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Category Archives: Travel Articles
Eco-friendly travel tips
Traveling is a great opportunity to see the world and experience other cultures. Whether you’re traveling domestically or going abroad, there’s always something to learn when leaving your comfort zone and seeing how people in other areas live.
Travel can also be a way to learn about protecting the environment. Parents traveling with children can use their trip to teach kids about how to travel in an eco-friendly way, while executives traveling on business also can take steps to reduce their carbon footprint while on the road. The following are a handful of tips for those people who want … Read the rest
10 New Eco-Friendly Travel Gadgets
Call us cranky, jealous of yesteryear’s freewheeling jet-setters, or just plain old-fashioned, but these days, “getting away from it all“ just doesn’t feel the same. Courtesy of 2008’s ADD-afflicted world of buzzing BlackBerries, text-messaging iPhones, and jangling Bluetooth headsets, even pleasure seekers can seldom afford to unplug from the grid.
With 71 percent of Americans determined to shrink their carbon footprint, but only 18 percent of the nation’s annual 2.5 million tons of consumer electronics waste being recycled, what’s today’s eco-enlightened traveler to do?Happily for those tired of getting the stink eye every time they innocently whip out their … Read the rest
The Middle East: to go or not to go?
Egypt
Travel can now continue as normal. Security has improved significantly.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO, fco.gov.uk): The travel ban has been lifted, but a few warnings are still in place. Avoid public gatherings and disturbances (particularly on Fridays, when most take place). Adhere to the midnight-6am curfew currently in place nationwide except for the Red Sea resorts and Luxor.
Tourist board: It is business as usual, with hotels and resorts operating normally. All cultural sites are open. There are no areas in Cairo that should be avoided (egypt.travel).
Tour operators: Lots of deals available to encourage tourists to … Read the rest
How to plan a trek along the Abraham Path
A new series of walking trails through the Middle East is opening up trekking opportunities in a region more often seen solely as a historical destination. The Abraham Path traces the journey of the Prophet Abraham (revered as the father of monotheism by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike) from his birthplace in Sanl?urfa, Turkey, to his final resting place at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Traversing little-visited rural areas, half-forgotten ruins, and glorious, sweeping countryside, walking part of this trail shines a spotlight on the cultural and natural diversity of this ancient … Read the rest
The Negev desert wine route
Like most Middle Eastern deserts, the Negev is usually associated with sand, rock and the odd camel. However, this seemingly dry and arid region in southern Israel is now home to a burgeoning wine route, thanks to a group of pioneering 21st-century farmers and their use of computerized drip irrigation.
The Negev gets less than 100mm of rain per year, most of which is washed away in flash floods down mountainsides, so the use of irrigation is not necessarily new. The Nabataeans – the ancient desert nomads who built their capital in Petra in the Hellenistic period – were … Read the rest
Snow causes more travel and school disruption
Heavy snow is causing travel problems for a second day, with schools shut, roads closed, and trains - including Eurostar services - cancelled.
The cross-Channel train operator said it had cancelled all services due to bad weather in France and Belgium.
Air travel is also being disrupted due to snow in parts of Europe, and Jersey and Guernsey airports remain closed.
Meanwhile, hundreds of schools across East and West Sussex, Kent and the Channel Islands are closed.
Eurostar, which runs trains between London, Paris and Brussels, has advised passengers not to go to their departure station for the remainder … Read the rest
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Snow causes travel and power disruption
A man has died as severe wintry weather disrupted transport and power supplies across much of the UK.
The body of the 27-year-old man was found in deep snow in farmland near Burnley in Lancashire, police said.
A number of roads and airports were shut and many sport fixtures cancelled, after Friday's snow left some motorists trapped in their vehicles overnight.
A Met Office warning of snow covers Northern Ireland, much of England, northern Wales and south-west Scotland.
The body of the man, who has not been named, was found by a farmer in Brierfield, near Burnley, Lancashire, at … Read the rest
Snow Report: Look north for next season’s top ski destinations
The current ski season is in full swing, and still looking good for snow cover almost everywhere, but already news for 2013-14 is starting to appear.
The big announcement, so far, is that a new gondola link from the Arlberg region of Lech and St Anton will connect to the ski slopes of Warth, creating one of the world's five biggest ski areas with 340km of piste.
The large tour operators already have their 2013-14 programmes on sale, and are announcing their new destination choices. There's a common theme: Scandinavia.
Before charter air travel and fast French motorways arrived … Read the rest
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Heavy snow and flooding bring travel disruption to UK
Britain faces a day of severe disruption as heavy snow, flooding and blizzard conditions blight the country.
Emergency services are already responding to a surge in weather-related call-outs, with government agencies issuing a string of warnings urging the public to take care on the roads.
More flooding is expected in the south-west as Thursday's heavy rain continues to pour throughout the day and overnight.
Snow is expected to blanket everywhere north of the M4 corridor, with up to 20cm (8in) hitting the worst-affected areas of north-west England, north Wales and south-west Scotland.
Higher areas could even see up to … Read the rest
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Snowboarders have always copped a raw deal
I must disclaim I am a skier but that doesn't mean I have any more "right" to be on the mountain than a snowboarder.
Snowboarders started life as chairlift crashers sneaking into ski resorts after last lifts to try their hand on the snow from which they were originally banned. When resorts finally understood they, like skiers, were just looking to enjoy the freedom of sliding down snow and let them in, along came Ross Rebagliati at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Rebagliati won the first snowboarding Olympic gold medal in history, only to have it taken away when marijuana … Read the rest
Top 5 Air Travel Trends
1. Carbon offsets and carbon neutral flights
When I started talking to people about carbon offsets and carbon neutral flights at the beginning of 2007, I usually was greeted by puzzled looks. Now, in the course of just a few months, the greening of air travel is a much better known concept and a lot of airlines are offering options to purchase carbon offsets to neutralize their affect on the environment by contributing to a wind power project or tree planting for example. A few airlines even include the cost of carbon offsets in their ticket prices, and even … Read the rest
Carbon Neutral Flights
Air travel has long been lambasted, particularly by environmental groups, for the amount of gas emissions that flights release into the atmosphere, and contributing to global warming. There is a growing movement to make a smaller environmental imprint, by becoming carbon neutral - effectively paying for the pollution we cause by contributing to projects that do not contribute noxious gas and toxins into the environment. The air travel industry has begun to join this trend.
Global warming is believed to be mainly caused by carbon dioxide emissions that are released when using fossil fuels such as coal, gas and … Read the rest
Air Travel and the Environment – Climate Crisis, Climate Change and Carbon Taxes
The impact of air travel and the environment is increasingly being noted by air travelers and also by airlines. In an effort to reduce the damage caused by air travel, a few airlines are looking at carbon offsets of their own, to neutralize the effects of their flights on the environment. As travelers, there are hundreds of projects that you can buy carbon offsets to neutralize your footprint on the global climate.
Several major airlines in the US have no carbon offsetting plans. However, these are the carbon offset programs and options available through the major airlines in the … Read the rest
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Air Travel Trends Report
Whether you think 2012 has been a good or bad year for air travel likely depends on where you stand—or, to be more precise, where you’re flying from.
The past two years have seen a basic reordering of priorities among major airlines. Fueled by financial uncertainties and volatile oil prices, they’ve decreased capacity by about 11 percent in the past five years, and are focusing on routes that provide the highest revenue, especially those that most efficiently feed into the growing number of big domestic hubs with high-yield international business traffic. At the same time, brand-name airlines are increasingly … Read the rest
Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama: A Meaningful Experience
Every kid's most fervent dream is to experience what it is like to be an astronaut. The NASA sponsored Space camp in Huntsville, Alabama makes this dream a possibility. The week long programs help the kid experience what its like to be an astronaut. Some of these programs are offered along with other community programs like 4-H. Attending a Space Camp can be one of the most meaningful and interesting experiences of your child's life.
Not to fet, the kids so they get to experience what it is like to be an astronaut. Of course, there are special programs … Read the rest
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Cape Town – City Center Hotels for Every Budget!
Most of us bring to mind Nelson Mandela or Mel Gibson’s Lethal Weapon 2 when we think of Cape Town, South Africa. But as visitors year round know, the region is an outstanding vacation spot as well as efficient business center, and right in the city center, you’ll have a wide range of choices for accommodation.
If you’re looking for a budget hotel, you might like the Cape Town Lodge on Buitengracht Street, right on the edge of the Central Business District. 114 rooms with cable television, movie rentals, and air-conditioning in a hotel with a restaurant, bar, and … Read the rest
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Driskill Hotel – a Haunting Experience In Austin Texas
This halloween I decided to fly to Austin Texas to hang out with some friends of mine. As a tribute to this mask clad holiday, we decided to stay at the Driskill Hotel, right off of 6th street. We had been told that it is one of the most haunted hotels in the United States,with at least 4 resident ghossts.
As a tribute to this mask clad holiday, we decided to fly to Austin Texas to hang out with some friends of mine. When we arrived the staff was amazingly nice and helpful. . The music was awesome,as well, … Read the rest
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How to Organize Your European Vacation?
Friends often ask me to plan their European vacations, and more specifically, their vacation in Paris. Why me? Being a native of Paris I have the inside scoop as to cheap hotels, how to get special hotel deals and other cheap vacation tips. I can also tell you about travel weather and other useful information.
The first step consists of determining who exactly is coming on this trip, your destination, the length of the trip, and when do you plan on going. Don’t forget the most important consideration- your budget. Believe me, a European tour with two year old … Read the rest
Ibiza And Its Night Life
Ibiza is famous around the world due to its amazing night life, although it offers several other things as well. This island is one of the most visited ones in the group of the Balearic Islands in Spain, and maybe the one which attracts the highest amount of young people as well.
From June to endings of October, Ibiza's night life, as well as the rest of the attractions in the island, is at its best moment due to the fact that it is when the highest among of tourists arrive. This way, if you wish to meet the … Read the rest
Meeting Montes de Toledo
Montes de Toledo is located towards the northern area of Castilla - La Mancha in Spain. The Montes de Toledo can be found in the Province of Toledo and is one of the oldest mountainous formations in the world. This destination is very different to many other typical tourists’ destinations, and meeting it can be a very exciting and unique experience.
The mountains of Montes de Toledo are located within the southern side in the Province of Toledo to the northern side in the area of Ciudad Real. These spot consists on a group of high lands mixed with … Read the rest
The Rias Altas in Spain
The Rias Altas located in Spain are part of a group of larger formations spread within the coast of Galicia, conformed by the Rias Altas and the Rias Bajas. The Rias are estuaries origin when sea levels rise as well as they can be created by other geographical factors. The rias in Galicia where formed after he Ice Age after the sea level rose and gave shape to several indentations or estuaries throughout the coast line in this area.
The Rias, in Galicia, are considered to be among the main fishing areas in the world. Due to their nature, … Read the rest
Relax In An Orlando Vacation Rental
Well have you ever stayed in a single hotel room as a family of 4 or more? There is one television to cater for all 4 tastes, one bathroom so you must organise a rota to get washed and dressed. If you are lucky you may be allowed to pay extra to rent a fridge – failing that you may just need to buy everyone in your party a cool drink from the hotel as and when they require one – a cost which can mount up for a family of 4 over say a two week stay. Is … Read the rest
On Oregon’s Coast: Lewis & Clark and the Holidays
First Time Travel to Europe - Your Six-Month Planning Guide
So, you’ve decided that you want to travel to Europe within the next year. Fantastic! Your trip is sure to be an exciting learning experience. This article will discuss the key plans you’ll need to make before traveling to Europe, starting from six months outwards.
Traveling to Europe - Six Months Before You Go
Get a passport now, if you have luggage that will make the trip, cameras with adequate film, the right currency in your pocket, gear to keep your valuables safe, an electrical converter (if required, think … Read the rest
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