Estosha National Park

Estosha National Park is known for its incredible wildlife. Grasslands, bush and a shallow lagoon make for all kinds of diversity. The guidebooks say that there are at least 115 mammal species in the park. Joe is an avid birder, so he was thrilled about the 350 species that make their home in Estosha. We hired a safari jeep. The guide parked us next to a beautiful watering hole. Sadly, we did not see any lions. However, we saw several elephants, and Chip was able to snap a couple of action shots before the animals started getting too close. Slowly but surely, we were getting a feel for Africa.

Fish River Canyon

We were all relatively fit guys, so we decided that hiking was a good way to push the physical envelope. Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. This is not like some leisurely backwoods stroll. This was our Hemingway moment. The ravine is 160 km long. This was our man versus nature adventure. The river usually floods in late summer, but today the landscape is dry and hot. In fact, the heat is pounding. We soldiered through. We snapped photos. Joe was no doubt thinking that he could not wait to be married. There would be no more of this manly silliness. Later, we had a few beers at the hotel. We all agreed that Fish River Canyon was the best hike we ever took together.

Later that night, we went to the Beer House. Joe ate crocodile. I had the zebra. This was the light beer version of a Ernest Hemingway bachelor party.

Las Canteras beach is the pearl of paradise Gran Canaria located in the Atlantic Ocean. This beach is very close to Las Palmas which is the capital of Gran Canaria. Las Canteras has a fantabulous golden beach stretching for over four kilometers along the coast which is situated to the northwest of the city. Considered as the nation’s best urban beach, Las Canteras is a true reflection of life in Las Palmas. The weather remains sunny in both seasons and with pleasant weather all round the year, tourists wish that times cease and clocks stop ticking when they rejuvenate on this charming beach. These sandy shores are also famous for surfing and swimming, so all the water enthusiasts visiting Las Canteras can surely fulfill their desire.

The bottom of the sea is home to thousands of fish species and has a long formation spreading not far from the start of sandy shore. Locals popularly call this as “La Barra” which translates as a singular line of volcanic rocks that protects large area of beach from tides. Another name for Las Canteras is the changing beach given for its unique trait that though the beach stays on the same place, it appears different every single day. So any place that you see today, may not be the same tomorrow on Las Canteras beach.

Numerous hotels, shops, restaurants and other tourist attractions make Las Canteras  a popular destination amongst the tourists.

Major tourists attractions in Las Canteras include -

• Las Arena (biggest shopping center)
• Doramus Park in the Ciudad Jardin
• Las Palmas beach
• El Cortijo golf course
• Crocodile park.
• Wild West park
• Sightseeing by horse-drawn taxi
• Beach style central park
• Alfredo Kraus Auditorium

Not only sight-seeing, there are many activities that will keep you busy and engaged throughout your trip. These include –

• Water sports
• Surfing
• Nightlife
• Shopping
• Food festival in restaurants

Las Canteras will surely give you the much needed romantic getaway you were looking for as well as a delighted and pleased wife!

The capital and largest city in Western Australia is Perth, situated right on the coast looking out over the Indian Ocean. With a view like that, it’s no wonder it’s been voted as one of the best cities in the world to live in. Perth has a fantastic climate, with the mercury rarely dropping beneath 60°C during the day. For a fantastic view of the city, take a trip to Kings Park which is especially stunning at sunset. The park also has much to see, including a botanic garden so it’s well worth a visit. You should also take the time to head to the Swan Bell Tower, a modern tower where eighteen bells ring out and Perth’s newest tourist attraction. To begin venturing out of the city, take a ferry ride out to Rottnest Island, where you can snorkel and dive in the beautifully clear waters.

Heading south from Perth, make your way along the coast to Rockingham. An hour’s drive from Perth, Rockingham is a coastal paradise and there is much to do here including surfing and snorkelling. Take a trip out on a boat to go dolphin spotting or a trip out to Penguin Island to see the adorable penguin colony that live here. Also south of Perth is Margaret River, a place which is famous for two things: wine and surfing! Make sure you book onto a wine tour and sample Australia’s finest and also take to the sea to hit the waves, though probably not on the same day!

If you head north along the coast of the Indian Ocean from Perth, there are also some gems to discover. A five hour drive north takes you to Geraldton, where you can surf, windsurf and even dive on several different wreck sites off the coast as well as lay back and relax on many of the gorgeous beaches here. On your way from Perth to Geraldton make sure you stop off at Badgingarra National Park which is about halfway between the two. The park gives you a chance to have a taste of the natural wonder of the country with a vast array of iconic Australian animals calling it their home. Further up the coast is Nambung Park which is home to the simply incredible Pinnacles, limestone structures that rise from the sand dunes and loom large over the desert below. They’re an absolute sight to behold, making you feel as though you’ve stepped back to the land before time.

Natalie Likness’ love of travel was introduced to her from an early age due to a trip abroad before she was even born! Having close family and making friends across the world, she has continued to travel ever since.

Before you get going, remember that the London Underground shuts its gates around midnight so unless your party finishes early enough you’ll need to check out other ways of getting home. Of course, if your hotel is relatively central, walking back is free and a taxi will be far less than if you were staying further out. Walking or pre-booked taxis are probably the most convenient ways to get home but if you’re bus savvy you can take advantage of London’s excellent night bus services. The routes cover the whole city and buses run pretty much 24-hours a day in most places.

From the fancy dinner and cocktail type night out to the full-blown club night, London has something for everyone.

Soho has been one of the meccas of the night out within the capital for many years, with exclusive bars like the Groucho Club – the haunt of many a celebrity, and the famous G-A-Y having hosted everyone from Boy George to Kylie. At the moment there’s a new club on the scene in Soho called the Box. This ‘theatre of varieties’ started life in New York and quickly became a great success. It’s not an average night out, with a table costing upwards of a grand (£1,000). It’s a club and theatre combined with an element of the Victorian circus about it. Fire shows and nakedness are to be expected.

There are other famous haunts of the rich and famous like Chinawhite in town, but for the more ordinary among us there are places such as Madame JoJo’s, where you can still get a show but for the more reasonable tenner (£10) to thirty quid (£30) price range.

On the list of the top nightclubs is the infamous Ministry of Sound which over the years seems to have released more CD albums than any other, Pacha, the home of cool and perhaps the favourite, KOKO. The Ministry of Sound has five rooms, four bars, four dance floors and four DJ booths. It has its own record label and is one of the top nightclubs in the world. The music is dance music with top DJs spinning on the decks. The club was the first to obtain a 24-hour license. The Ministry of Sound also hosts hundreds of international events overseas each year.

Pacha, with its juicy cherries logo has been open for ten years and had many a big club night under the glitzy disco ball chandelier in its time.

KOKO is in the building that opened as the Camden Theatre in 1900 and has hosted many great musicians over the years as well as having a music cinema which plays ‘rockumentaries’ and such like.

For more relaxed parties, there are some wonderful cocktail bars in London. From the famous and exclusive to the quirky, some of the greatest can be found in Notting Hill with Montgomery Place serving an excellent Hemingway.

Jesse is a travel writer and nightlark. Having crossed the seven seas looking for the best nights out over the past decade this is straight from the horse’s mouth as it were.

The Emerald Isle is full of stunning scenic beauties consisting of beaches, lakes and seas which will enthrall your senses to its fullest. The mesmerizing mountains, captivating country side, beautiful beaches or the calm coast, Ireland offers you jaw dropping scenic landscapes which will remain intact in your memories long after you return from there.

The adventure activities here will provide you a much needed break from your mundane schedule and will keep your spirits running high. The serene coastlines of Ireland offer one of the most memorable walks in your life. The amazing surfing experience on the beaches of Bundoran with the beautiful dunes will leave you breathless whereas the cycling experience through the lush countryside is a moment to relish till eternity. If you are not the kind of person who will keep himself up and running, equestrian adventure through the dense forests or amidst the cool breeze of beaches will surely leave you stunned.

If you aren’t an adventure freak or a culture loving person, then Ireland offers you multiple other choices. Celebrate the spirit of Ireland with the regional food and the best of seasonal dining by attending one of the numerous food festivals which take place regularly throughout the year. If you think you are no less than Rory Mcilroy, then opt for a Golf vacation in the world’s premier golf destinations with over 400 golf courses.

Ireland offers infinite opportunities to explore its beauty – outdoor or cultural. If you seek some peace of mind, then this country with all its natural phenomenon is a real glimpse of the soothing shade of tranquil heaven.

• Save Money – First thing about budget flights is the fact that they save money. You can utilize this money to do other activities while traveling. You can use it for shopping more or enjoying other things around in the place where you go.
• Comfort – If not an expensive first class air ticket, you would be traveling to your holiday spot most probably by trains. The train journey is obviously a tiring effort. Adding to it, it might not be as comfortable as flights. So, when you are in a budget flight, comfort is always there and it does not tire you.
• Time – Again, while traveling via trains, the journey gets too long. In some cases, longer journeys can dampen the mood of your wife and kids to enjoy the holiday. Cheap flights give you an advantage here; they reduce the time taken to reach your destination by a large percentage. After all, keeping the mood of your family lively is the most important objective of your vacation.
• Joyous feel – Children always have a fascination to sit inside an airplane and travel through it. And when going on the vacation, one of your kids might say that if they can go via air travel. You certainly do not wish to turn down your kid but on the other hand, you even know that it would cost a fortune. In this scenario, cheap air tickets can come to your rescue. They will take off your financial worries and at the same time, your kid will be happy about what you did for him!

Looking at these advantages, traveling to holidays with cheap flights is definitely the best option for anyone. You can look up for these deals even online. Not only that, but you can even book tickets online. There are many websites that offer these facilities. Traveling in such a way would certainly be a cheerful experience!

There are many travel agencies that come up with new challenging holiday offers for you every year. With the help of different websites, you can now virtually explore the world. You have the map of the world in front of you to choose your favorite destination.

You can also learn everything you want to learn about those places, i.e. main attractions, best time to visit, accommodation, local information, shopping, nightlife, etc.

First of all, you have to decide whether you want to visit a plain region or a hill station. If you are going alone, then you can select the destination according to your own choice. If you are planning to go on a tour with family, you have to look into those destinations which can provide ample fun opportunities to your family. A destination with less opportunities for your kids to play around will make them bored quite soon. So, choose your travel spot wisely!

There are plenty of majestic and scenic travel destinations for you on the face of the earth. You can explore them along with your family. Spending holidays in new destinations will help you to know about the real taste of that country. If you are tired of spending the life in bustling cities, then the developed cities like London and New York are not at all good for spending you vacations in. If you are a peace lover, places like country sides are best for you as they are highly relaxing destinations. They will not get disturbed by the fast life of metropolitan cities and you can spend much time with your family.

So, choose the destination carefully as you don’t want to spoil your vacations by visiting the wrong place which will not give you an opportunity of having fun and relaxing. Explore new destinations! Just go ahead and pack your bags!

Norway

Norway is called as the old home of the Vikings which has an adventure opportunity around every turn. It is best known for beautiful fjords, coastline and mountains. The winter sports in Norway include cross-country and downhill skiing, snow kitting, snowboarding, ice skating, snowmobiling, ice climbing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and ice fishing. Summers iIn the mountains of Norway can delight you with activities like cycling, fishing, hiking, haunting, trekking, climbing, summer skiing and mountaineering. Full of fjords, Norway is a perfect place for adventure hungry travelers.

Croatia

With a rich cultural history, Croatia is one of the most adventurous places for your next vacation. It’s terrain that ranges from flat plains to low mountains and highlands offers many activities to the adventure hungry travelers. Mountain biking, hiking, climbing, adventure racing, horseback riding, camping, skiing, hunting, spelunking, white water rafting are some popular activities among tourists. Croatia has diverse natural attractions which are well protected by eight national parks and ten nature parks. If you like water, Croatia offers you kayaking, canoeing, diving, and sailing.

Brazil

Brazil is a perfect place for you to lose yourself in the beauty of the rainforest as it is best known for its jungles, Amazon river and exotic beaches. You will experience an adventurous jungle tour with your guide or you can choose to trek without a guide. Just take a boat or canoe where the Rio Negro runs into the Amazon river and you can see here the wedding of waters. There is the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park besides Amazon which is one of the best places for wildlife watching. Here you can catch a glimpse of capybaras, jaguars, iguanas, caimans and more than 1000 different types of birds. The southern mountains of Brazil offer you the adventurous things like hiking, rafting,  hang gliding, horseback riding, climbing and mountain biking to God’s Finger or Bell’s Rock where you can experience the new world of adventure. For those who want water sports, Brazil has surfing, diving, sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, jet skiing, kite surfing and windsurfing.

Australia

Australia is often called as adventurer’s paradise because of it’s varied terrain. Water sports are a tourist favorite in Australia, that offer everything from kayaking, windsurfing, surfing and water rafting to sailing, speed boating and jet skiing. And of course, no trip can be complete without scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. If you want to venture away for the exotic beaches, there are many inland things to do, such as hiking, biking, overlanding the Outback, climbing at Ayers Rock and the Blue Mountain. This adventurous destination boasts a rich natural diversity, as it can be seen at the Australian Zoo, Cairns Wildlife, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Cairns Night Zoo. With so many different facilities, Australia is a best place for adventure hungry travelers.

There you have it. I hope these destinations will fill your travel itinerary with many adventures in the year ahead!

I have some cues for your next shopping, away from home. Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gift or a classic souvenir, these shopping tips will help you return home with wonderful items that remind you of your traveling.

When you arrive at a new destination, have a look around the airport on your way out. Search if they have some shops that sell local treasures and trinkets. Or do they only offer snacks? While shopping at airport might be a bit more expensive, it offers you an advantage of buying and shipping or buying and carrying the things directly to the place without having to take your new purchase through security.

I always try to buy most of the cosmetics at airports, where they have exclusive, small and handy travel packs. Since we cannot lug around satchels and backpacks every time, these smaller cosmetic cases are preferred. If you can, shop around. You will come to know that the prices vary dramatically from stall to stall and shop to shop. They allow you to bargain and shop the desired things at lower price. Try to shop in bulk to get ample discounts. When shopping during travel, don’t keep all your money in one place. You should distribute them throughout your pockets and wallets. It helps you in case you lose one of them. Also, there is a possibility of getting snatched during shopping.

Do some research before shopping to find out what each area is known for. So that you will know the specialty of that particular place. For example, India is famous for gold and gems, Thailand has good silk as well as textiles, Taiwan specializes in tea whereas Philippines offers high quality affordable pearls.

Travel globally, buy locally. Sometimes, items are sold to tourists that locals would never touch. So, in a new place shop where locals do. For example, if you want to buy souvenirs like coffee, go to the grocery stores and see which brands of coffee local people drink and you may also get it in lower prices. Also make sure that the items you are going to buy were made at that place itself. For this, read the tags on the items carefully. Wouldn’t it be sad to know that the Moroccan slippers you bought in Marrakech were actually made in Taiwan?

So, shop everything you want, that too after proper bargaining. You can entirely change your wardrobe and end up saving money as well. There are bargains out there… go for them!!!!

A mixture of Indian, European and African influences have given South America a very distinct flavor. South America is a host of many wonderful attractions which are most suitable for the whole family. South America is the home of the world’s tallest waterfall, longest mountain chain, driest desert and longest rain forest. I have listed here some of the top tourist destinations of South America where you can enjoy your vacations.

The Amazon

South America is the owner of the Amazon and every traveler has fantasized about a tour to this place. Covering the parts of Peru, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and the Guianas, the Amazon is both, a river as well as a jungle. Amazon river is the world’s largest river in volume and length. The Amazon jungle is the largest rain forest in the world that represents over 60% of world’s combined rain forests. The river extends from its source in the Peruvian Andes and flows all the way to Atlantic. The Amazon rainforest has more diverse species of wildlife compared to anywhere on the earth.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake located on the Peruvian-Bolivian border. It is home to wonderful islands such as Floating Islands and the Island of the Sun which can be visited from the nearby towns of Copacabana and Puno. With the surface area of approximately 8,300 square kilometers, Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake of South America. The water of the lake has an amazing dark cobalt blue color. From a long period, Lake Titicaca has been considered as a sacred place among native people. It is the most sacred, serene, beautiful and magical lake I have ever seen.

Angel Falls

Located in Canaima National Park, Venezuela, Angel Falls is one of the most breath-taking places to explore during vacation. With an height of 3,212 ft (979 m) and a plunge of 2,648 ft (807 m), Angel Falls is the world’s highest waterfall. The fall is nearly 15 times higher than Niagara Falls. Angel Falls is surrounded by jungles, grassland and hidden canyons. The native people of Venezuela call the falls as the ‘Devil’s Mouth’.

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, are the paradise for every nature enthusiast. These islands are the premier wildlife-watching destination in the world. This is the place where Charles Darwin got the idea for the theory of evolution. Though over 30,000 people live on the Galapagos Island, the sea lions are the bosses of these islands. The wildlife here is world famous for its lack of fear for humans. The creatures on these islands have evolved in their own way and are completely free of large predators. There are many plant and animal species that are not found nowhere else on the planet, but can be seen here. The Galapagos Islands tours are plenty in number and hence, you should know your options before flying. These islands will be remembered as the most spectacular highlight of an unforgettable journey.

Rio de Janeiro

No doubt, Rio de Janeiro is the most mesmerizing city in South America. Famous breath-taking beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana make Rio de Janeiro one of the beautiful travel destinations of South America. The mist covered hills, wild nightlife, crowded tropical beaches and Carnival make Rio de Janeiro a heaven for tourists. Although high crime and safety issues are always a concern, Rio still attracts the travelers.

South America! The name alone conjures up an array of wonderful locations. It captures your imagination with the majestic range of valleys, mountains and volcanoes of sheer beauty. If you want to become part of all these magical things, then go to South America this holiday season and collect some pleasant memories! Enjoy!!