>>What's New<<
Korean Air Agreement
Update:08/27/08
Starting September 3rd, Korean Air and Alaska Airlines have a new code share agreement and expanded frequent flier partnership.
Customers can take advantage of the new partnership from Korean Air's Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco gateways.
Korean Air flies non-stop between Seattle and Seoul on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Update:08/04/08
We hear a lot about how much fuel and carbon emissions planes generate
So it’s a bit of good hews that a coalition including Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, working with biofuel technology developer UOP, have joined the recently formed Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), which is co-chaired by aerospace manufacturer Boeing.
ABO expects these new members will form the first wave of aviation-related companies interested in developing new generation biofuels.
find out more at greenaironline.com
Which Is Most Popular?
Update:07/22/08
Apparently the Incredible India campaign is working.
U.S Department of Commerce data confirms U.S. travelers make up 15.7 percent of the total visitors to India.
To put it in perspective, India got the top spot not just because of its popularity with the leisure traveler but due to the large number of business travelers, wealthy retirees seeking luxury travel and citizens of Indian origin interested in seeing their ancestors' homeland.
Source material from Travel Agent Central www.travelagentcentral.com
US Customs Gets Easier
Update:07/14/08
Finally, some positive air travel news!
Starting this month, you can sign up to speed through customs checkpoints at select U.S. airports when you are coming back home.
Global Entry allows U.S. citizens and PRs to get in a separate line that allows you to swipe your passport at a kiosk rather than dealing with those less than friendly Custom agents who “welcome” us home.
The catch is that it will cost you $100 to enroll for a separate line at participating airports. But it could be worth it to skip buying a few souvenirs if you can end your trip on a positive note.
So far three airports, Dulles, Houston and Kennedy are on the plan, with others to follow. We’ll keep you posted as more come on board.
Keep Name Official
Update:05/22/08
Where travel and your name are concerned, the devil is in the details.
Be very careful to use your legal, official name when booking tickets.
While your friends may know you as A.C. rather than Archibald Charles, you could not only create some headaches for yourself, you may even miss your flight.
Using that official version is especially critical when you fly internationally. So make certain the name you give to the airline is your name precisely as it is on your passport.
Myanmar Update
Update:05/06/08
Myanmar has experienced the worst cyclone in over 70 years. The storm hit Yangon, Pathein and the Bago area over the week-end.
Yangon itself was badly damaged. It will take time and a massive humanitarian effort to normalize life for those in the affected areas.
Explore Asia has confirmation from its ground operators that, with some modifications in the affected areas, travel to and around Myanmar remains safe.
While international and domestic flights are running normally, travel agents will want to redirect their customers around Yangon. Hotels and tourist destinations upcountry are unaffected and operating normally.
Luxury in a Temple?
Update:04/24/08
BEIJING - The simple life of monks at
China's famed Shaolin Temple got an
upgrade with the installation of luxury
restrooms worth 3 million yuan ($430,000
U.S. dollars)
The restrooms are free of charge for both
monks and tourists.
Does this strike you as odd? What about
the monks vow of poverty? If monks and
tourists get to use these five star
facilities, what about the
locals?
Personal Safety
Just Like Home
Update:04/05/08
You may have seen the news from Thailand
about the death of a Western tourist. We
were recently in Bangkok and it was front
page news there
To put it in perspective, compared to
violence in America, places like Thailand
are safer than most places in
America.
When you go to an isolated beach alone
and sunbathe, you are taking a chance,
any place in the world.
When you try to break up a brawl at a
rave party, you run the risk of getting
hurt or killed whether that party is at a
beachside resort in Thailand or back
home.
Just follow the guidelines you routinely
follow at home and you will be as safe or
safer in Asia than back home.
Voting That's Fun
Update:03/05/08
Here’s a novel idea. Instead of just
disagreeing because someone you never
heard of has proclaimed the 7 Wonders of
the World.
Vote
for your favorites and have it
matter.
Then check out the ranking, updated twice
a day.
When we wrote this column, eight of the
top 10 live rankings were Asian
destinations. The consensus at our
office is that it would be easy to select
77 finalists, all of them from
Asia!
It’s an election year, so vote and then
track your favorites for the world’s top
destinations.
It’s a lot more fun that tracking
bickering politicians.
Women Headed for Asia
More women are leaving the men at home.
More than 50% of adventure travelers are
now women traveling with other
women.
And adventure travel has many faces.
It’s not just trekking and mountain
climbing. It’s yoga and meditation
retreats, spiritual connections to
ancient Asian religions, spas and small
boat cruising.
Interested?
Later this year, Explore Asia partner
Nancy Harkrider will be leading a small
group of women travelers off the beaten
path to immersive, unforgettable
experiences.
Or we’ll help you plan your own women’s
travel. This is the year. Call your
friends, then call us.
Traveling Au Naturale
There’s always something unique being
offered for travelers.
Now it’s a German travel agency who is
offering air service for nudists who
prefer that travel style.
Don’t worry. Explore Asia offers unique
experiences, but not that kind of
unique.
However during these frigid months in
North American, you can anticipate that
you will be able to shed all those layers
of winter clothing once you land in
tropical Asia.
You will then be free to more around
tropical Asia in your sarong and sandals
to your heart's content!