Are reports of Mexico’s lawlessness and drug-related crimes an accurate portrait of the country? Is Mexico as dangerous as portrayed?

Certainly, what you hear about …

Feel like seeing some new destinations? TripAdvisor’s Travels’ Choice features emerging destinations for 2010. Here are our favorite 7 picks that you’ll want to check out…

With the start of a new year, many of us start anticipating (and planning) where we like to travel. Here are five hotspot destinations you’ll want to put on your travel radar. Our list contains three destinations identified by Tripadvisor Travelcast as up and comers, a “forbidden” and undiscovered locale, and of course, we’ve included a destination that has ample volunteer opportunities.
Patara, Turkey

With a 12-mile of golden sands backed by the dunes and the Taurus mountains and an abundance of Lycian and Roman ruins peeking out of the sand dunes, …

While traveling is a favored activity of leisure for many, it can also be a great deal of stress, especially for women. Here in the United States, there is an awareness to avoid behaviors that may be construed as harassment toward women. Unfortunately in some parts of the globe, women have been subjected to greater threats of harassment even if just trying to get from point A to B. This can be a major concern for women traveling alone, but from England to Iran and everywhere in between, women have …

Voluntourism may sound unappealing to some simply because it conjures up stereotypes of trips to undeveloped, amenities-deprived, third world country. For some it’s too much creature comforts to give up on a vacation even if they have altruistic intentions. For others, it’s too hardcore, especially for first timers who are looking to combine service and vacation.

The answer — hotel voluntourism — a soft introduction to voluntourism without having to sacrifice vacation amenities. The Ritz Carlton, an early entrant through its “Give Back Getaway” program, offers volunteer vacation packages at …