Category Archives: Travel Articles

Traveling with Your Pet

Pet Packing|Traveling Safely|Flying High |Hitting the Open Road |Pet-Friendly Lodging|Travel Training

Andrea Arden, the author of several books on dog training, runs Andrea Arden Dog Training in New York City. "How to Travel With Your Pet" was adapted from Fodor's Fodor's Road Guide USA: Where to Stay with Your Pet.

Taking a pet along on vacation can add to your travel adventures. Aside from the comfort they offer, pets also open the door to meeting new people. Animals are great conversation starters, and animal lovers are everywhere!

In return for companionship and fun, your pet will require much of … Read the rest

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Barcelona: Gourmet Walking Tours Are a Foodie’s Delight

The best way to get a taste of everything delicious in Barcelona is to take one of the Gourmet Walking Tours offered on Fridays and Saturdays by the Barcelona Tourist Bureau. A feast for all the senses, the tours include stops at, among other places, Mercat de La Boqueria, an open-air market that's been in business since 1836 and is still a supplier for local chefs; Caf El Magnifico, where more than 25 varieties of java are roasted daily; Granja Viader, where the Catalan milk chocolate drink Cacaolat is reported to have been invented in 1931; and Caf de … Read the rest

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Rural Native Vets Benefit if VA Picks Up More Medical Travel Costs

It's deplorable that veterans lack adequate health care services. Help in one important way may be coming, though.

Following recent recomendations by the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may soon reimburse veterans for the travel expenses for receiving care at a VA medical center outside their region as an alternative to paying for local but more expensive private providers. This would be a help for Native veterans, many of whom live in rural areas with few local private providers and without easy access to expensive travel to far-away VA medical facilities to get the care … Read the rest

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9 Destinations For Rural Travel

Rural travel is a great way to reconnect with your roots. Here are 9 interesting rural destinations to discover in India!

By Lipika Halder

This article was originally published at The Alternative - an online publication on social change and sustainable living.

Our rich heritage and tradition lies preserved in the villages. Walk into any village across the country, and you can feel joy in the simplicity and the union with nature. The inherent beauty of villages can be felt from all villages high up in the mountains of the Himalayas to the temple towns and beaches of Tamil … Read the rest

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Italy Train Travel

Excerpt: The Trenitalia website can be terrifically helpful, or terribly confusing. The best part is that you may be able to buy tickets up to 60 days in advance and reserve spaces on Freccia (Arrow) trains using a credit card. With "Ticketless" travel, you can just board the train, find your seats, and give the conductor your booking information when he/she comes round. However, there are occasional problems when cards are accepted. If your card is rejected by the Trenitalia web site you can buy from ItaliaRail and pay in your local currency without needing to contact your credit … Read the rest

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Travel by Train

Holland has a modern and extensive railway network. Intercity trains run regularly between the larger cities. Express trains and local trains also stop at intermediate stations. Most trains offer a choice between first and second class. It is not possible to make reservations for seats on regular trains. It may therefore be more comfortable to travel first class in the busy trains in the Randstad area (encompassing the cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam) during peak hours. The train stations are centrally located. You won’t have to spend a long time searching for your destination as you Read the rest

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Europe’s 8 best night trains

The midnight thump and clunk of railway carriages being uncoupled and shunted in a station somewhere in central Europe is not in itself romantic. But add in that this is the night train between Paris and Venice, and that you’re tucked up in bed six feet off the floor, and everything’s somehow more exciting. .

The opposite of fast daytime services, night trains chug at a relaxed pace, aiming to deliver passengers refreshed and ready for the day rather than getting from A to B in the shortest possible time.

These trains do more than save on a night’s … Read the rest

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Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort

How it Ranks: Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort ranks #1 out of 221 Cabo San Lucas Hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the exclusive U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in Mexico.
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Our Take: This isolated Rosewood retreat — with its indulgent extras like personal butlers, Bvlgari bath products and fresh fruit supplied daily — adheres to the classic definition of … Read the rest

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Rosewood San Miguel de Allende

How it Ranks: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende ranks #1 out of 93 Mexico City & Central Mexico Hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the exclusive U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in Mexico.
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Our Take: A member of the elite Rosewood hotel group, the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende has quite the reputation to uphold. Most visitors only have good things to say about the hotel, … Read the rest

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The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

How it Ranks: The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort ranks #1 out of 59 Pacific Coast Hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the exclusive U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in Mexico.
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Our Take: This St. Regis outpost sits on the Punta Mita outcropping north of Banderas Bay, but to its guests, it's a little slice of heaven. The accommodations, which range from … Read the rest

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The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, An Auberge Resort

How it Ranks: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, An Auberge Resort ranks #1 out of 37 Hilton Head Hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the exclusive U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in the USA.
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Our Take: Some see Bluffton, S.C. as the gateway into Hilton Head Island, which is just eight miles farther east. But this quaint town is also rife with opportunities to explore the South Carolina Lowcountry. … Read the rest

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Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele

How it Ranks: Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, The Lodge at Koele ranks #1 out of two Lanai Hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the exclusive U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in the USA.
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Our Take: Guests don't mind being a few miles from the beach while staying at the Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, The Lodge at Koele—mostly because the resort's inland location puts visitors … Read the rest

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Amangani

How it Ranks: Amangani ranks #1 out of 107 Jackson Hole Hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the exclusive U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in the USA.
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Our Take: Located about five miles north of Jackson, Amangani offers spectacular views of the nearby Snake River Valley and Teton Mountains. Recent guests say that the resort's name—meaning "peaceful home" in the language of the Shoshone—truly represents the atmosphere of this resort. … Read the rest

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Which luxury hotel brand is the world’s most popular?

Looks like someone at Hilton might be getting a raise.

A new index by the Geneva-based Digital Luxury Group (DLG) in partnership with the chair of Luxury Hospitality of Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, says the 93-year-old company is the most sought-after high-end hotel brand in the world, followed by Sheraton, Westin, Four Seasons and Hyatt.

DLG says its World Luxury Hotel Index is based on information derived from 133 million online consumer searches and analyzes demand for 70 luxury hotel brands within 10 key luxury markets.

Despite reports that the global economy is barely sputtering along, the index suggests … Read the rest

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Born Historic Center Apartment

Amenities & details
Air Conditioning
Balcony
Central Heating
Dining Seats (5)
Double Beds:(1)
DVD Player
En Suite Rooms (1)
Freezer
Hairdryer
Internet Access
Iron
Kettle
Linens Provided
Living Room Seats (3)
Microwave
Refrigerator
Satellite TV
Single Beds:(3)
Standard Definition TV
Stove
Terrace
Toaster
Towels Provided
TV
Washer
Wi-Fi
Wheelchair Access: No
Elder Access: No
Pets Allowed: No
Smoking Allowed: No
Suitable for Children: Yes
Property Details
LIVING THE EXPERIENCE

Exclusive apartment located in the charming Barrio del Born, in a unique corner of the city, which can accommodate up to 5 people. It is very spacious and bright. It … Read the rest

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Born Historic Center Apartment

Amenities & details
Air Conditioning
Balcony
Central Heating
Dining Seats (5)
Double Beds:(1)
DVD Player
En Suite Rooms (1)
Freezer
Hairdryer
Internet Access
Iron
Kettle
Linens Provided
Living Room Seats (3)
Microwave
Refrigerator
Satellite TV
Single Beds:(3)
Standard Definition TV
Stove
Terrace
Toaster
Towels Provided
TV
Washer
Wi-Fi
Wheelchair Access: No
Elder Access: No
Pets Allowed: No
Smoking Allowed: No
Suitable for Children: Yes
Property Details
LIVING THE EXPERIENCE

Exclusive apartment located in the charming Barrio del Born, in a unique corner of the city, which can accommodate up to 5 people. It is very spacious and bright. It … Read the rest

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Cozy Luxury Apartment Paseo De Gracia, Barcelona

Amenities & details
Central Air Conditioning
Central Heating
Concierge
Dishwasher
Dryer
DVD Player
Electric Stove
Freezer
Linens Provided
Local Guides/Maps
Oven
Paper Towels Provided
Refrigerator
Soap/Shampoo Provided
Toaster
Towels Provided
Washer
Wi-Fi
Wheelchair Access: Ask
Elder Access: Ask
Pets Allowed: No
Smoking Allowed: Yes
Suitable for Children: Yes
Property Details
Nice and cozy apartment in the heart of the city.

"Paseo de Gracia", one of the most emblematic areas of the city.
A beautiful avenue, with spectacular lampposts, large trees ... known for its famous boutiques, jewelry stores ... of design and luxury, business centers, and large number and … Read the rest

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Zagat Smartbox Makes the Gift of Fine Dining Tangible

There is still something to be said about receiving a gift box unexpectedly and being surprised by what’s inside. In today’s incentive universe of digital gifting and self-service award redemptions, David Meyers, CEO of Smartbox North America, says the company’s gift boxes containing experience gifts fulfill a niche.

Working with vetted service providers, Smartbox is a purveyor of themed experiences including spa, extreme-sport travel, and gourmet dining. Each recipient welcomes an approximate five-square-inch gift box containing a full-color, illustrated catalog (which Smartbox calls guide books) of experiences in the chosen theme and a preloaded, non-reloadable gift card that is … Read the rest

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Lower insurance for young drivers using smartbox

Under the scheme, which launches today, drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 would have their motoring skills monitored by the small box fitted to their car.

They will be rewarded for good driving with lower insurance premiums by adhering to a range of different criteria, including not driving as so-called “dangerous” times between 11pm and 6am.

The age group is among the hardest hit by higher motor insurance costs, having seen their premiums rise on average by 58 per cent to more than £2,200 in the past year.

Motorists have been warned that they are likely to … Read the rest

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Car insurance ‘smartbox’ that could lower young drivers’ premiums

Are you aged between 17 and 25 and reckon you're a good driver but are forced to pay hefty insurance premiums due to the antics of your peers? If so, new pay-how-you-drive insurance policies are aimed at drivers such as you.

Hi-tech computer telematics will track by satellite not just when you are driving, but how fast, how you take corners, how you brake and even the car's G-force. It has been dubbed the "spy in the car" and now some of Britain's biggest insurers are introducing it as a way to offer young drivers, especially 17- to 25-year-old … Read the rest

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A Jet Lag Cure New to Airport Security

I’M a proud dad, and I hate missing my children’s sporting events because of travel. But I do try to get updates, no matter where I am.

I was heading to Berlin for a conference last year and my son, Casey, was pitching in a really important high school baseball game. I called my wife, Barbra, from the airport and found out the score was close. I couldn’t see myself not knowing how it went. I decided to take a different flight so I could get a play-by-play while I was at Newark.

Although Casey’s team lost, he hit … Read the rest

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Green travel: how to find an eco-friendly tour operator

With no universal guidelines on what qualifies as ‘eco’, it can be difficult to know if a tour operator, hotel or lodge truly fits the sustainability bill. Lonely Planet Traveller has picked out some of the handiest hints to help you figure out which companies are as good as their word. Here are the questions you should keep in mind when researching your travel plans.
1. Are their eco credentials in writing?

Genuinely ’green’ companies usually have a written statement covering their environmental, cultural and employment policies, often available on their website. If it’s not there, ask why.
2. … Read the rest

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How to Plan an Eco Friendly Vacation

Taking an eco-friendly vacation can help you to do your part to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is generally released into the air when vacationing, thereby reducing your pollution and global warming impact. Other considerations include saving resources, supporting local people's livelihoods and ensuring that your footprint is smaller than it might otherwise be if you took a vacation without considering these things.

When planning an eco-friendly vacation, it's important to begin with your methods of transportation and the places you stay, such as hotels or resorts that practice green living methods, such as recycling and perhaps … Read the rest

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How to Plan Eco-Friendly Travel

The dawning of the commercial jet age in 1958 revolutionized travel. But at the same time, it made journeys less eco-friendly than in the days of ships, propeller and piston-engine aircraft, and other less fuel-intensive means of getting around. (See References 1) If you want to be an eco-friendly travel planner, you can find ways to blend jet-age convenience with responsibility to the planet. You might be surprised at how many options you have to maintain your "home" values of eco-friendliness on the road.

Find your hotel in Barcelona on a city map and book online.
1

Select a … Read the rest

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