Subscribe via RSS FeedSep|30|2007
Reader’s Digest: Living Green
Posted by Hannah Grace as Features, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Around The World, Tips, Awards, Cities
After the negativity of listing down the most dangerous countries to travel, I decided to come up with a more positive post and here’s what I came up with - a list of the cleanest and greenest countries and cities in the world.
Last August, Reader’s Digest analysed which of the world’s 141 countries ranked as the greenest. The criteria Reader’s Digest used meant not only that the greenest countries were the most environmental friendly but that they really are the most desirable places to live, and hence to visit. After all, as they said, “Just because a country or place is environmentally “fit” doesn’t mean you’d want to spend your life there – think jungles or the Antarctic. But finding …
Sep|29|2007
Couchsurfer, Ahoy!
Posted by Benj as Tips
Signing up for couchsurfing is one thing, but hosting a guest is totally another. Thanks to this revolutionary website, travelers with less than the usual travel budget could still go to their dream destinations by simply opting to stay in a fellow couchsurfer’s couch or bed.
This morning, a friend of mine fetched a couchsurfer from the airport. He was a seasoned traveler himself, but it was his first time in Asia. In hopes of introducing the whole idea of local cuisine and culture to him, we decided to treat him to a restaurant that offered traditional food. Unlike the usual setup where in a traveler is thrown into a strange new environment, locals can now soften the transition …
Sep|28|2007
Stay Out! Most Dangerous Places to Travel continued
Posted by Hannah Grace as Warnings, Destinations, Around The World, Tips, Africa, Europe
Lebanon - The August hostilities with Israel is over (for now), however extremists groups make Tripoli, Sidon and Palestinian refugee camps dangerous. In the southern part of Lebanon land mines are still a big problem.
Liberia - Despite the fact that the civil war in Lebanon ended 4 years ago and that there are still 15,000 UN peacekeepers scattered all over Lebanon, it is still considered to be too dangerous for tourists since crimes like theft, sexual assault and murder is still commonplace.
Sudan - If you really want to go to Sudan at least stay away from Darfur. Darfur is not safe for locals much less tourists where violence is an everyday thing thanks to the government-backed …
Sep|27|2007
Stay Out! Most Dangerous Places to Travel
Posted by Hannah Grace as Warnings, Destinations, Around The World, Tips, Africa, Asia
A little danger may be exciting but too much danger can be deadly. If you want to get your adrenaline pumping I suggest that you visit places that offer extreme activities like bungee jumping or whitewater rafting but please please stay away from these countries.
According to Forbes the most dangerous places to visit this year include:
Somalia - Abductions and attacks on foreigners are very common in troubled Somalia. Although the federal governments has recently taken control of the country the new exchange in power does not automatically mean more stability but in fact signals even more problems ahead as the power struggle continues.
Iraq - Everyone knows …
Sep|27|2007
Places To Stay: Motels
Posted by Camica as Destinations, Around The World, Tips, Hotels
If you’re on a budget and plan to be on the road a lot, a motel might be the best place for you. The word motel came from the words “motorists’ hotel”. They began in the 1920s as motor courts on the edges of towns, to service travelers along the highways. Motels are convenient if you’re bringing your car and you just need a place to stop for the night, since most motels, unlike hotels, are located along highways.
The traditional motel is made up of a single building of connected rooms whose doors face a parking lot. It can also be a series of small cabins with common parking. Motels are usually composed of …
Sep|26|2007
Places To Stay: Hostels
Posted by Camica as Destinations, Around The World, Tips, Hotels
Hostels are places that are ideal for backpackers or travelers on a budget. Traditionally, hostels have dormitory style accommodations, where guests can rent a bed, and the bathroom, kitchen and lounge are shared. Some newer hostels, however, now provide rooms that may be available for single, double or quad occupancy. Hostels have often been associated with the youth (obviously, it’s also commonly known as youth hostels) and backpackers. In general, most hostels are the cheapest form of short-term accommodation you can find. Some hostels even employ long-term residents as staff in exchange for free accommodation.
Hostels are usually cheaper compared to hotels and B&Bs. Like B&Bs, hostels have common areas such as kitchens, dining rooms …
Sep|25|2007
Places To Stay: Bed & Breakfasts
Posted by Camica as Destinations, Around The World, Travelogger
For those who’ve traveled in a small town, chances are you’ve stayed in a Bed and Breakfast. A Bed and Breakfast, or a B&B, is a type of lodging usually operating out of a large single family residence. Unlike hotels, which are owned by a company or a corporation, B&Bs are usually operated by a family, either as a primary occupation or as a secondary source of income. The staff often consists of the house’s owners and members of the family who live there. Bed and Breakfasts are usually small, with only 2-10 rooms.
B&Bs are usually found in small towns or less popular locations. They are usually found in places where there isn’t as much …
Sep|25|2007
Food and Wine Across America
Posted by Hannah Grace as United States, Website, Food and Drink, Tips, Americas, Gourmet
Last time I wrote about Food an Wine’s Go List. The Go List consists of 335 of the best places to eat all over the world. As exhaustive as the list is though I’m pretty sure that they missed some equally excellent restaurants. After all we can’t expect the staff of F&W to be able to visit all the restaurants in the world. The good news for American gourmands and tourists planning to visit America is that Food and Wine has an even more exhaustive list of places all over the country where you can find good eats.
Food an Wine …
Sep|24|2007 Posted by Camica as Destinations, Around The World, Hotels If you’re a traveler looking for a place to stay, there are other options aside from your regular hotel. Depending on the location, there might be a resort, a bed and breakfast, or a hostel at your destination. The terms can be quite confusing, however, as well as the service each can offer. To help you decide which type of lodging might be right for you, I decided to write about the various lodgings available. First off, let me tell you about the boutique hotel. Boutique hotel is a term used to describe smaller, more intimate hotels not part of a chain or branded hotels. They began in the 1980s in major cities like New York, …
Sep|24|2007 Posted by Noemi as Around The World, People, Tips, Family Vacation rentals are different from swapping homes because the former involves money. As the term implies, you merely rent out another person’s house for your vacation. The big advantage of renting a vacation home is that you get the most bang for your buck. Consider having 6-8 members in your family. Booking hotel rooms could prove to be a nightmare, both in terms of money …
Places To Stay: Boutique Hotels
Vacation Rentals
Taking a large family on vacation can post problems when it comes to lodging. One solution would be to swap homes with other people. Hannah has already actually written something about this. An alternative to home swapping would be to look for vacation rental homes.
