AOL Launches Travel Guides to Worldwide Destinations

AOL on Wednesday announced the beta launch of AOL Travel Guides (http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide), an online resource that provides detailed information on more than 1,900 national and international locations and over 100,000 hotels. Also available through AOL(R) Travel (http://travel.aol.com), Travel Guides include destination information -- restaurants, bars, sights, activities and events -- as well as hotel listings, with links to book directly from the site. In addition, the guides automatically plot these locations on a map using industry-leading technology and features from MapQuest(R).

DULLES, Va. (BusinessWire EON) June 19, 2007 -- "AOL Travel Guides give users the opportunity to expertly plan their vacations, based on ratings and reviews from other travelers, and share their own findings with our worldwide online audience," said Jim Kovarik, Director and General Manager, AOL Travel. "By combining user-generated and editorial content, MapQuest technology and local search results, we can provide users access to an interactive travel site where they can help shape content.

AOL Travel Guides also provide advertisers with an opportunity to reach users who are seeking information about specific destinations. Geo-targeted ad capabilities are available at the city, state, country and world region levels. Additionally, destinations focused on specific activities such as golf or skiing will also be packaged for interested advertisers. Specific user-submitted search queries will be targeted via sponsored links.

• July 4th To See A Record Number Of Americans Traveling  Thursday, June 28, 2007
  AAA reports they expect to see a record number of Americans on the road this July 4 even though gas prices are high and the 4th falls in the middle of the week. The survey shows that approximately 34.7 million people have plans to travel by car which is a 0.7% increase from one year ago. There are another 4.7 million who intend to travel by plane which is up 3.5% over last year. Also, approximately 1.7 million plan to vacation by train or bus.
  
  
• Nine European Nations Are On Course To Join Borderless Travel Zone  Thursday, June 28, 2007
  Brussels, Belgium: There are nine new European Union nations which plan to join the bloc’s borderless travel zone sometime before the end of the year. Germany’s interior minister expressed concern for security from some of the EU members.
  
  
• According To Boeing Air Travel Might Double  Wednesday, June 27, 2007
  Boeing, the aerospace giant, says its annual Current Market Outlook shows global air travel will explode during the next 20 years. According to Boeing, there will be approximately 28,600 new aircraft to hit the skies by 2007. The report shows that passenger traffic will increase at the rate of 4.5 percent on an annual basis and the global fleet of commercial aircraft will double.
  
  
• United States Warns Citizens About Travel To Copa American Tournament  Tuesday, June 26, 2007
  The US State Department in Washington has issued a warning to US citizens who want to travel to the Copa America football tournament in Venezuela next week. The State Department says there has been an increase in violent crime in Venezuela. The crimes include kidnapping, assault, robbery, and burglary. These crimes have been directed at US embassy employees.
  
  
• How To Keep Kids Safe On Vacation  Monday, June 25, 2007
  You think it will never happen to you. While on vacation your family is going to stay healthy. You won’t let your child get sunburned, there won’t be any kind of an accident, and you won’t have to seek out the nearest emergency room in a place where you don’t know anybody. Statistics show that almost half of the accidental deaths of children happen in the summer. Nationwide, close to 3 million children will be involved in an auto accident, bike accident, fall, or boating accident. Many of these accidents will happen while the family is on vacation.
  
  
• AOL Launches Travel Guides to Worldwide Destinations  Friday, June 22, 2007
  AOL launched AOL Travel Guides, an online resource that provides detailed information on more than 1,900 national and international locations and over 100,000 hotels. Also available through AOL(R) Travel Guides include destination information -- restaurants, bars, sights, activities and events -- as well as hotel listings, with links to book directly from the site. In addition, the guides automatically plot these locations on a map using industry-leading technology and features from MapQuest(R).
  
  
• The IRS Could Pay For Your Vacation  Friday, June 22, 2007
  With a little planning, the smart traveler can get help from the IRS to cover some of the expenses. Combining business with pleasure could allow certain expenses to be deducted from your taxes, even if there are other members of your family with you...If the primary purpose of the trip is for business, you can deduct the cost of
  
  
• US Amends Passport Rules To Accommodate Summer Travel  Thursday, June 21, 2007
  The US State Department has announced that US citizens who plan to travel to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean will be able to show a government issued photo ID and a receipt from the State Department showing they have applied for a passport. This rule is in effect until September 30, 2007. The website will allow you to print this receipt which has a unique locator number printed on it.
  
  
• The Top 20 Most Expensive Cities In The World  Wednesday, June 20, 2007
  For the second year in a row Moscow has been designated as the most expensive city in the world. The Mercer Human Resource Consulting Firm used the cost of living in New York City to determine that Moscow rates 34.4 percent higher in housing, transportation, grocery goods, clothing expenses, and arts and entertainment. London placed second, as opposed to number 5 last year, while New York dropped to number 15.
  
  
• Youth travel is becoming a new trend  Tuesday, June 19, 2007
  Youth travel is one of fastest growing segments in the travel industry and shares a 20% market across the globe. This segment includes people under 25 years of age including college students, high school children and even school children who travel for school and social engagements like church, science, sports, choir, band, civics or language classes.
  
  
• Legislation passed to extend travel without passport when visit Canada or Mexico  Tuesday, June 19, 2007
  The legislation that proposed the extension of date until 1st of June 2009 for Americans to use their photo identification and birth certificated for entry into Mexico and Canada has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. Under this legislation, Americans can enter these countries both by land and sea
  
  
• Decline in the number of visitors from overseas to United States  Sunday, June 17, 2007
  Travel promoters in the USA are concern over a decline in the number of visitors from overseas to United States. The local visitor's bureau of Orlando, Florida goes on record stating that the city draws more than 50 million visitors annually out of which 3.5 million are international visitors. Orlando is famed for its attractions like the Disney World. While more than 50% of the 3.5 million come from Europe and about 25% from Canada, the rest of the visitors are a mix of Asia, South America and the Middle East.
  
  
• Fraud and Travel Industry  Saturday, June 16, 2007
  Travel scams have taken the front seat along with the expansion and growth of the travel industry... Very often the damage we find is not only lost money but also dashed hopes and expectations -- ruined times together as families. If you are a traveler who is looking to rent a vacation home by owner, take the following precautions... Speak with the property owner on the phone ...Check if holiday home has a website - most of the vacation rental homes has it's own site
  
  
• Make your next vacation stress less.  Wednesday, June 06, 2007
  You can make your next vacation stress less with right preparations... Finances and budgets are very important and need due consideration to enjoy your vacation without burning a hole in your pocket... All vacation destinations offer vacation rentals which are an experience in themselves at prices that are much lesser than hotel tariffs...