Tripaddiction Travel Blog

Beach Blanket Berlin.

Not that long ago, the River Spree was a toxic mess avoided by most Berliners – those of a certain age will understand when I specify that I don’t mean the doughnuts.  But today, the Spree offers beach-hungry locals faux sand and sea at several cool clubs.  Hippest of these is the Badeschiff, opened in 2004 as City Art Project.  

Whitsunday Wonderland.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s must-sees. If anyplace justifies a splurge, this is it. And for years, actually decades, the big-ticket, private-island splurge has been Hayman Island.

But now, there’s a new sybaritic paradise in the Whitsundays that makes Hayman look like a bargain.

Nous Parlons Franglais Tres Bien.

For us, nothing enhances one’s travel experience like speaking the language. If you want to be able to utter complex sentences like "I want to talk to you about the political and economic situation in France at the present time," Michel Thomas is your man. For more basic conversational skills – but better pronunciation – Pimsleur is a great choice. Both offer the convenience of learning in your car.

Send Your Credit Card Company a Bill.

If you traveled outside the country between February 1, 1996 and November 8, 2006, chances are that you recently got a packet in the mail from the U.S. District Court.  Turns out that the Foreign Transaction Fee that Visa, MasterCard and Diner’s Club charged you to use your card abroad wasn’t strictly speaking, legal.

Boys Flight Out.

Travelers planning to attend the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney this February can start the party early.  Because Air New Zealand is offering a special “Pink Flight,” just for the occasion.