While I realize that this is not the normal travel news, I thought that travel professionals and fans might be interested to know that there will be a live and online auction featuring some great travel names. These domains offer instant branding and traffic advantages.

The Moniker live auction will be held at the TRAFFIC conference and expo on April 27 in Santa Clara. The online auction continues until May 7.

Here are some of the powerful travel-related names up for auction:

EuropeanVacations.com
CaribbeanVacations.com
Viajes.com
HotelSavings.com
HotelRankings.net
WeekendFlights.com
SpainVacations.com
DeluxeVacations.com
BritainTravelGuide.com
BargainVacations.net
AffordableCruiseVacation.com
HotelSavings.com
Bargain.travel

See the full catalogue here.

Leave it to Dubai to create over-the-top luxury.  Apparently it is not enough to have a luxurious beach fully staffed with waiters and attendants ready to cater to your every whim.  The Palazzo Versace (yes, it’s the same Versace as the clothing label) will be one of the first hotels to try its hand at changing the desert climate in Dubai.  Well, not the whole climate, but the climate on the hotel’s grounds is doomed thanks to the crafty use of technology.

The main feature that has people buzzing about the Versace is the refrigerated beach.  Dubai’s scorching hot sun leaves the sand quite hot to the touch.  It is enough to make you reconsider frolicking barefoot through the fine golden grains.  The Versace will have a system of pipes under the sand on its beach.  These will contain a coolant that will make the temperature on the surface more bearable.  The above-mentioned frolicking will be possible, even on the hottest summer days.

In addition, the Versace will have a refrigerated swimming pool.  That is, the main swimming pool will be artificially cooled.  A few of the 213 rooms on the hotel grounds will have their own swimming pools right inside the room.

There has also be rumors of gigantic blowers creating a gentle, air-conditioned breeze to keep beach-goers cool.

Not to be outdone, Armani, the fashion label that directly competes with Versace on catwalks will now be its adversary in the hotel game as well.  Armani is planning a similar resort in Dubai.  One wonders how they can top the sand cooling system.

Climate change experts warn that Dubai’s luxurious structures produce carbon at excessive levels, while most of the rest of the world is trending towards more environmentally friendly constructions. Still, the battle for the money of the wealthiest travelers continues with over-the-top feats of design.

Cleveland has many personalities.  To Ohio, it is a cultural and urban center.  Others see it as a true example of a rust belt city: a has-been urban area that is attractive only to lifelong residents.

But Cleveland still holds some surprises.  No, I’m not talking about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which is probably only interesting to die-hard guitar rock fans over the age of 40).

Like other cities past their prime, Cleveland boasts some great examples of past architectural styles and also examples of how these designs have been revitalized.  After the great exodus to the suburbs in the early 1980s, Cleveland actually saw many inner city areas regain residents.  Some areas underwent gentrification while others became trendy neighborhoods populated by hipsters and artists.

Cleveland, like other Midwestern cities, puts hospitality ahead of any pretense.

The centerpiece of Cleveland’s historic architecture is The Old Arcade.  It is a completely unique building originally funded by John D. Rockefeller.   The venue features a five-storey atrium and layer and layers of intricate metalwork.  The Atrium is now part of a Hyatt Regency Hotel but is still open top the public.

Cleveland’s revitalization is partially due to its status as a regional center for the arts.  Public art is strewn about the city.  The large, somewhat controversial “Free Stamp” is located in from of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  A “Vegetable Wall” is located near the city’s biggest sports venue, Progressive Field.

The city’s sports teams bring pride to a large portion of the population.  The Cleveland Indians were highly successful for most of the 1990s in the Major Leagues of baseball.  The Cleveland Cavaliers recently reached the NBA finals and the NFL franchise; the Cleveland Browns are in their second incarnation.  The team moved to Baltimore, but local residents lobbied the NFL for a new franchise, which bears the same name and colors as the original Cleveland team.

Cairo is at the heart of one of the world’s most famous ancient civilizations.  It is a huge metropolis that is often overlooked because of the spectacle of the nearby pyramids of Giza and the Nile River.  The Pyramids are THE tourist attraction in Egypt.  But Cairo also has its charms.  It is a city with some elements that are old and others that are modern.  It is a place with areas that are secular and others that are infused with Islam.  There are historic sites in the city of Cairo.

The Egyptian Museum houses ancient artifacts and the grand buildings of The Citadel are located in the city as well; as are some of the oldest mosques in the world, like the 1,000-plis year old Ibn Tulun.But Cairo is also a city of new things. The Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art (Hussein El Me’mar Pasha) would not be out of place alongside some of Europe’s best modern art galleries.  And for the sonically inclined art appreciator, the Cairo Jazz Club has international caliber performances most nights.

Midan Tahrir is home to the Egyptian Museum, but also some of the city’s plushest hotels and finest restaurants. Because of its central location, it is a great place to base yourself if you plan to explore the city.  Ramses Square is home to Cairo’s railway station.  It is a chaotic place, but there are decent, mid-range hotels on its outskirts and some travelers find the energy and chaos to be exciting rather than off-putting. Just to the south of Midan Tahrir is Garden City.  This posh neighborhood is filled with greenery and offers a bit of respite from the chaos of Cairo.  While there is not much to see in terms of tourist sights, the area offers decent hotels and some upscale cafés and restaurants.  And you get to rub shoulders with the young elite of modern Cairo.

If you were to poll tourists in New York, a vast majority would probably list Manhattan as the focus of their trip.  Sure, the other boroughs have their attractions, but none are as high profile as the most popular borough in the most popular city in the world.

But the less talked about boroughs offer equally interesting sights and experiences.  Queens, the often overlooked district of the Big Apple, is seen mainly as a residential area with a couple of sports facilities.  But interesting cultural sites abound.

1.    New York’s finest street art can be found at 5 Points on Jackson Ave.  This is a “legal” graffiti zone and the walls of the buildings feature work by some of the city’s most talented graffiti artists.  These are no mere spray-painted tags.
2.    Those who want a more traditional take on urban art can head to Queens Museum in Corona Park in Flushing Meadows.  They have memorabilia and a scale model of the city.  Of course, Flushing Meadows is also home to the US Open tennis tournament, held each August.  Also in the area is the New York Hall of Science Farmers’ Market, which is open in spring, summer and fall and features fresh produce.
3.    The Chinatown in Flushing, Queens is more diverse and expansive than its famous sister neighborhood in Manhattan.  Korean and Indian neighborhoods are also part of the equation in the Queens Chinatown.  The restaurants offer food that is cheap and tasty and there are virtually hundreds of shops with interesting and exotic goods.  One could spend several days in the area without seeing the same shops or eating at the same restaurants more than once.
4.    Shea Stadium is located in Queens.  It is home to the New York Mets baseball team.  However, the area around Shea is known for being a bit rough.  Most locals avoid walking by taking the subway one stop in either direction before going on foot.

It’s time to put the doom and gloom of 2008 behind us, even it’s only for one night. What better way to do so than with a one-of-a kind New Years Eve celebration that will help you step into 2009 with renewed vigor? So maybe it’ll be more like a stumble into 2009 with a massive a hangover, but either way, here are the seven best places to travel to for a New Years you’ll never want to forget.

Goa, India

Spend an intimate New Years on the eastern coast of India. Whether you want to romp around the white sand beaches against a breathtaking backdrop or lounge around a five-star resort, Goa is one of the best, less-traveled romantic destinations for couples.

Must Do: Ring in the New Year with a three-day party called The Hill Top where Indian women sell tea and food and provide mats for party goers to rest on.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Vegas is still one of the best places to sing “Auld Lang Syne” year after year and it’s warmer than New York. You’re almost guaranteed to see celebrities, who flock to this city of lights in the desert every year, but don’t forget you can also ring in the New Year at any one of the stellar Vegas shows. The strip stays open until 5 a.m. on Dec. 31, so unlike most places in the country, you can drink in the streets into the early morning hours.

Must Do: You can choose from a huge lineup of musical performances throughout the town, including Fergie, Akon, and Pink, or for only $20 you can see some of the best tribute bands, imitating performers like Elton John, U2, and Kiss, at Tribute-Palooza.

Niagara Falls, Canada

Fireworks are a must-have for any New Years Eve celebration, but Niagara Falls is pretty much the only place that gets it right. The colorful fire displays explode over the backdrop of some of the most breathtaking waterfalls at both 9 p.m. and midnight. And, you can drink in the streets, along with the 30,000 other celebrators the party attracts,

Must do: Stop by Clifton Hills, a promenade in the city of Niagara Falls, to hear some great live music.

Cost-saving alert: The Party in Niagara celebration is hosted by the Niagara Parks Commission and is FREE.

Austin, Texas

Austin’s nightlife tops lists every year, but the city’s annual First Night Austin event blows its own weekend parties out of the water. Perfect for the whole family, for the college students, and for the couples, the event offers theater and art exhibitions as well as a carnival-type atmosphere for the young at heart, including puppet shows, jugglers, and even clog dancer.

Must Do: Stop by the Trail of Lights, an annual huge Christmas lights display.

Watch out: The city doesn’t provide the best public transportation, so unless your hotel is in a prime location, you’re going to have to either shell out the dough for a cab or walk. The good news is that the weather in the winter is usually fairly mild.

Reykjavik, Iceland

On top of it being slow during the winter season, now the country has filed for bankruptcy so roundtrip airfare is outrageously low, how does $400 sound, and your dollar will stretch very far once you’re there. Your New Years will undoubtedly begin with Mass, most residents attend church, but others will eat dinner at home, while listening to the service on the radio. If you can brave the cold, it’s worth it to check out any of the fireworks shows

Most Do: Much like Americans stay glued to the TV for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve, the people of Iceland often spend their evening in watching Aramostaskaupi, The New Year’s Comedy, in which performers lampoon artists, business people, and local politicians.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

If you really want to have a blowout, once-in-a-lifetime New Years, head to Rio. The city that’s best known for its Carnivale celebration and its year-round parties kicks it into overdrive for New Years. Nearly 2 million partiers flock to the white beaches of Copacabana and it’s tradition to wear all white, which, in the summer, won’t be much of a problem, and throw roses into the ocean. Open container laws don’t apply here so you can pop open a beer anytime, anywhere.

Must Do: Pass into the New Year bathing in the ocean.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Though it still hasn’t completely recovered from Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has never forgotten how to party and the best news is that you won’t have to deal with as many people as some of the other huge New Years’ celebrations. Sports fans will be in for a treat as this year; it’s the 75th anniversary of the Sugar Bowl which scheduled Jan. 2. The French Quarter will be alive with the sprit of the city, which can’t be thankful enough for being able to pass into another new year.

Must Do: Watch the gumbo pot drop from Jax Brewery at midnight.

Visit Lowfares.com and find cheap flights to the destinations listed above.  Enter your search once, search multiple sites with a click. Finding cheap airline tickets and hotels online has never been this easy!

Pack your passport, doggie bag, and perhaps a bottle of Pepto-Bismol as we look for the strangest, borderline-sickening, yet, somewhat nutritious food on the planet.

Kenya – Crocodile Meat
Are you ever in the mood for a nice plate of roasted crocodile meat? Well people in Kenya are known to eat this flavorful rich white meat. If you’re in luck, maybe you can get a pair of crocodile-skin boots to go with your dinner.

Spain- Bull’s Testicles
Aww, those Spaniards and their infatuation with bulls. In the old cattle days, people would eat everything so nothing of the cattle went to waste. Now, it is known as an aphrodisiac.

England- Black Pudding
Eggs, sausage, potatoes, and a side of pig’s blood is the most important meal of the day in England. Black pudding is made by boiling pig’s blood in a filler and looks like a sausage.

Indonesia- Bats
Served extra hot, Indonesians love their Paniki (bats). I guess they took “The Dark Knight” craze to a whole new level.

China- Snakes
Fried, boiled, in soups- the Chinese have a thousand recipes for snakes. It is known for being good for the eyes, lower spine, and fatigue. It’s also a convenient snack food, as you buy it on the street and eat it off a stick. Men drink its bile and blood as a male enhancement. Consider it as Viagra’s cheaper step brother.

Cambodia- Spiders
Fried tarantulas anyone? These crispy creepy crawlers are a popular snack food in Cambodia. People pick out their legs and eat them like French fries. Some say they taste like crab, but they are messy- as black juice will ooze out after every bite. Yummy.

Korea- Chicken Anus
Better think twice before getting Combo “B” next time at your favorite Korean spot. Dahk-ddong-jib, is chicken anus stir-fry. It’s known to be real chewy. Um, yeah count me out.

USA- KFC Famous Bowls
Seriously, what were they thinking? Blobs of mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, processed cheese, and fried chicken served in a bowl. It looks like an employee swept all the food that fell to the floor after a busy day and placed it on a plate. I guess they were targeting the college crowd when they get a serious case of the munchies.

What’s the craziest, most disturbing thing you’ve ever eaten? Was it anything on this list? Share your experience, we promise we won’t point and laugh at your expense.

For most casual travelers from the US, the city of Havana is off limits.  Travelers from The States either have to travel via Canada, Cuba, or Mexico or else apply for a travel permit from the US Department of State.

However, getting a taste of Cuba does not require such an epic adventure.  Miami is the center of Cuban culture in the US.  Little Havana is located just outside of downtown Miami.  The neighborhood is also known as The Latin Quarter.

Little Havana is as close to Cuba as one can get without making the 90 mile trip to the island itself.

Aside from the prevalence of Cuban tinged Spanish, there are cafes with noisy domino games, restaurants with authentic Cuban food, and Latin clubs with live music and dancing.

Little Havana is changing, though. There is still plenty of Cuban influence in the neighborhood, but other immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries have been moving into the area as Cuban-Americans begin to leave for new homes in the suburbs.  A portion of Little Havana has been dubbed Little Managua because of the high concentration of Nicaraguan immigrants.

Despite its authentic feel, Little Havana is, as it always has been, a neighborhood with a high concentration of criminal activity.  Tourists are advised not to wander down side streets and not to visit the area at night without someone local to guide them.

Little Havana’s cafes and restaurants are not only authentic, but they are also cheap by Miami standards.

The main event in Little Havana is Calle Ocho, one of the world’s largest street fairs.  The food and Latin rhythms permeate every street in Little Havana.  This is the best time to visit.  The event takes place on the last days of Carnival (early February).  Unlike Brazil’s Carnival, Calle Ocho is a family friendly affair covering over 23 blocks.

There is little of LA’s shiny glitz in the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside.  They are far enough away from The City of Angels, both culturally and geographically, to not be considered suburbs.  This arid region of Southern California is dominated by orange groves and small town atmosphere.  However, as a whole, the area has a diverse population consisting of millions of residents.  The number of unique attractions and the fact that it lacks a lot of LA’s pretense make it a good alternative to Southern Cal’s better-known spots.

Riverside is actually a good place to base yourself for a regional excursion.  From the city of 300,000, the mountains, National Forest and LA’s beaches are equally far away.  Hotel prices are quite a bit cheaper here than nearer the Pacific coast.  The local food scene is heavily influenced by the city’s Latino population.  Locally owned eateries mean that visitors will never have to enter a chain restaurant or the type of pretentious place so often found in Los Angeles.

San Bernardino is Riverside’s smaller cousin.  But it is no less of an economic and cultural center for the Inland Empire area.

Visitors might be familiar with San Bernardino because it was home to the first ever McDonald’s restaurant.  The site has now been converted into a museum.  Downtown San Bernardino has recently been revitalized.  Rows of shops and, perhaps more importantly (and rarer), ample parking space makes this a great venue for some afternoon of shopping and sunny weather.

Other cities in the area include Ontario, which has the region’s main airport and an impressive collection of outlets malls known as One Mile Circle.

Outdoor activities are plentiful in the Inland Empire.  The San Bernardino National Forest covers a huge expanse of land, including lakes, mountains, desert and forests.  The diverse landscapes make this a popular area for outdoor enthusiasts.

Kansas City is one of the most underrated large urban areas in the Midwest.  The city, which straddles the boarder of Kansas and Missouri, once enjoyed being at the center of the country’s jazz and blues scene.  There is plenty of evidence of that aspect of the past, though live music venues, featuring jazz and other genres as well, continue to thrive.  The city is also known for having some of the best barbecue joints in the country.  In fact, the largest barbecue contest in the world, the American Royal Barbecue Festival, is held each year in K.C.  Judges from the city’s barbecue society are asked to judge other festivals and contests around the country.

Kansas City is a sports-crazed town.  The Chiefs are an NFL franchise and the Royals a major league baseball team.  The Kansas City Wizards play soccer in the major leagues and have enjoyed some success lately.  Major car races, including an IRL race are held at the Kansas City Speedway.  There is a sporting event going on almost every weekend, but most are quite popular, so it’s best to purchase tickets early if you plan to attend.

K.C. also has a growing arts scene.  The Crossroads Art District is home to many contemporary art galleries.  On the first Friday of every month, here is a district-wide open house called the First Friday Art Walk.

Then, of course, there is the Blues, Jazz and Barbecue scene. BB’s Lawnside BBQ combines two aspects of K.C. that are well known, Blues music and world-class barbecue.  Or, for a truly unique, only-in-Kansas City experience, try Oklahoma Joe’s.  It is a gas station and liquor store that has a cafeteria-style rib restaurant attached to it.  Some of the best ribs in this barbecue-happy city.

Aside from Blues and Jazz, there are venues featuring live rock, country and pop acts.