Scam City - Buenos Aires S1 E1

Buenos Aires' sultry climate attracts 10 million tourists a year. 

Host Conor Woodman sets out to discover the most common scams involving tourists: pickpocketing, clip joints, vice girls, and hotel scams. But the worst is all the counterfeit money. 

Premise
Woodman meets with questionable characters ranging from unethical cab drivers to aggressive pimps as he witnesses and experiences the travel experience of parting with personal property and money. He intentionally falls victim to these alleged scammers and says "yes" to every sex worker and pocket jeweler in the city. 

The show aims to expose the local adaptations of common scams - from pick pockets, expensive cab fares, to bars luring people in with adult entertainment at a high cost.

 

Travel Scams

Scam City - Prague S1 E2

At night in Prague, scammers emerge, readying themselves for the tourists enjoying the city's nightlife. The tourists are unaware that they've already been marked by those disguised as beautiful girls, harmless hawkers, and friendly taxi drivers.

Premise 
Host Conor Woodman travels to some of the world's most popular cities in an effort to expose the darker side of tourism.

Woodman meets with questionable characters ranging from unethical cab drivers to aggressive pimps as he witnesses and experiences the travel experience of parting with personal property and money. He intentionally falls victim to these alleged scammers and says "yes" to every sex worker and pocket jeweler in the city.

The show aims to expose the local adaptations of common scams - from pick pockets, expensive cab fares, to bars luring people in with adult entertainment at a high cost.

 

Travel Scams

Conor Woodman - Around the World in 80 Trades - Episode 4

An endorsement from a Mexican surfer may help Conor sell 750 inflatable body boards; Conor tries to sell 400 bottles of tequila.

Economist Conor Woodman was a high-flying City market analyst, until one day he decided he no longer wanted to handle commodities via a computer screen - but trade real things that he could touch and smell. So with £25,000 from the sale of his flat, Conor plans to travel across four continents and 16 countries trading in all kinds of products - with the aim of doubling his investment.

 

Conor Woodman

Niagara Falls Vacation Travel Guide

Niagara Falls has long been a symbol of natural power and beauty. Visit this hallmark of Canadian and American tourism and see its majesty from a helicopter, boat, or walkway.

Your Niagara Falls tour begins with a little bit of information: more than six million cubic feet of water spill over the sides per minute. You can explore three waterfalls, the most famous being the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, which are the widest and most powerful. Take a half-hour boat cruise and bask in the falls’ mist, or enter a special set of walkways behind the falls and see the strength and might of the rushing water right in front of you.

No Niagara Falls sightseeing trip is complete without exploring the Botanical Gardens or Niagara on the Lake. The latter attraction offers boutiques, eateries, and picturesque views of the water you won’t soon forget.

 

United States & Canada

Conor Woodman - Around the World in 80 Trades - Episode 3

Episode 3

Conor is determined to sell a piece of jade to a collector in Taiwan; Conor tries to sell premium quality tea to the Japanese; Conor negotiates with a fisherman to sell fresh fish.

Economist Conor Woodman was a high-flying City market analyst, until one day he decided he no longer wanted to handle commodities via a computer screen - but trade real things that he could touch and smell. So with £25,000 from the sale of his flat, Conor plans to travel across four continents and 16 countries trading in all kinds of products - with the aim of doubling his investment.
 

 

Conor Woodman

Equinox at Chichenitza

Chichen Itza which means "at the mouth of the well of Itza", is the 2nd most visited archaeological site of Mexico.

 

The most important structure at Chichén Itzá is El Castillo, also known as the Pyramid of Kukulcán. Twice a year, at the spring and fall equinox, a play of light and shadow with the stepped terraces of the pyramid creates the appearance of a serpent undulating down its stairway to connect with the snake-head sculpture at the base of the pyramid. It’s believed that the ancient Maya considered this event to be the manifestation of the feathered serpent god, Kukulcán.

 

The structure of El Castillo seems to be aligned with an astronomical axis. Each of the four stairways on the pyramid has 91 steps (the number of days between each solstice and equinox), and the final step at the top makes the total count 365—the number of days in a year. It may have been instrumental as a calendar to signal times to plant and harvest crops. 

Other World Festivals

Kyoto Vacation Travel Guide

Kyoto, Japan, has long been considered one of the country’s most beautiful cities. Once the capital of the nation, Kyoto is now an ultra-modern haven that retains a great deal of its ancient charm.

To see some of this long-established glamour, make your way to Kyoto Tower. Just two miles east of the tower is Gion, an entertainment quarter and home to many of Kyoto’s famous geishas. As you walk east through Gion, you’ll find even more old architecture, including several Ryokan, or traditional Japanese inns. Many date back to the Edo period, which ranged from 1603 to 1868. 

During your Kyoto tour, take a rickshaw ride to the Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka districts, where cars are prohibited and traditional teahouses and temples adorn the nearby landscape. Kyoto is known as “The City of Ten Thousand Shrines” for good reason. Walk through the great open plazas of the Haian Shrine, or spend a quiet moment in the intimate confines of the Shorenin Temple and its beautiful gardens. 

The most famous of Kyoto’s temples is Fushimi Inari-taisha, a stunning red complex that sprawls over Mount Inari, which is named after and dedicated to Inari, the fox spirit. A hike to the summit takes about two hours, and will lead you through thousands of colorful sub-shrines and thick, ancient forest. Once you’re at the top, you’ll have a stunning view of Kyoto. 

 

Asia

Perth Vacation Travel Guide

A modern city, Perth is the gem of Australia’s west coast and the capital of Western Australia. This friendly metropolis boasts pristine beaches, clear water, and plenty of coastline – not to mention an abundance of nature and mineral resources.

Start your day of Perth sightseeing with a walk through Kings Park, which is larger than New York’s Central Park and home to the Western Australia Botanic Garden. More than 3,000 species of Western Australia’s plant life, including vibrant flowers, are on display here. Most of the park consists of bushland, which means lots of wildlife and quite a few walking trails.

After a morning of reflection in the park, head over to the Swan Bell Tower to enjoy a spectacular view of the city. Don’t forget your camera! You will notice the diverse nature of Perth’s architecture from this vantage point, including the modern glass structures and London-inspired Tudor buildings. 

Perth tours are never complete without a ferry ride to Rottnest Island, affectionately called “Rotto” by the locals. This getaway is rife with opportunities to snorkel in the Indian Ocean, see wildlife such as seals and birds, and travel across more than 31 miles of cycle ways on a rented bicycle.

Once your feet are back on mainland Western Australia, visit one of the jewels, and ultimately what draws much of the Perth tourism: Swan Valley. This region has a landscape peppered with vineyards, no surprise given that growing grapes has been a long-standing tradition in Swan Valley. Following a short (or leisurely paced) day trip to Swan Valley, return to Perth and head to Hillarys Boat Harbour for a sunset dinner. 

 

Australia & South Pacific

Best of Western Turkey

From the port of Kuşadası, we wander the streets of ancient Ephesus, soak in a natural spa at Pamukkale, learn why the dervishes whirl at Konya, munch lunch in a Turkish pizzeria, and cruise the Mediterranean on a traditional Turkish gulet from Antalya. 

Turkey is a mighty nation whose ancient heritage, Muslim faith, and western ways are coming together...and we’ll see how. 

 

Learn more at goturkey.com

Rick Steves

Best of Eastern Turkey

Sweeping across Eastern Turkey, we'll learn a Kurdish folk dance, see a silk road palace, watch a little oil wrestling, visit the 4,000 year old home town of Abraham, ponder a megalomaniac king's attempt to join the gods... and hangout with nomadic Kurds.

Learn more at goturkey.com

Rick Steves

Best of Central Turkey

We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. 

We’ll join a circumcision party, explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then we enjoy the modern capital, Ankara, and pay our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk.

Learn more at goturkey.com

Rick Steves

Best Travel Search Engines

Looking for a great travel deal?

Here is a list of great travel search engines?

KAYAK.COM

KAYAK is a travel search engine. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the flight or hotel that suits you best.

Learn more at www.kayak.com

MONMONDO

momondo is a free service that helps you find the best prices on flights and hotels. We want to help you explore the world and enjoy your travel adventure!

Learn more at www.momondo.com


TRIVAGO

trivago, the largest hotel price comparison site, gives users the opportunity to compare hotel deals from over 150 booking sites, such as Expedia and hotels.com.

Travel Search Engines

Best Hotel Booking Sties

Looking for a great hotel deal?

Here is a list of great hotel booking sites!


PRICELINE.COM

Priceline.com gives travelers the inside track to the best deals and discounts, even at the last minute. With our negotiating power and deal search technology, priceline.com can help you save on airline tickets, cheap hotel rooms, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises.

Learn more at www.priceline.com


HOTELS.COM

Hotels.com has over 435,000 hotels in more than 60 countries. Our 14 million hotel reviews will help you find cheap hotels or the best deal in the right location.

Whether you are traveling last minute as a family or need a hotel for business, we have the right hotel deal for you.

Learn more at www.hotels.com

EXPEDIA

With Expedia's Best Price Guarantee, you always get the best price for your trip. We guarantee it.

Learn more at www.expedia.com

TRIVAGO

trivago, the largest hotel price comparison site, gives users the opportunity to compare hotel deals from over 150 booking sites, such as Expedia and hotels.com.

Learn more at www.trivago.com

BOOKING.COM

Booking.com is an informative, user-friendly website - that guarantees the best available prices. Booking.com provides business and leisure travelers with the most accessible and cost-effective way of discovering and booking the broadest selection of accommodations, in every corner of the world.

Learn more at www.booking.com

Hotels

St. Petersburg Vacation Travel Guide

Four hundred miles west of Moscow is St. Petersburg, Russia. A striking city resting on the banks of the Neva River, St. Petersburg has long been a draw for lovers of architecture, as St. Petersburg tours often begin with the city's legendary structures. 

Enter a world of towering cathedrals, palaces, and gardens, many of them set down by the order of Peter the Great in the 18th century. As the decades passed, later members of Russian royalty added to the city's opulence by constructing additional marvels. Walk through the Palace Square, located in the heart of St. Petersburg and home of the Winter Palace, the sprawling home of Catherine the Great. Next, pay a visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral and its gold-plated dome, which glitters in the sunshine. If you walk to the top of its dome, you will be rewarded with astonishing views of the city.

Continue your St. Petersburg sightseeing by taking a boat ride down the river to Peterhof Gardens & Palace. This gilded structure and its lush array of plant life was constructed to rival France's Palace of Versailles, and is a popular place for a quiet walk in nature or to reflect upon the engineering marvel of its 60 fountains, all of which flow continuously without the use of pumps. 

Spend your evening walking along Nevsky Prospect, St. Petersburg's main thoroughfare. Besides offering even more beautiful architecture to gaze upon, Nevsky Prospect is loaded with restaurants and boutiques. Enjoy a delicious meal, shop around for the perfect Russian souvenir, and plan the itinerary for your next day in this magnificent city.
 

Europe