I asked you who published the best travel guide books, and here’s who you voted for (just to note, you will see that some people voted for more than one guide, for different situations)…

Number 1: Rick Steves with 26% of the votes

See Rick Steves Guides on Amazon

Here are a few of your comments…

‘Without a doubt, RICK STEVES’ Guide books are the best, in my opinion. The books are easy to read, easy to navigate, give concise information for the traveler who is TRULY on a budget, and tells us about places that aren’t necessarily on the beaten path. Also give pricing on restaurants, inexpensive accommodations, and saving money on admissions. His website will give updates as information changes.’
Masrud

‘We have used RICK STEVES’ guide books for several years and they are very accurate, concise, and uptodate. Having lived in Europe in the past, we do a fair amount of sight seeing on our own volition, but when you want to “be with the people”, at better prices, and see great things that others would miss, RICK STEVES is, by far, the best. We HIGHLY recommend his books.’
Lynne & Dick Ronk

‘I agree that Rick Steves’s guides are the best. They are accurate, practical, and down to earth. Regrettably, they cover Europe only. I also agree with the recommendation to contact Rick’s website: it’s not just for update material, but in addition it expands considerably and in detail on various items of interest.’
Dan

‘After many years, and without any question, Rick Steeves’ books are the best! With one very important note: Any tour book should only be the beginning of your travel explorations! Steves’ are the beginning and form the basis for our travels which are philosophically the same as Ricks. Where Rich hasn’t gone, we fill in with Frommer. As a rule, my wife and I don’t take comprehensive tours but we use tour books for recommendations on hotels, etc. Many times, our own wanderings produce fabulous restaurants and places to investigate.
But, hey, have we all forgotten one of the BEST supplements?? The internet, of course! One of the best day trips that we ever had was to Corleone in Sicily! We discovered it over the internet and were paid huge travel dividends!’
Ray Miller

‘I like Rick Steves, because I believe in his travel philosophy. He hits the high points if one has a short amount of time in a place. He finds great little places to stay and eat for a reasonable price.’
Pat Branson

‘Rick Steves is the best! His recommrndations are always spot on, you can’t go wrong. He personally has been everywhere he writes about and he has a real knowledge of Europe.’
Cheri

‘Rick Steves!!! The best. Helpful, easy to use (and preserve) maps. Wonderful guide books with extremely helpful and thoughtful details. For instance, who else would caution about the tricky driveway entrance and exit from a particular hotel in the Loire Valley. Easy to read and exciting to plan a trip with. And as an added bonus, language phrase books that contain language basics and “survival phrases”.’
Zoelle & Robert

‘Just returned from London,Paris,Rome vacation. Rick Steves books were in the apartments I rented along with other travel books and he was the guy we turned to. Geared for the person who wants to truly site see with great tips for saving money and getting around on mass transit.’
Mike G

See Rick Steves Guides on Amazon

Number 2: Lonely Planet with 24% of the votes

See Lonely Planet guides on Amazon

Here are a few of your comments…

‘Lonely Planet has the best books and website for travelers interested in saving a buck or two. They do an outstanding job of explaining local history an pointing the traveler towards attractions, restaurants and lodging that might not appear in publications geared towrds more upscale travel.’
John Baird

‘Lonely Planet is the best for young budget travelers.’
Patrick

I have found that Lonely Planet guides and Rough guides are superior. They provide comprehensive, easy-to-understand information which is aimed at the typical traveler, not the tourist who requires first class accomodations, and hopes that things will not be too different from the good ole USA. I lean toward Rough Guides because quite often Lonely Planet guides have small errors.
Dick

Lonely Planet is the best for everyone, not simply for the younger travelers.
Fran Roberts

‘We are long-time travellers who often return to certain countries many times and need guides that delve deeper than what most books offer. Lonely Planet and Rough Guide are better at taking one off the beaten track. Also, they don’t gloss over; their unlaundered, sometimes cheeky comments are helpful and more truthful. If you read French, the Guides Routard is an excellent publisher. For first-time travellers under time pressures, the green Michelin guides’ star-system really helps priorize one’s choices. And of course, the red Michelin guides are the golden standard for finding the top restaurants, if money is no object.’
Diane Ponee

See Lonely Planet guides on Amazon

Number 3: Rough Guides with 12% of the votes

See Rough Guides on Amazon

Here are some of your comments…

‘My favorites are Rough Guide, Moon Guides and Lonely Planet. All three have a large amount of information (including excellent maps) about places & sites that don’t even garner a mention from Frommer’s or Fodors. Online I have found travelfish.org for SE Asia was a very good resource.

As many others will likely agree, I use the guides only to get an idea of things I want to see, rather than as my travel bible. I find my favorite travel experiences are those that are unexpected and unplanned; all too often I see people who are so engrossed in following the schedule laid out by the guide book that they miss out on the joy of experiencing a new place and culture.’
John Thompson

‘I have found that Lonely Planet guides and Rough guides are superior. They provide comprehensive, easy-to-understand information which is aimed at the typical traveler, not the tourist who requires first class accomodations, and hopes that things will not be too different from the good ole USA. I lean toward Rough Guides because quite often Lonely Planet guides have small errors.’
Dick

See Rough Guides on Amazon

Number 4: Frommers with 11% of the votes

See Frommers Guides on Amazon

Here are a few of your comments…

‘We have found that anytime both Frommers and Fodors agree on a recommendation, you cant miss. They have a great knack for finding the hidden jewels of restaurants.’
Dan F.

‘I have used Arthur Frommer’s guidebooks for more than forty years (remember when they used to be titled “___ on $10 a day”?). Throughout this period I have found their comments, especially recommendations of hotels in a place I have never visited, to be more reliable and independent than other books I have consulted.’
Cheryl Payer

‘Frommer has stood the test of time!’
Charles Schmitter

‘Frommers! I have found these to effectively capture the spirit of the place, and to offer a good range of price levels. I can’t say I’ve ever stayed in any of the accommodations, but they have gotten me started on the right track when I go online.’
Jane

See Frommers Guides on Amazon

Number 5: DK Eyewitness Guides with 9% of the votes

See DK Eyewitness Guides on Amazon

Here are a few of your comments…

‘I have found the DK Eyewitness Guides to be very helpful. The books in the Top 10 series, that just give 10 of the top places to see, eat and sleep are very nice for short trips. They are just enough to do in a long weekend without feeling overwelmed by all the city has to offer.’
Rebecca

‘I generally buy the DK books. The old expression is that a picture is worth a thousand words and DK has really good illustrations. The down-side is that coated paper they use to print these illustrations is quite heavy, so their guides seem to weigh more than other brands. I think the time has come for light-weight electronic guide books.’
Don Newcomb

‘I always first look for a DK Eyewitness Guide. Give best overall coverage with good general background and then consise details presented in an orderly fashion. Good maps. Great pictures.’
Brian Merget

See DK Eyewitness Guides on Amazon

Number 6: Moon Guides with 6% of the votes

See Moon Travel Guides on Amazon

Here are a few of your comments…

‘I really like the Moon guides. The people who write them really know their stuff. We usually take a Lonely Planet along as well. Particularly in South America, we had problems with Lonely Planet. As it turned out, at the time, the South American guides were being written by a guy sitting in his house! (2007) We never take LP guides alone anymore.’
Karen

See Moon Travel Guides on Amazon

Joint number 7: Fodors with 3% of the votes

See Fodor’s Guides on Amazon

‘We have found that anytime both Frommers and Fodors agree on a recommendation, you cant miss. They have a great knack for finding the hidden jewels of restaurants.’
Dan F.

See Fodor’s Guides on Amazon

Joint number 7: Time Out guides with 3% of the votes

See Time Out travel guides on Amazon

‘I’ve found that the “Time Out” series of travel guides for various cities are the most informative, useful and well-written, but they are available for only a limited number of destinations. “Lonely Planet” and “Rough Guide” travel guides cover more destinations and offer more information about important historic and cultural sites than most other guides, but they seemed to be aimed primarily at budget travelers in their sections on hotels and restaurants. For those of us who are not so concerned with budget travel, they are not as useful as other guides.’
Mike Blevins

See Time Out travel guides on Amazon

Joint number 7: Karen Brown Guides with 3% of the votes

See Karen Brown travel guides on Amazon

‘KAREN BROWN GUIDES ARE THE BEST FOR CHARMING INNS AND B&B’S THROUGHOUT EUROPE. EACH ARE UNIQUE AND THE PRICE RANGES FROM MID TO DELUXE ACCOMMODATIONS.’
Carol

Joint number 7: Insight Guides with 3% of the votes

See Insight travel guides on Amazon

‘I always go through a two-stage process when planning a trip. First, I read the Insight Guide to wherever I’m going. These are short on specific information, but they provide extensive information on the history and culture of the country or city and detailed narrative tours of its major sights, all illustrated with stunning photographs. This gives me an idea of what I might want to see.

If I’m visiting an American city, then the Insight Guide is usually sufficient.

I haven’t traveled in Europe much, but I found Rick Steves’ guides to the UK to be great on the nitty-gritty details, such as what bus to take to get to such-and-such a sight.

Otherwise, I use the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide, especially for Asia.

But I always START with the Insight Guide if there’s even a possibility that I’ll be going somewhere. They’re just plain fun to read, even if I end up not going (as happened with a possible trip to Australia).’
Karen S

See Insight travel guides on Amazon

Do you agree or disagree with these results? Leave your comments below…

1. Discover a cheap and different type of souvenir collection

At a bar in my late grandfather’s home city in Denmark I was served a Danish beer called Ceres. I noticed the coaster under my glass and asked the barman if I could have one to take home. He gave me a stack of them and they make great conversation pieces at parties.
Marie Farhang, Detriot, Mich.

2. The best way to repair broken sunglasses

Among other ingenious uses, a twist tie can temporarily replace a lost screw on a pair of sunglasses. Just peel the paper or plastic off the tie so you have bare wire, insert it where the screw was, and twist it to tighten. Unlike Scotch tape or a safety pin, a twist tie is small enough to hold until you’re able to replace the screw.
Lynn Fermino, Los Angeles, Calif.

3. How to make more use of your socks when packing

Put your perfume or cologne bottles inside pairs of rolled-up socks to keep them cushioned during your trip.
Lucy Fisher, Harwich, Mass.

4. How to pack your own plates, bowls and containers without taking too much room

A company called Orikaso makes brightly colored polypropylene sheets that can be folded to form a dish or a bowl or a cup. The sheets are lightweight and reusable. You simply flatten them when you’re finished.
Lori Fraser, Fremont, Calif.

5. The one person you should always befriend while overseas

When I’m planning a trip, I almost always call the hotel concierge before I arrive (and if my hotel doesn’t have one I call one that does). Recently, I asked for advice on what to see since I had only four days in a new city. After I told the concierge what I thought I should try to do, she said I had too many things packed into four days. She gave me a list of hotspots to visit and places to avoid. With her help, my trip was much more enjoyable.
Linda Freeman, Venice, Calif.

If you have your own travel tip, leave it as a comment below…

…or if it’s not really a risk to you at all.

So, in all probability swine flu is going to remembered by history as one of the following three things:

1. The end for us all, with the possible exception of the creation of new, immune super-human overlords…
2. Just another media-hyped flash in the pan, promoted by the media’s need to produce and sell news 24-hours a day, or with the backing of the drug companies…
3. Another of many flu types that we should exercise the usual caution against, but not lose are heads over…

We’ll look at what your fellow Mobal Members had to say on the issue below, but before that, here’s some ‘facts’ to get you up to speed…

2009 Swine Flu facts at a glance:

1. World Health Organization declares a flu pandemic on June 11, 2009, with a level 6 out of 6. However, this grading was not based on the severity of the virus, but its global spread.
2. World Health Organization has so far recognized 52,160 cases of infection and 231 deaths.
3. World Health Organization report that annual flu epidemics affect 5-15% of the global population (causing severe illness in 3-5 million people, and death in 250,000-500,000 people).
4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that to help stop infection, people should frequently wash hands, especially after being out in public, and dispose of tissues and wash hands after sneezing.
5. According to New York Times findings, people who contracted flu before 1957 could already have immunity against this new form of the virus.
6. Various health organizations have jointly confirmed that eating pork products does not put you at risk of contracting the virus.

Further reading:

World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

Wikipedia (assuming you trust the information, although many citations given)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic

And here’s what you fellow Mobal Members had to say on Swine Flu…

The ‘over-hyped’ view point

“Definitely over-hyped — the media are destroying day by day whatever credibility they might still have.

But of course, we previously have taken reasonable precautions Just In Case, including laying in a supply of hand sanitizing gel so when panicky consumers clear it off all shelves we’ll still be protected. (This fits in with other sensibe measures like having a supply of clean drinking water and some canned goods.)”

Cherry C.

——————-

“Over-hyped.

The price we pay for the need to fill time by 24-hour news networks. That’s not say it couldn’t have been real, but the news no longer reacts to the facts, it assumes them and then back-tracks when required.”

R-Squared

——————-

“A certain amount of caution is appropriate with any new disease strain. But I think that the news media certainly went out of their way to make this sound like the end of the world. Facts were not verified, numbers were grossly overstated, and thousands of people were inconvenienced for no reason. Many more people die every day from other forms of flu virus than from the A/H1N1 Swine Flu. Yes, things could have been worse, but the news has to be reported in a reasonable and truthful manner for everyone’s sake.”

Bob E.

——————-

“Tens of thousands of people die every day in car accidents, but those stories don’t sell newspapers. Governments and the media need to back off and just leave people alone. A little hygiene goes a long ways.”

Len Pine

——————-

“Unfortunately, the Swine Flu media hype is just the tip of the iceberg. Anymore, in a thousand ways, the media has the citizenry brainwashed with worry and fearful victimhood. As H.L.Mencken said decades ago: “The whole purpose of practical politics [and now, also, the media] is to keep the populace alarmed, and hence clamorous to be led to safety, by menacing it with a series of hobgoblins.””

Harlan Young

——————-

The ‘serious threat’ view point

“I’m a nurse and a nursing instructor, and I can only say that swine flu is a real threat, just like the usual seasonal flu (although so far it seems to kill fewer people). It is of great importance that people WASH THEIR HANDS FREQUENTLY!! This is true at home or while traveling. I’m sure no one is aware of how many times a day we touch our face or mnouth with hands that have touched many different things beforehand. Rigorous hand washing, along with common sense, should protect people from most illnesses passed by contact.”

Paula Gjerstad

——————-

Better to be a bit overly cautious and suffer the media hype than to ignore what could eventually become a major problem. Since it’s the same, or nearly so, strain that killed many in 1918 it pays to take precautions and do the research.

Evans Harrell

——————-

The ‘necessary caution’ viewpoint

“Only the press (and others seeking to make a quick buck) can’t accept that a potential global threat has to be dealt with seriously and aggressively; if it turns out to be less than a catastrophe, they attack those responsible and accuse them of over-reaction; if it goes bad, they attack saying that not enough was done, and a more serious problem should have been anticipated.

It would be great if some leadership were shown in a press organization so there would be somewhere to turn for rational analysis. Unfortunately, that probably would appeal to the rednecks that go for the sensational crap.”

ropavo

——————-

“Over-hyped? Yes. Necessarily over-hyped? Yes as well!

Swine-flu has emerged in one part of the world, whereas bird flu emerged in Southeast Asia. The fear that if they both meet in the same person, then might mutate into something as contagious as the swine flu, but as deadly as the bird flu.

This might be coming in as early as September/October 2009. So while there is no real fear today, awareness should be raised, and the CDC’s (and WHO’s) mechanisms are being tested today, and hopefully the flaws will be addressed by Fall of 2009…”

Jade N.

——————-

“Epidemiologists must try to assess the risk of an unknown new virus like this one. Until they are able to do that they need to take precautions just in case a problem develops. Once a serious problem has gone out of control it is more difficult to reign it in. Fortunately, this virus has so far not caused more catastrophic disease than the better known varieties of the flu virus. We can only hope that it stays that way. There was reason for caution but there was no reason for panic. Now can we go back to life as usual please.”

Rainer Muser

——————-

“No, I do not fear swine flu. There is always a possibility of any number of diseases as we travel throughout the world; however, we must continue to take the usual precautions recommended by the CDC, and by the travel industry. I think the press dosen’t really mean to create hysteria; however, there’s always the pressue to reveal a story first and the competition gets really crazy after that. I think they are people trying to make a living, but in a bit over-the-top fashion at times.”

Charles Jeter

——————-

Conclusions

It would seem to me (coming from the position of absolutely no authority on this subject) that any new strain of virus, especially one that spreads so quickly, needs to be taken seriously. And it should be made aware to the general public with advice on how to avoid and minimize risk of catching it, while the scientists (I assume it’s scientists) collect enough evidence to declare how much of a threat something is.

However, in the meantime, the media shouldn’t really be speculating on what catastrophe ‘could’ happen before it’s been proven (and I guess the scientists shouldn’t court the media by providing their own speculations, albeit from a more authoritative position).

That said, if the worst case scenario does turn out to be true, then the media can quite rightly print the facts, even at the expense of mass hysteria.

However, what do I know? I’m just another person adding fuel to the fire with this blog post after all (oh yes, the irony of that hadn’t escaped me…)

So, do you agree or disagree? Leave you comments in the box below…

There are so many different travel guide books on offer it can be hard to know which are best…

…Do you have a favorite travel guide book publisher?

One who you know you can trust to give you the best and most accurate information to a place.

Share with us which publisher they are and why you think they’re the best…

1. Don’t always believe the airline’s website when it comes to using miles

After I was unable to find any mile-saver awards seats online for a wide selection of days and routes, I called the airline. An agent told me that the airline’s website can’t book seats for their partner airlines, but agents can. Within minutes, I had enough options that it was difficult to choose between them.

May Cronin, Dallas, Tex.

2. A hotel pool is hours of free fun

No matter where we traveled with our kids, the hotel pool was always a big plus. I used to pack a bag of items that made the pool even better, including a small flexible pool Frisbee, an inflatable beach ball, a few colourful plastic items, and last but not least, goggles to protect the kids’ eyes from the chlorine. I also brought along a few suction-cup hooks for hanging the
wet suites inside the hotel tub for drip-drying.

Mary Crow, Glenville, Pa.

3. Tally spending at the end of a trip

Last year I traveled to Greece with three friends. We knew we didn’t want to spend time calculating proportionate shares of the dinner bills, so we kept a running tab of all expenses in a little note-book. Whoever was up for it would pay a bill, so only one person at a time fussed with money, and this way we all kept pretty close to even. At the end of the trip, the total expense amount was divided evenly, and those who’d paid less reimbursed those who had paid more.

Mary Davis, Round Rock, Tex.

4. Prevent accidents in showers abroad

Grab rails and nonskid surfaces aren’t common in European bathtubs and showers. I pack a few decorative rubber pads that have nonadhesive suction cups, so I can use them when I needed to prevent a slip or fall, and then I take them with me to the next hotel.

Martin Day, Raleigh, N.C.

5. Put an address label on your one-time-use camera

On a trip I exchanged disposable cameras with a traveler so we could feature in our own photos, however, we got mixed up with whose camera was whose. If we’d labelled the cameras we would avoid this problem.

Mark Egan, Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Got a tip of your own, or want to comment on these tips? Just use the box below…

Not sure what to have for your dinner tonight? Take some inspiration from your fellow Mobal Members as they share some of their most memorable meals from their travels around the world.

Not sure you’ll find some of the ingredients at your local grocery store though…

1. Sautéed bull testicles in France

“Sautéed bull testicles in Nice France.”

Richard

2. Jerk Chicken in Jamaica

“The most amazing meal was in Jamaica. It was an outside Jerk Chicken Stand on the beach. While the location was perfect in itself. The food was simply amazing. In fact it was so good we ate at that little stand with the wooden tables every single day of our vacation.

To this day both myself and the two other people I was traveling with all agree when someone asks us the best meal we have ever eaten Jamaica.”

Kim Mackey

3. Tapas in California

“DINKS Restaurant, Palm Springs, CA — Tapas, regular menu, ambiance and creative cooking like you have never had before.”

Howard Hamilton

4. Traditional French

“Moulin du Roc hotel in Champagnac du Belair, France – northern Perigord (SW France) – fantastic food that manages to be both simple and decadent in it’s deliciousness. Beautifully presented food that is local, fresh and perfectly cooked. Guinea fowl with lime sauce was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten and fresh foie gras was the best ever. Worth every expensive penny and wonderful 17th century converted mill.”

Amy

5. Scottish lamb

“Ardnaseig Hotel – Loch Awe Scotland – phenomenal lamb in a beautiful setting. Fresh and local with an international twist on traditional Scottish ingredients. Each course just gets better in prix fixe menu – a little slice of heaven.”

Amy

6. Hortobagy palacsinta and Gundel palacsinta in Hungary

“Although not spectacular in the sense of being a sumptuous five-star meal, probably the most memorable meal my wife and I ever had was at a very small country restaurant in Per, Hungary, called the Feher Akac Etterem (White Acacia Restaurant). Both the Hortobagy palacsinta and the dessert Gundel palacsinta were hands-down the best we ever tasted in Hungary (and I have been to Hungary five times). Washed down with a local peach palinka, it was absolutely fantastic, enough to go back for if we ever get back to Hungary.”

Ralph Riccio

7. Surprising Vegan in Brighton, UK

“The most amazing and delicious meal was at a vegan restaurant in Brighton, UK. I had taken my vegan son and daughter-in-law to dinner at a restaurant we had never before seen. Honestly, I expected it to be quite terrible as my experiences in feeding my son since he chose to be a vegan had been tasteless. he food was beautifully presented – though I could not identify anything on our plates – and so I took pictures. I was glad I did as it was incredibly delicious. It was also expensive, though I was happy to pay every penny. It was beautiful, tasty, and the best surprise meal of my life.”

Michael Case

8. Tradition French

“Lunch at Tour Dargent in Paris. Beautiful room, table for two for our 25th wedding anniversary, fantastic service over a 2.5 hour lunch. The view of Notre Dame capped it all.”

Tom Honan

9. Svickova in Prague

“For pure uniqueness, my most memorable meal was a traditional meal of Svickova enjoyed in a local’s “pub” in Prague.”

Brian L.

10. Tunisian lamb

“The other was a fantastic meal of Cous Cous and Lamb in the Medina of Tunis at a restaurant called Dar Jeld.”

Brian L.

11. Thai food (in Sweden)

“Koh Phangan, Stockholm, Sweden – Absolutely amazing Thai food, with a very lively atmosphere. A must if you are traveling or living in Stockholm!”

Julia

12. Anything in Greece

“My most memorable meals have been more influenced by the “where” than the “what” I’ve eaten. For me, virtually any meal in Greece tops the list–the ambiance and surroundings, good humor, and friendly service make everything special.”

Betty Sheldon

13. Surprise in-flight cheeseburger

“Actually “while traveling?” I would have to go with an unexpected cheeseburger at 30,000 feet.

To this day I am not sure what happened, but on a flight (major carrier) we were given cheeseburgers for the meal.

Maybe not “amazing” but certainly the best surprise meal I have had in a while. Not to mention that a cheeseburger tastes pretty damn good at 30K.”

Godfather

14. French fish

“Le Petit Nice near Marseilles, a Michelin two-star, served the most beautiful meal I’ve ever eaten abroad during over 30 trips. The appetizer featured three types of fish perfectly placed upon a base of “sand” (actually sea salt), and each subsequent course was presented even more elegantly than the previous one.”

Lynda

15. Roman Pizza

16. Barcelona paella

17. Brazilian rodizio

18. San Fran sourdough

19. Viennese schnitzel

20. French seafood

“Most are memorable for the place as well as the food. PIzza in Roma; Paella in Barcelona; Rodizio (a parade of grilled beef) in Sao Paulo; Sourdough in San Francisco; Schnitzel in Vienna; Seafood on the coast in La Rochelle.”

John Beck

21. French airport food

“A business trip in the early 1970s took a friend and me to Rabat, Morocco, via Paris. We had a several-hour layover at Orly airport, which was then still the principal Paris airport. It was about noon when we got there, so we decided to “have lunch” at one of the restaurants. Best meal either one of us has ever had! We found out later that it was a Michelin two-star restaurant, and that people came out from the city specifically to eat there — not just travelers like us.

It gave new meaning to the term “airport food”.”

Jim Wilson

22. Insalata caprese in Italy

23. Grilled pork ribs in Italy

“Two, actually, though I consider this a meal some wouldn’t–insalata caprese! In Sorrento and throughout the Campagnia region and Amalfi Coast in particular made with “bufala” mozzarella so fresh and milky it almost squishes and tomatoes still warm from the vine garnished with fresh basil–drizzle some olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar over it and you’ve got heaven on earth! But for an entree, we had some simple grilled pork ribs and grilled veggies (all from local Sienese farms) on the road north of Siena in Tuscany at a small roadside restaurant. Mmmmmm…”

Loretta Lamberth

24. Traditional Italian

“The best meals that I have ever eaten while traveling have all been in local “Trattorias” in Italy. Coincidentally, these meals have also been the most reasonably priced, made with the freshest of ingredients and often the simplest. My personal favorites are lasagne, pizza and GELATO!!!!”

Phyllis Waring

25. Fish belly

26. Sea cucumber

27. Shark fin

28. 1000-year old egg

“Fish belly (actually swim bladder), sea cucumber, shark fin, 1000 year old egg (actually only 200-300 years old according to my host), birds nest soup, and a soup that looked like sinus drainage in Beijing. Their motto is “We everything on four legs but the table.” I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

D Nadler

29. Octopus in Spain

“My favorite meal was Octopus Galician style (butter and garlic) while seated al fresco in the Plaza Mayor in madrid, Spain. It was succulent.”

Robin

30. Street noodles

31. French crepes (in China)

“We are just returned from a trip to Shanghia were we ate many great things: a Younan meal, street food noodles, a great Peking duck …but the BEST was a Crepe restuarant in the French Concession where I enjoyed a crepe with tuna and many spices, my husband had a berry and cream crepe…..never under estiamate the Chinese!”

Lyn Muench

32. Traditional French (aboard Norwegian Cruise ship)

33. Traditional French (in London)

34. Seafood crudo

“1) Dinner in Le Bistro, the premium French restaurant on Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of Aloha, while on a Hawaiian cruise. Escargots, foie gras (make that a double order for both, please) and duck a l’orange finished table-side. We were one of the few diners on the first night of the cruise and the waiter was as incredible as the food. We make it a point to eat at Zagat and Michelin top-rated restaurants everywhere we travel all over the US and Europe – and this topped them all. Probably one of most transcendent dining experiences I have had anywhere at any price – almost worth the price of the cruise itself considering how it bested meals at stratospherically pricey places like Tour D’Argent, Taillevent, etc.

2) Club Gascon in London where we had a 4-course lunch consisting of incredibly inventive preparations of foie gras (and we each had a different dish per course and shared) – including foie gras desserts!

3) Alberto Ciarla in Trastevere in Rome – the most incredible seafood crudo (sashimi – Italian style).”

David Held

35. Sheep’s brains on toast

“Sheep’s Brains with toast at a restaurant overlooking Kabul in Afganistan in 1978 just before the Russians arrived. I was there as a tourist back-packing from New Zealand to UK. At Bamyan it was so cold petrol froze in a truck (it turns to gel) so they lit a fire under the petrol tank.”

Evan Lewis

Do you agree or disagree with any of the suggestions, or have you got a suggestion of your own? Leave it as a comment below…

If there’s one thing that the media love, it’s an epidemic that’s going to bring an end to the human race as we know it.

But has their doom-mongering got to you yet?

Do you fear swine flu, or do you think the media has blown something out of all proportions again? (Remember bird flu!)

Leave you comments in the box below…

1. Why you should save your airline socks

My husband and I keep the stretchy slipper-socks some airlines provide. (We’ve gotten them on Virgin airlines economy class and on almost all airlines in business class.)

They’re great to use when packing shoes: Just slip each shoe into a sock and you’ll prevent clothes getting marked by the soles. As a bonus, you’ll have slippers to where when you’re away from home. The socks are machine washable and can last for many years.

Parker Carveth, Encino, Calif.

2. Where to find the best free Wi-Fi hotspots

While working out of my car for more than a year, checking email was always a problem. One day I found out that all Best Western properties in North America offer free Internet access, often with Wi-Fi in public areas. That meant I could write all the emails I needed to and store them in my outbox. Then when I saw a Best Western sign, I just pulled up off the highway, parked next to the lobby, turned on my computer and sent the emails and received any new ones.

Parisa Chico, Bridgewater, Va.

3. Reasons to always carry wet wipes

I don’t go anywhere without individual packets of antibacterial wipes. I slip some in my carry- on or daypack, and shirt pocket. They’re very convenient when you can’t find any running water with which to wash your hands. And because they’re antibacterial, they’re also great for cleaning cuts, and the alcohol from the wipes helps stop the itching when you rub them on insect bites.

Monica Chun, Alsip, Ill.

4. Why you should pack a scale

Few hotel rooms are equipped with scales. So bring your own—the portable kind that fisherman use—and you can weigh luggage before you get to the airport.

Michele Clancy, Richmond, Calif.

5. How kids can have fun and learn on long road trips

In order to keep my children entertained on a long journey, I bought each of them a plastic pencil box and a clipboard to stick in the seat pouches of our car. Before we left home, I filled the boxes with machine washable markers and attached games and puzzles (all free online), to the clipboard related to where we were traveling.

Meredith Cockerham, Rio Rancho, N.M.

When we travel, food often plays an important part in the experience, and a great meal can be one of the best memories.

For me it’s back to Brazil and an all-you-can-eat meat restaurant in Rio side street — just course after course of every cut of meat imaginable (sorry veggies, what can I say, I’m a card carrying carnivore!).

What’s the most amazing meal you’ve ever eaten while traveling?

Describe it in the comments box below…

If you’re paying lots of your hard-earned money to go on the trip of life-time, then you want to be sure you won’t be disappointed.

Here are 54 destinations your fellow Mobal Members found lived up to the hype and blew their minds…

Destinations in Africa

1. Okovango Delta game preserve, Botswana

Paul Voorhees

2. The Pyramids, Egypt

“For man made attractions, I have to admit I did not expect to be impressed by the Egyptian pyramids, but I was. Especially the Sphynx.”
Wendy McIlroy

3. Nile River, Egypt

“Cruising the Nile – indescribable…a fabulous experience with so many sites to take in and to marvel at, and a feeling that some how time has stood still in parts of this beautiful country.”
Donna

4. Sabi Sabi preserve, South Africa

“Sabi Sabi preserve in South Africa where I stood not 10 feet away from 6 Rhinos grazing. Scary but fascinating.”
Joe Favaro

5. Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

“All of Kenya and Tanzania are remarkable. Forced to pick one tourist site, I’d have to choose Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania.”
Nancy

6. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwa

“Victoria Falls in Zimbabwai during the day with the mist rising hundreds of feet skyward.”
Joe Favaro

7. Zambesi River, Various Africa

“Sunset on the Zambesi River. What a sight.”
Joe Favaro

Destinations in the Americas

8. Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

“I saw the question and answered it before I saw the answer listed: Iguazu Falls. I haven’t been everywhere, but it was unbelievable and it was my first answer.”
Diana A.

9. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“Rio has the most beautiful setting of any city I have ever seen. From Corcovado the city below is the cidade marveloso! I have visited many coastal cities (Sydney, SF, Vancouver, Lisbon, SD, Miami, Honolulu, etc.) all of which are beautiful but Rio is the most spectacular.”
Kervin

10. Banff/Lake Louise, Canada

“Banff/Lake Louise area is a breathtakingly beautiful and fun destination.”
Dee in Indiana

11. The Pacific Rim National Park, Canada

“The Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It is a temperate rainforest with huge trees that are hundreds of years old and an impassable undergrowth — you have to walk on a boardwalk. It feels like you are walking in the time of dinosaurs.”
RM Nishikawa

12. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

“The Galapagos Islands. A naturalist’s dream.”
B. Delidow

13. Machu Pichu, Peru

“Machu Pichu at dawn.”
Erwin Miller

14. Glacier Bay, Alaska

“My favorite spectacular landscape would have to be Glacier Bay in Alaska – watching the glaciers calving is simply awesome!”
Michelle C.

15. Grand Canyon, Arizona, US

“No question: the most jaw dropping spectacular sight (for first time visitors) is the Grand Canyon. For a decent second choice: the approach to Yosemite Valley from Tuolomne Meadows.”
George Curran

16. Lake Powell, Arizona, US

“My vote is for Lake Powell, Arizona. It’s like the grand canyon with water. I’d put Iguazu Falls in second place.”
Gary Christopher

17. Niagara Falls, US/Canada

“It’s really difficult to name just one, but it doesn’t have to be outside the U.S. The Niagara Falls work for me.”
Betty Sheldon

18. Angel Falls, Venezuela

“Angel Falls, Venezuela. The worlds tallest waterfalls as seen from a helicopter.”
Ron Kellerman

Destinations in Antarctica

19. Glacier Alley, Antarctica

“Glacier Alley in Antarctica, or just Antarctica, itself. All those penguins are so adorable and interesting.”
Fran Roberts

Destinations in Asia

20. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

“Easily it is Angkor Wat in Cambodia. There is nothing like it for shear scale as the many temples cover many square miles. Especially amazing is that the sculptures and rock carvings survived through the centuries in spite of the jungle growth, looters, and the Vietnam War when the US dropped more bombs on this tiny country than were dropped on Japan during World War II. Beautiful countryside and the Cambodians are an amazingly resilient people.”
Bruce Stenman

21. Great Wall of China, China

“Watching the sunrise over the Great Wall of China in Simatai after spending an evening with the village children & parents in Gubeikou Town.”
T&J Piccinato

22. Terra-Cotta Warriors, China

“The Terra Cotta Warriors at Xian are perhaps one of the most amazing things we have ever seen. Just the massive size of the exhibit is impressive.”
T&J Piccinato

23. Dunhuang Dunes, China

Erwin Miller

24. The Forbidden City, China

D. Nadler

25. The Summer Palace, China

D. Nadler

26. Taj Mahal, India

“Without a doubt it has to be the Taj Mahal. It’s one of those mythical places of the world that actually lives up to its reputation. It is absolutely stunning.”
Len Pine

27. Mt. Kanchenjunga, India

“Sunrise view of Mt. Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill, near Darjeeling, India”
Erwin Miller

28. Sumba Island, Indonesia

“Villages in the Waikabubak district of Sumba Island, Indonesia with their distinctive thatched roofed stilt houses.”
Erwin Miller

29. Borobadur, Indonesia

“Just spectacular.”
Wendy

30. Petra, Jordan

“Petra – amazing and awe-inspiring (plus its an adventure just getting down the siq)”
Donna

31. Lake Khovsgal, Mongolia

“Traditional Hovsgal Hangard Ger Camp on pristine Lake Khovsgal, Mongolia.”
Erwin Miller

32. Himalayas, Nepal

“I’ve seen many of these places – don’t think I could even start to rank them, although I would add many of the Himalaya views in Nepal (Annapurna circuit, Everest from the air, Machapuchare from Pokhara). I think the one place of which I expected the least was the Taj Mahal – and I must say, seeing it at sunset filled every expectation I had ever had, from high school on. It is everything every dreamer ever imagined.”
Susan Mcneely

33. Gobi Desert, Mongolia

“Another spectacular sight was the fire clifs in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Truly a beautiful place.”
Ron Kellerman

34. Kemer/Anatalya, Turkey

“Kemer or Antalya Turkey is popular with the Europeans but not known to America. The Yacht tour is wonderfull and the sea is turquoise and next the the mountain. Kemer has an international sea port. Not sure how to send picture but the yachts are really neat looking also.”
Therese

35. The Cistern, Istanbul, Turkey

“The Cistern in Istanbul is the most spectacular for me – those Romans could build anything and the Turks have turned it into a spiritual experience. (I do have pictures if you want them.)”
R Schofield

36. Ephesus, Turkey

“Without a doubt I’d have to say Ephesus in Turkey. I had expected it to be really touristy and generic. But I was completely impressed. Incredible is the only word I can use to describe it. It’s one of those places I could return to over and over again and never get bored with it!”
Les Sewell

Destinations in Australasia

37. Bora Bora

“Nothing in the nature comes close to the beauty of Bora Bora. Photographs cannot capture the true depth of colors you’ll see as you ride from the airstrip through the lagoon to your resort located on a motu (small island surrounding the lagoon). I remember saying to my wife, “that’s the bluest water I’ve ever seen”, and about a minute later, “no, this is the bluest water I’ve ever seen”. And so it went; for the 45 minutes it took to cross over to our hotel. I must have seen 20 different shades of blue, all more amazing than the last.”
Greg Thibault

Destinations in Europe

38. The Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

“The Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is spectacular.”
Rob Swingle

39. The Tower of London, England

“Some of the sights mentioned above I’ve found truly stunning; others I’ve long wished I could see them. But the place that strikes me as most mind-blowing, strictly in tourist terms, is the Tower of London. Here, you have a precinct steeped in as much history and drama as any acreage on earth; you’ve got the place of beheadings and murders, you’ve got the crown jewels, you’ve got the ravens, an armorial museum, a magnificent Norman chapel, and countless other things worth seeing. If you know British history, you’ll surely find it rewarding. But if you don’t, not to worry; you have your own Beefeater yeoman guard to show you through. These guards, in addition to their official role as, well, guards, are perhaps the most informed and entertaining tourist guides anywhere. They had me in stitches.

You can wander the precinct at your leisure–at least the public spaces, which are many. On my first visit, nearly twenty years ago, I was astonished to find unprotected graffiti scratched into the walls of one of the prison towers; since then it has been covered by clear plexiglass. My first time through I found the names of several Jesuit martyrs in the graffiti. As a Jesuit priest, I felt especially moved by this discovery.”
John Montag

40. Stonehenge, England

“In 2006, I took a Special Access tour of Stonehenge. Before and after regular hours, you can (or could) go on a limited number tour of Stonehenge where you get to go inside the circle. You can touch the stones, stand next to the stones (and see incised Greek graffiti), get incredible pictures. I went on an evening tour and we had 20 minutes to wander around inside and outside the circle. Halfway into our alloted time, the sun started setting and it was so beautiful. When you are up close, you get a better idea of the grandeur and ancient-ness!”
Cindy Thun

41. The Pont Du Gard, France

“The Pont Du Gard Roman aqueduct in southern France near Remoulins is very impressive. You used to be able to walk across the top of it and look down at the river, but I’d heard you can’t do that anymore.”
Bill M.

42. The Königssee, Germany

“The Königssee in Southern Germany is absolutely gorgeous. It is very quiet; you can only ride in electric boats. I would love to explore the area more on foot.”
Pat Branson

43. Acropolis, Greece

“As a member of western civilization, the Acropolis brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it.”
Kathleen Kelly

44. Santorini, Greece

Paul Voorhees

45. Connemara, Ireland

“It truly is breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful.”
Donna

46. Rome, Italy

“After three trips spanning 30+ days we thought we had experienced Rome, but we were wrong. Now, after two weeks in an apartment on via dei coronari in Rome, we would encourage anyone who wants the flavor of the eternal city to book an apartment in this neighborhood. In the morning hours Rome is all yours, at 8 a.m. I was the only person in Piazza Navona. And the local newsstand chap, and the grocery store clerk and the capucino shop all recognized us on the street ad said hello, one becomes part of the neighborhood.”
Tim Johnson

47. The Sistine Chapel, Italy

Patricia Orlando

48. Orvieto, Italy

“Orvieto, Beautiful 3000 year old town located on a mountain north of Rome.”
Craig Gross

49. Venice, Italy

“Venice, Italy is absolutely the most amazing of the cities I’ve visited – it is a city like no other on earth!”
Michelle C.

50. Sognefjord, Norway

RM Nishikawa

51. Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland

“Visited WIELICZKA HISTORIC SALT MINE, Krakow, Poland.

230 Km of tunnels through solid rock salt with sculptures including an underground chapel complete with Rock Salt figures and alters.”
Wayne Hadden

52. Krakow, Poland

“All the natural phenomena (waterfalls, canyons, cliffs, mountains, lakes and so on) and many manmade ones (dams, skyscrapers, etc.) are of course wonderful, and we’ve enjoyed many of them in a lifetime of travel on all continents except Antarctica.

But THE most amazing and wonder-full place we’ve ever visited was the old city of Krakow, Poland. The enormous hand-carved, gilded and painted altarpiece (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar_of_Veit_Stoss) in the immense gothic church on the main square (from the tower of which the recording of the bugler’s famous truncated call that saved the town centuries ago plays hourly) is the most astounding work of art I have ever viewed.

When you add to that the square itself with its ancient cloth market, the nearby castle (fabulously restored, full of ancient furnishings and tapestries, tours available in a multitude of languages), the cathedral (where the former Pope presided), the old Jewish quarter, all the other untouched-by-war medieval buildings, ancient city walls, all in a very walkable central area — plus the ability to take day trips out of town to an incredible underground salt mine and/or Auschwitz (terrible to visit, but important to remember) — and much, much more (see http://www.krakow-info.com/default.htm), Krakow will blow your socks off.

We were alerted by many guidebook writers that this would be the case, and thought we were prepared, but the reality of the place outshone all our expectations. It is a priceless gem, but totally available.

P.S. The food everywhere there was also fantastic–I made it a point to eat something made with mushrooms at every lunch and dinner for the 5 days we were there; never duplicated a dish, and each was more delicious than can be expressed. And all the other food, at restaurant after restaurant, was just as wonderful, not to mention very reasonably priced.”
Cherry C.

53. Lake Bled, Slovenia

“I would vote for Lake Bled in Slovenia. It isn’t spectacular, but it’s beautiful and relaxing.”
Pat Millligan

54. The Alhambra, Spain

“The Alhambra. Good enough for Washington Irving, good enough for me.”
Charles Deahl

Feel there’s a destination missing? Leave your suggestion in the comments below…