Tag Archives: travel

the survey says…

MY TRAVEL SIGNS

i think all 3 are accurate in one way or another but if you know me at all you’ll know the survey nailed it with the #1 ‘POSHAHOLIC’ label. customized shoelaces and kicks – do they have a camera on me??

Poshaholic

YOU, POSHAHOLIC

You are a Poshaholic. Embrace it. If you had your way, you’d travel in a designer rail car made just for you. You prefer the caress of a fine Italian fabric to a hug from your mom. A monogrammed shirt? That’s posh. But monogrammed shoelaces on custom kicks? That’s a Poshaholic.

Detourist

The well-worn trail is no place for you. For you are the Detourist. Grandmaster of the scenic route. Champion of the diversion. You know there’s no point in going if you can’t enjoy a few stops along the way. Local pubs. Cafes tucked into a side, side street. You don’t fall for tourist traps. Because, well, you’re a Detourist.

Celebutante

Celebutante, wherever you travel, all eyes turn to gaze upon your entrance. Crystal clinks, applauding your stylish threads and natural grace as you glide across the concourses of life like a well-groomed cheetah. Your calm demeanor belies your insatiable appetite for good adventure. And, your charm? It could get you onto the red carpet on any continent.

what kind of traveler are you? take this traveler profile survey to find out!


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it's an internationally confirmed hit

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while i still love LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem, after my visit to Greece it’s now officially confirmed (sorry little sis) that Pitbull’s Give Me Everything featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer is definitely a HUGE hit everywhere.  that, and my rap crush – Flo Rida’s – Where Them Girls At with David Guetta & Nicki Minaj.  i love that i discovered Give Me Everything in Curacao in April before it was even being played here in the USA.

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who doesn't heart a college town?!

America’s Best College Towns

By Independent Traveler.com

There’s something special about college towns. Whether it’s their abundance of used bookstores and funky cafes, the historic buildings and landscaped lawns of their universities, or simply their undercurrent of youthful energy, college towns have a certain appeal even to those of us who haven’t cracked a textbook in years. Best of all, there’s probably one near you! Check out our nine favorite college towns around the United States.

[slideshow]

For descriptions of each college town view our slideshow

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i'll drink to that!

Destinations that pair well with wine and beer

By Andy Murdock via Lonely Planet

A glistening glass of local wine, with a tasty little snack on the side – is there anything better? It’s no coincidence that when a place produces particularly good wine and beer, a gourmet accompaniment seems to spring forth from the area to join in. Here we celebrate seven destinations that really know how to serve up those double-barrel delights:

1. Cheese: Northern California

Many destinations are synonymous with cheese – some quite literally so: Gruyere, Brie, Cheshire, Appenzell, Parma (oddly, Stilton produces no Stilton cheese) – but Northern California is a rare triple threat, scoring high marks for cheese, wine and beer making. Add in the North Coast redwood forests, the dramatic coastal and hill scenery of California wine country and you’ve got the makings of a perfect travel banquet. Want to make this trip happen? Check out our custom cheese itineraries for Northern California and read more about great cheese destinations in Cheese travel: tips form a cheesemonger.

Pairing: Try a Mt Tam triple cream from Cowgirl Creamery paired – well, with just about anything – but ideally a Carneros chardonnay. Farther north from Arcata, try Cypress Grove’s mushroomy Truffle Tremor with a nutty amber ale like Anderson Valley Brewing Company’s Boont Amber.

2. Cured meats: Cádiz

So many cured meats, so little time. If you had to pick one, it’s hard to pick one better than the prized jamón ibérico (Iberian ham) made from the black Iberian pig fed largely on a diet of acorns. What does this mean for you? It means astonishing melt-in-your mouth deliciousness coupled with an equally astonishing price tag. No need to go to the pigs themselves – where better to try some than in Cádiz in the traditional heart of Spain’s sherry country?

Pairing: Sample with a dry Jerez Fino sherry (although no one will shout at you if you prefer a cool Spanish lager, even in the Sherry Triangle). For another local treat, add some toasted marcona almonds to your spread.

3. Moules frites: Brussels

Garlicky mussels, salty crisp-fried chips, fragrant broth – moule frites is a staple across Belgium, and one that cries out for a local libation. When in Brussels, do as the Flemish do – that’s to say, drink beer. Belgian lagers get shipped worldwide, but Belgium is perhaps more famous in the beer world for the Trappist beers made by only a handful of remaining monasteries and the countless boutique brands that have sprouted around Belgium’s thriving beer scene.

Pairing: Wash down your steamy bivalves and spuds with a Duvel blonde ale, or explore one of the thousands of other beers produced in this hops-happy country. What else is Brussels known for? Chocolate (which happens to pair well with dark beers, although not quite as well with shellfish).

4. Olives: Sicily

Olives are a classic accompaniment to wine in the Mediterranean. Lately, the bright green Castelvetrano olive of Sicily has been popping up around the world as many food-lovers are being introduced to its charms for the first time. Less assertive than many of its cousins, the meaty Castelvetrano is an olive that even confirmed olive-haters might grow to love.

Pairing: A Sicilian nero d’avola, a bowl of Castelvetrano Olives and a local sheep’s milk cheese like a pecorino or a saffron-infused piacentinu will never disappoint. For more mouth-watering food travel tips, see A food voyage through Sicily.

5. Pretzels: Bavaria

What’s better than a salty pretzel, crisp on the outside, soft and chewy in the middle? How about a salty pretzel and a large German beer? These pretzels are making me thirsty! Every year at Oktoberfest, thousands of pretzels the size of a large frisbee are consumed to help sop up the roughly 6 million liters of beer consumed each year at the Munich festival. Can’t make it to Oktoberfest? Never fear – pretzels can be found throughout Bavaria year-round.

Pairing: 1 pretzel + 1 large weissbier + 1 bockwurst = 1 happy breakfast. Or lunch.

6. Fish and chips: England

Picking the best maker of fish and chips is controversial to say the least – even picking England over other nearby countries is likely to provoke some complaints (which we welcome in the comments below) and malt-vinegar-stained hate mail (which you can send with a £50 note care of the author). Two less controversial statements: (1)  the largest fish and chips in the world were made by the Wensleydale Heifer in Yorkshire, and (2) fish and chips taste best when paired with beer.

Pairing: A real ale is the way to go with fish and chips, but you don’t need to go ultra-boutique: a Young’s Bitter or a Samuel Smith Pale Ale will do nicely. If you must have wine, find yourself a glass of a crisp white (maybe even from an English winery).

7. Hot dog: Chicago

If fish and chips will spark controversy in the British Isles, hot dogs will do the same in the US. We may not know what’s inside, but we Americans are fiercely proud of our dogs. Chicago is rightly famed for their sausage prowess – not to mention their shunning of ketchup in favor of real tomatoes. You can go crazy at local purveyors such as Hot Doug’s and The Wiener’s Circle, but for overall experience it’s hard to top a basic dog in the stands at Wrigley Field.

Pairing: Beer – cheap, light, cold and lots of it.


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it's party time!

The Best Beach Party destinations in the World

By Lee via GotSaga

Punta del Este, Uruguay

The unspoilt Uruguayan peninsula of Punta del Este is all paradisaical oceanic beaches, exotic sophistication, beautiful people and an ardent night scene. It’s the Monaco of South America.

Punta del Este is famous for its clubbing scene. Most parties start very late, between midnight and 3AM and end around dawn. You cannot name a specific club because it’s probably going to change its name or its location the next year. Don’t worry, they do good marketing, so you will find out very easily.

Every year the night life changes, so you never know which is going to be place that will hit the summer in Punta del Este. Most of the clubs are away from the peninsula of Punta del Este, mainly in La Barra. But the fashion places changes, it depends on the year.

Ko Pha Ngan – Thailand

Is an island off the Central Gulf Coast of Southern Thailand, halfway between the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao. It is known as a land of coconut trees and, above all, the world famous full moon parties.

Full Moon Party – if you’re after party heaven you can’t do better than Haad Rin, an expanded village of beach bars, cheap chicken burgers, and low cut figure-hugging outfits. It is most popular one night a month – the night of the Full Moon Party. Every bar is hopping, the beaches packed with trance, dance, buckets, and various other suspicious substances. However, if the sight of thousands of bottles and other trash repulses you, make sure you leave the beach area before the sun comes up, or grab a garbage bag and help tidy up a little. If you’re not on Ko Pha Ngan during the full moon, don’t worry: there are other parties to be had, including Half Moon (2 times a month), Black Moon, Jungle Parties, as well as the Shiva Moon party.

Turquoise at Turquoise Beach Club, Rimini, Italy

The whole town is geared towards tourists, so the night life is very good and there are bars everywhere. Once the sun goes down, the streets of Rimini come alive with lights, colour and noise as the sunbathers of the day become the revellers of the evening. There are however no “real” clubs in Rimini; only bars with dance floors. For real clubbing you have to go to Riccione, the next town over, which is about a 15 minute drive away. There is however one club called Carnaby’s which is on the outskirts of Rimini and it has a free shuttle bus; the club is also within walking distance.

Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

The closest ocean beach to the centre of Sydney, Bondi has become synonymous with Sydney’s beach lifestyle, and is very popular with tourists, residents, and resident tourists.

Bondi has become a favourite of the “barmy army” of British tourists, who annually gather on its sands for a Southern Hemisphere Christmas in the sun. Bondi is also now home to numerous youth hostels with backpackers who congregate mainly in the summer months. It is not uncommon to hear Norwegian, Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish or Spanish while walking across the beach or through the cafes and bars.

Ibiza, Balearic Islands

Ibiza is famous for its nightlife. During the day most tourists are soaking up rays at one of the gorgeous beaches or sleeping off the past night’s drinks. Bars do not get busy in Ibiza town or San Antonio until early evening, about 7PM.

Sitges, Spain

Sitges is a lovely town, a seaside resort some 35km southwest of Barcelona in Catalunya, Spain.

Sitges has one of most vibrant and hippest gay scene on the coast. The beaches are very colorful and fun! The city which overlooks the Mediterranean has large avenues,narrow streets,a museuum and the gorgeous beaches of Costa Dorada/Golden Coast.

The streets near the waterfront are filled with street cafes. Local youngsters gather on the beach after nightfall.

Paradise, Mykonos – Greece

Paradise probably the most popular beach on the island. Camping, self-service restaurant, cafeteria, snack bars, beach bars, mini shops and discos. Nudity is quite common. Paradise Beach is known for its parties. At about 4PM the music wil get really loud. Paradise is easily reached by bus from Mykonos town or with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos.

Ipanema, Leblon Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

For those who like to go clubbing, Rio has some good options. You’ll be seeing lots of flyers and talk about “raves”, but those aren’t the same as European ones. Usually Rio’s raves are devoted to trance, which is pretty popular, especially with the upper-class youngsters, though some electronic parties do have good djs and live acts from around the world. The night in Rio is pretty much divided between mainstream and underground.

Mainstream would be such “raves” and big electronic festivals, as well a nightclubs like Bombar (Leblon and Barra da Tijuca), Baronetti (Ipanema) and Melt (Leblon) that are devoted to pop, dance and variations of house and trance.

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun’s nightlife is unlike any other destination on Earth! For some, a day in Cancun doesn’t start until tasks like an 11AM breakfast, nap on the beach, and siesta are arduously completed. This is your place to shine.

Señor Frog’s is a restaurant by day and a dance club by night, and is one of the most popular spots for vacationers to visit. The restaurant opens up for lunch and serves international types of food such as pasta, chicken and pizza as well as Mexican cuisine all day until midnight. A cover charge of five dollars will get you into the party after 8PM and includes a souvenir yard glass which you can then pay to get filled with your drink of choice. One of Señor Frog’s famous attractions is the water slide that leads from the club out into the lagoon, just for a little bit of fun! As the evening progresses, Señor Frog’s becomes less family friendly and more of a party establishment, waitresses will circulate, offering shots of tequila for a price. Waiters are also very “hands on”, if you are not traveling in a family group, expect them to try to touch, hug, or kiss the female members of the party.

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