Archive for February, 2007

According to a study commissioned by the Travel Industry Association, Gourmet magazine and the International Culinary Tourism Association, some 17% of American leisure travelers seek culinary and wine-related activities. During the past three years, that percentage accounted for some 27 million travelers. The top five destinations for food-related travel in the USA, according to the study, are California, Florida, New York, Texas and North Carolina.

Being an avid foodie and wine lover, every chance I get I want to explore the gastronomical delights in the places I travel. Food and wine provides sensory insight into a culture. Whether it is regional, country or continent based the senses of taste and smell tantalize and can definitely surprise even the most adventurous palate. In some cases I have found a new favorite food or wine varietal, in other cases my taste buds have frowned on my eagerness to experiment.

Food and Wine in Australia’s Hunter Valley

This Hunter Valley food and wine tour was hands-down one of the best food and wine tasting adventures I have had. The Hunter Valley was beautiful with its rolling hills and open space… a nice day trip outside of Sydney. A quick stop in Wollombi village introduced me to Dr. Jurd’s Jungle Juice. A sweet-tasting brew that was bottled up a bit like medicine. From there the adventure took us to three very different wineries that allowed for a range of experience…a large family-owned, a corporate-owned and a small boutique winery. I bought wine all around and had smiles throughout the private tastings at each place. The tastings included Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, and Dessert Wines to name a few.

The lunch was a class act with small plates of meat including kangaroo and emu, cheese and vegetables and yes, more wine (obvvviousslllyyy). We also had a delicious cheese tasting at Cooper, a boutique winery, paired perfectly with their wines. In fact I have served the Cooper gold dessert wine and pinot noir to guests at dinner parties since my trip and they are still talking about it. At the end of the ten hour day my belly was pleasantly full with the tastes of the day.

A “Restaurant” on Caye Caulker, Belize

A few years ago I had the opportunity to tour around Central America. A pal and I spent much of our time exploring the country of Belize. We went from the inland areas of the Mayan Empire out to the white sand and clear water of the Cayes. Caye Caulker is the island where we spend many days soaking in the sun, exploring the marine life and meeting new friends. On this island the signs say slow down and cars are not allowed. The inhabitants are an eclectic mix of mestizo, creole and garifuna cultures so you can image the food emphasized is seafood with sprinklings of latin and creole influences. To stay cool each day we indulged in sampling the two beers of the country Lighthouse Lager and Belikin Beer. There are about 25 restaurants on the island. The fare ranges from Italian, to Caribbean, to seafood, to your standard burger and fries.

Being the adventurous eater I wanted us to try a place I heard about called Wish Willy’s. The owner, Willy, is known for his tasty drinks, spicy sauces and fresh seafood dishes. His place is off an alley and the sign is worn and faded. Wish Willy’s was essentially a few wooden tables in Willy’s front yard. We felt as if we were at a friend’s barbecue. He only had rum with tropical juices available to drink and his pal had to run down to the market to buy beer for all the guests.

The menu was verbally provided by Willy and included lobster and snapper. Once we all ordered he left us for a bit and headed down to the dock to pick up the seafood. Upon his return more drinks were served and candles brought out after sundown. Willy headed to the kitchen to cook up our dinners but talking to us from inside the house the entire time. Our orders were served with a delicious spicy sauce, rice and vegetables. The seafood was simply amazing and our plates were completely cleared. Wish Willy’s had everything a unique ambience, good libations and amazing, fresh, home cooked food. If you ever get the chance to travel to Belize go to Caye Caulker and check out Wish Willy’s.

Happy Eating and Drinking!

–Liz Pagano

A Spring Break Party Guide Helps Travelers of All Ages Make the Most of Their Getaway

With Spring Break season getting into full swing in the U.S., Viator has selected its Top Ten Hottest Spring Break Destinations with suggestions on ‘the things you do when you get there’ to help travelers, whether students or their parents looking for action or relaxation, make the most of their warm weather excursions this time of year.

Viator’s Spring Break Party Guide is a useful resource for travelers of all ages to help them save time at their destination for fun in the sun, not planning. By booking Spring Break activities before departure, travelers can confirm their excursions during one of the busiest times of the year, and, save money with a low price guarantee on all Viator activities. Not leaving any Spring Break stone unturned, Viator provides a broad selection of reliable pre-arranged airport transfers to help eliminate the headaches often associated with getting back and forth from the airport at a cost that fits within anyone’s Spring Break budget.

Viator’s Spring Break Top Ten

1. Cancun, Mexico offers a vibrant nightlife amid a tropical paradise experienced during the Snorkeling Excursion to Isla Mujeres (from $65) and Caribbean Carnival double-decker boat cruise (from $70 with buffet dinner, open bar and Caribbean show).
2. Las Vegas, Nevada offers the hip spring break travelers pool-side lounging, Grand Canyon exploring or all-night partying during the Ultimate Nightclub Hopping Package (from $119), or the Hosted VIP Club Access for the Ladies (from $69).
3. Los Cabos, Mexico, with its own international airport is a popular destination where “breakers” can be extreme in the day with the Costa Azul Xtreme Canopy Tour (from $85) and at night during the Rhythm of the Los Cabos Night tour (from $50).
4. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico features mountains and volcanoes explored during the Tequila Tour (from $100, including breakfast, lunch and Tequila 101) and hot evenings with folkloric dancers and Mariachi singers during the Mexican Fiesta (from $60 with buffet and open bar).
5. Key West, Florida boasts a ‘wild’ atmosphere year-round which can be experienced during the Key West Pub Crawl (from $35 with free drinks and T-shirt) or the Ghost Walking Tour (from $15) � think pirates and smugglers…
6. Acapulco, Mexico offers daytime beauty and nighttime heat during the Coyuca Lagoon Tour (from $60) and the Acapulco Cliff Divers at Night Dinner and Show (from $75).
7. Miami, Florida and its sun-drenched beaches, warm waters and hot nightlife can be thoroughly enjoyed with a Private Boat Charter (from $92) and the Miami Party Pass (from $25).
8. Nassau, Bahamas has beach bars and nightclubs galore, but to get below the surface travelers can zoom through underwater coral gardens in their own submarine during the SUB Bahamas Adventure (from $99) or explore a private island during the Robinson Crusoe Cruise (from $50 with lunch and wine).
9. Negril, Jamaica with its laid back charm offers beaches for relaxing and surroundings for exploring like Waterfall Adventures (from $119) and Tubing down the Negril River (from $65).
10.Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s fastest growing resort area with powdery white beaches and exciting activities including Sunset Cruises (from $37with snacks and drinks) and the Villages All Terrain Truck Tour (from $81).

Viator has hundreds of additional tours and activities at these Top Ten Spring Break destinations so travelers planning a getaway should visit www.viator.com for “the things you do when you get there.”

*All prices indicated are per person, and are current at press time.

Balinese Dancer

Ah, Bali… gentle and delicate like the petals of a flower.

It may sound like a contradiction for some, who only know this island in Indonesia from news reports of the bombings that took place here in 2002 and 2005. But rest assured, Bali is a tranquil island paradise — a little chunk of heaven that rises from the crystal-colored sea like a jewel, offering everything from awe-inspiring volcano hikes to nature walks through rain forest, medicinal gardens and verdant rice paddy fields.

Bali is famous for its exotic dance performances, exceptional surfing and scuba diving, and most of all, the spirit of the place, an unnatural calm and beauty, that permeates every blade of grass, batik print, and smiling face.

On Bali, the people speak softly and the music tinkles like wind chimes. Birds sing, taking care to not disturb you, and the blue skies and breeze are muted and kind. The pace is mellow, the people are relaxed, and smiles flow freely.

Everything is ornate and decorative: elegant gardens, contemplative statues, wood carvings of curling flower motifs, and colorful tasseled umbrellas. I am surprised that the air isn’t naturally perfumed or sweet to the taste, it would be fitting if it were.

Because of Bali’s size, it’s possible to traverse much of the island in several days via rented motorbike or hired car, but who comes to paradise with so little time? I spent three weeks here. Starting in Kuta, I traveled to the central city of Ubud, and then headed to Pemuteran, on the northwest coast, and then down the eastern coast, to the small fishing village of Lipah.

Ubud

Ubud is the cultural and artistic center of Bali, with palaces and temples, the constant mellifluous sounds of music floating in the air, Frangipani petals behind everyone’s ear, and the delicate craftsmanship of Balinese carving and painting at every turn.

Ubud is the place to visit art galleries and experience traditional Balinese dance, and offers great shopping in the boutiques that line the city’s streets and the markets selling handicrafts. Here, you can pamper yourself at a spa one day, and take long walks through rice terraces, villages, and jungle forests another. There are also many classes on offer: cooking, music, dance, jewelry making, and batik print making to name a few. A stay in Ubud is not complete without a visit to the Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a cool jungle forest that houses three holy temples and troops of Balinese macaques, always on the lookout for a snack. You can purchase peanuts and bananas just outside the sanctuary’s entrance.

Rice paddies in Bali

In addition to its many cultural attractions, Ubud offers accommodation for any budget and has some of the best food on the island. It’s also a good jumping-off point for cycling tours, rafting trips, volcano hikes and onward transportation to other parts of the island.

Pemuteran

Pemuteran has an aura of self-induced isolation, with little else than a string of private resorts that line a black volcanic sand beach. Located in the far northwestern corner of the island, Pemuteran is less developed than other popular areas of Bali, but it’s far from primitive – most of the accommodation here includes elegant bungalows set in vibrant gardens. For those looking for quiet days spent lying by the pool with a view of sea and mountains (the beach itself is rocky in most places), Pemuteran is a great place to spend a very relaxing few days.

The area has good snorkeling about 3km offshore, and is used as a base city by scuba enthusiasts heading to dives sites on Pulau Menjangan. While in Pemuteran, check out the Reef Seen Turtle Project, and take a guided hike in the Bali Barat National Park.

Lipah

Located on Bali’s less-touristed eastern coast, the tiny beachside village of Lipah (population 50) is one of many like it, including Amed, Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lehan, and Selang.

The beach at Lipah, Bali

These towns cover approximately 10km of black-sand beach on coastline that offers sweeping views of the ocean, with hundreds of colorful fishing boats that line the beaches and bob in the water of inlets.

Aside from the experience of living in a small Balinese fishing village, the east coast offers excellent snorkeling and scuba. Make sure to check out the coral garden and tropical fish at the Japanese fishing boat wreck, a popular (but quiet) snorkeling site located close to Lipah, and accessible from the beach.

There are also many dive sites in the area, such as the popular Liberty wreck, located at Tulamben. For landlubbers, inland trails wind from the coast up Mt Seraya – a great way to get the best views or to witness a sunrise.

–Cheryn Flanagan

Browse all of Viator.com’s tours and activities in Indonesia, including things to do in Bali. Also check out the English-language Jakarta Post newspaper for the latest news from Indonesia.

I am not afraid to admit it. Some of my fondest childhood memories include a haunted house, a handful of pirates in the Caribbean, a toad in the English countryside plus a roller coaster in space.

Clearly, I grew up with Disneyland and Disney World in my blood. I was humming the theme to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ years before Johnny Depp put on the mascara and hoop earrings. Don’t get me wrong. I actually liked the recent films. All I’m saying is, I was there first. (Actually, my best friend’s dad worked the Jungle Cruise on opening day in 1955, so I guess he wins a “there first” award.)

Now that I have an 11-month-old son, it’s time to start planning our father-son pilgrimage to Disneyland and, since I’ve never been, to Disney World in Orlando. My son is still too young to enjoy the parks, and he’s not yet ready to consume my favorite theme park combo: cotton candy hot dog red licorice rope popcorn ice cream sandwich, followed by a spin on the tea cups.

(Please note: I am legally required to warn potential copycats that, yes, if you follow my recipe above, you are 99.9% likely to lose your lunch literally and figuratively.)

My Disney train of thought got started this time around by a promotional notice sent from Disney about the “Year of a Million Dreams” celebrations:

“Disney’s renowned heritage of personal service will be hitting a high point. The Disney Cast will be empowered like never before to make Disney vacations dreams come true. Each and every day during The Year of a Million Dreams, the Disney Cast will be surprising guests with enchanting dream-come-true entertainment and magical moments happening during this very special year. Suddenly you are not watching a parade, you are IN the parade. Not only do you see a princess, you BECOME a princess. Or a pirate. It’s imagination in full force. Make-believe, made real.”

Am I up for becoming a pirate? Avast me mateys, of course I am. I’ll see you in New Orleans Square.

Heading to Walt Disney World® in Orlando? Viator has a special on 4-day Magic Your Way tickets and 7-day Magic Your Way tickets. You can also search Viator for more Disney tours and tickets, things to do in Orlando and Florida theme parks.

–Scott McNeely

On a recent trip to Sydney, Australia, Scott and Kelly joined Dominique on a shark diving excursion in Manly. Read on to find out what makes people decide it’s a good idea to get in a tank with a bunch of nurse sharks, and what they each thought about the experience.

Scott: I’m a certified scuba diver, so I wasn’t sure what to expect on an aquarium dive. Part of me was hoping for a “steel cage / throw chum in water / AAAAAAHHHH! there’s a SHARK coming this way AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!” experience. The aquarium shark dive was nothing like that, and that turned out to be a great thing. I’ve been diving with sharks before, but always in open water and never with the intention of getting too close. So I was pleasantly surprised with the shark dive, because I was able to stare at these amazing, massive, prehistoric predators for almost the entire dive. In the open water you can never get a good look, or at least a long good look. On the aquarium dive you get a unique opportunity to leisurely watch and learn. So that was a huge plus for me. I also enjoyed the aquarium’s playful rays. A few of them have seven or maybe even eight-foot wingspans. They’re such graceful creatures, even with the eight- and 10-foot wingspans!

Kelly: Yeah, I thought the sharks would be scarier. Not to say they didn’t freak me out a little sometimes, but it was more due to their size and unflinching eye gaze, and not so much the teeth. The reminded me of someone’s tired Dad skulking around the house, like if they could talk they would have said as they drifted by, “Oh, you guys are still here? Shouldn’t you go outside and play? Where’s my keys?” Less like Jaws and more like Kevin Spacey at the start of American Beauty. Also, it was so peaceful and quiet once we were in the water, it was hard to get scared in that environment. I wasn’t prepared for how close the sting rays would get, but after they’ve done their sting ray hugging once you loosen up about it.

Dominique: I’ll admit that “I was scared speechless”. I was preparing for this little adventure and Bruce, the Great White Shark from the film “Finding Nemo” was my benchmark. I was going to meet Bruce. I was going to be in his home. I was a shivering sharks mess. I didn’t meet Great White Sharks instead I met a bunch of chilled and calm Grey Nurse Sharks on our shark dive. Alas, we got going and the sharks were scary, but I was trying to keep out of the sting rays way more. They’re massive, and Chris (our guide) told us they come up and wrap their wings around you. I don’t know if this is true or not, alas I was prepared for a shark bite, but not stingray cuddles. They are SO amazing. It was rare to swim with them so close and just before we jumped out of the tank - they kept playing and swimming between us and then coming back for more. It was surreal. It was beautiful. I’m in sting ray love and shark lust! I expected to be scared, and instead I fell in love with their tranquility. Now, this of course does not mean that you should say hello to the next shark haunting the open oceans. A controlled aquarium environment is very different to the wild sharks of ours seas!

Do you remember singing “Octopus’ Garden” along with The Beatles? My mind has conjured up the setting of sitting under the sea and having a cup of tea with an Octopus many MANY times. I love all things OCEAN. It fascinates me. Its creatures entrance me. I think NEMO is cool, and Crush his chilled out turtle friend totally rocks me world dude. I quote him all the time and he is my hero.

Scott: So do I recommend an aquarium shark dive? You bet. I think it’s especially appealing for first-time divers. Not only do you get up close to nearly a dozen sharks, it’s also a good way to learn the basics of scuba diving in a safe and comfortable environment. If you’ve ever wondered about scuba diving, the shark dive is an ideal introduction to the sport.

Kelly: I hadn’t been scuba diving before and was a bit nervous about being ok with the breathing, but I thought the guides were good teachers and Scott’s right, we got a nice introduction to diving skills. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be to grasp the basics and feel comfortable. Besides pushing my personal boundaries about trying new experiences and understanding our natural world more firsthand, I wanted to see if I liked scuba diving, and I think on all counts things went great.

Dominique: Both Kelly and I were nervous about our first attempt at scuba diving. It was re-assuring not to be the only person and I think we both enjoyed being able to experience the dive together. We had plenty of time to practice the breathing techniques, and funny hand signs to communicate underwater. When you decide to do something completely out of your comfort zone (like jumping into tanks with sharks!) the most important factor is feeling at ease. This is your guides responsibility and they passed with flying colors. Both guides made us comfortable and prepared. Haha they’d smile occasionally through dopey goggles and point out the Grey Nurse Sharks swimming but a bubble away from our heads with three layers of sharp teeth! CHOMP! CHOMP! There’s so much to see… a turtle sleeping near my feet, a school of fish meandering by and sharks cruising around. Scott, kept saying how lucky I was to see so much on my first dive. He said on many of his dives nothing was to be seen. I feel SO lucky and it sounds like my first shark dive was a real treat. It won’t be the last. We’ve put men in space, but we’re yet to explore the depths of our own oceans on Earth. Its diversity is truly AMAZING. I walked away thinking “Wow, that was the BEST”.

– Kelly G, Scott M, Dominique E

Read other traveler reviews of Shark Diving Xtreme in Sydney.

Dying to take a bite out of shark diving? Browse all the shark diving excursions on Viator.

Just want to see some more pictures of our shark dive? Click here.

Dreaming of a 6-foot-long flat bed

There’s a new phenomenon in air travel: the 100% business-class airline. You may not have heard of these yet. But given their (much needed and long overdo) shake-up of the airline industry, it’s a safe bet you’ll be hearing a lot more from these innovative new airlines.

So what is an all-business-class airline? One of the best examples is British-owned Silverjet, which recently launched a daily service between London’s Luton and Newark’s Liberty airports. The introductory airfares are from £799 (US$1,542) until June, when the standard fare of £999 (US$1,928) kicks in.

You can certainly fly between New York and London for less money. But you may rethink your economy-class decision when you see what a few extra dollars or pounds gets you on Silverjet. And we’re not making any of this up!

• No check-in required at Luton, as Silverjet has its own dedicated terminal there. Simply arrive 30 minutes prior to departure.
• There are only 100 passengers per flight (as opposed to the normal 300 per flight) and everybody gets their own 6-foot-long flat bed!
• There are no ‘middle’ seats. Everybody gets a window or an aisle seat.
• Order your meals whenever you want them.
• Each seat has its own entertainment center, laptop power and seat-back massager.
• The 5 bathrooms on each Boeing 767 are regularly cleaned during the flight!
• In-flight announcements and noisy trolley carts are banned on night flights.
• For an extra fee you can pre-arrange a limo or helicopter transfer to / from the airport.

If that’s not enough, Silverjet tickets incorporate a mandatory carbon offset contribution, giving travelers the opportunity to reinvest ‘Carbon Points’ into a variety of climate-friendly projects around the world in partnership with the CarbonNeutral Company. (Which makes us wonder why the major airlines don’t offer similar programs — we’ll leave that rant for another day).

Another all-business-class airline that has launched within the past year is Eos Airlines, between London Stansted and New York City’s JFK airport. Eos planes only have 48 total seats. Talk about mile-high pampering.

It’s hard to see the downside here. In fact we’re hoping this renewed focus on traveler comfort and convenience rubs off on the major airlines. Long-haul flying has hardly changed in 25 years, it’s finally time to drag the airline industry kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

–Scott McNeely

When I originally wrote this post, I had no idea that Viator and Silverjet would work together to provide Silverjet customers with things to do in New York and London from Viator. But, well, sometimes the world works in wonderfully mysterious ways. Maybe now that Viator and Silverjet are working together, Silverjet will give me a free flight on that NYC-London leg so I can write a first-hand review….

To celebrate the week-long visit by some of our San Francisco colleagues, it seemed appropriate to check out one of the many Sydney tours we offer here at Viator. Always eager to try what we sell, it didn’t take long to find seven volunteers to join me on a tour to the Hunter Valley. Located 160 kilometers from Sydney (that translates to around 2 hours by road), the Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s premier wine-producing regions. It promised to be a fine day trip, the only concern we had was the size of the tour. With a large coach load of around 50 people, how much time would we have to explore, how crowded would each place and will we be stuck with a bunch of dull people? There’s only one way to find out!

Meeting up a little too early for a Sunday morning (I never knew there was a 7am on Sundays, I thought they started at midday?!), we made the wise choice to line our stomachs with a greasy breakfast at Star City. Making our way through the casino and having a little giggle at the stragglers still falling out of the nightclubs in high spirits, we found the biggest $5 breakfast in Sydney with enough cholesterol to clog a thousand arteries, and toast so stale it could knock a man to the ground with one well aimed throw.

After shortening our life span by about 6 months with breakfast, we headed downstairs to the tour departure point. The great thing about tours leaving from Star City is that its so easy to find, and everyone knows where the buses are. As the days participants began to gather, there was some concern in our camp at what appeared to be an average age of 70 amongst the other passengers for the day, but as more arrived that average began to lower - a little!

Boarding the bus we were greeted by a cheerful Northern Irish driver/guide who gave us a detailed, and slightly graphic for that time slot, explanation of why you MUST lock the toilet door on the bus when in use. After the horror wore off, we settled in for the 1.5 hour drive to our first stop - Wollombi Village, a quaint little town in the middle of nowhere with a small museum, craft shops, and most importantly a great pub! We had around 45 minutes here, plenty of time to down a beer (or 2 in some cases!), and try Dr Jurds Jungle Juice - a fortified wine type drink, not for the faint-hearted.

Back on the bus it was time to head to the Hunter Valley for some wine tasting, but not before a scenic drive through the area and a tour of the first winery visited, McWilliams Mount Pleasant Estate. Places of interest around the world could learn a thing or two from Mount Pleasant such as, if you employ a really good looking male tour guide, you will hold the attention of the female visitors for much longer! With great pleasure we followed our guide Gavin through the winery, learning a little about how wine is produced along the way.

After the tour we happily took our seats in the restaurant to sample the estate’s wine and enjoy a tasty lunch. Unlike many tours I have taken in the past, we were offered a choice of menu for lunch - chicken, beef, fish or vegetarian (as a side note, most of us went with the chicken which we all agreed was lovely, but the fish is also highly recommended). During the meal we sampled 3 red wines and 3 white wines, then there was time to look around the property, browse the shop selling produce such as flavored olive oils and chutneys, or do some more tasting at the cellar door. Alternatively, you can do as we did and sit back enjoying a couple of bottles of wine, whatever takes your fancy at the time.

Moving on to the second winery for the day it was all about the wine. McGuigans is one the the largest wineries in the region and as a result have the tastings fine tuned to the last drop. Several wines were tasted at this stop, again a mix of red and wine, but also dessert wines for something a little different. McGuigans also has a slightly expensive cheese shop and more produce shops.

Leaving McGuigans and heading just around the corner, we arrived at our final stop (and my favorite) for the day at Hunter Valley Gardens. With renewed purpose and a couple of tastings under our belt we headed straight to the cellar door for Tempus Two and several other wineries of the region. As the room filled with lost looking tourists we separated one of the staff members who had strayed from his herd and secured a private tasting … nice one!

Again many wines were tasted, several bottles purchased and we walked out even happier than when we walked in. With a full hour and 45 minutes, it was time to check out the rest of the complex. While one hapless member of our little group was assigned the task of minding the wine and making friends with other tour participants, in particular a new Canadian friend we seemed to be of interest too, the rest of us split up to explore.

Unsurprisingly our paths crossed several times at the much talked of chocolate and fudge shop where there is a range of local and imported sweets, and needless to say, there was more exchanging of money for goods in that little store. With the temperature heading up over the 30 degrees Celsius mark, it was eventually time to head back to the bus - thank goodness for air-conditioning!

Donning our iPods and enjoying the relaxed state of mind that follows a day of wine tasting, we headed back along the highway to Sydney having conquered our fear of large coach tours, armed with the knowledge that no matter how you do it, a tour will be as much fun as you make it.

-Kerrie O’Mahony

The ruins of Petra, Jordan

Editor’s Note: On July 7 the winners of the new 7 Wonders of the World competition were announced. You can read more about it here.

It’s not long now until the New 7 Wonders of the World are announced, after 18 months of global public voting. The initiative was launched in 2000 and has been narrowed down to 21 finalists — and there is still time to cast your vote!

What is the point of the exercise, you may ask? With only one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing, it’s time to identify those man-made structures we wish to save from a similar fate. Funds raised during the campaign will be partly channeled into the restoration and preservation of the seven winning locations, however the campaign as a whole is giving fantastic exposure to all those nominated.

Here’s a quick run down of the list of finalists. You may struggle to choose only seven that you think are worthy of the title:

1. Acropolis, Athens - the symbol of Athens is a worthy Greek replacement of the Statue of Zeus from the original list. (Browse tours to the Acropolis)

2. Alhambra, Spain - the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site in Spain. (Check out tours of the Alhambra)

3. Angkor, Cambodia - a mystical place finally opened up to the world with the demise of the Khmer Rouge and end of civil war in Cambodia. (Read Viator’s picks for tours to Angkor Wat.)

4. Chichen Itza, Mexico - temple city built by the Mayans, central Americas equivalent of the Incas. (Visit Chichen Itza from Cancun or the Rivieria Maya)

Machu Picchu, Peru

5. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil - you know, the gigantic statue of Jesus Christ perched above Rio de Janiero on Corcovado Mountain. (Check out different ways to view the statue and Corcovado).

6. Colosseum, Rome - anyone who has been there knows exactly why this is on the list, it’s amazing. (Find tours of the Colosseum)

7. Easter Island Statues, Chile - 25 meter high stone statues on an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean - hey, why not?!

8. Eiffel Tower, Paris - unless you have spent your life living under a rock, this one is pretty self explanatory! (Read what Viator’s customers have said about tours to the Eiffel Tower.)

9. Great Wall, China - the largest man-made monument in the world, possibly visible from space depending who you talk to (I haven’t been so I don’t really know).

10. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul - with its massive dome this mosque is the model many others around the world aim to replicate. (Find tours of Hagia Sophia)

11. Kyomizu Temple, Japan - a symbol of clarity and serenity, two things the world needs right now (check out all of Viator’s ideas for tours in Japan)

12. Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow - the heart of Moscow and residence to prominent Russians from Tsar Mikhail Romanov to Lenin and Stalin. (Check out all of Viator’s tours in Russia.)

13. Machu Picchu, Peru - the isolated lost city of the Incas found high up in the Andes.

14. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany - King Ludwig II’s “Disney Castle” in the German countryside.

15. Petra, Jordan - cast your mind back to the ending of the film Indiana Jones at the Temple of Doom. (Find tours of Petra)

Giza Pyramids, Egypt

16. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt - the only remaining member from the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World list. Few would argue against continuing its inclusions in the new list.

17. Statue of Liberty, New York - North America’s only entry and one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world.

18. Stonehenge, England - the mystery of the stones draws thousands of visitors every year. (Read Viator’s picks for tours to Stonehenge).

19. Sydney Opera House, Australia - probably nominated for its fantastic location as much as its unique and striking design (which means you should consider a Sydney Harbour Cruise for the ultimate perspective).

20. Taj Mahal, India - the magnificent marble mausoleum is simply stunning. (Find tours of the Taj Mahal)

21. Timbuktu, Mali - yes, it is a real place!

If you haven’t already voted, take the opportunity to have your say. Voting closes on July 2, 2007 and is free.

Which seven will you choose?

-Kerrie O’Mahony

Heading to New York City? With so much to see and do, not sure where to start? Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, we’re here to help you make the most of your next trip to the Big Apple.

‘The Big Apple’ was an expression borrowed by jazz musicians from the sports world in the 1930s to describe ‘playing the big time’ — New York City. Harlem comes alive at sundown with scents of soul food and smooth jiving jazz. There is no better way to experience the birth of bebop culture, soul food and jazz than by indulging in some home-cooked Southern fare and dancing the night away at the Cotton Club. Fast-forward to the 1970s, tune in to some rock, punk or glam music and hear the stories and relive the scene on a NYC rock-n-roll walking tour focusing on the Lower East Side. Or if Hip-Hop’s your thing, sign up for the Hip-Hop Look at New York City. Our CEO Rod took this tour and loved it. Read what he had to say about it.

Looking for another way to relive the glorious 1970s? How about exploring Manhattan in a convertible 1975 Chevrolet Caprice Classic with a native New Yorker. There’s no better way to soak up the history of areas like SoHo, TriBeCa, South Street Seaport and Little Italy then in a ’75 Chevy Caprice. We’re not kidding.

Undeniably, New York is the chic, sexy city that never sleeps. But long before there were neon lights, martinis and Minolos there were great moments in NYC history that helped shape the United States. Go back in time to the inauguration of the first U.S. President, the formation of the Stock Exchange and the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

As unmistakably New York as the Yellow Taxi, the Circle Line took its maiden voyage around Manhattan in 1945, the same year the United Nations was formed and Jackie Robinson was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers. This unique and relaxing perspective of the five boroughs of New York highlights more than 25 major NYC landmarks, away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.

Stay relaxed and keep your own pace and priorities as your GPS Tour Guide directs you throughout the city via satellite technology.

And, if you’re ready for your close-up and want to take your eye out of the viewfinder, experience New York with a professional photographer at your side. This visual features a man-made 843-acre oasis in the urban jungle – Central Park – a critical component of New York City life that brings its urban visitors a sense of community, and replaces the skyscrapers with 9,000 park benches and 21 playgrounds.

Armed with a healthy dose of New York’s culture and history, you are now ready for the other hundreds of tours, attractions and activities we have on offer in New York. Browse our complete list of things to do in New York City and off you go!

-Scott McNeely

Forget the negative stereotypes about rap music. There’s a whole lot of history and a whole lot of amazing music and personalities involved in the thirty-odd years since Hip-Hop first arrived on the scene, and I dove right into it all last month in New York. What a blast!

Hip-Hop culture combines four discrete elements: DJ-ing, MC-ing, break-dancing and grafitti. You’ll see the latter two if you take the subway in New York — the B-Boys who do their thing at the 42nd Street / Times Square station are an institution — and you can visit any club, or just turn on VH1 to see great DJs and MCs. But to understand where it all came from, and why, you might want to consider the amazing Hip-Hop Look at New York City, offered exclusively by Debra Harris’s Hush Tours and available on Viator.com.

Some Corporate Art at 5Pointz, in Queens

First stop: the Scratch Academy, on Broadway, downtown. Super-professional, packed with equipment and staffed by real pros, this is a very cool place if you ever wanted to try your hand at a little turntablin’.

You don’t want to hear about my efforts, but there were a bunch of guys there from the UK and they were pretty damn good. That was a good way to start the tour, and from there we jumped in a bus where the tour leaders, Reggie Reg and Kurtis Blow, started our education on Hip-Hop history.

Next stop: 5 Pointz, in Queens, a grafitti covered block that features a constantly changing collection of ‘pieces, productions, throw-ups and tags from all the city’s best known aerosol artists, as they are affectionately known by those who speak fluent PC. A great spot for photo buffs, and definitely not on the usual tour bus schedule!

Legendary rapper Kurtis Blow gets the bus moving

Uptown is next, Harlem and the Apollo Theatre and… a most excellent lunch, very soul food, very authentic, all included. After lunch we had only the drive back to midtown to look forward to, but it turned out to be the best part of the tour: Kurtis Blow told us the story of his huge 1980 hit, The Breaks, and even had the crowds on the sidewalk waving at the bus as he turned up the volume. There was a lot of “Yo, Kurtis” going on.

Great tour, great fun, very cool tour guides. Like music? Do the Hip-Hop Look at New York City the next time you’re in New York!

-Rod Cuthbert