Middle East Archives - Page 5 of 5

September 20, 2012 by Arlene

5 Luxurious Cruises For The Avid Traveler

Luxurious cruises are in demand all over the world because of the top-notch service provided, where each traveler present on the ship is treated as a royal individual and not just as a mere tourist. The staff appointed on these ships leave no stone unturned to exceed your expectations of spending a grand holiday on the high seas.

A few of the primary attractions you’ll find on such cruises are five-star accommodation, swimming pools, gyms, spas, elegant rooms with private balconies, 24-hour housekeeping and room service, free drinks, etc. Yup, no better way to feel like royalty than to book yourself on one of these bad boys for a week or two.

Cruises all over the world are famous and special but the ones covering the Caribbean and Mediterranean region are considered truly magical.

If you are a die-hard luxurious cruise traveler then try these five cruises at least once in your lifetime…

1. Costa Magica

Enjoy a spectacular holiday with this luxurious cruise that will cover the Mediterranean, starting from Italy, making stops at Malta, Greece and Turkey, before finally taking back you to Savona, Italy, all in just twelve days.

Give yourself a treat to see such interesting places by understanding their culture, cuisine and civilization. This cruise ship boasts of a swimming pool and two jacuzzis on the stern deck so that you can enjoy your dip irrespective of any weather conditions outside. The suites and stairways are designed around the theme of ‘Magic’ by the renowned Accademia di Brera in Milan.

Enjoy your drinks at the golden Gran Bar Salento that gives grand view of the water outside through the huge windows. And last but not the least, don’t forget to enjoy the Turkish baths while you are on this cruise 😉

2. Silver Whisper

This grand Caribbean voyage cruises for ten days, starting from New York in the USA and culminating at Bridgetown in Barbados.

The other ports visited during this cruise are St. George’s, Bermuda then Gustavia, St. Barts. After that it takes you to St. John’s, Antigua then Roseau, Dominica and then later Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines before taking you to your final destination.

Silver Whisper offers you Bridge Sailings where guests can enjoy complimentary daily bridge sessions. There are also gentlemen hosts on board to accompany solo travelers as dance or dining partners.

3. Crystal Serenity

Hungry to enjoy paradise on earth? Then you must definitely travel on this cruise that takes you from Istanbul, Turkey to Lisbon Portugal in 23 days. You can enjoy daily dance classes on sea days and even learn the Italian language while traveling. You can also enjoy the exclusive Walk on Water program while your on this cruise.

4. Seabourn Quest

This ship takes you from Istanbul, Turkey to Piraeus (Athens), Greece in fifteen days. If you enjoy gambling, then the casinos on this ship are here to quest your thirst. The Veranda Suites available on this cruise will make your stay comfortable, royal and elegant.

5. Silver Explorer

Interested in traveling from Bridgetown, Barbados to Colon, Panama over the course of nine days? Then Silver Explorer is the right choice for you. Enjoy the Caribbean Sea adventure where you can snorkel and kayak amidst beautiful fish and coral. You will also have the lifetime experience of learning the cultural traditions of the Kuna.

Any other cruises to suggest?

Tell me about your favorite cruise experiences via the comments below.

September 6, 2012 by Arlene

5 Epic Train Journeys For The Avid Traveler

Most folks who travel frequently find using rail rather a boring and tiresome experience. In fact, most would rather catch the train only to and from work. The mere thought of doing roughly six hours or more on the rail is dreadful!

But, for that enthusiast who prefers the train, the thought of going for an epic train travel adventure releases a flood of endorphins, as such a journey means traveling through numerous cultures, landscapes and territories.

In this article we shall delve into some of the top epic train journeys to transverse the globe…

1. The Trans-Asian Express

The main aim of this journey is to relax and sooth you so forget that dinner suite at home. The train makes its way across Istanbul all the way to Tehran while you admire the gorgeous Turkish and Iranian scenery.

The train leaves the city of Istanbul on Wednesdays at 11 p.m. and arrives at the final destination in Iran taking an average seventy hours of adventure and excitement. For those boarding from Iran to Turkey, it leaves at 6.30 p.m. on Thursdays.

Along the way you are set to venture through the mystic Lake Van where you get the opportunity to take break aboard a ferry. To enjoy all these you need to pay EUR 40 inclusive of meals and taxes.

2. The Trans-Siberian Express

This one of the longest journey you may take by train as this colossal route will take you all the way from Russia to China. Currently it’s the longest railway on earth. On average, the entire journey takes roughly ten hours covering a distance of over 8,000 Kilometers of steel track.

The journey crosses over some of the most breath taking scenery in the Siberian territory engulfed with such majestic and inspiring landscapes. For those film enthusiasts you may be able to identify some of the sights which featured in some top-rated films.

3. The Southern Spirit

The best way to make your way through Australia is via the Ghan which is designed to deliver that magical experience of the mythical “heart of Oz”. The adventure goes from Adelaide to Darwin (or vice versa).

Boasting of both Gold and Platinum cabins, you are sure to be spoiled while on the rails, being guaranteed of class, luxury and comfort regardless of the class you settle on. Unlike most rail journeys which seem like a point to point affair, the Southern spirit is guaranteed to leave you with great memories to last you several lifetimes.

4. Pride of Africa

Contrary to the stereotyping known by most people, Africa has so many good things to offer. Being one of the last frontiers not crowded by sky scrapers and tarmac it is home to the Big 5 and the Maasai Mara.

The Pride of Africa snakes through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. Enjoy the untamed wilderness while admiring the Victoria Falls.

5. The Canadian

For those who simply enjoy a blend of civilization and nature, this six hour trip will definitely leave you yearning for more. With the Canadian you need not worry that work will pile up in case you take a short break as with on-board Wi-Fi, you can have a virtual office on the go.

Enjoy the rocky landscape coupled with superlative and unmatched luxury. This is one epic journey you are guaranteed to always remember.

August 23, 2012 by Arlene

5 Fun Adventures You Can Have in (Almost) Any City

Often, we travel to some countries or cities for the purpose of leisure or fun, but end up doing very little because we are not aware of the some of the travel adventures we could be having. Well, if you are such a person, then worry no more because this write up seeks to provide you with five fun travel adventures that you not only can have in any city, but will also guarantee that you enjoy yourself in that city.

These five fun travel adventures are as follows…

1) Climb to the roof of the tallest building

This is quite easy to do in some cities, as the tall buildings will often have observation decks for tourists. Just pay a small entry fee and you’re golden.

While that’s pretty fun, what can be even more of an adventure is to try get to the roof of a building that’s usually not open to tourists. I recommend just wandering nonchalantly up to the front desk within such a building and asking them if you can go up on the roof to look at the view. If possible, ask to speak directly with the person who has the authority to grant you permission. Don’t rely on someone else to do your persuading for you 😉

2) Go Geocaching

In essence, geocaching simply refers to a recreational activity that involves using GPS satellites or devices powered with GPS signals (such as phones and computers) to hide and seek some containers commonly known as caches or geocaches.

The practice of Geocaching is one of the many travel adventures popularly practiced globally with over five million geocachers available across the world. This activity is best practiced by a group of individuals.

3) Take a local dance class

Based on the various types of songs across the world, there are many types of dances today including salsa, ballet, tango and ballroom dancing, among many others.

As a result of these many dance types, almost every city across the world has some local dance class which can be joined by anybody willing to learn. You can take this opportunity as a challenge to learn as many dances as possible, while also keeping your body fit.

4) Organize a flash mob

A flash mob simply refers to a group of people who usually organize to briefly assemble in a particular place for the purpose of entertainment, pass on a message or just express something artistic. Organizing a flash mob is one of the travel adventures that is not only thrilling, but also gives you an opportunity to interact with different people from different cultures and sharpen our organization skills.

5) Try speed dating

In spite of having originated in Western countries, speed dating has grown to become a common practice in most cities around the world.

Essentially, speed dating involves men and women meeting in a particular place, talking for a short specified period of time then at the end of the duration of talking, these men and women decide on who they’d like to see again. Just like a flash mob, speed dating is a great way of meeting new people.

In conclusion, it is worth stating that the above travel adventures are easy, cost-effective and immensely fun-filled. So the next time you travel to a city and need some travel adventures, feel free to try any of them.