If you’ve ever thought about going the home rental route instead of shelling out for a hotel on a vacation to Europe, you’ve probably wondered how to find accommodations. It can be daunting to rent a home in another country, especially site unseen. Daily Candy has some suggestions for renting beach homes, as well as private dwellings in France, Italy, Greece and Morocco. Check check check it out.

Daily Candy’s In Your House

Nutty ‘ole Tom Cruise is rumored to be staying at the famous Hassler Hotel atop the Spanish Steps in Rome before he and Katie Holmes marry this weekend at an undisclosed location outside the city. No one has confirmed whether Holmes is there with Cruise, but hoards of hopeful fans and media are reportedly waiting outside the hotel to get to the bottom of that very, very important mystery.

The Hassler Hotel puts visitors to Rome in a prime position for viewing city landmarks, soaking in the surrounding hillside vistas and - 0f course - shopping at the city’s most exclusive retail establishments. Of course, you’ll have to shell out 500 euro/night for the simplest room on the property. The three presidential suites, one of which Cruise and Holmes are presumably occupying during their stay, run 2,650 to 3,000 euro per night.

Hassler Hotel

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

Can’t get to Rome as soon as you’d like? Perhaps a silk scarf printed with a map of the city will tide you over. Okay, we know a scarf is a poor substitute for an adventure abroad, but one printed with your favorite city’s streets might lift your spirits the next time you’re jonesing for a getaway. Map Scarves are available in two sizes and two colors for the following cities:

London
Paris
Rome
Venice
Vienna
New York
Washington DC
San Francisco
Berlin

Map Scarves official site

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 recently opened Sixty Hotel, a project of the folks at Miss Sixty (yet another fashion foray into hotel entrepreneurship), enourages spying among guests in its 70s-inspired rooms. Webcams and video chat will allow guests to meet others staying at the hotel, while original art from Italian artists gives eye candy to those who’d rather just enjoy the comforts of their rooms. The hotel’s facade (pictured) is also worth mentioning. It’s almost like a uniform piece of Swiss cheese layed over the building’s front. Located in the hip Italian vacation destination Riccione, the design hotel is the first of four planned by the company.

Click the pic above 4 some shots of the hotel’s opening…

There was much oohing and ahhing - though apparently in a reserved British fashion - about Madonna’s unexpected visit to Rome’s Hotel de Russie last weekend. Seems the singer and her husband Guy Ritchie stopped into the hotel to enjoy a candlelit dinner at the hotel’s Le Jardin du Russie restaurant. But Madge, being the fabulous lady that she is, noticed a wedding reception taking place at the hotel and went to congratulate the quite surprised, but happy British couple and their guests. All went smoothly until the wedding reception DJ made the tacky tacky decision to put one of Madonna’s songs on - a move that reportedly irked the first lady of pop…

Madonna was in town to play a concert at the Olympic Stadium.

Madonna a Surprise Guest at Couple’s Wedding

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

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