http://en.avi-international.com AVI Travel Insurances AVI ASSURANCE Copyright 2009 fr Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:22:43 +0100 http://en.avi-international.com/Where-international-students-will-study-over-the-next-decade--588.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=588 A recent post in ScienceGuide featured an analysis by Mr Alan Ruby, senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania (and an expert on the effects of globalisation on education) of three reports on international education supply and demand over the next decade: one from the UK, one from Canada, and one from Australia. In this ICEF Monitor post, we will recap some key points from Ruby’s interesting analysis.The number of international students will go upThe reason for this is summarised in the report by the British Council which simply notes “real increases in the overall population of 18 to 22-year-olds, and in the purchasing power in emerging economies despite the recent recession.”The British Council estimates that the current proportion of 2% of students studying outside of their home country worldwide will remain stable, and thus that by 2020, the global population of higher education students will grow by about 21 million, to roughly 190 million students overall. Read more news on International students destinations in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-06-13T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Only-45-of-students-say-offshore-same-or-better-586.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=586 International students tend to think that online and offshore degree courses are inferior to those delivered at an institution’s home campus, new research from Hotcourses claims. They also may not be getting enough information to make a fair decision about them. Around 6,000 users of the Hotcourses International course portal answered questions about their study abroad preferences. Confirming that degrees delivered at branch campuses still suffer from an image problem, just 58.1% of respondents said that they would consider studying one, while only 45.7% believe they are the “same [as] or better” than a standard campus-based degree. Read more on International Students in ThePIENews.com. ACTUALITE 2013-06-07T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Generating-and-converting-leads-with-Google-Analytics--585.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=585 As we approach the halfway mark in 2013, we remind our readers of an article from earlier this year which encourages international student recruiters to review KPIs and other strategies to make sure they're on track.Given that an institution's website is a key recruitment tool, we share some best practices in website analytics as they relate to measuring and improving conversions (defined as any desired outcome of your online marketing). Read more on Google Analytics on Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-06-05T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Private-capital-is-helping-to-transform-education-582.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=582 Look around at education sectors in many countries – and into every level and niche – and one characteristic is increasingly common: the presence of private funding and participation, even in areas traditionally thought of as completely public. ICEF Monitor takes a close look at how private contributions are affecting the K-12 and tertiary levels, domestic and international operations, and offline and online delivery models, providing both start-up financing and ways of improving or expanding existing services. Read moreRead more education private contributors in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-05-16T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Turkish-agencies-unite-to-advise-on-government-regulation-on-study-abroad-market--580.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=580 The Turkish government has intervened in the country’s booming study abroad market to even out irregularities in service and quality from education agents after complaints from parents and students. Organisers expect that within a year a new government-backed agency association will be in place to regulate the sector and provide quality assurance. Stakeholders are optimistic that it can only strengthen the outbound Turkish study abroad marketplace. Read more on Turkish study abroad regulation in http://thepienews.com ACTUALITE 2013-05-13T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/US-tightens-visa-checks-following-Boston-bombings-579.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=579 Border agents in the US have been ordered to verify the validity of international student visas when they arrive in the country under new security procedures made effective immediately following the Boston bombings last month, reports the AP. Access to the SEVIS system is being made available now to all airport border staff. Read more on US visa news in http://thepienews.com ACTUALITE 2013-05-13T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/New-five-country-visa-application-centre-opens-in-Singapore--576.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=576 Of all the factors that can influence international student enrolments – from a country’s perceived safety or beauty to an institution’s reputation – visa processing times can be one of the most frustrating and unpredictable for applying students and receiving institutions alike. At the least, visa delays can taint the excitement a student has about their study abroad decision or push back start dates; at the worst, they can prompt the student to change his/her mind about coming at all. Many of the leading destination countries have had complaints about their visa processing times in the past few years, especially in cases where they have closed visa application centres (VACs) for cost control or “streamlining” reasons. Read more on Singapore Visa Center in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-05-02T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/International-internships-are-increasingly-valued-by-employers-575.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=575 Les stages en entreprise font depuis longtemps fait partie du paysage universitaire, mais leur lien étroit avec les perspectives d'emploi des étudiants n'a jamais été si direct.Internships have long been part of the collegiate landscape, but their relationship to students' future prospects has never been more direct.ICEF Monitor reviews the growing importance of international internships, offers tips on finding opportunities abroad, and what this cross-cultural work experience means for employers and students. Read more on International Interrnships in Monitor.ICEF.com   ACTUALITE 2013-05-02T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/-Foreign-students-making-positive-economic-impact-on-EU-572.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=572 A new study from the European Migrant Network has underlined the positive economic impact international students make on countries across the European Union in the form of direct fees, taxes or participation in the labour market. The Immigration of International Students to the EU also notes the growing prevalence of recruitment strategies to attract non-EU students. Keep reading in ThePieNews.com ACTUALITE 2013-04-19T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/EU-aims-to-be-more-attractive-to-students-and-scholars--568.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=568 The European Union is taking steps to make it easier and more attractive for non-EU students and academics to study and work in Europe. A European Commission proposal tabled last month sets out a new directive that will replace existing EU legislation governing the movement of non-EU students and researchers to and within EU Member States.We review the details of the proposed legislation, as well as the EU's investment in education and technology as it relates to youth employability. Read more on Youth travel in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-04-04T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Facebook-is-changing--Are-you-changing-with-it--565.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=565 Facebook has made some substantial changes over the last year, and many of these should affect the way student recruiters are using the platform to reach out to and engage with students.The changes can be roughly divided into two categories: those that affect what users see and can do in their newsfeed, and those that affect brands' ability to reach out to target audiences.Read more in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-04-02T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Russia-begins-to-implement-new-higher-education-strategy-564.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=564 Last year, ICEF Monitor reported on Russia’s plans to dramatically rethink the funding and strategic orientation of its universities as a result of its absence on some of the most-watched world university rankings. At that time, it looked as though many universities would be shut down or forced to merge; this has yet to happen, but another part of Russia’s educational improvement plan has begun to be implemented. Read more on Higher education abroad in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-03-25T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Canada-breaks-100000-student-ceiling-for-first-time--558.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=558 Canada welcomed a record number of international students in 2012. For the first time in history, the number of international students at Canadian institutions exceeded 100,000 – an enrolment representing a 60% increase over 2004 levels. News of Canada's record year comes on the heels of a number of important developments, including ample indication of the country's growing appeal as an international study destination and proposed changes to the Canadian student visa system scheduled for implementation in 2014.   Read more in Monitor.Icef.com ACTUALITE 2013-03-14T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Small-but-mighty--Malta-packs-a-punch-in-quality-language-education-556.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=556 Malta is a popular language learning destination, but it’s not just the sun and sea that attracts students. The island nation’s rigorous quality standards are a shining example of best practice in the industry.In order to learn more about the quality assurance systems in place in Malta and its language industry as a whole, ICEF Monitor sat down with Mr Daniel Xerri, Chairperson of the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Monitoring Board at the Ministry of Education and Employment in Malta. Our two-part video interview appears below.   Read more in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-03-07T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Country-snapshot--United-Arab-Emirates-555.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=555 In countries like the US and UK, the higher education sector has always been a source of national pride and investment able to draw foreign students fairly naturally and elegantly.  By contrast, the new higher education hubs emerging in other parts of the world have had to act quickly, assertively, and without precedent in building their educational infrastructures and brands. Much is at stake, so the hope for these new markets – such as Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – is to balance speed with an emphasis on quality and focus. Today, we look at what is currently going on in the United Arab Emirates as it relates to these issues. Read more in http://monitor.icef.com/2013/02/country-snapshot-united-arab-emirates/ ACTUALITE 2013-02-21T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/New-regulations-proposed-for-student-visas-in-Canada-552.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=552 As Canada rises up the ranks of leading destination countries for international students, its federal government is planning some important changes to the Canadian student visa system, with the goals of establishing improved protection for students, greater accountability in the visa system, and prevention of fraud. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has just announced that in January 2014, the following changes will take effect for student visas (also known within Canada as “Study Permits”) Read more en Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-02-14T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/With-US-enrolments-declining-strategies-may-focus-further-on-international-students-551.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=551 The most recent instalment of a well-regarded annual survey of American colleges and universities contains findings suggesting that many American higher education institutions may further increase their focus on international students as a source of revenue. The report, by Moody’s Investors Service, surveyed 165 nonprofit private universities and 127 four-year public universities. It found that, for the 2013 fiscal year: almost half of the institutions that took part in the survey foresee lower enrolment among full-time students (especially for graduate programmes); a third expect tuition revenue to decline or not meet the pressures of inflation. Read more in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-02-07T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Quality-assurance-in-French-language-schools-547.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=547 Quality standards in education is an ongoing theme throughout many ICEF Monitor articles, so today we turn to the language learning sector in France to highlight a quality assurance approach as part of a movement for institutions, government bodies and associations to work together to promote the country as a destination for learning French. The Label Qualité FLE (Qualité français langue étrangère) is a label for public and private centres located in France teaching French as a foreign language. It functions similarly to the British Council’s Accreditation Scheme and serves to identify, recognise and support learning centres that meet certain quality requirements. Read more in Monitor.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2013-01-31T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Latest-British-Council-research-reveals-market-opportunities-in-Turkey-Italy-and-Spain-544.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=544 “At the moment, 600,000 students come to the UK each year to learn English, and that contributes GBP 2 billion to the UK economy.” – Amy Rogers, UK ELT Marketing Manager for the British Council The British Council takes an active role in promoting the UK as a study destination, and in order to support the industry, one of the services they offer is an ongoing series of market intelligence reports, which are updated annually. These country profiles provide an overview of economic, demographic and education issues in various nations around the world. They are available free of charge to British Council accredited English language institutions in the UK; others can purchase them via the web. Read more in MONITOR.ICEF.COM ACTUALITE 2013-01-17T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Student-safety--its-impact-on-recruitment-and-study-abroad-choices-543.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=543 ICEF Monitor looks at the issue of student safety in a two-part article. The first discusses the perceived increase in physical danger on school campuses for international students, how those dangers impact international student mobility, and how recruiters might ease student concerns. The second installment discusses online safety, and what measures colleges, universities, and language schools can take to provide a safe environment both on campuses and online. Safety increasing in importance when selecting a study destination Read more in monitor.icef.com ACTUALITE 2013-01-03T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Best-wishes-from-AVI-International-The-Travel-Insurance-539.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=539 In 2013, AVI International will sponsor for the 3rd year 3 projects on Travel and Solidarity. AVI International will sponsor fare travel projects around the world with a budget of 3000 euros and offer their travel insurance to the winners ! In 2011, for the first AVI Grant, AVI International has chosen to support 3 projects, out of the 115 received :Mada'Espoir : creation of a kinder-garden in Madagascar by Emilie Meurisse. Cinéma itinérant au Sikkim : Cinema sessions in isolated Sikkim villages by Helene Ferrarini.Bibliothèque pour tous à Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina-Faso) : CCreation of a community library by Carline Terjan et Ibrahim Coulibaly. Wishing you a great year, with photographs our our AVI Grant 2011 ACTUALITE 2012-12-20T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/A-decade-of-declining-admissions-yields-for-us-colleges-537.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=537 Following the development we observed last month in “International gains buck downward enrolment trend in US graduate schools”, the recently released “2012 State of College Admission” report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) advises that applications to US colleges are up but yields are down.A “yield” refers to the percentage of admitted applicants who actually go on to enrol. What’s more, says NACAC, they’ve been going down for ten years.   Read more in MONITOR.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2012-12-20T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/New-insights-on-characteristics-of-us-college-students-535.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=535 12 Dec 2012 “Coming of age in the deepest recession in 70 years, yet eager for the economic opportunities their parents enjoyed. In a hurry to be grownups, but more dependent on the adults around them than any modern generation. Global citizens in theory, but ignorant of other cultures. Always in touch, but hampered in face-to-face communication. And perhaps most importantly, digital natives, but maneuvering in a still-largely-analog world.” Life-defining moments When asked about the key event in their lives, students said (in this order): the advent of digital culture the economic downtown 9/11 the election of President Obama Read more in: MONITOR.ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2012-12-13T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Taiwan-Ireland-to-implement-working-holiday-program-for-youth-529.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=529 Taiwan and Ireland will launch a reciprocal working holiday program for youth starting January 2013, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.The program will allow young adults between 18 and 30 years of age from each country to travel, work and participate in short-term training programs, said Hsu Mien-sheng, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of European Affairs.Read more in http://focustaiwan.tw/ ACTUALITE 2012-11-27T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/10-reasons-to-buy-a-travel-insurance-521.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=521 Why buy a travel insurance before going on holidays, around the world, on a working holiday or a mere week-end abroad ? Buying insurance IS frustrating, but surely is uselful on each trip. We compiled simple facts during trips abroad, case studies and statistics of destinations, trip lenghth and purpose to create this infographics : no doubt, you will be convinced, a trip with a good insurance is the key to travelling with peace of mind. ACTUALITE 2012-09-13T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Family-Holiday-Essentials-516.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=516 Family Holidays are often the highlight of the year, millions of us jet off around the world to beautiful destinations with our loved ones with the hope of a relaxing break in the sun, filled with entertainment and activities that we hope provide memories to last a lifetime. Holiday resorts around Europe in particular thrive on the family tourist trade and cater for all our needs. Read more in wearetravelers.net ACTUALITE 2012-09-13T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Think-About-Your-Holiday--511.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=511 We are in peak period for the European holiday season with many of us jetting off abroad whilst children are off school, and obviously this is an exciting time, a time to relax, enjoy a break in the sun, but there is more to think about than meets the eye. The idea of an eco tourism holiday is becoming more fashionable and an important concept within today’s tourism industry, but what exactly is eco tourism. Read more in triholland.com ACTUALITE 2012-09-11T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/New-rankings-of-national-higher-education-systems-in-48-countries-508.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=508 Most of us are familiar with rankings like those of QS, Times Higher Education and ARWU – but those only look at individual institutions. A new report into national education systems gives the first ranking of countries and territories which are the ‘best’ at providing higher education. Researchers from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (University of Melbourne) applied 20 different measures to data collected from 48 countries and territories to construct the ranking for Universitas 21, an international network of 23 research-intensive institutions. Read more en ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2012-08-30T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Australia-enters-working-holiday-visa-talks-with-Greece-as-youth-travel-industry-faces-crisis-505.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=505 Only a few days ago, ICEF Monitor reported that New Zealand has entered a working holiday scheme with Vietnam. Now it appears Australia is also enhancing its work and holiday visa plan, with news announced today that they will form an arrangement with Greece. It’s a welcome piece of good news for two countries that have seen their share of hardship these past few years. Our article below also makes note of Australia’s backpacker industry, which some say is facing its biggest crisis in history. For a country that has always been known as a leader in the youth travel industry, the news has many people on high alert as Australia heads into its spring season. Work and holiday visa talks with Greece The Australian Government will begin negotiations with Greece about establishing a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced today. Read more in ICEF.com ACTUALITE 2012-08-27T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Luggage-Losing-And-How-To-Avoid-It-502.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=502 5 Ways to Avoid Losing Your Luggage We all know that sinking feeling when you realise you've lost something. Whether it's your keys or mobile phone - nothing gets a holiday off to a worse start than losing your luggage on the way. Take a look at the following tips to ensure you don't end up in the same boat this summer. if you’ve been backpacking for the last six months around South America, carrying everything you own on your shoulders, it’s going to be very tempting to just ditch the backpack for a few minutes and go for a walk around the airport. Don’t let your bags out of your sight and make sure you’ve got some travel insurance for backpackers too, in case the worst should happen. Read more on guest-travel-writers.com ACTUALITE 2012-08-10T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Top-10-Strangest-Travel-Insurance-Claims-498.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=498 When someone tells you they work in insurance at a party, it's one of those jobs that naturally produces a less-than-impressed reaction, often accompanied by a stiffed groan and a quick subject change.  It's on par with accountants, traffic wardens and recruitment consultants, to name a few. But working in the insurance industry can actually be a lot of fun, [read more in worldtravelbuzz.com] ACTUALITE 2012-08-07T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Super-cool-Quebec--independent-and-easy-492.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=492 A recent visit to Quebec City took me to my favorite tourist haunts that make this city so special: the panoramic view of the St. Lawrence from the towering terrace by the Chateau Fontenac; the elegant cathedrals and churches that dominated here for over three centuries; and the magnificent ferry ride from Quebec City to Levi which affords spectacular views of the Quebec skyline. Read more in Travelmag.co.uk ACTUALITE 2012-08-03T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/More-churches-than-cartels-in-Bogota-and-Medellin--487.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=487 When I started to explore a possible vacation to Colombia, the typical response from friends was, “Will you be safe?” “Why do you want to go there? I didn’t know you were into kidnappings, muggings, drug cartels, and cocaine holidays.” I wasn’t going to let my friends who had never been to Colombia deter me. Instead, I fortified myself with a few safety tips and headed off to Colombia for a month, finding Colombia to be beautiful, eco-friendly, historically rich, and safe at every turn.Read more in TravelMag.co.ok ACTUALITE 2012-07-24T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/What-to-see-in-Ankara-Turkey--483.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=483 As you go beyond the Enguri Su and climb the incline, you will be in the city of Ankara. The capital of Turkey is one of the most populous areas of the country. Amidst the modern development that happened in the area, you can find several reminders of what occurred in its past. Today this is a perfect destination if you want to experience a great nightlife. It is also the center of the government and the military. There are a lot of universities in this metropolis. The structures are said to remind you that Ankara is filled with the past. Here are some places to see if you are in Ankara:Read more in TripandTravelblog.com ACTUALITE 2012-07-03T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/TOKYO-SPRING-INVASION--445.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=445 So the long awaited Spring break has finally arrived!!! Originally I had wanted to go to South Korea for spring break but after making friends here, it felt like a better idea to go to Tokyo with people you know rather than traveling Korea alone.  The girls, Tiffany and Marissa and I, took the night bus to Tokyo a day earlier than the guys did and boy, were they lucky because that one day we were there before them had the worst spring break weather I've ever seen.. Our hostel was in Asakusabashi and it was an interesting stay to say the least.  We had booked a 4-bed room for us 3 girls but the hostel squeezed in extra travelers for the week we were there, and it would have been fine if they weren't men who were freely changing in front of all of us. Read more on GoAbroad.net ACTUALITE 2012-06-12T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Awash-with-cash--daily-life-in-Doha--407.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=407 Even after two and a half years of living in Qatar, the neon and glitz of Doha’s skyscrapers could still make us gawp in amazement. A whirlwind, a pyramid, a golden sphere and even a sleek torpedo were just some of the shapes that Angela and I stared at whenever we drove along the corniche. That is if we could ignore the mental motorists snapping at our bumper. Read more in Travelmag.co.uk ACTUALITE 2012-04-05T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Wonders-of-the-Oceans--402.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=402 This week, to compensate for the lack of science I haven’t done here in Japan, we took a day to visit the Osaka Aquarium, one of largest aquariums in the world.  It was also the first time that I have gone anywhere new without an experienced Japan-public transportation rider.  Thankfully, we were able to get there in one piece without getting lost, and we also saved a lot of money …Read more in GoAbroad NetWork ACTUALITE 2012-03-27T12:00:00+02:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Bali-the-Island-of-the-Gods-363.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=363 Bali offers the visitor a never ending festival of magnificent sceneries, manicured rice fields, luxurious gardens, beaches, volcanoes as well as spectacular ceremonies, dances and music. You will be charmed by the gentle smiling Balinese people.HolidayBaliVilla.com offers you villas under our own supervision only. They are located in Seminyak, Leggian, Canggu.Our staff is trained and supervised. They know how to take care of guests, and love pampering them, most times anticipating their needs. They are very reactive in case of problems. Read more in : http://www.holidaybalivilla.com/ ACTUALITE 2012-02-10T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Differences-between-Spain-and-the-US--361.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=361 1. Everyone uses the metro. Not everyone has a car, and if you don't have a car or use the metro or the bus, you have a moped. In the US, you drive everywhere, and nearly everyone has a car it seems.2. If you're out to eat at a cafe in Spain, instead of bringing your dishes to a counter or something when you're done, you just leave it on the table and they'll take care of it. In the US that's weird and people would probably shoot you dirty looks haha. Read more in GoAbroad.net ACTUALITE 2012-02-03T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Share-your-journeys-to-the-world-358.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=358 Keep memoirs of your travel while keeping your friends and family posted with Travel Journals and Travel Photos. Meet interesting travelers Connect with like-minded travelers before, during and after your travels. Share journals on Facebook! Add our apps on Facebook, MySpace, Orkut and hi5 to bring your travels to your profile!  On Goabroad.net ACTUALITE 2012-01-27T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/New-York-City-on-a-budget-354.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=354 A trip to New York need not break the bankHave you always wanted to go to New York City but felt it would be too expensive? Well think again.As Jan Fox finds, with a range of free attractions, special discounts and insider’s knowledge, a trip to the Big Apple needn’t take a big bite out of your bank account. Read more on WordlTravelGuide.net ACTUALITE 2012-01-20T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/World-Travel-Tips-a-resource-for-general-information-top-destinations-and-informative-tips-for-travel-to-countries-around-the-world-352.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=352 Benin Cotonou - Twenty miles to the west of Porto-Novo is Cotonou, which, although not the official capital, serves as the economic and main tourist stepping point. Spend your time shopping in the large Dantokpa market, with a large voodoo area, peruse the art collections in the Artisanal Center, and then make your way to Fidjrosse Beach to enjoy some surf and sun, and a lot of other tourists. Read more info on Benin in http://www.worldtraveltips.net/ ACTUALITE 2012-01-13T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Is-Thailand-getting-tired-of-tourists-349.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=349   Millions of people from nations all around this great blue globe we call home have ventured to this mystical land over the years to not only enjoy all that the country has to offer in all manners of tourism, but to work, and or, retire–to spend their remaining years in peace and harmony. [...] Read more in Travelmag.co.uk ACTUALITE 2012-01-10T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Paris-s-Musée-d-Orsay-celebrates-25th-birthday--342.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=342 Paris’s Musée d’Orsay museum of 19th-century art opened its doors 25 years ago. Bridging the gap between the venerable collection of the Louvre and the modernism of the George Pompidou Centre, the Orsay has the largest collection of impressionist paintings in the world. Read more on RFI.fr ACTUALITE 2011-12-06T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/An-empty-bit-of-India--the-Thar--339.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=339 By Steve Rudd We were deserters. Every single one of us. Bouncing along the arrow-straight and surprisingly smooth road between the spectacular fortress city of Jaisalmer and the poverty-swept village of Kadoi, it was hard to believe that we were driving through the heart of the Thar Desert in the rough direction of the India-Pakistan border. ‘Five years ago,’ mumbled our driver, ‘all of what you see was desert in the truest sense, but recent rains have meant that vegetation has been able to find a way through.’ Indeed, the desertscape at our disposal failed to represent the type of scene we’d expected to see. While far-off sand dunes promised a certain degree of photogenic romanticism from the landscape, much of the terrain over which we sped consisted of scrubland and rock. Read more on Travelmag.co.uk ACTUALITE 2011-12-02T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/A-brief-guide-to-Los-Angeles--335.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=335 Nicknamed the City of Angels, this is an iconic place to take a vacation. The second most populous city in the USA, closely followed by New York, this sleek city is a hub of business, entertainment and trade. The home of Hollywood and boasting a Mediterranean climate, this is a beautiful place for both work and play. Whether you want to pop by Walt Disney Concert Hall or check out the Griffith Observatory, there is an impossible number of things to do in this one-off gem. Generally considered the creative capital of the world, it’s thought that around one in six people in this city work in the creative industries. Read more in travelmag.co.uk ACTUALITE 2011-11-29T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Breaking-News--Department-of-State-resumed-the-issuance-of-F-M-and-J-Visas-332.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=332 The Department of State has resumed the halt in issuance of ALL “F”, “M”, and “J” visa at ALL U.S. Embassies and Consulates. The problem faced by the Department of State (DoS) with its Consolidated Consular Database (CCD) communicating with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s (SEVP) Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is now solved. Read more > ACTUALITE 2011-11-21T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Why-villa-holidays-are-better-than-package-deals--329.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=329 Choosing to take your holiday in a villa brings with it a number of benefits and advantages that will make for a superior break in comparison to simply staying in a hotel. With the number of luxury villas available to choose from these days being extremely high, it is guaranteed you will find somewhere perfect for you. After all, why put yourself in the risky position of being at the mercy of hotel services and management, when you can just as easily make all the decisions yourself and adapt your holiday base to your exact specifications? Read more in travelmag.co.uk ACTUALITE 2011-11-18T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Five-of-the-greatest-musical-landmarks-in-Europe--327.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=327 While music fans are often an obsessive and detailed bunch, garnering facts and figures wherever they can, it can be strangely difficult to find venues and landmarks worth visiting when travelling abroad. In capital cities it can be especially hard to find the best places to go, as you are often spoilt for choice. In light of that, here’s a look, for all the music fans out there, at some of the great places you can visit when abroad. Read more in TheTravelMag.co.uk ACTUALITE 2011-11-17T12:00:00+01:00 http://en.avi-international.com/Best-of-the-World-2012-.-324.html http://en.avi-international.com/index.php?p=article&id=324 What places are calling your name for 2012? Whatever your mood, Traveler magazine has a recommendation for you—from the romantic hills of Croatia to the perfect beach in Thailand.Read more in Travel.National.Geographic.com ACTUALITE 2011-11-15T12:00:00+01:00