Flamenco: Sevilla or Córdoba, Spain

Flamenco holds a special place in my heart since I spent a year living in it’s birthplace – I also stumbled my way through numerous classes and a live performance. The complex, joyful, and often sensual dance originated in Andalusia, the southern region of Spain. Made up of cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance), and palmas (claps), you may get lost in the performance itself. If you’re looking for a true experience, steer clear of the big clubs and instead find a hole-in-the-wall bar where you’ll find cheap nightly performances. In Sevilla, check out the Flamenco Dance Museum, and in Córdoba, don’t miss a performance at Tablao Flamenco Cardenal.

Tango: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Immerse yourself in the tango culture of Buenos Aires, where the dance art form originated, and go to a “tango house.” One of the oldest and most authentic is El Viejo Almacen, which holds a dinner and show combo ($140 per person). In June the whole city celebrates the anniversary of the death of Carlos Gardel (often referred to as The King of Tango) with tango demonstrations and displays across the city (don’t be surprised if you come across a sudden breakout of couples dancing in the streets at night). You can also visit Gardel’s former home, now a museum, for a tour.

Ballet: Paris, France

The birthday of French dancer and father of modern ballet, Jean-Georges Noverre, is commemorated every year with International Dance Day. He began dancing at a very young age and later on in his career moved to composing his own work. Nowadays, the Paris Opera Ballet, where Noverre introduce ballet d’action in 1776, is considered one of the best ballet companies in the world. Now, most ballets utilize this art form where the story is told through dance and pantomime. Book a performance with the company to get a taste of the amazing art.

Break Dance: New York City

Surprisingly, break dancing dates all the way back to the 1970s in New York City. Richard “Crazy Legs” Colon and Kenneth “Ken Swift” Gabbert, credited as b-boy pioneers, found inspiration for the dance from James Brown and many Kung-Fu films. Since the beginnings, the dance has spread across the world, but you can still find strong roots in the Big Apple – and you won’t have to try to hard to come across a performance. Board any subway (or walk through any large station like Union Square) and you’ll probably come close to tripping over a b-boy or girl. For a knock-your-socks off experience, take a trip out to 5 Pointz in Long Island City where you’ll witness some of the coolest gratti in the world along with heart-pounding break dancing performances.

New York
Ask a native New Yorker what they think the city’s signature scent is, and the answer is likely going to be unsavory. But you don’t have to spritz on Eau de Hot Garbage: Bond No. 9 is an entire fragrance collection that pays homage to the city that never sleeps. The collection includes scents for men and women inspired by favorite neighborhoods and landmarks (Central Park West, Bryant Park, and Little Italy to name a few), as well as scented candles, body washes, and lotions (prices vary).

Egypt
Egypt was the birthplace of perfumery, and so it’s and obvious choice for this list. Un Jardin Sur Le Nil (The Garden on The Nile) by Hermes is a unisex fragrance that smells of mangoes, lotus, and frankincense – reflecting the cool, refreshing atmosphere that banks the Nile River (from $90).

Paris
Perfume may have originated in ancient Egypt, but France was – and remains – one of the premiere perfume manufacturers in the world. Field Notes From Paris by Ineke brings to mind an autumn stroll through the city ($88), while Yves Saint Laurent’s Paris (from $65)  smells like the city of lights in the spring.

Japan
Ancient East Asian perfumes were based around incense. Today, Comme des Garcons’ Incense Kyoto isn’t far off with an earthy scent: The fragrance transports wearers to respected temples, where incense was burned to honor ancestors ($85). Taking its cue from the lush springtime blooms the country has to offer, Sake by Fresh combines notes of fruits and florals, such as white peach and lotus, to create a light and sweet mixture (from $38).

Scent of Departure
Can’t pick your favorite destination, you’re in luck. The Scent of Departure collection by Gerald Ghislain and Magali Senequier, allows travel lovers to traipse across the world, without leaving their vanity. The collection has 20 fragrances, each emulating a different location and embodying that city’s essence. Dubai, Milan, Seoul, and Munich are among the options, with a 50 ml bottle priced at $45. You may not be able to escape to your favorite cities on the regular, but at least you can smell like you do.

MORE from ShermansTravel:

Four travel-inspired perfumes to try

Need a laugh? Check out our (bad) travel jokes

Ski on fresh powder out West at major Colorado ski resorts like Breckenridge and Keystone, where individual condos through ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals start from just $119 per night. Most of Fairmont Hotels‘ 4-star properties throughout Canada offer rooms for 20 percent off this season, including the Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta, which sits at the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Not only can you ski at the nearby Marmot Basin, you can also enjoy ice skating, tobogganing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding.

Northeasterns can take a quick jaunt up to Vermont, with arguably the best skiing on the East Coast, and stay near major resorts for less, like the NorthStar Lodge in Killington from $129 per night, the Inn at Stratton Mountain from $79 per night, or the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe from $159 per night (valid February 3-7).

Not interested in hitting the slopes? Take a city getaway instead, like to the 4-star Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, which is only three blocks from the Windy City‘s famous Michigan Avenue, for $102 per night when you stay three nights or longer. Stay over Presidents Days Weekend for $139 per night on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, and for just $79 on Sunday. Or head to our nation’s capital, where you can explore dozens of free, indoor museums perfect for the chilly D.C. winters, and stay at the State Plaza Hotel downtown from $109 per night.

Finally, if you’re looking to go even farther away this winter, take advantage of low flights to Europe, with round-trip rates starting from a mere $740 to Barcelona (from $760 to Rome, and from $803 to Paris). Your passport – and your wallet – will thank you.

“It’s a cute campaign,” says Karen Fawcett, a 24-year Paris transplant and president of Bonjour Paris, an online guide to the French capital. “Do I think it will change people’s behavior? No.” The RATP conducted a poll to illustrate the need for such a campaign. According to the RATP survey results here are the habits that bothered Parisian commuters the most:

1. Loud cell phone users
Listening to a stranger’s disastrous date, in-law problems, or business woes is not the most pleasant way to start or end your day. Eighty-six percent of the survey participants deemed this to be the worst disruption on the metro. They’re not alone. Several cities like New York, Chicago, Sydney and Stockholm have introduced “quiet cars” to their transit system, where cell phones must be silenced. In Tokyo, cell phone usage in the subway is considered a social taboo. But, even they aren’t safe from the ill-mannered world that technology brings. Recently, Tokyo’s transit authority re-launched a courtesy campaign with posters of their own.

2. Seat hogs
It’s never pleasant to see bare feet in the subway – especially when they’re taking up a seat. The same goes for bags, jackets, or any other item that takes precedence over another person’s behind. Eighty percent of French commuters agree – although they limit their annoyance to those that leave their newspapers on their seats after they hop off. Unsurprisingly, seat hogging is a universal annoyance. The website SeatHogs.com says it all.

3. Eaters
Much like those who contribute to the seat hogs website, people have taken to the Internet expressing their discontent for “train pigs.” Whether someone’s snacking on a nacho beside you or your hand gets bound to the pole due to an unknown sticky substance, eating in close quarters can push passengers’ limits. For 73 percent of those surveyed, dining should be an above ground experience. In New York, the debate has become political. State Senator Bill Perkins proposed a bill banning food in the subway that would impose $250 fines on violators. Last year, an MTA board member also brought up the issue, citing the growing rat population, overall cleanliness in the cars, and train delays due to fires from trash on the tracks. Zurich has taken the completely opposite approach. The city’s trams offer dedicated cheese fondue and sushi rides.

4. Pushers
Like all modes of transportation there’s a predetermined “right of way.” It’s common knowledge to let those on the train get off before you get on. But in rush hour, packed trains and platforms create panic, and any sense of civility is subsequently lost. This was one of the largest frustrations for French travelers – 78 percent are fed up. These traffic jams are felt worldwide. To ease the flow, the Hong Kong metro has arrows on its platform floors to direct traffic when trains arrive.

5. Line stallers
Traffic flow issues aren’t limited to the platforms. Escalators and stairs are rife with commuters that walk slowly or stand stationary on the left-hand side of these steps This irks 75 percent of those surveyed. This unwritten rule even stands in London, where traffic is on the “wrong side” of the road. A recent story warns Olympic tourists traveling in the tube to stand on the right side and walk on the left.

See our Paris destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more travel deals.

Money belts have been around for decades, and travelers have relied on them to thwart pickpockets all around the world. Are these people – and in Quito, I was one of them – being smart or paranoid?  Petty crime happens almost everywhere. Certain cities, such as Rome, Paris, and Buenos Aires, have developed reputations for being rife with pickpockets. These thieves prey on tourists, especially those who announce to the world that they’re visitors by carrying large bags, donning souvenir shirts, and taking pictures of famous landmarks. Stop paying attention for just a moment and you could find that your wallet is no longer in your pocket.

Of course, money belts aren’t the only solution. Common sense goes a long way toward keeping your belongings from becoming someone else’s booty. I typically leave the majority of my wallet’s contents at home when I travel. I bring along my ATM card, one credit card, and some cash. I always carry a smaller travel wallet with me so that it’s less conspicuous. I don’t want to flash my belly to everyone at the market in order to access my cash, so I keep it in my front pocket and stash a little extra money back at the hotel.

For some travelers, however, peace of mind comes only from the knowledge that their money is closer to their bodies than two teenagers are allowed to be to each other at a school dance. So many people share this mindset that the choices of money belts now range from the basic, matronly model that I sported in South America to luxurious leather accessories that are so expensive, you’ll have little cash leftover to store inside of them. There are even bras and boxer shorts that conceal your belongings, if you want to combine your money belt with your undergarments.

Regardless of their style, these money belts are all built with the same purpose in mind: keeping someone else’s grubby mitts off of your cash. However, in these crazy technological times, pickpockets often take a backseat to savvier identity thieves. The evolution of criminals has created a need for more secure money belts – at least in the minds of people who swear by money belts.

That brings us to the latest advancement in wearable security: money belts that prevent thieves from scanning your credits cards and passports. There are no specially-lined money belts that prevent your documents from being accessed by criminals. They’re like foil hats for your identification.

Ultimately, is all of this security necessary? I know people who have had been pickpocketed, mugged, and violently separated from their purses. It’s unfortunate and traumatizing. Knock on wood, it’s never happened to me.

It’s impossible to say whether my money belt actually thwarted any would-be thieves. It’s possible that I was never even targeted. What is undeniable, however, is that nylon pressed against flesh creates sweat. I’ll take my chances with my pockets if it means keeping myself dry and comfortable.

What are your thoughts on money belts? How do you keep your cash and belongings secure when you travel? Share your stories in the comments.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, packages and more travel deals.

Le Discret by Hotel Lutetia
Hotel Lutetia, in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, is a relative newcomer to the blogosphere, starting its online tip sheet last February. Le Discret (the Discreet Person) posts helpful tidbits on what to see and do during your Paris stay, as well as where to eat and shop. Top tip: the Fromagerie Barthélémy in the 7th Arrondissement, a cheese shop with over 250 types of cheese that is frequented by notable Parisians like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Catherine Deneuve.

Secrets de Concierges by Hotel Le Bristol
Written by the staff of one of the city’s seven so-called palace hotels, Le Bristol’s Secrets de Concierges mainly updates readers on new and notable events and exhibitions. As a bonus, there’s a special section called “Fa-aron’s Diary” filled with pictures of Le Bristol’s resident chat asleep in various locations around the hotel. Top tip: a special exhibit of works by Berthe Morisot, one of the most famous female Impressionists, at the little-known Musée Marmottan in the 16th (on now through July 1).

Saint James Paris Blog
The city’s only chateau hotel does a fair share of bragging and self-promotion on its blog, but St. James Paris is also the spot to find reviews of the latest restaurant openings and a handy monthly round-up of what’s new in Paris called the Concierges’ Gazette. Top tip: Les Jalles, a restaurant featuring southwest French cuisine that opened April 2 in the 2nd Arrondissement near the Place Vendôme and offers a 42-euro prix-fixe lunch.

For general trip-planning information, see our Paris destination guide, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights, hotels, and vacation packages.

Mandarin Oriental The luxury brand opened its much-anticipated Parisian outpost in the First Arrondissement (a stone’s throw from the Louvre and the Garnier Opera) in June 2011. Two restaurants are helmed by Michelin-starred chef Theirry Marx. Rooms range in style and color schemes, but are all tres chic and come with humungous bathrooms. Rates from €795/night. www.mandarinoriental.com

Shangri-La Paris Originally built for Napolean’s grandnephew, Roland Bonaparte, in 1896, the hotel retains its mansion-like feel with all 61 rooms feeling more like Parisian pieds-à-terre. Many come with views of the Eiffel Tower. Rates start from €810/night. www.shangri-la.com

Saint James Paris The newly renovated chateau in the 16th Arrondissement (the only chateau in the city, for that matter) comes with 48 snazzy rooms reimagined by Philippe Starck and a new spa. Rates start from $436/night. www.saint-james-paris.com

The W Paris Opera The city’s first W will open on Valentine’s Day in the 2nd Arrondissement. 91 rooms will feature open bathrooms (with some cool LED lighting along the walls), high ceilings, and fun design details like mirrored headboards and funky chandeliers. Rates start from $537/night. www.wparisopera.com

For general trip-planning info, see our Paris Travel Guide.

Rather than renting a car, guests of the ultra-luxe hotel can escape the hustle and bustle of the city by boarding a private helicopter for the a 45-minute ride to Deauville. The town offers visitors boutique shopping, gambling at Casino Barriere, and sunny beachside strolls. After a day at the beach, jet back to Paris for a luxurious night at the five-star hotel.

The offer – valid until December 26, 2012, and priced at about $6,432 for an Executive Room – includes one night in a room or suite at Hotel Fouquet’s Barriere, transfer via car from the hotel to the Paris Heliport, round-trip helicopter transport to Deauville, and a beach picnic prepared by an award-winning chef. A VIP welcome and breakfast at the Hotel Fouquet’s Barriere is also included.

For more trip-planning information, see our France guide, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, cruises, and more travel deals.

Christened Jules et Jim after François Truffaut’s iconic New Wave ode to bohemian polyamory, the hotel is open to all, but specifically marketed our way. Sexy and seductive, it offers up subdued luxury with partners from Moët Hennessy Diageo, Kusmi tea, Supra, and various photo galleries – the entire entrance hall is one big art show – to craft an environment that feels both high-tech contemporary, yet comfortably classic. Its 23 rooms are divided between an 18th-century house turned duplex (“Jim”) and a more modern eight-story tower (“Jules”) with views out over the rooftops of the Marais and Sacré-Cœur. The two buildings surround two quiet cobblestone courtyards and bar: It’s sure to become a new hub for Parisian trendsetters.

Highlights include:

• Simple and sustainable decor: glass, stone, hewn lumber, Hi-Macs surfaces (a type of composite), and low lighting; fine linens, true soundproofing, and AC are all standard

• An outdoor fireplace for those brisk winter nights

• Free use of Wi-Fi and iPod docks

• Wines at the bar are limited to 10 red wines and five whites, to be both approachable and affordable; curated by Stéphane Derenoncourt of Terres Millésimées

• Relaxed service: Supra shoes and Lacoste polos are the only uniforms here

• Library features 150 works of literature, comics, and art books, all of which are available in French and English

• Breakfast served late, till 1pm: freshly squeezed fruit juice, tea and coffee, plus a buffet with traditional pastries, fresh Jean-Yves Bordier butters and yogurts, Alain Millat jams, seasonal fruits, and soft-boiled eggs

• Art gallery entrance hall in the reception area; a rotating photo gallery of provocative images will also be open to the public

• Kusmi teas and Maison Francis Kurkdjian candles (he’s of Gaultier’s Le Male) custom-crafted for the hotel

• Special arrangements for discounts at the nearby gym at Le Klay and private cruises on the Seine with Murano, an old Venetian water taxi

• Co-hoteliers Antoine Brault and Geoffroy Sciard emphasize special events throughout the year, such as live DJ sets, acoustic performances, and other art/music parties to keep the vibe lively yet exclusive

• Superb location: heart of Paris, and especially gay Paris, a 5-minute walk from the Centre Pompidou and 10 minutes from the Montorgueil area and City Hall

Price start at $234/night and run as high as $717/night. Visit www.hoteljulesetjim.com for more info.

Check out our Paris Travel Guide for more general travel info. Use our Travel Search flight comparison tool for the best travel deals to get you there.

Sahara Las Vegas (closed May 16)
One of Sin City’s last Rat Pack-era hotels has closed for good. The landmark casino-hotel held court on the northern Strip for 59 years. Scads of musical legends had graced its ballroom stage (Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Darin, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, and Liza Minnelli, to name a few).

Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya (closed June 6)
We know Mexico tourism has taken a beating these last few years, but is the Mandarin’s closing an upshot? The luxury beach resort had been enduring increasingly low occupancy rates. Perhaps there’s hope—the property’s website indicates that the hotel will re-open in due course. We shall see.

The Chelsea Hotel (closed in August)
The historic artist enclave was sold to developer Joseph Chetrit and closed in August, save for its 100 permanent residences. Future plans are vague but Chetrit intends to keep the Chelsea a hotel. Phew! We can only hope that the history-packed rooms retain their legendary rocker grit post renovations.

The Plaza’s Oak Room (closed in May)
The celebrity-loved Oak Room will no longer host its famously outrageous afternoon parties, thanks to a rent dispute between restaurant operators and hotel owners. No word yet of what will become of the historic space.

Ritz Paris (temporarily closing in summer for renovations)
The oh-so-fancy Parisian landmark is, in truth, not so ritzy at the moment. The old gal is looking a little tired and will close for two years this summer for an extensive refresh.