Vacation in Dubai - Incredibly Exciting Emirate

Dubai is such an exciting and diverse travel destination that it attracts millions of visitors annually – particularly during the winter months when the weather is perfect for every single activity from sunbathing and scuba diving to camel racing and desert safaris.

If you’re planning a trip to Dubai here’s a guide to the types of attractions and activities you and your family can plan on enjoying.

First things first, as stated the winter months from November through to March are the most popular time of the year to visit the emirate.  The weather is perfect with daily sunshine and high temperatures but the sun is not at its most intense which means that visitors can actually get out and about and not have to avoid the desert heat that radiates excessively in Dubai in the summer.

In January each year Dubai plays host to the now world famous Dubai Shopping Festival, a retail extravaganza that annually attracts in excess of 3.3 million visitors who come to enjoy the month long festival and associated celebrations.

The shopping festival is such a hit because the luxury bargains that tax free Dubai is world renowned for are available at sale prices for example, and every single day there are incredible prizes to be won from luxury cars to substantial cash lump sums!  Add to this the fact that the Dubai Shopping Festival is a family experience and has daily events and activities for children and nightly firework displays for example and you can see why January is such a great time to be vacationing in Dubai.

Once you’ve shopped in the gold souk and the incredibly luxurious malls and marketplaces you might like to get away from the crowds and head out away from the emirate into the desert on a camel or jeep safari; alternatively you could try sand skiing, dune or wadi driving and then have a desert picnic feast.

Heading back into Dubai there are two great ways to get to know more about this historic and incredibly interesting city – a visitor can either take to the air or the water ways and get a unique glimpse of the emirate.  Taking an aerial tour of Dubai in a helicopter is a once in a lifetime experience; or for those who prefer something more sedate why not cruise Dubai’s waterways in a traditional wooden dhow.

For those who’re after a more action packed experience from their vacation in Dubai why not try thunder bowl, horse riding in the desert, go karting, golf, ice skating or deep sea fishing?  And for those with traveling to Dubai with children there are a whole host of exciting adventure parks to try from Dubai Wonderland to Wild Wadi, from Magic Planet to the soon to be completed Snow Dome.

Whatever type of event, activity or attraction you’re after Dubai can satisfy your every whim.  With daily cultural events, nightly entertainment activities and a whole world within one emirate waiting to be discovered what are you waiting for?  Book your vacation today!

Travel to Austria – Your Year-Round Travel Destination

So you want to travel to Austria. Well, you've made a wise choice. Austria is considered one of the top year-round travel destinations. Because of its beautiful Alps, winter sports are quite popular in Austria, providing Austria with high tourist attendance in the winter and giving you a reason to travel to Austria any time of the year.

 If you want to travel to Austria, here are some quick facts you should know when you go.

Austria – The Region
A land-locked country, Austria is located in Central Europe. It is a mountainous country with an area of 83,855 km2. Austria consists of nine provinces: Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia, Styria, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Vienna. Approximately 99% of Austrians are of Germanic ethnic origin and 78% are Roman Catholics. As for the terrain, the Alps occupy the southern and western regions of the country, and numerous forests, valleys, lakes, and rivers can be found throughout Austria.

The Weather
When you travel to Austria, it's important to have an idea about the weather and Austria's seasons. Austria has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Summers are generally warm and pleasant with cool nights. Rain does occur during the summer season but the showers are normally short. Austria's winters are sunny, with reliable and frequent snowfalls. Winters are also cold and accompanied by warm and dry winds in some parts. However the weather overall is changeable throughout the year, so when you travel to Austria, pack appropriately.


The Culture
When you travel to Austria, you'll quickly realize why Austria is widely recognized for its rich cultural past and present. Austria's affluence of artistic achievements is obvious in its architecture and structures like the Stephansdom (Saint Stephen`s Cathedral), Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, the "Goldene Dachl" in Innsbruck, Melk Abbey, and the "Loos-Haus" or the "Hundertwasser-Haus". Austria is also the birthplace of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss Jr., Johann Strauss Sr., and Johannes Brahms. Like most European countries, Austria has a rich culture and affluence that awaits anyone who decides to visit.

The Activities
If you pre-plan your activities for your trip to Austria, here's a heads up. Because of Austria's mountainous terrain, two of the more popular activities for tourists tend to be skiing in the winter and hiking. There are a number of different resorts to fulfill your skiing desires. If you prefer flat terrain to hills, cross-country skiing opportunities are also available anywhere where there's sufficient snow and few buildings. As for hiking, there are thousands of kilometers of hiking trails that will allow you to explore the Alps and its breathtaking views. If you're looking for things to do when you travel Austria, skiing in the winter and hiking are two very popular and exciting Austrian activities for tourists.

Austria has a lot to offer travelers and those who want to travel Austria. From its rich culture to mountain activities, Austria is the answer to those who want to travel in Europe year-round.

Japanese Travel Guide

Getaways are meant to take a person away from all the hurly and burly of life to perfect peace and tranquility. An ideal getaway vacation can thus be at a place where you embrace the beauty of nature in complete serenity. The paradigm example of this is Japan where visitors themselves have discovered countless beautiful getaways. So lets take a look at some of the popular and ideal getaways in the land of rising sun.
Some frequently visited getaways in the Japan are as follows:


· Hagi- it is a nice historic archaic Samurai and castle town in the rural Japan. It is located near the western tip of the Honshu Island. Hagi has some of the wonderful museums and beaches. The Joka- Machi old samurai quarter is worth visitng in Hagi. Besides this the Kumaya Art Mueseum, the Kasuga Shrine near Joka Machi and the Sho-in Shrine are the must visit sites in Hagi.

· Idzumo is one amongst the four most important Shinto shrines of Japan. It is also called the home of gods. The shrine has tremendous historical significance.

· Sekigane is also an amazing Japanese getaway. It is a small village that has hot water springs and coastal mountains. At the end of this small but calm and amazing village is a walk up through bamboo groves to Kamei Park.

· The Kyoto Fu peninsula is a small peninsula that makes a great getaway. In order to reach this peninsula you need to drive from Kumihama to Mineyama, Omiya and Miyazu. On the south of Omiya there is a small shrine that too is religiously and historically quite significant.

· The Wakasa Wan (Bay) is another brilliant getaway. The Wakasa Wan National Park is quite popular here.

· The Obama Bay that stretches to the Oshima Peninsula is also a brilliant getaway. Similarly the Tsunegami Hanto Peninsula that has Rocky Mountains is also worth visiting.

· You can also go to see the Tojimbo Cliffs. These are located on a point of the Echi-zen Kaigan (coast) National Park. It is a popular tourist attraction because of its exotic beauty. If you visit here don’t forget to go to the small fishing village, Anto nearby.

· The Central Mountains of Honshu Island are a big lure to visitors. This island has a collection of various mountains known as Central Alps. It is a great delight and lifetime opportunity to see these world famous ice-capped mountains.

· The Shiwaku Shoto Islands are a group of islands near Oakayama that has many small collections of islands in the Inland Sea. Hon-Jima and Mukkuchi-Jima islands make desirous getaways.

· Apart from these the place of Hokkaido in Japan is recognized as a top romantic getaway. Similarly there are other passionate getaways such as Ikspiari, Vinus Fort, Lover’s Cape and Kobe Portpia.


But this is just the tip of an iceberg for there are many other known and waiting to be discovered getaways in Japan.

Egyptian Travel Guide

The land of the Pharaohs. The child of the Nile. Call it by any name but the mystic land never ends to attract the greatest people to it. It’s the country, which is home to the oldest civilization of the world. The magnanimity and the grandeur of the Egyptian civilization is what make it the traveler’s paradise. The popularity of the place is mainly because of the great pyramids at Giza. These architectural and construction wonders have made a firm footing in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. And that is not all. The pyramids are present at other places too. The famous statue of the Sphinx is also there in Giza. The fertility of the Nile Basin is the main reason why the greatest civilization could thrive there.


The capital city of Cairo is also an international hub now. The city is a smooth blend of culture and modernization. The city has the greatest business centers and the best infrastructure in the country. Ancient museums and art galleries adorn this city. The city holds the distinction of being the oldest in the world. The best way to travel around the city is on foot. This gives the inquisitive tourist ample time to see each structure. But for the people wit less time, transportation is easy in the city. Many mosques are there and they give an impression of the grandeur of architecture.

The great desert surrounds the country and the most important sources of life in the desert are the oases. These are the fertile lands in the middle of the desert, which are used for agriculture and cultivation. They are the cradles of life in the very challenging weathers of the desert. The Dakhla, the Siwa are some of the oases locations where the Egyptian people cultivate. The nomads of the desert find a resting place in the oases. The Foyum is a large oasis and is the source of salt. Many tourists from Islamic and non-islamic countries come to visit the country.

Mount Sinai is one of the sacred spots of the country. It was the place where Moses gave the famous TEN COMMANDMENTS to his disciples and explained them the message of the God. The place is known for its religious importance. The place is lined by the Red Sea, which houses very beautiful coral reef, and it offers fantastic geographic beauty. Apart from the religious pursuits the city also offers the best shopping hubs and showrooms. The city is never short of new things to show. But the spots of religious and historical importance remain the most visited. There are many water parks that offer joy rides and other entertainment offers. The cities of Egypt are always bustling with activity and the bird watchers can find the natural beauties around Lake Nasser. The country fulfills all the expectations of the visitors completely. The most important point remains the preservation of the cultural heritage and that had to in the hands of the residents.

Galapagos Cruise - Tour In Ecuador

TOUR OF THE OTAVALO MARKET

The north of Quito, known as Otavalo country.  This area is about a one and one half to two hour drive to the north. The small Ecuadorian towns of Peguche and Cayambe along the way. In that area is an extinct volcano {Ecuador is full of volcanoes}and a beautiful lake, perfect for an afternoon walk.  In the Otavalo Market, the Otavalo Indians bring trade goods from miles around for sale or barter.  It is a bustling open air market, and the Otavalo Indians are a proud and independent indigenous group from the north of Quito. Lunch was served at a an Ecuadorian hacienda near the town.  Hacienda Cusin has almost three centuries of history in Ecuador to boast of.


ON TO THE GALAPAGOS AND OUR CRUISE

At Baltra island, the airport is small and you must first register before entering.  The Galapagos Islands are actually a national part and regulated by the park service.  You must pay a entrance fee to enter.

Once on the islands, the first amazing  thing you notice is that the animals have no fear of being around you.  They walk right up to you, or just ignore you and walk right past and even seem to be a little curious as to why you have come to visit their island.

The ship were on was recently refurbished: with all new deck furniture, brand new main lounge room furniture, new hairdryers in the private bathroom etc. There were 15 different countries represented on our boat, with many passengers from the US, of course. You can used the glass bottom boat one afternoon. No, you do not need to make a reservation. The snorkeling is great. One afternoon, from the sun deck, a huge black manta ray, the gigantic kind. Many saw it while snorkeling.


You can go to the beach for some snorkeling. The cool water was welcome after our hot hike. At one point, a sea lion swam by to check us out. Then a penguin on the rocky cliff next to us. A little while later the penguin must have dropped into the water.
In only four days, we saw tons of wildlife, including a pod of sharks in 2' of water. The islands are better than you can imagine. The food on board is VERY good & the service is excellent. The crew is terrific, the islands beautiful.

Traveling to Costa Rica and the 3 Must-sees!

The amazing country of Costa Rica is full of so many natural treasures, that choosing what to see with the limited time you have while visiting, can be quite challenging.  I have had the good fortune of traveling & exploring the entire country of Costa Rica, and have come up with the top three must-sees while you are visiting this paradise.  Each one is unique in its own way, and all are sure to provide an unforgettable experience that you will always remember.

1.  Nauyaca Falls and the Don Lulu Tour -  This amazing set of waterfalls are located in between the surfing village of Dominical on the central Pacific coast and the bustling little city of San Isidro de General. The falls are privately owned and the best way to tour them is by taking the Don Lulu tour, which consists of a horseback ride to the falls and includes breakfast and lunch. The tour costs only $40 per person making it a great value. The tour begins on the highway where you mount your horse, and begin the 3 mile trek to the falls, stopping at the quaint tico-style home of Don Lulu for a typical Costa Rican breakfast of fresh fruit and gallo pinto(beans and rice).  After breakfast, it’s back on the horse for the short trip to the entrance to the falls. After a fairly steep descent down a hand cut stairway, you arrive at one of the most amazing natural attractions in all of Costa Rica. The falls consist of two levels with the upper falls towering over 500 feet and the lower falls consisting of a wide cascade of over 100 feet that plummets into an idyllic 30 foot deep pool. Your guides on the tour will be more than happy to help you climb up into the lower falls for a once in a lifetime leap of faith into the refreshing pool below. After a few hours swimming and relaxing next to this Costa Rican treasure, it’s a short but strenuous climb back up the staircase to your waiting mount. A wonderful lunch is served at Don Lulu’s and then the tour concludes back at the highway. The rest of the day is spent reflecting on the wonderful experience had by all.



2.  Volcano and Lake Arenal -  Volcano Arenal towers over Lake Arenal in the north central region of Costa Rica.  It is the most active volcano in Costa Rica with daily eruptions, and vibrant glowing lava shows that can be enjoyed at night. The volcano last had a major eruption in 1968 when it buried the old town of Arenal in ash and soot. The Costa Rican government has since flooded the area where Arenal used to be to create Costa Rica’s largest lake, and submerging this once lively village in hundreds of feet of water. The lake is home to some of the best rainbow bass fishing in the entire world, and there are many local guides that will take you to the best spots. In addition to the world class fishing on the lake, Lake Arenal is also internationally known for its windsurfing. There are many types of accommodations in the Arenal area ranging from five star resorts like the upscale Tabacon Hot Springs Resort to small rooms for the budget minded traveler.  There are some wonderful canopy tours in the area in which you can spend a day zipping down a cable over the rainforest canopy below. The Arenal area is truly an amazing piece of paradise where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of an active volcano looming over a picturesque lake. Truly a must-see in this spectacular country.


3.  Manuel Antonio National Park -  The crown jewel of Costa Rica’s national parks, Manuel Antonio is without a doubt a must-see on your visit to Costa Rica. Located just south of Quepos on the central Pacific coastline, the park is only a few hours from San Jose making it very accessible.  Manuel Antonio is a very small park in relation to the other parks in the country, but it attracts more visitors per year than any other park.  The park has pristine powder sand beaches back dropped by lush emerald green mountains that plunge into the deep blue Pacific. Manuel Antonio has become so popular that the park director has had to limit the number of people allowed into the park to 600 on weekdays and 800 on weekends. It’s no wonder that people are lining up to get in to this amazing place, as on any given day you can spot 3 different species of monkeys, sloths, marmosets, ocelots, river otters, pacas, and speckeled caimans as well as, 200 species of birds. The beaches at Manuel Antonio are often considered the most beautiful in all of Costa Rica.  Manuel Antonio was actually discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1519 on his quest for the fountain of youth, and while he may have never located that particular fountain, it appears he had stumbled upon the garden of Eden. This place will leave you breathless and with unforgettable memories about the beauty of Costa Rica. A definite must-see on your visit to paradise.

Traveling to Chile - Most fascinating geography

Stretching almost the entire length of the South American continent and wedged between the intimidating Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, lies Chile, a country rich in natural beauty, culture and heritage.

 The most fascinating aspect about Chile is its geography. Although the country stretches over 2,800 miles from north to south, making it the longest country in the world, it is only 265 miles at its widest point, east to west. The country offers an amazing landscape, ranging from a chain of volcanoes in the Andes to freezing glaciers, fjords, inlets and islands.

Since the country spans over 30o of latitudes, it experiences some dramatic climatic variations. The northern region undergoes mild variations in climate and has little to no rainfall. The Central Chile region features more pronounced seasonal changes with some rainfall in the winter months. The southern part, stretching to the famous Strait of Magellan, is considerably cooler with more rainfall than the rest of the country.

Chile has had a turbulent and exciting history, since its days under the Native Americans to its independence from Spain in 1810. From Ferdinand Magellan’s discovery of the southern passage around the tip of the country to the European invasions and their wars against the Native Americans, Chile has had a history covered by many tomes and books.

Santiago, located in the center of the slender country, has been the capital city since the first European settlement was established there in 1541. Although Santiago is the capital city, the Congress is located in the nearby port city of Valparaiso. Chile’s foreign trade market largely flourishes on the exports of copper, seafood, forestry and wood products.

The country’s culture shows the traits of all its inhabitants, from the Incas and the Spanish, to the French and English. The Chileans take pride in their tradition and culture and call their country Pais de Poetas, which means ‘Land of the Poets’.

With its rich scenic beauty, wonderful culture and history, and a modern-day cosmopolitan outlook, Chile has been soaring to new heights, just like the condor depicted on the country’s coat of arms.

Travel to Brazil, Go for the Thrill

Brazil is the largest and most dynamic South American country, bordering all but two of the continent's other nations. In Brazil, wild Amazon adventures can be coupled with stimulating city sights and leisurely beach escapades. Brazil's Portuguese colonization along with its participation in the Atlantic triangle slave trade with Africa produced a fusion of cultures that is celebrated today in the form of fantastic food, unmatched festivals, eclectic music beats and a diverse national identity that is finally being embraced.

When Portuguese settlers arrived in 1531, the native population that existed was relatively small and decentralized compared with other indigenous empires on the continent. They were quickly enslaved on sugar plantations but soon replaced by Africans. Today, their small surviving populations live mainly hidden in the interior of Brazil's thick jungles; however, their influence in art and abundance of intricate handmade crafts are unavoidable, especially inland. The history of Brazil's entangled interior is also touched by African slaves who escaped the coastal plantations and built secret settlements. Quilombo dos Palmares was the most impressive of these settlements; with a peak population of 30,000 inhabitants and over 200 buildings, the town functioned independently for nearly a century until a bloody battle with the Portuguese erupted in 1694.

Eco-Sensations
Brazil's expansive terrain is endless with natural wonders. Nearly forty percent of the world's remaining tropical rainforests is part of Brazil's Amazon and Atlantic forests, which are home to over 2.5 million species of insect and one-fifth of the world's bird species! The notorious carnivorous piranha lingers in numerous quantities in the Amazon River's waters, along with the fascinating Boto, the largest species of river dolphin. The mysterious Anaconda snake also lurks in the river's basin; but have no fear, they are generally harmless to humans. At the Argentinean border, Iguaçu Falls embodies the extent of Brazil's beauty with over 275 different waterfalls merging together into one harmonious rush of thunder with a vast number of scenic trails winding around the cascading cliffs and lush estuaries. Another aquatic phenomenon occurs 10 kilometers upstream from the city of Manaus where the dark waters of the Negro River join the yellowish Solimoes River without blending for a few kilometers. This dual colored waterway is the beginning of the Amazon River.


Carnival, and That's Not All
Though some claim that the festival of Carnival is the best time to visit Brazil's liveliest city, Rio de Janeiro, this pulsing metropolis is booming with life all year long. The dense population provides unrelenting entertainment while the beautiful beaches tend to be the ultimate draw. The urban centers of Sao Paulo and Brasilia, the official capital, are also teeming with nightlife, activities and history. Remember when you travel to Brazil that the southern urban regions experience a (very) mild winter during the months of June to August and the peak of summer is in January. The northern tropical regions are steadily warm year-round. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.cfares.com">www.cfares.com</a>, your source for cheap airfare on the web.

Peaks of Patagonia & Chilean Vineyards

Dramatic landscapes provided us a continual Kodak moment throughout. It is late spring in the region and the weather was cooperative with a lot of sunshine. This however is a land where the unexpected is the norm, so we came prepared for occasional wind and rain.

After a rest at the lovely Hotel Neruda and a city tour in Santiago, we flew south to Punta Arenas. There we transferred 2 hours by coach to Puerto Natales at the Patagonia steppe. We welcomed an overnight at the spartan but cozy Charles Darwin Hotel and a fabulous dinner of king crab and fresh salmon.

The following day we sailed several hours on the cutter vessel “21 de Mayo” up the fjord of Ultima Esperanza. We stopped for a hike around the fabulous Serano Glacier and a lunch on lamb at a remote cattle ranch. Later we boarded zodiac boats for a thrilling ride to our lodge located inside Torres del Paine National Park. Hosteria Pehoe is rustic for a rate of $200 per room but it lies on the edge of a turquoise glacial lake with an indescribably beautiful view. The backdrop of the spiny tall rugged mountains capped with ice was as vivid as a postcard.

Three days were spent touring the park. We were able to photograph the wildlife including guanaco’s of the llama family, foxes, flamingo, sea lions, black neck swans, condors, cormorants and more. Several in our group arranged a nocturnal hike to view the elusive puma but none were spotted. Free time was provided for horse riding and boating to magnificent Grey Glacier which was a delight. Some people opted for an arduous 8 hour hike up the famous towering peaks known as The Torres.

We flew on to Puerto Montt and checked into the first class Hotel Gran Pacifica for four glorious nights to explore Chile’s lake region. It began in Puyehue National Park with the backdrop of two spectacular and very active volcanos named Osorno and Calbuco. The afternoon was spent at the hot springs area of Aguas Calientes for a soak in the 110º crystal clear water. Here we participated in an optional canopy cable swing adventure through the treetops which was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Enroute back to our hotel, we visited a handicraft market with excellent buys on alpaca sweaters and blue lapis stoned jewelry.

The next day we rafted the powerful Petrohue River on class 3 and 4 white water rapids. Four people fell out of an overturned raft but wet suites provided protection from the frigid water and expert guides in kayaks were able to quickly retrieve all. This excursion for me was the highlight of the trip.

On day 8 we enjoyed a catamaran cruise along the shores of All Saints Lake also named Emerald Lake for it’s vibrant color in Peulla. The lush green forest here is set in the Andes foothills and covers 220,000 acres. We photographed a succession of beautiful and powerful waterfalls cascading over volcanic boulders of the ice capped Osorno.

Our vacation experience culminated back in Santiago with a farewell feast of seafood at a deluxe local restaurant. Prior to airport departure, we toured the Cavas del Maipo Winery. We enjoyed a lunch of fantastic BBQ steak and imbibed on endless wine, including several vintages which rank among the nations most esteemed exports.

Ten days was sufficient here to see an eyeful. I’ve had my fill of salmon and lamb for a lifetime and reflect back on a journey well done. We had a wonderful group of 35 participants, most who met as strangers and returned as lifelong friends. The cost of this trip was $2397 plus taxes which included roundtrip air from Miami and all internal flights. The $100 Chilean entry visa was extra. It was a good value and the guides throughout were excellent.

I have toured over 30 countries. The beauty here lies simply in the remoteness; pristine and unscarred nature in her finest glory. In Patagonia God created a perfect juxtaposition of New Zealand’s fjords, Switzerland’s Alps and British Columbia’s forests and lakes. Chile is a misnomer with no connection to peppers. It was the Incan word for “land far away.” I felt far removed in this narrow land that stretches to the end of the world yet was able to experience all the comforts of home. It certainly exceeded my expectations and I recommend it for any intrepid travelers list of must-see destinations of a lifetime.