Travel Stories

The horror of the terrorist attacks has deeply affected each of us at Specialty Travel Index and Specialtytravel.com. From disbelief to sorrow to firm resolve . . . we have run the gamut of emotions. Above all, we mourn the innocent people whose lives were so violently taken. Our hearts go out to their families and friends.

The terrorists sought to bring down not only buildings, but to demolish America's most fundamental freedoms, including the right to travel safely and securely. As you browse this website, you may have concerns about whether we can continue to explore the globe as unworriedly as we once did.

While we await--anxious, yet hopeful--for the global picture to stabilize, we are poignantly reminded of the gifts travel brings. A passport to the miraculous beauty and complexity of the world, it brings faraway lands up close, and turns strangers into friends. It is this very connection and community that the terrorists strove to undermine. But the need to reach out--a very human tendency--cannot be destroyed by bombs or weapons.

At Specialty Travel Index, we remain committed to making your travels as secure and comfortable as possible. Now more than ever, we urge you to seek the expertise and guidance of travel agents and tour operators when planning your journeys. If you have already booked a trip for the future and have any concerns, please contact your tour operator and travel agent for information. Over the past week, we have heard countless stories of companies that have rescheduled and modified itineraries to accommodate clients needs--at no extra cost to the traveler.

With improved airport security around the world, we firmly believe that travel will be safer than ever. For up-to-date information on worldwide travel conditions, we suggest the following sites:

The U.S. State Department; www.state.gov/

The Federal Aviation Association (FAA); www.faa.gov/

The Center for Disease Control (CDC); www.cdc.gov/

At Specialty Travel Index and Specialtytravel.com, we want to give you the information you need to travel with confidence. If you have any questions. please contact us at info@specialtytravel.com. We will do our best to assist you. Also, check back on our web site for new travel advice and updates.

Like the New York skyline, our lives have been changed forever. Things we once took for granted, including the ability to just get up and go--to travel in safety--will be re-evaluated.

Yet despite our fears, the wonders of the world will continue to beckon. Distant lands and unknown faces will entice us. Once again, we'll yearn to marvel at ancient cities... exotic animals... mighty summits.

And by exploring the world, by rejoicing in the diversity of the human landscape, and living every moment to its fullest, we pay tribute to the lives lost... yet always remembered.

Sincerely,

Andy Alpine

Judith Brouwers

David Ackerman-Gray

C. Steen Hansen

Josh Hebert

Diane Hilton

Susan Kostrzewa

Patrick Knight

Risa R. Weinreb

HOW YOU CAN HELP -- The American Red Cross has set up an online

contribution form to accept any size donation. To help support relief

for this tragedy, go to www.redcross.org

You can also call 1-(800)-HELP-NOW [1 (800) 435-7669], or send your

money to: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.