travel destinations Archives - Page 2 of 9

December 23, 2013 by Arlene

The Rise of the River Cruise

From the Rhine to the Danube, river cruises are quickly becoming the best way to see Europe’s finest rivers. These relaxing yet interesting trips take visitors to some of the Continent’s most intriguing cities, through some of its best scenery, and past many of its most impressive castles and historical monuments.

For a long time, however, it wasn’t this way. River cruises have historically come in second place for travellers, falling behind their oceangoing alternatives in terms of amenities and adventure. Over the last decade, the balance has changed, with more people than ever before travelling down Europe’s most impressive rivers.

Popular destinations include the Danube – the Continent’s second-longest river, and a major biodiversity hot spot – and the Rhine. The Danube itself passes beside a long list of European capitals and cultural hot spots, giving it an adventurous appeal that many tourists believe is missing on the traditional European holiday.

After all, how many other cruises let you visit Vienna, Budapest, and the UNESCO World Heritage City of Regensburg from a single ship? While ocean cruises are all about enjoying the incredible views, river cruises combine scenery and culture to create a very appealing package for travellers.

The cruise ships themselves are part of the appeal. No longer the compact cruisers of previous decades, today’s river cruises are incredibly modern. Satellite TVs and Internet access allow even the most technology addicted to relax and unwind, and live bands and group entertainment make the ships a very social environment.

Then there’s the setting – some of Europe’s most magnificent rivers. With another incredible attracting waiting around every bend in the river, trips along the Rhine and Danube are packed with activity. Stop at castles and remote wineries, or visit some of Central Europe’s most exciting cultural centres and historical cities.

In many ways, river cruises are replacing the heavily marketed ocean cruises that attracted passengers en mass over the last 20 years. The ships are newer, with a selection of incredible features, and the destinations truly remarkable. The river cruise experience, it seems, appeals to a huge audience of modern travellers.

From Cologne to Vienna, Budapest to Antwerp, no other form of European travel makes it so easy to see the Continent’s highlights. Enjoy the best of Europe with a stress-free holiday this year – forget the traditional ways to travel and make your way around Europe on a relaxing, interesting, and very rewarding river cruise.

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Photo by tambako on Flickr

45 min web-assisted TDIs: 125€ per participant

45 minute IDIs @ facility: 130€ per participant

30 min web-assisted TDIs: 95€ per participant

December 13, 2013 by Arlene

5 Amazing Places to See the Sunrise

Wherever you end up during your travels, catching a sunrise is a truly powerful experience. As the land transforms before your eyes, you are able to get a sense for its power beyond the mayhem of hostels, backpacks, bus schedules, and restaurants. The solitude and majesty of this moment of stillness before the rush begins peels back the layers of a country, leaving you closer to the innate character of the land as the mystery of existence breathes near at hand. Visit the following 5 locations to witness a truly amazing sunrise.

Mount Nemrut

Located in southeastern Turkey, this 2134 meter high mountain is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the first century B.C., King Antiochus built a tomb at the top flanked by a series of massive statues which include depictions of himself, two lions, eagles, and various other Greek, Armenian, and Iranian gods. Today, these statues are the only remains of a peculiar dynastic religious program practised within Antiochus’ kingdom, making the mountain a striking and haunting place to visit at any time of day. However, it is the most striking at sunrise. If you can make it up the mountain in time, you will be rewarded with a view of the sun rising over the vast expanse of Turkey, full of snow-capped mountains, red desert, and various lakes, which are all shrouded by the mysterious history of ancient Antiochus and his dynasty.

Stonehenge

One of the most famous destinations in the world, Stonehenge is a mysterious place with an intriguing history and a spooky aura. Dating from as early as 3000 B.C. and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the main construction lies at the middle of a dense complex of monuments and burial mounds. While it has been linked to various religious cults and is rumoured to be arranged in some relationship to the sun, stars, and moon, its true original purpose remains subject to speculation. Catch the sunrise at this legendary site – particularly around solstice or equinox – to sense the gravity and mystery that still lingers around it.

Thirasia

While Santorini is legendary for its sunsets, to get a different view of the sun head over to Thirasia, Santorini’s smaller, less touristy sister. Catch the ferry to this tiny island from Oia and then walk along its length to arrive at an abandoned monastery. Plan to either stay in one of the villages or sleep out at the monastery to catch the striking sunset – rising over Santorini’s striking caldera and iconic white and blue buildings, as well as the looming volcano in the middle – from this remote spot. Sit with the monastery’s ghosts as the bright, burning sun rises over the quiet island, soon to come alive in the sun and crowds of the arriving day.

Svalbard

Located north of Norway, this island archipelago is home to the northernmost habitation in the world. While around solstice Svalbard is subject to midnight sun – or, 24 hour daylight – and therefore has no sunrises or sunsets, during the rest of the year it is home to incredible sunrises. And you can witness a great variety: for part of the year the sun will dip toward the horizon and then rise back off it again while at other times it will half disappear or fully set. At all times, however, the quality of light to be witnessed in this amazing landscape is intense and beautiful. Combine it with the reflecting power of the snow and ice-capped landscape around, and it is unbeatable: watch as the landscape around you transforms into a deep hue of orange.

Cappadocia

One of Turkey’s most unique and striking landscapes, Cappadocia is a popular destination for sunrise-seekers. This landscape is characterised by its incredible fairy chimneys, naturally occurring geological formations that were then hollowed out and transformed into homes for the ascetic hermits of the area. Today, not only can tourists stay in these fairy chimneys, but hot air balloon rides are offered in the early morning so that you can float above the landscape as the sun rises over the hundreds of fairy chimneys and hot air balloons that populate the sky.

Jayme Collins, originally from Victoria, Canada, now lives in Berlin and works for GoEuro, a new multi-mode travel search engine. She is still looking for the best place to watch the sunrise over Berlin.

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Photo by 57768426@N00 on Flickr

December 13, 2013 by author

A Camping Adventure In Perth Australia

Australia is a beautiful country to visit. With many attractions and much natural beauty it is definitely a country that should be on everyone’s list of places to visit. One exceptionally beautiful place to visit in Australia is Perth, here you can enjoy and exiting adventure campervan camping adventure while you explore the area around you.

Hire Your Campervan

Before you head off on your camping adventure you will need a campervan to do your camping in. Campervan hire Perth with Drivenow is your best option when it comes to easily booking your campervan for your entire stay. Drivenow offers a nice selection of various vehicles to suit your needs for camping and traveling around the area. Be sure and take the time to choose the perfect campervan to hire to ensure a hassle free camping adventure in Perth.

Camp at a Holiday Park

In Perth, you will find quite a few holiday parks that offer you exceptional camping as well as fun activities to be enjoyed during your stay. Some of your best parks for campervan camping include Discovery Holiday Parks and the Coogee Beach Holiday Park both with triple A ratings and other great parks such as Perth Vineyards Holiday Park. Each of these holiday parks offer plenty of sites to park your campervan on as well as a few other camping accommodations.

With The Kids in Mind

While some of the parks around Perth are more for those looking for a quiet and secluded break, there are some really great parks for travelers with kids. The Camp Wattle Grove was built for people to host camps at but they also have some great campervan camping sites for tourists who are just passing thru and their facilities offer plenty of fun for your kids to enjoy. The Central Caravan Park in Perth is another amazing option and is very close to the city for your convenience. With great facilities including a swimming pool and a Laundromat you surely can’t go wrong when choosing to camp at this park. While staying here you can enjoy activities such as fishing in the river not far from the park as well as tours and visits to other nearby attractions as well.

When Taking Your Pet Along

If you are going to be taking your furry friends with you on your camping adventure you should first ensure that the campsite you intend to stay at is pet friendly. Not all campervan camp sites in Perth allow pets and therefore it is necessary to check up on this ahead of time so you can plan accordingly. The Banksia Tourist Park in Hazelmere, Perth is a dog friendly park that happens to be a great option with several spots for campervans. This park has great facilities and amenities and is located in a very beautiful area.

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Photo by spelio on Flickr

December 12, 2013 by author

Chichibu: A Natural Haven

Chichibu City is located in the Saitama prefecture of Japan. The city is popular for its festivals during autumn season. The scenic landscape of Chichibu is splendid as most of the areas are left untouched. The city offers a relaxing view and stress free environment with majestic gardens, mountains, parks, and more that could captivate anyone’s eyes as well as feelings.

The beauty of Chichibu is elegant to see, and would make anyone’s trip a truly memorable one. Chichibu is a city waiting for anyone to experience the natural scenery in it. There’s no doubt your visit in Chichibu will be a magnificent one with memories that will surely last a lifetime.

Gorgeous Scenery

Chichibu City has some of the finest landscapes such as the Okuchichibu Mountains which offers a breathtaking view overlooking the interior of the mountains. The forest that leads to the mountains is superb with trees swaying back and forth as the wind blows, which is always remarkable to watch. The refreshing scene always makes me eager for a picnic or rest. But if you’re like me, I get bored quickly while resting so when I wait for my friends to get themselves together for our next trip, I always play some of my favorite online games; the best being poker. Bwin online poker games are simply accesible and help you learn the tricks of the trade very easily. Soon, you’ll be playing like a pro and can possibly even make money while you travel around. Woo!

After a nice round of online poker and a relaxing break of seeing mountains, now it’s time to head to another scenic site of Misotsuchi, with its splendid display of natural icicles. The icicles can best be seen during the cold weather of January to February and witness the formation of icicles which is slowly being build up by dripping waters. The scene is so wonderful to watch as if one is inside a fairy tale.

Festival

Chichibu City is widely known for its night festival especially during the Chichibu Yomatsuri held annually in December. The event lasts for three days with fun filled activities. The floats in the festival are heavily ornate with carvings, tapestries, and lanterns with some accompanying music. The floats’ shape like houses is paraded into the streets and there are some displays of kabuki plays in the afternoon.

The floats’ lantern decorations are lighted during the closing stages of the festival with magical portrayal of a colorful atmosphere. The lighted lantern is astonishing to see which makes one feel enlightened with revived energy. The climaxes of the event are a spectacular two and half hours of fireworks display and watching the genius of Japanese pyrotechniques.

Autumn Times

During autumn season when most feel excited to watch and unfold the brightly colored leaves of red and yellow. The remarkable scene of autumn foliage will surely brighten anyone’s mood. The trees displaying cluster of beautifully colored leaves shedding. Arakawa River gives a scene of forest trail with colorful environment that should be enjoyed by all.

The autumn foliage will take place around October to December that gives an astonishing view of the neighboring surrounding. The fascination of the autumn leaves is a relaxing thing to do with the time to enjoy a memorable adventure and scenery. The shedding of leaves in bright colors is a highlight during autumns, just like the cherry blossom in spring.

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Photo by 16582492@N00 on Flickr