Continuing our theme of travel preparation, we steer your attention to vaccinations. It’s not the most exciting thing to think about when considering travel, but it’s important. Being sick while away is something we wouldn’t wish on our worse enemy.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) divides vaccines into three groups: routine (regular), recommended, and required. Routine vaccines are necessary for protection from diseases that are still common in many parts of the world (even though they rarely occur in the U.S.). Examples are tetanus, measles, and polio. Recommended and required vaccines vary depending on the travel destination. The complete list of travel related vaccines may be found on the CDC website. Click Read More for additional facts and information regarding vaccinations…

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We’re huge fans of Wired Magazine. Every month we look forward to receiving the latest issue. Their ability to blend technology, culture and design is something we editorially admire. It’s seamless.

Recently we stumbled upon their How-To section. It’s a quick read with useful information. Each column focuses on a different topic. Want to cheat sleep? They’ve got it. Want to improve your skills at Guitar Hero? It’s there. And, this month they turn their solutionary gaze toward travel. How to Fly through Airport Security is common sense, but it reveals tips that are easily lost in the din of travel preparation…

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This week’s guest writer is a photographer. His pictures communicate atmosphere, excitement, anticipation and hope in new ways. Whether he’s shooting for the New York Times or MTV, Jason Lewis’ photography exhibits rich stories placed upon the backdrop of everyday life. Today we present part one of his Airport Series.

By Guest Writer/Photographer Jason G. Lewis: So I returned recently from a trip to Mallorca, Spain, shooting for a week with the super cool Third Skin Collective who threw the most ridiculous parties I’ve ever attended. Beautiful weather, amazing food, great people, cool celebs and some close Ft. Greene (Brooklyn) buddies made for a memorable week with lots of fresh photos to share. Here are a few images from my ongoing Airport series that I kinda dug. I flew over with my buddy Tetsuro Mise and we spent a little time in the Madrid airport en route to Mallorca…

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When we think of traveling or commuting, we commonly envision airplanes, motor vehicles, or boats. However traveling by bicycle is one of many ways to get from one destination to another. Bicycling can be fun, inexpensive and a considerably safe way to travel. It offers a sense of freedom and independence on the road, flexibility when traveling, and an opportunity for adventure. Additionally, bicycling is a great form of exercise…

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We’ve been racking our brains trying to figure out if anyone has ever tried to tour an entire museum before. Sure, there are plenty of traveling exhibitions, but an entire museum, traveling from city to city – we’re pretty sure that’s unprecedented. Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld and the mavericks at Chanel to do just that.

Chanel Mobile Art is a touring exhibition starting February 27 in Hong Kong, it will showcase works by 20 emerging artists, inspired by the elements of Chanel’s emblematic quilted bag. The traveling museum structure (called the “Art Container”) was designed by architect Zaha Hadid. In addition to Hong Kong, the museum will be in Tokyo, New York, London, Moscow, and Paris…

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Groucho Marx once said, “I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member.” As much as we hate to admit it, exclusivity sells. Perhaps we have an innate trust for all things esoteric. Could it just be that it’s cool to be aware of something before the masses? Honestly, we aren’t completely sure.

If you’re in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, you’ll probably walk past The Hideout. It’s a converted garage on Adelphi Street and it looks pretty nondescript. Walk in and you’ll find a cadre (the bar comfortably accommodates 40 patrons) of urbane modernists, sipping 150-year-old Grand Marnier, in a romantically lit space.

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Anticipation is building for the summer olympics in Beijing. As we get closer to the final date, the city’s attractions are reaching completion. We’re really impressed. The Olympics serve as a huge opportunity for tourism and it’s clear that China is pulling out all the stops for this one. First the Nest Stadium and now the Water Cube Aquatic Center. It looks beautiful.

Photographer Ben McMillan assembled a photo essay of the Water Cube. As seen on iconeye, “The Water Cube aquatic centre, designed by Australian-based PTW Architects with Arup, is next door to Herzog & de Meuron’s “nest” stadium.” Ben’s photo essay vividly captures the cube’s architectural life.

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It’s safe to say that French designer, Christian Louboutin designs the most recognizable shoes. His signature red sole and uncanny craftsmanship has become a trademark making them immensely popular with women all around the world.

If you’re not familiar with Louboutin’s work, you’re in luck because the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York will be hosting a free exhibition from March 13 to April 19. Fittingly titled, Sole Desire: the Shoes of Christian Louboutin, the exhibit will “showcase examples of Louboutin’s work from the collection of The Museum at FIT and the archive of Christian Louboutin. Not only will it highlight his innovative designs, but it will illustrate his understanding of today’s clientele and his contributions to contemporary fashion.”

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There are many reasons why we travel and it’s not always the latest and greatest attractions that propel us. Sometimes it’s a small boutique off the beaten path or an art exhibit you wouldn’t normally find in a city’s larger and well funded museum. No matter what motivates us – big or small – somewhere on that list of reasons you’ll find food. Through travel, regardless if it’s in your hometown or elsewhere, having your taste buds experience a memorable dish is always fun.

We recently came across OpenTable. It’s an online restaurant reservation company and it hopes to make reserving a table easier. By using their free online reservation system you can book your table in virtually any US and International city without hassle. Rather than relying on systems where your reservation is faxed to a restaurant awaiting confirmation, OpenTable is able to tap into the restaurant’s computerized reservation system for a seamless process. The more you book your reservation with OpenTable, the more points you earn, which then translates into a discounted bill off your next meal. No hassle, no confusion, no fuss. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

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By Guest Writer Tom Kirkby: Krakow is a largely untapped and unexposed city in terms of Eastern European travel, and I honestly have no idea why. During World War II many of Poland’s buildings and statues were destroyed or damaged. If it weren’t for the fact that Krakow housed the offices of the German Governor General, it probably would have been destroyed. Luckily for us it was spared and the city has miraculously maintained its rich culture and heritage.

Visitors are often surprised by the sheer amount of churches, theaters, concert halls and art galleries. It is also home to the largest square in Europe, which is at the center of the old town and is still the social hub of the city today. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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Athens’ budding art district was once home to the city’s gasworks factory and workers. At the height of the industrial revolution the area buzzed with opportunity and provided Greece with most of their light and power. Then in the early 60s the factory’s production declined due to emerging technologies and it eventually closed. But like many old factory districts, the infusion of art played a significant role in the city’s resurrected landscape.

Check out Athens’ in the New York Times’ Featured Destinations travel guide. They do a fantastic job outlining the city’s cultural context. We were especially drawn to NYT’s slide show portraying the revived gasworks factory. The images are stunning.

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Hotel Everland is a work of art and a room with a view – literally. The one bedroom prefab hotel takes boutique hospitality in a new direction. Beyond its fantastic design, its mobility is what makes this endeavor so unique. Perched atop places like Palais de Tokyo France, it offers memorable experiences and new perspectives on some of our favorite destinations.

Designed by swiss duo Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann, the hotel is one of a kind. In 2002 they were commissioned by Gianni Jetzer for an exhibition concept entitled Everland at the Swiss National Exhibition. Since then they’ve taken the structure to Yverdon, Switzerland, Lepzig, Germany and it now sits atop Palais de Tokyo (a modern contemporary museum) in France. It will reside there until the end of the year. Guests are permitted to stay for only one night and room rates range from 333 – 444 Euros. You can book your room online here. Click Read More for additional photos and information.

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Everyone remembers the first time they saw Star Wars. The six films have captured the imagination of both young and old. For the avid Star Wars fan, the films transcend entertainment. Simply put, Star Wars is life.

This weekend, Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute launched an interesting exhibition exploring how the universe imagined in Star Wars is influencing the real world. Star Wars: Where Science meets Imagination fully immerses visitors into the mind of George Lucas, showcasing props and artifacts from all six films alongside cutting-edge technologies directly and indirectly influenced by the franchise. Click Read More for additional information and pictures from the exhibit.

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Have you ever stared at a subway map and thought, where am I? Do I get on this train or the next one? You’re not alone. Instead of waiting to determine your coordinates at the subway platform, we present two web applications that’ll help you get a headstart on planning your underground travel. iSubwayMaps and MetropoliPhone offer maps for a wide variety of cities that you can view on your iPhone. Whether you’re in Chicago or Barcelona you’ll find your way.

While we enjoyed using both applications, there are a few things to consider…

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New York City takes the lead and begins accepting Euros in small shops. As reported by Reuters, it’s become worthwhile for small businesses to accept the foreign currency as the US Dollar’s value continues to slump. Many frequent travelers, local Europeans and tourists seem to welcome the change.

Serving as a sign of the times, could the Euro take the Universal Currency title away from the US Dollar? Click Read More to view the Reuters Report.

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Some people go fishing, others go record hunting and if you’re a speed enthusiast you find racetracks to rip. Supercar Life is a car driver’s dream. The touring company takes you to the nation’s most prestigious tracks to race cars like the Aston Martin DB9, Porsche Turbo 997, Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black Series, Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari F430. With the assistance of a professional, you’ll be able to roar through turns without traffic laws, road hazards or any unpredictable conditions.

Supercar Life ranks high on our list of experience-driven travel. Beyond their offering of cars and speed, they also provide chauffered transportation to and from the airport, top-notch hotel accommodations, catered meals, and a cocktail reception the night before the event. It may seem a little indulgent, but after working so hard you deserve a personal escape…

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Innovative architecture always makes our travel to-do list. Some of the most interesting buildings of the past year highlight the strides made in sustainability, construction materials and computer-aided design. All bringing us closer to the future envisioned in The Jetsons.

For instance, Japanese designers TNA created an optical illusion of floating floors for the Ring House. Approximately 185 miles outside of Tokyo, the private home stands three stories high and provides uninterrupted views of the surrounding woods. As pictured above, its beauty speaks for itself, but it also won the 2008 Wallpaper Award for architectural design…

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Business travel can be exciting, but it also comes with its fair share of stress. Unlike leisure travel, business travel can be commonly associated with physical, emotional, and psychological stress. It is reported that business travel lasting more than 5.2 days may have a significant effect on traveler’s personal life, and business travelers may be at significant risk for travel related health problems.

All of this may sound familiar to you. For instance have you ever gotten off of a flight and felt completely exhausted or been completely stressed out about an upcoming presentation and couldn’t sleep due to the anxiety of the trip. Below, we’ve highlighted a few things you can do to prepare for your next trip and minimize the stress.

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Store openings are exciting – especially when it comes to Gucci. As one of the most widely recognized and esteemed fashion houses, they consistently please their long time fans with impeccable taste and style. Recently, Gucci opened their largest flagship store right in the heart of New York City’s high end shopping district – Madison Avenue.

Beyond being able to browse through 3 floors of Gucci shoes, handbags, men’s ready to wear and women’s eveningwear, the architectural design is breathtaking. Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini and architect James Carpenter designed the glass building. It’s a site to see whether in the day or evening…

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Today’s travel briefing highlights the continuing relationship between travel and technology. In France they unveiled a train that’s faster than the fastest. Alstrom’s AGV is the latest train to promise more speed. Then USA today reports on new forms of hotel security. Instead of keycard entry for room access, guests will be able to use iris scans to enter their rooms in the near future.

In other news, CNN remarks on the four times of year you shouldn’t travel, and the LA Times hosts the Travel and Adventure show this weekend. We’ve listed all of today’s interesting headlines below.

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The people of Spain take their olive oil seriously. So much so, many Spaniards refer to oil as oro liquido (liquid gold). Oro Liquido is also the name of an olive oil shop in Barcelona, Spain. Owner, Anna Segovia, wanted to give a fresh perspective on something most take for granted. From Olive tree to Olive oil, the tasty product has become quite the commerce.

Oro Liquido presents olive oil as if it were a perfume, in little bottles. All of the oils are produced in the Mediterranean and represent the best oils found in the towns and villages of Spain.

Furthering the culture behind oil, the shop holds olive oil tastings. Similar to wine tastings, patrons are treated to samples of the latest varieties of olive oil and are encouraged to discover their nuances. Flavors can range from tomato, banana, freshly cut grass or artichoke – depending on the region. Stop by Oro Liquido next time you’re in Barcelona.

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In France there’s the Millau Bridge. In Germany there’s St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel. Both structures are engineering marvels, but Old Elbe demonstrates a unique level of timelessness when it comes to creative engineering.

Built in 1911, the tunnel connected downtown Hamburg with Steinwerder, which improved the commute for thousands of harbor workers. Running 80 feet below the surface, Old Elbe is not your typical tunnel. It uses four huge elevators to cart pedestrians and vehicles from the surface down to the tunnel and back. Functionally, it’s served Hamburg well, but today it is its powerful design that continues to attract visitors. Click Read More for additional photos.

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Today’s travel briefing highlights an increasing interest in budget hotels. Their minimal design, strong customer service and hip touches continue to ignite an expanding industry. Business travelers, tired of the hotel status-quo, are moving toward the independent market in search of value and fresh design.

Also in today’s news – on the heals of Virgin’s bio-fuel announcement, the European Union launched a research program to produce aircrafts that are more efficient and environmentally friendly. It’s an interesting balance for researchers. While the environment is a priority, faster and safer planes are also a focus. For example, scientists announced yesterday that a 5 hour flight from Europe to Sydney may be possible in 25 years. The carbon impact must be huge. If you took the same flight today on a standard plane, it would take you approximately 22 hours. It’s a constant balance between cheaper, greener & faster.

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The Millau Bridge is a must see. This beautiful landmark crosses the River Tarn near Millau in Southern France. Standing taller than the Eiffel Tower and just a little shorter than the Empire State building it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world. Recently, we came across an interesting photo essay that chronicles the bridge’s construction process. Be sure to check it out, and next time you’re in Southern France stop by the Millau Bridge.

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Last week we mentioned Bermuda as a destination for off-season travel. This week we present another great suggestion – Prague. The Czech city offers a slower pace and lower prices during February. For travelers not afraid of the cold, the payoff can be huge. According to the IHT, “Prague’s winter weather gives curious travelers a chance to take in the city’s attractions at a leisurely pace and, this season at least, discover some of the city’s newest developments before they make it into the guidebooks.”

Also, today’s briefing includes the TSA’s latest outreach effort – The Evolution of Security – a blog tackling security questions posed by travelers. The TSA aims to facilitate ongoing dialogue regarding innovations in security, technology and checkpoint screening processes. We look forward to seeing it develop. They’ve already begun tackling some of the more common questions with roaring commentary presented by readers. Be sure to check it out.

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Jim Denevan is a surfer, a former model, a chef and an artist. He is a maker of moments. Whether it’s catching the perfect wave, making a meal, or creating sand art with a rake – Denevan’s endeavors are rooted in the ephemeral.

After becoming a surf legend in his hometown of Santa Cruz, he moved to Europe and started modeling. In Europe, he learned about food and returned home to work as a chef (so he could surf during the day). Then, Denevan began drawing in the sand. His colossal, complex geometric images are all done freehand. He can walk 20 miles completing one drawing. His art has garnered much attention, including an exhibition in the MOMA as well as a Range Rover ad…

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Las Vegas offers its visitors over the top, 24-hour non-stop fun and entertainment. From the moment you arrive in Las Vegas, you feel the excitement and energy of Sin City. Not only are there slot machines in the airport to get you warmed up for the heavy hitters at the luxurious casinos, but airport shuttles use casino chips as a ticket just to add to your growing gambling fever.

But Las Vegas has more to offer than just gambling – the restaurants are incredible. One of the best is Tao. Located in the ultra luxurious and breathtaking Venetian Hotel, Tao offers some of the best Asian cuisine that you’ll find in Vegas. It’s décor is a stark contrast from the neon lights and hustle and bustle of Vegas. Once you enter Tao, you feel as though you have entered Vegas’ alter ego. This multi-level bistro is beautifully decorated with Asian inspired art work, a 20 foot hand carved Buddha, waterfalls and larger than life portraits. Tao’s calming and tranquil environment relaxes the mind and prepares your taste buds for a mix of flavorful entrees and desserts. Whatever you try on the menu, you’ll be more than satisfied, but you have to try the Spicy Tuna Roll and Lobster Wontons. They’re amazing.

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“Bermuda is another world, Seven hundred miles of sea, And the way the people greet you, Is like a perfect melody….” These are the lyrics you’ll hear as you enter the arrival hall at Bermuda airport. Although most people aren’t planning their trips now – off season is one of the best times to visit, especially if you’re a golfer.

Bermuda offers a wide variety of accommodations, which range from full-service resort hotels with spas, swimming pools and beach-front views to tiny guest houses and uniquely Bermudian cottage colonies. Our favorite place to stay is Elbow Beach Hotel. Voted as one of Fodor’s best beach resorts, the hotel boast great views, top notch service and the best white cheddar bacon cheeseburgers we’ve ever had.

Also, Bermuda is a golf paradise. Its subtropical climate and moderate temperatures allow golf to be played all year round. However, in the summer, temps can get a little steamy so February is perfect for 18 holes of uncrowded fun. In fact, Bermuda is known for organizing “thrice-weekly tournaments for visitors between November and March at course like Port Royal.” (via)

Overall, Bermuda is 22 square miles of breathtaking beauty. It certainly is another world.

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