Greece

We would love to go to Greece in a couple of years. Has anyone travelled there? If yes, where is the most central place to stay where we would be able to do day trips to see all the ruins etc... Did you go to the neighbouring islands? We would like to be in Greece for 2 weeks and then do a Transatlantic Cruise back to Florida. Thanks Denise

Check out Guatemala for "Rustic" Luxurious Get aways

Just returned from a second visit to Guatemala and hope to go again next year. The exchange rate is very favorable. Accommodations are typically much less than $150 a night. I recommend Francis Ford Coppola's property in Tikal (La Lancha Resort). The rainforest room is less about $150 per night and has so much beauty. Also, the colonial city of Antigua is a gem. La Casa Encantada is a boutique property with about 10 rooms. Rooms go for about $110 per night. They are small but great location and great ambiance!!!

Ryokans in Japan

Hi all, Has anyone done the whole ryokan in Japan thing? If so, what's it like? What are the dos and don'ts? Are the rooms comfortable (obv. this depends on what kind of place it is, but generally speaking) and is it something I should definitely do whilst in Japan? Thanks, Emma

Any advice for Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat

Am looking for chic but reasonably priced places to stay. Any advice much appreciated! Thanks.

Top 10 African safari - vacation destinations

Check out this 10 places at http://naady.com/main/top-10-african-safari-vacation-destinations/ that I reckon you should visit, as in at least one, whenever yo make a Safari to Africa.

India's 10 Top Luxury Hotels

Ten years ago, budget-minded backpackers traipsing through India in search of pampering might have treated themselves to a meal or cup of tea in a "fancy" hotel. That couldn't happen in today's India, where fancy hotels really are fancy. It's hard to imagine anyone entering the immaculate Four Seasons lobby in Mumbai wearing muddy Tevas and a bulky backpack. That's because the country, once a cheap travel destination and long associated with poverty and strife, is now becoming famous for its luxury hotels. http://www.forbes.com/travel/2007/11/16/hotels-top-india-forbeslife-cx_pl_1116hotelsindia.html

The Apsara, Luang Prabang

If you're heading to Luang Prabang in Laos don't miss staying at The Apsara (http://www.theapsara.com/). The hotel costs US$95 per night for a superior room, and it's well worth the cost; the rooms are spacious, airy, light and expertly decorated. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant which is much better than the over-hyped L'Elephant. The most expensive main course - fried Panin fish stuffed with lemongrass and served with a garlic, tamarind and lime sauce - costs $12 and there's an excellent wine list too (the owner, Ivan Scholte, is a wine connoisseur). Staff are helpful, eager to please and friendly and will organise pretty much anything your heart desires for you. The Apsara is a great place; a very modestly priced gem right in the heart of one of Asia's most beautiful towns.

All hail Aqua Luna

Fancy living the life of a Tai Pan or sipping on a sundowner like a colonial conquistador? Well, if you're in Hong Kong it's easy: book yourself straight onto the Aqua Luna junk. Departing from both Central and Tsim Sha Tsui the junk runs day and night and gives you unrivaled views of the harbour from a spectacular vantage point. On arrival you can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine, beer or a soft drink, lie back on one of the comfy sofas and enjoy sunset in style from the water. With it's instantly recognisable deep red sails the Aqua Luna, a traditional Chinese junk, is an experience not to be missed. The junk is old and has been beautifully updated. An evening sail really is a fantastic way to spend 45 minutes in this crazy town! Book at http://www.aqua.com.hk/

Wallet-friendly luxury hotels

Stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and you'll bed down in a 430-square-foot room with a large marble bath and deep soaking tub, a flat screen television, and skyline views of the city. When it's time for breakfast, a butler will serve you an omelet made to order, piping hot toast and freshly squeezed orange juice. Since the property is situated in the heart of the city, you can walk to all the major shopping and sightseeing. But perhaps the best part about shacking up here? It's cheap. The room described above costs $200 a night. In pictures: Ten wallet-friendly luxury hotels Put down your glasses. It's true: Bargains can be found even at upscale, pricey chains like the Ritz-Carlton. What's more, while you can score good deals on deluxe properties by visiting them offseason, the kinds of hotels we're talking about have lower prices all year round. After all, who wants to visit the Caribbean in summer—the heart of hurricane season—or stay at Kuala Lumpur in June, when temperatures can surpass 90 degrees? "No luxury hotel is going to advertise itself as having low prices, but if you dig, you'll find that luxe hotels without high price tags do exist," says Adam Weissenberg, head of the tourism, hospitality and leisure practice at Deloitte & Touche. "In countries where the currency rate works out in favor of the U.S. dollar, deals can be found at upscale chains." While a room at the Tokyo Ritz-Carlton is $460 a night, for instance, a comparable room at the Kuala Lumpur Ritz is far less, thanks to the strength of the U.S. dollar against the Malaysian ringgit. Another a weaker currency, the peso, is driving down prices at the Four Seasons Resort in Carmelo, Uruguay, which is situated on the banks of the Rio Plata River. For $200 a night, travelers stay in 1000-square-foot bungalows with hand carved beds, terraces, private gardens with outdoor showers and baths with heated floors and deep soaking tubs. Guests can occupy themselves swimming in the property's huge pool, playing golf at the onsite 18-hole course, indulging in a four-handed massage at the spa, visiting Colonia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, or checking out local wineries such as Cerros de San Juan. Independent streak Where the exchange rate is poor, experts recommend steering clear of hotel chains and focusing instead on local, independent accomodations. "To find favorable prices without sacrificing luxury, travelers need to look to properties which don't have a big name attached to them," says Arabella Bowen, editorial director of ShermansTravel.com, a travel deal site. "Some, even in popular tourist areas, offer lower prices." For example, rooms at the Domaine Des Hauts De Loire in Onzain, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, start at just $120 a night. Guests are welcomed to this fairytale property, once a former hunting lodge, by a large pond with floating swans, then check into one of 33 rooms, which have original 19th century furnishings, marble baths and flat-screen televisions. The hotel also has a garden full of vegetables and herbs, used to prepare meals at the hotel's restaurant. Tourists can spend their days visiting dozens of castles in the area, such as Chateau de Chaumont, which was home to Henry II, and Chateau de Chambord, the 440-room palace where Louis XIV spent his summers. Domestic deals The place it's most challenging to find a wallet-friendly luxury hotel, according to experts, is stateside. Still, travelers willing to look outside major cities can find deals. At the seven-acre Tu Tu Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon, for example, rooms start at $195 a night. Rooms at this price boast Italian linens, a granite bath and a private patio, with cascading plants, overlooking the Rogue River. The rate also includes guest activities such as kayaking and golfing, morning coffee and juice delivered bedside, an afternoon tea with freshly baked cookies, evening hors d'ouvres such as fish kebabs, and white chocolate fudge at turndown. They can take a dip at the on-site pool or take guided boating and fishing excursions that leave from the property's dock. With deals like these, the high-end life can be had—on a low-end budget.

How to fly business class without breaking the bank

There may be no such thing as a free ride, but you can fly a better class for less than retail. Y-Up Where You Belong What looks like a coach ticket but lands you in first or business? The discounted first class tickets called Y-Up (a.k.a. Q-Up). They’re valid on flights within the U.S. and Canada, and seats are almost always available (though most travel agents won’t offer unless you ask). Y-Up fares cost more than Orbitz’s best cheapies, but are much less than actual first class fares. FareCompare.com has a great search engine (and explains the fine print). Try Delt When you go to Rome, or Paris, or Tel Aviv, go with Delta. If you can book at least 50 days ahead, you can get up to 75 percent off BusinessElite Leisure fares. Delta has recently done a major upgrade, to the tune of horizontal sleeping suites (available next February), TV with HBO, and meals created by Michelle Bernstein. (Here’s the how-to fine print.) E-I-E-I-Eos And, of course, we can’t forget Eos, the excellent all-business-class London-NYC airline. Only 48 people travel on a plane built for 220, and you fly to Stanstead airport, avoiding the madness of Heathrow. We checked airfare for the middle of October: $3,292 on Eos, $5,836 on Virgin. That extra $2,544 can buy a lot of Paul Smith suits.