Top BIlling magazine asked a selection of writers, experts and commentators on their tips for living 'in good taste'... here are my few cents for travelling in good taste.

Travel with purpose: Don't just go on holiday, travel with an objective in mind. See your favourite band perform live. Dine at elBulli. Catch a glimpse of an endangered species. Gaze at a landscape under threat.

Take the train: The jury's still out on carbon offsetting, but you can keep your eco-footprint light by travelling by train when in Europe. You'll save some carbon, see the countryside and avoid wasting time in airports.

Croatia: It's the hottest destination in the Mediterranean right now. Get there before the Brits turn it into another Provence.

Be a locavore: Don't bother with mass-produced anonymous food while travelling. Seek out local markets and neighbourhood bistros for an authentic experience. Ask your hotelier where they would go for dinner.

All aboard: Cruising offers some of the best value-for-money in luxury travel. Small ships like Crystal Serenity, or the intimate Yachts of Seabourn, offer a five-star experience you won't forget in a hurry. 

Go nowhere: Without your Moleskine, the famous notebook used by Hemingway and Picasso. They're indispensable for jotting ideas, directions and 'must-sees'. The new City Notebooks include travel guide info along with space for your scribbles.

Praat die taal: Learning a few words of the local language should be step #2 after booking your ticket. Shouting in English won't get you as far as a friendly bonjour or bom dia.

Czech it out: Moravia offers some of the best wine touring on the continent. Enjoy all the romance of a European wine experience at a fraction of the cost. Stay at the chic Noem Arch Hotel.

The white stuff: Colombia may have had a bad rep as a dodgy destination, but the capital Bogota is tipped to become the new Buenos Aires, with its flourishing culinary scene and buzzing nightlife.

Stay at home. We're too quick to book a ticket to somewhere exotic. Set your sights closer to home and explore what millions of foreigners fly here to discover. Splash out on a five-star Kruger escape, hire a Harley and tour the Route 62 winelands or book a short-break to Cape Town/Jozi/Durban and hit the streets as a local tourist.

Appeared in Top Billing magazine, May 2010

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