St.Martin Island Travel Guide: The Traveller

It is one of the most exciting vacation destinations in the CARIBBEAN’S. The Caribbean island of St Martin is no stranger to tourism. This island is a cultural jewel of the Caribbean where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. St. Martin is a wonderful place for relaxing in the sand or playing in the waves. Get the experience of visiting two islands colonies. The island is both urban and untamed with rain forest like landscape, whole beaches, amazing caves and wildlife. St Martin comes to life after dark. Especially nightclubs, casinos, beach parties. If you’re a night owl then you’ve chosen the right destinations.

St Martin is the perfect place to renew your passion for life and do what comes naturally. So put the worries of the world behind you and live in the moment. You can enjoy all night in St Martin. When you feel to lay your head and make yourself feel at home. St Martin offers endless possibilities with accommodation to suit every taste. There are dozens of casinos and clubs featuring talent from all over the world. People from all over come to enjoy a variety of cultural experiences like the Heineken Regattas where hundreds of vessels set their sails for a yearly race of St Martin Carnival, a parade of dance and live calypso music.

People will never leave this island with empty hand because St Martin Island is a tax free as well as duty free. You can till you drop. If you wish to appreciate gourmet food, St Martin is called the Gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. You will never have to eat in the same place twice even if you have to stay here for a year. World class duty free shopping, vibrant nightlife, cosmopolitan atmosphere with a Caribbean twist and pristine beaches is for you.

Here are few places where one can enjoy in St Martin:

THE ORIENT BAY: There is a constant activity on Orient Bay right from parasailing and windsurfing to eating and drinking and live music. This beach is famous for its nudity some travellers chose to keep their clothes on. The orient nudist resort is located next door, so consider carefully before bringing your children. To rent umbrellas or beach chairs one must pay the fees.

CUPECOY: is a set of three beaches surrounded by limestone cliffs. The sunset over here is unbelievable; you can enjoy the day’s end in one of the e beach bars. Family should be aware of the clothing option. This beach is free but the paid parking lot is chargeable.

FRONT STREET is famous for best bargains on Jewellery, china electronics, Gauvaberry Emporiums and its primo Potent Liqueur. The front street is intensely crowded especially when a cruise ship is docked.

LOTERIE FARM is located close to the top of St Martin highest point Pic Paradis. It is a home to the fly zone extreme. There is a bus ride up the mountain and immediately sends you sailing over the treetops

ST MARTINS ZOOLOGICAL PARK is the largest in the Caribbean and has a variety of animals, birds and some local species. Macaws, parrot and other birds fly freely about and if you pick up some food at the entrance you might even make a few new friends that will follow you about.

KAYAK TO PINEL ISLAND: Pinel Island is a little slices of paradise with fantastic snorkelling just a short kayak ride away from the cul de sac on the French side. Little ferry boat take people across the small channel but even with the small amount of tourist that visit Pinel Island is usually pretty deserted. With your own kayak rental you can paddle around the island.

So set yourself free and explore without limits filling many needs while you’re here and fulfilling many passions.

Weekend in Washington, The Wine Country

WASHINGTON is the second largest wine producing states after California and is the Northwest’s best kept secret. WINE and TASTING are the two pretty romantic words, especially when it is said in the same sentences. But most people prefer where there is sunshine more than 300days a year and with wineries dotted across the hillside.

There are some best places in WASHINGTON where wine is famous. YAKIMA VALLEY, WALLA WALLA AND THE TRI CITIES are some of the famous places for wine tasting and also make for a great vacation.

So if you want to make an excursion to Washington wine country, these are few things you may want to do before setting out.

PICK YOUR REGION:

First decide which Washington winery region would you like to visit? Because Washington wine country is quite vast and spread apart. Once you choose your winery region pick the wineries near the area. Get information on the price and wines offered, Call up the winery ahead of time to find out if there are any tasting fees so that you can be prepared.

You can make a day trip to the Yakima valley. YAKIMA is also called as PALM SPRINGS OF WASHINGTON. The YAKIMA Rivers binds a great contrast with snow-capped volcanic peaks and evergreen covered hills. It cultivates 17000 acres of wine grapes with over 80 local wineries and eight golf courses. This region has something for just about everyone to enjoy, If spending many days in this area then renting a car is feasible to explore far outside the town.

SEATTLE’S WINE COUNTRY is situated at WOODINVILLE, Washington: This place is known for its famous space needle skyscraper, cold coffee and drizzly skies. SEATTLE is a picturesque bustling city that attracts foodies with a large no of world-class restaurants, museums and cultural experiences as well as plenty of outdoor activities, including bicycling, hiking and kayaking. Though having abundance sights to see in SEATTLE many visitors are enthusiastic to visit the nearby wine country. The tourist love to escape the city and getaway to leafy Woodinville a community that’s dotted with over 90 wineries and tasting rooms of all sizes offering wines that provide distinctive flavours of the Pacific Northwest.

WALLA WALLA is the eastern most edge of wine country. Just beyond the town of Cle Elum the scenery begins to change, the forest thins, the soil dries up and the landscape sprouts a scrubby sage brush pelt. Some wonder how grapes are grown on this desert. The answer is that the bottom of the valley carved by the Yakima River burst into green. Thanks to the river and irrigation efforts, orchards and vineyards thrive, despite summer’s rainless, 100 degree days.

The TRI CIITES AREA comprises of Richmond, Pasco and Kennewick at the confluence of the Yakima, snake and Columbia River is in the heart of the regions agricultural industry. This part of the state has 170 wineries.

Accommodations are very few in this region that is why visitors only tour this countryside. There are couple of outstanding inns, a handful of small B&B’s and several basic yet serviceable chain hotels.

Some kids aren’t happy going trailing after their parents from vineyard to vineyard. Therefore there are some fun spots for youngsters. Wine tasting in the YAKIMA Valley is a journey filled with reward. Those seeking the good life and great wines, use this trip idea as a guide for planning your own wine tour.

idyllic islands you've probably never heard of

There are places that enchant. There are cities and regions, mountains and valleys, islands and landscapes that leave a lasting impression and which you would love to visit again and again. Sometimes these places are for a holiday or short break, however, away from the usual tourist routes - whether a city break in Europe, the best Travel destination for a short holiday or active hiking trip. We have asked 25 travel bloggers which are their own personal hidden and underrated pearls in Europe. What makes these places a beautiful Travel destination in Europe so special? We have collected the insider tips of the experts for you and rediscovered also the familiar unknown.

Crete - the island of the gods

Palm-fringed sandy beaches, the spectacular Samaria gorge and centuries-old architecture make Crete a popular Travel destination for explorers, adventurers and sun worshipers. According to the legend, Zeus is said to have seen the light of the world on Crete, which gave the largest Greek island the nickname "Island of the Gods".

The beaches of Preveli, Balos and Elafonissos invite you to relax. In the footsteps of the Mycenaeans, you will visit the Palace of Knossos, and in Chania you can admire impressive Venetian palaces and Moorish temples.

Tenerife - the green island of Canary Islands

Tenerife is the largest Canary Island with an area of 2,030 km² and an evergreen beauty in the Atlantic Ocean. In the center of the island rises the cone-shaped volcano crater of the Pico del Teide, whose summit is 3,718 meters high. On the mighty mountain, rain clouds clam the continually-westerly northeastern pass. They are raining on the north and east flank of the volcano and let a lush subtropical flora thrive. Since 2007, the Canadas del Teide National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Agaves, date palms and lemon trees line the hiking trails and after the natural experience lures a bath in the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic.

Santorini - the lava archipelago of the Cyclades

The ring-shaped island group of Santorini belongs to the Cyclades and is a vacation paradise – the best Travel destination in the southern Aegean. The archipelago originated as a result of a massive volcanic eruption, which occurred more than 3,500 years ago. Snow-whitewashed houses on black lava slopes merge with the azuric sea and green olive groves on Santorini to a symphony of colors.

The buildings of the small island capital Fira nestled terraced on a volcanic steep slope. Fantastic beaches such as the Red Beach and the Ormos Vlichada range from steeply rising rock faces of cold lava rock.

Fuerteventura - the sandy bathing paradise

Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands. With its miles of sandy beaches, the shallow
Atlantic island is a paradise for sunbathers, bathers and water sports enthusiasts. In the north, life rages on the seven kilometer-long Playa de Corralejo and the coastal town of Costa Calma is the center of the water sports activities.

The constant blowing wind of tranquility makes Fuerteventura the ideal Travel destination for surfing and sailing. Caribbean white sand beaches and turquoise waters await you at Jandia Playa and nature lovers
should not miss a trip by car to the dune landscape of Risco del Paso.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

In the middle of Australia, in Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park, stands the landmark of the continent, the red monolith Uluru. Early risers will be rewarded here, because in the early morning you will find a beautiful red-light landscape with the moon in the background. In the evening the submerging sun makes the rock glow again, so that there is once again an opportunity to admire it in its full splendor.

Distances

In order to get a glimpse of how far the distances are, we have compiled the most important routes. If there are no distance but time indications, these refer to an average speed of 60 to 80 km / h, since The Uluru is not allowed to drive any faster.

Melbourne to Alice Springs: 2.255 km
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon (unsealed roads): 322 km
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon (sealed roads): 475 km
Alice Springs to Yulara / Ayers Rock Resort: 446 km
Yulara / Ayers Rock Resort to the Mala Cultural Center: approx. 30 min.
Uluru by car: approx. 30 min. And 25 km
National Park Entry Station to Walpa Gorge (Kata Tjuta): approx. 45 min.

Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park Facts

There are three types of tickets: a 3-day pass for AUD 25 (approx. EUR 17.50), an annual pass for AUD 32.50 (approx. EUR 22.50) and the Northern Territory Residents Pass including all persons In a car for AUD 65 (about 45 euros). Children under the age of 16 may be free of charge.

The opening hours of the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park vary according to the month:

December to February: 5:00 to 21:00
March: 5:30 to 20:30
April: 5:30 to 8:00 pm
May: 6:00 to 19:30
June and July: 6:30 to 19:30
August: 6:00 to 19:30
September: 5:30 to 19:30
October: 5:00 to 20:00
November: 5:00 to 20:30
Cultural Center: 7am - 6pm
Information desk: 8am - 5pm

Overnight Stay:

Since the Uluru is the main attraction in Australia, you have to think a little bit about how to keep the tourists going. This has resulted in a resort that has grown into a small village today. Here there is everything: gas station, supermarket, a post office and various restaurants. You can also find all types of accommodation here, there is something for every purse. There is exactly one campground at the Ayers Rock Resort. The list of things offered here is almost infinite. There are some free activities and also some for money. They are listed here.

Free:

Every morning at 8:00 am there is  ranger guided, which lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.
All walks at Uluru and Kata Tjuta can be done without rangers.
Didgeridoo play: every day 12:30 to 13:00, Resort Town Square
Spear and boomerang: 11:00 to 11:30, meeting at the Town Square Lawn Area
Wakagetti Culture Dances: 16:00 to 17:00 Town Square Lawn Area

Charges:

Various flights (airplane or helicopter) from AUD 110 per person for a 20-minute flight
Camel ride from AUD 80
Motorcycle tours from AUD 99
Walk can also be done with a guide, prices vary depending on the agency.
Astro Tour for AUD 40.50
4WD adventure to Mount Conner for AUD 260
Walk at Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The temperatures in the Outback rise quickly in the morning hours. This means that one can have quite 35 ° C in the morning at 10:00 clock. For all walks, therefore: the sooner, the better. Some walks will be closed from 11:00 am or from 36 ° C (which first arrives). Many hikers are exaggerated and their condition, which at these temperatures is certainly different than at home. Per hour you should take at least 1 liter of water, if you want to walk.

In the center of the continent there are many unpaved roads, but the main tributaries are always asphalted, so that they can be driven with the car. From Port Augusta on the south coast as well as from Darwin in the north, the Stuart Highway takes you into the Outback. In Erldunda, the Lasseter Highway then branches off to Uluru. Very useful for the route planning with the camper are the tourist information, which can be found in every small town. Pay attention to your water supply and the fuel gauge. Shopping and caravan sites can be found in ulara, about 20 km from Uluru.

Ayers Rock:

The cultural and natural monument has been a national park since 1977. For the Australian aborigines, the Anangu or Aboriginees, the site has been of special spiritual and cultural relevance for thousands of years. The numerous rock paintings and "sacred sites" at the Uluru are testimony. In 1871 Uluru received the name Ayers Rock from the European explorer William Gosse. The red sandstone monolith, stands 348 meters out of the Australian outback. But this is only the tip, the rest, up to six thousand meters deep, is below the surface.

The Ayers Rock, is over 500 million years old and sacred to the aborigines of Australia. Along the trails, numerous information boards provide information about the Aborigines and their faith.

Alternatively, you can get free guided tours of the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park, which are partly accompanied by indigenous people or by local rangers, first-hand stories of the dream time. Anyone who has always wanted to climb the center of Australia has the opportunity to do so in a beautiful, windless weather. The number of climbers is, however, limited, which is why pre-registration is useful.

Accommodations for campers are rare in this region, so it is recommended to book beforehand. The only campground near the Uluru is the Ayers Rock Campground - Ayers Rock Resort. After an exciting and memorable day in the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park, the pool of the camp offers a refreshing dip. For the physical well, all guests can use the common kitchen, here interesting conversations between many different nationalities arise.

Traveling to the center of Australia with the camper offers you close-up insights into a culture that we do not know, and this magnificent landscape that enchants us. Enjoy the typical image of the red continent during camping.

Malta Travel Guide

Malta- an island offering the best of food, fun and adventure

Those who are craving for some winter warmth and do not wish to travel to the opposite side of the globe, embark on a journey to Malta. Malta can easily be called an island nation made of Malta along with its sister islands Comino and Gozo. Situated between North African Coast and Sicily all the islands are small with Malta being the largest. What’s so special about this cluster of islands? Well, it receives 300 days of sun every year. So, if you’re thinking about vacationing this year and craving from a hassle free sunshine break and a budget friendly destination then Malta is just a flight ticket away.

Malta a Blend of History and Novelty

The island of Malta is steeped in remarkable history for its capital Valletta was constructed by Knights of Saint John. It is not just the ancient relics which tourists will find here, an abundance of restaurants, bars and hotels have been transformed and converted in recent years. The chic boutique hotels in Malta are ideal for adventurers, single travelers, married couples, and whisky fans for many of these places have an impressive collection of finely brewed scotch. Travelers will not find the language barrier as the two primary languages used are Maltese and English and mostly everyone out there knows English.

48th happiest country

A lesser known fact about Malta is that it was recognized as the 48th happiest country and it is certainly because of the welcoming, generous and friendly nature of Maltese. This also means that first time visitors while exploring and wandering will be able to pick up tips and advice from well meaning locals. The island is quite small, which means that guests will not waste an abundance of time only on traveling.

Malta a paradise for all food lovers

Another reason to visit Malta is to taste the local Maltese food which is influenced by Italian and Mediterranean cooking. The entire island is dotted with an array of restaurants and eateries and portion sizes are often satisfying and huge. Every tourist in Malta ought to try their fish delicacies made of lampuki, tuna, and swordfish. Those who are not a huge fish fan, can opt for beef olives made of beef, parsley, bacon onion, egg, or Maltese ravioli made of the famous goat’s milk cheese.

The Malta trip would be incomplete without visiting Goto, its sister island which is a tad more rural and offers a spectacular view of the coastline and landscape. Rock climbing, rambling, biking and a variety of other options are available for the adventurers.

However, for those who consider these options to be too energetic can visit the Cathedral or promenade in the Citadel. If you are food aficionado, then you must certainly meet Riccardo, a famous bon vivant in Gozo at the restaurant Ta’ Rikardu and taste some of the most incredible wines and cheeses. Ta’ Frenc is an award winning restaurant of Gozo and every traveler who has visited this restaurant has fell in love with its warm ambience and lip smacking food. The restaurant is so popular that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt once dined here.

Best Vacation for Your Teens

Wanting an amazing family vacation? For many families the hardest part may be finding a vacation time suitable for everyone. Working then being busy with the school activities can be a chore. Be sure to sit down with everybody before settling on a date.

Give an opportunity for the youngsters to be a part of the planning process from the start. Find out what places they would like to go. Teen are fabulous in giving great suggestions. Once you decide where to go hand over some of the what-to-do-decision making to your teenagers. Most of the teen are online now.

These are some of the tips where you can take them or plan with them for your vacations.

ACTIVE VACATIONS: make sure that your teens have a fun way to burn off excess energy. Plan a vacation where they have a lot of activities around like they love skiing, snowboarding, surfing or an adventure travel vacation whether it’s a family bicycling tour through a fence or a week of rock climbing.

CRUISES are a big hit with parents. Many cruise liners cater to families with children, including teens with plenty of things to do from athletic activities to teen only lounges and dances. Unlimited excess food is provided where people can eat to their heart content. They can eat all day long without any credit bill coming home.

THEME VACATION caters to the teens interests. Like a cooking school, horseback riding,spelunking or photography.

DISNEY THEME park offers delight for kids young and old. They have great amusement park. Watch the firework explode over Cinderella’s castle. Spend the bulk time in Magic Kingdom, pausing in Town Square Theatre for a fast Pass to greet Mickey Mouse and the Princess without a long line. Don’t miss out the Fantasy land and the coaster called the Great Goofini. The Disney Royal treatment offers you a kind of dream vacations where you can travel to exotic lands, enjoy adventures or relax in blissful solitude.

MILLENIUM PARK at Chicago is an amazing green gathering place with music, dance art, family festivals.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Florida is a place where you are allowed to be an astronaut for a day. Though the real space shuttle has flown their final mission, you can still experience on the shuttle launch flight stimulator, also take mission control tour, have lunch with an astronaut.

The teenage years may be the perfect time to Plan once in a lifetime a wonderful destination for vacations. Take them to see the big things in the world that they won’t get to do once they have to spend on their own. Teenagers can be fun to travel with because of their independence and helpfulness. No Longer like babies, they can pack their own bags with all the necessities to keep them entertained.

PLAN A TRIP WITH YOUR LITTLE ONES BEFORE THEY’RE OUT OF THE NEST ALTOGETHER.

The Best Cruises in the World

We all do love to explore new place. One kind of transport is the CRUISE. Often the best way to explore new places is traveling by a luxurious cruise ship. Most of the cruise offer experiences that are extra ordinary above all. Despite the risk we’re all still eager to get our sea legs.

Cruises are a wonderful way to escape from the everyday and to experience destination that you may never have the chance to visit again. It’s an all-inclusive vacation complete with food, entertainment and an ocean view. Like any other travel, cruising also has its high and lows you should be prepared for anything. Today’s cruises are decked out with amenities for kids of any age, baby sitting for babies and toddlers and activities for the adults.

Below are some of the cruise lines which are considered to be the best in the world. Most of these ships include snow rooms, spa service, swimming pools, and others that offer the travelers an extraordinary stay.

CRYSTAL CRUISE: This cruise is the luxurious cruise provider which has begun offering an all-inclusive package to customers. This cruise has two ships- CRYSTAL SERENITY and CRYSTAL SYMPHONY. Both these ships have packages that have all-inclusive amenities, dining in the ships restaurants, complimentary wines and spirits, non-alcoholic beverages.Crystal cruise is expanding into the river cruise and yatch sectors, the cruise attracts a crowd of retirees and older professional, crystal symphony is smaller than serenity.

DISNEY CRUISE: Like its land based theme parks, Disney cruise line caters especially for kids and kids at heart. The ships are designed for the whole family, with amenities like spilt bathrooms and extra spacious cabins. The Disney offers 3 nights sailing to the BAHAMAS to 12 nights Mediterranean, which includes Spain to France, Monte Carlo, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Malta. Every minute Disney Cruise is crammed with parties, characters autograph sessions, broad way-esque musicals, movies, games and 1800 foot water play area for little ones .There’s a pirate themed play area and kiddie focused activities like treasure hunt or dancing lessons with snow white.

CARNIVAL is one of the least expensive cruise lines, so it is ideal for families on a budget. This line is known for providing loud, party-like atmosphere, so be prepared carnival cruise may not provide relaxing experience .The children’s area contain the usual activities the other cruise lines provide. One cool feature on the carnival magic is an on-board social networking tool. FUN HUB as it’s called is a shipboard intranet portal that offers teens info on daily activities.

ROYAL CARRIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL: It is the first to bring a major cruise ship to Asia Year round. They have 8 different cruises designed to meet your range, vacation length and destination goals, right from the 3 nights best of Malaysia cruise to 145 night exotic Asia Cruise.

This ship is also family oriented. They include H2O zone Water Park, flow rider surf simulator, full sized boxing ring, ice rink, massive rock wall, and presidential family suite. Teen scan enjoy themselves at the night club and hang out area. Younger kids have a lot of entertainment on hand from science projects to pottery making and books.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE lines has the best concept for families, FREE STYLE cruising. That means you can do what you want, when you want including eating dinner at any time, there is no need to stress that you’ll be late for your dinner seating. In addition to a youth program that features cirque du soleil style activities, arts, crafts and video games. The teen program offers 20 team sports and themed night-time events.

HOLLAND AMERICA: This cruise doesn’t offer big name but there’s a lot to be said about Holland cruise. They have activities like swim parties, Olympics style competitions,karaoke and pyjamaparties. This cruise is especially for teenagers. The Loft is an entire deck offered to teens withjuice bars, night club etc.

OCEANIA RIVERIA CRUSIES: The pricing structure is more a la carte than all inclusive. It spends its time sailing in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and greenisles. Most people travelling on these cruises are American or Canadian,but you will come across some Australian,Brits and travellersfrom European countries. This cruise is mainly known for its myriad dinning venues including speciality restaurants. Foodies might also wish to pay a visit to the well-equipped culinary centre on board. Riviera has its self-centred cooking school that offers a hand on experience with 12individual cooking stations with extra fees.

SO COME AND EXPERIENCE YOUR VACATION ON THESE WONDERFUL CRUISE WITH FULL OF ENTERTAINMENT.