A fair number of factors need to be taken into account when planning a vacation, from picking a destination to deciding upon your dates, putting together an itinerary, and booking transportation. And of course you also need to figure out where to stay - and this can be especially challenging if you are traveling to the destination for the first time.
Making the Most of Hotels & Resorts
If you go the hotel route, in order to keep unpacking and repacking to a minimum on a trip to one pl
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As an ex-flights attendant for 25 years, Bonnie is well traveled. Today, we both enjoy tying work and leisure working in the U.S, where I am from and Hong Kong, where we have been visiting Bonnie’s family and friends several times a year, pre-Covid.
Over the years operating here, we have met couples and people from all all over the world – As far as Siberia! We have met client’s who were not given the best information and their trip could have been better. For those of
The authors riding an ATV at Primland
“You want me to go where?!” my mind shouted as I barreled down a 90-degree embankment leading into a wall of mud -- and gravel-encased woods. I was driving – or more accurately surviving – an ATV excursion at the Primland luxury resort in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
On the hourlong ride, when I was willing to unclutch the steering wheel long enough to wave at an occasional wild turkey, pheasant or deer (I was disappointed we didn’t see any of the black b
Spain's explored third largest city is a splendid choice for student trips from primary school through university - even if it's just a long weekend - as it mixes a wonderfully preserved historic core with modern neighbourhoods (including dramatic contemporary landmarks), fabulous dining, and appealing cultural opportunities - much of it concentrated in a relatively compact centre, making it easy to take it without too much walking. Valencia is especially recommendable to visit in t
If you want to give your holiday with family and friends an especially fun and unique dimension, then choosing a private sailboat or motorized yacht is an excellent option, both for the experience in itself and the flexibility it gives you. Many of these boat charters are based on various European coasts (especially in southern Europe), while others can be found in the Caribbean, elsewhere in the Americas, and at other locations across the world, at rates ranging from $400 to more
by Miguel Martínez Rabanal
The Dominican Republic is of course well known as a destination for marvelous beaches, cool adventure sports, and the historic corners of its capital Santo Domingo. Much more "under cover," if you will, is what's underground: thousands upon thousands of caves, the most of any Caribbean country. It's a subterranean world filled not just with amazing formations and even lakes, but also the artifacts of ancient civilisations.
The DR averages one cave for each
Spring is here, and summer's already around the corner! If you’re a flower gardener - and the National Gardening Association estimates that members of over a third of U.S. households are - you already may have begun to till soil and plant seeds. And those who like to travel as well as garden (as well as those who enjoy gardens more by watching than working), now is time to plan a trip to take in some of Mother Nature’s bountiful beauty.
Gardens come in a variety of types, sizes and offerings
Photo: Pesto a la Mexicana © John Lamkin
Genoa is believed to be the birthplace of pesto. France has a similar sauce called pistou. Mexico is the birthplace of the avocado, one of the healthiest fruits known. Substituting the Mexican avocado for the Italian olive oil in this recipe makes healthy and tasty sense.
Recipe
2/3 cup packed coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (mix with Romano, if you wish)
1/3 cup avocado and garlic oil (I use Ahuacatlan brand)
2 or 3 t
With a population of around 10,000, Rüdesheim am Rhein is a winemaking town in the fabled Rheingau scenic and wine region, and less than an hour's drive from Frankfurt. Our river-cruise ship docked here where a land train - which Germans call by the delightful name of Bummelzug - picked us up and took us to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. This is one of the quirkiest, amusing and entertaining museums I’ve been in for a long time. Mainly it exhibits pianolas and barrel organs, which produce
Invented in Hawaii in the 1940s, stand-up paddle boarding has become especially popular in the last decade, partly because unlike surfing it can be practiced by a broad range of people of all ages and fitness levels.
But while most people associate this activity with placid seas and lakes, an increasing number are using them to surf - albeit relatively mild surf, no more than one to two feet high.
Most paddle boards are made of fiberglass and are ten to 12 feet long, but there are ot
The United Arab Emirates - and in particular Dubai - attract more than more than 21 million vacationers per year (quite a few honeymooners among them) - with a rich diversity of sometimes astounding offerings - much of them modern and man-made - and a more liberal atmosphere than in much of the rest of the Middle East (though, for example, women should still take care to dress "modestly," in attire that covers their knees).
Attractions include magnificent skyscrapers like Burj Khalifa (curr
I’m a travel writer. Words are what I do. My stories may not always sing, but I usually can put one word in front of another succinctly enough to craft a quasi-well-written article. But when I heard about the newly opened Planet Word several blocks northeast of the White House in Washington DC, I was so excited, I had no words. But I knew I couldn’t get there fast enough to see all the magical ways in which words – the entire focus of the museum “where language comes to life” – can be employe
The last time I went to Italy, I chose the southern Adriatic Sea port of Bari - capital of Apulia (known as Puglia in Italian), the "heel" of the Italian "boot" - along with two nearby resorts. Why Bari? Frankly, mostly because it's home to the famous Basilica di San Nicola - St. Nicholas - top left), and my name is Nicolae. There also happens to be a direct flight on the low-cost carrier Wizz from Timisoara, in my country Romania.
So in just an hour I was in Bari (pop. 327,000), and for 1.50
Alextov
by Tom Bunn
Following up on a recent post I wrote about air turbulence, let me note that pilots who conduct fear-of-flying courses are fond of saying “knowledge is power”. Most insist that if passengers understand how safe flying is, they will not be afraid. It’s not that simple, however. Intellectual understanding does not translate directly into emotional security.
Knowledge that a plane is safe in turbulence does not prevent an automatic emotional reaction. Regardless of what a pers
Kawagoe (pop. 353,000) is a traditional and lively Koedo (“Little Edo”) city just 30 minutes north of Tokyo along the Tobu Tojo rail line. Its spring festival, held from late March through early May, is an annual cultural highlight.
From the last Saturday in March (this year, March 27) until May 5, the lively, traditional-flavored city of Kawagoe (pop. 353,000), just 30 minutes north of Tokyo’s Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu Tojo Line, celebrates its spring festival.
As the cherr
Once notorious as a "where-the-boys-are" (and often somewhat rowdy) spring-break beach destination, Fort Lauderdale has in recent years expanded beyond its lovely beaches to become a well rounded destination with something for everyone, from budget to luxury travelers. Its attractions include peaceful natural preserves, exquisite botanical gardens, inviting marinas, historical sites, interesting museums, and dynamic cultural venues.
After you’ve spent the day gallivanting around the city, there’s
Albania is one of the most underrated and least touristed corners of Europe, with fantastic history, cuisine, and scenery, and a prime example of that scenery is the Albanian Riviera along its 172-kilometre (107-mile) Ionian Sea coast, a place where the sun stretches across the deep sea 300 days per year; where there are splendid configurations of rocky and isolated small beaches; and the mountains and hillsides are covered in Mediterranean vegetation and dotted with charming villages
My wife Fyllis and I had long dreamed of visiting Costa Rica. We knew its reputation for magnificent landscapes, abundant animal and bird life, and preservation of the magnificent environment. We could have spent hours searching the Internet for flights and hotels, reserving a rental car and taking care of the many other details that are required. But we didn’t.
Instead, we made a single phone call that took care of all of the necessary planning. In addition, we knew that we would be following
In addition to impressive sites and fabulous dining, Hong Kong is a territory full of wonderful experiences, deeply rooted in both traditional and modern culture. Here are nine not to miss:
Attend a Chinese Festival
There are festivals that take place throughout the year. Two of the major ones are Lunar New Year (the next one is around February 1, 2021, the Year of the Ox) and the Mid-Autumn Festival (aka the Lantern Festival or Moon Festival, next held this September 21st. Both are bea
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Once the vaccines take hold and travel opens up fully again, you richly deserve a getaway. And even before that, with the proper precautions it's possible to travel safely. And while the amazing diversity of the United States offers a huge menu of options, here are five regions especially worth your attention that you can enjoy in a long weekend, or of course a full week:
The Gulf Coast
Stretching from South Florida up to Alabama, then across Louisiana, Missisippi, and Texas,
