What places would you never go back to?

by Abha Malpani on

Most of us have a priority list of places we want to visit. But what about the places we would never visit again?
Whether you loved it or hated it, saw all of it or hardly anything, surely there are some places you don’t ever want to go back to. You might have a solid reason, or no specific reason at all, but think a little and you might unravel an interesting list of places and thoughts. Here are mine:

  • Lisbon: I spent 3 days here in 2004 after doing a 3-week road trip down the west coast of Portugal — beginning in Porto and ending in the Algarve. Portugal’s coastline is among the most stunning ones I have been to; dare I say I think I liked it more than Australia’s east coast. I must’ve been natured-out or something because after that, Lisbon was just not happening and I don’t see myself going back.
  • Nimbin, NSW, Australia: This is one of the most interesting towns I have been to. Located close to Byron Bay, the town has around 300 potheads inhabiting it. It survives from local production and sale of marijuana and offers some of the best hash-brownies I have ever had; I will never forget that they were served to me by a 7-year old in a joint called “Rainbow Cafe”. It’s tiny and I have fond memories, but it’s also depressing to be around people who know no other life other than a marijuana one. It’s worth visiting, but perhaps not more than once.
  • Malmö, Sweden: It’s small, it’s quiet, it’s generally dead after 10pm, there isn’t much to see, there are only that many meatballs you can eat. Nope, never going back.
  • Copenhagen, Denmark: Once you’ve been to one Scandinavian country, I think it’s like you’ve been to them all. Copenhagen is pretty. But that’s about it.
  • Hong Kong: I’ve only seen Hong Kong on layover between flights, but all in all I was disappointed — and I didn’t like the food at all! I’d rather visit Beijing or Shanghai.
  • Singapore: It’s like a Chinese Dubai. Too clean, too rich, too advanced for my liking. (I even had my Hubba-Bubba chewing gum confiscated the first time I went there, I was only 11. I will always hold that against them).
  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: I’m was unlucky when I visited KL. I was trapped there for 3-days because of an unexpected appearance of very thick smog. I spent a lot of time outside (stupidly without a face mask to protect me from the pollution) and just didn’t enjoy the city.

What about you guys?

The days of forgetting your toothbrush are over!

by Abha Malpani on

How many times have you left for a trip and thought: ‘I know I’m forgetting something, but I have no clue what that is’? It happens to me ALL the time and I leave annoyed for not being able to remember — if only I had made/kept that list!

Forgetting my toothbrush, socks and phone charger, to leaving my room window open or the bathroom light on — it has all happened, many times. So I jumped-up with glee when I found this website, brilliantly called ‘dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com‘. This is your ultimate “list-maker” for any trip.

The website allows you to make customized lists basis the type of trip you are going on, and has optional list categories that include: planning (under which you have — advance planning list, 2-weeks before, 1-week before), packing (documents, literature, cosmetics, for the baby, sports, pet-stuff etc etc etc!), and extra items (where you can write whatever you want). Each of the list’s sublists, have sublists! Look at the things you need to remember on the lists and you will be surprised how you ever made it without one. Once you have decided what you want on each list, you will receive an email and print version of them. Pretty handy, eh?

It has been voted twice as website of the day on BBC, and made the ‘top-lists’ on CNN and Time Magazine.

Top 10 resorts to rent out

by Jerry Guo on

Do you ever spend too much time daydreaming about posh resorts or destinations you could never afford? Whenever’s it’s drizzly or overcast out, I always spend hours surfing those sites about the lives of the rich and famous.

Here’s a good one: the top ten most expensive for-hire resorts. We’re not talking about staying at some ritzy hotel. No, what’s hot these days are renting out entire islands, safari lodges, and Spanish villas. The Colonial style home (scene in the picture), valued at $24 million, can be had for $11,900 a night.

Or how about the original exclusive-use resort, Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. That’ll set you back a cool $47,000 a night.

Where do most Americans go on holiday?

by Abha Malpani on


The Guardian 2007 Travel Awards gave us an idea of British travel trends, so I thought it would be interesting to see some American ones.

Compiled by the US Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, the top 10 countries Americans visited the most in 2006 are:
1)Mexico
2)Canada
3)UK — gives Americans “the feeling that they’re going somewhere different, but also that they’re home.”
4)France
5)Italy
6)Germany
7)Jamaica — Americans feel it’s “familiar yet mysterious”.
8)Bahamas
9)Japan
10)China

The list isn’t a surprise; however it’s hard to track where Americans go once they’ve left the States.

Nevertheless, basis this list, the article draws some conclusions:

  • Americans are generally drawn to the familiar.
  • A good section of Americans are adventurous as they venture to different continents (China has broken into the top 10), and are exploring non-cliché parts of destinations such as the UK and France.
  • The economic and political image of the country Americans travel to, matters.
  • The fall in the dollar is compensated for in European countries simply by spending less!

The full piece and statistics can be found here.

A Comprehensive, Research-free List of Hostel Etiquette

by Willy Volk on

Leif Pettersen is a freelance writer, currently finishing up researching Tuscany for some guidebook series that he refers to only as “rhyming with ‘Homely Janet’.” If you’re interested, he’s provided numerous useful tips about Tuscany on his blog. Most notably, he found out (the hard way) that Italian men don’t get much respect when they wear shorts.

Recently, Leif wrote what he claims is a comprehensive, research-free list of hostel etiquette. If you’ve ever slept in a hostel, you know that it can be cheap, rewarding, and a fun way to meet people. It can also be a real cramper as countless foreign knobs (Leif’s word, not mine) commit various infractions against other hostelers — and the world at large. To Leif’s 27 tips — which should be mandatory reading before being allowed to drop your load in any hostel anywhere — I must add these:

  1. Do not ever, EVER sit on my bed. I paid $6 for it tonight, and it’s MINE — every last square inch of it.
  2. Along the same lines, if you are sleeping on the top bunk, do not use my mattress as a launching pad. I don’t want your foot stepping on my leg as you try to get your big butt up on the second level.
  3. It is impolite to throw open the window without asking the other people in the room — particularly the poor slob whose bed is right under said window.
  4. Despite what Mum told you, it is not necessary to completely unpack and then completely repack your bag’s contents each and every day. If, however, your meds have worn off, and you feel you absolutely MUST do this, please go outside or into some large, open space. Do not use the floor of our small, small dorm room.
  5. Just like at home, if you use the last of the TP, do not do anything at all before going and finding replacement TP. It is not cool for me to wander into the bathroom, only to have to wander back out, because you have used yards and yards of quilted cotton to blow your gooey, allergy-ridden nose. (Also, after you blow that dripping shnoz of yours, please be sure to get the snotty tissue in the waste basket.)

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, go check out the rest of Leif’s tips. It’s funny stuff — and 100% spot on.