Millions of Brits are camping, world confused

by Tom Johansmeyer on

When I saw the headline in The Sun – the tabbiest of the British tabloids – I half dismissed it as nonsense and half looked out my window for four horsemen with a hell of a lot of attitude. Brits are flocking to the forests, it seems, thanks to a brutal drop in the British pound relative to the Euro. Camping is what they can afford.

This does seem like a just punishment for a nation that thought putting money in Icelandic savings accounts was a good idea.

According to a survey by travelsupermarket.com, more than 4.5 million Brits are going to be cracking out their tents this year. Apparently, however, camping has changed. Bob Atkinson from travelsupermarket.com says, “The humble holiday camp has come a long way since its invention in the 1950s. The entertainment has been updated to reflect today’s needs.” He cites examples such as indoor water parks and spa activities.

For a change, youth is not wasted on the young. Several travelers from this demographic are skipping the campsites and heading out for Spain. For younger British travelers, trips to this country are up – despite being down 23.4 percent for Brits as a whole.

Top 10 wine spots, none in U.S.

by Tom Johansmeyer on

I realize that, on the world stage, our homeland isn’t exactly the most popular place right now. Part of it stems from eight years of political buffoonery, and a healthy dose comes from traditional “old world” bias against the United States. Like most of us, I’ve learned to adjust for a touch of this when I read international news coverage. To a certain extent, I understand it … we’re more like France than we realize. But, it’s tough when our country doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

This is especially the case for wine.

In an article detailing the top 10 wine spots in the world, Forbes deemed none in the United States worthy of the list.

1. Castello Banfi, Tuscany, Italy: not an adventurous pick for the top spot
2. Montes, Colchagua Valley, Chile: trying to seem enlightened, succeeds
3. Ken Forrester, Stellenbosch, South Africa: see #2, with the same results
4. Fournier, Mendoza, Argentina: doubling up on South America in the top five? Trying too hard …
5. Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River, Australia: could call for the middle of the pack
6. Felton Road, Central Otago, New Zealand: again with the doubling up …
7. Bodegas Ysios, Rioja, Spain: classic location, should probably be higher
8. Quinta do Portal, Douro Valley, Portugal: this would have been more exciting at #3 or #4
9. Chateau Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France: obligatory, but at #9?
10. Peter Jakob Kuhn Oestrich, Rhein/Mosel, Germany: obviously added to the list out of a sense of obligation

And, where are we? No Sonoma? No Napa? Or, a break from the norm with Oregon?

The collection of wine destinations seems to a certain extent like a Little League awards banquet. No country is on the list twice, giving the impression that the reporter sought to dish out as many trophies as possible. The wide reach, of course, makes those absent even more evident.

As you can see, the list is more likely the result of a careful analysis of balancing out different regions and meeting reader expectations than it is a genuine reflection on the most interesting wine destinations in the world.

This is why I hate “listicles”: they have less to do with the content than they do with managing perception. Blech.

Gadling + BootsnAll – Picks of the Week (4.10.09)

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Welcome back to another weekly installment of our Gadling and BootsnAll Picks of the Week. Every Friday we’ve been taking a look at 4-5 of the most interesting stories from our friends at independent travel website BootsnAll. What strange destinations, thought-provoking lists and out-of-the-way festival ideas did we come up with? Check below for a few ideas:

  • Beer Bash – if you like drinking beer (or just enjoy a good party) you definitely already know about Germany’s popular Oktoberfest in Munich. If you’re looking to avoid the huge crowds of drunk tourists in Munich this year, Jennifer Price suggests you check one of Germany’s huge variety of other beer festivals, happening throughout the year in cities across the German state.
  • Cathedrals of the East – just in time for Good Friday Christina Dima has a religiously-themed rundown of 11 of the most interesting Orthodox-style Churches and Cathedrals. Though they share many customs with the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church also has many of its own unique traditions and architectural styles. Having recently seen the Church of the Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, I would have to agree these buildings are quite beautiful and unique.
  • Forgotten Ruins – mention the word “ruins” to many travelers, and destinations like The Pyramids, The Parthenon and Machu Picchu immediately come to mind. Yet there are plenty of equally impressive but far less-visited ruins out there waiting to be discovered. How does a visit to 40 acres of ancient Maya temples hidden in the jungle in Honduras sound to you? Cherrye More has the scoop on Six of the Least Visited Ruins you need to check out now.
  • Market Essentials – if you want to get a sense of the local culture the next time you travel abroad, visit the local market. Whether its fresh pasta spices in the Campo de Fiori in Rome or Seltzer Bottles in San Telmo in Buenos Aires, you’ll get a great peek into daily life and unique insight into what sorts of products get the locals buying. Dana McMahan takes this concept to the next level with a look at the Markets of Europe and their various specialities.
  • French Cathedrals – wrapping things up on a relgious note, BootsnAll’s France Blog has post on some of the many Cathedrals of France, from the ubiquitous Notre Dame in Paris, to lesser-known structures in Reims and Tours.

Free entry to state museums during Italy’s Culture Week, April 18-26

by Alison Brick on

Talk about a place rich in culture and Italy will likely come to mind. There’s a reason why so many people are drawn there, like bees to honey: art, architecture, fashion, design, food, just to name a few.

If you’re an Italophile, you might want to make the trip over from April 18-26 during Italy’s Culture Week. Over the course of the week, you’ll be able to catch special events and get free entry to sites normally closed to visitors–including state museums and other artistic and historic sites.

For example, Rome’s Palazzo Mattei di Giove–a late-16th-century noble palace–will open specifically for the week-long event.

Check out the full list of Culture Week events (in Italian) at beniculturali.it.

[Thanks, LA Times]

Strikes by Eiffel Tower workers anger tourists

by Jeffrey White on

If you’ve headed to Paris for the Easter holidays, chances are you’ve left the city’s most famous tourist attraction rather frustrated.

Workers for the company that runs the Eiffel Tower have been on strike for two days now, complaining over stalled pay increases. As a result, the tower was essentially closed Wednesday and Thursday. Negotiations with union workers was ongoing today, but the tower remained closed Friday morning.

Around 300 workers completely blocked the Eiffel from tourists on Wednesday. Yesterday, after more protests in the morning, one of the tower’s four pillars briefly opened to visitors before security workers shut it down again. Tourists were left in line for hours without any indication whether they’d get a chance to go up.

Basically, the workers’ beef is that while the price of going up the Eiffel Tower has increased this year (tickets now run roughly $18), their salaries have not gone up. Security workers and ticket takers are demanding pay increases and bonuses.

About 18,000 tourists per day visited the Eiffel Tower last year.

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