The passengers from the flight that just landed wait at the baggage claim belt, watching one sad and lonely (yes, its looks like it’s sad and lonely) suitcase go round and round, and although everyone watches it closely as it pushes through the wide straps hanging in front of the door and circles by, it doesn’t seem belong to anyone. What flight did it come in on? What is its destination? A voice on the loud speaker announces what everyone is waiting for: “your luggage is coming out.” The passengers straighten up and get in position to leap like tigers towards the belt as soon as they catch a glimpse of the bags they checked in. You always end up asking the question: “Is that one mine? “No, that one’s mine. Excuse me, I need to get through please, that suitcase is mine.” You examine every one: big ones, small ones, canvas ones, hardback ones, backpacks, bags; black, red, pink, with Mickey Mouse smiling back at you.” The minutes tick by and the other passengers from the plane seem to all find their bags and head off. When they finally get their hands on it, something inside them relaxes and they start to breathe easier: “Phew, it didn’t get lost.” The remaining passengers still have to suffer a few minutes more, thinking: “please don’t let this be the start of a bad day…” Some suitcases look similar and some are even identical. That’s why everyone has their own little trick to recognise their own bags: maybe a small scratch on the side, a sticker or a ribbon on the handle. Finally, all the passengers from the flight that just landed head off in different directions, toting along their luggage behind them. One sad and lonely (yes, it looks sad and lonely) suitcase carries on going round in circles on the belt. Then suddenly it occurred to me: Has anyone ever seen a suitcase on one of these belts in some airport around the world, like the ones that were auctioned off a few days ago in London? They were exclusive models from the luxury brand, Louis Vuitton, designed by celebrities such as the chef Ferran Adriá, the photographer Anne Leibovitz or the artist Damien Hirts. The 495,000 pounds (549,450 euros) that were paid for then will be donated to a Red Cross aid programme in the fight against malnutrition. What will those suitcases get used for? Will their owners take them on a trip with them? Will they go round in circles on a baggage claim belt at some airport? Will a ribbon get tied to them so that they can be identified easier?

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, we have compiled a few recommendations for diabetes sufferers who are planning on taking a trip. There is no reason why a person with diabetes should not be able to travel anywhere in the world. That said, it is a good idea to visit your doctor before setting off on your trip. It is important to take with you everything you need for every day that you will be away, along with an extra prescription just in case. In order to avoid any misunderstandings at airports, we recommend taking a medical report with you, explaining why you need to take the required material onboard. In the United States, for example, you can simply show the labelled product, as it can only be sold at the chemist with a doctor’s prescription. Keep time differences in mind, due to the fact that, depending on whether you are travelling east or west, you may need to inject an extra dose or avoid taking one. Insulin will withstand travel, but keep an eye out if your destination is a place with high temperatures. In this case, you could take a small cooler or a special case for insulin to keep it cool. We recommend taking a small amount of food with you in case you need it, as well as wearing a bracelet or medallion that indicates that you are diabetic. In the event that you will be walking considerable distances, be sure to examine your feet everyday. Lastly, go to a doctor if you have any problems. And above all, have a wonderful trip!

On the occasion of the Agrotur Trade Fair held at the Feria de Cornellà Exhibition Centre, the newspaper “ Periodico de Cataluña” interviewed Enric Brufau, the director of this event. In times of crisis, the rural tourism industry is not only holding up, but it is even managing to continue growing. Enric Brufau believes that the crisis has caused travellers’ habits to shift. Now they opt for shorter stays in destinations that are closer to home, instead of going on long overseas trips. He also declared in the interview that sitting in front of a fireplace is an excellent therapy for relieving stress.
Quite a few years ago, rural tourism began to become an attractive option to consider when planning a holiday. At the beginning, this alternative popped up almost spontaneously and there were no regulations set up control it. Nowadays however, rural tourism is a sound alternative for travellers. Now that there is no more arguing about whether it’s time to put the heavy duvet on the bed, shall we sit in front the fireplace? Maybe we aren’t that stressed out or maybe we can’t get rid of all of it, but isn’t it worth it just to enjoy this moment?

This is what happens when celebrities start to blog.

Gywneth Paltrow, “A” list movie star and wife of Coldplay’s Chris Martin seems to have had enough of the being represented to the world by the tabloid media and has turned to the blogshere to share her tips on travelling, eating,  sustainability and relationships.

On Goop.com, the actress writes regularly about topics which she feels passionately about, giving an insight into her personality and life.

In addition, check out Gywneth’s own recommendations for hotels in London, Barcelona, Paris, New York and Los Angeles where she claims to have stayed.  If you can’t afford a room in these plush pads, then check out the Hotelopia website.

Plus read about her restaurant recommendations.  It’s also nice to see  one of her favourites, Wagamamas, is also mine.  This Asian chain restaurant  serves fantastic fusion food, although I’ve yet to spot her sharing a table with office workers and budget travellers.

Overall, Goop is not a bad read.  There’s some interesting stuff in here, which isn’t just targeted to other “A” listers with piles of cash.  But let’s just hope Gywneth writes Goop herself (and doesn’t have a team of blogsters to do the work for her).

For anyone who has ever dreamt of becoming the next great travel writer should check out a website just launched in the UK.

Simonseeks.com, which is the brainchild of Moneysupermarket.com founder Simon Nixon, invites travel writers to submit destination reviews from places they have visited.

Independently written articles or User Generated Content (USG) are nothing new in the travel industry (that’s what Trip Advisor is essentially about). However sites like this are becoming increasingly popular as travellers are looking for more information before they book a break.  For example you can read from thousands of independent hotel reviews made by customers before you book on www.hotelopia.co.uk.

Writers will receive a revenue share based on the amount of clicks made on their Simonseek’s articles and while there are no promises that writers will become internet millionaires, payment will surely provide a great incentive for users to contribute to the website.

If ever there was inspiration to travel the world, it’s right here.

This Youtube social media masterpiece is the handy work of one Seattle based video game designer who quit his job to dance his way (badly) around the world.

Since the video’s launch, it’s been viewed on various websites over 75million times, making him a bigger internet sensation than any of Britain’s Got Talent dancers.

Compressed into four minutes and 29 seconds of video mastery, take time out and follow Matt’s journey across 42 countries.

If this doesn’t tempt you to quit your boring desk job and see the world, then nothing will.

Madrid is one of Europe’s most exciting cities and during the month of June Spain’s capital positively buzzes with the onset of the summer.
Packed full of more tapas bars, cafes and restaurants than anywhere else in Spain, Madrid is also home to seemingly endless collection of art galleries, not to mention the jaw-dropping architecture.
But don’t just stick to the city centre. Head out to Chueca which is Madrid’s hippest district and now a centre for cool clothes shops and a sizzling nightlife.
Tempted? Then find out more from our customers’ recommendations for things to do in the city.