...
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| TravelNotes Toolbar |
| 2007-08-17 06:42:00 |
I've been working away behind the scenes on a new feature for the travel community.Now you can get to your destination faster with the TravelNotes Toolbar.Download our personalised toolbar for all the latest travel news (from a variety of influential sources), links, features and special discounts; available to toolbar users only.You can narrow down the millions of Google search returns with our pre-selected 'quality' travel domains (and we're looking at more), or use the full power of Google if you prefer.Make good use of your time online with quick access to the best in travel, with speciality search engines at your fingertips and a pre-tuned, world radio; where you can also add your own favourite stations or music files.Our ideal is to give you ...
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| Maps and Travel Books |
| 2007-08-14 04:27:00 |
To help travellers find the best country maps and newly released travel books, we used to have affiliate deals with Stanfords and Barnes and Noble.These affiliate programs have now ceased and we're aware that this has left a lot of broken links and images on the Travel Notes website.We're trying to clear this mess up as fast as possible, replacing the links on our country pages to specific Country Maps and Travel Guides; through our Amazon Store, on 1800-Countries.We also continue to add some of our own graphical maps to Travel Notes, which are free to use on personal websites; provided the copyright notice is used with a link back to us.Thanks to those of you who continue to support the work...
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| Travel Notes Submissions |
| 2007-08-14 04:16:00 |
I'd like to apologise for the time it takes for us to get to link submissions. If you want to jump the queue, it's best to pay for the Express Submission service or add some beneficial travel tips.We're more interested in adding useful content to Travel Notes and updating the material we do have, than just adding thousands of links. And yes, we do have thousands of link submissions waiting in the review folder.With that said, we're currently updating the Middle East section and will be searching through the link submissions we have for that region.Technorati: Middle East, link submissions, travel notes...
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| Direct Line Cruises |
| 2007-03-08 07:09:00 |
'Since its humble beginning in 1995, Direct Line Cruises has grown to become one of the largest official agencies for the cruise industry'; says the official blurb.Since falling in love with cruising, Helen Coiro has turned her low budget, home-based, hobby/business into a company with new corporate headquarters in Hauppauge, New York; handling reservations for more than 25,000 cruise passengers throughout the United States, with hopes that the increases in booked sailings will stay afloat.Direct Line Cruises WebsiteThe Direct Line Cruises website offers a 'Cruise Quick Search' to find cruises by destination or departure port.While they concentrate on US departures, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Dover (...
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| Britain's Heritage Cities |
| 2007-03-07 15:23:00 |
A lot of people visiting England tend to concentrate on London, but in doing so they are missing out on a lot of Britain's heritage.So next time you plan a trip to 'London' consider venturing out of the capital and take in the sights of Bath, Brighton, Chester, Durham, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and York.Bath: (Hotels in Bath)The Roman Baths, historical Abbey and Georgian stone crescents have attracted visitors to Bath for centuries.Bath is located 120 miles west of London and can be reached in 90 minutes by train from London Paddington. If you choose to travel by car, it's a short drive from the M4/M5 motorways, or just 15 miles from Bristol International Airport.Brighton: (Hotels in Brighton)From the unique Royal Pav...
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| London Language Schools |
| 2007-03-05 15:39:00 |
I've met quite a few people on my travels who have studied English in Brighton or Bournemouth, for a summer beside the seaside, but none who have studied English in London.If you're thinking about studying English in London, Answer English review a number of London Language Schools.There are plenty of choices for English Courses in London: Burlington, Camden College, Central School of English, Excel, Frances King, Hampstead School of English, London School of English, London Study Centre, Malvern House, U.I.C. and Wimbledon School of English.And then there's all all the cultural highlights that the capital of the English language provides.So maybe you should forget about an extended sum...
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| Total Lunar Eclipse of March 3rd |
| 2007-03-03 15:00:00 |
If you're reading this shortly after I post it, you might want to get away from your computer and look at the night sky.Tonight's Lunar Eclipse is unique in that it will be partly visible from every continent in the world.The entire event will be visible from Europe, Africa and western Asia.At the moment of greatest eclipse (23:21 UT), the Moon will lie in the zenith for observers in Nigeria and CameroonIn eastern Asia, moonset occurs during various stages of the eclipse.The Moon sets while in total eclipse from central China and southeast Asia.Western Australia catches part of the initial partial phases but the Moon sets before totality.Observers in eastern North and South America will find the Moon already partially or totality eclipsed at moonrise.From...
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| Destination Clubs |
| 2007-03-01 17:53:00 |
What's the deal on destination clubs?For those who like the comforts of home when they go on holiday, and feel that a hotel doesn't quite offer them that, there are a number of other options: homeswaps, timeshares and currently making the news: destination clubs.As always, there are advantages and disadvantages.HomeswapsYou can choose a different house every time you go away but then you'll also have strangers in your home. If you don't like the thought of that, then perhaps villa rentals would suit you better.TimesharesOwning a part of your holiday home is fine, if you like going to the same place every year, but there's been a lot of bad publicity with timeshares; caused by the over persuasive and pestering tactics o...
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| Spanish Language Schools |
| 2007-02-27 16:52:00 |
At Travel Notes, we get a number of website submissions from language schools; most of them for learning Spanish. Unfortunately, we don't list them all and sometimes it's hard to explain why one was listed and another not.I was therefore intrigued when we were asked to review 123TeachMe - a Spanish Language Schools Directory.The colour scheme of the website looks a little passive and some of the clip art in the Matching Game is a bit naff, but by moving the words across to the 'graphics' I did learn a few new Spanish words.While billed as a 'Spanish Language Schools Directory', there's plenty of practical help for those wishing to learn Spani...
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| Celebrating The Best in Travel Blogging |
| 2007-02-18 15:45:00 |
Things move fast in Blogosphere, so fast that once something is announced, and a 'ripple of buzz' is created, it's already over; lest the blogging attention span is gone, or worse - the spammers arrive.No sooner had Chicago-based Mark Ashley, of Upgrade Travel Better, announced (during the headline-grabbing, build up to the award-ceremony season for performing artists - The Oscars and Grammys) that he would create The Travvies....... than nominations had closed.You had to travel there fast to make the list, or have a loyal fan with an ear to the ground to touchdown in time and nominate you.The 2007 Travvies TimetableTuesday, January 30th, 2007Announcement of intent: 'Any travel blog that existed in 2006 and that generate...
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| Best Photography on a Travel Blog |
| 2007-02-18 15:40:00 |
2007 Travvies Nominations: Best Photography on a Travel BlogSome blogs focus more on the visuals than the writing. This award celebrates the best in visual media on a travel blog.Posted in order of nomination.Exposed Planet: Not a photo a day here, rather Harry Kikstra's collection of landscapes, mountains and South America. Starting from the image on the index page, you have to work backwards or click on one of the categories. As Harry is a mountaineer, he gets up to the places that not many people go. Too many close-ups of faces though.Michael Simon On The Road:New York City to South America overland. The photographs are too linear for my liking ...
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| Best Single-Author Travel Blog |
| 2007-02-18 15:35:00 |
Best Single-Author Travel BlogThis award celebrates the best travel blog writing by a single blogger. Again, the topic is open, as long as there is only one regular poster.With some 70 nominations, and a few coming in after the nominations had closed, this is a popular section and will take some serious reviewing to make the deadline I've set.Posted in order of nomination.View From The Wing: Plenty of useful information for jet travellers looking for a little 'flyer talk', along with some use of images but not really a contender.The Cranky Flier: Brett, the airline dork, has worked in aviation and the travel business. T...
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| Best Group-Written Travel Blog |
| 2007-02-18 15:30:00 |
Best Group-Written Travel BlogThis award celebrates travel blogs consistently written by two or more authors, regardless of subtopic.Posted in order of nomination.Hotel Chatter: Independent hotel reviews with plenty of photographs. We're off to a good start, be sure to check-in here.Gadling: As part of Weblogs Inc, there's plenty of content to interest just about anyone. I don't really like their huge menus at the bottom of the page, to all the other channels though. But I guess it's better than having it all at the top. And then there's the totally unrelated (to travel) index at the side too, than can get confusing.Jaunted: As it's from the same stable as Hotel Chatter and only one can...
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| Best Informative/Practical Travel Blog |
| 2007-02-18 15:25:00 |
Best Informative/Practical Travel BlogThis award goes to a travel blog that provides news, commentary, advice, or general insight into the workings of travel. Unlike a destination blog, this blog is more practically minded.Over 50 comments were posted in this category, so let's see how informative and practical the nominations are.Posted in order of nomination.IAG - Aviation and Travel News: Well, we've got to start somewhere and lifting off with this one means that (hopefully) things can only get better. There's quite a few video clips to watch on here but whether they're 'informative and practical' is another matter. For an award-winning nomination...
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| Best Destination Blog |
| 2007-02-18 15:20:00 |
Best Destination BlogThis award celebrates the best travel blog focusing on particular destinations — cities, countries, whatever. Quality writing and/or photography that make you want to book a flight to that location.I would have expected more than the thirty-something comments for nominations in this category. For me, it's the 'travel blog' category. After all, we travel to visit destinations so a travel blog without destinations is missing a lot.Not only that, everyone lives somewhere and that somewhere could be a travel destination for others. Perhaps a lot of so-called 'travel-bloggers' are missing out on the one thing they know best; the destination where they live, work and play - almost every day.So here goes...
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| Best Travel Blog |
| 2007-02-18 15:15:00 |
Best Travel BlogAs the overall winner, this award will go to a blog whose travel-related writings have been consistently interesting, entertaining, useful, well-written, or otherwise worth spending time reading.This is the one you've all been waiting for......Nominations for 'Best Travel Blog', that were already 'nominated' in other categories, can probably be crossed off our 'deserving shortlist'; if they weren't among the front-runners or earned an honourable mention in a previous category.Previous Categories:Best Photography on a Travel Blog.Best Single-Author Travel Blog.Best Group-Written Travel Blog.Best Informative/Practical Travel Blog.Best Destination Blog.Nominations Only Appe...
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| Are You Who You Say You Are |
| 2007-02-17 00:40:00 |
To get a ten-year, British passport it used to be enough to have your photograph signed by a doctor you'd probably never seen before (if you were seldom ill), pop your application in the post and wait 'up to six months' for the right to travel abroad.If you were in a hurry, and travelling to Europe, you could get a one-year Visitor's Passport, over the counter, at the Post Office.The UK Passport Service (UKPS) might have reduced the waiting time but now the Government has reinvented it and wants to create a backlog again, or maybe it's a plan to create more jobs and construct more buildings, or at least renovate the old ones.The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) was established as an Executive Agency of the Home Office on the 1st April 2006, as part of a much-debated National Identity Sc...
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