Latest Travel Articles

Thursday, July 01, 2010

The legacy of Greece spans lifetimes, centuries and even entire epochs in the history of humanity. A visit to this spectacular country is a voyage through a land that showcases the remnants of empires and heroes under a resplendent sun amid surroundings of incomparable beauty. But beyond its cultural and historic legacy lies a stunning paradise of rolling hills dotted with olive trees, whitewashed villages, brilliant blue skies and turquoise seas. Once home to Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility, Greece has also retained its love of festivities and partying.

Transat Holidays, one of our largest travel partners, can help you explore this land of plenty thanks to its numerous vacations designed to thrill and awe you.

Athens
Named after the goddess Athena, the capital of Greece is a fascinating blend of old and new. Known as the birthplace of democracy, this ancient city with its historic monuments and magnificent sights blends seamlessly into a thriving metropolis that is home to bustling cafés, restaurants and bars.

What to see and do
Acropolis: An inimitable monument situated on a hill that is home to the Parthenon, a museum, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erectheion. Plaka: The old Turkish quarter, packed with countless shops, tavernas, restaurants, discos and bars. Faliro, Vouliagmeni and Loutraki: Elegant seaside suburbs with fantastic beaches, great entertainment and an exciting nightlife.

Mykonos
This quintessential Greek island features traditional cube-shaped houses with stark white facades broken only by the intense blues and greens of doors and shutters and surrounded by brilliant blue seas.

What to see and do
Mykonos Town: One of the most picturesque places in Greece.
Nightlife: It is undeniably the party paradise of the Greek Islands.
Delos & Apollo Sanctuary: The legendary birthplace of Apollo and his twin sister Artemis.

Santorini
This beautiful island is what most of us envisage when we dream of Greece, and for once the reality far surpasses the fantasy. Few sights are more memorable than the dazzling whitewashed buildings that sit perched on the rim of black volcanic cliffs.

What to see and do
Fira: Built atop an extinct volcano, the picturesque main town of Fira is a kaleidoscope of eye-catching colours and experiences.
Beaches: The island features unique beaches with white, red and black sand. Akrotiri: An ancient city rumoured to be the Lost City of Atlantis.

Crete
This island paradise is a world of wonder with translucent seas, magnificent beaches, palaces and a scintillating nightlife. You'll find coastal towns with unique histories filled with lively tavernas, open-air cafés and many shops.

What to see and do
Knossos, Phaistos and Mallia: The ruins of three ancient cities that demonstrate the incredible wealth and sophistication enjoyed by the Minoan civilization. Rhymnon: The commercial centre of Crete, incorporating a blend of Venetian, Asian and Greek historical elements. Samaria Gorge: The longest gorge in Europe, surrounded by dramatic and rugged scenery.

Rhodes
This magical island combines the very best of Greece, both past and present. Explore the modern harbour of Mandraki, with its bustling energy and lively sidewalk cafés, or visit the mammoth gate and fortified walls of the medieval town.

What to see and do
Symi: A small picturesque island, which is a lively tourist haven.
Lindos: A bright gem of a village with an impressive beach.
Faliraki & Ixia: Popular beach areas on Rhodes with beautiful natural beaches and a lively nightlife.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Trafalgar Tours - 8 different travel styles

Trafalgar offers 8 different styles of touring, as well as river cruises in Europe. All travel is carefully designed to appeal to all types of travelers. There is only one choice to make to ensure a hassle-free, dream vacation…Trafalgar.

City Breaks:  These are designed with the independent traveler in mind who prefers to explore Europe’s great cities at their own pace. Packages include transfers and breakfast daily.

Free & Easy:  Experience the art of perfectly balanced touring with longer stay in each destination. The slower pace means less packing and unpacking and more leisure time to enjoy the cities on your own.

Europe Discoveries:  Travel throughout the length and breadth of Europe’s varied destinations on multi-country vacations.

Regional Tours:  Enjoy the traditions, customs and scnery on these tours which concentrate on one country or a specific region of Europe.

Train Tours:  Rediscover the magic of train travel through the heart of Europe’s wondeerland on a choice of 5 exciting journeys featuring modern, high-speed trains in combination with state of the art motorcoaches.

Eastern Mediterranean:  Explore the cultural and historic treasures of Greece, Egypt, Israel and Turkey with included sightseeing and cruises. Embark on a tour of discovery in this fascinating region.

Cost Saver:  Perfectly balanced vacations combining all the benefits of fully escorted touring with the flexibility of traveling independently.

Breakaway: Tours designed for 21 to 38 year olds.

River Cruising:  An intimate, stylish and sophisticated experience, gliding down Europe’s waterways on a luxury river cruise is a peaceful and relazing way to see Europe’s great cities.

For a complete selection of Trafalgar Tours visit : http://www.escortedtrafalgartours.com

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

We all “feel” better getting away on vacation. Did you know it really is not just your imagination? Science and statistics show it is true.  Vacations can reduce risk of heart disease, depression and even slow down the aging process. How about this statistic… Two vacations can cut your risk of heart attack by 50%.

Vacations help reduce stress, which will always help your health. 

Here are some other  tips to reduce stress during travel.

• Get away long enough time to let go of your daily grind.  A week is recommended.
• Watch your time zones – too many time zones actually increase your stress on your body’s natural rhythms.
• Don’t over schedule your trip – Make sure you have quiet time each day.
• Be social – making new acquaintances has a restorative power.
• Enjoy physical activity – moderate exercise like swimming and walking are great energy boosters.

How sad that a third or us do not use all our vacation days!  Hopefully this will inspire you to take some time to better your health with travel.

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Travelling the Eastern Mediterranean is a life changing event as you explore the cradle of civilization. The ancient Pyramids, the Acropolis, the ruins of Ephesus and the Blue Mosque are just some of the significant historical sights you can see in the region. There are many other pleasures too like excellent beaches, fabulous food and wine, stunning scenery and some unique shopping experiences. Take a look at this roundup of the fascinating Eastern Mediterranean for ideas on your next vacation.

The Greek Isles

• One of the world's top destinations for all types of travelers, the Greek Isles offer everything you could want in a vacation: Sun, sand, scenery, history, excellent nightlife and glowing sunsets.
• Cruising is the perfect way to experience these magical isles. Viewing them from the sea, as they were by ancient mariners, is a dream experience, then go ashore and explore at a leisurely, Mediterranean pace. Discover such magical places as Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Crete.

Greece

• Mainland Greece will captivate you with its mix of archaeological sights and museums. How could you not be moved by experiences like standing at the top of the Acropolis in Athens, looking across the city where modern democracy was founded?
• There's a wonderful culinary heritage here as well. Food and wine is meant to be enjoyed with friends leading to some very lively tavernas wherever you go. You'll see fresh sea food hanging to dry on nets along the waterfronts. This could be your next meal!
• From the mountains of the north to the southern Peloponessos, often called the real Greece, there are many intriguing regions to visit. The mountaintop monasteries of Meteora; the spiritual center of Delphi and ancient Olympia where the Olympic Games began are just a few of the important sights to see.

Turkey

• Turkey is filled with highlights for travelers. From the therapeutic pools of Pamukkale, one of the natural wonders of the world, to the rock cut churches of the Cappadocia Region, there is much of interest for visitors.
• Straddling Europe and Asia is the city of Istanbul. It sits on the Bosphorus River, with Europe on the west side and Asia on the east. Here you'll enjoy the majesty of the Topkapi Palace, the famous Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia, now a museum of Christian and Islamic art. The Grand Bazaar is more like a small town than a market. Home to 4,000 shops, along the miles of passageways you'll come across mosques, police stations, banks and restaurants.
• Ephesus is one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. Dating back to the 12th Century BC, this thriving city had a population of 250,000 in Roman times. Notable sights include the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the well preserved Celsius Library, a favorite with visitors.

The Near East

• At its most easterly, the Mediterranean borders the countries of Israel, Lebanon and Syria, countries off the beaten tourist track yet rich in history with much to offer visitors.
• Israel draws pilgrims to the holy land to visit biblical destinations like Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea and more.
• Israel's Tel Aviv is a very popular resort destination right on the coast. In this cosmopolitan city English is widely spoken and the people are known for their friendliness. The fabulous beaches have warm, clear water and no rocks so swimming is comfortable. Cuisine is Mediterranean and delicious accompanied by local wines which are surprisingly good, both red and white.

Egypt

• This is a place of legend. The Pyramids, Great Sphinx of Giza, Temple of Karnak, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings famous for the discovery of the tomb of Tutankamun conjure images of Egypt's spellbinding history.
• Modern Cairo is a bustling city with many museums and street markets of interest while coastlines from the Mediterranean to the coral reefs of the Red Sea offer some outstanding beach resort locations.
• Cruising the Nile River is a great way to see the interior of the country. Uniworld offers 9 and 13-day Nile sailings which they tell us are "like watching 5,000 years of culture unfold before your eyes. Marvel at the contrasts as you sail past simple villages surrounded by luxuriant palm groves, fertile plantations, romantic desert hills, lush oases, modern cities and ancient colonnaded temples and pyramids."

The Eastern Mediterranean is one of the richest areas in the world for discovering ancient history. In this extraordinary region you're sure to enjoy some of the most enriching and powerful experiences possible.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010