Category: Travel Literature

Gourmet magazine loses its appetite

By on Oct 06, 2009 in Food and Drink, Magazines, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, Travel Miscellany
It was announced yesterday that Gourmet magazine, despite having almost one million subscribers, is to cease publication after 68 years.  A slump in ad revenue is being blamed for its demise although Wikipedia currently reads: On October 5, 2009 Condé Nast announced that  Gourmet will cease monthly publication by the end of 2009, due to
And the best hotel in the world is...

And the best hotel in the world is...

By on Sep 08, 2009 in Accommodation, Asia, Hotels, India, Magazines, Regions, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur has been voted the Best Hotel in the World by Conde Nast Traveller in the Readers Travel Awards for 2009 across travel and industry categories, in the World Top 100. This former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur also tops the list of ‘Overseas Leisure Hotels for Asia and the Indian sub-continent’.

Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Awards 2009

By on Sep 08, 2009 in Magazines, Regions, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, Worldwide
The 11th successful Conde Nast Traveller annual Readers’ Awards were announced on 2nd September 2009 and give the readers of the magazine the chance to voice their views on all things travel.  Over 40,000 entries were made this year with readers filling out questionnaires in April 2009, either in print or online. The replies were

James Joyce dinner at Four Seasons Hotel Dublin

By on Jul 07, 2009 in Accommodation, Books, Europe, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Ireland, Regions, Restaurants, Special Offers & Packages, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe
It’s not every day you get to dine with the dead.  Sign up for Four Seasons Hotel Dublin‘s “Discover Dublin” package and you’ll be treated to an authentic evening that leaps right off the pages of James Joyce‘s  famed short story, The Dead. You’ll feast as Joyce’s characters did, with the very same hearty menu.
Traditional tourist maps of the future?

Traditional tourist maps of the future?

By on Jun 02, 2009 in Maps, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
With an increasing reliance on all things internet, you could be forgiven for thinking that the traditional paper map has had its day.   I mean, there’s Google Maps now, and there are iPhones, as well as a variety of GPS devices, so it’s easy to get an up-to-date map at your fingertips in minutes.

Don't overlook Krakow!

By on Mar 13, 2009 in Caribbean, Central America, Cuba, Eastern Europe, Europe, Guatemala, Illinois, Japan, Magazines, North America, Poland, Regions, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, USA
The Polish city of Krakow, too often overlooked by travellers, has been recognised as one of the world’s top five cities by readers of Wanderlust magazine. The self-styled magazine “for people with a passion for travel” placed Krakow fourth place in its list of favourite cities for 2009 and described it as a “bargain destination”.
Get ready for Soneva Kiri from the incredible Sonu and Eva Shivdasani

Get ready for Soneva Kiri from the incredible Sonu and Eva Shivdasani

By on Feb 02, 2009 in Accommodation, Asia, Magazines, Maldives, Regions, Resorts, Thailand, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
Thirteen years after they created Soneva Fushi – the Maldives benchmark for high-end, eco-friendly, all-natural opulence – the innovative husband and wife team Sonu and Eva Shivdasani are getting set to launch Soneva Kiri, just the third Soneva on the planet. In the interim, they have built Six Senses Resorts & Spas into a company

51st annual list of Mobil Travel Guide four- and five-star awards is now out

By on Jan 25, 2009 in Accommodation, Going Out, Hotels, Resorts, Restaurants, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
Mobil Travel Guide has unveiled their annual winners for the coveted Mobil Travel Guide four- and five-star awards. This list has defined the industry’s highest standard for excellence in hospitality for over fifty years. This year, two destinations made history by achieving the most Mobil five stars ever awarded to one destination. Sea Island Resorts
A successful first year for 'qualia'

A successful first year for 'qualia'

By on Jan 21, 2009 in Accommodation, Australia, Magazines, Oceania, Regions, Resorts, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
qualia, Australia’s newest world class luxury resort on Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, has much to celebrate since its opening 12 months ago. Most notably it was awarded “Best New Tourism Development” at the 2008 Whitsunday Tourism Awards; in May 2008 qualia was also featured on the cover of the UK version of

Hg2 Eat New York goes mobile

By on Dec 08, 2008 in Bars, Books, Food and Drink, Going Out, New York, North America, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, Travel Miscellany, USA
A mobile version of Hg2‘s groundbreaking new restaurant guide, Eat New York, goes live on UBI UBI™ today. It’s  the only high-end restaurant and travel guide designed exclusively for the smartphone platform. With  a unique take on the restaurant world, Eat New York is designed specifically for savvy residents and sophisticated travellers, with 150 insider

Bushmans Kloof shines with top tourism awards

By on Dec 01, 2008 in Accommodation, Adventure Travel, Africa, Hotels, Magazines, Regions, Resorts, South Africa, Speciality Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
Bushmans Kloof has been named among the world’s finest hotels in the Forbes Traveller 400 Best Hotels for 2008/2009, one of the world’s premier lists of deluxe hotels, as determined by a team of 79 distinguished luxury travel experts. At the same time, it has been named among the Top 10 Resorts in Africa in

Special Hotels of the World 2009

By on Nov 17, 2008 in Accommodation, Books, Hotels, Regions, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, Travel Miscellany, Websites, Worldwide
The Great Hotels Organisation has officially launched the Special Hotels of the World 2009 Exclusive Travel Collection Directory. The latest edition includes a hand-picked selection of over 50 of the world’s best hotels that offer something special or unique to the discerning traveller. The new coffee-table style directory features breathtaking photography, hotel facts and tips
And the winner of the best hotel in the US is...

And the winner of the best hotel in the US is...

By on Oct 17, 2008 in Accommodation, Hotels, Illinois, Magazines, North America, Regions, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, USA
The Peninsula Chicago has received the highest possible rating given by Conde Nast Traveler readers in the 2008 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. The top shelf, luxury property was named number one hotel on the list of the “Top 100 United States Hotels”. The awards, which were announced  last Wednesday  at a gala ceremony
Louis Vuitton City Guides 2009

Louis Vuitton City Guides 2009

By on Oct 14, 2008 in Books, Luggage, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
Think Louis Vuitton and you instantly think ‘luggage’.   But, unbeknown to many, there is another aspect of the LV brand – Louis Vuitton City Guides – which has been running for 10 years.   The 2009 edition is out now, featuring many new destinations. They will be available from LV boutiques worldwide from tomorrow.
Special feature: Sony PRS-505 Reader

Special feature: Sony PRS-505 Reader

By on Sep 08, 2008 in Accessories, Books, Gadgets, Special Features, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, Travel Miscellany
I’ve managed to get my hands on a Sony PRS-505 Reader which has been out in the US for a while now, but has only recently become available in the UK through the High Street retailer Waterstones  (priced at £199).   As soon as I opened the box, I was immediately struck by the look
Travel+Leisure World's Best Awards 2008

Travel+Leisure World's Best Awards 2008

By on Jul 09, 2008 in Accommodation, Africa, Asia, Hotels, India, Kenya, Magazines, Regions, South Africa, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
It’s that time of year once again when Travel+Leisure releases its World’s Best Awards. I haven’t had time to study them in detail just yet, but have noted that Singita Sabi Sand at Kruger has taken top spot in the World’s Best Hotels section, up one place from last year. Second is Oberoi Rajvilas in