TresSugar

Would You Travel to Afghanistan?

TresSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Afghanistan traditionally has a reputation as an unfriendly (to say the least) place for women and it also happens to be a war zone - but that's not stopping the country from attempting to be a tourist destination.

As tourist information centers pop up in Afghanistan's central Bamilyan valley, tour guides and restaurant owners are being trained in the art of customer service.

The country hopes to attract adventurous spirits to the history-rich country. Afghanistan used to be a regular stop for backpackers back in the 1960s. Attractions include: tea houses, cliff caverns, remnants of Buddha statutes, a national park, hiking trails, and preserved ancient cities.

Would you take a chance to see the beauty and experience a completely different culture?

Thailand Protesters Shut Down Airport and Tourist Economy

LibertySugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:00:59 -0800

Thailand's opposition is set to form a new government, after protesters help wrestle power from the prime minister. Thai courts banished PM Somchai Wongsawat from politics thanks to electoral fraud. Shutting down Bangkok's airport proved to be the most successful protest tactic, but it also left 300,000 foreign travelers stranded.

The timing of the airport blockade couldn't have been worse, as it came during the holiday season. Tourism makes up 12 percent of the Thailand's GDP. Since the country just started to recover from the tourism slump following 2004 tsunami, it would be a shame if the latest blow leaves long-term economic damage, too. Check out these pics of Thailand's empty, but beautiful, resorts.

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Mama Mia! Michelangelo's David Could Topple Over!

LibertySugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

He may have become more beautiful with age, but Michelangelo's David needs some serious work done if he's not to collapse.

Engineering experts say that restoration work of up to 1 million euros ($1.45 million) must be done to save the Renaissance statue. David's nemesis isn't Goliath this time, but rather the masses of tourists who have walked past the warrior too many times, causing damage.

Only four years ago, David received an extreme makeover for his 500th birthday. Unfortunately the cracks that were filled have already opened. Should Italy keep putting money into David, or instead close him off to close-up, and hazardous, viewing?

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Should Tour Guides Be Required to Take a History Test?

LibertySugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:15:59 -0700

Tour guides in Philadelphia think a new city law requiring history tests before they receive a license, violates their right to freedom of speech. This new rule will require guides to pass a written test, or pay a fine, the same requirements for guides in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Charleston, SC.

Opponents paint the law as making speech conditional on government permission.

If you're paying big bucks for a history lesson, it might be nice to know it's not the history of the guide's imagination. It's pleasant to picture Walt Whitman walking into Philly from New Jersey across the Ben Franklin Bridge (as one guide will assist you with) - but does it matter that the bridge wasn't built until 1926, 30 years after Whitman died?

Do you think Philadelphia is betraying its constitutional roots, or being responsible by making sure those roots are portrayed accurately? Either way, since the law only requires a one-time-test, neither censorship nor accuracy will be guaranteed.

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No Trouble in Paradise: Stay Safe Tips For Honeymoon Cities

CitizenSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:00:40 -0700

While there are some exotic vacation and honeymoon spots with a dangerous rep that are softening to tourism now, some popular and seemingly harmless getaway locales require a little extra vigilance. Here are some tips, straight from the local police, to make sure your next getaway is as romantic and trouble-free as you'd like.

Heading Abroad?

Barcelona:
Watch out for the kindness of strangers - If someone asks how you like Barcelona or tries to hug you, hold on to your valuables tightly.
Cancun:
Beach jewelry isn't such a bargain. It's almost always made from inferior metal. A police spokeswoman says, "They might get a cheaper price [on the beach], but the jewelry is definitely not of the highest quality."
London:
Take the city-licensed black cabs, and not the amateur "minicabs" that wait outside of tourist spots - in 2006 ten people per month were assaulted by minicab drivers.
Montreal:
Lock your car, and move any valuables to the trunk - leaving your ride unlocked might even earn you a $30 ticket.

Heading for some fun in the sun, or to take in some historical sights? To see tips for more cities, read more.

Fun in the Sun!

Las Vegas:
The biggie? Time your cab trip. If it takes more than 20 minutes, you've been had.
New Orleans:
Shy away from street hucksters looking to make an easy bet with you - chances are, they're scam artists.
Orlando:
Steer clear of discounted multi-day theme park tickets sold outside the parks. Reselling the passes is a no-no and you'll get turned away if you're caught.

Sightseeing. . .

Philadelphia:
Don't leave your GPS in the car, especially around prime tourist spots like the Liberty Bell.
Washington DC:
Keep track of personal electronics on the Metro, and car doors locked at gas stations - even if you're just running in to pay.

Want to make sure your honeymoon or vacation is safe for the planet too? An igloo in Switzerland or a treehouse in Africa - part of a growing trend of eco-trips - might just be paradise for you, and the planet.

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Tourists Line Up For Guided Hitler Walking Tours in Munich

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:15:11 -0700

If you're booking a vacation, here's an option you might consider: visitors to Munich are clamoring to head out on Adolf Hitler walking tours. Exploring the German city where the dictator began his Nazi Party 10 years before he was elected German chancellor. The tour wends through city sites with Adolf Hitler significance - which most contemporary locals are no longer even aware of, like the location where Hitler gave his first public speech (upstairs at the world-famous Hofbraeuhaus beer hall in 1918) and a nearby pub where he liked to drink and skip out on the bill. To see who's taking these tours, read more.

Most of the tour-goers aren't Hitler fans, instead they're visitors who've been to the Dachau concentration camp memorial on the outskirts of Munich. According to one of the owners of the tour company, "after that, a lot of them are curious to know how Hitler came to power," One visitor from Puerto Rico said, "I've read so much about this, and I just could not comprehend how the Germans could follow a guy like that. After seeing the place, I can understand it better."

Do you head to serious historical landmarks on vacation? Would you combine learning about atrocities like the Holocaust with your leisure time? Can you see taking a Hitler tour?

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Communism Today: Russians Grab SPF, Cuba's Elian Joins Up

CitizenSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:49 -0700

Landlocked by Communist rule for years, Russians were denied life's many pleasures, especially travel. But now as the middle class grows strong, they have money to spend and are taking it to the beaches of Turkey.

A mini-industry has popped up on the Turkish coast that has begun to cater to the whims of Russian tourists. The New York Times explored this trend in an article on one popular resort, Kremlin Palace Hotel, which they described as "Las-Vegas-does-Moscow by-the-shore extravaganza." This picture looks every bit as . . . glitzy as it sounds!

But what's more important is what traveling abroad illuminates about the new Russia. Between 1995 and 2006, the number of Russians traveling abroad grew from 2.6 to 7.1 million - a 4.5 million increase - according to the Russian government.

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Under Soviet rule, citizens were held back by bureaucratic passport lines that, even if approved, required classes on proper behavior and avoiding foreign influence. Those who were not in the government's good grace stood little chance of leaving, and even those that were and gained approval required chaperons across borders. While restrictions eased in the post-Soviet era, few Russians could afford to go anywhere.

Vladimir Putin, the former president and current prime minister, is largely credited for Russian's newfound normalcy, prosperity, and ability to travel. Though Russian's are spreading their post-Communist wings, one famous face has joined up. To see how, read more.

Most remember Elián González as the tiny face of those fleeing communist Cuba, that battle was eight years ago - and Elian has joined up - Cuba’s Young Communist Union, that is.

Now 14, Elián was 6 when Miami relatives lost their fight to keep him in the United States, and he returned to Cuba in mid-2000 with his father. After surviving the battle and the boating accident off the Florida coast that killed his mother trying to reach the United States, he was among 18,000 people who joined the group this weekend.

After all that Elián experienced, why did he join up? Will seeing greater post-Communist freedoms tempt those still involved?

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The Top 6 Places to Vacation That Aren't So Scary Anymore

CitizenSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:59:12 -0700

Reputations die hard - especially when you're a gorgeous country who's historically been mired in conflict, giving you the reputation of "Warning! Tourists Keep Out!" Just today the US Embassy in Djibouti warned against American travel to the African port city - branding it scary in addition to its beauty.

For countries with historic conflict raging among dazzling nature, the economic impact lingers from not only the strife, but the lasting legacy of a scary reputation - shooing would-be vacationers away. The brilliant minds at ProTraveller have put together a stunning list of the top six places to make sure you see, as peacefulness is restored and splendor beckons.

Indonesia: (pictured here) If you thought the US had a hard time uniting politically, the 17,000 islands of Indonesia had bigger troubles. Since the first direct presidential election in 2004, the situation has improved, and the beaches make this tropical paradise worth the trip.
Cambodia: Recovering from a 1997 coup, assistance from other developed nations has opened the doors for visits to temples, beaches, and the striking city of Phnom Penh.

To see where else you should skip off to, read more.

Angola: Topping lists of post-conflict countries developing peace, this Africa nation's rugged landscape is breathtaking.
Peru: Border conflict ceased in 1998, allowing travelers to once again head to the mountaintop city of Machu Pichu.
Northern Ireland: Twenty-five years of strife leading to the 1998 Belfast Agreement has unleashed this emerald gem, becoming a progressive country with a thriving city life.
Croatia: Though the 1990s saw a war for independence and recovery is ongoing, this EU and NATO hopeful boasts the lush countryside and coastline perfect for visiting.

Pack up your passport and leave your courage at home. Check out the full list for more guidebook-worthy pictures and reasons to go. These countries are on the mend with the welcome mat out.

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Paris Says "Non"! to Les Rats!

LibertySugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Eight million rats live in Paris, France. That's about four times the amount of people! Maybe it's the cheese!

Every year, the city launches a campaign to reduce the number of rats. The anti-rat team, known as "Service Municipal d'Actions de Salubrité et d'hygiène" or "Le Smash" exterminates rodents found on public property.

Meanwhile, Parisians must expel the rodents from their homes and businesses, clean up their trash, and block cellar entries, lest they face heavy fines handed down from the rat inspectors. Residents are also encouraged to report neighbors who act as rat sanctuaries.

Rat campaign season happens between May and June, when rat reproduction is at its highest, and summer tourism has not yet surged. The health and image conscious Parisians have had enough!

Do you think Paris officials are smart to enlist the public's help in eradicating rats? Or, should they focus more on big picture solutions like sewage and garbage management? Would you turn down a trip to the city of rats, I mean lights, for fear of seeing a furry creature dash across a charming street?

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The Long-Neck Women of Thailand Live in a Zoo

CitizenSugar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:00:03 -0700

I love finding compelling stories when I'm least expecting them - it almost seems like the tale is twice as striking given the company it keeps. Marie Claire has really oomphed up their international coverage lately, and I came across this story of the long-neck women of the Kayan tribe in Thailand.

The piece follows one woman named Zember who's removed her neck coil in protest of "Thailand’s shameful secret: that the long-neck women are Burmese refugees who are being prevented by Thai authorities from taking up asylum overseas. As a lucrative tourist attraction, the women are forced to live in a virtual human zoo."

The 500 or so Kayan women fled the brutal military regime in neighboring Burma 20 years ago to live in Thailand and have been confined in three guarded villages on the northern Thai border ever since. About 40,000 tourists every year pay about $8 each to stare at the women’s distinctive giraffe-like appearance. They're paid a meager salary of 1500 baht ($45) a month selling souvenirs and postcards.

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Zember sums up the harsh reality saying:

Some people of my mother’s generation say they are too old [to leave] now, but no one is happy. We have no freedom and life is very hard. . . The [Western] girls look so free and sexy, and their eyes shine. I stare at them and feel even more determined to fight to get out of here.

The whole piece has more pictures of the women and a place to send letters to the Thai Embassy and the UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency. Are you surprised to learn something that seems cultural is really government oppression?

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