If you’re looking for a holiday destination but still can’t make up your mind, visit the Venere.com fan page on Facebook, take our quick test and find out where you should go for your next getaway trip.

Step out your daily routine and live like hamsters

Check out The Guardian Travel Blog and watch a funny video shot at the Hamster Hotel in Brittany, France.  Featuring rooms with giant heel, haystack and seed dispenser, this hotel in Nantes offers guests the chance to live like a hamster for one night.

Weird Airport Stories

Check out Telegraph.co.uk and see pictures of the strangest things confiscated by airport security, such as snakes hidden in a Swedish girl’s bra in Stockholm, a bag of hashish stuffed into the battery compartment of a woman’s sex toy at Gatwick Airport, and, still in London, ten human eye balls swimming in a jam jar at Stansted Airport.

Essential Travel Gear

According to a survey by TripAvisor, 62% of travelers shop for travel books, maps and guides before taking a trip, while 58% buy personal care and 14% go for electronic devices. The survey also reveals that convertible pants, pashmina wrap and teddy bear are amongst TripAdvisor community members’s must-have travel accessories.

Are you a globetrotting genius?

Take Hotel.com’s “Landscapes without Landmarks” quiz and test your geography knowledge.  Will you be able to recognize Barcelona without the Sagrada Familia, Rome without St Peter Cathedral, Paris without the Eiffel Tower and London without Big Ben?

Photo of guide books by Malias

Tourists along with the city’s populace then throng the numerous joyfully illuminated shops, restaurants and bars to revel in the immensely festive ambience. If you are planning to be in London with your family for the Christmas holidays then you will not be disappointed for aside from the millions of twinkling Christmas lights, London also offers a plethora of ‘Christmassy’ events to keep all the family happy.

1. Santa’s Grottos

Your children will love the chance to visit jolly Santa at the various Santa’s Grotto’s which are constructed all over London at popular stores like Harrods’s, Selfridges and Hamley’s. This year the Santa’s Grotto at Harrods celebrates the seventieth anniversary of the movie the Wizard of Oz and accordingly sports a décor that depicts scenes from the movie. Tickets sales for the Santa’s Grotto at Harrods have been on sale online at the store’s website since September.

At Selfridges, the Santa’s Grotto usually features a Santa Express which offers train rides for children through a winter wonderland that features real to life polar bears and penguins. Not to be outdone Hamley’s the greatest toy store in the world offers a ‘Breakfast or tea with Santa Claus’ every day until the 24th of December. This event cannot be booked online but you can reserve a spot for your kids by calling the store’s hotline at 0844 855 2424 once you are in London. Other Santa’s Grotto’s can be found at Kew Gardens, Canary Wharf and various other shopping centers located all over London.

2. Winter Wonderland

London’s iconic patch of green – Hyde Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland from Saturday, 21st November until 3rd January and this spectacular, magical Christmas playground will feature attractions like the largest ice skating rink in the city, the Zippos Christmas circus, a giant Ferris wheel equipped with heated pods, a thrilling Santa Land and a traditional German Christmas Market. A similar Winter Wonderland will be constructed in the renowned London suburb of Wimbledon which will feature a fireworks display, a parade which will feature, Miss Christmas and Santa Clause and many other festivities.

3. Ice Skating

Outdoor Ice skating rinks appear all over London during the festive season and offer hours of entertainment for ice skating enthusiasts of all ages. These outdoor ice skating rinks can be found at many major London landmarks like Somerset House, Alexandra Palace, The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Canary Wharf, Wembley Stadium, and the Natural History Museum.

4. Pantomimes and Theater Shows

Pantomimes are a typical English Christmas tradition that consists of performances where men dress as fat ugly women and women star as male leads. Traditional family ‘pantos’ as they are popularly known as contain song, dance, comedy, slapstick, magic, innuendo-riddled word-play, cross-dressing and enthusiastic audience participation. This year’s Christmas Pantomime schedule in London features shows such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Mother Goose and Dick Whittington which will be held at various venues all over the city. Aside from these Christmas pantos, London’s Christmas theater schedule also includes performances by the English National Ballet which will perform the traditional Christmas favorite, the Nutcracker as well as other perennial favorites like the Snow Queen and Giselle at the London Coliseum.

5. Christmas Trees, Christmas Lights and Christmas Carols

The Christmas events in London also include ceremonies that are held ‘to switch on’ the city’s famed Christmas Lights that adorn London’s famed shopping districts like Oxford Street and Regent Streets. These ceremonies are usually held in early November and feature many well- known celebrities who are given the honor to switch on these lights.

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is London’s most famous Christmas tree. This tree is presented to the city of London every year by Norway as a gesture of appreciation for the help that the British gave the Norwegians during the Second World War. The gifted tree is usually approximately 20 meters high and over half a century old. The tree lighting ceremony for the Trafalgar square tree usually takes place on the first Thursday in December.

The site of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree then becomes popular spot for Christmas caroling as various groups assemble at the base of the tree for two weeks in December to sing Christmas carols for various fund raising efforts. So if you and your family enjoy this traditional Christmas time activity you can head out to the Trafalgar Square to spread some Christmas cheer.

Photo of Santa Claus and the London Tower Bridge by Pineapplebun

The Hungarian Girl invites you to attend the 16th Stollen Festival in Dresden, Germany.

In occasion of the festival, a giant stollen bread will be baked and paraded through the Old Town towards the Dresden Christmas Market.

Gay Christmas Market

Patroc.com gay travel guide announces that Amsterdam will host a special Pink Christmas Market. Oragnized by the ProGay foundation, the event will take place 18-28 December 2009 right in the center of the Dutch capital.

New London Guide

The Londonist reviews ‘Not for Tourists Guide to London‘ and announces that they will be giving out a few free copies of the guidebook via their Twitter account soon.

Spoleto Guide

On GotSaga.com, read a blog post on Spoleto, Italy, a lovely city located  only 39 miles from Perugia and 78 miles from Rome. The short guide includes Spoleto’s most interesting landmarks and sights, such as the Roman Amphitheater and the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta cathedral.

Photo of stollen by Birger Hoppe

Walking Off The Big Apple lists some of the best things to do for Halloween Week in New York. This year’s special events include ‘Halloween Wonder Cabinet’ at the New York Institute for the Humanities, ‘Talk to the Dead with Concetta Bertoldi’ at the Gramercy Theater as well as All Souls’ Day celebrations  and more scary Halloween parades, shows, parties and exhibitions in NYC.

With over 50,000 costumed participants and 2 millions spectators, the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade is one of the craziest events in Manhattan.  Check out BrilliantTips for more info of  this not to be missed Halloween party in New York.

Things to do for Halloween in Rome

Tourism in Italy recommends the best places to visit in Rome on Halloween from the city’s catacombs to Dario Argento’s ‘Profondo Rosso’ shop of horros the the Museum of Zoology which organizes the ZooHalloween party.

Halloween Festivities in Paris

I Prefer Paris shares photos of Halloween graffiti posters taken on the Champs Elysées and recommends the Tim Burton Film Festival  and the Rocky Horror Picture Show to the travelers visiting Paris during the Halloween season.

Día de los Muertos Destinations

Matador Trips lists the best places to celebrate Día de los Muertos including Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area in California as well as Mexico City and more destinations in Latin America.

Photo of Jack ‘o lanterns by Just Us 3

Mr & Mrs Smith have chosen the luxury Life Gallery Hotel in Athens, Greece, as ‘Hotel of the Week‘. Their last week’s pick was the Jupiter Hotel, a trendy boutique hotel in Portland, Oregon.

More Great Boutique Hotels

Hoosta Magazine shows pictures of the newly renovated Hotel Elysees Mermoz, a boutique hotel in Paris redesigned by Valérie Manoil, and Monte Carlo Beach Hotel, a luxury hotel on the French Riviera redesigned by India Mahdav.

New Delta Air Lines Routes

Delta Air Lines presents its new international flight offer for summer 2010. The new routes  operated by the American airline company will include a nonstop service from Detroit to Seoul and Hong Kong, a seasonal service between New York JFK and Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, as well as more routes between the US and many destinations in Africa.

Frida Kahlo Museum

The Perceptive Travel Blog recommends a visit to Coyoacán, Mexico City’s historic counterculture district, and Casa Azul, a  museum dedicated to Frida Kahlo which was home to the Mexican artist.

Enchanted Traveler likes Fondation Maeght, a beautiful Museum of Modern Art is Saint-Paul de Vence, South of France, featuring works by Chagall, Giacometti, Miro, Leger, Giacometti, and many more 20th century masters. If you are on holiday on the French Riviera, do not miss a visit to this charming, picturesque village. A great day trip from Nice, Cannes or Antibes.

Go Green Travel Green shares several tips for reducing the impact of your travels on climate change such as using public transportation, buying local seasonal food, supporting sustainable businesses and more…

To those of  you who dream of a long-term travel abroad but are not sure to be strong enough to face the challenge, Travel Blissful recommends a new ebook by Anil Polat:  Overcoming the 7 Major Obstacles to Traveling the World.

Have Pack Will Travel shares tips on bartering while traveling.  Check out this blog post if you’re going on holiday in Morocco and planning a visit to the famous souks of Marrakech.

Photo of Lisbon, Portugal, courtesy of Hotel Borges

Blog Action Day is a global initiative which aims at raising awareness and create discussion about an important issue by inviting the whole blogging community to focus on the same topic on the same day.

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Since the 2009 edition’s topic is climate change, this week we’re sharing links to three of our favorite eco sustainability and environment-related web sites:

• “100 Places To Remember Before They Disappear” lists all the beautiful cities and natural sites in the world that you should visit before  climate change makes them too difficult, or even impossible, to access. The list includes popular tourist destinations such as Battery Park in New York, the wonderful water city of Venice, Italy and Paris, France.  In addition to splendid pictures, the web site has a section dedicated to climate solutions, alternative energy as well as water, heat and energy saving tips and ideas.

• For the fans of sustainable architecture and design, Copenhagen X  organizes guided tours around Copenhagen to get to know the different urban areas and cultural institutions of the Danish capital. Visit their very nice web site to find more information on the different walk and bike tours offered, and check out the ‘Sustainable CPH’ section presenting a series of sustainable urban development projects in Copenhagen.

• TreeHugger.com shares tips on how to reduce people’s harmful impact on the Earth. Visit the web site’s ‘Travel + Nature’ section  to find green travel ideas and information on environmental topics as for example the impact of climate change in the Alps or the top 7 green holiday destinations in Canada.

Italian Flashpacker Andrea Di Tonto invites you to enter a contest to win a poem body writing set and a 2-night stay at the luxury Hotel Omm in Barcelona, Spain.

Party in Palm Beach, FL

Tomorrow night the trendy Hotel Biba, West Palm Beach, Florida, is holding a reggae party (8:00 pm to 1:00 am) with free champagne at the lobby from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Enjoy Fine Arts in Rimini, Italy

Le Méridien Hotel, Rimini, Italy,  offers guests an art kit in occasion of  the “Da Rembrandt a Gauguin a Picasso” art exhibition that will be held at Sismondo Castle from Oct 10th, 2009 to March 14th, 2010.

Photos courtesy of Hotel Omm Barcelona, Hotel Biba West Palm Beach and Le Méridien Hotel Rimini.

What do you think about the Denmark tourism video campaign showing a Danish girl seeking the father of her child, a baby conceived on a drunken one-night-stand? Do you find this hoax video funny of tasteless? Does it make you want to visit Copenhagen?

Dark England

Looking for a spooky holiday destination to go on Halloween? On EnjoyEngland.com check out the scariest places to visit in London, East Midlands,  Warwickshire and the Southwest of England.

Creepy Paris Underground

Planning a holiday in France and looking for ‘creepy’ places to visit in Paris?  Nomadic Matt recommends the Paris Sewers Tour. Another way to explore the city’s underground would be a visit to the Catacombs of Paris, but the attraction  has been closed this week after human bones  and skulls scattered along the walking paths.

Italian Cappuccino

Planning a  trip to Lake Maggiore, Italy? If you are an Italian coffee lover, visit the Stresa Sights blog and find out what a ’serious cappuccino’ is and where to drink this yummy beverage in the lovely town of  Stresa.

A Family Holiday in Southern Italy

On Travel Savvy Mom, Kimberly Sullivan recommends a family trip to Salento (the heel of the Italian boot). She invites travelers to discover the Baroque city of Lecce, the beaches of Punta della Suina, as well as the picturesque sea towns  of Gallipoli, Santa Maria de Leuca and Otranto.

A Trendy Getaway from Phoenix, Arizona

Planning a weekend getaway from Phoenix, Arizona? The Diaries of the Trendy Traveler blog recommends a trip to Puerto Penasco, a beach resort situated in the State of Sonora, Mexico.

A Local’s Guide to Budapest, Hungary

On the National Geographic, award-winning culinary guidebook author Carolina Bánfalvi shares insider tips on her home city: Budapest. And if you are traveling to Hungary and want to know more about Hungarian food and Budapest restaurants, check out  Carolina’s articles on the Chew.Hu food blog.

An Adventure Holiday in North Vancouver

On Consumer Traveler, read a nice blog post on all the exciting things to do in the Northern part of Vancouver, Canada, such as a day out at Capilano Park’s Treetops Adventure and the thrilling Air Grouse Mountain Ziplines and Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Photo of Salento, Italy by Adele Sarno

Budget Travel lists the new high-speed train lines in Europe that are making record time and allow travelers to save time on their trip from Rome to Milan, Italy, Madrid to Barcelona, Spain, and Brussels, Belgium to Amsterdam, Netherlands or Cologne, Germany.

Beautiful Train Stations

Kathika  reviews 22 train stations across the world including Atocha railway station in Madrid, Spain, the Gare du Nord in Paris, France, Picadilly Station in Manchester, UK, Union Station in Washington DC, and more international stations renowned for their architecture.

Day Trips from New York City for Art Lovers

Walking Off The Big Apple recommends some day trips from New York City to the art museums and historic sites of the Hudson River Valley,  such as the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Frederic E. Church’s Olana, Thomas Cole’s Cedar Grove and the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, as well as the Institute of History and Art of Albany and the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center in Poughkeepsie.

Farmer Market Pictures

Treehugger’s readers share some nice pictures of farmers markets around the world including photos of carrot nuggets at Union Square Farmers Market in New York and assorted spices at a local market in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Things to Do in Birmingham, UK

If you’re planning a weekend break in Birmingham, UK, check out Europe A La Carte and find interesting insider tips and travel tweets on what to do in this young, vibrant city.

Photo of Milan train station at sunset by Ciccio Pizzettaro

On Consumer Traveler, watch a video presentation of the new T1 terminal of Barcelona airport.

The world’s best freebies

The Sydney Morning Herald lists the world’s best free tourist attractions including the London Museums, Parc Guell  in Barcelona, St Peter Church in Rome, Central Park in New York, and more fantastic places to visit.

Pictures of Provence

On RennyBA’s Terrella,  check out some beautiful pictures of Le Castellet, a charming, picturesque village on the hills of Provence, France.

La Tomatina 2009

On Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site, watch a video of La Tomatina Spanish fiesta, the very popular tomato fight which takes place  every year in Buñol, Valencia.

Video Blogging Tips

Heather On Her Travels shares useful tips on how to do a great video interview for your travel blog. Read her article and watch her ‘How to run a beach bar in Greece‘ video.

Photo of departures board at Barcelona Airport, Spain, by Overge

• Italian Summer Drink.  To those of you enjoying a summer holiday  on the shores of Lake Maggiore, Dana at Stresa Sights recommends drinking a delicious Shakerato coffee at the Lido Beach Club in Baveno.

• Tuscany Gardens. If  Pisa is on your holiday itinerary, visit At Home in Tuscany and read a blog post on the city’s  lovely gardens. You’ll learn that the world famous Leaning Tower is not the only things to see in Pisa.

• Italian Design. If you are a shopaholic, Milan is with not doubt in your ‘Top 5 Italian cities to visit’. So check out La Bella Città and find information on the new beautiful Rinascente Design Supermarket situated just next the Duomo.

• Italian Liqueur: The Urbino-based Valle Nuova blog shares a Nocino recipe, a green walnut liqueur very popular in Modena and produced in different areas of Italy.

• Rome for Gourmets: If you are in Rome and want to sample some yummy local  sweets and Italian cakes,  NYC/Caribbean  Ragazza recommends you an excellent pastry shop near Circo Massimo.

Italy Postcards collage by Storm Crypt

• BeAtRome recommends La Ruta de la Paz exhibition at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome, Italy.

• USA Today share a link to an interesting article on airport food prices.

• VisitOslo recommends shopping at the Farmers’ market in Majorstua, Oslo, Norway.

• WhyGoGreece shares Tripso’s Top 5 Naked Events and Nude Beaches in Mykonos, Greece.

Photo of beach in Cancun, Mexico, by mdanys

Travel Answer Man lists the world’s 15 best food markets including the Spice Market in Istanbul, Turkey, Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand, Mercado De La Merced in Mexico City, Mexico, Mercat De La Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain, Mercato Coperto in Modena, Italy, Pike Place Market in Seattle, USA,  Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech, Morocco,  the English Market in Cork, Ireland, Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, USA, and more colorful street markets all over the planet.

Hens and Stag Parties

On Times Online, check out the most popular destinations for stag and hen parties in Europe according to Hotels.com and Wedding Ideas Magazine. It seems like most of hens’ favorite places for stag parties are in the UK with London, Brighton and  Edinburgh at the top of the list.

Italian Beauty

Italian Notebook shares some nice pictures of Ancona, a seaside city on the East Coast of Italy that offers visitors spectacular views over the Adriatic Sea.

Eat organic in the City of Lights

Secrets of Paris lists six organic restaurants, shops and markets in the French capital. So if you’re looking for organic food in Paris, head to BioArt, Victoire Supreme de Coeur, Bio Coop, Cojean, Boulangerie du Monde and Marché Biologique Raspail.

London iPhone applications

If you’re planning a trip to the UK and possess an iPhone, read Anglotopia.net and get useful tips for traveling to London with your Apple phone.

Photo of Istanbul Spice Market by Alaskan Dude

Enter the travel writing competition organized by GlobalGiving.co.uk in partnership with The Travel Foundation and supported by  Expedia and Hotels.com. The lucky winner will win a trip to the destination of his/her choice and will visit a GlobalGiving charity project.

St Tropez Nightlife

Globorati shares insiders tips on star-spotting and partying in St Tropez, Southern France. Listed in the article are some of the hottest nightclubs on the French Riviera, such as Le Club 55 and Pampelonne Beach.

Budget  Restaurants in Barcelona

For budget travelers planning a trip to Barcelona, Spain,  PlanetEye lists 10 cheap restaurants which offer good Spanish food at reasonable prices.

Pet-friendly destination in the US

Dog Travel Company shares vacation ideas for holidamakers traveling with their dog and suggests a weekend break in Washington DC.

Beautiful Mosaics in Trastevere, Rome

Planning a vacation in Rome, Italy? RomePhotoBlog invites you to discover the amazing mosaics in the Church of Santa Maria In Trastevere.

Photo of local helping a tourist in Chiang Mai, Thailand, by Leozaza

Travel On The Dollar lists the 5 most pet-friendly airlines of 2009 according to Petfinder.com. The five air companies are United Airlines,  American Airlines, which specializes in transporting zoo animals, the budget-friendly Aitran, JetBlue Airways, which offers full-service for pets, and Continental, which has a Pet Safe program .

Wild Life Photography

Visit Wild Wonders of Europe and take a look at the website’s photo galleries  including pictures of Pollino National Park, Italy, images of tulips and orchards in Crete, Greece, and shots of Avocets flying over the island of Texel, Netherlands

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Top 10 US Aquariums to Visit on a Family Break

The Q Family Adventure Travel Blog reviews 10 fun aquariums for a family trip. The list includes the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta GA,  National Aquarium Baltimore, Baltimore MD, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey CA, The Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay FL, New England Aquarium, Boston MA, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach CA, and more children-friendly aquariums in the US .

Paris Movie Locations

Want to go set-jetting in Paris? Visit Gridskipper and take a film location tours in the French capital including the Pont Neuf, the Louvre Museum, the Canal St Martin and more Parisian landmarks.  And if you are looking for more film sets in Paris, take a look at the luxury Hotel Meurice which seems to be director’s favorite hotel to shoot a romantic movie.

The Feast of Saint Rosalia: Palermo, 15 July

If you are in Palermo, Sicily, next week, do not miss the picturesque Festino of Santa Rosalia. For more information on this traditional event, visit Italy Mag and watch a video of  the celebrations, procession and fireworks display.

Photo of puppy dog at airport security line by - POD -

• Hotels.com US recommends reading Elliott Blog to know how to find great summer travel deals.

• LDN shares a link to a Time Out article on lidos, ponds and outdoor swimming pools in London, UK.

• TallinnCity invites you to attend the ongoing  “To Breathe as One” song and dance festival in Tallinn, Estonia.

• Visit Holland likes the evening light display at Madurodam miniature city, The  Hague, Netherlands.

• James Dunford Wood shares great holiday ideas including a trip along Japan’s Golden Route from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Photo of Madudrodam miniature park in La Hague by Daveness 98

• Air France US recommends a trip to Marseille, France, for the city’s great food, wine and weather.

• Adrian Reynolds found a good Persian restaurant in Milan, Italy.

• Krishna De tweets about the Celtic Music Festival that will take place 22-29 August in Dublin, Ireland.

• The Spot of Main is looking for volunteers for this weekend’s Bellevue Strawberry Festival.

Watch the CNBC video of  Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Expedia Inc, talking about summer travel trends.

Travel Inspired By Michael Jackson

Travel blogger Amanda Kendle lists the places to visit on a Michael Jackson tribute trip around the world, from Madame Tussauds in London to the pop singer’s Neverland Ranch in California.

Madrid Confessions

If you are a fan of Madrid and interested in the city’s daily life and culture,  watch the video presentation of  ‘The Madrid Confessions‘, an audio book by Ben Curtis, author of Lonely Planet Travel Blog Award winner ‘Notes From Spain’.

Museum Photography

If you like taking pictures while traveling and visiting art cities and museums, check out Tripso.com and find 10 tips for compelling museum photography.

Children Audio Books

Looking for books and activities to keep the children occupied on your next family road trip? Travel Savvy Mom recommends 10 great audiobooks for kids.