5 Most Disappointing Attractions in Europe

There are world-famous attractions that people dream of seeing their whole lives, but many of them don't (or can't) live up to that amount of hype. In fact, there's a whole phenomenon (Paris Syndrome) that occurs in extreme cases when the reality just doesn't match up with the fantasy.

Here are our top five most disappointing attractions in Europe:

Manneken Pis (Belgium) - Can you spot the world-famous attraction in the picture above? A little difficult, isn't it? Unfortunately the Manneken Pis, a cheeky fountain of a naked little boy peeing from atop a pedestal, is a quirky attraction that has been completely overwhelmed by the hordes that come to photograph it. To top it off, the city of Brussels often insists on dressing the poor lad in outlandish seasonal costumes that completely obscure it.

Photo by Henry Sivonen

Eiffel Tower (Paris) - Now before you get upset with me, I'm not saying you shouldn't see the Eiffel Tower... you most definitely should. What I'm suggesting is that the rather nice view from the top is not worth spending three hours of your Paris holiday in a queue. There are other lovely places to get panoramic views of Paris from, like La Tour Montparnasse or La Sacre Coeur in Montmarte.

Photo by Andrew Crump

Loch Ness (Scotland) - See that pretty, tranquil, and rather mundane lake pictured above? That's Loch Ness. Yup, that's it. Looks like most lakes you've seen right? Now you can stop kidding yourself that you'll be the person to finally spot the fabled Loch Ness Monster and admit that the only thing waiting for you there is overpriced plush seamonsters. Granted, there are some nice castles nearby, but whether that's worth taking the trip out is another matter.

Photo by Dave Conner

Mona Lisa (Paris) - Of all the thousands of priceless works of art in the Louvre Museum, the Mona Lisa is the one everyone makes a beeline for. One of the most well-known paintings in the world, the subtle beauty and timeless mystery of the masterpiece are best enjoyed at home with a detailed picture, as this is likely to be the best view you get (unless you're exceptionally pushy).


Gondola Rides (Venice) - It's a romantic image: two people sitting cosily in a gondola while their gondolier serenades them with Verdi operettas as he glides them through the Grand Canals of Venice . Unfortunately the smooth ride resembles Friday afternoon gridlock, with boatloads of tourists snapping pictures of each other as they squeeze past each other. The rides are also prohibitively expensive, starting at €80 for 40 minutes and getting even pricier after dark.

Photo by NH53
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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #36

Welcome to Monday at the WT Blog! You may have noticed we look a little different this week. We're trying out a new design with a fresh feel to give you a better idea of what's been happening in the world of travel. Let us know in the comments what you think!

In the meantime, we're keeping it consistent with the usual Monday forum round-up. Here are a few of the hottest topics on our forum boards:





If you've got a question, you can ask it yourself by signing up for the Word Travels forum! It's free to join, and you'll get access to our local experts and tour operators who are waiting to assist you in planning your dream holiday!

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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #35

Time for another Word Travels forum round-up! These are the hot travel topics on our forum, with some great insights for anyone about to set off on their dream vacation!





If you have some questions you're itching to ask, sign up at the travel forum today and get stared! It's free, and our well-travelled and knowledgeable experts are waiting to help you!

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Top 6 Cruise Ports in Alaska

While most people immediately imagine sandy beaches and swaying palm trees when they think of cruises, cruises in North America and Europe are increasingly popular. And of the numerous cold-water destinations in the Northern Hemisphere, no region is seeing more growth than the hugely popular Alaska cruise industry.

Travelling up the west coast of North America, more than a million people take Alaskan cruises each year. The most popular route is along the Inside Passage, winding through the dozens of islands in the archipelago stretching east from Alaska's mainland.

Cruise ports in Alaska range from small, bustling towns in rural Alaska to big cities like Victoria (I know it's technically in Canada!), but the variety means there's something to please everyone. Here are the top six cruise ports in Alaska:

Kodiak - The stunning landscape of Alaska's 'Emerald Isle' are filled with abundant wildlife, including the famous Kodiak Bear. Sport fishing and hunting are popular activities (though carefully regulated), or visitors can just enjoy the beauty of For Abercrombie State Historical Park.

Sitka - A bit of an Alaskan melting pot, Sitka's history as both a Russian outpost and Tlingit settlement gives it fascinating cultural history, evident in various museums and cultural events in town. There are plenty of outdoor activities as well, like birdwatching in the St Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge.

Ketchikan - Ketchikan is known for an abundance of two things: salmon and totem poles. Admire one at the Totem Heritage Center, or try your hand at catching the other from a charter boat. Visitors can also spot black bears in Neets Bay (part of Tongass National Forest), or hike on Deer Mountain.

Skagway - One of the biggest centres of the Alaskan Gold Rush in the early 20th century, Skagway still has an old-timey feeling that gives it a lively vibe with restaurants, pubs and shops lining the streets. Visitors can try their hand at panning for gold at the Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp.

Juneau - Alaska's capital is one of the biggest cities along the Inside Passage, and makes a good city break for cruise passengers with restaurants and shops to explore. There's plenty of outdoor fun as well, with everything from glacier-trekking to river rafting to zip-lining on offer in the area around the city.

Icy Strait - A tiny town and relatively new cruise port in Alaska, Icy Strait benefits from its proximity to Glacier Bay National Park. The opportunity to spot whales and sea lions while watching massive glaciers calving makes for an unforgettable experience on an Alaskan cruise.
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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #34

Here are the latest conversations on our buzzing travel forum message boards:










You can post your own questions and get help planning your next holiday on the Word Travels forum... so sign up today!


Image by Virtual EyeSee.
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Cape Town and New York City iPhone Travel Apps

The Word Travels monkeys have been hard at work and now we've got some exciting news:


We've just launched new iPhone travel apps with detailed interactive guides for two of our favourite cities: Cape Town and New York City!


The apps take all the best information from our travel guides and put it in a handy format so you can access it quickly and easily while you're on the go; including visa information, airport guides, attractions, excursions, restaurants and nightlife, and shopping and transportation info.


Interactive maps allow you to navigate the city easily, and pull up information on all the great things to see and do in Cape Town and New York.


The apps are available for download here.


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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #33

Here are the latest conversations from our travel forum:










Don't forget to look for other questions, or ask your own, on the Word Travels forum!


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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #32

Another week goes by, meaning the forum boards are lit up with travel questions from would-be explorers! Here are some of the most interesting discussions from this week:












Don't forget that you can ask your own questions and get answers from local experts at the Word Travels travel forum!


Image by David Goehring.
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Win a Trip to Disneyland!

Who wants to win a trip to Disneyland? Everyone, of course!


Here's a free competition from Southwest Airlines for a free trip to Disneyland in California, open to residents of the US, Puerto Rico and Canada.


Closes January 30th, 2012.


Image by Taylor McBride.
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Top 5 Free Android Travel Apps



I just got a tablet that runs Android, and I'm a little obsessed with finding just the right apps to make my life (and computer) run smoothly. There are games, ebook readers, music and video players, chat programs, fart sound generators, and other must-have gadgets to make your phone or tablet pop and sizzle.


But I got this tablet to travel with, and it's the travel-friendly Android apps I'm interested in. And I'm a little cheap, so they have to be free. Here are the top five free Android travel apps I've found so far:


Kindle - I chose not to buy a Kindle because I didn't want to pay so much for a device that only does one thing. Now I have an Android tablet that reads Kindle books, but also plays movies and checks email and everything else I need. One of the advantages of having a tablet is not having to lug around heavy books, so the Kindle app and a few choice best-sellers are a must on any flight or layover.


Poynt - Travel guides are great; very informative and helpful in the planning stages of your trip, but when you get to your destination there are often unexpected needs, like you spill red wine on your best dress and need to know where the nearest dry cleaners is, or your kids are driving you batty and you want to find out how soon the next showing of Kung Fu Panda 2 is. Poynt is great for this, as it figures out where you are and leads you to useful information like phone numbers, showtimes, and evern dinner reservations.


Weatherbug - There are lots of weather apps, but Weatherbug is great for travelling because it not only provides 7-day forecasts and interactive maps, but sends you severe weather alerts and even has a live webcam link to to more than 2,000 weathercams across the US. The only drawback is it's a pretty big app at 12mbs.


TripIt - I've recommended this app for both iPhone and Blackberry, and I'll keep recommending it. The app is invaluable for creating an itinerary from different bits of information like flights, hotel reservations and tours, which you can then share with your family and friends (assuming you want them to know where you are of course!) All you have to do is sign up, then forward your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com. An enhanced paid app also updates things like gate changes and frequent flier points.


Google Goggles - One of these fancy 'augmented reality' apps, Google Goggles is one of the most powerful out there because it taps into the near-infinite knowledge available from the search engine itself. All you have to do is take a photo of an object, and the app will pull up all kinds of relevant information on it. One of the best features is an automatic translation of text when you take a photo of a sign in a foreign language.


Have a Blackberry or iPhone? Click on the links to find our best travel apps for those platforms!




Image from here.
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Bereavement Airfares: The Discount Ticket You Don't Want

Everybody wants discounts on airfare. We look obsessively for cheap plane tickets before committing to one fare, and then fret that we've paid too much and a better deal will come along. It's a sport best-suited to those who love the thrill of the hunt.


But there are some occasions you don't have the time or inclination to scour the internet for the cheapest airfare. Most of us have been forced to travel long-distance at some point for a friend or relative's funeral, or in that terrifying scenario when a loved one may not make it. When you're struggling to simultaneously pack a suitcase and grieve, it's not the time to comparison shop.


Luckily, some airlines have a heart. They know this is travel you haven't planned or budgeted for, and they're willing to help. They offer discounts of up to 50% on last-minute airfares if you're flying for a funeral, or in some cases to see a gravely ill relative (though that one's less common). It's called a bereavement airfare.


There are some finer points to note, though. To get a bereavement airfare, you need to call or go to the airport directly and book through the airline (not through a website or travel agent). Some airlines will charge you full fare and then let you apply for the rebate after (and some require a death certificate).


Also, even though the tickets are discounted, that doesn't mean they are necessarily the cheapest seats. There may still be sale seats available, so it doesn't hurt to ask. If you can, have a friend do some quick fare-checking before you call to see if there are discounted seats available.


Bereavement airfares are harder to get on international and trans-Atlantic flights, and not all airlines offer them. Within the US, Delta, United, US Airways and American Airlines have been known to offer bereavement fares.


In an industry that gets a lot of negative press for ripping people off, it's nice to know that there's still a bit of compassion for people in need.


Image by Luis Argerich.
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Top 5 Best Business Travel Tips

Business travellers are a special breed. Practically living in the sky, these road warriors blaze the trail for the rest of us weekenders. Business travellers know where the best restaurants are, the best VIP lounges, and which airports have free wi-fi.


So we've rounded up the best tips from business travellers here:


Pack light - Be ruthless when you pack. If you're smart, you can go on a six-week trip with nothing bigger than carry-on (even you, ladies). If you stick to one colour scheme and add a few accessories, you'd be surprised how far a few outfits can go. Heels are almost never necessary, really. Flat shoes can be just as formal and take up much less space in your suitcase. Not checking a bag can be the difference in catching or missing your flight, and mean you sail right to the door while the rest of the plane crowds around baggage claim.


Spend smart - Budgeting when you travel is all about knowing how to save money, but also about knowing when it pays to spend. Coach is fine on a one-hour hop from Chicago to Minneapolis, but a 20-hour haul to Australia might call for that $150 upgrade for extra leg room. That said, look for discounts. If you don't find them, then ask... what's the worst that can happen? Look for deals with freebies like breakfast or wi-fi to save money. Paying with your credit card helps maximise exchange rates as well.


Use your gadgets - Nearly every traveller has a smartphone now, so get the most from it. Use the camera to take pictures of your hotel or where your car is parked so you don't need to remember. Use Google maps and GPS to find your way around unfamiliar cities. Download iPhone travel apps (or Blackberry travel apps) to help you predict the weather, calculate currency exchange, keep track of your flight, and even translate signs for you. Load your iPod or iPad with movies and books, or look for that wi-fi connection to kill time on layovers.


Be loyal - It pays to join loyalty programmes. Accumulating miles can not only gain you free flights in the future, but come with perks like priority seating, discounts on hotels and rental cars, free wi-fi, and you'll be the first in line to get upgraded. Many travellers report that they simply get treated better as part of the hotel or airline's loyalty programme.


Smile - It should go without saying, but alas it doesn't nowadays. Be nice to people. Yes you're tired, but probably so are they. I've said it before, but being polite to check-in agents and TSA screeners will get you much further than snapping or shouting will. It goes further than that though: offering a sympathetic smile to a struggling parent will do more than glaring at them when they're trying to calm their child. Being chatty with taxi drivers will help them get to know you and share their insider knowledge of the city (or just not screw you over). Being friendly opens you up to a world of new and unique experiences when travelling.
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Travel Movie: Sideways

Sideways is a 2004 movie showing two bachelors having one last weekend of fun before one gets married. Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) for a couple days of wine tasting in the Santa Barbara wine region, but Jack is more interested in having a final fling before the wedding.

The two men explore the wineries in the area with the help of Maya (Virginia Madsen) and Stephanie (Sandra Oh).

While Napa Valley gets most of the attention as the top wine region in California, the Santa Barbara area has some great vineyards as well within 90 minutes' drive of Los Angeles. Sideways showcases locations in Beullton, Solvang, Santa Maria, and Santa Ynez.

Aside from the civilised settings and romantic lighting of the beautiful area, Sideways explores two very different men reacting to crossroads in their lives as they reach middle age (hint: neither is handling it especially well).

Verdict: Rent it (with a bottle of Pino Noir)

Bonus! The Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau has self-guided tour brochures of the restaurants and wineries used in the film if you want to trace their steps.
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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #31

Here's the latest from the Word Travels forum, with some great stuff this week, especially if you're looking to travel to Cuba or Ireland!





If that doesn't answer your question, sign up for the travel forum today to ask for yourself! It's quick, easy and free!

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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #30


This is our 30th forum round-up, which makes it a sort of birthday I suppose. In honour of the occasion, I've dug up some of my favourite forum posts that need help! If you know anything about these topics, weigh in and help us out!





You can also ask your own questions on the travel forum... jump right in!
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Top 5 Ways to Avoid Jetlag

Jet lag is the bane of every holiday. You spend a lot of money on your vacation, get very excited about it... and then spend the first three days in Thailand in a tired haze. There are ways to avoid jet lag though, and they aren't as expensive or complicated as you think. Here are our top 5 ways to avoid jet lag:


Sleep smart - Is your flight getting in first thing in the morning? Then get all the sleep you can on the plane. Arriving in time for dinner? Force yourself to stay awake to get a good first night's rest in your destination. Think about your arrival time and plan accordingly... it's worth it. Don't give in to the temptation to nap when you get there as well; stay up until 11pm to force your body into its new rhythm or you'll be fighting it your whole vacation.


Stay hydrated - Dehydration messes with your internal clock in a big way, and airplanes are like extra-cold deserts; the altitude quickly sucks moisture out of food and skin, so you need to work extra-hard to stay hydrated. Drink at least two glasses of water per hour, and consider bringing your own fresh fruit along (but eat it before you disembark). Keep a plane-friendly tube of moisturiser as well. Another big no-no? Alcohol and soft drinks.


Stay active - Whether its on the plane or the three-hour layover, keep your blood pumping by getting a little activity in. Get up and walk around a few times on long flights, and explore the airport instead of just camping out at your gate. If you're at an airport with the facilities, a quick shower will also help rejuvinate a tired body. Light exercise really helps to combat fatigue (and its accompanying grumpiness), but try not to exercise close to bedtime.


Set your watch - Once you're on the plane, you don't need to know what time it is back home. Immediately set your watch to your destination's time zone so that your body adjusts quicker. If you're taking medication, adjust the schedule as soon as possible as well.


Avoid pills - While sleeping pills are a tempting aid to getting some shut-eye on the flight, they can actually make jet lag worse by pulling your internal clock in yet another direction. The ensuing grogginess that comes when you take sleeping pills isn't a great state to arrive in a foreign country in, anyway. Melatonin is also touted as a miracle cure for jet lag, but be wary as it can make things worse if you time the dosage incorrectly.
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Travel Movie: Monte Carlo

The latest vacation movie for this summer is teen-oriented Monte Carlo, starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meister, and Katie Cassidy. The movie tells the story of three Texas teenagers who ditch a disappointing package tour of Paris in order to live the high life in Monte Carlo when one is mistaken for an heiress.

The movie was originally set to chronicle three Midwestern schoolteachers who pretend to be wealthy in order to find rich husbands in Monte Carlo, but the plot was changed to be more youth-oriented.

Don't expect anything life-changing or even particularly memorable, but the film capitalises on a classic American teen girl fantasy: going to Europe and falling in love. Glamorous dresses, mischievous hijinks, and learning to being true to yourself are present in abundance.

And of course there are sunny montages of the spectacular Monaco scenery, although Paris gets the short end of this stick.

Verdict: Skip it (unless you're a teenage girl)
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Word Travels Forum Round-Up #29

It's Monday and we've got the hottest travel questions on the internet for you, courtesy of the Word Travels Forum. It's also Nelson Mandela's 93rd birthday, so we'd like to wish a very happy day to Madiba!





You can ask your own travel-related questions on the forum, and our local experts will be right there with the answer!

Photo by Banjo Brown.
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