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Andre's

Travel Blog

Travel BlogAndre’s Travel blog highlights unique travel destinations, travel tips & current trends in the travel industry. Our world is changing rapidly & not necessarily always for the better. I enjoying using my travel blog as a platform to address the causes and challenges, which directly affect tourism. Not only does this blog inform travelers about what is happening in the world of travel, but it also gives me the opportunity to offer sage advice. I will help you navigate the changes & travel better.

Sincerely,
Andre’ Leavitt

Protests in France Disrupting Travel Industry

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According to Sky News, trains around the nation were at a standstill and officials at the Eiffel Tower have issued a warning to visitors to stay away due to protests over the government’s retirement reform. In Paris alone, over 6,000 police officers were ready to handle massive demonstrations scheduled for Thursday. The high number of protests around the nation have resulted in subway stations being shuttered. France’s state-owned railway company announced that nine out of every 10 high-speed trains have been canceled, and officials from Air France revealed that around 30 percent of domestic...

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Greece

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Greece is a fabulous destination with history & mystery. Greece should definitely be on your bucket list. However, it is important to know where & when to travel to Greece & her islands, as over tourism is an issue in areas. I returned from an amazing Sceptre Tours FAM trip to Greece in October. It had been years since my last visit & I was happy to return to bemoan & observe the new reality. Athens has literally cleaned up its act. The embrace of tourism is absolute. Litter is under control & buses are eco. My only grip, the endless graffiti, as in many cities, is...

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US Virgin Islands passed sunscreen ban

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The US Virgin Islands will be the first to ban certain sunscreens that threaten marine environments. The sunscreen ban kicks in fully next March with 'certain limitations beginning immediately' after a bill was signed this week. It bans the importation, distribution and sale of sunscreens which contain oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says are 'not safe or effective.'  The ban starts before similar restrictions begin in Hawaii and Key West. Those forbid the use of oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreen products, but the USVI goes one step further...

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A South Pacific Escape

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A South Pacific Escape: Tahiti versus Fiji – Which one is right for you? Tahiti & Fiji are both exotic south pacific nations ideal for romance vacations & for the traveler who desires a more exotic, less crowded beach destination. (Hawaii receives as many tourists in one week as Tahiti gets in a year) It is a bit of a jaunt to fly to these south pacific paradises, but the natural beauty, amazing clear blue water & the warmth of their people make the long flights worth it. Tahiti is 8 hours from LAX while Fiji is a bit further at 10 hours from LAX. After arriving on Tahiti or Viti...

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How to Plan In Case Things Go Wrong

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TRAVEL TIPS How to Plan In Case Things Go WrongNothing bad is going to happen while you’re on vacation … probably. Ten days into what would have been two months in South America, I broke my leg in two places. I was deep in Chile, a country whose language I didn’t speak, and I’d just booked flights to Brazil and Easter Island. I could have panicked. Instead, I was just disappointed. After years of extended traveling, I had a system in place to handle emergencies. I was in a staggering amount of pain, in an embarrassed heap far from home and hostel, but I wasn’t too worried. You don’t need...

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A Great Slice of Australia -The Whitsunday’s & the Great Barrier Reef

Australia is simply too large a country & continent to be seen in one visit, unless you have unlimited time & resources.  Think of Australia as a large pie. You eat it a slice at a time. Airlie Beach, an Australian resort town on Queensland's Whitsunday Coast, is a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. When I visited this past year, I felt as if Airlie Beach was on the verge of change. Yes, it still has the laid- back hippy feel but the new luxury accommodations are a sure sign. I spent 3 NTS in Airlie beach boating, snorkeling, diving & flying. Day 1 -Whitehaven...

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