People travel from around the globe to visit the Grand Canyon and if you enjoy the outdoors, you are sure to enjoy a holiday here. Flowing through this stunning canyon is the Colorado River and a huge number of people choose to spend their holiday hiking down to it. They usually camp near the river or stay at the Phantom Ranch, spend some time exploring and then hike back out. Others prefer to ride a donkey up and down the canyon, which is somewhat easier than hiking the whole way. If neither option sounds appealing to you, you may prefer to simply view the canyon from the rim, without descending into it.
If you do decide to stay at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, there is the Phantom Ranch, which also has a restaurant. You should be aware that the ranch is extremely busy and if you do wish to stay there you will need to make a reservation up to a year in advance of your visit. Bookings can be made by visiting the Grand Canyon accommodation website.
read comments (0)Lure of Luxury in the Islands
> Posted by channel in Travel Destinations, Travel Tips, Worldwide Travel
Luxury holidays in the Caribbean offer an enormous range of choice. Small islands glistening in the deep blue sea, palm fronds gently waving in a cooling breeze and the gleaming white beaches acting as magnets for visitors.
Caribbean luxury holidays introduce the relaxed lifestyle synonymous with the region, from the northernmost Bermuda with its Caribbean soul to the southerly Trinidad and Tobago, a stone’s throw from the coast of Venezuela.
It may be hard to choose which part of this idyllic region to visit but once experienced the lure of the Caribbean is hard to resist. Those seeking romance and peace and quiet may look to Barbados or Grenada holidays, while those seeking a paradise for sailors will look to the British Virgin Islands. Every luxury holiday destination offers a huge range of sporting activities, both on land or on the water.
Hiking the volcanic trails in St Lucia, windsurfing and waterskiing in Antigua, golf and tennis in the Bahamas, a trip back in history with the colonial architecture of St Kitts & Nevis, every island has its own fascinating story to tell.
Whether it is for luxury holidays to unwind or adventures on land and sea, Caribbean holidays have something to offer everyone. Adults and children alike can always expect the warmest of welcomes, the finest of local and international cuisine, pampering spa treatments and the azure waters forever lapping at the endless beaches.
Cruise and stay holiday package
> Posted by channel in Cruise Advice and Tips, Travel Tips, Worldwide Travel
When shopping around for the best cruise packages, you will have to choose from an assortment. One of the packages you will come across is the cruise and stay. This package allows you to experience both sea and land. You can relax on a ship while having a great view of the waters for a few days and later experience a beach resort for an additional period.
These holidays expose you to different continents with great attractions. It would be impossible to have such an experience from one locality. Therefore, they are best when visiting distant territories. For example, you could take a cruise from the UK and head for the United States, Rome or South Africa among other destinations. All the same, you must be well prepared financially because you might want to spend on shopping, exquisite food and land trips on board and ashore.
If you have never been on a cruise before, you might enjoy taking this package. This is because it gives you a break from the sea. In addition, it exposes you to different worlds and cultures you will love.
The Earth is now experiencing a period described by scientists as the 2012 to 2013 Solar Maximum, meaning that sunspot activity is now at its highest. Sunspots create solar flares that, when hitting the atmosphere of the Earth, produce the Northern and Southern lights that light up the sub-Arctic and Arctic regions.
The Northern Lights can sometimes be seen from late August through to mid April. It can be quite magical to see the Northern Lights dance across the skies when there is a full moon. The strongest lights will normally take place from October through November and then February through March between 9 pm and 1 am. It is better to stay away from areas and towns that have light pollution.
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, can generally be seen in the north central parts of the United States, such as North Dakota and Minnesota; Lapland including Sweden, Norway Finland, and northern Siberia. The Southern Lights, or Aurora Australis, can be seen in parts of Australia and Tasmania.
Taking good photos of these dancing Northern Lights can be very difficult, as they are fast moving, usually faint and are against a pitch-black background. Here are some valuable tips for a fair chance of capturing an eternal memory:
• A sturdy tripod will be essential, as the exposure time will exceed 10 to 20 seconds. A near-perfect photo cannot be achieved by holding the camera by hand for this length of time.
• The camera should have a manual exposure of five to 40 seconds.
• The fastest wide-angle lens should be used, with an aperture of at least f/2.8 (f/1.4 will be best)
• Fast film: A good film camera must be used with no less than 400 ASA film (800 ASA is better) or the equivalent ISO settings on digital cameras.
• A self-timer or cable release to trigger the shots without moving the camera.
Camel riding tours are a fun and exciting way to see the historical sights of Egypt. Most of the camel guides in Egypt are Bedouin. This tribe actually lives in the desert. As a visitor rides through the desert area on their camel they will have the chance of experiencing the history and culture of the Bedouins and of Egypt.
Many different kinds of camel rides are offered when embarking on cheap holidays to Egypt. These will vary from camel trekking through Sharm El Sheikh and also the more adventurous off-road treks. Setting off from Sharm El Sheikh, the visitor will trek into the desert and also visit a Bedouin camp to experience the way this tribe lives. Visitors might even share some herbal tea with the Bedouin natives. They will also see the beauty of the setting sun while in the desert. This can be quite an unforgettable experience.
Camel safaris can be enjoyed in the high mountainous ranges of the Southern Sinai region that passes between the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba. This area cannot be seen if travelling by car or vehicle. This only makes the camel safari even more special. The Bedouins conducting these tours always look out for any new route and love to show off the incredible scenery that this area offers.
When planning a camel safari, it will be necessary to be prepared for any kind of weather. This can range from freezing temperatures during the night to sunshine drenched heat waves in the daytime. Direct flights to Sharm El Sheikh depart from various UK airports that include: London Gatwick, Bristol, Belfast and Manchester.
Festivals of the Maldives – When to Plan a Visit
> Posted by channel in Travel Destinations, Travel Guides, Worldwide Travel
The Maldives may be a wonderfully small island country, but it invokes strong feelings of national patriotism and has a strong religious community. Planning Maldives holidays during festivals – when the local population has a chance to come together and share the same enthusiasm or ties – is a fantastic way to explore Maldivian local culture.
Some significant times to visit the Maldives include:
Republic Day of Maldives
On November 11, the islands celebrate with dances and marches, with children and neighbours. A collection of lively special events are performed each year to mark the freedom of the republic.
Independence Day
Celebrating independence from the British on July 26, Maldivians welcome the event with pomp and gaiety, including music, dance and jazz performances.
Maldivians also celebrate religious holidays with as much fervour as national ones. Religious holidays are times of solemnity and respect, and days of observance or celebration among the Maldivian people. Holidays are scheduled based on the lunar calendar. Some of the Islamic celebrations that the nation commemorates include Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and the month when the Qu’ran was revealed, and Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan fasting. Other holidays include Eid-Ul-Adha, one of the major religious celebrations of the Maldives.
If planning a skiing trip to the South Island of New Zealand, there are a variety of impressive ski fields and accompanying ski resorts where great last minute ski deals and package deals are offered.
There is a long ski season on South Island. In Canterbury, Mount Hutt generally opens in June, with the season continuing until the end of October. The scenery here is spectacular and last minute ski deals often include a variety of other pursuits and après-ski activities.
Queenstown and Lake Wanaka
Dramatic and eye-catching, the Alps that surround the Queenstown resort offer breathtaking views. Queenstown borders Lake Wakatipu, and it inspires respect and admiration as a winter ski destination with its sophisticated, lively resort. Located in an urban setting, Queenstown boasts popular and stylish bars and restaurants, fashionable boutiques and is easy to get around.
The township of Wanaka is quieter than Queenstown, but it has the largest skiable territory in all of New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea and the neighbouring islands of the Pacific Ocean. Last minute ski deals can be arranged to the well-known Treble Cone and Cardrona, offering amazingly good value for world-class facilities. Staying in Wanaka makes sense, as there is easy access daily to Cardrona and Treble Cone by bus and a shuttle service from the centre.
Snow Park NZ is well worth a visit. It is the country’s major terrain park and hailed as excellent for cross-country skiing and freestyle skiing.
Royal Caribbean Cruises – Fun for All the Family!
> Posted by channel in Caribbean Cruises, Cruise Advice and Tips, Travel Tips
Loyalty programmes are a wonderful way of rewarding customers for past business and, at the same time, keeping them up-to-date with news and fresh marketing initiatives such as cruise and stay options and last minutes cruises.
Royal Caribbean has a loyalty programme called the Crown and Anchor, which passengers can join, even if they’ve only taken one cruise.
To take part in the Royal Caribbean loyalty programme, once you have taken a cruise, you simply enrol online ready to enjoy the benefits of being a Crown and Anchor member.
The following is a summary of the benefits of joining:
• The quarterly Crown and Anchor magazine has news and information on special member cruises.
• As a member, you will receive savings certificates for use at the on-board spas and bars.
• When on board a ship, you can enjoy evenings just for members.
• There are discounts for bring-a-friend promotions.
• You will receive cruise points. These are based on the number of nights you spend on board the ship. Just like many airline loyalty programmes, there are tiers that give you more benefits for a greater number of nights on board.
Members of the Crown and Anchor can enjoy exclusive access to their own section on Royal Caribbean’s website, which offers personalised, member-only benefits, offers and promotions.
Royal Caribbean has a proud history of caring for its customers both before and after a cruise. The Crown and Anchor loyalty programme is just one way of saying ‘thank you’ to its passengers for their business.
Family holidays are a time for bonding through engaging in different activities together. With resorts dotted around the 1,190 low lying coral islands of the Maldives, educational fun will certainly be catered for. Soaking up the sunshine on Maldives holidays and enjoying the pearly white beaches can make all of the anxiety and daily stresses seem unimportant, especially when laughter and exploration are the order of the day.
Most couples are unable to find time to be alone, especially when they are on holiday with children. This can often leave them feeling less rejuvenated, as the holiday seems tailored around their children’s needs.
The Maldives is an inspiring destination for couples to spend essential quality time together, and finding this time can make all the difference as you are able to reconnect as a couple and bask in the beauty of your surroundings as well as in each other’s company. That said, the problem is often being able to find a professional child minding service that can give you peace of mind, leaving you to enjoy the precious time you have together.
Maldives holidays offer you the option of using child-minding services on the different islands. This way, you know that your children are in safe hands and you are then able to have some time to yourselves. Your children will not be left to simply sit and waste the day away. Instead, they too will be able to take in some of the activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, and other water sports for which the island is renowned.
Do not Forget to Insure Your Luggage and Belongings
> Posted by channel in Travel Insurance
When booking your next holiday remember to get travel insurance to cover your personal luggage. The amount of insurance cover you require will be determined by the value of your luggage. It is often the case that there will be a limit on the number of particularly expensive items you may take with you.
If you get to your destination and find your luggage has been lost, then your travel insurance policy will pay a set amount to allow you to purchase essential items like clothes.
When considering travel insurance for personal belongings or your holiday baggage, remember that your home insurance may cover you for some things. It is worth checking your policy schedule to see what is and is not covered to save money across your insurance policies.
It is always your responsibility to take reasonable care for your belongings. If your luggage is in the hands of another, such as the airline or hotel transfer company, then they will be your first point of contact for recovering your lost or damaged items. If you have your items stolen, you will need to get a report from the local police, so that you can include this with your claim.
Your travel insurance policy may not cover you for loss of your passport, tickets, or other important travel documents. Therefore, check the policy schedule to ensure you have suitable cover and assistance in getting replacements.