Intelligent Travel Blog

I Heart My City: Liz's Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2009-07-10T18:30:00Z

Hello city-lovers! Whether you call it Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, blogger Liz Ledden shows us the best of this Vietnamese hub.

Want to see your city on IT? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an e-mail, fill in your answers, and send your responses to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org. And if you're still waiting for us to feature yours, fear not! We're going to keep posting as long as we keep getting them (please include photos and links!).

Ho Chi Minh City is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is Quan An Ngonto to sample the 'best of' Vietnamese street food. The owners gathered the best food vendors and installed them around a courtyard on the grounds of a French colonial villa. The restaurant is heaving with locals and in-the-know tourists every day and night, and the food is fresh, tasty and really cheap (try the lemongrass clams!).

When I crave banh mi I always go to Banh Mi Bistro for their delicious take on the chicken baguette.

To escape the non-stop stream of motorbikes on the chaotic streets I head to La Fenetre Soleil for a ginger juice. Up a dingy stairwell on a central, busy corner, La Fenetre Soleil is a cool cafe with a vintage French feel - think floorboards, a chandelier, high ceiling, mismatched furniture strewn with cushions and large French style windows looking out to the street below.

If I want to drink cocktails in funky surroundings I go to Q Bar or Amber Room.

For complete quiet, I can hide away inside the Hindu temple on Ton That Thiep Street - it's nearly always deserted, is adorned with colourful patterned tiles and feels like a real oasis of calm.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with a cyclo and driver.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from Trung Nguyen Coffee it has to be a Legendee, this famed Vietnamese coffee brand's premier brew, made using the digestive enzymes of a native weasel which gives it its ultra smooth taste.

Ipa-nima is my one-stop shop for great handbags - colourful, whimsical creations using leather and all sorts of embellishments.

Locals know to skip touristy, expensive Ben Thanh Market and check out Tan Dinh Market instead, for cheap local cuisine, fabrics, fresh fruit and vegetables and household items.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped I go to Wrap & Roll for a delicious, cheap and fresh assortment of Vietnamese snacks, including roll your own spring rolls.

For a huge splurge I go to Cepage for fine wine and gourmet cuisine in stylish surrounds.

Photo ops in my city include Dong Khoi Street and the Opera House and the best vantage point is the Saigon Saigon Bar at the Caravelle Hotel after dark - it offers a fantastic view of the city lights and streets below.

If my city were a celebrity it'd be Madonna - has an interesting history but is constantly reinventing itself.

The most random thing about my city is women wearing pyjamas while out and about, sometimes with heels.

My city has the most baby-loving men.

My city has the most tiny women.

In my city, an active day outdoors involves a walk in one of the parks, like the grounds of Saigon's Zoo, or pounding the pavements shopping and eating.

My city's best museum is The Reunification Palace.

My favorite jogging/walking route is through my local neighbourhood on the way to the market, stopping en route for iced Vietnamese coffee.

For a night of dancing, go to Vasco's or Cage.

Any noodle stand at Tan Dinh Market is the spot for late-night eats.

To find out what's going on at night and on the weekends, visit OutinSaigon or check out The Word or AsiaLIFE HCMC.

You can tell a lot about my city from witnessing the constant construction and change.

You can tell if someone is from my city if they learnt to ride a motorbike before they could walk.

In the spring you should break out the plastic poncho, as rainy season begins.

In the summer you should frequent any venue with air-conditioning, it's sweltering.

In the fall you should go for daytime walks and eat at outdoor restaurants- it's not too hot, not too rainy.

In the winter you should travel to Sapa in northern Vietnam for misty mountain views and a cosy fireplace at the Victoria Hotel.

A hidden gem in my city is the outdoor restaurant behind the mosque on Dong Du Street for great home-style curries and amazing fried chicken.

For a great breakfast joint try Au Parc Cafe.

Don't miss the Tet (Vietnamese New Year) festival in February, when Nguyen Hue Boulevard is transformed into a rural village, complete with mock bamboo bridges and colourful flower displays.

Just outside my city, you can visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels for a dose of war history (and even a crawl through one if you're not too claustrophobic!).

The best way to see my city is by taking a metered taxi from point to point and walking around the areas that interest you.

If my city were a pet it would be a puppy - busy and hyperactive.

If I didn't live in a city, I'd live in a scenic mountainous town that still had good food and coffee available!

The best book about my city is Graham Greene's The Quiet American.

When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind is "Hotel California," or any other naff tune people love to sing at karaoke.

If you have kids, you won't want to miss a trip to any local market for a visual feast and friendly banter with the kid-loving locals.

A Ferrari and a cyclo driving side by side could only happen in my city.

My city should be featured on your cover or website because it's diverse, dynamic, entrepreneurial, ever-improving and home to some of the best cuisine in the world!

For more about Saigon, check out Liz's blog about eating, drinking, shopping, traveling, and living in Vietnam.

Photos: Kris_B and cwgoodroe via Flickr, and Liz Ledden

Build Your Own Dream Bicycle Tour

2009-07-10T14:25:05Z

Watching the Tour de France the past few days has me dreaming of pedaling along the French countryside. (We'll just ignore the prospect of taking on the Alps for the sake of this post - I'm no Lance.) Which is why I was so intrigued to hear about the latest offering from the swoon-worthy Tour d'Afrique. This tour company, which specializes in trans-continental bicycle trips that let you transverse Africa, slice through Europe, follow the Silk Road, and ride around South America, is now letting you plan your own cycling "DreamTour." Touting "if you can dream it, you can do it," these trips incorporate a web 2.0 touch and seem pretty incredible.

Here's the deal: You log on to their site and design and name your trip, plotting the route, uploading photos and picking out the places you'd want to visit. You set the costs for the number of riders, plus hotels, food, crew, and support, and if it's a "do-able" trip, Tour d'Afrique will set you loose to convince your friends and family -- via the social web of course -- that they need to come on board. They can comment and make tweaks, and if you get enough to commit to going, Tour d'Afrique will make it happen, and better yet, you'll get to go for free.

Convinced that this was a novel way to make my dream trip happen, I immediately got the scoop from Henry Gold, the founder of Tour d'Afrique and builder of the Dream. Check out the interview after the jump.
How did you come up with the concept of the DreamTour?

There were two underlying thoughts that were on my mind for a while:

1. After successfully implementing three transcontinental bicycle tours, the Tour d'Afrique, The Orient Express Bicycle Tour and the Silk Route, and having the fourth one, the Vuelta Sudamericana, on the drawing board, I started thinking about the limitations that those epic adventure tours have. And that is they are epic and most people who have the time, do not have the money, and those who have the money do not have the time, as they are busy with raising a family or having jobs that will not allow them to take off long periods of time.

2. At the same time, both former clients and all of us in the office kept talking about adventure trips, both long and short, that we would like to do on bicycles. Having the experience of designing the transcontinental trips in some very challenging areas of the world, we now faced the issue of "OK, we come up with a new trip, we'll spend a lots of time scouting and designing a tour, but how do we really know that we will get enough people to do them"?

So thinking about these two issues and hearing about web 2.0 and all this crowdsourcing, the "intelligence of crowds," and providing the clients what they want, I thought ok, let's see how this could all be combined. I went on a long walk, and about half way, I had the essence of the idea figured out.

Can you explain a bit how the trips will work once you've recruited enough people?

If enough people from our website (and from the originator spreading the word) show interest, [we'll come in and make it happen]. We scout it, come up with a final cost and market it as our regular tour. And the tour "founder" will go for free. We are creating incentive for young adventurers who do not have the money, but have internet skills to spread their ideas about their tours and if it is a good idea, they get the reward - a free tour of their own design. A self-designed adventure.

Do you intend to replicate the tours if you find that they're successful?

Absolutely, if the tour is a success, then why not? But I actually I see a possibility of this taking a different direction, essentially redesigning the tour from year to year to fit the clients' vision and needs. For example, we now have a tour on DreamTour called the Amber Route, a six-week tour from St. Petersburg to Venice. It is designed as a camping trip with some hotels, averaging about 50 miles a day. But perhaps a year later, there could be a group formed who would say "I hate camping, I want to do it in hotels only, but want to average 70 miles per day." Or a group of students could say "we need to make this cheaper, let's camp, and prepare our own food and do it slower."

That's the beauty of this approach. We will do what the clients tell us they want rather than what we design for them. And then every trip is much more adventurous as there are always new elements. But of course it has to make sense both logistically and economically.

Ready to make it happen? Log on to Tour d'Afrique and start dreaming.

Photo: Tour d'Afrique

Daily Radar: 07.10.09

2009-07-10T12:00:00Z

Tired of penny-pinching? Don't live in Tokyo. The Japanese metropolis was recently named the world's most expensive city to live in, according to the Guardian. Osaka came in at number two, up 11 spots from last year. London, which was the third most expensive city in 2008, dropped to the 16th most expensive, due to the falling pound. Moscow, Geneva, and Hong Kong rounded out the top five most expensive cities, followed by Zurich, Copenhagen, New York City, Beijing, and Singapore.
Surf, sun, and slots? Miami might start adding slot machines in its airport in an effort to increase its revenue.
Sip Stash tea and get a free night in one of 600 B&Bs. Simply cut out UPC codes from three Stash tea boxes, send them and a check for $3.95 to Stash and you'll receive Stash's Guide to Bed & Breakfast Inns, plus a gift certificate for a free night at one of the inns in the guide.

Photo: A Malchik via Flickr

Ask IT: Boyd's Africa Unbound

2009-07-09T18:19:13Z

Want to know more about something in the magazine? Have a burning travel question that needs an answer? Just Ask IT! Today's question comes from a reader wanting to replicate our columnist's African safari -- on horseback.

Q: I read the article "Africa From the Saddle" by Boyd Matson, in the July/August issue of Traveler. How do I learn more about this trip? -- Ramona

A: Micato Safaris arranged the trip for me. They are one of the best for custom Africa trips or package tours in east and southern Africa. Their main U.S. office is in New York City, and the couple who started the company and are still very active in the operation live in Kenya. Their son, Dan Pinto, is the main guy in New York who can arrange for the trips. Happy travels! -- Boyd Matson

Want more Africa advice? Check out our Africa Travel Planner for more resources on arranging your own safari.

Photo: Demetrio Carrasco/Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alamy

Swim With a 40-Foot Whale Shark

2009-07-09T17:40:37Z

If you're thinking of heading south of the border this summer to take advantage of low fares to Mexico, consider the upcoming Whale Shark Festival on Isla Mujeres, in the state of Quintana Roo on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The festival runs this July 15th through the 19th.

The festival is billed as an ecotourism, family-friendly event featuring local cuisine, traditional dance, authentic artisanal goods for sale and, last but certainly not least, a chance to swim with migrating whale sharks in the Caribbean.

A little background before you take the plunge: The endangered whale shark is not a whale but a shark, despite its contradictory name. Its name stems from its massive size (up to 29,982 pounds and 40 feet in length) and because it eats krill, algae, plankton, and other tiny sea creatures. Whale sharks are filter feeders and have been known to be playful with human divers, though their tails can be a bit dangerous.

We checked in with Eyder Jahil Hoth Pérez, Director of Tourism, Isla Mujeres, Mexico, to learn more about the festival.
First off, the festival is billed as an ecotourism event. What does that mean?

The people of Isla Mujeres traditionally relied on commercial fishing as a means of driving their local economy. To protect this fragile marine ecosystem, we have been working with Ceviche Tours (a sustainable ecotourism travel company) and others to help shift this focus. For instance, local fishermen are retrained to serve as expert fishing guides, etc. for tourism. A significant goal of these efforts is to not only preserve the local environment, but to also preserve the heritage and culture of the people of Isla Mujeres. The Whale Shark Festival is a celebration of this culture, a celebration of the wonderful marine environs here, and also a way of promoting the benefits of sustainability.

This is the festival's second year. How many people attended last year and do you expect attendance to be somewhat down due to the recent H1N1 scare?

Last year about 3,000 tourists visited the island each day during the festival. Tourism to Isla Mujeres has been relatively steady this season, and we're seeing a significant rise in hotel bookings in anticipation of the Festival.

The festival is located on Isla Mujeres. Tell us a bit about the island. What other attractions can you find there?

Isla Mujeres is a small municipality in the Mexican Caribbean, just 15 minutes from Cancun by boat. It consists of three islands and a larger mainland territory. Isla Mujeres is full of nature; we have one of the most important preserves for birds (Contoy National Park) and the waters surrounding the island see big migrations of turtles, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, sail fish, blue marlin, white marlin, mahi mahi, etc. Isla Mujeres serves as the nursery of the Caribbean and the migratory path of sea turtles, water fowl, game fishes and the largest fish in existence, the whale shark.

Also, our island is part of the second largest barrier reef on the planet. Many of these reefs are protected areas where fishing in prohibited. That's why we have many ecotourism-related activities such as swimming with whale sharks, snorkeling the reefs, diving, Contoy Park Tours, tours of the turtle farm or the colonial ruins of Boca Iglesias (1517) in the middle of the jungle, sport fishing (catch and release), and more.

Isla Mujeres started as a fishing village in the 1950s; people visiting the island marvel at the authentic Mexican atmosphere, the peaceful living, small streets, pedestrian avenues, white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and the friendly people. Currently the permanent population of Isla Mujeres is about 15,000 and 97 percent of the economy is based on ecotourism.

What's the best way to get there?

Fly to Cancun; get a cab to Puerto Juarez to catch the ferry (which runs every 30 minutes). From the airport, total travel time is about one hour.

Do a lot of festival attendees swim with the whale sharks?

Absolutely. On average, 200-250 people a day swim with the whale sharks during whale shark season.

What's that experience like?

Most visitors describe it as the experience of their lives. It's amazing how this gentle giant transmits to the people around him a profound feeling of peace.

I've read that whale sharks are an endangered species. Do humans swimming with them negatively affect them in any way?

In Mexico we have developed strict laws and regulations for these activities to ensure maximum respect for the animal. Only two people (and a licensed guide) can swim with them at a time. Swimmers must remain at least six feet away from the whale shark. There are many other regulations.

How many whale sharks will there be in the area during their migration? How long are they around?

Some days you can find 20 to more than 100. They are usually here from May 15th to September 15th.

I noticed that you can expect local food, traditional dance, and artisanal all available about the festival. Can you tell us a bit about what you'll find?

Guests can taste traditional, local seafood delicacies. We'll also have an artists' exhibition featuring conch handicrafts, hammocks, textiles, honey, and habanero sauce.

Get There: Isla Mujeres has hotels for every budget; more than 60 range from one to five stars. Many are family-run. Follow this link to the hotel directory. Also, Privilege Aluxes Resort is offering a four-night special for $518 per person that includes luxe accommodations, daily breakfast, a gratis cocktail reception, and other perks.

Photo: John S. Vater

Win a Trip to Costa Rica!

2009-07-09T14:40:40Z

Inspired by the Jenss's blogs from Costa Rica? Now you have a chance get there yourself. Sign up to win a free vacation for two to Costa Rica with National Geographic Expeditions. And check out our National Geographic Traveler guidebook to get behind the scenes information about the country's culture, history, and people. It features insider tips from National Geographic experts, must-see hot spots, off-the-beaten-path excursions, and more.

Inspired? Check out our list of the top ten places to visit in Costa Rica, like Jaco (above), Parque Nacional Corcovado, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. See the full list after the jump.
Top Ten Costa Rica

1. San José City Core
2. Escazú
3. Parque Nacional Volcán Poás
4. Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú
5. La Paz Waterfall Gardens
6. Guanacaste
7. Monteverde
8. Jacó
9. Parque Nacional Corcovado
10. Puerto Viejo

[Total Immersion Costa Rica Contest]

Daily Radar: 07.09.09

2009-07-09T12:00:00Z

This August, the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore will take its environmental mission to the streets. The museum is teaming up with Exxon Mobile to offer Altcar, an electric vehicle car-sharing program.
Want to send a postcard but can't get to a foreign post office? Yeah, there's an App for that. HazelMail, the personalized postcard service we brought to you back in November, has created an iPhone app that allows you to instantly send postcards to your friends and family. The App is free and includes one free postcard.
IT editor Janelle Nanos will be on the radio this morning at 9 a.m. giving travel tips for summer. Check out Mediabistro's Morning Media Menu to hear what she has to say.
The Chautauqua Institution and National Geographic are teaming up for the Institute's summer programming series, which will include lectures by NG photographers like Annie Griffiths Belt and NG Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis. Check out the 2009 schedule of speakers here.

Photo: Altcar

Chicago's Best Places to Hear the Blues

2009-07-08T19:30:36Z

Traveler photographer Bob Krist is just back from a visit to Chicago, where he toured some of the classic blues clubs in the city.

Chicago is a magnet for blues music. You can hit a different club every night of the week to see and hear some of the greats play alongside the up-and-comers in the field. I visited a few fabulous spots on my recent visit, here are some of my favorites:

In downtown, Blue Chicago has two locations, both on North Clark Street. Go to the more northerly club, at 736, for a roomier feel and some cool artwork as well as great performers like John Primer.

In the South Loop, Buddy Guy's Legends has shows every night and sometimes at lunch as well. The club is full of blues memorabilia, and you can catch the man himself holding court near the bar many an evening, especially in this, the 20th anniversary of the club.

Further north, the Lincoln Park neighborhood has its own Blues Alley with two clubs, one across the street from the other. Kingston Mines is larger, with two stages and forty years of history behind it, while B.L.U.E.S. is a small juke joint with an intimate feel and a homey atmosphere.

On the west side, From Thursday to Sunday nights, Tony Mangiullo is the host -- and often the entertainment -- at Rosa's Lounge. Hailing from Italy, Tony and his mother Rosa came to Chicago 25 years ago at the invitation of Junior Wells and their club has been going strong ever since.

Have another blues club on your own list? Let us know! And for more things to do in Chicago, check out our 48 Hours guide.

Video Slideshow by Bob Krist

Jenss Family Travels: Costa Rican Adventures

2009-07-08T18:30:12Z

Rainer Jenss and his family are wrapping up the final weeks of their around-the-world journey, and they're blogging about their experiences for us at Intelligent Travel. Keep up with the Jensses by bookmarking their posts, and follow the boys' Global Bros blog at National Geographic Kids.

Of all the things we've experienced over the course of this yearlong world tour, I must confess that it's been the scenery and wildlife that's often left the biggest impression, and Costa Rica didn't disappoint. Mind you, this is a broad generalization and we've encountered some of the most generous, interesting, and unique personalities I've ever met, but the abundance of natural splendor this world contains is probably what I'll most remember from this trip.

Our next stop on our Costa Rican adventure would certainly validate this assertion. The Arenal Volcano and its constant ash column and nightly spewing of fiery red lava rocks was a must-visit because Stefan's third grade science curriculum required instruction on volcanoes. We have had ample opportunity to cover this subject throughout our travels, most notably in Hawaii and New Zealand (not to mention Santorini), but this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and there aren't too many places to get a show like this... if the weather cooperates, and that's a big "if".

We knew it was a roll of the dice to come here during the rainy season. If the clouds shrouded the mountain, as they often do, we were at least assured to have plenty of alternative activities to make it worthwhile. The nearby town of La Fortuna is the jumping-off point to some of the region's most exciting adrenalin-inducing pursuits. If the threat of a potential volcanic eruption isn't enough to get your heart pumping, then perhaps some white-water rafting would do the trick? I figured we had to spend at least a day running down one of Costa Rica's famous Class V rivers. But given that Stefan is only nine and pretty inexperienced (like the rest of us), we were more than happy to settle for the half-day Class II-III rapids offered by the Desafio Adventures Company. In fact, we all had a blast and got to view some picturesque scenery and wildlife (sloths, dart frogs, and monkeys) to boot.

Most people don't leave La Fortuna without soaking in the famous hot springs heated by the volcano itself. Personally, I find this a pretty weak consolation for anyone who doesn't actually see the volcano, especially at the exorbitant prices some resorts and spas in the area charge to sample them. We stayed at the very affordable Los Lagos Resort that included several thermal pools on the property as well as some pretty hairy water slides that made the rafting seem tame.

Fortunately, the weather was ideal for viewing Arenal the day we had a coveted reservation at the Observatory Lodge. The best nighttime views of the lava flows are from this spot, so we lingered on the restaurant's deck after dinner to watch the action because our room didn't face the volcano. If it had (as several do), I would say it would have indisputably been my favorite hotel room of the entire yearlong trip. There's no better view for my money than watching an active volcano streaming glowing molten rocks down a picture-perfect conical shaped mountain less than two miles away.

While most vacationers we talked to headed for the beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula or Central Pacific Coast, we left La Fortuna and took an inexpensive internal flight to Puerto Jimenez and the more wild and rugged southwestern shores of the Osa Peninsula. After all, it's been called "the most biologically intense place on earth," and the southeastern border crossing into Panama was a more attractive alternative for where we were going next.

Because we didn't rent a car (even with a 4WD, it's pretty tough driving), we had no real access to the Parque Nacional Corcovado, for which the area is most famous. Although visiting the pristine rain forest and its abundance of wildlife was tempting, it would have required some pretty heavy-duty trekking and serious camping, none of which we were prepared for. An alternative would have been to charter a plane and fly directly into Sirena Station in the heart of the park, but that wasn't realistic either. Instead, we settled in a secluded cabin on Cabo Matapalo Beach, which offered world-class surf and ample opportunities for rugged exploration and adventure right at our doorstep.

The cabin's owner, Andy Pruter, runs an operation called Everyday Adventure, which gives a personalized tour of the area's heavily forested coastline. The full package offers climbing 60 feet up a 400-year-old strangler fig tree called "The Cathedral." The kids scaled it with ease while dad here had a slower go reliving one of every boy's favorite childhood pastimes. It also includes the option of rappelling down a 100-foot waterfall. Although the water wasn't running yet, we did it anyway, which proved a great accomplishment for father and sons alike.

In the afternoon, Stefan and I went surfing at nearby Pan Dulce Beach, which is much better for beginners. Meanwhile, Carol and Tyler scouted for the plethora of animals that inhabit the area, including scarlet macaws, anteaters, four species of monkeys, brown pelicans and a host of other amphibians and snakes. And to completely go with the Zen flow, Carol and I took a couple of outdoor yoga classed run by an American expat, who like Andy, now calls this area home.

"Roughing it" a little bit certainly should make us appreciate all the conveniences and creature comforts of the home we'd soon be returning to back in the U.S. and was also the perfect tune-up for the final stop of our journey, Panama.

Photos: Volcano, Greg Dix; Strangler Fig, Rainer Jenss; Quetzal, Tyler Jenss.

Madrid Celebrates Summer

2009-07-08T17:40:32Z

Madrid recently kicked off its 24th annual Veranos de la Villa (Summers in the City), 60 days of music, dance, theater, flamenco and much more.

The 1,166 events, held daily through August 23rd, include 65 concerts, 50 plays, myriad ballet performances, 200 films, and two circuses (!); many of which are free to attend.

Performers run the gamut from pop to classical, and represent Spain, America, Brazil, Germany, England. Among them are Sara Baras, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cesária Évoria, Gilberto Gil, Carlos Saura, James Taylor, Lou Reed, Kool & the Gang, Seal, and the Opera Ballet of Munich.

Venues include the 16th-century Plaza Mayor, the city's gardens, and the 4th-century BC Egyptian Templo de Debod (Temple of Debod). There'll even be open-air screenings of top movie hits such as Ché, Gran Torino, Slum Dog Millionaire, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Looking for more free things to do in Madrid? Check out Traveler's guide to Free Things to Do year-round in Madrid.

World in Focus: Today's Pic

2009-07-08T14:48:02Z

Traveler and Photo District News are currently hosting our annual World in Focus Photo Contest, and this year we're letting readers preview the submissions and vote on their favorites. We just put a new batch of images up on our website, and here's one of our favorite picks:

This photo, taken by Zoltan Madacsi, is of the "Tango" aka the Esceri Flea Market in Budapest, Hungary. I just love the face of the violinist in this image. For more on markets around the world, visit our Authentic Shopping guide. And submit your own photos now to our World in Focus photo contest for the chance to win trips, gear, and other prizes.

[World in Focus]

Daily Radar: 07.08.09

2009-07-08T12:00:00Z

Book Friendly Planet Travel's Athens and Three-day Greek Isles Cruise before July 17 and spend eight days in Greece for $1,059. Price includes round-trip airfare from JFK, group transfers, buffet breakfast daily in Athens, all meals aboard the cruise, and touring costs. To book, click here.
You didn't think we'd actually get away with NOT mentioning Michael Jackson, did you? Through August 29 (the King of Pop's birthday), Hollywood Heights Hotel is donating 10 percent of your stay to the Make a Wish Foundation when you book the "Tribute to Michael Jackson" package.
Through Labor Day weekend, Omni Hotels is letting its guests borrow Flip Ultra video cameras to record their family vacations. Guests are encouraged to upload one of their videos to Omni's social networking site Local Scoop for a chance to win a trip to Omni Bedford Springs Resort. Kids will also receive a backpack filled with a flashlight, disc launcher, candy, a plant-able bookmark, and more items that will help them explore the hotel's location.

Photo: Wally Gobetz

New Sites Added to UNESCO World Heritage List

2009-07-07T20:00:25Z

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee added 13 new sites to its World Heritage List last week, bringing the total of protected sites to 890 properties. The list, which encourages countries to preserve important cultural locations, now includes two additional Natural Heritage sites and 11 Cultural Heritage sites, including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales (above).
The Ruins of Loropeni in Burkina Faso, Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande in Cape Verde, and Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (right) in Kyrgyzstan became the first World Heritage sites in their respective countries. The list includes 148 different States Parties, which have agreed to follow the World Heritage Convention.

The committee also placed three sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger, which includes sites that require major conservation efforts in order to retain their cultural integrity. This move is particularly relevant after the Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany lost its status as a World Heritage site in this latest session of committee proceedings.

For more info and pictures, check out National Geographic News.

Photographs courtesy Paul Highnam and David Trilling, UNESCO

Happy 200th Birthday, Darwin!

2009-07-07T18:00:14Z

Talk about a cause to celebrate! It's been 200 years since naturalist Charles Darwin's birth and 150 years since his pioneering publication On the Origin of Species first rocked the scientific world. In honor of the milestone occasion, the University of Cambridge, where Darwin was a student, is hosting a festival this week through July 10 as part of a yearlong series of events marking the university's 800th anniversary.

Over 100 scientists, writers, artists and performers will commemorate Darwin's work at more than 40 events around Cambridge. Speakers and performers include Sir David Attenborough, Ian McEwan, Professor Richard Dawkins, Sir Terry Pratchett, Richard Leaky, and Harold Varmus among many others.

If you're not a scientist or your level of evolutionary expertise consists of that one high school biology course you took eons ago, don't fear. The wide range of events caters to all interests, from scientific debates to art exhibitions to stand-up comedy. Street-side performances include interpretations of the evolution of juggling, music, and voice, while the evening Fringe Festival features plays, comedy shows, and film screenings.

"Nowhere else this year will you find such breadth of expertise gathered in one place, at one time, to discuss and celebrate Darwin's work," Darwin Festival director Mirand Gomperts said. "The Festival is a key event in the University of Cambridge's 800th anniversary year. We hope that as many people as possible will enjoy this unique opportunity and discover how Darwin's ideas can help us tackle the challenges we will face in the future."

Other festival highlights include:

Guided tours are provided around the University's museums, gardens and colleges, which combined, comprise the world's largest collection of Darwin's plant, animal, geological and fossil specimens, his published and unpublished works, correspondence, journals and notes.

"Endless Forms" Exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum
Featuring works by Monet, Degas, Cezanne and Landseer, the exhibition examines the relationship between Darwin's scientific theories and late nineteenth-century art. Paintings, drawings, sculpture and illustrated books are juxtaposed with anthropological photographs, fossils, skulls and rarely-seen original Darwin material.

Whipple Museum of the History of Science
The Whipple Museum holds an extensive collection of scientific instruments, mainly from the 17th to 19th centuries, including the microscope used by Charles Darwin himself.

University Museum of Zoology
The Zoology museum boasts Darwin's Galapagos Finch collection from his legendary voyage around the world on the HMS Beagle. Also on display are 40 examples of fish he collected around South America and the microscope slides he prepared during his study on barnacles.

Christ's College
Christ's College, where Darwin studied, features a restored version of Darwin's room, as well as a newly created garden inspired by the exotic plants that Darwin discovered on his voyage.

The events are open to all (subject to availability) and in many cases, free!

For more information on events and prices, visit http://www.800.cam.ac.uk/page/82/darwin-2009-festival.htm or for more information on Cambridge's 800th anniversary events, visit http://www.800.cam.ac.uk/

Packing for a Big Trip

2009-07-07T16:00:12Z

As National Geographic Traveler senior editor Norie Quintos readies for a family trip to Kenya (with a stopover in London), she shares her packing tips in this posting, the fourth in a series. Click to read posts one, two, and three.

I hate packing so much that I'm procrastinating by writing this post on packing. Putting the necessities of your trip in a suitcase is a tedious chore that at the same time requires Mensa-level mental discernment: Does the camera charger go into the carry-on or the checked bag? Do I pack a separate suitcase for London? Will I be hand-washing clothes during the trip? (which of course affects how much underwear I should bring). And, especially for women, what shoes do I bring? Tough, head-spinning stuff.

But good packing is vital to a good trip, allowing more time for exploration, engagement, discovery, and less time looking for a store that sells bathing suits, tracking down a pharmacy for allergy meds, calling home for a copy of your passport, or nursing blisters because you brought the wrong footwear. Start early: I keep a cardboard box in my bedroom in which I put items I will need on my next trip as I think of it. This passive activity is easy and painless. When I received my travel insurance documents by mail, I immediately popped them into the box. And just-washed shirts I knew I wanted to take went straight from the laundry basket into the box.

Know the rules of the game: Airline baggage rules are constantly changing, so I always check the websites of all the airlines we will be using. Our transatlantic flight on Virgin, for instance, allows each of us to check in two bags with a maximum dimension each of 62 linear inches (that's the combined measurements of height, width, and depth) and weight of 70 pounds. Very generous. But we will also be on small Kenyan air charters with a weight maximum of 33 pounds. That probably means the kids' Dungeons and Dragons hardback manuals and my Kenya and London guidebooks won't be making the trip.

The airlines' carry-on rules force hard choices as well. My camera, laptop, phone, important documents, malaria meds, and other prescription drugs are no-brainers. Hopefully there's enough room for a change of clothes; drugstore remedies for headache, upset stomach, and the like; electronic chargers and cables; and a book. Most airlines allow a "personal item" such as a purse or briefcase. I've chosen the biggest "purse" I can find in my closet.

Print out a packing list: There are many out there on the Web. Download one you like and customize it for your preferences. Save that file on your computer and use that as the template for future trips.

Keep your important documents together: Itinerary, tickets, passports, credit cards, debit card, driver's license, insurance card, cash should all go in a document/passport case. Put a copy of your itinerary in each suitcase, and hide a copy of the first page of your passports in a side pocket of your checked luggage. I believe in giving older children responsibilities such as safekeeping their own pocket money and keeping track of their belongings, but vital documents such as passports and tickets are safest with me.

Group items: Looking for a pair of socks in a duffel bag can be like the proverbial needle in the haystack unless you find a way to contain similar items. I have folders, cubes, and sacks specially made for packing by Eagle Creek and the like. But you can also use plain old plastic bags--the larger-sized Ziploc bags work well. Each pair of shoes should also have its own bag. Some eco-minded outdoor clothing retailers such as Ex Officio sell shoes in reusable cloth-like packaging ideal for travel.

Choose travel-friendly clothing appropriate to your destination: You certainly don't need to buy an entire new wardrobe, but a few well-chosen items can cut down on weight and volume. For an African safari, we needed clothes that protected from the sun, bugs, dust, and at the same time didn't attract the attention of toothy mega-fauna (ergo, no bright colors). Outdoor retailers such as REI and Hudson Trail Outfitters and Patagonia will have everything you need. New-tech materials, while not absolutely necessary, can be useful. Insect Shield clothing is bonded with insect repellent that lasts through multiple washings. (Cheap alternative is to spray your clothes with the insecticide permethrin.) And while Stanley Livingston, Beryl Markham, Ernest Hemingway and other explorers of yore wore cotton, there's a crop of new synthetic and natural fabrics with quick-dry, odor-absorbing, wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking properties. Check out fabrics such as merino wool, activated carbon, chitosan, soy, and bamboo from brands such as Icebreaker, Ibex, GoLite, and Travelsmith.

Make the kids work: Customize a packing list for each child and have them fill the suitcase. Tell them it's a game (though my teens are too old to fall for that trick).

Don't put all your eggs in one basket: That is, don't put all your clothes in one bag. If you are traveling as a couple or family, consider dividing your clothing equally among all the bags. That way, the loss isn't so great when a bag is delayed or misdirected. I always do this on big family trips requiring an airplane ride. It complicates packing, but reduces the anxiety of losing a bag. Once you reach the destination, re-organize clothing back to original bags. And there's no need to repeat this tactic for the flight home, because a delayed or lost bag shouldn't create as big of a problem.

Have I missed anything? I'd love to hear your favorite packing tips.

Photo: Istockphoto.com

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2009-07-07T16:00:12Z