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“Viva Venezia” – The Grand Canal with Dorsoduro and the Santa Maria Della Cathedral

Can a hotel inspire one to travel? In most cases, no. But the Sina Centurion Palace is that unique hotel experience that we all long for… a hotel stay that can change your entire perspective on a city or an area. 

The 19th Century Façade – The building is not old in comparison to Venice architecture.

I recently took a trip to Venice, that city of stunning architecture, long narrow canals, bridges, gondolas, the Car

The end of the year in southern Costa Rica is time for one of the country’s biggest indigenous cultural events. This is when the native Boruca community celebrates their traditional “Fiesta de los Diablitos”, or the Festival of Little Devils. The four-day annual event happens from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2 in the village of Boruca on the tribe’s indigenous reservation in the Talamanca Mountains, 25 km inland from Palmar Norte near the town of Buenos Aires.

The people of Boruca keep their rich ancestral t

Santa, baby! In the spirit of the season, for all you moms and dads out there here’s a quick international round-up of several key Kris Kringle korners -- theme parks built specifically around that jolly old elf and his crew. There are of course countless towns and cities (not to mention shopping malls) in various countries that toss up a little “Santa’s Village” for the kids during the Yuletide holidays, but these four in North America and one in Europe are dedicated theme parks that do thei

Los pueblos blancos son para el invierno. Cuando llega el frío y el campo se vuelve verde,  la Sierra de Grazalema, a media hora de Jerez, se llena de senderistas. En esta Reserva de la Biosfera, que casi se junta con el Parque de los Alcornocales, se arraciman un conjunto de pueblos encalados, con geranios en las ventanas y callejuelas de fuerte herencia andalusí.Arcos de la Frontera, un pueblo señorial y grande en lo alto de un acantilado, es la puerta de entrada a la sierra. A partir de ahí,

Christmas is upon us once again. What is it about Christmas that brings out the inner child in all of us? For billions of people around the world Christmas is the biggest holiday or time-off of the year. The annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ is also one of most popular and busiest times of the year to travel. The holiday is most likened to Santa Claus and the North Pole, but while many will spend Christmas in the snow, not all Christmas destinations are filled with white powder,

What are the most ethical travel destinations in the world? The California-based nonprofit Ethical Traveler group has just published its top ten for 2014.

The decision is based on a combination of its human rights and social welfare record,  environmental protection including animal welfare, and its appeal as a travel destination. The list includes only nations in the developing world, so you won't see countries such as the USA or Norway on the list, no matter how ethical and appealing they are.

H

OK, for those who travel a lot, you probably have the packing game down to a science. A routine. You know what to take, how much to take and how to pack it.

Maybe you can skip this article.

But, if images of jumping on your suitcase as your partner quickly snaps the locks shut, or sitting on the thing while you’re doubled over tying the straps is your version of packing, then this primer on how and what to pack may be helpful.

Remember the adage:  “Pack half of what you think you need and bri

The city of Antalya lies on the Mediterranean coast in the south of Turkey, a truly vast country. Sheltered on one side by the Taurus Mountains and bathed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean on the other, in just a few years the region of Antalya has become one of Turkey’s top destinations for spa tourism.

Antalya is a region that enjoys a particularly mild climate. Indeed, it’s safe to say that the sun shines 300 days a year – even in the middle of winter the temperature only rarely drops

Spending your Christmas holidays in Costa Rica and wondering what to do? The capital city of San José has a lot going on. So get your Santa hat and festive cheer ready, and let the rhythm of Christmas in Latin America dash you away!

Christmas in San José, Costa Rica, is a lively, fun time. The city is ablaze with huge lighted Christmas trees adorning the front of the Children’s Hospital on Paseo Colon Boulevard, in front of the Children’s Museum, by the National Gymnasium in the Sabana Park and i

For two years, I had heard whispers of a mountain sanctuary in Eastern Tibet, around which circled a pilgrimage route unmatched for it's scenic beauty. So, in September 2013, I decided to take an expeditionary group on a journey of discovery. Here are some reflections on an amazing trip...

“Say that again?” I asked, completely blindsided.

"The road has been closed” whispered my partner Edward, with his usual smile.

Our trekking group glanced over suspiciously as we sat in Shangri-La’s old town, ove

The enchanting atmosphere of the traditional Christmas markets scattered throughout Europe -- some of them starting this week or next -- is attracting more and more visitors every year. Under the spell of mulled wine, hot chestnuts, grilled sausages and marzipan sweets, it is hard to resist the various types of hand -made gifts. Half-timbered buildings are festively lit and the aromas of mulled wine out of the local vineyards and cinnamon permeate theair at traditional Christmas markets and the

Who doesn't love a beautiful lake?  Here are some of my favorites.

A footbridge hangs over the blue-green waters of Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

 

Wizard Island sits in Oregon’s Crater Lake, which was formed by the collapse of a volcano. Not only is this the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet, but it’s also famous for its deep blue color and crystal-clear waters.

 

Lake Atitlan is situated in the Guatemalan highlands at the foot of 3 volcanoes including the San Pedro volcano pictured above

Have you heard the one about the visiting tourist enjoying Costa Rican tamales? He says, “They’re really delicious, but the lettuce is little tough!” (Costa Rican tamales are wrapped in green banana tree leaves.) Ho, ho, ho!

Tamales are one of the most time-honored Christmas traditions in Costa Rica. Like the rest of Latin America, tamales are a principal part of Christmas dinner. In Costa Rica, tamales are made from corn flour and are filled with many different ingredients, such as potato puree,

IT COULD HAVE BEEN FUN

By Denise Mattia

The day began at the crack of dawn with a journey from Old San Juan into the center of Puerto Rico, to the Toro Verde Adventure Park in Orocovis.  As we took our seats in the Aventuras Tierra Adentro bus, I was skeptical about the forthcoming escapade when Rosario and Hannibal began their comedy routine, replete with sound effects and the Raider’s of the Lost Ark background music.    

The ride was broken up by a pit stop and breakfast at a roadside bodega. 

There are some people who continuously visit the same holiday destination every year. Some of these are places abroad but a lot of them are actually in the UK. Devon is one of those places; the kind of place that will never cease to be a top choice for holidaymakers for a number of reasons.

Weather

The British weather is notoriously unpredictable and in the summer time, you have almost as much chance of having a holiday full of rain as you do of record breaking temperatures. There doesn't appear t

If you’re a true fan of the complexities of Mexican cuisine (as in, beyond Taco Bell and “pass the Old El Paso”) I’m sure you’ve come across one of this country’s most sophisticated contributions to world cuisine, as well as its quintessential “special occasion” dish. There are a number of Mexican sauces referred to as moles (pronounced “MO-layss”), but the best known is mole poblano, a thick, rich, brown concoction that for my money is as tasty and complex as any fancy confection from the kitc

Rugged cliffs plunge into the sea, to the north; a lush forest occupies the central areas and miles of white sandy beaches stretch to the south. That is the small Danish island – palette (588 sq.km), Bornholm, in a few words. The island might be small in area, but whether you choose to go there for a weekend or a long holiday, the tiny sunny islet offers a whole new aspect of Denmark.

A range of activities available for the outdoor lovers – climbing, horseback riding, sport fishing or golf. Art l

Most visitors to Costa Rica start out in the capital city of San José. However, many might not know that San José is an ideal gateway to some of the best one-day tours that Costa Rica has to offer. Starting right from the Central Valley, you have dozens of exciting adventure, nature and cultural tours available to enjoy in just one day.

You could base an entire vacation out of San José. The country’s largest city has a lot to offer visitors, with interesting museums, theaters and historical build