5 Safe Summer Travel Destinations You Want on Your List

© TheStreet 5 Safe Summer Travel Destinations You Want on Your List

Amid a spate of terror attacks in Europe, Americans are suddenly amping up their search for safe holiday destinations - almost frantically, said some travel agents - as we all reassess where we want to vacation this year. When destinations that had traditionally loomed as staid to the point of being boring explode as terrorist death traps, the reason for this new summer calculus requires no elaboration.

The tricky bit is identifying what is safe - but also exciting, glamorous, fun.

Know there are answers but, first, understand many of us are busily crossing off the European cities that for generations have loomed as where we dream of vacationing. "When Americans pull back, they tend not to discriminate or act rationally," said Joe Brancatelli, who blogs about travel at JoeSentMe. "They just drop the entire continent."

Is this wise? Some European countries are believed to have dramatically better anti-terror security expertise than others. But fear is fear and if we insist on crossing off everything from Rome to Madrid to Paris to Stockholm, so be it.

Understand it's not just Europe. Kenya, a safari enthusiast's paradise, has lately been beset with terror spawned incidents. Turkey, too, has suffered horrific terrorist incidents, including in Istanbul, long a tourist hotspot. Bali, in Indonesia, also has had mounting terror threats. And the attacks don't seem to stop in Egypt or Tunisia.

Don't give up, however. You don't have to vacation at an abandoned town in the midwest to have a high expectation of safety. A wide world - with many safe options - beckons.

Cases in point:

Iceland - "It's very popular now," said Jared Kamrowski, who runs ThriftyTraveler.com. The primary reason: "isolation from mainland Europe," said Kamrowski. That's fact: Iceland is around 1,100 miles from Denmark. Another reason: Iceland offers great natural beauty that is not found elsewhere - hot springs, mountains, geysers, all manner of wild nature. A possible clincher: Icelandair offers spectacular deals, said Kamrowski, who pointed to a $525 roundtrip from JFK to Iceland with a continuation to Amsterdam.

Monaco - it's not just a movie set. A tiny country adjacent to the French Riviera, Monaco "has a highly developed video surveillance system and the highest police per capita rate in the world. The safety and security of individuals and their property are incomparable. "Crimes are practically non-existent," said Camille Cussac who works in the Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York. It's the kind of country where the biggest kerfuffle is when a restaurant runs out of caviar on a Friday night. But if you want safe - and memorable - this is a place to ponder.

Hokkaido, Japan - Most of Japan is hot and sticky in the summer, but Hokkaido, a northern island, has a cooler, mountainous climate and is a go-to place, said tour operator Audley Travel in Boston. A Japanese plus: the dollar is strong against the yen, and the continued weakness in the Japanese economy has pounded down prices for travelers. The whole nation is on sale. Japan also has a remarkably low crime rate. As for Hokkaido, it's famous for beer - Sapporo in particular. Over at travel insurer World Nomads, communications manager Phil Sylvester agreed with the Japan love: "I am nominating Japan as a hot destination. It is very safe."

Switzerland - Digital marketing agency owner Sara Dunn is strong in her opinion about Switzerland's virtues: "American tourists tend to forget about Switzerland when they consider romantic voyages to Europe, but it is my favorite county. Immaculately clean, always on time, beautiful scenery. And Switzerland's classically neutral stance on basically everything makes conflict feel thousands of miles away." Add in gorgeous Alpine scenery and almost non-existent crime, and Switzerland has to figure in any ranking of safe harbors in a world of troubles.

Ireland - Many eyes are turning west from the European continent and focusing on Ireland, a nation with a well-developed security apparatus (originally created to deal with homegrown terrorists who have now laid down their arms) and with enough physical separation from the Continent to create a sense of safety. Outside Dublin, too, Ireland mainly is rural and advice from multiple experts amid the travel uncertainties of 2016 is that if you want safety head to villages and small towns. Grab a pint in tiny Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland and you just may be the only stranger in the village - and nowadays there's a kind of safety in knowing that.

Bottomline: the safe travel maps have been redrawn. Your choices are your choices - we all have different tolerance for risk. But if you still want an exotic vacation, it's yours and the probability also is high that it will be safe if you choose the right destination.

Source: 5 Safe Summer Travel Destinations You Want on Your List

Twelve days on, Brussels airport reopened for three 'symbolic' flights

Airport authorities said three Brussels Airlines' flights would depart for European destinations.

The first passenger flight since the attacks on Brussels Airport on 22 March took off on the afternoon of April 3 at around 1.40 pm.

The attacks, in which three suicide bombers also died, were claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group.

Heavily armed police and soldiers manned the access roads to the airport, ushering the first passengers into the large white tents serving as a temporary check-in facility, AFP reporters saw. He hopes full service can be restored by the beginning of July in time for the summer vacation season.

Another bombing that day on a Brussels subway train killed 16 other people. The departure of the first passenger flight was an emotional moment for the entire airport community and is a symbol for a new start and for the energy, solidarity and commitment of all airport staff.

Brussels Airport reopened for a small number of passenger flights Sunday, almost two weeks after it was hit by deadly terrorist attacks.

Further flights will be added in coming days, Feist said.

The Magritte aircraft of Brussels Airlines took off to Faro in Portugal.

Airport officials had hoped to resume flights Friday, but the reopening was moved to Sunday after a strike by the airport police, who wanted "tighter security".

The first passenger jet has departed Brussels Airport since the terror attacks that struck 12 days ago - a symbolic step toward normalcy in the Belgian capital. Rioting took place last night in the Brussels district of Molenbeek, home to the organisers of the attacks in the Belgian capital and in Paris in November, Belgian media reported.

The airport was expected to resume limited operations on Sunday, according to the AJC.

"We are more than an airport..."

Effective Monday, Belgium's biggest airport should be back at around 20 percent of capacity and able to process 800 passengers an hour. Initially, the airport will only be accessible by auto and vehicles would be screened and subjected to spot checks.

The airport has been closed after two bombs were detonated inside the facility on March 22 as dozens of travelers were preparing to check in for flights.

Handling almost 23.5m passengers in 2015, Brussels Airport is one of the largest airports in Europe and the main airport in Belgium.

Source: Twelve days on, Brussels airport reopened for three 'symbolic' flights

Tourist town of Dikili destination for migrants sent back to Turkey from Greece

The first asylum seekers due to be sent back to Turkey will be arriving in the tourist town of Dikili, and local residents are not happy about the deal.

CCTV's Michal Bardavid reports from Dikili, Turkey.

"NO – to refugee camp, we don't want refugees!" chant a group of locals in Dikili.The Turkish government signed a controversial deal last month with the European Union hoping to stop the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe, especially those crossing across to Greek islands.Under the terms of the deal, Turkey is expected to take refugees who crossed illegally and are refused asylum. For each returned refugee, a Syrian migrant is to be resettled in the EU.

"With the one-for-one method, the number of refugees in Turkey will not increase and also nobody will sustain any human loss with the ambition of traveling to Europe via the Aegean Sea. This practice will begin as of April 4," Turkey Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.

Turkey is also to receive additional financial aid, visa-free access to the Schengen Zone in June and EU membership talks are to be accelerated.The first group of refugees are expected to arrive in Dikili, located right across the Greek island of Lesbos.The local community has held a demonstration, and signed a petition protesting the anticipated arrival of refugees."Now the local population is 45,000, but in the summer it rises to 250,000-300,000, with an additional refugee camp there won't be enough room," a Dikili resident said.Despite objections by community members and representatives of the local government, preparations for the arrival of refugees continues. Yet where they will be taken, and whether or not this will be a temporary solution, is still unknown.
Source: Tourist town of Dikili destination for migrants sent back to Turkey from Greece

10 Italian destinations frequented by the super rich

Inu/ShutterstockWealthy travellers love to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cinque Terre.

Renowned for its grand old architecture, beautiful scenery, and world-class cuisine, Italy has become one of the best countries in the world for luxury tourism.

To find out where the rich travel when they go to the European nation, RoutePerfect.com has shared data for the most popular Italian destinations booked by wealthy travellers on a luxury budget, who spend an average of £13,900 ($20,000) on their overall trip. 

The ranking is based on over 150,000 trips booked via the European travel website.

Parts of the country that made the cut include charming coastal towns with multicoloured houses, plush lakeside resorts, and islands with immaculate beaches. 

Check out Italy's top 10 destinations for luxury travel below.

View As: One Page Slides
Source: 10 Italian destinations frequented by the super rich

Brussels terror attacks hit Europe-wide travel

Plans to partially reopen Brussels airport on Friday evening were halted after airport police went on strike over security concerns, according to media reports. Brussels Airport Company CEO Arnaud Feist has said that it could take months to fully reopen, according to media reports.

Net airline bookings to Brussels fell by 136 percent in the seven days following last week's attacks, according to Forwardkeys. This was a deeper hit than the 101 percent decline that Paris suffered in the week following its November attacks.

Flight bookings to Paris and London have also declined in the wake of the Brussels attacks, Tom Jenkins, CEO of the European Tour Operators Association, told CNBC on air on Friday.

The U.K. threat from terrorism is rated "severe" by its government, meaning an attack is judged highly likely, and a state of emergency remains in place in France after the November attacks.

However, Jenkins said the hit to travel from events like terrorist attacks was less than it once was.

"Over the last 30 years we have seen multiple shocks to the inbound tourism industry in Europe and this is something we almost expect," he told CNBC.

Source: Brussels terror attacks hit Europe-wide travel

Europe gets ready to ship refugees stuck in Greece back to Turkey

MYTILENE, Greece — On the isle of Lesbos, there are now two facilities to house the migrants who risked their lives crossing the sea. The migrants call them the good camp and the bad camp.

The good camp is airy and open, and migrants are getting ready to sail to the Greek mainland, where there is still a chance they may reach their dream destinations in Germany, Sweden or France.

In the bad camp, there is razor wire and a locked gate, and the police are preparing the asylum seekers for a forced ferry ride back to where they came from.

The two transit centers show in stark relief the past and future for migrants clamoring to reach Europe.

It is here that Europe will answer the big questions: Will Greece really send people fleeing war and chaos in Syria and Iraq back to Turkey, by force if necessary?

The Europeans say they will — starting Monday.

Greek officials said the first ferries are scheduled to take the first migrants back to Turkey next week. They hope the move stems the tide of newcomers.

Humanitarian organizations, along with the U.N. refugee agency, warn that the returns are being rushed, that Greece could be overwhelmed. The asylum seekers will not get a full hearing, they say. The aid organizations worry that traumatized people may balk at being herded onto boats and sent to uncertain conditions in Turkey.

"The risk is that they will do everything very, very quickly and create an assembly line for returns," said Michele Telaro, project coordinator on Lesbos for the group Doctors Without Borders.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom was on Lesbos this week to assess the situation. "There is still a lot of work going on to determine how people will be processed and what that will look like," she said. "We're eager to see those details as much as everyone else."

The Greek parliament passed legislation late Friday designed to ease concerns about whether the human rights of assylum seekers would be protected under international law. The asylum amendment bill stated that people will be sent back to a "safe third country" or a "safe first country of asylum" without explicitly designating Turkey as safe.

[The mass migration of refugees from Turkey to Greece has stalled]

Tensions are rising. As disturbances broke out at migrant hot spots on the Greek mainland this week, authorities announced plans to send additional police to the islands to keep order. Activists told reporters that Greek police used stun guns on migrants on the nearby island of Chios, where fences were torn down in protest.

In the good camp on Lesbos, where the last hundred migrants are waiting for a ferry ride to the Greek mainland, the residents still can dream of making it to the heart of Europe. These asylum seekers were smuggled to the Greek island from Turkey before Europe shut the door to new arrivals on March 20.

The camp is spotless, with fresh herbs growing in flower boxes and a quartet of Greek musicians serenading the residents, who are smothered with help from a dozen humanitarian aid groups.

"We don't call them 'refugees.' They are our guests," said Stavros Myrogiannis, manager of the Kara Tepe site, correcting a visitor. He seemed sad to see them go.

This is the Europe with open arms, the Europe of 2015.

Myrogiannis estimated that, over the past six months, he has "hosted" hundreds of thousands of "travelers" from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan who made the perilous trip across the Aegean Sea.

Asked what he thought when he learned that the people of Lesbos and the other Greek islands were to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their acts of charity, Myrogiannis waved away the flattery.

"We acted like human beings," he said. "That is enough."

One of his last guests was Hasan Zaheda, 31, a landscape designer from Damascus, Syria. He, his wife and toddler son barely made it before the cutoff date. The first raft they were put on by smugglers in Turkey sank, the second trip was foiled by police, the third by foul weather. The fourth was the charm. They were rescued by the Greek Coast Guard.

About 400 people have died in the Aegean Sea crossings this year. Most of them drowned, according to the Greek Coast Guard. An additional 170 are missing and presumed dead.

"We know we are lucky," Zaheda said.

He said he hopes to live in Paris, where his brother-in-law works at the Pasteur Institute.

A few miles away, at the bad camp, life and prospects for the future are far less sunny. Thousands of migrants are detained behind high fences at a former military base near the village of Moria. The toilets are overwhelmed, the asylum seekers complain, and the food is disgusting now that aid organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the International Rescue Committee pulled out in protest, refusing to work at what they called a "detention" facility.

This is Europe 2016. These are the migrants who had the misfortune to arrive in Greece after March 19.

"I am living in a prison," said Mohammad Al Balkhi, 21, a Syrian college student from Damascus, who stood by the fence, amid a pile of cigarette butts, speaking with a reporter before a police patrol shooed his visitor away.

"Get us out of here," he said. He seemed amazed that the difference of a day or two would determine his fate.

[E.U. strikes deal to return new migrants to Turkey]

If Europe is to make good on its promise to shut down the deadly smuggling route through the Eastern Mediterranean, which has brought more than a million migrants to the continent, then it will happen here in the islands.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said uncontrolled illegal mass migration across the Aegean Sea, assisted by rapacious smugglers who put passengers on unseaworthy rafts, must stop. Allowing the migration to continue is not only wrong, it is deadly.

The European Union and Turkey agreed last month that all irregular migrants who arrive in Greece after March 19 will be returned to Turkey.

The E.U.'s Frontex agency, which is responsible for stopping illegal immigration, is bringing 1,500 police officers, asylum case workers and interpreters to Greece to begin processing the migrants.

The ferries will leave Lesbos and head to Dikili on the Turkish coast. Mustafa Nazmi Sezgin, the deputy governor there, said the Turks would erect a temporary transit facility to receive the returnees. "They won't stay here," he said. "They will go to other places in Turkey." He was not sure where.

He agreed that war refugees would be angry to find themselves back in Turkey, but shrugged.

The European Union, including the Greek government, argue that Turkey is a safe haven, proven by the fact that the country already hosts about 3 million Syrian refugees.

As of Friday, there were more than 5,000 migrants on six Greek islands; the largest number, almost 3,000, were on Lesbos. The number of migrants making the trip from Turkey to Greece has plummeted in recent weeks — from thousands a day to hundreds. Aid workers and migrants say the reason was a combination of rough seas and anxiety over what will happen to new arrivals.

Another 46,000 asylum seekers are on the Greek mainland, spread out at more than 40 camps, where the security situation and living conditions are deteriorating.

The mass migration to the heart of Europe was stalled in Greece after Macedonia shut down its border to new arrivals a month ago.

Smugglers in Turkey told The Washington Post that the trafficking cartels were exploring alternative routes to Western Europe through Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. They also warned that smugglers may reopen routes using derelict trawlers and freighters from Libya to Italy, a trade that could incorporate militias operating in Libya, including the Islamic State.

Aid workers said the first people to be sent back to Turkey may likely be the "easy" cases — those deemed immediately inadmissible for asylum in Europe, such as economic migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Nepal.

"Everyone is waiting to see what happens next," said Panos Navrozidis, country director for the International Rescue Committee. "That's part of the problem for everyone. Not knowing."

Read more:

Germany learns how to send back migrants: Pay them

New plan for migrants draws scorn as Germany's Merkel struggles for unity

7 things to know about the incredibly complicated migrant crisis

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Source: Europe gets ready to ship refugees stuck in Greece back to Turkey

Suzhou Tourism Launches European Sweepstakes

SUZHOU, China, Apr 01, 2016 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX) -- "The Great Suzhou Treasure Hunt " Sweepstakes Invites Travelers to Win a Holiday Adventure to China

SUZHOU, China, April 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Suzhou Tourism launches its newest campaign to directly target European travellers - "The Great Suzhou Treasure Hunt" sweepstakes, which is open for entries now through 30 April 2016 at www.TraveltoSuzhou.com/Sweepstakes [http://www.traveltosuzhou.com/Sweepstakes]. The sweepstakes is an interactive online scavenger hunt of Suzhou's top attractions, allowing consumers to virtually tour the city. The lucky travellers (one winner plus one guest) will enjoy a six-day holiday package. This promotion is available to residents of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

An increasingly popular destination for European travellers, Suzhou offers a familiar feel as the city is deeply rooted in heritage and is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin dating back more than 2,500 years. The artistic synergies and mutual appreciation for culture between China and Europe run deep, as evidenced by I.M. Pei, a Suzhou native and world famous architect, who designed both the Suzhou Museum and the Louvre Pyramid. With its narrow streets and winding waterways, Suzhou truly lives up to its nickname as the "Venice of China."

This once-in-a-lifetime trip is inclusive of return coach airfare, overnight lodging at one of the city's top hotels, three meals daily, and a guided tour through the city each day. The itinerary will offer quintessential Suzhou experiences and feature visits to a selection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden, as well as visits to Tiger Hill, the Suzhou Museum, Pinjiang Road, the Silk Museum, and Tongli, and authentic experiences at iconic restaurants such as Songhelou and Deyuelou. The trip is the ideal holiday adventure for anyone who wants to visit China and experience true Chinese culture.

Participants will receive one point for their entry submitted on the sweepstakes website and hopefuls can share their entry on social media to earn extra points for an improved chance at winning the prize. The sweepstake winner will be announced on www.TraveltoSuzhou.com/Sweepstakes [http://www.traveltosuzhou.com/Sweepstakes] on or about 3 May 2016. Travellers can stay connected with Suzhou Tourism throughout the campaign by visiting the destination website, TravelToSuzhou.com [http://traveltosuzhou.com/index], "Liking" the destination's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/visitsuzhou?fref=ts] page, and "Following" Suzhou on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/visitsuzhou/] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/suzhouvisit].

Designed to keep consumers informed on the destination's unique culture, cuisine, and heritage, this programme builds off an initial digital partnership with the BBC, which took place last year and resulted in sponsored content by the news organisation and a dedicated microsite for European travellers.

About SuzhouSuzhou, the "Venice of China," is known for its elegant stone bridges, canals, flowing water, and noteworthy architecture. Located in the center of the Yangtze River Delta, approximately 60 miles west of Shanghai, Suzhou is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin dating back more than 2,500 years. The city boasts the beautifully manicured Classical Gardens of Suzhou, nine of which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each year, millions of tourists travel to Suzhou to experience the destination's more than 400 attractions, ranging from pagodas and temples to historical districts and world-class museums. As the largest industrial city in China, Suzhou is home to Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), which boasts five-star hotels, the iconic Lake Jinji, and Asia's largest Ferris Wheel. Travel to Suzhou is easily accessible via three convenient area airports with non-stop flights from Europe: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) offers bullet train se rvice to Suzhou, which is approximately a 50-mile, 30-minute trip; Pudong International Airport (PVG) is approximately 65 miles from Suzhou, an hour and half drive; and Sunan Shuofang International Airport (WUX) is approximately 14 miles from Suzhou, a 30-minute drive.

For more information on Suzhou please visit www.TravelToSuzhou.com [http://www.traveltosuzhou.com/], follow us on Instagram @visitsuzhou [http://www.instagram.com/visitsuzhou], Twitter @suzhouvisit [http://www.twitter.com/suzhouvisit] and like us on Facebook at Visit Suzhou [https://www.facebook.com/visitsuzhou/?fref=ts].

CONTACT: Robert Einhorn, 646-465-9780, reinhorn@phgconsulting.com Web site: http://www.TravelToSuzhou.com/

Copyright (C) 2016 PR Newswire Europe

Source: Suzhou Tourism Launches European Sweepstakes