Hotel Travel Guides

Jumpin’ Java Jive

My sister Teri and her family lived in northern Sumatra for over 15 years. During my many trips to visit them in Lhokseumawe, Ba

Why I want to go to Rio de Janeiro

South America is my final travel frontier. I have boldly visited every other continent on the planet except for South America an

Top 5 Valentines destinations

Paris, France Witty Woody Allen revealed a secret once: “As long as you haven’t been kissed during any of those rain

Bahamas – Paradise Found

I don’t believe you can ‘bottle’ paradise or stop tourism development. With every government on the planet agg

Travel Fear and Loathing in 2012

Even in a world of economic uncertainty penny pinchers should not fear travelling in 2012. Actually there are many compelling re

Travel Photographer of the Year 2011

Last week I discovered some of the best travel photos I have seen in a very long time while surfing online. Thanks to our friend

Top 10 travel destinations to visit in 2012 (part 2)

This week I have been searching for the best places to visit in 2012. The other day I featured top travel destinations that I pe

Top 10 travel destinations to visit in 2012 (part 1)

(Abu Dhabi Photo by Ioan Barbulescu) Are you planning to travel somewhere new this year? Not sure where to go? Well, you’re in

New Year’s Eve: Drink and Walk to Welcome 2012

In the food and beverage business New Year’s Eve is known as ‘amateur’s night’. It is the one evening ea

New Year resolution 2012: Learn new language overseas

I never make New Year resolutions, but if I did learning a foreign language would top the list. My parents ‘forced’

Ancient Egypt in the modern world

Ancient Egypt is still one of my most favourite historical subjects, ever since I visited the mystical ancient lands in the yea

Lake Baikal – From Russia with inspiration

There is something interesting going on in a big, cold (most of the time) country called Russia. Have you ever been there? How

Hurricane Rina blows me back to Belize

Once Hurricane Rina finishes moving across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, it is expected to turn east and break apart over w

The Airport Experience: Service is Where it’s At

We’ve all had that nightmare airport experience. The one where you are stuck 20 people deep in an immigration queue, there’

Hotels with that Little Something Special

I recently did a blog about the star rating systems used by hotels, the upshot of which is that the scope of these ratings does

Russian Rugby’s Final Fling in Nelson

Privet! Kak dela? Welcome to all Russian readers! With Russia’s final group game in the Rugby World Cup 2011 against Australi

Hotels stars – how do they rate?

Star ratings systems exist in a number of industries, none so more prevalent than the hotel industry. Hotels are rated from one

The Sahara, Saadi and me – page one

Last week media reports began surfacing that Muammar Gaddafi’s son, ex-footballer Saadi Gaddafi, had fled to Agadez, a dusty,

The Sahara, Saadi and me – page two

Stopping for the night by the side of the road, the daylight temperatures of 40°C plus, would quickly plummet to a little abov

A Speedy Guide to Seeing Singapore for the GP Weekend

If you’re heading to Singapore for the spectacular night race that is the Formula 1 Grand Prix, then you’re in for a treat