Travel Wishlists

Statue of Liberty, New York City

If you’re already following Viator’s ‘Top 25 Things to Do’ list mania, then no explanation is needed; this is the second-to-last installment in our series of Top Things to Do in 2007, this time focusing on the USA & Canada.

And there are a few surprises. Apparently New York City was and is all the rage in 2007. New York was our most popular North American destination this past year, as evidenced by the number of NYC tours and activities that made it on the Top 25 list below.

Nipping at New York’s heals was good ol’ Las Vegas, Sin City. It’s no surprise that Las Vegas is one of the top travel destinations in the USA. But what is a little surprising is how Las Vegas is evolving into a regional hub for travelers to visit the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, even Death Valley. We were also pleased to see San Francisco represented on this year’s list.

The other big surprise in the list? Helicopter tours. You love them. Whether in New York City or the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, helicopter tours and 2007 went together like peanut butter / Marmite / Vegemite and jelly / butter (take your pick).

Top 25 Things To Do in USA & Canada: 2007

25. Empire State Building Observatory, New York City, New York

24. West Rim Indian Country Deluxe Air and Ground Tour, Las Vegas, Nevada

#23. Everglades National Park

23. Everglades National Park, Miami City Tour and Biscayne Bay by Boat, Miami, Florida

22. Teatro ZinZanni: Love, Chaos and Dinner, San Francisco, California

21. Grand Canyon West Rim Van Tour with Optional Skywalk, Las Vegas, Nevada

20. VISITicket: Power Pass, Las Vegas, Nevada

19. Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour, Las Vegas, Nevada

18. The Phantom of the Opera On Broadway, New York City, New York

17. New York, New York Helicopter Flight, New York City, New York

16. Old Town Trolley Tours, Washington, DC

#17. New York, New York Helicopter Flight

15. Overnight Swim with Dolphins and Everglades Airboat Adventure, Orlando, Florida

14. Grand Canyon West Rim Air Adventure, Las Vegas, Nevada

13. Vegas Night Strip Helicopter Flight, Las Vegas, Nevada

12. The Lion King On Broadway, New York City, New York

11. Mamma Mia! On Broadway, New York City, New York

10. Hop On Hop Off Tour, New York City, New York

9. Alcatraz and San Francisco City Tour, San Francisco, California

#1. Grand Canyon Helicopter Flight

8. Grand Canyon Helicopter and Ranch Adventure, Las Vegas, Nevada

7. New York Elegant Dining Cruise, New York City, New York

6. Grand Canyon Skywalk, West Rim and Hoover Dam Motorcoach Tour, Las Vegas, Nevada

5. The Big Apple Helicopter Flight, New York City, New York

4. The New York Pass, New York City, New York

3. Niagara Falls from New York by Air, New York City, New York

2. Ultimate Grand Canyon 4-in-1 Helicopter Adventure, Las Vegas, Nevada

1. Grand Canyon All American Helicopter Flight, Las Vegas, Nevada

Do you have your own list of favorite things to do in the USA & Canada? We’d love to hear about them. Simply leave us a reply below and we’ll add them to the list.

Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year in the USA & Canada, keep on reading…

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Are you planning a trip to Australia in 2008? If so you’ve come to the right place. Viator’s list of the Top 25 Things to Do in Australia will help kick-start your travel planning.

Australia’s Top 25 Things to Do: Ayers Rock Definitely Makes the List

This is all part of our end-of-the-year Top 25 Things to Do competitions, where we announce the most popular tours and activities around the world based on what was most popular with Viator’s globe-trotting travelers in 2007. So far we’ve covered the Top 25 in Asia, Central & South America, the Middle East & Africa and the Caribbean. Now it is time to shine the spotlight on Australia.

Australia’s Top 25 has a few surprises. And the biggest surprise of all is the sheer diversity of the list. Walking tours of the Opera House in Sydney… sailing on the Great Barrier Reef… Yarra Valley wine tasting… Melbourne dining… penguins, kangaroos, and wildlife…

Viator’s travelers covered a lot of ground in 2007. If you have your own favorite activity or thing to do in Australia, please leave us a comment, we’d love to hear about it. Now, without further ado, here are the top tours an activities in Australia from 2007.

Top 25 Things To Do in Australia: 2007

25. Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

24. 360 Bar and Dining at Sydney Tower Restaurant, Sydney, Australia

23. Great Ocean Road High Adventure Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

22. Blue Mountains and Australian Wildlife Day Tour, Sydney, Australia

21. Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise, Sydney, Australia

20. Kangaroo Island in a Day Tour, Adelaide, Australia

19. Sunrise Balloon Flight over Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

18. Sydney Opera House and Australian Ballet Dinner Package, Sydney, Australia

17. 24 Hour Uluru (Ayers Rock) Eco-Pass plus Sounds of Silence Dinner, Ayers Rock, Australia

16. Green Island Reef Catamaran Cruise, Cairns, Australia

15. Cairns in a Day - Kuranda, Cairns, Australia

14. Uluru and Kata Tjuta Helicopter Flight, Ayers Rock, Australia

13. Kuranda Rail, Rainforestation and Skyrail Tour, Cairns, Northern Beaches, Palm

12. Yarra Valley Wine Experience, Melbourne, Australia

11. Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Helicopter Flight, Cairns, Australia

Sounds of Silence Dinner, Ayers Rock Voted #1 in 2006 & 2007

10. Phillip Island: Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

9. Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour, Melbourne, Australia

8. Sunrise Breakfast Balloon Flight over the Yarra Valley, Melbourne, Australia

7. Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon and Alice Springs 3-Day Tour, Ayers Rock, Australia

6. Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise on the MV Sydney 2000, Sydney, Australia

5. See Sydney and Beyond Smartvisit Card, Sydney, Australia

4. Spirit of Melbourne Cruising Restaurant, Melbourne, Australia

3. Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, Melbourne, Australia

2. Blue Mountains Deluxe Eco Day Tour, Sydney, Australia

1. Sounds of Silence Restaurant, Ayers Rock, Northern Territory

There you have it. Viator’s list of the Top 25 tours and things to do in Australia in 2007. We’d like to extend a special ‘congratulatory’ note to the Sounds of Silence restaurant at Ayers Rock for winning the #1 spot on our list two years in a row! Well done, this is no easy feat to pull off.

Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year, in 2006, keep on reading…

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Sunset at Sydney Harbour

Editor’s Note: The contest is now closed and we have a winner! Congratulations Belinda Trevorrow. You were clever enough to spell out the boat’s name AND were the first person to use an acrostic format. That was enough to win over our judges. Here is Belinda’s entry:

Beautiful
Elegant
Luxurious
Lifetime
Adventure

Viewing
Incredible
Sydney
Together
Again

Thanks again to everybody who entered. Some of you are very funny (ha ha + strange). And stay tuned for more writing contests in 2008. We’re already planning them in New York and Paris…

–The Viator Travel Team

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  

Where are you spending New Year’s Eve 2007?

How about on Sydney Harbour! Sydney is home to one of the world’s most famous New Year’s Eve celebrations. The fireworks display is second to none, the weather is warm & sunny, and the atmosphere is simply unbeatable. More than 1 million people crowd along the edge of Sydney Harbour to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration, but not you!

This year, you can go as a VIP by entering to win a spot for 2 people on a Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Cocktail Cruise. Cruise Sydney Harbour in style aboard the ‘Bella Vista’, a brand new three level glass cruise vessel. See the sites of Sydney and the harbour as the sun goes down and the city lights up the sky. At 9pm you’ll have a front-row seat for the Harbour of Light Parade, made up of 50 invited vessels decorated in rope-light. Continue to drink and dance the night away until the spectacular midnight fireworks show.

How do I enter?

Simply leave a reply for this post below to enter our “Sydney New Year’s Eve Harbour Cruise” contest. We’ll ask you to answer the question, “Why should we send YOU on a Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Cocktail Cruise?”. Entries must be submitted by December 14.

Of course, there is a catch! We are only accepting replies that are 10 words or less! That’s right, answer the question “Why should we send YOU on a Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Cocktail Cruise?” in 10 words or less, and you could win 2 free tickets* for a Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Cocktail Cruise. You can enter our contest as many times as you like, but remember, your reply must be 10 words or less or it will not be considered.

Good luck! See you in Sydney for New Year’s Eve 2007!

-The Viator Team

* Our staff will pick the entry that we think best answers the question above, in 10 words or less. We are providing 2 free tickets on a Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Cocktail Cruise. Airfare, hotel, and any other expenses are not included. We provide an unforgettable night of entertainment on New Year’s Eve, you need to get there on your own!

Tucked away just 140-odd-kilometres from Melbourne is the site of the world’s biggest alluvial gold rush, although things have quietened down considerably over the last 150 years.

Take for example the rural hamlet of Fryerstown, now home to a few hundred people (ponies and dogs not necessarily included, but perhaps not excluded either), which in the mid-1800s was a bustling tent city. All that remains now are the old lolly (candy) shop, the old post office, a scattering of stone cottages and buildings. The quizzically named and located “Burke and Wills Mechanical Institute” seems like a school for the invisible today, but back then it was the place to be if you had a yearning for making and fixing the many machines that made the small but thriving township run.

Castlemaine: full of optimists

What was once Forest Creek is now known as the town of Castlemaine and the neighbouring village of Chewton (pronounced Choo-tun). It was the epicentre of the historical hysteria, when a few men found alluvial gold scattered about on a break from shepherding and managed to keep the secret to themselves for a while. Word soon got out as the land-owner began threats of trespass and prosecution and within months literally thousands of optimists were heading out to strike it rich in a place where brawn could get your further than brains. Veterans of the Californian Gold Rush made it over, as did Chinese and a wide range of Europeans. As Gold Fever took hold even eight of the 10 policemen in the 10-year-old colony of Port Philip (soon to be known as Melbourne) were beating a path to a chance at riches.

Culture made it these parts, too. The oldest operating theatre on the Australian mainland, the venerable Theatre Royal, can be found in Castlemaine, showing current cinematic delights and live music on a weekend. The coffee is worth a go and the pizza’s worth returning for, too. A couple more cafés about town attest to the slow transformation that Castlemaine has seen in recent years from treeless tent metropolis to burgeoning regional gem. There is even an arts incubator with another café of repute and venue for dance, theatre and even sound art (have a look: www.cajid.com).

Gold Rush-era tents at Forest Creek

Given that it’s now ticking away in the back of your mind that this part of Victoria was “the place to be” in 1851 — if you fancied trying your luck down by the creek, with a pan in your hand and an eye to the Bank — then the fact that there seems to be a town announced on the roadsigns almost every 20 seconds becomes less of a surprising oddity.

Fryerstown, Vaughn Springs, Newstead, Guilford, Irishtown, Welshman’s Reef, Yapeen, Wesley Hill – all crammed together between open fields and eucalypt forests, often seeming to be little more than a post office and some businesses shading beneath old school verandahs and awnings, plying local wares and the odd macchiato. So many towns in such a small space starts to make sense now. It is kind of like a more advanced version of the “something happened here once” take on Australian history I hinted at some time ago, but here Something really did happen. And now?

Well, over the years some locals dismantled some buildings, taking the stone bricks for their own dwellings – “It shows a disregard for history,” one current local remarked. But I’m inclined to think that history is what happened in the past, not what’s happening now and if you need a roof and some sturdier walls and there’s some waiting for you across the road…

If you fancy a quiet beer with little more than the cricket on the telly (television, mate – it’s what you watch when you’re not having a barbie) and a few locals giving you the occasional and thoughtful “ohhhh yeah” (upward inflection on the latter word), then Marong might just be the place for you. Bush blocks interspersed with the odd road and some people around to help break up the landscape, the winter months promise a chill in the air and the summer months the rippling hum of cicadas making the air their instrument of choice.

Bendigo: the City of Lights?

Heading up the road 40 kilometres or so, you’ll find where most of the gold really built the region – the growing city of Bendigo towers over you with its cathedrals and testaments to the passing riches invested as architecture. It’s a little like entering the Valley of the Giants, the architecture seems designed for almost a different species – one that needed tens of metres of headroom to just enter the building and enough room to swing a panther in even the smallest of spaces. (Something you might like to look out for while you travel the back roads in the famed panther of central Victoria that is said to stalk the hills.)

Although the franchises have moved into Bendigo now and are interrupting the excess of the colonial gold-lined streets, albeit with a gaudily internalised commercial excess of their own, Bendigo is an odd one to see in the dusky afternoon light. Something like a lost European city in the bush, with only the dry canal and harshening southern light bearing witness to the drought that is slowly browning the land, belying the transformation from a region that once was The place of plenty.

Come Christmas time, the oddity that surpasses many a regional centre around Australia is some kind of undeclared war on the senses and good taste that seems to have been started around these parts. Forget New York and Manhattan, if you want to see lights, then the backstreets of Bendigo is the place to be to feel the city that never sleeps. That’s right, the Christmas light displays here leave many an international department store to shame. Every vertical and horizontal surface of house after house in a row coated in lights that inspire some kind of mental arrhythmia, waiting to shock even the comatose back to the Yuletide spirit.

Some 10 years ago, some eager friends and I accidentally undertook an unplanned roadtrip that saw us take in 3,000 kilometres in four days and through that blazing trail of glory I can recall my first visit to Bendigo. The pre-Christmas highlight was the man, that would perhaps be regarded as wrongly intentioned in these days of suspicion and fear, who took a seat upon a throne in his front yard – his patch of quarter-acre bliss coated in a nativity scene, mock-reindeer and sleigh, and he as Santa amongst it all. He didn’t seem too impressed as the three of us stepped over the low front fence and wandered into his festive excess, laughing and shaking our heads in disbelief at the confounding wonder before us. Perhaps the old gold-digger was upset that not one of us sat upon his jolly, red stockinged knee.

–Jack Brown

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Melbourne, including day trips from Melbourne and throughout Victoria.

What’s hot in the Caribbean? What are the up-and-coming destinations, the most popular things to see and do? If you’re asking yourselves these questions, you have come to the right place.

See yourself in the Caribbean in 2008?

As part of Viator’s annual “Top Things To Do” lists, we are pleased to announce the Top 25 Things to Do in the Caribbean for 2007.

The results are based on the actual travel choices made by thousands of Viator.com travelers to the Caribbean in 2007. And before we crown this year’s winners in the Caribbean, we wanted to draw your attention to our list of “Top 25 Things to Do in the Caribbean in 2006″, which we’ve included at the bottom of this post in case you’re feeling nostalgic about our 2006 winners.

Otherwise it’s time to crown the 2007 winners: the top 25 activities, tours and things to do in the Caribbean. Congratulations to all our winners.

Top 25 Things To Do in The Caribbean: 2007

We hear you asking, so Viator what were the big trends and surprises for the Caribbean in 2007?

Montego Bay in Jamaica: A top destination in 2007

The main trend is a big jump in travel to both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. There’s been a lot of press recently about the Dominican Republic, and it’s safe to say that the Dominican Republic is now firmly on the radar of many travelers to the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico has seen a similar bump in popularity this year, no doubt driven by the new USA passport requirements (which do not include Puerto Rico, as it’s a U.S. Territory).

The other big trend? The ongoing popularity of Jamaica (especially Ocho Rios) and the Bahamas (especially Nassau). We’re also pleased to see Aruba, St Lucia and St Maarten make the list again this year.

Now, without further ado, Viator’s Top 25 Things to Do in the Caribbean for 2007:

25. Saona Island by Catamaran, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

24. Sailing and Horseback Riding, Negril, Jamaica

23. Santo Domingo City Tour, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

22. Majestic Lady Dinner Cruise, Nassau, Bahamas

21. ATV Safari in Negril, Negril, Jamaica

20. Negril Irie Adventure, Negril, Jamaica

19. Monster 8 Wheel Truck Excursion, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

18. SUB Bahamas Adventure, Nassau, Bahamas

17. Catamaran Day Sail, St Lucia

16. Atlantis Submarine Expedition, Oranjestad, Aruba

15. Snorkel Bahamas Adventure, Nassau, Bahamas

14. Aruba ATV Mania Half Day, Oranjestad, Aruba

13. Dunns River Falls and Shopping Tour, Montego Bay, Jamaica

12. St Maarten Golden Eagle Friday Farewell Party, Philipsburg, St Maarten

11. Rum Distillery and Old San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico

10. Negril Canopy Tour, Negril, Jamaica

9. Ocho Rios Canopy Tour, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

8. Robinson Crusoe Cruise, Nassau, Bahamas

#1 in 2007: Dominican Republic dolphin swim

7. Dolphin Encounter Program in Ocho Rios, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

6. Rio Camuy Cave Park and Arecibo Observatory, San Juan, Puerto Rico

5. El Yunque Rainforest, San Juan, Puerto Rico

4. Fantastic Exuma Powerboat Adventures, Nassau, Bahamas

3. Swim with Dolphins Program, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

2. The Different Day - Snorkel, Picnic and Sail, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1. Dolphin Swim at Ocean World, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

There you have it. Viator’s list of the Top 25 tours and things to do in the Caribbean in 2007.

Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year, in 2006, keep on reading…

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As 2007 winds to a close, it’s time to start thinking about my own personal travel wishlist for 2008. I’ve been keeping tabs on what the big media outlets are forecasting, from the New York Times’ list of 53 Places to Go in 2008 to National Geographic’s Best of Adventure in 2008.

Both of these list are good. Yet like so many ‘top in travel’ lists that proliferate this time of year, the mainstream lists err on the side of long-haul backpacker destinations. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with long-haul backpacker destinations. There was a time when the NY Times’ top destinations would have inspired me to pack my bags and catch the next flight to Laos (#1), Lisbon (#2), Tunisia (#3), Mauritius (#4) and Miami (#5 — yes, even to Miami!).

What’s changed?

Emmett doesn’t own a backpack… yet!

His name is Emmett. He is nearly 2 years old. And he doesn’t own a backpack.

Having a toddler definitely puts a different emphasis on your travel plans. Not in a bad way, but in a way that clearly says “Scott you cannot take your 2-year-old son to India for a month… Scott your 2-year-old son cannot sleep rough in a European train station… Scott your 2-year-old son must be in bed by 7pm each and every night.”

Yes, these are the voices I hear in my head as I start planning our family’s 2008 travel wishlist.

With that in mind, here is my personal “Top 10 in Travel” for 2008. I’m hoping to crack everything in the Top 5, despite those voices in my head urging caution.

Scott’s Top 10 in Kid-Friendly Travel for 2008

1. Istanbul. This is one of my favorite cities on the planet. It has everything: good food, amazing architecture, friendly people, beautiful scenery. And it is safe. I think the family can handle a trip to Istanbul, so that’s my #1 travel ambition this year.
2. New York City. Emmett is old enough now to appreciate the sights, sounds and energy of New York City. I’d love to take him wandering the streets of Lower Manhattan, the East Village and Brooklyn, maybe even take in a kid-friendly show or two. Emmett is a people watcher, and you can’t do better than NYC for that.
3. New Orleans. I have not been back to New Orleans since Katrina; I am hoping to return this year. My wife and I were married in New Orleans and it’s certainly among my top 3 favorite U.S. cities, Katrina or no Katrina. Normally I wouldn’t take Emmett on a swamp tour or a cemetery tour. He’s too young. But I know the economy in New Orleans could use our patronage. So off we’ll all go on a few New Orleans tours.
4. Dublin. No I am not planning to introduce Emmett to Guinness just yet. Rather, Ireland in general (and Dublin in particular) is a great place to relax, have some fun, enjoy the countryside, and not worry too much. Dublin is an incredibly easy place to visit, the people are great, and in a funny kind of way it’s a perfect destination for kids.
5. San Diego. I’m cheating just a little with this selection. San Diego is a great family destination (think: Sea World and the Wild Animal Park). It’s also the home to Emmett’s grandmother, so a visit to San Diego in 2008 is inevitable.
6. Hong Kong. Bowl of hot noodles and a harbour cruise. Enough said.
7. Rome. This is the one place Emmett has already been! Rome is such a great city for kids, which isn’t something I would have guessed at before having a kid myself. So if you’re looking for a good family destination, I can certainly give Rome a huge thumbs up. So much so I’m hoping to go back this year. (Also check out the Rome with Kids travel tips on the Viator blog.)
8. Tokyo. I’m not sure what the appeal is here. Part of me worries that Tokyo is too busy, too crowded, too exotic for Emmett to cope with. But then again, maybe not. And I’ve been wanting to visit Tokyo, check out the things to do, main attractions and the like that Tokyo has to offer. So it sneaks onto the list at number 8.
9. Sydney & Melbourne (tie!). Don’t you hate it when a top 10 list ends at number 9!! Normally I do. In this case, it’s unavoidable because — let’s be honest — if I pack the family onto an airplane for 14 hours to visit Australia, we’re going to make the most if it! Given the huge pain of getting there, once we’re actually there we’ll cover Sydney and Melbourne, maybe Ayers Rock and Cairns, we’re obliged to cover all the highlights. Heck why not throw in New Zealand and Tahiti while we’re at it…

–Scott McNeely

#1 in 2007: Rio de Janeiro

Friends, travelers, countrymen, lend me your ear: It is time to crown the Top 25 Things to Do in Central & South America in 2007.

Last year the staff here at Viator.com compiled lists of the top-rated tours and activities in each of the regions we cover. Our list of “Top 25 Things to Do in Central & South America in 2006″ was a big hit, so if you’re feeling nostalgic jump to the bottom of this post and relive the glory of our 2006 winners in Central & South America.

Otherwise it’s time to crown the 2007 winners, the top 25 things to do in Central & South America based on the actual travel choices made by thousands of travelers over on Viator.com.

Stay tuned, because this list is just the first of many top 25 lists (no kidding: we’re going list crazy this year!) we are publishing as 2007 comes to a close. Stay tuned in the coming days for the Top 25 in Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia-Pacific, USA & North America and the Middle East & Africa. As always, we’ll end the year with our “Top 50 Travel Destinations” list.

Top 25 Things to Do in Central & South America in 2007

We hear you asking, so Viator what were the big trends and surprises for Central & South America in 2007? Well the main trend we’ve spotted is a big jump in the popularity of outdoor activities in Central & South America. Fishing, canopy tours, 4×4 safaris, hot springs treks– Viator travelers were hitting the outdoors in record numbers in 2007.

There’s also one thing that did not change between 2006 and 2007 — and that’s the continued popularity of both Argentina and Brazil. These two countries remain the most popular places to visit in Central & South America, among Viator’s travelers.

We should also take a moment to say “hola!” to Panama; this was a new country for Viator in 2007, and it instantly grabbed a few spots in our Top 25 list. On a sad note (at least to Scott, who’s written more than one blog post about his love of Belize) is the fact that Belize has dropped out of the Top 25. Here’s hoping to a resurgence for Belize in 2008!

Now, without further ado, Viator’s Top 25 Things to Do in Central & South America for 2007:

25. Sightseeing Tour to Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

24. Lapa Star House with Dinner, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

23. Cousino Macul Winery and Concha y Toro Winer, Santiago, Chile

22. Penguin Sanctuary and Otway Sound, Punta Arenas, Chile

21. Four in One - Best of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica

20. Poas Volcano and Doka Coffee Bike Ride, San Jose, Costa Rica

#13: Buena Vista Hot Springs, Costa Rica

19. City and Canal Tour, Panama City, Panama

18. Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs, San Jose, Costa Rica

17. Soccer Match at Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

16. Jeep Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

15. Buenos Aires City Tour, Buenos Aires, Argentina

14. Arenal Volcano / Ecotermales and Rainforest Adventure, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

13. Buena Vista Hot Springs / Canopy Tour and Water Slide, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

12. Panama Canal Transit - Ocean to Ocean, Panama City, Panama

11. Vina Del Mar and Valparaiso, Santiago, Chile

10. Tigre Delta with Bus and Coast Train, Buenos Aires, Argentina

9. Chilean Folklore Show and Dinner, Santiago, Chile

8. Santiago City Tour, Santiago, Chile

7. Argentinean Fiesta Gaucha, Buenos Aires, Argentina

#3: Balloon ride in Argentina

6. Argentina’s Opera Pampa, Buenos Aires, Argentina

5. Buenos Aires by Night - Tango Show, Buenos Aires, Argentina

4. Helicopter Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

3. Hot Air Balloon Flight, Buenos Aires, Argentina

2. Plataforma Show, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1. Corcovado and Sugar Loaf Mountain Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

There you have it. Viator’s list of the Top 25 tours and things to do in Central & South America in 2007.

Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year, in 2006, keep on reading…

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In my non-stop quest to make Viator the one-stop source of information for travel to Egypt…

My husband and I are not what we would call ‘cruise’ people. We have never done an extended cruise and have never been inclined to do so. When planning our trip to Egypt it became apparent early on that unless we were prepared to endure hours of car travel on bumpy, deserted roads with no speed limits - that would be NO - our best option for seeing the curiously named Upper Egypt, is by boat. I say curiously named because when you look at a map of Egypt, Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, etc) appears to the South of Lower Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria, etc). I equate North with up and South with down, maybe it’s just me. In this case Upper refers to height with Upper Egypt further above sea level than Lower Egypt…it took me a while to grasp this concept!

Anyway, getting back on track, we decided to do the 8 Day Nile River Cruise on the lovely M/Y Mirage (M/Y being yacht shaped, M/S being ship shaped - it looked like most other boats to me?!) cruising both directions between Luxor and Aswan. Each day there was a stop and our own personal guide would disembark with us to show us the ancient wonders that make Egypt so famous. At either end in Aswan and Luxor, all our sightseeing was included before leaving the cruise, so it really was an all-inclusive tour package. Now not that the fabulous temples and bazaars of Egypt weren’t absolutely incredible, but the real highlight of the trip was being on the cruise itself.

The staff were beautiful people, happy to help anyway they could to make the cruise as memorable as possible, and they genuinely love talking to visitors to their country. Egypt is not a poor country, however money is not shared fairly and while the rich are very rich, the majority of the population earn appalling wages and don’t have an easy life. Most will never leave Egypt in their lifetime and they know this, so curiosity of foreign visitors is high, and they are keen to practice their language skills with you. The cynic inside may be telling you ‘they want a big tip’, but this is not their incentive. Of course they want a tip, their livelihood depends on it, but they are genuinely interested in the world outside of Egypt. They want a tip, but they don’t expect a tip, which differentiates them from a large proportion of the Western world.

Whether it was the housekeeping staff who arranged our towels in different shapes each day (my favorite was the crocodile), or the restaurant staff who knew what Eamonn was going to ask for before he opened his mouth, everyone on the boat was there to make our cruise as relaxing and easy as possible. Add to this the service of a private guide for all your tours and sightseeing, and you are looking at a well-organized, value-for money cruising experience.

The result of housekeeping staff with too much free time…

The scenery along the Nile is stunning. Outside of the main cities, the water is a deep blue while the banks are lined with lush greenery, dramatically backed against the yellow and orange sands of the desert. From time to time we would pass small villages or isolated houses where local farmers and their families were going about their daily business. The odd water buffalo would appear on the fringe of the banks, chewing lazily on reeds and water plants. The only sounds to be heard were the braying donkeys and the occasional call to prayer from the mosques hidden amongst the palm trees.

My favorite day on the tour was during the leg from Luxor to Aswan. There is a lock that all river traffic must pass through to get between the two great cities, however, there is ALOT of cruise ships servicing the Nile.

Every house needs 2 satellite dishes, even on the Nile!

At many ports of call your boat lines up side by side with 3 or 4 others and you will walk through the lobbies of each ship to get to shore. Because of the number of vessels, on arrival in Esna it is 99% guaranteed you will have to wait your turn to pass. It may only be an hour, it may be several, it all depends on traffic on the day. When it was our turn, we spent almost a whole day waiting on the far side of the lock. This is the side without a town attached, so the boats just line up and park and there is nowhere to go. You may think - how dull! But you would be wrong, this was a great day! Without any time pressures to be on and off the boat for shore visits, we were free to laze around for the whole day. Almost the whole boat headed to the sun deck to claim a lounge and settle in for the day. After breakfast we claimed our spot and settled in, until the inboard massage therapist came around to tempt us. Eamonn was not to be swayed, I on the other hand couldn’t resist a 1 hour massage at the bargain price of $40.

Heading back to the sun deck there was some kind of kerfuffle at the back of the boat. There were about 15 boats docked side by side with a passage between 2 rows. In the passage of water between, around 30 or 40 small wooden row boats lingered, complete with yelling Egyptians throwing plastic wrapped merchandise to the surrounding cruise passengers. T-shirts, scarves, belly dancing outfits and even fake Papyrus was flying through the air, searching for a buyer. If you caught something which you wished to buy, you simply took the merchandise, put your money in the bag and throw it back to the seller. Of course this is after a good 5 minutes of price negotiations! These guys are persistent, but eventually drifted away after about and hour and a half.

Shops come to you on a Nile River Cruise

Back to sunbathing, relaxing by the pool and chatting with other passengers. The sounds of Jamiroquai and Tom Jones drifts from the speakers while we sat back enjoying a glass of Luxor - King of Beers, life’s pretty sweet on a Nile River Cruise…

-Kerrie O’Mahony

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours & things to do in Egypt. Also have a look at traveler photos of Egypt over on the Viator Flickr site.

There’s really no better gift than a Viator gift certificate, but let’s say that you just gave someone a travel gift certificate and can’t possibly regift that again. Then what should you buy for your favorite traveler this holiday season? Might I make a few unique and possibly frivolous suggestions? If nothing else, perhaps this will serve as inspiration for whoever draws my name in the Viator Secret Santa present swap.

1. Plane Sheets: Let’s face it, seats on planes are boring, and sometimes, kinda yucky. Who wouldn’t want a leopard print airplane seat cover? I’m not sure how practical this is, no one wants to be the annoying person holding up the boarding line because you want to get your plane sheet just so on the seat, but for an international flight, might be cool.
2. Virtual Laser Keyboard: If you have ambitions to seem like you’re a Jason Bourne-Mission Impossible kind of spy when you’re on the road, you need this keyboard. A great gift for business travel road warriors, it will make them seem much cooler than they really are.
3. Sennheiser Noise Cancelling Headphones: Worth every penny I spent. The batteries last forever, and the comfort and noise reduction is top notch. I never leave home without them. A must have for any long haul traveler, you’ll feel much better when you get off the plane, studies show that all the engine noise can be physically tiring.
4. iPod speakers: Any small, battery and plug in powered speaker system with an iPod dock is a great gift. Play it in a rental car on the road trip, or pimp out the hotel room with some tunes.
5. Rimowa luggage: The main drawback of hard sided luggage is that you can’t overstuff it with all the extra things you just had to buy and bring home. Which is why Rimowa’s luggage is genius. Constructed of some space age plastic (like I know what, I am so not an engineer) that is nigh on indestructible, yet still flexible enough to bulge out and take a reasonable amount of over stuffing. I have popped it back into shape after particularly perilous journeys where other luggage would have gotten ripped or dented. A bonus for being lightweight and cool looking (again, the whole spy factor here).

So there’s five suggestions, nay 6! Viator gift certificates count as one. Go forth to snazz up your carry on bag. Leave a comment if you’ve got other great travel gift suggestions, but I don’t want to see any boring power adapters on the list!

– Kelly G