2009 January | Viator Travel Blog

Paris Rocks Art & Music

30. January 2009

My latest trip to Paris showed me a whole new side to the City of Lights, one that takes a little digging but is well rewarded. Three words: Rock. And. Roll. First up is the darker side of rock 'n' roll Paris. I attended the opening of the Charles Peterson photography exhibition: 'Kurt Cobain About a Son', in Galerie Chappe, a converted corner shop in the 18th, precariously perched on rue Andre Barsacq, a street on the steep hill close to Sacré-Coeur.

Europe: Cheater’s Guide to Art Museums

29. January 2009

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I don’t know much about art but I know what I like. Actually, that’s not true. I studied art history. In Australia. Do you know how crazy it is to study the culture of places you’ve never been and write about paintings you’ve never seen? Very crazy. I learnt more in two months of travel through Paris, Venice, Florence and London, than I did in three years of antipodean university. For example, the Mona Lisa is very small.

Iceland: Things to Do as Prices Thaw

26. January 2009

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The global slowdown? Some destinations have grown in appeal for travellers looking to beat the ‘credit crunch’. The most prominent of these is the mysterious mid-Atlantic island of Iceland , whose economy suffered a massive crash in the autumn of 2008, literally halving the value of the Icelandic currency, the Krone. It’s not like travelers needed an extra excuse to visit this enticing land of fire, ice and natural wonders.

Travel Photo Wanderlust

24. January 2009

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We've been busy updating our travel photo sets over on Flickr - have a look if you're not familiar with them. And it made me realize how many drop-dead stunning photos have been submitted by Viator travelers recently. So we've selected some of the staff's favorite tours and things to do in Viator, and posted a handful of our favorite traveler photos along with them. Have a gander.

Oahu Shark Diving

23. January 2009

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I was in Hawaii last week, on the island of Oahu, and took the chance to personally check out the Oahu Shark Dive we offer.You know, sharks. In a cage. Under the water. Yeah, sounded pretty good I thought.

The Viator 50: The Year’s Top Travel Destinations

21. January 2009

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The Viator 50: The Year’s Top Travel Destinations

Before we say farewell to 2008, let us take a moment to honor the Top 50 destinations of the year as determined by Viator.com travelers. This is our third annual "Viator Top 50" list, and like last year, 2008 has been a great ride, full of surprises (good on ya Paris, Rome and Las Vegas) and some surprising absences (Mexico, we missed you).

Top 25 Things to Do in Europe

19. January 2009

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After much pummeling of calculators and mashing of spreadsheets, we've calculated our Top 25 Things to Do in Europe for 2008. As always there are some surprises on the list as well as some notable absences. In the former category: Rome and Paris. Both of these great cities continued to dominate travelers' itineraries in Europe. In fact, given the overwhelming popularity of Rome and Paris amongst Viator travelers in 2008, we could probably have renamed this list as the Top 25 Things to Do in Paris and Rome.

Save Money on Caribbean Cruise Shore Excursions

18. January 2009

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Save Money on Caribbean Cruise Shore Excursions

For a week-long cruise a couple could easily spend the cost of their Caribbean cruise all over again in shore excursion fees. The cruise lines charge a premium for shore excursions - and you can save time and money by not booking the tour through the cruise line. Avoiding the hoards of passengers being organized into the cruise line shore excursions and having a smaller group experience leaves more time for fun, which is why you're in the Caribbean in the first place. Which is why Viator offers shore excursions in Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, St Maarten and US Virgin Islands.

Alcatraz Confidential

16. January 2009

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When I was 11 years old (nearly 20 years ago), in May of 1989, I took my first tour to Alcatraz Island. My elementary school was a two-hour drive from San Francisco, and this was our big field trip of the year, Alcatraz and the San Francisco Zoo. In retrospect I think that part of the reason we went to Alcatraz and not say, an art museum, was perhaps meant as a cautionary tale.