Before taking off to the airport this week consult these three travel websites for the best information, and the best possible resources.

TSA: Travel Assistant- can you take it on the plane? Will it pass security? This is the official place to get the answers!

Weather.com – whether flying or driving, this is the place for the most up-to-date weather conditions around the world.

SeatGuru – before you get on the plane, find out if there is ample leg room, a power port, a TV nearby, or if your seat reclines. This website knows all!

Thank you guest blogger, Caroline Cullern, World Travel Guide

London was heaving with the great and good from the travel world earlier this month when the World Travel Market exhibition came to the capital. Tourist boards, travel trade, press and travel professionals converged on the city for the fantastic four day event, spreading the word on the latest travel trends for the year to come.

Whilst winding through the sprawling mass of stands, it became apparent that one sector due to make it big in 2010 is adventure travel, but not in the sense that many may think. Adventure travel no longer means hanging from a cliff whilst wrestling an alligator. In fact, many of the holidays now on offer are focusing on the true spirit of adventure – exploring the world and experiencing new cultures at the same time.

Holidaymakers are now seeking a more authentic travel experience that they will remember for life, from volunteering holidays and working with endangered wildlife, to exploring remote terrain and heading out into the unknown.

With companies becoming much more creative in the types of packages on offer for budding adventurers I have chosen my top adventure holidays on the market.

Best wildlife experience: giant pandas in China

Unbelievably there are only 1,000 giant pandas left in the world so the chance to work with them as a volunteer panda keeper is a rare experience. Travel company i-to-i (www.i-to-i.com) offers “life changing travel” including a trip to a panda centre in China. Volunteers get the chance to baby sit cubs and care for rescued animals, as well as care for the incredibly adorable red pandas and indigenous golden monkeys.

Best trekking holiday: Vietnam hill tribe tour

Experience the lifestyle and culture of Vietnam on this 14-day trekking tour through unspoilt villages and mountainous landscapes south of Hanoi with Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com). The tour goes beyond the tourist traps and takes in stunning scenery. The trip also includes meeting Red Dzao hill tribes, planting a tree to help re-forestation, and sleeping in local stilt houses.

Best explorer choice: Sarawak longboat tour

The Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo is one of south east Asia’s best kept secrets and a perfect explorer’s paradise. Imaginative Traveller (www.imaginative-traveller.com) offers a nine-day longboat trip through the waterways and pristine rainforests of Gunung Mulu National Park. Travellers will delve into cave systems and climb limestone pinnacles, as well as spend a night in a traditional longhouse as a guest of the Iban people.

Best adrenaline boost: activity tour of New Zealand

Adventure Junkies (www.adventure-junkies.com) offer the ultimate adventure tours by combining a plethora of extreme sports. The 10-day tour starts with an exhilarating jet boat ride, before a mountain hike to kick-start your adrenaline. It’s followed by white water rafting, before a plane trip for stunning views of glaciers. The trip also includes rock climbing, heli-biking (being dropped off on a mountain by helicopter before plummeting back down by bike), a 12,000ft skydive, bungee jumping and sea kayaking. Breath-taking stuff.

Best volunteering project: teaching in Honduras

More than just a holiday, volunteering is a real opportunity to make a difference in some of the world’s poorest communities as well as a chance to experience local life. Ecoteer (www.ecoteer.com) offers a range of volunteering programmes arranged directly with grassroots organizations, such as teaching English to children in Honduras in an attempt to help them gain employment in the future.

Thank you guest blogger, Travel Eat Love!

One of the reasons that I travel is to discover local culinary specialties and to shop side by side with the locals at the places that they do their shopping. An ideal and delectable foodie destination is Barcelona.

Start your day with a walk to the Boqueria to participate in one of the best markets I have ever visited. Fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, baked goods, coffee, candy, and wine can all be found at the market, and the prices are excellent. I took the below photos of the market before getting yelled at (I would ask next time!), and you can easily see how incredibly colorful this market is. The smells, the sights, the sounds, the people bustling around with their groceries, all give a glimpse into the flavor of local cuisine and lifestyles.

After leaving the market, grab churros and silky, rich hot chocolate at a nearby café; they are everywhere!

Your morning activities may leave you sleepy, so head for an afternoon siesta, and prepare to spend the rest of the day enjoying Barcelona’s tapas scene.

Any lover of tapas will be in heaven and maybe slightly overwhelmed at the availability of tapas bars in Barcelona. An easy way to overcome the feeling of “too many tapas bars, too little time” is to make a meal of it, and go on a tapas crawl. Not unlike the pub crawls of your youth, a tapas crawl gives you the opportunity to try several different locations for different tapas courses.

Start out with pinchos (pinxtos), small, one bite tapas on long toothpicks like pan con tomate, a Catalan specialty of bread rubbed with garlic, tomato, and olive oil, maybe accompanied by a glass of bubbly cava. Wine is extremely reasonable in Spain, and you can take advantage of some great finds.

After washing down your pinchos, move on for slightly heartier tapas. Maybe you will try some jamon iberico, patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), or manchego cheese. And don’t miss out on the seafood specialties of Spain, gambas al ajillo (garlicky shrimp), berberechos (sweet shellfish), and pescado frito (fried small fish). Or perhaps you have an appetite for something bigger, a blend of seafood and meat in a fresh, local paella.

Eating the freshest seafood seaside in Barcelona in the warm November air is one of life’s great pleasures.

Paella

Gambas

Mariscos

Anywhere you go in Barcelona, from the hubbub of Las Ramblas to Barceloneta, you will find good food served by friendly locals who are more than willing to share their recommendations and travel tips.

If you would like to read more travel and food related posts, please visit my blog, Travel Eat Love, at traveleatlove.wordpress.com. Happy eating and traveling!

Thank you guest blogger, Bon Bon Rose!

Recently I had the good fortune of taking my second trip to Ireland. My husband, some friends and I flew into Belfast, rented a car, and spent the next 10 days lazily exploring all Ireland has to offer. Each morning with a Full Irish breakfast in our stomachs, we headed out on a new adventure filled with visions of green pastures, looming castles and charming pubs. Out of all our travels we deemed the people of Ireland the friendliest we had ever come across, each one happy to give advice to wayward travelers or share a pint in a cozy pub. After great debate, here are the 5 most scenic and breathtaking sites to see while in Ireland.

1. Giant’s Causeway: North from the city of Belfast is a rugged strip of coast called the Giant’s Causeway. An ancient volcanic eruption left thousands of these rugged hexagon pillars that are truly a feast for the imagination. Dramatic mountains and crashing waves provide the perfect backdrop for climbing and skipping on this natural wonder. A quick drive or rough hike along the coast and you will find one this swaying rope bridge, still being used for fisherman to get a better catch of the spawning salmon, or for tourists a way to test your adventurous spirit.

2) Mural Walls of Belfast: The city of Belfast has come a long way in the past decade. While controversy still exists between the ‘nationalists’ and the ‘unionists’, the two groups have learned to coexist as peacefully as possible. Throughout the city are painted mural walls serving as memorials and depicting the turbulent city’s history. A Black Taxi Tour drives one literally through the story of Belfast, stopping at murals along the way to illustrate the stories of those left behind.

3) Kinsale: A charming harbor town 25k south of the city of Cork, Kinsale is every foodies dream. Hundreds of sail boats with rich green pastures provide a picturesque back drop for a freshly caught gourmet lunch in this delightful culinary town. Winding streets with boutiques and churches are a great way to walk off those extra well spent calories!

4) Blarney Castle: Ireland’s most well know tourist destination, the Blarney Castle and Stone, are a worthy stop along your trip to Ireland. The medieval castle is in good condition and the manicured grounds and pathways make an afternoon visit a delightful experience. One expects to find Blarney Castle an overrated tourist trip but actually finds a jewel preserved and polished. Climb to the top, close your eyes, and envision horses with knights galloping towards the castle doors. Besides, no trip to the Emerald Isle is truly complete without a kiss of the infamous Blarney Stone.

5) Cliffs of Moher: Positioned on the Western coast of Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher jut 700 feet into the sky. Misty waters and a view of the Aran Islands are a dazzling sight to behold. Perched on top of the cliffs, as close to the edge as one’s beating heart will allow, is a must when visiting Ireland. The green grassy cliff tops and nearby sheep complete the Irish experience.

Megan Yarmuth, is the co-author of www.BonBonRose9.blogspot.com, the site that dabbles in fashion, decor and everything in between.

Photography: Floyd Yarmuth, www.yarmuthphotography.com

If the thought of warm tropical breezes, coconuts and palm-lined beaches, monkeys, sloths and unforgettable sunsets stirs up your emotions… then it just might be time to take a vacation to Costa Rica.

Come explore with us!

Even though Costa Rica is a relatively small country (about the size of West Virginia), the scenery (and temperature) literally changes from hour to hour. Known as a multi-destination destination, Costa Rica offers cool mountain cloud forests, warm tropical beaches, active volcanoes, waterfalls, rivers and rain forests all filled with an astounding variety of animal and plant life.

We at MuchaCostaRica have traveled all over this amazingly beautiful country and offer our personal experiences in order to help you plan the perfect vacation. Knowing where to go, how to get there and in what order to do it all in can be challenging, so that’s why we’re here to help. We specialize in customized vacation packages and are dedicated to providing our customers with honest and sincere customer service.

Get started planning today and remember…

We’ve truly been there and done that, and we can’t wait to help you do the same!

Hope to see you soon!

~ Rayna

Thank you guest blogger, Motormouth from Ipoh, for this delicious post!

Have you seen my last post on claypot crab ‘tanghoon’ (glass vermicelli noodles) at Rasa Lain Restaurant (Chinese name : “Mei But Tung”) in Bercham? That same restaurant has garnered enough attention of its own, with appearance in the tube courtesy of the food show named Taste With Jason (you can read about it from Axian’s blog HERE).

Fueled by sufficient promotion, a myriad of reviews on the net, plus Rasa Lain’s already famous reputation amongst the Ipohans, it is no wonder the place is packed on most evenings, especially weekends and public holidays. There was once when we could not even get a seat at Rasa Lain, and had to take a detour to Hoy Tin Lau for dinner. But that was a week or so after the restaurant was featured on Axian’s show on Astro AEC channel. So, as the Chinese saying goes; “New Toilet” (San Si Hang) may ring true after all.

Slithering down one’s throat, the braised glass vermicelli soaked up all the flavours from the thick and peppery broth

But just like the war between the Tauge Ayam (Nga Choy Kai) outlets, and the lesser-known battle between curry mee proprietors, Rasa Lain is NOT the only restaurant in Ipoh, or Bercham for that matter, serving the famed Claypot Crab Tanghoon. Another equally popular restaurant, named Same Taste (or ‘Ya But Tung‘ …. correction : it should be Mei Ya Tung (thanks CPK!)) garnered enough following on its own, and recently has even moved to the main road of Bercham, promising ease of access, especially those exiting from the North-South Expressway …..

Steamed Soon Foong Fish with wolfberries, garlic cloves, ginger, carrots and spring onions (RM38.00)

Previously, the two shop-lots were occupied by another ‘Dai Chow’ (Chinese cuisine of dishes with rice) restaurant, named Chap Heng which held its ground rather well, dishing up some rather tasty dishes. But no chance to share them on my blog here with you , for I stashed the photos in the backlog section since a year ago, and has completely forgot about them. Oh well.

Back to the present, Same Taste Restaurant is actually run by the brother of Rasa Lain Restaurant, and seemingly started the claypot crab tanghoon extravaganza BEFORE Rasa Lain ever did. Take it with a pinch of salt though, for I heard it all from the grapevine, this one. Hehehe …. Not from the horse’s mouth, but from one of the staff in Same Taste. Though she did look a LOT like the lady boss herself, running the place with ease.

Thai-style Braised Pork Trotter (RM15)

Comparing head to head between the claypot crab tanghoon was no easy feat, when my last dining experience at Rasa Lain was more than a year ago. But I can attest to the fact that Same Taste’s version was much less peppery and salty, and even the last few spoonfuls of the gravy was scooped and relished without the urge to pump water (or in this case, Chinese tea) into one’s throat soonafter. Unlike Rasa Lain’s highly flavourful broth, which was a little too much to stomach when the claypot was being polished clean, being a tad saltier than desired.

But one minor gripe was the lack of pork bacon in Same Taste’s version, a disappointing fact for I prefer some porky bits at the bottom of the pot for that extra oomph. Rasa Lain’s claypot crab tanghoon included these babies, and the pieces of bacon lent a nice smoky aroma to the overall ensemble. There were at least two crabs being served with the noodles, readily-cracked and brimming with sweet flesh, so one does not have to gnaw, bite, and risk losing a tooth or two like the experience at Suang Le River’s.

Nothing beats a tummy-warming, pepper-infused concoction on a chilly, rainy evening ….

The steamed Soon Foong fish (Not sure of its English name. Anyone?) came in smooth and succulent cuts, steamed in a slightly tangy soy sauce mix with a dash of vinegar (I think) and sesame oil, bits of wolfberries (gei chi), and garnished with ginger and carrot shreds, coriander leaves and spring onions. There were even garlic cloves in the sauce, and the method of steaming the fish reminded me of Teo Chew style, with a twist.

The Thai-style Braised Pork Trotter was passable, but none of the flying colours criteria. We ordered a plate of greens as well, to balance out the calorie-laden dishes. (P/S : The trotter was FAT, mind you).

The meal came to RM120 for the 5 of us, inclusive of rice, and tea.

Address & Contact Number :

Same Taste Restaurant

No 222 & 224, Jalan Bercham,

Taman Ria, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

Tel No : +6012-502 1132 (Arun Tan), +6012-506 6111 (pH Lim) and +6016-531 6679 (L.M. Tai)

Here’s the GOOGLE MAP TO SAME TASTE RESTAURANT

Directions : Exiting the North-South Expressway (PLUS) at Ipoh Selatan exit (coming from the south, you’ll first reach the new TAMBUN exit, then only reach the Ipoh Selatan exit, but bear in mind that the signboard indicates only IPOH, Tambun and Tanjung Rambutan. Once you reach a T-junction traffic lights, turn right towards Bercham and Tasek. At the next traffic lights, turn right and you’ll pass by Tesco Extra hypermarket on your left. Go straight until you reach another traffic lights. Go straight again, and you’ll see a row of shops on your left. Same Taste Restaurant is in the midst of that row.

Thank you guest blogger, kiwitravelwriter.com Heather Hapeta for this entertaining post!

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2010 book says (pg35) “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and last time we checked the land of Maori and hobbits certainly didn’t need repairing. Once again New Zealand has been put in the top ten countries which you ‘ought to put on your agenda in 2010”

Having Middle-earth right on my doorstep, it seemed I too needed to drop in on the land of the hobbits and check out the Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour (www.hasslefree.co.nz) to see what all the fuss is about.

And here, I have to confess: until this trip I was a LotR virgin! True. As shocking as that may seem to some, I have not read the books nor seen the movies – it was almost a shameful secret – but now I know a little and I’m willing to share it with you. And, it seems these tours deep into Middle Earth are becoming more and more popular as time goes by.

The tour starts in Christchurch, and shortly after I was picked up in Cathedral Square, Rex, the driver and guide for the day, pointed out the school attended by the teenage murderers depicted in Heavenly Creatures

NZ has a great tradition of great movie making – The American Film Institute has called the New Zealand film industry “one of the wonders of the world… an unparalleled success story” see more here

As we drove out we watch a DVD about ‘the quest for the ring’ which gave someone like me a background to the day and the film. I also learnt Tolkien was born in South Africa ( to English parents) and that, as well as having to create a road to get to ‘Edoras’  and  the ‘rocky outcrop beside silver streams’ that Tolkien described in his books, Rex also tells us “the village took months to build, they were there filming for 3 weeks, then it was dismantled.”

So on we drove, past trout-filled lakes, through little country villages, over the Canterbury plains and glacial-formed braided rivers, passed tussock covered hills until we emerged in the ‘secret valley’; home of Mt. Sunday, 95 metres (over 600ft)  above sea-level and which was transformed into Edoras, capital city of the Rohan people for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

As dramatic music soars in the vehicle we are welcomed: “Welcome to the Kingdom of Rohan in Middle Earth”– our guide makes it a momentous occasion.

Driving over private land and through the silver streams, zigzagging through what seems to be an unmarked track, we arrive at the foot of Mt. Sunday (it’s funny to be on Sunday on a Monday) and in four-wheel-drive, we head for the summit and at about half way, stop and complete the pilgrimage to the top on foot – with some of the other travellers carrying replica weapons of those used in the movies. It seems the Weta workshop made some 48,000 pieces for the LotR: make sure you visit this multi Academy Award wining company in their ‘cave’ in Wellington.

The 360 degree view from the summit of Mt. Sunday is extraordinary but of course you don’t want a blow by blow account of my fantastic day to spoil your own trip with Hassle-Free Tours – but I do need to tell you I am converted, I will watch the movies and play ‘spot the sites I saw’, and heard about by the wonderful word pictures painted for us by our guide.

After mock battles and posing for photos we escape the wind that rushes down the valley by retreating to an old, sheltered, woolshed for a yummy lunch washed down with either bubbles or fruit juice, before heading back to Christchurch.

I was not surprised to learn this company has been a finalist in the prestigious NZ Tourism Awards and are Qualmark endorsed too.

They are also the first company on New Zealand to convert their entire fleet to run on bio-fuel made from waste cooking oil. Would I recommend them? Absolutely!

Note: Hassle-Free Tours (www.hasslefree.co.nz ) also run Christchurch city tours, and an Alpine Safari which includes a jet boat, 4×4 vehicles and the TranzAlpine train so check their website for up-to-date information.

Visit the official CheapOair Travel Blog to see today’s Flickr photo of the week! And read the latest in travel news and deals! Check it out today!

What are the top ten most popular and cheapest US destinations??

10. Austin, Texas

9. Las Vegas, Nevada

8. Baltimore, Maryland

7. Washington, DC

6. Portland, Oregon

5. Charlotte, North Carolina

4. Phoenix, Arizona

3. Atlanta, Georgia

2. Tampa, Florida

1….  What do you think it should be??? Tell us what you think the best bang for the vacation buck is!

Welcome Today’s Guest Blogger Turner, from onceatraveler.com/.

Japan has quite possibly one of the most extensive and efficient transportation systems in the world, ranging from long and short distance buses, high speed trains, ferries, domestic aircraft, and a soon to be completed magnetic levitation track between Osaka and Tokyo. Due to visitors’ desires to see as much of the country in a limited time, it should come as no surprise that these methods are readily used and English friendly. But be warned: although Japan may have everything you want in a tourist destination, from comfortable hotels, sightseeing in every small town, and delicious food, the cost of getting from A to B can be ten to twenty times the equivalent transportation in China or Thailand (about 2-3 times that of the US); when I had a late night out in downtown Kagoshima and missed the 10:22 bus for a mere 290 Yen (~$3 US), the taxi home would cost me 2900 Yen… more often than not, I walked the ten kilometers uphill at 2 AM.

Although you may not be passing through an area as “small” as Kagoshima City, be aware that if you do wait until the end of the day to arrange a train bus, etc., you often end up with the fastest, i.e. the most expensive. Even during the day and staying on the beaten path in terms of attractions, the average traveler will find his wallet significantly shrinking with each excursion. What then, are some of the best ways to save a buck and still make the most of your time in the land of the rising sun?

Japan Rail Pass

The JR Pass is without a doubt the best decision you can make… as long as you’re a tourist, not a resident of Japan. Order one of these prior to departure and you will receive a claim slip that can be redeemed at any major train station for a pass with the trademark tsunami picture on a shiny cover, entitling the bearer to unlimited travel on the shinkansen (known to outsiders as the “bullet train”), the local trains, and even the ferry to the island of Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

There are several JR passes to choose from, depending on your travel plans. If you’re restricting yourself to one island, try the Hokkaido, and Kyushu passes. If you want to spend one day in northern Honshu (main island) and the next in sunny Kyushu, go for the standard all-access pass, which is available for 7, 14, and 21 days (although you can buy as many as you like).

There are only two restrictions when it comes to these passes: you cannot ride the Nozomi high speed trains (the fastest of the shinkansen), and if you’re switching to local lines, the limited express trains are also off limits.

Useful links

http://www.japanrailpass.net/

Seishun Juhachi Kippu

The “youthful 18″ ticket was designed for eighteen-year-olds to travel on a limited budget. But you don’t have to be a teenager to take advantage of the cheap train travel. Three times a year – Feb 20th to Mar 31st, Jul 1st to Aug 31st, Dec 1st to jan 10th – these tickets are sold a week or so prior to implementation; for 11,500 Yen (~$110 US), the bearer receives a stamp card with five days’ worth of travel. Like the JR passes, they allow unlimited travel on trains and require you to purchase an extra ticket if you want to ride the limited expresses; unlike the JR passes, you are limited to local trains, friends can share, and the days of use can be separated: getting the ticket stamped on a Sunday doesn’t mean your fun has to end that same Thursday.

Useful links

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html

Ferries

There are many small islands south of Tokyo and Kagoshima Prefecture that merit visits: natural hot springs, looming volcanoes (usually the island is just one big volcano), and small town mentality. Although a few aircraft do fly to the semi-major destinations like Amami Oshima and Yakushima – home of huge cedar trees – most are only accessible by ferry.

Although in some cases the ferries only save you a few thousand yen and take significantly more time than aircraft, they’re a much more leisurely way to travel, with many containing first class suites, Japanese-style baths (ofuro), and, if you happen to choose an international ferry between Osaka and Shanghai, a full game of table tennis.

Useful links

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2355_01.html

http://www.fune.co.jp/

Planes

As a international traveler in Japan on a tourist’s visa, there are opportunities made available to you that residents of Japan cannot partake. Airlines in Japan, like the trains, buses, and everything else, are impossibly punctual: at the gate 15 minutes prior to departure for check in, boarding 5 minutes prior, and you go on time. I’ve seldom seen a late flight (though I suppose it does happen).

JAL (Japan Airlines), and ANA (All Nippon Airways) offer a “Welcome to Japan” special, with each domestic flight costing a flat rate of 13,650 yen; the catch is the flights have to booked outside the country, and there are many blackout periods… aren’t there always. Your best option would be to travel during your birthday week, where you and up to three friends can take advantage of a discount of 12,000 yen/fight within a week of your special day.

Useful links

http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=374&pID=770

To save money, DO NOT:

1. Take overnight buses and trains; despite the late hour, they are usually more expensive.

2. Ride limited express trains. If you have the choice between a local and limited express, always go for the local. Are you really in that much of a hurry? Enjoy the scenery.

3. Travel during peak seasons: April for the cherry blossoms, August for Obon holiday and fireworks displays, Christmas and New Year’s for the same reason. Obviously this is more of a guideline as most tourists and Japanese travel to see the cherry blossoms; just be aware of the congestion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33qxTMA9XTA

4. Hail a taxi. This is a good rule for any country, but just don’t bother in Japan; the prices are ridiculous, and unless you need to go somewhere between 12-5 AM, there will be a bus or train within walking distance.

5. Take a train or bus to Hokkaido. I’m fully supportive of you going to this northern island and seeing the delights of the Sapporo Snow Festival and the onsen (hot springs) in Otaru, but take a plane. The shinkansen train north will only go as far as Hachinohe, where you wait before transfering to a limited express to take to you the mouth of the world’s longest undersea tunnel (it really does beat the Chunnel), the Seikan.

To reach the city of Sapporo from Tokyo takes approximately 11 hours, 23100 yen by train, 1.5 hours, 12000 yen by plane. Half the price and one tenth the time?? There’s no comparison.