Travel World Network

Holidaymakers look set to carry on Glamping

If you can’t decide between the great outdoors or a luxury hotel on your next holiday, you may be one of the growing number of people who decide to split the difference and go Glam-Camping, or “Glamping” instead.

Glamping originated from festivals like Glastonbury where celebrity festival goers decided they wanted a sumptuous and mud free experience. An increasing number of Camping pods, Teepees, Yurts, Bell Tents and Shepherd’s huts are springing up all over Europe, with more than 150 Glamping sites across the UK alone in 2011. Prices can vary, ranging from £50 to £350 a night depending on the accommodation size, amenities and location.

Gone are the days of tinned beans and burnt sausages, Glampers enjoy access to electricity and any number of luxury appliances. This is just as well, when the likes of celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver can be counted among their numbers. Even the Naked Chef might struggle to whip up the perfect soufflé on a camping stove. Then after a power shower it’s off to bed with the happy Glampers. Not into a rustling, smelly sleeping bag but into a full size spring mattress with Egyptian cotton sheets. You get the idea.

It is certainly bringing harmony to families whose members are split between camping haters and lovers. Offering the perfect solution and being Eco-friendly to boot, it is little wonder that this trend is catching on fast.

However Glamping is not going to appease those who relish the rough and ready appeal of a traditional camping holiday (or “tramping” as some are now calling it)and all the challenges to character that this can bring. France has long been one of the most popular European camping destinations with its thousands of well-provisioned, low cost and often scenic campsites. French campsites even offer swimming pools and entertainment, so it’s no real surprise that our neighbours over the channel have already cottoned on to the demand for a more lavish camping experience and are offering some interesting Glamping breaks.

With a rich history and beautiful scenery, the Mediterranean is one my favourite places to travel whilst on holiday. Exploring the Mediterranean by cruise is a fantastic way to enjoy the area, as you have the opportunity to retreat to a luxurious ship with plenty of amenities after a long day of sight-seeing. Although you can spend most of your time enjoying all of the amenities on the ship, I do suggest partaking in a few shore excursions, so you can discover everything the Mediterranean has to offer.

The first thing to know about cruises to the Mediterranean is that many cruise lines divide the area into two sections; eastern and western. You may be able to find some cruises that visit both areas; however, that may not give you enough time to really explore the outlying cities. I recommend finding a Mediterranean cruise that covers the area you want to see, so you have enough time to participate in shore excursions or just walk around the nearby cities. Some cruise lines may only allow for one day at each port, so make sure to plan your schedule accordingly. Try to see some of the best areas of the city, without overwhelming yourself. If you enjoy the area, plan on coming back for a lengthier stay in the future. With the Mediterranean being so close, you will be able to visit again with a short flight or even by train.

Eastern Mediterranean: This portion of the Mediterranean usually covers the Greek Isles, portions of Italy, Turkey and The Black Sea. This area is perfect for a relaxing and laid-back holiday, with a rich culture, deep history and plenty of beaches. Walk the steps of our ancestors as you travel back through time exploring Athens and the Parthenon. The adventurous can partake in water sports activities at one of the nearby beaches of the Greek Isles. One of the most popular places to visit on a trip to the eastern Mediterranean is Venice. This remarkable city offers world-famous cafes, art galleries and cathedrals for exploration. You can also view the city as you glide through the water on a romantic gondola ride.

Western Mediterranean: This portion of the Mediterranean is extremely popular with both new visitors and returning travellers. A cruise to the western portion of the Mediterranean will usually cover Italy, France and Spain. Some of the most beautiful cities are within these areas, such as Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, Nice and Florence. For those who love a lively atmosphere, Monte Carlo will be a favourite spot to stop. Here you will find a grand casino, bars, night clubs, shows and plenty of water sports activities. If you prefer something a bit more laid-back, you will enjoy sitting at a café in Rome or walking down La Rambla, a lovely tree-lined street of Barcelona where you will find artisans, gorgeous buildings and an aquarium.

If you will be travelling to the Mediterranean, I recommend finding a cruise that lasts 10 nights or longer. There is so much to see on land that you will undoubtedly become exhausted if you try to do everything at once, so having a day or two at sea built into the itinerary will give you time to feel refreshed and ready to explore the next port of call.

Travelling is really fun, whether you’re planning to go backpacking, go on a cruise, on a city break or for a fantastic beach holiday in the sun. No matter where you go, though, it’s really important that you protect your privacy while travelling to minimise the risk of ID theft and other issues. This means that as well as having an effective travel insurance policy to protect you while you’re away, there are other things you need to do to protect your privacy. Read on to find out more.

Keep passport safe

This is common sense, but one of the most important things when it comes to protecting your privacy while travelling is keeping your passport safe. If you need to carry it with you, make sure it’s secured somewhere on your person (such as in a zipped pocket that’s hard to access) rather than loose in a bag.

Lock important documents in hotel safe

You should also make sure to keep all of your other identifying documents safe. Most hotels come with a safety deposit box in the room, or at least have them for hire, and so it’s a good idea to put things such as your passport, holiday insurance policy, bank cards and excess cash in one of these boxes for safe keeping.

Use secure wireless connections

Many people also use the internet while travelling, either through their own laptops or in public internet cafes. If you’re planning on using wireless internet while away, you should always make sure the connection is secure (password protected) before logging on. You should also always log off public computers before you leave them to make sure no one can get hold of your details.

Don’t declare your holiday on Facebook

Another tip for protecting your privacy while travelling is not to declare the fact you’re going away on Facebook or Twitter. If you gleefully post about your travels on social networking sites, this information cannot only be used by would-be burglars back home, but it can also alert people to your whereabouts, which isn’t always ideal. Make sure the people who need to know where you are have your details – someone should always know where you are, after all – but keep the information hidden from those who don’t need to know.

Use tracking apps

If you’re going to be taking devices such as your laptop or phone away with you, one option is to use a tracking app on them. This means that if they are taken, you’ll be able to track where they are, which increases your chances of getting them back. If in doubt, though, leave them behind entirely so you don’t need to worry about that aspect of your privacy.

Have you ever been to Spain for a holiday? Are you thinking of travelling to Spain for a holiday in the near future? Do you always return to Spain each year for your annual holiday? Many British people continue to travel to Spain each year despite there being many more destinations available around the world at affordable prices. In this article, I write about why the British love and continue to travel to Spain for their holidays.

A recent report highlighted the fact that many British people do not just return to Spain once, but in fact return to Spain most years for their holiday. One lady who was around fifty years of age was asked by the reporter how many times she had chosen Spain for her holiday destination, twelve she answered. A man who was probably in his forties was asked the same question, he replied, eight times.

With the birth of the budget airline you would have thought that people may choose other destinations to visit, some of course do, but what is the reason behind all of these other people travelling back to Spain, year in, year out?

Many of these people will only be able to afford one holiday abroad per year and if they have really enjoyed travelling to Spain in the past and all what it has to offer, they may not be willing to take a risk with a new resort or country.

A lot of these people see Spain as quite similar to the UK, apart from the fact that it is a lot warmer. This sun is of course is why most of them are taking their holiday abroad, how many times have we taken a holiday in Britain, in August for example, and the weather has been poor?

The food in these Spanish resorts is very much catered for us Brits and there are many British themed bars where people are able to drink British beer and watch the English Premiership in football.

This is no doubt true of many other resorts around the world but people may be of the mindset of why fix it, if it is not broken.

To travel to Spain is very cheap and the flights are also quite short, this suits a family taking their children as well as members of an older generation.

With the internet now available in most households, people are able to plan and book their holidays for even cheaper than before, this is by booking the flights and hotels well in advance.

I personally like to travel to different destinations when I go abroad but can fully understand why other people would choose to return to the same place, for example Spain.

Mexico is a big and old country. Everyone can find something interesting in this land. Ancient pyramids and temples, big modern megapolises and tropical resorts its all here waiting for you to come.

The trip to Mexico can be started with visit to its capital Mexico City. Its the third-largest metropolis in the world. Only Tokyo and New York City are bigger. This expansive city of 20 million and over a mile high is built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztec capital. Reminders of past civilization pervade the city, particularly at the Templo Mayor excavation and Anthropological Museum at Chapultepec Park. This very Tenochtitlan was founded in 1325 by Aztecs. Speaking about modern Mexico City, the district called the Zona Rosa is famous for its shops.
One of the must-sees in Mexico are pyramids of Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza. Teotihuacan is located 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City. Teotihuacan is not only a monumental city, but also a place where the mural paintings allow the visitor to delve into a world of mythical figures of Gods, jaguars, nocturnal beings and liquid skies.

The ruins of Chichen Itza lie about midway between Cancun and Merida, so that the journey from each city takes around 2 or 3 hours via the new autopista. This place was a settlement of Maya tribe. The tribe itself sank into oblivion, but its creature still attracts millions of tourists and hundreds of investigators seeking for their archeological glory.

When you feel tired of ancient ruins and dust roads you can direct your steps to one of the Mexican resorts Cancun, Puerto-Vallarta or Acapulco.

So, meet Cancun. Very popular resort among US citizens situated on the Yucatan peninsula. The city of Cancun is only 35 years old. This fashionable resort was built on the place of the former fishermans village. Cancun is world famous for its beaches, surrounding the whole city.

Puerto Vallarta is nestled between palm-covered mountains, a river and an azure sea. The city is full of cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses. Like Cancun, once it was a fishing village.

One of the most exciting resorts in the world, Acapulco is famous for its explosive nightlife, golden beaches, unlimited watersports, world-class hotels, restaurants and the breathtaking beauty of Acapulco Bay. Acapulco is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico and unlike Puerto Vallarta and Cancun its a big city with 2-million population.

Mexico is enjoyable year-round, but October to May is generally the most pleasant time to visit. The May-September period can be hot and humid, particularly in the south, and inland temperatures can approach freezing during December-February.

We all day dream about long and serene vacations. Unfortunately, few of us have the time to take them. Georgia offers you all of the benefits of a long vacation, even if you only have a couple of days.

What The Heck, Lets Go To Georgia

Sick and tired of working all summer while it seems everyone else is on vacation? Well, how about joining the many travelers heading to Georgia? Georgia may not be the first place you think of when you want to head out of town, but after exploring the range of activities, sights and relaxing environments available here, you will be happy you went.

Georgia is home to many distinctly different areas for vacations. If you are more of an adventurous, outdoorsy type, you will love the Blue Ridge Mountains in north Georgia. These mountains are beautiful, with peaks rising to 4000 feet and lakes and rivers to fish and boat in. The Blue Ridge Mountains are also home to the Cherokee tribe, and home to the United States first Gold Rush in 1828. Whether you are looking for a historical trip or a hiking adventure, the Blue Ridge Mountains are the place to be. Rental cabins and cottages, such as the Tica Cabins in the town of Blue Ridge, make a great place to stay.

Mountains are not for everyone, and Georgia has much more to offer in the way of climate and locations. The coast, for example, makes for some great beach trips in Georgia. These beaches are unspoiled, uncrowded and wildlife abounds. If you enjoy seeing nature at its finest, why not explore the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge or the trails of Blackbeard Island? All the locations on Georgia’s beautiful coast are great options for a vacation.

If you would rather spend your time listening to great music and exploring Southern culture, Athens, Georgia is the place to be. Many different rock bands got their start here, as well as African-American musicians. The B-52 s and REM both originated in Athens clubs, and the vaudeville establishment known as the Morton Theatre hosted musicians like Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. Athens is also home to AthFest, a rock music festival held every June that features over 120 bands and acts.

Whether you are a city or nature lover, taking off to Georgia can fill the needs of any traveler. If you enjoy the warm climate and good-natured people of the South, Georgia will be sure to be your vacation paradise.

As night falls over Valley Forge and Montgomery County, the winds whisper stories of America’s past. You can sense the spirits of the men at Valley Forge National Historical Park, Brandywine Battlefield and Washington’s Crossing.

In daylight hours, historic sites bustle with cooking and spinning demonstrations. Re-enactments of battles and guided tours preserve and illuminate the past for visitors. But in some places, those echoes of the past turn to whispers of ghost stories, apparitions and strange happenings.

Visit Graeme Park one clear, moonlit night, and you just might see the ghosts of Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson and her husband, Henry Hugh Fergusson, embracing by the glittering pond – together in death though separated in life.

At historic Waynesborough in Paoli, sounds of glass shattering and a woman screaming have unnerved visitors unable to find the source of the sounds. Smells of bread baking fill Grumblethorpe when the ovens are cold. At Cresheim Cottage Cafe, an attic door mysteriously opens and shuts, and a young girl in Victorian dress mysteriously appears.

And it’s said that if you dance with your true love in the Mirror Room of Arcadia University’s Grey Towers Castle, you’ll see a ghostly couple joining in. Another legend says you can feel the presence of a little girl on a stairway where she was accidentally strangled when her scarf caught on a banister as she ran down the stairs.

Visitors to the Florida Keys always find something unique and exciting to do, especially in the summer and fall. The choices range from watching championship offshore powerboat races to enjoying culinary, musical, historical and cultural celebrations.

And for those in search of quirky, off-the-wall fun, the Keys certainly don’t disappoint. Key West even hosts an annual event celebrating chickens. Yes, chickens!

Fun-seekers should visit the Keys for these and other not-to-be-missed events.

* ChickenFest Key West: This celebration, which occurs each June, honors the vivacious, squawking Key West chicken with a variety of lighthearted events culminating in the “Poultry in Motion” parade.

* Underwater Music Festival: This unique annual concert in July is broadcast underwater for divers and snorkelers. It is held at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

* Hemingway Days: Fans of Ernest Hemingway’s literature and lifestyle commemorate the author’s July birthday each year in Key West, the island where the author lived and wrote throughout the 1930s. Events include a “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, the catch-and-release Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament, the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition and an offbeat “Running of the Bulls.”

* Key West Food and Wine Festival: This early August event showcases local restaurants’ special cuisine presentations, including indigenous seafood favorites.

* Fantasy Fest: This annual, 10-day party with thousands of costumed revelers is the most outrageous of all fall events in the Florida Keys. It occurs in Key West during late October and features elaborate costume competitions, promenades and street fairs, masquerade galas and a grand parade with lavish floats and eccentric marching groups.

* Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest: Divers carve pumpkins among the marine life during this annual event held off of Key Largo as part of the island’s Halloween festivities.

Some of these events occur during periods of excellent lodging values.

There are many wonderful and beautiful places to visit in the world. If you are blessed enough to get frequent vacations then you are well aware of the fact that it can be hard to choose what kind of vacation to go on and where to spend your days away from work. Do you want to vacation somewhere warm or somewhere cold? Do you prefer a bit of an isolated vacation or do you like the busyness of being surrounded by many people? As my family and I have been vacationing for the past few years, we have determined our favorite spot that we just cannot get enough of: the Caribbean islands.

I knew the Caribbean islands were something special the first time we took our children there. There was a magic and a wonder in their eyes upon seeing the water that even Disney World didn’t evoke the year before. Our kids were absolutely hooked on the sheer beauty of the Caribbean islands. I didn’t mind the relaxed pace or the daily agenda of just being by the water and swimming if we felt like it.

One of the great things about the Caribbean islands is the variety of locations and feels there is to choose from. If you are looking for an island with a lot of activity, you can find it in the Caribbean islands. If, however, you are looking for a quiet and secluded feel for your vacation, it is not hard to find a Caribbean island that fits your needs. Few places in the world offer such flexibility for any kind of vacation. You can stay on a Caribbean island that offers a lot of tourist attractions or you can stay somewhere that only offers the beach. It’s up to you.

Another obvious thing to love about the Caribbean islands is the sheer beauty that surrounds you. I have never been to a place more beautiful in all my travels. From the moment we stepped off the plane we were struck by just how full of beauty the Caribbean islands were. The water held a variety of shades of blue and green. The sand was nearly angel hair white and the sky was bright blue and full of sunshine every day. The landscaping was immaculate and I have rarely seen as green of grass and plants. The Caribbean islands are simply unmatched for this kind of beauty.

So, if you’re looking for a great place to vacation, look no further than to the Caribbean islands. You can experience any kind of vacation you want to, but all in the midst of the beauty and wonder of the Caribbean islands. What could be better than that?

The best benefit of my job as a journalist is that I often get to travel to write for magazines and travel websites. I love nothing more than packing a suitcase and heading off to somewhere unknown with the goal being to explore and learn about the location and the culture. In the past year, I have traveled to a fair number of places, but none have matched the beauty of Puerto Vallarta.

If you have ever been to Puerto Vallarta, then you know the beauty that I am talking about. There is nothing that compares to the white sand beaches and the crystal clear blue- green waters of Puerto Vallarta. It was a pleasure to go there and write about reasons why travelers would enjoy vacationing there.

So, let me share with you some great reasons to visit Puerto Vallarta. First is the reason that I mentioned before: the sheer beauty of the place. If you are anything like me, then you are hugely affected by the look and feel of whatever environment you are in. When I am surrounded by amazing beauty my entire perspective changes. I loved visiting Puerto Vallarta for the simple fact that I felt better about life when I was there. If you’re looking for a great place to gain some perspective and to do some deep thinking, then look no further than the beaches of Puerto Vallarta.

Another thing I was surprised to find in Puerto Vallarta was a great mixture of places filled with people and places where I could enjoy solitude. That flexibility of environment is an element that I need in a vacation but can rarely find. I love knowing that I can head to a crowded beach or that I can find a more isolated beach if I so choose. So whether you are looking for a crowded and crazy trip or if you are looking for a place of escape, Puerto Vallarta can be a great place to stay.

Puerto Vallarta offers a ton of things to do. This can be important on a vacation. Sometimes laying on a beach all day is the way you need to unwind, but other times it is nice to have some nearby and reasonable activities to choose from. If you are looking into vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, the best value is to stay at an all-inclusive resort. This will include your room, meals and often various activities as well. Start planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta today. You’ll never regret it.