Many of those who visit the Dominican Republic for its golden sandy beaches, tropical forests, and adventure in Jurassic Park-esque settings discover that it's also home to a world of rich culture, intriguing history and especially some world-class contemporary art.

One of the DR modern art scene's most famous figures was the late Cándido Bidó, whose work earned him international fame in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. His works were highly sought after by foreigner collectors s

Nova Scotia is so much more than I expected. It’s a delight to the senses, a city that speaks to the soul. I went there to learn about the wines, and came home with a wider appreciation of their dynamic and intriguing mix of heritage and culinary mastery. It’s such an easy trip to get there, you should definitely think about adding it to your “must travel to” list. I am glad I did.

Flying into Halifax to start my seven-day trip with seven other writers was easy. The airport is small and easy to n

There are few animals – and offhand I can’t really think of any birds – with quite the mystique of the iridescent emerald-green denizen of southern Mexico and Central America known as the resplendent quetzal. Since they’re fairly rare (officially “near threatened”) and even more elusive, you’re very unlikely to spot one if you go birding in the scrub forests of the Yucatan or the highlands of Chiapas (they’re somewhat easier to spot further south, in places like Costa Rica and Guatemala, altho

If you’re traveling in a wheelchair, getting around at your destination is a major concern. Yes, there are companies like Wheelchair Getaways that provide wheelchair accessible van rentals but they run around $100 a day, plus tax and mileage.

Luckily, one option is becoming more common in increasing areas of the world…accessible public transportation.

Here in the U.S., the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that new public transit be made accessible and older transit choices be adapted

One day in Bocas del Toro an indigenous man dropped by with a parrot to sell me. I knew I wasn't going to be here long enough to buy pets, but I had owned a parrot when I lived in South America as a kid, and I always wanted another. I figured that when I left Bocas I would let him go, like I did my macaw in Cochabamba.

As long as he was there, I decided to ask him about the indigenous culture. Not necessarily how they lived now, but what their history and traditions were. 

“What island are yo

I met Nemo the other day. Well, actually it was his cousin. Instead of a cute bright orange and white striped Clownfish, this little guy was a vibrant yellow and turquoise with dark stripes. It swam right up to my snorkel mask, in my mind to say, “Hi!” Really, what it was probably thinking was “bug off,” given that it was a Sergeant Major Fish and highly protective of its territory.

I was living the good life on a Planet Dolphin catamaran sailing and snorkeling tour off of Quepos and Manuel Anton

As I stand at the top of the Rio Grande Gorge in the wild lands outside of Taos, New Mexico, I peer down into a 900-foot tunnel of sandstone-brown with a thin string of color – the Rio Grande – at the bottom. It has taken millions of years for this spot to look this way. And it takes only seconds to take my breath away.

When you realize you’re about to go down into the Gorge, it takes your breath away, as well. You can climb down into it, as some do. Or you can do as I’ve done, starting at the bo

por Cristóbal Ramírez 

El estrés no va con Nueva Orleáns. Tampoco las hamburguesas XXL. Y no se utiliza el coche para ir a la esquina. The Big Easy, como la llaman los lugareños, tiene poco que ver con esas mega ciudades americanas enmarañadas en autopistas. Aquí se camina, se baila y se come marisco. Casi nada, ¿eh? Ubicada en el estado de Louisiana, en el llamado Deep South, acoge un centro histórico delicioso: el barrio francés, con balcones de hierro.

Muchas de las calles tienen letreros e

Srinagar… famous as the city of the Dal Lake is also the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Situated at 1,730 meters above sea level, the uniqueness of this city are its lakes and the house boats and shikaras swinging on the water. The origin of Srinagar is said to be Srinagari founded by Emperor Ashok in 3rd century B.C. The great Buddhist scholar from China also has written about Srinagari, as a beautiful city in the northern most part of India.

A city of mixed cultures. The Hindus, the

Will Google harness its awesome search capacity, plus its Youtube, plus social indicators from a person's searches to make travel suggestions and shape travel experiences? And book travel too.

We say, yes. It says "yes," too.

It's widely accepted that travelers are seriously unhappy with online travel agents (OTA's) - the big-box airline ticket aggregators like Expedia and Priceline.

The reasons are obvious: OTA's are complex, complicated and have no flexibility to address a traveler's speci

As the economy continues to lag many Americans are discovering the world of vacation rentals. Families in particular are finding that vacation rentals are a much cheaper way to enjoy first class accommodations at reasonable prices. Renters can visit exotic locations and expensive cities for half the cost and three times the space of a traditional hotel. However, despite the perks of vacation rentals, many people have yet to try them out. There are various reasons for this, but one common issue i

Montana is cowboy country, pardner, and cowboys -- and of course cowgirls -- wake up hungry. You, too, will rise and take a shine at breakfast to to these luscious buttermilk flapjacks.

The Resort at Paws Up serves food that will satisfy the Western outlaw in you. Occupying miles of untamed wilderness in Montana's Blackfoot Valley, Paws Up goes way beyond the usual dude ranch, offering modern, spacious lodgings and all sorts of traditional western adventures, like horseback riding and fishing

Why this is one of the best places for walking holidays in Spain!!

The Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada represents the highest massif in Europe after the Alps, with Mulhacen at 3482m is the highest peak in the Iberian peninsular. The highest peaks can remain snow capped for the much of the year which is unusual seeing as its only 33km from the Mediterranean coast.  The Sierra Nevada, designated Andalucia's second national park in 1999 after Donana. Extends over a range of 2000km2, through the regions o

There is no shortage of niche travel labels out there – ecotourism, responsible travel, sustainable travel, ethical travel, experiential travel, mindful travel, real travel, good travel, pro-poor travel, community-based tourism, local travel etc. I suspect, though, that more than just a few of them are either meaningless or confusing to travel consumers. And we know that some of these labels have lost their potency as a result of unscrupulous entrepreneurs' false application of the terms (common

Costa Rica is known for its adventures. One that draws adventure enthusiasts from all over the world is scuba diving in Costa Rica’s warm and beautiful waters.

The “Rich Coast” in Central America offers under-the-sea adventures ranging from impressive coral reefs to vast schools of fish and other marine life to shipwrecks. With two coastlines, the Pacific and the Caribbean, Costa Rica presents scuba divers with a myriad of fascinating dive sites. Warm, tropical waters off Costa Rica stay near an

Chau's Fresh Fruit and Juice also serves fresh steamed corn and boiled peanuts. Located at Maunakea Market.

You'll surely wish you'd have a kitchen to cook in when you stroll around Chinatown on a busy Sunday morning. Shop after shop overflows with fresh produce, meats and seafood -- a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. The streets are abuzz with locals shopping and haggling. You'll want to do some of the same if you're tempted by the myriad little shops with Chinese goods ranging from

In a relatively recent article that proved very popular with readers and travel industry pros, New Media Travel asked, "Why Are Hotel Websites so Boring?"

We had our own theories, especially the one that said hotels do not want to offend certain potential customers by showing, for example, mixed-race couples or, say,  real families having fun. These latter images might offend childless guests.

We also argued that hotel websites need to use more video...whatever it takes to create an emotionally

by Barbara Ramsay Orr

For someone with a healthy appetite like me, the lure of Thailand and Thai food is irresistible. I love the temples, the generous and polite people, the golden Buddhas, and all of the colour and drama of Bangkok. But I am an unapologetic foodie, and the moments of culinary bliss that I have experienced in Bangkok figure prominently in my memories of this city, right up there with the saffron-clad monks and the jewelled temples.

Bangkok is a big city, and it can be intimida

I’m standing on the deck of a mighty wooden treasure ship, 170 feet long and 495 tons, watching tourists amble and poke about – but I admit, in my mind's eye I’m picturing pirates, sailors, and skeezy, barnacle-encrusted zombies from Davy Jones’ locker slashing, parrying and whizzing through air filled with flames and cannonballs. 

Forgive me, I’m afraid that over the years, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has wormed its way all too far into my head. But enough - a shake of the head, an