2008 October | Viator Travel Blog

San Francisco’s Mission District is a Maze of Murals

31. October 2008

Like most cities, San Francisco has its distinguished museums and brilliantly lit galleries, and it also has a healthy supply of what is sometimes described as "low-brow" art: graffiti, skateboard paintings, tattoo art, underground comix and so on. Spanning the full range of SF's art spectrum, and blurring the distinctions somewhat, are the murals for which the city is rightly famous. They’re all over town – in the lobbies of government buildings and along alleyways that double as urinals for the homeless.

The World’s 5 Top Domes

29. October 2008

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Whenever I travel, one of the things I inevitably do is visit the biggest church in the place. And judging by the queues outside Notre Dame in Paris, and St Peter’s in Rome, I’m not alone. But a few months ago when I was standing inside Hagia Sofia in Istanbul bending my neck right back so [...]

London Walking Tours

29. October 2008

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The fast paced city full of history and hidden nooks, London is a place to do on foot if you have time and hardy shoes. But plan your walks well – it’s a big city and you’ll end up walking miles if you’re not careful. I recommend lots of stopping for tea and cakes. So, the first in a series of my favourite wanders. (If you're looking for a guided walking tour in London, head over to the Viator.com website.)

Germany on Tour (the Musical Kind)

24. October 2008

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Going on tour isn’t all sunglasses at night, exciting destinations and a breathless timetable. Long hours in the car / plane / bus / train and too much personal contact with the same people / person 24 hours a day can be a recipe for mental extermination. Or the road to delirious delight. In-jokes abound, [...]

Mongol Rally 2008: All Good Things Come to an End

22. October 2008

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Mongol Rally 2008: All Good Things Come to an End

We crossed the Caspian Sea in an ancient ex-Soviet cargo ship, from Baku in Azerbaijan, headed towards Aktau, in the world’s largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan. We had a chance to sit back and relax for a change. Having left London almost a month back we were part of 200 teams taking part in the 5th annual Mongol Rally, chasing the sunrise towards Ulan Bataar in Mongolia, all in the name of raising stacks of cash for various deserving charities.

Oman Tour: My 4×4 Adventure to Nizwa & Jebel Shams

15. October 2008

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Oman Tour: My 4×4 Adventure to Nizwa & Jebel Shams

It was hot at 8am when Munir, our guide for the day, picked us up at our Muscat hotel in his 4×4. Hot enough, in fact, for my camera lenses to fog when we went outside. Summer temperatures in Oman can reach 50°C (122°F), and air-conditioning in vehicles is a necessity rather than a luxury. Our [...]

In Paris: My Citroen 2CV Tour

14. October 2008

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I’ve always been a great advocate of the hop-on hop-off bus tours that we offer in so many of our destinations. They provide a wonderful way to get acquainted with the city — its various districts, the key attractions and even the places to avoid — while at the same time getting you out in [...]

Be Unforgettable: Viator T-Shirts & Hoodies

10. October 2008

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We know what you’re thinking. “Do I really need a Viator T-shirt or hoodie (let alone a Viator bumper sticker, tote bag or key chain…)” The answer, friends, is yes! Because this isn’t plain ol’, run-of-the-mill Viator travel shwag. We’ve actually spent some time thinking about this stuff, trying to make it fun, fashionable and - maybe, [...]

Viator’s Traveler of the Month

10. October 2008

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Editor’s Note: Mea culpa! You may notice a little gap in Viator’s traveler of the month. Somehow (the guilty have indeed been punished) we skipped July & August. In our defense, that’s the busiest time of the year for us, with thousands of people traveling across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. But we won’t lie [...]

Guide to Australia’s Flinders Ranges

9. October 2008

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Wilpena Aerial Sunris Say, fr’instance, you’re in Adelaide, South Australia. Why not head over to the Yorke Peninsula, or even out to the Adelaide Hills – I hear the markets are mighty fine up there – but all in all it’ll really just be more of the same: cold nights, y’know… a touch of dampness. So why [...]