FROSCH / Aggie Travel is a local branch off ice of FROSCH TRAVEL that provides travel services to our leisure, corporate and group customers.  In 2010, Aggie Travel merge it’s operations with FROSCH Travel in Houston Texas to become a branch office.  
Our current staffing and management team along with our expertise and customer service levels will remain the same. Our new affiliation with FROSCH will bring more resources and enhanced product offers and value to our clients. FROSCH James TravelPOINTS will strive to be the preeminent provider of corporate, leisure, and group travel services in our area and across the U.S. FROSCH James TravelPOINTS are both known in the industry for our expertise in luxury travel and a high level of customer care. Our dedication to the individual traveler, whether corporate or leisure, is what makes us so successful. We strive to ensure that our clients receive incomparable service and value.  

Recently FROSCH Travel launched their new web site:  www.froschvacations.com

Due to the possibility of a U.K. public sector strike that may affect the U.K. Border Agency, American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia offer customers the convenience to change their plans as there could be significant risk of severe delays in London airports.  Customers ticketed to arrive on an international flight into a London airport on November 30, 2011 may change flights as shown below.

If you are traveling to/from/through:

·        London (Gatwick), United Kingdom (LGW)

·        London (Heathrow), United Kingdom (LHR)

·        London City, United Kingdom (LCY)

·        Manchester, United Kingdom (MAN)

On the following dates: November 29 – 30, 2011

And your ticket was issued no later than: November 25, 2011

You may begin travel as late as: November 26 – December 7, 2011

Original inventory required? No

Thinking about taking a European River Cruise.   Ann Griffith from Aggie / FROSCH Travel just returned from an amazing AmaWaterways European Luxury River Cruise on the Mosel and Rhine River traveling through France & Germany during the harvest of the grapes.  Ann Griffith was escorting a small group aboard the AmaLegro one of the many itineraries AmaWaterways has available, the trip started out in Paris and ended in Bassel Switzerland. 

 I am asked on a regular basis what is the best time of year to travel.  Of course that depends on the destination, but after traveling toEurope in September, I highly recommend traveling in the fall.  The crowds are lighter, and this year temperatures in September and October broke record highs.  Come along with me, and I’ll share my latest travel adventure.

Parisin September is like fall inFort Collins.  Parisis on a similar latitude asFort Collins, the weather pattern is very similar, with warm Indian Summer Days.  The most difficult part of a visit toParis, is deciding how to spend your time.  We decided to visit the L’Orangerie Museum and the Museum D’Orsay.  The metro is an easy, fun and entertaining way to navigateParis.  For 12 Euros, we were able to purchase a ticket to visit both the  L’Orangerie and the Museum D’Orsay.  A Museum Card to visit multiple museums is available too.  The L’Orangerie Museum, most famous for Claude Monet’s Water Lilies is one of my favorites.   I enjoy sitting in the two large rooms where the water lilies are displayed and marvel at the change of light throughout the day that are depicted on the eight gigantic panels.

 An evening highlight is to see theEiffelTower.  Every hour theEiffelTowerbecomes one million light bulbs dancing up and down the 100 year old   iron structure.  We took a train toMetz, bus viaLuxembourg, with a stop at anAmericanMilitaryCemetery, and then traveled to Remich, where we boarded our 150 passenger AmaWaterways vessel.  The Amalegro was our wonderful  home for the next 7 days.  We slowly sailed theMoselRiverand made stops at little villages.  At the firstvillageof  Bernkastleis where we visited the quaint village with tilting timbered homes and had a wine tasting.  The wine tasting consisted of sampling three white wines, in the local vineyard, with each sample progressively sweeter and stronger. 

 As we sipped our white wine, we could cast our eyes in any direction and could see vineyards clinging to every square inch of the fertile shale ground.  Our next stop was Cochem, and we biked to a small village and enjoyed wine just harvested, very sweet, very strong and not corked at is was so carbonated.  With the wine, a local favorite onion cake was savored. At the confluence of theMoselandRhineRiverswe stopped at the city ofKoblenz.  We bid good bye to the  MoselRiverand begin the journey on theRhineRiver. 

While meandering along theRhine, the hills and valleys are studded with castles.  You see first hand the importance of theRhineRiver.   Barges and ships are laden with goods that are transported up and down theRhineRiver.  A stop atMainzand walking tour treated us to St. Stephens Cathedral.    St. Stephens dates from the late medieval era, where the main construction was from 1267-1340.   Entering the cathedral is magical as the various rays of blue light bath the interior of this massive structure.  The Russian Jewish artist Marc Chagall created the nine stained glass windows from 1978-1985. 

This work was meant as a contribution to Jewish German reconciliation.  A stop in Rudesheim gave another wine tasting opportunity on a 4 generation family owned vineyard.  A stop atCologneand then our final stop inAmsterdam.  We experiencedAmsterdamwith various modes of transportation.  I highly recommend a canal trip around the city on a small river boat.  We then took a sightseeing trip of the city and stopped at the flower market.  The market is packed full of bulbs.  We came home with some “registered” tulip bulbs. We hope to see our spring yard with some of these midnight blue tulips in full bloom.  We ended our stay inAmsterdamon foot as we walked the streets and walked the colorful “red light” district.

A wonderful bonding thread is woven when you share a trip with good friends.  We bid our goodbyes to our small river vessel, the warm fall weather, the new sights and tastes that we experiences.  We began a new journey tucking our memories into our memory bank, and thankful for the special times shared with special friends.

  If you want to create some new travel memories please give me a call. 

    The travel industry has been a part of my life for over 40 years. As a past owner, manager, and currently a full time travel agent, the travel industry is in my heart and soul. I love to travel, enjoy creating travel adventures, and enjoy taking groups to new destinations. I have been to over 21 different countries, sailed the Nile, Volga, Mozelle and Rhine Rivers, and experienced many cruises. I have taken groups on river cruises, Caribbean Cruises, Mediterranean Cruises, safaris to Africa, New York Theatre Tour, Santa Fe Opera Tour, and US Tennis Open Tour. The travel industry is my passion, and I would love to share my knowledge and excitment about this industry with you. Please call and let me help you create a travel dream come true.

Ann Griffith, Frosch Travel, 3538 JFK Parkway, Fort Collins, Co 80525,970-482-1235.  ann.griffith@frosch.com

While Hurricane Irene continues lashing the Bahamas this morning, officials along Central Florida’s beaches are taking precautions as stormy conditions slowly develop. Reports show the cyclone could strengthen into aCategory 4 hurricane by the time it reaches the Central Florida coast at 2 a.m. Friday. Once it passes the Central Florida region, Irene is forecast to weaken slightly and either brush or hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Saturday as a major hurricane. From there it would veer near New York on Sunday and arrive in Massachusetts on Monday. FROSCH is monitoring the situation closely and encourages all travelers to do the same.

FIRST TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS
Members of the ASLEF union working for First TransPennine Express are taking industrial action on Friday 26 August 2011. First TransPennineExpress will run the following services. A two-hourly train service between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly, an hourly service between Leeds or York and Manchester Piccadilly, four trains in each direction between Manchester Airport
and Edinburgh and additional train services each evening between Edinburgh / Glasgow Central and
Carlisle for alternative connections. Buses will run on the following routes. Windermere – Oxenholme, York – Scarborough and Cleethorpes – Scunthorpe. TYPHOON NANMADOL Typhoon Nanmadol intensified from a tropical cyclone on Thursday and is threatening northern Luzon in the Philippines with the possibility of flash flooding and landslides. Typhoon Nanmadol is expected to bring some rain to northern and eastern areas of Taiwan from Saturday. Of greater concern is the formation of Tropical Storm Talas which appears to be converging with Typhoon Nanmadol at present, casting uncertainty over their predicted strengths and trajectories of the Typhoon. Forecasters expect to have a clearer idea of the potential impact of both storms by theweekend. FROSCH will
monitor the situation closely.

EUROTUNNEL STRIKE ACTION
French unions are threatening a strike which could affect Eurotunnel services this coming weekend as part of a demand for a wage increase. Eurotunnel has taken the decision to suspend further bookings. Negotiations are continuing and Eurotunnel expects to issue a further statement later today regarding the potential strike action. The strike would affect shuttle services between Calais and Folkestone on the 27 and 28 August. Eurostar services willremain unaffected.

USA – Weather: Heat alerts& high chances of storms continue during this
unpredictable period of weather in many US States. ASIA India – Anti-corruption protests are likely to continue across India’s major urban centers in the coming days and weeks. Such events should be avoided as they carry a heightened risk of violent civil unrest. India – Most of India’s major airports were placed on a terror alert ahead of the country’s Independence Day on 15 August 2011. At least 12 airports have implemented additional security measures, including establishing extra checkpoints on access roads outside of airport facilities. Security officials have
advised passengers to expect additional delays due to the increased
security measures, which are expected to last through 20 August. China – Over the next few days, thousands of young athletes and spectators from around the world will travel to Shenzhen for the summer edition of the multisport tournament. Despite scattered reports of public discontent with the security operation, there is little evidence to suggest that any large scale civil unrest will erupt in the city amid the extensive security measures currently in place. Travelers to the city should expect to encounter a visible security presence throughout Shenzhen for the duration of the 2011 World University Games. Japan – An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck 61 miles southeast of Sendai today at 2.36pm local time. Its depth was 24.3 miles. A tsunami warning was initially issued for Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures but was cancelled around 30 minutes later. There have been no reports of any damage or injuries. AUSTRALASIA New Zealand – Heavy snowfall has been affecting roads and flight operations in New Zealand. Australia – Qantas is to shed about 1,000 jobsas part of its wide-ranging five-year plan to revive its international business,which will include handing over some of its flights to British Airways. The airline will drop its London to Bangkok and London to Hong Kong flights, which are to be taken over by its partner BA from early next year. At the same time, BA will withdraw from the Bangkok to Sydney sector. Areas affected include management positions, pilots, cabin crew and engineering. Australia’s aircraft engineers are considering taking legal action against Qantas over the new international strategy, which includes plans to launch a premium airline based in Asia and a new budget airline in Japan.

AFRICA, NORTH AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Israel – On 18 August in southern Israel near Eilat, several attacks occurred over a two-hour period leaving at least 7 people dead, and dozens wounded. The Israeli authorities have confirmed that this was a terrorist attack, although as yet there has been no claim of responsibility. Travelers are advised to maintain a high level of vigilance.
RAMADAN – 01 – 31 August.

UMRAH Flights – As per Saudi immigration regulations, certain flights can carry only Umrah visa holders. All other passengers holding normal visas to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have to be booked and travel on the regular scheduled operations. Non conformity with this regulation will result in passengers being offloaded at departure. Syria – There are reports of heavy shooting on a big demonstration in Damascus. There are also raids and arrests being made in the Qaboun area, and tanks have entered a Homs neighbourhood amid shooting. In Aleppo, a military operation is being reported in the city of Tal Rafa’at, where security forces and regime thugs have erected barriers at all city entrances and are driving through the city making arrests. No further information is available at this time. UK & EUROPE Germany – Severe storms whichhit North Rhine- Westphalia last night and into this morning have caused flooded roads and downed trees. The emergency services received over 300 calls for help during the
storms. Flights were delayed at Dusseldorf airport, and some incoming flights had to be diverted although flights now appear to be back to normal.

The storms are now clearing the area. Italy – Ten cities are at risk of muggy weather today: a ‘level 2′
alert (high temperatures and weather conditions that could have negative health effects on vulnerable people) is out for 12 cities on Saturday, and two cities, Brescia and Turin have been issued with a ‘level 3′ red alert, which means that preventative measures must be adopted by people at risk, primarily the elderly and sick. UK – Heathrow Airport – Transport for London are upgrading traffic lights at the junction between A4 Bath Rd & Newport Rd on the northern perimeter of LHR. Passengers using this route should allow additional traveling time. SPAIN – Threatened industrial
action on the Metro may lead to disruption for travelers to Madrid on 18, 20 and 21 August. There will be an increase in demand for taxis. Travelers should organize their ground transportation in advance to avoid inconvenience.
UNITED KINGDOM; 2012 OLYMPICS – LOOKING AHEAD TO 2012! The Olympic Games committee has 65% of London’s total available hotel bedrooms. This may leave as little as 12,000 rooms available for general sale -
business travelers could be struggling to find rooms.Areas outside London could be a solution as Rail operators are ensuring 2,000 extra train services during the games. FROSCH advises travelers to think about their London requirements in 2012 in advance so we will be in the strongest possible position next summer to
accommodate everyone’s needs .

BAHAMAS – Dengue Fever: The Ministry of Health is warning travelers that there are increasing numbers of persons with dengue fever in the Bahamas. Dengue fever is a viral illness that is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes Aegypti. Typically, people infected with dengue virus do not have symptoms (approximately 80% of all cases) and others may only have mild symptoms such as uncomplicated fever, headache, bone and joint pains, and eye pain. USA – Weather: Tropical Storm Don is heading towards the Texas coastline and is forecast to continue to strengthen up until landfall, expected to be Friday night or very early Saturday morning, but remain a tropical storm. Conditions should deteriorate along the Texas Coast throughout the day on Friday, with occasional rain showers and increasing winds. Winds and rains should pick up late Friday afternoon into Friday evening as the center of Don gets closer to the coast. A Tropical storm warning is in place.

ASIA
INDIA – New Delhi – Protests – 31 July: The Vishva Hindu Parishad Hindu movement are set to demonstrate in New Delhi, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh on 31 July. Rallies are expected in New Delhi, as well as throughout the states of Karnataka (southwest) & Andhra Pradesh (southeast). The risk of violent unrest should not be ruled out.

INDIA- Mumbai – 02 August
Strike: The Mumbai Auto Rickshaw Union, which has been calling for the ban on traffic in the business district in the south of the city to be lifted for several months, has announced a protest sit-in to be held at the Azad Maidan sports ground (south Mumbai) 2 August. If the government refuses to examine its request, the union has threatened to go on strike on 9 August, which could result in severe transport disruptions in the city.

China, Friday as a strong tropical storm, and emerge into the Gulf of Tonkin by Saturday morning, then make a final landfall in northern Vietnam by Saturday night. Tropical Storm Muifa in the Western Pacific is several hundred miles east of the

Philippines, and is forecast to begin to move generally to the north over the next few days while remaining over open waters; Muifa is expected to reach typhoon strength by Saturday afternoon.

SOUTH KOREA – Flooding: As of 28 July 2011, flash floods and landslides across South Korea have killed at least 53 people and have left dozens of others missing. Extensive flooding has also been reported throughout the Seoul metropolitan area, forcing many schools, businesses and embassies — including
those of the U.S. and U.K. — to close for the day. The military has been dispatched to assist in rescuing stranded residents in many of the hardest hit regions. Defense officials warned that landmines and explosives — many of which are placed throughout the countryside near the Korean Demilitarized Zone with North Korea — shifted due to the mudslides near Seoul and
Yangju. All of the explosives near Yangju have been recovered; however, at least 10 landmines near southern Seoul have yet to be found.

AUSTRALASIA Australia & New Zealand – weather: Snow still being forecast, along with traffic chaos due to ice on the
roads.

Middle East –Demonstrations continue across the Middle East including Bahrain, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Israel and Syria.Miami Airport ? Flight cancellations and delays are continuing at Miami International Airport afterWednesday’s fire. The fire had damaged pumps that are used to deliver fuel to trucks near the terminals and it is currently taking in the region of fifty percent longer to get the fuel to planes.

STRIKE NEWS Spain ? Threats to hold 22 days of action were called off when guarantees of job security and certain conditions were made. union members said that some 70% of their 10,000 members had decided to back down after the reassurances.  British Airways ? It’s a tense day for British Airways top brass as they await results of union Unite’s strike ballot, which concludes today. Thousands of union members have been voting over the past few weeks on whether to stage yet another series of strikes as the bitter battle between management and cabin crew continues. It is not thought that Unite will announce actual strike dates today, should the ballot show members  in favour of a walk?out.  London Midland Trains – Only 3 routes operated on Sunday due to a dispute over drivers pay and there is likely to be further disruption to services today. Because there were so many trains out of action on Sunday, this has created a backlog in getting the systems up and running again. The service operates primarily on the west coast main line from London Euston and in the West Midlands region.  Philippines ? Transport groups are planning a nationwide strike on 31 March over rising fuel prices. The government say contingency plans are being readied to make sure that commuters will not suffer too much disruption. In Manila at least 200 public transport vehicles along with some 500 drivers are expected to join the strike along with some government employees. They are expected to gather at the Quezon Memorial Circle in the Quezon City and to ten proceed to Mendiola Bridge near Malacanang. Similar protests are also planned in Bacolod, Iloilo, Roxas and Cebu.

WEATHER Thailand ? Heavy rainfall has caused flooding along the southern coast of Thailand. Affected provinces include Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Surat Thani, Phattalung and part of Trang. Nakhon Sri Thammarat airport is temporarily closed and flights suspended due to runway flooding. Ferry services between Suratthai mainland /Samui Island/ Pha Ngan Island are disrupted. There is a risk of mudslides and flash flooding in these areas

HOT SPOTS 28 March China: Anniversary of deposing of Dalai Lama (Demonstrations mayoccur.) Libya: Public holiday 29 March Central African Republic: Boganda Day Chile: Youth Combatant Day (Outbreaks of violence traditionally occur.) Madagascar: Commemoration of 1947 colonial massacres (Peaceful public gatherings. Schools, offices and shopsclose early.)