San Marino: A Tiny Country Surrounded By Italy

Caldwell Travel’s own Mary Caldwell recently traveled to San Marino, a tiny independent nation sitting on a mountain in the north east of Italy. San Marino is the fifth smallest country in the world and is only 24 square miles in total. But what San Marino lacks in size it makes up for with great history and sites to visit.

Some Mary’s highlights from her trip to San Marino:

Old Town: City of San Marino – the capital city has many great sites of interest, including the Piazza della Libertà (for its great views of the surrounding valley) and Palazzo Pubblico (see the Guardia di Roca do a changing of the guard ceremony every hour on the half hour).

Basilica del Santo – Marinus, the founder of San Marino, was a Christian stone cutter from the Dalmation Coast. He took refuge from the Roman Emperor Diocletian atop Mount Titano in the early 4th century. Along with a small band of followers, he built a chapel from which grew the present republic.

Shopping - There is no VAT (Value Added Tax) in San Marino, so often the price of souvenirs is lower than in surrounding Italian areas. In addition to luxury goods and souvenirs, there are also a good amount of stamp and coin sellers, as San Marino mints their own commemorative coins and stamps.

San Leo – A nearby medieval village is home to the Church of Pieve, first constructed in the 9th century. Also worth a visit is La Rocca, a fortress that dates back to the late 1500s.

The Ferrari Museum – The Maranello Rosso Museum is a collection of twenty-five vintage Ferraris in pristine condition. The jewel of the collection is a 1962 250 GTO, considered by many to be Enzo Ferrari’s masterpiece.

To book your very own trip to stunning San Marino, call us at (317) 885-9855. If you’d like to learn more about San Marino and Italian vacation destinations, you can head over to our contact page to send us an email.

Considering Booking Directly?

Dear client:

I hope and trust that you will book your next vacation with our firm. But we know there are alternatives out there, and we know you are receiving mailings and seeing ads that often urge you to book directly with a travel supplier online.

We enjoy an open and honest relationship with our clients. So I would like to share some straight talk with you about using toll-free numbers or websites to book your vacation directly with the provider.

The best-kept secret in the travel industry is that those who book direct are paying for something they are not receiving: the services of a professional travel consultant.

I realize you are being told that it is easy to book your cruise, tour or airline tickets online. You can do it yourself. Just trust the supplier to take care of everything and have your credit card within easy reach.

Be thrilled that you live in a time when you can just click and travel. It’s all so easy, isn’t it? Turn over your credit card number and personal information to someone in a cubicle in a reservations factory or, better still, to outsourced labor working out of a call center overseas. Now your credit card information is in Bangladesh, and your vacation will be expertly planned and delivered.

So why use my services?

Well, the first thing you need to know (the industry’s best-kept secret) is that you are going to pay my fee or commission when you book directly because it is always — not sometimes, always — built into the price of any brochure program. It’s the way the industry prices.

Tour operators and cruise lines, even top-grade hotels, love direct bookings because a portion of the travel agent’s commission that is built in to every program simply goes into their pockets. They believe that it costs them far less to maintain order-takers in a reservations center.

One hotel chain, years ago, was actually using prisoners on work release to handle phone reservations. Most telephone res agents who work for cruise lines are commissioned salespeople with little knowledge of the industry. Their goal is simple: Try to get a direct booking, earn their smaller commission, and let the company pocket the rest of the total commission built into the fare.

So when you book something directly, you are making a sucker bet that the person on the other end of the line has your best interests at heart, will look out for further discounts and apply them to your record and will be there for you in an emergency.

Imagine what happens when you make a direct booking. Your credit card information is stored, and you receive a computer-generated invoice. That’s it. You are now a travel statistic. The computer software that is now your “agent” will notify you when final payment is due, and you will receive final documents.

Of course, you will not receive any of the amenities available through our office, so you might actually be missing out on pricing incentives and advantages.

Let me state it as clearly as I can: With the exception of certain airline and hotel websites that run occasional online “sales,” you will never receive preferred pricing on any online site.

If a tour operator or cruise line did not give us pricing that was equal to or better than what they offer on their site, no reputable travel consultant would ever again sell their product. It just never happens. You can always count on the fact that our pricing will be as good or better than any tour or cruise prices you see on direct booking sites.

But frankly, I don’t want you to book with us because it is always a better value than booking directly. There are other, more important reasons that have little to do with price.

There is not enough space to list all of the things we provide to our valued clients that are never provided when you book directly with a cruise line or tour operator. But here are just a few to keep in mind:

We are going to compare what competitive companies offer. We are going to advise you on the very best product to meet your needs. We can point out the advantages and disadvantages of several options. Booking directly puts you in touch with a single-product sales person. That is all you get.

We provide special documentation and advice about ports, sightseeing options and even restaurants. We know the best times to do your itinerary, and we might have affiliated offices abroad that can make your vacation truly memorable.

One of the most important things we can do is analyze your travel insurance needs. If you book direct, you get no options, no discussion. You are offered only whatever the site happens to be selling. We offer a universe of options, and that often saves you money.

Suppose something goes wrong? Suppose someone gets sick, and you need help getting home in a hurry? Suppose your vacation experience was unsatisfactory? Who is your advocate if you are dealing directly with the company operating the program? You have none.

Perhaps the most important single thing that we do is give you an honest, unbiased view of both the upside and downside of the vacation option you are considering. Book direct and you get none of that. Everything about the product will be painted in glowing terms. Everything will smell like a strawberry.

Finally, a personal note.

When I go to sleep at night, I am generally aware of where my clients are traveling and what current conditions they are likely to encounter. I worry about my clients. I think about their welfare, and I think about ways that I can enhance their experiences abroad.

I am fairly certain that the direct booking tied up somewhere in a supplier’s software booking program is incapable of showing a “booking statistic” much empathy.

Visiting Athens, Greece

Mondays on the Move with Kate is a travel series following the adventures of Caldwell Travel’s Kate Godfrey as she explores the world and shares her experiences. This month Kate is in Athens, Greece, exploring the wonders of this ancient city.

Greetings from Athens, Greece! The temperatures are in the 60’s (Fahrenheit) and the weather is fantastic, featuring plenty of sunshine! Being February, this is greatly appreciated and has made walking around the streets of Athens that much more enjoyable. I’ve been eating at outdoor restaurants (pita, Greek salad, fresh seafood, olives, feta cheese). Everything has been delicious! Don’t worry – I have also enjoyed an abundance of shopping opportunities. And of course, I’ve been visiting museums and archaeological sites. The best so far has been the Parthenon, which is a truly wonderful structure. Massive marble columns stand 45 feet high gleaming in the steady Greek sun. Over 2,500 years of history impose itself upon you, complete with characters from Greek mythology staring back at you in relief. Plus there are other incredible buildings that are included in the Acropolis complex: Propylaea, Erechtheum, and Theater of Dionysus. The Parthenon and Acropolis complex are truly incredible sites and should not be missed when visiting Greece.

I’ve also spent a fair amount of time exploring the neighborhoods in downtown Athens. Plaka and Anafiotika are two of my favorites. Plaka is full of charming restaurants and good souvenir shopping; and, Anafiotika (pictured above) is right at the foot of the Acropolis and looks to be a slice right out of a Greek Isle. It’s very hilly and fully of tiny winding streets with beautiful homes and great views of surrounding Athens. I also recommend climbing Filopappou Hill for a stunning view of the Acropolis, Parthenon and the city of Athens.

A trip to Athens would not be complete without a visit to a few world class museums. So far I have visited the new Acropolis Museum (pictured above), which is an incredible collection of statues and artifacts from the Greek Bronze Age up through Roman times and Byzantine Greece. The museum has only been open for 18 months and has already garnered a lot of rave reviews. If you come to visit, I highly recommend staying to eat a meal at the outdoor restaurant overlooking the Acropolis.

The rest of my Athens itinerary is a busy one: I have plans to visit the Benaki Museum and the National Archaeological Museum, as well as several churches, the Roman Agora, the Ancient Agora, Temple of Zeus, the National Gardens, and much much more.

If you’d like to plan a visit to Athens, Greece, or anywhere in Greece, please get in touch with us today. Let Caldwell Travel make your dream Greek vacation a reality!

Escape the Cold Weather! Take a Vacation!

Has the cold weather, snow and ice got you down? You need a vacation! Looking for a way to get away to someplace warm and exotic? Caldwell Travel has a lot of travel options for you: Hawaiian vacations, cruise vacations, Caribbean beach vacations, all inclusive resort vacations, and much much more. Just looking for a great vacation deal? Give us a call at (317) 885-9855 and we’ll get started right away planning your winter getaway.

Seeking Culture & Education on Vacation?

According to a report by Conde Nast Traveler, 72% of affluent travelers are interested in customized trips where they can learn the culture and history of a destination. The same report states that in the past year, there has been a spike in educational experiences and adventure as a motivation for travel. Conde Nast Traveler describes that adventure travel is no longer solely about risky extreme sports, but about culture, learning and experiencing life. As families plan their next vacations, consider these Top 10 Adventure Learning Getaways guaranteed to entertain the entire family.

1. Epcot- Orlando, Florida The Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort is consistently ranked a top family destination and is the perfect spot to dance along to authentic Bavarian music, discover ancient Chinese sculptures or enjoy a French film at the Palais de Cinema, all while never leaving the park.

2. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – Washington, D.C. Families will love all the fun and informative programs available at this one-of-a-kind natural history museum, including discovery stations located throughout the galleries, interactive forensic lab and a hands-on insect zoo.

3. Brookfield Zoo – Chicago, Illinois - Open every day of the year, Chicago’s renowned zoological park fosters children’s natural curiosity with the Hamill Family Play Zoo, which allows children to touch live animals, search for bugs and build animal homes.

4. OCSC Sailing School - San Francisco Bay Area, California - Ideal for families with older children, the OCSC School offers a two-hour skippered “Introduction to Sailing” course that sets sail from the Berkeley Marina into the beautiful San Francisco Bay with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

5. Museum of Modern Art - New York City, New York - The MoMA offers daily family-orientated programs for young children and teens such as gallery conversations, art workshops and temporary exhibitions.

6. Colonial Williamsburg – Williamsburg, Virginia - Families can “be present in the past” and learn about 18th century America with scores of original buildings, costumed historical interpreters, practicing blacksmiths and the famous Fifes and Drums military musicians.

7. California Science Center - Los Angeles, California - A fantastic place that teaches kids to enjoy science, the center’s permanent galleries provide hands-on experiences that teach children about human inventions and innovations, the cycle of life and the Earth’s ecosystem.

8. Kitty Hawk Kayak and Surf School – Outer Banks, North Carolina – Both kids and parents will earn serious bragging rights after attending this bodacious surf academy where families learn from National Surf School and Instructor Association licensed instructors at the world-renowned surf breaks of the Outer Banks.

9. Georgia Aquarium – Atlanta, Georgia - With more than eight million gallons of fresh and marine water, the Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest and allows families to discover international marine life, including Australian weedy sea dragons, Japanese spider crabs and African penguins.

10. NASA Space Center – Houston, Texas – The Official Visitors Center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center provides children with “intelligent fun” as they learn about Mission Control, handle real Moon rocks and experience the sensation of weightlessness at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab.

If you are interested in going to one of these fabulous destinations or trying out a different one, contact Caldwell Travel and we’ll handle the planning and booking so that no detail is missed and you are able to enjoy your vacation instead of worrying about the small things. Contact us today!

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, the “Paris of South America”, is the capital city of Argentina. Caldwell Travel’s own Kate Godfrey recently spent three months exploring the wonders of Argentina, including significant time in Buenos Aires. Below she shares some of her favorite experiences, and some suggestions for rounding out a quality Buenos Aires vacation.

Here are some of the highlights of a Buenos Aires vacation:

Plaza de Mayo: The main square in Buenos Aires where the process for independence from Spain began in 1810. Also home to the Casa Rosada (Pink House) where the president’s offices are located, and the Cabildo, the colonial city council building, now a museum.

San Telmo Market: On Sunday’s the San Telmo market comes alive with vendors hocking their wares: antiques, antiques and more antiques. Don’t forget to take your time and enjoy the 19th century architecture in this neighborhood.

Plaza Francia Artisan Market: Each weekend this large plaza comes alive with artisans selling their handmade items. Lots of variety and good souvenirs to be found here.

La Boca: A vibrant neighborhood on the river, La Boca is home to the famous Caminito, here you can see the pastel colored houses and shops, as well as tango dancing in the street.

Recoleta Cemetery: The final resting place for many famous and wealthy Argentines, including Evita. The size and design of the elaborate marble mausoleums are astounding.

Tango dancing: The national dance of Argentina was born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the late 1800’s. If you are lucky you may see street performers dancing tango. If not I highly recommend a visit to a milonga or a coffeehouse like Café Tortoni.

Food and drink: Argentine steak, dulce de leche (milk caramel), empanadas, oh yes, and lets not forget the wine. The Malbec made in Argentina is excellent. If you want to try and be a true Argentine you can drink the yerba mate tea, a national staple.

Art: There are two excellent art museums in Buenos Aires: MALBA (Latin American Art of Buenos Aires) features a large collection of Latin American modern art. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) is home to a nice collection of more traditional pieces, many from Argentina, but a healthy collection of European paintings as well.

This article only scratches the surface of what you can see and do in Buenos Aires. And while you’re in Argentina you can take a side trip to an estancia (ranch), see Iguazu Falls or go to Mendoza to taste some Malbec wine straight from the source. When you’re ready to book your vacation to Buenos Aires, Argentina contact us and we’ll help you plan your dream Argentine vacation.

Gap-year market showing signs of traction in United States

Gap-year market showing signs of traction in United States
By: Michelle Baran
November 18, 2010
The “gap year,” a traditional rite of passage for British and Australian youths, has never found a firm footing in the U.S. But a growing number of travel companies, educators and other gap-year advocates are predicting that’s about to change.

In its most traditional form, the gap year is time off taken by students between graduating from high school and beginning college. The idea is to travel, do volunteer work or both, in order to expose themselves to meaningful life experiences outside of their comfort zone.

In recent years, the term has been expanded to describe significant time off from school, work or life to travel and experience the world at any age.

“We see huge opportunity in the U.S.,” said Chris Galanty, managing director of Flight Centre in the U.K.

In October, Flight Centre, an Australia-based travel company, acquired a majority stake in Gapyear.com, a British website devoted to the gap year.

“Gap year here [in the U.K.] is a generic term. But what it really is,” Galanty said, “is people taking longer trips. Why not take three months off? That’s a great market.”

And it’s a market that’s showing signs of traction in the U.S., where the gap-year concept is slowly starting to resonate.

“In Europe, there’s more a tradition of people, especially the upper class, going off and doing their tour of Europe,” said Holly Bull, president of the Princeton, N.J.-based Center for Interim Programs. “There’s such a history [in Europe] of going to farther-flung places.”

Bull’s father, Cornelius Bull, was a pioneer in bringing the gap-year concept to America when he founded the center in 1980. Its purpose is to counsel students interested in taking a gap year based on the types of programs and opportunities that best suit them, and Bull works to find opportunities that fit their budgets and interests.

But in the U.S., she said, there has been a much greater focus on “getting your degree.” For example, she said, immigrant families want their kids to go to college right out of high school. In their minds, taking a year off to travel and explore the world first is not a good idea.

“The ironic part,” she said, “is that the statistics are showing that [youths who take a gap year] are more likely to go on and get an education.”

Indeed, anecdotal evidence suggests that while the concept may have taken time to catch on in the U.S., it is starting to be embraced and accepted here, potentially opening the door to an entire industry of longer-term travel that until now has flown under the radar.

Karl Haigler, who co-authored the book “The Gap-Year Advantage,” is currently working on a follow-up book titled “Gap Year, American Style.”

While he admitted that data on the subject are scarce, Haigler said that anecdotally, the concept of a gap year “seems to be growing” in the U.S.

“More colleges seem to be granting deferrals than in the past,” Haigler said, adding that he assumes most deferrals are requested because students are taking a gap year. “This is particularly true in the Northeast.”

He also gleans evidence from the increasing frequency with which the gap-year concept is popping up in the news media.

“There are more articles now on gap years than there were in the past,” Haigler said. “We’ve seen an escalation in coverage.”

Bull said another sign of growth in the U.S. is that the term itself is becoming more commonly used.

“It’s definitely called a ‘gap year’ now,” she said. “I’ve seen a real shift or tipping point in the past five or six years. I noticed it appearing in the United States.”

Though Bull said she wouldn’t call it a mainstream tradition yet and admitted “there are still may people who don’t know what it is,” she also observed: “There are more American programs running, and they are filling. There are more gap-year counselors. You’re also seeing things like the advent of gap-year fairs, which started about three years ago.”

Last year, Princeton University began a “Bridge Year” program, further legitimizing the concept of a gap year.

Bridge Year allows a select number of students who have been accepted to Princeton to delay the start of their freshman year to engage in nine months of university-sponsored service at one of four international locations.

In addition to supporting community-based initiatives at each destination, Princeton’s website says the Bridge Year program aims to provide participants with enhanced international perspectives and intercultural skills, opportunities for personal growth and reflection and a deeper appreciation of service.

Applicants who are chosen for the program are placed with a host family and are assigned a volunteer position in services that include health, education, environment and economic development. For the 2011-2012 academic year, participants will be placed in communities in Ghana, India, Peru and Serbia.

“What Princeton is saying is, ‘We value the international experience, and we’re willing to fund it,’” Bull said. “This is an entirely new concept for them.”

The evolution of the gap year

To some extent, the gap year is the successor of the Grand Tour, travel through Europe traditionally taken by young, upper-class European men from the mid-1600s until the mid-1800s. Like the gap year, the Grand Tour was considered an educational rite of passage, but unlike the gap year, it was built around a prescribed itinerary designed to expose the traveler to classical art, architecture and music.

Depending on whom you ask, the concept of a gap year was born in the U.K. sometime in the 1960s or ’70s.

Lattitude Global Volunteering is a British charity founded in 1972 that specializes in volunteer opportunities for 17- to 25-year-olds. In the last 38 years, the organization has placed more than 25,000 people. Each year, it matches some 2,000 volunteers with service in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1978, John Blashford-Snell, a British colonel, and Prince Charles launched Operation Drake, consisting of youth projects on ships circumnavigating the globe.

According to Raleigh International, a company that evolved out of Operation Drake, the purpose of the experience is “to develop self-confidence and leadership through adventure, scientific exploration and community service.”

In the first two years of Operation Drake, 414 young people participated in projects in 16 countries. In 1984, Operation Raleigh was created as a four-year project involving 4,000 volunteers aboard the Sir Walter Raleigh.

In 1992, Operation Raleigh became Raleigh International, which today operates both gap-year trips and a variety of international expeditions, ranging from adventure to volunteer trips.

Since those early treks, the concept has evolved and expanded. Today, according to Tom Griffiths, co-founder and CEO of Gapyear.com, the term has come to mean “traveling in between life stages, rather than being determined by a length of time. … It’s not a holiday. It’s a slightly different kind of travel.”

He said the different stages between which gap years are commonly taken are before or after entering college; between completing one’s education and getting a job; within or around a stage of childbearing; before marriage; and around the beginning of retirement.

In other words, in Britain and Australia, “gap year” has evolved into a broad category encompassing various freewheeling types of travel.

But as the concept penetrates the U.S. market, it is much more structured. In America, Bull said, “One thing that is really key for many students is that they’re with their peer group. It can be rough for them to not be somehow plugged in.”

That’s because American students “have been infantilized more than European students or Australian students,” she said. “You’re treated like an adult in those countries; U.S. students tend to need a little more of a cushion starting out.”

If leaving home for an extended period of time just to “experience the world” is something of an alien notion in the U.S., it fits a broader American bias against taking time off in general. That’s a bias John de Graaf, national coordinator for the vacation advocacy group Take Back Your Time, is trying to combat.

“I took my gap year after my first year of college,” de Graaf said. “I took two years off as a Vista volunteer [with AmeriCorps]. That completely changed my life.”

As for why Americans have been slow to adopt a concept that clearly has educational and enrichment value, “it’s because we’re behind in virtually everything,” de Graaf asserted. “We’ve been pushed that way here. … People need a little time to think about ‘What do I want to do with my life?’ I think other countries take that more seriously. I certainly think it’s a good idea.”

To better defend the merits of a gap year, Haigler has begun to compile some initial research on the topic.

In a survey of 280 gap-year alums from the U.S., he found that the top two reasons young people took a gap year were because they were “burned out” or “wanted to find out more about themselves.” Other reasons included wanting to experience a potential academic direction or skill, save money for college or because they either didn’t get into college or weren’t accepted at the college of their choice.

According to Haigler’s survey notes, gap students generally return to college within six months after their gap year “with a reignited passion for learning and the ability to connect formal education with real-world experiences.”

Of those surveyed, 60% said the experience either “set me on my current career path or academic major” or “confirmed my choice of career or academic major.”

Gap year as a business

One can argue the merits of taking a gap year ad nauseam, but as the concept begins to percolate stateside, Flight Centre sees the trend as a business opportunity.

Flight Centre, which also owns Gogo Worldwide Vacations and Liberty Travel in the U.S., acquired its majority stake in Gapyear.com for an undisclosed sum.

The website was founded in 1998 by Griffiths and Peter Pedrick as a social networking site for people taking time off to travel. Following Flight Centre’s acquisition, the two companies are hoping to translate a growing social network of longer-term globetrotters into lucrative travel bookings, either online using Flight Centre’s booking platform or through its global network of 2,000 retail stores.

“We’re building a travel proposition from the basis of a social network,” Griffiths said.

Gapyear.com is scheduled to relaunch by the end of 2011. Travelers who go to the redesigned site will first be asked to identify their country of origin. They will then be given the option to choose from three demographic market sectors: under age 26; 27 to 50; or 50-plus.

Those under age 26 fall into the youth travel, pre-university, graduate and between-jobs category. Those ages 27 to 50 fall into the category of travelers looking for a break from their career or who have been laid off. Those over 50 are travelers who likely take long-haul, independent-travel gap trips before and into retirement.

“And once we’ve identified that you’re an American in that age segment, we’ve identified the product that is relevant to you,” Griffiths said.

For example, he said, the under-26 group is more likely to be backpackers; the 27-to-50 demographic more interested in smaller-group, minivan-type trips; and the 50-plus travelers more interested in motorcoach trips.

Paradoxically, the global recession has actually fueled the gap-year trend in the U.S. and abroad.

Recent graduates who can’t find work immediately after college and people who have lost their jobs suddenly find themselves with a bunch of extra time on their hands. For them, a gap year can represent a bright opportunity in an otherwise grim situation.

“The entire sector’s been fueled by the downturn,” Griffiths said. “When a lot of big firms are weeding the fat, they’re offering people … early retirement. For a lot of people, it’s actually cheaper to travel around the world than to stay at home.”

Last month, a New York Times article, “Making the Dream Trip a Reality,” observed: “It’s a dream anyone with a passport fantasizes about once in a while: ditching everything to travel the world for a year, or at least long enough to forget about office life. Acting out that fantasy tends to be reserved for retirees and recent college graduates, but some midcareer globetrotters hope to show that anyone can hop off the treadmill and go travel.”

The article cites Sherry Ott, a New Yorker who quit her middle-management job in 2006 to travel and now wants to inspire others to do the same. She and two partners, Michaela Potter and Michael Bontempi, started a company called Briefcase to Backpack, which offers advice for career breaks and sabbaticals.

It is precisely this more carefree, post-recessionary mindset that Gapyear.com now hopes to capitalize on.

Once the site is relaunched, it will begin a more aggressive attempt to penetrate the U.S. market.

“In year two, we’re looking to come to America to grow the gap-year market,” Griffiths said. The plan, he said, is to introduce the concept at schools and universities as well as to launch a Gap Year magazine. The company will also engage in social media projects to get the word out about what a gap year is and how to take one.

“The plan is really to grow the gap-year market, which is really in slow growth in America, and make the term as big and common as it is all over the world,” he said.

Griffiths added that he has heard of plans for a gap-year movie in the next few years, which would increase awareness of the concept.

In the meantime, Flight Centre isn’t the only company eyeing the market.

The Dallas-based youth travel company STA Travel has a program in the U.K. dedicated to the gap year, and in the U.S. it offers similar gap-year-type activities, including work- and study-abroad and volunteer programs.

“There is a niche there for travel companies to create specific tours for this group,” Bull said of opportunities that present themselves in the travel sector. “I’m now seeing programs that are shorter. … They offer month-long experiences with groups that you can weave together.”

Haigler said: “Americans are great believers in education, and that’s not a bad thing at all. But they have a very sort of narrow view of what that is. Education to them is going to school.”

He added that in the U.S., “There is a cultural predisposition that more formal education is better. … The Brits will say, ‘You don’t need more formal degrees; you need experience.’”

Gaylord Opryland Resort reopens

The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, closed since it was flooded in May, reopened today.

The 2,881-room resort — Nashville’s largest — sustained about $170 million in damage. Damage to the hotel was extensive, with approximately 70% of common areas and 100% of subterranean areas under water.

Its closure forced a number of conventions and meetings to move to other cities.

“This is not only a tremendous moment for Gaylord, but for the whole city of Nashville,” said Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of Gaylord Entertainment. “Although the road to this point has been a challenging one for our company, I am incredibly proud of the passion and spirit with which our entire team responded.”

The resort is the last of Gaylord’s Nashville tourist attractions to reopen after the floods. The Grand Ole Opry reopened its permanent home — the world-famous Opry House — at the end of September. The General Jackson Showboat and Wildhorse Saloon have also resumed normal operation, along with the Gaylord Springs Golf Links.

The property is returning with a number of improvements and redesigns, including three new restaurants and a wine bar.

“A silver lining of this process has been the opportunity to give Gaylord Opryland a significant overhaul, allowing us to take what was already a world-class property and bring it back as an even greater experience for our guests,” said Reed.

Gaylord hosted a three-day grand reopening event at the property this past weekend.

Postcard from Tuscany

Pat & Don just returned from their recent 3 week tour of Italy taking in many of its treasured sites. Here is a picture from Florence! Gotta love it. Thank you so much for sharing. We are thrilled that you enjoyed the trip as much as you did. Absolutely incredible itinerary and memories to last a lifetime.

If you would like more information about booking a trip to Italy – give us a call 317-885-9855. We love helping travel dreams come true!

Midair Exercise Makes for Happier Landings

Midair Exercise Makes for Happier Landings

By Josh Noel

RISMEDIA, November 2, 2010–(MCT)–Being an “unbelievably frequent flier” and a physical therapist means Nicole Stout knows how to get through an 18-hour flight.

She most recently took such a flight — to Johannesburg — at the end of August and spent her waking hours often in some kind of motion, be it walking the aisle, twisting into yoga shapes, or simply lifting her arms and legs in her seat.

Exercise is important on any flight, but particularly long flights. That can be doubly so for business travelers who need to be on their game shortly after landing.

“Last summer I landed in Venice at 11 a.m. and had to make a presentation at 2,” said Stout, who works with oncology patients in a Bethesda, Md., naval hospital. “You can’t afford to have neck or back pain on that kind of schedule.”

There are two central medical hazards to flying, she said.

First is simply the change in air pressure.

“That lends itself to swelling,” Stout said. “When you have that bit of swelling, joints can get tight and stiff. Being mobile, even on a short flight, can help.”

More ominous is deep-vein thrombosis, better known as blood clots in the legs, which can result from pooling blood that is not returned to the heart because of inactivity. Clots can be simple pain for some people but may become more complicated for people with heart or kidney problems.

So what does a physical therapist do? In-flight exercise, of course.

Stout has two lists of suggestions, one for beginners and one for advanced in-flight exercisers like herself. Both work major muscle groups.

“These large muscles are important because of blood circulation,” she said. “You need contraction of muscles to return the blood to the heart.”

And if someone gives you funny looks while lunging down the aisle?

“I get them all the time, and they don’t bother me,” Stout said. “I think to myself, ‘When I get off the plane, I’m going to feel really good, and you’re not.’”

IN-FLIGHT EXERCISES
Beginners:

—Shoulder shrugs, shoulder rolls. Ten each.
—Short sets of bending and straightening the elbows and knees.
—Walk through the plane every two hours.
—March your knees up and down in your seat.
—Lift and lower your feet on tiptoes to work the calves.

Advanced:
—Neck stretches; hold on each side for 15 to 20 seconds.
—If you can find space (Stout suggests near an exit), work the core with yoga stretches. Pigeon pose — an intermediate move of folding one leg under the body while stretching the back leg out — is an in-flight favorite of hers.
—In your seat, lift your arms over your head, grip your hands together and lean from side to side for a few seconds on each side. Repeat.
—Walk the length of the plane every hour, incorporating deep lunges. Unless you want air marshals on your case, it might be wise to notify a flight attendant.
—Put a small flight pillow in small of back to keep posture upright.

(c) 2010, Chicago Tribune.
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