Blog Archive

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The growing trend of fly-and-flop holidays and where to stay

This year has seen the return of the fly-and-flop holiday. According to Skyscanner, 33 per cent of trips booked from June to August were for longer stays (up to 21 days), followed by mid-length stays (four to six days) at 13 per cent. Only 10 per cent of customers booked trips of three days or fewer.

Booking windows of under one week were more popular this summer than last, with a 12 per cent increase. The most popular European destinations? Malaga, Alicante, Faro and Palma.

This is not news to me. This summer, against the odds, I made it on two fly-and-flop holidays, to Portugal and Greece. And I wasn’t the only one jumping through hoops to get to sunnier climes. Many of my peers also made it on short European beach breaks, diminishing their risk by booking last minute.

Design hotel Ekies in Halkidiki is the perfect location
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Hotel
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  • November 27, 2020
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Black Friday evolves beyond traditional shopping

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Bob Evenson, seen here at Kincaid Lake, plans go on a Black Friday Paddle on the Vermilion River. The event is hosted by Pack & Paddle in Lafayette. (Photo: Melinda Martinez)

It’s Black Friday! It’s the day viewed by many as the traditional start to the Christmas season.

“My mom always went when I was little and couldn’t wait until I was older so I could go with her,” said Cali Gross. “Now we go each year together. It’s like opening day of Christmas for us. We hardly buy anything (we don’t like to wait in lines) but we’ll get things here and there. Then we go home and wrap all the gifts and put up our trees.”

Tami Brasket Bordelon said she is sad that there will be no Black Friday shopping on Thursday evening among other things this year. 

“And many stores have moved to a online

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Adventure
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  • November 27, 2020
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Opinion | Why Did So Many Americans Vote for Trump?

The Republican message couldn’t have been clearer: Workers should be able to show up, clock in, earn a normal paycheck, pay the rent and feed their kids. Democrats were telling the same workers that we need to listen to science, reopening is premature, and the economy can’t be fully restored until we beat the virus. Correct! But how does that help when rent was due last week?

Make no mistake, it was unforgivably cruel of Republicans to force blue-collar and service workers to risk death for grocery money. Yet their disinformation campaign persuaded many millions of Americans that the risk was minimal and that Democrats were keeping their workplaces and schools closed, their customers and kids at home, and their wallets empty and cupboards bare for bogus reasons.

The president’s mendacious push to hastily reopen everything was less compelling to college-educated suburbanites, who tend to trust experts and can work

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Hotel
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  • November 27, 2020
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Black Friday shoppers look to stay safe both in stores and online this year

A lot of the shopping this year is expected to shift online. A place it can be easy to fall victim to scams.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Woodland Mall is prepared for a Black Friday like its never seen before. In an effort to keep visitors safe during the pandemic, don’t expect to see the massive crowds of the past.

“We’ve got a smaller capacity limit than what we’ve had in the past so we’ll be socially distancing,” says Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall’s marketing director. “Many of the retailers will be counting the number of patrons at the door so they don’t exceed those capacity limits.”

The mall will also implement enhanced cleaning protocols and extended hours. Some stores are even making special exceptions for those most in need.

“If you are in the high risk category or immunocompromised, you can schedule a private shopping experience with a stylist

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Recreation
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  • November 27, 2020
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Black Friday border police on patrol to stop people in England nipping to sales in Wales

BLACK Friday border police will be sent out on patrols to catch people from England nipping into Wales to snap up a good bargain.

Welsh shops have been allowed to reopen, but with England still in lockdown many will have to make do with the online sales.

⚠️ Read our Black Friday 2020 live blog for the latest deals, news & updates

People in Cardiff queue up for Black Friday sales

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People in Cardiff queue up for Black Friday salesCredit: Matthew Horwood
It is illegal to cross from England, which is still in lockdown, into Wales

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It is illegal to cross from England, which is still in lockdown, into WalesCredit: PA:Press Association

South Wales Police said it will use their powers to make sure visitors to Cardiff city centre were not in breach of any coronavirus rules.

In Wales people are not allowed to travel to areas with lower infection rates – and anyone living in England must have a “reasonable” excuse to travel across the border.

And Black

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Travel
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  • November 27, 2020
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Eco friendly tourism | Could Machu Picchu be carbon neutral?

José Koechlin, founder and chief executive of Inkaterra, explains how his pioneering business model benefits everything from Machu Picchu to fans of Paddington Bear

José Koechlin

Founder and chief executive of Inkaterra

Tourism is not only a source of inspiration; it’s a human right. We need to travel, to move, to experience the diversity of culture and nature abroad. Travel makes us wiser, and more sensitive. It allows us to feel free. And after months of lockdown due to Covid-19, everyone is anxious to set sail again. Bucket lists will survive the pandemic.

What will travel be like in the immediate future? Experts predict that travellers will look for meaningful experiences, keen to reconnect with nature and local cultures. There will be a need for solitude, and a commitment to positive social and environmental impacts. 

A responsibility to conserve

Peru is an icon for nature travel, privileged with extraordinary

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  • November 27, 2020
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New Snohomish County online guide aims to boost businesses

EVERETT — Looking for a way to shop small, shop local and shop Snohomish County?

County officials have launched the Support SnoCo Campaign to promote local commerce and offer a guide to area businesses.

The online hub, SupportSnoCo.com, aims to introduce shoppers to businesses across the county through an extensive online directory. A key feature will allow users to create an itinerary to keep track of they places they want to visit, county officials said.

“We want this holiday season to bring a bit of cheer to our neighborhood businesses by encouraging people to shop locally and safely,” County Executive Dave Somers said in a statement.

“The Support SnoCo Campaign provides residents, business owners, and visitors tools to help them make the most of the shopping season,” Somers said. “In these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we support one another.”

The website also offers help to

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Recreation
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  • November 27, 2020
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Drive-thru and walk-thru holiday light shows in the Hudson Valley

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From the socially distanced holiday lights display at the Bronx Zoo to the drive-thru extravaganza known as EJDJAT in Dutchess County, with a little grooviness thrown in (there’s a drive-thru at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts) there are a lot of ways to add some pandemic-safe sparkle to your December.

Here are some options:

An underwater animal lantern scene at the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights in 2019. (Photo: Julie Larsen Maher WCS)

Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights

The Bronx Zoo’s holiday light show runs on select dates Nov. 20 through Jan. 10. This year’s experience will be larger than in years past and organized to accommodate social distancing. There are five geographically representative lantern safaris that include species from different regions of the world.

A new Luminous Garden will feature larger-than-life plants and animals including flowers, mushrooms, butterflies and other insects. And since S’mores have been so popular,

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Adventure
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  • November 27, 2020
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Dept. of recreation to present children’s Christmas activities | Local News

Children from all across Greene County will be able to enjoy two upcoming Christmas-themed events being coordinated by the county’s department of recreation.

Santa Claus will be the focus of the upcoming activities, as he will serve as the special guest at “Breakfast with Santa” from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dec. 5. He will also be receiving letters from local youths who write to him through the department’s “Letters to Santa” initiative.

The breakfast starts at 9 a.m. in the lower level of the 4-H Building at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Admission is $7 per person and includes a breakfast catered by Dan Wagner, culinary arts instructor at Greene County Career and Technology Center.

To follow CDC guidelines put in place because of COVID-19, the current plan is for the department to offer three time frames with a 35-person occupancy per time frame, and masks must be worn by

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Recreation
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  • November 27, 2020
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It’s the Winter of Backcountry. Here’s How to Start Safely.

Just an hour from Seattle lies Snoqualmie Pass, home to several ski areas and vast backcountry skiing terrain. The ski tour to Pineapple Pass is a classic for its quality terrain and gorgeous setting. Starting from the parking lot of the Alpental Ski Area, you ski up following the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River into Pineapple Basin. The basin is ringed by the thousand-foot walls of Bryant Peak, Hemlock Peak and the Tooth. It is a spectacular landscape.

After skinning up Pineapple Pass (the upper section can be wind loaded and avalanche-prone), there are views to the south of the massive profile of Mount Rainier. The scenery is rewarding enough, but another highlight awaits on the 1,800-vertical foot ski descent back the way that you came. “The ski touring is moderate but the terrain is spectacular,” said Mr. Volken. There are many options for expanding the tour to venture

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Travel
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  • November 27, 2020