Top 10 Travel Movies in 2008

Nothing adds to a movie as much as the scenery and destination so travel lovers can relate even more to what is taking place on the big screen! Budget Travel Magazine has compiled a list of their top 10 travel movies for 2008.

Here is a condensed version below with one of my favourite destinations hitting the number 1 spot!!

The top 10 travel movies of 2008!

Movie Quest 2008 Move over Oscar! We have our own thoughts about which movies won our hearts in 2008. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 10 most travel-inspiring movies—and how you, too, can have cinematic moments on your next trip.

By Justin Bergman, Amy Chen, Beth Collins, Danielle Lipp, Laura MacNeil, Sara Morrow, and Alison Rohrs, December 2008/January 2009 issue Budget Travel Newsletter.

10. GET SMART

Washington, D.C., Russia, and Los Angeles

The comedic spy saga—and homage to the 1960s TV show—follows Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) and Agent 86 (Steve Carell) on their first mission as partners. It's no small task: The duo must track down Kaos, a gang of international terrorists, before it assassinates the U.S. president.

9. SEX AND THE CITY

New York City

Four years after the HBO series wrapped, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and friends roam Manhattan again—on the big screen.

8. KUNG FU PANDA

China

In the animated flick from DreamWorks, a rather klutzy and portly Chinese panda named Po (Jack Black) is unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy and become the fearless Dragon Warrior.

7. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL

Hawaii

Dumped by his longtime girlfriend, Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) heads to Oahu to mend his broken heart—only to find his ex (Kristen Bell) shacked up with another guy at the hotel.

6. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Spain

When Woody Allen started writing the script for his latest comedy, one thing was nonnegotiable: It had to be set in sultry Barcelona. The resulting madcap movie chronicles the escapades of American tourists Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) with ladies' man Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem).

5. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN

New Zealand, Poland, and Slovenia

The Pevensie clan—Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Peter (William Moseley), and Susan (Anna Popplewell)returns to Narnia only to find its creatures have been forced into hiding by the Telmarines. So the children set out to help Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) reclaim his throne—a spectacular journey that was filmed in four countries.

4. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

England

Sibling rivalry really heats up when sisters Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) catch a glimpse of a young Henry VIII (Eric Bana)—and his spectacular palace. The movie is based on Philippa Gregory's best seller, which took its inspiration from English history.

3. QUANTUM OF SOLACE

Italy, Austria, England

The highly anticipated sequel to Casino Royale marks the return of 007 (Daniel Craig). Bent on avenging the death of his lost love, James Bond outwits the British government and the CIA on a covert mission that takes him around the globe.

2. MAMMA MIA!

Greece

Based on the hit Broadway musical, Mamma Mia! tells the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who's on a quest to find out who her real dad is before she gets married. After narrowing the pool down to three men, she invites them all to her mom's hotel on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi. The result? Chaos, and a whole lot of Abba tunes.

1. AUSTRALIA

Northern Territory and Western Australia

In director Baz Luhrmann's tribute to his native Australia, aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) takes an arduous journey across the country with a rough-and-tumble stockman named the Drover (Hugh Jackman) as World War II is about to break out.

For further information visit: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/11/03/AR2008110302173.html

My Disney World Celebration

Time to Visit Cuba

A long time favourite for Canadians, Cuba is known to have some of the best beaches in all of the Caribbean. The great beaches along with the great value on the All Inclusive Resorts keep Canadians coming back year after year - in fact, most recently, in record numbers.

Now is the perfect time to go to Cuba as well. Cuba is a great country, steeped with history, culture and beauty. Far too many people venture down on an All Inclusive package and don't get out to explore the country side, beauty, warm people and everything Cuba has to offer outside of the packaged holiday.

Even if you are travelling on a packaged vacation, take the time to get out of your resort. Read about the country and history before you travel and plan some excursions and days off the beach to get to know more about this wonderful island.

The Cuban Tourism Board's website is a great wealth of information. Watch videos, learn more about the country and culture and most definitely have a look at the excusion list that is found under the Destination Section (Click Here)

Even if you are on a packaged holiday, don't let that stop you from planning an overnight trip outside of your resort though to further explore the country. While still having that relaxing All Inclusive vacation you can infuse your trip with an extended excursion such as:

HAVANA AND THE TROPICANA
Experience world-class museums, entertainment and shopping on this two-day trip:- Day One: Tour Old Havana, stopping at the Museum of the City; check in at the hotel; attend the supershow and dinner at the Tropicana Nightclub.- Day Two: Breakfast and free morning; lunch at the hotel followed by a tour of modern Havana, with shopping sprees at La Flora and La Maison.(Departure: 1:00 p.m. Return: 4:00 p.m. next day)

CIENFUEGOS AND TRINIDAD
These two neighboring cities have contrasting characters: Cienfuegos is an industrial and marine town; Trinidad is romantic and historical:- Day One: Tour of Cienfuegos with lunch at the Pasacaballo Hotel; stop at the Botanical Garden before continuing to Trinidad for dinner and overnighting (free evening).- Day Two: Breakfast and city tour, visit to the Romantic, Natural Sciences and Archaeological Museums and the Troubadour’s House, followed by lunch at the hotel before leaving.(Departure: 8:00 a.m. Return: 2:00 p.m. next day)

See http://www.gocuba.ca/ for more...

Perhaps if you haven't already booked your Cuba Vacations you should consider a tour (group or independent) to explore the island rather than staying at a resort? There are a lot of options available but just not advertised like the All Inclusive tours.

Without a doubt, now is the time to visit Cuba. I am sure one day soon Cuba and the United States are going to come to terms and put their politica differences aside. Travel agreements will open up between the two countries and Americans will flood back to this island that was once a hot spot of travel for them.

Barack Obama is ushering in an era of change. ASTA - the American Society of Travel Agents is lobbying Obama to open up tourism to Cuba for Americans. The day could come in the very near future when Americans will be allowed to travel to Cuba which will drastically change the face of tourism in Cuba as suddenly about 350 million people once again have access to a paradise island on their door step.

Basic economics with the laws of supply and demand tells us those inexpensive paradise beaches packages are going to skyrocket in price.

If you haven't yet explored this great Caribbean island - I say the time is now! Don't delay and take advantage of the great deals that are happening this winter.

More Vegas News....TI up for sale

It is rumoured that MGM Mirage is selling Treasure Island to Phil Ruffin at a price of $775 million dollars.

Ruffin purchased the New Frontier Hotel back in 2007 which has since been demolished to make way for a new project. Let's see what he has in store for TI!

Another 14,000 Luxury Hotel Rooms for Las Vegas

As I write this, I am at the Disney for adults - Las Vegas - attending a great annual travel conference I come to each year. It never ceases to amaze me at how incredible the changes are to this city year after year.

This year the skyline has once again changed as the incredible City Center has popped up from the hole in the ground that it was last December when I was here.

By this time next year Las Vegas will have an additional 14,000 new hotel rooms for visitors representing a 9.2 billon dollar investment! Unbelieveable isn't it - 14,000 new rooms on top of the over 100,000 hotel rooms that are available every night. It is really mind boggling.

Have a look at the newest development here by MGM call City Center:

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/?CMP=KNC-Google-City_Corp