Vayama newsroom

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — After stopping in seven U.S. cities to date, Vayama (www.vayama.com), a leading online travel agency uniquely focused on international travel, is cruising into the second half of the Vayama Go Somewhere Tour, a 12-market U.S. campaign designed to inspire people to think about where in the world they’d like to travel and help them take the first step toward making that a reality.

The tour, which kicked off in Los Angeles in April, has since been crisscrossing the western part of the United States, stopping at more than a dozen large events and is set to cover over 6,200 miles by the tour’s end. The Go Somewhere Tour expects to wrap up the final stop of the campaign in Seattle in August.

The centerpiece of the Go Somewhere Tour is an 18-foot, custom-designed truck that serves as a hub for global discovery and travel inspiration at each event along the way. People are invited to experience some of the world’s most interesting cities with a fun game show allowing players to compete against one another on international trivia. Hundreds of people along the Go Somewhere Tour route have taken advantage of the truck’s passport photo experience, providing them with passport-ready photos that put them one step closer to the international trip of their dreams. Inside the truck, thousands of people have engaged with the custom-created iPad app, featuring an interactive world map that leads users to compelling facts, photos and time-lapse videos about different cities around the globe. Those interested can sign up for destination-specific content on the city of their choosing.

Over the course of the tour, people who visit the Go Somewhere Tour truck can enter the Go Somewhere Tour Sweepstakes.The Grand Prize winner will receive an international trip valued at $5,500, including round trip airfare for two on Emirates Airline, plus U.S. $2,000 spending money. By the end of the tour, 12 lucky First Prize winners (1 winner in each market) will receive a U.S. $1,500 travel voucher, redeemable on Vayama.com. The sweepstakes has also been opened up to the Facebook community for a chance to win the Grand Prize.

“It’s been inspiring to meet people across the country who are so passionate about international travel,” said Joan Ioannou, Brand Marketing Director for Vayama.com. “People have been incredibly enthusiastic about the experiences at the Vayama Go Somewhere Tour truck, and even more excited about the chance to win an international trip. We are thrilled to work with these winners to make their dream of international travel a reality.”

All winner information and tour updates, including a photo gallery of past market stops and the event schedule, can be found at: http://vayama-go-somewhere-tour.com.

About Vayama
Vayama.com is an online travel agency uniquely focused on international travel. Since 2007, the company has been committed to providing travelers with the most comprehensive set of airlines, fares and flights, allowing people to experience popular, well-traveled destinations as well as some of the most remote corners of the world. By working with a vast network of trusted global partners, Vayama taps published and negotiated fares to put the very best international content all in one place. Travelers who visit Vayama.com can browse thousands of hotels and book rooms at the lowest prices available, as well as rent cars all over the world. For more information about Vayama, visit www.vayama.com.

About Travix
Travix International B.V., one of the leading global and the largest Dutch online travel agency, manages an extensive portfolio of travel-focused websites operating under the brand names CheapTickets, BudgetAir, Easytobook, Vayama, Vliegwinkel and Flugladen. Easytobook is a specialist in online worldwide hotel reservations. The other brands provide both search and book capability for flight combinations worldwide on both scheduled and low cost airlines. In addition, these sites offer attractive pricing for hotels, car rentals, rail travel and holiday packages. Travix operates its six brands globally, employs almost 700 persons, with combined sales in excess of US$ 2 billion. Travix is part of BCD Holdings N.V. For more information: www.travix-international.com.

About BCD Holdings
BCD Holdings N.V. is a market leader in the travel industry. The Dutch, privately owned company was founded in 1975 by John Fentener van Vlissingen and consists of BCD Travel (global corporate travel management), Travix (online travel: CheapTickets, Vliegwinkel, BudgetAir, Vayama and Easytobook), Park ‘N Fly (off-airport parking), TRX (travel transaction processing and data integration), Airtrade (consolidating and fulfillment), VakantieXperts (leisure) and Parkmobile International (mobile parking and traffic applications). BCD Holdings employs more than 13,000 people and operates in almost 100 countries with total sales, including franchising, of US$22.8 billion. For more information, visit www.bcd-nv.com.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — With the official start of summer just days away, Vayama (www.vayama.com), a leading online travel agency uniquely focused on international travel shares the latest information on where travelers are jetting to this season and gives some tips for those who might be still planning their warm-weather getaways.

Summer travel season typically begins with Memorial Day weekend in May, and carries through Labor Day in early September. With customers from origins across the world, Vayama has comprehensive insight into this year’s international booking trends. A side-by-side comparison of the top 10 destinations booked for summer 2012 and summer 2013, based on data including tickets sold and routes traveled, shows which locales are Vayama customer favorites.

While the summer months are peak season for tourism around the globe, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with inflated prices or having to battle crowds everyday. Here are some guidelines from the travel experts at Vayama to help get the most out of your summer vacation:

There’s still time to book
For those who don’t start to think about summer travel until it’s actually summertime, that’s ok too. Stay informed for such deals by subscribing to travel alerts and newsletters or checking out real-time deals from your closest airport on Vayama’s website.

Be flexible
If you don’t have a timeframe for travel in mind, sometimes last-minute tickets can be a cheaper alternative to planning far in advance. Being flexible about flight dates and airports can also help with itinerary options, as well as reduced prices.

Beating the crowds
With many families on summer break and people utilizing their vacation time, summer crowds can be hard to avoid. The key to enjoying the popular attractions and getting to see the sights without never-ending lines is timing. Arriving early or visiting later in the day will be the least crowded times, and usually a bit cooler temperature, which can be more comfortable. Explore streets and towns around the major tourist attractions to still capture the essence of a destination’s culture, history and cuisine, but without the grueling foot traffic. Or, if you have the time, take a train or airbus to explore nearby cities and countries. Savvy travelers will find Vayama’s multi-city feature a great way to book multiple legs of a trip beforehand.

“Travel in general always peaks in summer months,” explains Joan Ioannou, Brand Marketing Director for Vayama.com. “And while we expect the majority of those trips to be to planned in advance, we encourage those who haven’t booked, and are perhaps still in the researching stage, to explore the featured destinations on our website for inspiration and to view the best real-time deals based on their location.”

For more information about Vayama.com or to see the most current travel deals, visit www.vayama.com.

About Vayama
Vayama.com is an online travel agency uniquely focused on international travel. Since 2007, the company has been committed to providing travelers with the most comprehensive set of airlines, fares and flights, allowing people to experience popular, well-traveled destinations as well as some of the most remote corners of the world. By working with a vast network of trusted global partners, Vayama taps published and negotiated fares to put the very best international content all in one place. Travelers who visit Vayama.com can browse thousands of hotels and book rooms at the lowest prices available, as well as rent cars all over the world. For more information about Vayama, visit www.vayama.com.

About Travix
Travix International B.V., one of the leading global and the largest Dutch online travel agency, manages an extensive portfolio of travel-focused websites operating under the brand names CheapTickets, BudgetAir, Easytobook, Vayama, Vliegwinkel and Flugladen. Easytobook is a specialist in online worldwide hotel reservations. The other brands provide both search and book capability for flight combinations worldwide on both scheduled and low cost airlines. In addition, these sites offer attractive pricing for hotels, car rentals, rail travel and holiday packages. Travix operates its six brands globally, employs almost 700 persons, with combined sales in excess of US$ 2 billion. Travix is part of BCD Holdings N.V. For more information: www.travix-international.com.

About BCD Holdings
BCD Holdings N.V. is a market leader in the travel industry. The Dutch, privately owned company was founded in 1975 by John Fentener van Vlissingen and consists of BCD Travel (global corporate travel management), Travix (online travel: CheapTickets, Vliegwinkel, BudgetAir, Vayama and Easytobook), Park ‘N Fly (off-airport parking), TRX (travel transaction processing and data integration), Airtrade (consolidating and fulfillment), VakantieXperts (leisure) and Parkmobile International (mobile parking and traffic applications). BCD Holdings employs more than 13,000 people and operates in almost 100 countries with total sales, including franchising, of US$22.8 billion. For more information, visit www.bcd-nv.com.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Every year, families plan vacation time together traveling abroad. Often, this includes young children. With summer travel season around the corner, Vayama (www.vayama.com), a leading online travel agency uniquely focused on international travel, is sharing some pointers on how families can prepare for their international vacations.

“Many international destinations are family friendly,” explains Joan Ioannou , Brand Marketing Director for Vayama.com. “The challenge is often getting parents to feel comfortable including their children in these travel plans because it can require additional planning and preparation. Our hope is that with some additional guidance, more families will continue to travel abroad together.”

The few trouble areas that can make people shy away from taking their little ones with them on international trips, include:

The Flights
Most international flights are long, and can involve multiple legs, layovers and smaller planes depending on the route or airline. To keep children entertained and happy, make sure to have their favorite activities and personal belongings on hand. This could include anything from movies, books, blankets, snacks, toys, to a change of clothes.

Other things to consider when booking flights for a family are seat location and flight time. Window seats are often a great for younger children who can be entertained by the sights outside the airplane. Nighttime flights can also be easier for families as children may sleep for a longer duration of the flight. Booking travel in advance will allow for more options, including flight times, seating and number of connections.

The Gear to Get Around
Before you leave, check the places you’re staying and plan out where you’ll need gear and equipment such as a stroller, car seat, playpen or crib. All that gear may seem daunting, but working with international airlines and hotels ahead of time will help prevent any baggage surprises and families may even find help renting equipment at their destination.

Transitions
Another sensitive spot for kids is constant moving. It can be stressful to change hotels or simply get around a new and unfamiliar place, especially if the modes of transportation are different than what the child is used to. Try limiting hotel stays to two or three max, and keeping travel days short. It might be tempting to visit a number of European countries, but instead, spend more time in fewer places.

Fighting Boredom
For many, international travel is synonymous with history and culture. However, to young children, long days visiting museums or taking tours can be “boring” because they aren’t old enough to understand everything they are experiencing. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean families should skip out on these experiences. Rather, consider mixing up the itinerary, alternating between museums, historical sites, physical activities and eating. Another idea is to engage children with questions about places and things you see together, making it into a game. Giving kids binoculars is another way to get them intrigued and excited about the new places they’re seeing.

Foreign Food
It’s not uncommon for children to have sensitive palates, or default to not liking something because it’s unfamiliar. This can make traveling to a foreign place seem somewhat unsettling for parents of picky eaters. One solution is to pack backup meals or non-perishable snacks to take with you in the event your child doesn’t want anything on the menu. Another is to ease your child into eating foreign foods by offering them bites from your meals and showing them early on in the trip that the food is good, and not so different, so by the end they are open to ordering foreign food as well.

To book your family’s international travel, visit www.vayama.com.

About Vayama
Vayama.com is an online travel agency uniquely focused on international travel. Since 2007, the company has been committed to providing travelers with the most comprehensive set of airlines, fares and flights, allowing people to experience popular, well-traveled destinations as well as some of the most remote corners of the world. By working with a vast network of trusted global partners, Vayama taps published and negotiated fares to put the very best international content all in one place. Travelers who visit Vayama.com can browse thousands of hotels and book rooms at the lowest prices available, as well as rent cars all over the world. For more information about Vayama, visit www.vayama.com.

About Travix
Travix International B.V., one of the leading global and the largest Dutch online travel agency, manages an extensive portfolio of travel-focused websites operating under the brand names CheapTickets, BudgetAir, Easytobook, Vayama, Vliegwinkel and Flugladen. Easytobook is a specialist in online worldwide hotel reservations. The other brands provide both search and book capability for flight combinations worldwide on both scheduled and low cost airlines. In addition, these sites offer attractive pricing for hotels, car rentals, rail travel and holiday packages. Travix operates its six brands globally, employs almost 700 persons, with combined sales in excess of US$ 2 billion. Travix is part of BCD Holdings N.V. For more information: www.travix-international.com.

About BCD Holdings
BCD Holdings N.V. is a market leader in the travel industry. The Dutch, privately owned company was founded in 1975 by John Fentener van Vlissingen and consists of BCD Travel (global corporate travel management), Travix (online travel: CheapTickets, Vliegwinkel, BudgetAir, Vayama and Easytobook), Park ‘N Fly (off-airport parking), TRX (travel transaction processing and data integration), Airtrade (consolidating and fulfillment), VakantieXperts (leisure) and Parkmobile International (mobile parking and traffic applications). BCD Holdings employs more than 13,000 people and operates in almost 100 countries with total sales, including franchising, of US$22.8 billion. For more information, visit www.bcd-nv.com.