Travel-On Travel Industry News
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In the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy, we at Travel-On extend our best wishes to our clients and their families. We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and sound. To those of you who have been personally affected by the storm, our thoughts are with you during this stressful time.

We appreciate your patience this week as our teams concentrated on accounting for and assisting stranded travelers. Our staff answered thousands of phone calls and emails, working long hours to help ensure our clients reached their homes or destinations safely during this extraordinary event. We thank them for their dedication as well.

Friday, November 2, 2012
Events We're Watching

Russian Federation - Holiday Events to Congest Downtown Moscow
Parades, concerts, sporting events, and other activities associated with the National Unity Day holiday will take place throughout downtown Moscow Nov. 3-5. Moscow City Hall has granted permission for 20,000 nationalists to stage an annual Russian March rally and a concert in the Lyublino district in the city's southeast. A separate nationalist rally of up to 10,000 people is slated to take place along Krymskaya embankment in central Moscow. Expect tight security. Most businesses and all government offices, including foreign diplomatic missions, will be closed. The activities will cause traffic disruptions in downtown Moscow. Other areas that may be affected during the holiday include Red Square and the Kremlin, Bolshaya Dmitrovka, Bolshaya Nikitskaya, Brysovsky, Glinischevsky Pereulok, Leontievsky, Petrovka, and Teatralnaya Square. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, increases during special events; safeguard all valuables and personal belongings.

NYC Airports
Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia have all re-opened and are returning to normal, though flight schedules still vary by carrier. Passengers are strongly encouraged to confirm flight status before heading to the airport. Hotels rooms and rental cars are in short supply. Public transportation has been only partially restored and many areas are without basic services such as electricity, gas, sewer, and water. Travelers to the New York City area are asked to use discretion and good judgement to avoid taxing resources further. Non-essential travelers may better serve themselves and the local area by rescheduling.

Amtrak - Restoration of Service
Amtrak has began modified regional and Acela service through the Northeast Corridor. Services to and from New York City are subject to delay while repairs continue. Repairs by other track owners also continue for the route between New York City and Albany-Rensselaer, with no estimate available for a restoration date for Empire Service trains between New York City and Buffalo/Niagara Falls, the Adirondack (Trains 68 & 69) to and from Montreal, Québec, Canada, and the Ethan Allen Express (Trains 290 & 291) to and from Rutland, Vt. Customers are encouraged to monitor Amtrak.com/alerts and those Northeast Corridor passengers on Acela Express, Northeast Regional, or Keystone Service trains can follow @AmtrakNEC on Twitter to be notified when updates are posted on Amtrak.com. Amtrak will also be providing updates on its Facebook.com/Amtrak and Twitter.com/Amtrak pages. Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. To be notified of major service disruptions resulting in delays of 60 minutes or more to multiple trains on the Northeast Corridor, follow @AmtrakNEC on Twitter.

Tips on Keeping Your Phone Charged During Storm
In our increasingly digital world, a mobile phone or other portable device is often a one-stop communication device. Phone calls, text messages, social media and even radio and television can all come from the same gadget. And when the power goes out, these gadgets can quickly become stylish but useless bricks.

What is the most common aircraft used?

That honor goes to the Boeing 737. First introduced in 1967, this jet aircraft is flown by more than 500 airlines worldwide. As of July 2012, more than 10,000 of the jets had been ordered, the most of any commercial aircraft. On average there are 1,250 Boeing 737s airborne at any given moment. Four versions of the 737 are currently in production and the re-engined and redesigned 737 MAX will debut in 2017.

  • In major Vietnamese cities bikes make up 90% of vehicles on the road and wearing a helmet is compulsory
  • The concept of "speed dating" has existed in the hill tribe communities of Vietnam for decades
  • There is less than a 6 degree difference between average summer and winter temperatures in the south of Vietnam
  • The Vietnamese alphabet uses 29 characters, most of which are identical to English letters
  • Approximately 40% of all Vietnamese share the family name Nguyen
  • Iced tea is free in most restaurants
  • The Vietnamese never empty their cups, but always leave a swallow in the bottom
  • It is common to be asked your age, nationality, and marital status upon first meeting in Vietnam