Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

One of the better articles coming out of Lonely Planet - very specific rather than general info about the Big Island

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

This is a problem I continue to frequently deal with as a travel agent who books the flights. 

As it's my job to devise smart, cost-saving ways to get from A to B an updated resource would be excellent. Often in the urgency to determine options I resort to (educated) trial and error to see it connections work with various airlines.

This (http://www.airlineroutemaps.com/index.html) is the best of the bunch but some uniformity would help.

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Never knew about the prevalence of fake aerated gelato! Thanks for drawing this to my attention

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Don't want to get political but this is another concerning development.

Working out of a retail store in Melbourne, I would help many Iranians fly home to IKA. At various stages I did also notice (and was told by them) that this airport was removed from some web searches. Luckily for them prices were comparatively low as I'm sure loading has fallen

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

If I could +2 this article I absolutely would. Excellent read!

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Extremely useful in an industry where you need to warn people about managing their expectations and letting them realise that behavior they may show in their home city may not apply.

I had some clients going to an air show outside of Cleveland - they were aware it wasn't the hub of tourist activity in the states, but I had to have this chat so they at least could tailor their trip around that thought. Agents have historically been blamed for the smallest things.

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

He's right to call these kind of people idiots - attention seeking and hurtful to those close to them (and the people who need to spend resources to lend a hand)

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

While I understand that it's impossible to label anywhere as completely safe, which countries in South/Central America would you feel most comfortable "showing up unannounced" as a gringo traveler? 

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

I agree Brian, though I understand it from an e-magazine viewpoint. Luckily I've noticed that some sites doing this have a "view in one page" option.

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Certainly is an overwhelming industry in 2013 - exactly why we have new web services like this. Tourism boards need to be very discerning to make sure they're funding bloggers who know their stuff. Once the noise settles down we'll hopefully be seeing the real wheat getting separated from the chaff.

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

WOW. The photography is a little touched up, but these are all relatively unknown places that tourists would flock to if they knew about them. Thanks for sharing

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

If I could vote this one down I would. Being an Australian I can see that 2 or 3 of those listed are negative aspects, but most of the list is filled with brash exaggerations.

I'm not one to get easily offended, but comments like the beetroot one are just ridiculous. Beetroot is always an option in hamburgers and salads - never forced like an enormous over salted pickle as in North America.  It would have perhaps read better as a "quirky" look at the way things are different in Australia 

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Judging by countless films with these scenes it does look easy...

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

I've heard too many horror stories about poorly managed or sketchy orphanages that participate in voluntourism projects. So much so that I hesitate to recommend them, unless they offer a mixture of volunteering and traditional touring and the travelers are well aware of what it all means.

Brave decision by the company to pull orphanages however

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Interesting. Will we see North Korea head down the path of Cuba - develop tourism to raise GDP and keep most of the populace in poverty?

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

An article about seeing the world with intelligence. Thanks for sharing!

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

It's a special kind of person that would do these events though. Don't think I could convince anyone to do the ice race across Siberia with me. Intense!

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Thankyou, I like the GE money tip

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Thanks for your comment. It taught me a lot about mob rule (for positive or negative) and the way of the modern Japanese male also.

Are you suggesting this is a tonic for the recent online outcry about male rights?

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Probably why very few people have heard of the place!

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Loved the comment about the drum - must have been a personal story behind that one

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Wow James, you're right! i thought the headline looked familiar. And yours was posted a month and a half ago. Were any whole sentences ripped?

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Beautiful part of the world and so much variety in such a small geographical area

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Like the way you've pulled a good selection of interesting stories from engaging writers. Excellent resource to show all my clients what to look out for

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

Just spent half an hour browsing though and musing on all those maps. Thanks!

Andy Parthenopoulos Andy Parthenopoulos @andyptravel

One epic journey is an epic enough reading experience! Look forward to devouring these stories over the coming months