The Travel Reporter

03/09/2017

ICE ICE BABY: I've just added this to my Top 10 Must Do list.

12/08/2017

OUT OF THIS WORLD: Power-up those warp drives and get ready! It's light-speed ahead for the UFO Hotel development in San Bernardino, California, due to open late 2017 - early 2018.

Plans have been approved by the county of San Bernardino to move forward with the construction of the UFO Hotel Project, a fully-immersive out-of-this-world experience!

15/07/2017

I've just come back from a stay in this amazing hotel. THE place to stay if you're ever travelling to Memphis. Which you should at least once on your life!

If you are headed to Memphis and looking for a Hotel to stay at you can’t go past the Peabody. I spent a night here over the 4th of July weekend and it was quite the experience. The Peabody Hotel - Memphis The Peabody is located in downtown Memphis and its history dates back to 1869 whe

03/07/2017

If you consider yourself a master suitcase packer, you could be second guessing yourself after seeing this.

24/06/2017

Hopefully the super sonic jets will prove viable this time around. Anyone remember the Concorde

Business and first-class travellers could soon fly between from Los Angeles to Sydney aboard a supersonic commercial plane in under seven hours.

23/06/2017

16/05/2017

WACKY TRAVEL REQUESTS: Travel agents sometimes get asked the strangest questions. Written by my friend Mark Sheehan

TRAVEL agents get asked a lot of questions, most of them legit, some inappropriate, and some just too funny. Here are 10 strange requests.

16/05/2017

30/04/2017

TIME LORDS: A University of British Columbia professor has run the numbers on the feasibility of time travel, and says mathematically, it is possible. The maths professor created a formula based on Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, which states that huge cosmic objects like stars and black holes distort space and time. There is evidence showing the closer to a black hole we get, time moves slower. Don’t rush to pack your bags though, while is it mathematically feasible, it is not yet possible to build a space-time machine because we need the materials to bend space-time, and they have yet to be discovered. Famed cosmologist, Stephen Hawking, has said that if time travel is possible, we certainly wouldn't be able to go backward in time. But Professor Tippett's calculations show that his TARDIS could move backward and forward by moving at speeds that would exceed the speed of light at times. It would be good if someone from a future where they've already got it figured out came back to help us out.

The research was published in a recent edition of the Journal Classical and Quantum Gravity.

26/04/2017

SNOOPY MUSEUM TOKYO: Those of us that grew up reading the Peanuts comic strip might be interested in visiting the Snoopy Museum in Tokyo, which is celebrating its first anniversary this month. A special exhibition is being staged featuring precious original comic strips and all 70 Peanuts characters (who knew there were 70!) plus gallery tours with the director of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Centre (which is based in California). The Peanuts comic strip was first published in 1950, almost 70 years ago. Fun for the young and young at heart. Only in Japan.

Image: (C) Peanuts Worldwide LLC

23/04/2017

TRAVELLING TO USA: A good balanced report on the current state of travel to and within the US by research company Skift.
https://skift.com/2017/04/17/what-trumps-first-100-days-teach-about-travels-next-four-years/?utm_campaign=Early%20Time%20Zone%20-%20Skift%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=51060660&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_t6wxYoU5p_n_DUVBHG4kSBak1eL6m-wQAWNb-QM2-RxGaQPAw0kgKJ-6hl_d2LaFkXmPj6Wy1Vu6IGlATZPLDDJ9GoCyUSpqYYLoIBFp5XqbOqo0&_hsmi=51060660

When Donald Trump was elected U.S. President in November, there was quite a bit of optimism in the travel industry that having a luxury hotelier in the Ova

21/04/2017

NOH DRAMAS: The long hidden Japanese ancient art of Noh Theatre will take centre-stage in Japan with an exclusive introductory performance for international visitors in a newly built theatre in Tokyo’s Ginza at the end of this month. This exclusive opening performance will be held at the Kanze Nogakudo (Kanze Noh Theatre), and will include simultaneous English translation (Ed's note: so for once you’ll be able to understand what’s going on). Celebrated Grand Masters of the Kanze Noh School will star in the production, and there will be an opportunity to learn more from Noh experts beforehand. The performance is followed by a private gala dinner, to be held at the Hotel Okura with a menu created by Michelin starred chef, Yosuke Suga, originally the ‘Iron Chef’, from L’Atelier Joel Robuchon. www.kanze.net

18/04/2017

GAME OF THRONES PASSPORT: Game of Thrones fans will be able to pick up a ‘Journey of Doors’ souvenir passport and collect stamps at ‘Game of Throne Doors’ carved from trees depicting key events from season six across Northern Ireland, thanks to Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland. When the trees along Northern Ireland’s famous Dark Hedges (better known to Game of Thrones fans as the ‘Kingsroad’) blew over in Storm Gertrude, they set about saving that piece of history for fans, carving the felled wood into a set of 10 intricate doors, hung across ‪a variety of locations in Northern Ireland‬, each telling the story of a Season 6 episode.‪ Travellers can use the Game of Thrones Filming Locations Northern Ireland app to navigate their way around the country and find the doors hidden at various pubs and restaurants.

17/04/2017

PENGUIN PARTY DAY: April 25 is World Penguin Day, a day to celebrate these adorable creatures and their amusing antics. There are 17 penguin species, ranging from the Little Blue Penguin to the mighty Emperor Penguin, all found in the southern hemisphere. Spare a moment to think about how delightful they are.

09/04/2017

BALI VOTED BEST: Bali, Indonesia, has been voted No. 1 on TripAdvisor's list of World's Best Destinations to visit in 2017. The island haven was selected based on reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions, collected over 12-months, as well as traveller booking interest on TripAdvisor. In second place was London; while Paris came in third. No surprises there. While other island destinations like Phuket, Thailand, and Crete, Greece, made the list, Bali held a special place in travellers' hearts this year. My bags are packed. What would be your #1 destination?

09/04/2017

PLEASURES OF PENANG: I hope you'll read my latest story in Vacations & Travel magazine about gorging myself in Asia's food capital, Penang, Malaysia. Vacations & Travel magazine
http://www.vacationsmag.com/pleasures-of-penang/?utm_source=NewsletterFN&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Vacations&utm_source=Vacations+%26+Travel+eNews&utm_campaign=37174c0a11-Enews_09_April_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_03e1e8cf96-37174c0a11-35778085

With some of the best street food in Asia, take a bite of Penang

05/04/2017

EXTREME VETTING IN THE USA: Visitors to the U.S. could be asked to provide their mobile phone contacts and social-media passwords for entry into the USA in a current review of vetting procedures by administration officials. Visitors may be asked to hand over their electronic devices so that officials can examine their stored contacts and perhaps other information. A second change would ask applicants for their social-media handles and passwords so that officials could see information posted privately in addition to public posts, including what sites they visit on the internet. The changes might even apply to visitors from the 38 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program, which includes some longstanding U.S. allies, such as the U.K., Japan and Australia. “If they don’t want to give us that information then they don’t come,” said an official.

Be prepared for long queues if you're travelling to the U.S.

Source: Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-considers-far-reaching-steps-for-extreme-vetting-1491303602

Foreigners who want to visit the U.S. could be forced to disclose contacts on their mobile phones, social-media passwords and financial records, and to answer probing questions about their ideology, according to Trump administration officials.

04/04/2017

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL DROPS ZOOS WORLDWIDE: Responsible Travel, an online travel company that promotes ethical tour operators, has announced it will no longer promote tours that include visits to zoos. The first travel company to publicly make such a move, Responsible Travel has removed six trips from its site, and declared that it no longer sees any justifiable reason for keeping animals in captivity. Responsible Travel’s CEO says zoos are not appropriate in 2017 and are relics of the past. The company will still promote legitimate animal sanctuaries and rescue centres for animals that cannot be returned to the wild; wildlife conservancies; rehabilitation centres where animals are looked after and then returned to the wild; and genuine endangered species conservation centres. What are your views?
http://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/blog-post-five

Why we're saying no to promoting any zoos

30/03/2017

YELLOW FEVER: International experts have been asked to assist with a yellow fever outbreak in Brazil, that has apparently spread from infected primates to humans. Areas affected include Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and while cases so far have been detected mostly in tropical and subtropical areas involving a distinct species of mosquito, risk of transmission by other mosquitoes remains. To 24 March, there have been 492 confirmed cases, 162 deaths and another 1,101 suspected cases. Proof of vaccination may be needed if travelling through an area at risk of yellow fever transmission under the International Health Regulations (IHR). Source: Travelvax. Image: Brazilian Amazon

28/03/2017

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet.

28/03/2017

IMPERIAL REIGNS SUPREME: Tokyo landmark, the 126-year-old Imperial Hotel, has been ranked the highest luxury-class hotel in Japan for customer satisfaction. The hotel was originally founded by Japanese aristocracy in 1890 as a venue to receive foreign dignitaries during the Meiji Period, and is a favourite of VIPs and celebrities from abroad visiting Tokyo. I’ve stayed at this hotel twice, and it really is the best service I’ve ever received. The hotel door staff knew and called me by name when I returned from sightseeing. Extraordinary.

28/03/2017

EASTER ALREADY? We’ve just got over Christmas and Easter is already almost here. The Grounds of Alexandria, a funky cafe in a former pie factory in inner-city Sydney, will celebrate with their annual Community Cracking of the Giant Easter Egg on Easter Sunday. Hailed as the largest hollow chocolate Easter egg in Australia, the egg is made up of 400 kg of milk chocolate, and stands a whopping three metres tall. Yep, we're drooling too.

25/03/2017

PANDA PLAYGROUND: The Shaanxi Province Forestry Department has announced plans to build a national park for giant pandas. The nearly 27,134 square km park will be dedicated to the protection of the species and preservation of its habitat. There are 33 groups of pandas living in the wild in China, located in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces in the northwest and Sichuan province in the southwest. Qinling in Shaanxi province is home to 298 wild pandas.

24/03/2017

PENGUIN PROLIFERATION: Antarctica is home to almost double as many penguins as previously thought, according to research revealed by the Australian Antarctic Division last week, showing the population of Adélie penguins is nearly six million - 3.6 million more than previous estimates. There are 17 penguin species on our planet, all in the Southern Hemisphere.

24/03/2017

FLYING TURTLE: The new ANA flying turtle is cool.

21/03/2017

WINTER IS COMING: Check out these Game of Thrones filming locations and put yourself in the picture...

21/03/2017

HAPPY DAYS: Norwegians have one more reason to smile...these are the world's happiest countries.

Norwegians have one more reason to smile, not that they need it.

21/03/2017

CROWDED HOUSE: Taking a trip? Here's a list of the world's most visited cities.

21/03/2017

TERROR DACTYL: Hang on tight. This crazy swing is either a thrill-seeker's dream or your worst nightmare. Find it in Colorado USA.

20/03/2017

VERTIGO-INDUCING BRIDGE: China's latest big, scary glass bridge dangles like a UFO over a canyon.