Where to stay when you travel?

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

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

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Super Bowl XLIV

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!

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

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!

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Mondo Explorer's International RSVP: Art Basel Miami Beach

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 Juan Manuel Sederino www.mondoexplorer.com/miami

This Fall in Music

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.

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

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.