Google Acquires Travel Site Frommers

At Tnooz - "talking travel tech" - Kevin May headlines that Google buys Frommers, destination content in search just got a little bit more interesting, writing:

"Google has made another strategic acquisition in the travel space, snapping up guidebook and online destination content publisher Frommer’s for an undisclosed fee."

Hat tip to CaryGEE.

Travel Destinations of German Vacationers and Travelers, 2012 and 2011

Die Welt in an article by Kira Hanser has the stats for German travelers' vacation destinations, based on data from the ADAC Reise-Monitor / Reiseanalyse 2012, as follows:
(see Die Welt at Das sind die beliebtesten Reiseziele der Deutschen):

2012: America, be happy....

14.6% of all German vacationers
plan a vacation abroad in 2012, as follows:
- 3.7% - USA
- 2.0% - Far East (e.g. China, Thailand)
- 1.7% - Caribbean
- 1.2% - Egypt
- 1.0% - North Africa (Morocco, Tunesia)
- 1.0% - Near and Middle East
- 0.8% - Canada
- 0.7% - the rest of Africa
- 0.6% - Australia, New Zealand, Pacific
- 0.5% - Central America
- 0.4% - South America
- 0.4% - Mexico

In 2011 there were 70,000,000 vacation trips by Germans
at an average expenditure of €868 per person per trip:

- 46.2% by car or recreational vehicle
- 37.2% by plane
- 8.4% by bus
- 5.5% by train
with the rest on cruises, etc.

Top 10 For 2011

German Vacation Destinations outside of Germany in 2011 (top 10)
Spain - 12.3%
Italy - 8.2%
Turkey - 7.4%
Austria - 5.2%
France 3.0%
Croatia - 2.7%
Greece - 2.6%
Poland - 2.3%
Netherlands - 2.1%
Denmark - 1.8%

German Vacation Destinations within Germany in 2011  (top 10)
Bavaria - 6.4%
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - 6.1%
Schleswig-Holstein - 3.9%
Lower Saxony - 3.6%
Baden-Württemberg - 2.9%
Saxony - 1.3%
Northrine-Westphalia - 1.1%
Berlin - 1.0%
Rhineland-Palatinate / Saarland - 1.0%
Thuringia - 0.9%

and, as a sign of the times
Use of Mobile Internet Access by German Travelers
- weather - 37%
- information about local goods and services - 24%
- mapping and related - 23%
- general information about the travel destination - 23%
- public transportation - 15%
- other tourist-related topics - 15%
- booking of accommodations - 6%
- booking of transportation - 3%
- general booking - 2%

Crete Greece Vacations: OUT OF THE BLUE Capsis Elite Resort

Capsis Hotels & Resorts writes about the Capsis Elite Resort on Crete:

"The OUT OF THE BLUE, Capsis Elite Resort is undeniably, by any measure, the most prestigious address in Crete".

Travel Luxembourg by Bike: An E-Bike Experience in the Hilly North and the Ardennes

Frederika Whitehead has a biker of a posting
at the Bike Blog
at The Guardian
in Luxembourg by e-bike: a natural high

Hat tip to CaryGEE.

The Kieler Woche 2012 16-24 June: Get the Kieler-Woche-App

For the sailor and lovers of Northern Europe's largest sailing festival:





The Kieler Woche this year is June 16-24, 2012, Kiel, Germany. Don't miss it.


And be sure to get the Kieler-Woche-App

New "Old" Formerly Dangerous Destinations Enter Travel Mix

Ondine Cohane has the story at the New York Times in On, Then Off, Then Back on the Map.

Healing Hotels of the World -- Ayurveda Parkschloesschen Hotel

Health resorts are on the upswing for all generations and all nations.

We note with interest that the 5-star Ayurveda Parkschlösschen Hotel in Bad Wildstein, Traben-Trarbach, Germany, where we are domiciled, is now a member of the Healing Hotels of the World, the HHOW, which writes at its website online:

"Our luxury spa resorts offer a blueprint to follow your individual path to health and wellness. Our award winning partner hotels are located on every continent with programs ranging from yoga and meditation retreats, detox, burn-out and stress-relief programs to sophisticated medical spas. It's all about you. Re-discover your deepest joy and passion for a life well lived."

Take a look.

Baltic Travel : Why Riga?, Latvia Superb Video

This is a fantastic video by VFS Films (see about) with great photography.

If you have never been to Riga, Jurmala and Latvia, or the Baltic in general, you are really missing something in terms of world travel. We have been there numerous times and find something of a timeless spirit in the Baltic that is lacking in much of the rest of the world. In the 19th century they once asked a high-ranking Russian general what he would want to be if he were born again -- he replied, "a Baltic baron". It is a fantastic place, in spite of some of its modern problems. There is something primordial and magical about the Baltic.





Why Riga? - YouTube

USA Travel and Discount Shopping

TripAdvisor has a useful page for travelers on discount shopping in the USA:

see United States: Discount Shopping

Top Destinations on the Rise at Tripadvisor.com led by the Baltic: Talinn first, Riga second, Vilnius seventh

Happy New Year! Where is 2012 to take us?
There is an unmistakable trend at Tripadvisor.com
in 15 destinations on the rise
but we have no idea what is behind it:

You've been there, right?

It is VERY UNLIKELY that you have traveled to ALL the fifteen places that TripAdvisor.com currently lists as "Destinations on the Rise":

1. Tallinn, Estonia
2. Riga, Latvia
3. Moscow, Russia
4. Zurich, Switzerland
5. Fethiye, Turkey
6. Seminyak, Indonesia
7. Vilnius, Lithuania
8. Austin, TX
9. Chania Town, Greece
10. Chaweng, Thailand
11. Bordeaux, France
12. San Sebastian - Donostia, Spain
13. Lyon, France
14. Essaouira, Morocco
15. Mendoza, Argentina

Modern Architecture in the United Kingdom: The Shard is a Building that will Tower over Tradition and Roman London

Is this the right thing architecturally for London?

See the Spiegel Online International in Ulrike Knöfel's article on
'The Shard': The Building That Will Change London Forever

Pitigliano,Tuscany, Italy, Tuff Jewel in the Tuscan Maremma

See the delightful article about Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy,
by Carreen Conlan
at Synergise.com
in Travellers' Tale #85

Look Glamorous in 2012: From Glamming to Chilling at Spas

What's in a spa?

Glamming = to make yourself look glamorous.

Karlie Pouliot has the stroy for Fox News at

From Glam To Wow: Spa Trends For 2012.

Top Ten Spa Trends for 2012 from SpaFinder

What are the top trends for Spas in 2012?

See SpaFinder Announces Top Ten Spa Trends for 2012 (Full Report).

rome2rio: discover how to get anywhere

rome2rio: discover how to get anywhere: - Sent using Google Toolbar