November 11, 2011 is a unique occurrence on the calendar, but what’s just as unique are the experiences travelers are planning to have on that day. Our team at Viator has compiled a list of the 11 most popular activities as booked by actual travelers for Friday, November 11th. With everything from a 5-day Moroccan adventure to a tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel and even a helicopter wedding at the Grand Canyon, Viator travelers are making the most of the special day, anywhere they are traveling in the world.

1. Grand Canyon West Rim Helicopter Wedding – The first of two sets of Viator travelers will have an unforgettable wedding (and anniversary date) that takes place on a bluff in the Grand Canyon accessible only by helicopter, overlooking the Colorado River.

2. Grand Canyon All American Helicopter Tour– A fan-favorite all year long with 5-stars and more than 2,000 traveler reviews.

3. Eiffel Tower, Paris Limousine Rouge Show and Seine River Cruise – Likely to sell out on an ordinary night, Viator travelers booked this Parisian gem, which combines a number of iconic experiences, in advance.

4. Moulin Rouge Paris Dinner and Show – Also likely to sell out, this experience focuses on the extravagant and historic show and gourmet meal.

See all the famous Parisian sights on a Seine River Cruise

5. Skip the Line: Grand Canyon Skywalk Express Helicopter Tour – The quickest way to visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk from Vegas starts with a scenic helicopter flight over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Las Vegas Strip.

6. Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour – including Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms and St Peter’s – Smart travelers on 11/11 are avoiding the very long lines that often queue to view Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, saving sometimes hours for additional exploration.

7. Niagara Falls Day Trip from New York by Air – Travelers will be treated to an exploration of the falls on both the U.S. and Canadian sides including a ride on the historic “Maid of the Mist”.

8. Valley of Fire Wedding by Private Limousine – The desert’s red rock formations form the backdrop for another couple choosing to let Viator plan their 11/11/11 nuptials.

Get married at the Valley of Fire!

9. 5-Day Morocco Tour: Casablanca, Marrakech, Meknes, Fez and Rabat – Some travelers are setting off on the 11th for a multi-day escape across Morocco’s top cities with the choice of three- or four-star hotel accommodations.

10. Private Tour: Manhattan Helicopter Tour – Like the wedding couples, this romantic excursion could very well be the backdrop for a romantic proposal soaring over the Big Apple.

See NYC from above on a private Manhattan helicopter tour

11. Granada – The Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens – Travelers on 11/11 will be experiencing two of the best-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the gardens of the Generalife and the exquisite Moorish architecture of the Alhambra Palace.

 - Viator Travel Team

Top 11 Most Popular Things to Do Around the World on 11/11/11 by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

You could be standing inside a 12th-century French chapel, surrounded by rare stained-glass windows created for a king; the architecture is astounding, but if you don’t know what you’re looking at, its history and relevance, which king, why and when, you’ll be missing out on so much.

A great tour guide makes history come alive

In order to get the most out of a visit to a significant site, it all comes down to information and communication – in other words, the quality of your tour guide. Here are our top 10 essentials for a great tour guide.

1. Understandable

Ideally, your tour guide should speak a range of languages, including your own, as well as the local lingo. They should also speak clearly, audibly and with confidence. Depending on the type of tour, you might be asked to wear earphones or use other types of audio equipment.

A great tour guide can explain information in a few different languages

2. Punctual

Your tour leader should be waiting for you when you arrive, rather than the other way around. Ideally, they should also ensure that other tour members arrive and depart on time, and don’t cause delays for the group as a whole.

3. Friendly

A relaxed and friendly manner is key to a great tour guide. They also need to have a certain level of authority, and be able to keep tour members together and focused without coming across as intimidating, patronising or arrogant – not a good look in a tour guide.

4. Knowledgeable

A great tour guide has fun, too!

A good tour guide has an in-depth knowledge of the site, its history and importance. A great tour guide has a passion for their subject and can convey their enthusiasm to the group. Such passion can be contagious and inspiring, and make the site really come alive. Being able to convey a sense of the overall cultural background is also important, as it can greatly enhance each tour member’s overall understanding of the site as a whole.

5. Engaging

Great tour guides share their knowledge in an engaging, illuminating and entertaining way, rather than repeating a list of facts by rote.

6. Interactive

Effective tour guides also invite questions and interaction from tour members, rather than treating the tour as a one-person show or a ‘be quiet and listen’ school lesson.

7. Funny

A certain level of friendly humour is essential. Equally, a good tour guide also knows when to include a little quiet time, and when to let the site speak for itself.

8. Observant

The tour needs to be relevant to a broad range of people, including different age groups. A good tour leader also needs to be aware of tour members with special needs.

9. Good Pacing

Whether the speed of the narrative or the pace of a walking tour, it should be neither too fast nor too slow. Like Goldilocks, it should be just right.

10. Flexible

When appropriate, a flexible approach can make the difference between a good and a great tour guide. Being flexible means being open to serendipity, taking a moment to enjoy spontaneous moments like a particularly perfect sunset.

-Viator Travel Team

Planning a trip? Learn more about guides on our blog or book a private guide for a customized tour in your destination!

Top 10 Characteristics of a Great Tour Guide by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

Ever wanted to eat your way around the world? All diets are off on this no-limits top 10 list of iconic dishes from around the world. Try them at least once, before it’s too late!

1. China: Peking duck

The imperial dish Peking duck is synonymous with superior Chinese food of the non-takeaway variety. What makes this particular roast duck a standout ‘try before you die’ candidate is the garlicky sweet crispy skin. Plating up the dish is an event in itself: order the whole duck, and the bird will be carved in front of you.

Carving up a crispy Peking duck

First you’ll be served the famously crispy sweet skin. Next, juicy slivers of meat will be carved and served with steamed pancakes, spring onions and a sweet hoisin sauce so you can create your own Peking duck pancakes. If you’re still hungry, the remaining duck will be served as a stir fry or broth.

2. France: Escargots

You’ve got to try snails at least once in your life, if only to try to distinguish their flavour lurking beneath all that garlic butter. The ancient Romans ate snails, and they’re eaten across the globe from Morocco to Cambodia. However, it’s the French who are most readily identified with these tasty morsels, ideally sourced from Burgundy.

Escargots are generally eaten as an appetiser, served in the shell and cooked in a delicious melange of garlicky parsley butter. And what do they taste like? As you might expect, the texture is firm, but shouldn’t be chewy, and the flavour underneath all that garlic and butter is similar to mussels.

Look out for snails hidden among the many gems in French seafood markets

3. Greece: Moussaka

The Greek national casserole is a certain must-try dish, and these days there aren’t many of us who haven’t succumbed to this melting concoction. The Greek answer to the Italian lasagne, the dish is made by smothering layers of ingredients in a cheese béchamel sauce, and baking until creamily melted and golden.

Along with ground beef or lamb, the major ingredient in a traditional moussaka is eggplant; regional varieties might use other vegetables following this method, such as artichokes and potatoes. The salted and browned slices of eggplant are layered with meat stewed with onions, garlic, tomatoes and spices. Wherever you live, the resulting cheesy casserole is a heart-warming dish to serve in winter.

4. India: Masala dosa

If one subcontinental meal could persuade a committed carnivore to order vegetarian, my vote would go to a South Indian masala dosa. The plate-covering, paper-thin pancake is made from rice and lentils, cooked to lacy perfection on a hot griddle. What creates the more-ish flavour is a spiced concoction of mashed cooked potatoes and fried onions, served with a liberal dose of garlicky chutney.

5. Italy: Zucchini flowers

Everyone who’s eaten Tuscany‘s fiore di zucca, or deep-fried zucchini flowers, says they’re to die for, so it makes sense to add them to our list. The tender yellow zucchini flowers are stuffed with a delicious filling, maybe herbed ricotta or mozzarella, then dipped into a simple tempura-like batter and sizzled in olive oil. The result is a melt-in-the mouth, sweetly crisp sensation that must be eaten immediately.

The market: where every Italian food adventure begins

6. Japan: Teppanyaki

If you like a little theatre and audience participation with your food, don’t miss the experience of dining at a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant. With much flame-fuelled drama, sometimes accompanied by juggling of utensils and flipping of ingredients, the skilled chefs grill your steak right in front of you, via a sizzling-hot gas-powered griddle.

Order grilled Kobe beef, seafood or chicken, or ask for a signature flaming volcano of onion rings, and get ready to be amazed by your teppanyaki chef’s superb knife skills.

7. Malaysia: Seafood curry laksa

Malaysia’s king of soups is a spicy, tangy, coconut-creamy soup packed full of noodles, seafood, fish sticks, puffed tofu, vegetables, a hard-boiled egg, coriander and chilli sambal.

The Chinese-Malay dish is a classic of Peranakan cuisine, merging elements from Malaysia and Singapore. There are heaps of regional variances, and some seafood laksas also include chicken. If you come across assam laksa, you’ll find it has a fish rather than coconut broth.

The general rule is the simpler the surroundings, the tastier the curry laksa, so pull up a stool at a streetside stall in a Penang backstreet or Singapore food court and tuck in. A curry laksa really is to die for!

8. Thailand: Som tam (green papaya salad)

To savour Thailand’s four essential flavours – sour, salt, sweet and chilli – in one dish, load up a bowl of som tam and prepare for sensory overload. The base ingredient of shredded unripened papaya is combined with any or all of the following: palm sugar, garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind juice, dried shrimp and, quite often, seafood, tomatoes, carrot, beans and peanuts. Simply add the ingredients to a mortar and start pounding.

Thai food: colorful, spicy, and delicious

A northern Thai dish from the Isan region, som tam is typically served with grilled chicken and sticky rice. If you’re making the dish at home, and can’t source a green papaya at your local supermarket, you can substitute unripe mangoes, apples or cucumbers for a similar, but not as authentic, result.

9. Australia and New Zealand: Pavlova

Fiercely competitive Australia and New Zealand vie for ownership of this iconic dessert. Currently the odds are on a hotel in Wellington, New Zealand as having invented this heavenly melange of meringue and cream.

The dish is named for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, and indeed the meltingly soft light-as-air meringue does bring to mind the fluffy tulle of a ballet tutu. A classic pavlova is topped with lashings of whipped cream daubed with passionfruit, strawberries and kiwi fruit.

10. USA: BBQ ribs

If there’s one US cuisine that has aficionados frothing at the mouth, it’s the holy grail of smoked pork ribs: the BBQ. Kansas City, Memphis and St. Louis are US BBQ capitals, not forgetting Texas, the Carolinas … hell, it seems everyone has their favourite local.

Memphis ribs get their extra belt of flavour from a dry rub made from garlic and spices, which is slapped on prior to smoking. The ribs are generally served with a tomato and vinegar BBQ sauce on the side.

Kansas City style ribs are prepared with a sweetly spiced rub before being extra slow-smoked, and sugar, honey and molasses add a sweet edge to the BBQ sauce served alongside.

St. Louis pork spare ribs are grilled, and served with lashings of tangy tomato-based BBQ sauce.

Whichever style of BBQ you choose, get ready to tuck in your bib for a messy feast.

- Viator Travel Team

Planning a trip?  Check out food tours around the world: France food tours, Italy food tours, Japan food tours and experiences, and USA food tours.

10 Foods to Try before You Die by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

In an increasingly busy world, spas & health retreats are fast becoming one of the most popular vacation choices for the health conscious and burned out traveller.

From indulgent spas attached to luxury hotel resorts to the complete health retreat experience, there are plenty of accommodation options to pick from when choosing where you want to take time out. While you may be fixed on a particular location or retreat, take time to consider which of the many wellness options might help you to de-stress. Whether you need daily yoga and a hammock by the river or a complete daily fitness and weight loss program there’s a health resort waiting to help you achieve your goals.

Chiva-Som Health Resort, Thailand

Here’s our Top 5 of the world’s most enticing health & wellness retreats.

1. Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand

What do you get when you combine tailor-made wellness, yoga and detox programs, elegant accommodation, healthy and delicious cuisine and a divine location? You get Kamalaya – a wellness Shangri-la, situated on a tropical island in Thailand’s Andaman Sea.  Consistently voted one of the world’s best health and wellness retreats. Its heavenly location alone (on the beach and around a cave temple once used by Buddhist monks) is enough to make you never want to leave. It certainly tops our list.

www.kamalaya.com

2. Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand

Also in the land of smiles, The Chiva-Som Health Resort takes pampering to a new level. Its accommodations are the ultimate in luxury and indulgence, and guests can avail themselves of no less than 70 treatment rooms offering everything from physiotherapy, iridology, and electro-dermal screening.  The resorts award-winning cuisine includes ingredients sourced from the resort’s own organic garden.

www.chivasom.com

3. Gaia Retreat & Spa, New South Wales, Australia

On Australia’s east coast, in the magical hinterland region of Byron Bay is Gaia, another award-winning retreat & spa. Founded by Olivia Newton-John and Gregg Cave, Gaia is a boutique 20-room property set in Australia’s spiritual heartland. It’s day spa and retreat packages have won worldwide acclaim and it’s the perfect place to rest, relax and reconnect.

www.gaiaretreat.com.au

Gaia Retreat and Spa, Byron Bay, Australia

4. Rancho la Puerta, Baja California, Mexico

Voted the world’s best destination spa in a 2010 Travel + Leisure reader’s poll, Rancho La Puerta has a long history in delivering health and wellness programs and has oodles of rustic charm. Make fitness or food the focus of your stay with a packed schedule of daily activities, a cooking school and an organic farm. You can still retreat to one of three health centers to soothe your soul.

www.rancholapuerta.com

5. Parrot Cay, COMO Shambhala, Turks and Caicos, Caribbean

The COMO group has a chain of stylish hotels and resorts around the world with an emphasis on luxury and pampering. Parrot Cay, in the Turks and Caicos offers the ultimate experience in getting away from it all on a private island in the middle of the Caribbean. Meditate by the clear, aquamarine ocean or enjoy Asian-inspired spa treatments and yoga. Messing about in and under the water is positively encouraged.

www.parrotcay.como.bz

- Emma McMahon

Planning a non-spa vacation? Browse Viator’s Thailand things to do, Australia things to do, Mexico things to do, and Caribbean things to do.

Top 5 Health & Wellness Retreats by Emma McMahon from Viator Travel Blog

For some last–minute types packing for a vacation involves stuffing a handful of items into a suitcase and running out the door. For others, it is a process that requires meticulous planning, a detailed list and piles of stuff laid out on the bed. Whichever packing camp you belong to (or somewhere in between…), less is most definitely more when it comes to packing. Here are a few items that you should not leave home without.

World Travel

Top 5 items for your hand luggage:

Passport, tickets & wallet/purse:

Okay, so this is essentially three items but whose counting? You’re not going anywhere without these… Make sure your passport is valid for travel and take only cards that will be relevant for where you are going (to minimise bulk) – you can safely leave that local library card at home!

Mobile Phone/Smartphone:

For many of us this is most likely permanently attached to our hand anyway but it is worth noting on your list. Get global roaming or better still, buy a local sim card on arrival – it will save you a packet! If local sim cards won’t work in your phone, you can buy a local pre-paid phone pretty cheaply in most major destinations. With a Smartphone you’ll have the added bonus of being able to access the Internet wherever there is a wireless connection.

Train Travel

Something to read/play/listen to:

Your holiday starts here! Don’t waste time fretting about the late departure of your flight, the shaky takeoff or the meal service; kick back with your favourite book, game or music. Make sure you bring your mp3 player (and headphones!) or if using your phone don’t forget to switch it to ‘flight mode’ when you’re in the air. Pack your favourite novel or leave room in your hand luggage and treat yourself to a new book at the airport bookstore.

Water bottle:

Nothing ruins a trip more than feeling groggy and dehydrated on arrival. Save on plastic and take your own water bottle. Some airports may not allow you to carry water through security so you may have to fill up in the departure lounge or smile sweetly at your airhostess during your flight.

Lip Balm/Ear Plugs:

Okay, so this may not top everyone’s list but I consider it a national emergency if I’ve forgotten my lip balm – nothing will dry your skin out more quickly than a flight! If you have permanently luscious lips then skip this item and pack some earplugs instead. You’ll snooze better without a backdrop of engine noise, air-con and chattering neighbours.

Top 5 items for your main luggage:

Toiletries:

Giving some thought to what you really need, can make a big difference to your packing load. If you can get away with just a toothbrush, toothpaste and moisturiser, then do it! It can be liberating to relieve yourself of the shackles of your daily groom. Where possibly, try to decant large bottle contents into smaller bottles. And, girls, do you really need that all make-up for your hiking trip in China? Unless you’re very particular about using a certain brand, you can probably buy much of what you need on arrival.

Airport Layover

Phone charger:

Easily forgotten!

Rubber thongs:

Invaluable for the beach, swimming pool and shared bathrooms.

Rain jacket:

Much more practical than an umbrella. Take one you like or be prepared to look like hapless tourist in your oversized travel poncho.

Item of warm clothing:

Even hot climates have their cool moments. A warm fleece or a thermal layer will probably do – don’t be tempted to squish in your bulky wool jumper! When packing clothes, lay out what you need and then take half the amount. Just as with your grooming routine, it can be refreshing not to have to think about what you’re going to wear everyday!

- Emma McMahon

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s North America tours & things to do, Europe tours & things to do, and Australia and Pacific tours & things to do.

Packing: 10 Things NOT to Forget by Emma McMahon from Viator Travel Blog

Note from Viator: From now until March 18, you can win a free spring break tour (up to $200). Just reply to us (via twitter) and tell us why you should win. Remember to add the #WinWithViator tag!

The snow has melted, the sun is out, something is in the air, and it’s called Spring Break! In the USA, Spring Break is notorious for being the ultimate week of tanning, partying, and going wild. That is, until school starts again.

Over the years, students and adults alike flock to Spring Break destinations varying from USA beach towns to European and Mexican getaways. However, one truth remains, Americans started the party 50 years ago, making Spring Break a cultural phenomenon. Here are the Top Five American cities on the coast in which you should spend your Spring Break.

Lounge around the island of Key West

1. Key West

With warm waters, unique residents, and plenty of bars (on Duval Street), Key West is both a friendly and fun getaway for Spring Breakers both gay and straight, and is America’s only Caribbean island. Visitors can partake in a variety of activities from parasailing and kayaking to barhopping and relaxing on beautiful beaches with ribbons of turquoise waters.

The island is home to quirky locals and considers itself an independent republic. In 1982, Key West government had seceded, declared war, surrendered, and requested $1 billion in foreign aide all in one day – a feat that lends humor and a laid back, island vibe. The locals love tourists who are respectful and fun-loving.

2. Miami

South Beach Miami is the place to be for the ultimate nightlife experience. Commonly known for sidewalk cafes and never-ending parties, South Beach is also home to one of the largest dance music festivals in the U.S. The Winter Music Festival houses 20-40 events at varying hotels and nightclubs, many of which have spin-off poolside events during the day. Additionally, Spring Breakers can find corporate sponsored events by MTV and Playboy as well as plenty of beachside boozing.

It's always a party in Miami

3. Orlando

For those looking for a more wholesome Spring Break experience, including the beautiful weather, Orlando has been growing as a safe spot away from some of the more wild Florida parties. Kids and kids-at-heart looking for a more unique experience can enjoy Disney jetski adventures or learn about Florida’s flora and fauna at Forever Florida wildlife conservation and eco-ranch.

4. San Diego

Known for beautiful weather, Spanish influenced architecture, and beautiful beaches, San Diego boasts a sunny culture and is a great Spring Break destination. In addition to its beauty, the city is also known for its numerous tourist attractions, including Balboa Park, the Gaslamp District, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, La Jolla Sea Caves, and much more. Spring Break in San Diego offers a variety of options for both families and party-goers alike.

Stroll the Sunset Strip & Beverly Hills

5. Los Angeles

For those looking to see the sun and the stars, Los Angeles is the place to be. Learn how movies are made, visit the homes of your favorite movie stars, hike to the Hollywood sign, walk through the oldest street in Los Angeles (Olvera St), and enjoy the numerous museums with grandiose views like the Getty. With perfect weather, great nightlife, and unique activities, Los Angeles remains one of the best travel destinations year-round.

Wherever you choose to spend Spring Break, don’t forget to bring sunscreen!

- Alyse Speyer

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s USA tours & things to do, USA attractions, and USA travel recommendations.

Top 5 USA Spring Break Cities by Alyse Speyer from Viator Travel Blog

While Lent is not a tradition practiced the world over, everyone sure does love to go all out the night before, Catholic or not. French for Fat Tuesday (the night before Ash Wednesday) Mardi Gras is a yearly excuse to indulge, dress up and go to a fantastic party. In addition to the one day of the year that is called Mardi Gras, you can also take part in Carnival, a longer festival celebrated in Catholic nations that includes Mardi Gras and essentially leads up to the same thing—the season of Lent and, subsequently, Easter.

Where can you do the best partying, people-watching and dressing up? We’ve got the top five.

Mardi Gras Celebration in New Orleans

New Orleans

For many, New Orleans, is synonymous with Mardi Gras and is the ultimate place to celebrate. Thousands of people flock to New Orleans every year to party on Bourbon Street, eat a piece of King Cake, don feathered masks and hundreds of gaudy beads, and generally get very, very rowdy.

Not just one, but more than 20 parades will make their way through New Orleans from Saturday to Tuesday, tossing out doubloons, beads, stuffed animals and other trinkets as they go. Because the streets of the French Quarter are so narrow, parades stick to bigger streets like Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue.

A New Orleans Mardi Gras is the epitome of a wild street party; it’s a blast and is definitely something to experience at least once in your lifetime. Come Fat Tuesday in the French Quarter, expect to see colorful, often barely-there costumes, frat boys on a mission to drink more than they ever have, and too many bare breasts to count.

As you make your way down Bourbon Street (very slowly—it’ll be packed), dancing to Mardi Gras Mambo and shouting “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” watch out for someone accidentally throwing up on your shoes, and try not to trip over the passed-out guy on the sidewalk.

Venice

Traditional Venice Carnival Masks

Carnival in Venice, dates back to the 13th century and has had a bit of a turbulent past. The festival and the wearing of masks have been outlawed a few times over the centuries, until Carnival was brought back in full force in the 1970s.

The extravagant vintage costumes, elegant masks, sense of romance and lack of nudity make Carnival in Venice a much more high-class affair than Mardi Gras in New Orleans. However, the 30,000 people who descend upon Venice each year for the festivities make it just as popular.

The masks are the focal point of Carnival in Venice. Traditionally, they allowed Venetians to disguise themselves and escape from social class divisions. A Venetian mask has an ornate design, is usually hand-painted, and is decorated with gold leaf, natural feathers and gems. In short, they are beautiful, and are usually topped off with a dramatic headpiece or hat.

As you walk along the Grand Canal and through Piazza San Marco, marvel at the costumes and enjoy the entertainment of the street artists. The atmosphere will be buzzing, but not as heavily inebriated as other Mardi Gras celebrations around the world.

Rio de Janeiro

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, brings to mind images of sun, samba music and sequins. Local samba schools make up the Carnival parade in the Sambadrome, where dancers perform in costumes as elaborately decorated as the floats themselves.

It’s the party to end all parties; pack your dancing shoes, get sweaty and let the samba music take control.

Sydney

Combine Mardi Gras with a fantastic gay pride parade, and you have one of Sydney‘s most beloved events, although it’s not actually held on Mardi Gras. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade and dance party take place Saturday, March 5, not Fat Tuesday, March 8.

Exotic costumes, pulsing dance music and themed floats make up the parade, which travels down Sydney’s Oxford Street and is led by the Chief of Parade, whose past title-holders include Rupert Everett and Margaret Cho.  It’s flamboyant, colorful, clever and full of energy.

Parade-goers then head to the post-parade dance party at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. The action truly begins here as you dance up a storm until the early morning hours.

2006 Mardi Gras in Sydney

San Diego

The US West Coast’s biggest Mardi Gras party is in the historic Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. In the Gaslamp, a dining and entertainment district in downtown San Diego, Fat Tuesday is celebrated with a parade and block party.

The party starts at 6pm, with energetic DJs keeping the beat all night long. Later in the evening, the Incredible Masquerade Parade travels through the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter and features bands, belly dancers and stilt-walkers among the floats.

As you make your way through the Gaslamp, you can watch street performers, listen to live music in various bars and restaurants, and get your groove on to the music spun by numerous DJs. Dress up in purple, green and gold, pile on your beads, and throw on a mask or a feather boa for good ol’ American Mardi Gras party.

- Viator Travel Team

Top 5 Cities to Celebrate Mardi Gras by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

Bourbon Street was like a carnival midway that first night… with strippers. The street was full of life with a surging crowd, dirt & litter under our feet, spilt beer and nearly naked bodies standing in doorways eyeing and enticing potential customers.

We watched a Cajun band inside Tropical Isle from the Bourbon Street banquette, then kept on walking until we found ourselves at Fritzel’s European Jazz Club. Fritzel’s is an intimate authentic Dixieland Jazz club with weathered walls covered in a collage of memorabilia. It’s a magnet for local and international musicians who come to grace its postage-stamp stage. The place has a German beer-house atmosphere. Tattooed and pierced hipsters crowded the room with tour-bus seniors and European and Japanese tourists. We were all seated cheek to jowl, five feet from the stage with skinny 8″-wide beer tables in front of us, toes tapping, heads bobbing and drinking cold beer.

French Quarter Music Festival, New Orleans

This is where dreams of New Orleans become reality. There I sat in a timeless bar, in the cradle of jazz music, listening to a screaming clarinet player, propelled by a drummer, stand-up bass, piano and banjo. Time and space ceased to exist as the music, beer and crowd flowed into a singular composition we call New Orleans. It was a perfect opening night because we’re here for the French Quarter Festival, a festival that celebrates the culture of New Orleans.

Elegance – the difference between Bourbon & Royal

We stayed at Hotel Monteleone on Royal Street. Royal Street, one block over from Bourbon, is a different world. Bourbon is gaudy. Royal is elegant. It’s full of opulent French antique shops, art galleries and design shops. The French Quarter has a well-worn and lovingly preserved patina. The local writer Andrei Codrescu says the city exudes a genteel decrepitude. I love the history it leaves on the facades of peeling buildings. Like the face of an interesting old man with a sun beaten, wrinkly face, New Orleans has earned the visage it wears.

Fritzel's Jazz Club, in New Orleans

There’s a mystic quality to this unique city. It’s French tinged in an Anglo-centric country. It’s bawdy and Catholic in a southland full of conservative Christians. The city has always maintained its independence. It never appreciated interference from the French, Spanish or the Americans. Being at the terminus of America’s 19th Century super highway, the Mississippi River, it gathered up all that Europe and North America could throw at her and created a new culture – a nouvelle ethnicity.

It’s given us Creole cuisine, jazz and Mardi Gras, and it’s given the city of New Orleans a powerful sense of identity. The vibrant urban folk culture here is a living one, still actively producing new cuisines, chefs, artists and music.

Streets filled with music

From 11am to 9pm the French Quarter Festival filled the streets with music. We wandered the Quarter by way of beignets and chicory coffee at the venerable Cafe du Monde, Pimms Cups and Sazeracs at The Napoleon House, French 75′s at Antoine’s Hermes Bar and Bloody Mary’s at Tujague’s.

We were our very own Second Line parade as we moved in and out of the radius of bands that literally set themselves up every 100 feet. A brass band gave way to a guitar player and 1920s song stylist, a solo Cajun fiddler, a teenage brass band, a contemporary jazz quintet, an eastern European gypsy jazz band and the chank-a-chank scratching of washboard, fiddle and accordion driven Zydeco.

Along the riverfront stages I thrilled to the funk Mardi Gras Indian sounds of the 101 Runners, the tight funk-rock horn driven sounds of Trombone Shorty and the wall of trombones that is Bonerama. Purists take heart too. If jazz had a church, Preservation Hall would be its cathedral. It’s a sanctuary for Dixieland Jazz, a place where time has no meaning and traditional New Orleans jazz is lovingly played for the enraptured congregation. It’s a place that will stay with you a lifetime.

Uptown in New Orleans

Leaving the French Quarter we headed uptown for oysters at Casamento’s Restaurant. They were closed, which turned out to be a fortuitous opportunity for us to roam Magazine Street. A 6-mile stretch upriver from the French Quarter, the street is full of shops, restaurants & bars and peppered with Greek Revival and gingerbread Victorian cottages. We poked in and out of antique shops, boutiques and art galleries, lunched at the Ignatius Eatery, had a beer on the porch of Winnie’s Artsy Café and finally ended up at the Bulldog Tavern. With over 50 beers on tap we were easily quenched as we kicked back near one of the greatest outdoor fountains I’ve ever seen, created from 50 beer taps in constant pour.

Still on our quest for oysters we hopped in a United Cab to head back to the French Quarter and met Linda, our cabbie. We hit it off right away and Linda hijacked us, giving us a great tour of The Garden District which is full of gorgeous Antebellum Greek Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne Victorians. The main drag, St. Charles Avenue, is lined with beautiful mansions and covered over with majestic southern live oak trees.

We drove past Tulane, Loyola, Commanders Restaurant, Ann Rice’s house and Lafayette Cemetery Number One, where Ann Rice’s vampire Lestat resides. I asked Linda to take us by the house where they filmed Benjamin Button. She didn’t know what I was talking about but, even better, she did know a great place for oysters. And that’s how we found ourselves at Cooter Brown’s.

Oysters at Cooter Brown's

Cooter Brown’s sits under the shoulder of the levee where St Charles Ave elbows north and turns into S. Carrollton Ave. The oysters here tasted like no oysters I’ve ever had. Like perfect el dente gnocchi, they were firm and fresh with no fish smell or briny taste at all. Apparently this is due to the fresh water that continuously flushes over the oysters where the Mississippi meets the Gulf. Whatever the reason they were exquisite…and so fresh a live crab crawled out from under one! In addition to the oysters we had an alligator sausage Po-Boy, a catfish plate, Abita beers all around and a room full of locals. We felt good.

On our way to Cooter’s we spied a most elegant scene on St Charles Ave., a magnificent bone-white porch on an Italianate mansion decorated with massive columns and leisurely patrons. We now committed ourselves to sitting on that porch looking out toward the scenic center mall of St Charles Ave with its streetcars making their occasional way up the grassy center under the canopy of oaks.

As we climbed the steps onto the porch of what turned out to be the Columns Hotel, we were greeted by handsome men in white linen suits and glamorous southern bells with silk scarves wrapped around their necks like feather boas. We had walked through the looking glass into genteel southern society on this warm night. New Orleans had peeled back another layer. Our Mojitos tasted all the better for it.

Faubourg Marigny

Jazz at the Spotted Cat

Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood is where local New Orleanians go for nightlife. If you walk to the end of Lower Decatur and cross Esplanade Avenue you’ll run right into Frenchmen Street. With half a dozen live music clubs in four short blocks it’s one of the city’s hidden hot spots and it’s just one block out of the French Quarter. The streets are filled with locals creating their own scene, away from the drunken tourists on Bourbon Street.

We zeroed in on the Spotted Cat, stopping briefly to watch a street band that had set up in the doorway of the Cafe Rose Nicaud. At the Spotted Cat we watched the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio. Chaz kept a mean rhythm with his unique washboard custom-outfitted with a wood block, two tin cans and a bell for additional percussion.

Teamed with a driving bluesy Dobro player and a screaming, chugging and churning harmonica jockey, they rocked it hard. The club was small and well worn. The band played in the corner diagonally from the back corner bar. Great vibe, good tunes, friendly people. Definitely the kind of place you can settle in for an evening.

Carrollton

Crawfish at the Maple Leaf

One of the coolest late-night excursions we took was out to the Carrollton neighborhood and the Maple Leaf Bar. The Maple Leaf is the place to go if you’re craving funky New Orleans music (brass bands, blues and funk). It’s another well worn shack of a building. When you walk in there’s a bar to your left and to the right another long room with a stage at one end and a patio out the back.

The night we showed up they were having a crawfish boil. Down the center of the stage-room were three sheets of plywood, 24 feet long by 8 feet wide, absolutely filled with crawfish, black Chinese chicken (I didn’t know there was such a thing as black chicken), soft boiled eggs, and sides of rabbits. It was like a medieval feast with everyone crowded around the table ripping at flesh, sucking crawdads and drinking beer.

A crack R&B band started to play. And as I stood at the front of the stage, I found myself shoulder to shoulder in the crowd with the legendary Dr. John.

At the Maple Leaf Bar we achieved immersion in the living culture of New Orleans, eating, drinking & listening to music with the working class, the creative class, and the university students far from the tourist havens. New Orleans has captivated me and I’ve fallen under its spell. My friend John tells me I’ve caught the “disease”.

If I have I don’t want to be cured… I just want to go back.

-Bob Welch

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s New Orleans tours & things to do and New Orleans travel tips & itineraries.

Things to Do in New Orleans: Uptown Jazz to Carrollton Crawfish by Bob Welch from Viator Travel Blog

Editor’s Note: The following post is by Renato Losio, editor of RunAbroad.com.

Not every hiker can master the entire 2,175-mile (3,500 km) Appalachian Trail! Not every hiker likes to struggle for months, climbing challenging peaks or carrying dehydrated food along the way. That’s why Europe is a paradise for lazy (or almost lazy) walkers – there are many easy one-week hikes with plenty to see, great food along the way and often a comfortable bed at the end of the day.

Because trekking doesn’t have to be a struggle, I have picked out five special hikes for next summer.

Hadrian’s Wall Path, UK

How to celebrate the 1,600th anniversary of the end of Roman Britain? Why not hike the entire 84-mile length of Hadrian’s Wall. It takes 6 to 9 days starting from the Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend to ending at the Cumbrian coast (at Bowness). No peaks, no high passes – just lots of sheep and farmlands in Tynedale, the occasional rainy day and the best of England’s countryside.

Hiking the stunning Hadrian's Wall Path

Many barns, B&Bs, campsites and hostels are available along the entire path and you don’t need previous experience of long-distance hiking. Feasible all year round but strongly suggested between May and October (to avoid harming the ancient paths during the winter months). Check as well the tide predictions for the Cumbrian coast before you start. For more info visit nationaltrail.co.uk.

Mare e Monti, France

The GR20 in Corsica is a tough trek, and it’s the ultimate trail for many European hikers. However it comes with drawbacks: basic accommodations, strenuous trails and few options to buy food (let alone, enjoy a fine Corsican meal). It’s also crowded, especially in July and August.

Any better options here on Europe’s most mountainous island?

Corsica does offer less demanding and beautiful trail options: two Mare e Monti (from sea to mountain) and three Mare a Mare (from sea to sea) trails. And mixing the GR20 with the less popular Tra Mare e Monti and Da Mare Mare trails gives you a few benefits: in Calvi, a frozen Pietra, an amber beer brewed from a mix of malt and chestnut flour; the independence museum in the old city of Corte; and most of the maquis for yourself (even in August).

Renato, hiking on Corsica

Allow some extra time for the beautiful, quiet and remote towns of Galeria and Girolata. No fellow hikers for hours and no need to book an expensive cab to reach the path, just board the Trinighellu train that runs from Corte – Calvi – Ajaccio – Bastia (where you can catch a ferry or a flight back to the continent). May, June and September are the best choices for a hike in Corsica. Plan at least 10 days. For more info visit parc-corse.org.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Hiking on the Italian Riviera, in the rugged portion of coast between Riomaggiore and Monterosso, is breathtaking. No cars are allowed here, and an amazing trail connects the five famous towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The beauty of the trails in Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre is that they are ideal for novice hikers, or even for non-hikers who have a free weekend to spare. You can choose different hikes, including the very famous Via Dell’Amore, a semi-strenuous hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola; or the easier stretch from Manarola to Corniglia.

For a longer or more challenging hike, try the high road or Sentiero Rosso. You don’t have to hike between all five villages at one time (many B&B and hotels are available in the area) and, best of all, you can hike here all year round. (If you want to do book a Cinque Terre day hike from Florence, visit the Viator site.)

Estérel, France

Nice, St. Raphael, Cannes, Antibes: when you think about the French Riviera, hiking is not probably the first activity that comes to mind. But there’s more to the French Riviera than sunny beaches and a film festival. A spectacular network of footpaths allows you to hike the entire region, including a challenging hike above the seaside into the Estérel mountains, with superb views of the islands of Lérins and Cannes.

If you stay close to the coast and avoid the highest peaks, you can hike from March until November. There are also plenty of easier options – you can always put together your own combination of trails in the French Riviera. If you are looking for longer distances, you can choose between the Sentier du littoral, the GR49 or GR51.

North Down Way, UK

Want to follow in the footsteps of pilgrims without hiking the long (and frankly boring) Camino de Santiago de Compostela? Then the 153-mile  North Down Way is for you. It offers a peaceful Southern England landscape with spectacular views of Surrey and Kent.

From Farnham to Dover, the path is never far from a train or a bus to London or a flight to the Continent, while still offering plenty of honest-to-goodness wilderness and pure, glorious nature. The pilgrimage? That comes at the cathedral city of Canterbury along the way (just two days before reaching the White Cliffs of Dover). April to July and September to November are the best times here, though it can be managed year round. Give yourself 10 to 14 days to complete the entire circuit.

-Renato Losio

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s hiking trips in Europe if you’re in the mood to join a semi-guided hike. If the idea of touring Hadrian’s Wall and the north of England sounds good, but not on foot, check out Viator’s 3-Day Lake District and Hadrian’s Wall small group tour.

Top 5 Easy Hikes in Europe: Hadrian’s Wall to Cinque Terre by Renato Losio from Viator Travel Blog

I do like to immerse myself in a culture. That’s not why I spilled my bowl of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) all over myself on a recent tour to Hanoi. Yes, the Vietnamese national breakfast dish was reduced to a warm puddle with bits of meat and vegetables dripping off my thigh. I got up to take a (not particularly memorable) picture and in sitting down I managed to knock the whole bowl over.

Pho boy!

Pho no!

Pho dear! You get the idea. This is not part of the regular tour.

Good Morning, Vietnam

Pho for breakfast? Best in your mouth, not your pants.

Pho – when you are eating it, not wearing it – is actually a satisfying start to your day. Not everyone is ready for chilies first thing in the morning, but fortunately, you add those to the noodles and meat to taste.

But this tour (Viator’s Hanoi Sunrise Adventure Tour) didn’t start with the pho.

Setting my travel alarm for 5am I began to wonder what inspired me to sign up for a cooking class that starts at dawn – when neither cooking nor early mornings are exactly my strengths. “Who usually cooks in your household?” my guide asks.

“The man,” I reply.

They think I’m joking until they see me try to de-bone a chicken leg. Nevertheless, when I travel I like to try things that aren’t part of my regular routine. Believe me, none of this is my normal daily routine.

Hanoi: Eat, Drink, Smell, Taste

For me the tour started with a 6am pick up at my hotel. This isn’t one of those tours where you sit in an air-conditioned bus with a tour guide pointing out things on a loudspeaker. Get prepared to actually experience this one: walking, eating, drinking, talking, listening, smelling, preparing, cooking, chopping, (hopefully not spilling)…

Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake

I’m not an early morning convert but I have to admit that I recommend walking around Hanoi before the frenetic crowds hit the city. Hoan Kiem Lake is a tranquil spot in the middle of the big city. And dawn is a tranquil time to be there.

Although this is a sunrise tour, at this time of year (March) there isn’t a lot of sun to be found. The sky changes from dark gray to light gray. The biggest difference is the noise. At this time of day most of the activity is informal groups of people practicing tai chi. (My guide tells me that the reason why there are so many children in Hanoi is because couples are always being woken up by the honking horns. They can’t sleep so they find other things to do. Yes, well.)

Exploring old Hanoi

Living spaces in Hanoi are very small so this is a city where people spend a lot of their time outside. We have breakfast (the aforementioned pho) followed by a visit to a traditional coffee shop. In between we walk through the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

This part of Hanoi is all about selling. We even went into a building where store owners buy things to sell in their shops. I’ve never seen so many hats and shoes all in one place.

Me to my man: You’re still the cook

Before we go on to our cooking class, we go through an outdoor market. In Vietnam, the food is usually bought the day it is served. There are some wonderful fruits and vegetables available for purchase. The seafood is so fresh it is still alive in bowls on the street.

Shopping for fresh produce in the markets of Hanoi

Once you have seen where the food comes from it’s back to a restaurant, which doubles as a cooking school where you can try your hand at turning it into traditional Vietnamese dishes. I am busily chatting to my guide about education in Vietnam and forget to pay attention to the lesson at hand. I miss some of the finer points of fresh spring roll making. Never mind, they still taste good.

I also manage to produce a chicken dish, fish sauce, fish with tamarind sauce, and sweet potato with ginger pudding. The fish and chicken arrive with flowers made out of tomatoes. They added the tomato art in the kitchen; I had to taste them to see what they were.

My chicken dish, looking very classy

The great thing about this tour is you get to eat what you produce. So all in all it’s a very satisfying way to get a taste of life in Hanoi. As I walked back to my hotel it was as if the flavors of Vietnam were still with me.

Well, actually they were; it was my pants. Pho well.

-Melinda Harrington

Planningf a trip? Browse Viator’s Vietnam tours & Hanoi tours, including the Hanoi Sunrise Adventure Tour reviewed here.

Immersing Myself in Hanoi by Melinda Harrington from Viator Travel Blog

As a DC local, it is not an uncommon site to see Segway tours going around the city – my office is two blocks from the National Mall and I jog around the monuments several times a week. After years of seeing these tours and snickering at them (all the while secretly jealous), my friend and I decided to bite the bullet and be tourists in our own city.

From turtle mode to the White House

We signed up for a 2pm Segway tour, and by 2:45pm, after the safety briefing and some time to get a feel for the Segways away from crowds and traffic, we were on our way. A small surprise – Segways come equipped with bags for water, cameras, etc. I didn’t need my awesome fanny-pack after all.

Segway riding outside of Barack's house

We were in a group of about eight people, led by our friendly tour guide, Megan. Our first stop was the White House! By the time we were leaving the White House, Megan was comfortable enough with the group’s riding abilities to take our segways off “turtle mode.” We then “sped off” – at a whopping 12 mph – towards the National Mall, getting a view of the backside of the White House and the Ellipse.

Washington DC looks pretty good on a Segway

Once on the National Mall, we passed the Washington Monument – hard to miss, but there was a whole new thrill seeing it perched on a Segway. From there we turned east heading past the Smithsonian Museums. Megan stopped along the way, explaining the museums, and we had a 10-minute break for snacks and rest from all the *cough cough* strenuous gliding.

There are 19 different Smithsonian Museums, most of them are on the perimeter of the National Mall, and all are free to the public. The museums include: the Air and Space Museum, African Art Museum, National Art Galleries, Natural History Museum, American History Museum, Native American Museum, the Hirshhorn, to name a few. You will definitely want to return to the mall to check out the museums, as well as to spend more time at the monuments.

After our break, we continued east towards the Capitol Building, stopping in front of the National Botanical Gardens. (We did not get a chance to go inside the gardens on this tour, but I highly recommend while you are in DC, you make a trip to the gardens.)

Stopping outside the U.S. Capitol Building

Next up – we went to the front of the Capital Building, where we had a great view of the National Mall, and then to the back of the Capital Building. You will want to take note of several buildings viewable from the backside of the Capitol Building, as you will want to return: the US Capitol Visitors Center (the meeting point for all Capitol Building tours), the Supreme Court Building and the Library of Congress.

For the last leg of the tour we glided up Pennsylvania Avenue, along part of the route for the Inaugural Parade (I’m going to write to the Executive Office and see if the next Inaugural Parade can be held on Segways). We stopped by the Newseum—a museum dedicated to all things news related, my favorite exhibit being the Pulitzer Prize Photo Gallery. Lastly we went by the FBI Hoover Building, and to Ford’s Theatre, where Abe Lincoln was shot.

Sometimes it’s good to be a hometown tourist

The tour ended up being a lot of fun. Not only was it a great way to hone my Segway riding skills, but also to learn a bit about the city and, for out-of-towners, to familiarize oneself with the locations around Washington, DC.

And sure, I’ll admit it – I also learned a few new interesting facts and bits of historical information about my current hometown. And I was left with a strong desire to take advantage of all that Washington DC has to offer. So all in all, a good day out.

-Anne Davis

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Washington DC tours and things to do in Washington DC, including the Segway tour Anne took as well as a Washington DC by Night Segway tour.

My Washington DC Segway Tour by Anne Stiles Davis from Viator Travel Blog

Paris may be the city of love, but this stylish vibrant metropolis will also enchant younger travellers with a myriad of delights and adventures. This is especially true in spring and summer, when the streets of Paris come to life with street fairs, kid-friendly shows and concerts, and plenty of outdoor activities to keep young travellers entertained. Here are my top 5 picks in Paris with kids:

#1 Paris with Kids: Ride the carousels

Kids in Paris? Take 'em on a carousel rid

The carousels are gorgeous, old-style painted wooden horses and carriages, lavishly decorated with familiar music to swirl by around and around and around. These pop up unexpectedly all over the place, and will help turn your day into a spontaneous carnival, giving a sense of the city as a funfair.

They can be an enchanting moment of nostalgia for parents, climb on board too, and wave to the kids as you pass them!

If you don’t stumble across any in your travels, head for Luxembourg Gardens, the Jardin Des Tuileries, Parc du Champ de Mars, and down the hill from Sacre Coeur in Montmartre.

#2 Paris with Kids: Go underwater & visit the dinosaurs

CinéAqua – The Trocadéro Aquarium is a tropical water wonderland, filled with colourful fish and exotic underwater species, and a favourite with my 8-year-old friend, as it contains a crocodile pit. See if they live up to the promise of 9,000 fish and 26 sharks, go on, count them all! Intriguing list of activities include an underwater sound studio, the ‘green wall of incrustation’, underwater robots a film program, cartoon workshop and daddy day camp. Located in the historic Trocadero area, you can eat in the museum at Cafe Petit Jules Verne or for more experimental food, try the gastronomic Japanese restaurant Ozu.

Walk through the shark tunnel at the Trocadero Aquarium

The main building in the Jardin du Plantes houses the perennially enchanting dinosaur museum, the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. Don’t let the description of “comparative anatomy, mineralogy and paleontology” put you off, this is where living reptiles can be seen in the reptiles gallery of the Ménagerie at the Jardin des Plantes. The fossil gallery contains objects that were part of the Cabinet of Curiosities of King Louis XIII. Explore their collection online with the kids before you leave home, and decide which exhibits they are most interested in seeing.

#3 Paris with Kids: Picnic in the park

Step back in time with a trip to Buttes Chaumont, built in the early 1900s, this park has an extraordinary landscape to explore, with panoramic views over Paris. The man-made river runs through mountains, into caves and down along waterfalls, and there are plenty of gorgeous picnic spots at the many grassy verges along its banks. It’s located in the 19th arrondissement at the Rue Botzaris, near two metro entrances: Botzaris and Buttes Chaumont.

Parc de Belleville is perfect for a summer afternoon picnic, and with a little exploring, you can find a spot for swimming along the river. This former village and 18th-century gypsum quarry, has been transformed into a beautiful garden which opened in 1988. The Maison de l’Air located inside the park offers educational workshops for children with explanations and demonstrations on the theme of the air, the atmosphere, and pollution. Give the kids an environmental perspective to write up in their school report. Rue des Couronnes. Metro: Couronnes.

The famous Jardin de Tuileries is a favourite with French families, dating back to the 17th Century. The public garden has great entertainment for kids, including a puppet show, ferris wheel, carousel, playgrounds with trampolines and toy sailboats for sailing on the pond. Between the Louvres to the Place de La Concord, the garden houses the only remaining structures of the original Palais de Tuileries, Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume and the Musée de l’Orangerie, which displays Claude Monet’s water lily paintings, and will appeal to budding artists.

I highly recommend a trip to one of the markets for fresh bread, fruit and cheese, or you can stop into the many small grocery shops around for supplies. The kids will love to stop for authentic french crepes at one of the many stands selling them, and of course the perennial favourite ice cream is available everywhere. Berthillon, next to the bridge between Ile de la Cite and Ile St-Louis, has fabulous flavours of sorbet and ice-cream in raspberry, strawberry, lemon, pear, vanilla and chocolate, and offers a view of Notre Dame as you enjoy them.

#4 Paris with Kids: Science, industry, cinema

Kids will love the Cité des sciences & de l'industrie

The Parc de la Villette houses the Cité des sciences & de l’industrie, a fascinating world of invention and technology, with a real submarine to explore, a satellite dish, and summer events including performances and music nights. There is a science museum designed for kids, the Cité des Enfants, you can also work on their language skills, as many of the explanations are in French, and it’s free with the Paris Pass.

The wide-open grass area is a perfect place to let the kids run around and expend some energy, especially on those hot summer days. Three of the gardens are built specifically for kids, the Jardin du Dragon with a wonderful playground and dragon-shaped slippery slide, the Jardin des Brouillards featuring water curtains and fountains, and a self-driven windmill in the Jardin des Dunes. A fun way to reach the Parc de la Villette is a boat trip along the canal, which also offers a chance to relax and enjoy the scenery. The 3 hour trip starts at Quai Anatole France and ends at the Parc de la Villette, bring your own food as there are no refreshments for sale on the boat.

In case you need to escape the rain, or as a relaxing alternative to another day of sightseeing, the Forum des Images offers film programs for a variety of ages from Touts-Petits Cinema to les scolaires. The button ‘Activities Enfants’ on the website has listings for all the films in the children’s programs at Cinema le Latina, 20, rue du Temple 75004. Métro Hôtel-de-Ville or Rambuteau.

#5 Paris with Kids: Theme parks & shopping tours

Sometimes, you have no choice but to give into your kids’ desire for Mickey and friends. Fortunately you can cover both the familiar options – namely, Disneyland Paris – and something entirely French, Parc Asterix, which is the 2nd-largest theme park in France with a distinct Gaulish theme to its rides and attractions.

Not your typical theme park: Parc Asterix, just outside Paris

If you have an older child, consider a Paris walking tour aimed specifically at kids, or Paris shopping tour aimed at teens.

If all else fails, consider a stroll along the Seine and let the kids decide. As a child, the Adventures of Madeline was one of my favourite books, the row of tiny yellow uniforms tramping up to the Eiffel Tower has always intrigued me, and I recently had the joy of visiting the Pont Neuf, where she falls in the water.

Entice your children’s imagination with their own French adventures before you head to the city of light, and they will walk around enchanted by being alive in this wonderful fairy tale city. You can buy them a Madeleine, and try some other authentic French treats, like Croque Monsieur, sure to appeal to a young palette. Strolling along the Seine from the Debilly Footbridge, which goes across to the Eiffel Tower is perfect for an afternoon walk, that will give you a new view of the city from the river, and allow you to experience the streets of Paris from another perspective as you wander.

City Walks with Kids: Paris is a wonderful book of cards with child-oriented maps, plenty of pictures and delights for young travellers. Let the kids take charge of the itinerary, giving you a break from making the decisions. Parents with teenagers might suggest a trip to the Pere Lachaise cemetery, to visit Jim Morrison’s grave, along with the many French artists, writers and musicians buried here.

-Jill Rhodes

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Paris tours & things to do, including kid-friendly and family-friendly tours in Paris.

Top 5 Things to Do in Paris with Kids by Jill Rhodes from Viator Travel Blog

There are few cities that buzz like Marrakech – it boasts an incredible mix of exoticism, energy and romance. But the hectic activity of the main square and the souks is balanced out by a modern New City and peaceful gardens, as David Whitley discovers while checking out the Moroccan city’s highlights.

Marrakech Night Market

As an introduction to a city after arriving on a Friday evening, it’s hard to imagine anything more spectacular than Djemaa El Fna. Marrakech’s main square provides an unparalleled assault on the senses. From the edge of the square, it looks like it is on fire. Smoke billows up from the hundreds of food stalls, the barbecues overpowering the white canvas roofs.

The night market at Djemaa El Fna

The Night Market’s food stalls are constructed every evening, and the Djemaa El Fna turns into one of the world’s great open-air restaurants. Tourists and locals sit on the rudimentary benches as stall-holders whip up mixed kebabs, tagines, mouthwatering aubergine dishes and – if you’re truly brave – sheep heads.

Part of the fun is deciding where to eat, and touts for each stall are rather keen to sway your decision. They come armed with anecdotes for every nation, a desire to talk about football teams and a bizarre array of British supermarket advertising slogans.

“Safer than Heston Blumenthal, better than Gordon Ramsay, tastier than Nigella Lawson,” says one.

“Taste the difference – like Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference – for ASDA price,” tries another.

Take it in the right spirit, indulge in a bit of the banter, and it’s hilarious. You become part of the great Djemaa El Fna show. Supplementing the barbecues and benches are stalls selling snails, piled-high spices and freshly squeezed orange juice for an absolute pittance. It’s a gastronomic experience to be cherished. But Djemaa El Fna isn’t all about the eating – this is one of the world’s greatest entertainment centres too.

Eating at the night market

Storytellers and musicians

In the evening, huddles of people can be found dotted across the square. Some are playing sideshow style games where they try and put a hoop over a bottle of Coke, others are listening to storytellers and many are taking in musicians and dancers.

The pounded drumbeats are a constant soundtrack, but join the huddle and an elaborate game unfolds. Half of the fun is waiting for the musicians to play. They build up the excitement, talking to the audience and conversing with each other. The audience slowly grows in expectation, and coins are handed over to whoever is playing ringmaster at that moment.

And when enough money is handed over, then motley band launches into it, jigging around the temporary pen with instruments in hand. This is what has happened here for years, and it beats TV in the hotel room any day. But the important thing is that it’s not just for tourists – the locals find the charade just as fascinating.

Shopping in Marrakech’s souks

The biggest game of all awaits the next morning. Marrakech is one of the world’s great shopping cities, and while international designer stores can be found in the Europeanised New City, the souks of the Medina are what really mesmerise.

Shopping for shoes in the Marrakech souks

Marrakech’s souks have been called a warren, a maze and a labyrinth before. None of those descriptions really comes close, however. They come with a cast iron guarantee of getting lost at least twice, but this is also where the charm lies.

The stalls sprawl out in all directions, diverting along laneways, into small courtyards, up and down stairs and underneath basic wooden shelters. Each is a riot of colour, and each comes with a determined little man who wants to sell you his traditional slippers/ lanterns/ leather bags/ ceramic pots.

In truth, a trip through the souks is far less mentally exhausting than it once was. Police have cracked down on the hordes who would harass you into accepting them as a guide, and joining in with the stallholders is tremendous fun. Approach the whole experience with a smile, a sense of humour and a willingness to play along, and it’s wonderful.

The theatrical pleading of poverty, the ‘special price for you this morning’, the ebb and flow of the bartering process and the ritual drinking of sweet tea have an element of pantomime. But for those prepared to run with it rather than yearn for fixed prices, it’s the quintessential Marrakech experience.

Jardin Majorelle and the New City

Marrakech’s heart is the Medina. The old city, surrounded by the red earth city walls is a hive of mosques, palaces, Kasbahs and riads (small courtyard hotels). But it could never be described as relaxing. And for respite, it’s better to walk out of the city walls to explore the more modern side of Marrakech. The New City is almost completely different – glass fronted shops, French restaurants and cool cocktail bars rub shoulders.

Most of the upmarket chain hotels and resorts are outside the Medina, and so are the gardens. For such a dry, dusty city, Marrakech has an astonishing selection of carefully maintained gardens. Each has its own character – some play on the mountain views, others on the olive groves, others on the presentation of the plants.

The latter is certainly the case at the Jardin Majorelle. It’s a gorgeous oasis surrounded by snarling main roads, where the tall bamboo and cactus fields are complimented by a bright colour scheme. Pots and walls are painted in vivid blues, oranges and yellows and if a certain amount of design flare is apparent, it’s because the garden was owned by Yves Saint Laurent.

The French fashion guru had his ashes scattered there when he died in 2008, and a small memorial to him can be found on along one of the pathways.

Caleche rides and snake charmers

From the Jardin Majorelle, the most endearing way to get back to the Medina is to hop on a caleche. These horse-drawn carriages are fairly ubiquitous, and the horses must have nerves of steel to trot along the main roads through the swerving ranks of motorcyclists and hair-raising taxis. A major caleche stop can be found just outside the Jardin Majorelle, and the drivers are only too happy to take you back to Djemaa El Fna.

Once there, the afternoon scene is rather different to what will follow later on. A few musicians are still there, but in the afternoon, Djemaa El Fna is largely the domain of fortune tellers, snake charmers and what can only be described as a Moroccan take on clowns.

The show may have a new set of performers, but it still rumbles on almost continuously. Just before the sun comes down, the stalls go up and the smoke billows out again. A million meals, songs and stories await.

-David Whitley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Marrakech tours & things to do and Morocco tours, including a Marrakech medina tour and a Marrakech tour of Discovery that includes the medina and souks.

Things to Do in Marrakech by David Whitley from Viator Travel Blog

Istanbul at sunset

I have a crystal-clear memory of my very first morning in Istanbul. It was 1996. I was on assignment for Lonely Planet and Fodor’s to update their respective guidebooks to Turkey. My flight arrived late, 10pm or something.

I jumped into a taxi and headed straight to the small hotel I had booked in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district.

The last thing I remember before collapsing into bed is opening the window of my 4th-floor room. Ahhh, the fresh evening air of Istanbul. So refreshing.

My next memory? It’s a little hard to explain. Try this. Grab a bullhorn and turn the volume to ‘maximum’. Then ask a friend to place that bullhorn –> <– this far from your head. Now, have your friend turn it on and scream ALLAHHHHHHHHHHHHH at the top of their lungs. The whole thing will sound a little like this (click the “hear alarm” link; this is among the best travel shwag I have ever purchased).

San Francisco? Nope. Istanbul.

The problem? My bedroom window was literally, and I mean literally, 10 feet away from the loudspeaker atop the neighborhood mosque. It was my first morning in a Muslim country, and by god why didn’t anybody tell me about the ear-bursting call to prayer at 5:40am???

It nearly killed me. The sound was deafening. I bolted half-dressed out of bed into the hallway of the hotel, jumping up and down like a MAD MAN.

Lucky for me, nobody witnessed my half-naked pogo dance. And as the call to prayer faded, I realized my error and slipped back into my room. Lesson learned.

Since then I’ve visited Istanbul 7 or 8 times. I dream of going back again. I’ve also considered living there, except that my tongue and brain are incapable of pronouncing the Turkish language. (Go on, I dare you to pronounce “Afedersiniz! Hala faturamı bekliyorum,” or “Türkiye çok güzel bir ülkedir.”) So while I continue daydreaming about my next visit, let me share a few reasons to cancel your next holiday and instead catch the first flight to Istanbul.

Scott’s 5 Reasons to Love Istanbul

1. For western travelers, Istanbul is truly exotic. The dictionary defines exotic as “intriguingly unusual or different; excitingly strange” and that’s a great way to think about Istanbul. The sights, the sounds, the food, the music, the culture — it’s all excitingly strange, intriguingly unusual.
2. Istanbul is a good introduction to traveling in a Muslim country. I’ve been asked dozens of times, “Is it safe to travel in Muslim countries?” Yes, it is safe. Terrorism, anti-Westernism and anti-Americanism certainly exist in Turkey. But they exist in Canada, too. Istanbul– and Turkey in general — is incredibly safe and, for first-time visitors to the Muslim world, the perfect introduction.
3. Istanbul is the most beautiful city on the planet. I’m prepared to duke it out with any naysayers. San Francisco and Sydney? Sure they’re nice places, but Istanbul does the whole ‘waterfront coastal’ thing even better. Paris and Rome? OK, yeah, they’re pretty. But Istanbul’s skyline is equally stunning. Prague? You’re getting closer. But Istanbul, too, has a centuries-old historical pedigree (Istanbul was capital of the Roman, Ottoman and Byzantine empires) and has the architecture to prove it.
4. If you held a contest to find the “World’s Nicest People” the Turks would come in second place, just after the Vietnamese. The Turks are incredibly hospitable, gracious, serious, sincere, you name it. I’ve traveled through 50+ countries in my life, and I’ve found few people as warm and friendly as the Turks.
5. Turkey! Istanbul is only the tip of the iceberg – Turkey itself has some amazing places to visit, from Cappadocia to the Aegean to the Black Sea.

OK. Enough of the hard-sell job. It’s obvious I love Istanbul. It’s obvious it’s a great place to visit. What’s not obvious is why you haven’t booked a ticket yet???

Resources for Travelers to Istanbul

• Cool hotel: The Empress Zoe in Sultanahmet. A small boutique hotel with a great rooftop deck overlooking the Golden Horn.


Scott at Erenler Nargile Salonu

• Eat here: any of the restaurants in and around Cicek Pasaji in Beyoglu, just off Istiklal Caddesi. This is a small L-shaped galleria with a long line of rowdy taverna-style restaurants. Eat fish, drink raki, repeat.
• Do this: Take a half-day Bosphorus Cruise and visit the Egyptian bazaar.
• Smoke this: apple- and honey-infused tobacco in a Turkish nargile (water pipe). The nargile is one of Turkey’s great gifts to the world. And my favorite place to enjoy one in Istanbul is the Erenler Nargile Salonu, just off Yeniceriler Cadessi, in a madressi tucked off the main street behind a cemetery.
• More info: You can download or listen to a Podcast I made a few years ago about Turkey (including some great sound clips of a call to prayer) or check out some of my favorite Turkish websites: Turkish Daily News, the English-language weekly newspaper; and Istanbul Portal, which does a nice job on history and culture.

-Scott McNeely

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Istanbul and tours in Turkey.
Also check out our list of attractions in Istanbul.

Ode to Istanbul by Scott Mc from Viator Travel Blog

Vietnamese coffee

Editor’s Note: I originally posted these Vietnam itineraries in 2007, to answer the many questions I was fielding from friends about the best places to visit in Vietnam. Over the past two years dozens of travelers have asked some great questions about what to see and do in Vietnam, which I wanted to share. If you have a question, just leave a comment and I’ll do my best to reply.

Let’s start with the coffee. Because in Vietnam coffee is more than just a drink. It doesn’t come venti or frappuccinoed or with whipped cream. And it definitely does not cost $3.75 a shot. No, coffee in Vietnam is thick, cheap and super-sweet. And it is beautiful.

Good coffee is just one of the many happy discoveries I had in Vietnam. It was my first trip, and as an American I had some baggage about visiting. You know, the war and all. The Vietnam War (or as it’s called locally, the American War). Telling friends that I was planning a trip to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) generated a shock-surprise-fear response that I was not prepared for, at least from people old enough to remember the nightly news reports from the battlefront.

So I was half-expecting a chilly response when I arrived. After all more than 400,000 Vietnamese civilians were killed in the war, not to mention the impact on the land itself (ever heard of Agent Orange?). There were plenty of reasons for the Vietnamese not to like Americans.

Crazy crowded streets of Hanoi. BYO motorbike.

Yet the reality could not have been more different. No matter where I went, no matter who I met, the people of Vietnam were unfailingly polite, friendly, approachable. I am not just saying that, either. I’ve been to dozens of countries, and there is no contest here: by a mile the Vietnamese win the awards for “most friendly” and “most gracious.”

The other great surprise for me in Vietnam was the food. Fresh, simple and full of flavor. Since my trip I’ve become addicted to pho (rice noodle soup), which is delicious for breakfast or dinner; gao nep (sticky rice), which is suitable for the vegetarians among us; and nem (spring rolls), made with rice paper, minced pork, crab, mushrooms and extra-fine noodles called vermicelli.

Scott learns to cook in Hoi An

I spent almost 3 weeks in Vietnam, traveling south to north from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. My Vietnam itinerary is below, focusing on the best places to see in Vietnam in case you’re planning a trip of your own. If you have questions about Vietnam, leave a reply and I’ll do my best to field an answer for you. You can also see some of my photos from Vietnam over on the Viator flickr site.

• Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City (direct flight)
• 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City. On this last trip I didn’t get a chance to visit the Mekong Delta, but wish I had. It’s a beautiful spot and I always love exploring it. The city itself is worth exploring. The American War museum is first-rate. Plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs have opened in the past few years. I’ve heard some people say that Ho Chi Minh City has the best nightlife in Southeast Asia.
• 3 days in Mui Ne, a postcard-perfect beach village, very quiet and laid-back. Definitely not as busy as Na Trang. I prefer the calm of Mui Ne to the bustle of Na Trang.
• Then it was off to Hoi An (via an overnight train from Na Trang to Danang). Hoi An was my second-favorite spot in Vietnam. The center of Hoi An is a well-preserved French Colonial relic, with limited access to cars. For me the place was heaven. Hoi An has cafes, street markets, riverside restaurants, and the best hand-tailored clothes in Vietnam. I took a cooking class (you can book Vietnam cooking classes over on Viator) and learned how to make fish wrapped in banana leaves, squid salad and homemade dumplings. For less than US$100 I also had 7 shirts, 3 pants, 1 jacket and 1 suit made to order. The quality is not perfect. But who cares at these prices. One tip: If you own a shirt that you like or that fits you especially well, bring it! The local tailors can make copies in a dozen different fabrics.

Sightseeing boats on Halong Bay, Vietnam

• We took a short flight from Danang to Hanoi, my favorite place in all of Vietnam. I don’t know what it is about Hanoi that I clicked with. Maybe the jam-packed streets, packed sardine-style with bicycles and mopeds, which you cross at your own risk. Or maybe the tree-lined streets bursting with all manner of stores, shops, workshops, alleyways, impromptu temples, sidewalk restaurants.
• We also did a trip to Halong Bay, which is definitely worth doing. If the weather is hot, consider doing an overnight or two-night trip so you can swim and relax and take in the scenery. The setting is absolutely unique, with rounded rock formations as far as the eye can see, often shrouded in mist that gives Halong Bay an otherworldly feel.
• Last but not least, it was a flight back to Bangkok. While you’re there, get a message at the Wat Po Traditional Thai Massage School (on the grounds of Wat Po itself, in the heart of Bangkok). It costs something like $5 for 30 minutes. Was it the best massage I’ve ever had? Yup. And it’s enough to make me plan another trip to Vietnam. Via Thailand, of course.

-Scott McNeely

Planning a trip? Browse Viators tours and things to do in Vietnam, things to do in Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta tours. Also check out Vietnam reviews and tour reviews and Vietnam recommendations, including more suggested Vietnam itineraries.

Suggested Itineraries: Vietnam by Scott Mc from Viator Travel Blog