Travel Tips

Texas has a legendary place in American culture - its qualities have largely been made up. Home to the expressions "bigger than Texas", "less boring than Texas" and "not as redneck as Texas", Texas is the most popular US tourist destination for other Texans. Most foreigners who visit Texas list their reason for entering the state as "business" or "accidental". Texas is a wonderful place to visit all year round. From the red hills littering its desert landscape, to the rednecks littering its trailer parks and legislative assemblies, Texas is a place of great natural beauty and unnatural brutality. 1.…

One of the birthplaces of civilization, Israel has an incredible history that stretches back over five thousand years, and it is home to several ancient cultures steeped in tradition. Unfortunately, this tradition consists largely of these ancient cultures trying to kill each other. Israel and the occupied territories offer a great opportunity to experience living history, as long as you stay living to experience it. 1. Where to Stay If you are traveling to the West Bank, try to find a hotel that is still open. Travelers often have the place to themselves, especially during the intifada. Any other Western…

1. How to Get There NASA has a poor track record as far as safety is concerned, and should be approached with caution. Any shuttle with a crew full of human interest story archetypes like teachers or rags-to-riches immigrants should be avoided at all costs. The Russian service is safe but expensive, with tickets costing up to $40 million. This means that only wealthy industrialists or boy band members can afford to fly Russian. The upside is that travelers will accrue enough Frequent Flier Miles to buy their own baseball team. Cash-strapped visitors can take one of the "Mystery Flight"…

Two thousand years ago, royal envoys, evangelists, and traders on camel caravans laden with silks and spices and mirrors and jewels could take up to a year or more to trudge across China and Central Asia and on to Europe. Today, travelers can journey in comfort and safety along China's 4600-km portion of the Silk Road in a few all-too-short weeks. This odyssey beyond imagination begins in Xian in Shaanxi Province, proceeds past Lanzhou and Dunhuang in Gansu Province, and continues on the northwest to Turpan, Urumqi, and Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Aided by numerous world-class attractions…

Back in the 1960s, Kathmandu was a haven for many people wanting to "tune in, turn on and drop out". Today while travelers of all ages and interests visit the valley-sheltered capital of Nepal one thing hasn't changed: this cultural time capsule remains as one of the world's most fascinating cities. Proof of this can be found throughout the ancient city but perhaps nowhere better than in Durbar Square, a star-studded, World Heritage listed stage filled with history from the time when Nepal was a totally isolated Himalayan kingdom. The country only opened its borders to tourists in 1951. Durbar…

A massive volcanic eruption in the Aegean Sea nearly 3,500 years ago helped destroy an advanced society but left in its wake what has become one of Greece's most beautiful and popular holiday spots. The Island of Santorini The island of Santorini, in the southern Aegean to the north of Crete, can thank the eruption, on the ancient and much larger island of Strongyle in about 1,500 BC, for its existence. The eruption completely shattered Strongyle. Its center sank into the depths of the Aegean which rushed in to fill the resultant void, creating the present-day islands of Santorini, Therasia,…

Just because the English and Kiwi cricket teams won't visit Zimbabwe and Kenya doesn't mean you shouldn't! These countries are the perfect destination for thrillseekers who know that a constant chance of sudden, violent death is the key to great adventure travel. In fact, the only hard part - apart from staying alive, of course - is working out which one to visit first! (We advise you to start with whichever seems the safest, as then there's a slightly higher chance you'll get to visit both.) 1. When to Go The only time when it's an extremely bad idea to…

With the Middle East hogging the headlines, it can be easy to forget that it takes three countries to make an Axis of Evil. With retro-chic all the rage in the western tourists should not forget to put North Korea on their must-visit list. From its pit toilets to its steam trains the country is a communist fun-park with something for every member of your family. Whether you're queuing for a bowl of rice, compulsorily placing flowers at Kim Il-sung's tomb, or being followed by secret police you'll find traveling in North Korea delightfully demodé. 1. When to Go With…

Melbourne is Australia's comedy capital, and they say it's the most livable city in the world. (What's more, they're right.) Bold claims like these immediately inspire visitors to try and find a way of taking those boastful Victorians down a notch or two. We've provided a helping hand. 1. Getting Around Melbourne is fantastic city just to walk around. The wide, leafy streets make this extremely pleasant. To encourage visitors to do this, Melbourne's city planners have craftily installed a public transport system, that is substantially slower than walking: trams. Despite their slowness, though, the trams are fantastic for sitting…