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Global-Trekker.net http://www.global-trekker.net Global Travel News, Blogs, and Deals Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:21:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Photos of Snow in Rome http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/photos-of-snow-in-rome/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/photos-of-snow-in-rome/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:21:59 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/photos-of-snow-in-rome/ It’s rare to have snow in Rome but today the city was covered with snow, causing major transportation problems in the city with many shops and businesses remaining closed. While there was snow in Rome in 2010, this is said to have been Rome’s biggest snowfall in more than 25 years and lots of people were out with cameras. Here are places to see photos of Rome with snow:

Snow has fallen in much of Italy and we have links to more photos on our Facebook page, including snow in Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Milan.

View full post on About.com Italy Travel

]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/photos-of-snow-in-rome/feed/ 0 Fastnet Line Sinks http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/fastnet-line-sinks/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/fastnet-line-sinks/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:17:39 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/fastnet-line-sinks/ Fastnet Line, a.k.a. “The People’s Ferry”, has terminated operations. The sole ship “Julia” was already berthed for the winter in Cork, now it looks as if its revenue-earning days with Fastnet Line are over for good. After court wrangles and severe commercial problems the whole operation has ended after less than two years service. While the operators describe this as a major blow for tourism in Cork, Kerry and South Wales, questions about the commercial viability of the service have been raised before.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/fastnet-line-sinks/feed/ 0 Yoga Health Retreats to Hold 11 Retreats in Bali in 2012. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:30:32 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/ One of Australia’s most successful yoga teachers will soon be sharing her secrets in a series of retreats across Bali, Indonesia. Sue Hawkins has been operating from Australia’s Byron Bay for over 10 years, giving burnt-out businesspeople a much-needed recharge with her special rejuvenating yoga practices. In 2012, Hawkins will be taking her methods to Southeast Asia, through eleven yoga health retreats to be conducted in Ubud, Bali.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/yoga-health-retreats-to-hold-11-retreats-in-bali-in-2012/feed/ 0 Recife Carnival 2012: The Municipal Ball http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/recife-carnival-2012-the-municipal-ball/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/recife-carnival-2012-the-municipal-ball/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:17:57 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/recife-carnival-2012-the-municipal-ball/

One of the top events in Brazil Carnival could still be within your reach: earlier today, 2,000 of the 16,000 tickets to this year’s Municipal Ball in Recife (Feb.11) were …

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/recife-carnival-2012-the-municipal-ball/feed/ 0 I Heart My City: Iain’s Manchester, England http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/i-heart-my-city-iain%e2%80%99s-manchester-england/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/i-heart-my-city-iain%e2%80%99s-manchester-england/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:00:05 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/i-heart-my-city-iain%e2%80%99s-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 to his current career as a freelance writer and photographer. Check out this local’s take on Manchester — a former industrial giant that has undergone a recent face lift to become a don’t-miss destination for anyone traveling to North West England — then leave a comment below if you have anything to add.

Manchester is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is The Teacup — a cool independent coffee shop.

Manchester Wheel (Photo: Iain Mallory)

When I crave some snow sports, I always go to the Chill Factore at the Trafford Centre.

To escape the noise, I visit Heaton Park.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in Chetham’s Library, the oldest public library in the English-speaking world.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with anybody but a footballer — the street performers are the best fun.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from Sam’s Chop House it has to be the shepherd’s pie.

The Trafford Centre is my one-stop shop for great shopping, complete with a cinema, and decent restaurants.

Locals know to skip the MEN Arena and check out the Lowry at Salford Quays instead.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped I go to Chinatown for an all-you-can-eat buffet.

For a huge splurge I go to the bank manager and — in the unlikely event they agree to the loan — head to ‘Australasia.’

Photo ops in my city include the Cathedral and Old Trafford, home of Manchester United football club. The best vantage points can be found at the Manchester Wheel and Cloud 23 cocktail bar in Deansgate’s Beetham Tower.

If my city were a celebrity it’d be Salma Hayek. Sexy, sassy, cosmopolitan — with a hint of attitude.

The most random thing about my city is that the University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK.

In my city, an active day outdoors involves walking the 10 feet from Sinclair’s Oyster Bar to the Old Wellington (they share an outside seating area).

Imperial War Museum (Photo: Iain Mallory)

My city’s best museum is the Museum of Science and Industry or the Imperial War Museum North at Salford Quays.

My favorite jogging/walking route is in and around Heaton Park.

For a night of dancing, go to Cuba Cafe. For those that prefer live music, check out Band On The Wall. Afterward, don’t miss what Curry Mile has to offer. It’s definitely the spot for great late-night eats.

To find out what’s going on at night and on the weekends, read ‘creativetourist.’

You can tell a lot about my city from watching ‘Coronation Street’ …. actually don’t. Try sitting in Piccadilly Gardens on a sunny spring or summer day instead.

You can tell if someone is from my city if they sound a little like one of the Gallagher brothers from Oasis.

In the winter you should visit the Hanging Ditch for one of their wine-tasting evenings. On second thought, it’s perfect any time of year.

In the spring you should take a walk along the Bridgewater Canal to the farming area of Boothstown for a chance to see some newborn lambs.

In the summer you should spend a day visiting Castlefield Urban Heritage Park. It’s free and there’s plenty there to interest all.

In the fall you should visit neighboring Cheshire to enjoy some leaf peeping UK-style.

'Hidden Gem' (Photo: Iain Mallory)

A hidden gem in my city is actually the ‘Hidden Gem’ which is the name given to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, a small, concealed house of worship in the backstreets of the city centre.

A great breakfast joint is the Chorlton Eatery. Or skip breakfast and go for a decent brunch at the Koffee Pot (not to be confused with The Teacup).

You simply should not miss the Manchester International Festival (July 4-21, 2013). If you can’t wait that long, there are smaller events held throughout the year, including its own small ‘fringe’ festival.

Just outside my city, you can visit the Peak District, one of the UK’s best national parks.

The best way to see my city is on foot, because it’s fairly compact. And the Metro is always available if you want to visit places outside the city centre.

If my city were a pet it would be a frog as it has plenty of ‘watering holes’ to choose from.

If I didn’t live in a city, I’d live on a remote Scottish island with a boat and enjoy orca spotting every day.

The best book about my city is Manchester by Kevin Cummins, a really fascinating read.

When I think about my city, “Round Are Way” by Oasis comes to mind.

If you have kids, you won’t want to miss Legoland Discovery Centre. I might even try and sneak in myself!

A Manchester derby game, between the current two biggest teams in the country, could only happen in my city!

My city should be featured on your cover or website because it’s the ‘Cock of the North’ — an industrial city that has learned to become more ‘user friendly.’ It is aware of its limitations but is ambitious to rise above them.

**What do you love about Manchester? Leave the details in the comments section below.**

Want to see your city on Intelligent Travel? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an email, fill in your answers, and send your responses (with any photos, videos or links) to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org.

Related:

[Your England Photos]

[U.K. National Parks Guide]

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/i-heart-my-city-iain%e2%80%99s-manchester-england/feed/ 0 What’s The Best Free Thing To Do in New York City? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-the-best-free-thing-to-do-in-new-york-city/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-the-best-free-thing-to-do-in-new-york-city/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:06:25 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-the-best-free-thing-to-do-in-new-york-city/ No matter what your travel budget, everyone appreciates something that is free and fantastic. Nominate your favorite free thing to see or do in New York City for a 2012 …

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-the-best-free-thing-to-do-in-new-york-city/feed/ 0 It’s Carnival Time in Viareggio, Italy http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/its-carnival-time-in-viareggio-italy/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/its-carnival-time-in-viareggio-italy/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:22:00 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/its-carnival-time-in-viareggio-italy/

viareggio carnival photo

Viareggio, on Italy’s Tuscan coast, holds one of Italy’s biggest and most popular carnival, or carnevale, celebrations. During carnival season, six parades are held along the waterfront parade featuring paper …

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/its-carnival-time-in-viareggio-italy/feed/ 0 Hungarian Airline Malev Grounded http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/hungarian-airline-malev-grounded/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/hungarian-airline-malev-grounded/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:17:38 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/hungarian-airline-malev-grounded/ After a commercial downturn heading straight for a crash, Hungarian flag carrier Malev has today decided to ground its fleet and suspend operations.

Malev lost nearly ninety million Euros in …

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/hungarian-airline-malev-grounded/feed/ 0 What February Brings… http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/what-february-brings/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/what-february-brings/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:32:17 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/what-february-brings/

February is a quiet month for winter travelers – which means that February travelers will be able to save quite a bit. If you enjoy winter sports but are on a tight budget, come to the Scandinavian countries in February. For travelers, February offers fewer crowds, amazing natural phenomena and great winter activities…to learn more, visit these in-depth articles:

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/what-february-brings/feed/ 0 TripAdvisors Travelers Choice Awards: Who Made the Cut? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:31:04 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/ Tripadvisor’s users have spoken: in their recent Travelers’ Choice Awards (tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice), a number of Southeast Asia destinations and hotels got recognized by Tripadvisor’s 60 million readers as the best of the best. The winners’ lists have expanded to include top-25 lists for 30 countries and regions, as well as an international competition for the best properties to visit.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/tripadvisor%c2%92s-travelers%c2%92-choice-awards-who-made-the-cut/feed/ 0 Be careful of the upside-down number keyboard on ATMs http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/be-careful-of-the-upside-down-number-keyboard-on-atms/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/be-careful-of-the-upside-down-number-keyboard-on-atms/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:28:02 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/be-careful-of-the-upside-down-number-keyboard-on-atms/ Recently a friend visited Shanghai and we spent some time shopping. During this activity, inevitably, one needs to visit the ATM machine once or twice. When she stopped to get some cash, the first machine we visited rejected her card. As she went to key in her PIN a third time, I stopped her. Sometimes a third wrong entry will swallow a card – or so I feared. We tried another machine with the same results.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/be-careful-of-the-upside-down-number-keyboard-on-atms/feed/ 0 Getting Around Bermuda http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/getting-around-bermuda/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/getting-around-bermuda/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:27:59 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/getting-around-bermuda/

You can hoof it, bike it, cycle it, cab it, bus it, or ferry it, but the one thing you can’t do in Bermuda is drive it.

That’s right: if you don’t live in Bermuda, you can’t drive a car there — not a rental, and not even one borrowed from a friendly local. The reasons are myriad (keeping down the number of cars on the road, promoting auto safety, boosting the livelihood of local cab drivers), but the bottom line is that unless you feel comfortable renting a moped or scooter, you’ll need to let someone else do the driving:

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/getting-around-bermuda/feed/ 0 What’s Your Favorite Caribbean Attraction? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-your-favorite-caribbean-attraction/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-your-favorite-caribbean-attraction/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:27:59 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-your-favorite-caribbean-attraction/ Been on a Caribbean trip recently? If a tour, museum or other attraction was part of the fun, and the experience was awesome, give a little back and enter a nominee for the 2012 About.com Readers’ Choice Awards!

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-your-favorite-caribbean-attraction/feed/ 0 Carnival Weekend at Fundição Progresso http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/carnival-weekend-at-fundicao-progresso/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/carnival-weekend-at-fundicao-progresso/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:18:23 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/carnival-weekend-at-fundicao-progresso/

Fundição Progresso, in Lapa, one of Rio’s very best nightlife spots, is sizzling this weekend with a Carnival schedule.

If you’re in town, …

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/carnival-weekend-at-fundicao-progresso/feed/ 0 #FriFotos: It Takes A Village… http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/frifotos-it-takes-a-village%e2%80%a6/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/frifotos-it-takes-a-village%e2%80%a6/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:00:16 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/frifotos-it-takes-a-village%e2%80%a6/ 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 fisherman’s cottages that line Smögen’s harbor was submitted to our My Shot community by Torsten Muehlbacher.

Want to see one of your photos featured on our website or Intelligent Travel blog? Make it happen by uploading your favorite travel pics (don’t forget to add a caption!) to ngm.com/yourshot. Tag all your submissions #travelshot – then look for your photos in one of our My Shot galleries or on our blog.

* What’s #FriFotos, you ask? It’s a weekly themed Twitter chat founded by @EpsteinTravels where travelers share their favorite pics. Search #FriFotos on Twitter to see the latest submissions or tweet one of your own!

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/frifotos-it-takes-a-village%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Nominate Your Favorite New York City Walking Tour! http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nominate-your-favorite-new-york-city-walking-tour/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nominate-your-favorite-new-york-city-walking-tour/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:06:31 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nominate-your-favorite-new-york-city-walking-tour/ Nominations are open for the 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards — and we want you to nominate your Favorite New York City Walking Tour. I think walking tours are a great …

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nominate-your-favorite-new-york-city-walking-tour/feed/ 0 Get Your Kicks with the Six Nations http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/get-your-kicks-with-the-six-nations/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/get-your-kicks-with-the-six-nations/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:17:37 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/get-your-kicks-with-the-six-nations/ It is that time of the year again … the Six Nations kick off. Roaring men in shorts battle it out on the field, spurred along by roaring fans in warm clothing. It is rugby at its best. Well, most of the time. Will Ireland win a Grand Slam and a Triple Crown again? Will Italy bag another Wooden Spoon? And what about the Irish anthem?

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/get-your-kicks-with-the-six-nations/feed/ 0 Vietnams Ha Long Bay: Worth the Effort. http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:30:54 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/ getty images ha long bay vietnam

getty images ha long bay vietnam

Image of junk in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam courtesy of Getty Images.

Consider the obstacles of getting to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam: you need to book a package tour among the tour agencies in Hanoi – assuming you’ve chosen from a day tour or one of those luxurious sleepaboard cruises in Ha Long Bay. (Some try to cut out the middleman by trying a do it yourself tour to Ha Long Bay, but I wouldn’t recommend that for first-timers.) It takes another three to four hours to drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, and a few tense minutes lining up past the crowds to get into your tourist boat.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/vietnam%c2%92s-ha-long-bay-worth-the-effort/feed/ 0 Nadi Astrology at Vaitheeswaran Koli – Real or Fake? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nadi-astrology-at-vaitheeswaran-koli-real-or-fake/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nadi-astrology-at-vaitheeswaran-koli-real-or-fake/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:27:59 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nadi-astrology-at-vaitheeswaran-koli-real-or-fake/ View full post on About.com India Travel

]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/nadi-astrology-at-vaitheeswaran-koli-real-or-fake/feed/ 0 Celebrate Summer in South America http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/celebrate-summer-in-south-america/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/celebrate-summer-in-south-america/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:27:56 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/celebrate-summer-in-south-america/ null

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Although it is summer in North America the heat is on in South America and it makes for a great time to visit and attend one of the many festivals. While Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is the most famous of them all, there are many others which rival in size and color.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/celebrate-summer-in-south-america/feed/ 0 Drinking the Caribbean: The Virgin Islands Ice Tea http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/drinking-the-caribbean-the-virgin-islands-ice-tea/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/drinking-the-caribbean-the-virgin-islands-ice-tea/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:27:54 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/drinking-the-caribbean-the-virgin-islands-ice-tea/ Had a Long Island Iced Tea? This is different. Very different. St. Croix native Cruzan Rum recently came out with a line of tropical-fruit flavored rums, and this wicked concoction was obviously the evil brain child of some marketing executive who figured that, in the ideal cocktail, the more shots of rum, the better.

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/drinking-the-caribbean-the-virgin-islands-ice-tea/feed/ 0 Shopping for Carnival in Rio: Saara http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/shopping-for-carnival-in-rio-saara/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/shopping-for-carnival-in-rio-saara/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:18:01 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/shopping-for-carnival-in-rio-saara/

It’s that time of the year when a person’s mind turns to electric pink wigs, plumes, sequined tops and other Carnival essentials.

This is when Saara, in Rio de Janeiro, is …

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/shopping-for-carnival-in-rio-saara/feed/ 0 Where To Travel in 2012? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/where-to-travel-in-2012/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/where-to-travel-in-2012/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:12 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/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 Market, and helpfully plotted the color-coded results on their Hot Destinations Map.

Richard Mellor of Travel PR kindly added most of Traveler’s Best of the World picks (green pins), while Frommers is represented by yellow pins, Lonely Planet by red, World Travel Market by pink, Travel PR by blue, and News.com.AU by purple. If you click on the pins in the enlarged version of the map, you will get info about each destination. Happy clicking!

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/where-to-travel-in-2012/feed/ 0 Can You See Disney World in a Day? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/can-you-see-disney-world-in-a-day/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/can-you-see-disney-world-in-a-day/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:11 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/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 in a family of five on vacation.

We’ve come to call this the Kissimmee Challenge — and yes, it is doable.

Four years ago, we dragged our three kids — two of whom were still in strollers — to four parks while on assignment for the Miami Herald. We pulled it off, hitting three rides in each place. It was totally exhausting, and by the end of the day, we vowed never to try it again.

But then we started to wonder if our achievement was a fluke. Did we have an unfair advantage, with kids in a double stroller? Could we do it again, now that the children were a little older and, um, more independent? On a recent visit to Kissimmee, we decided to find out.

The Magic Kingdom (9 a.m.)

We started at the original Disney theme park because it’s the busiest. If we wanted to hit three rides, we’d have to choose carefully and get there early. Each child picked an attraction. Aren, our oldest, wanted to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. Our son Iden requested Small World. And our daughter Erysse wanted Peter Pan. We hit them, one-two-three, and were out of the park in less than two hours, despite the throng of people who, like a slow-moving river, were flowing toward Cinderella Castle.

Epcot (11 a.m.)

Epcot is only a short monorail ride down the line, and even though it is the least impacted of the parks, it probably has the best food options for kids. So after riding The Land (with no wait) we had an early lunch and then headed over to Nemo and Friends and the aquarium area. Alas, Nemo was briefly closed, so we strolled through the aquarium and then caught our ride. We were still on schedule!

Disney Studios (1 p.m.)

No wait for Tower of Terror, which we could all ride on (it freaked Aren out). Our plans to hit Toy Story fizzled when we saw a one-hour wait, so we zipped over to watch the 3D Muppets show, which is one of our favorites. In places, the park was filled wall-to-wall with guests. Although I wanted to check out the renovated Star Wars ride, there simply wasn’t enough time. On to the next park.

Animal Kingdom (3 p.m.)

We were starting to get nervous. Animal Kingdom was closing soon, and we needed to spend some meaningful time in the park. Plus, there was a parade coming our way. We started at Bug’s Life, which was practically deserted (but as amusing as ever) and then zipped over to Kilimanjaro Safaris, the open-air ride that gets you up close with giraffe, gazelle, lions and other African wildlife. By the time we reached the Tree of Life, a tide of visitors was emptying out of the park. We were swept away, back to the buses that returned us to our parking spot at the Magic Kingdom. We finished at around 5:30 p.m.

“So, what did you think?” I asked the kids as they slumped in their seats.

“I’m hungry,” said Iden.

“I’m tired,” said Erysse.

“Too much,” said Aren.

Too much? Well, good thing we only try this only once every four years.

(Photos: Kiraca/Flickr; Christopher Elliott)

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]]> http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/can-you-see-disney-world-in-a-day/feed/ 1 What’s Your Favorite New York City Museum? http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-your-favorite-new-york-city-museum/ http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-your-favorite-new-york-city-museum/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:06:29 +0000 admin http://www.global-trekker.net/2012/02/whats-your-favorite-new-york-city-museum/ New York City is home to many wonderful museums, whether you love big museums or small museums, art museums or history museums, New York City’s museums have something for everyone. …

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