Travel Secrets Blog

Hail A Green Cab

2008-05-01T21:53:00.001-07:00

The whole world is trying to go green and 'carbon footprint' is the new buzz word. Travel seems to be coping it heavily whether its its fuel or electricity watage in hotels.

Well to ease your conscience next time your in New York you can hail Ozocar. The company offers only hybrid cars which use 70% less gas like the Toyota Prius to the larger Lexus hybrid SUV.

A trip from JFK to Manhattan runs around $US65. All cars come equipped with WiFi for checking emails and chargers for mobile phones. Check them out at www.ozocar.com

Leave The Baggage Behind

2008-05-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

After the debacle of the opening of T5 in London and the increasing incidence of airlines losing passengers bags worldwide is it any wonder that door-to-door baggage delivery is hot. Already big in the USA & UK its gradually spreading to new territories like Australia & Asia. Companies like firstluggage.com , luggageforward.com and PersonalPorter.com.au have hit the sweet spot.

Guaranteeing no lost luggage,no heavy lifting and a breeze going through the airport at a cost that usually no greater than excess baggage costs it is become the 'norm' for a lot of travelers. The trick is having your bags packed a few days or a week before you go and then they will be waiting for you at the hotel when you arrive. Some companies even send you SMS updates so you can check on your bags progress as it travels. No thats cool!

Four Great Road Trips

2008-04-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

If you love a driving holiday check these beauties out.

1. Montreal To Quebec City. Takes about 3 hours. Great for a Sunday afternoon drive and lunch.

2. New York City To Cooperstown. A four hour ride seeing the best of the East Coast from the Big Apple

3. Milan To Naples. Its a challenging 10 hour trip but worth every kilometre.

4. Paris To Amsterdam. Its about 7 hours of wonderful countryside.

Top 10 Vegas Shows

2008-04-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

If your heading off to Vegas anytime soon here are currently the hottest tickets in town.

1. Celine Dion ,Caesars Palace. 5 days a week

2. Prince,Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino. Fridays and Saturdays only.

3. Dany Gans ,The Mirage. Never heard of him. Don't to worry this comedian singer is one of the hottest tickets in town right now.

4. "KA" MGM Grand. Acrobatic martial arts takes on a new twist.

5. "Love". Mirage. THE Beatles spectacular. You will come out speechless.

6. "Mamma Mia". Mandalay Bay. The longest running show on the strip keeps packing the punters in.

7. "The Producers". Paris Las Vegas. Mel Brooks super hit.

8. "The Pussycat Dolls". Caesars Palace. Good old fashioned Las Vegas singing and dancing - packing them in.

9. "Spamalot". Wynn Las Vegas. If you love Monty Python you cant miss this one.

10. "Donn Ardens's Jubilee!" Bally's Las Vegas. Huge sets and brilliant costumes. 100's of topless beauties ensures its a long runner !

Seven of The Best Above The Water

2008-04-13T21:10:00.001-07:00

If your style is not just a holiday by the sea but right on or above the sea then this list is for you !

* Mandarin Oriental,Rivera Maya ,Mexico. Those that are in the know go for Room 613. This 680 sq ft two story sits above a mangrove- edged lagoon looking out to the Pacific Ocean

* Burg Al-Arab,Dubai. One of the most iconic hotels in the world. The 28 floor blade shaped building soars about the pristine waters of the Arabian Gulf on its own man made island.

* Soneva Gili,Maldives. 44 Room luxury resort in the Indian Ocean sits several feet above the ocean. Some say see it before global warming wipes the Maldives off the map !

* Trident Gurgaon,Delhi,India. Architect Lech Bunnag has produced a series of massive stone pools,lit at night by water set fire bowls,with stone buildings including 136 rooms nestled around. Calmness and chic everywhere.

* Hilton Auckland,New Zealand. Like a giant white cruise ship the Hilton juts out into the harbour offering spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf

* Pan Pacific Hotel ,Vancouver,Canada. Like a cruise ship the 23 floors soar above the cruise terminal offering spectacul;ar views of Vancouver Harbour

* Four Seasons Hong Kong. Spread the curtains back at night and transport yourself to another world. The place to be seen in Hong Kong.

New York Wins Filthiest Hotels Award !

2008-04-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

Some say the 'Big Apple' has always done it best so it probably comes as no surprise that a recent survey of the Top 10 US cities that had the filthiest hotels New York came out on top ! Of the Top ,10 filthiest hotels in the US, New York contained four of them.

Conducted by TripAdvisor the winners in "hotel hell" were:

1. Hotel Carter -New York

2. New York Inn - New York

3. Budget Inn - Knoxville TN

4. West End Studios - New York

5. Pickwick Hotel -San Diego

6. Days Inn Downtown - Miami

7. Tropicana Resort Hotel - Virginia Beach

8. The LeLand -Detroit

9. The West Park - New York

10. Regency Inn & Suites

Yoy can check out the video evidence by clicking here

Keep this list handy when next your traveling !

Best Paris Hotels

2008-03-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

Industry hotel web site ehotelier has released its survey of what it regards as the best hotels in Paris. Dividing its list into the best Chic Hotels , Hip Hotels & Character Hotels heres a great list to keep in your travel diary.

Best Chic Hotels in Paris:

Meurice. The location alone ( See photo above) is superb as you enter from the arches of the rue de Rivoli and overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries. The interior glitters with gold,marble & glass and there is a Michelin starred restaurant.

Lancaster. Dating back to 193o this Paris landmark has been completely refitted. Everyone famous from Coward to Dietrich has stayed here at some point in time.

Verneuil. Its not cheap but this chic hotel on Saint-Germain is an address to be seen and seen at !

Therese. Near the Louvre a hotel in contemporary style with an eye for quality. Hotel attracts the publishing & fashion scene.

Best Hip Hotels In Paris:

de Sers. Just 100 yards from the George V this is a smaller mansion turned hotel with a sense of zaniness.

Costes.An oppulent faux Napoleon III cocoon which top decorator Jacques Garcia has taken to the plushest levels.

Amour. Brainchild of graffiti artists and nightclub entrepreneur known as Andre this is extremely hip ! Bedrooms lead off black painted corridors with naked bulbs.

Murano Urban Resort. Hip in a fun way. The lift is lined in faux fur, the corridors feel like nightclubs and finger print scanners replace room keys.

Best Paris Hotel With Character:

Daniel. Turning its back on all white minimalism ,this newcomer puts Chinoiserie back in style with Khotan carpets,hand painted Chinese wallpaper and jewel coloured silk sofas. heaven.

Worlds Top 5 Bars

2008-03-19T22:21:00.000-07:00

Stick this list up on your fridge so your seen in all the right places this year !

*The Big 4,Huntington Hotel,San Francisco. Seriously posh on top of Nob Hill.

*Centro,Kerry Centre Hotel,Beijing. The very edgy now bar in this hot city getting ready for the Olympics.

*Lobby Bar,One Aldwych Hotel,London. The hotel is hot and the bar is soooo stylish. Great for martinis.

* Sidebar,Four Seasons,Beverly Hills. A long bar ,long tables and backless stools is just the place to go star spotting in the City of Angels. Very cool.

* Peak Lounge,Park Hyatt,Tokyo. 11 floors up and quieter and more stylish than the Peak Lounge on the 41st Floor you feel like your in Blade Runner

The Top Hotels For Movie Buffs!

2008-03-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

If your a serious movie buff here are a list of hotels that you should not miss. Lights! Camera! Action!

*Millennium Biltmore,Los Angeles. Opened in 1923 its ornate ballroom once played host to the Oscars. It was the hotel used in Beverly Hills Cop and Ghostbusters. Its where Michelle Pfeiffer also filmed The Fabulous Baker Boys.

*Hotel Alfonso XIII,Seville,Spain. The courtyard was used for a scene from Lawrence Of Arabia and the exterior doubled as the 'Naboo Palace' in Stars Wars II -Attack Of The Clones.

* York Hotel,San Francisco. Its where they film the ultimate Hitchcock classic - Vertigo.

* The Plaza, New York. From Crocodile Dundee to Arthur to North By North West and a host of others this grand old lady has hosted them all and now looking more spectacular with its recent reopening.

Four Sensational Places To Get Married!

2008-03-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

Internet site wow.travel has just released their "Top Places To Get Married". All of these stunning locations are situated within the grounds/precincts of luxury hotels. If your thinking about popping the question , get saving and get into these!

1. Grand Hyatt Tokyo Japan. Yep not just a wedding chapel in a hotel but a spectacular one with ceilings that soar 50 foot above your head and designed by hipster Peter Remedios.

2. Monasterio Del Cusco,Peru. Situated within the Orient Express Hotel the chapel dates to 1595 and feature amazing artworks inside.

3. One And Only Palmilla Resort,San Jose Del Carbo,Mexico. Get hitched in this little white building on a 250 acre peninsula overlooking the Sea of Cortez.

4. Pousada Sra Da Assuncao,Arraiolos,Portugal. A 16th century Monastery set in rolling pastures and less than 2 hours from Lisbon.

Airport Misery List Released !

2008-03-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

American publisher US News has crunched US Govt. figures to release its Airport Misery Index. It was compiled from official US figures showing the airports that had the worst delayed flights and overbooked planes. Here are the Top 10 US Airports to avoid - if you can (good luck!).

1. Chicago O'Hare

2. San Francisco

3. Dallas Fort Worth

4. Miami International

5. Las Vegas

6. Charlotte NC

7. JFK

8. Atlanta Hartfield

9. Seattle Tacoma

And the #1 airport for least stress - San Jose in California

Top 10 Adrenalin Holidays

2008-03-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

Adrenalin junkies who find an open top bus tour of London just does not cut it should keep this list handy. Men's web site askmen.com has come up with the ultimate Top 10 list of exhilarating activities for 2008.

1. Trekking to Everest's Base Camp in Nepal

2. Walking the Great wall of China

3. Hiking The Inca Trails in Peru

4. Camel trekking In Morocco

5. Tandem Sky Diving Anywhere.

6. Shark Cage Diving in South Africa

7. Bungee Jumping in Zimbabwe

8. Motor Cycle Trip On Highway 1 from LA to San Francisco

9. Running With The Bulls In Spain.

10. Ice Fishing In Canada

Right get packing!

Don't Try This At Home!

2008-03-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

Lufthansa has to get the vote this week for roller coaster landings. We could not resist posting this amazing landing one more time ! Check out the video here

How To Travel Well & Pay Less!

2008-03-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

The Times Of London recently released their "Scrimpers Guide To Travel". Basically the guide gives you hints on how to save money on things that you don't really need to pay for which leaves you more money to spend on the things that your happy to pay for! We think there are some great tips here.

1. Smuggle Drinks & Snacks. How many times have you seen a hotel mini bar charging $10 for a Coke or $5 for a chocolate bar. Outrageous mark ups by hotels on their mini bars are the norm. So after you have checked in head to the nearest convenience store and stack up on your snacks and drinks and save heaps. If you check in late and you do need to use the mini bar just shoot out in the morning and replace the expensive Coke you drank with the cheap one from the convenience store next door. Easy !

2. Get Takeaway. Most room service meals are pretty ordinary and heavily priced. Get around this by getting the concierge to recommend good local takeaways. The food will probably be better and it will certainly cost you less.

3. Get a Free Lunch From The Breakfast Buffet. Just take a brown bag with you to breakfast and nick a few rolls , some fruit,some cheese and ham and presto a free lunch !

4. Have Lunch Rather Than Dinner. Most good restaurants have lunch time specials. Its the same food they serve at dinner but half the price.

5. Rip Into It At Happy Hour. You can watch the late edition of the nightly news later. Get down stairs and get into it!

6. Never Use A Hotel Transfer. They cost a kings ransom. The same for airport taxis. In Tokyo a cab fare from the airport can run you to $200 but the airport coach will run you about $30. Likewise the taxi from Newark runs to $55 and the train costs you $5. Go figure.

7. Never Use Roaming On Your Mobile Phone. You may have to sell the house when you get home to pay for it. Pick up prepaid Sim cards wherever you can and never never use the hotel in room phone for International calls.

8. I Do Like Mondays. That's the day when lots of museums,galleries and exhibitions offer free entry. You see the same stuff you see on Tuesday!

World's Whackiest Hotels!

2008-02-25T19:40:00.000-08:00

Alternative travel site i-escape has just released the second Alternative Hotel Awards. The Awards voted on by past guests and users rates some of the whackiest and most unusual places on the planet to stay. If your looking for something different your sure to find it here !

* Perfect For Pillow Biters - Evason Ana Mandara Hotel, Vietnam. Check in here and you can choose from no less that 16 types of pillows. Everything from a traditional Vietnamese buck wheat filled pillow, a butterfly shaped pillow and scented pillows. Night Night.

*Out Of This World - Hotel Cocoon, Brazil. The building looks like a giant circa 1950's spaceship (see photo). The staff dress in space suit uniforms, the pool changes colour every 5 seconds and notices and menus are addressed to astronauts not guests. Er pass the drugs !

* The Dalia LLama of Hotels - Le Castel,France.The first thing you notice when you check in here at this historic Normandy chateau are a pair of llamas grazing on the lawns. Doctors say these creatures are the ultimate in stress reduction.

* Get Lost In Bed - Art Hotel Luise, Berlin. If you want to revert back to your childhood check in to Room 107 where the bed is 50% oversized in every dimension so when you climb in and get under the vast duvet you feel like a child again. Or if that does not work ask for Room 309 where a sloping bed suspended on chains,along with two aircraft seats and a log book on the fold out table gives the impression of flying though the sky on a plane !

Stylish New Destinations For 2008

2008-02-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

A New Year brings a rash of hot new hotels and destinations worldwide. Here are a few we really like that you might want to check out!

* Malawi. To open in July The Pumulani, on Lake Malawi adds new romance to your African safari. The 10 room lodge overlooks a pristine beach

* Madagascar. Discover the unbelievable vivid natural wonders like the lemurs, chameleons and bug eyed frogs. New luxury resorts are gradually replacing 'basic only'. Check out Mandrare River Camp situated in the forests in the deep south.

* The Maldives. Basically see it before it disappears under the ocean. Not only one of the most stunning beach vacations but one of its swankiest. Opening this month the Beach House at Manafaru offers sleek villas and a gentlemen's club (hmmmm what does that mean ???). July sees the arrival of 'Diva'. As well as spas and villas Diva will have no less than 12 bars and restaurants.

* Mykonos. Maybe the Greek Islands are becoming so so however if you love your clubbing this is still the hot place to go. To match the clubbing stay in the Mykonos Grace . See Photo above.

The Room Key Is Dead !

2008-02-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

The good old fashioned room key is on the way out replaced by new super technology.

In New York the newly renovated Plaza Hotel will feature radio frequency cards that will open the door when swiped past the lock at close range. Paper cards,cellphones,finger print and iris scans are the new 'Matrix' of getting into your hoetl room.

And what's driving the change ? -cost of course. The standard magnetic cards cost about 10 cents each and while good for about 20 uses most guests take them with them and throw them away. Alternatives include paper cards like you use at the parking station, and Radio Frequency such as being used at the Plaza or a special code placed into your cell phone at reception.

Meanwhile the SoHo Loft Hotel in New York is the first hotel to begin trialing finger print scans on their locks. Feedback from guests has been positive with guests saying they love the technology because they dont have to worry about keys. Welcome to the New World !

Rest After a 'Hard Days Night' At Beatles Hotel !

2008-02-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

Fans of the Fab Four can now rest up up the newly open Beatles Hotel in Liverpool !

The 'Hards Days Night' Hotel has 110 rooms and is situated close to the Cavern Club where the Beatles started out.

The 4 star boutique hotel has two luxury "Lennon" and "McCartney" suites and has its own wedding chapel. Special paintings and pictures depict the history of the Beatles from the basement through to the roof top. Check it out here

America's Best Places To Propose !

2008-02-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

If you live in the States or your thinking of 'dropping the question' on your next visit TripAdvisor have just released there survey on the hot places to propose in the US.

The Hot Ten is list is as follows:

1. Central Park New York. Whether its on the grass, on the ice rink or a horse drawn buggy this is the numero uno place to propose in the US !

2. Grand Canyon. Don't forget to watch your footing though !

3. Kapalua Bay, Maui. Nothing like those Hawaiian sunsets to get the heart strings going !

4. Napa Valley California. Just blame it on the wine the next morning !

5. Niagara Falls. An oldie but still a goodie.

6. Christmas Point,Twins Peaks,San Francisco. The spectacular views should do the trick !

7. Bellagio Fountains,Las Vegas. And of course then you can do the drive through wedding!

8. Empire State Building ,New York. Just make sure its a clear day!

9. Red Rocks ,Sedona , Arizona. Do it is a hot air balloon they say is the way to go.

10. Mount Aspen,Aspen. Grab your skiis and go ahead and ask her !

Favorite In Room Hotel Movies

2008-01-31T21:18:00.000-08:00

NxTv a major provider of in-room moves to hotels has just released a nice little piece of trivia - the most watch in room movies for last year ! Now of course they don't mention the X rated stuff - nobody watches that - er right.

OK here is the most watch in room movies of last year:

1. Borat

2. The Departed

3. Casino Royale

4. Knocked Up

5. Wild Hogs

6. 300

7. Spederman 3

8. Blades Of Glory

9. Night At the Museum

10. Bourne Ultimatum

Nice to see the culture of Borat is a solid # 1 !

Have Cruise Ships Lost The Art Of Cruising ?

2008-01-31T21:05:00.000-08:00

It seems as cruise ships become more like floating shopping malls the very essence of cruising is being lost. Time to relax on the deck with a good book , good food and the smell of the sea.

This year new and large cruise ships being built will add a staggering 20,000 new berths a week or more than a million in the year. Travel pioneer and author Arthur Frommer says " they will be less like ships and more like amusement parks and shopping malls".

The Queen Victoria for example will offer "bungee jumping" ,"clown acts" and "circus training programs". Add to this rock climbing walls,boxing rings,bowling alleys and spa cabins. Some of the ships are getting so big they are offering a 'ship within a ship" - an exclusive area where you will feel like you are on a small ship - go figure !

Its probably little wonder that while these massive monsters of the seas taking up to 5,000 passengers are being flocked to so too are the wonderful small cruise lines like Silverseas where a cruise is still a cruise !

Top 10 Places To Visit In 2008 For UK Travelers

2008-01-28T18:37:00.000-08:00

Expedia has just released its survey taken in the UK where it asked its users to nominate the Top 10 places to visit in 2008. The list will surprise many with some fresh new names popping are. The Top 10 are:

1. New Zealand

2. Argentina

3. Cape Verde

4. Alaska

5. Reykjavik

6. Berlin

7. Boston

8. Liverpool

9. Abu Dhabi

10. China

Hottest Winter Beach Destinations For US Travelers

2008-01-28T18:29:00.000-08:00

The hottest winter beach destinations for US travelers ? Maui , Hawaii hits # 1 spot in a recent US poll outpacing the ever popular Florida.

However with over 700 miles of sandy beaches Florida delivers 5 of the Top 10 beach destination spots.

The Big Island in Hawaii came in at # 3 with California beaches San Diego coming in at # 5 and Santa Monica # 9.

Outside the US, Cozumel,Mexico continues its run at the top for US beach travelers.

Majority Of Aussies Want To Be In 'Mile High' Club !

2008-01-23T14:46:00.001-08:00

Nothing wrong with your average Aussie Traveller ! Research by local firm Total Travel just released shows a staggering 60% of Australians are either members of or want to join the 'mile high club' !

In case you dont know (please!) this Mile High Club means having sex on an aircraft.

Of the 1200 interviewed, half said they wanted to do it but had not yet. 12% proudly said they were already a member. I guess that includes British actor Ralph Fiennes and a female Qantas trolley dolley who had it off in the business class dunny. Popping up in the survey was the new Airbus 380 with its double beds on board . Nice but maybe not as fun as the washroom. That being said 42% said that getting hot and sweaty in a cramped aircraft toilet was not a turn on.

Where The Stars Vacation Secrets

2008-01-22T15:13:00.001-08:00

While us mere mortals pack the bags and head to the same old same old for our hard earned vacation "A" list celebrities are on the constant look out for the new "in" spot. Here are the current front runners:

Portofino, Italy.On the north west coast of the Italian Riviera. the former fishing village has played host to everyone from Elizabeth Taylor,Richard Burton & Sinatra along with the new stars like Brad Pitt & Johnny Depp. Seriously upmarket.

I le de Ra , France. A favourite of Johnny Depp. the small island is connected by a bridge to La Rochelle and fronts the Atlantic Ocean.

The Fregate Island Private. No paparazzi allowed here ! One square mile Indian Ocean resort is a haven for honeymooners and "A" listers who do not want to be seen. A favourite of Pierce Brosnan and Michael Douglas.

Four Mile Beach Port Douglas,Australia. Gateway to the Barrier reef and Daintree Rainforest everyone from Bill Clinton to Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackmann & Sean Penn have visited.

The Mystique, Carribean. 1400 acre island home to visits by the likes of Prince William & Kate Middleton. 12 tranquil white sand beaches, two hotels and 120 private villas await you !

The Worlds Best and Least Known Beaches

2008-01-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

Serious beach vacationers are always on the look out for that 'undiscovered gem'. 'Hotel & Resort Insider' has just published their list of some of the sexiest but lesser known beaches that leave Bondi & Copa for dead !

Eleuthera - Bahamas. 100 mile ribbon of land adorned by lush pineapple plantations and stunning beaches. Situated a few km's east of Nassau.

The Pinneys Beach - Nevis. A 4 mile stretch of volcanic sand along the west coast of the egg shaped island. Lined by swaying coconut tress and features wonderful calm waters.

The Punta Cana. On the eastern most tip of the Dominican republic and known as the 'new Cancun'. Full of luxury resorts to take advantage of its pristine position.

The Caprera Island. One of 7 islands in the Maddalena archipelago with the beaches kissed by the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Cousine Island,Seychelles. Small lodges and stunning beaches tucked into a National Park. No wonder George Harrison called the Seychelles home !

Hot New NYC Hotels For 2008 !

2008-01-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

Trying to book a decent hotel in the Big Apple is sometimes like winning Lotto. The hotel you want is never available and you end up in some low rent dump at ball breaking prices !

2008 is set to see some glitzy new offerings coming to New York that will put some travel fun back into the city.

The big buzz is Robert De Niros new TriBeCa Hotel - the Greenwich Hotel. With its lantern lit swimming pool, a branch of LA's hot Ago restaurant,handcrafted bricks and stunning wood floors, this is the hot NYC place to be seen in 2008.

Also in TriBeCa is the Duane Street Hotel (See Photo Above) while uptown is the stunning redo of the iconic Plaza Hotel complete with white gloved butlers and 24 carat taps.

Favorite UK hotel the Firmdale is also set to jump the Atlantic towards the end of 2008. It aims to be NYC's greenest hotel- with eco everything- as well as one NYC's finest !

Urban Airline Travel Myths Debunked

2008-01-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

We came across a really interesting little story regarding Urban Airline Travel Myths. You know those little secrets claimed by well worn travellers to get them into places you never could ! Well turns out they are about as reliable as the old "crack the complete alphabet on the inside wrapper of Wrigley's chewing gum and win a life time supply" - remember that one as a kid !

Here are two airline urban travel myths that turn out to be ...er well crap actually !

The Airline Secret Code. You may have heard that when in trouble just utter the phrase Rule 240. Once said, so the myth goes, you will instantly go to the top of check in line and be placed on the next available flight with any airline. Er sorry folks there was such a rule in the US but it disappeared in 1978 when the airlines were deregulated. So next time you mumble Rule 240 don't been surprised if you get Rule 1 thrown at you - move to the back of the queue !

Dress Up And Get Upgraded. Gone are the days when you could recognise First Class passengers by their Armani suits. Now even A list celebs travel in track pants , sneakers and a 3 days growth ! With the airlines now recognizing who are the best passengers from frequent flyer profiles they are the ones likely to get any upgrade rather than your well dressed hustler from the back of the bus. The golden rule - forget it. Just go comfortable - in coach !

Oh and while we are on the subject of well travelled travel myths here are a couple of more that are equally as dubious :

Crime Rings Stealing Kidneys. Yep we all know about that one when your in Vegas or New Orleans, drugged and wake up in the morning in the ice bath less your old kidneys....please. South of the border the myths goes that in Mexico they steal your testicles ! At least women travellers are safe there ! These myths probably are believed by people who always carry a clean hanky in their pocket !

Then there is the story of the kid that crashed the plane by playing his Game Boy. Rightoh then. Another popular one is the magnets in the tray tables on airplanes make your lap tops go crazy.

Happy travelling everyone !

Vegas Hotel Best Luxury Hotel In US

2008-01-20T20:18:00.000-08:00

And the gong goes to.......The Signature At The MGM Grand.

Voted in the Travellers Choice Awards run by Trip Advisor the hotel was singled out for extraordinary service AND extraordinary value !

And whats a #1 hotel give you for your buck ? All Valet parking ,balconies in most suites,flat screen TVs,oversized marble/granite bathrooms. a 30,000 sq foot fitness centre, five swimming pools and a full wedding chapel ! Oh theres also a lion habitat with 6 animals - hmmmmm.

The price is good too. Rates start at $US200 a night with two bedroom suites from a very reasonable $US510. Check it out next time your in Vegas !

Five Of The Worlds Most Unique Travel Experiences

2008-01-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

Intrepid travellers are always on the look out for unique experiences. Here is our Top Five to check out in 2008.

* Your Own Private Tomb Tour. For just $US2,224 you can get a private tour of Setis Tomb in Egypt. Discovered in 1817 it has only been open to the public for 20 years. Considered to be one of the most beautiful and best preserved in the Valley of Kings it is the final home for Seti 1 who ruled in the 14 century BC. Further details at Cultural Crossroads.

* Live With A Real Tribe. For $US3,210 you can live for 3 days with the Antandroy tribe in Madagascar. Considered to be the most fiercest and tradition bound tribe in the country watch out your not on the menu ! During your stay you will meet with the local healer, learn how to use a sling shot for hunting,take a zebu cart to the local market and visit ancient tombs deep in the forest. Its the whole Raiders Of The Lost Ark experience ! For more information Absolute Travel.

* Go Hunting Dinosaur's. For a mere $US5,000you can go on a summertime dinosaur dig in Montana with Jack Horner (betcha his nick name was 'Little" !),world renowned paleontologist and technical advisor on Jurassic Park movie. Contact Off The Beaten Path.

* Sleep With Emperors. For $US500 you can take a private tour of Chonghuagong-Qing dynasty emperors Qianlong's private chambers in China. Normally closed to the public the Emperor ruled from 1735-1796. You'll see fine examples of jade,ceramics and rosewood furniture amongst other treasures. Contact Imperial Tours.

* Alone In The Basilica. For $US850 you can have your own private time and tour of Venices St Mark's Basilica. You'll also be shown the crypt which is off limits to the public and the foundations of the church built in the 1oth Century.

Filthiest Hotels In The UK!

2008-01-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

Hot on the heals of TripAdvisors list of the filthiest hotels in the US, the UK is not to be outdone with some real shockers ! The list of the ten dirtiest hotels in the UK saw no less than 6 repeat offenders with three from the same Britannia hotel group.

The #1 grot box is the Nanford Guest House in Oxford (photo opposite)which has the dubious achievement of moving up from #2 place last year ! The Top Ten list of hotels to avoid in the UK are:

1. Nanford Guest House,Oxford.

2. Manor Court Hotel,London

3. Britannia Hotel, Stockport

4. Europa Gatwick Hotel

5. Whiteleaf Hotel , London

6. Park Hotel , London

7. County Hotel,Carlisle

8. Britannia Hotel Birmingham

9. Eden Plaza Hotel,London

10. Britannia Country House,Manchester

Hotels On Sale Announces Hot Rates For 2008

2008-01-15T14:26:00.000-08:00

Hotels On Sale has just announced even greater price reductions for 2008 !

Click on now and save heaps !

Hotels On Sale Australia

Hotels On Sale New Zealand

Hotels On Sale UK

Hotels On Sale USA

Hotels On Sale Singapore

Hotels On Sale South Africa

Virgin Atlantic To Test Biofuel on 747!

2008-01-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

In another sign of how serious we are all taking global warming a Virgin Atlantic 747 is using biofuel on a demonstration flight next month.

Virgin claims it is the first time that a commercial aircraft has run on biofuel and it could be the way of the future. The 747 will fly from Heathrow to Amsterdam with no passengers on board (just in case it doesn't work !)

The Filthiest Hotels In The US

2008-01-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

Well respected hotel and travel site TripAdvisor has revealed it dirtiest hotels in the US. They might be cheap folks but here are hotels to avoid if you are travelling to the States.

Described as "beyond scummy" the zero stars Hotel Carter in New York City came in first place. TripAdvisor said " On inspection the room was dirty,the sheets were not fresh,and there was obvious evidence of vermin. It was entering the bathroom that we decided to leave due to a filthy toilet and a dirty pair of ladies briefs hanging on the wall ". Wonderful !

Hotels to avoid are listed as follows:

Ramada Inn Niagara Falls , Days Inn Nashville ,Red Carpet Fort Lauderdale, Regency Inn & Suites New York,St Augustine Beachfront resort in St Augustine Florida,Travel Inn Inn , Miami,Eden Roc Motel in Wildwood New Jersey,Days Inn Lancaster and Pacific sands Motel in Santa Monica

Crusing Reigns King Of Vacations

2008-01-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

No wonder cruise companies are building bigger and bigger ships. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) a whopping 12.6 million people went cruising in 2007 !

CLIA said that there surveys showed that "when compared to other types of vacations,cruising holds the highest percentage of particpants who express supreme satisfaction". Cruise guests also said that the 'all inclusive' fares made cruising great value where other vacations involved paying for meals,entertainment,beverage and transport.

Hot Tips For Hot Destinations in 2008

2008-01-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

So your tired of the same old same old when it comes to your annual vacation. Here are some insider tips on some of the hot/best value destinations for 2008.

* Argentina. Its back ! This is the hot rediscovered destination for '08. Its great value to with the peso up from 1,3 to the pound in 2002 to 6 to the pound at the moment. Undiscovered northern regions like Salta & Jujuy are gaining momentum.

* China. Driven by the upcoming Olympics this will be one of the big destinations in '08. One of the hot new spots is the Nine Villages Valley in Sichuan now made more accessible with the recent opening of a new airport.

* Macau. The new 'Vegas Of The East' and many say a lot better.

* The Inca Trail,Peru. You can now do it in comfort with new lodges featuring en suite and hot showers.

Meanwhile iconic guide book Lonely Planet forecasts the the two big themes for travel in 2008 will be travelling to Muslim countries like Brunei,Mauritania,Tunisia,Turkey and Uzbekistan. The other 'hot ticket; is visiting countries to see endangered species whether it be Komodo dragons in Indonesia, Siamese crocodiles in Vietnam or giant armadillos in Bolivia.

New For 2008 -Nude Cruising !

2008-01-13T12:36:00.000-08:00

Taking off on vacation looks set to take a whole new meaning with a growing trend in Europe -nude cruising !

Cruise travel agents Bare Necessities and Castaways Trave l are offering nude cruise departures for 2008. These cruises are generally charters of mainstream cruise lines.

Bare Necessities currently lists 6 nude cruises in 2008 including the South Pacific, Greek Islands ,Eastern Mediterranean. Don't forget your sunscreen !

See It Before It Goes - World's Most Endangered Travel Places

2008-01-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

A recent Reuters report lists some of the most endangered tourist spots in the world. Whether it be through war, environmental or over tourism here are some places you need to see quick before they disappear:

* Dampier Rock Art Complex, Murujuga, Australia.The largest collection of rock art in the world that dates back to 10,000 BC. Industrial development has already damaged 25% and the discovery of natural gas in the area threatens it further.

* Sonargaon-Panama City ,Bangladesh. This ancient city boast architecture dating back to he 15th century. Plague by a host of problems both natural and man made this area is in real area of being wiped out.

* Chinguetti Mosque,Mauritania,West Africa. Located in one of Islams seven holy cities the Mosque was constructed in the 13th century and was a stopping point for Sahara traders. Natural problems from soil erosion to flash flooding to extreme temperatures threatens this UNESCO World heritage site,

* Panama Canal , Panama City,Chargres River. An engineering feat where up to 340 ships a day pass through is becoming silted up decreasing the amounts of ships that can pass.

* Dhangkar Gompa , Himachai Pradesh , India. One of the five major Buddhist monastic centres and built thousands of years ago erosion is causing this important site to literally fade away.

* Old Damascus , Syria. One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world is now being slowly demolished by modern construction.

* Babylon,Iraq. 80km south of Baghdad, Babylon was originally a city of Mesopotamia, regarded as one of the cradles of civilization. Slowly being wiped out by modern warfare.

* Leh Old Town ,Ladakh,India. A rare medieval city of the Himalayas. Changing weather appeterns and heavy rains are threatening the unique architecture.

* The Coral Triangle , Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. Located in the seas between Indonesia,Malaysia and the Philippines the area is hoe to over 450 types of coral. A recent study found 70% of the coral is in danger of being wiped out by over fishing ,coral bleaching,sedimentation and pollution.

* Greenland. The ice is melting folks as global warming keeps on coming. see it before it goes.

Hot Hotel Secrets For 2008

2008-01-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Nothing impresses more at a good dinner party than to drop a few hotel names that are not that well known but soon will be ! The Times Of London has just released its picks for the Hot Hotels For 2008. Stick this list on your fridge and go forth and impress !

*Le Couvent d'Herepian,Languedoc Roussillion,France. Very chic, a converted convent with just 13 suites.

* Bob Marley Resort,Nassau,Bahamas. Opens in March. Owned by Bob's wife Rita. All of the 16 suites are named after Bobs songs and the hotel will feature nightly reggae ! From 250GBP gunga not included !

*Carbon Hotel,Genk,Belgium. Strange name but apparently very funky with a hot spa. Opens in April.

*La Casona Inkaterra,Cusco,Peru. At the gateway to the Inca rooms this new 11 room boutique hotel opens next month. The best in 'colonial chic' with heated floors , wireless Internet and I-Pod stations.

*Alila Villas Uluwatu,Bali. Opening mid year this stunning new resort sits on a cliff top overlooking the ocean with each villa has its own pool and garden.

* El Silenco Lodge & Spa,Costa Rica. Set in 500 acres of tropical jungle - 16 suites all with hot tubs.

* Six Senses Hideaway,Zighy Bay,Oman. Oman is sooooo chic and this new five star resort allows you to arrive in style by paragliding into the reception area from a nearby mountain ! The hotel has 82 pool villas, a mile long beach and a dramatic mountain top restaurant.

* Tierra Atacama Hotels & Spa,Chile. Situated on the edge of the Atacama desert this newly opened hotel is a 'must' visit in 2008. You can relax in the hotels pools of volcanic mud from the nearby Lican-cabur volcano.

* The Other Side,Neiden,Norway. Strange name but the place to stay and see the Northern Lights Opens in March.

* The Lodge,Verbier,Switzerland. Latest addition to Richard Branson's Virgin Limited edition in this popular ski resort. Opens this month.

*Midland Hotel,Morecambe,Lancashire. This art deco gem opens in May after a 7 million pound restoration. Stay where Noel Coward,Laurance Olivier & Coco Chanel slept !

*Layla Hotel,Liverpool. New chic SAS hotel due to open in September overlooking the Mersey.

* ABode Manchester. Opens in spring. The fourth in the funky,fun & good value ABode chain.

* The Vincen t,Southport,Lancashire. Opens in April with minimalist rooms that look like a Manhattan hideaway.

* The Augustine,Prague. Open in summer. This new 101 room hotel overlooks the castle with stunning Baroque features.

* Vain Boutique Hotel,Buenos Aires. Opens this month with 15 high tech minimalist rooms. The hotel lives up to its name with mirrors everywhere.

* Beyaz Yunus,Olu Deniz,Turkey. Just opened ion this beautiful resort town which is know for its lobster dishes. Each suite has a private terrace with a hot tub overlooking the sea.

Tips For Savings Money At Hotels

2008-01-08T14:14:00.000-08:00

How many times do you spend the time to itemize your bill at check out at your hotel ? We found a great tip to check on overcharging. Every time you make a tip make sure that the bill ends up with same digit. As an example tip odd amounts so that your bill ends in say a nine. It then only takes a minute to skim down your bill on check out to make sure all items end in a nine !

If you have the time to be flexible book your hotels rooms at the last minute and call the hotel directly - not through their central reservations systems. Ask for the 'duty manager' and ask him what is the best deal he can do on a room for tomorrow. before you call check what the going rates are on a number of Internet hotel sites and on the hotels site directly so you know your getting a good deal !

Free High Speed Internet ! Often you can get a better deal than what the hotel charges by just bringing your own ADSL cable and plugging into the jack instead of renting one from the hotel. Sometimes the service is password protected and sometimes not. Also with everybody going wireless these days chances are you can pick up a free wireless connection from your room courtesy of someone else in the hotel or a nearby Starbucks!

Ask for a 'corporate discount'. Hotels rarely check that you're company is registered with them and will normally volunteer a corporate discount rate.

And finally never be afraid to say " Is that really the best rate you can do ?". There's a pretty good chance you will get a better rate !

Travel Rewards For Getting Old !

2008-01-07T14:05:00.000-08:00

OK so you heading towards retirement and its time to splash out on some long deserved travel.Many travellers over the age of 50 or 55 don't realize that age has its discounts in the travel marketplace. When your booking your travel always carry your ID card with your birth date and ask if there are any special 'seniors discounts'. Here are just a handful we have found:

* Free cruises for single men.Because unattached males over a certain age are rarer then hens teeth two cruise lines , Royal Cruise Lines and Delta Queen Steamboat Co, offer free travel to single men over 50 who will act as paid hosts for single woman on board the ship. Duties include dancing,dinner parties and mingling - but please no 'funny' business !

*Great Britain Heritage Pass. Gets you into over 600 castles, palaces & homes. Contact the British Tourist Authority.

*Great Britain By Rail. Whopping seniors discounts on first class travel throughout the UK.

*National Parks Passport in the USA. Lifetime admission to all US Federal Parks,monuments and recreation areas if your over 62 and discounts on camping,boat launching etc. Contact National Park Service.

*Travel Discounts. Always ask if your airline, car rental company or hotels offer 'seniors discounts'. You will normally find you get a 10% cut. Sam applies for Car Insurance.

* Save up to 50% on Cruises. Retirees have lots of time on their hands and if your willing to go on short notice you can save heaps.. Check these agencies - Moments Notice ,Vacations To Go or Last Minute Travel Club.

Worlds Most Expensive Restaurants

2008-01-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Getting a little tired of your average take away and think its time to grab the missus and splash out a bit ? Well Hotel & Resort Insider have just published their list of some of the most expensive restaurants in the world. Here's what you get for your cash :

*El Bulli. Located at Roses,Spain the restaurant is only open for 6 months of the year but when they do open go hungry ! At $US270 you can sit down to a 30 plus course menu. Yep that's 30 courses folks !

*Masa. Its in New York where nothing is cheap but Masa packs the big punch ! Fresh fish and shellfish is flown in daily from Tokyo (now there's a carbon footprint for you !). The cheapest Sushi dish on the menu will set you back $US24.

*Aragawa.Next time your in Tokyo and feel like a good steak this restaurant will make your wallet lighter at $US550 per steak ! Its prime hand fed Wagyu beef folks.

*Joel Robouchon. A french gem located in the MGM Grand you will pay about $US360 for a 3 course dinner -each !

*Alinea. Its in Chicago and when you consider you get a 24 course meal for your $US195 its probably not too bad.

*Tetsuyas. An icon of Sydney dining where you need to book months in advance. A 10 course Japanese feast will run you at $US195 a head.

*Restaurant Gordon Ramsey London. Well it is London after all so noting is cheap but 7 courses here will set you back $US224.

*The French Laundry . A San Francisco foodie icon. None courses for $US240.

Hot Diving Vacation Secrets For 2008!

2008-01-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

If you love going off on a diving vacation here is our list of hot diving spots your should check out in 2008 !

* Blue Hole. Located at Lighthouse Reef in Belize this near perfect blue hole was thought to have been created in the Ice Age. Some 110 foot under water the cave features stalactites and stalagmites

* Bonaire. In the Dutch Caribbean some 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela this destination has been rated #2 in the PADI network.

* Cocos Islands. Some 300 miles from the coast of Costa Rica the area abounds in dolphins , tuna,giant marble rays, hammerhead sharks & whale sharks.

* Northwest Point Drop Off. In the Grand Caymans. Consistently rated # 1 for the ultimate dive experience.

* Stingray City. Also in the Grand Caymans and known for its giant sting rays.

Merry Xmas & Happy New Year From Travel Secrets

2007-12-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

May all our bloggers have a great Xmas and a terrific 2008. This blogger is off to tuck into the plum pudding until January 6 and we look forward to bring you more breaking travel secrets in 2008 !

Cheers

The Travel Secrets Blog Team !

London's Top Spots To Get Married !

2007-12-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

Getting married can be exclusive and yet not expensive. Here are two of the most extraordinary yet inexpensive places to get married in London !

* Westminster Register Office London. With its four wonderfully decorated historic rooms you can

join the likes of Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman , Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach ,Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit !

Cost ? Between 43 and 250 Pound

*The London Eye. What could be better to complete your nuptials suspended above London ? The capsules hold up to 20 invites and can be decorated with your own floral collection.

Cost ? 1700 to 2000 Pound.

Who says weddings need to be traditional ?

Air New Zealand Offers Concierge Service In Flight

2007-12-18T15:42:00.000-08:00

First it was Virgin Atlantic offering in flight massages now respected Pacific Airline Air New Zealand will start offering an In Flight Concierge Service on its long haul flights.

Believed to be a world first the airline will have a dedicated staff member on its long haul flights . The airline says it is currently recruiting 90 Concierge staff.

And what does an In Flight Concierge do ? For a start the airline says they will be walking guru on all Air NZ destinations. As well as helping passengers on the ground, in the air they will advise passengers on everything from car hire and accommodation to the top tourist attractions. The new service launches in April next year between Auckland and Los Angeles,San Francisco,Vancouver & Hong Kong but if successful the airlines expects to extend it to all international routes.

And here is the good part - its not just for those premium passengers in the pointy end. Even us poor cousins down the back will get the same service. Good one Air New Zealand !

Hot Dog ! New 5 Star Pet Hotel Secrets.

2007-12-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought the world could not get more silly comes a story about a new 5 star doggie hotel that has opened in Washington. Why not ? After all its where all the dogs we voted for hang out anyway!

The new PetSmart Pet Hotel offers more than your Holiday Inn for humans.

An overnight stay runs around $US20 and for that your little darling gets:

*Pet Themed TV shows. Heaven knows there are plenty of 'dogs' on the box every night so no shortage of programming !

*Lactose free ice cream

*Indoor recreation

* A 'relief' room for potty breaks complete with plastic tree for cocking the old leg.

* Pet massage.

The group that owns the pet hotel currently have 32 'pet hotels' and hope to have 240 by 2010 ! Sounds like a growing market - after all Americans spend a staggering $US40 billion a year on their pets

Hot Travel Destinations For 2008

2007-12-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

Respected international newspaper The International Herald Tribune has just published its list of the 53 Hot Destinations For 2008. We think this is a really cool list. A lot of these places you may not have even heard of but the people in the know say these are the destinations you should check out in 2008. You can read the full article here. So heres the list to keep handy as you plan to go somewhere different in 2008:

1. Laos

2. Lisbon

3. Tunisia

4. Mauritius

5. Miami -Mid beach

6. Miami -South Beach

7. Maldives

8. Death Valley

9. Courchevel France

10. Libya

11. Hvar Croatia

12. Puerto Vallarta Mexico

13. Sylt Germany

14. Prague

15. Quito Ecuador

16. Liverpool

17. Munich

18. Iran

19. Tuscany

20. Anguilla

21. Bogota

22. Playa Blanca Panama

23. Alexandria

23. Mazatlan Mexico

25. St Lucia

26. Oslo

27. Buenos Airies

28. Rimini Italy

29. Malawi Africa

30. Roatan Honduras

31. Mozambique

32. Kuwait City

33. Verbier Switzerland

34. Lombok Bali

35. Northwest Passage

36. Easter Island

37. Virgin Gorda BVI

38. Namibia

39. San Francisco

40. Detroit

41. Itacare Brazil

42. Kilimanjaro

43. Algeria

44. San Diego

45. Malaga

46. Puerto Plata Dominican republic

47. London

48. Vietnam

49. Essaouira Marrakesh

50. Las Vegas

51. Barossa Valley Australia

52. Tokaj Hungary

53. New York

RIght now could you send us a postcard from all of them please ! If you want to read full details on all these hot spots for 2008 click here

The Worlds Best Amusement Park Vacations

2007-12-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

While cruising ,condos,biking holidays, and canal boats are gaining every year in popularity those of us with families still love to take vacations centred around Amusement/Theme Parks. When you think of Theme Parks of course we all think of Disney and yep they are right up there in terms of popularity but there are a few surprises as well. Here's the Top 5 Most Visited Theme Parks:

* Disneyland,Anaheim California. An oldie but still a goody ! More than a 15,000,000 pass through the gates of the Magic Kingdom annually. Latest attractions include the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

* Magic Kingdom ,Walt Disney World Florida. Florida has become THE place for Theme Park junkies and this one is rated as the best with that 'old Walt magic' shining trough. With nearly 17 million visitors a year try and avoid the summer crush but when you do go a 'must do' is the Cinderella's Castle.

* Tokyo Disneyland. This was the first Disneyland to be built outside the States and attracts 13 million visitors a year. Its a big park with 7 themed lands and the must ride is Big Thunder Mountain.

* Disneyland Paris. This one has been a struggle from Day 1 but still 11 million visitors pass through the gates. The French once called it a 'Cultural Chernobyl". That being said don't the kids deserve a treat after you have dragged them around all those French churches and monuments !

*Everland ,Kyonggi, South Korea. Fun in South Korea ? Its the only non Disney park to make it into the Top 5 so they have to be doing something right ! Yep this park is 30 years old and puts 7,500,00 guests through its gates each year. They specialize in lots of themed festivals throughout the year. Check whats on before you go.

If your thinking about taking the kids on a Theme Park holiday make sure you check out some of the great packages on offer. These normally include airfares,accommodation at or near the parks and multiple entry tickets. Its the cheapest way to go. And the other tip - avoid weekend and major public holidays if you can. Web site Orlando Theme Park Vacations has some great deals for Florida you might want to check. If you have any great Theme Park secrets we we love to hear them !

Our Final Airline Story Of The Day!

2007-12-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

When researching the story below we came across this little gem. Its a handwritten note from an 8 year old on a Qantas flight thanking the pilot. No ice cream for you tonight little girl !

WHOOPS ! Er Lets Go Around Again - Secret Airline Screw Up Photos.

2007-12-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

Further to our story above below are some photos that did not involve any fatalities but probably caused the pilot to look for a job at Burger King - Enjoy!

Airlines To Avoid in 2008 Secrets!

2007-12-16T18:18:00.000-08:00

Flying is still safer than walking across the road -right ? Er well depends on what airline your flying on. We found these little statistics that you should keep handy next time your booking a flight. Based on the number of fatal accidents per million flights are the following to scratch off your list:

Aeroflot (Russia)

China Airlines (Taiwan)

Turkish Airlines

Egypt Air

CAAC (China)

Meanwhile just to doubly assure you, the worst airlines based on the number of fatalities per million passengers are as follows:

Turkish Airlines (124)

Air India (21)

Avianca (5.93)

Nigeria Airways (5.53)

Lot Polish (4.54)

The Best New Years Eve Secrets!

2007-12-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Tired of the same old same old at the local pub on New Years Eve?

Internet hotel company boo.com has released its survey of the New Years Eve Hotspots they say you won't want to miss. Here they are:

* Moscow, Russia.Shake your tail in Red Square,get dressed as 'Grandfather Frost' and 'The Snow Maiden' and grab that Vodka bottle baby !

* New Orleans USA. Er excuse me didn't it get washed away ? Nope word is the French Quarters back and there going to throw the mega party of the year in "The Big Easy".

*Melbourne Australia. Please they can do it better than fireworks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge ?? I don't think so but maybe the staffer at boo.com has a little something on the side in Melbourne ! My view - head to Sydney mate !

*Rio De Janeiro,Brazil. Natch - they invented the party ! Its not much of a crowd puller though - only 2.5 million people. Watch your toes!

*Prague,Czech Republic. Supposedly one of the biggest fireworks displays in Europe and rthe Czech's now how to party.

If you have any great New Years eve party secrets - let us know !

Worlds Largest Cruise Ship Secrets

2007-12-13T19:59:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought they could not get any bigger word comes this week of the the keel laying ceremony for what will become the worlds largest cruise ship...er that is until someone builds something bigger !

Its the Royal Caribbean I nternational's Cruise Lines Project Genesis.

Weighing in at a whopping 40% bigger than any other cruise ship afloat the behemoth will accommodate a staggering 5,400 guests !

And the size ? - 1200 feet long ,154 feet wide and 240 foot high -ouch.

Costing a whopping $1.2 billion its also the most expensive cruise ship ever built. Project Genesis will take to the water, with its final name still to be decided, in early 2009 and be based permanently in Fort Lauderdale,Florida.

The company currently operates the worlds biggest ships , "Freedom of The Seas" and "Liberty of The Seas" carry 4,000+ passengers.

The arrival of yet again an even bigger cruise ship will continue to ignite discussion on whether big is best. Those that continue to flock to award winning small cruise liners like the Silversea Line will run from ships like this in droves. What do you think ? We would love to know your cruising secrets.

Win A Weekend Away - Just Tell Us Your Wish Weekend Destination For 2008!

2007-12-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

If you have promised yourself some more time off in 2008 here's how to get a weekend off at your favorite destination for FREE !

Hotels On Sale has given us 2 nights free accommodation at your favorite destination in 2008.

Just tell us on this blog where your favourite weekend destination is. Entries are open until March 31 and we will announce the winner April 15 2008. Prize is accommodation only for 2 nights and subject to availability. Prize can be taken any time in 2008 subject to availability on the dates you are requesting

Make sure your post your first name or nick name and city and then check back April 15 to see if your the winner !

Sexy Travel Secrets For 2008!

2007-12-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

Ok the new year is coming and its time to rev up your existing love life or go somewhere new with someone new ! While a candlelit dinner at KFC might do the trick chances are your going to zoom up the love scale if you get away somewhere really sexy for a break.

Here's our recommendations for some of the sexiest places on the planet for 2008.

*Tahiti. Its French. Its in The South Pacific and whole place oozes sex - what more could a girl want. One of the better hotels -The InterContinental Resort Tahiti even has shirtless bellboys. The site off well buffed lads should get you in the sack within minutes of your bag being dropped off !

*British Virgin Islands. No limit to tiny little private beaches where you can redo Deborah Kerr & Burt Lancaster's surf grope from Here to Eternity. Check out Little Dix Bay for the sexiest hedonistic retreat !

*Fiesole Italy. Book yourself into Villa San Michele and you may never leave. Set in a 15th century monastery the ultra chic hotel frequented by the likes of Julia Roberts and Madonna has jaw dropping views down the mountain to Florence.

*Go Bush - er make the Go VirginBush! So how about an African safari company that is run by two babes - one blonde and one brunette that call themselves VirginBush Safaris. Bedouin style tented camps,canopied beds and evening martinis after wildlife spotting then off to bed against the lions roar - perfect !

*Phuket. Sexy,chic and cheap. One of the hot new resorts is the Aleenta Resort & Spa.Super stylish rooms with indoor -outdoor flow and your own private plunge pool for doing the buff thing - bliss !

*Queenstown New Zealand. Probably NZ's most stunning destination and if you want to really impress your love head to Blanket Bay. While the helicopters coming and going to whisk guests off on some new adventure can get a little annoying laying back in the indoor spa with massive windows looking across fields to snow capped mountains is sure to get you mojo going.

* Bintan Island. Its a 45 minute fast cat ride from Singapore. The spot to stay is the fabo Banyan Tree Resort. Private walled villas with infinity swimming pools overlooking the South China Sea. Make sure you order the Romantic Moment. While your away at dinner the little pixies slip into your villa and place scented candles around the swimming pool then follow the candle trail to your outdoor spa bath which has been surrounded in more candles while the pool is filled with hundreds of fresh flowers and a chilled bottle of champagne awaits your arrival - bliss!

If you have any other sexy getaway secrets for 2008 we would love to hear from you.

Two South African Travel Secrets -Elands Bay and Drakensberg

2007-12-12T15:06:00.000-08:00

Overseas visitors and locals alike are rediscovering some of the gems of South Africa that are still pretty much off the main tourist routes.
Just when you thought that property development had left little untouched on the Cape West Coast go and discover Elands Bay. While the town has not taken off like Paternoster or Yzerfontein when it comes to scenic settings Elands Bay is hard to beat !

Against a backdrop of stunning mountains,rivers and wetlands and some of the best waves in the world at Baboon Point we think this is one of South Africas best kept travel secrets. The word is go in the spring when the Bobbejaanberg Mountains are ablaze in yellows's and purples !
Drakensberg is the other one of South Africas best kept secrets. The Drakensberg starts in the North with Clarens and the Golden Gate National Park and ends in the South at Bushmans Nek. In between you can discover the Royal Natal national Park. The main drawcard of Drakensberg is the mountains. A few spots not to miss are Sentinel Peak, Tugela Falls and the Ampitheatre
For further information on Drakensberg go here

Cancun Tops US Holiday Secrets!

2007-12-11T18:22:00.001-08:00

In the past you would expect Americans overseas holiday wish destinations to either be the big lights of London or the beaches of Jamaica.

This year that's all changed with Cancun emerging as one of the top international destinations. Travelocity has Cancun rated first amongst its city 'wish list' while Orbitz placed it in second.

Its probably no surprise with the $US to the Pound at an all time low and Jamaica quite frankly, unless your are in a locked gated estate, the pits. I recently got back from my first visit there and expected to find happy smiling faces singing reggae in the streets. What we got was sullen unfriendly people who were in your face every five minutes - no make that every minute - flogging drugs or T Shirts - get me outa here !

For those of you that are geographically challenged Cancun is located on the northeastern tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula bordered by the Caribbean sea and the tranquil Nichupte Lagoon. The destination is know for its 16 mile stretch of white sandy beaches that are close to historic Mayan archaeological sites.While much of America is freezing in ice storms this week its 75 degrees F or 27 degrees C and the US dollar gets you nearly 11 Mexican Pesos - sweet.

You can check out all the info you need on Cancun here.

If you have any Cancun secrets lets us know.

Travel Green From The UK In 2008 - The Inside Secrets

2007-12-11T14:53:00.001-08:00

As we are reminded daily of what our carbon footprint is as we hurtle across the planet now eco green travel site responsibletravel .com has unveiled its hot 'green' destinations in 2008 for UK travellers.

The word is : Nicaragua ,Guatemala , Honduras & Colombia. Now some of us might regard these destinations as some of the more dangerous places on the planet unless you are doing a little drug shopping for auntie but the web site says these destinations are top of the list for punters who want to get off the beaten track. The other hot spot is Madagascar which is becoming the 'new Galapagos'.

That being said the site does say that still the most popular destination for green UK travelers is just up the road at home with The New Forest being top of the list. If you have some secrets on green travel destinations just let us know.

Here's The Secret To the USA's Best Hotel - Its in Chicago!

2007-12-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

Now when you think of the great US hotels your mind probably goes to California or New York or San Francisco but for seven - yep that's seven- years in a row travel guru Conde Nest has given the gong to the Ritz Carlton (also known as the Four Seasons) in Chicago. So what does it take to run a great hotel. Here are some inside secrets:

* Lots of quality staff. The Ritz Carlton has some 600 employees making a employee to guest ratio of 1.5.

* Look after your staff. Over 20% of the staff have worked at the hotel for over 20 years !

* Give great phone. Reservations field some 45,000 calls a year. That's one sore ear.

* Service that shines. The overnight shoe shiner does 10,500 pairs of shoes while guests sleep while the next day housekeepers make 10,300 beds !

* Guests like it so much they take the Ritz Carlton home ! The Shop at the hotel has sold 200 king size mattresses, 350 comforters,240 pillow sets,400 bathrobes and even 80 silver martini shakers to departing guests !

That being said their are some mixed reviews at Trip Advisor. Overall the hotel gets a 4 out of 5 but there are a couple of less than flattering reviews. You can check the reviews here. If you have some secret stuff n the Ritz Carlton just let us know !

Fat Travels Secrets!

2007-12-10T20:30:00.001-08:00

Now here's an interesting story that keeps doing the rounds in various formats and wont go away anytime soon. Ok your already jammed into your tiny economy seat and here she comes - all 250 pounds of her. As the world becomes more obese it's becoming a big problem for airlines world wide both from a safety and passenger comfort POV. A new survey just released by totaltravel.com asked the question " Should excessively overweight people be forced to pay for 2 seats when travelling on a plane ?"

And the result ? An overwhelming 63% said absolutely. One punter commented..."I've already paid for my seat why should I share it with someone else " !

Its already a hot topic on the Internet. Do a search on Google under "overweight people on planes" and you will get a staggering 35,000 postings! Back in 2002 Virgin Atlantic paid over 13,000 Pounds to a passenger who was permanently injured when she was squashed by an obese woman on a flight - ouch !

In the US Southwest has had a policy for along time of charging for 2 seats if you cant get your lard in one or you will be believed to be a hindrance to other passengers.What's your view ? If you have any fatty traveling secrets we would love to hear from you.

Australians Reveal Their Travels Secrets For 2008

2007-12-10T20:05:00.000-08:00

Australian travelers are looking forward to 2008 with 64% saying they wanted to try different destinations next year and 40% of them saying they wanted to "try something adventurous" next year. The poll has just been completed by the Australian arm of Expedia.com. Here's a snapshot of where travelling Aussies want to head to overseas in 2008:

* Eastern Europe came top of the list with 28%

* South America came a close second with 24%

* Africa is big on the wish list for 2008 with 21% saying they would like to go there

* Asia continues to become so so for Aussie travellers with only 16% wanting to head up that way.

Surprisingly only 4% said that they would look to make their travel 'carbon neutral' next year. "Fill up the tank Alice and lets blow some smoke and get out of here !"

We would love to hear your 2008 travel secrets - so let us know.

One And Only Maldives -Could This Possibly Be The Worlds Best Resort Secret?

2007-12-10T18:33:00.000-08:00

Its that time of the year when most of the world's travel magazines and newspapers reveal the best of 2007. When it comes to resorts one destination and one resort keeps on surfacing to the top. The destination is the Maldives and the resort is the stunning One and Only Maldives At Reethi Rah. Influential travel mag Conde Nest just had its readers rate it as # 1 in the 'Overseas Leisure Hotels' and wait for this it came out #1 in EVERYTHING for travel.

Now for those of you who don't even know where the Maldives are well here is the low down. There are some 1200 coral islands that make up this paradise and they lay southwest of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean by the Equator. 202 of the islands are inhabitated and 87 of them are exclusive resorts! The average year round temperature is 29-32 degrees. There are a host of international airlines flying in but most people go via Singapore or Malaysia. You can get a general run down on the Maldives here.

There is another great reason to make it to the Maldives before you die - somewhere in the next 100 years (some say 20) it wont exist. With global warming the boffins say it will be one of the first places to go under water as most of it already only sits about 8 feet above sea level.

This place has some of the flashiest resorts on the planet so the competition is thick. But the one at the top of the pile right now is the One and Only Maldives at Reethi Rah. The resort is home to 130 private villas that include 32 water villas perched above the Indian Ocean - bliss has a new word ! Words and even pictures are pretty hard to describe the quality and style of the rooms. Check out the room tours here.

And how much does this hedonistic retreat going to set you back? Ok draw your breath - between $US900 and $US5,000 - a night. But is does include breakfast but not taxes - such a deal. This however is the starting rack rates and there are some good packages floating around either through the hotel or on some of the better web sites.

So how does it rate with the punters ? We checked out Trip Advisor and most of you gave it 5/5 with descriptions like "Loved It Loved It ! Loved It !" and 'Absolute Paradise" and 'Unbelievable". That being said there were some 3/5 in the reviews with comments like "the food was aweful" and "the island felt like Disneyland". The biggest complaint seems to have been the bikes that the resort provide for guests. Most reviewers said you could find better ones at the dump.

And our verdict ? There is no doubt Reethi Rah has had some stunning reviews from all the respected travel mags and generally on line reviews are first class from past guests. That being said there are a collection of first class resorts in the Maldives and we reckon you can probably find one as good if not better for less money. You might want to check out a good web site that compares all the Maldives luxury resorts called Five Star Alliance. If you have any additional inside secrets on the Maldives we would love to hear from you.

Secrets Of Europe's Best Xmas Markets

2007-12-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

Here's some inside secrets on some of the best European Xmas Markets. Xmas shopping should be more than just heading down to High Street for a couple of quick mass produced presents so why not grab a cheap Ryanair flight and go have some fun shopping! Here's a quick list of some great Xmas markets:

* Germany. Check out the Wilheim Gedachtniskirche in Berlin ,the Munich market in the Marienplatz or buy real Gingerbread at the Nuremberg markets.

*Belgium. Jump on Eurostar and head to Brussels for their famous Xmas markets that are open all the way to January 6 in case you miss December 25 !

*France. One of the best is in Lille and open until Xmas Eve. It takes place in Rihour in the centre of the town.

*Denmark. Head to the Tivoli Gardens in the centre of Copenhagen where the centre piece is a massive Xmas tree

*Austria. The big market in Vienna in front of the city hall is open until December 24.

*Switzerland. Try the traditional St Nicholas pastries and butter cookies in Basel by the River Rhine - magic !

If you have any more Xmas shopping secrets - get them into us quick !

Inside Secret To The Best Place To Propose

2007-12-09T17:17:00.000-08:00

OK your a pure romantic at heart and you want to pick the absolute right place to propose to your long time love. Will it be overlooking Niagara Falls , on top of the Empire State , on the London Eye or perhaps the Eiffel Tower ?

Well here's a little secret spot that will have your partner saying yes ! yes! yes !.

Imagine dropping the question against the sound of 10 million butterfly wings !

Well here is where you will find it. Firstly you get to Mexico. Then take a 3 hour drive from San Miguel de Allende to the old mining town of Angangeuo, An hour past here up a steep gravel road is the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. The sanctuary is in 12,000 acre protected area and the butterflies seclude themselves in the abies religiosas tree at the summit of a 10,000 foot climb ! Once you have done that,catch your breath get down on your hands and knees and as 10 million Monarch Butterfly's do their thing pop that question. Who's a smart romantic bunny then !

If you have any other great secret spots to drop the question we would love to hear them .

Secrets On How To Fly For Cheap In The US!

2007-12-09T15:51:00.001-08:00

Well the sky's over the USA are becoming more crowded and more complex. And when it comes to complexity how do you sort out and find the best deals around ? Here's a few secrets to help you get the best airfares possible within the US. A lot of these secrets work in almost any market but are particularly relevant to the US market. So here is our short list to get you on your way to a cheaper flight:

*Fly on the cheapest day of the week. It just happens to be on a Wednesday. So if you can move your schedule around to visit Grannie in Kansas go mid week and save heaps !

*Fly low cost carriers. Everyday there is a new one taking off but the best starting point for better airfares will always be with the LCC's. Check SouthWest, AirTran, JetBlue,Virgin America, Skybus, Frontier or Allegiant for starters. If your flying in Europe the lowest of the low is Ryanair.

* Be flexible with your vacation dates. Have a look at what dates you can get the best fares before you apply for your vacation.

* Make some money when you travel. These days overbooking flights is common and there's money in getting bumped. If you have all day to get somewhere and don't mind being bumped to a later flight ask at the gate lounge what there compensation deal is for the flight your on. If it seems good register your name. You don't have to take the deal but at least your at the top of the list.

If you have any great money saving secrets for traveling within the US or anywhere we would love to hear them !

Best Seat On The Plane Secrets !

2007-12-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Whether your flying at the pointy end or back of the bus all seats are not created equal ! When your making you're booking either on line or thru your travel agent you want to make sure you get the most comfortable seat possible. And its a jungle out there so don't leave it to haggling at the last minute at the check in counter.

We have found an excellent on line service called Seat Guru. Here's how it works. When you have made your booking or even if you are researching your booking you will be told on your itinerary what type of aircraft will be servicing this route. Now go onto Seat Guru. Choose the airline, choose the aircraft and voila you will get a snapshot of the hot seats and the worst seats ! I use it all the time and its one of my little 'must have' travel tools.

One thing that you can not pre book and what I regard as the premium seats are 'Emergency Exit' seats. The reason you cant pre book these is because the agents at check in need to be able to ascertain that your fit enough to help evacuate the plane from these seats. So don't say " I need that seat because I have a stuffed leg or a I have heart problems "....... If your tall like I am the you can say " Well you know any chance of an emergency exit seat for my long legs...". Trick here is to get out to the airport early on check in before everybody else asks for these seats.

Another trap to avoid is the seats in the middle of an aircraft on a wide body jet that are next to the bulk heads or walls. These are the pits. You cant stretch out your legs and normally that's where the babies cots are. So unless you want to end up in the air for 12 hours with no leg room and a screaming baby get out of here ! I would generally want to stay at least five rows away from bulk head seats for the same reason - crying babies. If yo have any other seating secrets we would love to hear from you.

Kauai Vacation Secret - Forget The Hotel - Grab The Condo!

2007-12-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite islands in Hawaii is Kauai - The Garden Island. OK its a little wetter than the other islands but it still feels like old style Hawaii. There are a number of resort hotels on the island and the flashiest of them all is Princeville Hotel on the Princeville Estate. Now this is a great hotel but here's a secret we just discovered that will cost you a third of the price and a 'room' thats about 5 times bigger !

We surfed the net and checked out some of the great deals on owners apartments in the Princeville Estate area. Now you really have to do a bit of home work here because there are lots of owners renting lots of condos. Princeville is huge so you have to make sure where your condo is. Is it overlooking one of the many golf course , or overlooking nothing or overlooking the sea - which is where you want to be.

We finally settled on Suzi's Condo which is actually apartment #220 in the Pali Ke Kua section of Princeville. This beautiful 2 bedroom Condo is right on the cliff face with stunning views over the sea.

When we arrived we were blown away. It was like arriving at someones home. Forget the condo that has a 4 plates , 2 saucepans and a couple of thin towels. Suzies Condo has everything that opens and shuts. You could easily cater for a dinner party for 12 with everything a cook could want, piles of big fluffy beach towels, snorkels and flippers , a DVD library of great movies , books and music CD's, essential food and cooking items in the pantry. In short the best condo I have ever stayed in anywhere !

Now here is the big secret. 2 Bedrooms , 2 bathrooms overlooking the sea with access to the resorts pool and tennis court for around $US1600 a week in the high season to $US1350 a week in the low season. The condo will accommodate 4 people so that means if two couples go its a snip at $US800 a week each. NOW compare this to the Princeville Hotel which is ten minutes walk down the road and if you want a room with the view that Suzies Condo has its going to set you back a cool $US600 A NIGHT !

Now remember that just for a big size room and a bathroom. So for a week holed up here its going to run you at $4,000 -$4500. Well heeled travellers who are shutting down for a week or more are discovering not only the real value of condos but they end up with more luxury in many cases then the so called luxury resorts. If you have any other condo secrets we would love to hear from you.

NOW HERE'S A SECRET - AN ONLINE TRAVEL SITE WITH SERVICE!

2007-12-06T16:49:00.000-08:00

Ok how about this little secret - an online travel site that gives great service ! Impossible you say ? Well there are some out there that can do it. Check out a hotels bookings site called. Hotels On Sale

As well as keen prices worldwide they do some cute stuff like sending you an email before you go telling you the weather for the day your arrive , what your currency is worth if your traveling to a foreign country, a link to your local newspaper so you can catch up on the news from home while your away and a link to the best restaurants in the city your visiting

Pretty cool we reckon.

And when you get back you get a nice little welcome home email and a discount of your next booking. This is all pretty heartening stuff with a recent UK survey finding that 60% of on line travel users were unhappy with the service levels and the average response time to problems or enquiries was 57 hours ! If you have any secrets about great on line travel service we would love to hear them.

RED LINGERIE SECRETS !

2007-12-06T15:53:00.000-08:00

Did we say Red Lingerie ? Er yes. If you have a bit of a fetish for the red silky stuff and your looking for a good deal on a Xmas present for your true love make sure your in Rome prior to Xmas ! Every December Romans buy new red lingerie to celebrate the New Year. Hmmm lets not ask where that idea came from ! However the good news is that Rome is home to many shops that specialize in red underwear and at this time of the year a bit of shopping around will deliver the goods. Some shops you might want to check out :

* Tudda, via Frattina 25

* Vanita via Frantina 70

* Tomasiini , via Sistina 119

If you have any red lingerie shopping secrets ...er I guess we would like to hear from you !

TRAVEL INSURANCE SECRETS

2007-12-06T15:23:00.000-08:00

These days with lost luggage on the increase, weird weather interrupting travel plans and the odd terrorist attack one thing that you probably should not skip is the travel insurance. Here are a few secrets to get the best value travel insurance.

* Shop Around. Firstly shop around on the net and get a couple of quotes. Then go and hit up a few high street travel agents. Insurance is a big fat earner for travel agents. Where typically they get anywhere from 1% to 10% on standard travel bookings like air , cruise & hotels on travel insurance they can earn up to a whopping 50% commission. Sooooo there is plenty of room for them to move on your travel insurance costs and still make a good margin.

* Check what your credit card offers. Most credit cards - particularly if you have a Gold or Platinum card offer free travel insurance as part of the deal on your card. I have lost track of the number of people who 'forget' they have travel insurance through their credit card and then go and buy additional insurance ! However make sure you call your credit card company and find out what it covers. They will also normally insist that you pay for your travel using the nominated card to get the free insurance.

* Never leave out pre existing stuff when you are taking out your insurance. If you have ANYTHING wrong with you no matter how minor get clearance from the insurance company. I know of a recent horror story where a traveller had a very very minor fall and scrapped her leg just prior to taking out travel insurance. A few weeks after taking out the insurance her leg blew up into a painful sore which required her to cancel her trip. The insurance company then tried to back away from a $10,000 claim ! After much huffing and puffing they finally gave in. So the lesson here is no matter how minor a complaint you might have at the time of taking out the booking mention it to the agent and get pre clearance. Make sure you note down the agents name and the time you made the call. Bottom line : Insurance companies like to take your money but hate to pay it out.

* Make sure you nominate the big ticket items ! If you read the fine print of your policy It will insure you for say jewellery up to $500 . If your wearing the expensive Rolex worth $2,000 you better mention it because if it gets nicked your out of pocket.

* Read the policy. How many of us just tick the 'I agree' box and never read anything ! This is one document you should read to make sure your covered for everything you want to be covered for. Unfortunately the line " I thought I was covered for that" just does not wash for the insurance companies who will always do everything they can not to pay out !

If you have any additional Travel Insurance secrets we would love to hear them !

FIRST CLASS TRAVEL SECRETS

2007-12-05T18:16:00.001-08:00

As us baby boomers retire we start to think "gee all those years cramped in economy with the kids maybe its time to treat ourselves to some First Class or at least Business Class air travel". Its all great right ? Er no. Just like there is a huge difference between different airlines down the back of the bus the same thing applies to the pointy end. Here's some secrets and tips to help you get the most out of your Business or First class ticket.

1. DON'T shop off the airlines web sites. While the airlines can and do play with the cost of those coach tickets , and you can get some good deals , they hardly ever touch their premium seats. Why ? Its because that's where they make the most margin. Shop around on some of the better travel web sites for your First or Business Class ticket and your bound to find a better deal. Also don't necessarily be loyal to your Frequent Flyer plan. If you can get a First class ticket on any airline that is a $1000 cheaper than your Frequent Flyer airline why blow the money for a few extra points ?

2. Avoid American carriers like the plague. Sorry guys they just don't know how to do great stuff at the pointy end. The food is generally still bad , the glasses are sometimes still plastic , the blankets and pillows are thin , the planes are old and the First Class lounges (unless they are using someone elses) are pretty lacklustre. Last time I was in the First Class Admirals Club lounge at JFK I was given a coupon for 2 drinks and there was a jar of pretzels - please ! If you are travelling outside the USA and you want to get serious about your hard earned bucks going into First or Business Class go with a carrier that knows the meaning of the word. So who is the best ? Generally in all the magazine awards the gongs normally go to the Asian carriers. Here's our list :

* Singapore Airlines. Consistently at the top of the heap. Great service. Lie flat beds even in Business , great food , modern aircraft and top of the range entertainment systems with over 100 movies , games music you name it - you ll never get bored.

* Emirates. The new kid on the block that is chasing Singapore FAST. The newest fleet in the sky. Unbelievable entertainment system. Great food and wine. Attentive if a little cold service and the thing I love about Emirates - free limos to and from the airport for Business or First passengers.

* Etihad. Emirates are chasing Singapore and the other Middle East airlines are out to chase Emirates. I have not travelled with them but I hear they are stunning

* Qantas. The flying kangaroo still does it well with lie flat beds in business class on most flights and superb food and wine. The planes are starting to get a bit old and dirty and some of the interiors need a make over so it can be a bit hit and miss at the moment. Just like the staff. I recently came back London-Hong Kong-Sydney First Class. The London based crew were stunning but the crew out of Hong Kong were tired old and could barely get through the gig.

* Air New Zealand. On the come back trail with new 777's on the North American-South Pacific route. You can also catch them at good prices between LAX and London. You will find the ticket prices are sharp and food and service good. The new aircraft have lie flat beds in their Business Class (see photo with this story). They don't do First anymore. However the fleet upgrade is still on going so check that your getting a bed and not a seat.

* Malaysian. Some call it the poor mans Singapore but they have sharp fares.

* Thai. Some call them the poor mans Malaysian ! I have heard mixed comments.

* British Airways. Poor old aunty. I have had some good flights. But the food is a struggle and the fleets getting old. If your flying across the pond to the UK your probably better off with Virgin Upper Class or from LA I would grab Air New Zealand

3. Beds Vs Seats - Go Figure !. Make sure you check with your nominated carrier that the flight you are on has a lie flat bed and not a seat ! The smarter airlines are upgrading fast. If your in First Class and it does not have a bed your really not in First Class anymore. And most of the better airlines are putting the beds into Business. A word of warning though. We are in the middle of a lot of fleet upgrades so don't just check if your airline has beds check that the flight you are booked on has beds.

4. Get To The Airport Early and Enjoy the Lounge ! Great airlines have great lounges particularly in their home ports. The Cathay Lounge in Hong Kong is like a five star hotel. Singapore Airlines Singapore hub you could probably spend a week in ! Likewise Emirates at Dubai. Getting to the Airport early allows you time to have a free drink and meal ,catch up on your email , have a shower and just generally chill before the long flight. Your paying for it babe so enjoy the side bits !

We would love to hear any comments or secrets you have for getting the best out of First or Business travel.

SECRETS OF ONE BLUE VIRGIN!

2007-12-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

A report in a Sydney paper says a former Virgin Blue pilot has been doing a little flying close to the ground by entering a flight attendants room to make unwanted sexual advances.

"You can trust me I'm your captain" he allegedly said as he entered the girls room ! The 51 year old Captain was in the Industrial Relations Commission over his unfair dismissal claim.

The attendant claimed the pilot tied to kiss her,undress her and made unwanted advances. The pilot claims they merely had a 'mutually enthusiastic sexual engagement".

No truth in the rumour he has been employed by Singapore Airlines as 'chief tester' for the new First Class Suites ! (See story below)

AIRBUS A380 MILE HIGH SECRETS

2007-12-04T19:39:00.000-08:00

Word is filtering out that the 'Mile High Club' goes to new levels with Singapore Airlines new Airbus A380. The first mega jet entered service in October. No longer is First Class called a cabin ! Its now your own 'Suite" or could that be 'sweet' ! For the price of a good car you can now be pampered in a separate lie flat double bed in addition to your own private seat .

A spokesman for Singapore Airlines said 'no hiding the sausage allowed' but as one punter said ..." if you can fart and pick you nose in Economy why cant you have a root if First Class ? "

The first person to book the 'Suite' were Tony & Julie Elwood from Perth. Right girls who want to climb into the sack with Tony (picture)....hmmmm yummy!

And what's the secret behind the sliding door you ask ? For starters a 27 inch by 78 inch stand alone flat bed which is separate form the seat with a whopping 81 inch pitch. Of course there is a 23 inch - hat 23inch TV, USB ports,Internet,a chaise lounge for companion seating blah blah blah.

Here's a video tour of the last word in flying luxury outside your own private jet ! If you have any other A3890 secrets we would love to hear them.

SECRETS TO HOTEL UPGRADES & FREEBIES!

2007-12-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

OK so your off for a romantic weekend with the missus,the girlfriend or the parish priest and you want a little more than what you ordered off the Internet site. Here's a little secret that was recently shared with us that you might want to use, Its called the Anniversary excuse'. Now allow yourself plenty of time before you travel to do this and you should be sweet.

After you have made your booking email or write or ring the hotels 'General Manager'. Explain to him/her that " you have made a booking for say your 5th Wedding Anniversary....the hotel was the spot where you met your little lady blah blah blah and you were hoping that you could really surprise her with an perhaps a room upgrade or a little something special like chocolates or flowers or a bottle of champagne....

If you don't get an answer get back in touch 'just to check you got my message'. This secret also works if your looking for a late check out ...."er we want to enjoy our romantic getaway as long as we can....any chance of a 400pm check out...."

The secret is to be incredibly humble...er make that grovelling...If you don't get an answer back run the same line again at check in....whisper your request to check in staff....because you want to surprise you love ...er right !

And does this secret work ? You bet ! I just got back from a long overseas trip that involved 7 different hotels. Three of them I got upgrades,two of them late check outs and one a free bottle of French Champagne with a nice note from the Manager. Now so I don't appear to a be a complete tosser it really really really was my anniversary...er well at least in six months time ! So if you have an more secrets on getting upgrades and freebies at hotels let us know !!