tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45402657559276904782024-02-06T20:39:51.654-08:00Travel Around The WorldAll people are travel freaks, always ready to explore new places all around the world, eager to enjoy the beauty of nature, always ahead in experiencing the luxury and comforts of lovely beaches resorts,Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-42281392212561887122009-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:24:31.801-08:00Katrina Disaster Tours Still Popular<div style="float: left;" 1px=""> <p> <img src="http://cdn.channel.aol.com/bbarticle/articles/0a/03/46cd889b-00328-04d0c-400cb8e1" /><br /></p> </div> "This is the last pretty thing you're going to see until we get to the lakefront," tour guide Rose Scott tells passengers gazing at the live oaks of City Park.<br /><br />They're a bit more than an hour into a van tour of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Scott's employer, Isabelle Cossart of Tours by Isabelle, calls it 70 miles of destruction in 3 1/2 hours.<br /><br />Nearly two years after Katrina turned the <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/New+Orleans-Louisiana-United+States:74:New+Orleans-destination-guide">New Orleans</a> area into a lake of misery, demand for tours of the devastation overwhelms that for visits to mainstay attractions such as cemeteries, plantations and swamps.<br /><br />"Our survival depends on it. If I quit doing the post-Katrina city tour, I'm out of business," Cossart said.<br /><br />Scott's van passes the convention center and Superdome, where thousands of refugees suffered after Katrina. "The convention center was never supposed to be a shelter. That's why they didn't have food there," she says.<br /><br />She turns the van toward areas little known to outsiders before Katrina: Gentilly and Lakeview, where the view of Lake Pontchartrain provides respite on the way to the Lower 9th Ward. Scott drives on to St. Bernard, the hard-hit parish just east of <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/New+Orleans-Louisiana-United+States:74:New+Orleans-destination-guide">New Orleans</a> where she lived until the storm.<br /><br />"It used to be, we did nothing but plantation tours," Cossart said. The $58-per-person Katrina tour now makes up three-quarters of her business, and she recently bought a third van.<br /><br />Tourism officials have struggled with post-hurricane stress on the industry. Some downtown hotels - including the Hyatt and the Fairmont - remain closed. But the convention center and most tourist attractions are open. The bellwether French Quarter was almost untouched by hurricane.<br /><br />Kelly Schulz, spokeswoman for the <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/New+Orleans-Louisiana-United+States:74:New+Orleans-destination-guide">New Orleans</a> Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the disaster tours help convince travel agents and convention bookers that devastated areas are distant from tourism venues.<br /><br />Cossart said the tours began just over a month after Katrina, which struck Aug. 29, 2005. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired her as a guide for Japanese engineers who had worked in Kobe after the 1995 earthquake.<br /><br />After visiting levee breaches, the wiped out Lower 9th Ward and Biloxi, Miss., Cossart said she asked how long they thought it would take to rebuild. Their answer, she said, was 10 years plus time for political maneuvering.<br /><br />Scott, who is living an hour northeast of <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/New+Orleans-Louisiana-United+States:74:New+Orleans-destination-guide">New Orleans</a> in Carriere, Miss., has gutted her 3,100-square-foot house in Chalmette but hasn't yet decided whether to rebuild. She worries about environmental safety because more than water was released by the storm.<br /><br />As she pulls into her old neighborhood, she tells passengers about the 1.3 million-gallon spill from the nearby Murphy Oil tank farm that complicated her cleanup and clouded her future.<br /><br />For Scott, Katrina and its aftermath are very personal matters. Cossart asked her how she felt about disaster tours. Her response was quick to the point. "This is history. People need to see what happened here so they can fix it where it never happens again."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By JANET MCCONNAUGHEY, AP</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-11018315958817996812009-02-22T12:21:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:22:29.160-08:00Southwest Tries New Ways of Boarding<div style="float: left;" 1px=""> <p> <img src="http://cdn.channel.aol.com/bbarticle/articles/0e/06/46d48943-00018-02026-400cb8e1" /><br /></p> </div> Families with young children are usually invited to board their flights first, along with other special needs passengers.<br /><br />But what if families with children weren't among the first to board? Might the process go more smoothly?<br /><br />While it might sound counterintuitive, it's something Southwest Airlines has been experimenting with on flights from <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/San+Antonio-Texas-United+States:60:San+Antonio-destination-guide">San Antonio</a>.<br /><br />"The major goal is to try to give a better customer experience for boarding," said Susie Boersma, manager for airport performance improvement.<br /><br />The airline's effort to improve the boarding process comes at a time when the entire airline industry is struggling with increased delays, cancellations and passenger complaints about deterioriations in service. Several high-profile incidents in the past year have involved traveling families, most recently a woman who was escorted off a plane because her toddler kept saying "Bye-bye plane!"<br /><br />Southwest, a <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Dallas-Texas-United+States:68:Dallas-destination-guide">Dallas</a>-based discount carrier, is famous for its unassigned seating, which some have dubbed the "cattle call."<br /><br />In each of the scenarios the airline has been trying, families were invited to board after the "A" group. Passengers in the "A" group are typically those who arrive early or who checked in online beforehand.<br /><br />In one scenario, a few rows of seats were set aside on the plane for flight attendants to use if a family couldn't find seats together. In the other scenario, no seats were reserved.<br /><br />In either case, families who had already obtained an "A" pass could sidestep the experiment of boarding later and board with the "A" group if they wanted to.<br /><br />But some traveling families said they'd be happy to give up the privilege of boarding first, if it made the process easier.<br /><br />"I'd be willing to go after the 'A' group," said Christine Smith, 34, who traveled on a test flight from <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/San+Antonio-Texas-United+States:60:San+Antonio-destination-guide">San Antonio</a> to <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Dallas-Texas-United+States:68:Dallas-destination-guide">Dallas</a> last week with her 6-year-old son, Tanner.<br /><br />Aimee Flanagan, 34, who was on Smith's flight with her husband and three children, said she wouldn't mind boarding after the "A" group, because it might reduce the pressure to get settled while a long and impatient line of people wait behind her.<br /><br />When families board first, "there's no time to get situated. You have to be in the aisles," she said. "And the kids are over here and you still haven't figured out where to sit."<br /><br />The day after her test flight, Flanagan said that boarding after the "A" group worked out just fine. Fewer seats were available, but her family was still able to sit together. She still felt the pressure to get seated quickly, though, as others boarded after her.<br /><br />Southwest officials stress that they are not trying to separate business travelers from families. But some passengers say that's exactly what they'd like to see.<br /><br />"If you have X amount of families, however many people who are in families, have X seats sectioned off," said Flanagan. She said doing that would keep everyone happy, including all the annoyed travelers she's seen giving families dirty looks.<br /><br />It's also possible that Southwest may not change anything and continue to pre-board as usual, the company said.<br /><br /><a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Dallas-Texas-United+States:68:Dallas-destination-guide">Dallas</a>-area architects Dan Henke and Fred Cawyer, who travel Southwest once or twice a month, are happy to have family pre-boarding continue as usual, even if that means a longer wait and fewer available seats. "I think I like letting them board first," Henke said. "Then I don't have to sit next to them."<br /><br />They'd also support separate sections for business and family passengers.<br /><br />"These flights are so short, I can tolerate it," Cawyer said of sitting next to a crying child for the less-than-one-hour hop from <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/San+Antonio-Texas-United+States:60:San+Antonio-destination-guide">San Antonio</a> to <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Dallas-Texas-United+States:68:Dallas-destination-guide">Dallas</a>. "If it's going to <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Pittsburgh-Pennsylvania-United+States:694:Pittsburgh-destination-guide">Pittsburgh</a>, shoot me."<br /><br />In addition to the "Bye-bye plane!" case, other incidents involving families in the past year include a family taken off a flight when their child threw a tantrum and refused to wear a seat belt, and protests held nationwide in support of a nursing mother who was ordered off a plane because she wouldn't cover up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By ELIZABETH WHITE, AP</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-14511080846731324652009-02-22T12:19:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:21:27.772-08:00Start with West Attractions<div style="float: left;" 1px=""> <p> <img src="http://cdn.channel.aol.com/bbarticle/articles/0e/03/46e94693-00233-06362-400cb8e1" /><br /></p> </div> <b>Tip 5: Start with Attractions</b><br /><br />If your crew -- be they children or children-at-heart -- are over the whole Fantasyland thing, I highly recommend starting with Attractions West (as the vets call them -- that’s code for "the attractions on the west side of the park"). This means you'll want to hit Adventureland, New Orleans’ Square, Critter Country and Frontierland. Why? Because if you're swift about it, you can knock all of their rides out well before lunch, and save the rest of the day for standing in lines. But there’s a science to it, which brings me to my next tip …<br /><br /><b>Tip 6: Load Your Fastpasses</b><br /><br />Fastpasses are either God’s gift to Disneyland, or the devil’s blight on Walt’s park -- it depends on who you ask. The whole concept is to “save your spot in line” so that you can go do other things (i.e., eat, shop and do other things that cause you to spend money) instead of waiting in an endless line. But if you learn to use the system to your advantage, you’ll maximize your amusement time.<br /><br /><p>For example, let’s say we’re starting our day in Attractions West. Get a Fastpass for Indiana Jones -- known back in the day as “Temple of the Long Line” -- and then go directly to Pirates of the Caribbean. Once you’re done on that ride, go directly to Haunted Mansion. By the time you’re out of the mansion, you should be able to get a new Fastpass. If not, skip over to Critter Country for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and by the time you get off that ride, you should be good to go for Indy. But wait -- before you get on Indy, make a stop at the Fastpass distribution for Splash Mountain. Do Indy, maybe squeeze in a whirl on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (or some target practice at Frontierland’s Shootin’ Exposition), then you’re set to go on Splash Mountain. But before you do that, stop off and get a Fastpass for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin …<br /><br /></p>See where I’m going with this? It always helps to have a plan. The thing is, others are going to have the exact same plan, so don’t fret if Fastpasses run out for the day. Just use your time in line as quality time. (Easier said than done when you’re all bouncing around like crazies, right?)<br /><br /><b>Tip 7: Nail Your Characters Early</b><br /><br />If your little ones are dead set on having their pictures taken with princesses and mice and bears, best to do it sooner than later, as the lines get longer as the day goes on. The princesses take up court in the Fantasyland Theatre, Buzz Lightyear hangs out in Tomorrowland, Pooh and the gang take over Critter Country, Mickey and Minnie are easily found in Toontown, Ariel has a clamshell in the fountains near Tomorrowland, and Aladdin takes up shop in Adventureland, while a mix of characters sometimes take over the Small World area. Sometimes the villains come out to play around Fantasyland, and old-timers -- like Brer Bear -- chill near Adventureland. Sometimes it’s set, other times it’s luck of the draw, but if you miss someone during the day, sometimes they make a post-parade appearance on Main Street near the Mad Hatter.<br /><br /><b>Tip 8: Eat Early, Eat Often</b><br /><br />Restaurants get busy at predictable times -- especially during high season in the summer and around Christmas. To combat it best, do mini-meals at the concession stands all around the park. Grab a turkey leg here, a container of crudités there, and you won’t feel the sting of hunger at all. And if you do, at least it’ll tide you over until the rush subsides and you don’t have to fight nearly as much for a table somewhere.<br /><br />As a breakfast tip, on days without Early Entry, try going to the park a half-hour before opening to have breakfast at the Carnation Café, sandwiched in between the watchmaker and the ice cream parlor on Main Street. The wait staff is expert at delivering your food and check in perfect timing to make rope drop, all with a smile. If you want to make lunch or dinner something special, make your first stop of the day the reservations desk at the Blue Bayou, the restaurant that puts you right in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Great food and a great atmosphere ensure your dining experience will be unforgettable. Of course, your other options for lunch are to eat in Downtown Disney, or try some of the dining options at the hotels. But why would you want to leave the park once you’re in? (The answer? You wouldn’t.)<br /><br /><b>Tip 9: Switch Parks Midday</b><br /><br />Right around the time lunch starts to get nuts and you’ve successfully nailed all the rides in Attractions West, that’s the right time to make your way across the esplanade to Disney’s California Adventure. As the park is smaller and doesn’t hold as many people as Disneyland, it’s a great way to get a little breathing room and still hit some great rides before dusk. Don’t miss Soaring Over California (the hangliding ride), Tower of Terror (the elevator drop ride) and California Screamin’ (the roller-coaster), all of which have Fastpass -- and great views.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By CARLY MILNE</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-69814243565204711902009-02-22T12:18:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:19:34.856-08:00Skip the Parades, Shows and Fireworks<div style="float: left;" 1px=""> <p> <img src="http://cdn.channel.aol.com/bbarticle/articles/0e/06/46e94771-00321-06362-400cb8e1" /><br /></p> </div> <b>Tip 10: Skip the Parades, Shows and Fireworks</b><br /><br />You don’t want to waste time watching rubberheads in choreographed dance and colorful explosions over the Matterhorn, do you? Of course not -- you want to ride the Matterhorn, and parades followed by fireworks are a great time to get a lot of riding done. As the shows swallow up a lot of the crowds, the lines tend to get leaner, which means you have that much more opportunity to maximize your ride count. That said …<br /><br /><b>Tip 11: Don't Skip Parades, Shows and Fireworks</b><br /><br />Really -– don’t. I can condone skipping the parade if you’re either above a certain age or below a certain tolerance level, but you have to see the fireworks at least once. They really are an incredible masterpiece of timing and choreography, best seen from directly in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, but enjoyed no matter what location you see them from. Plus, the magic and entertainment of Fantasmic is unparalleled (though I recommend seeing the less crowded late show, if your little ones have had a nap).<br /><br /><b>Tip 12: Do Open to Close</b><br /><br />Maybe I come off as a bit fanatic, but there’s something so magically all-encompassing about being there right when the gates open to riding every last ride until they kick you out. It gives one a sense of accomplishment … or obsession, take your pick. Regardless, it does make your trip memorable, and gives you plenty of time to see, do, re-see and re-do all the things that you want to, whether you’ve planned to stay for a day or a week. Plus …<br /><br /><b>Tip 13: Shop Late</b><br /><br />Don’t waste your valuable ride and character-visiting time shopping for -- and carrying -- souvenirs. All the shops on Main Street are open an hour after park closing, and Downtown Disney shops are sometimes open for two hours after park closing, depending on the day and season. But if you really must, must, must spend money right that second, make arrangements for them to deliver your bags to your room (another benefit only allotted to on-site hotel guests).<br /><br /><b>Tip 14: Ditch the Kids</b><br /><br />Yes, you love them -- but you also just let them drag you around miles and miles of amusement parks for hours on end. Isn’t it time for a little grown-up get-together? Don’t worry about the kids -- the Grand Californian has babysitting options, that give kids the chance to watch movies, make crafts, and even get rooftop seats for the fireworks with skilled caregivers that will keep an eye on them until you’re finished doing whatever it is you want to do. After all, the Disneyland Resort isn’t just fun for kids.<br /><br />Some adult recommendations? How about spa treatments at the Mandara Spa followed by an incredible dinner at the Napa Rose? You could go for the wine country duck confit with spring vegetable fricassee and porcini mushroom foam appetizer followed by a main of white truffle honey glazed pacific salmon with white asparagus, coastal mushrooms, baby “red lace” mustard greens, green lentil puree and minneola essence. Or, go big and sign up for the Vinter’s Table, a chef’s tasting menu designed to be paired with the best wines from wine country. Just make sure you save room for dessert! The kids might be miffed, but you can pay them off the next morning with breakfast at the Storyteller’s Café. With grown-up breakfast options for mom and dad, a delicious buffet for all ages and wandering characters to spice up the dining experience, all will be forgotten … and you’ll be more than ready to tackle another day of rides, or use it as your last hurrah before you catch your flight home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By CARLY MILNE</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-91570444666645425332009-02-22T12:17:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:18:12.799-08:00BART San Francisco MapUnique in and of itself, San Francisco’s subway system isn’t your average transportation. San Francisco is a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, thus creating a challenging engineering feat to connect the cities across the Bay. Because the MUNI bus system in San Francisco is very well organized, and digging subway tunnels under the city is not always an option, BART is geared toward local commuters first, tourists second. That doesn’t mean you can’t download a BART San Francisco map and hit the sights, just be prepared to use a combo of above ground MUNI busses and underground BART trains to get where you need to go.<br /><br />Locals have a love-hate relationship with BART, which has found its way to the blogosphere among San Francisco intellectuals. Standing for “Bay Area Rapid Transit”, BART offers 104 miles of track, 43 stations serving upwards of 330,000 people a day. And despite paling in comparison to other subway systems in terms of size and usage, BART holds its own with five lines that delve deep into the greater Bay Area cities. Tourists benefit from this simplistic setup in that day trips to UC Berkeley, downtown San Francisco, and both Oakland and San Francisco International airports is possible. Plans are in the works to take BART deep into Silicon Valley connecting San Jose as well.<br /><br />Those planning a trip to San Francisco can get the most out of a BART San Francisco map. This allows visitors to effectively plan a Raiders game in Oakland, a tour of Scharffen Berger Chocolate in Berkeley then end up having sushi in Union Square all in one day. BART subway tickets are can be loaded up with money similar to a debit card. Keep in mind that the tickets you purchase for BART are only good on BART trains, unless you purchase a BART Plus ticket, which can be used as local fare on multiple Bay Area bus lines in half month increments. This is the best option for tourists. Snag a BART plus ticket, download a BART San Francisco map and you’re good to go.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By ROBIN AGUILAR, AOL</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-56667919643571584802009-02-22T12:16:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:17:18.663-08:00London Tube MapFew cities are as entwined with their subway as London. Officially opening its doors in 1863, and serving over 3 million riders a day, the London Tube is one of the oldest and most prevalent rapid transit systems in the world. And the local love affair with the London Underground is stuff of legend; from the pop culture phenomena “Mind the Gap” campaign to keep riders from tripping on the gap between train and platform, to the tragic terrorist attack that took place in 2005. The London Tube has survived just about everything critics and fans can throw at it, and keeps on growing.<br /><br />Known as the “London Underground” or by locals as “The Tube”, this advanced subway system boasts 275 stations spanning over 253 miles in and around the greater London metropolitan area. Travelers to London find the Tube map to be somewhat confusing, as the twelve subway lines intersect to form a colorful octopus. Many critics of the London Tube map agree that actual distances between stations are not accurately portrayed, in an effort to make more money off unsuspecting riders. Regardless of drawbacks, for many travelers, the London Tube map is the only way to see the city.<br /><br />Savvy travelers to London always research and secure a Tube Map before they go. Combined with a trusty London travel guide, the Tube map allows visitors to plan their visit and ultimately reduce stress. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the varying subway lines, where they do and don’t go, as well as keep tabs on station closings and outages. The Transport for London website offers email alerts to keep you posted of important Tube delays while in London. Also available are London Tube maps with the fare zones distinctly mapped out, so travelers can get a good idea how much they’ll be spending on tickets for the Tube. This allows you to decide to pay fares on a one-off basis, or invest in multi-day tickets or an Oyster card pay-as-you-go-credit card.<br /><br />A must-see for travelers, many London Tube stations have transformed into transit art galleries. These stations are decorated and adorned with works from local artists, courtesy of Platform for Art and Poems on the Underground initiatives. Developed to enhance rider experience, these art projects have given elegance to the London Tube rarely found outside of the UK.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By ROBIN AGUILAR, AOL</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-66053966830867638392009-02-22T12:14:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:16:11.858-08:00Upscale Vegas Hotels Lure Big Spenders<div style="float: left;" 1px=""> <p> <img src="http://cdn.channel.aol.com/bbarticle/articles/0c/02/478bb2cd-002ac-05aab-400cb8e1" /><br /></p> </div> In the rarified world of luxury hotels, it's not only the thread count of the sheets or the sheen of the marble but the sincerity of the staff that separates the best from the rest.<br /><br />Casino developer Steve Wynn recalls getting the bad news that his <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States-Bellagio:48:P89586-hotel-detail">Bellagio resort</a> would be getting four stars instead of five from Mobil inspectors more than a year after its opening in 1998.<br /><br />"It was an unfortunate exchange at the front desk with the anonymous shopper," said Wynn of the property now owned by MGM Mirage Inc. "And room service trays, after people had eaten breakfast, were left outside the door in the hallway."<br /><br />While such minor annoyances might have been acceptable in the land of free drinks, bargain buffets and sequined showgirls, such service no longer passes muster in upscale <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States:48:Las+Vegas-destination-guide">Sin City.</a><br /><br />As budget options like the Stardust and New Frontier have been imploded to make way for more expensive, classier resorts, a battle is being waged for the tourist dollars of the upper crust.<br /><br />Details such as pronouncing a hotel guest's name correctly and delivering room service within five minutes of the appointed time are crucial to attaining the top ranks from such agencies as Mobil, AAA and Michelin.<br /><br />Higher rankings mean higher room rates for operators. Likewise, restaurateurs covet the rankings, which bring headlines and crowds of big-spending customers.<br /><br />In the case of <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States-The+Venetian+Resort+Hotel+Casino:48:R28190-hotel-detail">The Venetian</a>, owner Las Vegas Sands Corp. was able to raise the average daily room rate in the first three quarters of 2007 by $22 from a year earlier -- to $259 -- after spending $100 million on renovations to achieve five-diamond status from AAA.<br /><br />For the 4,000-room hotel, which opened in 1999, that means millions of dollars more to the bottom line, said senior vice president Paul Pusateri, who spearheaded the drive to improve its four-star rating.<br /><br />The property doubled the number of pillows on each bed to four, increased the thread count to 260 on its sheets in standard rooms and installed flat panel TVs and automatic drapes.<br /><br />It also began running secret shoppers through its property at least every two weeks, testing employees on hundreds of AAA and Mobil rating criteria, such as making eye contact, dealing with communication breakdowns and responding to requests quickly.<br /><br />When service slips, employees are notified immediately.<br /><br />"It is as simple as one team member not being able to pronounce the name of the shopper and therefore not using it, for example," hotel operations vice president Kirsten Dimond said.<br /><br />At <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States-Wynn+Las+Vegas:48:T15406-hotel-detail">the Wynn Las Vegas</a>, whose Tower Suites hotel-within-a-hotel was awarded Las Vegas' only Mobil five star resort rating last year, average room rates were a market-leading $282.<br /><br />"Rich people know what the best hotel is in every city of the world," Wynn said. "Mobil is a confirmation of that."<br /><br />Celebrated chef Joel Robuchon, whose namesake restaurant at MGM Grand received Michelin's only top three-star rating in Nevada last month, said the key is guest satisfaction.<br /><br />"I'm very happy about it, but the stars are not my main focus," Robuchon said by telephone from his restaurant in <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Macau--Macau:406:Macau-destination-guide">Macau.</a> "For me, the best thing that can happen is when guests make their next reservation even as they are leaving."<br /><br /><a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States:48:Las+Vegas-destination-guide">The Las Vegas area</a> boasts five resorts and four restaurants with five diamonds and more than a dozen of each with four. Elsewhere in <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states/nevada/">Nevada</a>, there are five AAA four-diamond properties, including the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino; Harrah's Lake Tahoe; and Cactus Petes Resort Casino in Jackpot.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Reno-Nevada-United+States:279:Reno-destination-guide">Reno's</a> best properties, such as the <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Reno-Nevada-United+States-Grand+Sierra+Resort+and+Casino:279:120278-hotel-detail">Grand Sierra Resort & Casino</a>; <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Reno-Nevada-United+States-Eldorado+Hotel+Casino:279:121185-hotel-detail">Eldorado Resort Casino Reno</a>; and Siena Hotel Spa Casino, received three stars and diamonds from Mobil and AAA.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By RYAN NAKASHIMA, AP</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-50790933217986307082009-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:14:06.343-08:00How Hotels are Rated<div style="float: left;" 1px=""> <p> <img src="http://cdn.channel.aol.com/bbarticle/articles/0d/03/478bb333-00117-05aab-400cb8e1" /><br /></p> </div> The key to great hotel service is the arrival sequence, and it begins beneath the covered driveway known as the porte-cochere.<br /><br />On a recent, unannounced annual inspection, The Associated Press accompanied an AAA inspector into the Hilton Grand Vacation Club on the Las Vegas Strip, most recently ranked as a three-diamond hotel.<br /><br />The green Subaru wagon arrived on a not-busy Tuesday afternoon and the visitors already were out of the vehicle before three valet workers moved to assist them.<br /><br />"I see the valets, and they're just sort of chitchatting," said the inspector, who asked not to be identified so she could perform occasional anonymous stays. "This could be a four. Did I get four-diamond service on arrival? No."<br /><br />Inside a room, assistant executive housekeeper Gerardo Chavez-Mendoza nervously looked on as the inspector ran her hands over the granite countertops and then into the coffee maker, with the drama of a mother inspecting her teenage son's room.<br /><br />"You're not going to like this," she said, pulling out a wet, used coffee bag.<br /><br />"Wonderful," Chavez-Mendoza said, visibly upset.<br /><br />North America's most popular guidebooks -- Mobil and AAA -- rank up to three levels on their respective star or diamond charts with in-person, unannounced inspections. A rank of four or the highest, five, requires an incognito stay.<br /><br />As a result, property managers encourage their employees to be on the ball -- all the time.<br /><br />"After the first six months, they really realized there's no point in trying to find out who the shopper is," said the Venetian's Dimond.<br /><br />Cleanliness, safety and reliability are the base standards for obtaining a listing in the guides and the lowest one star or diamond rating. From there, standards diverge slightly.<br /><br />Mobil requires onsite restaurants for a two, while AAA does not. At a Mobil three, the bathroom is expected to have "hygienic soap, shampoo and four other bath amenities"; while AAA expects "two large bars of soap or equivalent; one bottled item; attractively presented" and other amenities at the front desk.<br /><br />At the four and five levels, rooms are expected to feature such touches as accent pillows, artistic interiors, insulated ice buckets, bathrobes and often brand-name bath goods. Warm, sincere greetings, often by name, are expected in every interaction.<br /><br />Some properties attempt to go beyond the requirements, aiming for the wow factor that amazes guests and secret shoppers.<br /><br />At <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States-Bellagio:48:P89586-hotel-detail">Bellagio</a>, a five-diamond, four-star property, flowers are shipped in from around the world to fill the 13,500 square-foot conservatory near the lobby, which is changed out five times a year.<br /><br />"We go out and search for the Christmas tree that we need three, four months in advance. We fly flowers in from <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/europe/the-netherlands/">Holland</a>," president Randy Morton said. "That's a <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States-Bellagio:48:P89586-hotel-detail">Bellagio</a> diamond, I guess you'd call it."<br /><br />At the highest levels of service, Mobil rates only 37 hotels and 16 restaurants as five-star in <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states">North America</a>; while AAA gives its top designation to 100 hotels and 60 restaurants in <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states">the U.S.</a>, <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/canada">Canada</a>, <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/mexico-and-caribbean/mexico/">Mexico</a> and <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/mexico-and-caribbean">the Caribbean.</a> Michelin, known more as a restaurant guide, gave its top three stars to 68 restaurants in 22 countries, but it's unclear how many hotels got the top honor of five red pavilions.<br /><br />Because of differing standards, it's difficult to say which rankings are more exacting. Some operators said Mobil's targets are tougher than AAA's to meet, since they cover more areas of service, such as at poolside or in the casino. Michelin, operating in <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states">North America </a>since 2005, is a more unknown quantity on the hotel side.<br /><br />Whatever the standard, more <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States:48:Las%20Vegas-destination-guide">Las Vegas</a> resort developers are getting in on the upscale act with billion-dollar developments.<br /><br />Las Vegas Sands' $2.6 billion Palazzo is set to open its doors by the end of the year, while Wynn's $2.2 billion Encore property opens in early 2009. The $2.8 billion Fontainebleau, along with MGM Mirage's $7.8 billion CityCenter are to open later that year. Boyd Gaming Corp.'s $4.4 billion complex, Echelon, is scheduled to open in 2010 and developer Elad IDB plans to spend more than $5 billion to open The Plaza hotel and casino on the Strip in 2011.<br /><br />When Wynn won his coveted Mobil five stars last year, he said he spent millions advertising it, not only to flaunt the distinction, but to egg on his competitors.<br /><br />"Since I made a fuss about our five stars, that will inspire other people in town to be jealous and to upgrade," Wynn said. "The more that <a target="_blank" a="" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Las+Vegas-Nevada-United+States:48:Las%20Vegas-destination-guide">Las Vegas</a> is perceived to be a really high-class destination, the bigger the market gets. That's a good thing for all of us."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By RYAN NAKASHIMA, AP</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-65829544862789810962009-02-22T12:09:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:11:05.147-08:00Top 10 Road StopsIt's the dreaded question on every road trip, the one that almost always brings a muted scream from parents -- "Are we there yet?"<br /><br />Instead of jumping off the highway for a pit-stop at the rest stop, why not take a real break at an iconic American roadside attraction -- or an attraction that’s destined to become one? Here are ten picks sure to relieve boredom -- and gives you an interesting answer to the question of ‘are we there yet?’<br /><br /> <b>Attraction:</b> Kentucky Artisan Center<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Berea-Kentucky-United+States:3682544:Berea-destination-guide">Berea, KY</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> The staff jokes that it's got the cleanest restrooms along Interstate 75 -- and it sure does. But the Kentucky Artisan Center offers a lot more than spiffy bathrooms; it also boasts a restaurant, gallery space, and a shopping wonderland of true American-made treasures, from Appalachian crafts to quilts, art glass, oil paintings and pottery -- all the work of Kentuckians.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Superman Museum<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Metropolis-Illinois-United+States:10009626:Metropolis-destination-guide">Metropolis, IL</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> It’s a bird, it’s a plane -- no wait, it’s a museum! More than 20,000 objects of super-hero proportions are housed in this Metropolis museum dedicated to the man of steel, who according to the comic books, came from a town called Metropolis. Outside the museum, a huge and hulking monument to the Man of Steel is the perfect backdrop for a family photo -- you can even immortalize your visit by buying a brick in the pathway being constructed for the Lois Lane statue.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Rock City Gardens<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Chattanooga-Tennessee-United+States:433:Chattanooga-destination-guide">Chattanooga, TN</a><br /> <b>What To See:</b> Perhaps the most iconic of all roadside attractions, Rock City is where you can see seven states fro, the top of Lookout Mountain, search for gnomes in the gardens, squeeze through a crevice called the Needle’s Eye, and contemplate the state of your love life form the dramatic Lover's Leap.<br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Five Rivers Center<br /><b>Location:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">Mobile, AL</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> One of the newest attractions in <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">Mobile</a>, Five Rivers offers travelers a chance to jump off Interstate 10 and jump into a kayak for exploring the expansive wetlands of lower <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9Dhttp://information.travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states/alabama/">Alabama’s</a> Gulf Coast. Take a guided tour or push off on your own – but keep an eye out for gators, too. <br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" org="" rap="" dos="" parks="" griffithpk="" htm="">Griffith Park</a><br /><b>Location:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">Los Angeles, CA</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> Take a hike, a horseback ride or a stroll through the zoo at Griffith Park, an urban oasis in <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">Los Angeles</a> that is perhaps most famously known (and portrayed in movies) as home to the Griffith Observatory. But in addition to being home to the observatory, Los Angeles Zoo and the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage, the park is also home to the famous ‘Hollywood’ sign.<br /><br /> <b>Attraction:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="">Bronner’s</a><br /><b>Location:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="">Frankenmuth, MI</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> It’s Christmas year-round at Bronner’s the winter wonderland that’s full of zillions of holiday lights, ornaments, trees, stockings, yard art and just about anything one could need or want. There’s even a chapel for meditating, or perhaps escaping from the merry madness.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" org="">Corn Palace</a><br /><b>Location:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">Mitchell, SD</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> It’s never the same place twice -- literally. Each year since the turn of the last century, more than 275-thousand ears of corn and dozens of other crops are fashioned into an elaborate design on the exterior of the Corn Palace. It was the best way the local farmers could show off the fruits of their harvest -- rye, corn, wild oats and more. There’s also a doll museum, prehistoric Indian village and a history museum in Mitchell.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="">Mall of America</a><br /><b>Location:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="" minneapolis="" minneapolis="">Minneapolis, MN</a><br /><b>Details:</b> It’s shopping nirvana for her, an amusement park for the kids, and Dad? Well, he just gets to pay for it all. Just kidding -- he can hang in the more than 14 sporting goods stores, the 20 sit-down restaurants or join the kiddies on the roller coaster. With 4.2 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment, boredom is impossible.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9Dwww.spam.com/museum">Spam Museum</a><br /><b>Location:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">Austin, MN</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> 16,500 square feet of SPAM, glorious SPAM, from SPAMburgers in the cafe to sculptures in the exhibit area. Learn fun facts – like the astonishing news that Hawaiians buy 6.7 million cans of the ham-and-whatever-it-is canned meat annually. Why? That’s one question that’s not answered at the museum.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9Dwww.nps.gov/goga/">Golden Gate Bridge National Park</a><br /> <b>Location:</b> <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/top-10-road-stops/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">San Francisco, CA</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> The views are astonishing, the bridge a marvel of engineering – and it’s a must-stop if you’re within 50 miles in any direction. There are beaches and hiking, the country’s most infamous prison-- Alcatraz. For the most rugged and least crowded experience, try the abandoned armories along the coastline. But The Rock isn't the only place worth visiting. Try the Muir Woods monument for a bit of peace and quiet among the redwoods trees; the historic Presidio for a step back into time (and through an amazing cemetary); and Land's End, the rocky headlands best for a bit of hiking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">By SALLY WALKER DAVIES</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-86281151004678835072009-02-22T12:05:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:09:36.768-08:00Road Stops To See in America<div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Griffith Park<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Los+Angeles-California-United+States:44:Los+Angeles-destination-guide">Los Angeles, CA</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> Take a hike, a horseback ride or a stroll through the zoo at Griffith Park, an urban oasis in <a target="”_blank”" a="" href="http://information.travel.aol.com/article/across-america/_a/road-stops-to-see-in-america/%E2%80%9D" com="" guide="">Los Angeles</a> that is perhaps most famously known (and portrayed in movies) as home to the Griffith Observatory. But in addition to being home to the observatory, Los Angeles Zoo and the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage, the park is also home to the famous ‘Hollywood’ sign.<br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Bronner's<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Frankenmuth-Michigan-United+States:10004824:Frankenmuth-destination-guide">Frankenmuth, MI</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> It’s Christmas year-round at Bronner’s the winter wonderland that’s full of zillions of holiday lights, ornaments, trees, stockings, yard art and just about anything one could need or want. There’s even a chapel for meditating, or perhaps escaping from the merry madness.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Corn Palace<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Mitchell-South+Dakota-United+States:368701:Mitchell-destination-guide">Mitchell, SD</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> It’s never the same place twice -- literally. Each year since the turn of the last century, more than 275-thousand ears of corn and dozens of other crops are fashioned into an elaborate design on the exterior of the Corn Palace. It was the best way the local farmers could show off the fruits of their harvest -- rye, corn, wild oats and more. There’s also a doll museum, prehistoric Indian village and a history museum in Mitchell.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Mall of America<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Minneapolis/St.+Paul-Minnesota-United+States:162:Minneapolis/St.+Paul-destination-guide">Minneapolis, MN</a><br /><a>Details: It’s shopping nirvana for her, an amusement park for the kids, and Dad? Well, he just gets to pay for it all. Just kidding -- he can hang in the more than 14 sporting goods stores, the 20 sit-down restaurants or join the kiddies on the roller coaster. With 4.2 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment, boredom is impossible.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Spam Museum<br /><b>Location:</b> </a><a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/Austin-Minnesota-United+States:9999942:Austin-destination-guide">Austin, MN</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> 16,500 square feet of SPAM, glorious SPAM, from SPAMburgers in the cafe to sculptures in the exhibit area. Learn fun facts – like the astonishing news that Hawaiians buy 6.7 million cans of the ham-and-whatever-it-is canned meat annually. Why? That’s one question that’s not answered at the museum.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Attraction:</b> Golden Gate Bridge National Park<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/San+Francisco-California-United+States:39:San+Francisco-destination-guide">San Francisco, CA</a><br /><b>What To See:</b> The views are astonishing, the bridge a marvel of engineering – and it’s a must-stop if you’re within 50 miles in any direction. There are beaches and hiking, the country’s most infamous prison-- Alcatraz. For the most rugged and least crowded experience, try the abandoned armories along the coastline. But The Rock isn't the only place worth visiting. Try the Muir Woods monument for a bit of peace and quiet among the redwoods trees; the historic Presidio for a step back into time (and through an amazing cemetary); and Land's End, the rocky headlands best for a bit of hiking.</div><br />By SALLY WALKER DAVIES<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-30109814071296653082008-11-18T10:22:00.000-08:002008-11-18T10:24:03.101-08:00Put Away Your Checklists and Slow Down<p class="articletext"> What do you think of this itinerary?" a fellow traveler once asked. His message listed 29 countries on six continents, with line items such as "Brazil: 5 days, Argentina: 6 days, Chile: 3 days, then fly to Australia: two weeks." The list went on and on like that, for a period covering one year. My reply was, in short, that she should throw out two-thirds of the destinations and start over. </p> <p class="articletext"> The U.S. is living in a competitive society. Even when we try hard to avoid it, we are under pressure to stand out, to do better, to win every contest. We're wired to try to come out on top whether in our jobs, our sports contests, our classes, or our excursions to the mall or the car dealer. Raised on this competitive spirit, many travelers have trouble letting go when they decide to circle the globe for the first time. They want to see the most places, get the most passport stamps, and check off the most pages in the book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. </p> <p class="articletext"> Unfortunately, their whirlwind year abroad leaves them with mere snatches of memories. They form few relationships that last more than a day. Far too many of their stories revolve around the process of travel: bus rides, train rides, ferry rides, and time spent waiting for all of the above. Instead of stopping to smell the papayas, they choose to smell more diesel fumes. </p> <p class="articletext"> I once read an article in one of the glossy travel magazines about a 65,000-mile round-the-world journey by one of the magazine's writers. It ended up being an article about planes, airports, and checking in and out of hotels. The writer wasn't content to actually spend some time in places and see what made them tick. Instead he had to turn it into something fit for reality TV: a challenge, a race, an endurance test. How long did he spend using this $5,300 batch of tickets through 46 cities? Less than two months. The longest he spent in one place was four days. He proudly listed the average hours of sleep per night at 4.5 and the number of cups of coffee at 249. When he says, "All too often, I could be found running breathless for my next flight," I couldn't help but mourn the giant waste of opportunity. </p> <p class="articletext"> This is an extreme example of course, and probably one that only someone with a fat expense account would undertake. But the guiding mentality is not uncommon for those planning their first journey around the world. Many of them want to "do it all," as if this will be their only trip away from home for their entire life. As a result, their impressions of a city are limited to monuments and transportation depots. The only locals they meet are ones trying to sell them something. </p> <p class="articletext"> On our third time circling the globe, my wife and I suffered a particularly hellish ferry ride out to the Togian Islands off Sulawesi in Indonesia. The overstuffed boat left after midnight (hours late) and hit rough seas, forcing nearly everyone into a state of regurgitation. In the morning the sun came up on our boat, which was moving along the equator, and we all baked until arriving at our destination a couple of hours before sunset. When we finally threw our packs down in our beach bungalow, Donna and I vowed not to leave for at least a week. Another couple came over with us on the same ferry. They had already breezed through South America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand in a mere 10 months and were frantically trying to cram in their list for Asia before their RTW ticket expired. They ended up staying three nights on this blissful (and blissfully cheap) tropical island, then bid everyone goodbye. They had places to go, sites to pose in front of, things to check off their list. They only had a year to see the world and, by god, they were going to see it all. "This is the longest we've ever stayed in one place!" they explained cheerfully. </p> <p class="articletext"> When we asked them earlier what they thought of particular places we had all been to, they'd talk about their guesthouse, what the buses were like, or that perfect slice of chocolate cake they'd gotten at some café. They hadn't had the time to delve any deeper. Like a glossy travel article that doesn't look much different than a tourism board brochure, their stories didn't have any meat. Many of the towns they had visited were already fading from memory, just a blur of one-night stopovers. </p> <p class="articletext"> Here are a few tips to remember when planning an around-the-world trip. Keep them in mind, and I promise you will get a lot more out of your trip. </p> <p class="articletext"> <strong> 1. All countries are not created equal.</strong> </p> <p class="articletext"> Two days in Singapore may be enough to get a good feel for the place. Two days in Turkey is a joke, just a glorified layover. I lived in Istanbul for five months and never ran out of things to see. And although the city is fantastic, one city does not a country make. London is not England any more than New York is America. To really experience a country, you need to spend some quality time off the main tour bus route. </p> <p class="articletext"> Don't forget that it takes two or three weeks just to get your bearings in India and twice that to really see more than a few states. You can see a lot of Laos in two weeks, but if you're going to Vietnam for two weeks, pick the north or the south -- you can't see both in that short amount of time. </p> <p class="articletext"> <strong> 2. Pick clusters, not far-flung destinations.</strong> </p> <p class="articletext"> Many travelers try to plan according to some internal priority list and end up paying a fortune to fly to disconnected spots on the globe. They want to visit China, Fiji, New Zealand, Chile, Mexico, and a dozen other places in Europe and Africa -- never mind that the destinations are nowhere close to each other. </p> <p class="articletext"> There's a good reason Southeast Asia is so popular with backpackers. You can fly into Bangkok and then visit a long list of exciting places going overland or with short-hop flights. If you like a place more than you thought you would, you can stay longer. If you're disappointed, you can move on to the next spot quite easily. You can then get easy flight connections from Bangkok to anywhere in Asia and most places beyond. Similar clusters exist in the Middle East, East Africa, Central America, and parts of South America. </p> <p class="articletext"> <strong> 3. Go for quality over quantity.</strong> </p> <p class="articletext"> When I took my third round-the-world journey, some of my family members were surprised that my wife and I were returning to some countries for the second or third time instead of going to all new places. We made this choice, however, because we knew we had only experienced the tips of the iceberg in Indonesia, Nepal, and India and wanted to see a lot of areas we had missed. We knew our experience would be more meaningful than if we went somewhere less interesting just to check off a box. As a result, we spent three months in Indonesia and really explored several islands in depth, at a pace that was never rushed. We learned enough of the language to chat with locals who didn't speak English. We got to places most tourists don't have time to visit and none of it was a blur. </p> <p class="articletext"> <strong> 4. Get off the beaten path.</strong> </p> <p class="articletext"> Don't make your trip a long string of monuments, museums, and buses. Most of us have parents or family friends who have done some kind of "Europe in Eight Days" tour or a 1-week Caribbean cruise and we wonder how they could have really done anything of substance. Yet some backpackers end up doing an elongated version of this over a 1-year period, hitting the main sites and quickly moving on. When you get off the beaten path, however, you see a whole different side of a country. When you have loads of time in a less-touristed area, you can take things as they come. You can accept invitations from local families. You can follow advice from books that take you to a place that isn't even in the guidebook. You can rent bikes to go exploring or just walk around without a map. You can spend time with people who don't just see you as a walking wallet, and you can take life at their leisurely pace. </p> <p class="articletext"> Remember, real travel is not a competition, and there's no winner. Nobody back home will care if you've been to 30 countries or 10 -- trust me. Really see and feel the 10 and you'll be much more fulfilled. Travel is much like the snack foods you can't stop eating -- you won't be happy with just one trip. Save some places for the next round.<br /></p><p style="text-align: right;" class="articletext">By Tim Leffel<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-20657574337327327452008-11-18T10:12:00.000-08:002008-11-18T10:17:20.609-08:00Fly to the Cluster and Save Big Time<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="20%"><tbody><tr><td><div align="center"> <img src="http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0601/trekker_in_nepal.jpg" alt="Trekker in Nepal" height="598" width="400" /> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="article8pt"> <div align="center"> A trekker on the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!--endclickprintexclude--> <p class="articletext"> Planning an around-the-world journey can seem overwhelming: you’ve got to figure out what vaccinations you need; you have to decide what to pack for an entire year; plus you have to wrap up your affairs at home. Many people work on plans for weeks or months before realizing that their budget doesn’t match their ambitious plans. </p> <p class="articletext"> Unless you have a fortune, you can’t afford to spend the whole trip in expensive “first world” countries. Destination choices have a bigger impact on your travel budget than anything else—far more than your around-the-world flight deal, where you stay, or what you eat each day. And if you are worried about money the whole time you’re traveling, you probably won’t enjoy the experience very much. </p> <p class="articletext"> The first rule of affordable around-the-world travel is to spend a good portion of your time in areas where you don’t have to worry much about money. Even a budget traveler can easily blow $100 per day in Western Europe or Japan. To spend $100 per day in Laos would require staying at a very fancy hotel, eating at the most expensive restaurant in town, and ordering French wine with lunch and dinner. Otherwise, $20 a day can set you up rather well. </p> <p class="articletext"> Unfortunately, many first-time around-the-world travelers base their itineraries on some smorgasbord of unrelated countries. They act like the world is an all-you-can-eat buffet with 193 items and they must try as many as possible. These travelers end up rushing around and spending a lot of time in transit instead of really getting to know places and the people. </p> <p class="articletext"> So the second rule of affordable travel is to arrange your trip by clusters: choosing groups of countries in the same region instead of stringing together a dozen flights to carry you to widely-separated spots on the globe. </p> <p class="articlesubtitle"> Go for the Clusters </p> <p> <span class="articletext">If you fly into one country in a cluster, you can visit many others overland without having to shell out for more flights. Plus you have the flexibility of staying longer in one country or moving on sooner depending on how things turn out. You are not locked down to a rigid itinerary.</span> </p> <p class="articletext"> In general, traveling around the clusters listed here will cost a fraction of traveling through the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, or Western Europe. Even in the cheapest countries, however, there are resort areas built to accommodate consumptive tourists with fat wallets: places like Cancun in Mexico, Agadir in Morocco, Sharm-el-Sheik in Egypt, and Kemer (near Antalya) in Turkey. Avoid these spots unless you are hankering for a place just like home—with prices to match. </p> <p class="articlesubtitle"> Cluster 1: Southeast Asia </p> <p> <span class="articletext">Southeast Asia is undoubtedly the most popular part of the world for shoestring travelers, and justifiably so. Collectively, the whole area is a terrific value. </span> </p> <p class="articletext"> You can move around almost effortlessly through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. If you have the desire and the time, you can travel between all of these places without ever getting back on a plane. You could easily spend a year just in this area and still only get to know a fraction of its stunning diversity of cultures, religions, and landscapes. </p> <p class="articletext"> There are beaches, jungles, volcanoes, lagoons, mountains, crater lakes, and river deltas. You will stay at postcard-pretty beaches so perfect that you can’t believe you’re paying $5 a night and not $500. Below the water, there are hundreds of prime spots for diving and snorkeling. </p> <p class="articlesubtitle"> Cluster 2: Eastern Europe and Turkey </p> <p> <span class="articletext">Prices are up all over Europe largely because of the decline in the dollar’s value, but Eastern Europe is still a relative bargain. You get old-world architecture, good beer and wine, and interesting cities without prices that will make you gasp. You also avoid the hordes of package tourists, apart from a few select cities and beach resorts. The best bangs for the buck are in Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, though the Czech Republic is still a great value if you get out into the smaller towns. However, in all of Eastern Europe prices have shot up about 30 percent for Americans in recent years. So be sure the guidebook you are using was researched after 2003.</span> </p> <p class="articletext"> In Turkey, prices have stayed more stable and there’s even more to see, including more Roman ruins than in Italy, plus the Ottoman sights and the Byzantine ones, and the strange rock formations of Cappadocia. </p> <p class="articlesubtitle"> Cluster 3: Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria </p> <p> <span class="articletext">Getting to Morocco from any of the other countries in this cluster requires a flight, but overland transportation will cover the rest. Each of these countries stands out for its wealth of attractions squeezed into a relatively small area. </span> </p> <p class="articletext"> All the major sites of Egypt are along the Nile. View thousands of years of history, from Alexandria down to Aswan. And if you get “templed out” you can head to the Red Sea coast for some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. Jordan is the home of Petra, one of the world’s greatest open-air museums, filled with buildings carved into the rocks. It is also the site of the bizarre Dead Sea, interesting desert castles, and the Roman ruins of Jerash. Few travelers fit Syria into their trip, but those who do rave about the unparalleled hospitality and the architecture of Damascus and remote ruins. (Syria can also be reached overland from Turkey.) </p> <p class="articletext"> Morocco is the land of casbahs, winding alleys and souks, desert oases, and much more. Apart from the famed cities of Fez and Marrakesh, there is plenty more to see; Morocco’s topography ranges from the rolling Sahara desert to the cool Atlas Mountains. </p> <p class="articlesubtitle"> Cluster 4: Latin America </p> <p> <span class="articletext">For residents of the U.S. and Canada, Latin America is a natural first or last stop on a journey around the world. You can get to any capital in Central or South America in a day; you don’t have to deal with jet lag; and learning Spanish is a whole lot easier than learning Czech or Vietnamese. On top of all this, most currencies in the region are closely tied to the dollar so sudden price jumps are rare.</span> </p> <p class="articletext"> While few of the countries in Latin America are quite as cheap as the bottom rung in Asia, you won’t need a lot of dough in Guatemala, Bolivia, Nicaragua, or Ecuador. </p> <p class="articletext"> Peru, Argentina, and the islands of Honduras are a bit costlier; so is Mexico—especially in the resort areas. In any of these countries, however, you can travel for one-fourth to one-half what you would spend in the U.S., as long as you steer clear of the package-tour spots. </p> <p class="articletext"> You know the highlights: Argentina includes the very European and stylish city of Buenos Aires and the remote landscapes of Patagonia. Peru was the land of the Incas. The Mayans left their footprints in Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. The spine of the Andes mountain range runs the length of South America, and there is no shortage of jungles and beaches. Throw in deserts, salt plains, the Amazon, colonial cities, canyons, waterfalls, and a long coral reef. There’s no end to what you will discover. </p> <p class="articlesubtitle"> Cluster 5: India and Nepal </p> <p> <span class="articletext">The title of “cheapest destination in the world” fluctuates with exchange rates, but India and Nepal are usually in the running. In these countries, you can still find $1 hotel rooms in some areas, a 50-cent meal almost anywhere, and train prices that Europe hasn’t seen since the 1950s. </span> </p> <p class="articletext"> These are the ultimate budget destinations. A shoestring backpacker can stuff a few essentials into a backpack and travel around in one of these countries for two or three months on $1,000. </p> <p class="articletext"> Some say that India is a “love it or hate it” destination, but it’s not uncommon to feel both ways the same day. The poverty and poor sanitation are very real, but so are fantastic sights, dazzling splashes of color, and some of the best deals on the planet—though sometimes you’ll wonder what planet you’re on. </p> <p class="articletext"> There are so many highlights in India that it takes months—or several trips—to do the region any justice. Nepal has the stunning Himalayas, interesting Hindu and Buddhist architecture and temples, and wildlife reserves filled with rhinos and elephants. </p> <p class="articletext"> As for geographic variety, there’s plenty: white-sand beaches, jungles, deserts, endless plains, hillside tea plantations, and a big section of the Himalayas. The cities range from magical princely kingdoms to the teeming craziness of the big cities. You’ll experience many mental and emotional states here, but boredom won’t be one of them. </p> <p class="articletext"> You can eat every meal in restaurants in India and Nepal and still spend less per day than you would on one sub sandwich at your local deli. Places where the locals eat cost next to nothing, and even restaurants serving “Western” food will usually have plenty of choices under a dollar.<br /></p><p style="text-align: right;" class="articletext">By Tim Leffel<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-20205487800825497702008-11-02T11:09:00.000-08:002008-11-02T11:11:47.315-08:00Argentina<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mFKwQjUA576rAF9mzhrto6VDrHCLRtvUPHYsyj1vKLjcdtmPGGHZAc6mwJswavfLVfIkX_qNg-8BEEwWVQaFHCkz4EOXwBIAnIML8OWywqo0roKhJYhHv_kXINYpu2JcZqQkYOq-grY/s1600-h/Argentina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mFKwQjUA576rAF9mzhrto6VDrHCLRtvUPHYsyj1vKLjcdtmPGGHZAc6mwJswavfLVfIkX_qNg-8BEEwWVQaFHCkz4EOXwBIAnIML8OWywqo0roKhJYhHv_kXINYpu2JcZqQkYOq-grY/s320/Argentina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264139976815018642" border="0" /></a><br /><p>Argentina forms the eastern half of South America's long, tapering tail. It's a big country - the eighth-largest in the world (with 0,6% of the world's population).The population is estimated at approximately 37.000.000 people. Argentina is the second largest country in South America in terms of land area (approx.1,000,000 sq. miles). The country is bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Chile to the west, and Brazil, Uruguay, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It also shares the offshore island territory of Tierra del Fuego with Chile, and continues to dispute the ownership of the Islas Malvinas (the Falklands to the Brits), which Great Britain invaded in the last century.</p> <p>There are 5 distinct sections to Argentina, the coast and beaches in the east, the snow-capped Andes mountains to the west, humid jungles up north, Patagonia down south, and the Pampas (fertile plains), in the center of the country. Argentina's 33 million inhabitants are of Spanish, German, Italian, and English decent.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-19093578257814474862008-11-02T11:07:00.000-08:002008-11-02T11:09:41.649-08:00Colombia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDok5iv_JU4vPLdnpBFZcAExPqZBgO4XDpDKnxilXu7ZC2_ak5LlvjTP5lKGm97qsW-30Uj3YAyHnA0OmR5OkPUUs7eBcK6Mnef5DVxcw3ZnKpHku5e26VG5vd_XDsiMreGefl3Kud-c/s1600-h/Colombia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDok5iv_JU4vPLdnpBFZcAExPqZBgO4XDpDKnxilXu7ZC2_ak5LlvjTP5lKGm97qsW-30Uj3YAyHnA0OmR5OkPUUs7eBcK6Mnef5DVxcw3ZnKpHku5e26VG5vd_XDsiMreGefl3Kud-c/s320/Colombia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264139444703496978" border="0" /></a><br />Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders. Colombia is located in Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-25498042919141533102008-11-02T11:02:00.000-08:002008-11-02T11:04:15.351-08:00Ecuador<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrUFmtM2z7D4m9q1NzA7VqL8yv-UzDLUkHeY3O_-nxXYAg-U8unM8KZ7fHXunLCQLkjjMxbdpLwtEsXd-vhGAyETzTI54Olo7vxRslVH3aDl63VZTNSMkRwEiwnzS7OeqhvzhcPVU9eo/s1600-h/Ecuador.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrUFmtM2z7D4m9q1NzA7VqL8yv-UzDLUkHeY3O_-nxXYAg-U8unM8KZ7fHXunLCQLkjjMxbdpLwtEsXd-vhGAyETzTI54Olo7vxRslVH3aDl63VZTNSMkRwEiwnzS7OeqhvzhcPVU9eo/s320/Ecuador.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264138043471678834" border="0" /></a><br />The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in1999. Ecuador lies nestled in the Andes Mountains with Colombia to the north and Peru to the south. It is on the Equator from which it derives its name. The jungles of the Amazon basin lie inland to the east whilst the western coastline is on the Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos Islands also belong to Ecuador. The country is split into three main geographical regions - the eastern jungle, the central Andean mountains and the western coastal zoneUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-78734846009590842152008-11-02T11:01:00.000-08:002008-11-02T11:02:32.784-08:00Paraguay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HxkydHyWN7XIPmEmCQfE-50MCDo9R_W89H3FHEaXsbjIFnCEYMA2pjaJ3MpmGYgHRSbO8KaU2_63jMg9wDy5akJGYQhFhWuqcVgecxxKCY1JPwIskuoKKzAt_MiqmdE3rDZ1TXqdpgQ/s1600-h/Paraguay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HxkydHyWN7XIPmEmCQfE-50MCDo9R_W89H3FHEaXsbjIFnCEYMA2pjaJ3MpmGYgHRSbO8KaU2_63jMg9wDy5akJGYQhFhWuqcVgecxxKCY1JPwIskuoKKzAt_MiqmdE3rDZ1TXqdpgQ/s320/Paraguay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264137592185264082" border="0" /></a><br /><p>In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.</p> <p>The Republic of Paraguay is a country of some 5,000,000 inhabitants and occupies an area of 406.752 square kilometers.The capital is the city of Asuncion.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-36214562552629998992008-11-02T10:59:00.000-08:002008-11-02T11:00:58.909-08:00Chile<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWidGrtNdJIHKl750FyDZtRW8ScovJtAphy9N4_K7tdQsiXtoJnG3bY_VGvTFWSml5ukkzZi84WF_pAXyQ9WbYfEz1-IUiG_D5dXvlqUweN2KFmd6hOsVGdJKvsX3F17SlcgRnqg1sMps/s1600-h/Chile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWidGrtNdJIHKl750FyDZtRW8ScovJtAphy9N4_K7tdQsiXtoJnG3bY_VGvTFWSml5ukkzZi84WF_pAXyQ9WbYfEz1-IUiG_D5dXvlqUweN2KFmd6hOsVGdJKvsX3F17SlcgRnqg1sMps/s320/Chile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264137203506872530" border="0" /></a><br />Chile is a long and narrow stretch of land at the southwestern end of América, between Los andes mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. The country is divided into 12 regions plus Greater Santiago, 51 provinces and 335 municipalities. The capital Santiago (of the New Extremadura) was founded on 12 February 1541 by the Spanish Conqueror Pedro de Valdivia. The official language of Chile is Spanish spoken without regional variations. Other languages spoken in very restricted areas are: "Mapudungu" (mapuche language), "Rapa Nui" (spoken in Easter Island) and "Aymara" (spoken in some areas of the mountains in the North).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-56712629267238900742008-11-02T10:57:00.000-08:002008-11-02T10:58:57.104-08:00Peru<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywHj2W7nDuJSNo-Pi1OAM0Zjv7OgJj5fpbWRMoqbbDfEFbkPIlDJxMYT5VJRsY69tXTtDOZgaaZPUe7CLzzjILzU66xbTiYG3EhpXWdRX6leviGJ-77y1dQ3Fh6DtFUcLdmyqeQQnNgA/s1600-h/Peru.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywHj2W7nDuJSNo-Pi1OAM0Zjv7OgJj5fpbWRMoqbbDfEFbkPIlDJxMYT5VJRsY69tXTtDOZgaaZPUe7CLzzjILzU66xbTiYG3EhpXWdRX6leviGJ-77y1dQ3Fh6DtFUcLdmyqeQQnNgA/s320/Peru.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264136670716777762" border="0" /></a><br />Peru, the largest in area in the Andean countries, was the cradle of the most advanced indigenous civilizations and most powerful empire in pre-Columbian South America - that of the Incas. Peru was also the focus of Spanish colonial domination for its first two hundred years of rule. What remained of pre-Columbian America with regard to people, culture, and settlements is perhaps better represented in Peru than in any other country. The Andes are the site of the most fascinating pre-Columbian cities of South America-like the great city of the clouds, Machu Picchu.The country has a 2,400 kilometer (1,500 miles) long coast on the Pacific Ocean and borders Colombia and Ecuador in the north, Brazil and Bolivia on the east, and Chile on the south. It is the only country that borders all the other Andean states.<br />The Andes are by no means the only region to visit in Peru. Also of great interest is Peru's narrow, lowland coastal region, a northern extension of the Atacama Desert. Although the Atacama is generally known as the most arid region on the planet, the climate along Peru's shores is made cooler and less dry by La Garuùa, a dense fog created by the collision of the frigid waters of the Humboldt Current with the heated sands of the Atacama. Lima, Trujillo, and Chiclayo, three of Peru's major population centres, are located along this coastal desert.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-53029420135488252732008-11-02T10:55:00.000-08:002008-11-02T10:56:56.346-08:00Suriname<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyFsQkSMzWoymfwHMnzrVpqhRRYPYNT2v-E1_GtiO-t-GsVER7LWYgV3Tq892vqlcFpKyf-hCw8W8r0xbQ5vHSvrFYjqC3sDZEZznmJBErF0IKU7m0oFjbhWhZjKLFTLbMwH0FtZVseo/s1600-h/suriname.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyFsQkSMzWoymfwHMnzrVpqhRRYPYNT2v-E1_GtiO-t-GsVER7LWYgV3Tq892vqlcFpKyf-hCw8W8r0xbQ5vHSvrFYjqC3sDZEZznmJBErF0IKU7m0oFjbhWhZjKLFTLbMwH0FtZVseo/s320/suriname.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264136157377470466" border="0" /></a><br />Suriname (formerly Dutch Guyana) is a small Republic on the Northeast coast of South America. It borders French Guiana in the east, Brasil in the south, Guyana in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the north, and has an area of 163,265 square kilometres (63,064 square miles). The country contains many rivers and some mountains (highest point 1280 metres). The larger part of the country consists of uncultivated rain forest.The people are a multi-cultural blend and the land has many beautiful natural resources that make it unique. It is not unusual to see monkeys traversing the trees and boa constrictors crossing the various roads that are traveled daily. The Amazonian interior is unspoiled and sparsely inhabited. The official language of Suriname is Dutch. A reasonable number of people also speak English. Surinamese children are taught English in primary school starting in the seventh grade. The lingua franca in Suriname is Sranan Tongo. This is a creole language spoken by almost everyone. Suriname's national anthem is written in Sranan Tongo.<br />Nearly all 386,372 inhabitants of Suriname (1990 count) live within a 30 km wide coastal region. The capital Paramaribo lies about 20km south of the coast at the west bank of the Suriname river. It has 150,000 inhabitants.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-42820969228136507052008-11-02T10:52:00.000-08:002008-11-02T10:54:41.027-08:00Uruguay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOvAD6c_tvEHapLdCkgKhjWKwg9sAxQG3DybK2U7Oa_YcR9PSivzaaPoPxv9VQvO4uhcxtNDJf9cMr0I8qmguM7x7JHDf5t4WWbCET_RxRcxOVJW-C8-B7xxDinHWL9pgy3v_9qbzuF4/s1600-h/Uruguay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOvAD6c_tvEHapLdCkgKhjWKwg9sAxQG3DybK2U7Oa_YcR9PSivzaaPoPxv9VQvO4uhcxtNDJf9cMr0I8qmguM7x7JHDf5t4WWbCET_RxRcxOVJW-C8-B7xxDinHWL9pgy3v_9qbzuF4/s320/Uruguay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264135576290895298" border="0" /></a><br />The República Oriental del Uruguay is situated on South America's Southern Cone, its eastern shore lies next to the Atlantic Ocean between the 30th and 35th southern latitude parallels and between the 53rd and 58th western longitude meridians. It is the warmest zone within the southern region. Uruguay borders Brazil on the north and northeast; Argentina on the west and south, the River Plate to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The climate is mild and mostly uniform in the whole country with distinct seasons. The absence of mountains exposes the region to a wide spectrum of cold and humid southeasterly winds. As its name indicates the wind comes from the southeast, and the southerner or "pamperos" which blows from the Patagonia Andes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-80871754007282134232008-11-02T10:51:00.000-08:002008-11-02T10:52:45.005-08:00Venezuela<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUdVFlsf6DzDRB7-y0KoXi5lMjW7KE9TMPVClHmavMvjIpiGBTFr_p52cNhERiHMB9vso6aweagMq4dJHybqp8URQgS2fNxxeBmtO6qz2QFVhDrBXejRtjBcz_u1V4V47UN54aIXZBlQ/s1600-h/Venezuela.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUdVFlsf6DzDRB7-y0KoXi5lMjW7KE9TMPVClHmavMvjIpiGBTFr_p52cNhERiHMB9vso6aweagMq4dJHybqp8URQgS2fNxxeBmtO6qz2QFVhDrBXejRtjBcz_u1V4V47UN54aIXZBlQ/s320/Venezuela.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264135077290270002" border="0" /></a><br />Venezuela was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations which are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples. When the first explorers arrived, they saw houses over the Sinamaica lagoon (Zulia State), close to Maracaibo; those houses reminded them of the city of Venice. They called the region "Little Venice", which in Spanish would be Venezuela.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-54691310978943843602008-11-02T10:44:00.000-08:002008-11-02T10:50:21.209-08:00Belgium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH_eNQdb11IFcbFufi5VyFEvZVxeywTmDSK2y6MKdSxXBIReh_-Mcv_kjvyCJMrUGmiwa0n68lHHuOCDvFmI5OGqspgHRkzNw18Bld6Fwzo9JpBcbFLLAlqdyWfN6Z2B6BuTIbPBRqqU/s1600-h/Belgium.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH_eNQdb11IFcbFufi5VyFEvZVxeywTmDSK2y6MKdSxXBIReh_-Mcv_kjvyCJMrUGmiwa0n68lHHuOCDvFmI5OGqspgHRkzNw18Bld6Fwzo9JpBcbFLLAlqdyWfN6Z2B6BuTIbPBRqqU/s320/Belgium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264134428635673554" border="0" /></a><br />Nestling between the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France, Belgium occupies 30,518 square kilometres and is home to 10.2 million people. Belgium is Europe in a nutshell, multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a flatland criss-crossed by canals, is proud of its great art cities, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia, you will find the rolling hills of the Ardennes, numerous castles, and the cities of Liege, Namur, and Tournai. <p>Belgium is a small country (11,730 square Miles, the size of Maryland) with a population of slightly less than 10 million. It has been a constitutional monarchy since 1830. There are three languages (Dutch, French and German). However, English is widely spoken. Many people think that "Flemish" is a separate and independant language. It's not. Flemish is just another name for the Dutch language, spoken with a "Belgian" accent. The three regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) have self-government in many spheres. Belgium has retained its old-world charm in the preservation of its ancient buildings and historical traditions.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-5706758175302142882008-10-25T14:46:00.000-07:002008-10-25T14:47:48.992-07:00Cayman Islands<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIJIhmUZ88pha_YeXIMbb73ZmQNXa73ZVKbpCnTQhqNteQzleV8mYYSkIzYnB6YBKF99UeIJlVtCvpz_jg7DF66CC_a9-ppKP9bRydsHqfE8dcSMqnGMcdUzFo5SVkbimQPRMF-V5a08/s1600-h/Cayman_Islands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIJIhmUZ88pha_YeXIMbb73ZmQNXa73ZVKbpCnTQhqNteQzleV8mYYSkIzYnB6YBKF99UeIJlVtCvpz_jg7DF66CC_a9-ppKP9bRydsHqfE8dcSMqnGMcdUzFo5SVkbimQPRMF-V5a08/s320/Cayman_Islands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261211501398560978" border="0" /></a><br />It is unlikely that the British, or anybody else for that matter, would have desired the <strong>Cayman Islands</strong> quite so much when they were first discovered. Columbus originally named the islands 'Las Tortugas' (<strong>The Turtles</strong>) because they were utterly covered in them. More worryingly, the word 'Cayman' probably derives from the Carib word, 'Caymanas', meaning 'marine crocodile', suggesting that the islands were also the favoured home of scores of lizards. In addition to this, the Cayman Islands have long been associated with the history of <strong>buccaneers and pirates</strong>, who once established hideouts here.<br /><br />All of this is easy to forget as you luxuriate on wide, <strong>sandy beaches</strong> with crystal-clear waters that teem with <strong>coral reefs</strong> and marine creatures. The Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is particularly popular and deservedly so. Rather than combating pirate invasion, the closest you will probably get to exertion is <strong>diving in shipwrecks</strong>, walking through <strong>rainforest</strong>, and letting velvety stingray brush against your legs.<br /><br />There are three islands in this British Overseas Territory: <strong>Grand Cayman</strong>, <strong>Little Cayman</strong> and <strong>Cayman Brac</strong>. The latter two are the smaller of the Cayman islands and were discovered by <strong>Columbus</strong> in 1503. <strong>Sir Francis Drake</strong> explored the area in 1586, but it was 1670 before the islands came under full British rule. Grand Cayman was settled from Jamaica by 1672; Little Cayman and Cayman Brac were settled some time later and maintained a separate administration until 1877. The governor of Jamaica held administrative responsibility for the islands until 1962, when Jamaica itself became independent. Since then the islands have had their own governor appointed by the British Crown.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-78934170524621378422008-10-25T14:42:00.000-07:002008-10-25T14:44:07.242-07:00British Virgin Islands<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD1Iox2jOSdY6GKxFzptVFDyItQMXnn2v0qucHGKBplp_RUwUxvO0ubiqh7wmX9tfrnV3W_Oj5QlRSH3Wfhng844XJ6AM1dHDgWp2ktHwLkoongcoGDsVqui6CIU8NUZvPAKNIE80kDo/s1600-h/British+Virgin+Islands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD1Iox2jOSdY6GKxFzptVFDyItQMXnn2v0qucHGKBplp_RUwUxvO0ubiqh7wmX9tfrnV3W_Oj5QlRSH3Wfhng844XJ6AM1dHDgWp2ktHwLkoongcoGDsVqui6CIU8NUZvPAKNIE80kDo/s320/British+Virgin+Islands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261210519239248418" border="0" /></a><br />Some may be aware that Norman Island, one of <strong>over 50 idyllic islands</strong> that constitute the archipelago of the <strong>British Virgin Islands</strong>, was supposedly the location that Robert Louis Stevenson based <em>Treasure Island</em> on. Today's visitors might not stumble across swashbuckling pirates or half-concealed troves of treasure, but they will find a highly prized booty of soft sand and gentle, teal waters.<br /><br />The British Virgin Islands comprise sloping hills of green and the impressive <strong>Mount Sage National Park</strong>, but are really renowned for the nautical thrills on offer. Year-round winds provide exceptional conditions for <strong>sailing</strong>, and the British Virgin Islands happily celebrate this asset by staging frequent <strong>regattas</strong> and fairs. In addition, extensive <strong>coral reefs</strong> and famous <strong>shipwrecks</strong> are enough to entice anyone into the waters for a <strong>dive</strong>. For travellers who prefer to watch the sea rather than get into it, there is the breathtaking chance of <strong>spotting dolphins and whales</strong> criss-crossing the surface.<br /><br /><strong>Jost Van Dyke</strong> is the <strong>party island</strong>, where holidaymakers and locals can shake their bodies to calypso and gulp down tasty cocktails.<br /><br />Paradise does come at a cost. Overall, the British Virgin Islands are quite an <strong>expensive</strong> destination. But, for some, this is the necessary price of saving a Caribbean gem from over-commercialisation. If this is the intention, the British Virgin Islands are, for now, a resounding success.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540265755927690478.post-82937764710135474412008-10-25T14:38:00.000-07:002008-10-25T14:39:34.510-07:00Bonaire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eZ93xNYCKFpkbVBmuqebAV06ps5em0fmHACQ16sZZtbkcM1ByDixo09ZO3SuLEiTL1Q3hp7818BL76wZ-wKsHzdU_9LQlV7I1aUVn96V6jqhvz6ud_nXFnuR7YI_DqmbVOpQC9BVVZw/s1600-h/bonaire.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eZ93xNYCKFpkbVBmuqebAV06ps5em0fmHACQ16sZZtbkcM1ByDixo09ZO3SuLEiTL1Q3hp7818BL76wZ-wKsHzdU_9LQlV7I1aUVn96V6jqhvz6ud_nXFnuR7YI_DqmbVOpQC9BVVZw/s320/bonaire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261209385738523762" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Bonaire</strong> is a prime example of nature at it’s loveliest – it literally translates as 'good air'. On parts of the island, <strong>giant salt lakes</strong> loom on the horizon. Beneath the water's surface, rainbow-hued fish drift in between coral.<br /><br />The second-largest island in the Dutch Antilles has desert-like terrain offset by inviting turquoise waters. Bonaire is paradise for <strong>watersports</strong> lovers. Some argue the <strong>diving</strong> and <strong>snorkelling</strong> is the best in the Caribbean, since Bonaire's relative lack of tourism means much of its coral has gone undisturbed. For those seeking <strong>sailing</strong> or <strong>windsurfing</strong>, the characteristic windswept postures of the divi divi trees show that Bonaire's warm, dry and breezy climate is ideal for these sorts of activities.<br /><br />Bonaire is highly <strong>eco-friendly</strong> and keen not to impair the fragile infrastructure of the coral, nor unsettle Bonaire's serenity with heavy development and glitzy nightlife. Consequently, Bonaire's beautiful <strong>beaches</strong> and safe waters have remained intact. <strong>Flamingos</strong> still wander the landscape of multi-hued salt plains (some even say that they outnumber Bonaire's human population) and multitudes of <strong>birds</strong> seek sanctuary in Bonaire.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0