The Travel Snob

Got a Mortgage? Use it to Finance Your Globetrotting Ways. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

While it may sound too good to be true, the fact is, if you've got a mortgage, you've got the financial means to travel through the magic of refinancing.

As an added travel-minded twist on extracting the equity from your property for what you really want to do - travel! - the American Mortgage & Real Estate Group (AMRE) is sweetening the pot with air miles.  “In a limited promotional offer, we will exchange air miles with every customer who refinances with our EquityBuilder+ product," explains Vladimir Rozumniy of AMRE about the deal in which every mortgage dollar refinanced on mortgages valued between $100,000 & $1 million - equals an air mile.

For more info, call 1.877.MyAirMiles or visit AMREGroup.com.

- The Travel Snob

(image: corporatetravelsafety.com)

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Visit France at a Luxuriously Relaxed Pace. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

"Too many people these days travel purely to tick items off a list of things to be seen, rather than letting the experience truly seep through," notes the French-born Anne Suire, the owner of Luxury Travel Consultant, which has six new tours of France on offer for fall, all focusing on various regional specialties - and all at a relaxed pace.

Designed for small groups of 8-10 people, they are divided into three categories of two tours each:

1. for women who like art, food, wine, and shopping
2. with a focus on painting in the Luberon region of France
3. the high life in a plush castle outside Avignon with an expert chef, housekeepers and waiters

All the tours include:

• visits to wineries
• tours of the region
• visits to local artists like potters, sculptors and designers
• transfers & first-class TGV train rides
• stays in luxury villas and castles
• additional facilities: private chef, daily housekeeping, luxury car rentals & chauffeurs

"Our tours are not touristy but rather educational, and we want our clients to see the world from a different perspective and feel absolutely at home in France." For France at a more French pace, visit LuxuryTravelConsultant.com.

- The Travel Snob

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Eco-Friendly Advice for Traveling Green. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

(illustration: msnbc.com)

SFGate.com offers these tips for staying green on the road:

• BEFORE YOU GO: Turn down the thermostat & water heater in your home; place a hold on your newspaper delivery.

• PATRONIZE GREEN TRAVEL PROVIDERS: How can you tell if a hotel, tour company or other travel provider has a genuine commitment to environmental preservation? Have them e-mail a copy of their eco-policy, and see if their catalog is printed on recycled paper. If you're booking a tour, ask if accommodations are at chain hotels or locally owned lodgings. A good place to start is Lonely Planet's Code Green which lists almost 100 eco-friendly trips.

• REUSE HOTEL TOWELS & SHEETS: Many hotels now change towels & sheets only upon request. If a towel is on the floor, it will be replaced, while those hanging on the rack are left to dry. Leave housekeeping a note stating that you don't need the towels or sheets changed, and ask that the hotel refrain from from using chemical air fresheners and cleaning products in your room.

• IS YOUR TRIP GREEN...OR GREENWASHED? According to Jim Sano of Geographic Expeditions, many companies present themselves as green when they really are not. Ask outfitters how they select tour operators, whether they support local people, and what they do to minimize impact on the areas they visit.

• BE ECO-ACTIVE In a new city, travel by bus on on foot.  Walking is not only greener but also opens you to fun encounters. Bike touring, whitewater rafting and kayaking can also be green, depending on the tour operator.

• BYOT (BRING YOUR OWN TRASH) If you're in a remote area such as the mountains or the desert, bring as little potential trash along, and pack out whatever waste you create.

• CONSIDER YOUR FOOTPRINT After a day of trekking in the Himalayas, it might be high time for a cold beer and hot shower, but bear in mind that tourist demands can lead to increased deforestation (to heat water) or to the disruption of traditional ways.

For more green travel ideas, check out these resources:

• EthicalTraveler.org
• Responsible  Travel.com
• GreenTraveller.co.uk
• Green Travel Network

- via SFGate.com

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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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The Ratings Guy Uncovers the Best Travel Websites Out There. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

"I want an honest evaluation about my travel destination with candid photos, traveler's opinions and real-life stories from locals on the ground and from recent visitors," explains Katherine Morrow, co-founder of TheRatingGuy.com - which just released their new list of Great Travel Sites...of which a scant 19 made the grade. "Printed books can't keep up with the rate of change in the travel industry. So many options are available today, and with the power of web-based social communities, I can find what suits my personal needs so much better. My Google search today for "travel sites" revealed 273 million results. What is that going to do for me? We help the consumer to get to the better site sooner and here they are."

Rating a variety of travel & leisure sources - from the traditional travel publishers to the new digerati-based social networks whose content has been created by travelers themselves, hosting editorial, photos, commentary, reviews, ratings, and, of course, rants - what is exceptional about The Ratings Guy list is the superior level of content which helps a traveler get where they're going with minimal hassle and the best planning advice.

The Travel & Leisure Web sites included on TheRatingsGuy.com "Great Site" list are:

• Away.com
• BootsnAll.com
• CruiseCritic.com
• Fodors.com
• Frommers.com
• IgoUgo.com
• IndependentTraveller.com
• PlanetRider.com
• Site59
• SlowTrav.com
• SpecialtyTravel.com
• TravelIntelligence.net
• TravellersPoint.com
• TravLang.com
• TripAdvisor.com
• VirtualTourist.com
• WebTravelManager.com
• World66.com
• WorldHum.com

For a full review of each site, check out TheRatingsGuy.com.

- The Travel Snob

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Why Not Plan to Travel India by Truck with the Fam this October? TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

After a colorful city tour through the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi and the leafy boulevards of Delhi, venture beyond the hustle & bustle to the Rajasthan Desert for a two-night stay in a village of mud brick cottages; camel  rides through the spectacular desert scenery and village walks in local Rajasthani communities are on the agenda. Next comes a farmstay in the countryside around Jaipur, with a city tour, a traditional evening with music, and an overnight stay in a small Maharajah's palace. Agra follows, with a guided rickshaw ride through sleepy Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, a guided tour of the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, and a visit to the royal city of Fatehpur Sikri. And lastly, head through Uttar Pradesh to the Himalayan foothills and Corbett National Park, where exciting tiger and wildlife safaris by jeep and elephant-back top the itinerary. Conclude the affair with a celebratory Indian feast - with enough chapatis to feed a Maharajah's elephant!

"It's a package we've been working on for some time, and we're very excited about it. We know from the popularity of our African family adventure travel packages that there is real demand for family overland truck based travel that is not as physically demanding but still as memorable as our traditional packages,"  explains Charlie Hopkinson, marketing director at Dragoman Overland. " Having brought true overland truck travel to families visiting Africa (check out our family holidays at Dragoman.com) it's great that we can now offer the culture and wildlife of India to younger people, whilst still using our popular Dragoman Overland trucks."

Dragoman Overland's unique 10-day family adventure tour departs either on October 17th or December 21st. This overland truck adventure is suitable for children aged 7 and upwards. For more info, go to Dragoman.com.

- The Travel Snob

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Travel Like a Gazillionaire on a Real Person's Budget by Joining a Private Residence Club. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Offering access to luxury vacation homes with five star services at a fraction of the cost of owning an equivalent second home, destination clubs and private residence clubs are growing in popularity. As with anything to do with real estate, the main factor people consider when buying into one - according to research by both Ragatz Associates & PricewaterhouseCoopers - is location.

“The new directory allows prospective members of these clubs to search by destination to find the home and club that’s right for them,” explains Nick Copley, Editor of SherpaReport.com, which educates consumers with in-depth coverage, reports and directories on luxury destination clubs, private residence clubs and private jet markets. Their new vaca home directory lets prospective members to easily find luxury vacation homes in various locations, complete with pix, descriptions, and listing of amenities such as travel services and on-site concierges, so its easy to compare the various residences. “Each of the clubs has multi million dollar residences in a variety of locations; with the directory you can now see which clubs have homes in your favorite destination. It’s a great tool as you evaluate the clubs and decide which one to join.”

Check it out at SherpaReport.com.

- The Travel Snob

fashiontribes.

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Go Back in Time During Preservation Month at the Hawthorne Hotel in Historic Salem, Massachusetts. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

A statue of hotel namesake Nathaniel Hawthorne, who spent his childhood in Salem, and returned in 1846 for a three year stint as Surveyor of the Port at the Custom House. In 1849, he penned The Scarlett Letter at his Salem home.

"Preservation month is an exciting time for Salem Massachusetts and the Hawthorne Hotel," explains Susan Babine, Director of Sales and Marketing, of the Hawthorne Hotel, founded in 1925. "Perfect for history buffs, ocean lovers, and general enthusiasts of New England culture and society, the city of Salem has a number of museums and historic homes open for visitors. Right upstairs at the Hawthorne Hotel is the headquarters to the Salem Marine Society, a 241 year old maritime organization. This rich historic site has rarely been available for viewing to the general public since the hotels founding in 1925, and right now we are open and offer private tours with our hotel packages."

To celebrate Preservation Month, the Hawthorne is serving up an Offer of Historic Proportions throughout May - a two night stay for two featuring:

• a narrated tour of the Hawthorne Hotel
• a rare opportunity to visit the Salem Marine Society - headquarters of Salem's oldest organization founded in 1766 by 18 Salem area sea captains - located on the hotel's rooftop
• full breakfast each morning
• two tickets to the famed House of the Seven Gables
• two tickets to the Peabody Essex Museum, America's oldest continually operating museum including its collection of historic homes spanning three centuries

Rates start at $372 (plus tax). For more info, visit HawthorneHotel.com.

- 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)

Rejuvenate at one of the Top Destination Spas on the Condé Nast Traveler Annual Best-Of List. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

The April issue of Condé Nast Traveler recently released their 2007 readers' poll celebrating the top 56 spas in North America, showcasing  the best spas and highlighting the opinions of their very sophisticated, discriminating travel-enthusiast readers. "Readers raved about destination spas this year," explains the magazine, " with more than twice as many high scorers as last year". Of the top nine awards, Destination Spa Group spas - a select, by-membership-only group - received seven, including:

    * Lake Austin Spa Resort
    * Cal-a-Vie
    * Canyon Ranch in Lenox
    * Golden Door
    * Canyon Ranch in Tucson
    * Rancho La Puerta
    * Red Mountain Spa

Get your spa on at DestinationSpas.com.

- The Travel Snob

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