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I Heart My City: Iain’s Manchester, England

Iain Mallory used to be a warrant officer in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps — a job that took him on adventures all around the world. He tried his hand at running a public house after leaving the armed forces, but it wasn’t long before his wanderlust got the better of him, leading him [...]

#FriFotos: It Takes A Village…

This week’s #FriFotos* theme is VILLAGES, and Sweden boasts a lot of them – as people who have seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo can attest. Smögen is one such place, a thriving “summer town” – like Girl’s Hedestad – that becomes a sleepy, snow-covered ghost town come winter. This photo of the bright [...]

Where To Travel in 2012?

Would you like to go somewhere new in 2012?  National Geographic Traveler editors deliberated on the next up-and-coming places and published the Best of the World 2012 special section in our November-December issue.
Across the pond, Travel PR UK collected the bucket lists of various other travel experts, such as Frommers, Lonely Planet and World Travel [...]

Can You See Disney World in a Day?

Even though Walt Disney World Resort offers a one-day “park hopper” pass that gives you unlimited access to Animal Kingdom, Disney Studios, Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, visiting all of them on the same day is almost impossible.
But not entirely.
Seeing it all requires careful planning, triathlete-like endurance and the kind of determination not typically found [...]

Of Manatees and Mermaids

Being a National Geographic photographer for the past 30 years, Brian Skerry has some great stories about his assignments in the field, most of which have taken place under water.  Here he talks about one of his favorite characters, the manatee.
If you liked that snippet, you can watch the complete video of Skerry’s half-hour talk [...]

The Radar: Where to Ski With Wildlife, iPhone Photo Apps, Insiders’ Guide to Beirut

Take to the slopes to spot a bald eagle in New York, swans in Idaho, or lynx in Alaska. Go skiing or snowshoeing at one of these 10 national wildlife refuges across the U.S. [USAToday]

Jazz up your travel photos with these great iPhone apps. [Matador Network]

Get an insider’s guide to Beirut–a local chef, designer, architect, [...]

Deals: Where to Stay in Montreal

By Janelle Nanos
From the January/February issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Le Petit Hôtel › Historic district
With sleek bamboo floors, clear glass sinks, and huge windows, Le Petit Hôtel feels more as if you’ve borrowed a fortunate friend’s loft for the weekend than merely checked into a hotel. Much like Montreal itself, this 24-room boutique property is a [...]

Grooving in the Galápagos with National Geographic Expeditions

Do you dream of cavorting with sea lions, meditating with giant tortoises, sunbathing with scaly marine iguanas?  There’s only one place to do that: the Galápagos islands of Ecuador.  Did you know that the National Geographic Society has its own fleet of small, comfortably outfitted ships to take you there, with National Geographic experts aboard [...]

I Heart My City: Matt’s Washington, D.C.

Hello city-lovers! Today we’re exploring our own backyard with an I Heart My City guide to Washington, D.C. Today’s tour comes courtesy of travel blogger Matt Long, Editor-in-Chief and creator of LandLopers.com and co-host of the D.C. Travel Tweet Up (In the D.C. area? Join the Tweet Up tomorrow night!). Get Matt’s insider’s take on the nation’s capital, [...]

The Radar: Australia’s Treasured Islands, L.A. Free Museum Weekend, Great Restaurants in Budapest

Australia has more than 8,200 islands. Don’t miss these five stand outs. [Lonely Planet]

Los Angeles’s seventh annual “Museums Free-For-All” weekend will take place Saturday and Sunday, January 28 to 29. Eighteen area museums will waive admission fees on one or both of these days. [Museum L.A.]

Chow down at one of these four great Hungarian restaurants in [...]

Hotel Central: New England’s Snug Ski Lodges

Throw another log on the fire and get cozy at these four Northeastern getaways
By Jackie Caradonio
From the January/February issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.
As winter’s first heavy snows bury New England under a fluffy blanket of white, the region’s best ski resorts come alive with the crackling of firewood and the humming of chairlifts.
Vermont Old farm buildings dot [...]

The Radar: Top U.S. Travel Destinations 2012, Mini Guide to Montreal, Beautiful Tramways

Visit before the crowds come in. TripAdvisor recently named 15 U.S. destinations on the rise in 2012 (including Scottsdale, Arizona, above).  [TripAdvisor via Travel Daily News]

Plan an impromptu visit to Montreal this weekend with this mini guide, packed with essentials like what to see, where to stay, and how to find the best in food, [...]

#FriFotos: Huli Wigmen Take New York

This week’s #FriFotos* theme is EXOTIC, and New York City recently was the exotic playground for two visitors far, far away from home.
To a Huli Wigman of Papua New Guinea, the streets of Manhattan have got to seem pretty exotic. And vice versa. Even among the blasé denizens of New York, the warriors manage [...]

Impressions of Cuba

Jen Beasley

Reporter Jen Beasley is just back from Cuba and shares her impressions below.
In December, I was so proud to be traveling to Cuba on a “People to People” exchange that I insisted, with a forlorn “por favor?,” that the guard stamp my passport—not standard practice for Americanos since we’re usually sneaking in. The stamp [...]

I Heart My City: Kelli’s Salt Lake City

Welcome back city-lovers to another Wednesday edition of I Heart My City. We return stateside this week with an insider’s guide to Salt Lake City, Utah, sent to us by Intelligent Travel reader Kelli N. Read Kelli’s tips on where to eat, drink, shop, and play in Utah’s capital, then share your own favorite things [...]

The Radar: New Orleans Travel Tips, International Food Customs, Top Travel Literature of 2011

Get handy tips for your next trip to New Orleans including how to order your po’boy, what to wear to Cafe du Monde, and where to find great, live music. [BootsnAll]

A month-by-month guide to food customs around the world. [Huffington Post]

Can’t travel this year? Explore new places without leaving your living room by picking up [...]

Last Chance: Vote for Your Favorite Adventurer of the Year

Over the last few weeks here on Intelligent Travel, we introduced you to the 2012 Adventurers of the Year– twelve outstanding athletes with remarkable achievements in exploration, conservation, and adventure sports.
We want to hear from you! Vote for the person you think best embodies the spirit of adventure to win the People’s Choice award. Voting [...]

10 Questions to Ask Before Booking Your Next Family Trip

Family travel writer Rainer Jenss shares his New Year’s resolutions when it comes to planning trips with his family.
For 2012,  instead of making my usual bucket list, I’m concentrating mostly on which places and activities are going to benefit my kids and enrich their lives. With that in mind, here are a few questions I [...]

The Radar: National Parks Free This Weekend, London With Kids, Ski Resorts for Non-Skiers

All 397 national parks across the U.S. will be offering free admission this weekend  from January 14 through 16 to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Special events will be held at various sites including the new MLK Memorial in Washington, D.C. [NPS.gov]

Check out these five kid-friendly things to do in London. [Travels With a Nine Year [...]

#FriFotos: Where’s Your Happy Place?

Denmark. Singapore. Mexico. San Luis Obispo. Are these the happiest spots on Earth? In his book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way, Dan Buettner explores these four places, identified by researchers as world hot spots in happiness—pockets around the globe where people report more happiness, enjoyment, interest, and respect.
As it fits with this week’s #FriFotos [...]

Checking In: Big Island B&Bs

Unwind and power up for your next Hawaiian adventure at these four tropical escapes.
By Meg Weaver
From the January/February issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Holualoa Inn › Holualoa, Kona foothills
Set on the slopes of Mount Hualalai among 4,300 coffee trees and an organic vegetable garden, the inn’s six guest rooms are furnished with pieces the owner collected on her travels. [...]

I Heart My City: Katie’s Rome

Buongiorno city-lovers! Welcome back to another Wednesday edition of I Heart My City. Today’s insider guide to Rome was sent to us by American expat and foodie Katie Parla, who writes about mouthwatering eats in Italy and beyond on her Parla Food blog. Discover Katie’s favorite places to eat, shop, and play in the Italian capital, [...]

The Radar: Best of Ottawa, Beautiful Airport Terminals, 2012 Hotel Openings

From its walkability to great restaurants and bounty of bookstores, here are five things you’ll love about Ottawa. [Dangerous Business]

These 10 beautiful airports are not just easy on the eyes, but functional and full of personality as well. You won’t mind spending a layover here. [Frommer's]

Discover  the top 10 most anticipated hotel openings of 2012 [...]

Adventurers of the Year: Surfer Carissa Moore

For seven years, National Geographic has combed the globe to find Adventurers of the Year, each selected for his or her extraordinary achievement in exploration, conservation, and adventure sports. This year, our Adventure editors, in partnership with Glenfiddich, selected men and women who are pioneering innovation in the world of adventure.
Here on Intelligent Travel we [...]

The Radar: Paris for Free, Travel Tech Gear for 2012, Sydney Suburb Grub

Your trip to Paris doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are fun and free things to do in the City of Light. [The Planet D]

Get a travel blogger’s recommendations on the top travel tech gear to document and share your travels from the road in 2012. [Spunky Girl Monologue]

Sample great grub from five of Sydney’s suburbs. [...]