Travel journals

It is always a good idea to take a vacation out to explore the rest of the world, visiting several different countries. However, many people are stopped because of how expensive international flight may seem to be. It is possible to find cheap flights, though, and this makes the dream that much more realistic. The following is a list of a few tips on getting those cheap international flights.

First and foremost, the cheapest flights tend to happen when planning a trip as far in advance as possible. Some airlines offer discounts when booking a flight with at least three weeks in advance. These flights are also available directly from the airlines, offering fares that are not published and therefore not too often found in domestic travel. With enough notice, it may also be possible to get cheap accommodations such as lodging.

Additionally, try looking for a package deal. Often a flight website will offer a package deal on flights and lodging, sometimes including attraction tickets. Certain packages can come all-inclusive as well, which means the food and some activities will be covered in addition to flight and lodging.

By taking smaller airlines, there is less of an overhead, allowing the savings to be passed onto the tickets. While it may not come with a meal or a movie, this is not much of a loss when taking into consideration how much money is currently being saved. Also take care to how much an airline charges for checked baggage. Only pack what is necessary because with multiple checked bags, a cheap flight can raise the price and it will be expensive all over again.

Direct flights have a tendency to be a bit more expensive than indirect flights. Consider taking a flight with multiple stops or a layover. While they may not be very convenient, it is a good way to save money as well as visit a couple of more sites in the world and grab something quick to eat or drink. Experience the local flavors around the airport if there is time.

Using these tips will help in the quest for finding cheap international airline tickets.

Cheap Flights: Brightsun Travel offers cheap flights and holidays to all over the world, with the Brightsun price promise. Our holidays are simply startling value.

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To make the best choice when choosing your ski apartment, be sure to consider the prime factors that are important to you. Top accommodation shopping criteria may include the apartment’s proximity to public transportation, so look for an address that is situated closely to a bus or railway line heading for the slopes. A local shuttle bus service is also an option; however the smaller transport vehicles may only include a few pickup points at key locations in the area. If you are bringing your own ski equipment rather than renting at the base of the mountain, you must factor in the weight of your ski bags and the distance you will need to walk to pick up a ride. Read the rest of this entry »

Having a spirit of adventure will enhance your travel experience. However, protecting yourself and your family from some of the costly and often unpredictable challenges of traveling is a wise investment.

Travel insurance is designed to cover the costs of those aspects of your trip that you cannot control such as illness, weather and other emergencies. Hurricanes, earthquakes or political unrest could cause you to change your plans. There are many options from which to choose. Read the rest of this entry »

While we would all like to quickly find the cheapest deal possible when searching for available car hire options, in most cases it is very tiring and time consuming to go through tens of pages in search of the best deal.

Car Hire USA allows you to compare car hire rates from hundreds of suppliers in seconds, instead of spending hours and hours searching and still not finding the best offer. All you need to do is provide your pick up location and date, your age, desired car group, currency and country of residence, and let the Cheap Car Hire website do all the searching for you.

You can also pick a location from the top destinations list, for example car hire Florida or car hire Orlando, and there is also a convenient list of top airports available on the homepage. Another great feature of this website are the travel guides – you can read some basic information about the location with many great tips on traveling in that area and do a car hire search for that area on the same page! And if you would like to be able to access Cheap Car Hire services on the go, you can download an iPhone application from their website homepage. Read the rest of this entry »

The Big Apple is New York’s nickname. However, exactly how did the city get this moniker? It all depends on what source you read. One idea is that a New York sports journalist, John J Fitz Gerald in the 1920s, coined it.
Another notion is the name appeared during the Depression of the 1930s and referred to vendors selling apples, a nightspot in Harlem, and a dance called the Big Apple.

No matter what the origin, the Big Apple is the goal of travelers who wish to visit the countless attractions that the city has to offer. The issue is deciding what to see. Perhaps the best choice is to select one of the many tours offered.

A well-informed visitor would be wise to obtain one of the New York passes that permits free admission to over 50 city venues and money off on tours. Highlights of the NYC are the traditional sites such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Central Park Zoo, and the Empire State Building, just to name a few. Read the rest of this entry »

Indian Hotels with the Best American Food

Americans who travel abroad often find themselves craving the comfort of food from home. Not necessarily home-cooked meals, but the American fare of burgers and fries or regional favorites such as Tex-Mex, New York Pizza, or St. Louis Ribs.

When traveling to India, is it easy to find cheap hotels with American cuisine in their restaurants. Some of these American-style eateries simply dress up Indian food and miss the mark completely; others do a not-so-bad job of giving tourists and residents a proper American meal.

49er’s The Gold Rush

Located in the Al Diar Dana Hotel, the 49er’s The Gold Rush bar and restaurant has all the markings of an old western saloon, complete with extra-large whiskey barrels for tables. The food is a cooked-to-order mix of steaks, fried foods, bar snacks, and specialty side items. The 49er’s The Gold Rush advertises a Tex-Mex portion of their menu but their steaks are the best. The prices are Dhs200-350, open daily for lunch, dinner, and snacks from noon until 3 am.

Kennedy

Kennedy is a fine dining establishment tucked away in an unlikely place, the Armed Forces Officer’s Club and Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Visitors to the elegant eatery are not only impressed with the stylishness and the food, but the low prices. The food is first-rate in presentation and portions for their price, in addition to high quality foods from America and Europe. Prices are Dhs200-350 and they accept credit cards. This beautifully decorated restaurant is open daily for dinner from 6:30 to 11 pm. Read the rest of this entry »

May 3, 2011
Enjoy one of the most dramatic, thrilling and poignant wildlife experiences in the world with a once in a lifetime visit to the mountain gorillas of Africa with Travel Associates. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer wonder of seeing full grown silverback gorillas and their young as they eat, play and relax in their natural habitat while remaining peaceful and tolerant of human visitors.

Prices start at $3,150 for the five night journey which includes return transfers from Entebbe airport, meet and greet services, accommodation in top quality hotels and lodges and one gorilla permit. Park entry fees, meals on safari, services of driver and guide and activities on the itinerary are also included as well as an excursion to Ngamba Chimpanzee Island by boat.

Both six and eight day scheduled trips are available for gorilla tracking and may occur in either Uganda or Rwanda subject to permit availability. Read the rest of this entry »

Peru is a very diverse country and near many cultural treasures of nature is breathtaking. Well worth it to the Amazon jungle with a visit to worship. Sixty percent of Peru is covered with forests of the Amazon, which covers nine different countries. These forests are in very many ways vital to humans and the environment but they also include threatened by illegal logging, mining and oil burning for agriculture. More and more areas are now protected and there are always new nature reserves.

Peru is the ideal country to visit the tropical rain forests since by the Andes Mountains the upper stream of the Amazon protected, there is a case of many large areas with truly unspoilt nature. The diversity of plants and animals is overwhelming and you have a great chance to see many animals. The second longest river in the world, the Amazon, rises in Peru after 6868 km and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A multi-day visit to this beautiful lush area is unforgettable.

Northern Amazon
The largest jungle city of Iquitos Peru is simply that, completely surrounded by jungle, located in northern Peru. This is a starting point for many tours. Iquitos is accessible by road and if you’re a jungle tour in the northern part of the Amazon to do, you have a choice between the aircraft or boats, the rivers through which you achieve your goals. Any travel agency offers tours to Iquitos with one or more nights in one of the many jungle lodges. Not only travel agents trying to sell you a tour, many people who accost you at the airport already. In the city itself, offer trips to many people on the street. They are driven by many travel agencies and get commission so it’s always reliable, but certainly cheaper to engage alone in a travel agency to make a choice. The choice of various lodges or tented camps, even cruises is enormous both on site and via the Internet.
If you’re still in Iquitos, you can visit the Iron House (Casa de Fierro), designed by none other than Gustav Eiffel … .. yes, the man of the Eiffel Tower. The house was a design for the World of 1898, but was a wealthy rubber baron in Paris moved to Iquitos, where on one corner of the Plaza des Armas was built. On the first floor you can enjoy a drink and the square.

Southern Amazon
The southern part of the Amazon is almost always visited from Cuzco. As in Cuzco Iquitos are also several excursions to the jungle area organized. The two largest reserves are the Tambopata National Reserve and Manu National Park, but there are still many smaller reserves, almost all have different lodges or tented camps. In this jungle area are two airports. It Aldamiz Padre International Airport to Puerto Maldonado and a chiselled strip in the jungle at Boca Manu. Depending on your choice you can take a flight from Cuzco to your destination. In either case, it is only a short flight of about half hour. The plot of Boca Manu is the most spectacular as a wooden hut, covered with thatched roof, is doing as a terminal.
The cases are (like you) weighed on scales and then people put in a wheelbarrow, waiting for the short ride to the unit, obviously a small plane.Sometimes by the incoming cold fronts would be too foggy and in that case can not be flown to and from the field. In that case, you should at your own expense if you also book a night in the jungle is. Please give them back the next day or fly. A fun alternative that is offered in this southern part is journeyed by land, obviously a longer term issue, but certainly worth the effort.

What is the best time for the jungle?
Although in a tropical rainforest can always raining, there is still one of dry and wet season. There are also slight differences between the jungle in the north and the south but in general the wet season from November to April and the dry period from May to October. Temperatures in the north are on average around 32 degrees Celsius while 3000 mm rainfall per year. In the south, average temperatures around 24 degrees Celsius (30 degrees foothills of daytime to 10 degrees at night) and there is about 5000 mm rain per year. Temperatures in the south are strongly influenced by the “friajes” cold fronts in the ocean, which can reduce the temperature to about 15 degrees Celsius. The various lodges can be visited all year round but dry season is still the best time because you then can more easily move through the jungle. It is also the period in which Peru itself can therefore best visited between May and October are the best. Read the rest of this entry »

A short visit to Orlando will be that one adventure that goes remembered for a lifetime. Any amount of time spent in Orlando is enough to change your perception of the world. Reason being, from the natural beauty to man-made attractions and landscapes, it is truly a golden paradise for both the visitors and locals. Speaking of landscapes and attractions, there are a lot of them (if not) all that are in the category of must-sees and must-dos. As for which of the many to visit first, that is where the only problem lies. Out of all of the ways to avoid or make this problem less of an obstacle, one of the best methods to consider to let guide you is to rely on what interests you the most.

Whether you are taking a short visit to Orlando or a long one, in order to explore the many attractions and unique landscapes, you need a form of transportation that benefits you the most. This strictly means that the choice of travel should be one that allows you to up and go where you would like to go whenever you decide to do so. Out of the few available options, one of the options to seriously consider before any other is to rely on an Orlando car hire. When it comes to attempting to make the most out of your short or long visit to Orlando, the best chance of doing so will be to cram as many of Orlando’s attractions into your plan of things to do as possible. Cheap car rentals in Orlando will open the doors of pure freedom, because it allows you to travel freely in the car of your choice to and from the different sites that grab a hold of your attention first.

Orlando is the land of the unknown strictly because it literally has so much to offer for both the locals and visitors to enjoy. It is currently open, and always has been for every person across the world that is of any background. To visit a place that is filled with generous people that are beyond welcoming is something every traveler appreciates. Orlando is a great place to visit, live or experience at least once in a lifetime. One thing for sure is that your visit will not be a regrettable one nor will it fail to meet any of the expectations. Read the rest of this entry »

Where can you see police on roller skates, and then look at art and design shop from some of the world’s biggest names?
Only one answer – in Paris. The French city is the ideal place for a romantic trip.

Whether it takes place on foot, in an open 2CV or any of the 20,000 bikes all over Paris orderly and easily accessible to tourists who want to combine sightseeing with fresh air.
The economic crisis strongly pushed urban development that is moving more toward free pleasures and higher quality at lower prices – whether it comes to food, fashion, literature or entertainment.

Neighborhoods in Paris can sometimes feel like entirely different countries. In the center around the Louvre and Les Halles offers a fashionable blend of exclusive fashion, airy parks and ancient royal palace, the Louvre.

To the west lies the avenue des Champs-Élysées, Concorde Square, some of Paris’ most grandiose museums, Michelin restaurants, nightclubs and luxury hotels.

To the east, the Marais and the islands mixed well-heeled foreigners and the entire judicial apparatus with Orthodox Jews, bohemians and design-conscious gay men. And east of Bastille you can explore some of the most ethnic neighborhoods of Paris with steaming Chinese dim sum concoct something, Turkish kebab stalls, Indian merchants and the beautiful Canal Saint-Martin with its numerous locks and bridges.

Far north thrones Sacre Coeur church atop Montmartre, whose intricate and cobbled streets in many places still retains the past almost village-like charm.

And south of the Seine on the Rive Gauche is located primarily Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés – the French capital’s hub of intellectuals and students that fill sidewalk cafes in equal parts airy discussions and dense fog of cigarette smoke.

But there is also the area around the Eiffel Tower, which is full of wide boulevards, war memorials and some of Paris’ finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture. Read the rest of this entry »

While on a camping holiday you must ensure that you get good sleep. If you do not sleep well then you become grumpy and do not enjoy all the activities during the holidays.

Setting up a camper trailer tent has to be done in the right way. This is the tent that you will be sleeping in. So setting it up for safety and comfort is vital. There is an instruction manual that is available to you from the camping trailer seller. Make sure you follow the instructions very carefully. The manufacturer’s instructions are dependent on the kind of camper trailer you own. Read the rest of this entry »

A few summers ago, I was invited by my girlfriend’s family to go on a cruise. I was pretty psyched because we would be cruisin’ around the ocean on an Athena Cruise ship. At the time, these were a brand new ship and we being hailed as one of the smoothest cruises in the world, like floating on air, riding in the back seat of black 1957 El Camino…except in a cruise ship, on the ocean. So We flew out on a red eye from New York down to Miami beach where we just barely made it aboard the ship in the late afternoon because our morning flight was delayed by NY snow conditions. Once we were abord, it felt fantastic! The fresh, crisp, ocean air plunging up your nose holes, and the sun blasting in your face, it couldn’t have been better, or so I thought.

Initially, we were exhausted from the flight so we took a rest in our rooms for a while. We overslept into the night but found that the night life on the main deck was crazy. They were having some kind of shark race in the large pool and by shark race I mean they were putting people in little shark costumes and making them race after a rubber seal that was floating in the pool. I hope there was some kind of prize for the people wearing those suits. One women obviously did not want to put it on but her husband thought it was funny and made her do it. She must have been foreign because every time she paddled through the water she would scream, “Sharp!”, as if she was trying to say, “Shark” but was mispronouncing it. The group of people madly flopped around in the pool with their shark suits on, each wrestling for the rubber seal. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought it was an actual shark feasting. We were about to move along to grab some food when lights began flashing and the announcer began yelling about the winner of the contest. Just was everyone was screaming and cheering, there was a huge “Zap!” and everything went black and quiet, I mean everything. Something was not right, one of the motors must have gone out. People were starting to get upset and were dashing all over the main deck. In the darkness, I saw a group of teenagers looting all of the pizza from the pizza stand then they stole a couple of margaritas and ran into the arcade.

An announcement came on saying that everything was going to be fine and that we just had to go back to our rooms. Well, we went back to our rooms and the rest of the story gets pretty boring from there because we ended up sitting on the cruise ship, just floating around, waiting for a tug boat to pull us back to Miami! By the time we got back to Miami, the ship was running out of food, everything smelled like garbage, and news helicopters were flying all around. Needless to say, the athena cruise ship was not an absolute hit like advertised and I don’t think I’ll go on a cruise ever again unless it is in the back of a black 1957 El Camino. Read the rest of this entry »

Experience a new dimension to your romantic escapes when you stay with us at the Japanese Mountain Retreat. The equivalent to five star hotel accommodation in Melbourne and located at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, they’re easily accessible from both the CBD and outer suburbs of Melbourne.

They deliver to visitors both a luxurious and private alternative to many popular luxury hotels situated throughout Victoria. At Japanese Mountain Retreat, accommodation comes in the form of authentic Japanese living, at a level of five star accommodation you may find elsewhere at a Melbourne hotel. Cornwall holidays, beach holiday rentals and accommodation in Tenerife either on the beachfront or near the beach. Book your holiday villas or apartments in Tenerife direct with the owner or agent.

Sleek, minimalist abodes awash with natural light streaming in through shoji (screens) inspires a feeling of relaxation and well-being throughout your stay, you won’t find our unique style of accommodation anywhere else around Melbourne or the CBD, this is luxury in its purest form. Read the rest of this entry »

I arrived in Brisbane in late summer 2009 with several friends for a week long vacation. Our goal was to experience Australian culture and the city of Brisbane. We came for the nightlife, beaches and scuba diving. We were not disappointed.

We stayed at the Brisbane Backpacker Hostel and couldn’t have been happier with the accommodations. The hostel’s modern, friendly and spacious resort is uniquely positioned to make your visit to Brisbane a memorable, relaxing and fun time. The service was excellent and the staff was very friendly.

There were dozens of bars, cafes and restaurants within short walking distance and plenty of parks and gardens nearby. The hostel is also located on the South Bank of the Central Business District, just a few minutes from the multi-cultural and cosmopolitan West End district.

We found getting around Brisbane to be relatively easy. The city is extremely flat so walking is always an option; plus bicycles could be rented from the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. There seemed to be a well designed public transport system although we didn’t really get much use out of it.

There is plenty to do in Brisbane. A visit to the Alma Park Zoo is a necessity. There is a train that runs from the city center to the zoo which is located about thirty minutes north. Kangaroo Point makes for a nice day trip with its breathtaking cityscape views. There was a place to rent kayaks and barbecue there as well. Brisbane is home to an incredible selection of international cuisine and you’ll have no problem finding something that fits your tastes. We visited an incredible Middle Eastern restaurant which was one of the highlights of our trip. The nightlife is nothing short of fantastic and you’ll find the Australians to be a very friendly group.

Australians are actually some of the most traveled people in the world, chances are they’ve been to your country and want to show you around theirs. If you’re planning a trip to Brisbane make sure you do your research as it is an expensive city. We had a fantastic time and would surely return for a second visit. Read the rest of this entry »

Adventure, relaxation, and superb views describe the Indonesian island of Bali. This unique land is filled with pristine beaches, crater lakes, lush tropical forests, rice terraces, and active volcanoes.

Visitors can take guided tours by plane, car, or boat. Rice terraces and beaches are generally on the list of sites to see. Volcanoes are an amazing site to observe while on holiday in Bali. There are five, active volcanoes in Bali. These include Batukau and Abang.

Monkeys and other types of exotic wildlife can be seen in the jungles of Bali. A trekking guide takes tourists off the beaten path to observe lush vegetation and amazing animals. Unspoiled nature awaits those who are seeking adventure and exercise.

Water sports are a popular activity in Bali. Parasailing, swimming, water skiing, banana boat rides, and snorkeling can provide excitement to those looking for adventure. Sailing can promote relaxation while observing the tropical surroundings. Day cruises on a semi-submersible or pontoon boat can enable visitors to view aquatic life more closely.

Those on holiday in Bali can participate in sports such as golf and tennis. Amazing mountain views can be enjoyed while playing golf on the attractive golf courses.

A safari and marine park, horseback riding, nature tours, a zoo, Balinese dances, and meditation classes can entice visitors to this amazing island. From first class accommodations at the Bali Villas to a day in the jungle, guests of Bali can make lasting memories. Read the rest of this entry »

If by chance you are into camping and that you love the outdoors, then purchasing or even renting camper trailers can add loads to your camping pleasure. Just consider the advantages you will acquire with camping trailers and one fine way for you to look for these said trailers is with Camper Trailers Australia. The trailers which they offer come in an array of designs and sizes and you can find a trailer that will surely meet your every requirement when you visit their shops. Read the rest of this entry »

Northern Territory
The harsh Outback, desolate deserts, and the ancient remnants of prehistoric mountain ranges characterize much of Australia’s Northern Territory. Almost the entire population of this sparsely settled wilderness lives in a string of towns along the central highway that winds its way across the dry interior from Darwin to Adelaide. Foreign visitors and aboriginal peoples alike flock to Ayer’s Rock, a lone sandstone mountain that has endured for centuries as the rest of its range eroded away. Tread lightly here, for it is sacred to the native people of the area.

South Australia
Out of all of Australia’s states and territories, South Australia is the only one that actually began as a planned colony rather than a convict settlement. The northern portion of the state is quite inhospitable, with vast dry lakes and arid, mountainous terrain dominating. The southern areas have a more comfortable Mediterranean climate, so this is where most of the residents live. The coastal region is well suited for agriculture and is home to many wineries in the Barossa valley and other areas. Read the rest of this entry »

Queensland is one of the most popular territories in Australia for people who are looking for a truly memorable vacation experience. A great deal of the people who travel to this region come here by plane; it is no wonder, then, that car rentals in this territory are quite popular. If you are planning to come to Brisbane – the capital of Queensland – you are likely to be flying in to the Brisbane Airport. Luckily, Queensland car hire is quite simple in this situation, since the airport has an ample selection of car rental agencies to choose from.

As with many types of holidays, it is important to figure out your situation regarding car rentals. Brisbane is a fairly easy place to rent a car, but you should also determine other factors before embarking on your journey. For example, what kind of car will you be needing? Will a large van be the best option, or could you make do with a smaller, more compact vehicle? What kind of budget must you adhere to? These are just a few examples of what you should consider when renting a car in Queensland.

Using a car hire service allows you and your traveling companions much greater flexibility than having to rely on public transport. There are no real schedules to stick to when you rent a car; you can come and go as you please. Also, many car rentals Brisbane agencies in Brisbane and all over Queensland allow people the option of renting the car at one location, and dropping it back off in another. This service is very valuable and can help make planning your itinerary much easier.

When you have a rental car at your disposal, the world – and Queensland – is truly your oyster. There is nothing better than being able to leisurely explore the many beaches, rain forests and other gorgeous attractions in this corner of Australia. As you travel along in your rental car, you can stop when the mood strikes you or when you see a particularly intriguing spot. You won’t have to pass things by that look interesting.

In addition to its many world class beaches, Queensland is home to a great number of exciting attractions and tourist spots. The Great Barrier Reef is one spectacular examples; many different rain forests also dot the territory. Popular places like the Australia Zoo can really round out a family vacation. Dining and shopping options are ample, and everyone with you should be able to find something to do. If you are coming to Queensland, rent a car and start exploring!

Brisbane is a good start point for your Queensland vacation and has a very good range of quality hotels and resort accommodation in the city centre. Check Brisbane hotels for your accommodation there. Read the rest of this entry »

No matter your age or background, you can find Melbourne shopping to feed the need to spend some dough! There’s everything from high end designer stores to small boutiques and stores that sell area crafts. If you’re heading out to Melbourne, shopping should most definitely be listed on your itinerary. This is why you should take the time to consider car hire Melbourne options. The following are some of the many reasons that such services can help make shopping in Melbourne that much easier and more enjoyable.

First off, imagine that after a long day of shopping, your arms are full of bags and boxes. Who doesn’t want to walk away from the shops only to have a car waiting for him or her? This makes shopping that much easier. Having a driver help you with your purchases makes it easier to transport your wares.

If you have an experienced driver at your service, you will be able to hit more shops. Gone are the days of getting bogged down with maps or getting lost in a new city. Investing in car hire means those days are long gone. Instead, you will have an experienced driver who knows how to move between popular shopping locations quickly and safely. The driver may even have some suggestions about places you can visit.

Really, if you want to make the most out of your Melbourne shopping excursion, it is important to invest in car hire. This means that you won’t have to stress yourself out with driving. Instead, the driver will pull the car around once you’re ready to switch locations and bring your finds back to your hotel. Invest in car hire options and you will feel like royalty while taking advantage of all the great shopping in this great city. Read the rest of this entry »

It is a man-made wonder that stretches for nearly 6,000 miles. Between the 5th century B.C. and 221 B.C., the wall went through many additions, transformations, and fortifications by the Qi, Yan, and Zhao states. The first Great Wall of China was primarily constructed of tamped earth or beaten clay as stone was not always available. The wall was built in ten years by an army of 300,000 at a rate of 25 miles a month through marshes, deserts, mountain ranges, and altitudes of up to 8,000 feet. Imagine driving from Houston, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska. It is approximately 4,300 miles, far short of the length of the Great Wall…

The Great Wall is more complex than many people may know. It consists of forts and passes as well as more than 10,000 watchtowers and beacon towers. These towers housed troops and weaponry and were used to signal enemy approaches. Much of the original wall had been torn down or destroyed by weather until the Ming Dynasty rebuilt it stronger and more elaborately by using bricks and stone. Despite this, parts of the wall today lie in ruin or are completely missing. However, in 2009, an additional 180 miles of the Great Wall from the Ming Dynasty were discovered. They had been entombed by centuries of sandstorms.

The Great Wall of China is a masterpiece of human creation and is still a marvel to behold. Years of corrosion have greatly eroded this monumental and historic attraction, but it still continues to draw 1.2 million people a year and amaze all who see it. It is a standing testament to the dedication and tenacity of the Chinese people and a symbol of enduring strength and longevity. It lives in the mythology of China and remains a tangible link between ancient history and today. Read the rest of this entry »

For many, a trip to Egypt is an experience of a lifetime. Ancient art and architecture continue to enthrall people around the world as it is surrounded by mystery and wonder to this day. Egypt offers a glimpse into the ancient past through many tour options.

See the Three Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, Valley Temple, and the Step Pyramids of Zoser in one fantastic tour of Cairo and Giza. Cairo is situated on the banks of the famous Nile River which some say is the longest river in the world, though there is argument that the Amazon may be longer.

Most of Ancient Egypt’s cultural and historical sites are located along the banks of the Nile. Taking a tour on the Nile River is a popular and relaxing way to see many of them and to visit a number of antiquities along the way. Visitors can enjoy the luxury of a hotel on the water as they move along seamlessly from one site to the next.

Luxor is another popular tourist destination for its Luxor Temple, Luxor Museum, and the nearby Temples of Karnak. To the west of Luxor, across the Nile, sit archeological sites such as Tutankhamun’s Tomb in what is called the Valley of Kings and the tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of Queens.

Before visiting Egypt it is important to be prepared. It is highly recommended to get a Hepatitis A shot and for visits over three months, the Hepatitis B shot. Though Egypt is relatively safe, petty theft is common, so be sure to secure belongings to avoid being a victim.

Egypt is a wondrous place of beauty, mystery, and enchantment. It is one of the world’s treasures that beckons to be seen, enjoyed, and appreciated. The memories will last a lifetime. Read the rest of this entry »

Europe is filled with wonderful sights, all within reasonable distances from each other.Travel between many of the countries is relatively hassle-free. An automobile may be rented, or rail passes can free a traveler to add a cruise or other transportation mode to a tour. So what are the sights that shouldn’t be missed on a European vacation?

For some people, planning a trip around personal interests, such as beaches, skiing, history, art, or some other activity is most important. Yet, to sample the best of the destinations in each country will give a better sense of the continent.

Amsterdam info – Amsterdam hotels, hostels and city guide Amsterdam hotels, hostels, tours, info, tips and articles.

In France, Paris is filled with such renowned sites as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and Louvre. Spain is known for Moorish architecture and the Alhambra palace at Granada may be the most spectacular example.

Germany’s Rhine River cruises offer views of fantastic castles. In Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Wall are reminders of European history, and several memorials at concentration camp sites lie throughout the countryside. In Austria, Vienna is not to be missed. Visit the museums, hear great music, and see the Lipizzaner stallions perform.

To the south, the Swiss Alps are without equal, and in Italy, Rome and Vatican City are the greatest attractions. Landmarks of the ancient Romans compete for a tourist’s time with fountains and museums. Don’t forget the Mediterranean beaches of the Riviera!

Smaller countries should not be discounted. Holland is renowned for tulips, and is the home of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The city of Brussels in Belgium is a melting-pot of northern European cultures. Portugal and Andorra offer stunning hiking and trekking opportunities, while Lichtenstein’s mountains are popular for viewing. Croatia, hidden gem of Europe, where central European, eastern European, and Mediterranean way of life meets and gives unique and peculiar cultural flavor. Read the rest of this entry »