Beware The Bogus Booking!

With tourism as it is, it's tempting to jump on every booking enquiry. But one should exercise a bit of caution.

When I got an enquiry (I'm not even a hotel!) for reservations for 4 clergymen from Greece, my scam antennas twitched. Why was the e-mail coming from a Yahoo Hong Kong (yahoo.com.hk) e-mail address?


Tracing the e-mail headers shows further revealing information:

Source: The source IP address is 41.138.164.168. Geo-Location Information Country  Nigeria State/Region  28 City  Owerri

What's it all about, Android?

I recently wrote a review of Digicel's Motorola Milestone, and today I saw a local advert for a LIME Android phone (the Sony Xperia). So why all the fuss about Android?

Firstly, the basics: Android is Google's operating system for phones (although it can actually be run on a computer or even an iPhone). Based on Linux, it's one of the major OS for smartphones with almost 50% of the market.

Why is it popular? One reason is that it's relatively easy to get - or even write - applications for it. Like the iPhone, apps enhance the functionality of the phone, making it more like a computer rather than a phone. Remember that smartphones are technically adept devices, with motion sensors, GPS, wi-fi, cameras and more, and applications tap into these features in a variety of fascinating ways.

So while you can certainly Facebook and Twitter, this is really just the tip of an intriguing iceberg that is your Android phone.

Ever wondered if the internet is just down for YOU?

Well, here's a simple way to get the answer for Firefox users.


"TryAgain" is an add-on for the Firefox browser which will give you helpful information instead of the standard 404 page when you cannot connect to a website.

• Get the plug-in or read about it in greater detail on Lifehacker

For those who don't use Firefox as your browser, you can visit this website to find out if the probbem is uniquely yours:

• Downforeveryone.com

5 Great Tips for Hotels on Facebook!

This is a short, interesting article about how to manage your Facebook page. While it is targeted to Hotel owners, the tips are valid for any small business owner.

How do get your hotel’s Facebook account to stand out
from HotelMarketing.com

Tip #5 is my favourite "If you can't commit, then you must omit."

Not everyone can manage their Facebook page successfully, can you?

TripAdvisor is the World's Largest Travel Site

TripAdvisor now leads the way with the highest number of unique monthly visitors on its website – 35,382,000 unique visitors. The next largest travel website in the world is the world’s leading online travel agent - Expedia - with monthly traffic figures of 2,122,000 visitors less than TripAdvisor.

• From HotelMarketing.com

If Facebook was a nation...

Click image for full picture

Google Search Trends in Travel

Here are the top consumer trends in searching for travel from Jane Butler, Google’s industry director for travel.

• Research intensity has been increasing steadily. Travelers are consuming more content online before booking a trip.
• Google has seen a 15 percent increase in site visits and 30 percent increase in search clicks prior to booking
• Over half of business and personal travelers interact with online travel videos in all stages of their travel planning.
• Consumers are booking their trips online closer to the travel date.
• Travelers are searching more for local, point-of-interest-based information around a destination while planning for and during a trip.

Get the full story at Travel Agent Central.