Love at First Bite: CheapOair Invites Travelers to Follow Their Appetites Around the World

Leading online travel agency highlights some trends in the growing culinary travel sector

Food is now considered to be an attraction, motivator, and even reason for traveling. More and more travelers are visiting destinations specifically to learn and explore new cultures through their stomachs. CheapOair.com, a leading online travel agency, wants to take you on a tour of some of this year’s most popular culinary travel trends and destinations.

Eat Your Greens: The Most Vegan-Friendly Destinations

2018 has quickly become the year of the sustainability-conscious consumer, particularly in the food industry. According to Google, web searches for ‘vegan’ reached an all-time high in 2018 and United States ranks fourth among countries performing this search[1]. As the number of people identifying as vegans continues to rise, so does the number of vegan restaurants around the world. Los Angeles, California, Berlin, Germany, and Tel Aviv, Israel are some of the most vegan-friendly destinations that you can visit. Each of these cities is not only known for having unique culinary scenes, but also for offering a range of vegan substitutes for their respective traditional dishes. The future is sure becoming friendlier to vegan travelers.

Take It to The Streets: Destinations with A Booming Street Food Scene  

Food trucks, sidewalk vendors, street carts, and hole-in-the walls are no longer a guilty pleasure. Destinations like Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Mexico City, Mexico, and Portland, Oregon have set the bar and blurred the lines between gourmet and fast food. Portland has a booming street food scene with over 500 food trucks. Meanwhile, in Mexico City more than 75% of locals eat street food at least one per week. Ho Chi Minh City has food stands on nearly every corner, of every block, in every district and travelers are flocking there for the tasty Vietnamese cuisine. These destinations prove that you can look outside of the fancy restaurants for some haute cuisine.

But First…Coffee: Must-Visit Destinations for Coffee Lovers

Drinking coffee has become a staple in the daily routine of many cultures. For those that love their cup of joe, Seattle, Washington, Istanbul, Turkey, and Medellin, Colombia are just a few destinations you should add to your travel wish list. Seattle is the perfect destination for coffee lovers as it’s home to Starbucks; one of world’s largest and most recognizable coffee brands. The city’s coffee culture doesn’t stop there. There are also a number of small, independent roasters scattered across the city. Travelers should also venture to South America to check out what’s brewing. Medellin is the perfect starting point to explore Colombia’s famed Coffee Triangle. In Istanbul, having Turkish coffee is almost ceremonial in the unique way it is prepared and served. The one thing that unites these different destinations is not only their love of coffee, but the way coffee shapes their culture, community, and way of life.

Say Cheese: The Best Cheese Destinations  

Cheese is one of the most versatile and varied foods there is. Cheese enthusiasts can rejoice in the various options, styles, and destinations they can visit to get that perfect bite. Normandy, France is amongst the most famous cheese destinations, especially if you are a fan of Camembert. La Mancha, Spain is the place to go if you prefer Manchego, El Greco, or Don Quixote. For those who can’t get enough Parmigiano Reggiano, head to the Emilia Romagna region of Italy where Parmigiano originated. When it comes to cheese, you could travel the world and still be unsure of what the “king of all cheese” is, but with these destinations you’ll be ready to do the research.

Let’s Wine About It: Unconventional Wine Destinations  

From Old World to New World, the following are some must visit destinations for all wine connoisseurs. Alentejo is one of the largest wine regions in Portugal where visitors can sample a wide variety of wines and local delicacies. Cape Town, South Africa is home to the only new grape variety created outside of Europe and features some iconic wineries with Cape Dutch architecture. For those looking for a glass of wine with a view, head to Santorini, Greece. Santorini not only has nine indigenous grape varieties, but also has a fascinating wine museum.

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream: The Top Destinations to Eat the Best Ice Cream  

We can all agree that ice cream is one of the few desserts that is both timeless and suitable for all ages. It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to ice cream, but when it’s done right it truly is an icy treat! If you are searching for the perfect scoop, we’ve got the scoop on some destinations you may want to check out. Italy is an obvious choice, but did you know you can find some of the best gelato in Florence? New York City is also an ice cream hotspot with its many specialty ice cream parlors. For a unique twist on the classic cold treat, visit Tokyo, Japan to try mochi.

Cheers: Where to Find the Perfect Pint 

Brewing has truly become an international affair, so we’ve put together a list of a few destinations where you can find that perfect pint. Beijing, China has recently developed as an emerging scene in craft brewing as this ancient city continues to prove it can create modern marvels. St. Louis, Missouri may be home to brewing giant Anheuser-Busch, but it is also becoming a destination for craft brewing. Want to truly change it up? Forget Oktoberfest and head down to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil for their annual Craft Beer Festival.

For more information, please visit www.cheapoair.com, plus follow our social media pages, www.facebook.com/cheapoair, www.twitter.com/cheapoair, and www.instagram.com/cheapoair.  Download the CheapOair app for iOS or Android for an on-the-go travel concierge experience.

CheapOair’s mission is to educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in both planning their travel accommodations and staying current on the most popular destinations. With a portfolio of products, including rate and schedule information from 450 global airlines, CheapOair is a great way to book the travel that’s right for you.

 

About CheapOair

CheapOair is a flight-focused hybrid travel agency that enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone (1-646-738-4820) or live chat. Part of Fareportal’s family of travel brands, CheapOair bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional agency with certified travel agents available to help find deals and offers to destinations worldwide on over 450 airlines, a million hotels, and 100s of car rental companies. Follow CheapOair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and Pinterest to learn how to travel the world for less.

 

[1] https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2008-10-22%202018-10-22&q=Vegan

OneTravel’s Top Tips for Traveling During the Holidays

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, and that means holiday travel season is upon us. One of the most stressful parts of the holidays can be the travel and the costs associated with it. OneTravel.com, a leading online travel agency, has insights on things you can do while planning your holiday travel to help you get where you need to go stress-free and without breaking the bank.

 Plan Ahead

One of the best tips for saving money on holiday travel is to plan your trip well in advance. Determine how much flexibility you have when choosing your travel dates. The earlier you do this, the more time you’ll have to be a savvy travel shopper. According to OneTravel’s data, the day before Thanksgiving is consistently ranked among the top five busiest days to travel each year. If you can travel on Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, you will likely get a better deal and you’ll avoid the excessive airport crowds.

 Pack Light

Most domestic airlines charge for checked baggage, and if you’re flying with a Basic Economy fare, you may even be restricted with your carry-on options. Find out in advance what’s included with your ticket, so you can plan accordingly. If you are flying with a Basic Economy ticket and you arrive at the gate with a full-size carry-on, the airline will likely make you check the bag and charge you their checked baggage fee. This is something to consider when comparing ticket prices before you purchase your flight.  If you can bring a carry-on, try to limit yourself to that one bag. This will save you the fee, as well as save you time at the airport, since you can avoid the baggage counter altogether.

 Send Gifts Through the Mail

When doing your holiday shopping this year, consider shopping online and sending the gifts directly to your destination. If you have gifts that you need bring on the plane, it’s a good idea to hold off on wrapping. If your bag gets flagged by security, there’s a chance they’ll have to undo your hard work and unwrap the gift to resolve the alarm.

 Bring your own snacks

If you’ve ever reviewed your expenses after a trip, you’re probably aware of just how expensive food and beverages are at airport terminals or on airplanes. One way to avoid this is to visit the store before you leave and stock up on snacks for the airport and the flight. Although you can’t bring beverages through security, pack an empty water bottle. Many airports have installed bottle-friendly fountains that make it easy and cost-effective to stay hydrated.

 

For more information, please visit www.onetravel.com, plus follow our social media pages, www.facebook.com/onetravel, www.twitter.com/onetravel, and www.instagram.com/onetravel.  Download the OneTravel app for Apple or Android for an on-the-go travel concierge experience.

  

About OneTravel

OneTravel is a leading online travel agency that offers deals for savvy travelers seeking both quality and value. Launched in the mid-1990s, OneTravel is now recognized globally for providing one-stop shopping for all travel needs. Customers have access to millions of cheap flights including business class and first class airfare, hotel rooms, car rentals, and cheap vacation packages to top destinations around the world. Visit OneTravel’s social media pages at www.facebook.com/onetravel and www.twitter.com/onetravel. For an on-the-go travel concierge experience, download OneTravel’s app for Apple or Android.

 

 

 

Voyager HQ’s Travel Pitch Night to Make West Coast Debut on October 9th

Voyager HQ, the club for travel innovators, is hosting the first West Coast edition of their signature event, the Travel Pitch Night, in San Francisco on October 9, 2018 in partnership with Zendesk for StartupsAmadeus for Startups, and Fareportal.

The Travel Pitch Night is an opportunity to bring together startup founders, investors, and enterprise partners to highlight tech leaders creating the future of the travel industry. Traditionally held in New York City where Voyager HQ operates a coworking and event space, this event will showcase the Silicon Valley/Bay Area’s innovative role in travel, tourism and hospitality.

During the evening, five Voyager HQ member startups (BlueWanderBounceGlobaleurDot & Pin, and ROOM) will pitch to a panel of industry leaders including Amir Amidi, Managing Partner of the Plug and Play Travel and Hospitality Program; Kristen Durham, Director for the Office of the CEO at Zendesk; Christina Heggie, Investment Principal at JetBlue Technology Ventures; and Daria Rebenok, Co-Founder & CEO of Grabr. The judges (along with the audience) will evaluate each company’s presentation, business model, product/market fit, and fundability.

The event will take place at Zendesk’s office in Mid-Market, and will conclude with a networking reception where attendees will be able to continue conversations initiated onstage and lay the groundwork for productive partnerships beyond the evening.

For more information and to RSVP to attend, visit http://www.voyagerhq.com/san-francisco.

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About Voyager HQ

Voyager HQ is the startup club for the global travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. Their community brings together entrepreneurs, corporate partners, and investors from around the world to create the future of travel experiences through curated events, workspace, and actionable introductions. The Voyager Clubhouse NYC is their signature coworking and event space in Flatiron, as well as the global headquarters for a digital community of 1,000+ entrepreneurs in 55 countries. Join the Voyager HQ club by visiting http://www.voyagerhq.com/join-voyager.

About Amadeus

Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail and ferry operators, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and travel management companies). The Amadeus group employs around 15,000 people worldwide, across central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters), Nice (development) and Erding (operations), as well as over 70 local Amadeus Commercial Organizations globally and has a presence in more than 190 countries. For more information about joining the Amadeus for Startups program, please visit https://www.amadeus.com/amadeusforstartups.

About Fareportal

Fareportal is a travel technology company powering a next-generation travel concierge service. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated global contact centers, Fareportal has built strong industry partnerships providing customers access to over 450 airlines, 1 million hotels, and hundreds of car rental companies around the globe. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and OneTravel, Fareportal enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone, or live chat. Fareportal provides its airline partners with access to a broad customer base that books high-yielding international travel and add-on ancillaries.
http://www.fareportal.com/

About Zendesk

The best customer experiences are built with Zendesk. Zendesk’s powerful and flexible customer service and engagement platform scales to meet the needs of any business, from startups and small businesses to growth companies and enterprises. Zendesk serves businesses across a multitude of industries, with more than 125,000 paid customer accounts offering service and support in more than 30 languages. Headquartered in San Francisco, Zendesk operates worldwide with 15 offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Learn more at http://www.zendesk.com/startups.

Fareportal’s Travel Blog Wins at MediaPost OMMA Awards

CheapOair MilesAway blog named 2018’s Best Blog at prestigious digital advertising awards

MediaPost recently named Fareportal, the travel technology company powering CheapOair and OneTravel, the winner of its OMMA Award for Best Blog. The company’s CheapOair MilesAway travel blog was honored for celebrating diversity by creating inspirational and educational content on the achievements of persons from differing heritages.

Fareportal’s entry examined whether good business and being a good world citizen go hand-in-hand.  The CheapOair MilesAway blogsite, supported by the brand’s social media presence, tell that story, every day. From the beginning, encouraging diversity has been the bedrock of the company’s strategy both inward facing, and through external messaging. Much of Fareportal’s strength in sales of international flights has been attributed to its ongoing focus on multi-cultural themes such as Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.

Kathi Moore, Fareportal VP Branding & Communications commented, “CheapOair and OneTravel exist to make travel accessible to all. Our focus on multicultural representation and outreach stems from this reality. Travel at its core is all about experiencing what the world has to offer. We just help tell that story.   I am extremely proud of the Fareportal Communications team.”

“The goal of our content is to spark conversations and actions and, so each day, we try to create content that our core audience segments care about,” said Morlette Cowan, Creative Content Manager. “We want them to be inspired to travel but we’re also hopeful that, through content, they’ll see that we are a brand that cares about the special moments in their lives. If we can engage them enough to come back for more, then we’re doing our jobs as storytellers.”

The OMMA Awards were created in 2004 by MediaPost to honor agencies and advertisers that push the potential of digital advertising.

About Fareportal

Fareportal is a travel technology company powering a next generation travel concierge service. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated global contact centers, Fareportal has built strong industry partnerships providing customers access to over 450 airlines, 1 million hotels, and hundreds of car rental companies around the globe. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and OneTravel, Fareportal enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone, or live chat. Fareportal provides its airline partners with access to a broad customer base that books high-yielding international travel and add-on ancillaries.