Travel and Leisure Articles

As it goes, travelling through a continent as large as South America is certainly no mean feat. That is why it can prove a wise move for the intrepid traveller to break their trip up into manageable chunks; making the most of each highlight along the way.

Home to a third of Chile’s entire population, Santiago is a growing metropolis and the cultural heart of Chile. However, the city has seen incredible growth in its economy which is reflected in its infrastructure and blend of modern and historic architecture. And there is no better place to witness this than in the Plaza de Armas with a view of the Metropolitan Cathedral, reflected in the mirrored windows of Santiago’s modern high rise structures.

The city itself lies in a bowl-shaped basin formed by the Andes; these majestic mountains form a breathtaking backdrop, when visible. Smog from the city can hamper visibility but on an early spring morning, visitors can be treated to a spectacular view of the snow clad peaks framing the city. But for a great view over the city, take the funicular to Cerro San Cristobal where you can take in the vista from the Metropolitan Park. What’s more, Cerro San Cristobal also features the city’s Metropolitan Zoo and a Japanese-style garden.

As Santiago reinvents itself, more and more modern buildings are being erected to meet the growing demands of the city. While many of Santiago’s colonial-era buildings have fallen to earthquakes or been left to ruin through neglect, many of its unique buildings and palaces still exist to be enjoyed and experienced, including Santiago’s La Moneda Palace.

When looking for somewhere to either relax or dance the night away, try the Bellas Artes night life district; a bohemian district full of pubs, restaurants and shops. As such, during the day you can visit the National and Contemporary Art Museums, or take a walk in the nearby Parque Forestal which runs parallel to the Mapocho River.

But if you are considering travelling within Chile then it is important to understand that Chile itself has only one major airline, which services international as well as national flights. And when taking a domestic flight or travelling from the UK, it is good to know that there are many flights to Santiago available to help get your journey underway.

Santiago’s location makes it a natural base for a short weekend break or a starting point to locations such as Patagonia. And once you’ve experienced the best of Santiago, you can make the most of Chile’s public transport systems to take short excursions outside the city to the coastal cities and resorts of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar; alternatively you can use Santiago as a base for exploring Chile’s central region. Either way, you are sure to find that you will not be short of interesting things to see and do when visiting Santiago.

When you think of all-inclusive travel to Rome, what do you think of? Do you think of the history, the Forum, the Coliseum and the great Gods of Rome? Do you think of the religion, the Christians that were once sacrificed to the lions, but who now lead the world from The Vatican City: the smallest independent country in the world? Do you think of the Eternal City, the city to which all roads are said to lead, a term that harks back to the Roman Empire when that was a fact?

In fact you should be thinking of all of these and more. Rome is all of these but also a modern cosmopolitan city with everything that a great city has to offer the tourist and the adventurer. Rome is one of the best known cities in the world, yet also one of the least known. If you visit Rome, what do you want from it: do you want to see only what the tourists see or do you want to see it all - or as much as you can pack into the time available to you?

All inclusive international travel to Rome offers you the history of Rome, the Vatican and the Cistine Chapel, painted by the Italian genius Michelangelo, and other rooms with works displaying the works of the grand masters of painting and sculpture. If art is your thing you should visit the Galleria Borghese, with works by Rubens, Caravaggio and Bernini. Or visit the piazzas and fountains, including the most famous of them all, the Fountain of Trevi. Then why not do as the Romans do, and shop for clothes in the wonderful boutiques, eat in the very best Italian restaurants and then just stroll around the city.

Only a vacation package offering all-inclusive international travel to Rome could provide you with all of this, making sure that you miss nothing. Let’s face it, you don’t visit Rome every year, so when you do, you want to get the best flavor of the city: not just the touristy historical venues, but also the real Rome - the Rome of the Romans. But there is more than just that which you want in a dream holiday of a lifetime.

Your air travel should be at least business class, offering you the opportunity to stretch out when you need to and receive the best service on board. If you want to use your own air miles for your vacation to Rome you should be able to do so and get that taken from the price: a land only price should be available.

Your accommodation should be good while not necessarily luxurious, since many vacation destinations have no luxury hotels - in fact no hotels at all! However, Rome has many, and all-inclusive international travel to Rome should include hotels that have been hand-picked for their comfort and tradition. You don’t want a plastic hotel with no Mediterranean charm, but neither do you want sub-standard accommodation and service. You want the best that Real Rome can offer.

Any all-inclusive deal should include your meals, and you should expect good food to suit a wide variety of tastes, but that also reflects the character of Rome. Roman cuisine is amongst the best in the entire world, and is more than just pasta and pizzas, Michelin standard included!

Rome is a wonderful city, but you need the services of a top-class guide to enable you to make the most of your visit. Without that you would likely see the sights without understanding their history or understand how the architecture of Rome has changed as the city expanded both before and after the end of the Roman Empire, at one time the largest Empire taken and controlled by military force in the whole of the world’s history.

If you are considering a vacation that includes all-inclusive international travel to Rome, you should take each of these factors into consideration, and carefully check out what is being offered in your vacation. You should have a look at the trips and tours included in the various packages, and what degree of flexibility there is, not only in travel dates, but also in excursion times and dates, and in meal times.

You might want to skip a meal or an organized trip in order to do something else, such as have an afternoon in the pool or visit one of the ancient ruins outside Rome. You should be able to do so without missing out. You should also make sure that train travel is First Class where available, and that you get free time to roam around the city by yourself.

So, if you are considering all-inclusive international travel to Rome, make sure you have list of your needs ready when you book, and also of a ‘good to have’ list; make sure that you get all of your ‘musts’ and as many of your ‘good to haves’ as possible. That way you will find your ideal luxury international travel company for Rome or any other destination in the world.

Phoenix, Arizona is home to diverse culture, art and food all with a southwestern flair. If you are visiting the city of Phoenix, chances are that you will find more than enough to occupy your time as there seems to be something going on all of the time in this Arizona city.

Some of the Phoenix events that you can attend when you visit Phoenix are the following.

Hopi Art Festival

Phoenix is the home of the Hopi Indians and the Hopi Art Festival is something that you might want to view when you visit Phoenix. Many people come to Phoenix for the Hopi Art Festival that takes place the first full week of November beginning on Sunday each year at Roosevelt Row. The downtown art scene in Phoenix is brimming all of the time and there is usually something to be seen when you visit Roosevelt Row.

Phoenix Jewish Film Festival

Each February is the Phoenix Jewish Film Festival that showcases films based on Jewish experiences. The Jewish Film Festival occurs the first weekend in February at the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix. The Phoenix Jewish Film Festival is nearly 20 years old.

Glass Bead Show

The second weekend in March is the time for the annual Glass Bead Show at the Phoenix Convention Center. People who make their own jewelry or collect beads come from miles around to get glass beads at this show that showcases glass beads that are made not only in Arizona bead factories, but throughout the west. The Glass Bead Show is one of the largest bead shows in the nation.

Broadway Tribute Fest

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theater has been the home to Broadway musicals for years and now has a special tribute fest that occurs the first weekend of April every year. Anyone who wants to get a taste of Broadway along with dinner can visit this annual event that has been going strong for five years at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in nearby Mesa.

Art Walk

Every weekend in July is reserved for the Art Walk through Roosevelt Row as well as through the surrounding art districts. The Art Walk features the work of local artists of all kinds including paintings, drawings, sculpture, jewelry design and more. The art walk is something that many budding artists like to be part of as it can help them get their artwork discovered.

Cowboy Days Fest

The Cowboy Days fest pays tribute to cowboys of long ago and is held at the Phoenix fair and rodeo grounds every year during the last weekend in September. It is about this time that the area is beginning to cool down, although it is usually a very warm climate in Arizona throughout the year. You will find the Cowboy Days Fest that features a mini rodeo, food and even a carnival, to be fun for the entire family. It is one event that has been going on for at least 30 years in Phoenix.

Phoenix, Arizona events are multi cultural and offer just about something for everyone. There are many small festivals and functions throughout the year that take place at the fair grounds or at the convention center. Chances are that no matter what type of event you want, you will be able to find it when you visit Phoenix.

India is a haven for the lovers of wildlife and nature. Most of the Indian states have excellent wildlife. Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu…there are many Indian states that entice the travellers to visit them and explore the many wonders of their deep jungles.

The coastal state of Orissa located in the eastern part of India especially is one such state which is rich in flora and fauna and which has an excellent wildlife. The state’s wonderful wildlife is much on display in its many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

Besides having exceptional wildlife in its several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, Orissa has a rich wildlife in its many tribal belts also. No wonder, the wildlife of Orissa much attracts the wildlife lovers.

Among the many national parks of the state, Bhitarkanika, Simlipal, Nandankanan, Balpakram and Bandhavgarh are much famous. And among the wildlife sanctuaries, Chilika, Sunabeda, Satkosia Gorge, Kotgarh, Debrigarh and Baisipalli are renowned and frequently visited by the many wildlife enthusiasts.

The pride of Orissa–the Chilka Lake-is, perhaps, the state’s biggest wildlife attraction. Chilka Lake, the largest brackish water lake of Asia, is rich in wildlife and marine life. Every year more than thousands of migratory birds visit the lake from the distant parts of Asia, and add to the beauty of the region that’s much renowned the world over for many other wildlife attractions as well.

Simlipal is another famous wildlife region of the state and is every wildlife enthusiast’s delight. This main attractions of this national park situated in the Mayurbhanj district is its 150-odd tigers, more than 230 species of birds, and the mammoth mugger crocodiles.

The Badrama (Usakothi) wildlife sanctuary–another famous wildlife region of the state–has many varieties of wild animals including tiger, leopard, sambar, elephant, and bison. The presence of many watch towers at vantage points inside the sanctuary enables the visitors to enjoy good views, and they observe the many inhabitants of the wilds easily and clearly.

The Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, yet another wildlife attraction of the state, is famous for huge crocodiles and the Olive Ridley Turtles, and is frequented by the wildlife lovers in great numbers.

Explore the natural wonder that is Orissa! The thrilling wildlife of the state would surely mesmerize you.

The village of Grasmere, Cumbria, England is a popular tourist spot due to its central location in the country’s Lake District. Currently, it has a population of around 1,500 people. The town also shares its name with the nearby lake, and it is located in the central part of the county of Cumbria.

Grasmere sits near to the presence of Helm Crag, a small and rocky hill which draws several nicknames from the shapes of the outcroppings and rock formations on the hill. The town is also famous for being one of the homes of the poet William Wordsworth, who had two properties in Grasmere. Dove Cottage is the spot where Wordsworth is said to have written much of his finest literary work.

The other one of the two homes of the poet is Rydal Mount, which is located on one of the town’s hillsides. Wordsworth wrote none of his poetry while resident there, preferring instead to concentrate on his gardening, though he was Great Britain’s Poet Laureate at the time.

Perhaps the modern day’s most famous part-time inhabitant of Grasmere is the rock star Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler. Other personages of note have included, among others, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who is said to have developed more than a few of the stanzas to his poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” while also staying at Dove Cottage.

The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Cumbria, in the northwestern part of the country, currently has a population of around 500,000 people. It came into being in 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act of 1972. It is also the third largest ceremonial county by land mass in all of England. It has a picturesque Irish Sea coastline, and is predominantly rural in nature. Both Grasmere and this county are typical examples of English life and living.

If you want to get away to a small seaside village and just enjoy its slow pace and lovely scenery, Cambria California on the central coast is just the place. But there is more to do than just relaxing and enjoying the sunsets.

There’s no real commercial draw, except that it’s the gateway to the Big Sur coast. Many people stop here if they’re planning to visit Hearst Castle, just 6 miles up Highway One. There’s a few little motels in town, and more at Moonstone Beach, mostly with ocean views. The nearest “big” city is San Luis Obispo, about 33 miles to the southeast.

The town of Cambria is divided into the east village and the older, west village, both very walkable. On Friday afternoons there is a Farmer’s Market. It started as an artist’s colony and Victorian architecture is plentiful. There are art galleries, boutique shops and restaurants to enjoy. The Cambria Historical Society offers self-guided walking tours of the east village. You can get their brochure from The Cambrian at 2442 Main Street.

A free trolley can take you on an hour-long route, looping through both villages, Moonstone Beach Drive, Fiscalini Ranch and Cambria Pines Lodge. It leaves every half hour.

Moonstone Beach is covered with small rocks, including moonstone agate, jasper and jade. It’s fun to crunch around on them, discovering how unique each one is and how shiny they become when the sea washes over them.

Leffingwell Landing is on the north side of Moonstone Beach Drive. There, you’ll find restrooms, picnic tables and fantastic views.

There’s also tide pools to explore and a wooden boardwalk that winds along the back of the beach where you can stroll and enjoy the great views. Across the street are several motels that face the ocean.

For a spectacular walk along the bluffs of the Pacific, go to Fiscalini Ranch. You can park at the end of Windsor Boulevard. In spring time, the wildflowers are blooming as you walk out along the path overlooking the ocean with the crashing surf below.

Probably the most well known place for Cambria lodging is the Cambria Pines Lodge. It’s not by the beach, but up in the monterey pine covered hills at 2905 Burton Drive. It’s a lovely little lodge, which is situated on 26 acres. You can stroll around the gardens and eat in the casual dining restaurant there even if you are not an overnight guest. A splendid little path leads from the lodge’s grounds to the Cambria Pines Nursery, which is a delight in itself for garden lovers to explore.

Cambria is also convenient to wine tasting, as there are several wineries along Highway 46, which leads inland towards Paso Robles.

If you’re heading to Hearst Castle for the first time, you’re in for a real treat. Drive about six miles up the coast and park near the large visitor center. You can get tickets there to one of the tours and see a film about the place before boarding the bus up the mountain to William Randolph Hearst’s spectacular estate.

If you happen to like offbeat, decorative architectural relics, you can’t leave town without a quick drive up to Nit Wit Ridge. It’s actually a state historical landmark and can be found at 881 Hillcrest Drive. It took 51 years to build, and is adorned with all kinds of oddities, both natural and manmade, including toilets, abalone shells and car parts.

Other things to do in Cambria California include seasonal whale watching, going to the local theatre, or listening to live music.

Cheap weekend getaway trips are a magnificent way to work the kinks out of your work week; they aren’t long enough to be stressful (unless you have four children) and offer you the chance to unwind. Keep in mind that “unwind” means different things to different people (as you will soon see). Here are my four top cheap weekend getaways in the USA.

Las Vegas. Without a doubt one of the more famous weekend getaways, probably because very few people can handle the City of Sin for more than a few days (my record is four). While Vegas has claimed more money than its visitors would like, there are still many ways to see this city without breaking the bank. My advice is to visit lasvegas.com and search for hotel deals. If you plan on spending more than a few days there, look into to renting a time share from the Grandview; you can secure one for less than five hundred dollars a week. There are also tons of coupon books lining the Strip, and you can score some great deals (free massage, half off burgers, you name it).

Yosemite. Far and away by favorite weekend getaway. Entry into the park costs twenty dollars, and camping is about the same per night. In a weekend you can hike Half Dome, drive up to Glacier Pass, or spend time in Tuolumne Meadows. Make sure to arrive early, as all these activities take up the majority of the day.

Key West, Florida. OK, so the camping isn’t as incredible as Yosemite, but the nightlife is much better. Make sure to hit up the market downtown at sunset. Booze cruises and/or snorkel day trips are relatively cheap (less than fifty bucks) and you can always sit by the beach and contemplate your navel. Word to the wise: there are bars where clothing is optional; be prepared!

Redwood National Park. Located in Northern California, this gem is constantly overlooked by tourists, which makes it that much better. You can camp next to the ocean and the redwoods for fifteen bucks a night, and take a day hike through Fern Canyon, one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever been on.

There you have it: my four favorite cheap weekend getaway trips in the US.

 Carnival and Royal Caribbean are two popular cruise lines that have strong followings.   Some cruise aficionados refuse to sail on one or the other.   Are there any major differences between them? Explore which cruise may fit your needs the best. For our comparison we sailed on two similar ships - the Carnival Liberty and the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas.

• Itinerary   Both ships go to Caribbean Islands like Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, St. Thomas, the Bahamas and St. Martin / St. Maarten. The Liberty also visited its private island Half Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk. The Mariner of the Seas traveled to its private island Coco Cay and Labadee (the north coast of Haiti). We loved most of the locations that both of the ships visited and don’t believe that this should be a distinguishing factor on deciding between the cruise lines.
• Shows   Each night there are a variety of shows. Usually you have the main show and some type of entertainment before and perhaps afterward. We felt that the main shows on the Mariner of the Seas were better. On the Liberty we liked the comedian and juggling act. If you love seeing the shows, Royal Caribbean was better for the main shows and Carnival was slightly better for the comedians.
• Dining Room We enjoyed the atmosphere of both dining rooms on the Liberty and Mariner of the Seas. We felt that the menu had a little more variety on the Mariner of the Seas.
• Friendliness of staff The Liberty and Mariner of the Seas both get high grades. We did have one waiter that complained some on one of our trips on the Mariner. We had a slightly better experience on the Liberty, but feel that both crews did an excellent job and that this should not be a distinguishing factor on choosing a cruise.
• Pools   The Mariner of the Seas and Liberty both had salt water pools - which most cruise ships have. They both had pools for kids and adults. We liked the Liberty’s pools better because one had a slide. If you have kids, this would be something that they would definitely enjoy.
• Spa   We tried the spa on the Liberty and loved it. We did not try the spa on the Mariner of the Seas. Usually you can’t go wrong when getting a spa treatment.
• Excursions   We enjoyed our excursions on both ships. We’re not sure why, but there are very few excursions on Puerto Rico. Both seemed to employ clients who ran the excursions with professional, friendly attitudes. We really haven’t run into any tour guides with bad attitudes. Both cruise lines get high marks.
• Kids Programs   We met travelers on Carnival that would absolutely would not sail on Royal Caribbean because of the kids programs. We did not feel the same way at all. In fact, we thought that Carnival and Royal Caribbean did an excellent job with their kids programs. There were lots of kids on both cruises.
• Age of Clientele   There was a wide range of the age of cruisers on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean. The age seemed to be slightly younger on our Carnival cruise. Many times Caribbean destinations during the summer have a lot of children, so that the age of the clientele is younger. If you travel during the school year, the average age is older with many less children. In general, especially during the school year, Carnival has a younger crowd. This can help you plan if you prefer a younger or slightly older crowd. 
• Game Room   Both the Mariner of the Seas and Liberty had a similar size game room.   We do not feel that this was a distinguishing factor, even though it can be an important part of the trip for the kids!
• Cafeteria   We felt that the food was more varied on the Mariner of the Seas. The quality was generally good to very good on both ships.
• Odds and Ends   We liked the outdoor movies that Liberty had each evening. We thought that the putt-putt golf course was a little better on the Mariner of the Seas. We did not prefer the access to the internet cape on the Liberty. You had to walk through a lounge with cigar smoke for access. We also talked to cruisers on the Royal Caribbean who would not sail Carnival due to too many smokers. We did not find this to be the case on our trips, and thought that there was little difference in the number of people smoking.

The Bottom Line   Overall, for our needs we liked the Mariner of the Seas slightly better. We would not hesitate to book on either ship again, as we thought that both trips were very enjoyable.

If you like a quiet environment, you should go to Athens where there are many city parks and quiet places fit for you. Every season in Athens is enchanting. No matter you only pass by Athens when you went to an island in summer or you just consider Athens as a place of interest and the threshold of Greek mainland, she will attract you a lot. Athens prepares everything for everybody who comes here. The Athenians are all proud of their city.

Athens is the capital of Greece and it is the largest city and industrial center of Greece, Athens is located in the Attica plain which is in the southeast of Greek peninsula with the Krensi bay in the northwest and Salol Nick bay in the south. There are mountains in the east, west and north of Athens. Mountains and sea with light sunshine, Athens is famous for her abundant history heritages and is considered as the birth place of European civilization. Also, people know her for her fresh air and pleasant climate. About six million people come to visit or spend their holidays here. The city of Athens is about five thousand years old now. At 8th century BC, Ionians built the ancient Greek city of Athens which as the leader of an alliance.

Ancient Athens is the origin of western culture. Athenians make great contributions in art, philosophy, law and science. The period of 5th century B.C is the most prosperous period that many great masters were born or lived there such as the great cothurnus writer Euripides, the great comedy writer Aristophanes, the philosopher Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the historian Herodotus. These brilliant names shine the dawn of human culture.

Athens is the center of Greek cultural relics. Lots of ancient cultural relics which can reflect the magnificent spirit of those days still remain there so far. The Athenian museums are world-famous.

Athens is the ship and airport center of every country in eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is 10 kilometers far from the outside harbor Piraeus and almost all the imports and exports trade of Greece are carried on here. The northeast of the urban district is the centre of politics and culture and the southwest and the port are Commercial and industrial areas. There is a peculiar marble reservoir of marathon in the northeast which affords the urban the drinking water. Athens is the vacation resort for travel fans. The blue Aegean Sea welcomes visitors all over the world. For more information about traveling, please have a look at www.affordablecurisestours.com.

Sightseeing in Benidorm and the Costa Blanca is something you will long remember. Here are some tips to help you plan your trip.

As you know, Benidorm is northeast of Alicante is within easy reach of the airport. Benidorm is the unofficial summer party capital of the Costa Blanca and is always busy day and night. Would you believe Benidorm has 1,000 restaurants and 30 discos?

In such a busy place, where do you start? You have a lot of choices. You can start at the beach. The Playa de Poniente is the easiest to find because it is located on a main road. It is also very busy. If you prefer a quieter spot, go to the Playa de Levante.

If you are traveling with children or are just young at heart, be sure to visit Aqualandia Park, a water park with plenty of waterslides and other water attractions, including an area specifically for the tiniest tykes.

Another great place to go is Terra Mitica, an amusement park with an ancient history theme. Each of its sections is based on a different ancient civilization, which gives a whole new twist on familiar thrill rides.

If you want to get some education on your family vacation, your best bet is Mundomar Aquatic Park which is a great way to see marine animals, such as dolphins, seals, sea longs and even penguins. There is also a children’s play area for the little ones to get their wiggles out.

Eventually you have to eat, but where can you go that’s a little out of the ordinary? Try the Castle of Conde of Alfaz which hosts a medieval dinner complete with a jousting tournament. There are knights in real armor and weapons fighting on horseback while you enjoy a delicious dinner of chicken, ribs and other tasty dishes.

For more modern fare, you can visit Benidorm Palace, which often presents a wonderful three-hour-long dinner show with dancing, singing, comedy and magicians.

To find out the details for any of these sites, go online or consult a travel guide for Spain. A good travel guide will give you hours and locations and may even provide discount rates for you and your family.

These are just some of the many things to see and do in Benidorm. There is much to experience, it is best to plan ahead. If you plan, you will be sure to do the activities you most want.

Fortunately the weather in Benidorm is always good: The summers are hot and dry and the winters are very mild. There is no bad time to visit the Costa Blanca. You may be surprised to see there is always a contingent of tourists from English-speaking countries here, so language should not be a problem.

Everyone in your family will love vacationing in Benidorm. Once you visit, you are sure to keep coming back.