© doug88888


USA Today has reported that despite being hit by one of the worst earthquakes in history, Chile's main tourist attractions are fine - and open for business.

Air service has resumed in Chile. Santiago's international airport suffered some structural damage, but the facilities are larger safe and they are being used.

Tourism is a growing industry in Chile. And 2.5 million visitors a year arrive in the country. Part of the country's attraction is the huge variety of natural landscapes. Just to highlight to contrasts, the country has deserts, glaciers, and wine country. Chile has 32 national parks and 48 nature reserves.

Chile has a number of fascinating tourism zones. While damage in Santiago might create minor problems for travelers at the moment, the tourism zones in Chile were largely untouched by the earthquake.

© twicepix


If you're thinking of starting a business in this current economic environment, you're a brave person - and you're either an optimist or an insightful entrepreneur.

When unemployment is through the roof and the economy hasn't really recovered from a recession, most people look around and see discouragement. Real entrepreneuurs see opportunity, instead. Entrepreneurs are chronic optimists. It's almost like they can't help it. And the truth is that there are a lot of opportunities out there at the moment.

Franchises, (cleaning franchise, fast food, other service industries) have a lot of potential in the current economic environment because they generally provide suppoert to new business people. The question is, do you want to have a new business in place whe the economy picks up, or do you want to start then. Any entrepreneur with business sense will tell you that they want to already have their business in place when the economy starts to grow.

It's something to consider.

© Ian Muttoo


A friend of mine has grandparents near Toronto. She hasn't seen them in a a decade now because her job took her to California and getting back home is, well, hard.

But sooner or later everyone goes home. And grandparents are a powerful motivation to make the trip - especially as they begin to age...

My friend spent a month in Toronto this past summer. To prepare for the trip she spent as lot of time on 411 Canada, looking for the phone numbers of old friends. It was amazing what she was able to find - people she hadn't spoken to since high school.

She spent a lot of time with her grandparents. But she also got to reconnect with her old life. She talks about it like she's somehow become more whole.

Tourism is not the oly reason to travel.

In my part of the globe (Southeast Asia), it is already the height of summer. Once again it is that time of the year to frolic under the sun. Maybe in a remote beach somewhere? And there's a lot of that in the tropics.

For westerners, it could mean traversing the offbeat tracks where they may not even be airport parking. But then...as I always say, it is the destination that matters more than the journey.

(Check out this remote place we've been to two years ago. The place is called Paguriran Island, here in Sorsogon, Philippines. The beach is remote and undeveloped. It took hours to get there from the city but it was all worth it.)

Have you ever had trouble going there but then the destination is all worth it - a true hidden gem? Makes you all forget that you lost your luggage along the way, that your clothes are total misfits for your destination or you couldn't find one of the airport hotels. However, there could fun in such kind of traveling. Offbeat but all worth the hassle.

Hemingway Bought Paper Here Hidden Travel Gems

A visit to Venice won't be complete without stopping at Antica Legatoria Piazzesi, the oldest paper shop in Italy. I was walking along the back streets when I came across this amazing shop. Traditional handmade decorative papers fill the shop and have been popular since Giuseppi Rizzi opened the business in 1900. Now, one hundred and seven years later, his granddaughter, Lavinia Rizzi is holding down the fort. She inherited [...] Read More


June 1, 2008: End of Paper Tickets Hidden Travel Gems

June 1, 2008 marks the end of paper tickets for the IATA (International Air Transport Association). Goodbye paper tickets, hello e-tickets! According to IATA CEO and Director General Giovanni Bisignani: "If you have a paper ticket, it's time to donate it to a museum. As of June 1, IATA will no longer supply paper ticket stock to 60,000 travel agencies in 125 countries around the world as it has done for decades." Read the [...] Read More


Under The Tuscan Sun Hidden Travel Gems

This past weekend I have been watching Joan Cusak's Local Flavour featuring Italy at the Discovery Travel and Living Channel. Even as a young girl I had to dream of everything Italian. I don't know where I got it exactly (maybe all that pasta i sooo love to eat?!) but I have a penchant for the Italian country, cuisine, culture, people and everything else. You see I've never been to Europe, [...] Read More


For Whom the Bell Tolls: Hemingway Festival in Sun Valley The Flyaway Weblog

Sun Valley Idaho has a well-deserved reputation as being an elegant, upscale ski resort. While it can hardly be considered as a destination for budget skiing, the off-season festivals and events are actually pretty affordable. For example, the upcoming Hemingway Festival on September 25-28 has a $35 admission fee, which allows you to attend some of the free lectures. Other special events throughout the festival are fee-based, but most of [...] Read More


Advice from Ernest Hemingway Biz Plan Hacks

The Positivity Blog always seems to have some good advice from well known people. Today the blog has some wise word from renowned writer ernest hemingway. The first peace of advice is something everyone should take into heart and that is to be a good listener. It is often said listening is one of the most neglected skills in are arsenal. It is amazing what you can learn by being a [...] Read More