A few weeks ago we posted the list of the top ten travel destinations for 2010 selected by Frommer’s, Encyclopedia Britannica Blog and Lonely Planet, and they were mostly holiday travelling destinations. But vacations are not the only reason to travel, and if you are looking into a long term home exchange or a non vacation-related trip, we have another list that may seem more appropriate: The Economist Intelligence Unit’s liveability survey results.

This list assesses 30 indicators over five categories: Stability, Healthcare, Culture and environment, Education and Infrastructure. Each city gets a final rating ranging from 1 to 100, were one means “intolerable”, 100 means “ideal” and anything above 80 means “few, if any, challenges to living standards”.

This time, 140 cities were evaluated by in–house analysts and in–city contributors. The cities that made the top 10 this year are:

1- Vancouver, Canada (98.0)
2- Vienna, Austria (97.9)
3- Melbourne, Australia (97.5)
4- Toronto, Canada (97.2)
5- Calgary, Canada (96.6)
6- Helsinki, Finland (96.2)
7- Sydney, Australia (96.1)
8= Perth, Australia     (95.9)
8= Adelaide, Australia (95.9)
10- Auckland, New Zealand  (95.7)

Image by Arnold C.

As you can see, Vancouver, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games taking place right now, has a final rating that is close to perfection. Do you want to discover the advantages of life in Vancouver by yourself? Then take a peek at our listings by visiting HomeForHome and searching Canada (Country) > British Columbia (Region) > Vancouver (City) and find your deal. There are yet other details that stand out from the list: Australia having four cities making the top ten, and Canada having three top ten cities (with No. 1 included). Wow!

Tonight there’s a sport event that will catch the attention of almost 100 million people worldwide: the American football Super Bowl. This is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). There is a growing interest in American football in Britain, to an extent where now there are season games taking place in England on a regular basis and there’s even the idea of having a local team in the league.

But the Super Bowl goes far beyond a sport game. This event has developed into a show that includes live performances from top artists and million dollar advertising campaigns airing during breaks that have become entertaining themselves and are the reason why many American non sport fans watch the game. This year, the half-time show will have a rock band from England: The Who. In the United Kingdom you can watch the game live on BBC One, Sky Sports 1 and HD 1.

This year, for its 44th edition, the Super Bowl will take place in South Florida at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. This is a very popular area for vacationing, receiving thousands of tourists from around the globe every year. South Florida offers travellers sunny beaches, theme & amusement parks, shopping areas, museums, varied restaurants, entertainment and sizzling nightlife, and there are several HomeForHome users in the area. So, if you catch the show tonight and you happen to get enthusiastic about a trip to the warm sunny beaches of Florida, then come back to HomeForHome, find your home exchange partner in Florida and get ready to pack your bags.

One main decision that you need to make when you decide to travel is where to go. It is not an easy decision, there are so many options! Our world is full of great places: exciting, exotic, untouched, bustling, breathtaking… As a year ends, the most renowned travel reviewers select the best travel destinations for the coming year. Today we will present you with the selections made for 2010 by Frommer’s, Encyclopedia Britannica Blog and Lonely Planet, to help you narrow your selection to the best of the best.

Frommer’s has featured the following destinations:

Tunisia
Copenhagen, Denmark
Hanoi, Vietnam
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Hawaii (the Big Island), United States
Salta Province, Argentina
Isles of Scilly, England
Mexico City, Mexico
Melbourne, Australia
Florida Panhandle Beaches, USA
Kerala, India

Encyclopedia Britannica Blog published the selection made by travel expert Natasha von Geldern:

1. Brazil
2. USA
3. Iceland
4. Cuba
5. South Africa
6. London
7. Nepal
8. Melbourne
9. Hong Kong
10. Kyrgyzstan

Lonely Planet picked the following countries in their top 10:

1. El Salvador
2. Germany
3. Greece
4. Malaysia
5. Morocco
6. Nepal
7. New Zealand
8. Portugal
9. Suriname
10. USA

What do you think about this top destinations? Where would you like to go during 2010? Make your choice, find your home exchange opportunity in HomeForHome and swap away!

Let’s forget about ice and snow for a moment to immerse ourselves in the warmth of Rio de Janeiro. This Brazilian city was formerly the nation’s capital and its blend of natural exuberance, modern infrastructures and varied entertainment options makes it an excellent spot for an unforgettable vacation.

Starting with the obvious: the beaches. Rio de Janeiro’s Atlantic coastline is a long belt of beautiful sandy beaches. The most renowned are Ipanema and Copacabana, but you may find you own hidden paradise among the others. These are not the only natural beauties Rio has to offer, going up Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) you get a 360° view of Rio, or climbing the stairs of Corcovado you will reach the statue of Christ the Redeemer, named one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Nightlife may be the second most important feature that stands out, with the Rio de Janeiro Carnival being its maximum expression. The Brazilian Carnival is probably the single most colourful event in the world, and in Rio de Janeiro it involves a week full of dancing, singing, parties, and of course, a lot of fun! Samba schools spend the whole year preparing for the parade and the “Sambodromo” dresses up for the event.

Plan your trip, get ready for samba, and find your home exchange opportunity in Rio de Janeiro.

There are some cities that just seem to have it all: cultural attractions, historic sites, a diverse set of options when it comes to entertainment: nightlife, restaurants, parks, children attractions, sport events, and the list goes on and on. London is one of those cities.

Being the capital and largest city in the United Kingdom, London has a complete offer when it comes to entertainment. Here we share a list of some of the most preferred attractions:

Famous landmarks: Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Palace of Westminster (home of the Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben Clock Tower)

London Eye - If you want a quick glance at London’s landmarks, this is the place to get started. The breathtaking moonlight flight is an experience you will never forget.

Museums & Art Galleries:  Museum of London (to learn about the city’s history up to the 1600s), Natural History Museum, British Museum, Tate Modern (holds displays of mayor works of modern art), National Gallery (paintings from the most renowned European artists), Science Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Madame Tussauds (wax museum), Theatre Museum, The Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Oxford Street - Probably the longest shopping area in Europe, it is a must for those who find shopping somehow relaxing.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre - a reconstruction of the building where Shakespeare wrote many of its famous plays.

Great for children: London Zoo - a great attraction for children, with over 1000 different species. Kew Gardens - a 300-acre botanical garden.

Only for sport fans: Wimbledon (The Championship, Wimbledon), London Marathon, The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, Premier League football games.

Visit HomeForHome to find a home swap partner in London.