Have an Unforgettable Summer By Planning Ahead

Have an Unforgettable Summer By Planning Ahead

Can you remember what you did last summer? Maybe you went on the trip of a lifetime or had a summer romance. I recall purchasing my favorite summer dress from charlotte russe More »

Best Wine Regions in France

Best Wine Regions in France

I have always felt that the best way to travel is to combine the vacation with something that you love. I did this for the first time last year when I took More »

Groupon is number one for savings on wellness

Groupon is number one for savings on wellness

The cost of wellness, healthy, beauty and spa treatments is pretty steep in the US. The problem is that these services are considered to be luxuries, and the staff at such places More »

Groupon is dead. Long live Groupon!

Groupon is dead. Long live Groupon!

Groupon’s deal-of-the-day business model was once so successful that it raked in $950 million in a series D funding round, but in recent years its vouchers and coupons have lost their lure, More »

Your Road Trip Guide To 2014: Five Destinations Worth The Mileage in the US

Your Road Trip Guide To 2014: Five Destinations Worth The Mileage in the US

A road trip can be a way to refresh your spirit after a hectic year of work and family activities. Cruising down an open road, with new sights, sounds and personalities along More »

 

When is it still worthwhile to use a travel agent?

Use a travel agent, save your time and sanity ... photo by CC user 48086813@N03 on flickr

In this era of self-serve travel planning, it’s easy to assume that the travel agent is a dinosaur well on its way to extinction.

While this has been the case for the past decade, the pendulum has begun to swing back in the other direction lately, as many people have found the burden of coordinating their own travels to be a drain on their energy and their personal time.

When is it worthwhile to use a travel agent? The following three scenarios are excellent examples of when it makes sense to hire a travel expert.

When you are traveling internationally to an unfamiliar destination

You may know the ins and outs of travel within your own nation, and you might be aware of what it takes to travel to the beaches of Spain, but what about if you are traveling to Asia, or Latin America? These parts of the world often have a tricky series of visa requirements and hidden fees that would make the Byzantines crack a smile, as many independent travelers have found out about at the last minute.

Don’t be caught unaware: hire a travel agent that knows about the rules for any nation to which you might be considering a trip, and that actively stays on top of any changes that occur (that’s what they get paid for, after all!) in visa requirements and fees on a day to day basis.

When you have your hands full planning a wedding

Weddings are full of complicated plans that inspire nothing but stress leading up to the Big Day. Do you really think you’ll have the capability to plan a honeymoon while you trying to track down a reliable caterer or a DJ that will spin appropriate tunes at your reception?

Outsource this important job to travel agents at companies like Eshores (http://www.eshores.co.uk/), as they have a lifetime of experience at organizing romantic getaways for countless couples in bad need of a change of scenery to rekindle the love in their lives. Just give them an idea of what you are looking for, and let them handle the rest.

When you are tasked with planning a trip for a group of friends

While you bow to nobody but yourself when you travel solo, traveling with friends is a completely different matter altogether. Unlike the freedom of your backpacking days, you now have to consider the wants, desires and needs of multiple people, and for many, the logistical nightmare has the potential to suck the joy out of the trip for you, the anointed travel expert in your group of pals.

By letting a travel agent handle the detail work after filling them in on the needs and wants of your group, you’ll have all the fun you ought to have on a journey with your buds.

What is the difference between camping and glamping?

Across America, the warm sunny days of summer are beginning to spread across the land, and the desire of outdoor lovers to get out into the outstanding natural spaces of this country is rising along with it. For generations, most of these folks would gather together groundsheets, sleeping bags, a camp stove, a cooler, and a tent, and head for the mountains, the forests, and the coastlines around the USA to take in the outdoors, rain or shine.

In more recent years though, outdoor recreation providers, in an attempt to draw a crowd that is less willing to give up the comforts of civilization, but still want to experience the wonders of nature, have come up with a sub niche called glamping. From reinforced canvas tents with a comfortable mattress to full-blown cabins, the options are many.

So which option should you choose this summer? This depends on what you seek from your outdoors experience, the aspects of which we will detail below…

Heading To Costa Rica? Here Are The Top Things To Do In Montezuma…

Many of the top things to do in Montezuma will revolve around the starkly beautiful ocean...!

If you are wondering what the top things to do in Montezuma are, then you’re in luck. This section is going to discuss in brief detail what expectations you should establish. One the things you must know about this place is that it is a remote fishng village in Costa Rica, so you’ll have to endure a long travel time to get to it.

You don’t have to worry about the expenses though because the fares are affordable. Besides, Montezuma only grew in popularity in the 1980’s because of the affordable vacation opportunities it offers. So you can always count on staying in budget during this portion of your Costa Rican experience.

Now, one of the top things to do in Montezuma is, of course, frolicking on the beach since it is pretty exposed to the ocean. Though some coastlines are polluted because of the presence of settlements, you could head out to the north side of the area and access more pristine beaches. Playa Granda is among them it only takes thirty minutes to reach.

Playa las Manchas is another option that’s only a fifteen minute walk to the south. But it’s smaller than the previously suggested. If you get bored, you could always opt for a challenging hike up to any of theree waterfalls located in Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, which is one of the region’s best ecotourism attractions.

You could have local guides show you the way to each one but you could also go about it on your own since the trails are pretty distinct. Just be careful on climbing the steep and slippery edges since they could be very dangerous. And just so you know, the surf in this place is also pretty challenging. So surfing fanatics can look forward to adrenalin-pumping rides in the early morning.

To add to the top things to do in Montezuma, you could also pursue some of the courses local practitioners hold regarding healing arts and yoga since it is one of the things the town is also known for. If you are lucky and have booked your trip in May, you should also participate in the annual Costa Rica International Film Festival as it displays a huge chunk of the country’s culture.

Horseback riding is available for those who are interested. And there are restaurants and bars in the area you could visit to sample native cuisines and beverages.

Top Things To Do In Kangaroo Island

What are the top things to do in Kangaroo Island?  One of them could be relaxing amidst a country setting such as this...

As lame as it may sound, the sheer fascination in discovering the namesake animal might be one of the top things to do in Kangaroo Island. However, the Aborigine translation of the land’s name may conjure a completely opposite negative reaction. This island was once called Karta, or “the Land of the Dead” due to the archaeological evidences of their ancient relatives perishing during the last glacial period with the rising of sea levels that flooded the Backstairs Passage straight.

However, the modern times feature nothing of the same cryptic atmosphere since this atoll has been bristling with life. Although agriculture and fishing was its chief source of revenue, tourism has become a very successful industry that proves people from overseas that this place can now be called “the Land of the Living”.

Any tourist can say that one can experience a pleasurable vacation by having a good rest first. Coziness can be a relatively subjective matter which can be defined according to the type of profile a tourist has, the same way the top things to do in Kangaroo Island also vary on the perspective of its visitors.

There are travelers who prefer camping under the star spangled night sky, with a fire pit to draw people into the primitive but effective circular social convergence. There are also other tourists who opt for a very luxurious hotel sojourn. These two types of travelers, are even anyone between the spectrum, can have a place to stay in Kangaroo Island.

Another inclusion among the top things to do in Kangaroo Island is to explore the flora and fauna, especially the wildlife of the place. Kangaroos may take center stage in the menagerie but there are also wonderful creatures wanting to steal the show. Seals call the affection of marine explorers while the koalas compete with other wilderness animals in the “cuteness contest”.

Eating and indulging to their sumptuous dishes can also be one of the top things to do in Kangaroo Island. Fine dining and casual cafes offer a conventional dining experience, but in this land one can experience goodness from its very excellent source.

A tour in the Farm Gate and Cellar Door gives visitors a clear idea on how the beef and vegetables put on the plates got their epic quality taste. This place also features a vineyard producing an extensive variety of fine wines to go well with one’s great dinner. Kangaroo Island has over 18 home-grown labels.

Australians and casual visitors in this day of age call it the land of the living. But the audacious sorts of tourists may call it “the land of the living on the edge”. Kangaroo Island has a number of exhilarating outdoor adventures that gives a potent dosage of adrenaline into the system. Quad bike tour and kayaking pushes athleticism to a whole new level. But thrills do not need to involve strenuous activities since horse races can also be an exciting spectacle.