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sydney opera houseEach month, we highlight one new trip review submitted by an IndependentTraveler.com reader. If your review is featured, you’ll win an IndependentTraveler.com logo item!

In this month’s featured review, reader Carmen Critchlow writes about her first trip Down Under — a cruise aboard the Celebrity Solstice. “We had an informative backstage tour of the Opera House, what a fascinating history that building has,” Carmen wrote. “We took a leisurely stroll across the Harbor Bridge and enjoyed the great view.

“We were lucky to be here in March because on June 30, 2013, the Sydney Light Rail and Sydney Monorail will cease operations and will be removed to facilitate the development of the new Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct at Darling Harbor. The trains are marked ‘Farewell Sydney.’ We were glad to be able to take a ride on a piece of history before it was gone.”

Read the rest of Carmen’s review here: Fantastic Cruise to Australia/New Zealand. Carmen has won an IndependentTraveler.com duffel bag!

Feeling inspired? Write your own trip review!

– written by Sarah Schlichter

li river chinaEach month, we’ll highlight one new trip review submitted by an IndependentTraveler.com reader. If your review is featured, you’ll win an IndependentTraveler.com logo item!

In this month’s featured review, reader Lara G writes about a half-day spent cruising along China‘s scenic Li River. “The 83-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is like an artist’s masterpiece,” Lara wrote. “The landscape is decorated with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves.

“Once in a while we [passed] by little villages, where women were washing clothes in the river; water buffalo wandered in the greenery; sometimes ducks — entire families with little baby ducks were gracefully crossing the river from the one bank to another; flocks of cormorant birds were resting (or fishing?) on the floating wooden pieces; little fishermen boats or bamboo rafts were scurrying around doing their business as usual…”

Read the rest of Lara’s review here: From Guilin to Yangshuo, The Li River Cruise – China. Lara has won an IndependentTraveler.com duffel bag!

Feeling inspired? Write your own trip review!

– written by Sarah Schlichter

st ignatius church rome domeEach month, we’ll highlight one new trip review submitted by an IndependentTraveler.com reader. If your review is featured, you’ll win an IndependentTraveler.com logo item!

In this month’s featured review, reader Amelia Hesson spends three days exploring Rome, the Eternal City. “We walked from our hotel to the king of Baroque churches called St. Ignatius. The Romans call this the 3D church because the artist Pozzo painted a fake dome which looks very much like a dome if you are standing in the proper place to see it. It’s very cool — moving through the church you see it become distorted and even then it is something to behold. This church is painted very much like the Sistine Chapel with biblical scenes rising up the walls and onto the roof of the church. Don’t forget to turn on the lights of the dome, they really illuminate it well and it only costs one euro.”

Read the rest of Amelia’s review here: Roma, Roma, Roma. Amelia has won an IndependentTraveler.com duffel bag.

Feeling inspired? Write your own trip review!

11 Best Italy Experiences

– written by Sarah Schlichter

gentoo penguins antarcticaEach month, we’ll highlight one new trip review submitted by an IndependentTraveler.com reader. If your review is featured, you’ll win an IndependentTraveler.com logo item!

In this month’s featured review, reader Dileep Bhandarkar goes penguin- and glacier-spotting on a cruise to Antarctica. “The weather could not be any better!” wrote Dileep. “With temperatures in the mid-40′s, we dropped our jackets on the rock near the beach and hiked up to see the gentoo penguin colony. We were within 100 feet from a large group of penguins. Some were still building their nests — stealing rocks from each other. Some had eggs they were protecting. We even got to see some mating activity! … This was our most favorite landing site!”

Read the rest of Dileep’s review here: Air-Cruise with Antarctica XXI on the Ocean Nova.

Dileep has won an IndependentTraveler.com travel mug. Feeling inspired? Write your own trip review!

Slideshow: 9 Best Destinations to See from the Water

– written by Sarah Schlichter