My Travel Blog

Whether you’re planning your first vacation, or are familiar with the whole process, everyone can use a few tips. Planning and organizing anything can be stressful, and the last thing we need is added stress while thinking about our holiday. If you plan on doing it on your own, without the added help of a travel agent, here are some easy guidelines to follow.

Obviously the internet will be your primary resource for all holiday planning. When it comes to your hotel room or your plane ticket, it can all be done and booked in the comfort of your own home. Using a hotel search to reserve your accommodation is the fastest way, and also the easiest way to find a favorable rate. Same goes for the plane tickets. Compare airlines, find cheap rates, and book all online.

However, don’t rule out the power of the phone. Booking online can often give you the best rates, but calling the hotel or airliner directly can lead to some surprising savings. They often offer their own incentives and deals for booking directly with them. Take advantage of this and give them a call. If you’re on your honeymoon, for example, they may offer you a special price or an added perk just for announcing this.

If your next vacation must include warm waters, white sands and calm seas then one of the many beaches of Phu Quoc is just what you are looking for.  On the west side of the island is Truong Beach and this is where most hotels will be. This beach is five miles long where some part will be deserted.
Sao beach will require you to take a taxi to get there and with its isolated location, know that only basic accommodations and few restaurants will be found here. Vung Bau beach is located on the upper west coast.  The town of Cua Can is near by with a half moon beach with a few local houses and just one restaurant. Here is where scuba divers can, for a small fee, can get a ride to nearby islands for fantastic diving adventures.
On the for north each coast is Bai Thom beach which is totally uninhabited. It is very remote and not the most beautiful beach but will require a motorbike ride to get there. So many beaches and all a little different than the next, you will be hard pressed to pick just one to be a favorite.

If you are going to by flying out of state for a period of time, or doing any kind of travel in general, then you can greatly benefit by booking a travel agency to arrange your flight and stay at your location.

A travel agency does all of the worry work of planning a trip for you for a nominal fee. They arrange everything from airport pick-up, to flights, to hotel stay and they work with you to find the accommodations suited to your personal wants and needs.

If you are looking to book a travel agency the first thing you want to do is determine what agencies are available. Once you have a list compiled you can check out the features each agency offers then determine which one is most appropriate for the price for planning your travel. The majority of travel agencies work online, but several of them have a local base that can aid you in any paperwork filing.

Before you decide upon an agency to go with, make sure that you understand every part of their service and every charge that will be issued. Read over any contracts to sign, then discuss any parts that you are unsure of.

Overall if you are looking to travel in the near future but don’t want to deal with all the worry associated with the planning, check out how a travel agency can benefit you.

Built in 1656 and now more than three hundred years old, the Maritime Museum was the former arsenal of the Dutch Navy and now known by the name of the National Naval Depot.  This is a categorically specific museum and one of the largest in the world and is for those travelers and locals, who are interested in the maritime history of the Netherlands.
In this same location are many Amsterdam hotels, one being a bed & breakfast that is within walking distance of the maritime museum. Even if you don’t stay near by, the public transportation is great and an easy way to get around to see other museums.
In this museum you will find many navel instruments, sea-faring objects, artifacts and maps as well as exhibits that depict the discovery of the world by Dutch explorers.  There are ancient ships for you to admire and replicas that explain the history of trade and exploration. Limited tours are allowed through the massive ships.  The Dutch equivalent of the Titanic, the “Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam” is a replica offers re-enactments of the the maintenance and what the daily life was like on board. On its first voyage, this ship sank off the coast of England. Great place for history buffs.

Located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is the Picasso Museum as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art. There are many Barcelona hotels in this area, but the closest one to the Gothic Quarter is the Avenida Palace.
This hotel offers a beauty parlor and wellness services and a doorman who will invite you into the mulitiered lobby of Doric columns. This lobby boasts a curving staircase adorned with ornamental ironwork, a piano bar and a restaurant. It was once a tea salon and concert hall and is conveniently located just one black from the Ramblas Promenade.
The staff here is multilingual and they offer secretarial and business services. Medical assistance is available at the hotel if needed and they have tour assistance also. The public areas are air conditioned, there is internet access in public area and for a small surcharge you can get airport transportation. This is a four start hotel with 151 air conditioned rooms with satellite televisions.

America is one of the most popular and coveted vacation destinations for travelers from around the world. No matter the state, no matter the city, everyone has a place in America that they would like to see. From the beaches to the celebrities to the fashion to the art, you can see so much in every city. This is also why choosing one destination for your next vacation will be difficult. Here are some of the hottest and most popular vacation destinations in the States.

- New York: whether it is the art that draws you, the shopping, or the architecture, New York is a fantastic choice for your next vacation. You can enjoy fine dining, luxurious New York Hotels, or even attend Fashion Week.

- San Francisco: from the offbeat districts to the towering city center, this city has something for everyone. Fantastic food with inspiration from all over the world, as well as great museums and sight seeing.

- Miami: sun, sun, sun! Florida is known for it’s tourist attractions, from the amusement parks to the beaches, this state is famous. Miami is no exception. Soak up the sun or shop all day long. The laid back atmosphere is the perfect getaway from your normal routine.

To anyone in the industry, and even those outside it, it is common knowledge that there are a few key cities in the world that are known for leading the fashion forefront. These cities are New York, Milan, and Paris. Some of the biggest designers in the world come from France, and it could easily be the origins of widespread fashion. It is a metropolis of style and luxury, which is a breeding ground for bold designers, unique fashion, and legends.

The only thing more famous than fashion week in New York, are the runways of Paris. If you are truly looking for the heart of the fashion world, you must turn to France. Parisian life is based on style. Whether it is clothing, appearance, social standing, or just your outlook on life, everything must be chic. Paris is the ideal destination for any who are in love with all things fashion, even if you don’t plan on attending the runway shows. The shopping in Paris is some of the best in the world. There are stores for miles, all featuring the best names in fashion. Paris Hotels are just as glamorous, so it is easy to surround yourself with luxury on your vacation.

If you’re trying to decide on where to go for your next holiday, you may be looking for some inspiration. Whether you’re well traveled are venturing off to a remote location for the first time, there are a few places in the world that are great to visit no matter what your traveling experience. Some cities can keep giving, even after your third or fourth trip. Here are some ideas for vacation destinations that never fail to impress.

London is a busy city with plenty to see and do. London Hotels can cater to your every desire, and any tour around the city will bring along all new discoveries. From museums to castles to cafes, London has it all, and won’t disappoint!

Paris is the jewel of France. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and for good reason. This is a sprawling city, with so much to offer you can’t explore it all in one trip. There is art to see, wine to taste, architecture to admire, and food to savor. This city is often known as the heart of Europe, and it won’t let you down!

For those of us who crave flexability and freedom on their vacations, we seem to have few options. It is common for the main stream, chain hotels to have all the deals. When you book your plane ticket, for example, you will have the option to bundle in hotel stay as well, at one of the major names. This provides tourists with a variety of choice, all the major hotels are battling it out to get their business, so the prices are competitive. This doesn’t mean, however, that we are out of options.

There are plenty of ways to vacation for less, and still retain the freedom and adventurous nature that we pride ourselves on. For example, there is always camping. These days campsites are furnished with all the luxuries of home, so we hardly feel as if we are “roughing it”. There is also the option of a self catering holiday, another great way to escape the impersonal and cold atmosphere of a hotel, and have some peace and quiet on your long deserved holiday. At this kind of accommodation, you will have all the facilities you need with an environment that suits your disposition.

I’ve been writing about weddings and honeymoons for a while now, and I’ve totally kicked myself in the rear end the other day when I realized I hadn’t put the most simple 2 and 2 together before: a honeymoon in the biggest monument to Love the world has ever seen.

The Taj-Mahal in exotic India was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal(hence the name!). He was so devastated by the loss of her that he decided to honor her in the best way he could – by building a gigantic, stunning mausoleum.

Naturally, your trip would involve a lot more than just the Taj-Mahal. India is a beautiful, unparalleled country, where the old meets the new in amazing ways. In the same day you can shop in a modern mall, experience traditional cuisine or, if you’d rather, a high-class gourmet meal, and later take an elephant ride through the jungle – maybe even spot a beautiful Bengal Tiger. All of this will be available to you should you feel adventurous enough to take a plane on your honeymoon and visit one of the World’s most exotic locations.