Sunday, December 31, 2017

10 Countries with the Strictest Rules & Regulations for Tourists and Locals

In the United States, it’s easy to take for granted a certain amount of freedom. We can travel freely from state to state, and — by and large — each of us is in control of our own destiny (socioeconomic or intellectual limitations notwithstanding). That’s not the case for several places throughout the world. And while that information may not be particularly revelatory, the extent to which some countries go to crack down on perceived bad behavior for both residents and visitors is pretty amazing. From Singapore to Iran, here are the world’s strictest countries.

10. Cuba

Visitors to Cuba are usually treated very well. In fact, most tourists get easy access to amenities we take for granted (like the internet). For those people who live in the communist nation, however, things are different. Incoming and outgoing news is strictly controlled, for example, and those who are critical of the government are jailed. With the ease on travel restrictions, it’s hoped that the country will gravitate to a more liberal position, but at the moment, living there isn’t exactly a treat.



Cuba
wendyperrin.com

9. China

Another communist nation with a real jones for controlling the flow of information, China runs a very tight ship for its citizens. Like Cuba, most tourists are allowed a little bit of leeway, but it’s a tough row to hoe if you live there. The biggest hardship is the government’s harsh control over the flow of information into and out of the country. Hollywood films aren’t even regularly allowed in China unless they pass a rigorous screening process — even then there’s a strict limit on the foreign films that can be shown in the country.

China
insiderjourneys.com.au

8. Eritrea

The concept of religious freedom is nonexistent in Eritrea, an African country located in the region of the Horn of Africa. Though the country represents a mix of both Christianity and Islam, sects like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists are actively forbidden from worshipping openly. The regime also eagerly controls the media and censors most information from the outside world.

Eritrea
madote.com

7. Syria

Most Americans would get completely shut down if they tried to enter Syria legally. Of course, that’s because the government has bigger fish to fry. These days, you could probably enter Syria illegally with little to no trouble, because the country is in the midst of a years long effort to oust entrenched jerk (and Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad. As a result of the combat, those people struggling to live a normal life in Syria must endure a statewide communication blackout that’s essentially stopped the influx of information.

Syria
nytimes.com

6. Iran

Iran is still ruled by Sharia Law, a religious tradition that’s especially tough on women. Along with the obligatory prohibitions on speaking out against the government, Sharia Law enforces a whole lot of social crimes with some pretty brutal punishments. Those found guilty of adultery are publicly stoned (women get buried up to their neck first). Men and women’s hair styles are strictly enforced. Women must cover their heads in public, and must adhere to strict dress codes. Most “Western” music and movies are strictly prohibited, as are social media outlets like Facebook and YouTube. For those people trying to gain access to the country, it’s best just to give it up now.

Iran
journal-neo.org

5. Russia

The current American President may have no problem buddying up to the folks who run Russia, but the country still has a reputation for old school oppression. Vladimir Putin has overseen a crackdown on the LGBT community that’s positively draconic. He’s also ransacked the offices of supposed detractors. What’s more, Putin’s political opponents have a weird way of getting shot in the street or disappearing. It’s nuts. If you’re an American hoping to visit Russia, you could experience some issues. Not only do most people need to be explicitly invited, but there’s also an obligatory form that asks entrants to fill out their personal information along the lines of where you went to high school, the last three places you’ve worked, your parents names, etc.

Russia
journal-neo.org

4. Saudi Arabia

In spite of the fact that the United States counts Saudi Arabia as one of its allies in the Middle East, the country’s inner workings are as different as night and day. Its social rules — even for visitors — are strict. Women aren’t allowed to drive, or spend time with a man to whom they are not related. Anyone daring to speak out against the government or its policies faces excoriation and potential job loss. While business travel into the country is increasingly relaxed, it’s still extremely difficult to get into the country on a tourist visa.

Saudi Arabia
maybank-ke.com

3. Equatorial Guinea

The dictator in Equatorial Guinea only approves state-run programming. There’s one newspaper. Citizens are actively discouraged from reading. Of course, thats not a big deal for most Americans, because most people actively petitioning for entry into Africa’s only Spanish speaking country have their visas denied immediately. In fact, to even visit Guinea, you have to go to Lisbon in Portugal, because there’s not an embassy in the US or the United Kingdom.

Guinea
bbc.com

2. North Korea

The North Koreans make no attempt to hide their suspicion of visitors. Provided you’re not from South Korea or the United States, you can visit, but you’ll be followed by a constant chaperone, called a “minder” whose sole purpose is to make sure tourists don’t break the rules. Locals, meanwhile, are diligently policed to ensure that they’re not doing crazy things like loitering in a park. In North Korea, citizens have to have an express purpose for being on the street and walking around. “I felt like it,” doesn’t work as an excuse in Pyongyang.

North Korea
cnn.com

1. Singapore

Singapore may have an international reputation for prosperity and safety, but that success comes at a cost. The city is extremely strict for both travelers and residents. Want to behave badly? You better have lots of money or thick skin, because Singaporean authorities will issue fines or corporal punishment for anything from smoking in public to wearing the wrong clothes when you’re traveling. People can’t even spit in public.

Singapore
fourseasons.com

Source: https://www.destinationtips.com

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Ring In 2018 On The Rooftop At Salon De Ning At The Peninsula New York

Salon de Ning Rooftop New year's Eve Party

New Year's Eve Rooftop Party

Toast to 2018 under a chic sky-lit marquee 23 stories above Fifth Avenue at Salon de Ning! Join us for an evening of dancing, premium open bar, delectable canapes and live music by The Chip Shop Boys, regarded as the UK's best rock and pop cover band, plus a Champagne toast at midnight.

9pm to 2am | $425 per person
More Details >


Enquires or Reservations:
(212) 903 3073 | holidaypny@peninsula.com


The Peninsula New York
700 Fifth Avenue at 55 Street, New York, NY 10019
(212) 956 2888 | pny@peninsula.com peninsula.com/newyork

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Travelore Tips: How To Get Your Share Of $413 million In US Flight Delays Compensation In 2017

Image result for flight delays compensation



AirHelp, the number one flight delays compensation company, has revealed that over 584,000 US passengers have been affected by flight cancellations and severe delays of three hours or more. AirHelp has calculated that the passengers are eligible to claim over $413,000,000 in compensation in 2017.

The busiest travel month in the United States in 2017 was July, unsurprisingly falling on a busy month for tourism. Based on the percentage of disrupted international flights departing from airports around the United States, Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy experienced the highest volume of flight disruptions, with London City Airport following closely behind.

As the 2017 AirHelp Score unveiled earlier this year, airports in the United States are considered as some of the worst in the world with Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) falling into the worst global airports for their quality and service and the number of delayed flights throughout the period.

Henrik Zillmer, CEO of AirHelp comments: "2017 has been an interesting year for air passenger travel, particularly in the US with overbooked flights and cancellations making national headlines month after month. The consistent mistreatment of U.S. consumers paired with the recent decision by the Department of Transportation to scrap a proposal mandating airlines to be transparent about their fees, means it is more important than ever for consumers to fight for their air passenger rights.

"In the event of a delayed or cancelled flight, passengers may be legally entitled to receive up to $700 in compensation fees from airlines. However, despite this less than 2% of travelers will file for this compensation, not knowing that they are eligible.

"We urge passengers who may have been affected by delays or cancellations this year to read up on their rights to ensure that they're not missing out on the compensation that they're legally entitled to. At AirHelp, our mission is to help passengers get the compensation that they rightfully deserve."

For more information, visit: https://www.airhelp.com/en/

Air passengers who have experienced a delayed or cancelled flight can check their eligibility for compensation on the go, and make a claim in a matter of minutes through the free AirHelp mobile app, available for iOS and Android.

About AirHelp
AirHelp is the world's leading flight delays compensation company, helping passengers apply for compensation following a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight. Since the business was founded in 2013, AirHelp has helped more than five million travelers process airline compensation claims worth more than £300 million in total reimbursement. AirHelp has offices in five cities across Europe, Asia and North America and is available in 30 countries, offering support in 16 languages. The business employs more than 500 employees worldwide.
AirHelp methodology:
AirHelp has the most reliable and most accurate collection of flight data in the world due to their consumption of so many data sources. Their database aggregates multiple data points from a variety of reliable sources such as government agencies, airport databanks, flight-tracking vendors, historical resources and commercial data brokers.
AirHelp are therefore able to maintain an accurate, real-time picture of flight disruptions occurring across the globe, the circumstances around these disruptions and the likelihood of further disruptions occurring.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

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What's New In Paris And The Paris Region For 2018




City Expects Most Successful Tourism Growth in 10 Years


PARIS- On the heels of a tourism uptick – with 23 million tourist arrivals expected in 2017 – Paris, France is forecasting more growth in 2018 and is expecting its most successful year since 2008. Atout France shares a range of highly-anticipated, momentous occasions and new experiences for visitors to enjoy in 2018, including major sporting events, cultural exhibit openings, historic anniversaries and a slew of new luxury hotels.
Making the City of Light and the larger Paris region even easier to visit, many airlines are adding faster, more direct routes to Paris, including direct flights from Seattle on Air France and the first non-stop flights from Indianapolis on Delta AirlinesThe city is also utilizing new tactics to help travelers feel more comfortable, including widespread complimentary WIFI in downtown areas, an improved city app, multi-lingual signage and announcements in the subway system, and roaming tour guides to help direct city explorers.
Whether an annual visitor or a newcomer to the city, Paris maintains its top spot as a bucket list destination with new developments and happenings including:
MAJOR EVENTS
  • August: Held every four years, the Gay Games advocates for acceptance and celebrates diversity, respect and equality. More than 15,000 participants from 70 countries are expected to participate in the 10th edition of the games. Visitors and athletes from around the world can take part in more than 36 sports at exclusive facilities in Paris and the Ile-de-France region.
  • September: Le Golf National (near Versailles) will host the 2018 Ryder Cup, one of the golf world's signature events and the second time in history that the iconic golf tournament takes place in continental Europe.
  • October: The bi-annual Paris Motor Show, Mondial de l'Automobilewill celebrate its 120th anniversary at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles trade fair grounds, welcoming car lovers and trade professionals from around the world.
CULTURAL OPENINGS
  • New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Foundation Louis Vuitton have collaborated for the first MoMA exhibition in France. "Being Modern: MoMA in Paris" will be displayed at Foundation Louis Vuitton through March 2018 with masterworks by artists including Max Beckmann, Alexander Calder, Paul Cezanne, Marcel Duchamp, Walker Evans, and more.
  • Corot et la figure at Marmottan Monet Museum: Featuring sixty masterpieces from public and private collections in Europe and the U.S., this 2018 exhibition (open February through July) organized by the Marmottan Monet Museum showcases original productions by the first modern landscaper: Camille Corot.
  • Teatre La Scala, a French music hall and historic landmark that first opened in 1874, will reopen in March 2018 after a full renovation as a 550-seat theater with restaurant. The opening show will be entitled "Scala" by multi-disciplinary movement artist Yoann Bourgeois.
  • The Lafayette Anticipations – Galeries Lafayette Corporate Foundation will debut in spring 2018, as a public gathering place dedicated to displaying and creating works of art. The Foundation aims to support contemporary artists from the visual arts to fashion, design and the performing arts.
  • L'Atelier des Lumières is Paris's first digital museum of fine art, located in a restored iron foundry. Opening spring 2018, the museum will include two areas for visitors: La Halle, with a continuous cycle of digital exhibitions, and Le Studio, for experienced or emerging artists. The opening will include an extended program focusing on Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, as well as a limited-time program on Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
  • FlyView 360, a new concept of VR aerial simulator, will open in April 2018 at Place de l'Opéra offering dynamic flights over Paris.
  • Galeries Lafayette is launching a new department store on the Champs-Elysées with 7,000-square meters worth of fashion designed by Danish firm BIG. 52 Champs-Élysées marks the site of a future flagship, positioned as an upmarket department store for the 21st century.
RESTAURANT OPENINGS
  • Brasserie du Lutetia by three Michelin-starred chef Gérald Passedat, opens spring 2018 in a setting designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte at the newly renovated Lutetia Hotel.
  • La Girafe, from the same family as La Maison du Caviar and Rasputin, brings a new rooftop dining experience to Cité de l'architecture in November.
  • Eataly will continue global expansion with the opening of the first French flagship in a 43,055-square-foot building at Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie in the Marais.
  • Guy Savoy is set to open his Metal Café at the brand new Musée National de la Monnaie.
ACCOMMODATION NEWS
  • Early 2018:
    • Hôtel Dress Code & Spa, located near Opera Garnier, will open with 33 rooms, indoor pool and spa, and a bar lounge.
    • The first Paris hotel under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand will open with a photography theme, 42 rooms and 10 suites and"La Verrière" restaurant.
  • Spring/Summer 2018:
    • After a three-year renovation, the highly anticipated Lutetia by The Set Hotels will reopen with 184 rooms (previously 231), seven signature suites, an extended brasserie with open terrace, jazz bar and cigar bar. French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte designed a new courtyard, a 17-meter swimming pool and Akasha spa.
    • Brach Paris, by Evok Hotels Collection group and designed by Philippe Starck, will open as a deluxe hotel in the 16th arrondissement with 59 rooms and suites with Eiffel Tower views, restaurant, bar, pastry shop, two pools, and rooftop vegetable garden.
    • Hôtel de Berri by Marriott International, a 5-star hotel with 39 rooms and 37 suites, will open in a 1930s mansion off Champs-Élysées and will include a bar overlooking the garden, a restaurant, and a modern contemporary art collection.
  • Fall/Late 2018:
    • La Clef Champs-Élysées Parisan apartment-style hotel, and the third property by The Crest Collection, opens in a quaint five-story Haussmann-style building along Rue de Bassano with 70 suites and a restaurant.
    • Opening of the first Autograph Collection Hotel by Marriot, a 50-room hotel with conference center in the former Pentemont Abbey in the 7th arrondissement.
    • Goralska Residences, a 25-suite hotel in the Castiglione / Vendôme area.
    • The first Motel One in France, located in the 12th arrondissement.
    • The first Hotel Fauchon with 54 rooms and suites, and 150-seat Café Fauchon with terrace.
    • The second Okko Hotel, an innovative European hotel concept offering an all-inclusive rate (including movies, open bar, fitness, and more), opening near the Montparnasse station..
    • Maison Albara luxury boutique hotel, near the Opéra Garnier, providing an elegant and authentic French experience.
    • Grand Hotel de Chantilly in Avilly Saint Léonard on 10-acres of land with 210 rooms including 23 suites, seminar rooms, several restaurants and spa.
    • Domaine Montcel in Jouy en Josas, near Versailles on 14-hectares with 180 rooms, swimming pool, restaurant, and 3,000-square-meters of meeting rooms.
    • The first J.K. Place in Paris, a luxury hotel with an elegant contemporary atmosphere, will open at 82 rue de Lille.
ILE DE FRANCE REGION
  • Southwest of Paris, the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and the Palace of Versailles are presenting an exhibition at Château de Rambouillet through January 2018 featuring portraits of the Bourbon-Toulouse-Penthièvre family, who owned Rambouillet during the 18th century.
  • Creation of a river marina at l'Isle-Adam, to the north of Paris, on the edge of the largest river beach in France with 120 docks for boats, a range of shops and restaurants and a hotel.
  • Creation of an urban transport museum in Chelles, to the east of Paris, with 150 trams, buses, trolley buses, omnibuses as well as uniforms, signs, 10,000 films and 300,000 photos.
  • 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI and the signing of the armistice in Compiègne—not far from Paris and at the edge of the Paris Region. In honor of this momentous occasion, several events will take place in Paris and the Paris region and on the Western Front in Northern France.
    • Ceremonies will be held at the Lafayette Squadron Memorial located in Marnes-la-Coquette, 11 miles east of Paris and on the way to Versailles, which honors the American volunteer pilots who flew in this unique squadron with the budding French air force during the Great War.
    • The recently reopened and redesigned Franco-American Museum at the Château de Blerancourt in Picardy, features memorabilia of the famed WWI American Squadron. Created by Anne Morgan in her former WWI headquarters and residence.
With a wide variety of activities, attractions and openings for visitors to take part in throughout Paris and ÃŽle-de-France over the coming year, the City of Lights and Paris region is a must-visit destination. For more ways to visit and experience Paris and Ile-de-France in 2018, visit en.parisinfo.com https://en.convention.parisinfo.com/or en.visitparisregion.com.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

TRAVELORE DESTINATION REPORT: South Florida's Newest Culinary Destination Is The Diplomat Beach Resort

The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton, FL - Aerial View of Resort


We found one of the typical corner suites to be exceptionally comfortable, providing ample space to
entertain and exceptional waterfront views.





Beyond the expected full service amenities of the resort, including a first class spa, the extensive culinary offerings are the main lore  for both locals and visitors from around the world.  Celebrity chef's Geoffrey Zakarian and Michael Schulson oversee the lead culinary offerings, Coastal American cuisine at Point Royal and modern Japanese from Monkital. Monkital was"Voted Best Hotel Restaurant 2017 by USA Today!"



The Diplomat Beach Resort
3555 South Ocean Drive
Hollywood, Florida, 33019. 
954-602-8925 Www.DiplomatResort.Com


New Website Helps Travelers Find One-Of-Kind B&Bs And Boutique Hotels In California

Image result for California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns




The California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns (CABBI) has helped discerning travelers find one-of-kind accommodations throughout the Golden State for over 25 years. This winter, CABBI launched a newly-redesigned website at CABBI.com to showcase the state’s plethora of unique lodging options with new maps and search tools to help travelers zero in on the perfect destination. 

CABBI.com connects travelers with smaller or lesser-known B&Bs and boutique hotels in California that offer exceptional quality and service,” said Jenn Iliff, CMP, CABBI Program & Events Manager. “The goal of our redesign was to create a visually appealing and easy-to-use website to help consumers discover hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path destinations for their next vacation or stay-cation.”

Whether travelers are looking for a cool desert hideaway with a pool or a pet-friendly mountain retreat with a hot tub and fireplace, they can easily find it on the new CABBI website. The new website allows users to search for quality-certified inns based on location, in-room amenities, property features and more. Users can view the results on a map or in photo-based listings.

In addition to the inn search, the new website includes a “Specials” search to find great deals and packages at California inns.  Another tool allows users to search for favorite bed and breakfast recipes.  Users can also purchase gift certificates for use at one of nearly 200 California inns or peruse travel inspiration and in-depth reviews of California B&Bs and boutique hotels on CABBI’s travel blog. 

Stephanie McCaffrey, owner of the McCaffrey House Bed & Breakfast and CABBI Council Chair for 2017-2018 is excited about CABBI’s new website. “The design is very user-friendly and showcases CABBI member inns to their fullest. I think guests will find CABBI.com to the best possible resource for finding a B&B or inn in California.”