Like ‘slow food’ and ‘slow media,’ ‘slow travel’ is a part of the movement. It’s a reclaiming of what has been lost in today’s hyper pace of life and travel. It’s a state of mind while travelling. It’s a personal approach.

Today, to launch a couple of weeks of focus on Slow Travel we’ve asked the WHL Group staff what their thoughts and experiences with slow travel have been. Their answers were varied yet unified. The common message is simple – when travelling, slow down.

After you’ve read what we think (you can also click on any picture to see it on our Slow Travel Pinterest pin board), please tell us your ideas in the comments space below.

The bamboo railway in Battambang, Cambodia, is a good lesson in slow travel. Photo courtesy of Len Cordiner

“To me, slow travel is less about the number of dots on your travel itinerary and more about the quality/size of those dots. I have been travelling the world for around 40 years now, and have lived for periods of between one and five years in places as diverse as Japan, the USA, Vietnam, Austria, Nigeria, Switzerland and the UK.

Living in all these countries taught me a few things. First was that in all cases my first impressions shifted quite significantly as I got to know the people and the country better. This is not so surprising, but what was a little surprising to me was that it usually took a full year (or more) to really start to get under the skin of a place and feel comfortable, getting to a point where I could call a place ‘home.’

Being a better slow traveller required experience in my case. It is a learned skill; it is a life skill, really. I’ve found that people who are best at slow travel have a lot of empathy, and are decent people (fair, honest generous and considerate). They relate well to others.”
~ Len Cordiner, CEO, WHL Group

Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, is great place to spot wildlife. With no roads leading here, it's only accessible by boat, slowly. Photo courtesy of Laurel Angrist

“Slow travel, to me, means slowing down your pace to appreciate the journey you take along the way – to see sights that travellers often bypass, to experience local culture far away from the tourist traps, to meet people and get a feeling for their lives while treading lightly on the local environment.”
~ Laurel Angrist, Editor, The Travel Word

A slow travel experience through Mai Chau, Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Jen Aston

“To me slow travel is about developing a sense of belonging in the communities you visit. Learning your way around and finding the amazing bakery or the unusual market that never gets featured in guidebooks. It’s about cultural experiences and making memories. It’s not about the places you saw, but rather about the people you met and what they taught you along the way.”
~ Jen Aston, Director, whl.travel Africa regional office

In France, two wheels are the only way to go, to go slowly, to see the in-between treats. Of course, some cyclists may never get anywhere. Photo courtesy of Ethan Gelber

“My preferred form of travel is by bike. Whether I’m making a short hop as a commuter in my home city or spending weeks (and sometimes months) on the road covering hundreds or thousands of kilometres, I prefer the speed – or, relatively speaking, lack thereof – of self-propulsion. It gives me a sensory-rich sense of place. I feel the rain when it falls; I smell herbs and flowers when I roll by home gardens; I hear the braying of cattle or, better yet, a soothing depth of silence. I see the overlooked treasures between the points of departure and arrival.

Best of all, I meet the locals. It’s impossible and foolish not to, because they impart the true depth of experience that makes slow travel – travel at human speeds – so poignant. For as long as my body allows, and soon with the youthful vigour of my sons to help propel me, I intend to keep to my pedal-powered steed. And hope to continue to be able to claim that, true to this day, I have steered over more ground on two wheels than I have on four.”
~ Ethan Gelber, Chief Communications Officer, WHL Group

Can you do THIS on a plane? Photo courtesy of flickr/moyerphotos

“Does anything truly interesting ever happen on a plane? Watching a rerun of a movie you first saw 15 years ago is not interesting. Folding yourself into a bathroom mere feet from your fellow passengers is not interesting. Picking at a cube of reheated food matter as your elbows vie for space with those of your neighbour is certainly not interesting.

Slow travel may not always be fun, but it’s almost always interesting. If it’s a choice between a plane and a four-hour bus journey sitting next to a goat, give me the goat every time. You get the best views, you get the best price and you get the best stories. Even if you don’t enjoy it at the time, think about how good it’ll be when you get there.”
~ Paul Tavner, Developer, The Travel Word

When you've made it as far as Argentine Patagonia, what's the hurry? Photo courtesy of Cynthia Ord

“Slow travel is lingering somewhere rather than just passing through. It’s unpacking your bag and staying long enough to find a routine. To travel slowly is to leave your lodging without a camera sometimes, and to be able to say ‘I’m living here.’ It’s strolling, sitting, watching and absorbing the beauty in tiny details.”
~ Cynthia Ord, Newsletter Editor, The Travel Word

“Slow travel for me involves heading to a destination without a plan. In this way, instead of running around trying to hit all of the ‘major must-dos,’ I wander through neighbourhoods taking in the sights, smells and sounds of what life is like in a particular destination, giving myself permission to stop where I like and explore any street that beckons me.

Then of course there’s slow travel through slow transport. I’ve ridden through rice paddies on an elephant in Thailand, travelled calmly down waterways in India on a traditional houseboat and been pedalled through the madness of Hanoi traffic by an ultra-calm pedicab driver. When your means of transport changes, so does your perspective.”
~ Michael Franco, Chief Communications Officer, Lime&Tonic

Take a moment to stop and connect with the local people - these moments are what slow travel is made of. Photo courtesy of Klaudija Janzelj

“For me, slow travel is taking the time to hang out with local people. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to stay in one place for longer a period; it can be just a few hours, as long as you take the time and get to know a place through its locals. I would skip a sight or two for the opportunity to chat with locals, have a tea or coffee with them, and just talk about their lives, their families or even the weather.”
~ Klaudija Janzelj, Global Sales Manager, Urban Adventures

Part of a Polish backpacking adventure can involve crossing the border between Poland and Slovakia by bike, as there are no buses that take you across. Photo courtesy of Jenna Makowsky

“To me, slow travel means getting to know the vibe of a place by experiencing local, day-to-day life and its routine patterns. I love doing this by going to local coffee shops, eavesdropping on conversations (or even arguments!), taking public transportation, eating local food in local restaurants and listening to music that’s popular at the time. My favourite way to travel slowly, though, is by walking. Walking forces you to slow down and to pay attention to your surroundings. It’s a practice in observation. You catch the small details that are otherwise hard to see when you only spend a few days in a place, or only go to the main tourist attractions. Even little things, like the style of shoes that everyone seems to be wearing, can provide great insight into local trends and habits.

An example of slow travel? I recently spent a month backpacking across Poland by myself and without a car. My goal was to visit the villages that all of my great-grandparents came from. As many of these places were off of dirt roads, I was literally travelling ‘off the grid.’ I was forced to take local public transportation (and when that didn’t exist, to walk or hitchhike); I was forced to learn language skills; and I was forced to rely on the kindness of strangers to provide help. They always did. And I got to know rural Poland in a way that I never would have otherwise. I also learned a lot about myself and my ability to be self-reliant.
~ Jenna Makowski, Content Editor, whl.travel

Taking some time to get to know the locals in Varanasi, India. Photo courtesy of Maureen Valentine

“Slow travel to me is spending a solid amount of time in a place where you can see more than the Lonely Planet highlights, which usually throws the itinerary out the window. It’s about seeing the humanity in the eyes of the local people rather than crossing a destination off the bucket list. It’s about taking the time to step back and let it all sink in.”
~ Maureen Valentine, Director, whl.travel Asia and the Pacific regional office

From Varanasi to New Jalpaiguri, India, slowly, by train. Photo courtesy of Ashley Hiemenz

“Going slowly, travel is much more than ticking off a box on a list. It’s about taking time to meet the locals, learn their stories and, in return, leaving a little bit of your story behind. It’s about discovering every facet of a destination – beyond the major highlights – and taking the chance to discover a place with all your senses.

My slow travel experiences always make the best stories, even if they aren’t always the most pleasant situations! Last month, I decided to take the local train from Varanasi to New Jalpaiguri in India. The train was 12 hours delayed, so I had to spend the night in the cold train station with monkeys, dogs and cows. There weren’t any other foreign tourists there and we slept amongst other locals and families in the station. We met a lot of people during the delay and I’ve told this story at least a hundred times since I’ve returned. If things had run smoothly, then the experience wouldn’t have been nearly as interesting.”
~ Ashley Hiemenz, Product Manager, Gunyah

Slow travel is about long, lazy days and becoming the ultimate 'flâneur.' Photo courtesy of flickr/whltravel

“Slow travel is travelling without a strict schedule or itinerary. It is about staying longer and merging with the local scene, doing the regular things you would normally do in your own place: taking a bus, sending a correspondence, buying groceries. It is talking to a stranger for a long time and enjoying even the silent minutes of no talking. It is walking with your camera and realising that at the end of the day you took less than a handful of photos. It is entering an appliance shop and not buying anything, just to watch the people and their ways. It is about being the ultimate flâneur every time you walk down a street during your holiday.”
~ Andre Franchini, CEO, Hotel Link Solutions

“Slow travel to me means taking in the sights, sounds, smells and history of a destination, connecting with the locals and experiencing their culture, their cuisine and day-to-day lives, so you walk away with a real understanding of place and lasting memories of its people. The best way to do this is to take your time, being adventurous and using the slowest form of transport available, preferably ‘shanks’s pony.’”
~ Rob Shortland, CEO, whl.travel

A slow food market in Latvia. Latvia's new tourism slogan is "Best Enjoyed Slowly." Photo courtesy of Anda Cirule

“To me slow travel is about becoming a part of local life of the destination you visit. It’s about connecting to a place, its people and culture. It is something totally different from trips where you just follow the list of all ‘must-sees’ and after getting home you realise that you actually need a holiday to recover. Slow travel means to me that I can stay in one place long enough to have a favourite dish in the local restaurant.”
~ Anda Cirule, Director, whl.travel Europe and the Middle East regional office

Slow travel is straying from the postcard sites and creating your own picture-perfect moment. Photo courtesy of Wallace Faria

“Devagar se vai ao longe. This old Brazilian saying defines quite well what slow travel is to me. It means something like ‘slowly going further.’ In my opinion, haste is the enemy of the perfect trip. Rent an apartment instead of staying in a hotel. Read the local newspaper. Stray from the postcard sites and get lost!”
~ Wallace Faria, Director, whl.travel Americas regional office

Slow travel is about making local friends along the way, like here, in Yemen. Photo courtesy of Luke Ford

“Slow travel is about slowing down your travels to fully appreciate a place, its people and their culture… and making a few friends on the way.”
~ Luke Ford, CEO, Gunyah

Some transportation, like the Trans-Mongolian Express, lets you take a very long look at the world around you. Photo courtesy of Adrian Cordiner

“Slow travel is about the journey, not just the destination. Being excited about where you’re going, but being just as excited by how you get there, the people you meet, the sights you see and the experiences you have along the way. About slowing down to acknowledge that the journey you’re on allows, for the briefest moment, the chance to peer into someone else’s life and to share that moment in time with them.”
~ Adrian Cordiner, CEO, Green Path Transfers

The Monte Toboggan on Portugal's Madeira Island is just one of many ways locals have created to get from one place to another, ways that we believe are a vital part of a local travel experience

We believe that the different forms of local transport are unique qualities of a place that, when experienced, are a vital part of a local travel experience. To know a place is to get around it the way local people do: cramming yourself into a chicken bus in South America, throwing caution to the wind in a tuk-tuk in Southeast Asia or boarding a ferry in Africa. We dare you to give them a try! We’re sure you will find these rides to be a brilliant bonding experience with locals.

To inspire you… and in honour of our recent focus on local transport, we asked our network of local travel professionals all over the world to give us a glimpse of the best local conveyances in their destinations. Their responses are as varied as they are colourful – everything from trains and boats and buses to animal power and bicycles and three-wheeled wonders.

We’re pleased to present this gallery of the best of local transport inside the whl.travel network.To make it work:
+ Click on a thumbnail to open a preview.
+ Click the name of the photo to be taken to the full written entry supporting it.
+ Click the photo itself to close the preview.
+ Use the arrows to navigate through previews.

Trains on the Right Track

(click here to read more)

Bicycles Worldwide

(click here to read more)

Buses Not to Miss

(click here to read more)

Muscle Power

(click here to read more)

Transport on the Water

(click here to read more)

Three-Wheeled Wonders

(click here to read more)

Budapest. City of vibrancy. Of energetic beauty. Of contrast. And Yolanda Clatworthy's first stop on her Triptrotting Ultimate Summer Experience in Europe. Photo courtesy of Triptrotting

I am here on my Ultimate Triptrotting Summer Experience. Triptrotting is all about connecting travellers with locals and then providing both with authentic experiences and opportunities to make new friends. And a few weeks ago, I was chosen from among 300 others as the Ultimate Triptrotter, spending several weeks in Europe putting the Triptrotting network of travellers and hosts to the test.

Well, my journey has begun and, after three days in Budapest, my last day was filled with incredible adventures with my new local friend, Livia. She is founder and guide of Budapest Urban Adventures and she treated me to one of the most informative and engaging afternoons of my life. First we explored the famous Hungarian thermal baths, which, “touristy me” thought I was going to enjoy… so I brought my swimsuit and flip flops. It turned out that we only got to look at them without getting in the bath, but I still loved the tour, as I got to learn a lot about the culture and the history of Budapest, including how the thermal baths came to Hungary.

After that Livia took me to the fantastic views of Budapest from hills overlooking the Danube. I would have probably never gotten there without her! Regular tour guides usually stick to the tour itinerary and just show you around famous places, but Livia went above and beyond what I expected. Truly, a crash course in Budapest history and culture!

Over the coming weeks, stay tuned for more insights from Yolanda on her Ultimate Triptrotting Summer Experience in Europe.

On Thursday, May 5, 2011, Urban Adventures (@UrbanAdventure_) sponsored and hosted one such event, the popular weekly Travelers’ Night In (aka #TNI).

Running with an ‘urban adventures’ theme, we posed 10 questions to the scores of participants and flew into some wildly fantastic discussions. It seemed like everyone who joined in was a fan of urban adventures, no matter what time of day or night, or what type of city.

Fleet of Feet

The fast-moving discussion led us to some spirited exchanges and into some exciting corners of tweeps’ travels. As it turns out, everyone’s a fan of exploring a city by foot. That’s fantastic news for us, as our specialty is walking tours and many of our tweeps’ favourite cities, like London, New York and Bangkok can all be explored on our walking tours.

We loved to see everyone so excited about bipedal exploration of new and familiar places; it’s the “best way to see things, [to] connect,” says @budgettravelsac, and we couldn’t be more in line with his sentiments.

Keeping Pace

We also learned that our tweeps are quite the adventurers, from late-night escapades and crazy or unique food experiences to indulgence in urban green spaces, these guys have done it all. Luckily we can keep up with the pace.

Some of our more festive tours, like the Rio Nightlife Tour, take you out into the vibrant night and get you primed and ready for an on-the-town adventure. For a different kind of hunger (and thirst), we’ve got food adventures covered too, especially food-fabulous Charlotte (North Carolina, USA), Riga (Latvia) and Dominica (in the Caribbean). But if green is the colour of your adventure, consider one of our many tours that frequent the wide-open nature spaces in cities like Vancouver (Canada), Prague (Czech Republic) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

The Local Groove

It seems that everyone agreed on the fundamental elements that make an urban adventure great: having a sense of adventure, being spontaneous and getting a local experience. We agree with that, of course; going local and striving for unique insight is what we’re all about at Urban Adventures.

According to many tweeps, the key to a great urban adventure is to “find a local to show you around,” says @LindsayTessis.

Travellers’ most successful local experiences seemed to stem from engaging with passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated people, tour guides or not, who simply want visitors to have the best time and really feel what a destination is all about.

We get that, and that’s why those are the types of locals who run our Urban Adventures – they know their cities, they love their cities and they want to share their uniqueness with you through local experiences.

Wayward-at-Heart and Happy

Finally, we learned that apparently getting lost is a popular way of finding adventure, at least according to @MalloryOnTravel, who recommends “getting lost in any city that has a labyrinth of back streets, [then] spend[ing] a few hours losing yourself before finding your way back.”

While we don’t specialise in getting lost, we certainly advocate for a wanderlust style of exploration and embracing the unexpected. That is, after all, one of the greatest aspects of an urban adventure.

Many thanks to all who participated in the eye-opening and friendship-fostering exchange, as well as to the ZipSetGo team for the hosting opportunity. All participants received a code to give them 10% off any Urban Adventures tour in any of our destinations, and lucky @amandaelsewhere was a special prize winner of a trip for two on any Urban Adventures city in the world! Congrats, Amanda!

You can look but you can't bathe. The Roman Baths in Bath, England, allow visitors to enter and photograph, but you shouldn't plan on taking a soak here - no bathing allowed. Photo courtesy of Flickr/heatheronhertravels

The Namesake: Bath’s Roman Baths

The Roman Baths in England are so famous that a city was named after them. Bath, in the west of the country, has been frequented for centuries by visitors in search of soothing waters and supreme relaxation. The city of Bath became so popular that in the 19th century, it was the place to see and be seen in the high society of Jane Austen’s novels.

Nowadays, though, the original Roman Baths are nothing more than a splendid tourist attraction with murky green waters. When I visited Bath last year, I sadly learned that visitors are no longer allowed to take a dip in the original pools. There are some newer spas open for bathers to soak in geothermal splendour, but if you’re looking for a high-society remedy at the original baths of Bath, I’m afraid you’re a few centuries too late.

In Budapest, Hungary, the Széchenyi Baths (above) and the Gellért Baths are favoured by tourists for their grandeur. Other baths, like Király, offer similar ambiance, but are smaller and with fewer crowds. Photo courtesy of Flickr/karaian

The Ornate: Budapest’s Thermal Baths

Budapest, by contrast, is a city where even the most famous baths are definitely open to the public. In fact, all of Budapest’s thermal baths, which are scattered throughout the city, are accessible to and frequented by locals and tourists alike.

Most visitors to Budapest head straight for the Széchenyi or Gellért thermal baths, and rightly so, considering they are the city’s two most famous and most opulently decorated. Situated in the middle of City Park, Széchenyi has indoor and outdoor baths housed in a magnificent and imposing Neo-Baroque structure surrounded by meticulously kept gardens. The Art Deco-style Gellért Baths are equally prestigious, but located near Gellért Hill in Buda, close to the Liberty Bridge.

Both the Széchenyi and Gellért can get very busy during the peak tourist season, especially in July and August. For a more local experience, head to one of Budapest’s other baths, like Király, which I visited a few years ago. We were easily the only tourists in there, and while the architecture and decor was far less impressive that of Széchenyi or Gellért, it certainly felt like a more authentic thermal soak.

The Blue Lagoon hot springs in Iceland are every bit as sublime as they're hyped to be. Photo courtesy of wkikmedia/SketchUp

The Ethereal: Iceland’s Blue Lagoon

Geothermals are one of Iceland’s many natural resources. As such, they have been used by generations of Icelanders to stay warm in the winter and keep their skin soft against the dry air.

Iceland has many hot springs, thermal baths and spas throughout its volcanic and rugged landscape, but the one that most people visit is the luxurious Blue Lagoon. Buses frequently cover the hour-long trip between the capital, Reykjavik, and the spa, making it easy for city tourists to indulge in some relaxation and pampering.

Despite not being a devout spa-goer, I had been looking forward to time at the Blue Lagoon on my trip to Iceland last year. It was one of my most memorable travel experiences, particularly since the thermal bath was only sparsely attended, and because the waters are simply incredible. Soft white clay coats the floor of the lagoon, and the pale cobalt waters release a wispy, ethereal steam. The surroundings easily allow visitors to turn off and pretend they’re in a completely different world.

The bathing experience in Aguas Calientes, Peru, was a little disappointing. The author's mum was right - chose your bathing waters carefully. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Young

The Dirty Dip: Aguas Calientes

Unfortunately, not all spa experiences are created equal. A few years ago, in Peru, I was determined to take a dip in the hot baths of Aguas Calientes, the aptly named town at the base of Machu Picchu. While the other members of my tour were enthusiastically heading off to the pools, my mum suggested that I skip the dip and wander with her through the town instead.

I politely refused and joined our tour mates. What I found was less luscious than expected. The baths weren’t ‘caliente,’ or hot, as the name promised. They also weren’t particularly clean. After a short time I decided that Mum was right and I didn’t really want to be in the baths anymore.

As I left, not only did I find someone else’s long black hair on my leg, I even saw local Peruvian men shaving and performing other ablutions in the showers next to the baths. It wasn’t until later, during our tour of Machu Picchu, that I also learned that when hikers return from their Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu, many of them make their first stop at the hot baths of Aguas Calientes to soak away four days of…well, everything.

There are some baths you can’t go to, some baths you definitely don’t want to miss and some baths you should avoid altogether… unless, that is, you’ve just finished the Inca Trail.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina. Once known as the ‘Paris of South America’ it is a cosmopolitan city that mixes European heritage with Latin American culture.

Situated on the banks of the River Plate, Buenos Aires expanded from the dockside suburbs of San Telmo and La Boca into one of the largest cities in South America. Still true to their origins, locals are known as Porteños, which means “people of the port.”

Located on the Plaza de Mayo of Buenos Aires, Argentina, La Casa Rosada is the office of the president. It was also where former first lady Eva Peron waved to her admirers from the balconies.

Day trips

Biking is one of the best ways to see the city. On paved flat streets and odd cobblestone lanes, you can travel at your own pace exploring the iconic sights. The city centre is filled with ornate buildings of grand architectural design, visible signs of the prosperity of Argentina in the early 20th century. You can admire beautiful monuments flanking any main plaza, like Plaza de Mayo, where you can view La Casa Rosada, the Cathedral, Cabildo, the National Bank and the City Government buildings.

You can also take a walking tour of Buenos Aires and follow along Avenida de Mayo past historic cafes such as Café Tortoni, to the widest street in the world, where the city’s emblematic obelisk stands, and up to the City Congress and another immense green plaza dotted with statues and shaded by trees. Visitors can also gain another glimpse of the urban metropolis on a high rises and underground neighbourhoods tour for an up close look at the bustling inner city.

If you would prefer a slightly less active tour, another way to gain an insight into Buenos Aires is to take part in a wine tasting. Argentina produces some of the world’s best wines, but don’t take anyone’s word for it. Sip them for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

A bike tour Buenos Aires-style is the perfect way to see and experience the capital of Argentina. Here, cyclists admire the Floris Generica, a large, metal, solar-powered flower sculpture that is becoming a new icon of the city. It opens its petals during daylight hours and closes them at night.

Shopping

Bring some extra change for shopping in Buenos Aires. If you are here on a Sunday and you enjoy markets, then you have many choices as to where to spend the day perusing the stalls and checking out local handicrafts.

One of the most famous street markets is held in San Telmo district every Sunday. Apart from the hundreds of stalls selling everything from antiques to artwork, you will find street entertainment. Buskers, including couples performing tango, musicians and magicians are all vying for your attention and your coins.

Outside Recoleta Cemetery, where famous Argentines like Eva Peron are buried, you can find another weekend market. This is a good place to pick up local handicrafts. In the district of Palermo, which surrounds Plaza Serrano, yet another market appears; this is a more hip area of the city where trendsetters find fashionable clothes and unique accessories at bargain prices.

Along the pedestrian walking street of Florida in the city centre, you can purchase more typical souvenirs, such as Argentina football tops, either in the national colours of blue and white or in favour of one of the famous rival teams: Boca Juniors and River Plate. There are also plenty of shops selling leather goods, wine and tango souvenirs.

The cobblestone streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, like this one near Plaza Dorrego in the San Telmo neighbourhood, are part of the city's charm

Restaurants

If you can only have one meal in Buenos Aires, it must be a steak. You can’t visit and not eat meat. Argentine steak has a reputation as the best in the world. Head to any parilla restaurant in Buenos Aires, sit down and enjoy your cut accompanied by a bottle of Argentine malbec. San Telmo, Palermo and Recoleta are bursting with restaurant choices. Walk down any street after 10pm and make your way into anywhere where the tables are full.

If you are after something quick to nibble as you tour the sights, perhaps try an empanada with filling choices of ham and cheese, chicken or spicy meat. Along the riverfront near the parkland of the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur there are several street stalls selling choripan (sausage in bread) and bondiola (pork shoulder) sandwiches. For a city that isn’t particularly known for its street food, these are very tasty snacks.

Local Treats

A uniquely Argentine drink that you should try while in town is a fernet and Coke. Fernet, of Italian origin, is drunk in Europe in small shot doses. In Argentina, however, it is mixed with a lot of ice and a good measure of Coca-Cola to create a distinctive drink. The aroma and subtle taste of herbs and spices is not to everyone’s liking, but you may be surprised by the unique taste.

Argentina is well known for its wine, so you must take a sip or two during your visit to find one that suits your palate, although many locals say that all wine is good wine in Argentina

Night Out

The most important thing to know about nightlife in Buenos Aires is that it starts very late. A typical Porteño eats dinner starting around 10pm in the evening. For many foreign visitors this is unusual; they often feel lonely eating alone in a restaurant at 8pm.

If you are with a group of friends and intend to make it a late night, you would not think about going to a night club until at least 2am. Showing up at a disco before this time would once again make you feel lonely. It would just be you, a deserted bar and an empty dance floor.

Planning a trip to Buenos Aires? Check out www.buenosaires-hotels.com and www.buenosairesurbanadventures.com. Our local partners have hand-selected accommodation in Buenos Aires of every style and price range. They also organise great excursions and day tours through which to maximise time in the city with locals like Marlo who know it best.

Len Cordiner, CEO of the WHL Group, has been with the company since its earliest days, having helped establish it as a project of the IFC (International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group) in 2002.

In anticipation of this fifth anniversary, we asked Len to take stock of things – look back, look around and look forward.

As often as possible, Len Cordiner (centre) works closely and directly with WHL Group staff and local partners. Photo courtesy of Ethan Gelber

The Travel Word: Tell us about the earliest days of the WHL Group: How did it all get started?

Len Cordiner: We started as a project of the IFC (International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group) looking for a way to assist small accommodation providers in the developing world by helping them gain access to global markets using the Internet. The project started in 2002 with a few people only, and after a number of failed attempts we ended up with a model that worked.

The basic model, which has endured until today in our whl.travel business, is a sort of destination-based hub-and-spoke model. The hub (a local partner domiciled in a destination) is provided a website, booking platform, payment gateway, training etc. and supported with global sales and marketing. The local partner in turn reaches out to all the local accommodation and tour/activity providers and gets them loaded into the system so they can be displayed and booked.

It is a unique model combining the best of local with the best of global and allows us to connect many small properties and operators to the web who otherwise would never have this chance. We also have a strong focus on building sustainable tourism.

On March 31, 2006 we were spun off as a private company.

TTW: How has the WHL Group grown and changed since those early days five years ago?

Len: It has obviously grown significantly in scale – we now operate in over 100 countries and 300 destinations – but even more importantly we broadened both the range of products we distribute from local partners and the ways we distribute them.

Today, in addition to accommodation bookings via whl.travel, we now provide eco friendly airport transfers (Green Path Transfers), experiential day tours (Urban Adventures) and local collective-buying sites/destination guides (Lime&Tonic), all built in partnership with local organisations and all supporting sustainable outcomes for the local communities. A new business to launch shortly is Gunyah, which focusses on short-duration experiential packages for independent travellers.

These new businesses are different from whl.travel in that products are being sold under global brands and are priced to allow for global distribution via third parties (wholesalers, affiliate partners etc.)

Len Cordiner, CEO of the WHL Group, enjoys a rickshaw tour with Urban Adventures in Saigon, Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Ethan Gelber

TTW: Has it been a smooth ride? (Have there been a lot of unexpected changes or influences?)

Len: No, it has not been smooth. Like all start-up companies, we are continually reinventing ourselves as we learn and as technology evolves. This is stressful, particularly when cash is tight. In addition, as a franchise business, we have had the challenge of building a global network of business partners, many of whom are in emerging economies, where technical skills, online business skills and infrastructure are poor.

We are not simply a technology play; rather we have positioned ourselves as suppliers of unique products from local suppliers with the technology and business model to connect a very fragmented array of travel products to the global market.

TTW: Are you surprised about where the WHL Group is today? Why?

Len: Yes and no. Sometimes when I stop to look at what we are doing and where we have come from, I am amazed at what we have achieved. The daily reality however is that most of what we want to do is still to be done. It always seems as though we are going incredibly slowly.

TTW: What do you consider the most unique qualities of the WHL Group? Are they same today as they were when you first started?

Len: First, I think we are building a truly impressive network of people (local partners, suppliers and staff) with a shared vision of a better way to travel (local, slow, caring, authentic, win-win) which is quite special.

Second is the boundary-less nature of the WHL Group itself. Most of our team are spread all round the world and all very mobile; people managing their own time and their own businesses. It is quite common to have WHL staff working out of the offices of local partners; to have local partners investing in new businesses we incubate etc.

This is really great, a vision I have had for business since reading Charles Handy’s book, The Empty Raincoat, back in the early 90s. We have as a result become a magnet for young people with values aligned with our own, both as a place to work and a place to try new things.

Len Cordiner (far right) with family, staff, local partners and friends. Photo courtesy of Ethan Gelber

TTW: Given how swiftly the tourism industry is changing and how much it has changed in the last five years, do you think that the WHL Group has responded well?

Len: Probably as well as we could, given the scale of what we are involved in. I do think that the way we operate keeps us open to new ideas, ready to innovate.

TTW: Look into your crystal ball. What do you predict for the next five years of the WHL Group?

Len: Recently I was talking to a friend about this. He was asking what new businesses were in the pipeline and I had to answer I have no idea, but I am sure there will be several.

The reality is that the WHL Group is increasingly becoming like an incubator for innovations in travel. In the past three weeks alone, I have been contacted about our interest in participating in three new online travel services/ventures. All sound very interesting and leverage well from what we are. Let’s see what develops.

With so many destinations in the WHL Group’s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their neck of the woods.

Quito, Ecuador

With a population of over two million people, the capital of Ecuador offers itself as a cultural and natural hotspot at the latitudinal centre of the world. Surrounded by volcanoes, Quito is nestled in a high-elevation river basin (2,800 metres) and surrounded by natural areas rich in biodiversity.

It is also an historical landmark of South America. The city’s historical centre bears a remarkably unaltered resemblance to the original layout that dates back over 100 years. Its museums, convents and churches make up a great body of work that represents the artistic splendour of the Quito School (Escuela Quiteña). In fact, the International Bureau of Capitals of Culture (IBOCC) named Quito a 2011 Cultural Capital of the Americas, a designation that has helped promote local tourism on both an international and national level.

The San Francisco Church of Quito, Ecuador, is elegantly adorned with stonework such as the fountain in the foreground

Day Trips

One of the city’s most popular tours is the Quito culinary tour, probably because of its ability to fuse art, culture and the day-to-day realities of the Ecuadorian people. The route begins in the Central Market where you can see the huge variety of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the country.

Time in the market is followed by a visit to the churches that best represent the city, such as the Convent of San Francisco and the Church of the Society of Jesus. The Convent of San Francisco is special both because it contains one of the most important collections of colonial religious art in the Americas and because it is one of the biggest and oldest complexes on the continent. The Church of the Society of Jesus, with its splendid facade, is special in its own rite as an example of the engineering brilliance of the Quito School. Its interior provokes contemplation of both diligence and perfection as one gazes at the gilded detail that took almost two centuries to complete.

Finally, to stimulate your taste buds, the tour culminates with a delightful meal of typical Ecuadorian cuisine, complete with a demonstration of how it was prepared. This culinary city tour is indeed a route that is filled with surprises and designed for visitors who want a nice photo to take home and a great experience of typical Ecuadorian life for a day.

Shopping

A highlight of shopping in Quito is the local handicrafts. The biggest artisan market is located in Mariscal, the well-known tourist and hotel district of Quito. Inside this market, you can find a huge selection of handicrafts from the different regions of the country. The able hands of the artisans give expression to culture and tradition through bright colours and creative design.

These typical candles, called Jerusalem candles, are traditionally used for parties and festive occasions in Ecuador

Of course, artisans sell their wares all over the city. The items most worthy of mention are Jerusalem candles, hammocks and textiles from Otavalo, along with sweaters and wallets from Cotacachi and hand-woven straw hats.

Ecuador is also known for its rich harvests. Visitors enjoy an amazing variety of local fruits and vegetables that are readily available in any of the main city markets, including the Central Market, the Iñaquito Market and the Santa Clara market, which are located in the centre, south and north of the city, respectively.

Restaurants

For travellers interested in Ecuadorian cuisine and gourmet dishes, here are a few Quito restaurant recommendations.

The Theatrum restaurant, famous for maintaining the highest quality standards in Quito, is located in the very heart of the city’s historic centre. Also at the top of our list is Mama Clorinda restaurant, a place where you can sample a great variety of local signature dishes in a traditional family atmosphere. For a more casual street-level dining experience, head to the Iñaquito market for a shellfish ceviche, a fritada or a trucha with one of many kinds of natural juices freshly squeezed from tropical Ecuadorian fruit.

The incurable sweet tooth should visit the San Agustín ice cream shop in the historical centre or Sibari restaurant in the district of La Ronda.

Ecuador enjoys a regionally diverse gastronomy, so it would be selfish to mention only Quito-style cuisine. All of Ecuador’s dishes are worth exploring, including the native cuisine with its staples of potato, corn, haba beans and toasted bread, and its dessert items such as corn and wheat quesadillas, sweet fig spread and fried ice cream (to name just a few).

Local Treats

Eratosthenes was the first scientist to try to measure the circumference of the earth. Since then, many others have devoted themselves to determining the exact dimensions of the planet. This is how the French Geodesic Mission came to Ecuador to define the equinoctial line that crosses Ecuador and divides the earth into two equal hemispheres.

The famous Mitad del Mundo monument outside Quito, Ecuador, marks where the equator divides the globe into northern and southern hemispheres.

La Mitad del Mundo (“The Middle of the World”) is a place that evokes centuries of scientific inquiry and measurement. A trip here also offers the chance to explore the many other cultural and natural gems of Ecuador.

If your passion is photography and the unbeatable panoramas, El Panecillo is ideal. Here you can admire majestic colonial architecture and, from the Cruz Loma vista point, a full view of the entire city. Access to this remarkable spot at more than 4050 metres above sea level is made easy via cable car from Quito. The cable car trip is very tellingly called Carita de Dios, or Face of God.

Night Out

Quito nights are filled with fun and entertainment, both for children and adults. One option every Wednesday night is a performance by the National Folkloric Ballet Jacchigua. This Quito institution works to revive and sustain the traditions of the colourful multicultural Ecuadorian people. Their spectacular show lasts around two hours and features a cast of over 90 dancers and musicians.

For a more casual night out, visitors can enjoy the company of British or American ex-pats at the world-famous Reina Victoria Pub, which serves traditional British pub grub in Quito’s Mariscal tourism district.

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Con tantos destinos en el red creciente de WHL Group, contamos con un una riqueza increíble de información a nuestra alcance. A través del serie Inside Word, nuestros expertos de viajar locales comparten sus consejos sobre dónde comer, dónde salir de noche, y dónde ir de compras en su area.

Quito, Ecuador

Una ciudad que cuenta con más de dos millones de habitantes, la capital de Ecuador se presenta como una alternativa cultural y natural ubicada en el centro del mundo, rodeada de volcanes en un valle lleno de áreas naturales de enorme biodiversidad.

Quito posee el centro histórico más grande y mejor preservado del continente Americano debido a la mínima alteración de la estructura original, que data de hace más de 100 años. Sus museos, conventos e iglesias atesoran una gran variedad de obras que representan el esplendor artístico de la Escuela Quiteña. Actualmente el Buro Internacional de Capitales Culturales (IBOCC) declaró a Quito como Capital Americana de la Cultura 2011, una designación que ha ayudado para promover el turismo para sus visitantes tanto nacionales como extranjeros.

From one of several of Quito's lookout points, the historical centre of Quito, Ecuador, unfolds in a stunning panorama

Excursiones

Uno de los excursiones que ha recibido mayor acogida es el tour gastronómico, debido a que un solo tour logra fusionar arte, cultura y la realidad de la vida diaria de los ciudadanos ecuatorianos. El recorrido empieza desde el Mercado Central donde se exhibe una muestra de la gran variedad de frutas y vegetales de producción nacional.

El tiempo en el mercado es seguido por la visita a las iglesias más representativas de la cuidad como lo es el convento de San Francisco y la Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús. En el convento San Francisco de Quito se exhibe una de las colecciones más importantes de arte colonial religioso de toda América además de su imponente infraestructura que es uno de los complejos más grandes y antiguos de Suramérica. Una muestra de habilidad e ingenio de los talladores quiteños, se puede apreciar a través de la esplendida fachada de la Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, la cual en su interior se contempla la laboriosidad y perfección de un recubierto de oro que fue construido y decorado durante casi dos siglos.

Finalmente la visita culmina con el deleite de un plato típico ecuatoriano acompañado de la demostración de su preparación. Un recorrido lleno de sorpresas para que nuestros visitantes se lleven no solo una bonita fotografía sino además de vivir la gran experiencia de conocer Ecuador.

Ir de compras

Ir de compras en Quito se trata de buscar la artesanía local. El mercado artesanal está ubicado en el sector la Mariscal, lugar conocido por su gran desarrollo turístico y hotelero. Dentro del mercado artesanal usted podrá encontrar una gran variedad de artesanías de las diferentes regiones del país. Las manos hábiles de los artesanos ecuatorianos permiten plasmar sus tradiciones y su cultura a través de sus llamativos colores y su creatividad.

Sin embargo alrededor de toda la cuidad es posible encontrar diferentes lugares donde pueden adquirir las diferentes artesanías típicas entre las más vendidas podemos mencionar; las velas de Jesuralem, Hamacas y textiles de Otavalo, chaquetas y carteras de Cotacachi, sombreros de paja toquilla, entre otros.

An abundance of fruits and vegetables, some of which you may have never seen before, are on display in the Iñaquito Market of Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador, por supuesto, no solo es famoso por sus artesanías sino además por ser un país agrícola donde es posible disfrutar de una gran variedad de frutas y legumbres que fácilmente se pueden encontrar en los principales mercados de la cuidad como el Mercado Central, Mercado Iñaquito y Mercado de Santa Clara ubicados en el centro, sur y norte de la cuidad.

Restaurantes

Si se trata de degustar la excelente gastronomía ecuatoriana y platos gourmet, podemos recomendar nuestros favoritos restaurantes en Quito.

Theatrum es famoso por mantener los más altos estándares de calidad, ubicado en pleno corazón de la cuidad en el centro histórico. No podemos dejar de mencionar Mama Clorinda restaurante, un lugar donde se puede degustar de la gran variedad de platos típicos en un ambiente tradicional y familiar. Entre los sitios más populares de la cuidad esta el mercado Iñaquito donde es posible disfrutar de un ceviche de mariscos, una fritada o una trucha acompañada de un jugo natural de la gran variedad de frutas ecuatorianas.

Si su preferencia son los dulces debe visitar la heladería San Agustín en el centro histórico o el restaurante Sibari en el sector de la Ronda.

Ecuador goza de una gastronomía muy variada y diferenciada por la región de donde se origina, sin embargo seria egoísta mencionar solo algunos lugares, pero les invitamos a conocer Ecuador y a disfrutar de la comida criolla en donde no puede faltar la papa, el maíz, las habas y el tostado y si se trata de dulces unas quesadillas de harina de maíz, dulce de higos, helados de paila entre muchas opciones más.

The Carita de Dios (Face of God) cable car lifts visitors to a spectacular view high above Quito, Ecuador

Cosas Locales

Eratótenes fue el primer científico que trato de medir la tierra y desde aquel entonces fueron muchos los expertos que dedicaron sus vidas por determinar la exactitud de las mediciones del planeta. Fue así como llego a Ecuador la Misión Geodésica Francesa para determinar que la línea equinoccial cruza el Ecuador dividiendo a los dos hemisferios en partes iguales.

Visitar la ciudad Mitad Mundo es un recorrido que nos remonta años atrás para descubrir el gran ingenio del ser humano y además nos permite conocer las riquezas culturales y naturales que posee nuestro país.

Si su pasión son los miradores y las buenas fotografías puede usted visitar “El Panecillo” lugar ideal para admirar la majestuosidad de la arquitectura colonial o desde el mirador de Cruz Loma tiene la opción de admirar toda la cuidad a mas de 4050 metros de altura sin el más mínimo esfuerzo llegando a la cima por medio del teleférico de Quito que nos deleita con su admirable paisaje citadino y natural. El viaje teleférico se llama ‘Carita de Dios,’ y con mucha razón.

Salir de noche

Las noches de Quito son llenas de diversión tanto para niños como para adultos. Una de las opciones los miércoles en la noche es la función de Ballet Folklórico Nacional Jacchigua el cual a través de su presentación permite mantener y recuperar la memoria de un pueblo pluricultural lleno de colores y tradiciones que son posibles de admirar en una presentación de dos horas con más de 90 bailarines y músicos.

Para una noche menos formal, disfruta de la compañía de expatriados de Inglaterra y los Estados Unidos, o visita la reconocido Reina Victoria Pub ubicado en Mariscal. Ofrece un ambiente internacional que cuenta con un bar competo y una carta de pub grub estilo Británico.

At the WTM, countries organize themselves by region and set up exhibits where business representatives can network. Estonia's exhibit emphasized the country's nature tourism. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Ord

Drawing a Big Crowd

To put the WTM into context: it’s a major draw at every level. On the first day of the event this year, 6,665 senior industry buyers were in attendance; unaudited figures suggest this is a 21% increase on last year. Immediately following, the fourth UNWTO Minister’s Summit on Tuesday saw a 41% increase in ministers and aides present.

Fittingly, the WHL Group was represented by a team from across the network, including whl.travel, Urban Adventures, WHL Consulting, Green Path Transfers, Lime and Tonic, and Gunyah. In addition, over 20 of the whl.travel local connections were present (from Ecuador to Uzbekistan). What we all discovered was that the message has certainly spread about our development. The network has grown to cover over 100 countries around the world, making it one of the largest global networks of its kind.

As an example of the WHL Group’s strength, Urban Adventures has expanded to cover over 60 destinations in the last year. Klaudija Janzelj, Sales Manager for Urban Adventures, valued the event stating, “We received very positive feedback from distributors as our product is fresh, innovative and different. There is a lot of responsible travel occurring outside urban centres so we are filling this gap.”

In attendance from the WHL Group at the WTM 2010 were (left to right) Naut Kusters (Amsterdam local partner), Hugh Yarborough (Quito local partner), Len Cordiner (CEO of the WHL Group)

Responsible Tourism

The WTM is a great opportunity for talking and networking. It was particularly interesting that BBC World chose to sponsor the World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD, which falls in the middle of the WTM) and hosted several presentations about responsible tourism. Now in its third year in association with UNWTO, the day marks a conscientious industry decision to address pressing issue. “Responsible tourism is now at the top of the corporate agenda and it is essential that it becomes an integral part of the future industry,” said Fiona Jeffrey, Chairman of the WTM.

Anda Cirule, the WHL Group’s regional director for Europe and the Middle East also noted that “The responsible tourism event proved extremely useful for productive discussions with companies from the industry.”

Of course, the industry included our own local partners. We were glad to meet key people like one of whl.travel’s newest additions from Barcelona, Spain. “It definitely helped us a lot at BCN Travel,” remarked a company representative. “We were glad to meet with key people from whl.travel from other countries. Many interesting thoughts and future plans were discussed. We wish meetings like those would be organized more often for all members of the WHL Group to work closer, share ideas and improve our strategies.”

The WTM 2010 was a great chance for local partners to meet one another and WHL Group staff. Here, left to right, are Negina Mukhtarova (Samarkand local partner), Seif Saudi (Jordan local partner), Hripsime Badalyan (Armenia local partner) and Anda Cirule (WHL Group Regional Director for Europe and the Middle East)

Online Takes Off

Alongside the consistent messages about responsible tourism, the 2010 event focused heavily on developments in online travel and technology. As an online network this was very pertinent to the WHL Group.

One of the key findings was that Google’s dominance in online travel will be increasingly challenged by mobile technology. Devices such as the iPhone and the development of location-based applications are already revolutionising the travel industry, with smartphone penetration expected to reach 92 per cent in Europe by 2014.

These shifts in traveller behaviour illustrate that innovation will be an essential requirement for everyone involved in the travel industry in the coming years. The importance of mobile technology continues to grow, a theme continuously stressed during the WTM.

As well as the recurrent message of responsible tourism, consideration was given to the recent years of economic downturn and their effect on the industry. Crucially, the final day of the WTM focused on how small-to-medium-size businesses can escape the crisis, something of special value to the WHL Group, which labours to support and allow local partners to survive and flourish at an international level.

Students enjoy an interactive class as they begin to master the Spanish language. A little language can certainly go a long way when mingling with the Portenos (Buenos Aires natives).

There is an intangible language barrier that surrounds each us, traps us in our own unique cultures. Communication obstacles – from slang to different alphabets – can be hard to overcome; as we travel inside our invisible language bubbles, we’re often prevented from making meaningful connections with locals and understanding their customs.

Language Unlocks Doors in Buenos Aires

Every year thousands of tourists descend on Buenos Aires, but most gain very little understanding of the culture, the customs or what it really means to be Argentine. Luckily, even a small effort to speak Spanish is greatly appreciated by locals. In return, many travellers are rewarded by warm receptions and new friendships.

So now, before some travellers with aspirations of discovering South America cross into Patagonia or Chile, they spend extra time learning Spanish and set themselves up for a deeper discovery of the continent. On top of learning a new language, they meet other travellers and expatriates, hear about others’ previous experiences and benefit from their travel advice. Not only do they have a great time studying, they also gain the ability to communicate with the locals, a skill that leads to an overall more enriching and rewarding travel experience.

The Vamos Spanish Academy is located in the happening Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo in an antique that house the blends perfectly with this eccentric area

Vamos Knows the Way to Go

There are many Spanish schools in Buenos Aires to help students break down the language barrier while also discovering more about Buenos Aires and Argentina. One of them is the Vamos Spanish Academy, the parent company of which also operates Vamos Adventure Travel, the whl.travel local connection and Urban Adventures partner in Buenos Aires.

Vamos Spanish Academy offers students the ability to learn by immersion and to come to grips with Argentine culture as a whole. The school believes that to learn Spanish in Buenos Aires, one need not only study grammar and do exercises; it’s also about handpicked adventures, excursions and activities to help travellers experience Buenos Aires in a truly memorable way. While the school may operate from a beautiful antique house in the desirable city district of Palermo, the guided activities – from tango lessons and football matches to skiing in Bariloche – take students all over Argentina!

For anyone considering volunteering while abroad, Vamos Spanish Academy also operates a variety of environmental and social-outreach initiatives that give students a chance to help surrounding communities, interact with locals and put their new language skills to the test. One of these volunteer placements connects travellers with an initiative called Un Techo Para Mi Pais (“A Roof for My Country”), a weekend work program during which students help build houses in impoverished areas like Villas. The school also organises clothing drives for local hospitals and charitable organisations.

To learn more Spanish-language programs, accommodation, responsible tours and activities in Buenos Aires, contact Vamos Adventure Travel or stop by their offices in Buenos Aires.

That said, it’s hard to find a subject that stirs as much pride, interest, passion and debate as a discussion of cuisine. Getting to grips with the local grub is as much a part of the travel experience as immersing oneself in the local culture, engaging with local people and learning the local lingo; it is definitely one of the highlights of any trip.

Thanks to the efforts of our whl.travel and Urban Adventures local partners around the globe, we’ve managed to assemble a pretty extensive selection of typical local appetisers, soups and stews, main dishes, vegetarian dishes, desserts, drinks and snacks and street foods, many even with recipes, but all recommended by inside local experts.

So start by using our photo gallery below, limber up your jaw and start munching!

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Appetisers

Soups & Stews

Main Dishes

Vegetarian Dishes

Desserts

Drinks

Snacks & Street Food

Competition is fierce for the invitation-only right to set up shop in the coveted 'Traditions' section at Lima's Mistura food festival. This special space devoted to good, old-fashioned Peruvian street food featured tamales as a highlight in 2010.

Peru, a True Culinary Crossroads

September sees Peru‘s grand culinary fiesta, Mistura, take place in the Parque de la Exposición in central Lima. This weeklong extravaganza features renowned local and international chefs celebrating the country’s cultural and culinary melting pot, which boasts influences from Africa, China, Japan, Spain, Italy and the Middle East. One of the highlights is the ‘Traditions’ section, which is dedicated to the versatility and endless variety of Peruvian street food with stalls selling much-loved goodies such as anticuchos, tamales, sandwiches and sweets.

Pitahaya, also known as dragon fruit, is actually the fruit of the cardon cactus. Native to Mexico, it is also cultivated in parts of Asia.

Prickly and Fruity in Baja Mexico

Every summer, the coastal area of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico‘s Baja California Sur, likes to show its appreciation for the pitahaya (dragon fruit) harvest, during the famous Feria de la Pitahaya. Held in the charming village of Miraflores, just 30 minutes from Cabo San Lucas, this festival is, as one might suspect, all about this succulent fruit of the cardon cactus, with homemade pitahaya ice cream and candy, as well as fresh fruit and a crowning ceremony for the pitahaya queen, as well as the less fruit-focused pursuits of donkey racing and arts and crafts contests, all accompanied by the mellifluous strains of music from a mariachi band.

San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize plays host to the annual San Pedro Lobsterfest. The last and longest of the three lobsterfests in Belize, it's five fun-filled days of BBQs, carnivals, block parties, cocktail parties, pub crawls and music.

A Belizean Fishy Fiesta

With 198 miles of Caribbean coastline and the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, Belize can always be counted on to feature its fresh fish and shellfish cooking. To celebrate the start of lobster season (in June), there are annual summer lobster fests that kick off in Placencia Village before moving on to the island of Caye Caulker and wrapping up at the San Pedro Lobsterfest in the main town on the island of Ambergris Caye. The towns slip into lobster lunacy, as stalls selling all manner of lobster dishes set up along the streets and beaches, bands play day and night, and the rum and beer shacks are in full swing. With most restaurants offering all-you-can-eat lobster buffets as well, this two-week party is guaranteed to satisfy your king-of-crustaceans urges until next season.

Cooking and Culture in Australia and Portugal

Australia has a large Greek population, so it is only fitting that there be celebrations of Hellenic hospitality. The city of Brisbane has its own in the form of the Paniyiri Greek Festival in late May. This largest cultural festival in the state of Queensland is in its 34th year and is a three-day extravaganza of food, drink, fashion, fireworks, music, eating contests, grape stomping, dancing and cooking demonstrations, all adding up to more than 50 hours of non-stop entertainment. Zorba would be proud!

Machico Gastronomy Week on the island of Madeira, Portugal, is one of the highlights of the island's social calendar. Not just content to showcase local cuisine, the event also features a very popular cocktail festival.

The Portuguese island of Madeira celebrates Machico Gastronomy Week at the beginning of August. Visitors and locals descend on the seaside town of Machico, famous for being the landing point of Madeira’s first settlers, to enjoy a vast array of local dishes and delicacies. Although there are a few other food fests on the island, this one draws the biggest crowds and culinary talents and acts as a showcase of traditional Madeiran cuisine and produce with the aim of widening its appeal beyond the island. Food is of course the rich principal attraction, but the addition of sports tournaments, live concerts featuring local bands and artists, and even a cocktail festival adds to the fun.

Wet Your Whistle in India (wine), Malta (beer) and South Africa (whisky)

Proudly billed as Malta‘s largest free outdoor festival, the Farsons Great Beer Festival has celebrated the humble ale annually in since 1981. The 10-day mid-summer festival boasts over 300 hours of music, 40 live performances from local bands, 15 bars, two stages, a daily beer drinking competition and a variety of international cuisines complemented by a large selection of beers produced and imported by Farsons. The bars and souvenir stalls also sell the official festival beer mug, which has become quite a collector’s item!

A wine festival in India like the Grape Escapade Festival in Goa might seem rather unusual, but the country does actually produce both decent vintages. Of course, there are a few wacky interpretations thrown in for good measure. Herb-infused health wine anyone?

The beginning of every year sees wine fever hit India’s small, southwest state of Goa with the Grape Escapade Wine and Haute Cuisine Festival. Going strong since 2005, it attracts India’s biggest wine makers, guaranteeing some great local nectar. In addition to some traditional grape crushing, which lures in participants eager to dance barefoot in a vast tub of grapes, the event features free wine tastings, top-notch nosh in the food courts, dancers, fire-breathers, artists, fashion shows, live music and the crowning of the Grape Escapade Queen. Started by the Goa Tourism Development Organisation as a fun platform to promote Goan lifestyle, culture, food and drink, the event has certainly done that and more and regularly attracts between four and five thousand visitors a day.

South Africa pays its respects to the aqua vitae with both Cape Town and Johannesburg playing host to a three-day FNB Whisky Live Festival every November. With the Scotch Whisky Association confirming the spirit is fast becoming a tipple of choice to young, upwardly mobile South Africans, it’s little wonder that this is the largest whisky and lifestyle event of its kind, attracting more visitors and brands than any other whisky festival globally. Divided into zones, the display area is definitely not short of attractions, including a chance to sample over 180 whisky varieties in the tasting hall, expert workshops and tutorials on whisky jargon, distillation and cocktail making, guided tours and food and whisky pairing. The event is capped off with a big party, where everyone still standing can indulge further before heading home to sleep it off.

The Getaway crew could not have made a better choice for their first foray into Urban Adventures outside of North America. Taken under the wing of the local Urban Adventures guide, Mauro Scarparti, Getaway presenter Catriona Rowntree took a leisurely three-hour stroll through this romantic European metropolis, following the pages of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling book, Eat Pray Love.

Urban Adventures look a little closer, like this detail from a fountain at the Pantheon in Rome, Italy

While Rome has a reputation for being overwhelming or disorientating to outsiders, Mauro made everything seem simple and understandable, and the Urban Adventures Dolce Vita Tour provided wonderful insight into the real character of the Eternal City. With stops at crowd-pleasing locations such as the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, indulgence in a variety of Eat Pray Love-inspired culinary delights, and a few quiet moments in known-to-locals locales, like Tiber Island, the Dolce Vita tour is an unparalleled glimpse into the soul of the city. Better yet, Mauro’s commentary is a perfect overlay of the kind of insider perspectives that make Urban Adventures experiences truly unique.

If you were not able to watch the episode live, you can whet your appetite online and learn about Catriona’s satisfaction following the Urban Adventures model of small tours that take in the sights, tastes and smells most outsiders don’t come across. Urban Adventures in Rome is just one of a growing portfolio of destinations that is expected to include over 100 cities by the end of 2010.

Remember: When in Rome…!

Young Hanoians show their pride by wearing 'I Love Hanoi' t-shirts on the opening night of Hanoi's 1000th birthday celebrations. Photo courtesy of Laura Fornadel

It was in the year 1010 that the Vietnamese Emperor Lý Thái Tổ moved the capital from Hoa Lu (in Ninh Bình province) to Hanoi, known at the time as Thanh Long, meaning ‘Flying Dragon’. Now, 1000 years later, Hanoi is still the administrative heart of Vietnam and also one of the oldest capitals in all of Asia.

And yesterday, the city was literally abuzz as thousands of locals and travellers joined together to kick off the first night of revelry with an impressive fireworks display and laser light show over Hoan Kiem Lake. “There was so much spirit and excitement in the air! People were taking millions of pictures to capture the moment,” said Hanoi expatriate Julia Plevin.

Among the other opening-ceremony events was a fashion show on the famous Red Bridge featuring different regional variations of ao dai, a form of  traditional Vietnamese dress, as worn by models and Miss World Viet Nam 2007, Ngo Phuong Lan.

Symbolic of the five gates of the ancient citadel were five stages set up around the lake displaying different historical times from Hanoi’s history, including the French occupation, revolutionary wars and contemporary Hanoi. One street looked as if it had been transported from an ancient era, complete with calligraphy painters, old bicycles and cyclo drivers.

Street vendors selling cotton candy were set up around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam on the occasion of the city's 1000th birthday. Photo courtesy of Laura Fornadel

For the next 10 days, there will be over over 200 shows by domestic and international artists throughout the city. Some program highlights include a food festival, photo exhibitions, marathon, kite festival and cultural workshops. The official anniversary is on October 10th, which will be marked by a grand parade in Ba Dinh square followed by a cultural night festival.

If you’re anywhere in Southeast Asia, now is the time to visit Hanoi and be part of a joyous commemoration of 1000 years of Hanoi’s unique culture and tradition.

While you’re in Hanoi, why not try something else a little different: book a local experiential day tour with Urban Adventures, including Hanoi highlights and Hanoi at sunrise, as well as trips to Halong Bay, nearby traditional villages and the area’s spectacular citadels and karst landscape.

For yet more local experience elsewhere in Vietnam, try reach out to your whl.travel local connections in Can Tho, Chau Doc, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Seattle, also known as "Jet City," is renowned for its picturesque harbour and its famous sounds. Photo courtesy of Urban Adventures

The Seattle Music Tour by Foot – which makes stops at the city’s renowned rock clubs, with time leftover to take in the talented buskers of the Pike Place Market – was the subject of the latest episode of Getaway, the highest-rated travel show in Australia, with approximately 1.2 million weekly viewers.

The full episode, which aired on Thursday August 19th, was presented by famous Australian singer Delta Goodrem and can now be viewed online.

Led by Seattle Urban Adventures’ Seattle guide Dan Moore, the Getaway special delves deep into the city’s music culture – exploring everything from the history of Sub Pop Records (the indie label that launched Nirvana into stardom) to its famous parks and landmarks. Along the way, viewers can catch sight of music venues such as the Crocodile, memorials dedicated to musical legends including Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix, and visit eclectic neighbourhoods like Fremont and Capitol Hill, which are positively buzzing with entertainment of all varieties.

Whether you’re looking for a trip down musical memory lane or a glimpse into future sounds, Seattle Urban Adventures have something to offer you. And if you don’t want to take our word for it, just ask Delta Goodrem!