MondoExplorer Blog

Welcome MondoExplorer Panama

2011-11-15T12:16:00.000-08:00

Mondo Explorer is excited to announce a long-awaited new addition to our online travel guides—the Central American gem of Panama. This small, narrow country bordered by Costa Rica to the North and Colombia to the South will capture your imagination with its breathtaking natural beauty not to be overshadowed by its thriving local economy. Our new virtual guide to Panama is brimming with the best advice from the locals who know and love their country best as they suggest everything from where to stay and when to plan your trip to the best nature hikes, beaches, and local eateries. With the largest rainforest in the Americas outside of the Amazon, Panama is teeming with exotic life, making it one of the most popular destinations for nature lovers. And, since there is simply so much to see and do in this tiny country—don’t forget that it is the only place in the world where you can gaze at the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at the same time—Mondo Explorer has carefully collected the best insider information about the entire country for our users. This country is undoubtedly a tropical paradise, a destination where the comforts of modern living and amenities have left its raw beauty yet untouched and unspoiled. Truly one of the most beautiful spots in the Americas, and we’re proud to add it to our growing publication.

Visit MondoExplorer Panama

Mondo Explorer Editor

Welcome to Mondo Buenos Aires!

2011-07-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Mondo Explorer is brimming with travel-glee to announce the publication of a new guide for one of the most exciting cities in the world, Buenos Aires, Argentina! Once one of the most sought-after and glamorous destinations in the Western Hemisphere, this capital city seems to have it all—the tradition of a place like London, the beauty of Paris, and the energy of New York. And yet this international city is Argentinian to the core, which shows in its unique combination of urban progress mixed local color and tradition that have carried over for hundreds of years.
Our new Buenos Aires travel guide features hand-picked suggestions from locals who’ve loved this city since birth (and to know Buenos Aires is without a doubt to love it, no matter which continent you hail from). To start with, check out our basic information page which will tell you everything you need to know about how the city works, from when to go, how to get there, or how to get around the city, along with a host of other helpful tips that only locals and those who’ve traveled extensively to this coastal city know.
But the most helpful section of our guide will surely be the Explore section, where we give our readers a detailed breakdown of the different vibes for each of Buenos Aires’ many neighborhoods (or barrios, as they are called in Spanish). Buenos Aires is, if you don’t know already, a massive city that is spread out across many miles. Think Manhattan on steroids, then, maybe, you have half of Buenos Aires. And, each neighborhood has a very unique scene and ambience, which can change from street to street. This can be overwhelming for just about anyone (even some of the locals are known to get the neighborhoods confused from time to time). True to the kind of insider, hard-to-find information that MondoExplorer works hard to giving our fellow globe-trotters, this Explore section will undoubtedly become a part of your travel “Bible,” especially as you’re trying to figure out which barrio to stay in and which ones you want to pencil in (or out of) your itinerary (trust us, if you’re going to be in Buenos Aires for less than two weeks, there is little chance you’ll have time to see the entire city, so check out these neighborhoods to see where you want to narrow your focus).
And, lastly, we have our classic guide section where you’ll find listings for basically every kind of venue you’ll need for your stay—hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, museums, theaters, entertainment, galleries, shopping, and the list goes on . . . Here, you’ll be able to easily search through and look up where to stay, eat, and play, and then book your reservations directly from our guide listings. You'll also find out about the hundreds of events that take place daily throughout the city. (Hint: Our favorite? Hands-down, the Teatro Colón. Check our guide for their active season; this is classic Buenos Aires. Also, if you don't see a tango show during your stay, you must not have left the hotel.)
And don’t forget, we always want to hear from other like-minded travelers! If you’ve been to Buenos Aires and want to share your suggestions with us—where to get the best empanada, which barrio is a must-see (or a miss-fire), or who gives the best tango lessons in the city—we want to know. Leave your comments here and we’ll be sure to add them to our guide so that we can share them with the rest of the travel community.
¡Buen viaje!

Miami Becomes the capital of ART

2010-11-18T13:43:00.001-08:00

Miami becomes the capital of Art

On December 2nd until December 5th, once again Miami will kick off its Art Basel Art Show. Few people know that it is actually the largest art show in the United States, and with merchants and buyers coming from all over the world it has also become a destination in the "hip vip" calendar of most of the "in crowd". So is it a good time to come? Absolutely! The only draw back is that it is actually diffcult to find a good hotel rate, but the weather is at its best, the crowd is great, and all of the parties and social events really dress up Miami with a touch of art and class. So if on a budget call your long time friend who lives in the city, or if you can afford it, reserve right now so you don't miss the opportunity to get cultured, have a fun time and enjoy this fantastic city. Mondoexplorer will be in Art Basel, so let us know if you will be there too if you are interested in talking about exciting opportunities or just to go and visit a nice gallery.
Enjoy!

Nicolás Visiers Würth
Editor

Best City in Latin America

2010-10-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

I was recently reading a ranking published by "América Económica" of the best cities do do business in Latin America (http://rankings.americaeconomia.com/2010/mejoresciudades/ranking.php) . I was not surprised to find Miami to be the number one ranked, as the slump in real estate prices has made this city affordable and it still offers some of the best quality entertainment and lifestyle in the region. I would like to talk about Bogota, because I was very surprised to find it was 8th place among the list.

I have visited Bogota on business trips as well as on vacation and I was extremely satisfied!!! If you like to eat, Bogota offers some of the best restaurants I have ever tried; my personal favorites are Harry's Bar, Balzac and Andres Carne de Res - a local iconic restaurant, has to be visited to be understood-, which recently also opened a location in the city called Andres D.C. For seafood go to La Mar, it is a fantastic place and the food and service will blow you away!

If you like walking, I recommend staying at the Windsor Hotel, a really nice and friendly Hotel situated close to everything and in a nice residential neighborhood.

If you like to explore, in the city I recommend going to "la Candelaria" during the day time, to look at the old part of the city and a visit to Montserrate mountain to see the city views is also great. For weekend excursions Villa de Leyva is a must, and for all man traveling aline be very careful: "the biggest danger Colombia has is you might want to stay there"

For more information go to Mondo Bogota

Nicolas Visiers Würth

Editor

What is happening around the world in september?

2010-09-12T16:07:00.001-07:00

Most people have a difficult time adjusting to work after summer, but some seasoned travelers are just about to start their vacation! They know that prices drop in September and the weather is milder and more favorable. Going to the Balearic Islands in August is like taking the subway at rush hour, and it is difficult, but not impossible, to find locations where you can actually relax; in September you will have a much milder climate in all the Mediterranean, a destination full of fantastic places for all tastes.

In Italy you can visit the Capri one of the last places in this part of the world that remains true to its identity. In France the obvious option is St Tropez or Antibes where the famous Hotel du Cap is located, now it is not so crowded and locals are much nicer to foreigners. I personally love the loire area close to Paris, it is a bit cold but if you want to enjoy great food and spectacular views this is a location not to miss. In Spain I would suggest the Balearic Islands, any of the three major Islands will be a great destination as now most of the crowds left. In the main land, the Costa Brava continues to be a favorite spot, and once there try to get a table at El Bulli, which was rated the best restaurant in the world for the las 3 years in a row and will close its doors this coming December, definitively a must!!! Don´t forget that the Octoberfest is starting this month and Munich will become during 4 weeks the Beer Capital of the world: if you want to see 1000 people cheering and chanting it is a great idea to go, for me one day is enough and the rest of the time I would try to visit this great city which has lots to offer.

For those who have decided to stay in the United States, take a plane to New York, watch the US Open and head to the Hamptons, it is still nice and over the week getting dinner or just relaxing at the beach is possible as long as it is not over the weekend.

Just remember before you live to research the location and prepare your trip, as the enjoyment of travel starts when it is planned! Best travels to all or Mondo Explorer followers!

by Nicolas Visiers Würth, Editor.

Travel recommendations are important

2010-08-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

How important are recommendations whenever you travel? Would you rather hear one from a travel expert or from someone you know? Or are you interested in hearing a recommendation from someone with your same profile? Is there a compatibility index that you can actually rely on? Ever since I started traveling I have always been interested in hearing an opinion or suggestion about a dish, hotel or restaurant... I am one of those people that will almost always ask for the specials and let the waiter "sell" me something I was not thinking of eating. When I am traveling, I also like to hear what local people find to be a good choice to do.

I will never forget my first trip to Colorado where on the way from Denver Airport to Vail we stopped at a restaurant, and we asked for "typical" food and they served us nachos with cheese and guacamole. I guess that since we where a group of people talking in Spanish that is what they considered "typical" and I would like! My point is that a recommendation is always subjective to the person giving it, and to their perception of what they believe you will like. So when www.facebook.com and www.amazon.com recently started to incorporate an application that lets me see what books my friends like, what they bought or read I was quite happy, because there I saw a potential opportunity for travel information. If I could see or choose from a smaller set of options, that a simple sorting based on the characteristics of my "small world" would offer, I could probably avoid going to places my friends already considered "not interesting".

Clearly if you tell me NOT TO GO TO, or PLEASE AVOID THAT PLACE, I will surely consider it, but if you positively recommend, I might decide to go or NOT. So this situation leaves a great deal of pressure on the delivery side, as if more than 5 people "trash" your restaurant you will probably loose business, and guess what most companies are hiring freelancers to write positive reviews at sites such as tripadvisor.com , so that the negative ones, which sometimes are written by the competition loose weight.... So is this the end of the web 2.0 ? I like to see the positive side of things, so for me this is the beginning of the social web. If I see pictures of my friend enjoying himself in a hotel in Barcelona on facebook, I somehow want to join him, I don´t care about his reviews, I AM SEEING HIS REVIEW!!

At www.mondoexplorer.com we are working on this and many other interesting things because we like to travel and we like to have great experiences. So here comes my personal recommendation: Cas Gasi, in Ibiza this summer, a great small Bed and Breakfast or "Agroturismo", it is run by Margaret and I guarantee you will enjoy this part of Ibiza in August; you will be close to the action of summer madness and far away enough so you can actually relax and enjoy the last Grisham novel. Enjoy your summer!
Nicolás Visiers Würth, Editor.

Social Travel is here to stay

2010-07-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

SOCIAL TRAVEL

All this hype about social media has got most companies super excited. It is funny because just about 3 years ago, people started to go crazy about new sites such as "A small world" , where some even offered to pay to become an invitation... It was the beginning of Social Media, and now nearly every person I know is on Facebook, even my mother, because she loves to look at pictures. I believe we all have a little "voyeur" in ourselves, we actually like to see what other people are doing. Travel is different. When you travel, you get a sense of accomplishment if you actually discover something cool and you can let your friends know so they can experience it too; you somehow feel as an explorer, since you discovered a place in the world that will stay on your memory forever, but most importantly now you know that the people you love deserve that experience too! This is SOCIAL TRAVEL, the most important reason for Mondoexplorer to be. Take some time and help us with your experiences and register so that you can share those locations and experiences that you loved in one of the cities we have available, and you will be making people happy, people you don't even know!!!

We love to travel, and we love to explore, and if you feel like that it might be a good idea to contact us if you are interested in starting a new business: social travel.

by Nicolás Visiers Wurth

Summer Travel, but the MondoExplorer way

2010-07-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

July is here and most of us already know where we are going to spend the summer at. While summer travel is probably where we spend the most money, we tend to want to minimize the risk of having a disaster vacation by going to places we already visited, or even choosing a location that is what we call "a safe bet" so that the little time we get to relax and spend quality time is just that, JOYFUL. Ever since we started this www.mondoexplorer.com it was our intent to help travelers with their decisions, by giving them local advice that would allow them to have a rewarding experience, by letting them know in advance what to do, where to go, where to stay in cities we have collaborators at so that they get first hand information.

Spending time in Argentina, I always found that being there was a completely different experience when I knew someone local that gave me recommendations, and I am extremely happy to see the great work of our collaborators in Mendoza, who have put a great deal of information in our city guide www.mondoexplorer.com/mendoza that I am sure will bring value to anyone wanting to go there. We have local advice, but even more than that, we have people that are extremely happy to help you if you are traveling there, giving you tips, advice and information that will definitively help make your time there unforgettable. Check out their latest suggestions and start planing your trip to one of the most fascinating places Argentina has to offer, where you can ski at this time of the year and experience some of the best sights in all Latin America. When you go there don't forget to visit one of the many famous wine makers of the region to taste the best Malbec wines !!!

Enjoy your Summer ! Nicolás Visiers Würth, Mondoexplorer.

Summer in New York City

2010-06-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Summer is here and it is going to be HOT in New York !!! For most of the people living here Central Park is the place to go to relax antingd enjoy some of the many activities organized there: Shakespeare on the Park, concerts as well as the great sporting activities. For those fortunate enough to have a place at the Hamptons, the weekend starts early Friday with a quick ride to skip rush hour and enjoy the great beaches and numerous social events. If you are interested on a day trip, I would definitively recommend catching a train, traffic might just ruin your trip. Most trains will take you to the coast line of Connecticut and long Island so there is no need to rent a car whatsoever!

For those fortunate enough to have the extra income and time, a quick flight to Nantucket is definitively recommended, just make sure you reserve your Hotel in advance since there are few options on the island and it is usually all booked. For those of you that are keen on driving, I recommend renting a nice convertible and driving towards Millbrook, NY. The road is not to busy and the location is just great for spending a relaxed weekend. You can enjoy some of the best horse trails in the state !

Enjoy your summer in New York city !

Where to stay when you travel?

2010-04-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

I have been traveling pretty much all my life. In the early days it was with my family, and I had to share a room with my sister, in what you would usually would call "family hotels". As we grew older, my parents had the possibility to take us to better places, and as a teenager I enjoyed staying at some of the best hotels around the world. The problem is I have little memories of most of them, perhaps just some that where "amazing" like the Mandarin in Hong Kong, Hotel du Cap in Antibes and the Plaza in New York. The rest? nothing... I can't recall a thing.

As an adult, I made it a mission to try to avoid "typical" chain hotels in my travels when I could. As a business traveler it is complex if your company has corporate accounts or restrictions, but in my private travel I always try to look for a place with "charm", a "boutique" hotel, or the modern version of a "bed and breakfast". For France I enjoy the "Chambre d'Hotes guide, it is fantastic and it give you great options where you can actually experience something different. There are also companies that have selected some of the best boutique hotels that are also doing a great job, such as Epoquehotels, where you can find at least some hotels that have their owners personality.

It is funny that for some of us going to a fast food restaurant is NEVER an option, but on the other hand we keep on going to hotels that are "fast sleep hotels" because we know what to expect; it is time to start exploring , and this is why mondoexplorer was created, to help travelers get local inside information, tips on experiences that can make your travels worth finding a little place in your memory.

Have a great trip and hopefully next time before booking a trip you will think a bit longer about your options!

Nicolás Visiers Würth

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW & STRICTLY SAIL

2010-02-11T17:12:00.000-08:00

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW & STRICTLY SAIL:

The best boat show in the world? I am not sure about that, but definitively it is a major event that brings most of the major shipyards and boating companies to Miami. With locations in various places, the show covers everything, from sunglasses to mega yachts that cost over $100 Million Dollars! With most of the east coast covered in snow it is a relieve to be her and get a chance to test the latest versions or just look at all the new gadgets and equipment for your current yacht. Insider tip: best to take the shuttle to go to all the different sites as parking is impossible !! Enjoy the show, and while you are at it, take the opportunity to explore some of the many events and attractions Miami has to offer, because remember ... "Miami rocks!!"

Mondoexplorer Editor

You can also visit our Miami site for more information www.mondoexplorer.com/miami

Or Visit our Main site

www.mondoexplorer.com

Super Bowl XLIV

2010-01-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl XLIV is taking place in Miami on February 7th, and it is the 10th time this major sport event takes place here... why? well no other city in the United States can offer entertainment, infrastructure and the best weather for such an event. During the next 2 weeks get ready to rumble, because there are pre parties, post parties, tailgating events all over town. Our personal pick? There is nothing like getting started at one of the many hotels in South Beach, to get the adrenaline pumping while enjoying the fantastic local talented dj's: Delano, Shore Club, The National, The Mondrian or even the newly opened W are going to offer non stop fun and the crowds will not disappoint...

With all the high rollers coming to town, expect a difficult time trying to get to any of the night clubs, so our recommendation is to get your own party going, and if you are a local it is now the time to call any of your fanatic friends who has what it takes to be a good host: Large Plasma, good sized garden and pool to chill ... Please remember Miami will be filled with drunken drivers so just get a driver or a taxi!

You can also visit our Miami site for more information www.mondoexplorer.com/miami

Or Visit our Main site

www.mondoexplorer.com

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Kala Christouyenna! Buon Natale! Joyeux Noel! Froehliche Weihnachten! Gledelig Jul! Nollaig Shona! Vrolijk Kerstfeest!

2009-12-17T13:26:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays from Mondo Explorer! Since this is the time of year to have fun with friends and family, take a little time to reflect on things past, and, in general, just enjoy life, here are some things that we hope will make you smile, maybe make you think a little too, and definitely get you into the holiday spirit!

Did you know that . . .
. . . it takes the average Christmas tree about 15 years to grow before it’s ready to be sold.
. . . Christmas was actually outlawed by the Puritans in Boston, Mass for a few years during the late 1600s.
. . . the legend of Santa Claus most likely originated in what we know now as modern-day Turkey some time in 280 A.D. with a monk named St. Nicholas who is said to have traveled the country helping the poor and sick. He later became known as the protector of children and sailors, and by the late 1500s, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe.
. . . the popular Christmas Poinsettia plant was first imported to the U.S. from Mexico.
. . . the first Christmas trees appeared in Strasbourg, Germany in the early 1600s and were not imported to places like the United States until the early 1800s, where it took about twenty five years to become the widespread custom that we know today.
. . . the Hanukkah dreidel, a four-sided spinning top associated with the Jewish holiday, was used by the Jews to escape persecution. When Jews gathered to study the Torah, they would bring along a dreidel to pull out in case dissenting soldiers passed by. They would quickly hide the scripture and begin spinning the top when soldiers approached, which many oftentimes spared them their lives.
. . . in some Celtic traditions, mistletoe is believed to posses magical powers, including the power to heal and to increase fertility.

Enjoy one of our holiday recipes, on the house!
Eggnog Martini (makes one):
1 oz of eggnog
1 oz of Frangelico
1 oz of vodka
2 tbsp. crushed ice
nutmeg or cinnamon for topping
Mix all ingredients and shake well in cocktail shaker. Pour through a strainer and sprinkle with your choice of nutmeg or cinnamon. If Celtic, go stand under mistletoe and wait for magical powers to begin.
Enjoy!

You can also visit our Miami site for more information www.mondoexplorer.com/miami

Or Visit our Main site

www.mondoexplorer.com

Mondo Explorer's International RSVP: Art Basel Miami Beach

2009-10-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, when artists, collectors, gallery owners, patrons, celebrities, and visitors alike flood into Miami for the second leg of Art Basel (the first is held in Switzerland during the summer where, incidentally, Brad Pitt is reported to have dropped about $1 mil earlier this year for one work), undoubtedly the most popular art show in the country, and perhaps even, worldwide.

Art Basel Miami Beach will take place on December 3-6 this year--four days of endless exhibits, cocktail receptions, lectures, forums, parties, film screening, concerts, and socializing. Lest we forget, Art Basel may be a head-swimming, overwhelming, whirlwind of a week where art enthusiasts from around the globe convene in a frenzy to exchange ideas, business cards, and, of course, art, but it is also one of the most significant cultural outposts of the year. True, while giving your close attention to every exhibit is next to impossible (this year more than 250 galleries from around the world will display works by over 2,000 artists, with stations scattered throughout the Miami Beach Convention Center and also throughout the city itself), we've learned that it's best to follow your interests, go with the flow, and keep in mind the old adage that quantity does not equal quality, so be selective with your time (and money).

And, like sitting front row at a haute couture fashion show, hearing a piece of music that's just been composed, tasting food at a new fusion restaurant that you know no chef has ever thought of before, or reading a novel that changes the way a generation thinks about itself, Art Basel gives one the feeling that you are watching culture itself in the making. And, the best part is, for a price, you can even take a little of this culture home with you.

Tickets for Art Basel range from $20 for one evening to $75 for a permanent pass. For more information, visit www.artbaselmiamibeach.com.

You can also visit our Miami site for more information www.mondoexplorer.com/miami

This Fall in Music

2009-09-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

Summer might be widely-known the best time of year for music festivals, but we beg to argue that the next few months (Sept.-Nov.) offer some pretty sweet music to be heard from around the world. And, as most of the fall festivals are three- or four-day events, it’s the perfect plan for a three-day weekend getaway, which is usually the only kind of vacationing you do during the fall months anyway. Here are our top five picks for the best fall music festivals -- if you love music, you have to make it to at least one of these outstanding events:

1. Austin City Limits (Austin, Texas USA) Oct. 2-4, www.aclfestival.com: Big names like Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Walkmen, John Legend, and Pearl Jam share the weekend with tons of other up-and-coming bands or indie groups. Perhaps the most treasured music festival in the U.S., Austin City Limits is almost like a religious pilgrimage for music lovers who find their mecca in the middle of Texas’ state capitol.

2. Festival de Jazz de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain) Oct. 18-Dec. 6, www.barcelonajazzfestival.com: You’ll find a broad spectrum of jazz musicians in various locations across Barcelona over more than a month this coming fall. This year will mark the festival’s 41st year in a city that has a long-established reputation for jazz appreciation and will open with world-famous American jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter, who played with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and even Carlos Santana.

3. Voodoo Festival (New Orleans, Louisiana USA) Oct. 30-Nov.1, www.thevoodooexperience.com: Eminem, Lenny Kravitz, Kiss, Widespread Panic . . these are just a few names out of well over fifty bands of all kinds that will converge for three days over Halloween at New Orleans’ City Park. It’s wicked fun . . .

4. Woodstock (Johannesburg, South Africa) Nov. 27-30, www.woodstock.co.za: South Africa’s largest music festival, Woodstock will celebrate 10 years in just a few months as musicians, BMX riders, paintballers, and campers converge at Riversand Farms along a river for four days of music at all hours of the day and night, shopping, playing, swimming, eating, and camping. This particular festival is most popular among young people, and this year one of the newest highlights on one of the many stages will be the Hip Hop tent.

5. 53rd International Festival of Contemporary Music (Venice, Italy) Sept. 25-Oct.3, www.labiennale.org/en/music: Dozens upon dozens of composers, musicians, music students, and fans from around the world come together for over a week in Venice of musical synthesis, this year’s festival titled “The Body of Sound.” From Flamenco to American Blues to classical even to electronic music, the festival will take place at Teatro Piccolo Arsenale and Teatro alle Tese and will feature a wide variety of performances, workshops, conferences, among other events.

Want more travel info? visit www.mondoexplorer.com

Good News For Flyers: U.S. Air Fares See Largest Drop on Record

2009-09-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, the Department of Transportation reported the largest quarter-to-quarter drop in U.S. domestic air fares ever recorded. From the last quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009, average prices for domestic tickets dropped a whopping 9.1 percent, with the average ticket price falling to $315. While this may not seem like much of a break, compare that with the record high prices for fares reported last year at $360, and travelers are seeing a substantial break this year in most ticket prices in the U.S. Of course, these statistics don’t include any other fees paid at the airport or on the aircraft, so don’t figure in all of those annoying baggage charges here. Also interesting to note in the DOT’s first quarter report: Huntsville, AL saw the highest average air fares, while the lowest are to be found in Long Beach, CA, Oakland, CA, Burbank, CA, Dallas Love Field, and Las Vegas. So, looking for one last mini-vacation to round out the summer? Fly on the cheap to places like Dallas or Vegas -- www.mondoexplorer.com will tell you everything you need to know about exploring these dynamic cities like a local.

Wifi on Planes: The Next Big Travel Trend?

2009-08-25T07:16:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the new trend in air travel. In the last few months alone, Aircell, a flight technology company, either has already installed or is in the process of installing its WiFi internet system called GoGo on nearly 500 airplanes including American, Virgin America, Air Tran, Delta, and United. JetBlue and Southwest are also reportedly testing WiFi equipment and considering adding it to some flights. Of course, this new in-flight service that may revolutionize air travel for the average passenger does come at a price to the customer. Gogo’s flight plans range from $5.95 for single flights up to 1.5 hours to $12.95 for a singe day pass on one airline to their most expensive plan at $49.95 for 30-day WiFi access on one single airline. For the travel industry and government officials, in-flight WiFi has opened a veritable Pandora’s Box of issues having to do with on-board technology and communication devices, namely, cell phones, which has added fuel to the fire of an already heated debate. Personally, surfing the net while flying does sound like a mighty convenient perk, but if it opens the door to cell phones, I'm not so sure that I like the idea of spending a few hours stuck in a what might sound like a noisy call center. Besides, isn't there something deliciously relaxing about being forced to turn off the blackberry and the computer for a few hours? What excuse will we have now?

Visit our websites for more travel info at www.mondoexplorer.com

Inaugural Editor's Blog: Where We Are, Where We're Going, and How We're Going to Get There

2009-08-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome all to the new weekly editor's blog for MondoExplorer! Over the past few months, MondoExplorer has added a number of new features, cities, and services to its readers, and now, it's time to open up the conversation about the places we explore, the people, businesses, and events we cover, and basically any and all things travel-related. Here's what we've got going on now: MondoExplorer is currently in the process of adding over 20 new U.S. cities to its roster of city guides, and we've added a number of new Explorers to our team who know these cities like the backs of their hands and are ready to tell you all about it, from a local's point of view. In addition to our insider city guides, MondoExplorer has also added an expanding feature section that provides up-to-date true travel advice, feature stories, news, announcements, and other useful tips. So, with all of this going on, we'd like to start hearing from you, too--and this is the perfect place to start. Every week we're going to be discussing--sometimes in-depth and sometimes just a few thoughts or our top picks for the week--what's going on in the world and how we can all, myself included, make the most of the places we visit (and the places where we live) by exploring things in new, unexpected ways. So let's get started . . .

Here's one of the stories that's been on my mind this summer as I've been doing research for MondoExplorer, and one that I'm anxiously awaiting to see come to fruition . . . Recently, new strides have been made in the plans to construct a high-speed railway station that would link several cities across the U.S. Even just yesterday it was announced that forty states expressed their enthusiasm and support for the railway, which Pres. Obama is championing, and which would be funded in part by federal grants and stimulus monies.

I have to say, when I first heard about the plans for the railway, I thought, "finally!" and then immediately imagined myself in a kind of Murder-on-the-Orient-Express-moment (minus the murder, of course)--white linen tablecloth dining, jazz piano tinkling in the background, sipping champagne while the rocky interior of some snow-capped mountain whizzed passed my window in a blur of grey and green. Having lived in several places in the world where train travel is a part of everyday life before settling in Miami (guess I'll have to adjust my day-dream, no snow-capped mountains here), I've ridden the unassuming train in and out of the city, but never on extended rides or overnight trips--and never anything half as glamorous as I have in my mind. And, despite the obvious convenience of a high-speed rail, the thing that comes to my mind (after fashioning myself as a kind of modern-day Bacall riding the rails in fur and diamonds, again not exactly a South Florida reality) . . . the thing that comes to my mind, is The City.

The U.S. is known across the globe for its sprawling freeways (which have an interesting enough history in and of themselves, but I'll save that for another post), ever-expanding suburbs, and basically for its disconnected, disjointed structure that makes constant and extended car travel an absolute must. Who can imagine living for any real length of time in Dallas, Atlanta, or even L.A. without a car? Not so in other major areas of the world where high-speed railway travel is the norm.

So, my question is this, assuming that the railway system changes the way that Americans travel, how will it change the way that we live and build our cities? How will it change the way that we effectively conceive of the city itself? And the small town, the suburb, the outskirts? What might they look like in a country where no-fuss, affordable, rapid transit forges a link between cities that might possibly turn the modern freeway system into a web of outdated wagon trails? A little dramatic, maybe, but obviously these and many more issues will be raised in the coming months as funding for the project (which is estimated at a cost of over $100 billion) gets underway and the real conversation about how this new system of transportation will ultimately affect the country begins.

Either way, I'm excited to see these changes discussed and believe that it's long overdue--I wonder if a small mink stole is too much for the Florida heat? Well, maybe I could just carry it . . .

New Mondo city guides

2009-07-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

Check out our new city guides

http://www.mondoexplorer.com/miami

www.mondoexplorer.com/newyork

www.mondoexplorer.com/keywest

www.mondoexplorer.com/dallas

www.mondoexplorer.com/orlando

www.mondoexplorer.com/naples

www.mondoexplorer.com/honolulu

www.mondoexplorer.com/london

www.mondoexplorer.com/mendoza

www.mondoexplorer.com/bogota

www.mondoexplorer.com/neworleans

Inspiring travel quotes

2009-07-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

These are the most inspiring travel quotes we found in our explorations

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” - St. Augustine

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller

"Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” - Martin Buber

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” - Paul Theroux

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” - Tim Cahill

"Everywhere I go I find a poet that has been there before me." - Sigmund Freud

New York City Web Editor

2007-11-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

We are looking for web editors for one of our New York city websites: www.newyork.mondoexplorer.com

If you are interested please contact us at Info@mondoexplorer.com

The mondoexplorer Team

Welcome to our blog - Mondoexplorer.com

2007-09-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our blog

We will be posting articles, photos, videos, travel tips and much more.

Please visit our websites and find a new way to explore the world

www.mondoexplorer.com