How to Travel Around the World for $418. “I have to tell you sir, this is easily the most ridiculous itinerary I’ve ever put together,” said the American Airlines operator the other night as I finalized plans for a worldwide adventure that would make Marco Polo blush. “Welp, that makes two of us!” I replied. And just like that, I had committed myself to almost nine months of international travel. Yes, that picture above is my actual itinerary. Beginning this January, I’ll start an epic journey that will take me across four continents, through at least nine countries, and into more than fifteen cities. Oh, and all of these flights are costing me a grand total of $418.36. Warning: I’m totally going to geek out on travel-hacking with this post, so if you have no interest in learning how to travel the world and visit awesome places for dirt cheap, check back in on Monday. This post is also quite lengthy at over 2500 words: grab some coffee, get comfortable, and let me show you how deep the rabbit hole of travel hacking goes. -Steve
San Francisco's 20 Most Iconic Dishes Wednesday, July 18, 2012, by Carolyn Alburger Although tourists have their own bucket list of dishes to try in San Francisco, there are certain foods that transcend to a level of local fame befitting the real restaurant lovers in town. If you have just 20 meals left in San Francisco, these are the places you would have to go. The following list spans relatively new restaurants to older, well-established ones, and is given in no particular order. As always, if there's something you'd deem "iconic" that didn't make it, go to town in the comments. For more iconic dishes from across the Eater Universe, head over to Eater National.
Outside In Vanity Vignettes I adore this inspiring collection of über feminine and personalized vanity vignettes. Whether it be swiping on lip color, dabbing on perfume, or slipping on jewelry, it’s almost always the final stop in the getting ready […] Fiddle Leaf Fig Ficus The fiddle-leaf fig ficus, or ficus lyrata, is hands down my favorite indoor house plant. Packing it all in – a guide to travelling hand-luggage only Packing light used to be a handy skill. These days, it's a necessity. As airlines are crippled by ash clouds, strike action and general financial meltdown, they've had to find alternative ways of making money. Enter 'ancillary revenues', which basically means airlines charging passengers for anything they can get away with. The upshot? A raft of airlines now imposes fees for putting your suitcase in the hold. Low-cost carrier Ryanair charges £15 each way for the privilege of stowing your luggage when you pay online – rising to a whopping £35 if you pay at the airport. Can you really travel hand-luggage only? Yes you can – you just need to get clever with your packing. First, check the hand-baggage dimensions permitted by your airline at www.seatguru.com. Next, consider your restricted contents. Vital medicines can generally be packed in your carry-on in larger quantities if accompanied by a letter from your doctor. Off on a trip that requires lots of gear? Fitting it all in
Top 10 Best Breakfasts in London Ever wondered which restaurant Heston Blumenthal favours for his Full English? Check out our guide to the best breakfasts in the Big Smoke, with the trends ranging from immaculate brunch classics to experimental fusion breakfasts. The simple, bog-standard fry-up cuts the mustard no more. Whether you’re doing business over flat whites and posh bacon sandwiches, or having a lazy weekend brunch, the streets are brimming with a wealth of top-notch restaurants for breakfast in London. 1. Hawksmoor Book Hawksmoor Mac daddy of the steak, king of the breakfast. Free online booking available: Hawksmoor - Guildhall 2. Global fusion breakfasts at Kopapa are top drawer; the kaleidoscopic menu spans all corners, with ‘king of fusion food’ Peter Gordon’s masterful influence in full evidence. Free online booking available: Kopapa 3. 4. Retro Dualit toasters on each table at Breads Etcetera are perfect for hot, buttered toast with your breakfast. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
21 Amazing Hotels You Need To Visit Before You Die Credits: Bored Panda Take a look at some of the most amazing hotels in the world. Not everyone can afford holiday in one of these locations, however most of us would love to spend quality time with family or friends in these places. You might want to stay in the room underwater or perhaps enjoy your breakfast from the cave facing the sea. Everyone will find something interesting. 1. Website: myswitzerland.com 2. Website: kakslauttanen.fi 3. Website: ladera.com 4. Photographer Jesper Anhede/ www.anhede.se Image credits: Genberg Underwater Hotels/ 5. Website: rayavadee.com 6. Website: shangri-la.com 7. Website: grottapalazzese.it 8. Website: conradhotels3.hilton.com 9. Website: panchoran-retreat.com 10. Website: hanginggardensubud.com 11. Website: attrap-reves.com 12. katikies.com 13. Website: sirenuse.it 14. Website: icehotel.com 15. Website: thecambrianadelboden.com 16. Website: homesteadresort.com 17. Website: villaescudero.com 18. Website: oeschinensee.ch 19. Website: astartesuites.gr 20.
Stumblers Who Like The Cool Hunter - Amazing Places To Experience Around The... Preachers Rock, Preikestolen, Norway Blue Caves - Zakynthos Island, Greece Skaftafeli - Iceland Plitvice Lakes – Croatia Crystalline Turquoise Lake, Jiuzhaigou National Park, China Four Seasons Hotel - Bora Bora Ice skating on Paterswoldse Meer, a lake just South of the city of Groningen in the Netherlands. Marble Caves, Chile Chico, Chile The Gardens at Marqueyssac Ice Canyon - Greenland Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver, British Columbia Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada Multnomah Falls, Oregon Seljalandsfoss Waterfall on the South Coast of Iceland Petra - Jordan (at night) Verdon, Provence, France Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania, Australia Norway Alesund Birdseye of City Benteng Chittorgarh, India Riomaggiore, Italy Keukenhof Gardens - Netherlands. Sky Lantern Festival - Taiwan. Mount Roraima - Venezuela. Seychelles East Iceland. Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. New York City.
Bali's top 10 secrets From beach clubs and aphrodisiac cocktails to sophisticated high tea, the 'island of the Gods' has plenty to offer travellers. Here are Bali's top 10 secrets, as revealed in Bali Secrets from Deck of Secrets. Bali Asli Jl Raya Gelumpang Gelumpang Village Amlapura Karangasem Advertisement A day-trip must for foodies and those intrigued by Balinese culture. NOTE: Open for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Chiringuito El Kabron Jl Pantai Cemongkak Pecatu Perched high on the limestone cliffs of the Bukit Peninsula, the view from El Kabron is all Bali, while the vibe, the soundtrack and the cheerful blue and white décor are pure Ibiza-style 'chill out'. NOTE: Check the website for regular weekly events such as classic movie screenings on Tuesday. La Plancha Double Six Beach, Jl Double Six Seminyak Mozaic Beach Club Jl Pantai Batubelig Prepare yourself for something big, really big. Ungasan Mambal
Personality, budget-friendly luxury on Lonely Planet’s first top hotels list | Compass Mihir Gahr topped Lonely Planet's inaugural top hotels list. (Photo: James Kay / Lonely Planet) With its diverse first-ever list of the world’s top places to stay, Lonely Planet has a message for travelers: You don’t need to pay a lot to enjoy a memorable experience. The winners are as varied as they are over the top. Of course, special doesn’t always come cheap; a suite at Mihir Garh costs about $400 US a night (including meals), while others go for $350 to $600 or even higher. The Backpack in Cape Town, South Africa, was No. 1 among best value options. Tom Hall, editor of Lonelyplanet.com, said value for money was as important as any other factor in evaluating the properties. For those seeking even cheaper options, Lonely Planet also came up with a list of 10 budget properties, all of which cost less than $100 a night. “If anybody hasn’t stayed in a hostel for 15 or 20 years, I’d recommend they give it another try,” said Hall, who sometimes stays in hostels with his own family.