iExplore: Adventure & Luxury Travel Blog

Volcano Tourism: Would You Climb inside a Volcano?

2012-05-14T19:13:59Z

Ever since Eyjafjallajökull (pronounced "Eyja"-the Icelandic word for island, "Fjalla" mountain -"Jokull" glacier, easy no?) erupted two years ago leaving most of Europe coated in an ash cloud so thick planes were grounded for a week, the

This is a photo of Hrunárgil, Iceland, close to volcano Eyjafjallajökull taken 14th of June 2009. To day it is a different landscape due to lava from the volcano (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

world has been fascinated by Iceland's volcanoes and their powerful, unpredictable raw energy. So much so that volcano tourism has become a hot (pun intended) topic. Sure, you can go to Hawaii or Costa Rica to admire volcanoes from afar, but Iceland's where it's at if you want to get up close and personal with these beasts.

If you're an adventure seeker, there's a new bucket list idea for you to test just how far you are willing to go for a thrill. Discover the World, a UK tour company created the first tour where you can actually climb inside a volcano to admire and explore their veracity from the inside-out. After hiking and domineering the lava fields with ATVS, descend into the gaping mouth of the volcano via a specially-constructed cable car straight into the magma center. Spend an hour or admiring the chamber walls, remains and ash before being pulled to safety.

Though not taking place in active Eyjafjallajökull or the center of the chaos, the tour is offered in the dormant Thrihnúkagigur (which last erupted over 4,000 years ago so your odds of surviving are pretty good) and is only open to the public a few weeks each summer. There is a strict maximum capacity per day to protect the delicate environment so get on the waitlist now because word on the street is there are already over 200 interested names. The company hopes to eventually build a tunnel from the volcano to a viewing platform, but the plans haven't been approved yet and are waiting to be assessed for environmental impact. If you're interested in volcano tourism, Discover the World set up a volcano hotline so you can signup to receive up to the minute info on what's erupting where.

As if you need another incentive, word on the street is Tom Cruise will be filming a new movie in Iceland this summer so you may get some star power to add to the heat. Oh, la la.

Take the Plunge: Urban Rappelling for Charity.

2012-05-08T19:17:22Z

Abseiling (Photo credit: Hatters!)

They say going down might be just as fun as going up. Who's they? Us. Rappelling, the American name for abseiling, or "to rope down," is the controlled descent from a cliff or slope. You may be used to rappelling in the form of rock climbing or caving, but we have something more thrilling for our urban explorers, the opportunity to rappel down the side of a building amidst the great Chicago skyline. And add scaling buildings with the utmost of easy to your resume? Pretty cool. Registration is now open for fall 2012, so check it out; you just might cross two things off your bucket list at once- charity and an adrenaline rush.

The Wit Hotel hosts the twice yearly event that allows 150 adventure seeks to each rappel down the side of their famous lightning bolt in the center of downtown. Interested in participating? Just be 18 years old or over, weigh between 110-300 pounds and meet the fundraising minimum of $150 registration plus a $1000 in pledges. This event is being produced by Over the Edge, a fully insured professional rappelling organization that has worked with various non-profit groups throughout North America to help raise money for their cause.

And this cause is a worthy one, the Respiratory Health Association of Chicago provides services and support to the individuals living with lung diseases (including tuberculosis, lung cancer, asthma, COPD, and others) throughout metropolitan Chicago area. If dangling from a rope isn't your thing, they also organize the Hustle up the Hancock, a yearly race up the 94 steps of the John Hancock Center and the CowaLUNGa Bike tour, a three day ride through the Midwest.

Call yourself Spiderman, Superman, or whatever other marvel hero name you channel to combat your fear of heights- it's all for a good cause after all.

Blown Away By Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala

2012-04-24T17:15:40Z

As the mini-van bounced through the windy Guatemalan landscape, I felt slightly nauseous as I listened to the driver (Jeff) and our guide (Rolando) chat about family and friends in Spanish. My husband (Adam) and I gazed sleepy eyed into the dark morning sky.

After 45 minutes, the van pulled over and we climbed out and felt the crisp cold morning air slap our faces awake. It was the clearest day in weeks and we enjoyed snapping shots of sunrays glowing on Agua and Fuego Volcanoes in the distance. Then, like a ton of volcanic rock, I realized we were about to hike to the top of very active Pacaya Volcano...

Pacaya Volcano

Pacaya is just one of Guatemala's 31 volcanoes and towers at 8,373 feet (2,552 meters). Over 23,000 years ago, Pacaya first erupted and has been active ever since. In 1965, Pacaya erupted flowing lava dangerously close to a nearby village and in 2010, residents of Antigua and Guatemala City were showered with ash from Pacaya.

Hiking the Volcano

Walking sticks in hand, the hike began with a steep accent that winded through a lush forest. Rolando warned of rattle snakes, but I was comforted by the three stray dogs that joined us.

I began to notice small changes the higher we hiked. The dirt trail turned into volcanic pebbles and the trees thinned and we finally reached the exposed lunar landscape of volcanic rock. The views of Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango Volcanoes in the distance were incredible. You could see Fuego erupt periodically by displaying a small puff of smoke from its chimney. We continued on, passing a graveyard of names carved into the volcanic rock/sand of previous trekkers. Even though it was only 11am, the sun and heat from the black volcanic rock was intense.

The hike became difficult and we progressed slower and slower. Every step was twice as hard because the loose rock would simply crumble under your feet and drop you back down to where you started. Eventually, we summitted and peered into the depths of Pacaya's crater. I was shocked how the sulfur burned my lungs, but the stunning 360 degree views paralyzed me with their beauty.

The shocking effect of the last eruption were displayed below with a river of black lava frozen just before reaching the seemingly miniature village below. It was time to descend and Rolando gave us gloves to protect our hands from the sharp volcanic rock. What took us hours to climb up only seemed to take minutes to ski down, with rock and dust flying everywhere. Rolando lead us to a nice a picnic lunch with sandwiches, fruit, nuts, and banana bread (a specialty in Guatemala). Shortly thereafter, we were on the move again.

We headed out over the lava fields with Rolando taking advantage of the volcano at every chance. He encouraged us to climb into a sauna formed by the lava and brought marshmallows for roasting in a natural oven.

We finished the hike in silence. Perhaps it was our shock that we hiked an active volcano or perhaps it was exhaustion. In either case, it was a breath-taking and remarkable experience that I highly recommend.

Logistics

Pacaya Volcano is located an hour from Guatemala City and Antigua, though most tourists book tours from Antigua. Tours include transportation, a guide and walking sticks and range from inexpensive large group tours ($20) to expensive small group tours with guides willing to show you ever rock on the mountain ($50). Keep in mind, most tours don't include the park entrance fee ($7). Plan for 5 to 8 hours depending on the tour, including transportation from Antigua.

Comfortable hiking boots and loose layered clothing is recommended. The volcanic rock is very sharp and boots will not only protect your feet, but save you from ruining a perfectly good pair of tennis shoes. If you plan on hiking to the very top of the crater and went the budget route, bring a pair of gloves. The way down is almost like skiing on razor sharp volcanic rock.

There's only one nice restroom at the start of the hike and a shack before the exposed part of the volcano begins (just before the thinning of trees) so plan accordingly or be prepared to become one with nature and everyone else.

The top of the volcano is exposed to intense wind and sun. Bring a small bag packed with hand sanitizer or wipes, tissues, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, a light jacket, a hat, camera, water, and snacks. Children will be awaiting you at the end of the hike if you want, to bring them a gift such as pens, toothpaste, paper, or fruit.

Darcie Connell is the CEO of Trekity.com, a customized travel site that finds travel ideas based on your life and is the co-founder of TravelBloggerAcademy.com. Follow her and her husband on Twitter.

7 Must-Eat Dishes Around the World

2012-04-05T19:51:23Z

In honor of the premier of Bravo's newest culinary competition "Around the World in 80 Plates," we decided to give you our list of foodie musts if you find yourself in one of these fabulous seven worldly cities. Not necessarily all for their deliciousness, but because they're truly unique regional specialties. Often imitated, but never duplicated. Take our culinary challenge and let us know how many of these signature dishes you've tried?

1. Bagkok, Thailand- While you can get the best pad thai of your life as street food for about $1.50, don't pass up the Tom Yum Soup. This spicy clear broth is a favorite of both locals and foreigners. Made of lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, fish sauce and chili peppers, it is the quintessential appetizer. Different variations are made regionally and with the addition of prawns (Tom yum goong or tom yam kung), chicken (Tom yum gai or tom yam kai), seafood (Tom yum thale ) or coconut milk (Tom yum nam khon).

2. Reykjavik, Iceland- Known for way out there foods like rotten shark meat, puffin and whale, we suggest instead you try their signature drink brennivin for sheer weirdness factor. Menthol flavored schnapps, it tastes like you're drinking a minty cigarette. Just make sure you have a chaser handy.

3. Barcelona, Spain- Grab some paella by the sea. While paella originally comes from Valencia to the south, the ambiance at the waterfront is quite something. Paella is a rice dish with vegetables and meat or seafood (sometimes both). Head to the seafront to places along Almirall Aixada where you'll also find the established Can Majo, or down to beachside suburbs like Poble Nou.

4. Chicago, IL- The average tourist may expect to come to the Windy City to indulge in deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs (no ketchup!) the real must-grub snack is Garrett's Popcorn. The Chicago mix includes a blend of buttery CaramelCrisp® and sharp CheeseCorn™ and is to die for. We dare you just to eat one handful.

5. Paris, France- While nothing in Paris should be missed especially the macrons, crepes or baguettes; a flaming drink in the Latin quarter is best paired with an authentic fondue dinner. Not only rich and creamy, but a festive culinary option that makes dinner a fun event to cook the meats in oil and dip goodies in the cheeses.

6. Osaka, Japan- While sushi is obviously the biggest draw for foodies to Japan, be sure not to miss Okonomiyaki. A cross between an omelet and a pancake with a mix of meats, veggies and seafood, the pancakes are served sizzling on a table with a built-in hotplate accompanied by a variety of dipping sauces and mayo.

7. New Orleans, LA- There's plenty of food that makes Nola, well Nola. While you may be overwhelmed by all the Cajun and creole comfort food options, no trip is complete without a traditional shrimp po' boy and beignet. The real kicker though is the alligator cheesecake appetizer. Yup, you heard it here first.

Unique, Wacky and Unheard of Spring Festivals

2012-03-23T16:43:24Z

Español: El Colacho, entre los danzantes, salta sobre los recién bautizados, Castrillo de Murcia, sasamón, Burgos, España (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The season for spring festivals is back: the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the beer is flowing. I can't think of a better way to spend the day than soaking in the sun, beverage in hand... But rest assured, this is not that. From crazy to wacky, whether you're an arts/music lover or an outdoor enthusiast, these festivals are definitely one of a kind and will add a certain flair to your bucket list.

The Spartan Death Race- This 48 hour challenge of mental and physical endurance has been called part 'Survivor,' part 'Jackass,'" by The New York Times. Contestants compete in a series of 20 secret challenges over a course of two days and on average only 15% complete the race. Taking place in the sleepy town of Pittsfield, Vermont on June 15, 2012, past stunts have included a two hour woodcutting marathon, carrying a bike upstream against the current, scavenger hunt through mud and barbed wire, and memorizing random facts (or maybe a Bible verse or two) at 2,000 feet of altitude. Not scared yet? Their website is http://www.youmaydie.com/.

The Great Escape- Europe's leading music festival for showcasing new talent, the Great Escape kicks starts the spring festival season May 10-12, 2012, introducing 15,000 music lovers to the key artists and sounds of the year. With over 300 bands playing in 30 venues over 3 days in May, aside from scheduled performances impromptu street gigs spring up all over town. Think of it as the British version of SXSW.

El Colacho- Also known as the baby jumping festival (yes, you read that right), El Colacho has been rated one of the most dangerous festivals in the world and is said to cleanse the babies of their original sins. Taking place in June in Castillo de Murcia, Spain, infants are wrapped in cloth and placed upon a series of mattresses on the street. Grown men dressed as devils then proceed to jump over them to symbolically free them from evil spirits.

Rickshaw Run- While many hikers will dream of trekking Nepal's majestic peaks, only a few will experience the Himalyas by way of rickshaw. A tri-annual event, the Rickshaw Run pits adventurous travelers amid the world's steepest peaks for a two-week, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Past competitors have become permanently disfigured, disabled or even died while participating so do be warned, this is only for those serious about risking life and limb for a good time. Each team of 2-3 must raise approximately $1,400 for their entrance fee, which pays for the rental of a three-wheeled rickshaw, three test-drive sessions and basic rickshaw mechanic lessons, and three days of access prior to the race to spruce up the rickshaw before the race

Toronto Comic Arts Festival- A free week long celebration of comics, graphic novels and their creators, the Toronto Comic Festival was created to showcase comic books as a literary art form. Since 2010 TCAF has been held at Toronto Reference Library, with attendances of 12,500 in 2010 and 15,000 in 2011, across Festival events. Will you be there in May?

Australia: Top 5 Nature and Adventure Experiences

2012-03-20T20:03:33Z

Cuttlefish, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Australia is a vast country, but it's easily accessible. The Land Down Under is positively bursting at its seams with incredible adventure and nature experiences for discerning travelers to enjoy. Since its earliest times, this land has been known for its amazing landscapes, its gorgeous vistas, its rugged Outback and for a unique array of things that can't be experienced anywhere else on Earth. No matter where your sensibilities may lie, there's bound to be an exciting opportunity with your name on it here. From trying your hand on an Outback cattle drive to diving into its largest coral reef, Australia is brimming with excitement.

Coast Along The Great Ocean Road

Experiencing unbelievable sights in Oz doesn't have to mean strapping on a rucksack and hitting a punishing trail; just outside of Melbourne, for instance, the Great Ocean Road beckons to drivers who wish to see an impressive array of things without having to rough it in the slightest. Along the way, you'll pass through some quintessentially Australian sights; the Twelve Apostles rock formations are one particular favorite, while charming seaside towns are another. There's more than just pretty sights to drink in as you travel along this route, too: The Tower Hill Nature Reserve is a topnotch way to learn a bit more about the indigenous culture of this amazing land.

Herd Cattle Out On The Open Australian Range

For those who prefer to learn by doing, few opportunities are more compelling than the Great Australian Cattle Drive. During this unforgettable experience, you'll get to do your own part to help herd cattle along Australia's most famous stock trails, the Oodnadatta Track, in South Australia. The romance and excitement of herding cattle out on the rugged open fields of this breathtaking land will undoubtedly become one of the highlights of your Australian sojourn. There are few better ways to find out what the majesty of Australia's proud ranching tradition is all about than by trying it out for yourself.

Take A Dip In The World's Largest Glass-Bottomed Swimming Pool

Without a doubt, "quirky" is one adjective that Australians bear with pride. As large as this country is, it takes a lot to turn people's heads here; Melbourne's The Olsen, a new hotel, will boast the world's largest glass-bottomed pool when it opens in early 2010. Suspended over Chapel Street, this pool is bound to become a must-see attraction in this engaging city once it is opened to the public. Imagine the thrill of swimming to the bottom of the pool - and gazing at passersby on Chapel Street along the way. This is just one more example of a unique experience that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else on the planet - and it's right here in Australia.

Get A Whirlwind Tour Of Some Of The Country's Most Engaging Sights

Pinpointing just one part of the country to explore is not an easy endeavor. That being said, if you have to pick just one region to explore while in Oz, make it the Flinders Ranges. Tours of this awe-inspiring part of the country usually include:

Flights over and around the rock basin of Wilpena Pound, whose splendor is largely unmatched in any other part of this rugged land
Taking in genuine Aboriginal art at Arkaroo Rock; the impact of this amazing culture can be found throughout the country, but Arkaroo offers some of the most compelling examples of it
Pub crawling through some of the most authentic watering holes in the region, sampling local brews and catching a glimpse of the locals at the same time

Take In One Of The Top Natural Wonders Of The World: The Great Barrier Reef

If any one feature dominates the country of Australia and helps to make it more famous than anything else, it's the Great Barrier Reef. Stretching an incredible 1,200 along the northern coast of the country, this one-of-a-kind wonder offers up ample opportunities for scuba divers and snorkelers of all experience levels to see nature's majesty in an up close and personal kind of way. Day trip operators and dive schools are at the ready to introduce you to this unbelievable place.

Australia: Don't Sit This One Out!

Regardless of your level of fitness or your prowess when it comes to outdoor activities, there is sure to be something unforgettable for you to experience when in Australia. Whatever you do, don't just sit there! After all, where else on Earth can you herd cattle on the Oodnadatta Track, swim in a glass-bottomed pool that is suspended over a major thoroughfare or rub shoulders with sea creatures amid a wonderland of coral splendor? Come to Australia and be prepared to be swept away by its engaging, thrilling and all-around amazing experience.

Pinsanity: Pinterest for the Travel Industry

2012-03-07T17:52:30Z

Pinterest. You've heard it mentioned at least a dozen times in the past week. But listen up because unlike Google+, this one matters. The new social media site (yes, another one...) has been called the best thing for the travel industry since vanilla. That's a lofty statement and by now I hope you're wondering how this mystical board of pretty pictures can benefit your destination. Touted as the fastest growing site EVER with 10 million unique US views a month, 18-34 year old upper income women from American's heartland are loving the concept of digital scrapbooking. Visitors use the social networking site to bookmark things they find interesting, which builds an online collage of aspirational lifestyle products- dream home decor, wardrobe ideas, recipes, wedding stuff, you get the idea. It's your retro shoebox under the bed, except plastered all over the internet and shared wtih 100 of your closest associates.

Anne Hornyak, a social media guru in the tourism industry recently found only 34 US CVBs and 3 international destinations taking advantage of Pinterest so far which indicates a huge missed opportunity. She even setup a board to link yourself for more visibility. Get pinning!

Why you should care?

The travel space is a huge segment of these inspirational photos. Users are identifying gorgeous places they want to remember to visit later on in life. It is a subtle way to get your your destination on the radar without a hard sales push. And while it is mostly for brand awareness at the top of the funnel, "users are often 'buy hungry'" says an article on eyefortravel.com so don't discount them as a potential lead just yet.

What are the benefits?

Aside from showing off your destination as a visual portrait in all its glory, Pinterest is generating more referral traffic to websites than Youtube, Google+ and LinkedIn combined and users are spending more time on Pinterest than Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ combined. 80% of pins are "re-pins," confirming the viral nature and shareability of good photography. After I "pinned" a number of iExplore's destinations photos, while we did not see a huge surge in traffic (about 50 visit/week we've been active), the traffic that's coming from Pinterest was averaging over 5 pages/visit- almost double our normal web visitor. Clearly, these users are active, engaged and the kind we want to convert into sales because they are spending the time to learn about our products.

How to do it?

If you haven't already, request an invite to setup your account. There are two ways to setup your boards, so only you can add to them or so others can pin to them too. It's a personal preference, but obviously allowing others to alter your boards gives you less control over the brand and requires more monitoring. On the plus side, it is more interactive to let your "fans" participate and pin things they like about your city. In our case, I set it so only I could add pins because I wanted to ensure only links from our actual website were displayed and not copycat content getting our traffic. If you work with a bunch of partners (like local restaurants, hotels, etc.), you may want to allow them to share related content so you can work together to populate the space.

After you setup your account, mentally divide your destination into categories. For example, there are many reasons to visit Chicago- food/dining, spas, family fun, shopping, must-see sites, you get the idea. The more diversified, the better as long as you have enough images to fill up each board so it doesn't look empty (a completed board from the preview screen has nine pins). Go through your website and find captivating imagery that fit the categories and add them with the "pin it" button. Keep the descriptions short and sweet, maybe a quote, maybe a phrase, just enough so the viewer knows what they're looking at. You want the picture to tell the story; it is worth a thousand words after all. Follow like-minded users who are interested in the categories you specified- simply searching for keywords like "travel" yield thousands of results. By the laws of social media, usually about half will follow you back. And voila- a whole new audience to share your story with.

Tips & Tricks

As a side note, I originally added all of iexplore's pics to a destination board on my personal account since I have more klout in the social media space along with images from other sites I know are influential in the space in hopes of not turning people off with solely pushing iexplore content. I wanted to show other travel influencers that we're interested in their posts as well, in hopes for reciprocation. I also created iExplore its own account in case people were searching specifically for it and to retain the brand name. Happy pinning!

Google Panda: Reflections 1 Year Later

2012-03-07T17:43:04Z

Or better known as the day Google decided to kick the travel industry's ass...again. Overnight, iExplore lost 50% of it's organic traffic. And for what? Yes, we license some content (with the breadth and depth of information, it's not really an option), but we are by no means a content farm. Angry and confused, we like many others launched into panic mode, testing various aspects of the site. We changed our ad-content ratio, we deindexed thin pages, we aggressively wrote new backlink articles, and even migrated our entire server to a new CMS system improve page load times....and the result? A whole lot of nothing from Google's eyes. A year later...what have we learned? Aside from that we hate Google for being the big bad bully...Google isn't' the only way to get traffic and all the positive improvements we made to the site are still beneficial to the user experience.

This isn't the first time the travel industry banded together against Google. FairSearch was created back in 2010 when Travelocity, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Sabre Holdings, and several other online travel companies joined forces to try to prevent the search giant from acquiring ITA, which would make it a direct competitor in online flight bookings. FairSearch's mission was to show that Google is in fact abusing its monopoly power and favoring its advertisers, results that pad their pocketbook instead of displaying the most relevant queries. In 2010, PPC accounted for almost 96% of Google's revenues ($28 billion dollars) so you can see why they'd want to keep that ratio in their favor. In the past, Google has even scrapped Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews to display on their own products to keep their results on top.

It's not to say that we've given up on Google for traffic or that it isn't important...but it certainly hasn't been our primary strategy as of late. It requires a serious change in mindset to believe that you won't live and die by what your organic search pagerank is. But as we've come to find, there are plenty of other methods to get your message out there- PPC (and through travel words are typically extremely pricey), there are plenty of other large, lesser known private networks which offer great volume discounts. Social media. Get active with your already engaged audience, instead of trying to capture people still in the search phase. Partnerships and affiliate marketing. Find a complementary site and offer each other link exchanges, reciprocal banners, emails, the like. What we can thank Google for is forcing us to be more creative with our marketing dollars.

Key events through the year of the Panda

Panda/Farmer - February 23, 2011

A major algorithm update affected up to 12% of search results. Panda seemed to crack down on thin content, content farms, sites with high ad-to-content ratios, and a number of other quality issues.

Panda 2.0- April 11,2011

New signals were integrated, including data about sites users blocked via the SERPs directly or the Chrome browser.

Google+ - June 28, 2011

After a number of social media failures, Google launched a serious attack on Facebook with Google+ tightly integrated into products like Gmail. Early adopters were quick to jump on board, and within 2 weeks Google+ reached 10M users.

Panda Goes Global- August 12, 2011

Google rolled Panda out internationally, both for English-language queries globally and non-English queries except for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Google reported that this impacted 6-9% of queries.

Freshness Update - November 3, 2011

Google announced that an algorithm change rewarding freshness would impact up to 35% of queries (almost 3X the publicly stated impact of Panda 1.0). This update primarily affected time-sensitive results, but signaled a much stronger focus on recent content.

Personalized Results- January 10, 2012

Google announced a radical shift in personalization - aggressively pushing Google+ social data and user profiles into SERPs. Google also added a new, prominent toggle button to shut off personalization.

Ads Above the Fold- January 19, 2012

Google updated their page layout algorithm to devalue sites with too much ad-space above the "fold."

Source: http://www.seomoz.org/google-algorithm-change#2011

How to Save the Sinking Cruise Industry from Negative Publicity

2012-03-07T17:26:46Z

It's no secret the cruise industry is struggling. Between the Concordia sinking, the robbery of twenty-two Carnival passengers in Puerto Vallarta, people missing over the years, and the recent shooting in Mazatlan, the once glamorous image of sailing the high seas aboard a luxury liner has been replaced with cheap buffets, discounts and shadiness. Unfortunately, these aren't as rare of an occurrence as a savvy PR team would like to have you believe. There have been at least 100 passengers robbed at gunpoint (or machete) during excursions over the last 3 - 5 years; the majority traveling in large cruise excursion groups, which generates a disastrous amount of negative word of mouth.

How do we sway the public opinion that cruises are still the safe, romanticized, exotic escape they so yearn for?

Through savvy brand management and a stellar retargeting strategy.

"Our brand has been massacred by the media," said CEO, Pier Luigi Foschi, and even though "the company is solid, with a net worth of several billion euros," Costa Cruises "could fail as a [brand]." As of February 27, 2012 thirty-two people were confirmed dead as a result of the sinking of the Costa Concordia. The company made headlines again just six weeks later when a fire onboard the Costa Allegra left it without power for 13 hours in waters frequented by pirates, before the ship was taken under tow. Let's take a step back to see how they handled the media attention since the first incident with a look at their official press statements.

Statement #1/2, January 14- Statement of evacuation issued, cause of incident not confirmed. What this does: raise a whole lot of questions and no answers. Statement #2, January 14- "We are not at this time able to answer questions because the authorities are trying, with our cooperation, to understand the reasons for this incident, but it appears to be caused by a rock. The operation was complicated by a sudden tilting of the ship that made disembarkation difficult." Ambivalent theories and guesses should never be in a press release. Statements should always be definitive and said with authority. If you don't know what happened, don't say anything. And would the public know what a tilting of the ship means or why it happened? No. Use lingo that a layman would understand.

Statement 3, January 15- "Prosecutor has seized the ship and the DVR-- the so-called 'black box' containing all navigation data. Preliminary indications are that there may have been significant human error on the part of the ship's master, Captain Francesco Schettino, which resulted in these grave consequences... The skills of Costa crew are periodically tested by Coast Guard." More ambivalent language choices, "so-called;" "periodically." Don't blame and discredit a decorated staff member when results aren't yet conclusive. Like it or not, he is a face of your company and throwing one person under the bus doesn't look good for anyone. Explain what a black box is and how it is relevant to this incident.

Statement 4, January 18- More people have been located.Our main priority remains the location of those passengers and crew who have not yet been accounted for. This is the most uselessly vague statement yet, how many hours are you tirelessly looking? Show some effort that you actually care. Who has been recovered, why are there no passenger names? Families would be freaking out by this point.

Statement 5, January 18- For Costa Cruises protecting the environment is an integral part of its corporate mission, as it has demonstrated by obtaining the most stringent international certifications (UNIEN ISO 14001). The company therefore recognized the need to promptly address issues concerning the protection of the marine environment following the Costa Concordia accident. That's great, but marine life aren't people. Let's stop trying to deflect attention and focus on the missing passengers, huh?

Statement 6, January 23- For all guests on Costa Concordia Jan. 13, Costa Cruises will refund the full cost of the cruise. The company will reimburse all travel expenses incurred both reaching the port of embarkation and on the homeward journey, including any independent arrangements made for transfers. The 30 percent future cruise discount, in addition a to a full refund, is intended for guests scheduled to sail on Costa Concordia from Jan. 14 onward. The kicker is that they then offer a 30% discount to rebook. Who in their right mind would rebook on a liner that just almost killed them? It's like a slap in the face. When a ship sinks and that's the best you can offer, it's time to seriously rethink your retargeting strategy.

Statement 7, January 24- Costa Cruises asserts that the company has never offered any discount on future cruises to our guests who were on board Costa Concordia for the cruise of Jan. 13 and involved in the tragic accident. How confusing can you people be that you need to recant and clarify every statement a day later? What do you mean you didn't say it; it's word for word in the previous release...not to mention, what happened to the missing people? As much as we care about your advertising dollars being paused, there are still lives at stake here.

Statement 8, January 27- Details of the compensation package for any guests on board: A lump sum of 11,000 euros (US$14,458.07 at today's exchange rate) per person as indemnification, covering all patrimonial and non patrimonial damages, including loss of baggage and personal effects, psychological distress and loss of enjoyment of the cruise vacation, higher than the current laws enforce. While it is certainly valiant that the compensation is higher than is legally required, the obvious question is what is legally required? And again, where are the missing people, is the search over?

Statement 9, February 2- More about the environmental impact and bidding for salvage companies beginning in March. Zzzzz. A whole lot of nothing being said.

Statement 10, February 14- Deadline extended for reimbursement. Do these announcements really need to be shared with the public? Just alert those involved. You are oversharing unnecessary logistics and undersharing the overarching picture of what actually happened.

10 Statements about the incident. Key facts curiously missing. Ambivalent language and unproven theories. No resolution. What should they have done differently?

Key #1: Transparency

Nowhere on the Costa homepage does it mention either of these tragic incidents. There should be a large banner or text acknowledging their sorrow for the victims plastered across their site. People are going to talk about your brand whether you like it or not, so it might as well be front and center where you have a chance to give a rebuttal vs. being trashed all over the internet. Maybe start a community/forum for people who have questions about what happened and to pay respect to the victims, so they are treated as people and not just missing passenger #42.

By making people search for the information, it gives the impression that they don't care or admit to doing anything wrong. By picking a scapegoat to blame like the faulty equipment or the Captain, it looks like they're chalking it up to a one time fluke occurrence. And if you don't state facts, people will speculate and come to their own conclusion.

Key #2: Restore Confidence

Own up and apologize. Lay the facts out honestly about what happened, how rare of an occurrence it is and how regrettable it is. Tell your side of the story with a written statement. Hire an experienced PR firm to designated one person as the spokesperson. Alert the press about the positive changes the public can expect to see and what steps they plan to take to ensure 100% safety going forward. Stay consistent on messaging. Tell the story only when you have a competed story to tell instead of recanting new theories every couple days.

Key #3: Wait it out

Unfortunately in these situations, time is your friend. Go off the radar for a bit. Cut back on your marketing spend so your name isn't continually in people's faces. Give people time to forget. In the meantime, generate some positive PR to counteract the incident. Donate to a cause for social good. Volunteer for a marine environmental cleaning if that's what your brand stands for. Anything that is timely and relevant.

The industry as a whole needs to band together to do a serious branding campaign to restore the cruise image to it's glory days. Much like Coca Cola revamped their brand to restore nostalgia, let's go back to a time when cruising was at its heyday. Target those that had great experiences to rebook. Go through your customer databases looking for positive feedback...not those that were traumatized.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly with Contests

2012-03-07T17:13:09Z

Contests and sweepstakes are a quick and easy way to get email subscribers and facebook/twitter followers because who doesn't love the chance to win a free trip? However, their strong reliance on the social sharing aspect has the potential to backfire if not properly monitored or managed and just as easily as that positive press appears, it could turn negative by disgruntled entrants or participants.

Case Study: Travel Contest Winner Gets Sent on Prize Trip. Ground Operator Fs Up. Company X Look Bad.

Sometimes, it's not always the marketing department to blame. In the case of our Company X's contest which called for a blog entry about an amazing place you've been, the contest was executed as planned, the best winner out of the finalists was chosen, and everything seemed dandy. They met their goals of increasing website traffic through the virility of sharing stories and pictures, and increased email opt-ins. Until, of course, the winner came to claim their prize.

They had been working with their customer service team to meticulously plan their adventure and came across a Trip Advisor forum warning against the designated ground operator on their itinerary. They voiced their concerns about the bad reviews, and were assured that everything would be fine, that they had used this company many times over. Halfway through their trip, their worst nightmare was confirmed- as stated in the reviews, the local ground operator took the guests to a different hotel than was on their itinerary and forced them to pay their own stay, something that was supposed to have been covered in the prize arrangements. With all the confusion, they missed their transfer and had to get rerouted for the remainder of the trip, a nightmare for them and the company.

The fatal flaw was not the execution of the contest, but the actual logistics of the product prize. Lesson learned: make sure you do your homework on what you're giving away, because if the prize isn't a great reflection of the brand, you just lost all that positive word of mouth that could've come from the experience. While they company took all necessary steps to remedy the situation as fast as possible and offer compensation for the hotel fare and confusion, it pays to test your product first so you don't have to make good later.

Another example: Disgruntled entrants post negative comments on your facebook page.

You didn't win. You're bummed after wasting weeks upon weeks gaining facebook likes and shares in order to become one of the top 10 finalists in a trip giveaway. The top prize winner was chosen by a panel of judges and you don't agree with their decision. What do you do? Slam the company's decision on their facebook page for the world to see how rigged it was.

Unfortunately this is becoming more and more common, as a typical contest setup has users vote each other into the finalist spots and then a team of experts chose the actual winner. While logistically this makes sense to ensure the winner was truly deserving and a necessary step to make sure they didn't game the system by "stuffing" votes, the other entrants may feel cheated if they're not selected even though they may have more "likes" than the winner.

Fight your first instinct to delete the negative feedback on your fan page because that will just anger the poster even more and social media sites are an outlet for sharing experiences, good and bad. Instead, politely and directly respond that the best winner was chosen fairly and better luck next time. State that you value everyone's participation and if they still don't stop with the negative comments, you can block him or her as a last resort. One bad apple shouldn't affect the whole bunch, but letting him have a place to express himself shows you're taking the high road.

Singapore, Splendor of Southeast Asia

2012-02-29T20:47:31Z

Singapore Flyer (Photo credit: chooyutshing)

Imagine a team of the world's greatest architects and city planners brought together to create a dream city, in a beautiful location, with great year round weather. The picture in your head should be of Singapore, where such great care was put into the development it is illegal even to chew gum for fear of dirtying the city. Perfectly organized by shopping districts, financial districts, and entertainment/nightlife areas all in dedicated sections, it is an urban feng shui masterpiece.

World Class Dining

Singapore has a renowned reputation for phenomenal cuisine and a fusion of delicacies from around the globe. Savor foods from different parts of the world at a truly authentic restaurant themed from a far away country or spend the night tickling your taste buds somewhere that blends many flavors together. Perched on the top floor of the Shangri-La, over looking the city skyline is one of the jewels of Singapore cuisine, The Blu. With a top rated chef, Kevin Cherkas creates a unique menu with modern European Cuisine, blended with Asian ingredients and exciting twists.

Restaurant le Nicolas is tucked away in China Town and entering the cozy restaurant you know you will have the most excellent personal service as you watch the Chef (Nicolas) pour his heart into every dish. The French wonder continually draws in foodies with his attention to detail and love affair with cuisine.

A large influence from Chinese heritage is apparent as they certainly know how to do Chinese fine-dining right. Min Jiang in The Goodwood Park Hotel, boasts top notch Chinese cuisine in this significant Singapore landmark. Built in the early 1900's when tigers still roamed the streets, The Goodwood Park Hotel, started as an elite club and has retained it's 5-star status over the years.

Activities

With less than 800 square km in the entire country, Singapore has utilized their land well and been ingenious in developing attractions that draw people from all over Asia. The Singapore Flyer is the world's largest Ferris wheel reaching 42 stories high. This 'observation wheel' has pods that can hold 28 people for a 45-minute ride to gain some the city's best views.

On the Southern tip of Singapore is "Asia's Favorite Playground," Sentosa. The park continues to grow in popularity and in size as the original island was enlarged and six more artificial islands created. Artificial wave pools, indoor skydiving, beach bars, golf courses and amusement parks, all serve to make Sentosa an extremely lively place.

The Never Ending Party

The party never stops in this bustling city. Enjoy a truly Asian night out and party to Canto Pop, or hit up the mainstream world-class clubs. Zouk constantly has big name DJs and performers coming through several times a week. With several sections of the club, anyone can find their niche here.

Much of Singapore's nightlife is clustered around the river that snakes through the city. Overlooking the water (and a giant Mere-Lion fountain) the walls of The Butter Factory are always pulsing with popular tunes and packed with beautiful people from around the world partying late into the morning.

Pampered Nights

When the music finally fads, it is easy to find a feather bed to snuggle into at one of Singapore's many 5 star hotels. Stay near the heart of the shopping district at the Marriott, and pamper yourself in their exquisite spa. Enjoy the lavish and enormous breakfast buffet, famous among frequent hotel visitors who pass through the city.

The Mandarin Oriental is the picture of class and elegance and boasts the most interesting interior architecture. The staff is painfully tutored to pay the upmost attention to the guests and in a world of corporate hotels, you appreciate their personal care. The newly remodeled pool lets guests bask in the sun amongst a posh setting overlooking the splendor of the city as a backdrop.

The jetsetting vacationers gallivanting through South East Asia too often miss Singapore. It is truly an international city that makes traveler's jaws drop at the majesty and beauty found within its streets.

by Jonathan Jenkins, Contributing Author

5 Things You Never Knew About Famous Movie Sets

2012-02-23T17:30:05Z

The Hangover (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

Movie sets and places where Hollywood blockbusters are filmed gain a new kind of fame for a destination and become a new attraction. Who doesn't want to relive the romance of "Midnight in Paris," or storm across the desert Tom Cruise-style in the newest "Mission Impossible" flick set in Dubai? A movie's location can be as important as its all-star cast for box office success and popularity. We love spewing off movies filmed in or about Chicago as it gives a sense of hometown pride (Transformers 3, Contagion, Breakfast Club, Mean Girls, Home Alone, to name a few). Here is our list of best destinations that helped set the scene and play a killer supporting role, and the interesting facts you didn't know about them.

Sex and the City 2- Abu Dhabi

When our femme fatales accompany Samantha on a work trip to the UAE, they encounter quite the clash of cultural norms, but actually ended up filming in Marrakech, Morocco so they wouldn't have any trouble with the real law as a result of the women prancing around in skimpy bikinis. While Abu Dhabi may have gotten a sexy makeover as a result of SATC, they still remain a little old school on women's rights so do your homework before planning a girlfriend getaway to the Middle East.

The Beach- Koh Phi Phi

Wherever Leo's in a bathing suit, women aren't far behind. The sexy set of the adventure thriller The Beach was set on the island of Koh Phi Phi, said to be discovered upon receiving a map of a secret island paradise. This real life escape is part of the Krabi group of islands in Southern Thailand, and the area has gained a considerable boost in tourism as a result of the flick. During filming, the crew was criticized for damaging the lush environment as they had to remodel the sand by flattening it with a tractor. Much to the relief of the locals, a later tsunami restored much of Phi Phi to its original condition.

Blood Diamond- Sierra Leone

The center of controversy for the diamond industry, Blood Diamond brought to light the warzone that goes on behind the scenes of one of the world's most coveted stones. The film's ending referenced an actual meeting that took place in Kimberley, South Africa in 2000 which led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme being created in an attempt to certify the origin of diamonds and ensure they're not obtained from conflict areas. De Beers had pushed for the film to contain a disclaimer that said the events it portrayed were fictional and outdated, but Warner Brothers refused since the area is still wrought with dangerous practices. Even so, the Kimberly process has been said to have reduced the number of blood diamonds sold from 4% to 1% so it did have a positive effect on the situation.

The Hangover- Las Vegas

Situated in the ritzy Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas strip, the hilarious tale of a bachelor party gone wrong is believe it or not based on a true story. Showcasing sin city in all its glory, the Hangover is actually an adaptation of executive producer Chris Bender's friend disappearing after being sent a large bill from a strip club. While the real version is Mike Tyson, baby and tiger-free, the 15 days it took to film surely lived up to the city's mantra of what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Slumdog Millionaire- Mumbai

The daring tale of love and literacy of a boy from the Dharavi slums of Mumbai who somehow makes his way onto the game show, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," was one of the best received foreign films in decades. Following its release in India, the film faced criticism from the public alleging that it fuels Western stereotypes about poverty in India. Various media outlets claimed it peddled "poverty porn" and that even the title was derogatory. Press is press though; it gave India some much needed buzz as an interesting culture to explore.

Howlin' About Thailand's Full Moon Party

2012-02-21T21:37:30Z

Full Moon Party (Photo credit: YoTuT)

Your college years may be over, but that doesn't mean you can't get a little crazy every once in awhile. Full moon parties take place once a month throughout southeast Asia, but one of the hottest spots to get in on the action is Koh Phangan, Thailand. Full moon parties occur on the night of the full moon, but don't fret, if you miss it, there are also half moon, quarter moon and black moon parties. Basically, if you are staying Koh Phangan, you will not be getting much sleep.

It All Started When...

Once upon a time, a group of tourists discovered the magic of the full moon on the beaches of Koh Phangan, Thailand. They decided to celebrate their birthday under the stars, and it has now grown into an international tradition that attracts people from all over the world. In fact, when the movie, The Beach came out in 2000, it was partially inspired by the growing popularity of the full moon party.

Party Until the Sun Comes Up

Most say it is the best party atmosphere they have ever seen, and is a truly once in a lifetime experience. Beginning at dusk, 20,000-30,000 people gather each month as the yellow moon begins to rise. Several booths are set up selling glow sticks and face paint and fire dancers light up the beach. All types of music--reggae, dance, techno, drums and bass break out along the beach causing an outburst of dancing among the crowd. After awhile, partygoers enjoy a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

Set Stereotypes Aside

Don't let the image of thousands of obnoxious young people wreaking havoc deter you from being part of the fun. Most people who go are just out to have a good time, and it is rare to have conflict during the full moon party.

Accommodation

Because the full moon party is a worldwide known event, it is important to plan in advance where to stay. It is advised that you arrive four days prior to find accommodations for a decent price. If you want to be in the middle of the action, stay in Haad Rin. For a regular room, it is about 500-800 baht per night (approx. $17-30). The closer you get to the full moon party, the higher the prices are.

Party Safe

The point of the Full Moon Party is to let loose and have a good time, but make sure you party smart. Wear solid shoes because it would ruin your trip if you stepped on a broken bottle. Also, drink lots of water throughout the night since the climate is hot and humid and you don't want to get dehydrated. Stay out of the ocean because the waves are strong. Finally, make sure to bring as little as possible because theft is quite common. But don't let the bad stuff deter you, if you come to have a good time and plan well, the night will be a success!

by Molly Nelson, Contributing Author

Floatels: Walking on Air? How about Sleeping on Water?

2012-02-14T22:21:16Z

Who remembers when waterbeds were all the rage? Well, if you were one of those people who found excitement in the idea of sleeping afloat, try a floatel (floating hotel) for your perfect aquatic escape. Floatels and boatels can be found on rivers, lakes or oceans and are emerging as the newest trend in travel. For all those water-lovers who just can't seem to find their sea legs, floatels are a fun, creative alternative to a traditional cruise. Uprooted and placed on stilts, here are a few of the most luxurious and buoyant floatels in the world.

King Pacific Lodge

The King Pacific Lodge is built atop a floating barge and provides the ultimate in luxury adventure travel and ecotourism vacations. Located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, this serene wilderness floatel is only accessible by float plane. This remote location is ideal for whale watching, fishing, kayaking and searching for the rare Kermode bear. Only two hours outside of Vancouver, King Pacific Lodge was selected the best resort in Canada.

Brooklyn Boatel

The Brooklyn Boatel is a collection of rehabbed boats located outside of Manhattan making for the perfect New York City getaway. The Brooklyn Boatel is a great spot to escape from the bustling city and offers a slow-paced living environment with tons of waterfront amenities. This dockside dormitory may make you reminiscent of summer camp, but you're sure to get the full camp-style boatel experience.

Floating & Rotating Hotel Tower

Leave it to Dubai to be home of one of the most architecturally advanced floatels in the world! Once completed, Waterstudio's Floating & Rotating Tower will sit 25 stories off the coast. Defying engineering feats, this floatel will feature a boulevard ring that connects the shore with the hotel and if that's not enough, get this: the hotel will rotate one-degree every minute. This awe-inspiring floatel will literally having you spinning!

Conrad Maldives

Nestled in between two private islands in the flawless turquoise water of the Indian Ocean, the Conrad Maldives is the quintessential floatel. With 50 luxurious water villas, the all-glass undersea restaurant and 21 spa water villas with private treatment rooms, the Conrad Maldives is as sumptuous as it gets. Built 1,700 feet out to sea, the Conrad Maldives allows you to escape everything except the sound of the waves breaking.

by Julie Bass, Contributing Author

Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Colorado the Beautiful

2012-02-08T20:05:18Z

Colorado is a state which attracts people for its natural beauty, majestic mountains and mild weather. Red Rocks Amphitheatre located in Morrison, Colorado is a must-see, especially for the lover of live music. The only naturally-occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheatre in the world should be part of any cultural enthusiast's bucket list. Though not officially one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, it continues to be a place of wonderment in our minds as music groups dream of one day playing on the magnificent stage.

See your favorite band in an amphitheatre etched into the mountainside over-looking Denver's distant cityscape. Every seat is guaranteed a view which will not disappoint. Red Rocks is not just an amazing place to see a concert, it is a place which creates a feeling you never knew you had. The magic lies in the rocks and if these walls could talk, oh the stories they would tell.

The History of Red Rocks

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is 6,450 feet above sea level and consists of mixed plants and animals from both the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. These two regions came together to create the wonderful diversity you see today.

Believe it or not the famous red sandstone rocks were once the bottom of the ocean floor 250 million years ago which slowly rose up creating the walls seen today. The Amphitheatre is made of Ship Rock and Creation Rock, 200-300 foot monoliths, which make up the walls and produce the appealing sounds heard by thousands of spectators. John Brisben Walker (purchaser of Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1889) was the first to perform here in 1906. These rocks are just crawling with history making them all that more enchanting.

More than Just a Music Venue

Most people do not know Red Rocks is open year round, so come be a part of the magic any time of the year. If there's no act scheduled, you can still visit the Red Rocks Performer's Hall of Fame, Interactive Hallway and the Geological and History Exhibits. Tours are available Monday through Sunday starting at 10 am.

Red Rocks is equally popular for the outdoorsy crowd. Enjoy beautiful scenery on a variety of hiking and biking trails and beautiful picnic spots. There is also an onsite restaurant called Ship Rock Grille. Because of the Amphitheatre's many steps, the venue is attracts local runners who want a bit of a challenge.

by Molly Nelson, Contributing Author