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Tagged With "Online bidding sites"

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Re: Trains in Cuba

Paul Heymont ·
Great question...and possibly not an easy clear answer. Cuba's trains have generally been in poor shape in recent years as older equipment has run down and spares not available. However, according to Mark Smith (The Man in Seat 61), that's changing with the arrival of a fleet of new Chinese-built locomotives. On his site ( Seat61.com ) he has an extensive update of recent changes in schedules, routes and locations (that's important because Havana's main station is closed for a 3-year...
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Re: Trains in Cuba

Wilbur's Travels ·
Thanks for the info. I too love Mark's site. I will try my damnedest to do a train journey if I can so I can send you details. Wilbur.
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Re: Boston in the fall - suggestions please!

Paul Heymont ·
That's good news, Mac! OK...the leaves start turning first in the north, moving south as the weather changes...but timing is always tricky because it depends on each year's combination of temperature and humidity. Here's a link to a site I've found useful in the past...it's from Yankee magazine, and includes a live map of the progress of the leaves as well as itineraries and more. http://www.yankeefoliage.com/ We haven't had a good leaf-peeping piece on Gumbo yet, so I'm looking forward to...
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Re: Wonders of the Modern World

DrFumblefinger ·
The Soviets have never been completely transparent about Chernobyl, but this is the story as best as I was able to synthesize it: It seems that the alarm system was malfunctioning (going off all the time) so it was turned off by the tech monitoring the system. He had the fuel rods pulled out of their cooling chambers for maintenance work, was distracted (remember, the alarms are off), then by the time he focused back on the task at hand the rods had begun to melt and couldn't be reinserted...
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Re: Experience Lalgarh Palace with Palace on Wheels Train

Professorabe ·
Without doubt this mode of travel appeals to some people. However, on our travels through Rajasthan we encountered tour groups from the Palace on Wheels on a couple of occasions and felt that going by road, with a car and driver, suited us much better. You simply saw a hell of a lot more, had much more contact with the local people, and were not tied to any schedule. We stayed at the Laxmi Niwas Palace, which is part of the Lalgarh site, and it was very pleasant indeed. (Whilst there are...
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Re: How'd We Live Without Travel Apps?

FlashFlyer ·
A lot to be said for what might be the ultimate travel app category: Maps and GPS. I know people have their favorites (Google's not the only one, according to my wife...) but almost everyone uses some version on their phone or tablet. Another good one is local transit. Most big cities have a route-finder on their transit site, but you have to find it. But Google Maps and HopStop and some others have transit info for most big cities. One downside: Apple is as bad as Google about business;...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,

Travel Rob ·
Hi Hank, I've actually found the UK a pretty reasonable destination in recent years, especially outside of London.(My budget was way under yours for a month long trip to Europe last June.)A lot of museums are free. Transportation costs within the country can be reasonable too.Not only do they have advance cheap train tickets but they have bus and budget air choices.And of course there are some good budget hotel chains as well, such as Travelodge and the Tune Hotel Have fun and keep watching...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,

GarryRF ·
Staying in the UK is no more expensive than being a tourist in the USA. You wont get a month in London. Same as me travelling from the UK to New York. Silly Prices ! So decide on what you want to do over here and start planning, Have a look at the YHA web site. Youth Hostels Association. Forget the Youth reference. My Kids aren't Youths anymore. And I use them too! They are used by Travellers like yourself - and me - across Europe. They are Family groups and Ramblers ( Countryside Walkers)...
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe

JohnT ·
Hi Dreamer I can only tell you about my experiences... 1) How long? It depends. Apartment rental have been around in Europe for a long time. It used to be mostly for a week from Saturday to Saturday, but mostly anything goes now. 2) Buyer beware - It will be up to you to research the neighbourhood. You can do that many ways. Perhaps the easiest is using google streetmaps 3) There is no one way to check in. Sometimes you meet the owner or manager and they will give you the key. Sometimes...
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe

Paul Heymont ·
AirBnb, and the other major rental agencies, have cancellation policies upfront that give you some choice. AirBnb has several levels ...one allows you to cancel almost up to the last minute, others have shorter deadlines. An advantage of using an agency that works this way...pretty much like a hotel booking site...is that the intermediary is holding your deposit and that can save hassles. Obviously, rules about dissatisfaction vary also, but usually if it can't be ironed out, you'll get at...
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Re: Welcome to The Golden State.

PortMoresby ·
Currently estimated at 32,00 acres in size, the Butte Fire is now burning 1 mile from Mokelumne Hill. While I have no doubt the tiny town will be saved, your best view of it at the moment may be here , on TravelGumbo. More details on the CalFire site.
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Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

Travel Rob ·
The carry-on limits are posted on the site. Still we were a little worried but there were no problems. We each took a carry-on and a personal bag on for free. A note that my same carry-on was too big for Air China so Norwegian had decent limits.
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Re: London- multiple questions

Paul Heymont ·
I can only help with one of the questions...but GarryRF, one of the TG Gurus, lives in Liverpool and can certainly help with that part. For Stonehenge without a car, there are really two main options. There are a number of tour operators who run coach tours from London to the site; or you can take a train from London to Salisbury and take a bus from the station to the Stonehenge visitor center. The visitor center is new since I was there; it's about 10 minutes by shuttle from the stones...
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Re: Airbnb Questions

PortMoresby ·
1. "...is payment for Airbnb places always processed in the US even for stays overseas?" Airbnb processes reservations for guests in their own currency, pays out in the currency of the host. So you, in the US, will always pay in US dollars, a UK resident will pay in £s, etc. The host posts prices in their home currency and when a guest in another country logs in and searches/books, the price is converted by the website at the current exchange rate and they always see the rate in their own...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

DrFumblefinger ·
I never trusted travel agents before the freedom of the internet gave us access to cost information, and I would need a great excuse to trust them now. Online travel purchasing gives us the freedom to have price information come directly to us, rather than to a middle man who may or may not have our best interests in mind. So flights I'll buy either through Expedia or from the airline directly (esp if they are having a "sale"). Rooms I almost get through booking.com, my favorite site because...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

Paul Heymont ·
I'd definitely agree about booking.com They generally seem to have a much deeper inventory than Expedia, including the small local hotels I like. I also appreciate the fact that most of the bookings don't expect me to pay in advance and allow free cancellation. Often, too, the price I pay through booking.com with those privileges is the same that Expedia offers as a "special" that must be pre-paid! I would also be less than honest if I didn't mention that TravelGumbo receives a small but...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

TravelGirlJenn ·
Interesting topic and rather timely as I am in the midst of finalizing my plans for my upcoming trip. Hotels: This upcoming trip the first I've used Booking.com. I have used a variety of sources in the past (i.e. Travelocity, Expedia, etc.) and have also found that booking directly through the hotel is sometimes cheaper...sometimes. But, I love the option to be able to change or cancel my reservation, if needed. Flights: I prefer to book directly through the airline. Have never used a...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

DrFumblefinger ·
Hi TravelGirlJenn, I've used Expedia to buy tickets a number of times, only once or twice with Priceline, never with Kayak. The big advantage is that you get to see often hundreds of competitive prices, not just the few the airline sites directly show you. And often they are cheaper than directly buying from the airline. Whether or not you can pick your seat in advance is completely up to the airline, not to the online travel site (eg. Expedia). Some airlines (eg. United, Alaska) do let you...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

Paul Heymont ·
A reminder I used to post on other sites...when you book through an agency, with OTA or brick-and-mortar, the next step is to ask them for the airline locator number (that 6-digit string that goes on your reservation). With that code, go to the airline's site and search for your reservation...doesn't matter if you didn't book it with them directly, you'll be able to find it with the code and your name. If not, call the airline! The reason for all this is to make sure that the agency did its...
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Re: A kind word for Booking.com

DrFumblefinger ·
That's good to know. Many companies don't understand how important good customer service is. Booking.com is my preferred hotel booking site when I travel abroad because they do such a good job describing the accommodations. You'll pretty much know exactly what kind of room to expect. Also, if you are a frequent user you qualify for your their "genius" discounts from select hotels -- an extra 10% off. Nice! For example, when we visited Palermo, we stayed at a top quality hotel with excellent...
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Re: A kind word for Booking.com

Paul Heymont ·
Another thing I like about booking.com is that the site only accepts reviews from those who have actually stayed...you don't get a link to review until you've been.
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Re: Just wondering....

DrFumblefinger ·
Hi PortMoresby, and welcome! We are a new website, and it takes a while for the search engines to detect traffic patterns. Yahoo, it seems, is quicker than Google. But no worries about that. This will change with time and traffic. We came up with the name TravelGumbo independently of the other website. We see this site as an interesting mix of travel tidbits and photos -- like a good Gumbo should be. We own the domain www.travelgumbo.com and have a trademark pending for the name TravelGumbo.
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Re: Just wondering....

DrFumblefinger ·
We developed the concept for this website over many months, and we are TravelGumbo, not Travel Gumbo. There is a difference. The other is a personal diary-type of site that, so far as I can tell, has not been active for over a year. This website is very different in its scope and content. We are not in the same business. Nothing has been copied here except by consent of our contributors.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !

WorkerBee ·
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: .... can these stopovers be scheduled on the AA website or must you speak to an AAdvantage customer service person and pay the ($25?) fee? I scheduled my flights using the website. When you go to the AAdvantage booking site there are three choices: round-trip, one-way and multi-city. When you choose your flights you see boxes showing the number of miles per leg. The leg between Dallas and San Francisco showed no miles. There was also some kind of comment to...
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Paul Heymont ·
Portugal's rail system feels a bit worn in places, and some trains look terrible from outside...but the interiors are clean and the system seems to work. Not a terribly large country, so that time between the two largest cities (Lisbon and Porto) is about 3.5 hours. If you add in getting to the airport early and getting in from the airport at the other end, it's probably faster than flying. Other significant points in Portugal also have reasonable rail service, including Coimbra, the...
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Paul Heymont ·
Right here on Travel Gumbo is a great way to keep in touch. The Gumbo Gurus keep a close eye on our site, and asking here also involves the whole community and all their knowledge.
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Re: Romania-top 10 destinations of 2014

Former Member ·
If you want to visit Europe, you can also visit Romania and try the Transylvania Citadels itinerary which you can find on the site of Expert Travel agency http://experttravel.ro/hotel-2...i-transilvanene.html I'll recommend this one because is kinda cheap and you'll learn new things about Romania and the medieval times. The itinerary consists in 3 days of travel with bus transport, accommodation in 3* guesthouse or hotel and a tour-guide. Also this tour will be made in group of 20-40 people.
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Re: ZHANGJIAJIE Visit

Dr.Y ·
Hi Tahir, If you are not a local, join a guided tour is the easier way of visiting. There are many choices of packages from abroad or from the Zangjiajie, depending on how many sites you would like to visit, as well as hotel, meal and transportation selection. At least three days are needed to visit the area. "C-trip" is a very popular and reliable web site to book the China trip, I have done few times. Enjoy and have fun. Dr. Y
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Re: Agritourism Bed and Breakfast in Normandy

DrFumblefinger ·
I can't recommend an agrotourismo, but I'd suggest you consider staying in Bayeux. Very small town, charming medieval core, great cathedral and of course its famous tapestry. We stayed at a nice B&B which was near the heart of the historic town core, very convenient to everything. Owned by a wonderful couple who were great hosts and were fascinating to talk to. And they helped us outline highlights of what to see in the area. An elegant home -- maybe larger than you need and not quite...
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Renting an apartment in Europe

Former Member ·
I saw the news item on TravelGumbo yesterday that Expedia is going to rent apartments on its site with some other company. I kind of like the idea, because cheap hotel rooms only seem to have enough room for me, my GF and suitcases...but I don't know...
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3 Alternatives To b&b Accommodation In France

Ruby Daub ·
With reliably warm weather, beautiful scenery and gastronomic delights; France is a very popular holiday destination. As parts of the country are only hours away, it is a hit with both those looking for long summer vacations or short weekends away. France offers a huge variety of holiday and accommodation options, so there is something for everyone. While hotels and B&B’s are a very popular choice, if you’re after something a little different on your holiday to France then here are three...
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Three historical cities to visit in the winters for travel enthusiasts

Pratap Singh ·
The chilling weather of India glorifies the beauty of many cities. The three top cities are calling you to experience their beauty. These towns can be an escape from the spine-chilling weather or the thrust to kiss the warmth of the sun. Jaipur: Jal Mahal The capital of the royal state of India, Rajasthan, Jaipur is best suited to visit in winters. The city was founded in 1726 by Maharaja Jai Singh II and is popularly known as Fort City of India. Amber Fort, the Star attraction of the city,...
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Now this is how you explore the sites of New Delhi

Pratap Singh ·
Around 7 million travelers from all over the world visit India every year. Most of them land at New Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport), and from here they hire cabs or catch a train to starts their holidays in India. Along with this many travelers also give a day or two in Delhi to explore the tourist monuments of the city and observe the life at India's capital. In this post, I've tried to present a typical tour itinerary on how a traveler can enjoy a fantastic week (or max...
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Five outdoor activities to enjoy in Rajasthan

Pratap Singh ·
The monotonous routine life is full of boredom and stress. Outdoor adventurous activities are ultimate stress busters and fill your life with fun and excitement. Just slather your skin with a suntan and enjoy the out life under the open sky and sun. Rajasthan is a popular outdoor activity destination, and the major attractions are hot air balloon rides, paragliding, water sports, desert and camel safari. A few favorite destinations are: Desert safari at the Thar Desert The sand dunes in...
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Top 5 island destinations to revisit in 2017

Rebecca Brown ·
Dreaming of distant oceans, white, sandy beaches, a Mojito in your hand, while a gentle breeze is just ruffling the waters lounging a few feet from your feet? Waking with the sounds of exotic beats trumpeting the air while you lie in a hammock, munch on a coconut and daydream the day away? Might be it’s high time to take a vacation. If you equate vacation with island , paradise and offline , stick with us. We know there are about seven hundred and forty one thousand articles on the best...
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5 Spectacular Heritage Sites in Delhi

Anil Verma ·
To make your stay in Delhi sultanate more enticing, we have brought to you the list of 5 best heritage sites in Delhi visiting which will bring you more close to the Delhi and its rich culture. Scroll down the list below – 1. National Rail Museum in New Delhi National Rail Museum in New Delhi The National Rail Museum in Delhi is all about the taking a journey into the past. The museum is a perfect place for spending some quality time with your loved ones. People on their Delhi day tour...
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How to Plan the Perfect Summer Festival

Ruby Daub ·
Summer is here and the time for festival-goers to once again enjoy a full schedule of festivals and events – including yours! But you need to get it right, as poor performance makes for a poor impression. With your festival’s reputation dented, it can be hard to gain support for future events. Here are a list of some of the do’s and don’ts of festival planning. What would you add to the list? On the DO list… Keep attendees and staff hydrated – and that means having plenty of refreshment...
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How to have fun in Thassos, Greece

Ovidiu ·
I'm not so good to express myself in words so I will show you how to have fun and what are the main tourist attractions from Thassos Greece. My name is Ovidiu and this is my instagram https://www.instagram.com/olixandru/ They say a picture is worth 1000 words. Below picture was taken at Paradise Beach (nudism can be done here). Acropolis Limenas Thassos Grecia. Tarsanas beach Thassos Town. Thasos port Limenas. I was staying in Macedon Hotel in Limenas. All pictures are made by me, I use...
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The 3 Best Markets in France

Jacob William ·
The city of fashion, Paris is the place where you can enjoy the real meaning of fashion. Not only fashion for which Paris is known for, its rich history, mesmerizing tourist spots and exotic heritage site make Paris a prominent tourist destination in the world which can be explored once you obtain your visa to france . Seeing the popularity of the place we have brought to you the list of best markets in Paris that will offer you best and ultimate things during your visit to Paris – 1. Food...
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Unmissable Sights in Budapest

NikOl-Bp ·
We often travel to other countries, other cities, but not always for sightseeing. Conference, meeting, maybe for some service. These trips sometimes takes several days, but we can also decide to connect the pleasant to the useful and look around the city. Here is a brief introduction for those, whose destination is Budapest. What is a must see, from the Hungarian capital. I recommend this article, which contains more than 100 sights, for those who want to spend more days in Budapest, or want...
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Outdated Information, Print & Online

PortMoresby ·
 This morning UPS delivered my new LP Sri Lanka guidebook, published January '15.  Then I ran across this thread on another site.  It highlights what many of us already know, that even a "new" guide is often, in fact, not new....
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Top Ten Jobs If You Love To Travel

1stworldview ·
(10) Flight attendant It may be the most obvious travel-related job, but it's also one of the most accessible: You don't need a specialized degree to become a flight attendant, and most major airlines only require prior customer service experience...
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Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
Looking for flights to Europe on which to spend my miles and being astonished by the fees, I had a look on the Norwegian site and was amazed in the other direction, by how cheap the fares were from the West Coast.  Until I started trying to...
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How do you buy your travel?

Paul Heymont ·
There's a report on Skift, a travel industry news site, that says that a recent survey shows that about 2/3 of U.S. travelers think they can do better buying from the "brand" rather than an agency, and that only 15% trust online travel agencies to...
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Most Popular River Cruises in India

Sunil Kumar ·
A river cruise provides an escape from the constant commotion surrounding our everyday lives. As you sail along the river at a leisurely pace, with lovely sights greeting your eyes, you realize there is much to appreciate in this unhurried journey. India, with its impressive inland waterways, provides wonderful opportunities for river cruising. From the backwaters of Kerala to the might waters of Brahmaputra, every cruise gifts you with a memory to be cherished or a moment to be valued.
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Experience bliss at these nature-blessed destinations in Kerala

Rekha Bisht ·
Kerala is titled ‘God’s Own Country’ and that is not without reason. Blessed by nature in every form, it is truly one of the known paradise on Earth. Imagine lush greenery, endless blues, golden beaches, roaring waterfalls, navigable network of waters, wildlife inhabited jungles and bliss of every kind. When the Gods themselves have favoured this land, then it is not quite easy to make a list of the most beautiful places in Kerala, as every corner of the state is blessed in its own way. Here...
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6 THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE YOU BOOK A TAXI!

Udaipur Rides ·
Taxi services or Car Rental Services in udaipur have become an integral part our day to day lives! They facilitate you with travel options on the go and make your journey calculations little less traumatic! But before you pack your bags and hop in, make sure you remember these 6 rules of hiring a taxi! 1. Have A Price Check Before finalising your taxi service in udaipur, have a proper analysis of their fare criteria per kilometer. Check whether the overall bill fits in your budget. In order...
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Important Winter Camping Trips

Ruby Daub ·
Camping in winter feels like freezing in the chilled atmosphere, and therefore, many people prefer camping in summers. But, if you think otherwise, you can enjoy the real beauty of nature in winter. Trees have shed their leaves, rivers and lakes are frozen and it looks just beautiful outside if you see the scenery. Winters offer a completely different landscape, which adds to the beauty of the surrounding. Even when it snows, winter can be fully enjoyed outdoors. You can find lots of people...
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Why Rent Cars With Drivers?

James Wilson ·
Are you planning a travel, either for leisure or for business? If yes, it’s essential to opt for Car Rental with Driver in Bali whenever you arrive there. There are many travel agencies that offer car rental facilities but it’s always better to opt for personal drivers as things become more convenient. There are many guidelines to hire a driver in Bali. Check out some of them. If you are hiring a car on rent with driver, ensure that you select simply the best. Always look out for options...
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Top 10 Destinations Worth Exploring in Korea

Daniel Moore ·
When I say Korea, know that I am referring to South Korea by default. Of course, there would have been no confusion if there was no recent friendly meeting between North and South Korean leaders. True that the two places are now on excellent terms but South Korea is still the undisputed tourism hub. In recent years, the country has attracted special attention. This maybe solely because of social media sites and concentrated efforts by the Korean government to improve infrastructure as well...
 
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