Newsletter

e-Marginalia :: 2006 A Great Year for Immersion Travel
Issue #18, January 15, 2006 
http://www.e-marginalia.com 

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IN THIS ISSUE:
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WELCOME e-MARGONAUTS :: 2006 A Great Year for Immersion Travel
FEATURE e-MARGONAUT :: Rita Golden Gelman Interview
FEATURE TRAVEL DEALS :: Save on Hotels, Car Rentals & More
e-MARGAUX LITE :: Quotations, Anecdotes and Humor 
TRAVEL NEWS DEIGEST :: December 15 - January 15  

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WELCOME e-MARGONAUTS :: 2006 A Great Year for Immersion Travel
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Happy 2006, e-Margonauts. It's going to be a great year for immersion travel if the first two weeks of the new year are any indication!

I've just wrapped up two thrilling days at the Adventures in Travel Expo in New York City, and I'm more excited than ever about all of the amazing things happening in the travel world.

The Adventures in Travel Expo (ATE) is "the world’s largest series of travel events serving adventure, active travel, eco, nature, cultural and outdoor tourism enthusiasts and professionals. These premier events give attendees the opportunity to see thousands of travel possibilities, from exotic safaris to luxury beach escapes. The best undiscovered experiences that you may not find otherwise."

The New York show was number three for 2005-6, preceded by San Francisco in November and Chicago a week ago. If you've missed the first shows, don't worry, you can attend one of the next three: Long Beach, California (January 28-29); Washington, DC (February 10-12); or Dallas, Texas (TBA). Not only will you have the opportunity to discover a veritable mother load of intriguing travel destinations and resources, but you can (read "should") attend some of the seminars. Check out Meandering Margaux to read and hear (audio recordings) my reflections on the half dozen adventure travel seminars I attended.

But the Adventures in Travel Expo is only one of the many reasons that 2006 is off to an impressive start. For example, how about an interview with Rita Golden Gelman? That's right, we've just published our first interview of a female inspirational traveler. Not sure why it took us so long, but it was definitely worth waiting for. Nana had the good fortune of interviewing children’s book writer and Tales of a Female Nomad author, Rita Golden Gelman, by telephone. Here's what Nana had to say about it: "On the phone, she spoke with the same candor and intimacy as she does in her book. Her openness forces you to be likewise. We chatted for nearly two hours about travels, fears, politics, her family, and my family, our conversation often broken by laughter or pause for thought. Rita reminds us that with intelligence should also come compassion. When asked how she is able to connect so easily with people, her answer was simple: 'I smile a lot.' At the end of our conversation, I felt so close to her that I uttered, 'Oh, I don’t want to hang up.' And this is exactly the feeling she brings with her to every new place she explores."

In addition to Rita Golden Gelman's intimate interview, there are a several additional wandering storytellers who've been sharing their adventures with e-Margonauts. Nayeli (the new addition to the e-Marginalia writing/blogging crew mentioned in last month's newsletter), continues to enchant and entertain with her articles from Senegal. If you haven't yet had the pleasure, check out Nayeli's snappy stories.

And an even newer addition, Thailand-based Carson Christiano, is giving Nayeli a run for her money. While living and teaching in Chiang Mai for a year between college and law school, Carson has been sharing her experience via sometimes poignant, often quirky and always engaging stories. We're keeping our fingers crossed for a third installment soon!

Another recent addition, a flight of fancy from Christel de Noblet, takes an imaginary trip to the Loire Valley. "Loire Valley Castle and Cuisine" is every Fracophile's fantasy, and it's guaranteed to make your stomach rumble with hunger! And, last but not least, rumor has it that we'll soon be publishing a photo journalist's travelogue from the first two legs of the Crystal Cruise World Cruise with some inviting ports of call: Acapulco and Hualtico, Mexico; Ecuador; Guatemala; Lima, Peru; Easter Island; the Pitcairn Islands and Bora Bora, Tahiti. But it's still just a rumor. Shhh…

So, as you can see, 2006 is looking up. And speaking of things optimistic, let's take a quick look at your travel financial situation for the new year. What? In keeping with the tradition of New Year's resolutions, I'd like to share a couple of travel financial secrets that will help turn your travel dreams into reality.

There's no travel like free travel, right? American Express has announced the launch of two unique travel cards sure to catch the interest of frequent travelers who enjoy the flexibility of saving on any travel purchase booked through any source! Think, major savings and total flexibility.

Blue Sky from American Express is a credit card designed to unlock the world of travel rewards, offering members the opportunity to realize savings on any flight, hotel or rental car at any time, without blackout dates or seat restrictions! And, purchases can be paid in full or over time. There is no annual fee, a 0% APR for the first six months, and all charges are covered by American Express' Fraud Protection Guarantee. Good-bye travel reward restrictions; hello Blue Sky. And for business travelers who want the freedom to choose any airline, hotel, rental car or cruise provider, the Platinum Blue Sky® from American Express is your ticket to freedom!

So step one to turn your travel dreams into reality is to start the year off by earning free travel with every dollar you spend on your credit card. And step two is to make 100% certain that nothing gets in the way of your next adventure. That's right, I'm talking about travel insurance. You'll notice we've added a link near the bottom of the Travel Resources box for comparing travel insurance companies and quotes. This is an invaluable tool!

We've partnered with Squaremouth.com, an independent multi-insurer travel insurance quotation service that provides instant access to the most comprehensive travel insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption packages on the market today. So there's no need to spend days on the Internet or on the telephone searching for the right travel insurance. Squaremouth.com provides instant comparison, quotes and immediate purchase confirmation in one place so you can easily obtain instant travel insurance quotations without the hassle of scouring the web!

It's funny how easy it is to overlook travel insurance when planning a trip. It's not very expensive, and yet it's easy enough to "save" a little by trimming it from your budget. Easy, yes, but not particularly prudent. Consider this story:

"With the Orlando airport scheduled to shut down in one hour, Michelle W. and her two children vacationing in Florida wanted to get out before a dangerous storm hit. Michelle called Travel Guard LiveTravel hotline to see if they could find her a flight to escape the storm. LiveTravel immediately rebooked Michelle and her family on the next (and last) flight out. Michelle and her children immediately rushed to the airport and made the flight that enabled them to get out before the hurricane wreaked havoc on Florida."

A little forethought may save your travel plans or even your life. Resolve to make 2006 a great year for travel, and remember to share you stories as your adventures unfold! If you're already sitting on a travel story (or a travel poem) you'd like to submit for consideration, we're accepting both until the end of the month. Send us your work, and we may select you for publication!

Happy New Year,
George Davis
Editor, e-Marginalia.com
george AT e-marginalia DOT com

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FEATURE e-MARGONAUT :: Rita Golden Gelman
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In 1986, at the age of 48, children’s book author Rita Golden Gelman set off for what she thought was going to be a two-week break from a tattered marriage. The two weeks turned into four weeks, then months, and now years. Traveling has become Rita’s life. She shares her journey with the world in Tales of a Female Nomad, a book that reminds us to live. Rita recently agreed to a phone interview. On the phone, she spoke with the same candor and intimacy as she does in her book. Her openness forces you to be likewise...

Read the Rita Golden Gelman Interview  

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FEATURE HOTEL DEALS :: Luxury accommodations at bargain prices
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Last Minute Vegas Deals
Affordable Europe: Save up to 55% on published hotel rates...
Save 70% on Hotels at LastMinuteTravel.com
Great Getaways for less at Marriott.com
Reserve your spacious, comfortable, affordable room Fairfield Inn
Senior and AAA discounts, specials, offers and last minute getaways. Get more for less!
Special Offers at TownePlace Suites: Live the way you want to live.
SpringHill Suites: Up to 25% more room than comparably priced rooms. Book yours today!

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FEATURE VACATION RENTALS :: "Home Away from Home" Savings
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The Inn at Aspen Resort (Aspen, Colorado)
The Steamboat Grand (Steamboat Springs, Colorado)
Rent a Private Villa, Vacation Home or Rental Condo from Rentalo.com
Tired of hotels? Find your dream Vacation Rental is listed online at TripHomes.com!
Need a Vacation Rental or Place to Stay? Click here!

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AIRLINE OFFERS :: Reserve the hottest flights at the cheapest prices
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Midwest Airlines Sale from $165
USAir Europe Winter Sale!
United Cross-Country Sale from $85 RT
Emirates airfare deals from New York throughout India, Africa & the Middle East.
American Airlines Sale to Switzerland
Spirit Airfare from Atlanta/Dallas on Sale
United Sale to Japan from $408 RT
Choose your getaway: fly the US from $103+
QIXO searches over 28 popular airfare sites to find cheap airfares on the dates you want!
Find the best airfares from your home city! Get SmarterTravel.com's Last-minute Airfare newsletter.
Limited Time Offer: No Booking Fees on Flights with LastMinuteTravel.com!
Airlines release weekend fares with deep discounts to hundreds of destinations. Search for fares departing from your home airport.
Get the most out of your frequent flier miles and learn ways to earn more from the FREE Mile Alert!

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FEATURE RESORTS :: e-Margaux's current resort recommendations
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$175 Resort Credit at Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean
$175 Resort Credit at Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean
$100 Resort Credit at Dreams Resorts in Mexico
Super Sand and Sea Sales on Vacations in Hawaii
Super Sand and Sea Sales on Vacations in Mexico
Book a resort in the Bahamas, Brazil, Curacao, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, and get a $100 gift card!
Durango 3 Nights for $169 Hotel Stay + Choose from Activities
Ft. Lauderdale 2 Nights for $79 Hotel Stay + Dinner Certificate
Lake Tahoe 2 Nights for $79 Hotel Stay + Dinner
Las Vegas 2 Nights for $129 Hotel Stay + More
Myrtle Beach for $119 2 Nights + Show Tickets & More
Sedona, AZ 2-Night Packages for $59
Smoky Mountains for $129 includes 3 Nights + Show Tickets & More

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CRUISE DEALS :: Unbelievable opportunities to book cruises for less...
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Cruise Super Sale: Free Upgrades, Shipboard Credit, and Dollars Off at Travelocity!
Carnival 3 Night Bahamas from $249
Royal Caribbean 7 Night Caribbean from $499
Holland 7 Night Mexican Riviera from $599
Royal Caribbean 7 Night Caribbean from $649
Celebrity 7 Night Northbound Glacier from $750
Expedia Cruise Days: free upgrades, special offers and more
Save on 3, 4, 5 and 7 Day Carnival cruises
3 Day Carnival Bahamas cruises for less than $80 a day
Save on Carnival Caribbean cruises sailing from New York
Book a Carnival Caribbean cruise right now for as little as $259
Save on Carnival Canada/New England cruises sailing from New York
Book a cruise and get a free digital camera!
Great Cruise Package Deals from VacationOutlet.com
Get the latest cruise deals from 11th Hour Vacations.com; updated weekly!
Exclusive Royal Caribbean specials at 11th Hour Vacations.com.
Attention Cruise Lovers! Get the latest cruise deals, tips and columns with SmarterTravel.com!
Carnival Cruise Lines - Fascination - 3 Night Bahamas (Miami roundtrip) from $229
Royal Caribbean - Voyager of the Seas - 5 Night Bermuda (Cape Liberty roundtrip) from $499
Norwegian Cruise Line - 10 Night Exotic Southern Caribbean (New York roundtrip) from $599
Holland America Line - Zuiderdam - 7 Night Western Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale roundtrip) from $599
Celebrity Cruises - Summit - 10 Night Mexican Riviera (Los Angeles roundtrip) from $850

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TRAVEL PACKAGES :: Bundled Deals stretch your travel dollars further! 
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All-inclusive Vacations: book now for $100 off
Caribbean Packages from only $799
Take $25 Off Select Flight and Hotel Packages at Travelocity.com Use Coupon Code "25TRAVEL"
Win a trip to London or Paris, hotel and roundtrip airfare included.
Buy One Vacation Package, Get One Free and Receive up to $1,800 in Airfare Credit! Available only at 11thHourVacations.com
Hottest Weekly Vacation Packages from VacationOutlet.com. Check out the CURRENT DEALS!
Save 40% on a Vacation Package at LastMinuteTravel.com

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CAR & AUTOMOBILE RELATED :: Save on car rentals and auto insurance
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Save 10% at Enterprise.com. Enter AFFDEAL at checkout.
Save up to 50% off on weekends with Enterprise.com. Use coupon code ERAC50
Get a FREE upgrade at airports with promo code ERACAP through 12/19.
Thrifty.com Fall 2005 DEALS with promo code pc-con1 through 12/15.
Ski Promotion on Thrifty.com Denver and Reno SUV rentals through 4/15/2006. Use promo code pc-con2 at check out.
Traveling in Canada this fall? Rent an SUV for C$47 per day.
Going to Vancouver or Toronto? Get a Thrifty Premium Rental Car for only C$45 per day. Use PC Code JS31.
Low, low rates on GREAT cars, only at Dollar.com
Cheapest Car Rental Rates Online, All Around The World! Visit Fox Rent A Car
Take the Fox Quiz - Win A Free Car Rental!
Save Big on Car Rentals at LastMinuteTravel.com
New 21st Century Insurance Company customers report average savings of $200 to $300 on car insurance!
AARP Auto Insurance Challenge for drivers 50 and over from The Hartford
Save up to $300* on Motorhome Insurance

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LUGGAGE & TRAVEL BAGS :: Update your travel gear at bargain prices
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Up to 60% OFF at eBags Winter Sale
10% OFF Plus Free Shipping on all Ski and Snowboard bag purchases at eBags.com
Get $30 off your $250 Luggage purchase, plus get FREE Shipping! Use coupon code FALL30 at checkout.
Get $45 off your $400 purchase, plus get FREE Shipping! Use coupon code FALL45 at checkout.

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TRAVEL ACCESSORIES :: Find hard-to-find travel supplies
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Try out Magellan's Electrical Wizard!
Orvis Free Shipping - when you shop by November 28th
Orvis Gift Certificate - Perfect Last Minute Gift
Free 2-Day Shipping in the U.S. Rosetta Stone Language-Learning Software!
Free Microbeam™ Tire Gauge from Brookstone(a $30 value) with orders over $100 (Use code AFTIREGA at checkout.
5-in-1 Sensor Clock - a $30 value - only $12.50 with any purchase! Add the 5-in-1 Sensor Clock to your cart, along with any other product. This offer is STACKABLE with any other current offer! Offer valid while supplies last.
Save $15 off Hard to Find Tools orders of $125 or more. Use code AF15HTFT at checkout.

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CAMPING :: Up to the moment camping savings  
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Best Prices of the Year on RV Covers from Camping World
Current Sale Items at Camping World
Internet Only Specials at Camping World
Camping World Clearance Sale

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SKIING :: Discover the best deals at the top powder destinations  
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INSURANCE :: Everybody needs it; why not save?  
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Your luggage got lost in translation? Coverage through Travel Guard
How can $30 save you from a hurricane? Purchase travel insurance!
Purchase Travel insurance through Travel Guard starting at $30

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Photography :: Travel photography savings  
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Save 15% on professional-quality prints. Use Coupon Code: AFF1-SAVE (Expires 1-31-06)
Clearance Deals at CameraWorld.com
WolfCamera.com Closeouts while supplies last!
Upload your digital photos and get 30 FREE prints with your first order!
How about turning your travel shots into a Photo Book?
Make your vacation memories last forever with Kodak EasyShare photo books, poster prints and more!

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e-MARGAUX LITE :: Quotations, Anecdotes and Humour
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"When you travel you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don't even understand the language the people speak… You begin to be more accessible to others, because they may be able to help you in difficult situations."
- Paolo Coelho, The Pilgrimmage

"When the virus of restlessness begins to take possession of a wayward man, and the road away from Here seems broad and straight and sweet, the victim must first find in himself a good and suggificient reason for going. This to the practical bum is not difficult. He has a built-in garden of reasons to choose from. Next he must plan his trip in time and space, choose a direction and a destination.
- John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley

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TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST :: December 15 - January 15  
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Focus on Travel Photography Contest
The birth of commercial airlines in the mid-20th century opened the world to travel. And advancements in the portability of the...
http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/travel/1136589906219330.xml&coll=7

Green group backs Palin on travel
2000 director Stephen Joseph. Palin has made six TV Travel shows, including Around the World in 80 days. "Michael Palin brings popular...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4612556.stm

EU says no need for heightened travel alert over bird flu
European health experts agreed there is no need for a heightened Travel alert due to the bird flu outbreak in Turkey, according to a document...
http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/afx/2006/01/12/afx2447464.html

Overseas travel guide rates Tas as 'must see'
Tasmania has been included on a list of 'must see' destinations by one of North America's top Travel guides, Frommers. Tourism Minister...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1546828.htm

Travel agency model 'outdated'
AILING Travel agency group Flight Centre has been dealt another blow, with its former e-commerce chief labelling the commission model its business relies on as...
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17805246%255E664,00.html

Top Ten World Travel Destinations In 2005
iExplore (www.iExplore.com) announced today the list of Top Ten World Travel Destinations as determined by the vacation...
http://www.send2press.com/newswire/2006-01-0109-002.shtml

Travel pros weigh in on their predictions for 2006:
Self-improvement: The appeal of spa, golf and other types of R&R ties into another Travel trend -- the rise of ''wellness'' vacations that combine fitness...
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/travel/13553862.htm

Travel expert says Americans have a need to explore the world
For more than 30 years, Susan Tanzman, owner of Martin's Travel and Tours Inc. in Los Angeles, has been a passionate...
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/13558973.htm

Feeding a hunger for travel
Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid are probably Canada's best-known travellers. The Toronto-based author/photographer husband-wife...
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/artslife/story.html?id=49046229-5071-4c0d-880a-4ecb9b5ed76d&k=11041

Travel dispatches from a shrinking planet
World Hum reviewed a number of new Travel books this year, but not all of them... "The best darn Travel writing Web site, period." -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel...
http://www.worldhum.com/weblog/item/liechtenstein_20060105/

Shanghai forecasts rail Travel records for Spring Festival
A record number of trains will be put into operation during the upcoming Spring Festival Travel peak to deal with the annual surge of people heading home...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/06/content_4015756.htm

Travel Q & A
Access-Able Travel Source, http://www.access-able.com, provides practical information about Travel for people with all types of disabilities...
http://www.insidebayarea.com/travel/ci_3367865

Travel far and wide
Let's say you've run out of your Travel options, and the idea of being pushed and shoved by a mob at World Heritage sites, or darting in and out of...
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2005/12/31/lifetravel/12921849&sec=lifetravel

MSN Travel Central
For skiers, Salt Lake City's numbers are incredible: 500 inches of snow a year at several resorts...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10618137/

Web forces Travel agents to work smarter
The Travel industry is being squeezed as never before... Qantas has brought the international move to prune the commissions paid to Travel agents to Australia...
http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/web-forces-travel-agents-to-work-smarter/2005/12/28/1135732641792.html

Still No One-Stop Travel Search
Though Travel bookings remain the largest component of e-commerce, generating over of third of the $145 billion US online market, no single Travel search...
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/topnews/wpn-60-20051228StillNoOneStopTravelSearch.html

Sophia Banay On Luxury Travel
Business Travel has picked up since Sept... Nevertheless, tourism and business Travel will continue to grow, albeit more slowly than in 2005...
http://www.forbes.com/travel/2005/12/12/lifestyle-2006-predictions-sneakpeek_sp06_07_sbanay_lifestyle.html

Consumer Reports: Don't Trust Any Single Travel Search Engine
The consumer watchdog's latest analysis of 11 of the most popular Travel search engines found that no single site could be recommended as a one-stop...
http://www.informationweek.com/industries/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=175007691

Online Travel bookers set to make mark with groups
Online Travel bookers are beginning to court group travelers, customers they previously ignored because of technological limitations...
http://today.reuters.com/sponsoredby/amex/article.aspx?type=innovationNews&storyID=2005-12-21T174849Z_01_EIC163963_RTRUKOC_0_US-LEISURE-TRAVEL.xml

Travel insurance going places
Travel insurance is growing in terms of volume though insurance companies say their profits are under pressure due to severe competition...
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/19/stories/2005121901521200.htm

'travelgirl magazine' Welcomes Stephanie Abrams
Radio show Travel expert, Stephanie Abrams, expands her reach from her national presence in broadcasting to print with the January...
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/prn/texas/3529874.html

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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
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COPYRIGHT 2004 e-Margaux.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission is granted to electronically copy, print or forward this newsletter for use as a travel resource as long as it is not altered in any way. Any other use of materials on this Website--including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication--without the prior written permission of Margaux Europe Group, Ltd. is strictly prohibited.

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CONTACT INFORMATION
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e-Margaux.com
http://www.e-margaux.com
Margaux Europe Group, Ltd.
Post Office Box 462
Westport, NY 12993
 

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