The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics came to an end yesterday, and a couple of weeks of ice and snow everywhere (not only on TV!), were once again a reminder of the top destinations for 2010 discussed in January. Why? Well, Encyclopedia Britannica Blog had Iceland wining their bronze medal. Let’s discover a why Iceland deserved such a prize.

After a moment searching through the Internet and viewing some pictures of Iceland you would agree that, in a few words: Iceland is amazing. The country’s natural beauty is just fascinating. They have geysers, volcanoes, glaciers, lakes, geo-thermal pools and waterfalls of marvelous beauty. Iceland’s natural scenery is accompanied with modern infrastructure and services to present a great alternative to travellers. Bird-watching, glacier trekking, hiking, whale-watching, cultural events, unique golf tournaments involving midnight-sun teeing off and spectacular northern lights are among the activities that will have a special touch of uniqueness when enjoyed in Iceland.

Icelanders are modern and friendly, most of them are fluent in English and they will probably help you have a pleasant stay. The economic crisis hit Iceland very hard, but this means there’s an extra advantage for foreign visitors: exchange rates are favourable. So, it really seams like breathtaking Iceland deserves a place among the top destinations for 2010.

The best months to visit Iceland are coming soon. May, June and July are the driest months with the high season extending through August as well. A fun fact is that today, March 1st, Iceland celebrates an interest success since it is Beer Day. Beer with more than 2.2 percent alcohol by volume was prohibited by law from 1915 until 1989, so the anniversary of its legalisation is celebrated accordingly.

In case you are already wondering, there are home exchange opportunities in Iceland, so don’t waste any time.

You can learn more about Iceland at http://www.visiticeland.com

In a previous post, when 2010 was just starting, we wrote about the top travel destinations for this year. Among the places selected by the cited specialist websites there were two local ones: London and the Isles of Scilly, both in England. Well, London has worldwide reputation and needs no further recommendation, but what is great about the Isles of Scilly? Let’s explore…

The Isles of Scilly are an archipelago 45 Km off the Cornish peninsula, the southernmost mainland point of the UK. They were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1975, so with that title you can’t go wrong. Peaceful, beautiful and uncrowded are probably the most fitting adjectives to describe this paradise. The “outstanding natural beauty” of the isles is protected by the local community by attaining sustainable practices and the establishment of a “visitors Code of Conduct” where mostly green travelling tips are recommended to preserve the natural beauty of the islands and decrease the carbon footprint left behind by those who choose them as their holiday destination.

Photo by Tom Corser

The five larger inhabited islands are Bryher, St Agnes, St Martin’s, St Mary’s and Tresco, and they are surrounded by several smaller rocky islets. Natural tourism is the main economical activity, followed by fishing and early-flower production. Bird-watching is one of the high points of the islands, due to the presence of rare migrant species mostly during October. But don’t let the relaxed spirit of this barely touched gems give you the idea that there are not exciting things to do in Isles of Scilly: golf, tennis, biking, snorkeling, diving, horseback ridding, sea safaris, kayaking, windsurfing and shark-fishing are some of the activities that can give you a sense of adventure as well.

So if your HomeForHome quest sets you off to the southwest for a home swap you may want to include a visit to the Isles of Scilly in your tour and explore an area of sandy beaches, clear waters and undisturbed nature.

For more information, you may visit:
* http://www.ios-aonb.info/
* http://www.simplyscilly.co.uk/

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.

Not long ago, we presented a list of the most distinct attractions for you to enjoy during a home exchange in London, but there are many great places in Britain that foreign tourists visit every year and deserve attention as well. If you are looking into a homeland exchange, this are sites that could help you select the final destination:

Stonehenge is a 5000 year-old historic site located in Wiltshire county. It is Britain’s most famous pre-historic monument, standing since the late neolithic and surrounded by mystic and legend. There are other ancient sites of distinct relevance just a few miles away, like Avebury, the largest megalithic circle in the world. To learn more about these sites, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Centre’s website.

Another site is Hadrian’s Wall, a stone barrier built during the Roman invasion to protect the gained territories from barbarian raids. The wall construction took over six years and it was so strong there are intact remains in several areas across Britain. If you are interested in learning more about this site, visit Hadrian’s Wall Country where you can find itinerary ideas and everything you need to plan your own tour by the wall. If you like the outdoors, this is your site.

The White Cliffs of Dover are a natural formation composed of soft, white limestone of marine origin facing continental Europe that can be seen from the French coast across the channel. The site’s natural beauty can be admired form the Cliff’s top trails and is accompanied with several stunning nearby buildings, like Knights Templar Church, Dover Castle, Archcliffe Fort and South Foreland Lighthouse, making it a great vacation site.

If you are looking for sites and landmarks to visit in a set location you can use PicturesofEngland.com to get more ideas and prepare for your trip. To find a place to stay you have HomeForHome.

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.

While the hard winter keeps hitting Europe, it is summer in the South, and today we decided to present you some destinations you may want to consider if you need to flee from the cold:

Argentina: Buenos Aires is the capital of Tango, but there are so many other choices in Maradona’s homeland. From Mar del Plata, where sun, beach, nightlife and entertainment find their summer crib, to the Northern areas where right now the 2010 Dakar rally is covering over 9000 kilometres through desert, dunes, mountain, sand and hard soils… Check out the scenery you are watching on TV directly with home exchange. There’s much to discover!

Australia: The Australian Open is about to start and Melbourne will become tennis capital of the world for a couple of weeks, but there are plenty of beautiful things to explore after tennis is gone: the Blue Mountains, the Aboriginal cultural expressions, the kangaroos, untouched beaches, reefs, and more… Check out what our Australian users have to share at HomeForHome.

Brazil: there are 18 Brazilian houses in HomeForHome. Famous for its sunny beaches and splendorous carnival (to come this February), Brazil has a lot to offer to swappers looking for fun in addition to the weather change. Rio de Janeiro is probably the most famous destination in Brazil, so we will dedicate it an entry of its own later this week (stay tuned!)

New Zealand:  If you want hot, then dig and dive in Hot Water Beach, or feel the summer breeze jumping off Sky Tower (Auckland), or check out one of the busiest outdoor activities calendar in the world to find an activity that suits your adrenaline quota. From art festivals to international sport activities covering surf, canoeing, cricket, golf and more, there is plenty for every taste in New Zealand. Search for your exchange…

We’ll bring you more warm thoughts soon!