travel nation agency

A little bit about us

Travelmation llc - specializing in disney destinations, walt disney believed in the power of family -- that's why he created disneyland in 1955. we also believe in the power of family. there is no greater entity than the modern family and the impact loved ones can have on each other as they spend time together here on this planet. we want to help them make the most of each and every moment -- that's why we created travelmation llc. from the get-go travelmation llc has been "helping families make magical memories" and we love it, travelmation takes the two most fun entities "travel & animation" and combines them into one unique experience. specializing in disney vacation packages, agents from travelmation llc have a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion dealing with the disney brand. all of us are disney lovers to the core of our being and cannot wait to help your family plan their next disney vacation , contact any one of our agents for assistance -- and remember "we never charge fees to book vacation packages.", - the travelmation llc team, meet our team.

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Your Travel Nation   Reviews

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Had such a wonderful experience

Had such a wonderful experience. Iris and her team were very helpful in our travel plans and made sure we got to each of our destinations safely and helped planned excursions. We even got engaged while on our wonderful vacation ❤️ everything was so amazing.

Date of experience : February 14, 2024

Lovely vacation in Vietnam

We had a lovely experience all throughout our vacation in Vietnam. Hotel accommodations, activities and tour guides were exceptional. Thank you Lara for organizing our itinerary and being so responsive to all of our needs and queries.

Date of experience : February 13, 2024

Thank you Iris & team

Thank you Iris & team, y’all did a wonderful job organizing our trip. You helped create an itinerary that fits our travel and interest. We had a great experience, would definitely recommend TravelNation to our friends and family. From the time we arrived in Vietnam - our greeter was right there at the airport, our guides, personal drivers, and transferring hotels - all went smoothly. The highlight on trip was the VIP treatment through immigration/customs. We had an overall great vacation. Thanks again for taking care of all the details. -Robert & Kristen.

Date of experience : December 02, 2023

Carefree & memorable trip to Bhutan

My cousins & I used Your Travel Nation for our trip to Bhutan and had a truly wonderful experience. Iris was attentive to our specific needs and available for zoom meetings beforehand, as our trip was being privately curated. It was so nice to travel worry-free, since Iris made all the arrangements for us, including lodging, food, a guide, a driver, destinations, pickup from airport, etc. Such a memorable trip thanks to the expertise of Your Travel Nation. Highly recommend!

Date of experience : October 17, 2023

Reply from Your Travel Nation

Thank you for your lovely review Lynne! We absolutely loved having you in Bhutan and looking forward to hosting you again in the future :)

Icelandic winter

Just returned from a 4 night 5 day trip to Iceland. It was spectacular. Our itinerary was perfect. We checked all the boxes for what we wanted to do and see. Your Travel Nation did and amazing job in our itinerary. The hotels they chose were perfect from the staff to the cleanliness of the hotels. Our guide Gisli was very informative. Definitely my choice for travel agency’s for all my adventures. Your Travel Nation highly recommend

Date of experience : January 15, 2023

Thank you for traveling with us again and again Pam! You are our gem and the reason we keep on exploring the world for and with you :)

For years we dreamed of a trip to…

For years we dreamed of a trip to Ladakh and after sitting at home for so long, we finally decided to make it up North last July. We chose Your Travel Nation because the company came recommended by our friends, so we decided to book pretty last-minute but that didn’t seem to be a problem. Our Guide Arjun took great care of us and he was a walking encyclopedia. He seemed to know the area of the back of his hand and the stories he told us about the culture and history of Ladakh were truly educational and inspiring. We can’t wait to travel again with Your Travel Nation and hoping it will be an international trip next time.

Date of experience : August 27, 2021

Dear Shubham, We are glad to read you had a lovely time in such a special place, Ladakh. We also hope that next time you are able to travel international with us, and as soon as you can, don't hesitate to write to us, even if it's another last minute trip :)

Amazing holiday

I was fortunate enough to travel to Indonesia early 2020 with my family before the world shut down. We had an amazing time during our 12 days Pure Indonesia tour. The hotels that were selected by Your Travel Nation were just perfect and our guide was extremely knowledgeable. The people of Indonesia are kind and welcoming and we felt comfortable and safe during our trip. We travelled with two small kids and never had any issues, our guide Panuta was also very accommodating and great with the kids.

Indonesia is a mix of everything nice and we are glad you and your family loved the adventure :) We look forward hosting you and your beautiful family again in the future :)

Magical Uganda trip!

We recently returned from a MAGICAL trip to Uganda. After our trip got postponed last year, we finally made it this year and no words can even explain how beautiful our time was. The wildlife, animals, and of course the primates, with the absolute highlight the Gorilla Tracking. The people in Uganda are super friendly and our guide Charles was a real star. We have been dreaming of this trip for years and we will now forever cherish the memories we made during our 10 days in the country.

Dear Simone, Thank you for taking the time to write about your recent trip to Uganda, it's definitely the pearl of Africa. Glad you had an amazing time in the country together with Charles. We look forward to be hosting you again in any of our 40+ destinations.

Jeannie and Matthew's Honeymoon

My husband and I celebrated our 30 day Honeymoon in Thailand and Vietnam this January 2024. We partook in the "Pure Thailand" and the "Jeannie Mai's Vietnam Signature Tour". Iris, the founder of Your Travel Nation has been such great assistance throughout planning our itinerary process, from modifying to curating the perfect itinerary for us, answering all our questions by phone/email/zoom in a timely manner, and her organization skills! We absolutely loved the exclusiveness of having a private tour guide for each of the 11 cities we explored. Oh boy, did we feel so special arriving at each resort with a honeymoon surprise and spectacular staff. We can not begin to appreciate the top-notch quality of each and every resort we stayed at from all the different luxurious vibes - city french quarters, to boutique jungle village villas, to beachfront resorts, etc. We valued the diversity of excursions and different regions chosen for this trip, along with the conscious effort of being completely environmentally friendly. We felt safe and supportive if needed by Iris and her travel team by communicating through WhatsApp while we were on our trip. Overall, my husband and I had a trip of a lifetime that we will forever cherish. Working with Iris from Your Travel Nation has created a stress-free process during a year of wedding planning and we will say it was 100% money well-spent. We will be recommending this company to our friends and family and will most definitely keep them in mind for our future travels again! Thank you so much Iris!!!! Love, Jeannie and Matthew

Date of experience : January 01, 2024

In 2020 I traveled to Costa Rica with…

In 2020 I traveled to Costa Rica with Your Travel Nation together with my partner. We had the most amazing time during our 11 days in the country. The adventure of Costa Rica, the beautiful landscape and the delicious food all made up for a great trip but Your Travel Nation made it just perfect with the attention to detail. The fact we used no plastic during the trip and that our carbon footprint is compensated left us feeling better about this trip. Costa Rica is an amazing and green country and we should all care for our environment. Our guide Mateo took great care of us from start to finish and we left having a friend for life.

Dear Jill, Thank you for taking the time to write about your trip to Costa Rica and we would like to extend our thank you for pointing out the no-plastic policy we try to guarantee in the countries we travel in.

Fantastic Experience in Iceland

Our recent trip to Iceland was absolutely fabulous! In just five days/four nights we experienced so many exciting “firsts.” Searching for the Northern Lights, participating in a “snowmobile safari,” exploring a lava cave and an ice cave, soaking in the Secret Lagoon, visiting majestic waterfalls (many of them frozen and just beautiful) are just a few of the activities that simply blew us away! The hotel accommodations were perfect, and the wonderful, friendly employees made us feel extremely welcome. Finally, we were fortunate to have Gisli as our driver. He is the best! His vast knowledge of Iceland, and the stories he shared along the way, made this trip so much fun. Thanks to the personalized itinerary created by Your Travel Nation for our group of four, we left Iceland with a multitude of unforgettable, happy memories that will be forever cherished.

Thank you for these lovely words. We are so happy you had the best time in Iceland! Hoping to host you soon in one of our wonderful destinations worldwide.

DREAM TEAM AND VACATION!

STELLAR service and experience end-to-end! Your Travel Nation is a premier, boutique, global travel agency that delivered a once in a lifetime trip beyond our expectations. The team is incredible, and is committed to working with you tirelessly until the travel itinerary designed is perfect for your unique needs. If you have any hesitations with going with Your Travel Nation... do not! You will not regret going with them and instead wished you went sooner. In particular, special shout out to Lara, one of the Specialists on the team. Lara advised us throughout our trip and curated a deeply personalized itinerary for my family and I despite our endless questions and requests. She made herself readily accessible throughout our trip, and frequently checked on us to ensure we were having fun! She is incredibly knowledgeable in all topics related to Asia, and we could always relay any questions to her for thoughtful input and suggestions. I have no doubt that the rest of the Your Travel Nation team is just as spectacular as Lara is. Overall, I highly endorse the Your Travel Nation team and cannot recommend them enough. Excited for the next opportunity to work with them again!

Date of experience : October 15, 2023

Thank you for your amazing review Justin! We are so happy that you and your family had a wonderful time in Vietnam. Words like these definitely are the reason we keep on curating these wonderful trips! Hoping to host you soon again in one of our 35 destinations worldwide :)

What a wonderful trip. Jordan wasn’t some place I ever thought I’d see. What a terrific surprise. Iris planned this perfectly! She was so welcoming I feel like I already knew her. The sites and excursions were spaced out just right. Enough each day to appreciate it without feeling rushed or exhausted. From the ancient to the modern, and things in between. We experienced ancient cities, star gazing, deserts, as well as luxurious resorts. Our guide Khalid was exceptional. He went out of his way to make sure we got the most out of everything we did. Even taking a break with fresh watermelon along the road! He answered all questions (and I had a lot) about the sites as well as the Jordanian culture. He made sure we were comfortable and satisfied. Highly recommend him! Last but not least was our driver Yassar. He too always made sure we were comfortable by getting us refreshments, being very attentive while driving and explaining questions about Middle Eastern culture. Five stars from me on this trip! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Date of experience : July 05, 2022

We are extremely grateful to be having clients like you Nancy. We are happy to read you had such a lovely time and hope to be hosting you again in the future :)

A five star expereince in every way…

We recently returned from traveling in Tanzania with YTN. The trip was wonderful! Seeing the animals up close in their own environment was amazing. The people were friendly to a fault, all with ready smiles and eagerness to help and to show off their country, culture, and traditions. We went in February which seems like a good month to go: not too wet, too hot, or too crowded. I cannot speak highly enough of Iris and her YTN team, Iris, the business owner, was extremely knowledgeable and informative, guiding us through the many options available for lodging and things to see and do. The accommodations she suggested to us were excellent in every respect (food, cleanliness, rooms, etc), the itinerary perfect. She was always super-responsive during the booking process and remained in touch with us and our guide during the trip to ensure that everything was going well. Our driver/guide Huruma was excellent also, very knowledgeable and helpful. And a great driver and navigator! On our recommendation, two friends recently booked a trip to Tanzania with YTN. They are similarly impressed.

Date of experience : February 01, 2023

Dear Mari, Thank you for your kind words! We were absolutely honored to have you and your husband on safari with us in Tanzania :) February is my personal favourite month in Tanzania, so you couldn't have picked a better time and with Huruma by your side you can never go wrong! Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for recommending us to your friends. We look forward to their trip!

Lovely Nepal

We recently returned from an AMAZING trip to Nepal. The people in Nepal are super friendly and our female guides were wonderful. We did a jeepsafari and saw Rhino’s! The food is very spicy and delicious! YTN Did a great job on the places we stayed in, each place had his own spark✨ YTN we want to thank you for this UNFORGETTABLE TRIP!

Date of experience : September 17, 2022

Your Travel Nation made traveling…

Your Travel Nation made traveling comfortable, safe and easy! My boyfriend and I planned a trip to Thailand for the holidays 2019/ 2020. Our Travel expert handled all our questions, and her patience and knowledgeable answer made for a smooth experience. From pick-up to drop off at the airport, all was arranged, and we did not have to think or worry about any logistics the entire trip. Our guide Somsak and driver also beat all our expectations. They were both extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous. Our guide was a master at finding some hidden spots, gave the best advice about what time to leave in the morning (even if that meant we had to wake up super early), knew our itinerary, and in general were a pleasure to be around. He made us feel comfortable and we greatly enjoyed his company. The accommodation we stayed at were wonderful, I especially loved the Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai. The food was wonderful throughout the country. And everyone we met were incredibly hospitable and always had a smile on their face. A 10/10 vacation that I will never forget.

Dear Lara, Thank you for your kind words and trusting us with your holiday plans to Thailand. Thailand is absolutely amazing and we are glad to read you enjoyed it as much as we love this destination.

We recently travelled to Jordan with…

We recently travelled to Jordan with Your Travel Nation and we had an extraordinary experience on our tour at all levels. We booked the 8 days Discover Jordan tour and the quality and comfort of the accommodation far exceeded our expectations, from the facilities themselves to the friendliness of the staff, I am a picky eater and never had any issues with the meals that were served..

We were also extremely lucky with our guide, Ahmed. During all the time we spent together, Ahmed was a knowledgeable, friendly, patient, flexible and went the extra mile to ensure that we had the best experience possible. We would highly recommend him to anyone going to Jordan with Your Travel Nation. 
We have already been recommending Your Travel Nation to our friends and family and can’t wait to explore more with them in the future.

Dear Vanessa, Jordan is such an underrated destination and I'm glad you chose this destination for your recent holidays. Jordan is surprising in so many ways :) Looking forward to hosting you again in the future in any of our 40+ destinations

I highly recommend them!

I had an amazing trip to Peru with Your Travel Nation, It was a unique experience arranged by travel experts. Looking forward to my next trip with them.

Date of experience : August 02, 2021

We are so happy to hear you had a lovely time in Peru Rim :) We are looking forward to hosting you again in the future in one of our other destinations.

Our Sri Lanka holiday was amazing

Our Sri Lanka holiday was to be the holiday of a lifetime so after carefully and having spent hours doing research, we chose Your Travel Nation. We were not disappointed; everything from the initial contact through the planning process to the trip to Sri Lanka itself was handled in a VERY friendly and professional manner. The trip was simply fantastic covering Horathapola, Sigiriya, Elkaduwa, Ella, Yala and Gallee. Our guide Amal and our driver Vajira were AMAZING, Amal’s knowledge and Vajira’s care for the vehicle and making us feel safe at all times was beyond. The accommodations were just perfect with helpful and friendly staff providing great and delicious food. Our flight from Sri Lanka to Maldives was delayed and our travel expert made sure we were informed in time and we arranged a lunch for us in Colombo so we wouldn’t have to waste time at the airport. We have nothing but praise for the team and for their help and commitment in arranging the holiday and then ensuring that everything went as smoothly as possible. We also have to say a special ‘Thank you’ to Amal and Vajira whose warmth, experience and enthusiasm made the holiday so incredible and all that we had wished for.

Date of experience : August 28, 2021

Dear Anne, It was a pleasure hosting you in beautiful Sri Lanka. Amal and Vajira are real gems :) Glad you enjoyed this beautiful island and we look forward hosting you again in any of our destinations.

South Africa is such a dream

South Africa is such a dream destination! After a safari in Tanzania and Kenya a couple of years ago our heart ached to return to this amazing continent. After being in touch with several companies we’ve decided to work with Your Travel Nation, and we made the best decision ever! Our flight into Cape town was delayed by 4 hours but our guide Peter was waiting for us upon arrival and took us to our hotel in Camps Bay. We woke up to a beautiful view over the ocean and explored Cape Town for 3 days. We paid a visit to Robben Island, Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap and also went down to Cape of Good hope and Boulders Beach. We had some delicious meals in several restaurants in Cape Town, the cuisine is absolutely brilliant. After 3 full days in the city we moved to the vineyards of Stellenbosch and spend 2 nights here. The landscapes are stunning, and the wine was some of the best we’ve ever had. Again, the accommodation that Iris picked for us was a real gem. We then flew to Johannesburg from where we were picked by our driver/guide Brian who took us to Drakensberg and Kruger National Park. In Kruger we stayed at the Elephants Plains Lodge and wow!!! This lodge was absolutely stunning, and the game drives were extremely professional, and the animal sightings were plenty. We could have never imagined that South Africa was this beautiful, but we are longing to go back in the future and we would definitely book with Your Travel Nation again. Thank you Peter, Brian, Iris and the team of Your Travel Nation, Thank you South Africa!

Dear Kyara, Thank you for your kind words :) South Africa surely is a dream and we are glad you got to live out this African dream.

Best Online Travel Agencies

Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

• Best Overall: Booking.com
• Best Budget: Skyscanner
• Best Price Predictor: Hopper
• Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
• Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
• Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
• Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
• Our Top Picks
• Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

 Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels. 

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive. 

Best Budget : Skyscanner

 Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

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Customer Reviews & Testimonials

Welcome to One Nation Travel’s Customer Reviews & Testimonials page! Here, you’ll find genuine feedback from travelers who have explored our tours across Turkey, including destinations like Cappadocia, Istanbul, Pamukkale, and Antalya, as well as international spots like Egypt and Jordan. These reviews offer valuable insights into the quality, reliability, and overall experience of our services. Read on to make an informed decision for your next unforgettable adventure!

The 10 days Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya & Cappadocia tour

The 10 days Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya & Cappadocia tour. All the tour was so amazing. It was all very well planned and went so smoothly. Had such an awesome support during all the tour. Highly recommend.

Memorable Turkey Trip

We recently went on a Turkey tour arranged through One National Travel Agencyand it was absolutely fantastic. The entire experience was incredibly enjoyable. From start to finish, tour guides demonstrated professionalism and genuine care for our experience. I highly recommend their tours to anyone looking for an enriching and memorable exploration of Turkey.

Reliable tour operator

Great tour operator, all connections were very smooth, we enjoined transfer, flight, hotel rooms and food. and daily tour was great. Thanks

One Nation Travel Istanbul excelled

The experience was well worth the money and scenery was beautiful, as expected. However where the experience excelled was the personal service provided by the agent Can Berber. He kept me informed of all transport arrangements right from time I booked. His communications by Whats Ap and phone exceeded my expectations. Everything went smoothly because of his commitment and diligence. Five Stars from me. I would use his agency One Nation Travel again because of his customer service.

The perfect Turkish tour

A perfect tour. The 3 day tour is a perfect mix to discover Cappadocia and Ephesus. The tour it is very well planned with very knowledgeable guides in each place. People are very friendly and customer oriented making the experience second to none.

Turkey Tour Experience

Amazing tour!! Very well organized and got to see a lot of different stuff. Tour guides were very well knowledgable and fun!

Well coordinated, smooth and efficient travel plans

This a first for us to explore this side of the world, Istanbul- Cappadocia and Ephesus has been in our bucket list even before covid. I was really surprised and elated at the same time when I received the initial coordination WhatsApp message from Can Berber a few days before our flight to Istanbul from Dammam. Video instructions from how to meet their staff at the airport when we arrive was sent making it easier to visualze what to expect. His constant communication and specific instructions via WhatsApp made all our tour arrangements smooth and efficient. All queries are immediately answered in minutes and he even drove us personally to the airport at 4:00 a.m. on our way to Kayseri/ Cappadocia where fisrt experience hot air baloon ride. Can Berber sure knows how to make you feel at home and make your stay worthwhile and memorable…. Highly reommended if you are planning to take a tour in this side of the world..

Thank you One Nation Travel !!!

The trip organized by One Nation Travel was very good. All the hotel, airlines, pick and drop information was communicated efficiently. If they were any changes to the itinerary, I was informed in a timely fashion. Can Berber did a great job in ensuring the trip was planned well. I recommend One Nation Travel if planning a trip to Türkiye.

One Nation: Awsome Tour experience

One Nation provided exceptional service and handled our trip professionally. If you are looking for an stress-free, well-coordinated vacation with excellent tour guides, then they’re the perfect choice. Our coordinator was Mr. Canberber who was proactive with communication , provided a detailed itinerary, and was always accessible. Mr. Can berber, also exceeded expectations with accommodating our requests for inexperienced trip changes. We will be using One Nation for our future travels. Thank you!

8 days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Troy and Gallipoli

The trip was better than we expected. We book with some trepidation if it would be as represented. We were very pleased with the level of service. The motels we selected was the standard and they were not 5star but they were a value for what we got. I prefer to save on the motels and do twice the trips. In all the motels they were in great locations to walk the nearby streets and enjoy the street food, shopping and explore. This tour is go go go. Not for the spoiled traveler but for the adventurous in good shape. Recommend highly for the right people.

A memorable trip from professional crew

Working with one nation travel has been spectacular. I was interacting with Can Berber for my trip and he has been extremely responsive any time of the day. I had to book two other trips in addition to the first one I booked for Cappadocia and Pamukalle and Can Berber accommodated me at a very short notice and made my trip very memorable.

Very well planned tour and reasonably priced

My parents booked a tour for Istanbul and Cappadocia for 5 days, it was an amazing tour for them, especially the way it was planned based on their travel dates. Everything was very well planned and taking care of even minute needs of parents, would definitely recommend it to others.

organized transfers/tours

I was traveling alone and had One Nation Travel Agency organized my 2 day Cappadocia tour, which they did very well. Their representative Can Berber was super responsive. It made me feel safe and secure. From the transfers to the tours are well done.. they are in liason with local small group tours/transfer companies which is economically great. The south and north tours are wonderful esp to our guide Jamil/Jamal who knows his own stuff. The accommodation gives you a unique feeling of sleeping in the cave. I am very well satisfied and will definitely recommend the Agency.

4 Day Tour of Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia

My husband and I did the 4 day Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia and we had the best time. One Nation travel Agency Can Berber was always in contact with us, he easily responds when you message him, we had a delayed flight to no fault of the agency and Can Berber was messaging us even before the airlines . I would highly recommend One nation travel Agency they made it seamless and we didn’t have to worry about anything. The hotels were nice and the guides were friendly and on time. We had a great time most especially since we didn’t have to worry about anything. The guide in Ephesus was the best Niza Adsiz, he was very funny and informative at the same time..if you get the chance to request him we highly recommend. I would highly recommend One nation travel agency , it was worth the money we paid for…

Amazing experience

My sister, mom, and I did the 11-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Ankara tour. From the time I booked till the very end communication was excellent. Cam my company contact kept me updated on all details via WhatsApp. All airport, hotel, and tour pickups were on time. The company itself does not conduct the tours, they contract local tour guides. All of our tours were small which we loved- the max we had on one tour was 14 people. The hotels we stayed in were comfortable, clean, and the breakfast was good. We did book a separate hotel in Cappadocia because we wanted to stay in Gerome- they did credit us some money which was nice. The tours do include shopping stops which some people consider tourist traps but this is the itinerary of all tours no matter the company unless you do private tours which of course is way more expensive. Overall, I would say it’s an excellent company and very well priced. I would definitely recommend their services and I would book with them again.

10 Day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya & Pamukkale Tour – exceptional

We booked this tour through One Nation Travel Agency at the beginning of 2020, which unfortunately got postponed several times due to the pandemic, border closures and ill health but we finally got to do it in September. Since the initial booking, all responses were super quick and very professionally handled by Bilal Dilsiz.

We had four internal flights and a bus transfer. All airport, hotel and day trip pick-ups were very professionally handled. The tour guides, day trips and hotel accommodation were excellent.

We tailor-made our trip by adding extra days to our tour and all requests were dealt with very accurately and professionally.

Can Berber, was our One Nation Travel Agency representative since arrival in Istanbul until departing Turkiye. He was available at all times on WhatsApp and he kept us informed of pick-up times to and from airports.

We had an amazing time and would recommend this tour through One Nation Travel Agency to anyone. We will definitely book more tours through One Nation in the near future.

Date of experience : September 2023

10 day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya and Pamukkale Tour

We booked our trip last minute (1.5wks before travelling) and One Nation travel were super responsive, organising all our accommodation, transfers, domestic flights etc as part of the 10 day tour we selected. The organisation and communication throughout the 10 days was excellent. It made our trip very enjoyable!

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Moscow Travel Guide

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Why travel to Moscow

Contrasts: 12th century monasteries and some of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe can be found side-by-side in this complex and captivating city. The diversity of this mega-city is astounding. Only a few steps away from the solemn red facade of the Kremlin and the sounds of righteous church bells, a buzzing night scene and alternative-fashion boutiques can be found.

Culture: In Moscow only the best goes. Be it a theatre, restaurant or gallery, the standards are certain to be world-class. The Bolshoi ballet company is reputed to be even better than the Mariinsky’s and “MMOMA” (Moscow’s museum of modern art) exhibits works of art as profound as any that could be found in the famed MOMA.

Convenience: Unlike the rest of Russia, it’s easy enough to get by with just English in Moscow and, driving excepted, it is surprisingly safe: the murder rate is lower than in some of America’s major cities.

Top Sights in Moscow

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Why visit Moscow

It would take more than two days to walk around the perimeter of the biggest city in Europe, Moscow. Many of its inhabitants barely know what’s beyond the few blocks around their flat and there are so many attractions that it’s almost impossible to know where to start. If there is such a thing as an antidote to boredom, Moscow City is it. The mind-boggling range and diversity of things to do, places to eat, parks, historical monuments and more means that a vacation in Moscow has a wealth of activities to offer for every type of traveler, from young families to retirees.

Reasons to Vacation in Moscow in 2022

The Bolshoi theatre is familiar to almost everyone as Russia’s grandest theatre, but what people don’t know is that there are many more bolshoi (big) sites in Moscow that are worth travelling all the way to Moscow to see. For more than 100 years, the world’s biggest bell has been hidden behind the Kremlin’s walls and inside Moscow’s main park (which is bigger than some countries!) there is the world’s largest outdoor ice-rink. Travelers that visit Moscow can stay at the Izmailovo, Europe’s biggest hotel, then eat at the largest and most historic McDonald’s in Europe and after that have fun at the largest European indoor theme park!

Ancient Past & Stunning Architecture:

As those who travel to Moscow will see, just because Moscow is a city of record-breaking, glitzy high-rises doesn’t mean that there is no history. On the famous Arbat street, time-worn, wooden storehouses and century-old churches are squashed up against grey, soviet blocks which are then towered over by 21st century office-blocks. Unlike its much younger sibling, St Petersburg, Moscow’s roots stretch way back to the 12th century. Within the walls of the Kremlin, the city’s oldest building the Cathedral of Assumption can be admired in all its 500+ years of age.

Culture & Convenience

For a foreigner who has never visited Russia, Moscow is the perfect stepping stone into this great land of mystery. From the country’s best classical ballet troupes to snow-white troikas trotting through the parks, all the highlights of Russian culture can be had in Moscow without any of the complications that would be expected in other, less developed regions of Russia.

Cheap as Caviar

In Moscow, everything is bargain when with the current foreign exchange rates being what they are. Even caviar doesn’t seem so dear when the exchange rate is at 60rub to the dollar, so go on indulge yourself! Take your 2022 vacation in Moscow and have the best of both worlds, with European luxury at very affordable prices.

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

We had a great time both in Moscow and St Petersburg. Your travel agency was excellent in coordinating the whole trip. Everything worked like clockwork. The guides assigned to us were very nice and friendly. They had a great knowledge of their subjects. The cars and the drivers were great. The hotels were good and the itinerary was good. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. It was nice dealing with you and your company. Thank you very much for a great Russian experience. Have a great future ahead

• 31 reviews of Express to Russia Moscow Tours in Moscow

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Moscow Vacation Packages

Moscow vacations are always a great idea when it comes to traveling in Russia. Plan your trip to Moscow with a leading tour operator for Russia and enjoy the ease and pleasure that comes from it. You will stay at the centrally-located hotels, enjoy guided tours to Moscow's best sights with charming local guides, and, most importantly, feel relaxed and immersed in the Russian culture at all times. Wondering what the ideal way to see the best of Moscow is? Well, with a private tour to Moscow, of course! We will listen to your travel preferences and prepare a custom Moscow itinerary just for you. Let's start talking about your upcoming vacation to the gorgeous capital city of Russia.

Moscow Tour Highlights

Explore the capital of the largest country in the world, Russia.

Learn about the most visited sights in Moscow that are worth adding to your Russian itinerary. Create a fantastic tour to Moscow with a destination, choosing your wished activities.

• Moscow walking tour
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• St Basil's Cathedral
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Tips for Moscow Travel

Take a look at the good-to-know tips before visiting Moscow and have a fantastic time in the capital.

What to pack

Make sure to check the weather prognosis before your trip and pack accordingly.

When to travel

Moscow is beautiful all around the year. Choose traveling time according to preferred activities.

We suggest to always have some cash with you. You will need Rubles (RUB) for Russia.

How much to tip

Tipping is not required in Russia, but it's considered good etiquette, tip 10%-15% of your bill.

The average summer temperature is approx 18°C (64°F), and winter is around -6°C (22°F).

Some of the most popular souvenirs from Moscow are caviar, Krasnaya Moska perfume.

Best Moscow Sights

One of the highest points in Moscow and one of its most breathtaking places - the Sparrow Hills.

See the 344-feet Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the tallest Orthodox church in the world.

Enjoy masterpieces of Russian opera and ballet in Moscow's legendary Bolshoi Theater.

Being the most recognizable symbol of Russia in the world, Red Square is an absolute must see when in Moscow. 

The famous GUM is a large department store in the Kitai-gorod part of Moscow facing Red Square.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is Moscow’s most famous artistic work of architecture set in the romantic Red Square.

History and luxury is revealed inside the Kremlin as the Armoury Chamber displays treasures like Faberge Eggs.

Moscow Metro is like a whole underground city that holds the world's largest collection of Stalinist Art.

The symbol of Moscow and entire Russia, the Kremlin is often described as the 8th Wonder of the World.

I am very satisfied.

I have been using the Firebirds (Travel All Russia) services for a while. I am very satisfied.

WOW. From the choice of hotels to...

WOW. From the choice of hotels, an itinerary that ran to plan, the amazing Guides and drivers, and of course the stunning cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. No long queues for entry to museums, churches, and palaces.  I would gladly recommend using Firebird Tours (Travel All Russia) to anyone.

THANK YOU for making this happen for me !!!

I must say from the day I started to book my tip till the day I got home I had one GREAT trip and experience I always felt safe and cared for help was seconds away not that I needed any I will defiantly highly recommend your company to any traveler to Russia WELL DONE to the Whole team THANK YOU for making this happen for me !!!

We enjoyed the whole trip a lot

Overall we enjoyed the whole trip a lot. Moscow is beautiful and clean. Thank you very much for your patience and excellent organization of this tour. Everything ran very smoothly and according to schedule. The guides met us on time at hotels or at our train carriage on arrival. They all spoke good English, had a good local knowledge and were very kind and helpful.

The tour lived up to all expectations

I’m most pleased with Travel All Russia in arranging our ‘Volga Dream’ Russia tour, I would recommend using your services again as every aspect of our tour went off without a hitch. The communication between our tour representative was excellent as we required additional days on both ends of our tour. The visa process and the logistics were flawlessly implemented.

We had a great time in Moscow!

Everything was perfect and we are very satisfied with services and accommodations.

Loved my time in Russia

The trip was great. Especially want to mention the guides I had on the extra days were exceptional. Both guides and drivers worked out well. Thanks again for all your help and attention. Loved my time in Russia, and still haven’t stopped talking about it.

Exploring Magnificent Russian Capitals, June 2017

Just want to say that our guide in St Petersburg was really outstanding. You really felt like someone was looking after you. Very observant - knowledgeable. We really enjoyed time spent with her.

Exploring Vibrant Moscow, June 2017

The experience was great!!! We had an excellent guide. The hotel was fabulous.

Thank you for your help !!! was an unforgettable trip.

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CIA translates nasi lemak as 'fat rice', features dish in its World Factbook

Saturday, 20 Apr 2024

Related News

Chong Wei stranded in Paris, says he misses son … and nasi lemak

Tourism malaysia promotes breakfast culture at malaysia travel escapades in singapore; nasi lemak and roti canai the main limelight, the joys of masak lemak.

PETALING JAYA: Nasi lemak, one of Malaysia's favourite dishes, has been featured in the United States Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) World Factbook.

In a Facebook post on Saturday (April 20), the CIA said that nasi lemak is considered the "national dish of Malaysia" and a popular "breakfast food".

"Its name in Malay literally means 'fat rice' because its preparation makes it rich and creamy.

"It consists of fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk with pandan leaves, lemon grass, ginger and other spices.

"Nasi lemak is usually served with a hard-boiled egg, fried anchovies, sambal paste and roasted peanuts," read the post.

Hundreds of Facebook users, many presumably from Malaysia, were chuffed to see the mouth-watering dish highlighted by what many see as the US "spy agency".

User Teyra Albaraqbah said: "Dangerous food if u r on a mission. Nasi lemak can make u sleepy and miss your target. Eat Hup Seng crackers with kopi O if u want to stay awake."

Hendrias Saging weighed in, saying: "Just be careful with the sambal as it has the potential of bringing down your whole operation."

Many were also amused by the literal "fat rice" translation, with user Kedai Nasi explaining that the word "lemak" could also be translated as "rich".

"So it's not literally fat, it's just rich/creamy in taste," read the post.

Other users were quick to highlight other examples of Malaysian cuisine.

"You should try 'trading rice' (nasi dagang) too. Very delicious," said Siti Faridah Shuib.

"please post about 'rice to Wednesday', or (as) we call it, 'nasi kerabu'," said Nuaim Idris.

Farrish Khalid, with tongue in cheek, said: "We also invented USA Fried Rice."

According to the CIA, its World Factbook is a "public resource providing basic intelligence on 266 world entities, including travel facts and country profiles."

Related stories:

Tags / Keywords: Nasi Lemak , CIA , Central Intelligence Agency , United States , World Factbook , Malaysia , Food , Cuisine , Facebook

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CBP Announces Next Phase in Fight Targeting Criminals Funneling Fentanyl into American Communities

NOGALES , AZ – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today announced that it will lead an expanded, multi-agency effort to target the transnational criminals funneling fentanyl from Mexico into American communities. Operation Plaza Spike targets the cartels that facilitate the flow of deadly fentanyl, as well as its analogs and precursors and tools to make the drugs. It is designed to disrupt operations in the “plazas,” cartel territories located directly south of the United States that are natural logistical chokepoints within the cartels’ operations. This is the next phase in CBP’s Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs , a whole-of-government and international effort to anticipate, identify, mitigate, and disrupt illicit synthetic drug producers, suppliers, and traffickers.

Operation Plaza Spike will employ multiple tactics, including seizing illicit proceeds and scrutinizing related cross-border business entities and cross-border trade. Operation Plaza Spike includes releasing the name of the plazas’ senior ranking cartel officials, the “plaza bosses,” to increase public and law enforcement pressure on them. Plaza bosses control and profit from all illicit activity through the plaza – extortion, kidnapping, as well as the smuggling of humans, dangerous drugs, and firearms. CBP will leverage partnerships, authorities, and resources of other government agencies in our efforts to gather intelligence, disrupt and degrade illicit operations, and deliver legal consequences.

“So long as fentanyl and other illicit opioids wreak tragedy across American communities, the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security will remain unrelenting in their work stopping these deadly drugs from hitting our streets and taking lives,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Operation Plaza Spike is a critical step in our ongoing whole-of-Department campaign to directly attack the transnational criminal organizations that peddle narcotics, death, and destruction for profit. We are sparing no effort to dismantle cartels and ensure everyone from kingpins to plaza bosses are brought to justice.”

CBP’s first target is the Nogales Plaza, located directly south of the border crossing at Nogales, Arizona. Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, aka Gio, the Nogales Plaza boss, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2018 for his role as a Sinaloa Cartel Plaza Boss .

“We are entering the next phase in our fight against fentanyl: one where we are going after the plaza bosses, whose organizations are responsible for virtually everything that is smuggled into the United States. By targeting them for enforcement action, we can directly impact their operations and ability to traffic fentanyl into the United States, which makes its way into communities all across the country,” said Troy A. Miller, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. “Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela is the first plaza boss that we target, but he won’t be the last. Just as the men and women of CBP are steadfast in the fight against fentanyl - will be unrelenting in our pursuit of those people and organizations that threaten the safety and security of our people and our country.”

Valenzuela Valenzuela and his organization allegedly are responsible for moving thousands of pounds of fentanyl to the U.S. border. Nearly every day, CBP officers intercept fentanyl headed from Valenzuela Valenzuela’s plaza northbound through CBP ports of entry onward to cities across the United States.

Operation Plaza Spike is just the latest effort by CBP, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as part of this Administration’s efforts to stem the flow illicit opioids, including fentanyl, and cracking down on the Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) that traffic them. Through a whole-of-government effort, the Department has stopped more illicit fentanyl and arrested more individuals for fentanyl-related crimes in the last two fiscal years than in the previous five years combined.

CBP is also in the midst of Operation Apollo, and announced today that it will expand into Arizona to continue gathering and utilizing intelligence, and focusing on state and local partnerships to interdict fentanyl. Operation Apollo was launched by CBP in Southern California in October 2023 as a counter-fentanyl joint operation. CBP has evaluated the successes and lessons learned from Operation Apollo, and Operation Apollo – Arizona is now replicating it within the Arizona corridor, integrating all local law enforcement resources in Arizona to interdict finished fentanyl products, illicit precursor chemicals, adulterants, pill press equipment, illicit proceeds, and weapons.

In addition to CBP’s efforts to target operations that move fentanyl north, as well as guns south, CBP will be leveraging partnerships, authorities, and resources of other government agencies.

In 2023, DEA seized a record 79.5 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Throughout Arizona the DEA Phoenix Field Division seized more than 42 million fentanyl pills last year.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our nation has ever faced. The men and women of DEA are relentlessly focused on saving lives by defeating the two cartels responsible for the majority of fentanyl and methamphetamine poisoning our communities – the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels.” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram . “DEA proactively investigates cartel members and associates, like Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, who allegedly oversee the transportation and distribution of these deadly drugs while interagency partners, like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, interdict shipments at the border before they enter our country. These partnerships ensure those responsible face justice for their crimes.”

As a collaborative partner, HSI will leverage its abilities, ample customs authorities, and investigative capabilities to continue to look at the TCOs supply and distribution chains, while taking dangerous, destructive, and deadly drugs off our streets together with the violence that comes with the illicit activities of these criminal enterprises. HSI Arizona has dedicated groups of special agents assigned to combat drug and human smuggling as well as southbound weapons and bulk cash smuggling.

“HSI stands at the ready to continue dedicating our resources, unique customs authorities and investigative capabilities toward joining our federal partners in not only disrupting the trafficking of lethal drugs into our country but capturing and prosecuting the plaza bosses who profit from poisoning our communities,” said HSI Countering Transnational Organized Crime Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral . “We will leverage the combined strength of our partnered efforts to relentlessly pursue, disrupt and dismantle one of the most prolific and violent cartels in the world.”

With the launch of its updated Fentanyl Strategy CBP Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs Report in fall 2023, CBP has continued to look at innovative ways to stop fentanyl trafficking. The agency continues to utilize its unique authorities and resources as the nation’s border security agency to lead the whole-of-government approach to dismantling the means and methods of the production and distribution of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, in addition to its historic target of interdicting narcotics at the border of the United States.

CBP officials have previously targeted fentanyl interdictions along the southwest border of the United States during Operation Blue Lotus, Four Horsemen, and Rolling Wave as well as precursors and production materials used to make fentanyl during Operation Artemis . With this latest operation, CBP is utilizing another avenue to disrupt the networks that create and distribute these drugs.

CBP and DEA are also calling on the public to provide any relevant information they may have about Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, his movements, his associates, and his operation. Tips can be provided anonymously by calling or texting 619-540-6912 via phone, Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal. Information can also be submitted through Snapchat at narcos_tips or by using the Threema ID: 2VBZFZTY.

For more information about CBP’s efforts to combat fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, visit CBP Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs Report .

Operation Plaza Spike press conference: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/918681/operation-plaza-spike-press-conference

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

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4 travel secrets of the mega-rich, from a vacation planner for billionaires

Imagine closing down Versailles to enjoy a private candlelit dinner.

That's the reality for the ultra rich, and people like Jaclyn Sienna India make it happen.

India is the founder of a Sienna Charles , a members-only travel agency that caters to wealthy clients who take million-dollar trips around the world. India recently discussed her work and billionaire clientele in a Q&A with The Cut .

Her company's services include a $75,000 annual tier for unlimited travel and dining reservations, and a $150,000 yearly option to tack on a "lifestyle" component. That includes "arranging spa appointments, recruiting house staff, helping clients build a home gym, whatever they need," India told The Cut.

She shared some of the travel secrets of her unthinkably wealthy clients:

1. Penthouse suites are out, yachts are in

Most of India's clients are 55- to 75-year-old ex-finance workers in New York City, but in recent years, she's seen more interest from people in Dallas and Los Angeles who work in finance or film. Her newest clientele are tech VIPs in their 40s and 50s.

India's typical clients are no stranger to booking hotel suites for $30,000 a night, but it's becoming more passe.

The mega-rich want their accommodations loaded up with their preferred foods, fancy water and drinks as well as other, more-specific requests (a space with seven dog beds, for instance), but training hotel staff on everything within a few days is inefficient.

The trendier thing to do is stay at a villa or yacht owned and rented out by billionaires.

"[The owner] has customized everything, picked his staff, and trained them for expectations that are otherworldly," India said. All of that means her clients can "relax deeply because the staff knows how to deliver excellence every minute."

2. They don't deal with luggage

Unlike the rest of us, the rich aren't worried about airline baggage fees. Then again, they're not schlepping their suitcases at all.

Instead, they ship it, India said: "Just throw a FedEx label on it, and it arrives at your destination the next day."

3. They're not dining out at fancy restaurants

Though Sienna Charles staffers know all the best restaurants and how to get impossible reservations, India says many of her clients don't eat out when they travel.

That's what their private chefs are for, she says.

The chefs travel with clients and help maintain their diet and medical or health goals, India said. She gave an example of one client who traveled to San Francisco for two weeks, brought his chef and only ate out once.

"He has all the money in the world, but he didn't want to go to Michelin-star restaurants," India told The Cut. "A lot of our clients work really, really hard, and it's important for them to have consistency and routine wherever they go."

4. They want unique experiences

If you want to rub shoulders with a billionaire this summer, India said they're increasingly trading the typical hotspots (think: Capri) for more "unique experiences."

"They're taking the yacht around Sardinia or going to smaller islands in Sicily," she said.

Sometimes her clients have specific travel requests, like wanting to take a family trip to Rome in a specific timeframe. More often than not, they're pretty general about their vision and want help with the specific details.

One recent tech billionaire "told me they want to go to Europe in August for nine days, just the couple, no kids," India said. "And that's all they said. This is pretty common."

As for those with more modest means, India's best advice is to "normal" people is to steer away from places where celebrities and influencers abound. Or, at least, recognize that you're unlikely to get a similar A-lister experience if you go.

For example, she said, "The Hamptons are good if you stay at somebody's house and lay out at their pool and you have beach access. But if you go to be a lookie-loo and you're staying at a hotel and the traffic sucks and you can't get into a restaurant because nobody knows who you are, then that's probably not the best destination."

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Tsunami alert after volcano in Indonesia erupts, thousands told to leave

Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami alert on Wednesday after eruptions at Ruang mountain sent ash thousands of feet high.

Officials ordered more than 11,000 people to leave the area.

The volcano on the northern side of Sulawesi island had at least five large eruptions in the past 24 hours, Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation said.

Authorities raised their volcano alert to its highest level.

There were no reports of deaths or injuries.

The National Disaster Management Agency's spokesperson Abdul Muhari told ABC that residents have been moving to the east part of Tagulandang Island.

"They have been moving to the north and east area," he said.

"But we aren't able to reveal the numbers yet … because the rock ejection is still happening and we are prioritising staff's safety."

Mr Muhari said until Thursday morning local time, the volcanic ash has "subsided but the volcanic ash is quite spread out".

"We couldn't land in the local airport," he said.

"Our team would have to wait until the airport is open."

At least 800 residents were evacuated from two Ruang Island villages to nearby Tagulandang Island, according to an earlier report by state agency.

Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes.

It is prone to volcanic activity because it sits along the 'Ring of Fire', a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

The volcanology agency said on Tuesday that volcanic activity had increased at Ruang after two earthquakes in recent weeks.

Authorities urged tourists and others to stay at least 6 kilometres from the 725-metre Ruang volcano.

Officials worry that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and cause a tsunami similar to a 1871 eruption there.

In a press conference on Thursday, head of Indonesia's volcanology agency Hendra Gunawan said his team will evacuate more people to avoid casualties.

"Some people have been hit by the stones and got their heads scarred although not significant," he said.

"This however shows that the eruption is getting more intense."

Tagulandang island to the volcano's north-east is again at risk, and its residents are among those being told to evacuate.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said residents will be relocated to Manado, the nearest city, on Sulawesi island, a journey of 6 hours by boat.

In 2018, the eruption of Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano caused a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java after parts of the mountain fell into the ocean, killing 430 people.

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We provide authentic, informative and memorable tour packages and city tours, at very competitive prices. Visit Moscow Tours are available not only in Moscow, but also in other cities: Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Suzdal and Sergiev Posad.  We also organise customised individual programs tailored just for you.

Our guests come in large groups, small private groups, as couples or as single travellers. We take care of and treat our guests with respect in a friendly and warm family environment. We show people our beautiful cities with passion and deep knowledge of their history, culture and traditions.

Our guides are extremely hospitable, helpful and well-informed. They are simply the best because only by providing the best services can we make the world fall in love with Russia. And we are very happy when our guests say that they will definitely come back to Russia and that they will tell all their friends how great Russia is! That is what inspires us to put even more dedication and hard work into our tours, knowing that what we do is positive and meaningful.

Our classic tours include tours of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, two main Russian cities.

Moscow is a big and busy  megalopolis and Russia’s capital city, where more than 12 million people live and work. Our capital city is happening place; it is mysterious, elegant, luxurious, fashionable, clean and bright, with its unique legends, traditions and events. It is with great pride that we show the Red Square and the Kremlin, our Underground and Tretyakovskaya Gallery, among other stunning attractions.

Saint Petersburg is our second capital,  the second largest city in the Russian Federation. This wonderful city has a strong and lively aristocratic spirit, uniquely Russian royal architecture, magnificent museums and theatres. Saint Petersburg bears the royal heritage of Russia, which can be felt in its air, its streets, parks, monuments, museums and citizens.  In Saint Petersburg tours, we will take you to the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress, Faberge Museum and Orthodox Cathedrals. We’re sure you will love it!

If you have a few more days to spare, venture into the dreamy Russian countryside in Suzdal or Sergiev Posad. Suzdal is a small town with a population of about ten thousand people, situated on less than 15 square kilometres. This tiny area is home to 53 historic cathedrals, five monasteries and a kremlin. Church domes are visible like mushrooms from anywhere and everywhere in the town like in a fairy tale. No wonder Suzdal is called the ‘Town Museum”.  It is definitely worth visiting!

Just try any of Visit Moscow Tours’ tour packages or any individual city tour, and we promise that you will want to come back to Russia again.  Russia is huge with countless amazing places to visit. There are so many unique experiences to be had and energies to be felt that one tour is definitely not enough to explore this vast land. It is also a very safe destination to travel, and we have a tradition of warm hospitality. Our people adore and take care of visitors as our own guests, and even if they do not know your language very well, they still try to be helpful and hospitable.

Our guides will show you the most interesting attractions and historical places, taking you on a journey to the past to enjoy stories of medieval times, the Romanov monarchy, the Soviet Era. And of course, we will show you the contemporary life of our country through authentic local experiences.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Middle East latest: Rockets 'fired towards US military base in Syria'

At least five rockets are launched from the Iraqi town of Zummar towards a US military base in northeastern Syria, security sources tell Reuters. The attack against American forces is the first since February, when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq stopped targeting US troops.

Sunday 21 April 2024 22:59, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• Iran 'displayed power' in attack on Israel, Supreme Leader insists - despite failure
• Rockets 'fired from Iraq towards US military base in Syria'
• Baby delivered in emergency C-section after mother killed in Rafah strike
• Netanyahu: Israel will increase pressure on Hamas 'in coming days' 
• Sean Bell: New details hint at impact of Israeli strike on Iran
• At least 14 Palestinians killed in West Bank raid, authorities say
• Analysis: Iran isn't biggest threat to the coalition right now

Before the Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October, the Lebanon border area was judged to have enjoyed a relative period of calm and stability.

But that all changed with the events across the border.

Since then Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops have been exchanging more and more serious fire, violating the terms of an earlier agreement contained in the UN Resolution 1701.

Here, our special correspondent Alex Crawford reports from the "Blue Line" in southern Lebanon...

At least five rockets have been fired from Iraq's town of Zummar towards a US military base in northeastern Syria, two Iraqi security sources have told Reuters.

The security sources and a senior army officer said a rocket launcher fixed on the back of a small truck had been parked in Zummar border town with Syria.

The military official said the truck caught fire with an explosion from unfired rockets at the same time as warplanes were in the sky.

The attack against US forces is the first since early February when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq stopped their attacks against US troops.

It comes a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani returned from a visit to the US and met with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Hezbollah has claimed it downed an Israeli drone that was on a combat mission in southern Lebanon.

The drone that was brought down above the Al Aishiyeh area in southern Lebanon was "waging its attacks on our steadfast people," a statement by the group said, according to Reuters.

Hezbollah is an Iranian proxy operating from Lebanon and it frequently trades rocket and drone attacks with Israel across the Lebanese-Israeli border. 

Earlier today, Iran's supreme leader dismissed any discussion of whether Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel hit anything there.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments to senior military leaders did not not touch on the apparent Israeli retaliatory strike on the central city of Isfahan on Friday, even though air defences opened fire and Iran grounded commercial flights across much of the country.

The 85-year-old made the comments in a meeting attended by the top ranks of Iran's regular military, police and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a powerful force within its Shiite theocracy.

We have been reporting this weekend on the Israeli raid at Nur Shams, in the occupied West Bank.

The raid began in the early hours of Friday and troops were still exchanging fire with armed fighters into Saturday.

Here are some of the images that have emerged from the region...

By Alex Crawford , special correspondent

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon has told Sky News the dangers in the region have not gone away and called for calm, wisdom and de-escalation as a matter of urgency.

Joanna Wronecka spoke from her office in Beirut about her worries and appealed for restraint from all those involved.

"I'm very concerned," she said. "Because we need just a small miscalculation and the situation can escalate even more."

She was referring to the spike in cross-border firing between the Israeli military and the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters who've been trading attacks with growing intensity since 7 October.

You can read Crawford's full piece here...

The campaigner who was called "openly Jewish" by a police officer last weekend, has been offered a meeting with a senior Metropolitan Police officer.

In a statement, the force said assistant commissioner Matt Twist had written to Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, to offer a private meeting.

The meeting is "to both apologise to him personally and discuss what more the Met can do to ensure Jewish Londoners feel safe", the police said.

We reported this morning the Board of Deputies of British Jews will meet Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley this week, along with the Jewish Leadership Council and antisemitism charity CST regarding the incident (see post at 2.05pm).

 A baby girl was delivered in an emergency caesarean section after her Palestinian mother was killed along with her husband and daughter by an Israeli attack in the Gaza city of Rafah, Palestinian health officials have said.

The baby is stable and improving gradually, Mohammed Salama, a doctor caring for her, said.

Her mother, Sabreen Al-Sakani, had been 30 weeks pregnant.

The baby will stay in hospital for three to four weeks, Dr Salama said.

"After that we will see about her leaving, and where this child will go, to the family, to the aunt or uncle or grandparents. Here is the biggest tragedy. Even if this child survives, she was born an orphan," he said.

Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive to the city on the border with Egypt despite international calls for restraint.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today and discussed the state of the region, a spokesperson for the German government has said.

"The chancellor emphasised that it was essential to avoid a regional escalation," the spokesperson said.

It comes as Iran and Israel, who have been locked in a shadow war for years, try to dial back tensions following a series of escalatory attacks between them as the Israel-Hamas war inflames the wider region.

Israel war cabinet member Benny Gantz has spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and asked him to reconsider the decision to sanction the IDF's Netzah Yehuda battalion, the American news website Axios reports, citing Mr Gantz's office.

For context : This weekend a report from Axios claimed the US was expected to announce sanctions within days on the IDF battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.  

Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has already responded, warning it is "forbidden" to sanction the IDF.

The Axios report adds it would be the first time the US has imposed sanctions on an Israeli military unit.

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