If you’re interested in visiting South Africa during the next two months, it’s likely you’ve already made your plans. But for those last minute travel mavens among us, South African Airways is offering a great winter 2 for 1 fare deal for travel from New York and Washington, DC to Jo’burg or Cape Town. Both passengers fly rountrip for $1,350. That is a really good deal. I paid more than that for a single ticket this year - in the off season. And it is nice and toasty warm over there right now. Valid departure dates are Jan. 15-Feb. 15, 2007 with return by March 14, 2007.

November’s issue of Conde Nast Traveler features the results of its annual Readers Choice Awards. The issue goes on sale Oct. 24th. In the mean time, you can check out the top three winners in each category. Real travel junkies can compare this list to last year’s Readers Choice Awards:

Top Cities - United States:

1. San Francisco, CA

2. Santa Fe, NM

3. New York, NY

Top Cities - Asia:

1. Bangkok, Thailand

2. Hong Kong

3. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Top Cities - Europe:

1. Florence, Italy

2. Rome, Italy

3. Venice, Italy

Top Cities - Africa/Middle East:

1. Cape Town, South Africa

2. Marrakech, Morocco

Top Cities - Pacific Rim:

1. Sydney, Australia

2. Melbourne, Australia

3. Queenstown, New Zealand

Top Cities - The Americas:

1. Vancouver, British Columbia

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

3. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Top Islands - Europe:

1. Mykonos & the Cyclades, Greece

2. Madeira, Portugal

3. Capri, Italy

Top Islands - Pacific Rim:

1. Maui, Hawaii

2. Kauai, Hawaii

3. Moorea, French Polynesia

Top Islands - Caribbean/Atlantic:

1. Bermuda

2. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

3. British Virgin Islands

Top Islands - North America:

1. Vancouver Island, Canada

2. Kiawah, South Carolina

3. Nantucket, Massachusetts

Top Islands - Asia:

1. Maldives

2. Bali, Indonesia

3. Phuket, Thailand

Top International Route Airlines:

1. Singapore Airlines

2. Emirates

3. Cathay Pacific

Top Domestic Route Airlines:

1. JetBlue

2. Midwest

3. Hawaiian

Top Car Rental Agencies:

1. Hertz

2. Renault Eurodrive

3. Avis

Top Large Ship Cruise Lines:

1. Regent Seven Seas

2. Crystal Cruises

3. Disney

Top Small Ship Cruise Lines:

1. SeaDream Yacht Club

2. Grand Circle Cruise Line

3. Regent Seven Seas

Top Resorts - Africa:

1. Singita - Ebony & Boulders Lodges

2. Chief’s Camp, Botswana

3. Chobe Chilwero, Botswana

Top Resorts - Canada:

1. Pan Pacific Mountainside, Whistler

2. Four Seasons, Whistler

3. Westin Resort, Whistler

Top Resorts - Atlantic:

1. One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas

2. The Reefs, Bermuda

3. Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Top Resorts - Central/South America:

1. Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo

2. Explora en Patagonia, Chile

3. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Argentina

Top Resorts - Asia:

1. Four Seasons Bali at Sayan

2. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand

3. Banyan Tree, Phuket, Thailand

Top Resorts - Mexico:

1. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo

2. Royal Hideaway Playacar, Riviera Maya

3. JW Marriott, Cancun

Top Resorts - Pacific Rim:

1. Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, Lanai

2. Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island

3. Voyages Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef

Top Resorts - Europe:

1. Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland

2. Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland

3. Mount Juliet Conrad, Co. Kilkenny

Top Resorts - Caribbean:

1. Malliouhana Hotel, Anguilla

2. Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

3. Sandy Lane, Barbados

Top Resorts - United States:

1. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, AZ

2. Inn at Palmetto Bluff, SC

3. Inn at Spanish Bay, CA

Top Hotels - Asia:

1. Fullerton Hotel, Singapore

2. Amandari, Bali

3. The Peninsula, Bangkok

Top Hotels - Caribbean/Atlantic:

1. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France

2. Ladera, St. Lucia

3. Waterloo House, Bermuda

Top Hotels - Pacific Rim:

1. Rialto Hotel on Collins, Melbourne

2. Park Hyatt, Sydney

3. Lilianfels Blue Mountains, Australia

Top Hotels - Africa:

1. Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza

2. Cape Grace, Cape Town

3. Sofitel Palais Jamai, Fez

Top Hotels - Europe:

1. Four Seasons Gresham Palace

2. Chateau Les Crayeres, Reims

3. Four Seasons George V, Paris

Top Hotels - South America:

1. Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru

2. Four Seasons, Buenos Aires

3. Swissotel, Quito, Ecuador

Top Hotels - United States:

1. The Peninsula, Chicago, IL

2. Watermark Hotel, San Antonio, TX

3. St. Regis, New York, NY

Top Hotels - Canada:

1. Auberge du Vieux-Port, Montreal

2. Hotel Dominion 1912, Quebec City

3. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City

Top Hotels - British Isles:

1. Buckland Manor, The Cotswolds

2. Gidleigh Park, Devon

3. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Top Hotels - Central America/Mexico:

1. JW Marriott, Mexico City

2. Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas

3. Casa Santo Domingo, Guatemala

Top Hotels - Middle East:

1. Grand Hyatt, Amman

2. King David, Jerusalem

3. David Citadel, Jerusalem

Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards

Access Trips makes me really wish I had $2446. The adventure travel company’s Hike & Ride Boat Cruise combines riding the slopes in pristine Norwegian backcountry with nightly accommodations on a ship that ferries passengers to various destinations in the Arctic Circle. The 8-day program promises lots of powder and scenic views in a remote part of the world most of us couldn’t explore on our own, but also teaches backcountry safety skills and avalanche rescue techniques.

The trips aren’t cheap, but they will leave you with more than memories. All Access Trips programs combine outdoor adventure with new skills for beginners to advanced levels. Among the offerings are sea-kayaking trips along Mexico’s Baja coast, mountain biking through Cappadocia, surfing in Morocco and rock climbing Italy’s Dolomites mountain range.

Access Trips official site

Got South Africa on the brain? Now would be a good time to purchase a ticket to visit the southernmost country on the African continent. According to a recent Washington Post What’s the Deal column, South African Airways is offering $1,000 round-trip tickets between Washington, DC and Jo-burg for travel between Oct. 7, 2006 and Nov. 30, 2006. I tried using the South African Airways web site to pull up this fare and had a little trouble. I’d suggest calling the airline directly to discuss your options if you’re after this deal: (800) 722-9675

But just as a point of reference, I paid nearly double that for my round-trip ticket just a few months ago, so $1,000 is a steal as far as I’m concerned….

Perhaps you’re jonesing for some of that French rap you heard in gay Paris or the Afro-Peruvian beats you soaked in on Peru’s coast. Hey, you may get back there someday to hear your favorite international music genres in person, but in the mean time, check out National Geographic’s World Music department. You can listen to a bajillion genres you’ve never even heard of, listen to and download your favorites. And there are free downloads offered each week. Cool beans.

I learned of this new development via World Hum. Must give credit where credit is due.

The AAA is warning would-be travelers abroad not to fall prey to international driver’s permit scams, which can result in fake licenses for as much as $350. Why would you want to fork over a hunk of change when a real international driver’s permit costs only $10?

All you need to get your international driving permit is your U.S. license, $10 and two original passport-size photos (or let them take ‘em for you at the AAA office). You can apply for your permit in person or by mail.

The permits are valid - as long as you have your U.S. license to show alongside the international permit - in 150 countries for up to one year. They also have your information printed in 11 different languages - helpful if you’re traveling outside English-speaking countries.

AAA International Driving Permit

Now you probably never thought you’d see “worm farm” listed as a hotel amenity (and if you did, I’ve got a few concerns about your mental faculties), but Cape Town’s famous Mount Nelson hotel (a.k.a. “The Nellie”) has started one. Apparently many tourists are really getting into the idea of playing with worms while on holiday.

Joking. Actually, the worm farm is used to consume leftover food from the hotel restaurant and afternoon tea. After the worms have eaten their fill, well, they poop. And their helpful worm doo becomes fertilizer for hotel grounds and gardens.

There’s something that’s just endlessly funny to me about a) a worm farm and b) pooping worms. But I do have a 12-year-old sense of humor (no offense to any 12-year-olds reading this).

Worms or no worms, the Nellie is known as one of those must-see destinations in Cape Town. The high tea is world-renowned, and the views of Table Mountain (pictured behind hotel) are just amazing.

Worms at the Nellie, and They’re Here to Stay

Mount Nelson Hotel official site

This shot of people working in dye pits in Fez, Morocco comes from TravelPoster tungufoss’s blog post Komdu i Koko. Click the pic for more.

You’re looking at a ginormous oak tree in the middle of Moyo at Spier wine farm in Stellenbosch. It’s a really cool outdoor bar and lounge with a really swanky feeling to it. Think cushions and chaise-type seats, lanterns in the trees and well-heeled patrons.

If you want to taste wine on your visit to South Africa, head to the Winelands outside Cape Town. The set-up at most wineries is reminiscent of what you’d find in California’s Napa Valley region. You drive into the wineries, find the tasting room and pay anywhere from 5 to 20 rand per tasting.

One difference to note, especially if you are used to the California wine tour concept, is that many tour guides who will drive you from winery to winery are generalists. They don’t necessarily know much about wine. Their value is mainly in knowing where to go and saving you the hassle of driving. In the States, most tour guides have some sort of wine expertise. They also often have relationships with various vineyards and winemakers, so they can offer you private tastings or tours of appointment-only venues. This was not the case in South Africa. In fact, one guide we had even told me she didn’t really like wine. You also have to be very clear about the fact that you’re primarily interested in tasting wine if that’s your goal. I found that our guides assumed we wanted more culture and just a stop or two for tastings when, in fact, it was just the opposite.

What’s so great about South African wine? Well, for one, you just don’t see it as much as you do wine from other regions. It’s fairly easy to buy in the UK, but in the States, you won’t find South African varietals on many menus or in plentiful supply in wine shops. I predict this is going to change rapidly in the next few years. South Africa is home to the pinotage varietal, made from a hybrid grape derived from Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Pinotages can vary wildly in taste, but I found the earthy, dirt-esque taste to be as satisfying as a full-bodied California red, but not so flippin’ fruity. My husband, on the other hand, thought pinotage was, for lack of a better word, blech…

You can only bring one or two bottles back to the States from South Africa.

You can either take an all-day trip from Cape Town, which is about an hour from Stellenbosch and just over an hour from Franschhoek and Paarl (where Nelson Mandela spent two years under house arrest). If you’ve only got a few days, hitting this region will put you in close proximity to loads of tasting rooms, not to mention excellent restaurants.

During our visit, we stayed at the Franschhoek Hotel (not to be confused with Le Franschhoek or The Franschhoek Inn). It was fabulous. The rooms were plush, almost opulent, with deep soaking tubs, heated floors, high-end bath amenities and doors that opened onto the small but lovely pool area. A gourmet breakfast is served each morning by the wonderful woman who runs the place. You’re also right on Franschoek’s sleepy main drag, so you can easily walk to restaurants at night.

Summer travelers abroad take note: Many countries in Europe, as well as those on other continents (e.g. Canada and South Africa), offer VAT (value added tax) refunds to travelers who purchase goods within that country. In a nutshell, VAT is included in the cost of goods. When you buy something, you automatically pay VAT. But tourists are often eligible to receive anywhere from 15 to 25 percent back on the purchases they’ve made. The amount you receive depends a) on the amount of VAT levied on goods in that country and b) how much you spend.

A few quick tips for getting easy VAT Refunds:

- Always ask for a VAT Refund receipt or application when you purchase goods (clothing, jewelry, books, wine, etc.). Sometimes, the establishment will stamp your receipt instead of giving you a form, duplicate receipt or application.

- Before you head to the airport for your return flight, collect all your receipts and your purchases. Pack any items you bought in any easy-to-access part of your luggage. Better yet, pack all your puchases in a separate carry-on. You will often have to show customs officials the purchases along with matching receipts to receive refunds at the airport.

- Do not check bags with purchases in them unless you’ve cleared your VAT refund forms with a customs agent.

- If you choose to carry your purchases with you through security, you will be able to find a VAT refund agent inside the airport terminal. Take your receipts and purchases to the agent for a refund.

- If you can’t or don’t want to deal with VAT Refunds at the airport or before your flight, check with a VAT refund agent to obtain the forms you need to handle the process from home. This will often require mailing receipts and waiting several weeks for refunds and credits to your credit card accounts.

- Remember that all countries have different VAT refund policies and not all vendors participate in VAT refund programs.

- In most cases, you cannot reclaim VAT on goods or services you consumed within another country. For example, if you buy two bottles of wine, drink one and bring the other one home, you can probably only reclaim VAT on the latter. Likewise, don’t count on reclaiming VAT on meals, hotel accommodations or tourist activities. That said, some places do offer tourists refunds on services. Canada, for example, does offer 7-15 percent back on hotel accommodations, depending on the province you visit.

If you return home without anything but your receipts, consider using an online service to handle your VAT refunds. Global Refund handles VAT refunds for 36 countries around the world. Business travelers can use services like Tax Back International to claim refunds on everything from advertising costs to general business expenses.

Canada Tax Refunds