Buenos Aires: How The Lost Girls Began...

ADP: Yesterday night, after making a vain attempt to clean up some random files on my trusty iBook, I came across this destination article that I wrote for a now-defunct magazine called Travel Savvy. The piece never did see the light of day—the magazine folded in 2005, just days after I submitted it to my editor—and until now it's just been languishing in my computer's hard drive.

Sure, the piece is long past it's newsprint prime (the references and locations almost certainly outdated), but I still feel that it might be worth publishing here in the blogosphere. It recounts the unforgettable, life-changing adventure that brought Holly, Jen and me together as friends, and convinced us that quitting our lives to travel the world might be one of the best decisions we could ever make. We could hardly have imagined back in 2005 just how fully that promise would pan out.

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Three to Tango
Shortly after sunrise, at an hour when Buenos Aires’ young clubbers are just drifting off to dreamland and local shopkeepers have yet to prop open their doors, the Armani and Gucci-clad crowd at the Alvear Palace is already awake and fully-caffeinated. The French style bosserie, or lobby bar, at the hotel’s heart crackles with kinetic energy as power players consummate business deals and lovers plan their next liaison over coffee.

I’m perched at the gleaming oak and marble bar, draining my second cappuccino and flirting with the handsome Argentinean who bought it for me. Christian, as he’s introduced himself, is in his late 20s with dark, soap opera star good looks and a grasp of English so limited, I feel remiss for not reviewing my Spanish on the plane ride down.

Still, eye contact and body language go a long way towards mutual understanding, and after chatting in Spanish for a few moments, Christian catches me off guard with a simple question, “Por qué tu has venido a mi paîs?”

Why have you come to my country?

I struggle to respond, but my hesitancy has nothing to do with verb conjugation. Christian, like many people I’d come to meet during my trip, genuinely wants to understand why I’d grabbed my two best friends and hopped an overnight flight to his city, the political capital and emotional epicenter of Argentina.

One pragmatic answer (and the most unromantic) was that Buenos Aires had never been more affordable. Argentina’s currency underwent a financial correction in 2002, effectively slashing the cost of goods by two-thirds and turning Buenos Aires into a modern day El Dorado. But instead of streets paved in gold, luxury-seeking Americans could find sumptuous steak dinners, handmade cashmere sweaters and finely crafted leather shoes for a tiny fraction of what if would cost them back in the states. Rumors of this “mythical” city—all the romance of Paris and chic style of Italy at rock bottom prices—had blown like seeds to the north, pollinating the minds of those unwilling to pit their anemic greenback against the all-powerful Euro.

But while my friends and I had each packed near-empty suitcases in anticipation of unrestricted shopping sprees, we hadn’t made a sub-equatorial journey in search of a budget European substitute. Only two percent of American women have ever traveled to South America, and we thrilled at the prospect of having a cosmopolitan city all to ourselves. Without hordes of other American tourists spoiling the fun, the odds that we might saturate ourselves in local culture seemed to be in our favor.

Now, as I sip the last of my cappuccino and gazed back at my handsome breakfast companion, I realize that I was right to trust my instincts.

*****

Three days earlier, after a surprisingly painless, jet lag-free flight, Holly, Jen and I had touched down to balmy mid-summer weather in Buenos Aires, turning New York’s latest blizzard into little more than a chilly memory. To completely evict thoughts of wool gloves and frostbitten toes, we checked into our room the Sheraton Park Tower, located in the central neighborhood of Retiro, and made an immediate break for the rooftop swimming pool. There, under the much-missed midday sun and over sherbet colored cocktails, we discussed strategy for the days ahead.

None of us particularly cared go landmark hopping, and we were certainly in the right city for avoiding that. While Buenos Aires is near limitless in its offerings, a well-established circuit of monuments, statues and historic buildings isn’t among of them. The above-ground crypts at Recoleta Cemetery, housing the final resting place of Eva “Evita” Peron, the beautiful Belle Epoch opera house of Teatro Colon and the President’s “Pink House” (the country’s answer to our own White House) are all noteworthy attractions, but can be checked off a sightseer’s list in a single afternoon.



Instead, the girls and I wanted to stroll, sip and shop our way through the city’s best attractions, the distinctive and colorful mélange of neighborhoods that compose it.

While the city center where our hotel is located is primarily dominated by office buildings and banks, the outdoor shopping promenade at calle Florida gave us good reason to stick around the neighborhood. Even on a weekday in mid-summer, the mile-long pedestrian mall was teaming with life. We the soon discovered that the El Dorado version of Buenos Aires was more than just a myth—stacks of100 percent Patagonian cashmere sweaters were $30 each, buttery leather trench coats, $100 apiece. If you could abide the over attentiveness and soft sell of the shopkeepers, you could round out your winter wardrobe for a song.

Like most Americans, Porteños (as the residents of Buenos Aires are called) have a boundless passion for shopping malls. Just off of calle Florida’s main drag, we discovered one of the city’s most popular. The multi-tiered, glass and frescoed palace of Galerias Pacifico housed studio-sized versions of the major label shops Lacoste, Nike, Polo and Yves Saint Laurent, plus at least 100 smaller boutiques. In addition to cut rate prices on most goods, tourists who present their receipts and passports to customer service offices could get lunch, coffee and their purchases delivered to their hotel—all free of charge.

The girls and I soon realized that clothes this cheap came still came a price—last-season’s styles and inferior fabrics. Deciding we could fare better across town, we jumped into a Radio Taxi (the city’s most reliable cab company) and made a beeline for the shopping district of Palermo.

As we drove, skyscrapers and multilane highways soon gave way to the green spaces, cobbled streets and bougainvillea-draped balconies in this bohemian-chic neighborhood, one of the few spots in Buenos Aires to thrive in defiance of the economic downturn.

Palermo itself is actually composed of seven distinctive districts, but the two that intrigued us most were Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood. The former offered a funky collection of outdoor cafes, progressive art galleries and trendy shops, while the later played host to a cluster of TV studios, restaurants, bar and the beautiful people who frequent them.

Jen, Holly and I couldn’t believe it when our cab ride clocked in at just under $3, and for the first time that we could remember, we fell over ourselves trying to pick up the tab. Why not be generous when the cross-town fare cost less than a Starbucks latte?

Immediately, it became clear that we’d come to the right part of town. The fashions were urban and edgy, the designs unique and stylish, and prices, while a bit higher than those along calle Florida, still far less expensive than those in boutiques back home. At spots such as Corazon Contento and Sora, the designers themselves were the ones behind the counter, happy to answer engage in conversation about their work.

We return back to hotel loaded down with packages, and for the first time, felt what I now refer to as “shoppers high.” Just minutes after arriving in our room, I was already thinking about my next retail conquest.

*****
Argentineans have a reputation for being insatiable carnivores, and on our second night in town, we were determined to discover what drove this bloodthirsty obsession. We ventured to San Telmo, an atmospheric neighborhood lined with colorful, crumbling old buildings reminiscent of the city in an earlier era. Along one of the quiet cobblestone streets, we found La Brigada, one of the local’s most beloved parillas, or steakhouses. A veritable shrine to both beef and soccer, the bi-level restaurant is filled with memorabilia of the real men of Argentina: gauchos (cowboys of the Pampas) and goalies.

Having delayed our meal until the time when Porteños eat—nearly 10:00—Holly, Jen and I were ravenous. We ordered huge meal consisting red wine, salads, empanadas and seafood appetizers, all culminating in a thick slice of lomo, or sirloin steak. One bite of the juicy, tender meat told me all that I needed to know about Argentina’s vampire-like lust for beef, but I forced myself to leave room for dessert. Holly’s sweet tooth guided us towards a paper-thin crepe stuffed with dulce de leche, a thick spread made of caramel and sweet cream. With a single bite, a sugary new obsession was born. Our bill for the five-course meal: just over $20.

We weaved through the streets of San Telmo until we approach Plaza Durreao, the neighborhood’s lively central square. On most days this plaza hosts one of Buenos Aires’ most popular outdoor milongas, or dance parties, where the passion of the tango sweeps like a fever through the crowd of tightly embraced couples. Overeager hotel activity directors often guide their guests towards expensive, melodramatic, Broadway-style tango shows, but the best way to experience a true tango is at a millonga like the one held here.



On Sundays, tango makes way for trinkets as the popular antiques market, Feria de San Telmo takes over the square, but tonight it’s thick with people watching some sort of loud, colorful dancing demonstration. One of the onlookers tells us that the holiday of Carnival is rapidly approaching and that each neighborhood in Buenos Aires holds it own parade to celebrate. Tonight show is merely practice for the main event.

*****

Back home, Sundays are made for brunching and we found that 5,000 miles to the south, things were no different. The Four Seasons Buenos Aires in the neighborhood of Recoleta promised the city’s very best champagne brunch so we dropped in to see for ourselves. We entered the turn-of-the century French-style mansion and ascended the dramatic marble staircase to an aqua washed room trimmed in gold leaf. It was like stepping into the scene from The Little Princess where Shirley Temple and her young friends awake to find a spread so sumptuous, so perfect, that they feel that have to have a taste of everything before it vanishes. The meal did disappear, thanks to our less-than demure appetites, and followed up the lavish meal by heading to the Four Seasons Spa for Porteño massages.

After being pampered so thoroughly, the girls and I decided to extend the princess fantasy by transferring to suite the Alvear Palace, a property so true its name, there was actually royalty in residence during our stay. We learned that we’d just missed Owen Wilson’s visit, and that Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Sharon Stone and Matt Damon, had all recently stayed here. Despite missing a critical celeb sighting, we immediately brightened upon the discovery that our room came complete with Hermes bath products and a private butler to unpack and press our clothes.



It was early the following morning at the lobby bar that I met my cappuccino companion Christian, who after meeting my friends, decided to call two of his and arrange a whirlwind tour of the city. Thrilled at the prospect of getting an insider’s view at Buenos Aires, we accepted the invitation.

At around 10:00 that night we met Christian and his pals Ignaco and Alan at a café not far from our hotel. From there we headed to Prime bar, a sleek space bathed in ambient pink light and trimmed with cool metals like aluminum and chrome. Ignacio, who was the spitting image of Paul Bettany with the soul of Vince Vaughn, immediately presented himself and the charming instigator of the group. Alan, with his tousled hair and lean, muscular frame could have been an Abercrombie model, but sadly, he was a mere babe at only 23 years old. And Christian, for all his sophisticated confidence that morning, had transformed into “one of the boys” in the presence of his friends. I guess some things never change, no matter what hemisphere you’re standing in.

With a full bar, extensive wine list and delicious tapas menu, Prime proved to be an ideal spot to get acquainted, and by the second round of tragos, or cocktails, language barriers had already come crashing down. Between the three of us, Holly, Jen and I knew enough Spanish to translate what the boys were saying, and no matter how fast we talked, they understood exactly what we were saying about them. Fortunately, the reviews were positive on both sides.

We quickly learned that the guys were obsessed with Americans, especially women: they wanted to know about our culture, the way we did things, what we complained about, what we liked, and of course, our politics. They wanted to know why we’d elected George Bush into office (as if the girls and I were personally responsible for the vote, and the term “blue state” didn’t really translate). But the sincere the devotion to deciphering us was endearing, rather than off-putting, and we all decided to continue the night by barhopping in Puerto Madero.

Once a derelict warehouse district in the “bad” part of town, the old portt area had been completely revitalized to reveal a waterfront complex housing brand new lofts, hotels (including the 85-room Phillip Stark designed Faena Hotel & Universe), and dozens of trendy restaurants and shops.

The port stretches nearly a mile, far too long for our group to hit all four sections, but we make a valiant effort to raise a toast in as many spots as possible. When we finally emerge under a nearly full moon, I can make out the sylphlike white apparition of the Puente de la Mujer, or Bridge of the Woman, stretching over the water. Christian tells me that its dramatic form was designed evoke images of a couple dancing the tango, the man towering over the woman who leans back horizontally.



I’m suddenly compelled to check out the view from the middle, and Christian and I abandon our friends to make the trip. A little unsteady on the wooden walkway, I try not to loose a high heal in the groove between the planks. Fortunately, Christian seems on the ready to catch me if I fall.

As we approach center of the bridge, I’m vaguely aware that Christian is murmuring something romantic about the water and the stars, first in English, and then in Spanish. I start to tune in and realize that he’s taking his role as a Latin lover just a bit too seriously.

Suddenly the whole scenario—the bridge, the boy and the starlight sky—feels and little too surreal, as if somehow the whole thing had been scripted just for me.

Immersing myself in culture is one thing; getting entangled in it is another. I coax Christian back down the bridge (before he gets too carried away and proposes) and rejoin my friends at the bottom.

After saying our goodbyes and exchanging emails, the girls and I return to our hotel and order up vanilla ice cream topped with dulce de leche. As we sit with a big bowl between us, three silver spoons dipping into the rapidly melting concoction, we recount the events our night, and come to one firm conclusion.

Finding romance in a foreign land may sound sweet, but sharing the adventure and dessert with your best friends is even sweeter.



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Antarctica’s Rite of Passage

HCC: The continent’s remote location isn’t the only challenge to setting foot on Antarctica—it’s also protected by the 500-mile wide Drake Passage carrying the world’s most turbulent waters. But ignorance was definitely bliss for all Antarctica virgins on board as our group of about fifty passengers set sail from Ushuaia on the Akademik Shokalskiy.

It ain’t a Carnival Cruise: The research vessel’s ice-strengthened hull can navigate between floating bergs and fit into nooks and crannies that larger cruise ships can’t. The vessel is more cozy than luxurious, with a bar/lounge, small library, dining room, lecture hall, and enclosed bridge for viewing whales, albatross, and penguins.

Before the seas got too choppy, a mandatory lifeboat drill preceded a champagne toast with the ship’s captain that provided a little liquid courage for finding those sea legs. The expedition leader also announced a schedule for lectures covering everything from global warming research stations to whale strandings to the politics of Antarctica. With no access to television, Google, or phones, the only options for passing the time at sea were hitting up meals, lectures and the bar.

Mother Nature was pretty calm the first night, until we crossed into the Drake Passage the following morning. High wind and waves reaching over 30 feet tossed the ship around like a washing machine.

Simply making it to lectures became an exercise in balance and mealtime turned chaotic as diners practically fell out of their chairs and dishes slid back and forth along the tables as though on a conveyer belt. Hint: After a few shots of Russian vodka, it’s hard to tell if it’s seasickness or alcohol that’s making your head spin. Most passengers lost their appetites and the ship’s doctor dispensed seasickness pills like candy. But hey, the Drake is a rite of passage: If we weren't looking for a really big adventure, we could have just gone to Sea World.

Lost Girl of the Week: Julie Stone

ADP: As much as Jen, Holly and I loved traveling together as a dynamic trio of girlfriends, we always wondered what it might be like to do a similar trip with a boyfriend. Happily, our questions were answered after stumbling upon Globestompers.com, created by fellow backpacker diva Julie Stone, and her fiance Jared—both fellow New Yorkers.

As we learned through their blog (and a lovely email exchange), Julie had been an official member of the NYC rat race for just over 7 years by the time she and Jared made the decision to travel the world for a year. They're camping their way through Ne Zealand right now in the world's coolest camper van

Since graduating from college, Julie has tried her hand at acting, waiting tables, representing actors, selling advertising, marketing and blogging, with varying degrees of success. Even though she loved living in the Big Apple, the rest of the world beckoned...

Julie: To be honest, I had to be convinced (by my fiance) to travel the world for a year. The thought of completely uprooting my life scared the wits out of me. What if I missed my bed? What if I wanted to go home? What if I couldn't find a job when I got back? Eventually I started to realize that it would be pretty difficult to see the entire world in one or two week chunks. If I ever wanted to run away for a year, now--while I had no mortgage, babies, or real career--was the perfect time to go. Jared and I wanted to take this time to ensure that we were right for each other, and we both hoped to figure out what we wanted to do with our lives.

Jared and I left the U.S. on October 11, 2007, on a flight from Miami to Quito. Since then, we have traveled through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Fiji, and New Zealand, plus a quick jaunt back to the States. We are planning our journey as we go, so if we hear about a cool place, we go there. (Fiji was not on our original route, but the cheapest flight to New Zealand included a layover there. Twist my arm, really.) Our next stop is Australia, where we will work for a few months and replenish our bank accounts before taking off to Southeast Asia. If we decide to travel for longer than a year, we hope to visit China, Japan, India, and Nepal.

For the first time in my twenty-nine years, I feel like I am living life to the fullest. I have seen places I only dreamed of: Iguazu Falls, beaches on tranquil islands in the South Pacific, Tierra del Fuego. I have slept in hostels, on buses and planes, in a tent, and now in a camper van. I have cheered during a championship soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, eaten lunch with the chief of a Fijian village, jumped out of a plane in New Zealand, and learned to speak Spanish with a distinctly Argentine accent. I have gazed up at the Southern constellations with wonder, and now I can find the Southern Cross in the night sky. Most importantly, I have learned that I am capable of stretching myself more than I ever thought possible.

So many people have said to us, "oh, I wish I could do what you are doing!" We always say the same thing back: "You can! You should! Come meet us in Australia!" All you need is time off, a passport, and less money than you think. (In South America, I traveled quite comfortably on $1000 per month. New Zealand, however, is a different story.) The hardest part is letting go of the familiar, but the rewards are endless.

A long way down

HCC: Ushuaia is known as both del fin del mundo (translation: the end of the world) and the beginning of the journey to Antarctica from South America. Convicts helped construct its streets, bridges, and buildings after the Argentinean government built a jail here in the early 1900s. Officials figured wannabe-escape artists wouldn’t have a chance to make a getaway, thanks to the city’s location on the island of Tierra del Fuego and its border on the Beagle Channel.

Today, the population is ballooning to almost 65,000 residents during the tourist’s high season from November through March. Here’s a guide on what to do and see in the City at the End of the World:

Stock Up on Gear:
Vraie; 595 San Martin; TEL + 54-2901-422351
This is where I went to buy everything from ski pants to wind-proof hats to wool socks. Disclaimer: It ain’t cheap, so aim to get your gear in advance—unless lost luggage leaves you empty-handed.

Get a Chocolate Fix:
Chocolates Ushuaia: 783 San Martin
Whether you’re a dark-, white-, or milk-chocolate lover, simply setting foot in this cozy, wood-paneled shop will have you on a sugar high. You can’t go wrong with dulce de leche, a soft milk-caramel confection that’s more addicting than the Nutella I used to spread on croissants during my post-college, backpacking days through Europe.

Brush Up on History:
Museo Maritimo; 9419 Ushuaia
If you only go to one museum, this is it. It’s chock-full of info on everything from Shackleton’s first expeditions to the South Pole to photographs of prisoners forced to build the town to colorful oil-painting displays by national artists.


Refuel:
Gustino; 505 Av Maipu
Ushuaia is known for its fresh crab, tender Patagonian lamb and full-bodied red wine called Malbec. Sample all three at this trendy restaurant and wine bar—or warm up with mate in the sophisticated tea lounge.


Take a Hike:
Tierra del Fuego National Park; 1395, San Martín
Located just 12 kilometers from Ushuaia, the name translates to “Land of Fire” and the wilderness stretches for 60 kilometers from the Beagle Channel to the Chilean border. Adorned with waterfalls, forests, mountains and glaciers, there’s plenty of breathtaking treks to get your adrenaline pumping.

Score Classy Souvenirs:
Quelhue; 771 San Martin
Your co-worker really doesn’t need that penguin magnet, so bypass the hokey tourist stores and check out this wine & deli shop decorated with corks and stones that sells everything from hand-made soaps to fresh goat cheese to mate tea.

Find a Last-Minute Trip to The Ice:
Ushuaia Tourist Board; 674 San Martin
If you’re in Ushuaia and aren’t on a tight schedule, you could score a discounted, last-minute trip to Antarctica: You may have to wait a few days, but sometimes cruises have cancellations or don’t fill up. Ushuaia’s Tourist Information Board can give you a list of local tour operators who’ll have the inside scoop.

Gear Gone Missing

HCC: One of my favorite things about blogging is the cool people you meet through the web. One such woman is Wendy Ferguson a fellow travel-lover and New Yorker who recently returned from Antarctica. When Wendy (pictured here) read that I was heading to the South Pole as well, she went beyond giving me travel advice—she offered to let me borrow the gear she’d used during her own trip!

I was more than game to hear her travel stories and save a couple hundred bucks, so we met for a drink at the W Hotel in Union Square. She shared her tips and passed me a big bag filled with cold-weather essentials.

Wendy had mentioned that making the trek to the bottom of the world meant mastering the f-word (that would be flexibility). And this definitely proved true on my trip to Ushuaia, the southernmost city on earth and the gateway to Antarctica.

To get there, I signed up with a non-profit organization called People To People. Kind of like study-abroad vacations for adults, the program lined up top experts to lecture onboard about everything from glaciology to marine mammals to the politics of the seventh continent.

People to People travelers flew in from across the country to meet in Miami, where we were flying Aerolineas Argentinas to Ushuaia with a brief layover in Buenos Aires. The three-hour layover extended into an overnight delay. Being stuck in the City of Tango might not sound like a horrible fate, but it required being at the airport at the ungodly hour of 3 a.m. to catch a 5 a.m. flight to Ushuaia. Though sticking to a schedule isn’t the airline’s strongpoint, at least they offered us hotel and dinner vouchers so we weren’t forced to curl up in a crowded airport lounge while waiting for our plane to touch down.

The good news: Our group landed safely in Ushuaia the following morning. The bad news: My bags didn’t. Missing luggage is more than a nuisance when traveling to The Ice: Temperatures that could drop as low as negative 59 degrees call for hi-tech essentials. As protection from the unpredictably harsh elements, a waterproof outer shell, wind-proof hat, and insulated inner layers such as fleece pants and silk undershirts are must-haves. But the worst part was that most of the gear wasn’t even mine, and I was sick to my stomach with the thought that I wouldn’t be able to return Wendy’s original stuff. At least I’d thought to stick her expensive binoculars and special UV-protection sunglasses in my carry-on (just in case!).

With the ship scheduled to set sail later that afternoon, I had no choice but to pull out the plastic for a last-minute shopping spree on San Martin, Ushuaia’s main shopping thoroughfare. Stay tuned for a tour of the town during my treasure hunt for new gear.

Antarctica: The Final Frontier

HCC: The South Pole was on the top of my travel wish list, and I finally made it to the bottom of the world. There's been some debate about whether the tourism boom is good or bad for The Ice (just 6,750 people traveled to the South Pole in '92/'93, compared to about 40,000 this year, according to an article in the March issue of National Geographic Adventure). What if a cruise ship carrying tourists crashes and spills fuel into the ocean? What if tourists landing on The Ice accidentally step on the precious moss that takes decades to grow?

Still, some experts think tourism helps a lot more than harms—especially if done right. "So far Antarctica has been a good example of managed tourism, and I hope it becomes the model for doing the right thing," says Geoff Green, the founder of Students on Ice Expeditions, who has been leading educational adventures to the Poles for over fifteen years. "To minimize impact, more rules need to be established—such as not allowing ships with more than 200 passengers to disembark."

Moreover, a trip to The Ice creates a new generation of ambassadors for the Poles. "It's hard to protect a place until you understand it, and bringing people to Antarctica is a way to raise awareness—people fall in love with its pristine beauty,"says Green.

But you don't have to take a trip to the bottom of the world to impact Antarctica: Just look at last week's collapse of the Manhattan-sized ice shelf that scientists are linking with global warming. "Climate change and over-fishing are much bigger threats to Antarctica than the impact of tourism," says Green. "Even if a ship sank, it wouldn't have a huge impact on the continent, but if all the ice melts due to global warming, it most definitely will."

My personal journey to The Ice showed me that what we do as individuals does matter: The small choices wake in our everyday lives ultimately impacts the entire planet. Seeing the penguin rookeries, cerulean glaciers, and leopard seals napping on icebergs up close reminded me that I am not separate from nature, but part of it. 

So when I returned home to the concrete jungle, one of the first changes I made wasn't an huge feat: I simply gathered the dozens of plastic grocery bags collecting in a growing ball under my kitchen sink, and carried 'em down to my local supermarket for recycling. When the store manager told me they didn't recycle plastic bags, I hopped on the L train and deposited them at the environmentally friendly Whole Foods supermarket in Union Square.

It's not much, I know. But if each of us starts making some tiny adjustments—whether it's buying only locally-grown produce to reduce your carbon imprint or just turning off the lights when they're not in use—we'll be doing our part to keep the earth healthy—and the glaciers from disappearing so fast.

The 2008 Travvies: Nominations are open!

TLG: Hey travel fans...it's that time of year again! The nominations are now open for the 2008 Travvies. These are the coveted awards given out to the best travel resources on the web and were created by Mark Ashley of the site Upgrade: Travel Better. We were in Bali last year when discovered that The Lost Girls had won the honor of Best Group-Written Travel Blog. We shrieked so loud, people on the street though that we'd been attacked! Clearly, it was a proud moment.

Of course, we'd be thrilled in you'd click through to the site to nominate us again (hint, hint!) but you should certainly show your love for all of the websites and blogs that help make you happier, more informed and well-entertained traveler.

Here are this year's categories:

• Best Travel Blog
• Best Single-Author Travel Blog
• Best Group-Written Travel Blog
• Best Destination or Trip Narrative Blog
• Best Informative/Practical Travel Blog
• Best Photography on a Travel Blog
• Best Big Media Blog
• Best Podcast or Video Blog

Happy voting!!