Saturday 5 March 2016

Top Things to See and Do in Doha, Qatar

Qatar is a thriving country in the heart of the Middle East, jutting out into the Persian Gulf. Long been known as a playground for the wealthy, Qatar attracts lovers of history, adventure, and unparalleled luxury. The capital city of Doha has blossomed into a cosmopolitan hub of tourism and business, thanks to the recent additions of sports arenas, museums, shopping malls, restaurants, luxury condos, and world-class hotels.
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Here we’ll explore my list for the top things to see and do in Doha. I had the pleasure of visiting on a recent trip to this fascinating city!

Go Sand Dune Bashing

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Top Ten Things to See and Do in Swaziland

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Last year I had the opportunity to spend 11 action-packed days exploring the Kingdom of Swaziland with my guide Michael and the help of the tourism board. Swaziland is the smallest country in the southern hemisphere, however it boasts stunning landscapes, unique traditions, an array of lodges and hotels, and a prolific birdlife.

Top Things to See and Do in Sydney

Best Time to Go

Australia’s peak tourist season is during its warmer months (December to February). Low season is May through August. Therefore, the best time to visit Sydney is during the shoulder season when the weather is pleasant – late September to early December.
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Top Things to See and Do in Sydney

The Rocks

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The Rocks is Sydney’s colonial neighborhood. It has an eclectic mix of art galleries, museums, historical buildings, boutiques, and open-air markets located along Sydney Harbour. The Rocks Markets take place every Saturday and Sunday 10 AM – 5PM. Here you’ll find handmade jewelry, clothing, art, beauty products, and more along Playfair Street, George Street, and Jack Mundey Place. The Rocks Friday Food Market takes place every Friday from 9AM – 3PM along Jack Mundey Place. It’s a fantastic place to come sample international dishes like Indian roti, Turkish gozleme (flatbread), gourmet chocolate, and more…

Top Things to Do in Marrakech: Day or Night

Marrakech is one of the most unusual and interesting cities in the world. Its unique culture will enchant any curious traveler, a journey to Marrakech is nothing less than exhilarating. By day or night, this bustling city holds the secrets to beautiful Morocco and Northern Africa’s unique culture. Read on for some of the city’s must-see sights.
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Marrakech by Day

A holiday to Morocco’s capital is the perfect adventure for travelers of every budget. There’s so much to do and see during the day – and much of it is for free. Here are some amazing things to see and do in the daytime.

A Relaxing Beach Vacation in Malta

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The Mediterranean is home to several holiday islands, but many of them become overcrowded and stressful. Malta holidays are the the perfect travel options for travelers who want to get away from the stress of work and rejuvenate themselves. This small country lies off the coast of southern Italy and is an ideal place to take a refreshing break from everyday life.
Check out our complete list of what to see and do in Malta.

The Best Restaurants of Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City, Maryland is one of the hottest places to go because it has non-stop activities year round. Whether you are grabbing a game of golf, strolling down the boardwalk, going to an amusement park or going to the ocean for water sports you will tend to get hungry which brings a good question, where is the best restaurants to satisfy your appetite? Well, it depends on what type of dining experience you want as well as the style of food you enjoy. Below is a list of the best restaurants in Ocean City.
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Ocean City has quite an assortment of restaurants to choose from some which are local favorites. If you are out with the family and have just got done visiting the historical sites of Ocean City and there is a debate within your family members whether to enjoy seafood or American-style buffet or even pizza and burger joints there can be quite a few places to choose from. In fact, Ocean City has around 200 places to grab a bit at, and it can be tricky if you’re not sure of where to go. A few of the favourite restaurants that Ocean City hast to offer includes:

Top 5 Places to Visit in the UK Outside of London

For such a tiny country, the UK is packed full of beautiful and incredible places to visit. We receive over 31 million visitors each year but the majority of these visitors don’t make it past London. This really isn’t surprising because London is one of the biggest and best cities in the world (I’m not biased, honest) but I’d like to share with you some amazing places outside of London.
Next time you’re in the UK, hop on a train or hire a car and head to some of these beautiful places to see the real Britain. Here are the top 5 places to visit in the UK outside of London:

The Lake District

In North West England lies one of the most beautiful places in the UK, the Lake District. You will find nearly 900 square miles of lakes, mountains and forests that are perfect for long walks and bike rides. This is a popular weekend break destination for city dwellers who want to escape the bustle of city life and get back to nature.
If outdoor activities aren’t your thing then you can spend your days relaxing in one of the many cozy hotels and cafes, have afternoon tea in a village or shop for souvenirs in one of the many boutique stores.
If you’re up for a challenge, the Lake District is also home to Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England at 978 meters.
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Cornwall

If you’re looking for beautiful beaches, crystal clear seas and quaint seaside houses then Cornwall is the place for you. Cornwall is a sleepy town during the winter months that comes to life as soon as the sun starts to shine. In the extreme south west of the UK, the area enjoys some of the best weather in the country so is popular for family holidays.

Top Ten Things to See and Do in Santorini, Greece

10. Stay at an Aqua Vista Hotel

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With easily the most opulent collection of properties throughout the island, Aqua Vista Hotels is a leader in Santorini’s hospitality industry. Five-star boutique accommodations, incredible caldera views and an excellent reputation in luxury travel make Aqua Vista Hotels your go-to source for finding the perfect hotel for your trip to Santorini. We recommend Adamant Suites in Fira and Above Blue Suites in the quaint Imerovigli Village.

9. Visit Donkey Brewery

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For centuries, the island has been a prominent producer of wine, but with a little entrepreneurial spirit, Donkey Brewery was born. The three brews, Yellow, Red, and Crazy, have caught the attention of local and international beer enthusiasts alike. Donkey beers have now become some of the most sought-after brews in Greece. Stop by the brewery for a quick tour and delicious sampling of Donkey Brewery’s products. We like Crazy Donkey the best!

What You Need to Know About Surge Pricing at Disney Parks

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Taking a cue from Uber and other players in the travel industry, Disney has introduced surge pricing—what it’s calling “seasonal pricing”—at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Announced Saturday via a blog post and implemented Sunday, the new demand-based pricing policy may have you paying up to 20 percent more for single-day tickets at peak times of year, particularly in summer months and in December. It’s important to note that this only affects single-day tickets, not the multiday packages many visitors purchase to save money.

Friday 4 March 2016

How to Travel Around South Africa


On the second Wednesday of the month, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes a guest column featuring tips and advice on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice. This week she talks about her recent trip to South Africa.
When I started planning my South Africa trip, a lot of questions went through my mind: Is a country that big easy to travel around? Is it expensive? What is even possible?
The resources I found online were vague, negative, or simply nonexistent. But after traveling through the country for close to two months, I found a wide variety of reasonably affordable ways to get around. So, to fill the void, here is a breakdown on how to get around South Africa:

Interesting Facts About Canada


canadian flagSince I’m in Canada this week, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at America’s northern neighbor. There’s a bit of sibling rivalry between these two countries. Canadians love to talk about how unlike America they are, and Americans love to point out how much Canada is like us and tease how it’s really our 51st state. But, really, we love each other. The countries share a huge border, do a lot of economic trade, and share a lot of culture—movies, music, theater, and sports. We’re connected even if we often try to pretend we aren’t. I often joke to my Canadian friends about how they’re “little America,” but I really love Canada. It’s a beautiful, nice, and fun country. Here are some interesting facts about this must-see but rarely visited country:
The 5,525 miles, including 1,538 miles between Canada and Alaska, between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest border.
Canada did not have a national flag until February 15, 1965, when its maple leaf flag was adopted by parliament.
At 3,855,103 square miles, Canada is the second largest country in the world, behind Russia.
Alert, in Nunavut territory, is the northernmost settlement in the world.
The modern game of ice hockey was developed in Canada with the rules first published in the Montreal Gazette in 1877.
The capital city, Ottawa (which is one of my favorites), was originally named Bytown and was the deadliest city in North America because of the violent nature of the loggers.
Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 151,600 miles.

How to Spend 4 Days in Amsterdam

  

Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world. I love its brick buildings, open skyline, rich history, and relaxed, easy going attitude towards life. Over the years, I’ve visited Amsterdam more times than I can count (I’m bad at math) and have spent countless hours walking the city, making friends with locals, and getting under its skin.
Amsterdam has so much to do that, even after so many visits, I still find new things to do and see. The city deserves more than just the few (and often smoke filled) days travelers give it, but if a few days is all you have and you want to make the most of it, this is the itinerary I would give to someone looking to get a good overview and feel for what makes Amsterdam so special:

Don’t Give in to Fear (or How to Travel to a Place You Know Nothing About)

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On the second some Wednesday of the month, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes a guest column featuring tips and advice on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other solo female travelers! Here she is with another amazing article!
I sat with my new friends on Thanksgiving night in Tofo, Mozambique. Our food was slow to arrive, so we decided to pay homage to the nature of holiday and talk about what we were thankful for.
In that moment, I couldn’t believe that I was surrounded by so many amazing people who had arrived here from various corners of the earth, all in the same way I had: by word of mouth. There were two blonde Californian girls here thanks to the Peace Corps, a clever Aussie brunet who had just finished some of his PhD studies in a town in the north, another American who had arrived on a whim and brought all the laughs with him, and a few others from North America and Switzerland. We were as happy and relaxed as could be. Each person’s giving of thanks was more beautiful and profound than the last, some even bringing tears to my eyes.
Just a few weeks before, I had been petrified of traveling through Mozambique. There were a lot of question marks, and I could find few answers online. I knew just a bit about the country from what my friends from South Africa told me: Mozambique is a former Portuguese colony rebounding from a civil war that ended in 1992. It’s coastal, bordering South Africa’s east coast. It’s absolutely gorgeous, with seafood fresh out of the ocean for a few dollars, and long stretches of beaches with endless sand bars and baby-blue water.
But I also knew that Mozambique isn’t an easy country to travel through. The police officials are corrupt, and the buses used by the locals, known as chapas, are generally just vans with bald tires that can accommodate 20 people but squeeze in 40. There’s a bit of tourist infrastructure in a few key places, but beyond that, it’s full of bad roads and mysteries.

Lion, tiger and bear have been living together in a Georgia animal shelter as 'brothers' for 15 years

This is possible and has been the reality at the Noah's Ark Animal Shelter in Georgia for the past 15 years. Baloo the American black bear, Leo the African lion and Shere Khan the Bengal tiger were all rescued by the animal shelter when they were less than one year old and kept at the Georgia animal shelter to live together...and that has resulted in the most unlikely friendship. They've lived peacefully in their sanctuary for the past 15 years. Amazing! See more photos after the cut...