Social Media Recap - Top 2014 Travel Destinations, Olympics Travel Warnings, America's Best Airports, Win an ANA Trip To Japan and More
Social media is increasingly becoming the method airlines, hotels, credit cards and consumers get in touch with one another about the latest news, deals and promotions. Here’s a look at the latest interesting trending topics and more on social media from the week.
I’ll be combing through Facebook posts, Tweets, Instagram pics and more to find the most interesting things going on during any given week, but if I miss something you’d like to discuss feel free to:
-Post on my Facebook wall
-Tweet me @thepointsguy
-Instagram me @thepointsguy
Here are some of the biggest news stories and promotions that everyone has been tweeting about this week.
New York Times 52 Places To Go in 2014: It's a new year, so naturally everyone is making travel to-do lists, including @NYTimesTravel, who tweeted a list of the 52 must-visit places of 2014. Included on the roster? Places both near and far including some old favorites like Cape Town and Scotland, as well as some interesting choices right here in the US like Downtown LA, and Nashville.
Sochi Olympics Travel Alert: According to @CBSNews, the US has issued a travel alert to Americans planning to travel to Sochi for the Olympics. The games begin February 7, and the alert was prompted by recent terrorist attacks. The FBI is sending 40 experts to consult on security. Sochi is located near the volatile Caucasus region and Chechnya, which are hotbeds of anti-government activity. While there are no specific plots, the State Department is urging travelers to be cautious and alert.
Twitter Accounts You Should Follow Before a Trip: @HuffPostTravel came up with an interesting list this week of the kinds of Twitter accounts you should follow before each trip you take that will make your life easier while on the road and provide useful insights and customer support if you need it. Among those to consider are the accounts of the airline you'll be flying, the tourism board of your destination, the airports you'll be flying through and any restaurants you want to score a table at.
America's 20 Most Efficient Airports: @TravlandLeisure tweeted out a list of the 20 most efficient airports in America to fly through - a good resource for any frequent flyer to keep on hand - chosen by readers. The top pick? Indianapolis thanks to new construction (it only opened in 2008) and good flight frequencies. Others rounding out the top 10 include Burbank, Portland Oregon, Austin Bergstrom, Charleston, Nashville, Tampa, Raleigh-Durham, Albuquerque, and Sacramento.
Fodors Best Honeymoon Destinations: Fodors has updated its list of best honeymoon destinations for 2014 and tweeted it out. Among the romantic destinations are New Zealand, Tahiti and Cancun as well as several Asian destinations including Bali, the Maldives and Thailand.
North America's Tallest Hotel Opens: @CNNTravel tweets that Marriott's Courtyard-Residence Inn Central Park has opened in Manhattan, and is claiming to be North America's tallest hotel at 68 stories. The Courtyard is on stories 6-33 while the Residence Inn is on floors 37-65 and requires a 5-night minimum stay. Rates at the Courtyard start at $143 in January, and those at the Residence Inn start at $223.
5 New Travel Startups: @Skift released a list of five new travel start-ups to watch this week that can help with everything from airline claims to finding conservation projects where you're traveling. Frescape is a home exchange site, Claimair is an app that will help you determine your rights when things go wrong with flights, Gladitood will connect travelers to volunteer projects, Ramblen compiles info like gym and hiking trail locations and health food stores for health-conscious travelers, and TasteSync provides personalized restaurant recommendations.
Budget Travel's Pin it to Win It Antigua Contest: @BudgetTravel tweeted out their latest contest this week where one lucky winner can earn a dream stay in Antigua. Enter by completing the entry form on the contest page and score extra entries by following Budget Travel and Elite Island Resorts on Pinterest. Then Pin your favorite 3 (or more) photos from either the Elite Island page and/or from the board "Incredible Islands" on Budget Travel's page. Enter the board URL below where you pinned your 3 (or more) photos. You can enter now through February 15, 2014. The prize includes 3 free nights at St. James's Club & Villas – Antigua, in Premium accommodations, including all dining, all beverages, resort amenities, tax & gratuities.
Win a Trip to Tokyo with ANA: ANA is running a running a contest where people who sign up for the ANA newsletter are entered to win a grand prize of two roundtrip economy tickets to Tokyo and five others will win an iPad Mini each. You must be 18 years of age to enter and a legal resident of the US. Subscribe by January 31, 2014 for your chance to win.
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