The Travel Snob

Raft Maine's Dead River, the Longest Stretch of Whitewater in the Eastern U.S. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Maine's Dead River, which flows from Flagstaff Lake, offers the longest continuous stretch of Class III to V whitewater in the East. The sixteen-mile trip begins below Grand Falls, culminating at the the confluence with the Kennebec River in The Forks and Big Poplar Falls. Melt waters from Maine's deep snow pack insure high water levels throughout the spring, and the Dead River releases high water only ten times a season, six of which are in the spring. "Lake refills are right on target," confirms Wes Hallowell, river engineer for Kennebec Water Power that oversees the Kennebec and Flagstaff watershed reports. "We can expect to have all high water releases as scheduled."

This year's spring high water release dates:

• May 5, 12 & 27
• June 2, 9 & 17

One of the fun benefits of rafting in the spring is the wildlife; eagles and osprey build their nests high above the river gorges, while moose feed along the rivers before they head deep into the forest to escape the summer heat. The season traditionally begins May 1st, some hardy souls have been known to push the season right after ice-out in April. The water is chilly and wet suits are mandatory, but the rides are thrilling with the added volume of the spring run-off.

For more info on whitewater rafting in Maine, visit RaftMaine.com, an association of professional whitewater outfitters. They can provide maps of the Dead River locating the rapids, as well as their Class levels, current river flow, water temperature and wave height.

- The Travel Snob

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Independent Travellers Heading for Southeast Asia Can Travel Lighter with a Downloadable PDF Guide from Travelfish . TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

This week, down-and-dirty travel site Travelfish launched their downloadable PDF guide to Ho Chi Minh City, the latest in their growing stable of snappy insider guides, and their first for Vietnam. "We want travellers to navigate their way through Southeast Asia's top destinations without being weighed down by out-of-date guidebooks containing way more information than they need," says Travelfish founder and veteran traveller Stuart McDonald about the concise but comprehensive guides; they print out to A4 size paper before the trip or on-the-go at Internet cafes. "Travellers can simply choose Travelfish guides to the places they are actually going -- each usually costing far less than an airport cab in the city they're travelling to."

While heavy, bulk print guidebooks can take more than six months to reach shelves after a researcher has been on the ground, Travelfish guides are up-to-the-minute. "The writing is on the wall for the legacies [traditional guidebooks]. There is a whole new way of travelling for the latest generation of backpackers -- and flashpackers -- thanks to the internet." says McDonald, who spent years backpacking in Southeast Asia and has now lived in the region for a decade. "Travelfish is at the forefront."

Each Travelfish guide is thoroughly researched on the ground by experienced travellers who do their best to conceal their identity and never accept freebies, to ensure their readers get realistic, warts-and-all reviews of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, bars and sights:

• Cambodia: Siem Reap & Angkor Wat with Phnom Penh launching in two weeks
• Laos: Vientiane, Champasak & more off-the-beaten-track destinations in remote southern Laos
• Thailand: Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Bangkok; diver's paradise Ko Tao on the way
• Coming soon: 24 titles by the end of 2007, including Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon & Central Highlands

For more info, visit Travelfish.org.

- The Travel Snob

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Travel Like an Insider with the New "Let's Travel" Travel Radio Show & Podcast. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

    

TribecaRadio.net's newest show offers an insider's look at trips for people of all lifestyles, budgets, age groups and physical abilities. Host Susan Raphael interviews a vast array of globe-trotters, artists, writers, chefs, musicians and designers from around the world about their personal adventures, cultural perspectives and found treasures! She also shares news of the joyous journeys and secret hideaways of the show's listening audience. An intrepid traveler herself, Raphael has braved the sands of the Sahara in search of the perfect Berber carpet, maneuvered through the moterini of Milan to find the quintessential Italian handbag and scoured the patisseries of Paris for the fluffiest French croissant. "Our show is for people of all means, ages and abilities," she explains. "We want to excite listeners, surprise listeners and send them "packing"!

For the premier show, Raphael visit Italy, the number one destination for returning travelers, and scores tips & trics on everything from securing the most coveted reservations in Italy to the best current travel promotions from Consul General of Italy to the United States, Antonio Bandini, and Dottore Riccardo Strano, director for North America of the Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT). Upcoming shows discuss looking at architecture when you travel with Joan Blumenfeld & Frederic Bell of the New York City chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA); Morocco & Andalusia with a Moroccan Gnawa trance dance musician and two American filmmakers; traveling for the physically challenged; how to feel "at home" abroad; how to pack and what to take; travel bargains; around the world in 80 meals; doing business abroad; medical advice for travelers; and traveling celebrity style.

Each show is podcast the following Tuesday so stay tuned at TribecaRadio.net

- The Travel Snob

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(photo: digital-photography-school.com)

A New Resource Devoted to Diving the Red Sea's "Corridor of Marvels" - TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Recent years have seen the discovery of new shipwrecks, reefs and animal gatherings along what Jacques Cousteau called 'the corridor of marvels' in the Red Sea, the number one destination for divers in Europe and the UK. The newly published Dive Red Sea: The Ultimate Guide (Ultimate Sports) brings to life over 100 of the Red Sea's top dive locations, combining the snappy writing, images by award-winning photographers Alex Mustard, Charles Hood, Jane Morgan & JP Trenque, and high quality mapping, and specially commissioned graphic illustrations of the region's most important shipwrecks.

In addition to covering the popular dive sites of Egypt, the authors explore all eight nations with Red Sea coastlines, including the wilder zones of the sea in countries such as Sudan and Djibouti, Saudi Arabia's "forbidden zone", newly discovered wreck dives in Egypt, new dive sites in Jordan's Gulf of Aqaba, whale shark aggregation in Djibouti, and the first major account of Sudan's manta ray site. There are also special sections on the formation, history and natural history of the Red Sea, marine life identification, advice about photography and videography and getting the best from the Red Sea including how to stay safe in the water, even on the most demanding dives. Essential advice on travel, diving etiquette and local culture is included, along with details of marine conservation organisations. For non-diving days, there is coverage of land-based attractions such as Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan and The Valley of the Kings and Mount Sinai and St Catherine's in Egypt.

For more information, visit ArtOfDiving.com.

- The Travel Snob

Singles Travel International Announces New Luxury Cruises to the Caribbean, Galapagos, Alaska, Greece, Norway and QM2 Trans-Atlantic. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

      

Although the idea of braving a cruise sans partner might seem intimidating, Singles Travel International makes it downright desirable. Boasting a 75% repeat clientele, they specialize in trips for the solo traveler; every group with 20 or more members is accompanied by an international escort available around the clock, and their staff organizes multiple tour activities, allowing participants to be as involved (or not) as the mood strikes. With a full roster of fun destinations on offer, all you have to do is show up with your fabulous self - and prepare to meet other singles in the same, er, boat.

Singles Travel Internation 2007 Schedule (rates are per person based on double occupancy):

April, May, June

• April 2-10 Caribbean Cruise on the QM2. Celebrate the Easter & Passover holiday at sea and visit Eastern Caribbean - Bonaire, Grenada & St. Kitts. (Starts at $1,099)
• April 20-May 5 Galapagos & Optional Ecuador Extension.  Visit these isolated islands and their rare creatures aboard the Celebrity Xpedition. (Starts at $4,345)
• May 26-June 2 Liberty of the Seas Caribbean Cruise Memorial Day Weekend. Visit Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Private Island in Labadee, San Juan Puerto Rico, and St. Maarten. ($1,180)
• June 1-June 4 Real Estate Investment Cruise Designed for the new investor, from Miami aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas. Visit the private islands of Coco Cay, and Nassau, Bahamas. ($399)
• June 16-26 Norwegian Odyssey Cruise on QM2. Back by popular demand, view the Fjords of Norway aboard the Queen Mary 2. ($1,599)

July, August, September, October

• July 2-6 QM2 4th of July in the Bahamas. Experience the "Greatest Ocean Liner of Our Time" the Queen Mary 2. ($889)
• August 13-24 Heart of Alaska Cruise and Tour.  Enjoy Alaska's wilder side in this 11 day journey, with a combination of grand class cruising, and luxury, spend 2 nights in the #1 wilderness lodge south of Denali National Park. ($1,919)
• September 10-22 Mediterranean Medley Cruise aboard QM2. Discover a cache of treasures on this 12 day cruise from Southampton England to Rome, Barcelona, Portugal, French Riviera. ($2,129)
• September 22-28 Transatlantic Crossing on QM2.  From Southampton England to New York, think of this experience as a 5-day visit to a luxury spa with no interruptions. A must-do for any sophisticated traveler. ($1,059)
• September 28-October 7 New York Splendors of Fall Cruise aboard the QM2.  A fall colors cruise from New York to Quebec and the exciting stops in Newport, Boston, Halifax and Bar Harbor. ($1,729)
• October 20-27 Greek Island Cruise. Depart Venice, Italy on the Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas, and visit the Greek ports of Athens, Mykonos, Katakalon, Corfu, Split, and Croatia. ($749)

December, January '08

• December 20-January 3 Holiday Cruise. Celebrate the holidays like a star aboard one of the grandest vessels afloat. Visit Tortola, St. Maarten, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. Round-trip from New York. ($2,762)
• December 29, '07-January 5 New Year's Eve Caribbean Cruise.  Set sail from Miami aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas, and visit their private island in Labadee, Haiti; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Caymen and Cozumel, Mexico. ($1,290)

For more info, visit  SinglesTravelIntl.com

- The Travel Snob

Live Vicariously Through Expedition 360 as they Circumnavigate the Globe, Solely by Human Power Alone. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

All aboard the good pedal boat Moksha.

In a bid to become the first team to circumnavigate the world solely by human power - no sails, hot air balloons, planes, trains or automobiles allowed - the Expedition 360 team has used feet, rollerblades, and most recently, a pedal-boat. They are currently  crossing the Indian Ocean from Mumbai to Djibouti aboard the Moksha,  avoiding pirates, fighting difficult currents, and struggling with water-maker failure. Despite failing equipment, fatigue, and diminishing food supplies, they are entering the final stretch of a 40,000 mile odyssey which began at the Greenwich Meridian in July 1994, a journey so difficult, no one has yet completed it.

In addition to circling the world by means of human power alone, the team has hoped to use the adventure as a classroom-learning tool (their blog is updated daily via satellite phone), encourage world citizenship between cultures, and promote environmental responsibility and to live fully and enjoy the experience. "We're proud to sponsor an expedition that is not only setting records, but also providing an opportunity for educators to use the experience as a teaching tool," says Kevin O'Neal, President of Travel Insurance Services, one of the trip's sponsors. "It's taking adventure travel to the next level." 

If Expedition 360 succeeds (hopefully by late summer), their journey will be honored with an entry in the Guinness World Records, ranking with similarly great achievements of early explorers like Magellan and Sir Francis Drake, who circumnavigated by sail.

Read more about Expedition 360 at Expedition360.com.

- The Travel Snob

Fly Over Moscow at Warp Speed in a MiG Fighter Jet. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Incredible Adventures of Sarasota, Florida offers fantasy flights over Russia in either a legendary MiG-29 or a high-flying MiG-31. And no pilot's license is required to break the sound barrier, climb to the edge of space or perform air show caliber maneuvers; as long as you meet the basic age & health requirements, you qualify. (Don't worry, the company has over 2000 flights under its belt.)

Made possible through an arrangement with the Sokol Aircraft Building Plant in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, the flights are available on weekdays, from March through November. Typically the waiting list is about two months long, so advance reservations are required.

For more info, visit Incredible-Adventures.com.

- The Travel Snob
 

Rwanda is a Fab Destination, Whether Saddled with the Fam, or Flying Solo. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Enjoying a peaceful midday siesta al fresco.

"Rwanda will not deny her past, but is moving forward and recognizing her strengths," says  John Kayihura, owner and operator of Silverback's Adventures in Rwanda. "The stunning natural beauty of this region and the tenacity and warm nature of Rwanda's people are terrific assets." Although the Land of a Thousand Hills is struggling, to some extent, to overcome its past, it's made remarkable strides in the years since the 1994 genocide (make sure the Genocide Museum in Kigali is on your itinerary). 

However, most adventure travelers will want to continue on to visit the mountain gorillas made famous by Dian Fossey, along with soaking in the country's natural beauty. Silverback's Adventures offers guided itineraries to the mysterious Nyungwe Forest - 13 primate species (one quarter of Africa's total number of primate species), over 100 species of orchids, & 1068 plant species - one of the priority sites of conservation in Africa. Of particular note is A'Kagera National Park in eastern Rwanda (it shares the border with Tanzania); it boasts more than 2500 square km of lakes, savanna, grasslands and woodlands, providing ideal habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Look for elephants, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, lions, leopards and dozens of species of antelope - and unparalleled birdwatching opportunities.

"We at Silverback's strive to see to it that our unspoiled jungles, rivers and lakes are left for future generations to enjoy," notes Kayihura. "This will only be achieved by teaching the youth to understand, love and conserve this unique region of tremendous bio-diversity and beauty while providing our visitors with an unforgettable experience."

For more info, visit SilverbacksAdventures.rw.

- The Travel Snob

Fly Fishing in Baja, Mexico? Si, Si, Si. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Fishing in the Sea of Cortez has been recognized as some of the best sport fishing in the world, and now that AmericanFlyFishingTravel.com has teamed up with Baja Fly Fishing Co., a premiere Baja guide service, finding the prime fishing spots just got easier. "I just love the action when I'm on the Sea of Cortez," says AmericanFlyFishing.com co-owner Gary Eblen, about the fishing at the East Cape region, where prize Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Dorado, Roosterfish and Wahoo move north in the spring and back south in the fall migration.

Only a short trip from nearby North America & featuring relatively inexpensive airline connections, Mike Riesser of Baja Fly Fishing Co. thinks the time market for sport fishing in Baja is on the up-swing. "Fly fishing in Baja has never been better and more accessible."

For more info, visit AmericanFlyFishingTravel.com.
 

- The Travel Snob

(photo: flyfishtravel.com)

Find a Travel Needle in a Haystack with Lonely Planet's Newest Accommodation Booking Website. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

If you're the adventurous sort who enjoys your travel off the beaten path, but still digs excellent accomodation, Lonely Planet's Haystack is serving up a unique 'invitation only' booking service that features only properties that have been chosen, visited, reviewed and recommended by a Lonely Planet author.

"Whenever you go checking places out grumpy hotel owners say "Why do you guys come at such difficult times?" and that's exactly why we do it. We want to see places at their best and worst," explains one of Lonely Planet's intrepid authors. "First thing in the morning when people are checking out is always a good time to see how people handle being busy, plus there's always a helpful cleaner who might let you see a room that you might not otherwise have caught on the grand tour. The most important thing is to avoid the "official tour," where the people at the desk get the manager and you get shown how light switches work or invited for a cup of tea. Sometimes this can mean sneaking around the front desk or talking to people who are staying there or even just breaking up that tour by saying "What about these rooms?" You have to review against what you're being shown, which often means being pretty annoying to hotel staff." Adds another of their authors: "I don't really jump on beds, but I do look closely to see that the bedspreads are clean (I hate gunky-looking patterned bedspreads), suss out the bathrooms for water pressure and mould, test the windows to see if they can be opened and open wardrobes to look for wire coat hangers (yuck!). I often check minibar prices to see if they're extortionate, and I like to look at communal areas to see how guests and guests of guests are treated. I like to say hello to the people who clean the rooms to, you can tell a lot about a place by the greeting that's returned - and I think everyone in a hotel/motel or wherever should be happy to be there, even if it's for work."

In fact, many of their properties were not previously bookable online through any other service. "We are inviting our favorite properties from around the globe to join the service -- whether it's a backpackers in Sydney, an eco-resort in Yap, or a boutique hotel in Rome," says Dan Christian, Lonely Planet's Haystack Product Manager. "Haystack is a unique service in that every property listed is recommended as a great place to stay. Every property review is 100% independent and written by an experienced travel writer." Currently, Haystack boasts over 1000 properties in more than 58 countries, and more are being added all the time. "Haystack will continue to grow daily as more destinations and properties are added to the site throughout 2007 and beyond."

For more info, visit Haystack.LonelyPlanet.com.

- The Travel Snob