The gloom and doom of the economy makes us want nothing more than to get away from it all, but unfortunately we can’t afford it! Exotic travel doesn’t have to be expensive if you’re willing to enjoy the cheaper version of the real thing. Instead of Paris visit a much more affordable Quebec City, if you want to visit the world, see it all at Las Vegas.
Continue for more ideas.
Presumably, before you travel you have some sort of plan of which attractions you’d like to see. And presumably, your list is very similar to everyone else who will be visiting that same location. Here is a list of the nine most disappointing attractions in Europe; they might be disappointing because of over-hype or too many tourists:
Castles inevitably have a rich history, and are therefore a great interest to travelers. Here is a list of some of Europe’s most important and beautiful castles:
Check out a few more of Austria’s castles in WatchMojo’s travel profile:
Here is a list of countries around the world that are most friendly to expats. The list is based on the ease with which relocators can make friends, join local groups and learn the local language. Check it out:
Check out this list of locations where you’ll get the best bang for your buck.
Stockholm, Sweden
Now: $1 buys 7.9 Sweden kronor (SEK)
June 2008:$1 bought 6 SEK
Increase in value of the dollar: 32%Reykjavik, Iceland
Now: $1 buys 120 Icelandic kronur (ISK)
June 2008: $1 bought 74 ISK
Increase in value of the dollar: 52%Bruges, Belgium
Now: $1 buys 0.79 euro (EUR)
June 2008: $1 bought 0.64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%Madrid, Spain
Now: $1 buys 0.79 EUR
June 2008: $1 bought 0.64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Now: $1 buys 1.6 Australia dollars (AUD)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.05 AUD
Increase in value of the dollar: 52%Rotorua, New Zealand
Now: $1 buys 1.8 New Zealand dollars (NZD)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.28 NZD
Increase in value of the dollar: 41%Istanbul, Turkey
Now: $1 buys 1.7 new Turkish lira (TRY)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.2 TRY
Increase in value of the dollar: 42%Montreal, Canada
Now:$1 buys 1.28 Canadian dollars (CAD)
June 2008: $1 bought 0.99 CAD
Increase in value of the dollar: 29%Enniskerry, Ireland
Now: $1 buys 0.79 EUR
June 2008: $1 bought .64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%
Better cancel your standing Sunday squash game this week, because White Night hits Madrid this Saturday. According to Jaunted:
Traditionally, White Nights take place around the summer solstice in cities close to the Arctic Circle where the sky never gets dark for several days straight. To embody that spirit in Madrid, throughout the night, museums will be open, concerts will be on and all public transport will be free.
Events go until 6am.
There should be more communal food fights.
According to Spiegel Online:
It is perhaps the largest food fight in the world. Every year in the tiny town of Buñol, Spain, locals and tourists engage in pitched battle using close to 150,000 kilograms of tomatoes. The tradition has been going on for over 60 years, but no one seems to know how or why it got its start.
Check out this video about La Tomatina…
ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 24 /PRNewswire/ — Wine and travel buffs will not want to miss this exclusive opportunity. Cruise Holidays has teamed with Virginia’s favorite award-winning winery, Pearmund Cellars (www.PearmundCellars.com), and Oceania Cruises to offer a one-of-a-kind wine cruise to the heart of Mediterranean wine country. This wine-cruise spectacular will feature a port-intensive itinerary to some of the Mediterranean’s most desirable ports of call coupled with exclusive onboard wine tastings, an anticipated private onboard wine-and-food pairing dinner and cocktail reception. Sprinkled throughout the cruise will be optional shore excursions available exclusively to Cruise Holidays clients to some of the most intimate and less public wineries in Italy and France. Along the way, wine expert and owner of Pearmund Cellars, Chris Pearmund and his wife Lisa, will offer guests insight into the burgeoning Virginia wine business and the fine art of wine making.
The 10-night cruise, aboard Oceania Cruises’ Nautica, departs Rome, Italy on June 17, 2009. It visits a different port each day to include Sorrento, Amalfi, Portofino, Monte Carlo, Saint-Tropez, and Marseille, before debarking in Barcelona, Spain on June 27, 2009. Rates begin at just $2,999 per guest, plus taxes and fuel surcharge. The rate includes roundtrip airfare from Washington, Dulles and other select gateway cities across North America. Clients who book by May 15, 2008, also will enjoy a $150 per stateroom shipboard amenity credit to further enhance their experience.
“We are always striving to offer our clients unique and varied options in luxury leisure travel,” says Jim Work, co-owner of Cruise Holidays of Alexandria. “This cruise combines the best of Virginia’s wine industry with an unbeatable Mediterranean itinerary which we have enhanced with exclusive onboard and shore-side activities for our clients interested in wine and the culinary arts,” Work explains.
Space on the Mediterranean wine cruise is limited and 2009 sales have been brisk. To book requires a per person deposit of $750 per guest; no further payment is due until 90 days prior to the sail date. Clients interested in booking onto the cruise can obtain more information by contacting Cruise Holidays of Alexandria toll free at 866-368-7327, or visiting the company’s website at www.LuxuryCruiseCounselors.com.
“In October 1999 National Geographic Traveler showcased 50 of the world’s top destinations, places that every curious traveler should visit in a lifetime. Now we’re expanding our Places of a Lifetime franchise online, with personal essays on top destinations and the addition of a wealth of timely service information, from insiders’ tips on the best places to stay and eat, to great books and music, to recommended walking tours. In our online Places of a Lifetime you’ll find both inspiration and practical travel tips, and we plan to add more great cities on a regular basis.” - National Geographic
1- Phuket, Thailand
This Thai island is famous for its sandy beaches and posh resorts, but water shortages, partly attributed to climate change, have presented significant challenges for the local tourism industry. In recent years, tap water at hotels has been unavailable during the high tourist season. Chronic water shortages can call into question the long-term sustainability of tourism and create tension between the local population and the tourism industry.
2- Caribbean Islands 
The combination of climate change, development, chronic over-fishing, pollution and coral reef disease in the Caribbean creates a “synergy of threats,” says Mark Spalding, a senior marine scientist at the Nature Conservancy. The whitening of coral reefs, caused by more frequent tropical storms attributed to climate change, is a major concern for local tourist operators. The Caribbean is home to 7% of the world’s coral reef population.
3- Gulf Of Maine 
The rugged coastline of the Gulf of Maine is not only a haven for summer tourists, but it also supports a regional economy based on fishing and aqua-farming. The environmental impact of over-fishing combined with climate change was evident in a recent study in the journal Science, which determined that the adjacent waters had higher than normal risk factors. The changing environment means habitat degradation and rising sea level, according to the Nature Conservancy.
4- Mallorca, Spain 
Mallorca’s Mediterranean coasts draw tourists and celebrities in large numbers, but like Phuket, this island has struggled with water shortages attributed to climate change and increasing demand. In recent years, the Spanish government had to begin importing fresh water via tank ships. Chronic water shortage poses a significant threat to Mallorca’s tourism industry and has the potential to strain relations with the local population.
5- Central Chile 
The coastline of central Chile is populated with beach resorts that allow tourists to enjoy the region’s white sand beaches and Mediterranean climate. A recent study in Science, however, found that the region had significantly higher environmental threats than other South American coastlines. Scientists are still researching the impact of coastal pollution and development and fisheries, but the Nature Conservancy says habitat loss and changes to species populations are linked to these problems.
6- Pacific Northwest 
The Puget Trough/Georgia Basin region stretches from central Oregon to southern Canada. A recent study in Science found that the region had some of the highest environmental risks worldwide. According to Mark Powell, vice president for fish conservation at the Ocean Conservancy, high levels of pollution have caused low-oxygen zones in the water, fish population depletion and even the development of male fish with female sex characteristics.
7- Eastern Philippines 
The Eastern Philippine coastline, known for its turquoise water, registered high according to a recent study in Science. Mark Spalding, a senior marine scientist at the Nature Conservancy, says it’s largely due to over-fishing and the conversion of mangrove forests into aquaculture ponds with low productivity. Mangrove forests protect coastlines from storms, filter water and provide a nursery ground for fish.
8- North Sea 
“There are still some healthy areas and popular resorts, but this is truly a sea under siege,” says Mark Spalding, a senior marine scientist at the Nature Conservancy. Spalding blames the dense coastal population of neighboring countries and over-fishing. The North Sea has experienced declining fish populations and high levels of pollution.
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