Airline Credit Cards

Taking children on a plane could be the most hectic part of your entire vacation. Managing snack time, keeping them quiet, taking trips back and forth to the bathroom, and conquering the ear-popping phenomenon are just some of the struggles you’ll have to deal with. Keeping your kids entertained, though, will be a no-brainer with these fun games and activities that are also airplane appropriate.

Games and Electronics

From Mad Libs to DVDs, these games and electronics will keep your kids focused on fun during the plane trip.

1. Leapster Learning Game System: A variety of Leapster games are compatible with this system, which is designed to develop your child’s basic "school skills" while keeping them entertained. The device is handheld for easy packing.
2. 20 Questions Junior: This travel-sized 20 Q game is perfect for younger children, ages 8 and up.
3. Touch Chess and Checkers: Playing regular chess or checkers on an airplane is a terrible idea, but this electronic version allows the competition to continue even when you’re on the plane. Kids can play with each other or against the machine, and the Game Save feature will pause your game if you have to quickly shut it off during takeoff or landing.
4. Travel Candyland: Little kids love Candyland, and this travel-size version makes it possible to play even when you’re in the air.
5. Magnetic Travel Games: These magnetic travel kits like Magnet Dress Up, Tangrams and a collection of dinosaur scenes will keep game pieces from falling beneath the seats.
6. Electronic Mad Libs: This family favorite has a new twist: it now comes in an electronic version! Pressing different buttons results in kooky new word combinations that will keep your kids giggling during the trip.
7. DVDs: One of these portable DVD players could keep your kids quiet for the entire flight. Plug in headphones so that they can enjoy the movie or doze off without disturbing other passengers.
8. Card Games: Card games may sound too traditional for your technologically-savvy children, but they’ll love learning the new games from this site.
9. Disney Mix Max Player: This mp3 player is especially designed for kids, who will love listening to music, watching videos, or looking at pictures from their very own portable player.
10. Games and Activity Sheets: Child Parenting at About.com publishes lots of different games and activity sheets that you can print out for your kids to color on the plane.

Books and Magazines

These magazines and activity books come with fun games, coloring projects and other cool crafts that will occupy your kids during the trip.

11. Highlights Magazine: This traditional favorite continues to publish issues full of word puzzles, stories, crafts and comics.
12. Ultimate Sticker Book Series: Kids of all ages will love playing with stickers in the Star Wars, Disney Princesses, Dora the Explorer or Transformer sticker books.
13. National Geographic Kids: This magazine is packed full of colorful pictures and stories about animals, the environment and adventure-filled fun for children ages 8-14.
14. Nickelodeon Fun Puzzles and Games: Keep the little ones busy with the word searches, riddles, puzzles and other games found in this kids-only book.
15. Kids @ Random: This Random House site recommends the best books for children from preschool aged to teens.
16. Ramona and Henry Huggins books: This list of classic children’s books include the Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins books, which will keep boys and girls engrossed for hours.
17. Make your own coloring books: Instead of buying another coloring book for your kids, let them pick out their own coloring pages from this website. Once you’ve printed them all out, staple them together to make a custom-designed booklet.
18. The Everything Crossword and Puzzle Book: This book of "brain-teasing fun" is full of puzzles and crosswords for "puzzlers at all levels."

Other Creative Activities

Here are some additional ideas and games to keep your children entertained while you’re in the sky.

19. Scavenger Hunt on the Plane: This clever game from FamilyFun.com challenges your kids to find items like sleeping passengers, a red dress, dessert, a mustache, and more.
20. Finger puppets: Have fun making finger puppets before your trip, and then pack them in your carry on for silly fun on the plane. Take turns putting on finger puppet plays with your new friends.
21. Create a Travel Journal: Encourage your kids to keep a journal of your trip. They can write about the flight, draw pictures of the places they visited, and tape mementos like museum tickets to the pages. If you didn’t have the time to maintain the journal in your hotel, the plane is the perfect place to catch up on your craft.
22. Create your own snacks: Chances are, your kids are going to be hungry way before that snack cart comes rolling down the aisle. Bring your own kid-friendly snacks that you can assemble from your seat. Ants on a log (minus the messy peanut butter) is just one idea.
23. Pack a surprise: Packing a surprise present for your child will create a delightful distraction from the boring airplane. A toy car, stuffed animal, or even a favorite toy from home wrapped up like a present will do the trick.
24. Take pictures: Use a disposable or digital camera to take pictures during the flight. Your kids will have fun posing for funny pictures to document their trip. Just make sure you use the flash as sparingly as possible; otherwise, you’ll disturb the other passengers.
25. Colorforms Silly Faces Stick-Ons Game: Kids can stick on and peel off colorforms to create silly faces over and over again.
26. Make a map of your flight path: Help your kids draw a map of the flight path you’re taking. You can trace a map of the region you’re traveling through ahead of time, and then try to guess which state or country you’re flying over at any given time.
27. Build a fort with blankets and pillows: Without hogging all of the pillows and blankets on the airplane, let your kids pitch a tent in their seats. With any luck, they’ll eventually get cozy enough to fall asleep!

In a perfect world, babies and children would fall asleep the minute they ease into their airplane seats. In the real world, parents have to struggle to keep their kids from crying, bouncing around in the aisles and spilling their drinks all over themselves. With these nifty games and activities, though, you can keep your children entertained and under control for (hopefully!) the entire flight.

Greetings! The inaugural edition of the Carnival of Travel Guide is up. We intend to provide our readers with good and useful posts on travel and vacation. Twelve posts have been selected for the first edition. I hope our readers will enjoy reading these. Here you go:

Poetloverrebelspy presents Cool Museums You’ve Never Heard of posted at Less Than a Shoestring. Start planning your next trip! In this post, you’ll find 16 suggestions for interesting and crowd-free museums around the world.

Christopher Michael presents Will 50 Dollars a Day Get You To Stay the Night? posted at -noambit -Travel Europe- where to go, what to see, and how to get there. This post is a discussion regarding how much one should expect to pay at minimum to travel around Europe.

Sagar Satapathy presents The Mobile Productivity Toolbox: 100 Resources to Keep You Productive When on the Move posted at TruckingAccident.org Articles. Check out these resources that can make it easier. We’ve collected 100 of the best tools for staying connected, keeping in touch, and getting things done while traveling.

Jeet presents Go Rural Tour From Bangalore posted at bangalorebeats. This is about a village tour in the periphery of Bangalore city in India. Here you can experience how people in rural Indian work in their traditional way in a serene environment.

Maria Fernandez presents Learn a foreign language - blog: How to enjoy traveling abroad posted at Learn a foreign language - blog. you’re traveling to a country where they speak a different language, knowing just 100 words in that language can save you money, take a lot of the stress out and make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Christine presents The Dollar Drops Again! How the Exchange Rate Affects European Travel. posted at Me, My Kid and Life: An American Single Mom Living in France. Thinking about how you spend before you travel so you don’t need to think about how you spent once you’ve returned home.

Gary Vasey presents Brno - The Crypt | Discover - Czech Republic posted at Discover the Czech Republic.

Andrew Edgington presents Villas in Cyprus - An Enthralling Experience Never To Be forgotten posted at Cyprus Informer. This article is on a trip to the North of Thailand. Following are the links to the pictures taken from that trip.

Pie presents Smart Money Management Tips for LIPs posted at Location Independent.

Ted presents Studying Abroad posted at College Blog. Studying abroad is the perfect way for students to travel the world and advance their academic career at the same time, all while earning school credit.

AJ Block presents Cerro San Cristóbol – Spectacular Panoramic View of Santiago posted at Santiago Tourist. A review of one of the most popular tourist sites in Santiago, including a great panoramic photo of the city.

Serena Makofsky presents Painting with Sand posted at Mexican Pop Spot. Oaxaca is the place to be for Day of the Dead. One of the city’s traditions is to display “sand tapetes”, or carpets of colored sand, flower petals, pebbles, and glitter, depicting the world beyond the living.

That concludes this edition. Next edition of this carnival will be hosted here on December 04, 2007. Submit your blog articles using our Blog Carnival Submission Form. Thank you for your support to this carnival.

The Internet has made getting a great deal on any part of your travel easier than ever. Websites will do the work for you, searching hundreds of hotels, airlines, or car rental agencies to get you the lowest prices and best deals possible, allowing you to satisfy your urge to travel without emptying out your bank account. Here are 50 sites that do just that, so be sure to check them out before booking your next trip.

General

These sites can provide deals for every leg of your travel, from your flight to hotel stays and beyond.

1. TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor is a great place to read reviews of hotels, vacation packages, resorts and airlines with millions of user submitted reviews on the site. Users can also compare rates from the biggest hotel and airline brokers online to find the best deal for a city or time of travel.
2. Orbitz: Orbitz can find you great rates on hotel rooms, flights and car rentals or any combination of those three. The site finds the rates of the product you are searching for and displays them in an easy-to-read grid so you can compare to see where you’ll get the best deal.
3. TravelZoo: TravelZoo offers special deals on airfare, cruises, lodging and more. The site’s real value is in its top 20 deals for each day which can save you a substantial amount of money. Sign up on the site and have them delivered right to your inbox.
4. Expedia: One of the big names in online travel, Expedia offers discounts on hundreds of flights, hotels and vacation pacakges worldwide. You can even sign up for Fare Alert, which will send the latest updates on trips you’re interested in to your desktop.
5. OneTravel.com: Search through rates for flights, hotels, rentals and even last minute packages on OneTravel.com. You can also find discounts on activities like tours, attractions, and shows and book an entire vacation from one site.
6. TripMania: Find listings for travel discounts with TripMania. Get information on hotels, flights, vacation packages, cruises and more and even find some last minute deals.
7. SmarterTravel: Check this comprehensive site for the best information on discounted flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages. If you don’t have time to browse the site, you can sign up to recieve weekly emails about the best deals.

Airfare

Finding cheap airfare these days can be a real challenge, so check out these sites before you book your next flight to see if you can’t cut costs.

8. Kayak: Kayak is one of the best sites to find national fares. The site draws from more than 140 sources to help you find the best deal. You can’t buy the tickets directly on the site, but Kayak is more than happy to direct you to the site where you can. Features include the ability to search for fares up to 3 days before or after your chosen travel dates to see if there is any substantial discount.
9. Farecast: Before you book any flights domestically, give Farcast a quick check. Farecast predicts whether or not rates will go up or down using past fare trends to make its estimations. You can use this information to know if you should purchase your tickets immediately or wait a few days for a better deal.
10. Airfare Watchdog: Find listings for fire fares, fare wars and blooper fares on this site that gives you access to some of the most ridiculously low fares, provided you’re prepared to book immediately and have some flexibility in your destination and travel dates.
11. LowesTravel: Find some of the cheapest international fares for over 60 airlines worldwide on LowesTravel.com. While you’ll get the best deals on airfare, you can also book hotels and rental cars from this site as well.
12. WebFlyer: Frequent fliers will find WebFlyer a great help in making the most of airline miles. Users will find how they can best use their miles or points to get upgrades, free flights or even how to combine different programs to get the best deals.
13. dohop.com: Search over 660 airlines everywhere in the world to find the best deals and fastest routes on airfare on dohop.com. The site remembers your departure city and displays cheap domestic flights on the front page every time you visit.
14. Qixo: Users can find everything they need to travel on Qixo, but they’ll find the greatest selection and value on airline prices from the site. One of the largest airfare search engines, Qixo scours 28 online airfare retailers to bring you the cheapest prices for your travel dates.
15. Farechaser: Use this online search engine to find the best deals on flights, where to find ticket brokers, and how to find and book travel packages.
16. BestFares.com: This site is one of the best places to look for discounted airfare. Browse through destinations or check out the top 30 cheapest fares departing from your home city.
17. Southwest.com: Southwest is one of the best airlines to visit when looking for travel bargains, but many of the larger fare search sites don’t include it, so it can be a good idea to check the airline directly to see if there are any deals to be had before purchasing tickets elsewhere.
18. Sidestep: Sidestep is a great price aggregator for finding airline deals. A matrix gives you the results with prices from over 600 different airlines on 200 sites across the Web.
19. FlyCheapo: While the name might not inspire the greatest confidence, this site is a great way to get the lowest rates on flights from discount carriers within Europe. Enter your departure and destination cities and you’ll find a listing of the airlines with connecting flights between them.
20. CheapTickets: Use CheapTickets to find a bargain on your next flight. Search the site for prices or take advantage of the special partner deals on the site’s main page.
21. SkyAuction: If bidding on low airfare doesn’t put you off, then try out this Internet airfare auction site. You can find deals on tickets going to almost anywhere worldwide, and if you’re lucky, you can score them for considerably less than you would have paid elsewhere.
22. TicTrip: Search through prices from the biggest online ticket retailers with this site. Simply put in your departure and destination cities, click on one of the 12 sites TicTrip searches and get results which you can easily compare to find the best deal.

Lodging

Think you can’t stay in luxury hotels for motel prices? Think again. These sites will help you find those killer bargains.

23. Bed and Breakfast.com: Most major hotel booking sites don’t have listings for bed and breakfasts, so your best bet for finding deals on a quaint B and B in the countryside is on this site. Sign up for their weekly emails and you’ll get details about discounts on bed and breakfasts in the region you want to visit, usually 20 percent off or more.
24. HomeAway: If hotels aren’t your thing, consider renting out an apartment or condo while you’re on vacation. You’ll get more room for the price and have access to a kitchen, which can save you big time on meals. Find the best deals and selection on HomeAway.com.
25. LateRooms.com: Get last minute bargains on rooms abroad on LateRooms. Prices are quoted in the local currency, but the site offers a currency converter to help you figure out the cost in your home currency.
26. Priceline.com: Priceline offers bidding not only for hotels but for flights, cars, and vacation packages as well. However, you’ll find the best deals on high end hotels on this site. Submit a bid on a hotel by specifying the dates of your stay and the city you want to stay in and wait to see if your offer is accepted. You can often get luxury accomdations for under $100 a night. Of course, this kind of bargain doesn’t come without a few strings attached. You won’t know the name of the hotel you’re staying at until you purchase the rooms, you can’t get a refund if you need to cancel, and you might get booked in a hotel not near the central parts of the city. Still, if you’re willing to take the risks, you can save yourself a pretty penny.
27. LickityTrip: For those who need to whip up a trip quickly, this site can be a lifesaver. Vaction rentals on this site are for the next two weeks and you can contact the owners of the vacation properties directly for a more personal experience and possibly negotiate a deal while you’re at it.
28. LastMinuteTravel.com: If you’re not the planning ahead type, this site can save you a bundle on last minute reservations. Search by city or rating to find deals on the biggest and best luxury hotels with discounts up to 23 percent.
29. HotelsCombined: This site brings together rates from the top hotel booking sites and makes it easy to compare and contrast on one page.
30. Places to Stay: Find great lodgings all over the world with this site. Enter your destination city and the dates of your travel and it will search through hotels to find you the best rate, location or whatever is that’s most important to you.
31. EuroCheapo: For travelers on a tight budget, this site makes it easy to scour budget hotels in Europe to find one that will work for you. You’ll not only find prices, but also information and reviews on the hotels, so you’ll know what you’re getting into before you ever book a stay.
32. Karen Brown’s Guides: Find listings for hotels in Western Europe and North America on this site. You’ll find listings of the best bargain places to stay, reviews and loads of travel advice.
33. Concierge.com: This site, brought to you by Conde Nast Magazine, is full of great travel tips and articles, but you can also use it to search for bargains on hotels. Check out the magazine’s lists of top hotels for some ideas of where to stay.
34. HotelDiscount.com: As if you couldn’t tell by the name, this site is dedicated to listing the best hotel discounts. You’ll find reviews and suggestions of the best bargains for lodging as well as a special promotions search feature.

Cruises and Vaction Packages

Booking a cruise or vacation package can be a confusing prospect for those who haven’t done it before, but you can get guidance as well as access to some great deals on these sites.

35. CruiseCompete: Cruise lovers will enjoy the discounts of up to 25 percent found on this site as major cruise companies compete to get your business. You can even find last-minute bargains.
36. CruiseMates: You can’t buy cruise packages directly from CruiseMates, but you can find listings for special deals as well as tons of information and reviews on cruises.
37. Cruise.com: This site brings together one of the largest collections of cruise discounts and information. Find weekly special deals as well as the occasional cruise clearance sale.
38. CruiseDirect: CruiseDirect allows users to search for cruises by length, destination, or cruise line to find prices and deals. Users can also browse last minute deals or book group cruises as well.
39. Cruise411: Get all the information you need on booking a cruise with this site. Users will also find special deals and bargains listed through the site in the best deals section.
40. LuxuryLink: Find bargains on luxury vacation packages with this auction site. You must, however, have some flexibility about your travel dates as you can only choose the dates after you pay.
41. LastMinute.com: Formerly known as Site59, this site provides the best deals on those last minute vacation packages. The site offers package deals anywhere between 14 days before departure to as little as 3 hours.
42. CruisesOnly: On CruisesOnly, you’ll find photos, virtual tours and more as well as great last minute deals on over 124 different cruise lines.
43. TravelWorm: Users can make travel arrangements for almost any kind of travel on this site, but it’s particularly useful for booking cruises. With almost all major cruise lines listed, users only need to search for their desired specifications to bring up special deals.

Car Rental and Transportation

Whether you’re renting a car for the weekend or taking a train across the Alps, these sites are your best bet for savings.

44. RailEurope: Book your European rail travel before you leave home with this site. You’ll find single tickets, but the best deals to be had are on multiple-use European rail passes, which can often provide cheaper rates and more options than air travel.
45. Hotwire: Hotwire allows users to search through the top rental companies Budget, Hertz and Avis to find the best rates for any given date. You won’t know which company your rental will be with until after you’ve paid, but you can have more confidence knowing it will be one of the big names. You can also find rates on flights and hotels which are sold in the same way.
46. Auto Europe: If you’re planning a trip to Europe and want to rent a car, you might want to check out Auto Europe, a rental car wholesaler that specializes in pre-paid rentals. You’ll get some of the lowest prices on international rentals as well as access to a 24 hour a day customer service hotline.
47. AirportDiscountParking: If you’re planning on leaving your car at the airport while you’re away, then check out this site to make sure you’re not overpaying. Simply enter your airport and your travel dates, and it will direct you to the cheapest lots available.
48. Breezenet.com: Get some of the best domestic rental car prices to be had with Breezenet. The site gathers rates from the major car rental companies at US airports as well as special deals from Internet sites.
49. Amtrak: If you don’t have a car, taking the train within the US can actually be a good way to save money. American trains have made an effort to improve service and quality in the past few years, so you may find yourself pleasantly surprised at the level of comfort you’ll get on your journey.
50. Car Rental Express: Save big on your next car rental by going through this rental site. You’ll be able to search over 300 rental agencies to find prices discounted from 15-30 percent.

While most most restaurants have at least a few vegetarian options, for a real meat-free night out, it can be a treat to hit up a veggienly restaurant where you know meat, or even eggs and dairy products, haven’t had a chance of touching your meal. Before you head on your next trip, check out this list of the best veggie dining establishments from all over the world, from big cities to small town America, to make finding great food on the road an easy and tasty experience. This is by no means a comprehensive list, nor is it in any particular order, but it’s useful for finding great vegetarian places to try out in your own city or abroad.

United States and Canada

Both the US and Canada are full of vegetarian and vegan restaurant goodness. Here are a few traveler and native favorites.

1. Bliss, Brooklyn, NY: This cafe is not only vegetarian, it’s also organic and most menu choices are vegan or near vegan. The homey atmosphere is a great place to enjoy Bliss’ vegetarian fare, including their signature Bliss Bowl– brown rice with beans, kale, carrots broccoli, cauliflower, tofu, seaweed and tahini. Prices are moderate to low so you can fill up without emptying your wallet. Plus, it’s BYOB, so you can bring along your favorite beer or wine to complete your meal.
2. Greens, San Francisco, CA: Built in an old warehouse, scenically located right on the waterfront, this restaurant is a legend among vegetarian restaurants due to chef Annie Sommerville’s skill at cooking up organic vegetarian fare. Menu items include everything from pizza to curries. If you don’t have time for a sit down meal, you can get food to go from the neighboring Greens to Go. If you want to splurge, try the $46 four course meal served only on Saturday.
3. Millennium, San Francisco, CA: One of the most well-known vegetarian restaurants in San Francisco, Millennium is stylishly decorated and considerably more upscale than your run-of-the-mill vegetarian cafe. Most menu items at Millennium are vegan as well, and choices range from plantain tortes to creatively styled salads. A great place to bring your vegetarian date!
4. Lake Side Cafe, Chicago, IL: Lake Side Cafe, located on the far north end of Chicago, has been voted Chicago’s best vegetarian restaurant for two years running, and it’s no wonder when you see their extensive menu. Enjoy a large variety of organic drinks, toasted sandwiches, salads, pizzas, soups and desserts, most of which can be made vegan if they aren’t already. The restaurant offers cooking classes, so you can learn to make great food when you decide to stay in as well.
5. The Red Avocado, Iowa City, IA: Nestled on a quiet street in downtown Iowa City, this restaurant is a far cry from the bustling vegetarian places found in the big cities. This tiny location specializes in having all-organic and locally grown ingredients and has a great selection of vegan and gluten free desserts. You can also pick up foods to go at the restaurant’s in-house organic food store.
6. Candle 79, New York, NY: Candle 79 is a must stop for any vegetarian gourmand. The restaurant was ranked as the best vegetarian in the 2007 Zagat guide, and it wasn’t just because the food looks pretty. This upscale restaurant offers both vegan and vegetarian options that are great for you but also good enough to satisfy even the most avid of meat lovers.
7. Dragonfly, Columbus, OH: Some of the most innovative and exciting vegan food to be had isn’t in New York or LA, but at Dragonfly in Columbus, Ohio. This haute cuisine restaurant caters to the adventurous and the cautious alike with dishes like tempura yams, raspberry gazpacho and alcoholic fruit smoothes. This one-of-a-kind place tends to run on the higher end of the price spectrum, but can be worth the cost for the experience.
8. Fressen, Toronto, ON: This restaurant, decorated in nature-inspired colors, has a varied and well thought out menu. You can choose from appetizers like grilled asparagus with blood oranges and entrees like veggie kebabs. Many of the choices are served tapas style, so you can sample several different choices. Prices tend to be on the high side, so save this for a date or a fancy night out.
9. Follow Your Heart Market and Cafe, Los Angeles, CA: This market and cafe has been around since the 70s and has perfected its easy and tasty vegetarian menu. Choose from a huge, ever-changing variety of soups, salads or daily specials. They also serve breakfast and even have a vegetarian friendly Thanksgiving menu if you happen to be in the area over the holidays.
10. Rebar, Victoria, BC: Rebar, located right near scenic Victoria Harbor, is a great choice if you’re not sure just what it is you have a hankering for. The restaurant offers international cuisines ranging from Thai to Middle Eastern with numerous vegan options making finding something to eat easy, or hard, depending on how you look at it. Visitors can also take advantage of the in-house juice bar and bakery to get a cup of healthy juice or a pie for the road.

Europe

While there are some places in Europe where finding a meat-free meal can be a bit of a challenge, most big cities have loads of vegetarian options to help sate your hunger.

11. The Gate, London, England: Located in an old church hall, The Gate is one of London’s most popular vegetarian eateries. It’s no wonder why when you see their menu, which includes items like chipotle-glazed artichoke and a spicy Thai salad. You might even spot a few celebrities there as it’s known to be a favorite haunt of Gwenyth Paltrow and Madonna.
12. Le Grenier de Notre Dame, Paris, France: This quaint restaurant is tucked away on a side street near Paris’ famous Notre Dame Cathedral. Order one of their vegan plates and get a taste of home-cooked, warm, meat free food like your grandma would make you if your grandma cooked vegan. It’s great place to head to in a city that doesn’t always have the most vegetarian options.
13. Artemesia, Madrid, Spain: Those looking for healthy vegetarian food will find Artemesia and its sister restaurant Artemesia II to be a great solution to vegetarian eating in ham-crazy Spain. Centrally located and reasonably priced, this restaurant offers traditional vegetarian fare like the house specialty of oven roasted vegetables. There is also a small portion of the menu that offers non-vegetarian dishes, if you happen to bring along a carnivorous friend.
14. Hans Wurst Vegan Cafe, Berlin, Germany: This completely vegan cafe in Berlin doesn’t quite live up to its name: there is no wurst to be found anywhere. The menu does, however, include pizza, daily specials, soups, risotto, or seitan. It’s also conveniently no smoking, and cozy chairs make it a nice place to hang out even after you’ve finished your meal.
15. Biosfeera, Warsaw, Poland: Treat yourself to this upscale vegetarian restaurant next time you’re in Warsaw. The menu is varied with tortillas, pastas and salads, and you can get a wide variety of fresh-squeezed juices on the side. No drinking or smoking is allowed, so you’ll have to start the party after your dinner.
16. Arancia Blu, Rome, Italy: Veggies and meat lovers alike will love this Roman eatery. Dishes are inspired by traditional rural European fare, and you’ll find everything from lasagna to couscous on the ever changing menu. Make sure to save room for dessert: you can have your own chocolate tasting with 14 different chocolate wafers from all over the world. Vegan dishes are not a problem–you just have to request them.
17. Oriente Chiado, Lisbon, Portugal: This macrobiotic and vegetarian restaurant is a real bargain, with an all you can eat buffet for around 12 euros. If buffets aren’t your thing, vegan and vegetarians alike will delight in sampling the restaurant’s tofu curries and cottage pies.
18. Eden, Athens, Greece: Go all natural with this vegetarian eatery. All foods are organically grown, prices are cheap, and you can even get freshly made carrot juice to go along with your meal.
19. Susie’s Wholefood Diner, Edinburgh, Scotland: Enjoy your meal in the well-worn Bohemian charm of Susie’s. The menu offers soups, salads, stews and stir frys with a wide variety of vegan choices all served in a homemade style. And don’t forget to save room for dessert; the gluten free chocolate cake is not to be missed.

Asia and the Middle East

If there was any place in the world that was friendly to vegetarian diets it’d be Asia and the Middle East. These are just a few of the many great restaurants you’ll find on your travels.

20. May Kaidee’s Vegetarian Restaurant, Bangkok, Thailand: This chain of restaurants provides high quality food at very reasonable prices. Most of the food comes from small, local growers, and the curries are known for being especially tasty. If you’re feeling adventurous, sign up for one of the restaurant’s cooking classes. You’ll learn to make 10 dishes and get to eat one after you make it yourself.
21. Sanchon, Seoul, South Korea: Ranked as one of the best veggie restaurants in Asia by PETA, this restaurant specializes in creating an array of perfectly prepared mountain grown greens, though porridges and tofu are also big on the menu. Visitors will enjoy their food to the sounds of traditional Korean music, and even dancers for some evening services.
22. Taim Hakaim, Tel Aviv, Israel: This casual deli is a great place to stop for lunch or a quick bite to eat and is famous for its barbecue twist and sandwich made from genuine fake meats. Visitors will find the market and vegan bakery to be a great value, and vegans will appreciate the vegan soft serve ice cream on a hot day.
23. Nataraj, Tokyo, Japan: This huge eatery spread out over three elaborately decorated floors is located conveniently on one of Tokyo’s main thoroughfares. Though it looks fancy, this Indian restaurant is modestly priced and serves some of Tokyo’s best curries and Indian breads. Everything is vegetarian and most things can be made vegan, even the naan, but you must order ahead.
24. The Farm, Manila, Philippines: For the raw food diet lovers out there, The Farm is a delicious and nutritious choice for a meal. Raw entrees are made from fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and seeds, and there is a selection of dairy-free pastas, soups, stir frys and salads as well, many of which are served buffet style.The restaurant is part of a larger resort, so after lunch you can hop over to the spa and enjoy a nice massage.
25. Bo Kong, Hong Kong: Want vegetarian food that even meat lovers won’t be able to tell doesn’t have meat in it? Try this restaurant located in the Times Square. Chinese favorites are prepared with meat alternatives so there’s no guilt but still all of the flavor.
26. Fortune Centre, Singapore: Fortune Centre isn’t one restaurant, it’s a bit more like a mall filled with vegetarian shop and restaurants, making it an ideal location if you’re not sure what you want to eat or just want to check out your options. Choose from restaurants like VegePals Eggless Cakes, Bodhi Vegetarian, and New Green Pasture to name just a few.
27. Little Italy, Mumbai, India: Take a break from the local cuisine and step into this Italian eatery in the heart of Mumbai. Cuisine is distinctly Italian, but everything on the menu is vegetarian. Service is said to be second to none, and if you get really attached, the chain has locations all over India.
28. Vegetarian Life Style, Shanghai, China: For the vegetarian visiting China, this is a must. Whether you prefer all-veggie meals or enjoy artificial meats, you’ll find something to love at this homey and friendly restaurant. The menu also features an impressive selection of herbal teas and fresh juices to accompany your meal.

Australia and New Zealand

While stereotypically, Australian Crocodile Dundee may have been ready to throw another shrimp on the barbie, you likely aren’t and you won’t have any trouble finding vegetarian friendly eateries while you’re down under.

29. Govinda’s, Brisbane City, Queensland: Vegetarians will find this Indian restaurant to both have great food and great deals. Try out the buffet on the weekends for a real value and enjoy checking out the Hare Krishna decor.
30. Lotus Vegetarian, North Perth: Picky vegetarians can order as they like at this strictly veggie place, offering over 80 a la carte choices including satays and curries. The restaurant also offers an all-you-can-eat buffet on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can fill up for less. You can also stop into the adjoining health foods store to pick up the ingredients to make your next meal at home.
31. Bodhi at Home, Sydney, NSW: Stop into this fully vegan restaurant, or its sister store Bodhi in the Park, to enjoy some veggie dim sum, various dumplings, and a wide variety of exotic and sometimes unusual asian fare.
32. The Vegie Bar, Melbourne: This hip location in Melbourne serves breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, making it a great stop at any time of the day. Food arrives in generous portions, and indecisive types will enjoy the wide variety of choices on the menu, taken from cuisines all over the world.
33. Bernadette’s Cafe, Canberra, ACT: Nestled in among a hip shopping district, this restaurant provides a lovely and modern setting for enjoying their informal but gourmet food. Visitors can choose from dishes like crepes stuffed with pesto and eggplant, tofu burgers, and a wide variety of of pizzas and curries.
34. The Blue Bird Cafe, Auckland, New Zealand: Enjoy vegetarian food prepared in the spirit of oneness at this cute and cheerful establishment. Visitors will get to sample vegetarian and vegan food with a homemade taste like their vegetarian sausage rolls, among other things. When you’re done with your meal, you can head upstairs to listen to the Sri Chimnoy music or just enjoy the lunch environment full of plants.
35. Mainstreet Cafe and Bar, Christchurch, CAN, New Zealand: This vegetarian place has been around for years, and it’s no mystery how they stay in business with their hearty but modern menu items. Enjoy a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian options or just take in a quiet drink at the bar.
36. Goodness Gracious, Hobart, Tasmania: This small cafe offers a wide variety of macrobiotic and vegan options with its combination Asian and Indian menu. While you’re chowing down on your favorites, you can also check out the colorful murals that adorn the walls. The restaurant also has an adjoining health foods store that you can browse after your meal.

Africa

Africa can be one of the hardest places to find a truly vegetarian restaurant when you’re traveling. Here are some of your best bets for vegetarian fare.

37. L’Aubergine, Cairo, Egypt: Cairo provides many opportunities for vegetarians to find a great meal, but L’Aubergine is the only solely vegetarian restaurant in this bustling city. With primarily Mediterranean inspired decor and handwritten menus, this restaurant offers vegetarian food in a variety of styles with specialties including soups and crepes. Upstairs you’ll find a full service bar for continuing your night in Cairo.
38. Fields, Cape Town, South Africa: South Africans are known for their love of meat, but lucky for the traveling vegetarian, there are plenty of meat free options as well. Stop into this local favorite, a small deli located in a health foods store, and enjoy one of their sandwiches or other options, many of which are available for vegans. You can also add on some freshly squeezed juice to your order to round out your healthfulness if you so desire.
39. Lola’s, Cape Town, South Africa: This sidewalk cafe offers both scenery and the chance to eat some of the best veggie food Cape Town has to offer. Enjoy delicious curries, sandwiches, smoothies, pastas as well as fresh squeezed juice.
40. Chowpaty Pure Vegetarian Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya: Just like the name suggests, there is nothing on this restaurant’s menu that isn’t safe for those wishing to stay meat-free. The cuisine is primarily south Indian in style, owing its authenticity to Kenya’s large Indian immigrant population. Try out the Masala Dhosa and sip on a side of fresh juice the next time you’re in Kenya.
41. Vegetarian Corner, Kampala, Uganda: You won’t find loads of vegetarian-only dining establishments in Kampala, but this place is an oasis for those seeking meatless menus. Offerings are primarily Indian in style and you’ll be able to enjoy freshly squeezed juice and homemade bongo as well.
42. Sable D’Or, Tangier, Morocco: It must be confessed that this isn’t an vegetarian only restaurant, though there are tons of choices on the menu for those less than thrilled at the thought of eating meat. The reality is that this is about as close as you’re going to get to pure vegetarian only fare in Morocco. Enjoy Indian favorites or snack on a few Chinese dishes at this bustling restaurant.

Central and South America

Whether you’re enjoying your food on the beaches of Brazil or in the high peaks of Chile, you’ll find plenty of vegetarian options to choose from. Here are a few favorites.

43. Vegan Vegan, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Enjoy hearty vegan fare at this Rio eatery. Located in the Botafogo neighborhood, this out of the way restaurant can whip you up some meatless entrees that will rival the meat-heavy ones Brazil is known for.
44. Bodhi, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Fill up on a hearty vegetarian buffet while visiting the "Paris of South America". You’ll find many deep-fried options to indulge your less healthy side, but also a huge salad bar to help balance things out.
45. Restaurant Vegetariano, Cochabamba, Bolivia: Those needing a soybean fix can check out this quick and easy vegetarian restaurant in Bolivia. Visitors will find a range of tofu platters, vegetarian meats, and stir-frys. Hours can by trying however, as oddly enough, the place isn’t open Saturday afternoon or Sunday.
46. El Huerto, Santiago, Chile: Well-known among native Chileans for its all-natural vegetarian food, El Huerto is a great place to stop in to grab lunch or a dinner out while visiting. The menu changes weekly, making it a new and exciting experience every time you visit this restaurant.
47. Imaymana, Bogata, Columbia: This vegan-friendly take out restaurant offers a wide variety of tofu, gluten-free, seitan and veggie dishes. You can also taste a bit of South American culture by sampling the homemade quinoa bread with your lunch.
48. El Paraiso Bio Leben, Lima, Peru: Make this your stop for lunch next time you’re in Lima: with the value priced lunch menu you can’t go wrong. Visitors will find a variety of both vegan and vegetarian fare.
49. El Gourmet Vegetariano, Caracas, Venezuela: Vegetarians will find plenty to keep their mouths occupied at this vegetarian buffet. There are many filling vegan options available as well, just ask the staff which buffet items are animal product free.
50. El Natural Saks, Mexico City, Mexico: This vegetarian eatery offers an extensive menu of both international and local Mexican cuisine in an attractive and modern setting. Visitors can also treat themselves to freshly squeezed juice or a full-service salad bar. Vegans will need to be aware, however, as many of the dishes contain cheese.

You’ve packed your clothes, maps and snacks. Your bike is waxed, gassed, and has had its regular tune up. You’re mentally prepared for the trip: just you, your bike, and the open road, but you still feel like something’s missing from your cross-country road trip. To help you out, we’ve assembled this list of the coolest motorcycle gadgets you probably haven’t thought of. Whether you’re most concerned with safety, looking cool or having fun, look over this checklist before jumping on your bike and revving off.

1. Garmin GPSMap 378/478 - To avoid getting lost on your next cross-country trip, make sure you’ve attached this GPS navigator to your bike. While most GPS systems include street maps, this version also features most inland lakes and rivers too.
2. Delphi Roady XT Satellite Radio - Instead of worrying about packing your CDs or mp3 player, buy a portable satellite radio, and you’ll experience never-ending, uninterrupted radio channels the entire time you’re riding. Satellite radio features the best reception out there, and you can scan hundreds of channels to find exactly what you feel like listening to. The Delphi Roady XT is also "the world’s smallest plug-and-play satellite XM radio," according to CNET.com.
3. S-Plug Universal Earplug Speakers - These speakers are tiny and comfortable enough to wear for hours and powerful enough to give you the volume and clarity you want when you’re out on the open road. According to CycleGadgets.com, "when inserted into the ear canal, literally nothing but a thin cable extends through the outer ear," meaning that you won’t feel any irritating discomfort since the wires won’t be rubbing against your helmet.
4. Reflective Tape - Maintaining your visibility on the road is hard enough during daylight, and it just gets worse when night falls. Make sure everyone else on the road can see you by applying reflective tape to your helmet. The blog WebBikeWorld.com has good advice for choosing the best reflective gear for your bike. Check out their Web site, and make sure that the next time you jump on your motorcycle or scooter, you won’t be invisible to other drivers.
5. Helmet SunBlocker - CycleGadget.com writes, "the SunBlocker is a UV-blocking dark green strip" that you can put on the inside of your helmet and face shield to give extra protection from the blinding sun. If you’ve planned a road trip that’s going to keep you riding day after day, you must buy the SunBlocker to protect your eyes, increase visibility, and reduce your chance of getting into an accident.
6. CrampBuster - The CrampBuster is available in several different sizes and variations to ensure prime levels of comfort while it helps with cruise control. All you have to do is wrap the CrampBuster around your grips, and it’s ready to start working for you. As the "original cruise assist," the CrampBuster also comes with a replacement guarantee: if it breaks, just notify the company so that they can send you a new one.
7. Back-A-Line Support Belt - If you’re going to be riding all day and night, your back is probably going to ache. Once your back gives out, your whole body will have to work extra hard just to ride normally. To avoid cramping up, strap on the Back-A-Line belt hugs your lower back, giving it support and ensuring comfort. After reading the review at WebBikeWorld, purchase online at CycleGadgets.com
8. Legal Speeding Adjustable Plate Mount - One of the most frustrating parts about bringing along your favorite gadgets for a cross-country ride is having to worry about them staying attached to your bike. Legal Speeding’s Adjustable Plate Mount is compatible with most made-for-motorcycle gadgets, and it allows you to move the plate up and down so that you can adjust your toys according to your height and comfort level.
9. Quick Changer Oil Drain Kit - In case you find your bike due for an oil change when you’re miles away from a maintenance and repair shop, you should take along a mini oil change kit. This product, found at CycleGadgets.com, allows you to quickly and cleanly change your oil yourself.
10. Corbin Glovebox - The Corbin glovebox is an easy way to hide your valuables without taking up any extra room on your bike. Disguised as a backrest, the glovebox is sleek, roomy, "comes fully lined to protect your cargo and even has a nice weather stripping around the door opening," according to the Corbin product description.
11. Chatterbox FRS Communicators - If you’re traveling with a buddy, you’re going to want to stay in contact to avoid getting separated, keep yourselves entertained, and to keep from falling asleep. You’d probably have a hard time hearing your friend with a cell phone, and you’d probably end up wasting a lot of valuable minutes. Instead, stay connected with the FRS Communicators, which let you and your travel buddy talk privately on two different communication channels. CycleGadgets.comCycleGadgets.com boasts, "the radio, battery pack, and intercom are all housed in a compact unit that can be clipped directly to the side of your helmet," so you never have to worry about keeping both hands on your bike.
12. Motolight Driving Lights - Motolight has designed several different lights to supplement the ones already on your bike, maximizing your visibility even on the darkest roads. If you’re traveling cross-country, there’s a good chance you’re going to be unfamiliar with some of the highways and other pathways you plan on riding, so it’s best to make sure you’re prepared with as much light as possible.
13. Ace Classic Saddle Bag - This rugged, spacious saddle bag is perfect for your clothes, gear, and toiletries during the perfect no-frills road trip across the country. Though the Ace bag is pricey, it’s durable enough to sit on the back of your bike in all types of weather.
14. Yuasa Battery Tester - Bring along a Yuasa Battery Tester to determine whether or not you need to replace your bike’s battery. Sometimes, it just needs to be recharged, so you’ll be glad to know for sure before shelling out the extra cash.
15. Dowco Guardian Custom Bike Cover - Whether you’re worried about severe weather damaging your bike, or you just don’t want anyone to be tempted to steal your beautiful motorcycle, you’re going to want to cover it up at night for protection. The Dowco Guardian Custom Bike Cover is big enough to cover your bike from tip to tip and all the way down to the ground.
16. Motorola Universal Bluetooth Helmet Headset Kit HS830 - This helmet-headset combination allows you to talk for up to 6 hours on your Bluetooth phone without recharging. Since it’s already firmly attached to your helmet, you don’t have to worry about the Bluetooth connection falling off your bike or having to hold onto it instead of bike. The microphone also has a noise-reducing feature, which "helps reduce unwanted background noise," according to the Motorola product description.
17. Kuryakyn Magnum Plus Mirror - If you’ve been having trouble relying on your side mirrors because they don’t reach out far enough, you need to invest in these durable magnums. The Kuryakyn Magnum Plus Mirrors extend 2" farther than standard side mirrors, letting you see more of the road and the drivers around you.
18. Hardo Krome 3 in. RES-TEC End Caps - These shiny end caps come in a variety of colors, allowing you to personalize your bike at the same time you limit the amount of exhaust that spews out of it. Buy different colors so that you can switch them out every once in a while to spice up your look.
19. Corbin Ovalbac Backrest - This backrest makes riding even very long distances comfortable. Corbin boasts that this particular model is their "most popular backseat by far," so if you’re looking for a snazzy way to update your bike without sacrificing comfort, you should check out the Ovalbac.
20. RoadGear Sport Touring Tool Pouch - This tool pouch from CycleGadgets.com comes in several different color combinations and "packs a LOT of storage into a little space." If you’re planning to travel a long distance, your bike will probably end up needing some sort of tune up along the way. Stash this tool supply alongside your other gear to keep your mind on the road, not on maintenance.

Investing in a few or all of these toys for your bike will keep you entertained and focused during your cross-country adventure. Simple maintenance tools, specialty helmets, and cozy backrests are all you need to having the best trip of your life. Now that you’ve checked out our list, you know how to pimp out your bike as well as make sure you’re safe and comfortable along the way. Happy trails.

Oenophiles have an excellent excuse to travel the world: the perfect glass of wine. You’ve probably been curious about the rich history and lush landscapes behind your favorite beverage. Take a trip to see where the magic happens and connect with other wine lovers.

Locations

Get a good look at the birthplace of some of your favorite labels.

1. California Wine Country: Indulge yourself in the finest food and wine that California has to offer in California’s wine country. Explore Napa Valley, Sonoma, Lodi, and other gorgeous regions. In addition to its many wineries, this area is home to numerous spas, inns, and unique wine experiences.
2. Finger Lakes: The Finger Lakes region in New York boasts gorgeous lakes, wineries, 25 state parks and numerous resorts and inns. While vacationing in Finger Lakes, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery, fishing, and of course, world-class wines.
3. Australia: Visit Australia’s wine regions and you’ll fall in love with its towns and fine wineries. Be sure to check out regions like Brossa Valley, which is home to unique architecture, around 50 wineries, and fine restaurants.
4. Tuscany: Drink up la dolce vita in Tuscany! Enjoy fine Italian wines, rich food, and an even richer heritage. Be sure to take in a cooking course to take a taste of your Italian vacation home.
5. South Africa: Hit South Africa’s Western Cape for tasting, tours, food, and accommodations like no other! These beautiful winelands feature exquisite wine and lush scenery. Check out an art gallery, blend olive oil, and feast on foods like hot-and-sour grilled squid, all while enjoying South Africa’s selection of fine wines.
6. South of France: The South of France is well known for its wines and winemaking regions. From the Rhone Valley, to Provence, Corsica, and the Loire Valley, this region is diverse not only in wine production, but also culture and history. Check out the wine museum at Pere Anselme and enjoy views of sun-soaked vineyards.

Food & Wine Festivals

Soak up the best of what various cities have to offer at these food and wine extravaganzas.

7. Aspen Food & Wine Classic: This sell-out event presented by Food & Wine Magazine allows attendees to experience wine tasting, food sampling, and cooking demonstrations in gorgeous Aspen, Colorado.
8. Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival: These "Five Days of Bliss" feature over 100 restaurants, 60 wineries, and 30 different events. Enjoy a sip and stroll in downtown Austin and partake in the best wines that Texas has to offer.
9. The Spinazzola Gala Festival of Food and Wine: This "mother of all food and wine celebrations in the country" brings over 90 of the world’s most elite wineries to Boston. Bid on rare and fine wines in the silent auction and feel good about the fact that funds raised at this Gala go towards hunger relief and education.
10. Alimentaria: Visit Barcelona for this showcase of Spanish wines. You’ll find producers Arvicaretey and numerous other bodegas from the region.
11. Wine Malborough Festival: This premier wine and food event in New Zealand offers visitors a chance to indulge in wines of the region as well as excellent food. You’ll also find wine tutorials and entertaining performers.
12. Brisbane Fine Wine Festival: At the Brisbane Fine Wine Festival, attendees are invited to taste from over 600 different wines from regions around Australia. Visit a masterclass, and you’ll be treated to a 60 minute taste and talk about wines, how to evaluate them, and exquisite food pairings.
13. Moldova Wine Festival: In the first week of October, Chisinau, Moldova opens up to winemakers, folkloric groups, and wine tasting for both professionals and the general public. While there, be sure to visit the Milestii Mici winery, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest wine collection in the world.
14. Christchurch Food & Wine Festival: The historic town of Christchurch holds this annual celebration of food and wine over 10 days. They close off streets and open over 100 booths that sell a wide variety of different foods and wine. Be sure to check out the town’s restaurants, which will have special meals and events during the festival.
15. Chianti Classico Wine Festival: In the heart of the Chianti Classico wine zone, this wine festival allows attendees to buy a glass that can be refilled endlessly by all of the booths at the event.
16. ZinFest: Visit gorgeous Lodi for ZinFest, a celebration of wine, food and fun at the lake. This festival features tasting from more than 40 local wineries, live music, arts, crafts and plenty of shopping.
17. Melbourne Food & Wine Festival: The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is the largest of its kind in the world. Held over 14 days and attended by over 300,000 food and wine lovers, this is an event like no other.
18. Vendimia Harvest Festival: Visit Argentina to take part in this celebration of the harvest produced by farmers in the Mendoza province. Enjoy harvesting your own grapes and have them made into wine.
19. Vino al Vino Wine Festival: This attractive hill town between Florence and Siena holds a wine festival that’s full of the many Panzano wineries. Here you’ll find music, a great atmosphere, local food, and of course, excellent wine to sample.
20. VinItaly: Make "the trip around the wine world in five days" at the VinItaly exhibition, an event that attracts numerous exhibitors and boasts top level tasting sessions and meetings.

Experiences

Don’t just drink wine, immerse yourself in the experience of it.

21. Wine The Experience: In Hawaii, you can learn about the wine making process and create your own personalized bottle filled with your choice of 50 different red, white, and dessert wines.
22. South Coast Winery Resort & Spa: This winery is more than meets the eye. In addition to the vineyard, you’ll find villas, a restaurant, and a lush spa designed to delight the senses.
23. Silver Shadow: Aboard the Silver Shadow, you’ll cruise to exclusive vineyards while enjoying luxury amenities like a 15,000 bottle wine cellar, a spa, and special history lectures.
24. Adventures in Wine Patagonia: Discover the wonders of Patagonia, from white water rafting to Chile’s finest wines on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
25. Le Phenicien: Aboard Le Phenicien, enjoy visits to 6 wineries as well as introductions to wine tasting and wine making science.

Whether you’re concerned about treading lightly or you just want to immerse yourself in authentic culture, eco tripping is something you should look into. It offers a myriad of opportunities, from trekking mountains to supporting local communities halfway around the world. Take a look at these destinations, experiences, and more to see what you can do.

1. Alonissos: Alonissos’ National Marine Park is home to the endangered monk seal and lots of other interesting species of wildlife. It’s environmentally protected and has status as one of The European Community’s six "ECO Islands." A number of Alonissos rentals are electricity-free.
2. The Lodge at Chaa Creek: This 330-acre ecoresort is located in western Belize on the banks of the Macal River. Resort activities are focused around the environment, culture, and archaeology of Belize. You’ll be able to explore the river, hike, watch birds, go mountain biking, and more. This resort has won the Conde Nast Traveler’s Ecotourism Award.
3. Maho Bay: One of the world’s first ecoresorts, Maho Bay Camp is built on 14 acres of gorgeous land. This simple inn by the water uses boardwalks to preserve trees and brush and other strategies for treading lightly. Because of this, the 100 units that make up the camp are nearly invisible.
4. Hoopoe Safaris: Hoopoe Safaris works to preserve their environment through assistance and employment of locals as well as education of their guests. The company is owned and managed primarily by Africans, and their guides are trained in subjects like geology, zoology, and botant. Hoopoe’s walking and trekking safaris offer ecotourists a way to see the African bush firsthand without spoiling the land. Additionally, Hoopoe’s operation offers generous income to the community.
5. Chiminos Island Lodge: This island was built by the Mayans to defend themselves, but it lives on now as an ecologically sensitive lodge. While staying there, you’ll be immersed in the jungle, wildlife, and the remains of the fortified Mayan citadel. You can even observe birds and animals from your bungalow.
6. Aspen/Snowmass: In Aspen/Snowmass, the Aspen Skiing Company operates commendable environmental tourism. The company uses windpower, biodiesel, certified green buildings, and more. 100% of its electricity comes from renewable energy. They also work to educate employees, guests and media on global warming.
7. Tread Lightly Eco Tours: For a guided bushwalk and 4WD tour of the Australian Blue Mountains, check out Tread Lightly. They’re licensed with the National Parks and Wildlife Services and have an Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation.
8. Nihiwatu Resort: In Indonesia, this island resort is not only gorgeous, it’s green, too. Nihiwatu is powered by locally purchased coconuts, and any oil used in generators is later reused by villagers who create skin ointment for livestock with it. Wildlife is protected: Nihiwatu has stopped local fishermen from catching sea turtles, and even operates a turtle hatchery on the resort. Additionally, the resort is responsible for a 20% increase in forested area in their region.
9. Damaraland Camp, Namibia: Located within the Torra Conservancy, Damaraland is a place where community, environment, and wildlife come together. The camp is responsible for the area’s status as a conservancy, and protection against environmental and poaching troubles. With the camp’s help, the area’s wildlife is thriving.
10. Paddling Ontario: Get educational experiences in plants, ecology, and more with these tours. You’ll learn about nature, Ontario wildlife, and paddling waterways. Additionally, Paddling Ontario’s ecolodges are a great example of environmental design, solar power, recycling, and other means of sustainable living.
11. Serengeti Ecotourism: Visit the Serengeti for a chance to visit the Maji Moto hot springs, Mara river forests, the Mtiro "dancing" mountain, and much more. On some tours, you’ll have a chance to stay with resident families and participate in their daily lives and culture.
12. Jurassic Coast, UK: On the south coast of England, the Jurassic Coast has partnerships with more than 200 local, national, and international stakeholders that are committed to its conservation. The area promotes the value of the coast’s natural assets and reinvests profits from visitors into the local culture and environment.
13. Lindblad Expeditions: Expeditions created by Lars-Eric and Sven Lindblad focus on philanthropy, education, conservation, and local support. The company even has a conservation fund for the Galapagos. They are recipients of many awards for their sustainable tourism practices.
14. Sierra Gorda, Mexico: This reserve is one of the most eco- and biodiverse reserves in Mexico. Sierra Gorda Ecotours ensures conservation and allows visitors to enjoy the area while still preserving it. Additionally, tourism supports the region’s economy, with locals operating the three lodges.
15. Volunteering in Kuiburi National Park: In Thailand, you can volunteer as a teacher and support the park at Kuiburi. This, of course, is in between trekking and meeting with wild elephants. Similar opportunities are available in Laos as well.
16. Campi Ya Kanzi, Kenya: Enjoy a private walking safari in Kenya that you can feel good about. This camp offers tented accommodations offer conservation, with fees directly reinvested in the community, which assist teachers, healthcare, and infrastructure.
17. Sacred Ground Tipi Camps: For cross-cultural experiences in Canada, check out this traditional Indian camp. You can learn about plants and animals, learn how to make a hunting arrow, and hear from elders about the way things used to be. The camp offers overnight stays but places a high priority on maintaining wilderness and preventing exploitation of the culture. It is accessible only by hiking or water.
18. Hidden Creek Ranch: This dude ranch offers an active vacation with lots of outdoor activities. While visiting, you’ll get a glimpse at the life of people who live off of the land. Learn about the earth while hiking through forests or horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains.
19. Cabanas Copal: Cabanas Copal’s ecohotel is in a jungle by the sea. The hotel is candlelit, with no electricity, gas, phones or water, other than a small generator for common areas. They’re working on a solar power solution that will eventually replace the generator. It’s even a walkable distance of 3 kilometers from the Mayan ruins of Tulum.
20. The Black Sheep Inn: The Black Sheep Inn in Ecuador takes great care to protect the environment it’s in. It’s built in the high Andes, using terracing and native trees for erosion control as well as reforestation. They have recycling, composting toilets, and loads of ecological education.
21. The Boat Landing, Luang Namtha: A visit to Luang Namtha in Laos allows you to support the culture and natural resources of the region. According to The Boat Landing’s website, the presence of ecotourists sends a strong message to locals that they must value their resources. Additionally, a number of attractions offer income for the villager. Plus, conservation projects are funded through ecotourist-driven access permits.
22. The Great Barrier Reef: The Barrier Reef has a number of programs and partnerships for protection and conservation. Through ecotourism to this region, visitors can learn about, experience, and help support conservation. The reef is the recipient of Tourism for Tomorrow’s 2007 Destination Award for its partnerships with tourist outfits that create a managed and sustainable industry and region.
23. Caribou Mountains Wilderness: The Caribou Mountains is protected from roads and crops, and is said by some to be a Noah’s Ark of final refuge for caribou in Canada. In addition to caribou, you’ll find hundreds of species of birds, plants, and other wildlife.
24. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve: This reserve in Abu Dhabi offers an educational center that offers insight into the area. All of the buildings in the center are made from natural materials like wood, reeds, and mud. The center’s goal is to promote nature-based tourism by helping people understand and appreciate what’s there.
25. Hong Kong: Although at first glance, Hong Kong may not seem like a beacon of conservation, the city is rather green. Forty percent of the city is set aside for conservation, with a number of parks and trails. They also have the 940-acre Mai Po Wetlands, which are home to more than 70,000 birds each winter.

For the international traveler, getting used to the intricacies of day to day life in another country can be a challenge to say the least, even if you speak the language. Before you leave on a trip, it’s best to familiarize yourself with some of the basic customs and etiquette of your destination country to help you feel more at ease.

One custom that can be a bit confusing even at home is tipping. Knowing who to tip, how much to leave, or even to tip at all can be overwhelming. Here, we’ve compiled some tipping basics for 25 vacation spots so that you can navigate social situations abroad without looking like a silly tourist.

Argentina

1. While tipping is officially discouraged in Argentina, in reality it is a relatively common practice in most establishments. An additional 10-15% is standard in upscale restaurants and bars, while 10% is more than enough in small cafes. When checking your bill you might find a charge for table service (cubierto). Remember that this is not a service charge for the waiter, and you should still leave a tip.
2. When taking a taxi in Argentina you can do as the locals do and round up your fare to the next even amount or give no tip at all, or as is often expected of tourists, give a 10% tip. Doormen and porters at your hotel should also be given small tips at your discretion, especially if they go out of their way to help you.

Australia

3. Tipping plays a small part in the Australian service environment, and Australians are not usually inclined to leave huge tips at restaurants. For locals, 10% is the norm. Be advised that in many cases, tipping isn’t expected at all, though it is undoubtedly always appreciated. It’s also useful to note that the word “tip” means a garbage dump in Australia, so if you’re speaking with the locals, you might want to use another word if you want to be understood.
4. Likewise, in bars and taxis tips are also not expected. If you feel guilty leaving nothing or want to reward exceptional service, many people leave their small change or tell the barkeep or taxi driver to keep the change from their bill. Tipping at hotels is uncommon so do not feel obliged.

Austria

5. Tipping is fairly prevalent in Austria and service charges will sometimes be included in the bill, especially in big cities like Vienna. At most restaurants a 5-10% tip is acceptable, though the fancier the restaurant, the bigger the tip is expected to be. It is considered rude to leave the tip on the table, so make sure to give it directly to your waiter or waitress.
6. You should also be sure to tip taxi drivers and hotel personnel. Taxi drivers should be tipped about 10%, depending on the length of the trip, and porters and chambermaids should be left a small tip for every day they provide service.

Brazil

7. Tipping in Brazil is not always expected or given, but remember that wages for service people can often be paltry, so generosity is appreciated. Restaurants will normally have an additional service charge of 10% added in, but it is never obligatory, and if the service was good you should leave an additional 5% for the waiter. At places with no service charges, 15% is appropriate.
8. Cab rides in Brazil are normally rounded up to the next full dollar so that the driver has no need to carry change. This rounded off amount is usually considered sufficient for a tip and additional tipping is not expected unless the driver performs additional services like carrying your luggage. You should also tip hotel personnel such as bellhops, doormen, porters, and chambermaids a few reals for their services.

Britain

9. In Britain, you’ll find that in most restaurants the gratuity is included and if so, it should be clearly indicated on the menu or the bill. If no tip is included, you should leave about 10% or round up to the next whole number of pounds. Always try to tip in cash, as your server may not get tips that are added to credit cards. You are not obligated to tip bartenders in pubs and may insult the bartender by trying to do so. If you want to reward a bartender for good service, offer to buy them drink. Even if they can’t drink on the job, they can save the money for later.
10. Hotel workers should be tipped as well if they provide a special service for you, like watching/carrying your bags, or getting you tickets to a show or special event. It is considered polite to not show the money when you are giving it; pass it on discreetly with a handshake. Taxi drivers should also be tipped somewhere in the neighborhood of 10%.

China

11. While tipping has generally been frowned upon in communist China, and still isn’t a true part of Chinese culture, it is becoming more and more common, especially in large cities like Hong Kong and Macau. In a large city, service charges of 10% are usually already included in your bill, but if not, you should tip 10-15% depending on the restaurant and the size of your party.
12. In China, it is also common for tips to be given to a tour guide, and some larger companies may even collect this prior to the trip. Cash tips should be based on the length and size of your tour. Of course, tips don’t always have to be in cash. Foreign goods like cigarettes, candy, music, and small personal items are also appreciated.

Czech Republic

13. In the Czech Republic, service charges are rarely added to the bill, so you’ll want to make sure to add an additional tip, especially if you’re in a tourist mecca like Prague. Tips are usually rounded up to the next multiple of ten, or if you’re with a large group, 10% is appropriate. Make sure to hand the tip directly to your server when you pay your bill and try not to put tips on credit cards, as the servers often won’t receive them.
14. For taxi drivers, 10% is usually what is expected. You should also make sure to give the doorman or bellhop at your hotel a 20-40 koruna tip, possibly more if you have an especially heavy suitcase.

Egypt

15. Tipping in Egypt, often referred to as baksheesh, can be a complicated custom for foreign visitors. It’s more than just a custom, it’s a way of life. Tips are not only given to those who perform services, but a small tip can also get you granted small favors like admittance into places that would otherwise be closed. Keep in mind that tips will be expected for even the smallest of services, so make sure to get lots of change for your trip.
16. While there are no firm rules, in restaurants it’s customary to give about 10%. In cases when the service charge is included, you should still leave a small tip for the waiter, especially if the service was good. You’ll also need to tip bathroom attendants, tomb guards, porters at the airport, the usual hotel personnel and almost anyone else who provides you with a service. Exceptions include taxi drivers and locals who give you directions. No additional tip is usually required in these situations.

France

17. Bills in bars and restaurants in France will more often than not include a service charge, but you should still round out your bill with a small amount of change left on the table for the server. In upscale restaurants it’s customary to leave an additional 5% or more.
18. Taxi drivers should also be tipped, and 10% is the usual. Hotel service people should get a little something, too. If you stay in a hotel for more than a few days, leave a small tip for the chambermaid and tip the concierge if he or she has been particularly helpful.

Germany

19. Service charges are usually automatically tacked onto bills, but it’s customary to leave a little extra, about 3-5% in most cases, or just round up to the nearest Euro. To give the tip, never just leave money on the table. Tell you waiter or waitress how much you want to pay, tip included, and hand the money directly to him or her. You should also expect to tip bartenders 2-5%.
20. You won’t need to leave taxi drivers large tips while you’re in Germany unless they carry your particularly cumbersome baggage; simply round up to the nearest Euro. You also won’t need to leave large tips for hotel personnel. Service charges on your bill should take care of most tipping, but you will need to leave small tips for housekeeping and any porters that carry your luggage.

Hungary

21. Unless it’s specifically noted, service charges aren’t included on bills in Hungary. Tips range from 10-15% and should be handed directly to the waiter when you pay, never left on the table. Taxi drivers will expect a similar amount, usually around 10%.
22. Tipping is very much a part of the Hungarian culture, and there will be numerous situations where you will need to leave a tip. Cloakroom attendants, gas station attendants, and various hotel personnel should all receive a small tip.

Indonesia

23. Gratuities are not a large part of Indonesian culture, but the more Westernized the place you are dining or staying in, the more likely tips will be expected. Upscale eateries generally tack on a 10% service charge, but at more moderately priced eateries, 5,000 rupiah should suffice. Hotels will also tack on an additional 10% fee, but you should tip porters and bellboys.
24. Taxi drivers usually round up to the nearest rupiah when giving you your total sometimes mostly out of convenience, but if you feel you’re getting ripped off, say something. A tip for a driver should not exceed 1000 rupiah.

Israel

25. Tipping in Israeli restaurants usually falls around 10-15%, depending on your satisfaction with the service. Much like in the U.S., Israeli servers depend on tips to make a living, so when you can, tip generously.
26. Taxi drivers will not expect to be tipped, but if service is good a small tip is appreciated. You will need to tip any tour guides you have, as well as the porters and housekeeping staff at your hotel.

Italy

27. Tipping customs vary depending on where you are in Italy. In smaller cities and towns, tips may be small or nonexistent, but in big cities, tipping is standard practice. For urban restaurants, service charges are generally included in your bill, but you should leave an additional 5-10% for the server depending on your dining experience.
28. You can expect hotels in Italy to include a service charge in all hotel bills, but, as is the norm, you should hand out smaller tips to service personnel who clean your room or carry your bags. You can tip taxi drivers if you like, usually around 5%, but this is not done commonly by native Italians.

Japan

29. The best advice about tipping in Japan is usually simple: don’t. Handing money directly to a waiter or waitress is considered quite rude and a predominantly Western custom.
30. That said, many places do include a service charge in your bill ranging from 5-15%. You should not tip beyond this. The only exception is if you are staying at a Japanese Inn called a ryokan. In this case, it is appropriate to discretely tip the manager of the inn.

Malaysia

31. Tipping is not a common practice in Malaysia. Whether or not you tip in a majority of situations is up to you. You will find that most hotels and restaurants have already added in a service charge of about 10% to your bill and you generally won’t be expected to tip beyond this unless you would like to.
32. As a nice gesture, however, you should tip bellboys and porters who help you with your luggage, and give taxi drivers your small change.

Mexico

33. In Mexico, it’s generally a good rule of thumb to tip the same people you would back home. You’ll need to tip porters at the airport just as you would back home, but make sure to get some pesos prior to your trip or immediately on arrival so you can pay in cash. Tips at restaurants should be about 10-15% and there are rarely service charges tacked onto the bill.
34. Taxi drivers do not usually need to be tipped if the price for the trip has been negotiated beforehand. This will be the total cost of the trip, and you won’t need to pay any extra unless additional services are provided.

Morocco

35. There are no hard and fast rules regarding tipping in Morocco. Natives might only leave their loose change, but in general, tourists leave about 10%. Taxi drivers can be tipped whatever amount is easiest to round up to in the next 5 dirhams.
36. Many tourists are confused about what to tip someone who has given them directions or help in the medinah, an ancient section of Marrakech. If the help comes from a child 5-10 dirhams is ok, but if the help is from an adult, 10-20 is appropriate. If they tag along for further guidance, 30- 50 dirhams would be a good tip. Of course, if you don’t want any more help, you are under no obligation to tip them anything.

New Zealand

37. Tipping is not common in New Zealand, but it is acceptable in situations where exemplary customer service was provided. In those cases, tips are usually 10% of the total bill. You may find that on special holidays your bill will come with an additional service charge. This is not a tip for the servers. Rather, it goes toward the additional cost of the higher wages that the law says workers must be paid.
38. Taxi drivers, like most service personnel, are not tipped, but it is customary to round up to the nearest dollar so that no change will be needed.

Philippines

39. Tipping is the norm in the Philippines, and in most restaurants, the standard amount is 10%. You will find that some places include this charge in the bill, in which case you can simply leave some spare change on the table, but tipping when there is a service charge is entirely optional.
40. The 10% guideline can also be applied to your hotel stay. Bellhops, porters, and doormen should be tipped separately at about 10 pesos each.

Russia

41. In increasingly capitalist Russia, tipping is becoming more and more common, though it can be a delicate balance. You don’t want to tip too much or too little and you want to take service into account as well. If you’re at a loss at what to tip, for restaurants with waiters, 10-15% is the generally accepted amount. If there are no servers, no tip is required. Tips are never obligatory, but will undoubtedly be appreciated.
42. Tour guides and drivers will need to be tipped as well, and the amount you give will be at your discretion and should be based on the quality and the duration of the tour. Tipping is not considered customary for taxis.

South Africa

43. Tipping is customary and while not compulsory, is expected all over South Africa. A rate of 10% is generally the norm for restaurants and taxis. You’ll also need to leave a small tip for porters and maids, usually about 5 rand per bag/day.
44. In South Africa, you are likely to encounter many tour guides and game trackers who depend largely on tips for their income. You are never obligated to tip any of these people if you are dissatisfied with your service. In general, however, experiences will be positive and what you’d like to give is at your discretion.

South Korea

45. Tipping is not required or expected in South Korea, but you will find that many restaurants and hotels add a 10% service fee to bills. You won’t be expected to tip beyond this. You should, however, as a form of politeness, give a slight bow and say thank you for the services that are provided.
46. Taxi drivers in South Korea do not need to be tipped unless they assist you with carrying your luggage to the car or hotel.

Spain

47. There is a great debate on whether or not one should tip in Spain. Many, if not most, natives do not leave tips for meals or drinks and often tourists will be the only ones to do so. Businesses are not likely to reject the extra money, but keep in mind that servers are often not allowed to accept tips and the money will not go to them. If you feel the need to tip at a bar or restaurant anyway, 5-10% or the change from your bill will suffice.
48. You will, however, be expected to tip anyone handling your baggage, including both porters and taxi drivers. You’ll also need to leave a little something for chambermaids at your hotel and for anyone bringing you room service. How much you tip in these situations is at your discretion.

Thailand

49. Tipping is a common practice in Thailand, though tips may not be as high as those in many Western countries. When dining, the amount you should tip depends on the type of restaurant. At small cafes and food stalls, your small change from settling the bill should suffice, but if you’re dining in a fancier establishment, a cash tip of 10% is more appropriate. Keep in mind that many of the locals are paid fairly low wages, so a little tip can garner a lot of appreciation.
50. Although many high-end tourist hotels in Thailand include a service charge when you receive your bill, you should still give small tips to bellboys and other hotel staff who assist you. Taxi drivers also should be tipped, but usually a small amount rounded up to the nearest baht.

While you may be content with the company of your computer and virtual fantasy universe most of the time, even the most self-sufficient nerds need to get out and make real contact every once in awhile. What better way to do this than by taking a vacation that will put you in your element, making you more relaxed and among men and women who won’t find your social awkwardness or love of dressing like a Jedi strange? While there are few plans for getting laid that are foolproof, besides of course, becoming a billionaire, these locales will at least improve your chances of meeting someone with similar interests and desires. So check out these vacation destinations geared towards nerdiness, and may the force be with you in your quest for companionship.

1. Sex in Video Games Conference For the dirty-minded video game lover, this conference can be an informative and provocative getaway. The convention is focused on sex and technology, so what better place to meet someone for a little bit of both?
2. Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is a mecca for the tech-savvy, and the neon-splashed Akihabara district is a nerd’s paradise. Not only will you find the latest and greatest gadgets at the numerous electronics retailers, you’ll also find a number of costume cafes where waiters and waitresses dress and serve you as anime characters. While finding a similarly-interested member of the opposite (or same) sex in mainstream society might be hard, here in the so-called "ghetto of geeks," you’re sure to meet someone with whom you can share your interests.
3. Comic-Con This four-day event in sunny San Diego, California brings over a hundred thousand comic book lovers, sci-fi geeks and RPG fanatics from all over the world. If there was ever a place to meet the nerdy boy or girl of your dreams, this would be it, as the convention is often sold out and filled with scantily clad and costumed fanboys and girls. The convention festivities rarely stop at the end of the day. Nearby hotels packed with comic book fans carry the party late into the night, giving you ample time and opportunity to meet that special someone.
4. Anime Expo Held in southern California, Anime Expo is the largest anime and manga convention held in North America and one of the largest in the world. Vacationing geeks will find the convention packed with the standard fare like movie screenings, cosplay, and art shows, but Anime Expo gives attendees a little more. The expo is a 24 hour convention, with late night dances and karaoke as well as gaming and devoted to meeting and cavorting with other anime fans at all hours of the night.
5. BloggerCon For all you bloggers out there, BloggerCon can be a great place to meet your writing brethren. The conference is organized not around speakers but around smaller group discussions, giving you the chance to more easily speak with and meet other attendees. If you make a good connection, you can carry the conversation outside the group.
6. Dragon Con If wizards and elves are more your style, consider traveling to Dragon Con. Held in Atlanta, Georgia, Dragon Con is one of the largest science fiction and fantasy conventions held in the United States. Events aren’t limited to just fantasy, sci-fi gaming, and movies. There are also concerts that have ranged from The Misfits to Jefferson Starship. Strike up a conversation with a Klingon or Xena-clad fangirl. If you’re really daring, check out the Fantasm parties, which cater to the sexual aspects of sci-fi/fantasy role playing and costumes.
7. Prophecy While many of you might be loathe to admit it, there are some hardcore Harry Potter fans out there. You can proudly show off your Hogwarts scarves at Prophecy. The convention changes locales each year, but provides a place where adult fans of the Harry Potter series can get together to discuss the books, have fun, and meet others with a love of wizards. If you’re lucky, you might even get to work some magic of your own.
8. South By Southwest Better known as the abbreviated SXSW, this conference and festival held in Austin, Texas caters to the music, film and the interactive programming geeks out there. You’ll have ample opportunity to meet some new men and women while you’re rocking out to bands, gaming, or enjoying one of the late-night parties offered at the conference.
9. Star Trek Vegas Convention For the Trekkie, there is no better vacation destination than this. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet numerous cast members as well as checking out the Vegas Hilton’s Star Trek: The Experience exhibits which include rides, models of the ship, a museum, and even a Star Trek themed bar. What better place to pick up fellow Trekkies than on the Bridge of the Enterprise or in a dark corner of Quark’s bar? If your lust turns into love you can even get married there!
10. E3 Held in California, E3 is the place for gaming professionals to meet and showcase new technologies and game development. The convention has become very elite, as in invitation only, but if you can’t finagle your way in, you can always hop over to the Entertainment for All Expo, which is open to the general public. There, you can challenge the cute girl or boy of your choice in the latest video games or flirt over new and shiny technology.
11. WorldCon WorldCon is the annual conference for the World Science Fiction Society. Held in varying locations all over the world, WorldCon offers attendees the opportunity to see the best in sci-fi art and writing. If you’re into cosplay, the convention has a large formal masquerade where elaborately costumed attendees can compete to see who has the best costume. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet someone wearing a costume from the same planet as yours!
12. Intercon H Intercon conventions occur all over the United States, but InterCon H is held in Massachusetts. Attendees will be able to take part in a large variety of live action role playing (LARP) activities in every setting from fantasy worlds to the old west, in full costume and without ever breaking character. Make the acquaintance of a character you like and you may be able to continue the role playing back at your hotel room.
13. MacWorld Head out to foggy San Francisco, California for a weekend of trolleys and Mac love. What better place to meet potential mates than amidst all the sleek and sexy technology of Apple? Catch the eye of a lad or lass over the screen of your iBook and maybe you’ll get the chance to ogle each other instead of the technology.
14. Con-Version Fans of science fiction and fantasy will enjoy the Con-Version. Attendees will get the chance to hobnob with well-known authors, join in on a masquerade, and meet fellow fans of sci-fi. The convention is also home to a slave-auction intended to benefit a local food bank, but could also benefit you on the dance floor and beyond.
15. Sidi Driss Hotel The Sidi Driss Hotel in Matmata, Tunisia, is a Star Wars nerd’s dream. The hotel was part of the setting for Luke Skywalker’s home planet Tatooine in both the classic and new films. Bring a lovely lady or gent along and start the romancing in one of the tiny subterranean rooms or head over to the nearest town of Gabes to find attractive tourists.
16. Galacticruise Fans of the sci-fi television and film series Battlestar Galactica will enjoy this 5-day cruise off the coast of California. Not only will you get to enjoy some sun, but you’ll also get to meet the stars of the show, and maybe some sexy fans as well. Since it’s a cruise you’ll have an excuse to see your special guy or gal in a swimsuit when you cozy up to them in the on board hot tub.
17. New Zealand Lord of the Rings nerds can take in the scenery and visit the all the best known sights from from the movies in New Zealand. Meet like-minded men and women on tours of these sites and bring them up to Sky Tower in Auckland, the tallest freestanding structure in the southern hemisphere, to marvel at the view.
18. GenCon GenCon is the premier event in the gaming community. While it may seem like the kind of event frequented only by men, there is a large group of so-called "gaming wenches" that help even out the sexes. So challenge your love interest to a game of Dungeons and Dragons or even Settlers of Catan and watch the sparks fly.
19. Battlebot Tournament For those who like both robotics and wanton destruction, battlebot tournaments can be a great way to not only fight robots but also to meet some ladies as well. You may be a nerd, but if you can build or operate machinery that is loud and potentially dangerous, you’ll have something to impress girls with. Bonus points if you have battlebot scars.
20. Siggraph Siggraph is a computer animation and graphics conference where new video game, animation and imaging technologies are showcased. When you’re not checking out the animations shown at the conference or the latest interactive technologies, you can attempt some actual interaction with fellow attendees.
21. New York Renaissance Faire Who doesn’t love a good renaissance faire? The New York Renaissance Faire is located in the scenic woods near Tuxedo, New York, and offers attendees several days of raucous mead-fueled fun. Find yourself a wench or a knight that’s to your fancy and carry them away on your trusty horse. Or Toyota, whichever.
22. RingCon UK Hop across the pond to the shire-esque hills of the UK for RingCon, an annual convention for fans of Lord of the Rings. Attendees can participate in trivia contests, lectures and even check out some fan-made videos. Dress up in your best wizard or hobbit garb and impress the elven ladies with your mastery of their language.
23. GeekCruise Want to learn some Photoshop tips or play chess while cruising around the Caribbean? With a GeekCruise you can, and you’ll be learning along with loads of other people who have similar interests. When you’re done geeking it up, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to fraternize with the sexy singles on board while enjoying dinner, a dip in the pool or just having a cup of coffee.
24. AntarcticaWhile Antarctica doesn’t top most people’s list of top vacation hotspots, it can be an educational and possibly romantic getaway for nerds with the cash to take the trip way down south. You’ll get to see the desolate and penguin-filled iceberg and if you do perchance meet an attractive single tourist, you’ll conveniently have subzero temperatures as an excuse to cuddle to keep warm.
25. CeBIT Technology Show Take a break from the typical European vacation and experience Germany like a true nerd at the CeBIT Technology Show. The world’s largest computer trade show, this event isn’t to be missed. Meet other computer obsessed men and women at the show, or take to pretty much anywhere in Germany to grab a few drinks and meet the locals or other tourists.