Think back to 1989. The Berlin Wall has just fallen. The television shows LA Law, Cheers and Murphy Brown clean up at the Emmy Awards. George Michael’s Faith is the album of the year. And Hampton Hotels launches its “100% Satisfaction Guarantee.”

Yes, 1989 was a banner year.

Fast-forward 20 years. There are many anniversaries to celebrate in 2009, but the one we’re focused on is Hampton Hotel’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee (not 100% satisfied? then you do not pay). Why? Because in honor of the 20th anniversary of Hampton’s guarantee, Viator and Hampton have joined together to give away 20 free nights at any Hampton Hotel plus a $200 gift certificate at Viator.com!!

Hampton's 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: Not satisfied? Then you don't pay

Yes! The winner of our contest stays for 20 nights - free! - at any Hampton hotel. You’ll have 1,700+ locations to chose from… Manhattan to New Orleans, San Francisco to San Antonio, Puerto Rico to Mexico to Canada and beyond!. And you’ll receive a $200 Viator.com gift certificate.

How to enter

What’s the catch? There isn’t one!! All you need to do is answer one simple question:

What do YOU wish in life came with a 100% guarantee?

Leave your answer as a comment below. We will select the best answer to the question “What do YOU wish in life came with a 100% guarantee?” by November 5, and post the winning response below. That’s it. That’s all it takes to win 20 free hotel nights and a Viator.com gift certificate!!

Contest rules: The fine print

• The deadline for submissions is November 3, 2009. Winners will be announced by November 5, 2009.
• To enter the contest, simply leave a comment below answering the question:”What do YOU wish in life came with a 100% guarantee?”
• Viator will select a winner based on who they feel best answers the question above.
• You may enter the contest as often as you like, as long as you supply a different answer with each entry.
• The winner will receive a Hampton Hotels certificate entitling them to stay for 20 nights, free, at any Hampton Hotels location, subject to normal availability. The certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. All hotel nights must be used within 12 months. The certificate has no cash value and cannot be exchanged or refunded.
• The winner will receive a USD$200 Viator.com gift certificate, valid for two years from the date of issue or as required by local law. Viator gift certificates are not redeemable for cash.
• Viator, Hampton Hotel, and Hilton Inc. employees, contractors and their families are not eligible to win this contest - don’t even think about it!

Good luck, and congratulations Hampton Hotels for 20 years of awesome customer service!

-Viator Travel Team

All in all, a great evening.

Naive? Check. Narrow minded? Check.

Back at the hotel I Googled the restaurant to see what else I could learn about it, and was flabbergasted to read some of the nonsense that “reviewers” had posted after their own experiences there. Which got me to thinking: how often does a reviewer’s opinion have nothing to do with the establishment, and everything to do with the reviewer’s naivety, narrow-mindedness and lack of real-world experience?

Think before you complain (especially if you're American)

I started looking at reviews for some of the hotels and restaurants I’d enjoyed recently. And I got some pretty rude shocks. Hotels where I’d found everything to my liking were roundly derided as having poor service and lax standards, while my favoured restaurants were often seen as being second-rate.

Digging a little deeper, I found the problem was most evident in those cases where US-based reviewers had opined on international establishments. I found myself generally agreeing with the collective wisdom of Brits, Aussies and other domestic-market travellers, but was often sharply at odds with US reviews of my favourites in Europe and Asia.

Americans - stupid, ignorant and mean?

As I read more and more of these negative reviews I saw a pattern emerge. Now, you’d better brace yourself for some pretty outlandish statements coming up here; and none of them supported by any detailed research or opinion polling or any of that scientific stuff. But you decide. Here’s a summary of my thesis:

• Of all the major western, developed nations, America stands out as having a population that, in comparison to others, doesn’t really travel overseas that much
• Having said that, Americans love to share their travel experiences, filling sites like Viator, TripAdvisor, IgoUgo and others with literally millions of opinions about everything
• These two ingredients often combine into a potent mix that oozes stupidity, ignorance and, sad to say, mean-spiritedness

Here’s what I mean. A reviewer who says of a Moscow restaurant that “the servers were surly and unfriendly” clearly doesn’t realise that in Moscow the brusque manner of people in customer-facing roles is not seen as a negative by the locals; far from it, in fact. They would describe it as a “no nonsense, matter of fact” approach, and by comparison would have great disdain for the staff at your local TGIF, probably thinking them “transparently false.”

People, you hate too much

Sunday roast looks good to me, but not to everyone...

Examples like this abound. Suggesting that “activities are limited” on a Fijian island completely misses the point about Fiji — and many island destinations, where doing nothing is the whole idea!

Complaints about the size of bedrooms in London hotels fail completely to take into account the price of real estate in one of the world’s most crowded cities.

While negative statements about driving distances in Australia just demonstrate that a rudimentary knowledge of geography might be a good thing.

Read enough of these diatribes and you’ll suspect that many reviewers simply want domestic U.S. standards applied all over the world, so that no matter where they go they are greeted by a Gap-clad 20-something with a plastic smile and a menu… or a breakfast buffet that’s reminiscent of their favourite Sheraton. Sort of like the English tourists who stay in those little ‘British’ villages in Spain with ‘el Fish & Chips’ and ‘el Pub.’

Well, no. That’s not how it should be. Diversity is what makes the world an interesting place, and it’s the underlying reason why we travel. I want those Russian waiters to be off-hand; I want the French waiter to sneer at my wine order when he thinks it makes no sense; I want the Fijian check-in staff to hide out back when they see me coming; and I want the bell-hop in Las Vegas to treat me like the most important guest to check-in that day, even when I know I’m not.

The LAST thing I want is for the rest of the world to adopt false standards! Especially false American standards.

I think, therefore I complain

So please. Stop and think a little before posting that negative review. Was the service really bad, or just “different”? Was the food really too spicy, or is that just how it is in Northern India? If that beer was served warm, was there a reason why?

Travel’s an education. And from what I’ve been reading, there’s quite a few reviewers out there who could do with one of those.

-Rod Cuthbert

Editor’s note: Rod Cuthbert is the founder of Viator, Inc. You can read more of Rod’s musings here.

The other Cuba is the one the Cuban’s live in, and it is an intoxicating mix of Caribbean color with Spanish heritage with the uniqueness that the 47 years of blockade and its own unique blend of communism have brought. Cuba is the largest Caribbean island and there is a real diversity of places and people to explore. So here are my top 5 places to visit in Cuba:

#1 - Trinidad

Trinidad is my absolute favorite. A small town of only 60,000 people on Cuba’s southern coast, Trinidad is a picture postcard of what we all expect Cuba to look like. All cobblestones and pastel Spanish architecture, but not flash and renovated like Havana; it has more character, if character is a mix of the renovated, and the well worn, and the completely derelict. A great place for salsa lessons, and there are dozens of places to indulge in dance. There’s the Casa De La Trova for the traditional Buena Vista Social club style, great to practice those salsa steps. There’s afro-caribbean and drumming clubs for a more frenetic pace. There is the free band and dancing in the town square every night, another great place to practice your dance steps with the locals.

An old Cadillac on the streets of Trinidad

There’s even Ayala, the disco in a cave up the hill, yes a real ’80s retro nightclub with lasers and videos projected on the cave walls and Madonna and Latino boy bands on high rotation – it was enough to drive me to drink – another rum and coke thanks.

There’s fascinating museums, old bell towers to climb, and little illegal hole in the wall pizza shops that pop up every lunch time and then close down within an hour when their stock is sold – you don’t know where they are going to open but you’ll recognise them from the queue, delicious and about 50 cents each. There is the classic white sand turquoise water Caribbean beach at Ancon beach, a couple of miles out of town ( the town sits slightly inland these days) Float in the warm water, soak up the sun, watch the sunset, sit under the palm trees or catch a hobicat out to some good snorkeling spots.

#2 - Camaguey

Camaguey, in the centre of the island and the centre of cattle country. Yes this is as close to being in Argentina you are going to get in Cuba. It’s still the most “Spanish” of the Cuban cities, and the locals look more Spanish than afro caribbean here too. It traditionally had been a wealthy centre, and that still shows in the architecture – the houses are bigger (but may have many more families and generations sharing them now), the churches more numerous and impressive, but the limitations on maintenance clearly show.

It’s a very “lived in” city centre compared to Havana, the kids are playing stick ball in the streets, the old men or woman are sitting on the doorsteps watching the world go by. I loved walking every city in Cuba but this was the most walkable and most interesting of all. The streets are a maze designed to confuse the pirates of centuries ago (I never quite understood that given it is about as far from the coast as you can get in cuba but its not too hard to use the church spires to navigate your way around. So many art galleries here too, a thriving artist population, from the traditional to the avant-garde.

My favorite was to visit the house of Ileana Sanchez & Joel Jover, two well known Cuban artists, Their front door opens onto the Plaza de la Independence, and the public are free to visit their two front rooms – absolutely covered from floor to the very high ceilings with a maze of their own art, other artists they have collected around the world, as well as things that inspire them – it is a veritable treasure trove. We were lucky enough to get invited into the rest of the house, their amazing sculpture garden, and met the artists themselves around their kitchen table. I loved their art and left Cuba the proud owner of a Joel Jover original.

There is a process to getting a licence to take art out of cuba, mainly designed to make sure the artist is declaring their sales to the government I think, if you don’t have the requisite licence they will confiscate your art at the airport when you leave as they assume you bought it on the black market. However the artists know this process does put us off buying and so they do it for you – I made my purchase at about 10 pm at night, just after dinner, and they had arranged the licence and had it ready for me before my bus left at 8am the next morning – I have no idea how they managed to get a government office to do that in the middle of the night but they certainly made it easy for me.

Camaguey was one of the places hit hard by the three huge hurricanes in 2008, and many of the shops were still being repaired, but luckily for us at least one of the ice cream parlours’ had reopened – the Copellia’s are not to be missed.

#3 - Havana

Havana - the original Vegas before there was a Vegas. The old town, all cobbled streets and beautiful Spanish buildings and pastel colors and a wonderful European flavor. Much of the old town has been restored with UNESCO money, the plaza’s have cafes and great coffee and handmade chocolate shops, along with the expected rum, cigars, Hemingway nostalgia and the home of the mojito’s. Walk through the old town, zigzagging around every block, until you hit the Prado, browse the art on display while walking towards the Malecon, the sea wall and walkway around the seafront that runs for miles. Walk it in the evening and see the teenagers hanging out, the families cooling down after the heat of the day, the couples out on a date.

Old Town, Havana

And walk it again in the daytime and see the kids swimming, the families strolling, the jazz musicians (playing for the tourists, but boy it still sounds good), the fishermen, the cyclists, the sheer variety of life. When you get tired of walking catch a coco cab – like a tuk-tuk with a large round plastic shell, looks like a motorized coconut – or hire one of the old Cadillac convertibles that run as taxi’s and get them to take you sightseeing for an hour –the other visitors will be snapping your photo as you go past.

Visit the outdoor book market in treelined square at the northeast of the old town, or the artisan market stalls by the canal at the northern end of the old town, for the best selection of souvenirs you will find in Cuba. When things get too hot or too crowded, there are many rooftop bars where you can retire and relax with a cool drink.

#4 - Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba – the port town with a great old castle. With its location on the southeastern tip of Cuba, Santiago has been a key defense spot for cuba for centuries. Castillo del Morro is a 16th century citadel with turrets and a drawbridge and dungeons and cannons and a maze of stairs and tunnels and everything a great castle should have, high on a promontory at the harbor entrance, with fantastic views up the coastline, so the defenders could see the enemy coming.

Your inner child can play happily here for hours. The castle was last used in the Spanish/US war, the Spanish army were in Cuba and Cuba had sought help from the US to get rid of them and gain independence (yes the US and Cuba were once friends) They say that when the Spanish troops in Castillo del Morro saw the US ships coming, they didn’t stay and fight, they turned tail and ran, so the US didn’t even have to fight to win. Our local guide described the spanish troops as “sissy”.

For a great lunch break, take a 10 minute boat trip from the yacht club to Cayo Granma in the middle of the harbor. Before the revolution the island was being developed as holiday homes for the rich, and after the revolution became the home of local fishing families, it is very run down and charmingly decrepid now.

However a lobster lunch with cold cervesa sitting on a terrace over the harbor is wonderful, followed by a stroll around the island. Santiago de Cuba is also famous for its role in the Cuban revolution, here Fidel Castro lead the failed 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks, which led to his capture, trial, incarceration and eventual release, followed by his travels to Mexico when he then met up with Che Guevara - and the rest, as they say, is history.

You can visit the Barracks and go through the fascinating museum, the only downside is you have to go around with an assigned guide, and what could be an intriguing one hour tour is, in perhaps the most stereotypically traditionally communist style I met in Cuba, turned into a 3-hour endurance test that completely sucked all interest out of me!

#5 - Baracoa

The hottest and steamiest of them all. Baracoa is about as far away and hard to get to as you can get in Cuba – on the far southeast coast – go through Santiago, keep going past Guantanamo Bay (yes that one) and head over a mountain range of tropical rainforest on a very twisty road, and eventually you will get to Baracoa.

It is noticeably hotter and more humid than the rest of Cuba, which was warm enough anyway. The beaches are black sand, the coastline is jagged black rock, the sea is rougher, the pace of life seems slower and more brooding, it is a dark clouds and thunderstorm type of heat, not a sunshiny heat. It didn’t seem at all surprising that the lovely Casa Particular we stayed at was next door to the Funeral Home, it was just that sort of place!

But out of this seemed to come some very vibrant art and music, great food and drink, and the dancing is a whole lot raunchier down this end of the island too. There is swimming and kayaking and waterfalls and treks to do, or just laze around town and watch the world go by, and understand that this is like no where else in the world.

-Victoria Pottering

Interested in Cuba? Read Victoria’s previous blog post about Cuba.

On St Lucia, the temptation can often be to just stick to the resort. Many of them are of an extremely high quality, and offer enough activities to keep guests busy for weeks (though keep in mind, you will save money by booking St Lucia tours ahead with a company such as Viator). To take a case in point, one day’s activity list at the Windjammer Landing resort included watersports, a snorkelling trip, a stretch class, beach volleyball, table tennis and a banana boat ride. It’s a similar story elsewhere, but it is worth breaking out and taking to the long and winding roads.

St Lucia: Real island life

Those not wanting to go through the car hire rigmarole can head out on an island tour or hire a driver and his taxi for the day. And once that’s sorted, there’s something to see around every corner. The views of bays and banana plantations as you hug the bends are well worth the detours. Despite its upmarket reputation, St Lucia isn’t a sanitised made-for-tourists island. Driving through the villages and hillside shanty towns it’s clear that most of the St Lucians live a very different life to the pampered visitors. The island has a more African / Central American feel to it than many Caribbean islands; just that little bit of an edge that makes it more exciting.

St Lucia: The Pitons and Soufriere

Step away from the resorts and real life takes over. Choose a local bar over the hotel bar, and you’ll start getting real insights – as well as the odd impassioned rant – from the St Lucians. The best place to really get into the spirit of things is Gros Islet on a Friday night. This is where the ‘jump up’ takes place. It’s essentially a big, raucous and often steamy street party. A lot of tourists go there, but it’s primarily for the locals and music ranging from R&B to calypso blares out of the many speakers. But that’s for the evening. In the day, it’s time to explore the island.

St Lucia: Driving day tour

From the resorts in the north-east, a popular driving route is to head south through the capital, Castries, and down towards the scenic town of Soufriere. The town sits in the shadow of St Lucia’s most iconic image, the Pitons. These two green, pyramid-like peaks form a postcard pretty headland around the bay. They’re World Heritage-listed and often photographed. The Pitons are both volcanoes, although to all intents and purposes, they’re extinct. They do give a clue as to what’s around the corner, however.

Drive-in volcano

Sulphur Springs is pitched as the world’s only drive-in volcano. It’s a brilliant marketing gimmick, although perhaps not quite as exciting as the description may sound. You don’t go hurtling through flowing lava, let’s put it that way. Instead you rock up, park up and get a guide to take you around the hissing vents and hot pools. Some of the bubbling black water is at boiling point, while the steaming bits reach up to 170C (338F) degrees. Putting a hand in the wrong place is not advised.

Some visitors come to have mudbaths, and as our guide somewhat dubiously expounds, “every bath takes 10 years off your age.”

Sulphur Springs, as the name would suggest, is a somewhat smelly place, but that’s the price you pay for being in the middle of a giant volcanic caldera. It formed over 30,000 years ago when a crater collapsed and although there has been no eruption since the 18th century, scientists still keep a close eye on things. The steam is a good thing. If it stops, that means pressure is building and an eruption could be on the way.

St Lucia’s bananas & cocoa plantations

Another legacy of St Lucia’s volcanic nature is the soil. Put simply, the country is excellent for growing stuff. Along the roadsides, it’s possible to take in banana plantation after banana plantation. The banana plant, I’m told, is the world’s biggest herb, and St Lucia sells the fruit all over the world. But it’s not just bananas that grow here - and the Fond Doux Estate is an excellent spot in which to dig deeper.

Not far from the Sulphur Springs, many visitors head over here to have a wander through the gorgeous gardens. But it’s also a working cocoa plantation with a 250 year history. Staff are happy to take tourists around to explore the cocoa-growing process. It’s possible to taste the cocoa in the various stages in its journey from pod to guilty mid-afternoon snack. You see the beans in their raw state, as well as fermenting in the sun – the smell is somewhat alcoholic. But while some of St Lucia’s land is agricultural, much of it is still occupied by rainforest. And strange creatures lurk therein.

St Lucia’s Treetop Adventure Park

At the Treetop Adventure Park near Dennery, those bizarre beasts are usually nervous cruise ship passengers. The frightened herd is presented with a multi-faceted obstacle course, involving rope bridges, zip wires and other adventurous ways of getting from A to B. Assisted by guides and an intricate system of carabiners, clip-on wires and platforms, the willing guinea pigs gently make their way across the forest. They’re high above the leafy floor, wobbling and gulping, but gradually gaining confidence. To complete the course takes around an hour-and-a-half, but by the end most make the leap from fear to fun.

Zipping along the canopy in St Lucia

After conquering the adventure park, those that have developed a taste for action have a wealth of available options. Rainforest hikes, catamaran and sailing trips, cycling, diving, kitesurfing and horse riding are all options on various parts of the island.

And tempting though lounging around in an all-inclusive may be, these are surely good enough reasons to venture outside and enjoy the island for its beauty rather than its sunbeds.

-David Whitley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s St Lucia tours & things to do, from a St Lucia catamaran day sail to St Lucia shore excursions.

Underrated in the Caribbean: Anguilla

Massage hut at Shoal Bay East, Anguilla

In recent years, the tiny British territory has become something of a celebrity magnet. Some seriously high-end resorts and villas have attracted the likes of Robert De Niro, the Clintons and anyone who’s anyone in the world of hip-hop. Arrive on the island and you’ll soon plug into the gossip mill. Has Beyonce arrived on a private jet? Will Brad Pitt take Angelina to island he used to go to with Jennifer Aniston?

But the reason that the stars love Anguilla so much is that they can go there without being hassled. The locals are friendly, but reserved, and willing to treat everyone equally. There’s no star-struck hounding for autographs and paparazzi intrusion is minimal. As a result of CEOs, sports stars and entertainment industry bigwigs pouring in, the accommodation and dining options on Anguilla are seriously impressive. But it is possible for the ordinary mortal to visit without having to file for bankruptcy.

The Lloyds guesthouse offers a character-packed accommodation at very reasonable prices, while there are a selection of very good locally-run restaurants that go easy on the wallet. Tasty’s is a case in point: the goat curry and the cheesecake are top class.

But the island’s real draw cards are free. Anguilla has some of the best beaches in the world – covered in dazzling white sand and merging into clear Caribbean waters. Arguably the best are Rendezvous Bay and Shoal Bay East, but the eel-like island is ringed with them.

Many visitors come over on a ferry day trip from St Martin, but it’s worth staying a little longer to understand why the big names love it.

Underrated in the Caribbean: Dominica

Dominica is the one that just doesn’t fit the mould. It does have beaches, but they’re generally unspectacular. It does have resorts, but they’re generally budget affairs aimed at divers and eco-tourists. People don’t go to Dominica for the stereotypical Caribbean holiday though – they go for the nature, the walking and the sense of adventure.

Hot pool on Boiling Lake walk in Dominica

It’s a steep, mountainous island and much of it is covered by rainforest. There are many excellent walking trails, of which the daddy is the Boiling Lake hike. It’s a pretty brutal six hour return trek that goes up and down mountains, through valleys of volcanic springs and vents, past hot pools and to the second largest boiling lake in the world.

There’s also a cultural aspect to Dominica that isn’t shared by other islands. It is the last remaining (substantial) home of the Carib people that the Caribbean is named after. Within Dominica’s Carib Territory, there are a number of villages in which traditional systems are maintained.

Those wanting to get a deeper understanding of the Carib way of life should head to the Kalinago Barana Aute (or Carib Model Village). It employs weavers, dancers, tour guides and craftspeople, and visitors can discover the people’s sad history. The main joy of the island is how undeveloped it is – everything is awe-inspiringly green, and the sound of a trickling river or stream is never too far away.

Underrated in the Caribbean: Montserrat

Another British territory, Montserrat has a population of under 5,000 and a sleepy, village-like atmosphere. You’d be hard pushed to find any friendlier, more genuine people in the entire Caribbean region. Montserrat also has an incredible story to tell – and it’s one that is ongoing. From 1995 to 1998, the previously quiet Soufriere Hills volcano came back to life. The resulting eruptions changed island life forever. At one time, it had the best standard of living in the Caribbean; after the volcano, two-thirds of the island had to be abandoned.

Montserrat volcano from the Volcano Observatory

The capital, Plymouth, was destroyed and the islanders had to rebuild on the hillsides of the north. Steadily, things are getting back to normal – a new capital is being built at Little Bay, and houses are beginning to spring up where goats once roamed.

The volcano is still active, and it’s possible to see the vents hissing steam from the side of the ever-growing crater. The best spots to look out onto the volcano are Jack Boy Hill and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.

But seeing the damage that Soufriere Hills has caused is what makes Montserrat a unique tourist destination. Take a boat tour around the island or – even better – get a taxi driver to take you into the exclusion zone (certain areas are OK in daytime).

Do that, and you get to see desolate river valleys that have been covered in dust and look like the end of the world. More importantly, if road conditions are good enough to get up to the top of Garibaldi Hill, it’s possible to look out over the ruins of Plymouth and the devastated south-west. It’s a truly jaw-dropping sight, and like nowhere else on earth.

Underrated in the Caribbean: Grenada

Turtle on Levera Beach, Grenada

Another island that has had issues with natural disasters is Grenada. It was gutted by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, with many buildings being destroyed and crops being wrecked. Grenada has just about recovered from the devastation that Ivan wreaked but, partly as a result, its tourism industry is lagging behind that of other islands.

And therein lies the charm. It’s not as slick; not as calculating and sanitised. Yes, there are some polished, upmarket resorts, but the towns and villages feel genuine rather than having that sad, just-for-tourists air. Pop into the little rum shop shacks (local equivalent to bars) and get talking; you’ll soon get to hear some interesting tales.

Highlights include checking out the fairly rustic ginger nutmeg and rum factories, whilst the island’s natural beauty becomes apparent the moment you hit the tarmac. The roads twist and wind around mountainsides, often emerging at beaches with not a soul on. Nature lovers should head over in turtle egg-laying season (from April onwards) – watching giant leatherbacks haul themselves up Levera beach to give birth is a magical site.

-David Whitley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Caribbean destinations and things to do in the Caribbean, including Caribbean shore excursions.

But this is not my family, and the friends I’ve only known for a week. I’m in Cuba and it’s a surprising place indeed. The friends are a mix of Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians and Americans. (There’s also a lot of Europeans visiting Cuba, but none tonight.) That’s one of the surprises – there are more Americans visiting Cuba than you might think, and I didn’t met a single one who was there on an approved trip. They come through Mexico or Canada in large numbers every year, and are happy to flout their government’s rules.

Cuba - Vive la Revoluccion?

The family is the family of our local guide. It includes Grandad, the charming silver fox; Grandma, who is happy with a little half-glass of beer; shy but smiling Mum; staunch communist Dad, who isn’t comfortable with so many foreigners around; brother-in-law who is loudly pro-American and wants to discuss politics all night; a delightful grandson, and many more. We were honored to be invited to their party while we were so far from home.

Cuba: It loves to party

Another surprise – this is the only communist country I have visited that loves a party – there seems to be great support for the arts and musicians, and you didn’t have to look very hard to find music and dancing – it is certainly part of every day for us. Of course the locals dance with snake-hips that no amount of salsa lessons are going to give me, but after a couple Cuba Libre’s I am always happy to try. It helps to be here for the 50th anniversary of the Revolution – I’m appreciating the government sponsored street parties every night. And the art – paintings everywhere, art galleries, street markets – great galleries of diverse originals in Camaguey and Baracoa in particular, huge range of cheap but good street-market stuff in Havana.

Drumming to the salsa beat

There was another party we went to – we weren’t exactly invited to this one, more like gate-crashed, but when we stopped at the gate in the middle of the mountains to see if we could buy some lunch, they warmly invited us to join them. It was National Honor Teachers Day, and the teachers and their families had gathered at this particular house to celebrate. On our arrival they quickly wrung the neck of one of their turkeys, and then invited us to join them while a feast for lunch cooked for the next 4 hours or so.

We sampled their local rum, played some dominoes, danced a bit of salsa, and had deep conversations about the importance of great teachers in our lives – although this was somewhat tempered by our very bad spanglish. We also wandered down the farm to visit the waterfall and swimming hole – very beautiful and another surprise for me – it was the first of many waterfalls, not something I had associated with Cuba at all.

Cuba: Buena Vista Hiphop

Many of my pre-conceptions about Cuba were a bit out of date – where I was thinking salsa, the locals prefer the nightclub, while I was thinking Buena Vista social club the locals are thinking the latest Latino hiphop. I never quite figured out whether it was a requirement or just a strange local taste, but it didn’t matter what club you went to in the evening, you first had to sit through a “show” – maybe a singer of Celine Dion numbers, or Latino boy band numbers, or Buena Vista-like copy cats of varying levels of skill. After enduring the show, the dance music comes on and the crowd throw themselves into what they’d really come for - dancing and partying. Maybe it’s their version of our old “you have to buy food to drink” licensing rules.

Cuba: Expect the unexpected

I’d heard all about the wonderful old American ’50s cars and they were everywhere, they looked amazing and it was even more amazing how they’d managed to keep them intact and running for so long without access to the spare parts. And it was no surprise to see the old Russian Lada’s, although somewhat less attractive.

But I was surprised to spot some brand new Audi’s, imported as car rentals for tourists apparently – yes times they are a’changing. Change was the most common topic of conversation – many Cubans were openly talking about how things were changing, whether they thought that was a good or bad thing, what they would like to see change or not change. Everyone had different views, and everyone seemed to be engaged in a public conversation on this, again more public than you might expect in a communist country. And it also seemed like every visitor had a version of “I wanted to come now before it changes”.

I took heart at the level of public debate on this, hopefully a good sign for the future - I only wish there was this much involvement of the general public in political debate in my country.

The beach in Cuba, pretty close to paradise

Another surprise – how many tourists there were in Havana (not to mention the hop on hop off bus, how did that get here?) - some parts of the old town at about 11 in the morning would have 3 or 4 tour groups per block, it’s not too hard to imagine you are in Venice or Prague instead. But it was so fascinating I would’ve have missed it, no matter how many crowds. The rest of the country so far has a much lighter touch of tourism, and is equally fascinating.

Cuba: The food? Que bueno!

And the final surprise? Every article and guide book I read said to expect the food to be in short supply and boring – some even suggested going armed with muesli bars and other snacks. In most cases this was completely wrong, we ate very well indeed. Breakfasts of omelettes and fresh fruit and good coffee, dinners of fish and lobster and pork and chicken, not to mention the national obsession with ice cream. It’s true that if you only eat in the hotels and the government owned and run restaurants you will be unimpressed. But why would you when you can get great food in so many other places.

Hanging out in Cuba

I highly recommend eating in your casa particular (the B&B-style places you will almost certainly stay in if you venture outside of Havana), they have the best access to fresh food and they cook it well. There are also many private restaurants run out of peoples houses, called a paladar, licenced by the government but run by families, and again the food is far superior, you’re eating in their front room and the best known ones have queues around the corner.

So unsurprisingly I eventually had to leave and go home and back to work but I certainly left a little bit of my heart in Cuba, don’t be surprised if I head back there again soon.

-Victoria Pottering

Are a lot of places celebrating 400 years? Probably not. Nor do I seek out the big birthday celebrations. And yet last summer I found myself in Quebec City for its 400th anniversary. This winter, escaping from work and the rain, I headed to Bermuda as they kicked off their year of 400th anniversary celebrations.

Bermuda has a reputation for being expensive. I can see how that could be, if you take taxis everywhere (there’s no rental cars on the island), stay in a ritzy resort and book into all the top restaurants you could run yourself quite a bill. But I also argue that you can easily spend four or five days in Bermuda, have a great time, and not break the bank.

You could be squishing your toes in the pink sand

Bermuda Travel Tip #1: Look for hotel and airfare deals

JetBlue and Delta are celebrating Bermuda’s birthday with $99 fares. I booked the Fairmont hotel in Hamilton (fancy pants!) for just a little over $100 per night on a deal that gave you the 4th night free (in honor of 400). The not so great economy had Bermuda worried, and they are discounting like mad. If you can’t find a deal on at least the hotel, if not the airfare too, you’re not trying. Start at Bermuda’s very helpful tourism site, they list tons of offers.

Also think hard about your hotel. Fairmont has two hotels on Bermuda and runs a free ferry between them, guests can use amenities at either hotel. So for one hotel rate we got very pleasant half hour cruises, several pool choices, a great beach area, free bottles of water and a convenient location in Hamilton all in one. Some hotels are fairly isolated, if you plan to be a beach bum that’s fine, but if you want to get about, that’s going to be pricey.

Bermuda Travel Tip #2: Take the bus

Taxis are not cheap in Bermuda and you can’t rent a car. You can rent bikes, motorized or pedal, but even a moped will set you back a bit. Bermuda is not that big, we rented bikes for one day and covered about a third of the island biking the lovely railway trail system. Yes, Bermuda had a train, alas no longer, but walking or biking the parts of the extensive trail is a great excursion. Most hotels will give you a helpful map.

A cave on Horseshoe Bay beach

To Bermuda’s credit, it has an excellent and inexpensive bus system. We took the bus from Hamilton to St George, Bermuda’s UNESCO Heritage Site. Rambling about we took in St George, the unfinished gothic church, and headed uphill from town to several forts and batteries (most of which are free). Once we’d had enough of St George, back on the bus to the Bermuda Aquarium in Flatts.

The other popular option is the ferry. Bermuda runs several ferries, more expensive than the bus, but more scenic. I recommend the ferry ride to the Royal Naval Dockyard from Hamilton. The Commissioner’s house and the grounds of the fort at the dockyard are well preserved and provide an interesting commentary on Bermuda’s history (Boer War POWs there? Who knew?). Bermuda artisans also set up shop in the dockyard, so you can pick up postcards and mementos of your trip. And I highly recommend a pint at the Frog and Onion Pub, a Bermuda brewing institution with great food.

I am really glad we had a hotel near Hamilton, we could walk a couple blocks into town for dinner or to catch a bus or ferry to anywhere on the island. If you are on a resort not near Hamilton, you’re going to have to plan your transportation more carefully than we did.

Bermuda Travel Tip #3: The best things in Bermuda, as in life, are free

Horseshoe Bay, Jobson’s Cove, Warwick Long Bay are just three of the deservedly famous pink sand beaches of Bermuda, and like most beaches in Bermuda, totally free and a short bus ride from Hamilton. Sunbathe, read a book, take a walk, climb on the rocks, swim and snorkel until you are as pink as the sand.

Kelly's head in a cannon at Fort Hamilton

Take advantage of the free tours. Bermuda offers free city tours of Hamilton and St George on a set schedule each week (check the Bermuda tourism site for the schedule). The twelve nature preserves in Bermuda offer free tours Wednesdays at 10, though you can visit free any day without a tour. I highly recommend the botanical garden, a short bike ride or bit of a hike from Hamilton.

Bermuda is lousy with forts, most of which are free. My favorite, just up the hill from the city is Fort Hamilton. Climb down the steps through the base to visit the secluded tropical garden that encircles the fort. Walk around the top to take in views of the city and the rest of the island, or stick your head in a cannon, whatever.

Bermuda Travel Tip #4: Drink rum

I admit, this does not save you money. But Bermuda is turning 400, you must toast a Dark and Stormy (local ginger beer + dark rum) in its honor. Bermuda makes excellent rum and you deserve a drink after all the walking, biking, bus riding and excellent travel planning that made the trip so affordable and fun.

-Kelly G

Know of anywhere else turning 400 this year? Kelly needs to plan her next trip…

Small girl peering round Daisy’s comedor in La Hoya

With charter flights pouring into the Dominican Republic at a cost no greater than that of a weekend break in Spain or France, one imagines this land to be little more than one big hotel complex catering to the two-week bronzers.

However for the intrepid traveller with a desire to take advantage of these cheap flights, there is a world within this tiny island that is a far cry from the tourist-impacted northern and eastern shores, a world that offers an ecological paradise not yet touched by the packaged-holiday resorts.

The southwest of the Dominican Republic is often seen by its fellow provinces as being the donkey’s rump of the island. It has seen little of the country’s booming development, as the money made in the north and east of the island rarely manages to trickle down through the stunningly arid landscape that separates this oasis of natural beauty from its richer neighbouring provinces. The Barahona district boasts one of the most modern airports in the Caribbean, but without the tourists it lies empty.

This lack of traveller interest does not mean that there is nothing to visit or do within the region. The road from Barahona down the coast runs parallel to the beach, uninterrupted for more than 200km (124 miles) arching up and down the lush dramatic landscape that crests the sky-blue Caribbean ocean. Small villages of colourful houses that spread the various valleys lead to empty beaches frequented only by fishermen and children playing truant, which on weekends come alive with Dominicans of all ages dancing to the hip swaying sounds of Merengue and cooking fresh fish on open fires.

Fancy a perfect beach?

Baoruco beach in the Dominican Republic

Quemaito, a 10-minute drive from Barahona, is a beautifully quiet beach with calm turquoise waters accentuated by the brilliantly white round pebbles of the beach. Its shallow reefs make for excellent snorkelling and its two food shacks grill freshly caught fish for lunch.

Further on down the road lies the small fishing village of Baoruco, the sole home of the semi-precious Larimar gem, whose breathtaking colour resembles the waters that lap its shores. Walking along the empty beach you are bound to find handfuls of the stone that wash down from the forested mountains that crest the village.

Next stop along is the most thriving beach of them all, San Rafael, with its long stretch of pebble beach crested by the forested mountains that arch strikingly up to the sky. On weekends the fresh water pools at the waters edge, that are fed by the waterfall rushing down the mountain side, play host to Dominicans young and old. Here you can drink rum, eat fish and dance to bachata at the pool-side shacks or just follow the waterfall up to its source and enjoy the awesome views at the top.

The subsequent beach in this line is Los Patos another small fishing village with a large fresh water river that meets the sea. Along its banks are scores of little shacks serving up the mornings catch with plantains and rice. Like San Rafael this small stretch of shore comes alive on weekends with bathers from as far away as Santo Domingo.

How about some animal & bird life?

It is not just the soul-wrenchingly picturesque shores, with their small coconut-bark thatch huts, that make this part of the island the most attractive. The hills that stretch back all the way from the coast into Haiti are seething with life. The Dominican Republic has a greater variety of flora than any of its neighbouring Caribbean islands, with more than a 100 different species of hibiscus alone. A walk into these mountains from any one of the villages along the coast and you will be blessed with spectacular views, hidden communities, all manner of fruit trees, refreshing streams to swim in and the occasional load laden donkey.

Glass bottom boat off the beaches of Punta Cana

True coffee lovers should take a trip up to Polo nestled in the peaks far behind San Rafael, although to reach it one must take the road to Cabral on the Santo Domingo-Barahona road. Here, reputedly, some of the world’s best coffee is grown in the milder climate of this small rural community where there are more donkeys than cars.

On the way up stop off at Polo Magnetico, a small stretch of road where round objects, wheels of your car included, seem to role up the hill. This optical illusion confounds both the eye and the stomach.

Fishing boats on the shores of Barahona

In this part of the country the people are the friendliest on the island. Even if someone glares at you, grace them with a beaming smile and the stare will crack into a broad welcoming grin. Speak in Spanish and it’s a fair bet you will be invited home for dinner to meet the family.

Morals permitting, a description would also be apt of Lake Enriquillo with its flamingos, crocodiles and dachshund-sized iguanas, the colourful and dubiously aromatic Haitian markets, and the pounding discos… but then if all were to be detailed here, then this hidden gem would no longer remain the Caribbean paradise that it is.

Finally, my tip for home-cooked Dominican food: catch a 10-minute motorbike taxi (motoconcho) from Barahona to the village of La Hoya. At the entrance to the village there is a small light-green coconut-bark house on the banks of an ox-bow lake where the proprietor, Daisy, serves up the best true Dominican food to be found in the whole region. The setting of this comedor truly compliments the food of this little family establishment.

-Chris Courth

Planning a trip? Check out Viator’s list of Dominican Republic things to do & sightseeing, from Dominican Republic airport trannsfers and sightseeing cruises. Or maybe you fancy tours in Puerto Plata or things to do in Punta Cana. OK ok, what you’re really interested in is a good ol’ Dominican Republic tour. We’ve got that too. here are more trip planning tips for the Dominican Republic and Dominican Republic travel reviews over on Viator.com. If you need a place to stay, check out Dominican Republic Hotels on Planetware.com.

Thailand - Bangkok was voted #34 in 2008

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).

If you’re not yet caught up on our end-of-year lists of top things to do around the world, these links will help: Europe, Asia, USA & Canada, Australia & New Zealand, Caribbean, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa.

Also have a look at our Top 10 Traveler Photos of the year - these photos will absolutely get you inspired to travel this year. Thanks again to the millions of travelers who visited us in 2008, we hope to see you again in 2009.

The Viator 50: Top Travel Destinations in 2008

50. Punta Cana. It’s the top resort in the Dominican Republic, with sandy white beaches, adventure safaris, snorkeling, speedboat rides, deep sea fishing, beautiful seaside golf course and a sunset cruise on the Caribbean. What more could you ask for?

49. Boston. Boston blends old-world beauty and modern convenience with grand architecture, renowned academic traditions, ghosts, harbour cruises, nearby seacoast and rolling New England countryside. Wicked cool, as they say in Harvard Yard.

48. Geneva. The most international city in Switzerland, Geneva is a peaceful place to explore museums, restaurants and cultural events, bask on the banks of Lake Geneva, hop across to the Alps, and eat plenty of chocolate!

47. Kyoto. The elegance and romance of Kyoto is found in its temples, shrines, palaces, gardens and museums. All this alongside famous artisans and cultural workshops, and a modern scene pulsing with life and activity. A definite must on your next trip to Japan.

46. Granada. Two words: simply breathtaking. Granada’s Alhambra is one of the greatest accomplishments of Islamic art and architecture, the next biggest attraction is the city itself, set against the backdrop of Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

45. Montego Bay. Soak up the spirit of Jamaica with a walk in the canopy, trip to Kingston, horseback ride, jungle river tube safari, Jeep tour or just chill out to reggae.

44. Montreal. Montreal charms with a relaxed atmosphere, culinary excellence and lively nightlife, from the historic Old Port to Notre-Dame Basilica and Mont Royal Park, out to the magnificent surrounding countryside. Montreal puts a little oomph into any visit to Canada.

43. Auckland. Think: Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Harbour Bridge Climb, Wilderness Experience, Aquatic Encounter, Bungy Jumping, America’s Cup and nearby Rotorua’s bubbling mud pools. They all make Auckland a city to savour, and a must-see when visiting New Zealand.

42. Kuala Lumpur. The capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (KL for short) is an Asian Tiger bustling with colonial history, markets and charm, enjoy panoramic views from the revolving restaurant, or get up close to the elephants and fireflies in the Malaysian countryside.

41. Nice. The capital of the Côte d’Azur is a sparkling, gritty, sexy city bursting with nightlife, fantastical belle époque architecture, modern art and a buzzing cultural scene. It also has glamorous day trips along the French Riviera to Monaco and Monte Carlo.

40. Christchurch. It’s a thoroughly modern Kiwi city, boasting art, fashion, food, the International Antarctic Centre, historic tram and gondola rides, culture and heritage, Wildlife including whale watching, and spectacular scenery along the Tranz-Alpine Railway and down to the glaciers.

#32 in 2008 - Cairo. Photo taken by Phillip D on a private tour to the Giza Pyramids from Cairo

39. Brisbane. Climb Story Bridge or take a dinner cruise on Brisbane River, discover the historic city centre and glitzy cafe scene and nightlight of Bris Vegas, getaway to Fraser or Moreton Island, double the thrills at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, and spend the day at Australia Zoo. Brisbane? Oh yeah, it’s also the capital of Queensland.

38. Singapore. A foodies paradise, from Little India to Chinatown. Have a Singapore Sling at the famous Raffles Hotel, eat at a hawker market, have a trishaw ride through town, have breakfeast at th4e Singapore Zoo with an orangutan.

37. Chicago. Diverse characters, unrivalled jazz and blues legends, and skyscrapers make Chicago an astonishing blend of tradition and modern, from Lake Michigan to Musicals and the prohibition, the Windy City is hoppin’! And see - we didn’t even need to mention it’s also the hometown of President Obama.

36. Perth. The sunniest and most isolated city in Australia, Perth is a City of Lights on the Swan River, home to magical beaches and festivals, perfect to embark on a Desert Adventure, explore Rottnest Island, taste fine wines at Swan Valley and Margaret River wineries, or swim with dolphins in Monkey Mia.

35. Costa del Sol. Like wedding cakes strewn along the seaboard from Málaga to Gibraltar, Spain’s Costa del Sol is the perfect base for a visit exquisite Granada and the Alhambra Palace, day trips to Morocco, Seville or Cordoba, or soaking up the sunshine, sports and nightlife.

34. Bangkok. Absorb this vibrant city (it’s the capital of Thailand) through your senses, a morning at the floating markets, silk shopping, a temple visit, or Thai cooking class before dinner on Chao Praya River. Or mnaybe a day trip to the Bridge on the River Kwai and Khao Yai National Park for an elephant ride.

33. Phoenix. Time your trip to Phoenix for the Scottsdale Rodeo or Yaqui Indian Easter Ceremonies in Guadalupe, an urban trek on Camelback Mountain, and a timeless visit to the wonderous Grand Canyon, West Rim, Apache Trail and Sedona.

32. Cairo. Cruise the Nile, visit the Sphinx, promenade by the Pyramids, then explore modern Cairo, a city alive with an intensity of tastes and sounds from the souqs to the palace, the chaotic to the bazaar. Cairo is a must on any trip to Egypt.

31. Salzburg. The hills ARE alive with the Sound of Music, in this mecca of Mozart. This highlight of Austria oozed charm along with gold and salt in the mines, mysterious ice caves and - for culinary decadence - Sacher Torte.

#23 in 2008 - Ayers Rock & Uluru. Photo by Tomoko K on the Kata Tjuta (Olgas) sunset tour

30. Edinburgh. Look for Nessie in the Loch, escape to the Isle of Skye, have a Highland fling, learn the truth of the da Vinci Code, immerse yourself in culture at Festival time, or just sip a wee dram o’ wonderful whisky.

29. Naples. Pulsating, anarchic and crumbling, see Naples and live! Capri, Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius are nearby, taste Southern Italy along the Amalfi Coast, and head back into this colorful town to explore the Piazzas, Naples Bay or San Martino.

28. Oahu. Walk on the beach in Waikiki, hit the museums in Honolulu, or go underwater in a submarine. This magnificent Polynesian island paradise offers culture, nature and history in a sumptuous blend.

27. Hong Kong. The harbour, dim sum, a junk cruise at sunset, Hong Kong has plenty packed into a very small area - which makes it a fabulous place to visit for even a few days on your way to points east or west.

26. Vancouver. Cedar-scented rainforest to whale-watching cruise, shop, sail or ski, you’ll be back in the centre of this sophisticated and laid-back Canadian harbour city in time for a cocktail or three.

25. Dubai. Science-fiction skyscrapers stand alongside mosques and shopping centres in this lavish sun-drenched megalopolis. Desert adventure safari, vibrant cosmopolitan or lush oasis, all meet in Dubai.

24. Zurich. Creativity and innovation meet tradition and finance in Zurich, the chocolate box city blossoming into a unique cultural capital. Visit the City of Roses, admire the Alps, cruise on the lake and soak up the Swiss ambiance.

23. Ayers Rock. The geological ochre marvel at the heart of Australia, Uluru is an icon of magic and mystery. Dine under a million stars, ride a camel into the desert, learn about Aboriginal culture, or simply wonder at the sheer majestic beauty of this unique place.

22. Vienna. Echoes of grandiose empires abound in architectural wedding cakes, sumptuous theatres, lavish opera and grand churches, while low-brow pleasures are as simple as a walk in the forest, or splashing in the river.

21. Los Angeles. Fame and fortune’s siren call brings celebrities and stargazers alike to LA, land of the scrumptious power-brunch, Hollywood movie stars, shopping on Rodeo Drive, A-list nightlife and hidden enclaves.

#13 in 2008 - Amsterdam. Photo by Sari S on the Holland in One Day Tour

20. Cairns & the Tropical North. Adventures from rugged mountains to wild ocean, the biodiversity of World Heritage Rain Forests, snorkeling and diving in the Great Barrier Reef, riding Kuranda Scenic Railway, simply relaxing on lush island resorts or taking in local culture and cafes.

19. Washington DC. Histrionics and history meet in the Memorials and colorful pageantry of American politics, take a Trolley Tour, visit the Monuments by Moonlight, The White House and Gettysburg, and taste extraordinary eco-friendly cuisine.

18. Dublin. Decadent and down-to-earth, Dublin offers a warm welcome and a well-pulled pint, historic buildings, garrulous sociability, and trips to the natural beauty of the wild coastline.

17. Munich. Sophistication and kitsch mix into an intoxicating brew in Munich, experience Bavarian Folk Traditions and Oktoberfest, high-end auto adventures, glamorous castles, vibrant arts, culture and Black Forest Cake.

16. Madrid. Europe’s highest capital and Spain’s headiest city, the addictive ebullience of Madrid extends from El Prado and Museums, to Tapas, Flamenco, the Royal Palace and Toledo.

15. Barcelona. Barcelona sizzles with stylish cool, from the genius of Gaudi to Mediterranean beaches, it’s time for Fiesta and Flamenco, experience the nightlife or a pilgrimage to Montserrat and adventure in the Pyrenees.

14. Milan. Visit the Italian design capital for serious shopping, worldly pleasures, famous art, flourishing theatre and gourmet delights. Milan will have your senses reeling all the way to Lake Como.

13. Amsterdam. Cruise the canals, admire the tulips, or hitch your bicycle to a bridge, explore the culture and the beer, Amsterdam is the ultimate hangout, where big city exuberance mixes with small-town manageability.

12. Orlando. The Orange City, home of Mickey Mouse and Gatorland, also offers an out of this world experience at the Kennedy Space Center, sandy white beaches, fine dining or swimming with dolphins and manatees.

11. Melbourne. Marvellous Melbourne, where hedonism meets high art, a paradise for football and fashion lovers, foodies, wine snobs and outdoor adventurers alike.

#3 in 2008 - Paris. Photo by Nick C on a 2CV Citroen tour of Paris.

10. San Francisco. Offbeat and genteel, the gorgeous City by the Bay is a unique mix, from Golden Gate Bridge to Chinatown; Vampires to California Wine Country.

9. Sydney. Sun-drenched natural wonders, famous icons, world-class shopping, fabulous food - from the Harbour to the beaches, Sydney has it all!

8. Venice. Achingly beautiful Venice will seduce you equally with a Gondola Serenade along the Grand Canal, or a walking tour of hidden secrets in her labyrinthine lanes.

7. Tokyo. Dynamic Tokyo offers a dazzling mix of Zen-like calm, consumer culture, sushi and sumo.

6. Florence. Home of the Renaissance, Florence is blessed with art, culture and history; Pizzas and Piazzas; Fashion and Fishing Ports.

5. London. Cosmopolitan and traditional, take in the stellar sights of London from the London Eye to Portobello Rd, Buckingham Palace to a Musical or Theatre Show.

4. New York City. Go, go, go! to Gotham City for incomporable restaurants and nightlife, fashion-forward shopping, Broadway shows, or simply explore the fascinating streets and boroughs of this thriving metropolis.

3. Paris. Experience the magical lights, museums and monuments of Paris, taste mouth-watering French delicacies, listen to opera, jazz or sexy cabaret, and enjoy romance along the Seine.

2. Rome. Discover the wonders of the Eternal City in the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Colosseum, or on a day trip to the beautiful Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

1. Las Vegas. Fabulous Las Vegas! Experience the magic of a Casino Show on the Vegas Strip, getaway into the majestic landscapes of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam by air or land.

#1 in 2008? Las Vegas. Photo by Duncan H on the All American Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas

So how’s your wanderlust doing after reading this entire list? For us, the Viator 50 list of top travel destinations is all about getting inspired to take that next trip. We hope this year’s list of top travel destinations on viator.com has got you thinking about your next holiday, whether it’s across town or across the globe.

Do you have your own favorites? Share them with us. Simply leave us a comment and tell us about your favorite travel destinations.

Happy travels in 2009!

-The Viator Team

But I will say that not all aspects of cruising are cheap. Optional expenses like spa treatments, or alcoholic drinks (one could argue not really optional when cruising with your family!) or even soda are not included in the price. And of course, there’s the most notoriously expensive cruise add on - the Caribbean shore excursion.

St Lucia Shore Excursion - Catamaran Day Sail

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, though frankly, in most cases, you could 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.

On the saving money front, let’s compare Viator versus two major cruise lines for a couple of Caribbean shore excursions:

St. Thomas, USVI Shore Excursion - St. John Champagne Catamaran Sail and Snorkel

Viator $61.99

Princess Cruises: $89

Royal Caribbean: $79

Grand Cayman Shore Excursion - Atlantis Submarine Expedition

Viator $88

Princess Cruises: $99

Royal Caribbean: $105

Dominica Shore Excursion - River Tubing Safari

Viator: $60

Princess Cruises: $74

Royal Caribbean: $69

I could go on, but I think you get the idea, Viator’s Caribbean shore excursions are generally much less expensive than a major cruise line. In many cases, the operator of the tour is the same, so there’s no difference in quality, just a cheaper price. In some cases, the Viator group will be smaller in size than the giant cruise line group, which often leads to a better shore excursion experience. You might even meet people who you aren’t seeing every day on your cruise!

The cruise lines use scare tactics like, you might miss getting back to the boat on time if you don’t book the cruise line shore excursion, but really, any professional operator is going to have you back in plenty of time for sailing. I recommend checking out Caribbean shore excursion reviews on Viator or any of the reputable cruise forums on the web for more advice. There’s one thing I’ve learned from reading the forums, veteran cruisers never book the cruise line shore excursions.

Happy sailing!

-Kelly G

Taking a cruise somewhere else? Check out more Caribbean shore excursions in Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, St Maarten, US Virgin Islands, and Mexico over on Viator.com.