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Medellin: Not The City It Once Was

12/17/2018

 
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A City Long Associated With Infamous Criminal Pablo Escobar, Has Spent A Fair Share Of Time Being Referred To As One Of The Most Dangerous Destinations In The World.

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Yet by some accounts, it was also Escobar who (in his own way) helped to turn the city in a new direction when in 1982 he launched a campaign known as Medellin Without Slums, an effort to do away with the city’s poorest neighborhoods and provide a life of dignity for its most downtrodden residents.

Escobar’s effort is just one small highlight in what’s been a massive, years-long undertaking for the city, which some are now calling a “journey to redemption.” That effort has included strategic plans to set a new agenda for Medellin in 1995 and 1999, for example, and numerous socially minded, architectural interventions in poor areas including libraries, community buildings and cultural centers.

All of which still merely scratches the surface of the activity that has been taking place in Medellin, but the result of the ongoing efforts has been a new reputation in the world community, and increasing optimism amid a growing tourist economy.
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“Years ago, Medellin was one of the most violent cities in South America and now people come here and can see the transformation, from an economic, political and a cultural perspective. This is a destination on the rise, a place that's become an emerging arts and culture hub in Latin America, while also showcasing remarkable social and urban transformation, all of which has attracted an increasing number of business and leisure travelers.

Highlighting this point:
—From January to August, Medellin saw an 18 percent increase in U.S. visitors over the same time period in 2017.
—Between January and August Medellin experienced a 23 percent increase overall in foreign travelers
—In January, Medellin won the 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award in the category of “Top Destinations on the Rise,” an achievement based on millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide.
—Between 2010 and 2018, Medellin has welcomed a variety of new hotel brands including CityExpress, Accor Hotels, Hilton, Atton, Marriott, Best Western, Intercontinental, La Quinta, Bluedoors and NH.
—Medellín went from having 176 hotels in 2016 with 7,370 rooms to 197 hotels and 8,628 rooms in 2018. By 2019, 34 new projects will be part of the territory of Antioquia.

Medellin also welcomes an average of 83,000 business travelers per year since 2014. The boom in business tourism, events and conventions is one of the sectors responsible for driving the big investment for the destination, and has led to the arrival of international hotel chains like those mentioned above.

Colombia as country was also recently recognized as one of the top 10 places to retire by International Living. Records show an 85 percent increase of U.S. Social Security payments to Colombia in 2017, as compared to 2010, making it the top country in Latin America and the Caribbean in Social Security receipts after Mexico, according to the Medellin Convention & Visitors Bureau.

None of this is surprising given private entities, public entities and academia came together and created a plan with milestones and when different groups in city come together and have common goals, it’s much easier. The progress has been quick and successful because of the numerous collaborations.

The city’s new, more positive status is also helped along by its variety of natural attractions, array of museums and yearly festivals and celebrations. Other tourist attractions include visiting coffee plantations or flower farms, providing an opportunity to learn about a way of life and engage in a cultural exchange.

Perhaps most unique, are the graffiti tours in neighborhoods that were once among Medellin’s most violent and overrun with crime. The most well-known of these offerings is in Comuna 13, in one of the most notorious neighborhoods, which has had a miraculous transformation. Led by locals, these small walking tours receive glowing reviews from those who have participated in them.

And as Medellin expands and refines its tourist offerings, airlift has also been ramping up. There are now some direct flights serving the city from Miami and others in the works from Orlando.

Medellin is now a place with a great deal to offer both business and leisure travelers. It has become a one-stop destination where you can have a variety of life-changing experiences.

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​Contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to learn more and plan your luxury cruise or tour to South America today!

2019 -The Year Of Ultra-Personalized Travel

11/26/2018

 

Studies Show 2019 Travel Will Be Highly Personalized and Inspired By A Desire To Experience New Destinations In Unusual Ways. 

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The Luxe Report, uncovered five trends – all with an overarching movement toward personalization – shaping how upscale travelers will roam the world in 2019.
  1. Motivation: Social media's influence is unmistakable, as it drives travelers' desire to find the most captivating backdrops and the best time of day for snapping images. Clients are requesting on-site photography sessions to create Instagram-worthy content, including replicating shots they admired online. Travel advisors are arranging themed photoshoots characteristic of destinations, such as wearing traditional geisha attire in Kyoto or ball gowns in Venice.
  2. Transportation: When flying commercial, airlines with state-of-the-art business and first-class cabins are a favorite. Upon landing, VIP airport arrival services that whisk travelers through customs and ease tight connections are growing in demand. Requests are on the rise for private helicopter transfers to and from airports as well as from one city or resort island to another.
  3. Accommodation: Experiential travelers who have seen it all are craving stays in unconventional accommodations. Those range from a treehouse to a monastery to an igloo in Norway, a tent in the Moroccan desert, the shores of the Red Sea, and even a bubble nestled in nature so they can gaze at stars before drifting off to sleep.
  4. Recreation: People want to explore their passions through bucket-list experiences. Sports fans are asking for tickets to major events such as the Olympics, Super Bowl and Wimbledon. Art aficionados are inquiring about private tours of locales like the Vatican after hours. Shoppers want appointments at high-end stores such as Hermès to purchase signature items like a Birkin bag. Music lovers are booking trips to summer festivals and concerts. Advisors are also arranging private dinners with influential local figures.
  5. Conservation: Travelers are expressing heightened interest in animal-related experiences. Some request visits to animal protection facilities or to observe animals in the wild, such as whale watching and viewing rhinos at close range. Some want to interact more directly with animals, such as at the Giraffe House in Nairobi or dog sledding to the North Pole. They also exhibit concern for animal welfare and want to ensure that interactions are sustainable.  

Exploring new destinations is the prevailing travel motivator for 2019, and Japan tops the list of emerging destinations for the first time, having previously finished third and fifth in 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Multigenerational travel maintains its stronghold as the hottest trend for 2019, a position it has held every year but one since 2011. Italy continues its reign as the top global destination as well as the leader for family travel, honeymoons and Millennial travel.

Contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to learn more and start planning your customized trip today! 919.589.2437 / 434.333.0837

6 Bucket List Experiences

7/16/2018

 
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What's Left On Yours?

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Discover Cuban Rum, Cigars & Art in Havana, Cuba

​After decades of being the most elusive port of the Caribbean, guests may once again arrive at Havana Harbor and walk onto the cobbled streets of the old city where time has seemingly stood still. Take a stroll down the iconic Malecon, snap a photo with a 50’s Cadillac and strike up a conversation with locals who are warm, friendly and eager to chat. Cigar aficionados will revel in purchasing hand-made authentic Cubans and literary fans will enjoy ordering a mojito at Hemingway’s favorite bar, El Floridita. Experience the real Havana after the sun sets, whether you dance the night away at a salsa club or catch a show at the world famous Tropicana cabaret.

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Shark & Stingray Safari in Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora lies 150 miles northwest of Tahiti in the Society Islands. The main island, home to 4,225 inhabitants, is in the center of a multicolored lagoon, surrounded by offshore "motu" islets inside a protective coral necklace. Its lagoon is world-famous for its beauty. A partially paved road circles the island, passing colorful villages, archeological sites, and old Army bunkers and cannons left over from WWII, when 5,000 American GIs made a "friendly invasion."

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See Komodo Dragons  in Komodo, Indonesia

Indonesia’s isolated Komodo Island is a natural wonder of tropical savanna and scrubland, home to the famed pre-historic Komodo dragon. Komodo National Park is the only place on earth that they can be found in the wild. The island of Komodo itself is about 60 squares miles in area with dramatic landscapes of 2,000 foot craggy mountains, canyons, Savannas and monsoon rain forests in the valleys. Human habitation is therefore limited to only one settlement in Slawi Bay.

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Adelaide Hills Wine Experience in Adelaide, Australia 

This graceful and enchanting city lies nestled on the coastal plain between Gulf St. Vincent and the Adelaide Hills. A metropolis of over one million people, Adelaide boasts tree-lined boulevards, superb Victorian and Edwardian architecture, tranquil parks, world-class shopping, gastronomy and outdoor activity. Indulge your adventurous palate at a nearby wine region like the famed Barossa Valley to pick up a drinkable souvenir.

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Explore Sugar Loaf & Copacabana in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 

There’s a little bit of Carnival celebrated here everyday. From its famous beaches to its iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio radiates an air of exuberance that is hard to find anywhere else. Make the scene on trendy Ipanema or take a cable car to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain and enjoy the amazing views. Sway your hips to the rhythm at a samba show or enjoy the tranquility of king Dom João VI’s Botanical Gardens and verdant Tijuca Forest.​

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Journey to Elqui Valley in Coquimbo, Chile
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Coquimbo nestled in Northern Chile, means “place of calm water”, a happy accident of geography that encouraged its development as an important port. According to legend, the English corsair Sir Francis Drake has buried a considerable treasure in the city. In the early 19th century, Coquimbo was just a small fishing village, but when the railway reached the area joining the copper mines to the sea, the town and population increased dramatically. Today, Coquimbo offers the pleasures of a picturesque seaside promenade, the beautifully restored 19th-century architecture of the English Neighborhood and several fine beaches.

Contact All Inclusive Vacation Expert ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to explore these dream destinations for FREE as part of a luxury cruise! 3 category suite upgrade also available for a limited time. Call 919.589.2437 / 434.333.0837 today to learn more. 

Destination of The Day

7/2/2018

 

​CANADA

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Canada: the land of ice hockey and curling, polar bears and ice road trucking, North America’s vast northern country is made up of 10 provinces and three nearly uninhabitable arctic territories. The vast Canadian landscape offers up some intense weather, sure, but don't dismiss the country as just North America's Icebox. Along with it, some of the world’s greatest skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, ice climbing and mountainous panoramas await. Frozen rivers in some Canadian cities even serve as mid-winter commuter highways - and how many North American cities can claim something that distinctive?  Sure those are all cold weather activities, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. 

FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON BEST WAYS TO VISIT CANADA, CONTACT CHRISRAKES@TOTALEXPERIENCETRAVEL.COM

The Small Ship Difference

5/22/2018

 
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  • Intimate ships with a private club atmosphere
  • Intuitive, personalized service provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests expectations
  • Curated voyages to all seven continents delivering award-winning experiences
  • All ocean-front suites, luxuriously appointed
  • Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times
  • Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar stocked with your preferences
  • Tipping is neither required, nor expected
  • Finest resorts at sea that is masterfully designed
  • World-class dining, further enhanced through a culinary partnerships
  • All dining venues are complimentary, dine where, when and with whom you wish
  • Conversations and lectures with visionary experts in their field
  • Shore excursions that enhance and extend destination experiences
  • Select purposeful and sustainable travel experiences in partnership with UNESCO
  • Spa & Wellness programs featuring  mindful living components
  • Evening entertainment experiences with renowned musicians, comedians, actors, etc.
Contact CHRISRAKES@TOTALEXPERIENCETRAVEL.COM to learn more!

Is Iceland's Growing Popularity Good For Them?

4/26/2018

 

Iceland's Tourism Dilemma ​

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Iceland’s Popularity Is Becoming A Bit of A Problem.

The island—roughly the size of Alabama and home to about 347,000 people—will welcome about 2.3 million people this year, or about 6,000 to 7,000 people per day. That’s a significant increase from 2016’s 1.8 million visitors and more than triple the number of arrivals in 2010.

To put those numbers in startling context, foreign visitors outnumbered locals by about seven to one this year, according to Bloomberg.

Now the Nordic island nation defined by its dramatic landscape of volcanos, geysers, hot springs and lava fields is trying to figure out whether the country can, or should, accommodate even more people.
“This sector is maturing and becoming a real industry in Iceland, and with that, of course, come challenges that we need to be ready to tackle,” Thordis Kolbrun R. Gylfadottir, Iceland’s tourism minister, told Bloomberg.

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon presents a microcosm of what is taking place in the country.

A pool of geothermally heated water that’s rich in minerals and said to be good for your skin, the lagoon’s creation was something of an accident, according to BBC: Locals happened upon the water and started bathing in it. Now Blue Lagoon has become a “must-do” on tourist agendas far and wide, and the number of visitors has increased from about 50,000 in 1994 to 1.3 million this year.

Though this influx is presenting logistical challenges, it has also brought significant financial benefit. Tourism has grown to be Iceland’s biggest export, pushing ahead of wholesale and retail trade, (which is now the nation’s second-biggest industry), according to Bloomberg. Just one year ago, tourism accounted for about 8.4 percent of Iceland’s gross domestic product.

Amid such growth, the country’s residents and leaders are expressing concern about repeating the mistakes of the infamous herring bonanza during the 1960s and 1970s. That episode involved the collapse of herring stocks when overfishing brought the fish to the border of extinction.

Tourism is now so important to Iceland that any impact on the industry would be a major shock to the country’s economy as a whole, according to its central bank.  At the same time, tourism also appears to be putting pressure on the local housing market, causing a surge in short-term private rentals.  

So what’s to be done?

There are a variety of measures now being considered that would, if not limit arrivals, at least improve the quality of the experience, Bloomberg reported.  “We need to map this out to see what we can do to make the tolerance higher. Sometimes it is about strengthening infrastructure, sometimes it can be about steering access to particular areas,” Gylfadottir said. “The decisions we make will affect how this sector will evolve.”

Related Cruise
16 NIGHT U. S. ATLANTIC COAST CRUISE

Related Tour
Scenic Iceland and the Northern Lights (Winter 2018-19)


For assistance in planning your trip to Iceland, contact personal travel planner ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com 919.589.2437 / 434.333.0837

What Luxury Cruising Really Means

2/25/2018

 
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Luxury cruising is an exceptional way to see the world.

Is A Luxury Cruise Right For You?

Over 25 million people will take a cruise this year, and while these numbers are staggering, so is what the cruise industry is doing to attract and accommodate this growing, and increasingly demanding, clientele. Ships are larger and more spectacular than ever before, and with even the most budget-friendly cruise lines offering tiered service and an impressive list of amenities, what does it mean to take a luxury cruise these days? Of course, the definition of luxury is highly subjective, but for those looking for a truly exceptional experience, let me introduce you to the world of true luxury cruising.

What sets a true luxury cruise apart from its mass-market counterparts? First, the size of the boats. True luxury cruises from lines such as Crystal, Regent, Seabourn and Silversea rarely carry more than 500-750 passengers, with many ships topping out at around 250. This small manifest ensures a level of personalized service that is hard to achieve on a larger ship. Imagine the ambiance of a private club, where perfectly prepared cocktails are sipped in before a gourmet dinner.

If this sounds inherently dignified, that’s because it is. While ultra-luxury cruises aren’t for everyone; families with young children and those looking for an endless party might be better served elsewhere. They are an extraordinarily refined way to explore the world! Sailings are usually accompanied by renowned lecturers in the arts and sciences, onboard piano bars, host jazz singers and classical musicians. Shore excursions are often included and are small group affairs that range from private tours to authentic cultural experiences.
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The food and wine is world-class as well, and onboard restaurants often feature menus curated by internationally celebrated partners such as Thomas Keller and Relais & Châteaux. Staterooms are typically suites with spacious verandas and bathrooms. Luxuriously appointed suite staterooms, spacious well-designed public spaces and serene spas are standard on all the lines. If an authentic luxury cruise sounds like something you might enjoy, keep in mind that they can also be a very good value considering the level of service and amenities. A seven-day Caribbean cruise can cost as little as $2,500 per person including food and beverages, gratuities.  On some lines the cost even includes flights and shore excursions!

Luxury cruising is without a doubt my favorite way to travel. And, it is certainly a vacation experience you will not forget!

To learn more contact - ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com 
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    Chris Rakes

    River Cruise & Luxury All Inclusive Travel Consultant

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No fees are charged to clients, as we get paid by suppliers when clients travel.  The only exception to this is when clients cancel after bookings are confirmed with deposit and assistance has been provided.  In this case, a service fee of $250 will be charged for individual reservations  or $500 for groups.  

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