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If you’re planning on eating out for a special occasion in Sydney then the Pier Restaurant in Rose Bay is the place to go. The Pier just picked up the award as the Restaurant of the Year in the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Awards, which are usually a good indication of a great place for a meal.

In Australia, especially along the coast, eating seafood is a must, and the seafood at the Pier is always fresh and superbly cooked. They even have specially trained fishermen providing them with the fish they need, caught and killed in the prescribed way so that they’ll taste freshest and best!

For travelers continuing around Australia, the top rated restaurant in Melbourne in this year’s awards is the Vue de Monde; in Brisbane, it’s E’cco and in Australia’s capital, Canberra, it’s Artespresso. While many people ask what typical Australian cuisine really is, the country is such a melting pot of cultures and foods that there’s no easy answer, other than to try these top restaurants for yourself and see what’s on the menu. But one tip: fresh seafood eaten anywhere along the Australian coast while looking over one of their magnificent beaches surely tastes better than most seafood in the rest of the world.

Are you the kind of traveler who just loves to experience all the joys of the local food when you reach a new destination? A recent Forbes report looked at some of the best cities around the world for foodies, and I have to agree with most of their recommendations.

Top of the list was Paris, which obviously beats the world hands down when it comes to French food, but also has enough of an international flair to keep the taste buds keen when you’ve exhausted the local cuisine. France also has the advantage of being home to delicious wine and cheese products, for example, which surely gives the local flavors a big boost.

Another hot spot for food lovers was New York City, largely because of the incredible variety of cuisines available there. The good side of New York is there are also numerous restaurants that don’t cost a fortune, whichever style of food you have a craving for. London also featured near the top of the list, for similar reasons - but usually not for the local British food, unless you’re after a good English breakfast.

Finally, Singapore is also considered a top foodie destination, and while I’ve often enjoyed cheap, Asian-influenced meals there, I’d never have thought to try a French meal there or expect perfect pastries at a breakfast, but apparently it’s all available. I guess I need to plan a new trip to test that theory out.

You’d swear you were in a lavish Hong Kong resort – stunning lake and fountain views, fine French wines, sparkling chandeliers, fresh flowers…but you’re actually inside the famed Las Vegas Bellagio hotel.

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The Shangri La is a stunning collection of Islamic art, housed in the house built by Doris Duke in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1937.

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When traveling you will face many choices when deciding where and what to eat. If you are at a resort that hosts its own restaurants and snack areas you can usually be safe with standard food fare like sandwiches, salads, fruits and vegetables. Hotels love to have buffets for its guests, just be careful with those choices - the food tends to sit out for long periods of time. Avoid salads that contain mayonnaise or dressing that looks unfamiliar. Stick with salads and veggies here. Meats should look fully cooked and fresh - avoid anything drenched in heavy gravy.

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