Through the colder months, the British landscape can be at its dramatic, blustery best. Enjoy it on one of these six walks – and warm up by the fire in a cosy pub at the end.

Scottish Highlands: Through frosty glens to warming whisky

The Great Valley of Glen Coe

Along with Ben Nevis and Loch Lomond, the great valley of Glen Coe is one of Scotland’s best-loved locations, home to some of the country’s most admired scenery. Carved out by giant glaciers back in the Ice Age, the glen’s sheer size is immediately impressive. The steep-sided valley walls on either side appear almost vertical, topped on the northern side by the serrations of the Aonach Eagach ridge and on the south by the trio of peaks known as the Three Sisters. Nearby is the conical summit of Buachaille Etive Mòr. It is the type of classic Highland scenery that decorates a million tins of souvenir shortbread, and it’s all the more dramatic in winter, when the mountains are covered in a layer of snow. Unlike much of Scotland’s wilder landscapes, which often require long journeys or serious hikes to appreciate, Glen Coe is splendidly accessible and can be enjoyed by the most casual of weekend walkers.

The walk

Start at the An Torr car park, just off the A82 which runs through the glen. A clear path heads eastwards between the River Coe and the A82, leading to a bridge carrying the main road over the river, just west of Loch Achtriochtan. From here, you simply keep heading up the glen. Sometimes you can follow the old road that runs roughly parallel to the A82, while other times you have to walk beside the main road itself. This is an ‘out-and-back’ route, so continue walking for as long as you like, but a great spot to aim for is the viewpoint over Glen Coe near Allt-na-ruigh, about 2½ miles along the route.

The pub

After walking back down the glen, top off your day in the Clachaig Inn, a spot long favoured by hikers and climbers. The bar offers more than 200 whiskies, while the menu includes local venison, haggis and wild boar burgers, so make your order and warm up by the fire – no-one here will worry about a little snow tracked in onto the flagstones. The convivial atmosphere is further enhanced by the long tables and benches in the main bar, so you’ll find yourself forced – in a positive way – to eat and have a good chat with other walkers.

Make it happen

At the northwestern end of the valley of Glen Coe is the village of Glencoe. The nearest train station is about 16 miles away at Fort William. Scottish Citylink coaches run between Glasgow and Fort William via Glen Coe.

An Torr car park is 2½ miles east of Glencoe village on the A82. Much of Glencoe is under the protection of the National Trust for Scotland – see glencoe-nts.org.uk for more details .

The Clachaig Inn is 2½ miles east of Glencoe village on the old road which runs parallel to the A82. Food is served between 12pm and 9pm, and there are also rooms available (mains from £8; rooms from £44).

For more walks in the Scottish Highlands, see walkhighlands.co.uk.

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 151 user reviews.

Classic cities. Christmas. What a cocktail!

Our London office have been talking Christmas cities, and just couldn’t stop thinking about ice rinks.

Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere just wouldn’t be the same without wrapping up warm, pulling on those ice skates and, dependent on ability, either sailing glamorously across the ice or gripping tightly to the railings before falling flat on your face.

Whatever your skills, you’re spoilt for choice come December. These are our favourites:

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower Ice Rink

Falling over aside, ice skating conjures an air of romance and the Eiffel Tower is perhaps the most romantic setting imaginable. Open until mid-February this is the place to come with a partner for classic views and a smooch on the ice.

New York’s Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center Ice Rink

Synonymous with Christmas, New York knows how to put on a show and the Rockefeller Centre is no different. Probably the most famous ice rink of them all, this is a fantastic place to come and soak up the New York holiday vibe (though take US editor Robert Reid’s word of advice: save the skating for January if you don’t want to pay a premium and are keen to avoid queues).

London’s Natural History Museum

The Ice Rink at London’s Natural History Museum

Set outside one of London’s most iconic buildings, the Natural History Museum’s ice rink is one for the family. Visit in the daytime, head into the museum and visit the dinosaurs, then join the Christmas crowds out on the rink.

Narvisen, Oslo

The ice rink at Karl Johans gate,  Narvisen, Oslo

Oslo’s Narvisen outdoor ice rink sits at Karl Johans gate.  It’s a natural rink and you can skate for free here whenever it’s cold enough to freeze over. Due to the cooler weather conditions, this rink is usually open for a longer time so if you miss out in December and January, you’ll have until the end of March to skate here most years.

Gorky Park, Moscow

Ice Rink at Red Square, Moscow

As you might imagine, Moscow has plenty of ice skating spaces available in winter. Gorky Park almost becomes one big ice rink with frozen over ponds and icy tracks running across the park. Make the most of it by hiring not only skates but some cross-country skis too.

16 Dec 2010

http://www.travelblogpro.com/2010/12/top-5-christmas-ice-rinks/

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 177 user reviews.

This article is written by Kavya S.

Thanks to a badly planned transit, recently I got a chance to spend a day in London. While 24 hours is not enough time to understand or know a city by any stretch of imagination, it is ample time to form some ill-informed first impressions. Here is my list of empirical observations about London and Londoners.

  1. English are awfully polite. Even when they almost push you under the bus. In my first hour in London, I narrowly escaped an English death. Not once, but twice. First I managed to jump out of the way of a speeding man only to end up in front of a speeding bus. But both the man and the bus were very polite and made sure that the experience did not bruise my ego.
  2. Indians are now avenging the years of colonialism. By my rough estimation, there is one Singh or Kaur in BA ground staff for every two true blue British employees. The ratio gets better (for the Indians) when the sample under study is made up of immigration officials.
  3. Innit is the wassup of London. It is used to fill the silences and as punctuation. And generally as a sign of Britishness.
  4. London is a decompression zone between the west and the fareast. It is exactly midway between India and US and I don’t mean just geographically. Londoners drive on the left side of the road but calculate distances in miles. Kids wear uniforms to schools. People in London drink tea but don’t get it sugared already. On the road, they honk; they flash lights and give the driver in the next lane the bird. But when a pedestrian steps on to the road, they stop and become the epitome of virtue, patience and a crusader upholding the right of way. (See observation 1)
  5. Cambridge needs to offer more faucetology courses and degrees. I used a lot of restrooms while I was there (All that tea I drank had to find a way out). But never once did I find a faucet that did not flash freeze my hands or boil them raw. Dear Brits, you can mix the hot and cold water before you it spews out of the tap, innit?
  6. Londoners take their politeness to the shower. Bath tubs and showers have folding glass doors that only go half way across. I suppose they don’t splash around much water.
  7. Beer is for schmucks. If you want to get drunk, you have to order wine.
  8. Day ends at five. After that there isn’t much to do other than drink wine.
  9. Five is the lucky charm. Shops close at five and legal age for drinking at home is 5!!! I bet London has the politest drunk 5 year olds in the whole world.
  10. They love their brick buildings, wrought iron gates, ferris wheels and big clocks.

If you agree with my observations, pat me on my back and leave a comment. If you have more to add, leave a comment. If you disagree, send me a ticket to London so that I can go a verify your claims

Kavya S.

4 May 2011

http://www.kettik.com/go/europe/uk/stories/77

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 based on 249 user reviews.

This article is written by Seema Goswami

A week ago, I landed at London’s Heathrow Airport, bleary-eyed and beleaguered after a long, sleepless flight. As I wheeled my trolley out of baggage claim and walked into a sea of expectant faces looking out for their loved ones to emerge, I was struck by a thought. I could just as well have landed in India, for all the visual clues I got about my destination.

The airport was run over with Asians, you had to search far and wide to catch even a momentary glimpse of a white face. And amid the cacophony of languages being bandied about – Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu, Punjabi, even Tamil – it was difficult to catch a word of English.

But hang on, I told myself, maybe I was being a bit quick off the draw. Perhaps this was because a flight from India had just landed. And in keeping with sub-continental tradition, every member of the extended family had turned up to greet the new arrival.

But that didn’t explain why so many of them were holding up name tags and looking suspiciously like limo drivers. Or why all the service professionals had brown faces.

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 226 user reviews.

This article is written by Ravi Deshpande, who is the Creative Head of his own company, produces films and is an avid blogger. He is based in Mumbai

Sunday, 22nd July 2011

Halfway through the bath & the power goes off. The British lady across my window peeps, & embarrassedly asks whether I have any electricity.

The Bane of London

So its like any other indian city-power cuts, water cuts, trains run late, people smoke just about everywhere, traffic jams galore & they jump the signal all the time. the mayor of london is exasperated at the burglaries & the pre-teen pregnancies.

The good thing about London

What’s good is that londoners are a happy lot. they keep the city clean. the food is superb. & they have a panache for doing things right. the touristy areas such as oxford street, leicester square are as crowded as linking road-it’s the sale season & european tourists along with londoners throng the shops for discounts. i bought 3 pairs of shoes & am very happy-they will last me for a long long time.

One needs to walk here! shyam & naman to gether made me walk at least ten miles. my legs say i did 20.

Lovers abound at every nook & corner, hands & lips locked in love & lust at street corners, stations, stores, restaurants & cafes. there’s beer flowing from morning till the wee hours of the morning at the roadside cafes.

The Elderly

The aged have got habituated to loneliness-they travel to pubs & sit at tables with a pint or two for hours without a word to another sitting across from them.

Heritage

Londoners have great regard for their heritage. the structures are preserved & displayed with pride-londoners will make a museum out of just about anything.

Indian productions & British connexion

There are a lot of indian productions active here. boney has camped in london for the last one & half month, met aseem at pinewood-he resumed shooting yesterday for a british feature, manu & gang are at the fag-end of the second film, satish kaushik is acting with my friend tanishtha chatterjee in a major english film, sudhakar bokade is in manchester, & so on.

Meeting Shyam

Shyam Sunder. my friend of a decade & more. don’t find the time to meet him in mumbai… we spent hours yesterday, chatting in my 3 bed spread at king’s cross & walking the length & breadth of oxford street. he has been in the industry for over eight years now, & is itching to make his own film. the computer shop boy from shimoga has grown up to be a bright mature man with several score connexions in the film industry. whether in mumbai, chennai, or london, he is forever on the phone. his bill, he assures me has touched several lakhs sometimes.

Naman Ramachandran

butted in to naman & laxmi’s weekend. bought a doc martens. went through half a dozen lanes, took the tube to camden. his house has the most fabulous vibrations i have come across in months. i have this thing about placesthere & then, i decided & announced that i am staying the night. spoke to naman till it got dark. collapsed with fatigue before midnight. he took me to a temple of sorts-the apple store.

The Apple Store

The Regent Street Apple Store

The new Macbook Pro!!! For just a lakh twenty! wish i had the dough. the who-tommy song buzzed in my head-feel me, touch me, hear me! there is nothing in the computer hardware world which is as superior a design as a mac product.

Ravi Deshpande

25 July 2011

http://www.blogger.com/profile/06194485872213121411

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 based on 260 user reviews.

This article is written by Pranav Arora

My journey from Rana Pratap Bagh to London was like the title of the movie, Amritsar to LA. London is the place I am sure most of us want to visit. It reminds me of tall ancient buildings, Shahrukh Khan running on the London Bridge, its rich heritage and also real English people. I got an opportunity through my school under the UKIERI project to visit London this year.

When I arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, I felt as if everybody was welcoming me only.

The flight gave me a relaxing, enjoyable and home-like feeling during the journey. The view of the sky from the window was amazing. I was imagining that the clouds were vanilla ice-cream scoops with the sunlight as a mango topping over it.

After eight-nine hours, I reached Heathrow, where I met Crispin Bonham Carter, with whom I was going to stay for the next six days. His family and I talked about the Indian cricket team, Indian food and my project. They gave me Indian food to eat.

London is famous for its theatre. I went to the Peacock Theatre, where I watched a play, Insane In The Brain. It was like our Munna Bhai movies. But it was a dance based show. I tried English food, less salty and less spicy, and made good friends.

The next day, I went on a London tour where I watched Will Smith starrer, I Am Legend, at IMax, the only 4D cinema in the world.

A show at the IMax, London

On day four, I got the chance to visit London Eye, which cost me 10 pounds. I also enjoyed the cruise on River Thames. It was very relaxing. The funny dresses of the guards outside the Buckingham Palace and their kettle cover like hats made me giggle.

In the Tower of London, I saw the Kohinoor diamond. It is so beautiful and lustrous. It made me feel proud that we are its original owners. The visit to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum was my next destination. It took me a few hours to reach there from Southhall by car. I saw wax effigies of Beckham, Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and many more.

The family with whom I was staying took me on a cycle ride. They were really concern about saving the enviroment by not burning fuel.

They know my keen interest in cricket, so they took me to Lords for a match. There we watched a match between Middlesex and Kent. I was supporting Middlesex, which won the match by a little margin. I got to see Adam Gilchrist and David Warner very closely. I also saw Sachin Tendulkar’s autographed bat and Kapil Dev’s sweater worn in the 1983 cricket world cup at the Lords Museum.

The Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Southall, London

In the last two days of my visit the school where I was on the mission gave me a party. I tried real Italian pizza and got to see its preparation too. I danced the entire night. I bid goodbye to the English family with teary eyes and went to my paternal aunt in Southhall. I was overwhelmed to see a beautiful and majestic gurudwara there. Southhall is like mini India.

I really didn’t want to come back to India. Though I love India but living is better there. London is less polluted, less corrupted, well planned and the beautiful weather inspires you to stay there for long.

Finally my aunt dropped me at the airport. I am still in touch with the English family and will definitely go to UK for further study.

Pranav Arora

14 Sept 2010

http://travel.hindustantimes.com/travelogues/london-is-less-polluted-and-well-planned.php

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 169 user reviews.

This article is written by Cyrus Dadachanji, an avid food journalist, storyteller, non-fiction film and TV scriptwriter, researcher, advertising copywriter and poet, based in Mumbai

If you thought dining out in London meant eating Fish ‘n’ Chips, you’re in for the surprise of your life!

Welcome to London. A bustling, throbbing megapolis that is a delight for the senses in every sense of the word. If you love food, this is the city of your dreams. Name any cuisine and you’ll find it here. Not surprpising that the humble Indian Chikken Tikka has been voted as the most popular dish in Britain. That in itself says a lot for the adventurous nature of the British palate, tired of being brought up on a diet of bland roasted food. The new mantra in London seems to be… the more exotic the better. And restauraunteers have taken traditonal British hospitality to its logical end, falling over backwards to cater to these newly evolved tastebuds. So, let’s go on a gastronomical tour de force of London’s restaurants, one cuisine at a time.

When in Britain… well if you followed that dictum, you’d probably end up eating almost everything except British food. However, food represents the nature of a country and its people, lets tuck in to a little Brit grub, to begin with. Britain lives in its pubs and that’s where you’ll nvariably find the best pub grub. Check out The Anglesea Arms near the Ravenscourt Park tube station. This is one of the few pubs to have a Michelin star (which is the highest rating for resaturants in Britain). You can have a good meal for around 12 – 15 £. With dishes like calves’ liver, which melts in the mouth, the food is nothing short of adventurous and consistently good. Try having two starters instead of a main course and you’ll never be disappointed. Not for nothing has the Anglesea Arms has been voted s one of the best Value for Money establishments in the city. If you’re in the mood for some excellent roast duck, drop in at The Chiswick, near the Turnham Green Tube station. It’s a modern sort of restaurant with a pleasant amibience and an excellent selection of of new world wines, making it the perfect place to sup one evening.
While Mackintosh’s near Turnham Green station is a great place to take the kids along Try their Eggs Benedict and Curried Potatoes for a hearty Sunday Brunch. You can give the kids bowls of pasta to mess around with – and the restaurant stocks crayons so they can draw on the paper tablecloths! Stick to the food here and the ales; don’t experiment with the cocktails. Of course, in most British resturants, you’ll find the typical pot roast, steak and kidney pie and the ever popular fish ‘n’ chips or kippers (mackerel)… but there are many more culinary delicacies waiting to be discovered.

“The nice thing about dining out in London however is that there are restaurants to suit every budget, even among what may be called speciality resturants.”

Steak & Kidney Pie

For those who like their food lightly flavoured, with a hint of herbs, London has a fine selection of European and French restaurants. The nice thing about dining out in London however is that there are restaurants to suit every budget, even among what may be called speciality resturants. What’s more, most resturants, especially the Continental ones create an ambience of sophistication, blended with authentic décor. So tuck in your serviettes messeieurs and take a seat, while the aromas of Europe tease you and the food tittilates your tastebuds. But be sure to book a table well in advance, for some exclusive restaurants have a 6 week waiting list!

Granita, near Angel Tube Station all the makings of a terrific restaurant. The ambience is perfect, the service, impeccable and the food, simply divine. A mouth watering menu is backed up by perfect service. If you’re a vegetarian and wondering wheteher you should step in, there’s a good range of vegetarian dishes that are equally inspiring. But just make sure you call up and book a table, because Granita is very popular with the people in the neighbourhood.

Step out of London proper to the neigbouring borough of Kent and you can dine under the stars, with a gurgling brook serenading you as you tuck into your meal. Welcome to the Haxted Riverside Brasserie near Haxted, Edenbridge (main line). Few restaurants can beat the Brasserie in terms of ambience, service and the quality of the food served here. What’s more, the locale and the climate give your appetite the boost it will need to knock off the huge portions. Back in the city,  The Abingdon is a trendy bar and restaurant nestled behind Kensinghton High street. The bar is spacious with seating at round tables and the ideal place for a drink if your table is not ready. The restaurant has quiet booths which are very comfortable and intimate, but still alow you to see what’s going on around you. The menu changes regularly, so you never know what you may find on your nextt visit. For starters, try the mussels mariniere and carpaccio of beef with a walnut dressing. The Abingdon has an exotic menu which includes Grilled noisettes of lamb with mustard sauce, brochette of scallops and squid with lemon tagliatelle and rabbit pie. They have a lemon creme brulee and rice pudding with berry compote on the desert list and both are simply out of this world… as is most of the food served here. So, if you’d like to taste European food, as it really should be cooked, the Abingdon is your best bet.

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 244 user reviews.

London has been named the best city in the world to visit next year by influential travel guide publisher Lonely Planet. The city, which will host the London 2012 Olympic Games and celebrations marking the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, topped Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2012’ list, a compilation of the year ahead by the brand’s authors.

Muscat, Oman came in second place and Bengalaru (Bengalore) in India was voted third in the list, which was released to mark the October 28 release of Best in Travel, priced at €9.99.

“London will have the spotlight firmly on it next year when it plays host to the Olympics but there are lots of other reasons why it is our number one city for 2012, ” said Lonely Planet’s Tom Hall.

“Although traditionally an expensive destination for international tourists, it is now something of a bargain for many visitors including those from the Middle East, Australia and parts of Europe. Added to that London’s wealth of world-class free attractions and it’s easy to see
why people continue to flock here.”

The Spanish city of Cadiz and Swedish capital Stockholm rounded off the top five list.

This week has been a good one for London — US guidebook brand Frommer’s also named the borough of Greenwich on its 2012 list of top destinations, along with more exotic spots such as Beirut, Lebanon and the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Top 10 cities
1. London
2. Muscat, Oman
3. Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
4. Cadiz, Spain
5. Stockholm
6. Guimaraes, Portugal
7. Santiago, Chile
8. Hong Kong
9. Orlando, Florida, USA
10. Darwin, Australia

28 Oct 2011

Source: Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2012

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 195 user reviews.

This article is written by Sneha Divakar, an Indian internet professional based in Boston, USA

After I bragged about my backpacking expeditions, I was faced with this question from a close acquaintance “Whats the cheapest and best way to enjoy London?”
My answers to the question:

  • As soon as you reach London, buy an Oyster Card for public transport. It comes at a 3 pounds refundable deposit and you can use it for Tube and the famous red bus.
  • Use Tube only between stations more than 5 hops away. If it is 1 or 2 hops away, take the red bus and sit on top. Better, walk! Or even Oyster card wont work if you use it for 1 hop tube stations. You will walk more within stations than end to end destination
  • Walk the South Banks of Thames. You will cover most of London’s sightseeing spots. Start at Trafalgar square, walk upto Big Ben, walk around London Eye just across the road and walk along the South Banks. Dont forget to stop by the Tower Bridge and Millenium Bridge. You could spend a half day and you would have enjoyed a good part of London’s attractions.
  • To finish off the day, head to Leicester square for the best night life.
  • Leicester Square
  • For a cheap Place to crash, try Youth Hostels. For the friendly neighborhood traveler, there is always the Indian YMCA.
    which costs upto 25 pounds for a twin sharing room and the cost includes breakfast and dinner.

Sneha Divakar

1 Nov 2009

http://tra-well.blogspot.com/search/label/Europe?updated-max=2010-02-16T12%3A14%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=20

Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 150 user reviews.

This article is written by Shifra Menezes , a student and a travel writer based in Mumbai

Here’s a look at the top 25 destinations around the world that includes cultural capitals, architectural havens, beach paradises and some unconventional picks as well.

1. Cape Town, South Africa

The mere mention of most destinations in Africa immediately conjures up images of lion safaris and yellow wilderness as far as the eye can see. While these are enough to keep the intrepid traveller quite happy and offer the experience of a lifetime, there is more to Africa than just that and Cape Town is where it’s all at.

From cultural and historical attractions to wildlife and adventure sports, Cape Town has something for everyone.

A handful of the popular tourist attractions in Cape Town:

  • The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront a popular haunt for dining and shopping, offering up a wide variety of cuisine and wares.
  • The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden with its tranquil surrounds and exotic plants, is the ideal picnic spot for nature-lovers and trekkers alike.
  • The beaches in and around Cape Town are famous for their soft white sand and crystal-clear waters. Some of the popular ones are Blouberg, Dolphin Beach and Boulder.
  • If you’re an animal lover with a penchant for big cats, drop in at the Drakenstein Lion Park, dedicated to rehabilitating the beautiful animals in their natural surrounds.
  • For history buffs, a boat ride to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, is a must-visit.

2. Sydney, Australia

Often mistaken as the capital city, Sydney is the country’s largest city and arguably its cultural capital.

The unmistakable waterfront of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge is just one of the many tourist attractions in the city.

Your visit to the harbour city should include:

  • Bondi Beach, one of the most famous in the world for its massive swells (for the surfers out there), is a great place to start. If you’re looking for a lazy day at the beach however, there are plenty to choose from such as Coogee, Manly and Balmoral among many, many others.
  • Nature enthusiasts won’t be disappointed with a visit to Taronga Zoo, Oceanworld and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
  • For those more culturally inclined, there’s the Sydney Festival (free indoor and outdoor performances), the Big Day Out (a travelling rock festival) and a number of film festivals.
  • Check out breathtaking views from the AMP Tower observatory, the highest structure in Sydney, and the Powerhouse Museum of science, technology and design.

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

Tucked away in the Amazon forests, perched atop an Andean plateau, this ancient city is an architectural marvel. Often referred to as the ‘Lost city of the Incas’, it has been recognised as a World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Built around 1450, at the height of the Inca empire, the entire city has been constructed using polished dry stone and has survived the centuries remarkably well.

One of the three primary constructions within the city is the Intihuatana, a pillar built using stones that point to the sun. At noon on March 21 and September 21, the sun is almost directly above the pillar, and casts no shadow. It is believed that the Incas used this as a clock or calendar based on the sun’s path.

So for the traveller who enjoys a little history lesson along the way, Machu Picchu does just that.

4. Paris, France

Nothing says romance quite like Paris. But there is a lot more to this beautiful city than just the Eiffel Tower and romantic walks along the Siene.

The French capital offers a host of attractions including The Louvre, which is home to some of the world’s most valuable paintings and sculptures.

Food lovers can relish the French cuisine in the many bistros and cafes that dot the streets and culture vultures can take in the rich history and architecture on offer.

Some popular tourist spots include:

  • The Notre Dame cathedral, the Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and the Pantheon church (the final resting place of Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Marie Curie) are some of the most recognised landmarks, as is the Eiffel Tower.
  • The Montmartre and Montparnasse areas, known for their artistic history is worth a visit for music halls and cafes.
  • Known as the world’s fashion capital, drop in at the Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg Saint-Honore for a peek of the highest of high fashion. And if splashing out on designer labels isn’t your thing, don’t fret. Paris has a lot more shopping than just designer labels. Les Halles and the Champs Elysees have plenty to choose from.
  • The picturesque Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens are lovely for a stroll of picnic. A great way to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing.

5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Movies and music have had a long-standing love affair with this beautiful city, and deservedly so. The spirit of Rio makes it a must-visit.

Another draw is the fact that the resort city will play host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final and the 2016 Olympic Games and you can bet it’ll be an explosion of colour and dance two elements that simply capture what the city is all about.

So when you fly down, make sure your travel itinerary includes:

  • The Copacabana and Ipanema beaches have been immortalised in song and well deserve a drop-by thanks to their many dining spots, pubs and discos.
  • The Corcovado mountains with the statue of Christ the Redeemer are a major tourist draw being one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, and atop the peak, offer breath-taking views of the Brazilian landscape.
  • The annual Carnival (during February and March) is an experience like no other. Massive parades along the streets with opulent floats and tens of thousands of revellers simply have to be seen to be believed.

6. New York City, USA

The city has been written about and sung about, movies have been shot around its iconic landmarks and its unmistakable skyline and yet it loses nothing in terms of sheer fascination for the millions of visitors and tourists who throng its streets every year.

So if you too plan to drop by the Big Apple, make sure to visit:

  • Manhattan for its fantastic skyline and a glimpse of the Empire State Building, Rockerfeller Centre and Times Square.
  • Ellis Island for the Statue of Liberty, and while you’re at it the Staten Island Ferry.
  • Madison and Fifth avenue for the shopping.
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Broadway for some cultural stimulation

Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 156 user reviews.