PRIDE Travel Blog

hetero friendly™…. because expert advice should not be limited to just Fabulous people!

The World’s Weirdest Restaurants

Feb 5

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in Asia, Eat, Europe, North America, TripClips | No Comments

Even for those of us who aren’t self-professed gastronomes, many of travel’s most vivid memories are made at mealtime — we remember so well that skin-melting madras curry in Southern India or that al dente spaghetti in squid ink in Venice. So while there’s nothing inherently wrong with grabbing yet another sandwich at an international chain, sometimes solidifying the travel experience means picking the two-pound, 8,000-calorie cheeseburger or spicy silkworm larvae instead.

You can sink your teeth into these tasty dishes and a wealth of other outlandish offerings at the restaurants we’ve selected as the world’s weirdest. “Weird” is, of course, a matter of taste — as one man’s sheep’s penis is another’s Korean hot pot served in a toilet. Regardless, there’s no denying that travelers won’t soon forget eating at a restaurant devoted to a single ingredient (apples) or one that employs tiny monkey waiters. Read on to learn about nine of the world’s most unusual restaurants — happy perusing, and bon appetit!

kayabukiya tavern macaque monkey Kayabukiya Tavern: Utsunomiya, Japan
At first glance, there’s nothing particularly striking about Kayabukiya Tavern, a seemingly run-of-the-jungle Japanese sake house. Food is of the Asian comfort variety — barbecue chicken, fried dumplings and rice dishes, all washed down with a no-frills selection of beer and sake. “What’s so odd about this place?” you wonder — until a tiny, fleet-footed monkey server politely hands you a customary pre-meal hot towel.

In lieu of human servers, who are costly and sometimes prove impossible to train, the owner’s pair of macaque monkeys efficiently work the gig. Dressed in open shirts and short pants, they scamper about, delivering bottles of beer and collecting tips of edamame (steamed soy beans) for their efforts. Animal rights regulations dictate that the simians can only work a total of two hours a day (the monkeys are fighting this rule), so make sure you call ahead to avoid homo sapiens servers. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: bizarre, food, novel, odd, restaurant, restaurants, strange, unique, weird, world, world's

Putting Non-Liquid Toiletries to the Test : Alternatives For Easy Transit Through Airport Security

Jan 27

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in TripClips, TripTips | No Comments

By Christine Sarkis, Reprinted from SmarterTravel, Jan 27,2009

Looking to travel light without going without? With 3-1-1 liquid restrictions still in place at airports, finding alternatives to liquid toiletries is a key part of packing a carry-on with all the face, hair, and body products you need on vacation.

Our intrepid testers put four alternatives to liquid toiletries to the test to see how easy they are to use and what results these products deliver. From solid shampoo to sheets of soap that dissolve with water, carrying on toiletries that bypass liquid restrictions has never been so easy, or smelled so good.

The Results

Lush

Uses: Shampoo and conditioner

If there was a favorite in the bunch, the Lush Karma Komba solid shampoo was it. Every tester loved the scent. One said, “The smell of the shampoo in particular is truly amazing. Not only did my hair smell and feel exceptionally clean, but I kept imagining that I was in a rainforest.” Other points in its favor were the “excellent foaming and clean rinse” and “not a lot of buildup.” Hair was “soft and shiny even on the second day.” The shampoo worked for a variety of hair types, as well. Testers said, “Left my super-curly hair shiny,” and “I am a black woman with a relaxer, so there are a lot of products that I do not use because of the texture of my hair. But I was impressed with this product because I used it on my hair at a time when I needed a touch-up and it left my hair feeling really clean, and it did not dry my hair out either.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: airport security, friendly, liquid, shampoo, Toiletries, tsa

Beirut is reborn as a glitzy playground for tourists

Jan 22

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in Middle East, See, TripClips | No Comments

By Veronica Gould Stoddart, USA TODAY
BEIRUT — On a mild Tuesday evening in downtown Beirut, the city’s young and beautiful are bellying up to the hottest night spot, the bohemian Gemmayzeh neighborhood. Model-chic Beiruti women, sporting skinny pants, stiletto boots and cascading tresses, cluster in groups or with dates inside the hip bars, pubs and restaurants that line this milder Middle East version of Bourbon Street.

Not far away, in the Old World-style Albergo boutique hotel, visiting Michelin-starred chefs from France are dishing out meals for a sold-out crowd that takes Beirut’s sophisticated dining scene for granted.

PHOTO GALLERY: Beirut bounces back

During the summer, the trendy flock to swank rooftop clubs — Noir, Sky Bar or White Bar, where Champagne bottle service can run $10,000 — to dance till dawn.

Call it Sex and the City meets South Beach.

Beirut’s sizzling nightlife, from gritty to glam, helped drive a record tourism year in 2009. Overcoming a reputation as a Middle East trouble spot, Lebanon welcomed nearly 2 million visitors last year, a 39% increase over 2008. It was the No. 1 destination for tourism growth in the world, according to the World Tourism Organization.

‘Joie de vivre’ draws Arabs, Westerners

“Lebanon is back,” Nada Sardouk, Lebanon’s tourism director general, told the Middle East news agency AMEInfo.com in December. “We’ve had 80% to 90% hotel occupancy this year. But it’s more than about just numbers. … It’s about the joie de vivre.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Beirut, Beyruth, Beyruthe, Current, Lebanon, Rebirth, Update

7 trips you should never book online

Jan 17

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in TripClips, TripTips | No Comments

By Christopher Elliott, Tribune Media Services (syndicated on cnn.com)Travel Suitcase clip art
January 15, 2010 12:03 p.m. ESt

– Carolyn Fletcher’s honeymoon started heading south the moment she and her husband landed in Cancun. No one was there to pick up the newlyweds.It took an hour for her to convince a van service to deliver them to their hotel. But when they checked into their four-star resort in Akumal, they discovered it was “a two-star, at best,” she remembers. “The grounds were unkempt and there was trash everywhere,” she said. “Our room smelled of mildew. I sat down on the bed to cry, only to find the sheets and mattress wet from the moisture and mildew. There was mold growing on the curtains, the walls and the furniture.”

Why am I telling you about Fletcher’s post-nuptial nightmare? Because she booked it online. Some vacations should never be booked through anyone but a travel agent, and a honeymoon is arguably one of them. But there are others, too, as travelers like Fletcher are discovering.

A recent Forrester Research study suggests there’s something of a backlash when it comes to booking travel online. It concludes 15 percent fewer travelers will use the Web in 2009, compared with two years ago — a finding that comforts many travel agents who previously saw themselves on the endangered list. (People have gotten a little carried away with the Forrester study, though. One headline writer suggested online booking might be the “worst part” of the trip. Right. That would be the flight, actually.)

It’s little consolation to Fletcher and her husband. “While most people will remember their honeymoon with happy memories, ours are filled with disparagement, frustration and regret,” she adds.

In trying to figure out when you shouldn’t book online, I thought I’d ask someone who works for an online travel agency. I put the question to Ginny Mahl, Travelocity’s vice president of sales and customer service. “There is still a place for traditional travel agents, particularly those that have carved out a niche, like adventure travel,” she said. “Depending upon the traveler and their needs, a face-to-face meeting with such a consultant could be wise.” Of course, she adds, “higher fees will apply.” Of course.

So when should you not book on the Internet? Here are seven kinds of trips:

Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: agent, travel, travel agent, why use

19 Tips for Better Travel Photos

Jan 12

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *Hot*, TripClips, TripTips | 2 Comments

–originally published by: The Independent Traveler, Ed Hewitt

taj mahal photo photography camera taking a picture

It wasn’t that long ago that many travel photos were taken, developed and then dumped into boxes, rarely to be seen again — unless a basement flood forced someone to throw them all away. These days, things aren’t so different except that now the photos get dumped onto external hard drives, perhaps to await a hard drive crash instead of the proverbial basement flood.

But in most collections of vacation and travel photos, a precious few of the very best shots are often spared this fate — those photos that are somehow more enduring or more interesting, or (I think most importantly) that best capture the spirit and sensation of the trip. What is it that keeps these photos from the dustbin of our traveling history? Often they are simply better photographs. That is, the “keeper” photo isn’t of a favorite person, place or activity — it is better composed, better lit and thus simply more visually interesting than the run-of-the-mill vacation snapshot.

There are plenty of resources out there for folks with thousands of dollars of photographic equipment, but what about the rest of us — those of us with a point-and-shoot digital camera or even simply a smartphone? What can we do to get better, more lasting images from our travels? Following is a collection of low- and no-tech tips to help you improve your keeper count on your next trip.
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Tags: better, better photos, how to, how to take, how tos, photo, photos, picture, tips

A Culinary Revival in Istanbul — The city’s Ottoman restaurants rediscover a legendary cuisine with cosmopolitan roots

Jan 8

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *Hot*, Asia, Eat, Europe, Middle East, TripClips | No Comments

By J.S. MARCUS – Wall Street Journal

Istanbul

[OTTOMAN1]
Photo: Tugra, in the Ciragan Palace Kempinski hotel (Kerem Uzel for The Wall Street Journal)

Elegant restaurants along the Bosphorus prepare fish beautifully and plainly, in a Mediterranean style similar to that of Italy or Greece. In Beyoglu, Istanbul’s nightlife hub, tables are cluttered with tavern food in tapas-like portions. It’s all delicious, of course—and a little familiar.

But when you encounter a delicate rice pilaf flavored with clarified butter, or a perfect slice of baklava, the dozens of pastry layers dissolving one by one on the tongue, it’s a reminder that Istanbul is home to another cuisine, one as complicated and sophisticated as contemporary Turkish food is simple and sustaining.

The cuisine of the Ottomans, whose empire once stretched from Baghdad to Budapest, was perfected in Istanbul in the 15th and 16th centuries in the kitchens of Topkapi Palace, home of the sultans for 400 years. Ottoman control of the spice trade was at its peak, and the cuisine’s hallmark is its deft mixing of sweet and savory flavors. Today, dishes such as delicately stuffed Black Sea mackerel and sea bass flavored with mastic, an aromatic resin usually reserved for desserts, are appearing on menus at some of the best restaurants. A chef in the classical Ottoman period might have devoted his whole working life to one dish; modern-day chefs have special training and often base their interpretations on archival research.

The cuisine’s revival comes as many people in Istanbul are becoming more interested in their Ottoman heritage. The flowering of Ottoman restaurants is among the most visible results. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: cuisine, culinary Istanbul, culinary Turkey, food, good places to eat, great food, Istanbul, ottoman, Turkey

World’s Coolest Pools –Travel+Leisure

Dec 19

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *Hot*, Asia, Australia & Oceana, Europe, Latin America, North America, Play, See, TripClips | 1 Comment

Get wet at these wild and wonderful swim spots.

From Travel+Leisure Magazine, December 2009 By Jimmy Im

Sally Randall Brunger, creative director of men’s knitwear line The Brungers, traverses the globe for inspiration for her collections—and she knows a cool pool when she sees one. “I can’t imagine anything more fun after a day of meetings than to toss off my heels and dip into a pool where I can swim to the bar and order my favorite cocktail.”

For the notorious “it” girl from the glamorous ’80s club era, the pool at the Grace Hotel in Times Square fits the bill. The midtown hotel has one of the most talked about pools in New York City. With two swim-up bars, live DJs, and a projector screen, it’s at the heart of the action—complete with half-naked guests.

Pools are fast evolving from background scene-setters to the main attraction. The 21st-century pool has blossomed from mere swim spot to an imaginative work of art that flaunts a “wow” factor—be it a pool elevator, a whitewater slide, hidden grotto, or interactive aquarium. With all these bells and whistles, who cares about a diving board?

Of course, a buzz-worthy pool doesn’t just happen overnight. “The interesting aspects of cool pools are in the choice and use of materials,” says Cool Pools and Hot Tubs author Vinny Lee, “and its shape should complement the surroundings and landscape.”

“It’s all too easy to design a pool that looks good, but to make strong and powerful connections to a place, a climate, a landscape, an atmosphere or a feeling—now that’s cool because it’s unrepeatable,” says Marwan Al-Sayed, one of the designers of the pool at the stunning new Amangiri resort in the Utah desert, which is built around a natural stone outcropping.

Other pools are more of a novelty attraction. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: best pool, great pool, largest pool, pool, pools, World's Best Pool

Top Ten HotSpots for High Tea — A Global Tour

Dec 14

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *Hot*, Africa, Asia, Eat, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America, TripClips | No Comments

From :

SINGAPORE – Fancy a cuppa? From highbrow salons to highland plantations, the world’s best places to have tea.

1. London, England

Ladies, don your gowns; gents, start pressing your ties. Afternoon tea at the Ritz is a splendid formal affair: silver pots and fine china chink at 4 p.m. sharp under the vaulted glass and chandeliers of the Palm Court. It’s not cheap, but you’ll be in good company — this venerable hotel has served exotic infusions to everyone from King Edward VII to Charlie Chaplin. If the budget won’t stretch, try alternative institutions: the organization Classic Cafes champions the formica-countered greasy spoons of the 1950s, a dwindling number of which are still serving brews in vintage surrounds. Tie not required.

2. Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia/Central Asia
Nonstop, the epic Moscow-Beijing train journey takes over six days. The best way to spend them is befriending your carriage mates — Russian businesspeople, Mongolian traders, Buddhist monks. Each car has a samovar, a hot-water urn where you can top up your mug to ward off the Siberian chill. Samovars are more than kettles: entrenched in Russian society, they’re made for communal drinking. The local saying ‘to have a sit by the samovar’ means to talk leisurely over endless cups of tea. Fill your flask — and those of your new-found friends — and watch Europe roll into Asia.

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Tags: afternoon tea, afternoon tea recommendations, best afternoon tea, best high tea, best places for tea, best tea, cream tea, formal tea, High tea, high tea recommendations, tea

Airport napping rooms let you sleep your layover away

Dec 10

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *Hot*, TripClips, TripTips | No Comments

By Roger Yu, USA TODAY
Tiny airport sleeping rooms — similar to the cubicles that Asian travelers use to catch a snooze in between flights — have arrived in America.

Atlanta, the world’s largest airport, opened five Minute Suites this month where tired passengers can doze for $30 an hour. The rooms — 7 feet by 8 feet, or about the size of two office cubicles put together — are equipped with a daybed sofa, pillows (with disposable covers), fresh blankets, a small desk, Internet access and a flat-screen 32-inch monitor with DirecTV and flight information. They have systems to mask noise.

San Francisco International plans to follow suit. It’s hired a California company to design 14 rooms of about 90 square feet for its international terminal. The rooms will have similar amenities. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: airport hotel, airport hotels, airport sleep, capsule hotel

Is High-Speed Rail the Future, or a Fantasy?

Dec 8

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in TripClips | No Comments

Train in a Paris Station (Photo: iStockphoto/Perry Kroll)

There are plenty of good reasons to expand high-speed rail (HSR) in the U.S. Widespread HSR could alleviate traffic congestion in crowded metropolitan areas, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and give the airlines some competition on shorter inter-city routes. All noble causes, to be sure, but last week Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary Ray LaHood offered a potentially more convincing argument: Jobs.

“Our goal is to develop a national high-speed rail network, create good jobs here in America and help reinvigorate our manufacturing base,” LaHood said, following a conference on domestic HSR manufacturing. “We know these are tough economic times for many folks and we believe that U.S. rail manufacturers and suppliers will benefit greatly from this new program. We also look forward to establishing joint ventures with foreign firms who can provide expertise and establish or expand their operations here in the U.S.”

Super-fast train service is one of President Obama’s priorities, and appears to be emerging as a cog in his administration’s jobs-development plans for the coming year. The stimulus bill, passed in March, directed $8 billion toward HSR development. During his days as a senator, Vice President Joe Biden famously rode Amtrak from his home in Delaware to Washington. In short, the administration has HSR on the brain.

But will we ever have it on the ground? Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: high speed rail, high speed train, US train, USA train

Travel’s secret societies

Dec 1

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *Hot*, TripClips | No Comments

–Bert Archer: From Wednesday’s Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Dec. 01, 2009

The word “exclusive” is bandied about a lot these days. Most businesses above the level of Wal-Mart use it to make customers feel special – without actually excluding anyone. But a number of travel-related groups, clubs and perks deserve the adjective: They genuinely are invitation-only.

In the airline world, fliers can become members of programs such as Continental’s Chairman’s Circle, United’s Global Services and a nameless group that gets preferential treatment from SAS. Never heard of it? There’s a reason. To paraphrase financier J.P. Morgan, if you have to ask, you’re not member material.

Peter Brown, who used to own an eponymous travel agency in Toronto, has been chasing exclusive memberships and perks since he retired 20 years ago. One of his favourites is Lufthansa’s first-class terminal at Frankfurt, with its 15 kinds of champagne and 20 Scotches, a still-operational smoking lounge and, best of all, drivers to get you across the tarmac directly to your gate. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: frequent flyer, frequent traveler, lavish, opulent, swag, travel, travel benefit, VIP

How to get a duplicate US passport -Anderson Cooper AC360

Nov 11

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in TripClips, TripTips | No Comments

Chris Guillebeau
AC360° Contributor

This post is relevant for readers with U.S. passports who travel frequently. If you don’t fit in that group, feel free to skip this one — or just read it for the entertainment value.

I’ve mentioned a few times that I have two U.S. passports, and each time at least one person asks me how that works. Well, I’ll tell you exactly how I got the second passport, and what you need to do if this would help you too.

First, the need for a second passport. Why bother?

U.S. passports are good for a number of reasons: notably, they are valid for 10 years, and when you fill up the pages with lots of stamps and visas, the State Department in Washington, D.C. or any embassy abroad will issue more pages at no charge. I’ve had three passport page extensions so far, and without that option I would have needed at least four passports by this point. No other major country of which I am aware offers a passport that includes both of these important features. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: duplicate, get, how to, passport, US passport

PRIDE Travel Receives 2009 Gold Davey Award From International Academy of Visual Arts for Amazing Thailand Commercial

Nov 5

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in News & Press Releases | No Comments

Pride TravelIn announcing the winners of the 2009 Davey Awards, the International Academy of Visual Arts recognized PRIDE Travel with its highest award, a Gold Davey, for the independent in-house production of the “Amazing Thailand” commercial promoting Thailand as a travel destination. The commercial was produced in-house by PRIDE Travel’s owner and CEO Marc R. Kassouf using only a standard office PC, readily available home and office video editing software Roxio, and old fashioned trial and error until the final finished product was attained. The original footage was provided by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and although informative was not intended as an audiovisual whole or to be used as a commercial. Mr. Kassouf initiated the project in order to promote the destination with a short commercial video at trade shows and events, and add it to other similar destination videos. “I am ecstatic that PRIDE Travel has won a Davey Award for the Amazing Thailand commercial” said Kassouf, adding that “to win a Davey is a great honor, a Gold Davey even more gratifying as recognition for all the work done and many hours spent on the production” The Amazing Thailand commercial is available for online viewing on YouTube directly via the following URL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0NG8Q2i9k

With over 4,000 entries from across the US and around the world, the Davey Awards honor the finest creative work from the best small firms, agencies and companies worldwide. The Davey Awards are judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), a 200+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current IAVA membership represents a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: award, Davey, Gold, PRIDE, pride travel, travel

PRIDE Travel Engaged by Celebrity Music Artists Jason and deMarco to Organize Wedding Cruise for Friends, Family and Fans

Nov 4

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *LGBTQQ*, News & Press Releases | No Comments

Pride TravelFollowing other recent celebrity and public figures that became clients, PRIDE Travel of Long Beach, California, was retained by musical artists Jason and deMarco to organize and coordinate a cruise the summer of 2010 celebrating their wedding. The couple will be sailing with friends, family, and fans on Carnival’s Conquest roundtrip from Galveston, Texas near the newly-wed’s Texas home May 2010 on a seven night Caribbean Cruise. The cruise will depart from Galveston, cruising the Gulf of Mexico with stops in Freeport Bahamas, Nassau Bahamas, and Key West, Florida, and return to Galveston.

A special cruise group has been setup by PRIDE Travel with Carnival Cruises, with limited space available for fans to book and sail with the artists. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: cruise, DeMarco, fan, Jason, Jason and DeMarco, Jason DeMarco, wedding

PRIDE Travel Owner and CEO Named Co-Chair of International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s Diversity Committee

Nov 3

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *LGBTQQ*, News & Press Releases | No Comments

Pride TravelFurther deepening ties and contributions by PRIDE Travel’s owners and employees to the organization, owner and CEO Marc R. Kassouf was appointed co-chair, Diversity Committee of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). In his continuing duties as a member of the Committee, Mr. Kassouf now takes on additional strategic and administrative roles to help facilitate the production of plans and processes to fulfill the Committee’s mission as tasked by the Board of Directors of IGLTA. Bryan Herb, IGLTA Board Chairman elaborated that the Diversity committee is charged with creating actionable plans for IGLTA staff to diversify the membership geographically, by member type, and demographically. “We’re pleased to have Marc onboard as co-chair” Herb said, adding that “his efforts to date on the committee have been excellent and he has contributed many fresh ideas.”

PRIDE Travel has been an active member and supporter of IGLTA, Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: IGLTA, International Gay Lesbian Travel Association, pride travel

PRIDE Travel LGBT Leisure Travel Sales Ahead of National Community Marketing Inc Year to Year Average With Slight Increase

Nov 2

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in *LGBTQQ*, News & Press Releases | No Comments

Pride TravelIn contrast to trends observed and being released by Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), PRIDE Travel sales to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) leisure is up slightly for the year ending 2009 according to S. Nathan DePetris, its Chief Operations Officer and owner. “We have seen growth not only in the number of LGBT Leisure clients booking trips,” noted DePetris, “but also in the length of travel” Adding that although more clients were staying closer to home, those that are journeying afield are traveling farther and for longer, taking advantage of the economic downturn’s many values that have been injected into and became available as travel products this year.

According to CMI, LGBT leisure travel was only slightly down overall during the past 12 months, but held reasonably steady despite the recession. “Less affected by economic downturns than their mainstream counterparts… LGBT leisure travelers remain an important niche market for tourism and hospitality,” Roth said. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: gay, lgbt, lgbtq, PRIDE, pride travel, travel

PRIDE Travel Returns from Korea Discovery and Seoul City Journey, Finds New Exciting Destination for Clients to Explore

Nov 1

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in Asia, HotSpots, News & Press Releases | No Comments

Pride TravelParticipants in the Seoul Tourism Organization sponsored and hosted event return home with a fresh perspective on the fascinating culture, attractions, and exotic cuisine that form the facets of Asia’s sparkling jewel, Korea. The familiarization tour included five fast paced full days split between Gwangju, Korea’s southern culinary capital, and Seoul, it’s vibrant cultural and thriving metropolitan heart. Connecting the two cities, Korea’s KTX fast train serves as an international model of civility, hospitality, and technology in transport.

PRIDE Travel owner and Chief Operations Officer S. Nathan DePetris participated by special invitation of the Seoul Tourism Organization, joining delegates from US tour operators, journalists, travel writers, food critics, and even renowned chefs and foodies. Highlights of the trip in the southern region include visiting the eco preserve at Suncheon Bay, nearby folk village of Nagak Eup Seong, the Gwangju Design Biennale, visiting the spectacularly serene Bo Seong green tea fields, and making his own Kimchi at the Nam Do folk food museum. In Seoul, just a few of the many facets sampled were tours and stays at world-class ultra luxury hotels and resorts such as the Grand Hyatt Seoul, the W Hotel Walker Hill, and the JW Marriott, with cultural visits to the Gyeong Bok Palace, Nanta show performance, TODES performance, and a cultural cuisine kaleidoscope experience at the Korean House center.

“I was surprised,” said Mr. DePetris, referring to the many pleasant experiences had on the trip, “but not by how rich the culture and heritage is in Korea and Seoul… rather that it remains an undiscovered part of Asia by most Americans”. Restaurant owner and Chef Tommy Klauber was caught on many occasions raving about the uniqueness of the cuisine and cooking in Korea; words such as “Full” and “Rich” were often heard paired with “Unique” or “Delicious”. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Asia, gay, Korea, Seoul, tour, travel

PRIDE Travel Hosts Virtual WORLDS LARGEST CRUISE NIGHT Event Throughout October

Oct 26

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in News & Press Releases | No Comments

For the month of October 2009 PRIDE Travel will join thousands of cruise-selling travel agents in World’s Largest Cruise Night, an exciting event designed to showcase the incredible choice, diversity and value of cruise vacations. Travel agencies across North America will team up with 24 member lines of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) to provide consumers with information on cruise vacations and exceptional offers.

Local area and residents and out of area residents the world over alike can find out all they need to know about cruising and even take advantage of outstanding vacation offers without leaving the comfort of home because PRIDE Travel is hosting a “Virtual” World’s Largest Cruise Night. By simply visiting the special agency Web page http://wlcn.cruising.org/pridetravel , consumers can explore the incredible world of cruising and plan a cruise! PRIDE Travel has chosen several short videos showcasing the exciting offerings and destinations from participating CLIA member lineswhich will be live until the end of the October. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: cruise, gay, PRIDE, pride travel, travel

Americans Show Increased Interest in “Voluntourism”

Sep 23

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in Do, TripClips | No Comments

(NewsUSA) – When Rose Blondin, 19, chose her vacation destination last year, she opted for hiking boots and T-shirts rather than bikinis and shades.
Blondin, a sophomore at Boston’s Emmanuel College, decided to spend her time working on a trail project with American Hiking Society (AHS) in the Smokey Mountains. “I learned so much about the environment when I went on hikes with the park ranger,” said Blondin. “The trip was a lot of hard work, but if you have a good attitude, you can really have an awesome experience.”

Blondin is not alone in pursuing non-leisure activities during vacation. The Travel Industry Association of America first noted that “voluntourism” was becoming more popular in 2005. Today, the practice has become more mainstream. Travelocity.com, a travel-booking Web site, surveyed over 1,000 travelers, and 38 percent expressed an interest in voluntourism. Some travelers make voluntourism a way of life. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: eco, ecological, tourism, volunteer, voluntourism

Day 4 – Atami to Hakone, Lake Ashi Cruise, and Tokyo Shinjuku

Sep 9

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in Asia, TripJournals | No Comments

3:30am I am awakened numerous times and am in bad wear from sleeping on the Tatami Mat. During one of these sleep intermissions, I decide to use the bathroom. Somehow, I manage to groggily don the appropriate shoes and sit on the john. But, no sooner than my tush has touched the porcelain shrine’s seat than I get accosted by the Possessed Japanese Toilet from Hell. Some nondescript (remember, I’m still two thirds asleep) Japanese folk music starts to play from the control console, the seat begins to rumble with the ‘Auto on heat’ feature, and a jet of water wooshes from the toilet to places best left unmentioned. Yes, I was most definitely in a foul and grouchy mood now. I return to my mat after deciding that automatic toilets are most definitely a bad idea, or at the very least lacking an ‘auto safety’ timer that turns off all functions during the groggy hours for those of us lacking hand-eye-foot coordination before our morning tea or coffee.

[Nathan] After a wonderful night’s sleep on the tatami mats (Marc said it was the most uncomfortable night that he has spent) I was up at 4 AM to watch the sunrise, however the weather was not cooperating with me. Rain had arrived, driven to the island nation from a typhoon swirling somewhere out in the middle of the Pacific. Instead of braving the elements, I cozy up in the small sitting area and channel surf for a little while. I left the sound off the television, focusing on the sound of the waves crashing into shore through my open window.

This trip has been very interesting for me so far, I am typically a night owl, sleeping in as late as possible. However, the shifting of time zones has worked out in my favor this trip. I am up early each morning, and am amazed at watching how the world starts it’s day. While sitting next to the window, I notice a small fishing fleet leaving Atami Harbor, heading out to sea. This scene is reminiscent of one that you would see while watching a classic Japanese Drama film. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Atami, Blackened Eggs, Hakone, Hakone Ropeway, Keio Plaza, Lake Ashi, Onsen, Oto Oto, Owakudani, Owakudani Valley, Shinto Shrine, Tokyo, Tokyo Shinjuku

Day 3 – Narita to Kamakura’s Cultural Treasures and Atami Hot Springs Onsen

Sep 8

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in Asia, TripJournals | No Comments

Our automated wakeup call this morning was timely and funny: the heavily accented words “Good Morning” repeated over and over again with the tinny notes of Fur Elise playing gingerly in the background; unexpected, but effective in tickling the funny center of the brain and eliciting our wakeup. We are well rested and anxious to experience the cultural treasures that Kamakura will offer us on today’s walking tour, and the anticipated respite and refreshing soaks into the hot spa resort hotel in Atami. As we prepare for breakfast, Nathan notices that we have two navy patterned robes, in addition to the western terry cloth robes. Japanese style and design can be seen in the little indicative details, such as the H –presumably for Hilton- in the cotton lounging Yukata robes provided by the hotel that Nathan wore this morning.

Breakfast was a delicious table spread of continental and hot American breakfast, with a selection of Miso soup for Japanese breakfast takers; although I’m definitely one for trying new things, I passed on the hot seaweed broth for breakfaast and stuck with the western hot breakfast. On offer were many fruits and grains, yogurt, scrambled and made-to-order eggs, potatoes, sausages and bacon to name just the basics. And pastries were divine, made with true butter, not lard, which was such a pleasant surprise on par with French or Italian pastry chef delicacies. Unbelievably, even after two filling meals onboard Singapore Airlines and the comfort porridge dish last night, we were quite nosh; we enjoyed the opportunity to top-up and recharge our energy for full day ahead.

As we get underway, our tour guide Maiko outlines our trip this week and for today, Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Atami, Bath, Hot Spring, hotel, Japan, Journey, Kamakura, Kanto, Land Rising Sun, Onsen, ryokan., Tatami, Tokyo, Tokyo Aqua Line, traditional, travel, Trip

PRIDE Travel’s Japan Journey: Day 1&2 – Los Angeles to Tokyo on Heavenly Airlines (aka Singapore Airlines)

Sep 7

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in Asia, TripJournals | No Comments

Our first day’s itinerary involves getting ready for our afternoon flight, which for us entails packing and getting ready for the flight (the easy part) and taking care of last minute business details, the unending forgotten chores that pop up (the hard part), all with the sole end purpose of boarding our flight smoothly. We are able to achieve that smooth embarkation, but not as expected.

As we are traveling on special tickets arranged for us by the Japan National Tourism Organization and Super Value Tours, we do not have seat assignments; something we would never normally tolerate for ourselves or our clients winds up being a boon in disguise as we learned a few days ago that the flight is really about 70%-80% full. At check-in, however, we are not able to find our preferred seating, but have to settle for aisles across from each other. While some travelers may prefer aisles, both Nathan and I actually abhor them as inescapable bumping zones where one misstep and you can wind up with your knees bruised and arms battered. Nonetheless, we graciously accept our offered seats and plan to check the gate for changes. Perseverance pays off: while my first attempt to obtain seating does not bear fruit, I am instructed to check back shortly after commencement of general boarding. Lo and behold, we are now assigned a window and an aisle with no one in between us. Moreover, the manner and professionalism in which the seating assignment was handled would be an indicator of the great service to come. Service on Singapore Airlines is Legendary, even in coach class. So having our expectations already quite high, it is hard to believe that they were exceeded. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Hilton Narita, Itinerary, Japan, Journey, Kanto, Land Rising Sun, Narita, Rice Bowl, Rice Porridge, Tokyo, travel, Trip

PRIDE Travel’s Japan Journey Begins! Our Day 0 Itinerary

Sep 5

Posted by Nathan, Owner/Manager & COO in Asia, Do, TripJournals | No Comments

Marc and I are ecstatic about our trip tomorrow. We’re going to Japan, an exotic land of historic culture, multitudes of attractions both modern and ancient, diverse locales and natural wonders, and cuisine that is world renowned. What follows is only a taste, a pu-pu platter, if you will, of our journey to come in the following days. Our Journey Begins! The itinerary of the Kanto Japan Journey, and what we get to look forward to is:

Day 1 • Depart North America for Tokyo, Japan

Day 2 • Arrive in Narita, Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s largest metropolis! Upon arriving at the airport, you will be escorted to your nearby hotel by a Super Value representative where you can take time to explore Narita or rest for tomorrow’s sightseeing.(Dinner)

Day 3 • Tokyo• Kamakura • Atami

We begin the tour by passing through Tokyo Bay Aqua Line, a bridge-tunnel across the Tokyo Bay that connects by Umihotaru, a man-made island where we will be touring and Mt. Fuji can be seen on a sunny day. Afterwards we will be heading to Kamakura, an only ancient town close to Tokyo and where we will be visit Tsurugaaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Wakamiya Street, Komachi Dori, and the Daibutsu to partake the long histories of the town. Then, we stop by Odawara to pay a visit at the historic Odawara Castle, the only fortified tower remains relatively intact in Tokyo. After check in at New Akao Hotel in Atami, you will be experience the famous ocean view hot spring, change into your Yukata and enjoy the delicious Kaiskei dinner along Karaoke singing specially arranged by Super Value Tours! (3 meals) Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Atami, Hakone, Itinerary, Japan, Journey, Kamakura, Kanto, Tokyo, travel, Trip

Journey to Japan: PRIDE Travel Embarks on Invitation-Only 6 Day Kanto Tour

Sep 4

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in News & Press Releases | No Comments

This labor day week, PRIDE Travel’s owners Marc R Kassouf CEO and S Nathan DePetris COO, are scheduled to depart on an invitation-only journey to Japan. The company received an invitation from the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) to participate in a 6 Day tour of the Kanto region around Tokyo offered by the number one US tour operator to Japan, Supernet Tour’s all inclusive escorted company, Super Value Tours. As a Yokoso Japan certified agency, PRIDE Travel is one of only a handful of agencies recognized by the JNTO as ambassadors of Japan’s cultural, leisure, and travel offerings. The tour will embark from Los Angeles International Airport to Tokyo’s famed Narita via Singapore Airlines non-stop service. Sightseeing and cultural stops include Tokyo Bay, spectacular Kamakura with its rich heritage, Hakone National Park at the foot of Mount Fuji, tours of Tokyo, nearby Odawara Castle, the Imperial Palace, and bustling nightlife of Shinjuku. Highlights will include authentic meals featuring various styles of traditional cuisine, a one-night ocean view stay at an Onsen hot springs bath hotel in Atami, visits to the famous Daibatsu Buddha statue, and a bridge-tunnel ride under and over Tokyo Bay. Daily blog postings will be added to PRIDE Travel’s blog at blog.pridetravelonline.com with corresponding photos placed on the company’s Facebook page. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: gay, Japan, pride travel, Tokyo

PRIDE Travel Offers First-Ever Hetero Friendly™ European Christmas Markets River Cruise with Exclusive Buy 1 Get 1 Free DiscountP

Sep 1

Posted by Marc, Owner & CEO in News & Press Releases | No Comments

PRIDE Travel, specialists in Cruise and River Cruise vacations, announced today its extended offer for a group aboard AMA Waterway’s Amacello from Paris to Amsterdam December 16th through the 27th. The full itinerary includes a three night stay in Paris, with transfers to embark the vessel in Trier and cruise to Amsterdam. Prices of the combined cruise and Paris land portion with included shore excursions, transfers, all meals and most beverages start at $2559 plus port charges of $98, per person. Cruise only prices for the seven nights onboard from Trier to Amsterdam are only $1899 per person plus port charges. An upgrade from a window suite to a floor to ceiling French Balcony starts at only $449 per person. Detailed itinerary, map and all the inclusions can be found online by visiting PRIDE Travel’s website www.pridetravelonline.com and clicking the “more information” button of the right hand column featuring the cruise on the home page. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Christmas, Christmas markets, cruise, holiday markets, river