Cherry Blossom Girl Paris Guide

http://www.thecherryblossomgirl.com/paris-guide/

London stuff

http://www.chicandcharming.com/2007/10/london-calling.html - London stuff!

Lesser-known things to do in London

http://galadarling.com/article/old-london-town

Two Paris Travel Links

The Budget Fashionista presents budget travel tips for Paris.

Some fun ideas for things to do in Paris.

A Guide to Melbourne, courtesy of galadarling.com

Melbourne can be a difficult city for visitors. While the main streets are obvious to everyone, they’re not where the really interesting things are. Melbourne requires a bit of effort — think of it as a treasure hunt. Go into weird alleyways, peer into arcades, allow yourself time to wander through & really experience the place.

To read Galadarling's tips for shopping, eating, drinking, and other activities in Melbourne, click here. Also, a shop that I want to go to there is profiled here.

Shanghai

One Website

http://www.world66.com/ - Has pretty detailed travel guides for lots of cities, along with some other, more unique, features.

Last Minute Travel Deals (taken from a CG! spring break article)

On a budget? Hire a travel agent. They can customize a trip based on your budget. They can do a better job meeting your specific needs than any website., and they usually have a few tricks up their sleeves. Suggestions for student travelers:
Student Travel Services: 800-648-4849
StudentCity.com: 888-777-4642
StudentUniverse: 800-272-9676
STA Travel: 800-781-4040

Procrastinator? Go online for last-minute deals and steals. When companies that offer packaged trips have vacancies, they often use consolidator sites to sell leftover spots for cheap. 2-3 weeks before you plan to go away, start looking at sites like 11thhourvacations.com, lastminutetravel.com, and bestfares.com. for good package deals. Don't wait too long to confirm, though, because things can disapear quickly.

Up for anything? If you're willing to go anywhere, try an auction site. They are simillar to last-minute sites, but they have the added fun of bidding. First, scan through sites like priceline.com or hotwire.com to see what's being offered, and decide what kind of trip you're looking for. Then research the going rate for the same kind of trip on a regular, nonauction travel site, like orbitz.com. This will give you an idea of how much to bid. Go back to the auction site and place a bid that is 20%-40% less than the regular price. Be aware: You won't be able to see some details, like what airline you're flying on, until after you've won.

A Last-Minute Idea: A roadtrip is always fun. Just pick a direction and drive. Find ideas on roadtripusa.com and roadtripamerica.com

Volunteer Vacations: For ideas, check out crossculturalsolutions.com, globeaware.org, globalvolunteers.org, and unitedplanet.org.

P.S. Wherever you end up, check out the visitors bureau for discount coupons for local attractions.

Tokyo Tips (Jane Magazine)

The truth is, you can wander around any part of Tokyo and it will blow your mind. But here are a few helpful hints and especially fun things to get with. And don't worry, the subway system may seem really confusing, but everything is also written in English and easy to navigate.
First off, book a room at the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu (tokyUhotels.co.jp) in trendy Shibuya. The hotel is dirt-cheap and located right in the center of this beyond-fun district. During the day, hit the intense, music-and-light-fueled department stores. At night, everything blindingly turns on. Buy a can of beer at one of the many convenience stores, then stroll around on the streets and people-watch. The kids have MAD style there. Duck into a karaoke joint, or get some inexpensive sake and sushi (look for a place that serves the dishes on a conveyor belt).
Also, you must, MUST go shop at Harajuku. There are a million cool places there, but here's a secret: When you exit the train, hang a right into the underground flea market. The prices there are the best on the street. (And say "hi" to the designer Harajuku Annie for me.) When you surface and go back to the main road, just explore. There are shops for every style, but I personally thought the goth stores were the most exciting, for cool interior design and unique wares.
Last but not least, check out the Sensoji temple in Asakusa. It's a bit of a tourist trap, but the shrine itself is breathtaking. While you're there, drink sacred water, inhale holy incense and be sure to get your fortune told.