The World’s ten happiest cities

by Kraig Becker on

Disney World has been labeled “the Happiest Place on Earth”, but one look at the tired parents, screaming kids, and extremely long lines will tell you that is just marketing spin. Ever wonder where the actual happiest place on Earth is? Then wonder no more, because Forbes, in conjunction with market researcher GfK Custom Research North America, has put together a list of the ten happiest cities on Earth, just in time to start planning your next vacation.

The list was compiled using data from 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index which was published in June. In that study, more than 10,000 people, across 20 countries, were surveyed about the their general satisfaction with their lives and their overall lifestyle. The results were then compiled, with these ten cities rising to the top for the overall happiness level of their inhabitants.

The ten cities to make the list, in order, are: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; Barcelona, Spain; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Melbourne, Australia; Madrid, Spain; San Francisco, U.S.A.; Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Many of the cities on the list come as no surprise, as they are already top destinations for travelers, but clearly the Australians and Spaniards know what they are doing, as they each have two cities in the top ten. So? What are your thoughts on the list? Are there any cities that seem to have been left out? How many of these have you visited?

British man driving himself around the world

by Kraig Becker on

A little more than a year ago, Roy Locock set out from his home in the U.K. with the simple plan of proving someone wrong. He had been told by friends that there was no way he could possibly drive around the world. But now, 14 months later, he’s not only through the most challenging part of the journey, he’s in the home stretch, having reached Regina, Canada yesterday.

Roy left the U.K. and drove across Europe, into Asia, where he eventually arrived in India. From there, he caught a boat to Australia, drove across that country, and caught another boat to South America. Turning is car north, he continued to drive, until he crossed into North America, eventually arriving at his current location in Canada. He’ll head east from Regina, eventually reaching the Atlantic coast, where he’ll grab one last boat back home.

Before setting out, Roy decided he needed to find just the right car to accompany him on his journey. He admits that he wanted to travel in style and look good on his long distance road trip. He eventually settled on a 1977 MG Midget convertible that he lovingly dubbed “Bridget the Midget”, a car that the he says he had wanted since he was a teenager.

The around-the-world drive isn’t just about proving his friends wrong however and it isn’t just about the adventure either. Roy is also driving for a cause, as he has been raising funds for UNICEF, a charity that met his two criteria, of having an international reach, and directly benefited children in the process.

With a little luck, Roy should be home in just a few weeks time. But he isn’t in much of a hurry. He has enjoyed his time on this journey, and admits that he likes the freedom of the open road. The question is, how many others has he inspired to get in their car, drive down the street, and just keep going, in the process.

[via the Lake Powell Chronicle]

Australian eco spa resorts going green in the wilderness

by Scott Carmichael on

A recent poll shows that Australia is, once again, the top destination for American tourists (outside the US, when cost is no consideration). The country has some of the most amazing scenery in the world, and some beautiful spa resorts taking full advantage of that scenery.

Here are three of the most impressive, and eco-friendly resorts in Australia.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

The first of these three resorts won’t be open till October, but when it does, it’ll provide 40 free-standing suites nestled between two national parks. built within a world heritage area. The hotel is located in Wolgan Valley, about three hours from Sydney.

Suites offer private decks and pools. Activities in the area include Aboriginal interpretive tours, nature walks, AWD wildlife safaris and horse riding.

Some of the green credentials of the Wolgan Valley resort & spa include rainwater collection, full domestic water recycling, heat exchangers, solar heated water, over 100 solar panels for electricity and wind powered water pumps.

The resort is part of the Emirates hotel and resorts group (yes – that Emirates). Reservations are being accepted for stays starting on October 1st, and rooms start at AUD1490 (about $1250). For rates, reservations or to learn more about the new Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, click here.

Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat

The Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat is located one hour south of Broome, on the western Australian coast.

The resort consists of 25 “eco villas” and 30 safari style “eco tents”. The resort offers a safari, whale watching tours, cave exploring, fishing and of course, an on-site spa.

The Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat reduces its impact on the planet through solar power, low-flow faucets and toilets, waste water recycling and a full assortment of natural products in all bathroom and spa products.

Off season rates start at just AUD130 ($110). For rates, reservations or to learn more about the Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat, click here.


Pinctada Cable Ceach

The Pinctada Cable Beach Resort & Spa opened just 3 months ago. Like the previous resort, it too is located on the western coast of Australia.

The 72 room intimate resort features a massive “asymmetrical pool with spa nooks and waterfalls”. Its spa offers Vichy shower treatment rooms (a 5 head massaging shower table), a juice bar, sauna and hair salon.

Its restaurant serves dishes created by award winning Melbourne chef Greg Malouf, where you can dine on spiced sautéed pearl meat, a nod to the long standing pearling tradition in the area.

The green initiatives at this resort include a full-resort grey water management system, solar heating as the primary source of hot water and a carefully planned natural light layout.

Rooms start at AUD420 ($350). For rates, reservations or to learn more about Pinctada Cable Beach, click here.

Gadlinks for Monday 8.17.09

by Brenda Yun on


Another week of summer has come and gone, and we’re just hanging on to those last few certain days of warmth before fall kicks in! Last week we had some great travel reads, and this week will likely be no different. But you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to catch our normal Gadlinks, for today’s links are in keeping with the “scenic” theme we have going here on Gadling today. Check these out for some scenic inspiration:

‘Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks HERE.

“Best job in the world” winner looking for assistants

by Katie Hammel on

Ben Southall, the guy getting paid A$150,000 to gallivant around the Great Barrier Reef Region (and write about it) has come under fire for not blogging all that often. Tourism Queensland, who sponsored the “best job in the world” contest, blamed the lack of blog posts on poor Internet access and the fact that well, Ben’s just too busy “working”. Somehow, I don’t think those of us who spend our days in a windowless office have much sympathy for poor Ben.

To help Ben with some of his workload, he and Tourism Queensland are planning on launching another contest – this time to find four assistants. At this point there are no additional details on the positions or what the application process will entail, but Ben promises he’ll give us the scoop soon. Hopefully, he can find the time.