Last Minute International Travel Tips

There’s nothing more interesting and more exciting than travel. Through travel, you are able to not only see the world but experience it: whether you are going to the hills of China and into the Himalayas, or exploring the Australian outback, there are so many ways that you can learn by simply being in the right place. You can add to the excitement of your international travel experience by doing it at the last minute. Of course, this can be difficult, but if you are prepared for some mind boggling excitement, then go ahead! Here are a few tips that will aid you in last minute international travel.

- Never discount the importance of a passport. Some people will take for granted the importance of their passport and will travel around without it, thinking that they can go into any country by virtue of their nationality or citizenship. However, you may get mugged, a lot of things can get stolen from you, and if you are working at the last minute, things can get quite sloppy. If you lose anything, you need to go to your consulate if it’s important, and you need to show that you are a citizen of your country through your passport.

- Before you ever travel anywhere, no matter how last minute your trip is, always check for the address of your consulate or embassy in the country that you are going to. Take note of this address and all contact numbers, and keep this information in a safe place. You will need this information just in case something goes wrong during your trip.

- When you are able to log on to the Internet, do two big things: look for information on your destination, such as the places where you want to go, how to get around, exchange rates from your currency to your destination’s currency, and other important things; and second, book a hotel. The first task will allow you to anticipate any events and know where to go beforehand so that you don’t walk around blindly in your destination. The second may actually get you several discounts so make sure that you get a good hotel deal!

- If all else fails for your quest for good discounts on accommodations, then you may have to simply wing it. When you arrive at your destination, hunt for a cheap but decent and clean pension house or hostel. Get some rest, and when you start moving around the next day, stop by at several hotels and ask for information on bookings and cheap rates. This way, you can still get around and get the hotel that you want!

-  Ask for recommendations from your friends. They may be able to offer you tips from their own international travel adventures. In fact, when your friends start talking about their adventures, you should start listening and asking questions! Don’t ever discount the value of good research, not to mention good friends.

- Always have a good reliable travel agent on hand who can handle last minute accommodations and arrangements. The problem with a lot of travel agencies is that they offer no discounts for last minute travel, but if you are able to find a good agent, then you should keep that agent.

- Keep on doing research. On your off times, surf the Internet for interesting places to visit, so that when the time comes for you to travel, you know just where to go.

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Posted in: China,Travel Tips

Traveling from Africa’s lowest to highest point

Traveling through Africa is always an adventure, but a British man, fresh from a stint in thePeace Corps, has found a way to add even more excitement to a journey through the wildest continent on Earth.

Last week, Kyle Henning set out on a journey that he has dubbed as Low2High: Africa. His adventure started at Lake Assal, located in central Djibouti, which has the distinction of being the lowest point in Africa at 508 feet below sea level. From there, he got on his bike and has started an 1864 mile long ride that will pass through six countries, eventually ending up in Tanzania at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. If all goes according to plan, Henning will then trek to the Kili’s summit, which is the highest point on the continent at 19,340 feet.

While this sounds like a fantastic way to visit East Africa and make one of the world’s great treks on Kilimanjaro, Henning isn’t doing it purely for the adventure. The young man is also hoping to raise funds for the New Day Children’s Center in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The center provides food, clothing, and education for children that would normally be left to fend for themselves on the city streets. Henning has set a modest goal of raising £2,500 (roughly $4000) and as of this writing he has already managed bring in about £888.

You can follow Kyle’s trekking and cycling adventure on his blog, where he is already sharing stories and photos from the road. While he’s been traveling for more than a week already, he still has a long way to go, and plenty to see and do. Judging from his early entries however, he seems to be having the time of his life meeting locals and seeing the landscapes. Can we ask for anything more out of our travel than that?

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Posted in: Africa Travel Guide,Ethiopia

Remembering the magic of domestic travel

Sometime during last week’s trip to Yellowstone National Park, it hit me. It was a simple realization but also one of those kicks in the ass that only a place as massive and magical as Yellowstone can give you. With rolling hills and snow-capped peaks lining the horizon and bison mingling with antelope on either side of the road, I remembered just how diverse, majestic and wonderful the United States really is. After spending the last six years focusing extensively on international travel, I realized that the stigma that we often attach to domestic travel is nothing more than snobbery. That stigma often keeps people from exploring the vast beauty that awaits in our own backyard. Many travelers take great pride in being able to announce the exact number of nations and territories that they have visited without a moment of thought. These passport stamp collectors and country counters often exude a special kind of pretentiousness that is meant to intimidate lesser-traveled individuals. These are the people who turn travel into a contest. These are the people who insist on engaging in the traveler versus tourist debates, mock of cruises and further other nonsense arguments that attach judgment to travel. These are the people who ignore domestic travel.

This is not to say that we should all eschew international travel. I am as guilty as anyone of ignoring domestic travel to explore the world. I do not regret those trips and learned a tremendous amount about the world and myself by leaving the friendly confines of the United States. However, I have come to realize that there’s a balance that can be struck between setting off to far away lands and introducing yourself to your own country. There’s as much to see from Anchorage to Miami as there is from Reykjavik to Ushuaia.

The sheer magnitude of the United States means that its landscapes run the gamut from mountains to prairies to pristine beaches. We have major cities and small towns, industrial centers and sprawling farms and created the concept of national parks. It’s those national parks that provided me with this epiphany. An epiphany that so many Americans had long before I did. As I spoke with strangers in Yellowstone and heard their stories of driving from California, the Dakotas and even Florida, I was embarrassed that I had neglected the wonders of domestic travel for so long.

While I may be late to the party, I found that I was welcomed with open arms. Unlike the country counters, the people who are driving around America exploring our national parks and enjoying the diversity of our massive nation seemed genuinely interested about exchanging stories rather than boasting. They offered tips, shared memories and displayed none of the arrogance of the people who ceaselessly find reason to mention how often they need to order more pages for their passports.

There’s room for domestic and international travel in all of our lives. We can mix excursions to Bali in with road trips through Texas. There’s a great big world out there, but we also have a massive backyard. You can safari in Wyoming. You can hike through a rainforest in the Pacific Northwest. We have deserts and Great Lakes. We have ethnic enclaves and regional cuisines.

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Posted in: Others,United States,Usa,Usa Travel Guide

Los Angeles Travel Guide

Los Angeles is the USA’s second largest city after New York. It has been called everything from La La Land to Tinseltown but is most commonly known simply as LA.

Sprawling along the Pacific coast of southern California, its coastline stretches 122km (76 miles) from Malibu to Long Beach. Inland, the city fills a vast, flat and once arid basin ringed by the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains.Arriving by plane gives a good first impression.

Out of this vast flat grid of streets and buildings rises a cluster of imposing skyscrapers. These mark Downtown, 26km (16 miles) inland from the coast. Northeast is Pasadena. To the west and northwest are Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Century City and the wide San Fernando Valley. To the south is Long Beach. Along the west coast are Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Marina del Rey.

Founded in 1781 by Mexican settlers, over the centuries, LA grew from a cow town to a Gold Rush boomtown to an oil town. In the 1920s, the fledgling film industry decamped from New York in search of sunshine and Hollywood was born. Today, all the major studios are here and the city is the world’s undisputed king of film-making.

Disneyland may be the city’s major attraction, but LA is also home to world-renowned cultural institutions from the Museum of Contemporary Art to the LA Philharmonic and the stunning Getty Museum.

LA is exuberant – there are few places in the world where the phrase ‘Express Yourself’ is taken so literally. Hippy health fanatics exist happily alongside some of the most glamorous and wealthy people in the world. Most visitors come to enjoy world-class shops and restaurants, lie on beaches bathed in almost constant sunshine and simply to people watch.

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Posted in: destination travel,United Sates,Usa,Usa Travel Guide

The Best Downtown Dining Options in Chicago

There are excellent restaurants to be found all over Chicago, in a range of prices and cuisines. Unfortunately, some of the restaurants in the downtown and Magnificent Mile area trade more their location than the fact that they serve really good, inventive food. While many of these are just fine for a casual meal (I’m looking at you, tourist mecca Cheesecake Factory), they don’t really showcase the best of Chicago. If you’re looking for a truly memorable dining experience close to the downtown, check out one of these options:

Fulton Market

West of the Loop, the Fulton Market area is home to food warehouses that bustle in the early hours and become shuttered and quiet in the evenings, when the trendy, foodie-focused restaurants in the area start to get busy.

Publican

The Publican is a feast for foodies, at least those who eat meat. It’s pork-centric. It’s pork-tastic. It’s really all about the pork…okay and oysters, and craft beer from around the world. If spicy pork rinds, a platter of oysters, sweetbreads and suckling pig sounds like an ideal dinner to you, this is the place to come.

Moto
You know those chefs who make a meal not just a meal but an adventure, an event? That’s Chef Homaro Cantu of Moto. You don’t just eat your food here, you experience. Expect edible paper menus, unexpected surprises, and either 10 or 20 courses of unforgettable food.

Otom

Moto’s little sister, Otom showcases larger portions of familiar favorites with a twist. Appetizers, sides and entrees are served a la carte rather than as part of a tasting menu, and most entrees are under $30 so the experience is much more affordable. The menu changes seasonally and incorporates fresh ingredients from the market.

Loop

Many of the Loop’s eateries cater to busy workers on the go and therefore serve only lunch or don’t offer much in the way of ambiance. But there are some good hotel dining options

Rosebud

A favorite of the pre-theatre dinner crowd, Rosebud rarely wows, but it does deliver consistently good and affordable (entrees range form $9 to $16) Italian meals.

The Gage

With a prime location across from Grant Park and a lovely outdoor patio for people watching, the Gage is always hopping. The food is upscale bistro-pub – mussels, pate, oysters, poutine, salad and burgers share the menu with dishes like roasted saddle of elf, Amish chicken, and seared Big Eye tuna.

State and Lake

Located in the trendy Wit Hotel at the corner of State and Lake streets, State and Lake serves giant fresh salads, small plates like potato gnocchi with wild boar ragu or grilled maya prawns with a bacon-butter vinagrette, and entrees based on seasonally-available ingredients. The cocktail list is inventive and the wine list extensive.

River North (west of Michigan Avenue)
Just north of the Chicago River from the Loop, the tourist hustle and bustle dies down and you’ll fine some excellent restaurants that cater to both tourists and locals alike.

Quartino
Part of the Lettuce Entertain You family of restaurants, Quartino brings Italian to the masses (literally, the restaurant is huge, yet always full) with Italian-influenced small plates perfect for sharing. And while their slogan “where the wine is cheaper than water” isn’t technically true, the wine is pretty cheap.

Rockit
Owned by Chicago personality Billy Dec, Rockit is a see-and-be-seen type of place that also offers excellent food (and the chance for some celebrity spotting). Don’t miss the cripsy rock shimp in a firy lime sauce for an appetizer.

Cafe Iberico

It’s not exactly authentic tapas, but the food at Cafe Iberico will satisfy any cravings for some Spanish small plates. Dishes are meant for sharing and reasonably priced, so you can sample multiple dishes and a few pitchers of sangria and not bust your budget.

Topolobampo or Frontera

Celeb/Top Chef Masters chef Rick Bayless cranks out an ever-changing menu of Mexican specialties for rabid fans who line up before the restaurant even opens. Make reservations weeks in advance or prepare to wait at least an hour for dishes like pork taquitos, salsa-simmered lamb shoulder, and Swiss chard and mushroom tamales.
Michigan Avenue

Most of the dining options along Michigan Avenue fall into two categories: nationwide chains or quality, but unremarkable hotel dining rooms. On or just off the Magnificent Mile you’ll also find all the big tourist draws – like hot dogs and deep dish pizza.

Les Nomades
For a special occasion of upscale dining experience, Les Nomades delivers with classic French cuisine, candlelight, impeccable service, and a romantic atmosphere.

Tru

One of the first molecular gastronomy restaurants to get national attention, Tru offers multiple options depending on your budget and taste. Give yourself over to the whims of the chef with the multi-course tasting menu, order a la carte, or come just for a multi-course dessert tasting.

PJ Clarke’s

On the opposite end of the spectrum, PJ Clark’es sits one block north of the River and two blocks west of Michigan Avenue. Offering classic pub food like sliders, salads and sandwiches, it’s a low-cost and low-key option in the area.

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Posted in: United Sates,Usa,Usa Travel Guide

Plantation Style in Hawaii

Plantation Estate is situated between an inland waterway and the Pacific Ocean, this unique place is fully appointed with Plantation style finishes and furnishings from around the world. Step from a secure entry and motor court into beachfront luxury that whispers old Hawaii, yet offers all of the latest amenities and technologies of a modern masterpiece.

The center courtyard features a lagoon-style pool pavilion including tropical waterfalls and a lavish island spa. The ocean lanai and garden lanai showcase ornate landscaping and stunning views. Expansive living quarters command attention amid the artisan touch of etched windows, stained glass, natural stone tiling and African mahogany carvings.

Wake to spectacular Kailua Beach sunrises from the master suite and bath which features a soothing therapy tub. The most up-to-date technologies include: telephone, cable TV, and cabled and wireless high speed internet. Central air conditioning, a zoned alarm system and multiple zone security cameras provide a sophisticated level of comfort and peace of mind. Natural stone fencing and native vegetation maintain privacy while revealing a magnificent view of Oahus windward shore. An entertainers dream come true, this home offers indoor/outdoor living at its very finest.

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Posted in: Hawaii,United Sates,Usa,Usa Travel Guide

Idaho travel guide

LOCATION OF IDAHO: Idaho, located in the northwestern US, is perhaps the only state to be named as a result of a hoax! The state borders Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The capital is Boise.

Idaho, a Rocky Mountain state, has a rugged landscape with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the country. Visit the state for towering, snow-capped mountain ranges, swirling white rapids, peaceful lakes and steep canyons.

The Idaho Black History Museum was established in 1995 and is one of the few black history museums in the nation.

Boise Art Museum: The Museum is the only accredited art museum in the state. The gallery represents local and regional artwork and played an important role in Boise’s growing community.

Warhawk Air Museum: The museum preserves World War II history and aviation history from the advent of flight through the space age.

Other interesting places to see are:

State Historical Society
Libraries Linking Idaho
State Library
Cultural Network
Museum of Natural History

NATIONAL PARKS:

California National Historic Trail traces the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American travelers. It can be seen in the vast lands between Casper Wyoming and the West Coast.

City of Rocks National Reserve: The area is well known for historical and geological values, scenery, and opportunities for recreation.

You can also visit:

Craters of the Moon National Monument
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Minidoka Internment National Monument
Nez Perce National Historical Park
Oregon National Historic Trail
Yellowstone National Park

LAKES

COEUR D’ALENE: Drive to the end of the Lake Drive and take a brief walk to Higgins Point to view the eagles feasting on kokanee salmon. In the eastern side, the lookouts at Wolf Lodge Bay and Beauty Bay should also be on the must-see list. Bald Eagles migrate to Lake Coeur d’Alene November through February. Viewing is best right now through January. REDFISH LAKE: Its beauty is unadulterated. A journey here is a journey for the spirit, where tranquility and adventure walk hand in hand, where harmony and balance are restored.

OTHER LAKES INCLUDE

Priest Lake Payette Lake (McCall) Pend Oreille Lake Lowell Henery’s Lake Alturas Lake Petit Lake

The state also has on offer beautiful ski resorts:

Bogus Basin offers 1,800 feet of vertical drop, 51 groomed runs and 32 km of Nordic Trails. Brundage has miles of wide runs, fields of feather-light powder, and acres of pine and aspen glades. Best known for superb tree skiing and snowboarding. Kelly Canyon Ski Area is located in one of the most beautiful and historic river valleys of eastern Idaho. The region is known for swimming, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating, snowmobiling and skiing.

Other areas for skiing are:

Lookout Pass Ski Area Pebble Creek Ski Area Pomerelle Mountain Resort Schweitzer Silver Mountain Sun Valley

THINGS TO DO

Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Boise: The festival produces showcases works of William Shakespeare, and other classical playwrights in an amphitheater set along Boise River. Western and North Idaho Fairs, which happen in August, are also worth visiting.

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Posted in: destination travel,United Sates,Usa,Usa Travel Guide