Wednesday, February 8, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com

CNNGo TV: Rome -- beyond the Colosseum

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 11:37 PM PST

The Colossuem, the Trevi Fountain, St. Peter's Basilica ... most travelers know the fundaments of this former center of the Roman Empire. Yet, Rome has a lot more to offer. 

This episode of CNNGo TV takes in award-winning modern museums, traditional Italian food and that with a modern twist and of course amazing sites of historical significance. 

Here are just a few of the outstanding places a team of exuberant locals took us to. 

Air times are below. 

Don't miss on CNNGo: What to do in Rome -- a big mini guide

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Maldives mutiny sparks tourism warnings

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 10:05 PM PST

by Zoe Li, Hong Kong Editor

The president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, resigned Tuesday following weeks of protests and a revolt by police officers. The tourism industry, however, has remained mostly stable in the face of the political tumult, with only a small number of trips canceled after various governments around the world issued travel warnings.

Also on CNN: Police revolt topples Maldives president

Tourism is one of the mainstays of the economy of the Maldives, a nation of 1,192 low-lying islands of which only 200 are inhabited. The political unrest is generally confined within Malé, the capital, which is not on the tourist route.

A Hong Kong travel agent, who did not wish to be identified, said that most tourists do not visit Malé.

"We usually take the tours straight out to the atolls after transferring at Malé airport and do not arrange a Malé itinerary."

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CNNGo - Banyan Tree Macau Contest

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 09:16 PM PST

Banyan Tree Resorts has teamed up with CNNGo to offer a luxurious romantic getaway for two of our readers.

Fill out the form below for a chance to win two nights at Banyan Tree's Pool Villa including dinner and spa treatments for two.

For more information about the prize, check out: http://www.banyantree.com/en/macau/

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12 beautiful ways to spend Valentine's Day

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 02:00 PM PST

by Anthea Gerrie

February 14 is the one day of the year you can spend long minutes gazing into someone's eyes, a small fortune on some plants tied together with a bit of ribbon and a big fortune on a weekend away, without making other people feel ill -- because they're doing just the same. 

Here are some options for the third leg of that lovely relay.

Don't miss our special Valentine's page

1. On a houseboat under the Eiffel Tower, Paris


In this city of Mediaeval bridges, urban islands, Gothic chapels and 17th-century townhouses, all linked by the River Seine, you can wander the narrow streets of the Left Bank, marvel at the gargoyles of Notre Dame then enjoy the free light show bouncing off the Eiffel Tower every hour from dusk till 1 a.m., paying homage to lovers in a scene straight out of "Moulin Rouge." 

Best of all you can sleep on the river in a houseboat. Housetrip.com features one owned by a Michelin-starred chef who will cook you dinner by the base of the Eiffel Tower. Alternatively, take your Valentine close to the top, where the Jules Verne, 120 meters up, is considered one of the finest restaurants in town.

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Beijing's best shopping areas

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 01:57 PM PST

by Tom O'Malley

Elisabeth KochFrom fruit to fashion, hat designer Elisabeth Koch (right) knows the shopping secrets of Beijing.

Since founding a namesake hat brand in 2007, Elisabeth Koch's designs have decorated the heads of A-listers and the pages of international fashion magazines.

The Beijing-based Dutch designer is also an obsessive scourer of far-flung markets and back-street boutiques in China's capital. 

After calling on various Beijing shops and markets for four years, Koch, 33, shares six of her favorite shopping areas in the spread-out city.

1. Nali Patio (那里花园)

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Canberra: Australia’s undiscovered tourist gem

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 01:55 PM PST

by Bruce Holmes

For anyone who thinks that Canberra isn't a travel destination, that it's just for politicians and bureaucrats, think again. Australia's capital has everything from the iconic symbols of a nation's heart to the downright quirky and a few secret gems.

Any visit of less than three days wouldn't even scratch the surface. Try these day-trip selections for proof there's more to Oz than Sydney, Melbourne and the beach.

National Portrait Gallery

The NPG immortalizes the faces of famous Australians in a collection covering everything from history to politics and sport, but it's the music and arts section that grabs my attention.

There's the portrait of Deborah Mailman, the first Aboriginal woman to win an AFI Best Actress Award, an oil painting by Evert Ploeg that draws you in.

Other faces include a painting of Barry Humphries by Clifton Pugh, John Elliott's photograph of Slim Dusty and David Rosetzky's video portrait of actress Cate Blanchett, exploring aspects of her work and personality.

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at 9:09 AM