Adaro Adventures and Adeona Odysseys Weigh in on State Department’s new travel warnings ratings
The US State Department recently revised its country-specific travel advisory method by giving a four-point travel advisory rating to not only every nation in the world but also regions within countries to help travelers understand that certain areas within an otherwise risk country for travel can be safe. An interactive map on travel.state.gov color-codes each country by its ranking: red for 4 (“do not travel”), orange for 3, yellow for 2, and no color for 1 (“exercise normal precautions”). We view the new system as an improvement on the old, and before planning any trip abroad check travelmaps.state.gov here for your intended destinations.
Help Create a World Without Cancer
The staff at Adeona Odysseys are very pleased to be participants in the groundbreaking research project, Cancer Prevention Study-3, which aims to better understand how to prevent cancer.. There’s still time to enroll in the research study at various venues in select communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. Please join CPS-3 to help “create a world with less cancer”. Learn if you’re eligible and where to join at: http://www.cancer.org/research/researchtopreventcancer/participate-cancer-prevention-3
Support the Fight Against Alzheimer’s
In support of raising awareness and research funds for Alzheimer’s and dementia, through October, Adeona Odysseys and Adaro Adventures will donate $5 to the Alzheimer’s Association for every new “Like” we receive on Facebook. The Alzheimer’s Association is an inspiring voluntary health organization whose mission is to enhance care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and to advance research. Adaro Adventures and Adeona Odysseys, www.adeonaodysseys.com, are honored to partner with them during the months of September and October. Please join us in this vital cause by “Liking” our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/adeonaodysseys
Holiday Travel Tips
Planning for great holiday travel is about being smart and traveling well — working out all the details in advance. Spaces fill up quickly for holiday vacations, especially on the most coveted travel dates in November and December— which is why Adaro Adventures is reminding people to start planning now. Air travel and hotel expenses begin to climb for the holidays in October. Booking early improves your chances of finding reasonable prices, the best accommodations, and desirable departure and arrival times.
Immunizations and Vaccines
Stay healthy this summer while traveling, particularly to exotic locations. Depending on your destination you may need to prevent altitude sickness, bacterial diseases, insect-borne illnesses, and food and water illnesses. Before leaving home ensure you have your appropriate vaccines for specialty diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A, meningitis, rabies, and yellow fever, and your routine immunizations against MMR, polio, tetanus/diphtheria, hepatitis B and streptococcal pneumonia. Here’s a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that guides travelers on the necessary pre-trip shots. And wherever you travel be sure to bring all your prescription medications in your carry-on. Need a travel clinic near you? Just give Adaro Adventures a call.
International Electrical Adaptors and Converters
Traveling outside the country on your summer break and don’t want your iron to melt when you plug it in? There are two standard electrical currents in the world: 100-125 volts, and 220-250 volts. If your appliance is dual voltage – rated for current between 100-250 volts – it will not need an electrical voltage converter. If your appliance is rated for 100-125 volts it will be damaged if plugged into a 220-250 volt outlet and will need a voltage converter to operate safely. Socket shapes differ by country and adaptor plugs match foreign sockets so you can plug in anywhere. Adaptor plugs do not alter voltage but can be used with voltage converters. Visit this electricity by country for a chart. Still confusing?! Just give us a call for help with a country’s current and sockets.
Solo Travel
Traveling solo isn’t just for singles. While more travelers are going on solo vacations, the adventures are far from what they once were! Of all solo travelers, 70% are in a serious relationship and are not interested in tours exclusive to singles but instead interested in diverse options –63% of solo travelers want to meet like-minded people and 43% want to try a new hobby or learn a new skill. Want to travel solo and try something new and outrageous but not be boxed in to a trip solely for singles? Adaro Adventures offers experiential trips with classes and activities in unparalleled, authentic locations.
Traveling Together Strengthens Relationships
Couples prefer taking trips to receiving gifts – Nearly two-thirds of couples (63%) surveyed say a getaway is more likely to spark romance than large or small gifts. Just one-third (36%) viewed receiving small gifts the same way, and only 15% rated getting big gifts like jewelry as important to improving romance.
Traveling alone together sparks romance – More than eight in ten (83%) of those who travel as a couple say the romance is still alive in their relationship, and fully seven in ten (72%) of the couples surveyed believe traveling inspires romance.
Couples who travel together report having a better sex life than those who don’t – Three-quarters (77%) of respondents who travel as a couple say that they have a good sex life, compared to 63% of couples who do not travel together. More than one in every four couples (28%) say their sex life improved after traveling together – and of those, 40% say sex together is permanently better after travel.
Couples who travel together have more time for intimacy and sex – A majority (59%) of couples say that being more intimate is an important reason to vacation together. Among couples that did not take a trip together in the past year, nearly one in four (23%) say they “do not have enough time for intimacy and sex.”
World’s Most Tantalizing Air Landings
Where are the world’s most stunning and exhilarating air landings–where the runway seems way too short, water appears just inches beneath you, and you’re left breathless upon descent?! St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana Airport tops the 2013 list, followed by Scotland’s Barra and LAX. Rounding out the top five: Paro in Bhutan and Las Vegas McCarran. One of our favorites is Pago Pago in American Samoa. Where’s your most scenic landing? Cast your vote at facebook.com/adeonaodysseys
Responsible Tourism
Adaro Adventures and its sister company, Adeona Oysseys, are committed to responsible tourism. During the WTO, we proudly and publicly pledged to uphold, sustain and implement the values advocated by the “World Ethics Code for Tourism” which cover economic, social, cultural and environmental issues of travel. These include understanding and respect between nations and societies, personal and collective sustainable development, and enrichment of cultural heritage. Adaro Adventures also keeps the rights of people, the protection and advancement of women and children, and care of the environment front and center in all we do.
World’s Best Street Food
You have not lived until you’ve experienced the tastiest street food on the planet. Having snacked our way around the world multiple times, the foodies at Adaro Adventures rank the most delicious and satisfying street food and drink, bar none. On our Facebook we want to know your favorites – http://www.facebook.com/AdeonaOdysseys. Try these delicacies in person for yourself; Adaro Adventures can get you there.
Singapore: Pipa — fresh, sweet young coconut water. Undeniably it is the nectar of the gods. And when you’re done drinking the nectar, have the vendor cut the coconut and savor the meat
Casablanca: Sfenj – decadent fried donuts dusted with powdered sugar. Hot, crispy and melty, you’ll find yourself stopping not at one, two or even three unless you have tremendous will power
Caracas: Fresh mango with spices – savory, succulent and healthy to boot
Panama City: Chicha — fruit juice which is a liquid Shangri La
Shanghai: Baozi — steamed buns filled with sugared red bean paste – downing several of these little babies is a guilty pleasure worth every calorie. But they are steamed . . .
Muscat and Bali: Avocado milkshakes – creamy delicacy too heavenly for words
Ramallah: Falafel – drizzled with tahini, they’re gorge-worthy crunchy fritters
Barcelona: Horchata –Spain’s cool, milky, nutty elixir
NY: Pizza – enough said, right?!
Kuala Lumpur: Soy milk – heart healthy smoothness served up in a clear plastic sandwich bag
North Korea
Adaro Adventures is going to NORTH KOREA September 5th. Experience the strictest, most isolationist country in the world for yourself via Adaro Adventure’s “Pyongyang Posts” starting end of September – DMZ from the North, DPRK National Day on September 9, Mass Games and Mass Dance, Paradise Micro-Brewery, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum.
| Most Sought Out Characteristics in a Travel Mate | |||
| Overall | Men | Women | |
| 1 | Sense of Humor | Sense of Humor | Trustworthiness |
| 2 | Trustworthiness | Intelligence | Sense of Humor |
| 3 | Similar Lifestyle Values | Similar Lifestyle Values | Similar Lifestyle Values |
| 4 | Intelligence | Trustworthiness | Hygiene |
| 5 | Hygiene | Hygiene | Intelligence |
| Least Sought Out Characteristics in a Travel Mate | |||
| Overall | Men | Women | |
| 1 | Smoker | A Love of Cats | Smoker |
| 2 | A Love of Cats | Smoker | A Love of Cats |
| 3 | Selfish Nature | Selfish Nature | Selfish Nature |
| 4 | Sexy Accent | Same Religion | Sexy Accent |
| 5 | Same Religion | Height | Same Religion |
Think You’re Tough?
Can you handle these offensive and unwelcome views when traveling? 1: Men revealing “builder’s bum” (that’s exposure of the cleft between a man’s buttocks due to ill-fitting trousers and careless bending over. Warned you this might not be pleasant!!). 2: Midriff/beer belly on show. 3: Offensive logos on t-shirts. 4: White socks and sandals, sorry adventurers, but to which I add especially Birkenstocks and Tevas. 5: Women with low-cut tops displaying cleavage. Some others in no particular order: noisy jewelry, men with hairy chests on show, thongs, and football shirts. What are some unwanted spectacles you could live without when traveling? Share them at http://www.facebook.com/AdeonaOdysseys
You Can Facilitate Economic Growth
At the annual meeting of the G20 held in Los Cabos, Mexico on 18-19 June, world ministers for the first time included travel & tourism in their G20 Leaders’ Declaration. They recognized the industry will contribute $2 trillion in GDP and 100 million jobs to the global economy in 2012 alone. When the wider economic impacts of the industry are taken into account, travel & tourism is forecast to contribute some $6.5 trillion to the global economy and generate 260 million jobs – 1 in 12 of all jobs on the planet. Travel initiatives support job creation, quality work, poverty reduction and global growth. Join us and Adeona Odysseys and be part of facilitating this economic development.
Do Your Part
Tourism is a sector that can deliver like few others on the global goals of economic growth, job creation and fairer development, according to the UNWTO. Despite the volatility of the global economy, international tourism continues to be one of the few sectors to grow, and the economic opportunities of tourism are many and are reaching millions. Do your part to jump start the economy and travel!
Vacation Harmony
Forget eHarmony! Make more of your adventure experience than simply getting from A to B and start the fun by meeting people on the flight itself. Travel through Adaro Adventures or Adeona Odysseys on KLM and we’ll help you choose who you sit next to on your flight! It’s promising: Nearly 40% of travelers develop friendships with someone they met on a flight, 5% spent time together on the vacation as a direct result of meeting on their flight, and even 6% admit to a later romantic liaison with an acquaintance they met on-board. Granted, the majority of these connections are short lived, but 7% do stay in touch after their vacation. You know you’re inquisitive; call us to find out more about the service.
Travel Insurance
If you are seeking extreme experiences, Adaro Adventures wants to ensure you are prepared for your trip with valuable travel insurance. The opportunity for thrilling activity is more than worth the investment, and travelers need to cover that investment with travel insurance.
Typically only 5% of your trip cost, plans include coverage for trip cancellation, interruption and delay; medical emergencies; damaged or lost luggage, travel documents and more. For those travelers seeking maximum flexibility in their travel plans, some policies offer a cancel-for-any-reason option which will reimburse prepaid nonrefundable expenses for trip cancellation due to reasons not otherwise covered under the plan. It is important travelers know when purchasing a travel insurance plan to include the cost of all prepaid, nonrefundable expenses in their trip cost to be fully covered in case they need to cancel due to a covered reason.
Contact us at 202 290 4312 or info@adaroadventures.com and we’ll advise on the wide range of enhanced adventure insurance solutions for you as well as complementary insurance benefits.
Are you seeking a shorter, more relaxed mini break? Contact our sister company, Adeona Odysseys, at info@adeonaodysseys.com, for those travel and insurance needs.
Stimulate the Global Economy
The one billion international tourists expected to travel this year – 1/7 of the world’s population – are a vital force for economic growth and social welfare, said the UNWTO. This will contribute to more jobs, higher income possibilities, social sustainability and development opportunities, so critical at this time of economic uncertainty. Help stimulate the global economy and be part of this extraordinary number by planning your much-needed mini break or your adventure trip of a lifetime. Also visit our sister company, Adeona Odysseys www.adeonaodysseys.com
Adventure Africa
After climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, visiting Timbuktu or exploring the Virunga Volcanoes, want to discover Africa’s full potential by increasing your travel to 45 locations throughout the continent? Kenya Airway’s newly launched “Go Africa” pass allows complete flexibility and offers discounts of up to 75% off standard fares. Don’t know where to begin and want to avoid all frustration with the glut of options? Contact us to help with destination selection and with planning your wild Africa journey so all you have to do is bring your passport and enjoy! Flight coupons began first quarter of 2012. info@adaroadventures.com
PreCheck
Want to zip through airport security and not have to remove your shoes, liquids and belt?! A faster, more efficient and smarter travel process for flyers in the US is PreCheck. Adaro Adventures applauds the TSA’s expansion of the PreCheck program to a total of 35 airports across the US in 2012. The program is a pre-screening initiative that makes risk assessments on passengers who volunteer more personal information about themselves prior to their arrival at the airport checkpoint so that the government can vet them for security purposes. http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/escreening.shtm
Eligible participating travelers walk through a dedicated lane at airport security checkpoints and provide their specially marked boarding pass to the TSA officer. A machine will read the boarding pass barcode, and travelers deemed “low-risk,” will be expedited through screening.
The program is expected to be operate in these airports by the end of 2012: Baltimore-Washington, Charlotte, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Denver, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Houston, Honolulu, New York’s LaGuardia, Lambert-St. Louis, New Orleans, Puerto Rico’s Luis Munoz Marin, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma, Tampa, and Anchorage.
Global Entry
A huge victory this week for regular travelers who want less hassle upon entering the US: The Global Entry Program, which expedites the customs and immigration inspections process for pre-approved, low risk travelers, is now permanent and expanding. The new DHS rule will allow more travelers to provide their fingerprints at kiosks to expedite their arrival in the US. International program participants include Canada, Mexico, The Netherlands and the UK, and bilateral agreements with Singapore, Germany and S. Korea are in the works.
Want to join the Global Entry Program to enjoy fewer entry burdens? Visit the site to apply and schedule an interview. It’s well worth it. http://www.globalentry.gov/howtoapply.html
Loyal to whom?!
A chuckle to brighten your day: A Starwood Hotels poll found that travelers appear to be more loyal to their loyalty programs than they are to their spouse! A whopping 73% of frequent travelers stated that “if they could take only one item with them while traveling, they’d take their benefits in a hotel loyalty rewards program rather than their spouse/partner”!
Full fare pricing disclosure
Adaro Adventures is proud to always have had a full fare advertising policy so you know up front what your vacation will cost. The US government now requires all airlines to disclose the full cost of an airline ticket. Advertised air prices must include the total single price a traveler will pay to fly, including fuel, taxes and luggage charges. We’re glad the airlines finally are following suit.