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Archive for the ‘Worldwide Travel’ Category

St. Petersburg is one of the most important cities in Europe, but for much of the twentieth century it was closed to travel from outside the Soviet Union.  Since the early 1990s however, this city, formerly called Leningrad, has been a popular tourist destination for residents of the U.K. 

Originally founded by Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg served as the capital of the Russian Empire until 1918 when the Bolshevik Revolution moved government operations to Moscow, where they remain to this day.  St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and home to the largest art museum in the entire world, the Hermitage.  In the Hermitage, visitors can see not only an enormous collection of art representing some of the finest artists in Europe and Russia, but also the interior decorations of the royal residences of the tsars, who were thrown from power in 1917 and remain deposed to this day.

In terms of culture, St. Petersburg has often been referred to as the most Westernized city in Russia.  Even though Russia itself bridges Europe and Asia, St. Petersburg strikes visitors as a typical European city with ornate buildings, public spaces and a high degree of attention to the visual and performing arts.  There are more than 200 museums in the city, including some that used to be the homes of famous residents of the city such as noted novelists Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

South Africa is one of the most diverse countries to which travellers are likely to travel. In addition to a variety of ethnic groups and cultures, the country also has many eco-systems. It offers something for everyone, regardless of whether visitors are staying in a city or taking in the wild areas. Several languages are in use, but English is widely understood and spoken.

There are several regions in the country, each with their own special attractions. Cape Town is home to the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, both of which were famous early landmarks. The Port Elizabeth area has some of the best beaches, and is close to some nice national parks. These include Addo Elephant National Park, as well as Tsitsikamma National Park. Durban is a good area to go to see the Drakensberg range, as well as the Tugela Falls.

Several different types of shopping experiences are available. Currency can be exchanged at a bank, or traveller’s cheques may be used. In urban areas, ATM’s are found easily. Many chain and independent shops available compare to what is available in the UK. Items can also be purchased from street vendors or markets, with both allowing bartering.

The food choices are diverse. Many restaurants serve traditional dishes that have been eaten by local tribes and people of Afrikaner descent for generations. These include different types of meat roasted over wood fires, sausages, and stews.

Several European hotel chains also have locations in South Africa. Travellers can also try to find self-catering rentals or inns. Backpacking lodges and camp or caravan sites are also available.

The counter-culture city of the 1960s and 70s made an indelible impression on the world with its attitude and music, political liberalism and dynamic theatre, all to the backdrop of a stunning ocean seascape and mountain landscape. San Francisco, the ultimate West Coast city in the United States, is a destination of choice for hundreds of thousands of global tourists, providing high quality accommodation and restaurants at the top end and good, solid places to stay and eat for visitors on a tight budget.

The icon of San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge, featured in countless movies and a backdrop to millions of photographs. Less well-known may be the Golden Gate Park, a vast and free family-friendly area with gardens and lakes, a children’s playground and a buffalo paddock among the attractions.

Few movies set in San Francisco are complete without a shot of the trams going up and down the switchback roads leading to the harbour, and no tourist will want to miss the experience. Down at the harbour is the famous Fisherman’s Wharf, packed with restaurants offering classic seafood and shops with a huge choice of clothing, souvenirs and food to buy.

Boat trips are popular, with the former prison on Alcatraz Island providing a fascinating glimpse into history, and there are many opportunities to travel from the city up the Pacific coast road to witness the contrast between the mountain range to the east and the rolling ocean waves to the west.

Seychelles luxury holidays combine spectacular island scenery, a glorious tropical climate and prestigious accommodation suitable for all types of holidaymaker – couples, families, groups or the single traveller. Rich in a culture influenced by European, African and Asian peoples, the Seychellois culture is a vibrant mix of art, cuisine, music and dance. Architectural designs of traditional buildings are representative of colonial British and French heritage. Seychellois cuisine is a blend of African, Indian, English and Chinese, represented in fine-dining restaurants prepared by world-class chefs or in more relaxed café settings.        

Denis Island is a private island, formerly a coconut plantation, and is a 30-minute flight from Mahé.  This location is an ideal base for deep-sea fishing, snorkelling and diving, along with windsurfing, canoeing and tennis.  Record big game catches have been made on excursions from this island and it is one of the finest diving regions in the Seychelles.  Relaxation is found on the white sandy beaches. The island has lush vegetation and is home to tortoises and nesting sea birds.

Frégate Island is a private, exclusive and isolated island on the northern edge of the Seychelles, just 20 minutes from Mahé by helicopter.  Comprising private villas, including a presidential villa, this is ideal for travellers seeking a luxury holidays with privacy and tranquillity. This 3 km 2 island provides seven stunning beaches and crystal-clear turquoise sea.  With flora and fauna unequalled anywhere in the world, this is the destination of choice for the most discerning traveller. The island boasts its own marina with a fleet of sailing craft and deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are also available.

Cambodia’s capital is an exciting and dynamic mix of old meets new, and east meets fading colonial west.  It is a burgeoning metropolis, the face of which is changing at warp speed.  However, the city’s streets are still filled with ‘cyclos’ and ‘motos’, and the city still retains its traditional warmth.  This is mainly down to the Khmer people themselves, whose friendly faces will make even the weariest traveller feel right at home.

The main tourist attraction in the city is the Royal Palace.  A lush display of fine, grand Khmer architecture nestled right by the riverside, and the main residence of the royal family, the Royal Palace houses the Silver Pagoda which features 5,000-plus silver tiles adorning the floor.  Sadly, many of these are covered up to protect them, but it is still worth a visit to see the many beautiful statues of Buddha that this building contains.

The recent history of Phnom Penh (and Cambodia as a whole) serves to provide a number of the main must-see destinations when visiting this city.  As macabre and sobering as it is, you really can’t visit this city without taking a trip to Tuol Sleng Prison, otherwise known as S-21, and the Choung Ek Killing Fields just outside the city.  These are the grim reminders of the rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979, which saw nearly 25% of the population of Cambodia fall victim to one of the worst genocides in the history of man.  Learning about the terrible events which took place in Cambodia during this time will elevate your appreciation of this truly amazing country and the resilience and kindness of its people. 

Phnom Penh is one destination that should not be missed.

There are three well-known and respected resorts in America which are well worth considering when planning a ski holiday.

Vail

Vail resort is one of the largest in America and is modeled on the Alpine resorts in Europe. There are 193 runs and 75 lifts along the valley, with 317 km of off-piste skiing. The Vail village, modeled on an Austrian town, has 70 restaurants and plenty of bars and clubs. Add to this a multitude of shops, and Vail offers a good mix of skiing and relaxing.

Breckenridge

The Breckenridge resort recently has received a massive financial investment of $50 million to improve the pistes’ accommodation and amenities. There are 57 lifts and 139 different runs, most of them advanced, but there is a healthy dose of beginner and intermediate runs. The local town has lots of shops, some art galleries and more than fifty restaurants, bars and discos that stay open until the early hours, all of which can enhance one’s downtime, after a day of skiing. With 240 km of off-piste skiing, there is plenty for the experienced and inexperienced alike.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe has all the benefits of a ski resort, with the addition of Nevada casino-lifestyle all around the lake itself. Lake Tahoe offers 84 runs and 48 lifts along with 259 km of off-piste skiing. There is a huge selection of shops, casinos and bars to choose from after skiing. So, if it’s skiing with stunning views that you are after, then Lake Tahoe is your best choice.

These are only three of the large number, of resorts in America and, when planning a ski holiday, there will be plenty of last minute ski deals for the 2011-2012 season available.

The tropical climate and geography enjoyed by the Seychelles ensures the islands are well equipped to provide the ultimate in luxury holidays for those seeking adventure and romantic getaways.  Visitors on Seychelles holidays experience year-round sunshine, with average temperatures of 29°C, tempered by cool sea breezes.  Warm, calm, turquoise waters surround the islands, providing safe family bathing conditions.  Located in the southern hemisphere, the night sky is quite different to that of northern Europe. 

The Seychelles has optimum visiting seasons for most activities; May to September for surfing, walking and hiking; October to April for fishing; October to February for turtle egg laying; January to April for hatchlings; and year round for diving, sailing and snorkelling.

Praslin Island is home to the only championship golf course in the Seychelles. Rich in lush vegetation and spectacular scenery, the island is the second largest of the Seychelles.  Praslin is a granite island with a spine of mountains, which is ideal for hiking or cycling.  The island has a protected forest where the rare Coco de Mer palm trees are found – one of only a few places in the world where this tree grows in the wild.

Luxurious holidays are located around the island, providing first-class hotel and villa accommodation, including a presidential villa.  Luxurious spa, pampering and relaxation therapies are also available. Praslin boasts magnificent white sandy beaches, with stunning views towards Mahé and, at sunset, out across the Indian Ocean.

The small ships of Princess Cruises offer passengers a much more intimate experience and they have ships sailing around the world. 

Princess Cruises has a number of small ships and they carry around 680, mainly adult, passengers on each trip.  More than 70 per cent of the staterooms have balconies, which allow the passengers to sit outside and enjoy the passing vistas that are constantly changing.  If you select a stateroom, you may enjoy a larger than normal cabin.

Small ships cruise around the world for about 100 days for that ultimate dream holiday.  During this trip, around-the-world passengers can stop off to explore 40 different, amazing ports of call, yet they need to unpack their suitcase just once. 

If you are unable to manage 100 days away from home, then consider taking one of the segment voyages Princess Cruises offer.  These shorter trips allow passengers to experience the thrill of being part of a round-the-world voyage but for just a week or two at a time.

Princess has a proud reputation when it comes to the cuisine it offers its guests.  The food is always plentiful, varied and beautifully presented.  Passengers can choose to have traditional dining experiences or a 24-hour buffet.  Other alternatives include a steakhouse and a pizzeria. 

Bars to indulge in an evening sundowner while on the water are comfortable and so, too, are lounges where passengers can spend some quiet time or chat to other passengers.

Australia is a sunny place to holiday 12 months of the year. Its summer months run opposite to Europe, making our winter months their hottest. This means heading to Australia for traditional winter holidays will have you melting on a beach under a blanket of sun block, which for most, is not a bad thing.

However, if you are hoping to do more than hang out on a beach somewhere in Australia, there are definitely a lot of other options. Depending on when and where you are going will depend on what is available.

If exploring the Outback is on your wish list, then head to Queensland. This area is where visitors can take in the Great Barrier Reef, which offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in the world. Queensland is also ideal for nature lovers with ample whale watching, wildlife adventures and nature expeditions.

Home to the world-renowned Opera House, Sydney in New South Wales is filled with exhilarating culture and a different sense of adventure. Here travellers can take in art, underwater museums and botanical gardens. For wine lovers, do not miss a chance to explore Hunter Valley Wine Country. Beach lovers will already know that Sydney is home to the famous Bondi Beach.

If you are not terribly interested in museum visits and adventure tours, the low-key lifestyle of Tasmania could be what you are seeking. Located in the southern most part of the country, Tasmania has become a destination for those looking for Australian culture outside the large and over-populated cities. 

Those that decide to opt for Maldives holidays will want to know something about the area before they travel.  It is important to know that the Maldives has a delicate ecosystem.  The islands are only just above sea level, and as such are at risk from any rise in sea level that may result as an effect of global warming.  Any possible measures are being taken to protect the islands but this may sadly be a losing battle. 

It is the natural beauty of the islands that allows the inhabitants to earn most of their living from tourism.  As the demand for luxury holidays there is so high, the Maldives government is making the locals aware of what they can do to help to protect their homeland.  It was in the late 1980s that the government developed the first National Environmental Action Plan to help to create a strong foundation for fighting environmental hazards in the future. 

Activities such as coral mining have been severely restricted and several endangered species are now under protection.  The reefs are also protected and the locals are now careful about how they dispose of their household waste; much of it was previously making its way to the ocean.  Fishermen are now restricted in some areas with some types of fish having to be put back. 

The capital island of Male now has sea walls as protection.  The islanders are now more aware of the hazards of soil erosion than they ever were before and the government has also implemented a tree planting programme for the islands, with thousands of trees already having been planted across the nation.