Airplane crashes are fearful for almost everyone, even when they aren’t generally afraid of flying. It’s generally assumed if a plane goes down, there is little chance for survival.

Airlines in America and Europe tend to be safer than those in other countries around the world, partly due to the strict regulations imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Commission.

These standards have led both entities to ban airlines from certain countries that don’t meet these stringent safety standards.

Still, when you’re trying to catch a cheap flight while traveling from small country to small country, you may be inclined to take an airline that isn’t so high on the safety list.

Before you do that, check out this list of 8 of themost dangerous airlines in the world:

1) Garuda Airlines

Garuda Airlines was banned by the EU in 2007, but continued to fly in and out of Australia. Photo by Deanster1983.

Banned by the EU in 2007, the Australian government had to decide whether or not they would continue to let Garuda Airlines fly from Australia to Bali and Jakarta following a devastating crash.

Australian politicians urged the Indonesian government to file criminal charges against the pilots who ignored 15 alerts before the March 2007 crash.

Another incident occurred in May 2008 where Garuda pilots refused to listen to the control tower and landed on a closed runway that construction workers were fixing. Later that year, they had another issue with flying too low before reaching the runway.

2) Ariana Airlines

Ariana is often referred to as “Scariana.” Photo by spotterjohnsen.

Even though you probably won’t be flying in or out of Afghanistan anytime soon, in case you do, Ariana Airlines – often referred to as “Scariana” – is probably not the way you want to go.

According to Robert Young Pelton at National Geographic, the “ancient 727s” usually have half the seats missing, and there are more planes crashing than flying in the air.

3) Kazak Airlines

Kazak Airlines was part of the worst midair collision in history. Photo by karrikas.

The EU also blacklisted all but one of the airlines from Kazakhstan (best known for its central theme in the Borat movies) in 2009, including Kazak Airlines.

This may have a little something to do with the fact that Kazak Airlines was part of the worst midair collision of all time in 1996.

It struck a Saudi Arabian jumbo jet whilst approaching New Dehli airport, killing all 351 passengers on-board. This was due to the plane being nearly 1,000 feet below the altitude it was instructed to be at by Indian air traffic controllers.

4) Sudan Airways

Sudan Airways experienced a tragedy in 2008 where 23 people died. Photo by Deanster1983.

Call it bad luck, but when a passenger plane bursts into flames, the image of an airline becomes permanently tarnished.

This is what happened to Sudan Airways in 2008 when the engine caught fire whilst taxi-ing on the runway. 23 people died and 53 people were never found.

The International Civil Aviation Organization reported in October 2008 that 21 major accidents hadoccurredto Sudan airline operators over the past 5 years, with Sudan Airways featuring on the list.

5) Cubana Airlines

Cubana Airlines could hold the worst safety record in the world. Photo by hellosputnik.

Between 1985 and 2009, Cubana Airlines had eight accidents that included fatalities.

This, according to several sources, means the airline holds the worst safety record in the world. Still, the amount of crashes/accidents doesn’t paint the full picture, since safety records also depend on how many flights have occurred and how many people have flown.

The “Adjusted Fatal Event” score, which adjusts the number of air crashes depending on the percentage of passengers that died in them, for Cubana Airlines is 5.23. American Airlines is4.04.

6) Iran Air

Iran Air has issues with updating their planes due in part to US sanctions. Photo by Daniel Garca Peris.

Three of the four accidents that occurred with old Russian Tupolev Tu-154 planes in Iran in the last 16 years happened on Iran Air.

In 1993, 132 people died in a collision with another plane; 2002 brought 118 deaths as a plane crashed into the side of a mountain during stormy weather; 28 passengers died into 2006 when a plane burst into flames after landing.

Iranian officials blame US sanctions for their inability to purchase new planes and parts to properly fix older planes.

7) Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines has been banned in both the US and the EU. Photo by contri.

In 2008, all of the Philippine airline operations were downgraded to a Category 2 rating by the US Federal Aviation Administration due to “serious concerns” about the oversight of their operations.

This meant that none of the airlines from the Philippines were allowed to fly into the US.

The only airline this restriction really impacted was Philippine Airlines, as they were the only airline previously flying into the States. They were also impacted by the EU ban put in place in 2010.

Any airline out of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Flying regional planes in the Congo is not recommended. Photo byJulien Harneis.

As you can see in this report, 34 of the airlines from the DRC are banned from flying into Europe. It is generally not recommended to fly any local plane in or out of the region.

What’s the worst airline you’ve ever flown with? Let me know in the comments.

If you liked this, you might also like: Aircraft Safety: Man vs Machine by Captain Alan Price.

Main image: Plane crashes don’t happen as often as car accidents, but they often seem much deadlier. Photo by walkinguphills.

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, was named the top hotel in the world.
Charleston, South Carolina grabs the number one spot in Top Cities in the U.S.
After only two years since the grand opening, Chicagos Elysian Hotel is named top hotel in the U.S.
Despite a tough year for Japan, Kyoto claims title as Asias top city for the first time.

Top Cities: United States

1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. San Francisco
3. Santa Fe

Top Cities: Europe

1. Florence
2. Barcelona
3. Rome

Top Cities: Asia

1. Kyoto
2. Bangkok
3. Hong Kong

Top Cities: Africa/Middle East

1. Cape Town
2. Beirut
3. Byblos, Lebanon

Top Cities: Canada

1. Quebec City
2. Vancouver
3. Victoria, British Columbia

Top Cities: Oceania

1. Sydney
2. Queenstown, New Zealand
3. Melbourne

Top Cities: Mexico

1. San Miguel de Allende
2. Oaxaca
3. Mrida

Top Cities: Central/South America

1. Buenos Aires
2. Cuzco
3. Antigua de Guatemala

Top Islands: Caribbean/Atlantic

1. Bermuda
2. St. John
3. Nevis

Top Islands: Oceania

1. Bora Bora
2. Great Barrier Reef
3. Moorea

Top Islands: Asia

1. Maldives
2. Bali
3. Phuket

Top Islands: United States

1. Maui
2. Kauai
3. Kiawah, South Carolina

Top Islands: Europe

1. Bozcaada and the Turkish Aegean Islands
2. Mykonos and the Cyclades
3. Madeira
3. Mallorca and the Balearics

Top Resorts: Asia

1. Ayana Resort & Spa, Bali
2. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
3. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai
3. Oberoi Vanyavilas, Rajasthan

Top Resorts: Mexico

1. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos
2. Rancho La Puerta, Tecate
3. The Tides, Riviera Maya

Top Resorts: Africa

1. Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh
1. Safari Lodges at Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
3. Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp, Tanzania

Top Resorts: Europe

1. Hotel Caesar Augustus, Capri
2. Perivolas, Santorini
3. Park Hotel Kenmare, County Kerry

Top Resorts: Hawaii

1. Travaasa Hana (formerly Hotel Hana-Maui)
2. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
3. Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk

Top Resorts: Atlantic

1. The Reefs, Bermuda
2. Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos
3. One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas

Top Resorts: Middle East

1. Burj Al Arab, Dubai
2. Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
3. Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

Top Resorts: Oceania

1. Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand
2. Four Seasons, Bora Bora
3. Le Tahaa Island Resort & Spa, French Polynesia

Top Resorts: Mainland U.S.

1. Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Coast, California
2. Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain, Avon, Colorado
3. Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina

Top Small Resorts: Mainland U.S.

1.Keswick Hall at Monticello, Virginia
2.Mii Amo, Sedona
3.Amangani, Jackson Hole

Top Resorts: Canada

1. King Pacific Lodge (Rosewood), British Columbia
2. Emerald Lake Lodge, British Columbia
3. Long Beach Lodge Resort, Vancouver Island

Top Resorts: Caribbean

1. Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis
2. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
3. Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia

Top Resorts: Central/South America

1. Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay
2. Xandari Resort & Spa, Costa Rica
3. Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort, Belize

Top Cruise Lines: Small-Ship Lines

1.Seabourn
2.Silversea
3.Windstar

Top Cruise Lines: Medium-Ship Lines

1. Crystal Cruises
2. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
3. Disney

Top Cruise Lines: Large-Ship Lines

1. Celebrity
2. Princess
3. Royal Caribbean

Top Cruise Lines: River Cruises

1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
2. Grand Circle Travel
3. Viking River Cruises

Top Foreign Airlines

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Virgin Atlantic
3. Emirates

Top U.S. Airlines

1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Hawaiian Airlines

Top Small Airlines

1. OpenSkies
2. Porter Airlines
3. Air Tahiti Nui

Top Hotels: Southern Europe

1. Htel de Paris, Monte Carlo
2. Il San Pietro di Positano, Italy
3. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Top Hotels: Northern Europe

1. Mandarin Oriental, Prague
2. Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne
3. Regent Berlin

Top Small Hotels: Europe

1.Palazzo Sasso, Ravello
2.Chteau de La Chvre d’Or, Cte dAzur
3.Villa San Michele, Fiesole, Tuscany

Top Hotels: Central America

1. Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica
2. Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua Guatemala
3. Inn at Roberts Grove, Belize

Top Hotels: Oceania

1. Observatory Hotel, Sydney
2. Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay
3. The Langham, Auckland
3. Westin Sydney

Top Hotels: British Isles

1.Culloden House, Inverness, Scotland
2.Chewton Glen, Hampshire
3.The Halkin, London

Top Hotels: Caribbean/Atlantic

1. Peninsula House, Dominican Republic
2. The Caves, Jamaica
3. Eden Rock, St. Barts

Top Hotels: Asia

1. Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
2. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
3. The Peninsula, Tokyo

Top Hotels: Africa

1. Steenberg Hotel, Cape Town
2. The Saxon, Johannesburg
3. Cape Grace, Cape Town

Top Hotels: Canada

1. Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa, Cambridge, Ontario
2. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
3. Htel Nelligan, Montreal

Top Hotels: Mexico

1. Las Maanitas, Cuernavaca
2. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo
3. Casa de Sierra Nevada, San Miguel de Allende

Top Hotels: United States

1. Elysian Hotel, Chicago
2. 21c Museum Hotel, Louisville
3. The Peninsula, Chicago

Top Small Hotels: United States

1.Colonial Houses, Williamsburg, Virginia
2.Fairbanks House, Amelia Island
3.Fearrington House Inn, Pittsboro, North Carolina

Top Hotels: South America

1. Hotel Fasano, So Paolo
2. Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires
3. Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt, Buenos Aires

Top Hotels: Middle East

1. Park Hyatt Dubai
2. Al Faisaliah Hotel (Rosewood), Riyadh
3. Four Seasons, Doha

The results of the Cond Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2011 are in… is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The weather doesnt seem to be able to make up its mind what to do, weve had a combination of 29 degree temperatures swiftly followed by howling gales, pouring rain and hail storms in the last five days here in the North West of the UK. Normally by October the central heating has been on for a few weeks so I suppose we should be thankful!

If, like many people, you are looking for a late season escape, you are probably weighing up where youll be able to find more reliable weather for travel in October and November.

It kind of goes without saying that the Middle East is always a safe bet to catch some rays. Many of our customers like to travel at this time of year, as youll be looking at 30 degrees rather than 35 or 40, and in December the average temperature is closer to 26 degrees in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. The perfect weather for sun bathing.

Tropical countries like Thailand and Indonesia always represent good choices for warmth, their temperatures rarely if ever drop below 30 degrees, although the very nature of their climate is that you will have rainfall at this time of year. Youll often find that rainfall there is intense but arrives in short bursts and quickly makes way for clear skies soon after. Dont make the mistake I did and presume initial cloud cover means you wont need sun cream!

December is a great month to visit the islands of the Caribbean, with the hurricane season officially ending on 30th November. Temperatures remain around the 30 degrees mark all year round, but if you are to visit between the months of December and May then your chances of better weather will be increased.

Closer to home yet away from the Euro zone, Egypt offers a haven for holidaymakers to get value for money and reliable winter sun ranging from an average of 29 degrees in Sharm el Sheikh to an imposing 38 degrees in Aswan in October. The average temperature in Sharm drops by about 5 degrees in November and then again in December to around 21 degrees. Still nice!

One of my colleagues has today returned from two weeks in Mauritius, and theres little need to check my weather charts one look at her will tell you that the weather was great!

Carole Booth is Commercial Director atDestinology.

If you would like to be a guest blogger onA Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, pleasecontact us.

Disappear to a warmer climate is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The Joule – home to Dallas’ finest collections of modern art is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Disclaimer: don’t try this at home (or in a hotel)…

Cooking breakfast in your hotel room is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Between July and October the great herds arrive in the Masai Mara in Kenya. When they start to deplete the grasses, they move south again towards the Serengeti where they start to arrive in November and December. This is an epic 1,800 mile journey, where these animals follow the food flow in a clockwise direction.

When the animals commence their great migration, more than 1.8 million wildebeest congregate with more than 200,000 zebras, 500,000 Thomson’s Gazelles and more than 100,000 other animals including large quantities of the small deer including dik dik and impala. They are closely watched by the marauding predators that include lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas.

This African army is equivalent to the human army gathered by the Nazis for the invasion of the Soviet Union – codenamed Barbarossa – on 22nd June 1941. This was the biggest gathering in human history with more than 4.5 million soldiers from the seven Axis armies of Germany, Italy, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia and Romania. They had a journey of more than 1,800 miles in front of them. They were also accompanied by 600,000 mechanized vehicles and 250,000 horses. They were opposed by the Soviet army of more 3.9 million soldiers.

The great African army is also faced by formidable foes. In their invasion of Masai Mara in Kenya they are opposed by the tank battalions of crocodiles who lie in wait in the Grumeti and Mara Rivers. To oppose this enemy, the wildebeest use Blitzkrieg tactics, amassing in huge numbers, before launching a lightening strike to cross the river in huge numbers. The crocodile tanks await the invasion, coolly spotting the weaker wildebeest and zebra while in the water and rapidly closing in on their chosen victims, attacking them and pulling them away to slowly drown them, then crunching them with their big jaws.

No enemy can deal with this African army head on; rather, they attack the weak and vulnerable, and normally older and younger soldiers on their flanks. When the huge herds of wildebeest and zebra are in migration, they are closely watched by lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas who engage in guerrilla tactics, attacking the herds from their sides and flanks, picking on the smaller and weaker elements, before retiring with their prey.

The African army does suffer serious casualties en route, and it is estimated that at least 250,000 wildebeest die in the great migration. However, the casualties they suffer are nothing compared to those suffered on both sides in the Barbarossa operation. Operation Barbarossa was the largest military operation in human history in terms of both manpower and casualties. It is estimated than more 850,000 German forces were killed or injured in Operation Barbarossa, but the Soviet side suffered losses running into many millions.

The Nazis invaded Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union to seek Lebensraum (living space) for the growing German peoples, and also to seize and control the wheat fields of the Ukraine and the Caucasian oil fields to supply its motorized army. The African army seeks new grazing fields, but its logistical supplies are always in front of it, thus ensuring its success.

Operation Barbarossa become the site of some the largest battles, most deadly atrocities, the highest casualties, and the most barbaric acts of human activity in the history of warfare. All of these were to vitally influence the course of World War II and the history of the world.

In contrast, the African army goes about its great migration with a solid determination and great dignity which maintains the delicate balances between the different species which make up this splendid army. In its own way, this army has had its own decisive influence on world history, which has achieved recognition by it being designated as one of the ten natural wonders of the natural world. There is certainly much that the human race could learn from the great African army, and should we ever spoil, sabotage or destroy this army, this would surely be one of the biggest atrocities committed by humans in any war.

Recent wars in Africa have not had happy endings, and record a catalogue of shame and disaster. The sight of most African armies in recent years has brought horror and dread to the population, and spread terror and fear wherever they have gone. But Africa can feel especially proud of this African army from the Serengeti. It is an awesome, proud and successful army, and provides one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles, as well as preserving the freedom and integrity of all the animals that grace the plains of the Serengeti. This animal army brings wonder, excitement, splendour and a heart warming feeling to all those who have had the privilege to witness in action the greatest army of them all.

Gerard Moxon is Founder ofLuxury Hedonist.

If you would like to be a guest blogger onA Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, pleasecontact us.

The Serengeti, home to the greatest army of them all is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

According to the survey, the most expensive hotel is the Maia Luxury Resort & Spa located in Anse Louis in the Seychelles. Here, a night in a standard double room will cost you $2455. For that price, you not only get a room with a separate living space. In addition, you can plunge into a private infinity pool (one for each villa), and moreover, take advantage of a 24-hour private butler service. What else could you ask for?

If thats a little expensive for you, here are the rest of the top 10:

1. Maia Luxury Resort & Spa (Anse Louis, Seychelles) $2455
2. Hotel Pitrizza (Porto Cervo, Italy) $2335
3. Royal Mansour (Marrakech, Morocco) $2327
4. Hotel Cala di Volpe (Porto Cervo, Italy) $2286
5. Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa (Lithgow, Austalia) $2119
6. Hotel Romazzino (Porto Cervo, Italy) $2115
7. La Rserve (Ramatuelle, France) $2112
8. Jumeirah Dhevanafushi (Maldives) $2106
9. Saffire Freycinet (Coles Bay, Australia) $1576
10. Gora Kadan (Gora, Japan) $1459

Rankings were based on the average price of a standard double room in the period from June through August 2011.

The world’s most expensive hotel is in the Seychelles is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Cruising is a fantastic method of seeing several fantastic destinations on one holiday, and when you consider the fact that your board, food and drink (and sometimes flights) are included in the initial price, cruising really is quite reasonable!

During your cruise, youll dock in several different ports, and depending on what you want from your holiday, you can either go it alone, or choose to take an excursion provided by the Cruise Line.

There are some fantastic ports around the world that are just a stones-throw away from a great city. Heres a round-up of some of the best:

1. New York, USA

In a recent poll, British cruisers voted New York to be their favourite cruise port destination. And its no surprise considering the massive number of iconic landmarks packed into one busy metropolis.In just one day, you can see the Statue of Liberty, climb the Empire State Building, visit Times Square, stroll through Central Park and go shopping on Fifth Avenue. There arent too many cities that can offer that!New York also boasts a host of fabulous restaurants, art galleries and museums such as the Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.One thing is for certain, if you plan your short stay in New York well, you will have plenty to talk about by the time you get back on your cruise ship!

2. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman is not a perfect port. For one, you cant dock directly at the port and will therefore have to tender to shore. However, its from this port that you can enjoy one of the most unforgettable, once in a lifetime excursions Stingray City.Situated about 2 miles off-shore is a shallow sandbar that is frequented by hundreds of stingrays looking for an easy meal. Visitors can enter the water and spend time with these amazingly friendly animals, feed them by hand and pet them as if they were little puppies.Although there isnt a great deal to see on the rest of Grand Cayman, this excursion merits its place on this list all by its own.

3. Venice, Italy

Dubbed one of the most romantic cities in the World, Venice is a must-see whether youre with a significant other, or not.The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy and features nearly 200 narrow waterways which can be navigated on one of the cities water taxis.Aside from the fact that Venice is a city like no other, there is also plenty to see. The city is visited by over 50,000 tourists each day, all keen to take in some of the sights on offer. Three of those can be seen from piazza San Marco, a square that Napolean once referred to as the drawing-room of Europe. From here you can view St Marks Basilica, Doges Palace and Torre dellOrologio, a clock tower built between 1496 and 1506.You must also take a ride down one of the cities waterways in a Gondola. Although this is an expensive form of getting around the city, you couldnt possibly go home and tell your friends you went to Venice, and didnt go in a Gondola, could you??

4. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a popular port on many a Mediterranean itinerary because there is plenty to see and do there, plus it can all be reached easily from the dock.Just a short walk from the dock, Las Ramblas is one of the most well-known streets in the world. During the day, its jam-packed with street artists and live-performers, as well as a host of cafs and restaurants.Its highly recommended to venture further into the city to see the Sagrada Familia, a Giant Temple designed by the master architect Antonio Gaudi. The structure stands out against its surroundings for its unique style of architecture which looks more like some sort of gothic castle! Its still not complete, and has at least 30 years worth of work left until it will be.If youre travelling with your family, there is a fantastic aquarium in Barcelona, and also, if time allows a visit to the famous Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona (Spains most successful football team) can be a special treat for sports fanatics.

5. Sydney, Australia

Youre spoiled for choice of things to do in Australias biggest city, but the two landmarks that you literally cant miss are the world-famous Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Circular Quay (where your cruise ship docks) is very central to some of the most popular tourist destinations, although there are plenty of transfer options.Be sure to take one of the Sydney Opera House tours, and also the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (if you dare!). The trek across the bridge takes around 3 and a half hours, but the view of the harbour area from the top is magnificent.There is also plenty to see and do for tourist in Darling Harbour. Among these attractions is the Sydney Aquarium, the IMAX theatre, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Powerhouse Museum (which focuses on creativity, whether through art, design or technology.This is only really touching the surface of what Sydney has to offer, which is why Sydney is a popular starting or ending point for cruises around the region, so you can spend a few more days there.

You can explore the some of the best spots on earth when you travel on a cruise, and with a little planning beforehand, you can get the most out of them in just a few hours.

Neil Page is the Online Manager atCruiseNation.com.

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5 must-see cruise port destinations is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

3 pounds of fresh Chino Farms pumpkin (skin off, seeds removed)
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon diced fresh garlic
1 tablespoon diced fresh ginger
cup flour (all purpose)
1 quarts vegetable or chicken stock
cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
teaspoon ground nutmeg
teaspoon ground cinnamon
Fresh chervil or chives
Pumpkin seed oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut the butternut squash in 1 inch size pieces or smaller chunks
2. Melt the butter in a soup pot and sweat the onions
3. Add the pumpkin, garlic and the ginger
4. Sprinkle with flour and mix well
5. Add the vegetable or chicken stock
6. Bring to boil and simmer until very soft
7. Add the cream, nutmeg and cinnamon
8. Bring again to a boil and pure the soup in a blender
9. Decorate with swirls of light whipped cream and pumpkin seed oil
10. Garnish with chervil leaves or finely cut chives

Thank you to Martin Woesle, Chef de Cuisine at the highly acclaimed Mille Fleurs restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe, California, for the recipe.

If you have a recipe you would like to share with A Luxury Travel Blogs readers,pleasecontact us.

Recipe of the week: Musque de Provence Pumpkin Soup is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Throughout the world, beauty ideals vary tremendously. This is particularly true when it comes to women, who are most often impacted by these ideals in order to attract a mate – and as an extension, their livelihood.

But as times change, men are also becoming more impacted by international ideals of beauty.

In a globalized world, lighter skin and thinness seem to reign supreme for what is considered successful and beautiful, and the negative consequences on traditional cultures include the often dangerous act of skin whitening or extreme weight loss.

Still, some traditions of the past that were both painful and unhealthy, such as foot binding and force-feeding women to make them fat, have slowly died out.

As travelers, it is important for us to both know and honor the different beauty ideals of places we visit, while also expressing ideas of acceptance and love for what each of us look like individually and culturally.

Here are 8 ideals of beauty – both past and present – from around the world, and how they are changing:

1) India: Decorative Dress

Indian women often wear colorful saris, nose rings, and dots or bindis on their foreheads as signs of femininity and sometimes marital status. Photo by mckaysavage.

No matter the caste in India, women adorn their bodies with colorful saris, dupattas, nose rings, bindis and henna, particularly for festivals and celebrations such as weddings.

Traditionally, being a thin woman was not thought of as attractive or healthy in India. But as Aruna Radhakrishna notes in her piece, India Walks a Thin Line to Beauty, western influence has infiltrated to the point that being skinny is becoming the beauty ideal.

2) Mauritania: Fat-Farms

Larger women were traditionally thought of as more beautiful, and many were sent as girls to “fat-farms” to be force-fed. Photo by geezaweezer.

Larger women are considered the ideal by men in the African country of Mauritania, where “fat-farms” still exist, not to slim women down, but to beef them up.

Though the practice is starting to die out, there are still seven and eight year-olds being taken out of school and left at the farms.

There, they are forced to eat dates, couscous, and other fattening foods all day. Traditionally, a large girl or women denoted her higher class and status, therefore defining her beauty.

3) Japan: Gyaru

Wild styles are popular with young women in Japan, especially in the large cities. Photo by Esther Gibbons.

In Japan, especially the large cities, traditional Japanese dress has given way to often outlandish fashion, hair, makeup, and even skin coloring called Gyaru.

There are many categories that fall under this name, from the moderately to extremely tanned Ganguro, popular in the late 1990s to B-Gyaru, which imitates the fashion of female R&B artists.

4) China: Foot Binding

Though the tradition of feet binding in China has died out, some elderly Chinese women still walk around with tiny feet due to being bound as children. jadis1958.

Though foot binding is no longer a common tradition in China, the impact of this tradition – which lasted until the 1940s – can be seen on some elderly Chinese women.

Binding the feet involved breaking the toes and pushing them up against the sole of the feet, then tightening and sewing bandages around the entire foot.

This was considered erotic to men, and also limited the mobility of women, both literally and also within politics and the world at large.

5) Brazil: Guitar Shape

Tanned and curvy women are considered beautiful in Brazil, though beauty ideals are changing toward a thinner look similar to what is popular in the United States. Photo by BrazilWomenBeach

Brazilian women have traditionally been thought of as toned, tanned, and curvy. Though not large by any means, the ideal of beauty in Brazil included hips, a smaller chest, and a rounder backside, otherwise known as a “guitar” shape.

As is true in several other countries, though, this beauty ideal has begun to change. At least according to author Mary del Priore, who writes in her book, The History of Private Life in Brazil that today its the rich in Brazil who are thin and the poor who are fat.

6) Thailand: Skin Whitening

Skin whitening continues to be a popular approach in Thailand, where being whiter is considered more attractive and affluent. Photo by nickgraywfu.

Even as ideas of beauty shift worldwide to incorporate the multifaceted beauty of different skin colors, skin whitening still is revered by some in Asia.

Lighter skin signals more affluence in places ranging from Thailand to India, where skin whitening creams are sold for cheap in open air markets.

But these creams can be permanently disfiguring, as one Thai singer found out after using one in hopes of improving her career.

7) New Zealand: Maori Tribe Face Tattoo

Though the tradition of a tribal face tattoo was dormant for many years, it has recently become popular once again amongst the Maori tribe of New Zealand. Photo by RaviGogna.

Both men and women of the Maori tribe have long imprinted their face with swirling tattoos called Ta moko. Most high-ranking people in New Zealand’s indigenous tribe received moko before the Europeans arrived in the country, and it was considered an important milestone between childhood and adulthood.

Since the early 1990s, moko has had a revival in the culture, though now most often, a tattoo machine is used instead of the traditional chisel, which carved grooves in the face.

Burma: Padaung/Kayan “Long Necks”

Most Kayan women wear rings around their necks, which is considered a sign of beauty in their culture. It is also now being used as a tourist attraction. Photo by Mister Jo.

Women of the Kayan tribe, many of which are now refugees from Burma (now Myanmar) living in Thailand, often wear brass coils around their necks to give the illusion they are lengthened.

Starting at a young age, the coils are wrapped around the neck, and more are added over the years, which in actuality pushes down the women’s shoulders, producing the effect that their neck is longer.

These neck rings are both used as a way to attract men and now as a controversial attraction for tourists.

What do you think about these ideals of beauty around the world? Which ones did we miss?

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Main image by otisarchives3.