Mobissimo

Introducing our inaugural Cities of The World Title Fight, this week featuring New York vs. Paris. Two juggernauts of travel duking it out mano a mano in the search engine wars to see which city has more links on the web. And the winner? New York by a mile. Not even close. This was like Tyson vs. Michael Spinks. Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston. A beat down. KO in the first round. Tune in next week, for San Francisco vs. Madrid. Until next week Mobi Fight Fans...Via GoogleFight.com.

Sydney Harbor is one of the most beautiful in the world. A truly remarkable environment that is urban, yet still retains a very natural feel. While a boat tour would be ideal, the means may not be so easily procured, therefore what better way than by your very own feet.

Sydney -- You have to hand it to Mrs. Macquarie. The old gal had a fine eye for scenery. Walk along the shore of Woolloomooloo Bay past the lush and leafy Royal Botanic Gardens, and eventually you'll come to an enormous seat carved into the sandstone point that juts out into Sydney Harbour. It's officially called Mrs. Macquarie's Chair.

The Harbor Bridge Climb, the walk from Spit Bridge to Manly, the number of walks are endless. Of course these walks are just one of the myriad of things you can do in Sydney, but some days you may just want to take it easy and stroll a bit - and now you know where.

Those of you who read the MobiBlog and subscribe to the MobiNews newsletter, know that I have a particular fondness for Brasil. I have had some of the most incredible times there with someone very special. Brasil is truly a country that cannot be appreciated in one trip, even five. I've been there numerous times and haven't even scratched the surface of what Brasil has to offer. NY Times Travel seems to share my love and has published many articles about each part individually, as taking Brasil as a whole is virtually impossible. The latest is about Manaus and the Amazon.

YOU could call Manaus the anti-Rome. No roads lead to this Amazonian capital, unless you happen to be coming into Brazil from southern Venezuela. The only impressive buildings were built practically in a day, during the short-lived rubber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And pizza? Sure, they have it, but topped with tropical fruits like tucumã or cupuaçu and served with packets of mayonnaise.

I've haven't been yet, but I know I'm going to go soon. Tickets on Mobissimo run around $975 from New York to Manaus. So yes, the ticket is a bit steep, but once you go, your expenses will be kept to a minimum.

For impeccable coverage of Brasil, please check the following articles on the NY Times: the high life and luxury travel in São Paulo, a beach coast trip along the NorthEast coast of Brasil, and of course, the craziness of Rio.

If you've been reading about the growing controversy about this ad, you'll be puzzled what the big deal is after watching it. Or am I just jaded and desensitized from watching too much television?

Now that the Canadians have joined the Brits in objecting to Tourism Australia’s “Where the bloody hell are you?” campaign, and the U.S.-based American Family Association is poised to make its concerns known, Australians are asking themselves, “Is the ‘bloody hell’ ad campaign a growing embarrassment for Australia? Or is it the greatest marketing ploy of all time?” The comments are flowing on both sides at the Sydney Morning Herald news blog.

Read the article here and watch the video below.

Unfortunately, we have turned the corner, April signifies the entrance into the high season for airfare and the prices reflect this. Sigh* Prices higher for most all destinations, except Panama City, which is a great destination. Perhaps now is the time to discover why Manuel Noriega loved this country so - perhaps the lax banking laws and well maintained infra-structure for smuggling. Nice.

For flights departing 04/06 returning 04/14

T&L has an interesting list for their annual design awards including:

• Public Space - TERMINAL T4, MADRID BARAJAS INTL AIRPORT
• Small Hotel - BÁSICO, PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO
• Large Hotel - PUERTA AMÉRICA, MADRID
• Shoe -ADIDAS TO GO SHOE
• Museum -DE YOUNG, SAN FRANCISCO
• Cultural Space -MEMORIAL TO THE MURDERED JEWS OF EUROPE, BERLIN
• Packing System - FLIGHT 001
• Electronics - APPLE IPOD NANO
• Restaurant - MIX, LAS VEGAS
• Retail Space -VIKTOR & ROLF, MILAN
• Watch -JACOB & CO.'S THE WORLD IS YOURS
• Resort -AMANBAGH, RAJASTHAN, INDIA
• Spa -COMO SHAMBHALA ESTATE, BALI
• Gadget -TUMI ADAPTOR
• Clothing -ALLEGRI JACKET

Stop, we're blushing. Mobissimo was voted to Forbes' Best of the Web list for travel sites as one of the 12 essential travel website on the web. Forza Mobissimo!

Italian for "the most mobile," Mobissimo is a travel search site with an international flare. This is where you'll find the best deals on flights to Europe and Asia. It's also a pretty slick search site for domestic flights, hotels and car rentals.

Read the complete aricle on Forbes.

We're heading into fall for South America, and that means cheaper fares, these are among the cheapest fares (as a whole) since we started the Latin America FareIndex. Lots, and I mean lots, of bright spots, Rio (GIG) for $841 is a good price, Santiago (SCL) for $764 is a great price, Mexico City (DF) (MEX) at $362. Head down, it's all good.

For flights departing 03/27 returning 04/02