Travel Maven blog

National Geographic Traveler tops in travel

Newspapers, magazines, Web sites, blogs, writers and photographers win awards in annual Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition

National Geographic Traveler wins two gold awards -- for its magazine and its Web site -- in the 2009 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition.

Among other winners announced today in Guadalajara, Mexico, sister magazine, National Geographic Adventure, takes top honors in photography and adventure writing. For the third year in a row, the Los Angeles Times earned the gold for the best Newspaper Travel Section among those with circulation above 350,000. The Boston Globe led all publications with the highest total of five awards, three silver and two bronze.

Travel Journalist of the Year is Joe Ray, a globetrotting freelance writer-photographer who is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe. Judges cited his skill and efficiency in portraying the adventure of travel.

Bob Howells, a freelance writer cited for his focus on nature-oriented travel, wins the silver award as runner up. 

The bronze goes to Dave G. Houser, a freelance writer-photographer lauded for exceptional storytelling and reporting. Houser's work appears on TheTravelMavens.com web site.  

The annual awards ceremony is one of my favorite moments of the year, as I love to give away money -- this year more than $20,000 to North America's best travel journalists.

Judges comments and all the winners

Seeking dental floss in Shanghai

On a Sunday afternoon in Shanghai, I began a search for dental floss.

It turns out that my roll of floss ran out in a country that doesn’t seem to use it.    

My exploration reached a climax at Shanghai's largest pharmacy, or so the sign reported in front of a building of several stories on famed Nanjing Danglu, a shopping street of renoun that leads to the Bund, the city's commercial and financial center.

You can buy and replace almost anything you want on Nanjing Danglu, but not a roll of dental floss.

Exploring Shanghai's Old Town

A few blocks from Shanghai's upscale shops and commercial zone, on the sidewalks of Old Town, street lights are dimmer and life is more Chinese.

You will see bicycles instead of cars, goods for sale from bins and wooden display carts, as well as laundry hung to dry from every available line and tree branch.

English can be elusive. 

Cruise passengers ignore sea pirates

To heck with the pirates, cruisers are not walking the plank, reports Cruiseweek, a newsletter for the cruise industry.

Editor Mike Driscoll writes that when the Crystal Symphony leaves Dubai this week en route to Athens, the first port of call is Salalah, Oman, followed by a May 22-24 cruising across the Gulf of Aden, site of frequent pirate attacks on vessels. 

Are clients worried?

One luxury travel agent told Cruiseweek that while the pirate attacks certainly haven't helped business for cruises going through the region, the "surprising truth" is it doesn't seem to bother those experienced travelers who booked the sailings in 

the first place.

A verification of this view can be found in the response to Crystal's offer of a complimentary three-day overland as an option for passengers when the ship goes through the Gulf (getting off in Oman and reboarding in Egypt). Some 90% opted to stay onboard.

Speedy ships are safer

"Most of our guests have been realistic," says Crystal President Gregg Michel. "They know that Crystal Cruises' greatest concern is for their safety."

 

Michel, who is also chairman of CLIA, contends, "Despite all of the media attention, the risk to cruise ships in this area is considered to be minimal. To the best of our knowledge, no successful attacks have occurred on ships traveling at 15 knots or more."

Crystal Symphony will be traveling at a speed well in excess of 15 knots, and it is very maneuverable. "Of course, we have taken a number of additional precautionary measures," adds Michel. "We've continued to communicate with guests about our practices before the cruise and will be during the cruise."

For information on Cruiseweek

For the latest on cruises, destinations and insights for travelers, go to THE TRAVEL MAVENS.COM

New at Disney, President Obama and treehouse villas

News from Disney World, near Orlando

The Hall of Presidents, my favorite attraction at Disney's Magic Kingdom, reopens July 4, with Disney's Audio-Animatronic version of President Barack Obama. His likeness -- and words -- will join 43 previous presidents of the United States as part of a celebration of American history.

The Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort will re-open this summer -- 60 new self-standing lodgings that replace the worn octagonal treehouses built in 1975. The villas, part of the Disney Vacation Club, will also be available to other resort guests.

Because Disney plopped the new buildings from a crane into old clearings, the treehouses look as if they have been there for years, surrounded by mature trees. Inside, though, the units, which sleep up to nine people, offer such modern luxuries as granite countertops in the kitchens and flat-screen TVs.

Best treehouse? I like Number 7026 for its views of the river passing by, with boats that can be rented at Downtown Disney. A nice way to paddle home. Disney web site. 

For the latest on cruises, destinations and insights for travelers, go to THE TRAVEL MAVENS.COM