The shining and smoothly flowing holy Ganges, the chants of prayers coming from the ghats, the music of the river that touches you soul, the scenic charm that rejuvenates your mind and body, and the adventure sports that give you the high. At the foothills of the Himalayans in Uttarakhand state, Rishikesh is known as an ancient city holy to Hindus, but thanks to its location it has also become a go-to place for adventure junkies and backpackers in the recent years - for many, a perfect blend of
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courtesy of Christopher Elliott
When Robert Herbst's nonstop flight from New York to Raleigh, North Carolina, turned into a one-stop, he got worried. When American Airlines assured him he could make a connection at Washington's Reagan National Airport in just 30 minutes, he got very worried.
Herbst, a wellness expert from Westchester, New York, is one of a growing number of minimum connection time skeptics.
Minimum connection times, defined as the shortest interval required to tran
Though it is often vaguely described as stretching from anywhere just north of Brisbane to Fraser Island, the essential Sunshine Coast of Queensland runs between Caloundra in the south to Noosa in the north. Each of the small towns along the way, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Coolum Beach, Peregian Beach, has its own individuality. But perhaps the most upmarket and attractive is Noosa Heads, situated on a peninsula bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east and north and Lake Weyba to the west. Across
Mathurin
South Africa's capital is positively afroth these days in creativity and the arts, and one of its premier epicentres is Maboneng Precinct. Centred on Fox and Kruger Streets, a quick cab ride east from Johannesburg's Sandton business district and overlapping Jeppestown, another creative neighbourhood, this once shabby, no-go inner-city district has since the middle of the last decade been reinvigorated and made "cool" by artists, hipsters, and entrepreneurs, à la Brooklyn's Williamsburg,
Hayfield Manor is an elegant boutique hotel near the city center of Cork. When you combine a spectacular attraction like Blarney Castle with an extraordinary hotel like Hayfield Manor, you have brewed up a "must do" itinerary while visiting the Emerald Isle.
"Leave the hectic pace of city life and enter the tranquil country-garden setting of a magnificent manor house."

The circular drive of Hayfield Manor is reminiscent of grand houses everywhere - and in the axis of the driveway you will find an
Are you planning an extended vacation or business trip? If your travels are going to take you out of town for weeks to months at a time, it's crucial to make sure your house is properly prepared for your long absence. Here are some guidelines to ensure that your home is protected against plumbing issues, appliance malfunctions and more while you are away.
Set Your Thermostat
If your long-term travel is planned for next winter, you'll need to make sure that your thermostat is set to at least 55 de
photos | David Paul Appell
One of the downsides of tourism development, say critics, is its impact on the environment, particularly natural habitats. But in recent years, we’ve seen a growing number of initiatives to minimize its effects – for example, recycling, solar power, and other green practices, in addition to hiring biologists and other scientists to restore and even oversee development in ways beneficial to local environments. On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic’s premier reso
Although white sandy beaches are not the first thing that may pop into your head when you think of northern Vietnam, several in Halong Bay - reknowned for its spectacular scenery - definitely are on par with some of the gorgeous strands of the south! There are three beaches within walking distance of town on the bay's largest island, Cat Ba. They are named Cat Co 1, 2, and 3, and it's very easy to find them as they are essentially all on the same road. On all of them you may have to pay to use
Southern California's Temecula Wine Review Council, of which I am a member, recently gathered for a food pairing and wine tasting of two red wines, Zinfandel and Gamay Noir, from two wine regions, Lodi in northern California and Willamette Valley in Oregon.
2015 Earthquake Zinfandel, Michael David Winery, Lodi AVA - $25
Fifth generation Lodi wine grape growers, Michael and David Philips, founded Michael David Winery 90 miles east of San Francisco, in 1984. This family-run winery uses sustainabl
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Increasing your occupancy rate should not be an expensive task. Most companies try to use SEO freelance consultants in an attempt to build up their search visibility, and while this works to some extent, in today's competitive digital marketing sector within the travel industry, it is unlikely that you are going to overtake the likes of Airbnb or Agoda in the search-engine rankings.
Of course, local SEO is going to work to some extent because your hotel, property management business
A.Savin
We all identify Agra with the Taj Mahal. But this city of 1.6 million in Uttar Pradesh state noted for its monumental buildings of 16th and 17th century when it was the capital of the Muslim Mughal (aka Mogul) Empire is far more than that. For example, here are five things that make Agra an extraordinary place to visit beyong to the Taj:
• Agra boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: in addition to the Taj, there is also the mid-16th-century Agra Fort, a 38-hectare walled city (above
My 14th visit to Negril's Hedonism II clothing-optional resort began June 15, 2019 and ended June 25, and in that time I had a chance to explore most, if not all, areas of the resort property and to experience most of what Hedo had to offer---and again it does not disappoint whatsover.
Hedo has 280 luxury rooms and suites, and mine was No. 2170, a nude beach/jacuzzi premium suite and one that I had occupied in the past. The room was immaculate, clean, and almost cold because the air conditioner
The Arab world's most famous capital of glitz in the desert is full of man-made wonders surrounded by dramatic dunes and great beaches. And with all the breathless chatter about towers such as the Burj Al-Arab and Burj Al-Khalifa; the Dubai Mall and other luxury shopping wonderlands; and controversial mega-developments like the controversial Palm Islands, other amazing attractions sometimes get comparatively less attention. One example is the Dubai Marina, a canal city already established for s
photos | © Turismo de Asturias
by Miguel Martínez Rabanal
Today on the feast day of St. James it's worth noting that the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), the famed mediaeval pilgrimage route from Paris down to Galicia's capital Santiago de Compostela, is famous for not just its spirituality but its history, culture, and pristine nature, making it one of the world's most popular hiking routes.
The verdant principality of Asturias, right next door to Galicia, is home to the single longest
anyaberkut
courtesy of Christopher Elliott
This past spring, researchers from Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University released the 2019 edition of the closely-watched U.S. Airline Quality Ratings (AQR). The team responsible for the ratings sat down for an exclusive conversation with me to explain what the scores mean, and their airline secrets may help you have a smoother flight this year.
In case you missed it, the 2018 Airline Quality Rating showed Delta Air Line
Located at the very top of the United Kingdom, Scotland is home to some truly remarkable treasures. Whether you want to explore the picturesque capital city of Edinburgh, or you’d prefer to get outdoors and discover more of the Scottish Highlands’ landscapes, Scotland really does have something to offer everyone. Here are eight reasons to visit:
Edinburgh’s Unique Charm
The Scottish capital city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It’s home to an abundance of intrigu
by Cristóbal Ramírez
Perhaps the closest thing Latin America has to New York City (and in fact also has the Big Apple beat population-wise by several million - nearly 12 million/21 in metro area), São Paulo is a vibrant - some might say slightly crazy - and skyscraper-thick urb which, as the saying goes, never sleeps.
The best place to begin taking the pulse of the coastal Brazilian city paulistas (locals) fondly dub Sampa and SP is its main thoroughfare, Avenida Paulista. This is
Known as the “Land of Smiles”, Thailand is an eastern wonder in the corner of the Earth that offers boundless reasons to fall in love with its natural beauty, historical riches and cultural treasures. Touted as one of the world’s most romantic destinations, a quick island hop over to Phuket is an absolute must when visiting this exotic bucket-list destination.
I was fortunate enough to experience this magical locale in the most luxe way possible; as a guest at Baan Banyan Villa, a privately-owne
Fishing can be a great way to spend your time with friends or family; in fact, more than 40 million people go fishing every year. It’s safe to say that it’s a pleasant activity. If you’re visiting the Smoky Mountain region, then you might be interested to find that among its other myriad attractions, Gatlinburg is a very popular area when it comes to fishing – and is considered to be among the last surviving wild trout habitats in the eastern part of the United States. Here's a quartet of the be
As we explore our adventurous side, our holiday travel plans may take us to places that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. This may include U.S. states such as Colorado, Oregon, Washington or even Alaska. However, understand that legally does not necessarily mean unrestricted and hence you should always practice caution. This is because substances such as marijuana will have an active ingredient which gets stored in your system for long. Tips to help you with your travel vacation

