Long before the genre of fictional documentary was established enough to receive the honor of an abbreviated name (why not save a few syllables and use docufiction?), and certainly before the mockumentary, there was Robert J. Flaherty. The Nanook of the North and Moana creator turned his pioneering docufictional-eye on the Aran Islands in 1934, resulting in a visually stunning – if completely romanticized – balance of fiction and reality he called Man of Aran.

3/4 of a century later and you can see that Flaherty’s film, and the Aran Islands, continue to inspire; just check out this clip from Rough Trade Records featuring the new soundtrack for the film created by UK band British Sea Power. Bette

Find more…

- Hotel Reviews - No Comments »

I may be biased in favour of Lymington High Street – I know every inch of it, including its secretive alleyways – but it strikes me as a great place to while away a couple of days, especially at weekends when there’s a terrific Saturday market along its length.

At Stanwell House, I’m happy to report, you’ll find a very decent, and affordable, base. So once y Find more…

- Hotel Reviews - No Comments »

I’ve never been prouder of anything in my life.

It started in January of this year when I booked a trip to the Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas. I had wanted to go to Vegas for years, finally got the chance.

I enjoyed the trip

I just didn’t enjoy the hotel stay,

During the five nights I was there I was approached at least twenty-four times by people trying to sell me a time-share. I complained to the front desk five times, nothing was done. On one occasion when I approached the desk to complain, the person at the desk tried to sell me a time share before I could even open my mouth to complain.

Almost the minute I got home I started calling the hotel to demand a refund.

Between February and July I called at least 500 times. At

Find more…

- Travel Today - No Comments »

We’ve been posting a lot about Mexico City lately (see our tacos post and our posts about the recent bicentennial celebrations) but we’ve been focused on the Centro area of the city. In reality, Mexico City has the feel, culture, bustle and possibility of New York City and its distinct neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods are a big part of why we love Mexico City so here’s our New Yorkers take on the best of the boroughs.

This macrame bus was parked on a street as a semi-permanent art installation in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City.

Roma

The Roma neighborhood is most like New York’s East Village or Brooklyn before it got all fancy. Roma’s

Find more…

- Hotel Guide - No Comments »

There are just too many tourists in some places … and you’re one of them.

It’s the height of hypocrisy, and yet every traveller has done it plenty of times. You take a look around at some crowded beach or city square filled with T-shirt shops and souvenir stands, shake your head, and think, “Bloody tourists!”

It’s hypocritical, of course, because you wouldn’t be there to witness all the tourists unless you were a tourist as well. You are, in effect, getting mad at yourself.

(Because we’re all tourists, really. You might fancy yourself on some higher plane than the guidebook-carrying masses, but you’re still touring another country as an outsider.

Find more…

- Travel Today - No Comments »

During Valentines Day, we can expect crazy packages from hotels which burn bank accounts just to please the one you love. Well, times are difficult so we are focusing on an affordable Love Sick offering by W Hotels in NY.

The New York hotel will literally give your a love shot come the day of the hearts as the W Hotels partner with Max Brenner to make you feel special. The package even includes a chocolate syringe. The sweet package includes massage oil from Max Brenner, in-room movies, a bottle of wine, breakfast in bed, and a late checkout.

The hotel package gets even more romantic as W Hotels will give you a free ride to their W New York in the Downtown area so you can use the ice rink of the hotel.

Find more…

- Hotel Guide - No Comments »