Hotels Are Investing Heavily in Amenities

"Bond, James Bond." Three little words meant to shake any worthy opponent to the core, and this fall, three little words Great Britain is banking on to drive tourism throughout the U.K. Friday, October 5th marked the 50th anniversary of everything 007 (it was the day Dr. No was released in 1962). The next Bond flick, Skyfall, hits theaters on November 9th, and Visit Britain has launched a new ad campaign featuring Bond-themed U.K. travel itineraries and an online interactive game, Agent U.K., where players participate in online missions and the winner is rewarded with a luxury trip to London. Already planning a trip to the U.K.? Visit Britain's website lists ways for Bond's biggest fans to dress, drive, dine, and vacation like their favorite secret agent. Fancy a climb on London's impressive Millenium Dome—where Pierce Brosnan ended his exciting opening sequence in The World is Not Enough? Want to don a fancy tuxedo and eat at the best restaurants in London, no problem. Ladies can Live Like a Bond Girl with a number of spa, fitness, and fashion itinerary ideas. (Personally, I love how they associate Diamonds are Forever with jewelry shopping suggestions.) Or if it's hotel accommodations worthy of the world's greatest secret agent you're after, try one of these super-high-tech hotels. Adrenaline junkies may want to try The Ultimate James Bond Experience, a scenic 50-minute cruise down the Thames to the Tower Bridge that ends with a high-speed ride that shows off the power of the boat's 245 horsepower engines—with 007's theme song playing in the background of course (adult tickets cost $57 per person for those over age 16, children ages 15 and under pay $33.50). Which 007 movie has you adjusting your travel bucket list? Sound off below!

Have you ever just wanted to drop everything and travel around the world? If you're starting to feel like you're stuck in a familiar nine-to-five rut, you may want to consider trading it for some serious travel time. On Tuesday, October 16, a nationwide event hosted by Meet Plan Go will help inspire you to take the leap and go for that dream trip you've always wanted to take, despite the seemingly unavoidable constraints of time and money. Seminars cost $20—tickets are available for purchase through their website—and will be held in ten cities around the United States, as well as in Toronto. You'll hear from speakers, who vary depending on the city, and range from travel bloggers to everyday people who found the strength to take a career break and want to encourage you to do the same. Matt Kepnes—aka. travel blogger Nomadic Matt—will speak at the Boston event this year, while Sherry Ott, co-founder of Meet Plan Go, will speak at the New York City seminar. Meet Plan Go, (MEET like-minded people, PLAN your career break travels, find inspiration to GO) was started by three friends—Sherry Ott, Michaela Potter, and Michael Bontempi—and provides inspirational stories and advice from people who have taken such "travel sabbaticals." The website is a great resource for anyone interested in the perks of long-term travel and how to go about leaving the nine-to-five life for one on the road. As far as the economy is concerned, the website writers suggest that now is as good a time as ever to go, whether you finally have time off as a result of losing a job or you can talk your company into letting you take a temporary leave, allowing you to return a better, more open-minded and well-rounded employee. Whether you're searching for your purpose, seeking to help your fellow man through volunteer work abroad, or have a strong desire to learn more about another culture, you'll find advice about how to break out from your comfort zone and figure out how to actually go for it. Here's the line up and information on seminar locations and times for 2012's event: Boston Elephant & Castle Pub, 161 Devonshire St. (between Franklin St. and Milk St.) Doors open at 6:15 p.m.New York CityHostelling International NYC, 891 Amsterdam Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m.MiamiHard Rock Cafe Miami, 401 Biscayne Blvd. Doors open at 7 p.m.ChicagoBar Louie River North, 333-335 N. Dearborn St. Doors open at 6 p.m.AustinAble's on the Lake, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.MinneapolisREI Bloomington, 750 W. American Blvd. Doors open at 6 p.m.SeattleHasOffers in Belltown, 2220 Western Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m.San FranciscoSports Basement, 1590 Bryant St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.San DiegoMoby Dick Fish Market & Grill, 4805 Convoy St. Doors open at 6 p.m.TorontoHard Rock Cafe, 279 Yonge St. Doors open at 6 p.m. We want to know: would you ever consider taking a travel sabbatical? Where would you go and what would you do during your time off? Sound off below!

In 2010, BT compiled a list of the eight wildest and wackiest restaurants around the globe—from a Taiwanese eatery that swaps chairs for toilets to a NYC spot where ninjas descend on diners spontaneously through the evening. We had a tough time imagining the restaurant world outdoing itself—but then we got a look at Cheapflight.com's ranking of the Top 10 Weirdest Restaurants in the world. Some of our picks caught their eye as well—the aforementioned Modern Toilet in Taipei, as well as franchise Dinner in the Sky (your meal is served over 160 feet high—al fresco, mind you—after being lifted with you into the air via crane), Volterra, Italy's Fortezza Medicea (where Tuscan fare is prepared and served by former convicts—then eaten alongside armed guards; + 39 058-886-099), and Ithaa, a gourmet restaurant located in an underwater tunnel 16 feet below sea level at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. But six other eateries are doing their part to raise the bizarre bar: Los Angeles–based Opaque features a pitch–black dining room and staff with visual impairments. Guests have raved about a heightened ability to taste Opaque's cuisine. Chongqing, China's A380 (+86 23 6753 6117) is likely to earn a few new fans on a travel blog. The interior is a replica of an Superjumbo airbus, with flight–attendant servers and airplane tray place settings. Haijime Robot Restaurant in Bangkok is staffed by—you guessed it—robots. But these aren't just any robots—the million–dollar, state–of–the–art androids bus and serve tables, take orders, and even bust a move now and then. No robot chefs yet—but we're sure they're working on it. Clink, found in Boston's Liberty Hotel, doesn't try to hide the fact that it's housed in a former jail—the bar is even called the Alibi. But instead of gruel, you'll find fresh, quality seafood interpreted in creative plates. Nuremberg, Germany is home to 's Baggers, a space–age, waiter–free experience outfitted with touch–screens, chutes, and conveyer belts that bring your schnitzel to you. The main course at Disaster Café (+ 972 36 02 50), located in Llloret del Mar, Spain? A simulated 7.8–magnitude earthquake. For an appetizer (or a milder alternative), diners can opt for the extraterrestrial dining room located upstairs. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL 12 Restaurants With Spectacular Views World's Weirdest Hotels A Few Appetizing Food Museums

Toronto's new breed of chef is sticking close to home, calling on centuries of Canadian culinary tradition. Take a cross-country trip—from the seafood shacks of Nova Scotia to the prairies of Alberta—without ever leaving the table. Acadia Those Cajuns didn't always live in the bayou. French-speaking settlers (Acadians) actually lived on the rocky shores of maritime Canada before they were expelled in 1755 by the British. Chef Matt Blondin invites them back above the border: His dishes dress North Atlantic seafood (like Yarmouth albacore or Northmberland Strait scallops) in the soulful flavors of the South (pickled watermelon rinds, chicken cracklings, and blackening spices). 50c Clinton St., acadiarestaurant.com, albacore $23 Bannock Named for a Scottish flat-bread that was adopted by indigenous people and settlers during 18th century fur trading days, Bannock opened last year in the flagship store of The Bay, retail brand of the Hudson's Bay Co. With a menu of comfort classics, the spot almost requires Canadian citizenship to catch all its nostalgic references. St.-Canut pulled pork tourtiere (meat pie), for instance, comes with a packet of Heinz ketchup, just like you'd find it in Quebec. 401 Bay St., oliverbonacini.com/bannock.aspx , tourtiere $16 Chantecler This "progressive Canadian" bistro takes its name from one of the nation's two heritage hen breeds. The bird shows up in Chef Jonathan Poon's signature consumme: More ph-like gem than sick-day snack, it's served with smoked breast and, appropriately, hen-of-the-woods mushrooms. Like the the multicultural city itself, the menu draws freely on Italian and Asian flavors. Gnocchi, for example, is topped with cod roe and red seaweed, harvested in New Brunswick. 1320 Queen St. W., restaurantchantecler.ca, gnocchi $13. Keriwa Café There's something exciting about a menu written all in English that still contains so many items you've never seen before: sea buckthorn, miner's lettuce, Saskatoon berries. Chef Aaron Joseph Bear Robe's "aboriginal-inspired" food pays homage to his youth in Alberta's Siksika Nation. Look for lots of rustic produce and that quintessential Great Plains protein-bison—in dishes like braised tail or tongue pemmican, a twist on a native Blackfoot staple. 1690 Queen St. W., keriwacafe.ca, bison tongue pemmican $15 SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: 10 Places You Would Rather Be on a Wednesday 15 Things You Didn't Know About Oktoberfest Airline Tweaks Baggage Policy After Too Many Complaints