Travel and Touring Guides

I’ll have another round… The Greasy Spoon Eatery

Guest — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:36:16 +0000

Rondebosch: the heart of studentville, or the University of Cape Town (UCT). It is also one of the places which just had to be on the wrong side of the mountain and so is subject to some really lame weather, sometimes. That aside, Rondies as it is also known, is home to one of the newcomers to the food and drinks world in Cape Town. This newcomer is known as The Greasy Spoon Eatery. Nestled upstairs, above Pick’n Pay, just as you walk past the Standard Bank ATM towards the parking lot… right there, you’ll see it. You might call it a mirage but it’s real.

The Greasy Spoon Eatery definitely banks on the existing definition of ‘Greasy Spoon’. On its Facebook site it says:

“People use the term ‘greasy spoon’ when referring to the cafe or restaurant at the corner or in the neighbourhood where they come to get food and relax. That is exactly what we’re after: Situated in the heart of Rondebosch serving food from an innovative and fun menu using fresh local produce, in a trendy (but not tacky) environment… right on your back stoep!”

I think they live up to that description very well. The staff and owners are just the loveliest people and lend the restaurant an extra added sense of home or something of the like which makes it a pleasure to keep going back.

And now, it is only fitting that I take you on a tour of their menu. I’ll start off with their breakfast special. At only R25, their breakfast plates are heaped with the kind of goodness that will make your tummy sing ‘Hallelujah’ and make you walk down the road with a smile on your face. That’s only if you catch it before 12 (the one before lunchtime), otherwise you pay the more expensive, non-breakfast price.

Then they have their Happy Hour Special, from 2PM – 7PM, which also features a pizza special. Food and drinks all at once, all on special, I hear you ask skeptically. Yes, indeed, it’s not a joke. They make one of the yummiest Piña Colada’s I have tasted as part of an array of other cocktails available during their Cocktail and Pizza special. If you’re not a fan of cocktails, they have beers, if not they have those pretend-cocktails and then your usual soft drinks.

That is not where they stop. Oh no. they’re so legendary they have the yummiest cupcakes this side of the mountain for those who wish to tickle their sweet tooth every now and then. Their Chocolate cupcake smells and tastes like heaven and their Lemon Slice is just the most delectable thing since- Oh! Then there’s their Red-Velvet cupcake… I’m just saying you have to be prepared to float on a cloud of pure tummy happiness when you walk out of The Greasy Spoon Eatery.

As if that’s not enough, you can also get a batch of your favourite cupcakes made for your monthly Book Club meeting (or anything occasion). All you have to do is call them. Their touch of home is what makes this lovely restaurant a must visit. A place to come, relax, and just be yourself. Now who wouldn’t want a bit of that cake?

The Greasy Spoon Eatery:

28 Rondebosch on Main, Main Road, Rondebosch, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa
021 686 8224

(This is a post by our new intern Boipelo Seswane)

(Image from mix 94.1, adapted from FindYourSearch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr)

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Shipwrecks around South Africa

Guest — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:42:16 +0000

South Africa is world-renowned as a country of natural, scenic beauty, to which tourists flock annually. But access to this stunning country was a hard-won affair, as thousands of sailors have, over the centuries, fallen prey to the treacherous coastlines that guard the country’s inner beauty. The survivors often settled along the coastlines and stories about these wrecks have been passed down from generation to generation.

One of the most famous ships is the Flying Dutchman (as featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean). Legend tells that it disappeared off the Cape of Good Hope during a fierce storm, and that the captain’s last words to his crew were that he would land in Table Bay, even if it took him until judgement day. The ship has appeared to passers-by through the centuries, including Prince George of Wales. These visions may have been due to a particularly deceptive type of mirage, known as a Fata Morgana, but we will never truly know.

Despite the myth above, there are plenty of actual shipwrecks to be found along the coast of South Africa. These come to a whopping 2700 since the 15^th century, according to archival research.

Some of the most notable wrecks off the coastline include the HMS Birkenhead, which sank off the Gansbaai coast at Danger Point in 1852. There were not enough lifeboats for all the passengers, so the women and children disembarked first.

The soldiers onboard the Birkenhead stood bravely by upon orders to “stand fast”, given by Lieutenant-Colonel Seton; which was in direct opposition to Captain Salmond’s order that “all those who can swim jump overboard, and make for the boats”. It was a difficult decision, but Seton realised that any attempt to rush the lifeboats would risk them overturning and endanger the women and children aboard, especially as there were plenty of sharks circling below. He advised the men to instead try and make it to shore.

Out of the 643 who were on board, only 193 survived. This was the first instance of such chivalry and was the beginning of the “Women and children first” protocol. For the bravery of the men who stayed behind to die, Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem “Birkenhead drill” which is a testament to the courage of those in such hopeless circumstances. A modern tribute to the crew of the ship is the Birkenhead Breweries, outside of Hermanus. Their Birkenhead Pilsner bears the date that the ship went down, along with a picture of the downed vessel.

A few other notable wrecks include those that occurred off the sea of Cape Agulhas (quite close to Gansbaai). Here lies a graveyard of shipwrecks including The Arniston (1815), Geortyrder (1849), Elise (1879), European (1877), Cooranga (1964), Gwendola (1968), Federal Lakes (1975), and Gouritz (1981). Items and showpieces from a few of the above vessels can be viewed at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck museum. For a comprehensive list of shipwrecks from around the country, please visit S.A Shipwrecks.

Shipwrecks have the effect of a time-capsule, whereby the low-oxygen content in the water preserves details and relics relating to life on-board. These details are quite often gathered from one particular place, the captain’s cabin. It is from records like these that insight is given into the way these sailors and passengers lived, how the vessels were built, what food and medicine was like, and what the cargo composition was.

One of the biggest peeves for marine archaeologists is that divers, tourists and fishermen do not realise the importance of these fragile time-capsules, and often destroy potentially valuable pieces from the wrecks. As such, the National Heritage Resource Act was passed into law, effectively banning anyone from removing, destroying or tampering with wrecks which have been there for longer than 60 years.

Though everyone would love a chance to be a bona fide Lara Croft, or Indiana Jones when exploring underwater, a balance must be maintained. As such, any person caught owning or selling wreckage pieces, is liable to a hefty fine and/or imprisonment.

Author bio: Roseanna McBain writes for the Drakensberg accommodation booking website, Travelground. She enjoys strong coffee, mystery novels, and exploring the natural beauty of South Africa.

(Image by Jesús A. Álvarez, CC BY=NC-SA – 2.0, via Flickr)

Limitations to Travel in USA

Guest — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:18:22 +0000

The USA has long been a favored destination for tourists from around the globe. However, since the tragedy of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001, the nation has been on guard. Many precautions and safety procedures have been enacted to make the country more secure. As result, there are limitations to travel in the USA for those visitors coming from abroad and anyone planning a trip should be well versed in what is to be expected.

Some travelers are eligible for the ESTA Visa, otherwise known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA US Visas can make travelling to the United States much easier. Through ESTA, an online program, people from other countries can find out if they are eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver program and they can file their visa application.

The ESTA Visa simply states that a foreign visitor is eligible to travel. Upon arrival to the United States, customs or border patrol will have the final say whether entry is allowed. These visas are not accessible to everyone. Thirty-six countries are on the approved list for the Visa Waiver Program.

The ESTA Visa was made a requirement in January of 2009, as part of the ongoing efforts of the United States Department of Homeland Security to screen all visitors to the US. Travelers must understand that the visa is not a tourist visa or substitute for a passport. It is only authorization to travel to the United States. Residents from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program should not undertake a flight to the United States until they have filled out their application. After completing an application online, there is generally a response within one to three business days. Applicants will be notified if their application is approved or if their authorization is pending and further information is required. If it is not authorized they can attempt to get a paper travel visa.

Approved ESTA Visas are valid for two years, unless a one’s passport expires within that time, and can be used for many visits to the United States. The process is really quite simple. The website is easily accessible and all interested parties can complete their form online and await a timely response.

About the Author:

Written by Robert Hall a Tech writer with a travel obsession – catch me @travelplex

(Image supplied by author)

Golf Stories and Facts to Share on Your Next Vacation

Guest — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:25:19 +0000

Golf is a fantastic game for those who take it seriously and for those who don’t. It seems to bring out the best in some and the worst in others. For example, recently, a Texas man was impaled with the sharp end of a broken golf club. This allegedly happened because his party was moving too slowly for a golfer in the following party.

Golf also seems to generate a never ending listing of interesting facts and stories. The sport of golf is second only to fishing when it comes to interesting and sometimes, unbelievable stories.

I was reminded of this while reading about the Divine 9 Road Trip, one of the golf vacation destinations in Nevada. This Nevada golf extravaganza has become an annual tradition which is referred to as a party on wheels. Participants enjoy playing just two holes on each of nine golf courses during a period of about 11 hours. It has been said that the most fun thing about this event is swapping golf stories with other participants while frantically driving from one course to the other.

Speaking of strange golf stories, did you know that James Carville, the liberal political strategist and media personality, completed 18 holes of golf in just 27 minutes in 1987? I don’t think he plays the game to relax.

Unlike Carville, there are golfers who prefer to take their time. In 1912, American golfer Maud McInnes hit her tee shot into a river. Unfazed by the bad luck, she jumped in a boat and chased after it swinging away in an attempt to get it back onto dry ground. A mile and a half downstream she met with success and hit the ball out of the river. With a little perseverance she eventually put the ball in the cup. Her score for the par-three hole was 166.

Although any golfers worth their salt would never confess that luck ever plays a role in the game, identical twins John and Desmond Rosser scored consecutive holes-in-one while playing at the Auckland Golf Club in New Zealand in 1975.

Listed below are a few facts that you might want to share with someone on your next golf vacation:

The longest golf course in the world is a par 77 in Massachusetts which is 8325 yards long.
The longest hole in the world is a 7th hole (par seven) in Japan, measuring 909 yards.
The longest recorded hole-in-one was a whopping 427 yards long.
Tiger Woods hit his first hole-in-one at the age of eight years old.
The average driver swing speed of a lady golfer is 62mph and 84mph for a male golfer. The speed for a national long drive champion is 152mph.

Perhaps the most unbelievable story I have heard in recent times was told by a fellow named Cameron from Salt Lake City. He claims that he and his golf buddy were on a par five dogleg and both hit their balls at the same time. Cameron was hitting from the fairway, his friend who had tried to cut corners on the dogleg, was hitting out of some trees.

He claims that their balls collided with each other in mid-air. If that seems unlikely, the story gets better. He claims that his ball was found in the bottom of the cup on the green.

Guest post by Cody Lewis

(Image by Lu, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

Top Treks for Peru Holidays

Guest — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:25:44 +0000

Speak to anyone in the know, and they’ll tell you that some of the world’s best high-altitude treks are in Peru, but one trek is far more famous than all the others. The famous Inca Trail has people flocking to South America on their Peru holidays just to set foot on the trek to Machu Picchu. Out of all the treks in Peru, the Inca Trail offers a perfect combination of difficulty and accessibility and so it’s no surprise that it has become so popular. But it’s not the only trek in Peru with a lost Inca city at the end of it, and it certainly doesn’t offer the best of Peru’s scenery. So perhaps it’s worth having a look at some of the other treks that you can enjoy in Peru.

Salkantay Trek – the Alternative Inca Trail

If you feel like you definitely need a trek in Peru that ends up at Machu Picchu then, the route that goes via Salkantay offers a great alternative to the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. If you speak to anyone who has done both treks they’ll tell you that the Salkantay route is actually a lot better, even if it’s less well-known. It’s a four-day trek that is slightly tougher than the conventional Inca Trail but you benefit from more spectacular scenery, including glaciers and some of the highest peaks in Peru’s southern Andes. The only slight downside is that you don’t get the smaller Inca ruins that you get on the classic route, but given that you end up at Machu Picchu anyway, this isn’t too much of a loss!

Treks to Choquequirao

Without doubt, Machu Picchu is the single biggest draw for Peru holidays, but it’s not the only lost Inca city in Peru. If you want to avoid the crowds at Machu Picchu then just a few miles away you have the option of visiting its little brother: the fabulous Choquequirao. It’s ever so slightly smaller than Machu Picchu, but just as well preserved. It’s in the same type of fabulous setting, and you can have it practically to yourself!

The major reason that it’s so deserted is that there is no road or rail link, so the only way to get to Choquequirao is to trek there. In fact this is one of the best moderate-difficulty treks in Peru and is very similar in level and environment to the Inca Trail. If you’re looking for something a bit different then this trek is certainly worth a look.

Trekking in the Cordillera Blanca

Both the Peru treks above are in the south of Peru, in the area around Cusco. They fit really easily into more general Peru holidays that aren’t just about trekking, but if the treks are the major focus for you then it’s worth considering basing yourself somewhere else in Peru instead. The Cordillera Blanca in Peru’s central highlands offers arguably the best high-altitude trekking in the world, and is a superb base for a trekking holiday in Peru. It’s a completely different environment to the Inca Trail, and is best compared to the Himalayas in terms of the variety and quality of treks available. The most popular route is a four-day trek in the Huascaran National Park, known as the Santa Cruz trek. It’s only a moderate difficulty trek, although it requires a decent level of acclimatisation; but it rewards you with some breathtakingly beautiful Andean scenery. This area is known as the Switzerland of Peru for the purity of the glacial lakes and the picture-postcard look of the snowy peaks it offers, and it’s a truly fabulous trekking destination.

Dan Clarke works for Real Peru Holidays, the UK’s specialist in tailor made holidays to Peru. He’s done most of the top treks in Peru and offers expert advice on trekking in Peru and Inca Trail permits.

(Image by fabulousfabs, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

Experience the American dream

Sandy — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:58:27 +0000

Florida offers a great range of incredible locations for a golfing holiday, a family holiday or a beach holiday. Find out more about the ‘Sunshine State’ now.

There is a fantastic array of great things to do in Florida, including popular theme park attractions in Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando® Resort, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld® Orlando.

Family holidays to America appeal to American families as well as visitors from overseas. While some families visit Florida for the attractions or to swim with dolphins, other families may be more interested in experiencing the history of Florida or its heritage.

The range of holidays to Florida in 2012 guarantee family enjoyment, and provide the option to stay in the state for the duration of your trip, or to vary it with other popular locations in America.

Florida is home to globally-renowned theme park attractions, which is perhaps why Orlando is the third most visited city by travellers to America each year. The theme parks are perfectly complemented by outstanding natural attractions. These include the Everglades, Gulf Coast and Florida Keys.

The tourist hotspots demand visiting, but away from these areas visitors can indulge in wildlife, stunning clear water lakes and waterways, all of which are situated in beautiful and tranquil environments.

If Florida sounds appealing for this year’s family holiday but you are unsure of what accommodation best suits your family then you should consider a villa.

Florida villa holidays are ideal for families, groups of friends and holidaying couples. A villa gives visitors the freedom to explore outside a hotel resort.

Villas not only provide a home-away-from-home feel, but they can also cater to your every need and budget. There are plenty of standard villas available for visitors with simple needs or on a low budget, and there are more luxurious villas for those who would like extra facilities and a grander stay.

All villas have kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, but the more luxurious villas are often equipped with en-suites, games rooms, swimming pools, spas and dining areas. Families can even find villas with added extras to keep the children occupied and amused.

If visiting just Florida isn’t enough, or you have already been to Florida but can’t resist visiting again then you should definitely try going some place new.

Multi centre holidays give travellers the option to plan their holiday so that it matches their vision of a dream get away. They can be exciting as visitors travel and experience three parts of America as opposed to just one. And, because America has so much to offer in different regions, holidaymakers can see take in just some of the variety that makes America such a great destination.

(Image by AndrewH324, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

Getting to the area attractions from the Orlando Airport

Top 5 Apps for Finding Cheap Hotels

Guest — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:48:06 +0000

Remember when finding the right hotel for your vacation meant going down the phone book and calling each one to see if they had a room available? Even then, you didn’t know what other travelers thought of the hotel, or if you were getting a good deal. And let’s face it: vacation costs can add up if you can’t find a cheap hotel and cheap car hire!

Finding a nice hotel – and one that’s affordable – can be a time consuming part of vacation planning. Whether you’re planning months ahead of time or are looking for a place at the last-minute, there are several smart phone apps that can not only help you find a hotel, but find one that’s within your budget and positively reviewed by other travelers. Take a look at some of these finds:

HotelTonight

Free

Available for both the iPhone and Android, HotelTonight is a great app if you’re looking for a last-minute place to stay. The company partners with hotels to find unsold rooms, sometimes for a steep discount of up to 70 per cent. It works best in major cities across the United States, as well as several major airports. Check for specials beginning at noon in your destination’s time zone.

Kayak

Free

The Kayak app is available for nearly every smart phone on the market – and best of all, it’s free! The app helps you not only find cheap hotels, but also lets you search for cheap flights and rental cars. The app lets you browse photos, locate the hotel on a map, and read other traveler reviews of the property.

HotelPal

Free

Available for the iPhone and Android, HotelPal lets you browse through more than 100,000 hotels throughout the world. It’s great for anytime – whether you’re planning ahead, making plans for tonight, or just need a place to stay after a cancelled flight. You can browse by your location to find independent hotels, resorts, and hotel chains. Clicking on one will reveal full-screen photos, up-to-the-minute availability, and reviews by other travelers. And, you can book directly from the app.

Priceline Hotel & Car Negotiator

Free

Created by the popular website, this app lets you bid on hotel rooms for a discount of up to 50 per cent. You can search by popularity or set your own price based on where you’re located or how many stars the property has. Then, just bid on the property and you’ll be notified instantly if the bid was accepted. The app recently added the ability to reserve a last-minute car rental at a steep discount.

Choice Hotels

Free

Browse quickly and easily through more than 6,000 Choice Hotel properties based on your current location. Or, you can choose a city, zip code, or popular attraction and find rooms nearby. The brand features well-known affordable hotels like Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, EconoLodge, and MainStay Suites. After choosing a room, view the hotel’s amenities, contact information, photos, and door-to-door directions.

Before embarking on your next adventure, be sure to download at least one of the above apps. They’ll not only help you find a comfortable and affordable room for your stay, but they’ll also give you a stress-free travel experience.

About the Author:

Laura Murphy could never be considered a homebody – in fact, she is quite the opposite. She has traveled all over the world, never staying in one place too long and always anxious to explore new territory. A gig like hers –writing for the cheap car hire site NovaCarHire.com – is a dream come true! She hopes you’ll continue to follow her as she explores the globe…and who knows? Maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two about budget traveling!

(Image by ell brown, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

Consider Disney hotels in Orlando for your Destination Wedding

Guest — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:16:41 +0000

If you have found yourself in the middle of planning a large-scale wedding, chances are you’re feeling a great deal of pressure and stress. Weddings bring out the stress in the best of us, and with a growing list of to-do items dancing through your head, it is enough to make any soon-to- be bride throw up her hands and yell, “I’ve had enough!”

Many brides – as well as grooms – find themselves inundated with all the work that has to be done in order to plan a large wedding. Not only is there a lot of planning to do, but how can anyone forget the financial burden of a large wedding? There are other options available for you should you and your fiancée decide that having a grand wedding just isn’t your cup of tea.

One of the biggest trends in the wedding industry is destination weddings. A destination wedding is a wedding at a location; any location other than a church, reception hall, or local outside venue.

Destination weddings almost always include travel. Popular venues include the Caribbean, Mexico, Las Vegas, and Disney World. They’ve become very popular due to the fact that not only will you be having a wedding at your dream location, but the honeymoon is also included. What better way to spend a week or so with your brand-new spouse, as well as your closest friends and family members than at a beautiful destination?

Many hotels and resorts provide special discounts to wedding parties. If you are getting married in Florida, for example, there are special deals available to those getting married in Disney hotels, Orlando, as well as Package deals at Sea World, Florida. This makes a destination wedding even more affordable than you may have originally thought.

Once you have decided on the actual destination for your special day, the next thing you should look into is the area’s wedding requirements. Some venues require the couple to apply for a wedding license a few days, even a few weeks, in advance. While Las Vegas has the easiest wedding licensing requirements by far, some Caribbean areas have much stricter licensing laws. If you are working through a wedding coordinator at the resort where you will be getting married, they should be able to explain to you all the individual deadlines. This will help make the prices a great deal lower.

After the venue is booked, the licensing requirements are squared away, and your date is set, all the hard stuff is over. One of the greatest advantages to having a destination wedding is that all the stress magically melts away as the thoughts of wearing a beautiful wedding dress on a glorious white beach fill your head. Your special day is about two people; you and your soon-to-be spouse, and holding a wedding at a beautiful location is just icing on the wedding cake.

(guest post)

(Image by AndrewH324, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

A Backup Plan for Lost or Stolen Luggage, Credit Cards, and Passports

Guest — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:59:42 +0000

Your biggest nightmare when travelling, especially to a foreign country, is not just how the unfamiliar food you had for dinner is going to sit; it’s what you are going to do if you lose your belongings. While local law enforcement in most places want to ensure visitors return to spend their hard-earned dollars, criminology experts and avid travellers understand that pickpockets and thieves run rampant in some foreign countries, and airports and hotels have a sordid reputation for losing luggage. If you find yourself in the precarious situation where you’ve not only lost your baggage but also your credit cards and passport, you do have options available to help ensure your comfort and safety.

Your first move is to quickly retrace your steps; you may have left your wallet or purse in a restroom or dropped it on a floor. Check with the lost and found department of your hotel or airport. If you’re out of luck, immediately call your bank to cancel your debit card, and then call your credit agency to cancel your credit card. If you’ve lost your cell phone, too, don’t despair: nearly every credit card and bank has a toll-free number to call. Next, you should file a police report in the jurisdiction where your belongings were stolen. This serves two purposes: first, the police may very well know where to look for your valuables; second, this will demonstrate your vigilance to creditors to protect your credit information. You can also call the three major credit report organisations —Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — to place a fraud alert on your name and social security number. Finally, you should alert your state’s department of motor vehicles to flag your driver’s license number; this will help alleviate fraud.

It may be in your best interest to keep a list of credit card account numbers and toll-free numbers, driver’s license number, medical record number, etc. with a trusted friend or relative, who you can call in such an emergency. Fortunately, most credit card companies have easy-to-remember numbers like 1-800-VISA 911 or 1-800-MasterCard.

Handling a lost passport requires a slightly different route. According to the state department’s website, “If your passport with your I-94 are lost or stolen, you must get them replaced immediately.” If you are unable to contact the consular section or consul general at the embassy abroad by phone or through the Internet, you must visit them personally at the embassy. You will be asked to provide your full name, date of birth, address, and e-mail address. The embassy will track down your original passport application to identify you. In most circumstances, you cannot leave a foreign country (or enter your own) without your passport, so getting a new one is a top priority.

If the airport, hotel, or police are unable to track down your baggage, your only real option is to purchase the necessities you will need to get you safely back home or while you wait for your bank and creditors to issue you new cards. If all your money has been stolen, you can contact a friend or relative through Western Union to quickly wire money to you. Keep in mind that before you travel, you should have a contingency plan in place in the event your belongings are lost or stolen. Such a plan will give you peace or mind and help you to enjoy your time away from home.

(This is a guest post by Marina Salsbury)

(Image by bjearwicke, via stock.xchng)

The best and the worst … airports

Guest — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:56:06 +0000

Airport terminals, love them or hate them, are a part of air travel. Some terminals are little utopias providing you with everything you need, and some are just endless lines inside a dirty old tent. Here’s a guide to some of the best and some of the worst airport terminals in the world.

The Best

Menara Airport, Marrakech, Morocco

This airport defies all those typical African stereotypes. It is beautifully designed and combines traditional designs and culture with 21^st Century technology and ingenuity. The airport is very clean and the staff are very helpful. Just make sure you have enough money or Dirhams with you to buy food and a magazine, otherwise you’ll be very bored.

Seoul Incheon Airport, Seoul, South Korea.

This airport is widely regarded as one of the best. The striking design on the outside serves as a prelude to the cleanliness and efficiency inside. The airport also has various ‘Cultural Experience Centres’ where you can attend craft workshops or dress up in traditional clothing. And, it has several free internet cafés. This is no mere airport. It is a culmination of the entire Korean culture. If you ever need to go to Korea, make sure it is via this airport.

Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong

Recently voted as the Skytrax 2011 Airport of the Year, this is what sets the bench mark for all the other airports. It comes highly recommended by anyone who uses it. The airport even has a 4D cinema, various exhibitions and even a tea making class. Simply the best.

The Worst

Beauvais Airport, France

This does not even deserve to be called an airport. It is mainly used by Ryanair, a low cost airline operating out of Dublin. It is a big tent with a few counters and bunch of people stuffed into it. Simple as that. Even worse is the fact that it closes as night, so if you miss your flight it would be wise to buy a nice tent and camp for the night. Do not go within 10 kilometres of this place.

Queen Alia international Airport, Amman, Jordan

This airport is almost completely devoid of any services like play areas for kids, resting areas and Skytrax rates their bathrooms as some of the worst. Do not even go to this place as a last resort or you’ll be sorry.

Moscow Sheremtyevo Airport Terminal, Russia

Are you fluent in Russian? No? Well then don’t go there. This airport is notorious for its lack of assistance in English. Sign boards only work in Russian and many of its relatively lax staff don’t speak a lick of English. They are also known to be very slow with the processing of passengers. If you need to go to Russia, rather go to Domodedovo Airport.

Adapted from source http://www.frommers.com/

(This is a post by our intern Kristian Meijer)

(Image by Ever., CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

9 Tips to survive airports