Archive for March, 2008

Editor’s Note: This is the second in our “airport transport & airport shuttles” series. We’ve asked Viator’s own hardcore travelers — the people who travel month in, month out — to write brief insider guides to airport transportation at major airports around the world. The following is by Alesia Stochel, the manager of Viator’s Las Vegas office. Alesia, she knows Las Vegas, baby!

Fabulous Las Vegas Airport Transport

Welcome to Las Vegas, the beckoning of slot machines greeting you the moment you exit your flight. Now it’s time for more sensory overload as you make your way towards baggage claim, with ample time to take in the advertisements for the hottest Vegas shows, clubs, dining and tour experiences. But be warned: From the airport, it looks like the Vegas Strip is mere steps away, but it’s just far enough away to require an airport shuttle, taxi, limo or your own rental car. The good news is you have choice transportation for the most part 24-7-365! A few guidelines that should help you match your transportation with your Vegas style:

Las Vegas Airport Transport: Grab a Cab

Your average Las Vegas visitor simply grabs a cab. Queues for the cabs are located right outside of baggage area (directly past the car rental counters, and one last restroom stop). Cabs range from $12 to the south end of the Strip to $25 downtown. Usually queues move quite frequently — don’t be dismayed by the looks of the long line. Always good to have a map or an idea of where your hotel is located from the airport (south end, center, downtown, off-strip). No longer rides than necessary, right?!

Las Vegas Airport Transport: Show me the savings!

Save your money for a Vegas helicopter tour

Are you an “all About the value” kind of person? The type of person who would rather save money for a show, a great dinner, or may we humbly suggest a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon? Either way you’re in luck, pre-book your Las Vegas airport shuttle ahead of time and beat the crowds, beat the lines, and spend as little as $10 for Strip hotels and $15 for downtown hotels. This is especially useful if you are arriving on a Friday or Saturday evening, which are high traffic days. Cabs and limos can be costly during this tine.

Las Vegas Airport Transport: DIY Las Vegas

Are you an explorer? Or maybe you want to look good in a convertible? Either way all major car rental companies are available at the airport. Cost during the week starts around $65 per day, on weekends from $30 per day. There is often complimentary valet parking at the major hotels (don’t forget to tip), as well as plenty of free public parking available. You will definitley get your exercise from the hotel parking lot to check-in. Wear comfy shoes!

Las Vegas Airport Transport: Almost famous

For the party-until-you-drop people (don’t waste a minute – sleep is overrated) – private sedans are available at the airport for $40 per person. Not quite the high roller, but feeling extra special!

Las Vegas Airport Transport: Famous enough not to care

Welcome to Las Vegas, Mr & Mrs High Roller. You have two options in Las Vegas: a limo or a stretch limo. Both are readily available at the airport for walk-up customers (bottom level of the airport - ask information at the airport to direct you, or follow the signs). The cost is $50-$60.

Las Vegas Airport Transport: So famous…

… your personal assistant is reading this.

For the highest of high rollers you will need to reserve an H2 Hummer Stretch Limo ($100 - $125). You may want to keep it for 1-2 hours to show a VIP is on-board. This is always a great alternative when traveling with a small group of 6 to 8 people. Or maybe you’re what’s known as a “Whale” — one of those high-dollar gamblers who always travels free to / from by private sedan / limo / stretch (the best)… good for you, but remember that nothing is really free in Vegas, baby – but always a good time.

–Alesia Stochel

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Las Vegas tours & things to do in Las Vegas, from Vegas shows to helicopter tours from Las Vegas to Las Vegas airport transfers.

Hong Kong reminds me of urban landscapes from cyberpunk novels. It’s all grime and glitz with narrow, twisting alleyways the color of sepia, mile-high concrete block buildings, and mirrored office towers, all bursting from a motley skyline of a billion neon signs. It’s eclectic, fast paced, stylish and modern –- but even so, there are plenty of places to find peace, quiet, and zen in a city park, temple, or monastery.

Hong Kong: Getting Oriented

Hong Kong is actually a collection of 262 islands, divided into four main areas: Hong Kong Island; Kowloon and the New Territories (located on the peninsula attached to the China mainland); and the Outlying Islands. The city itself is located around Victoria Harbour, and most travelers stay at the southern end of Kowloon in a neighborhood called Tsim Sha Tsui, a busy hotel and shopping district. In fact, Nathan Rd.’s Golden Mile is located here, so named for the ritzy shops lining the street.

Because of Hong Kong’s recent past as a British colony, there is enough English spoken (and printed on signs) to get around easily. Transportation is also a breeze: the metro (known as the MTR) is affordable, convenient and frequent –- and it goes all over Hong Kong. The Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) links Hong Kong to the mainland (if your trip takes you into China). Then there are ferries that cross the harbor, junk boats, escalators, moving sidewalks, aerial cable cars, double-decker busses, trams and, of course, taxis. Walking is always my favorite way to get around, though, and aside from the spontaneity and discovery a city walk affords, Hong Kong Island has many hiking trails for those seeking nature and exercise.

Aside from the unusual geography and the odd mix of cultural influences (Cantonese, British, Mandarin), I find the vertical construction of Hong Kong to be among the most disorienting traits. At home most things are eye level, but here, everything is stacked on top of each other: shops, restaurants, clubs and bars – you can’t just scan the storefronts on the street or you’ll miss most of Hong Kong. For locals, the evening commute ends with a half-hour wait in line at the elevator to get home.

Hong Kong Fish Market

Hong Kong isn’t particularly attractive in the day, not when compared to the evening hours, when all the neon signs light up the city making it feel (almost) like day. And every night at the harbour, a show called ‘A Symphony of Lights’ features lit skyscrapers, lasers and fireworks synchronized to music, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s “Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show”. And night is when the crowds come out – they surge – but unlike the rest of China, no-one pushes or shoves, so crossing the street with several hundred other people is more like riding a wave than participating in a riot.

Hong Kong: Things to do

Some people say that all there is to do in Hong Kong is shop, eat, shop, eat. It’s true there is a lot of shopping, with all the stores along Nathan road, the many malls, and numerous street markets: the Ladies Market (fake brand-label goods), Temple Street Market (goods from all over Asia – great for souvenirs), Stanley Market (everything from luggage to cheap clothes), the Flower Market (full of flowers, of course), the Goldfish Market (a whole street lined with shops selling small fish in plastic bags), the Bird Market (exotic birds, delicate wood cages, and local men relaxing), and the Jade Market (beware of fakes).

It’s also true that eating in Hong Kong is a good pastime, particularly at the many noodle shops and dim sum restaurants. But there is more to Hong Kong than shopping and eating – here are some of my suggested itineraries and recommendations:

Hong Kong Harbour

• Visit the Botanical Gardens (Victoria Peak, HK Island)
• Ride the tram to the top of Victoria Peak (Victoria Peak, HK Island)
• Find Zen at the Chin Lin Nunnery (Diamond Hill, Kowloon)
• Check out the Taoist Wong Tai Sin Temple (Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon)
• Get lost in alleyways of the Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui areas (Kowloon)
• Watch the swimmers in the downtown Kowloon Park (Kowloon)
• Have dinner and then cruise the harbor on a ‘junk boat’ (Kowloon)
• Check out the ‘Symphony of Lights’ Harbour Tour (Hong Kong Harbour, Kowloon side)
• Bet on a horse at the Hong Kong Jockey Club & Happy Valley Race Track (Happy Valley, HK Island)
• Go drinking in the Lan Kwai Fong neighborhood (Central, HK Island)
• Climb 268 steps to see the 34-meter-tall ‘Big Buddha’ on Lantau Island (Lantau Island)
• Take a boat trip to see pink dolphins off the coast of Lantau Island
• Make a day trip to Macau
• Take in all the sights of Hong Kong on a full-day city tour including Victoria Peak & Stanley Market

It also goes without saying, you must go shopping at one of Hong Kong’s many street markets and sample dim sum. No trip to Hong Kong is complete otherwise.

–Cheryn Flanagan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Harbour Cruises, and day trips to mainland China.

I’m packing again. Another day, another suitcase.I love it and I hate it. Love it because it means I’m off somewhere. Hate it because there is just not enough room in there for everything I might need. How can I predict what mood I might be in on any given day and what I might want to wear?

You see, I am not one of those people who can dress sensibly. I am led into everyday on a whim. Call it shallow, some have called it eccentric; I prefer to call it free - a little like an Italian taxi driver once described his driving… which was scary in the middle of a roundabout in Rome. I admit, sometimes so are my fashion choices. Although I have resisted the lure of the Austrian travelling clothes a la the Von Trapp family, I did once succumb to a red nurses’ cape.

Packing Tips: Overweight is good

Unsurprisingly, I always travel with an overweight suitcase, especially in winter. And so far, I have only had to pay excess baggage once, in Amsterdam. I think the airlines are often more lenient than they want us to believe. And I guess a lot of people travel under their weight allowance so it all evens out. When I take my small suitcase (the weekend / one week case, as opposed to the two weeks / one month case or the mega-over-a-month whopper), I usually can’t stuff it fuller than about 14 kilos (30 lbs) even with lots of books and computer cords, so I make up for all those 27-kilo journeys.

You do have to be careful because most airlines now won’t let any individual bag weigh over about 32 kilos (70 lbs) for health and safety reasons. This is particularly relevant for those lucky enough to be in business class and allowed to take at least this much. A good rule of thumb is, if you can’t lift it, they won’t!

Packing Tips: Roll it, decant it, but don’t shoebox it

So, the way I get all that stuff in there is rolling. Some people claim that laying clothes flat fits just as much but I have to say since I started rolling things I have many more wardrobe choice on the road. I don’t understand the laws of physics that make it true (is it physics?) but it works for me.

She did not take Philippa’s advice…

I used to always carry my toiletries in hand luggage because they were heavy and take up space. Not possible anymore. So, it’s into the case for longer trips, or decanted into 100 ml plastic bottles for shorter ones. Although you can still be hassled at security if you have lots of little bottles in your required Ziplock plastic bag.

The big mistake I made once was buying 200ml of something duty free, then, on the return trip, I decanted half into a 100 ml bottle and took the rest in the original bottle. Portuguese security stopped me. Even though the bottle was half full, it said 200ml on it so they would not let me carry it on the plane. I think telling them that the rest was in the other bottle only made it worse; I really did have 200ml of one substance, and man, that bubble bath could have really caused fragrant mayhem on the plane. I was sent back to check-in my hand luggage.

The most amazing piece of packing I’ve ever seen was a friend travelling Europe for a few weeks with the biggest, heaviest suitcase ever – now, she really was a fashion victim carrying all those shoes and bags. But when she opened the case, I could not believe my eyes: it was full of shoe boxes. Not, thankfully, full of shoes but full of everything and anything. She had decided that the best way to find things was have them in little compartments. But what a packing nightmare she had created for herself. I do not recommend this.

Packing Tips: No shoes, no shirt - welcome aboard!

Depending where you’re going – or how much you have annoyed the check-in staff – there is always the fear that check-in luggage may not meet you at the other end. In Russia, they have such rampant theft that when you take your bag off the carousel, someone checks your ID against your baggage ticket against the bag before you are allowed to leave. Comforting and yet…

(more…)

What is surprising about Istanbul is not the exotic atmosphere, it’s the cosmopolitan sensation of a city on par with New York or Paris. Sure, the call to prayer echoing from neighborhood mosques is nothing to scoff at — particularly when accompanied by an evening sunset. And sure, many aspects of Turkish culture and history abound.

Yet from the first steps onto the concourse of Atatürk International Airport to a stroll in the well-heeled Taksim neighborhood, Istanbul feels thoroughly sophisticated. Travelers the world over come to Istanbul, and in the most popular areas your as likely to hear English, Russian, German or Spanish as you are Turkish. Modern trams, subways, ferries and taxis move you about town. While Turkey in general remains a good bargain for Western visitors, Istanbul’s reputation as a cheap destination fades in proportion to its upscale development.

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district

Things to Do in Istanbul: Sightseeing in Sultanhamet

Istanbul’s Sultanhamet (old city) district is a favorite target of backpackers. Hostels, cafes, nargile (water pipes for smoking flavored tobacco) bars and carpet shops line the quaint streets. The Four Seasons Hotel overlooks the neighborhood from a massive building, formerly a Turkish prison (really). Many of the city’s well-known tourist attractions are within walking distance. I stayed at the Orient Youth Hostel, more than adequate though nothing too special. The rooftop view from the bar/café is notable. The Chillout Hostel, Sultan Hostel and Metropolis Hostel were also recommended to me second-hand.

A short walk from Sultanhamet, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is more commonly known as the Blue Mosque, stemming from the avalanche of blue tiles lining the interior. It closes to tourists at various prayer times throughout the day, but its impressive interior is more than worth a wait. Entrance is free of charge, and visitors must remove their shoes before entering the sacred place.

Just across the way from the Blue Mosque, adjoined by a small park, is Hagia Sophia, another of Istanbul’s biggest attractions. Once a church, then a mosque and now a museum, the building is noted as one of the most substantial examples of Byzantine architecture and dates from the mid-6th century under the reign of Emperor Justinian. The various mosaics adorning the interior of the building are second to none.

Down the street is Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans for more than 400 years, also now a museum. The Harem section of the palace is only accessible by guided tour, and the grounds include four main courtyards and a series of seriously mystifying and tangled trees. Quite debatable is the authenticity of some of the museum’s collection – the original staff used by Moses to part the Red Sea comes to mind – but interesting nonetheless. If forced to choose between the visiting the museum of Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace, I, for one,prefer the palace.

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

Quite centrally located is the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, perhaps the must-see of must-sees on any visit to Istanbul.Take pleasure loosing yourself in the twists and turns of the covered marketplace, which after a few minutes of immersion begins to feel like a world of its own. Spices, carpets, clothing, jewelry and pretty much anything one might want is available in a delightfully disorderly environment in more than4,000 shops.

Gold traders make deals amongst all the commotion in a manner resembling a Wall Street trading floor. The Bazaar is closed on Mondays, but throughout the rest of the week it is a flurry of activity. Aphrodisiac teas and candies endorsed by various Ottoman Sultans are rumored to have powerful effect, though I cannot personally endorse any such items. (And yes, you can always book a day tour of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace & Grand Bazaar over on the main Viator website.)

Things to Do in Istanbul: Taksim

The Taksim district is quite literally the epicenter of modern Istanbul, with shopping, hotels and restaurants. İstiklal Caddesi is a pedestrian only street dead-ending at Taksim Square and running to the Beyoğlu neighborhood on the other end. Small alleys branching off this street are home to popular bars and nightclubs, the twist and turns of these offshoots can be confusing, but are worth exploring for activity after-dark. On New Year’s Eve Taksim Square is the place to be with an impressive fireworks display. Major bus lines and Istanbul’s limited subway system also converge in this area, making it accessible to much of the rest of the city.

Upscale shopping is the rule in this part of town, and the bargains of the Grand Bazaar are nowhere to be found. Istanbul’s wealth and style is in full bloom on sidewalks filled with young and old sporting the latest international fashions.

Things to Do in Istanbul: Nightlife in BeyoÄŸlu

BeyoÄŸlu, on the opposite end of Ä°stiklal Caddesi, is a major destination for nightlife, and there is entertainment to suit all tastes. There are upscale but seriously seedy “gentleman’s clubs,” fine dining and thumping dance clubs. It is perhaps best to check with the locals as to what is the trendiest venue at any given time or any particular night. Babylon and Kemanci are among the best known clubs. Many of the city’s historic pubs are in this neighborhood, as is the Istanbul Modern, an art museum with permanent and rotating collections, housed in a former warehouse. The area does have a reputation for pickpockets and swindlers, so keep purses and wallets close.

Things to Do in Istanbul: Eating & Drinking

When it comes to eating and drinking in Istanbul there are many options, but there are several must-haves for any visitor. The first is döner kebab, and you will have no problem finding the local-favorite cheap and plentiful on nearly any street. Döner strongly resembles the Greek gyro, and consists of meat sliced of a rotating spit and served in pita bread.

Turkish tea is also a must-try, and blends well with smoke from bubbling nargile. Turkish raki (strongly resembling Italian sambuca or Greek ouzo) is an anise-flavored liquor. When mixed with water the concoction takes a milky look with a slightly bitter taste.

Efes Pilsen is the most prevalent of Turkish beers (sort of a Turkish Budweiser) and though not particularly original in flavor one is hard-pressed to find many other native brews available. Turkish coffee – thick and syrupy — is literally coffee-grounds directly dissolved in water and leaves a paste in the bottom of the cup upon consumption. Whether prepping for a late night of partying or along day of sight-seeing it is effective in energizing even the weariest traveler, but there should be no need for caffeine to create excitement over Istanbul.

–Benjamin Cunningham

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Istanbul and tours in Turkey. Also check out other Viator blog posts about Istanbul: Hammams in Istanbul, Ode to Istanbul and Istanbul Rules.

Editor’s Note: Viator’s founder, Rod Cuthbert, is a frequent traveller to London. He wrote the following after being asked (one too many times, apparently) how to navigate London Heathrow’s airport shuttles, trains and taxis. Airport transport to London? Rod has your answers below. So please stop pestering the man.

Getting to Heathrow? That’s the easy part.

Heading to London Heathrow? The easy part is finding a flight. The tricky bit is getting from Heathrow into London itself. That’s something we know a little bit about here at Viator, and we’ve decided to share it with you, unbiased, unvarnished, warts and all. Take a few minutes to check out the options.

Heathrow Airport Transport: Piccadilly Line

The London Underground (a.k.a. The Tube) is a good option if you’re comfortable with public transport. On the plus side it is cheap (about £4 per person). There are also a few negatives. First of all, check your hotel’s address and see if it’s near to a tube station, and if so, what line.

If you’re near the Piccadilly line that’s good, but you still need to deal with the fact that the Underground was designed for commuters with briefcases, not travellers with kids and two pull-along suitcases. If you’re arriving at peak time — i.e., 7 through 10am, or 4 through 7pm — be prepared for lots of crowds and jostling. That could be an unpleasant experience; if you have a family group with you, consider other options.

In any case note that the Tube stops at all stations, and your ride into London will take an hour or so, depending on your exact destination. Transfers to other lines can be simple, just a few steps onto another platform, or excruciatingly long journeys down passages, along corridors, and up so many stairs you’ll think you’re in France.

Verdict: Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Heathrow Airport Transport: The Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express is a superior public transport option, but a lot more expensive at £15.50 per person. You’re paying for a fast train that runs every 15 minutes, and takes only 15 minutes into Paddington Station. There are stops at Heathrow’s Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5; and a quick connection is available from Terminal 4.

The Tube from Heathrow is cheap, but not fast

Once again you need to feel comfortable with public transport, but the upside here is that the whole service is designed for travellers, so there’s no worries about luggage or being jostled by crowds of commuters.

From Paddington you can walk to your hotel if it’s nearby, transfer to the Tube, or grab a taxi from the well-organised taxi stand at the station. Maybe I’ve always been lucky, but using Heathrow Express I generally find I can be at my hotel 45 minutes after I clear customs, at a cost around £25, including the cab.

Verdict: Fast, civilised, good value.

Heathrow Airport Transport: London Airport Taxi

This might be the best option for a group of three or four, but don’t forget you need to fit your luggage in there as well. The fare depends entirely on your hotel’s location and can run as much as £70, which might be a bit of a shock for your first expense on UK soil.

The benefit of this option is it’s door to door; the downside is you may hit traffic and sit on the motorway for an hour when you’d rather be in your room and taking a shower. There are well-managed taxi stands at each terminal, and cabs are plentiful so you’ll be off and going quickly without having to lug your bags and children up stairs and down passageways. Personally? I never take a taxi either to or from the airport because I’d rather just get into the city quickly, and you can’t beat Heathrow Express for that. But I can certainly see that a family group might have a different view.

Verdict: A good option for families and groups of three or four. Bring cash.

Heathrow Airport Transport: National Express Bus

It’s London, after all, of course there’s a bus. And if your hotel is near Victoria Station, maybe this is even the best option. The bus picks up from Terminals 1, 2 and 3; from Terminals 4 and 5 there’s a free train link. Three to six buses run every hour, it’s a cheap option at £4 per person, and the trip to Victoria takes about an hour. Some people can hack riding the bus, and some can’t. I can’t say much more; I’ve never tried this service and I never stay near Victoria, so that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.

Verdict: Staying near Victoria? Like the bus? On a budget? This one’s for you.

Heathrow Airport Transport: Shared Airport Transfer Shuttles

A shared London airport transfer from Heathrow is a decent alternative to a London taxi and public transport options. It’s good value at around £19 per person, so it’s perfect for one or two people travelling together; three or four might be better off in a cab. You do have to put up with the annoyance of stopping at other people’s hotels. (I don’t know about you, but whenever I use services like Supershuttle I am always the last to get dropped off.) Of course another way to look at this is you get to see some more of London at no extra cost. There are well-located desks at Terminals 1, 3 and 4; and a meet and greet service at Terminal 2. Like the taxi option this will take about an hour, but then add the extra 15 to 30 minutes drop everyone else off.

Verdict: Good value door-to-door service for one or two.

Heathrow Airport Transport: Private Airport Transfer Services

If you’re envious of the people who are met on arrival by their own driver, holding a sign and carrying bags and so forth, a private London airport shuttle is for you. It’s pretty good value, too: £50 total for one, two or three people; £60 total for four to six people; and £78 total for seven or eight. It has all the benefits and shortcomings of a London taxi, but add the nice feeling associated with being met on arrival.

Verdict: For many travellers this is the best option, but it still may be slower than the Heathrow Express.

–Rod Cuthbert

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s London tours & things to do in London, including a range of private and shared London airport transportation from Heathrow and Gatwick.

What to do in Milan? Start with an espresso.

Drama. Passion. Coffee. Coffee, coffee, café.

You guessed it, the land of the Boot. Italy. That’s where I am now, where the waving pointed finger is the only way to make a conversation work. Where you can never say “yes” just once (”si, si, si” in staccato machine-gun succession). And where you and that pointing finger can really say “no” together (”No, no e no!”).

It’s also where the espresso is king. Espresso is the only kind of coffee here. Well, I guess if you’re soft you can have some milk in the morning in the form of a macchiato or cappuccino. But when you ask for a simple “coffee” (and it’s only 80 cents usually) you don’t get 300ml of black burnt sludge that came from a filter machine. No, no, e no! You get espresso. Welcome to Italy.

Onward to Milan

One way to reach Milan — at least for us old-school, no-air fools — is by land and the art of international hitchhiking. Another way is by train. The train from the north, coming down through Switzerland (or Schweiz, or Susse, or Svizzera or whatever they are calling themselves this week) will leave you at Chiasso, if you are as lucky as I turned out to be. Although they all speak fluent Italian and on a Saturday night it seems like even the train platform is a teenage nightclub all set to explode with passion and unrestrained energia, you eventually may discover that you are still in Switzerland. A short walk down the hill will also reveal the border between the Teutonic north and the Mediterranean south.

Upon approaching the line of jurisdiction at 2am, a pleasant torrent of words issued from the one of the four border police. My new standard phrase, “Non capisco Italiano” (I don’t understand Italian), quickly resulted in the smiling English reissue of “Welcome to Italy.”

And I’ve never felt so welcome before. It’s like stepping back a notch to a beautiful era where buildings have ornate augmentations and wrought iron balconies, where pizza shops sell pizza made by real Italians, where sports cars suddenly make sense because they are driven at appropriately sporty speeds.

Just an hour’s train ride into the Italian motherland, Milan is not the screaming scary bustling metropolis you might expect from the catwalk-hopping, handbag-carrying, espresso-assailing image of the city presented via movies, dubbed television and wildly gesticulating radio. Once you adjust to the constant states of exception, then the public transport is exceptional (really, why should it be a problem if the last train is now so late it has now become the next train?).

The streets are not as busy as you would expect for nearly two million people, the people not as rude as in cities where they push you aside to go on their way. Nor are the people too friendly as to scare you with shallowness. It’s all part of a life that sees your espresso downed at the bar, leaving you ready to go out and talk, to pause in the parks, to take in the sun and stroll in the piazza amid the street sellers, locals and fashionistas. Tourists are in short supply here, too, making the Italian-only language barrier a refreshing reality rather than an impossible obstruction.

Things to Do in Milan

Gentlemen of Milan, playing bocce

Where to begin? Milan is a little unlike other cities, having no “cool areas” overstuffed with hip customers where one lifestyle size fits all. The city varies across its breadth, yet does so in an even way that leaves it to you to find what you want. Like searching for four-leaf clovers in a field of fresh grass, at first supermarkets, food and even an internet café are all invisible among the shoe shops, espresso bars and marine-clothing fashion outlets.

But then with a small adjustment of your eagle-eyed attitude, they become yours to find as they slowly emerge from the complex social fabric that makes up the metropolis.

Life isn’t always in the fast lane – the street life extends itself to the bocce tournaments among the more senior members of the city, the curious sound of old men smacking their balls together and the excitement as the calipers come out to determine the winner. Couples sit nearby on park benches necking, somehow refreshing in the spring afternoon light, while elsewhere in the many parts of the parks children show a reassuring independence as they play and repeatedly manage to avoid near collisions upon swings.

It’s an interesting mix of many-tongued immigrants, of colourful Italians and their jaunty small dogs that strut along as if they are the true owners of the city streets. Some sections of park being dedicated to only the bouncing hounds, like a street newspaper where the news is written in invisible ink on every blade of grass, fence post and tree. With a feeling like Paris, but with less grey and warmer air, there is something to be said for visiting Milan in the spring – the very aliveness in the air either drawing you in or letting you sit back and feel it all drift by.

Perhaps a touristic detour is what you need to feel complete?

Then start from Cadorna by the Castello Sforzesco (castle), milling by the moat then on to wander past the largest ice cream in the world — the gothically ornate Milan Cathedral, towering stories high above the thronging piazza and looking as if to melt in the warm sunlight, dripping with detail and stone hewn delights. Pause a moment and take a rite of spring dawning from the European winter with a bag of fresh roasted chestnuts. Marvel at the English buskers playing Oasis covers with a verve that says, “we could never draw a crowd like this in England.”

Now stop by one of the many roadside bars and sip an aperetivo in the golden sunset light and snack upon the olives, cheeses and breads upon the bar as the day draws to its meandering end. Rejoice as Europe shows a rare demonstration of Nature’s fury as a storm tumbles south from the mountains to empty its wares of thunder and lightning upon the wide streets and rooftops of the city.

A passion that you can take on, or just move with. Regardless of what anyone may tell you, Milan is like an espresso for the soul.

–Robert Curgenven

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Italy tours and things to do in Milan, from Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ at Il Cenacolo to a Lake Como day trip.

A few months ago I stumbled upon the Budget Travel Supermarket Souvenir article, with its quirky mix of items you can buy in foreign supermarkets. Pig-liver patee in handy “to go” portions, grilled shrimp and pepper flavored Pringles, that sort of thing. There’s a good slideshow if you’re interested.

I appreciate supermarket shenanigans as much as the next person. But the article left me a little hungry for more (pun only partially intended). The concept is great — travel souvenirs and mementos from foreign lands — but why limit it to foreign supermarkets?

No, let’s go big here. Let’s open this concept up to any and all travel shwag. I’m hungry for a list of the world’s most quirky, oddest, funniest (both strange & ha ha) and downright weird travel mementos. Did you bring home a shrunken head? A jar of pickled feet? A felt painting of Jesus driving a monster truck?

Don’t be shy. You are not alone in your appreciation of weird & wonderful travel souvenirs. I’ve added a few of my personal favorites, but please send us yours! Simply email your photo (jpeg preferably) with a short explanation at feedback@viator.com and we will add the best ones to the list below.

Best Travel Souvenirs & Mementos: It’s Unbelizeable

When I was 22 years old I went to Romania to write a travel guide for other 22-year-olds. Strangely enough, nobody was interested in Romania at the time, especially not the 22 year olds. My mom felt bad, so she bought me an “I Luv Romania” T-shirt. The shirt makes me laugh about a difficult time in my life (you go spend 8 weeks in post-revolution Romania and tell me how you like it). To this day I still know how to say, in Romanian, “No! I do not like pork liver.”

At the other end of the emotional spectrum is my shirt from Belize. It says “You Better Belize It!” Which pretty much sums up the wonderfulness that is Belize (read about the wonderfulness here).

Best Travel Souvenirs & Mementos: Monkey Madness

I ran out of toothpaste once when I was in Kenya. After much fruitless searching I was informed that in Kenya it’s more common to use tooth powder. Fair enough. So I picked up this — tub? jar? bottle? — of Monkey Brand Black Tooth Powder, imported from India. No, it did not turn my teeth black. Yes, I was worried about that.

Best Travel Souvenirs & Mementos: Allahu Akbar

I bought this mosque clock after taking a trip to Istanbul (read about that trip here), where I became completely enamored with the call to prayer. This clock is perhaps the best travel souvenir I have ever purchased. Every time the alarm goes off I think fondly back on my time in Istanbul and Turkey. If you’re curious to experience the clock’s call-to-prayer alarm firsthand, click here (warning - this is loud).

Best Travel Souvenirs & Mementos: Hutt River Freestate

This T-shirt is from the largely unrecognised Principality of the Hutt River Province, which ’seceded’ from Australia in 1970. It’s located in Western Australia, about 5 hours from absolutely nowhere. Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley run a gift shop, as well as guided tours most days. The photo was submitted by John Ryan, author of a superb book on Micronations.

Best Travel Souvenirs & Mementos: The Red Detachment of Women

Another entry from John, this time of a female soldier-ballerina statuette with a pistol, from the balllet The Red Detachment of Women. It was a Cultural Revolution favourite in Mao’s China. Richard Nixon saw it in ‘72 and it’s still performed on high rotation. The statue is just over a foot high and was purchased at a market in Beijing in 1998.

Best Travel Souvenirs & Mementos: Singapore Surrender Monkeys

Another one from John Ryan, who says: “This is a tiny little souvenir fan I picked up in a gift shop on Sentosa in Singapore in 2000. Friends have looked but not seen these since - I wonder if they’re still on sale? Only 7cm (or just under 3 inches) wide, the fan depicts the Fall of Singapore to the Japanese in World War II, with British soldiers signing the surrender papers. Ahhh, the memories!”

Do you have a travel souvenir you’d like to share? If so simply email your photo (jpeg preferably) with a short explanation to feedback@viator.com. We’ll add the best travel shwag to this list.

–Scott McNeely

Editor’s Note: In the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Games, Viator has created a mini-guide for travelers that covers suggested itineraries in Beijing, as part of our Beijing tours & things to do in Beijing listings. As the games get closer we will have on-the-ground advice for making the most of your trip to Beijing during the historic 2008 Olympic games.

Visiting Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games? Then read on…

Since 2004, a giant digital clock in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square has been counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games, on August 8. It’s a momentous time for Beijing, as the countdown to the Olympics and the round-the-clock construction of a brand new city wind down.

More than 1 million people are expected to visit Beijing for the Olympics. We’ll assume you have already sorted your Olympic tickets (if not, click here for information on obtaining tickets to events at the Beijing games). So now we can focus on the fun stuff.

Your first stop? Check out Viator’s day-by-day itineraries in Beijing over on the main Viator.com website. We’ve put together this guide to help you plan your Beijing travels, with several itineraries to accommodate those with only a day to spend, to those with several.

Next, have a look at the suggestions below for making the most of a trip to Beijing during the 2008 Olympics. If you have more time in Beijing, or if you’re looking for activities that only fill a few hours, the city is full of interesting walks and bicycle rides, shopping centers, art galleries and museums, and entertainment. Here are some of the highlights.

Top Things to Do in Beijing

Standing guard in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square

• Rent a Bicycle. Though Beijing was famed in the past for the numbers of bicyclists clogging the streets, cars are more prevalent these days. Even so, there are plenty of cyclists riding along in special bicycle lanes with their own traffic signals and traffic directors, which make biking in the city relatively safe. Rides through hutong neighborhoods and around the Forbidden City are pleasant, and bicycle rentals are cheap and easy to find.

• Peking Duck Banquet & Chinese Acrobatic Show. Enjoy world-famous Peking Duck, an absolute must-do experience in Beijing, followed up with exotic entertainment by a Chinese acrobat troupe. The whole evening lasts about 4 hours and includes complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off.

• Get a Drink. Head over to Sanlitun, the embassy district, which is a popular expat area with small international bars and cafes tucked in the avenues and side streets. Or check out the up and coming (and somewhat tamer) Houhai Lake for bars, pubs, cafes, and restaurants.

• Go Shopping. Once the commercial heart of the city in the Qing Dynasty, Qianmen Street (just south of Tiananmen Square) has been redeveloped as a shopping area inspired by the past, with renovated shops, an opera house, and a tree-lined marble thoroughfare for pedestrians. Nearby, the glass-faced Oriental Plaza stretches from Wangfujing Street to Dong Dan, an upscale shopping center, the plaza is two stories of clothing stores and several museums. The six-story Shin Kong Plaza in the Central Business District is home to more than 100 stores for designer brands like Prada and Gucci, and restaurants that span the gamut from classic French to traditional Beijing cuisine. Also in the Central Business District, a ritzy new mall called The Place, located near the Silk Market, is best known for its main attraction: a giant, 98-foot-wide LED screen ‘video roof’ that projects everything from swimming sharks and flying birds to intergalactic light shows.

• Visit a Gallery or Museum. Check out the Dashanzi Art District, a neighborhood of industrial buildings previously used for military and factory purposes that have been converted by artists into galleries, boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants. For antiquities, the Wanshou Temple is home to the Beijing Art Museum, with collections of paintings, carvings, pottery, and handicrafts, and The Capital Museum houses artifacts such as ancient coins, stoneware, calligraphy and paintings. The Beijing Natural History Museum, near the Temple of Heaven, offers an interesting mix of zoological displays and human cadavers. The National Museum, on Tiananmen Square, has a timeline history of the communist party mixed with an incongruent collection of art exhibits on the first floor and a kitschy wax museum on the second, with a better view of Chairman Mao than the nearby mausoleum.

• Tour the ‘New’ Beijing Architecture. See for yourself what all the fuss is about by visiting the controversial new buildings in Beijing’s landscape, designed by some of the modern world’s greatest architects. The National Grand Theater, called The Egg, is a futuristic looking opera house of steel and glass surrounded by an artificial lake located west of Tiananmen Square. On the Olympic Green, get a look at the shiny metal National Stadium, called the Bird Nest, and the glass bubbled National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube. Don’t miss the CCTV Headquarters, a skyscraper with an unusual trapezoidal ‘loop’ shape for China Central Television in the Central Business District.

• Go Dancing. Check out China Doll in Sanlitun, a dance club with an underwater atmosphere spread over three floors, or Club Mix located at the Worker’s Stadium North Gate, recently expanded and packed every night, Mix has several dance floors playing different styles of music. StarLive, in Yonghegong, is the best place to catch live music and foreign acts passing through town.

–Cheryn Flanagan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s complete list of China tours, Beijing tours & attractions and tours of the Great Wall. You can even prebook a private Beijing airport transfer (PEK).

Stonehenge is one of the most famous ancient monuments in the world, but what do we really know about it? Anyone intending to visit Stonehenge will be confronted by a huge amount of literature. How do you know where to begin?

You’re in luck. Thames & Hudson is about to release in May a new account of Stonehenge aimed at a wider audience than just the PhD archaeological community. It’s called Solving Stonehenge, by Anthony Johnson. Now I’m no archaeologist, but I think this book will generate a huge amount of discussion.

The author (a professional archaeological surveyor) spent fives years at his computer analyzing the earthwork and stone circles, sifting through myths, legends and misconceptions about Stonehenge.

Central to the book is a a carefully measured survey by John Wood, the architect of Bath, completed in 1740 before several of the stones fell; although largely overlooked by Stonehenge scholars, this remains the most important plan of Stonehenge ever made.

Stonehenge Spoiler Alert: It had a sad ending

Locked within the symmetry of the stones and buried below ground lie the clues to the precise formulae which determined their numbers, spacing and relationships.

Stonehenge was not just the work of skilled engineers, nor primarily astronomical in its concept, but built to a premeditated design which was carefully planned and set out by prehistoric surveyors who had a sophisticated understanding of geometry, practical mathematics and symmetry.

So what does it all mean? I am no archaeologist, and I am no spoiler. The book reads a little like a detective novel, so I am not going to spoil the ending (everybody dies and the whole thing becomes a ruin).

Read it for yourself before taking a trip to Stonehenge.

–Ken Frohling

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s London tours & things to do from day tours to Stonehenge to Buckingham Palace and everything in between.

St Peter’s Square and Basilica

Holy Week in Rome. There are very few examples of Pageantry with a capital ‘P’ grander than Holy Week in Rome.

The Pope himself delivers several masses between Palm Sunday and Easter, and tens of thousands of pilgrims and fellow travelers are on hand to celebrate with him.

The following will give you an idea of what’s going on and when; most services take place in St Peter’s Square or inside the Basilica (consider a walking tour in Rome to get your bearings). You can certainly expect crowds in Rome and the Vatican during Easter Week. But for Catholics and religious-minded travelers (frankly, for anybody and everyone who appreciates ritual and pomp) , the experience of Easter Week is unforgettable.

Palm Sunday (March 16)
Palm Sunday, a sort of prequel, starts off Holy Week in the morning with the Pope’s blessing of the palms in St Peter’s Square. At the end of the mass, the Pope usually sends a special message - the ‘Angelus’ - to the youth of the world.

Holy Thursday (March 20)
After a few days’ break (the Pope will honor his predecessor on Holy Monday), during which you might notice a steadily increasing population density in and around the Vatican, the Easter celebration begins in earnest. On Holy Thursday (also called ‘Maundy Thursday’), the Pope performs a rare morning mass, known as the ‘Mass of the Chrism’, in St Peter’s Basilica (’chrism’ is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, which, once blessed, is used in some of the sacraments). In the evening, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper commemorates Christ’s bathing of the feet of the Apostles.

Good Friday (March 21)
On Good Friday, instead of a mass, choirs sing St John’s version of Christ’s crucifixion. Later that night, the Pope traces the Via Crucis, or Stations of the Cross, from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill. This torch-lit procession is one of the grandest, most solemn things you can witness in Rome.

Saturday
Saturday night is traditionally the time of the Easter Vigil, when the Pope celebrates a late mass in St Peter’s Basilica. This is also traditionally when converts are accepted into the Catholic Church.

Easter Sunday (March 23)
On Easter Sunday, the Pope says mass in St Peter’s Square. Despite the crowds - typically this is the most attended event of Holy Week - you should be able to spot the Holy Father, high above the square on a balcony of the church. At noon, he delivers the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message - ‘to the city and the world - in which the Pope grants forgiveness to those present and to Catholics world wide.

St Peter’s Basilica from the Tiber

Being there
Although these events are generally free, some require tickets (a must if you want a seat, or in some cases if you want to get in at all). For Catholics, this is usually arranged through your bishop. You might also try the American Seminary in Rome. For non-Catholics, it’s a bit dicier, but you might try the American Seminary.

The official Vatican liturgical calendar for Holy Week can be found here.

The Vatican museums (and those throughout Rome) are generally open during Holy Week, with the exceptions of Easter Sunday and the following Monday.

Ideas on spending the rest of your time in the Eternal City can be found in our complete list of things to see and do in Rome.

–Bruce Melendy