TRAVEL SERIES Archives - Page 8 of 9

March 9, 2018

Finding Transportation After Landing

Exploring Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia, is a true gem of the Southern United States. It anchors one of the largest metro areas in the country and acts as the economic and cultural engine of the region. There are about half a million people in the city limits, but if you draw back and look at the metro area as a whole, the number soars to almost six million. Atlanta offers a distinctive and vibrant experience for both visitors and the people who live there year-round. When the sun sets, the city is sometimes known as “Hotlanta,” but for those who aren’t interested in nightlife, rest assured that there’s plenty to do during the daytime hours as well.

Getting there

Like many major American cities, Atlanta was built around the railroad system. Historically, the Battle of Atlanta in 1864 marked a critical turning point in the Civil War, but it also marked a point where Atlanta pretty much got burned to the ground. If you’ve seen Gone With the Wind, you probably remember the part where Rhett and Scarlett must flee the city to escape all the fire. Luckily, Atlanta rebuilt itself pretty quickly. Over 150 years later, your best bet for getting into the city is flying into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is located a few miles south of the city’s central business district. Based on passenger traffic, Hartsfield-Jackson has held the title of “world’s busiest airport” for almost twenty years now. It’s the main hub of Delta Airlines, but since the airport sees more than a quarter of a million passengers per day, you’ll have plenty of options and plenty of company regardless of which airline you choose.

After touching down and collecting your luggage, you’ll need to figure out how you’re getting to your hotel, friend’s house, or other form of lodging. Hiring an Atlanta airport transportation service to ferry you from the airport to your destination might be your best bet. Let someone else worry about navigating their way through the city traffic while you relax and recover from your flight. Like most big cities, Atlanta has plenty of traffic. It doesn’t help that seemingly every other street has “Peachtree” in the name, so it really helps to be a local when you’re making your way from the airport to the heart of the city.

What to do

Filmmakers love Atlanta. It’s developed a reputation as the Hollywood of the South in recent years, largely because of incredibly generous tax incentives offered by the state. Shows like The Walking Dead and movies like The Avengers: Infinity War have filmed in or around Atlanta. There are even businesses that offer showbiz tours of the city.

We hope you’re hungry when you visit, because Atlanta is known for producing high-quality Southern staples like fried chicken and sweet tea. Dining on barbecue from a place like Fox Bros. is also an essential part of the Atlanta experience. You may have also heard that Georgia has a thing about peaches, and it’s true. You can get just about every kind of peach-based dish imaginable while you’re there.

March 6, 2018

What To Do When In Canada

Visiting Canada

Canada is a beautiful country. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, or it’s your third of fourth trip, planning an excursion to the wide-open possibilities of Canada is always a wonderful idea. Though relatively small in population considering its size, Canada is filled with beautiful cities, gorgeous nature, and breathtaking opportunities. To see Canada as it was meant to be seen, consider visiting one or all of these iconic spots.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Island Marina-Canada — Source: Twenty20.com

Picturesque, with its ocean views and red dirt roads, Prince Edward Island is the home of the fictional character Anne of Green Gables, made famous in the early twentieth century by Lucy Maud Montgomery. You can enjoy Prince Edward Island from a bed and breakfast or hotel, wander the woods, and partake in eating renowned seafood. Peaceful and inviting, Prince Edward Island is a quiet sanctuary and retreat. Quebec

Winter-frozen-cold-ice-blue-hotel-canada-quebec-ice-hotel — Source: Twenty20.com

If Europe is too far to travel, consider Quebec for a taste of far-away culture. While you’ll want to brush up on your French, English is also spoken, so you’ll have less travel anxiety visiting this city as an English speaker. The streets of Quebec are more like Europe than most other North American cities, with their brightly painted buildings and old fashioned streets. Enjoy the rich and diverse culture of Quebec, including waterfalls and gorgeous architecture. Montreal, the largest city in Quebec, is home to gardens and museums and well worth the visit. Vancouver
Host to several fantastic vacation opportunities, Vancouver is the third-largest city in Canada. It’s home to fantastic museum opportunities like the Museum of Anthropology, the Maritime Museum, and Science World. Visitors can also reach the stunning Butchart Gardens in Victoria from Vancouver. A seaport, surrounded by mountains, Vancouver boasts some of the best views in Canada, and visitors will find no shortage of enjoyable opportunities. Maritime-museum-of-the-atlantic-halifax-nova-scotia-canada
Toronto
The largest city in Canada, Toronto boasts fantastic museums, vintage shopping experiences, and a thriving arts and culture scene. You can take a ferry from downtown and have a stroll on the Toronto Islands, or get a bite to eat in the antique Distillery District. To stay up to date on festivals and events happening during your visit, be sure to check out the Toronto news and learn what only locals know.

Niagara Falls

Without a doubt Canada’s most widely-recognized attraction, Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls, and together, they have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America. Gorgeous, and easily accessible due to the regular tourist visits, Niagara Falls is a mesmerizing experience sure to stay with you for a lifetime. If you’re in the Niagara Falls area anyway, you might even consider a trip into Upstate New York. You can compare the view of the Falls from both sides and decide for yourself if the Canadian side really is better. You might take a roadtrip through the rural landscape all the way to Cooperstown, where you can visit the Baseball Hall of Fame, book transportation from Cooperstown to Albany International Airport, and fly back home.

For family trips, private getaways, or a roadtrip with friends, Canada offers spectacular opportunities. Whether you’re a Canadian looking to see more of your country, or an American ready to cross the border, Canada offers exciting new adventures, brand-new views, and fresh culture. Whether you stroll through Toronto, visit museums in Montreal, Quebec, or read on the beaches of Prince Edward Island, you’ll enjoy your stay. Consider Canada for your next vacation, and have experiences that will last forever.

February 16, 2018

Sun, Sea and Swimming in Southwest Turkey

The Southwest coastline of turkey, also known as the Turquoise coast, boasts fantastic beaches, idyllic swimming spots and plenty of sunshine.

When you think of Turkey you may have an image in mind of over crowded bazaars, skylines dominated by minarets and chaotic city centre traffic jams. While this is not entirely inaccurate in cities like Istanbul, the southwestern region of Turkey moves at a slightly slower pace and destinations along the Turquoise Coast are idyllic places to plan your seaside vacation. Whether you prefer to stay by the beach or take to the sea for a Blue Cruise Turkey this region is brimming with stunning locations to bask in the sun and bathe in the sea.

On the Beach…

Many of Turkey’s southwestern beaches are mini paradises, with smooth pebbles or white sand, l lined with umbrellas and air loungers and hidden between thickly forested slopes or rocky cliff faces, some can be reached by land while others are only accessible by sea.

Butterfly Valley of one of these secluded beaches, with sheer rock walls surrounding a lush green valley which opens to a small bay of crystal clear water. Being an environmentally protected area means that in this valley you’re not going to find any large whitewash holiday homes of chain stores, in fact the only building is a rustic wooden shack selling drinks and refreshments on the edge of the beach. The water in the bay is so clear that even without a mask you can watch sea life swimming about.

A little less isolated but equally stunning is Patara beach, with soft sand that stretches across the coast for 12 km, framed by a Lycian guard station on the western side and and ancient port city and turtle nesting ground at the eastern side. Be sure to watch out for rare Caretta as you bathe under the sun and search for wildlife in the wetlands behind the beach.

Image Source: Patara, Turkey Secret Seaside Telegraph.co.uk

For a little Adventure…

In the hottest part of summer it can even be too hot to lay on the beach and the best thing to do is throw yourself into the azure blue sea. Fortunately there is a place known to locals as Tarzan Bay which is perfect for this. Here a lone tree has grown from between the rocks and a thick branch overhangs the water. When, who and how is still a mystery but at some point a rope appeared dangling from this branch. Too tempting to be left alone visitors line up to swing ‘Tarzan Style’ from the rocky shore and plunge into the refreshingly cool bay, making a wild jungle cry as fly through the air.

Off the Ground….

Oludeniz Beach in Turkey — Image Source:
http://www.beach-on-map.com/oludeniz.html

One of the most loved beach towns of southwestern Turkey is Oludeniz, situated at the foot of the famous Baba Mountain which casts long shadows over the wide beach each morning. The town of Oludeniz is a popular departure point for day cruises to the Butterfly Valley, St Nicholas Island, Blue Cave and Cold Water Bay, it’s also one of the top locations for paragliding in the world. If you’re not afraid of heights then hop in a minivan to the peak at over 2,000 metres and fly above the stunning Blue Lagoon, make 180 degree turns in the air and slowly descend to land on the beachside promenade. Even if you don’t like heights, the gorgeous view may make you forget you fear. If not then you can stop by one of the lively beach bars for cocktails, seafood and live music.

When it’s Party Time…

After the sun has set and you’ve finished swimming you might be wondering what theres is to do in southwest Turkey in the evenings. Well, this region is also known for its buzzing nightlife, the resort towns of Marmaris, Kusadasi and Bodrum are all overrun with bars and clubs. Bodrum is perfect for the party animals, said to have more bars than beds and host of the the largest outdoor nightclub in the mediterranean, Halikarnas, which stays open late enough to see the sunrise.

For a something a quieter, head to the Smugglers Inn. Well known by sailors and locals, but international travelers usually only find there way to this secluded beach bar via a Fethiye to Olympos Cruise on a classic wooden gulet boat.

Dive into the Deep Blue…

Swimming and snorkeling in the Aquarium Bay of the naturally beautiful Kekova Region will bring you pretty close to a wide variety of sea life; clownfish, damselfish, red mullets and eels are all floating about. If you want to delve a little further to search for stingrays and sea urchins or explore the impressive underwater corals and vertical seawalls then head to the modern port town of Kas, where diving boats depart each day to the best spots on the Mediterranean Sea.

January 30, 2018

10 Tips You Must Do Before Traveling

10 Must Do’s Before Traveling:

What is more exciting than booking that last minute vacation or on the other hand having had that vacation booked for several months and being able to look forward to it. Regardless of when you booked it, it is an exciting time in your life and before you go it’s time to get fully prepared. What are those must do’s before you head out on your vacation? Let’s take a look at our ‘10 Must Do’s Before Traveling!

For many people out there, they worry about their appearance before traveling. They rush in to get their nails and toenails done and maybe even their eyelashes. What they would love to be doing, but don’t know much about it is coolsculpting. Click on the link to learn more about coolsculpting and why you should look into doing it before you head on vacation. It’s a great way to freeze your fat!

Depending on where you are traveling to, it’s important to always have the local currency. If you are traveling to Mexico for example, you should take out Mexican Pesos to get the most for your money. The same applies to traveling to Europe. Instead of paying with euros in places that accept their own currency- take time to research what they use and go to your bank or get it at their bank upon arrival.

For many people out there, they worry about their appearance before traveling. They rush in to get their nails and toenails done and maybe even their eyelashes. What they would love to be doing, but don’t know much about it is coolsculpting. Click on the link to learn more about cool sculpting and why you should look into doing it before you head on vacation. It’s a great way to freeze your fat!
Depending on where you are traveling to, it’s important to always have the local currency. If you are traveling to Mexico for example, you should take out Mexican Pesos to get the most for your money. The same applies to traveling to Europe. Instead of paying with euros in places that accept their own currency- take time to research what they use and go to your bank or get it at their bank upon arrival.
Set in place a good health plan. Some people don’t believe in health insurance when you travel but trust me- you do not want to be on the other side of the fence when you get sick and must pay out of pocket.
Make sure before you make any travel plans that you are aware of the entry fees and if you need a visa to get into the country in the first place.
This one is very important. Make sure to print a couple copies of your passport via photocopying. This is important in case you lose or someone steals your passport. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If you know you want to go certain excursions, why not pay for them before you go. It’s important to make sure you are buying from a reputable source but prepaying for any excursions gives you the certainty that you have a spot on the day of choice.
Make sure you have a phone plan. It’s always good to be able to access your phone for emergency reasons when you are away. It might not be on your end, but your family members who are trying to get a hold of you while you are on vacation.
Remember that some places use different adapters when traveling. It’s important to know which adapter and purchase it before you travel. This will allow you to charge your devices once you arrive in that country.
It’s crucial that you call your bank if you are intending to use your debit or credit cards. If you do not call them and tell them you are traveling, you run the risk of them putting a hold on your card.
Always, always, always, pack and extra set of clothes in your carry on and any snacks that you would like to bring. This is good in case your airline loses your luggage.