Where to Go For a Great Winter Holiday

When you think of holidays in Australia you tend to think of sun, sand and hot weather, but there are also many places to visit to have a great winter holiday. Whether you escape the winter in the south and head for far North Queensland, or if you brave the cold of the ski resorts, there is plenty of fantastic accommodation available.

Central Australia

Summer is not the best time to head into the centre of Australia because of the extreme temperatures and also the flies are particularly bad at this time of year. It is much better to visit during winter when it is not as hot. The days are still sunny and warm, although make sure you are prepared for the cold nights. Visit Uluru and witness spectacular sunrises and sunsets, see The Olgas and Kings Canyon, and don't miss the Sounds of Silence dinner, where you dine out in the desert on Australian bush food and marvel at one of the best view of the stars anywhere in the world.

North Queensland

For those wanting to escape the cold a trip to far North Queensland is a great idea. The weather is warm and you can still go swimming. You will also miss the wet season of summer where the region experiences torrential rain and high humidity, and you also avoid the dangerous Box Jellyfish that are found in the waters between November and April. Spend your time lazing on the beach, take a cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef, drive up to the Daintree Rainforest where you can take a river boat cruise and see crocodiles in their natural environment. There are beautiful resorts, hotels and other accommodation available all the way up the coast with plenty to see and do.

The Snow

For a fun winter holiday visit the snowfields in the Alps of Victoria or the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. There are ski resorts on the mountains, or you can find plenty of accommodation at the base of the mountains and drive up each day. Take some skiing or snowboarding lessons, go tobogganing with the kids and then later snuggle up next to a warm fire in your resort. The snow season official runs from mid June to the end of October.

Melbourne

Instead of escaping the cold head to Melbourne for your holiday. Melbourne has fantastic shopping, with the big department stores, but also exciting lane ways and alleys where beautiful shops are just waiting to be found. There are galleries, exhibitions, the museum and the Melbourne Aquarium, and there is always something on at the theatre. The Botanical Gardens are worth a visit, and then head down to St Kilda on the foreshore for more shopping and lunch at a great cafe.

Wine regions

For a relaxing winter holiday head to one of Australia's many wine regions. Margaret River, located south of Perth, is a popular holiday spot, with great wine and spectacular surf beaches. There are many restaurants and cafes as the area is also famous for its locally produced gourmet food. The Barossa Valley in South Australia is the home to around ninety different vineyards and some of Australia's most well known labels come from this region. Relax at a quiet bed and breakfast or stay in a luxury hotel. The Hunter Valley in New South Wales attracts many tourists and is a beautiful region for a quiet winter holiday, with plenty of activities for the whole family.

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Top 5 Reasons to Travel to Hawaii This Year

There is no place else in the world quite like the Hawaiian Islands, which is evidenced by the herds of people who take Hawaii vacations every year. Many people travel to Hawaii every year because they enjoy the ambiance so much. It's common for mainland Americans to own timeshares in Hawaii, and this is one of the most popular destinations in the U.S. for all-inclusive vacation packages. 

There are many reasons why this is such a popular vacation destination. If you're thinking about traveling to Hawaii this year, here are five more reasons why you should start planning your trip as soon as possible.

#1: A Change in Surroundings at Every Turn

The Big Island of Hawaii alone contains 11 out of the 13 climatic zones. The landscape changes quickly as you move around Hawaii, from the luxury resorts with dazzling views of the Pacific Ocean and the black lava fields on the Kona Coast to the volcanoes, amazing flora and grassy expanses of the East Side, and not to mention all the other islands!

#2: Active Volcanoes

The most active volcano in the world, Kilauea Crater, is located in the Hawaiian Islands. If you want active volcanoes, there are plenty to see here, as well as the lava tubes, rain forests and hiking trails that surround them.

#3: Culture and History

Culture and history are probably not be the first things that come to mind when you think of Hawaii travel, but you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that the islands have much to offer in this respect. There are plenty of cultural destinations and historical sites, particularly on the Big Island, which is the cradle of Hawaiian civilization. Polynesian settlers arrived on the Big Island approximately 2,000 years ago. As the site of many ancient battles and the birthplace of three Hawaiian kings, there is plenty of history here. You'll find ancient rock carvings explaining the island's history through symbolic imagery at any of the petroglyph parks throughout the island, just for starters.

#4: Get Your Golf On

If you love golf, Hawaii vacations would be ideal for you. The Big Island alone offers 18 different golf courses with amazing views. There are even dedicated golf resorts throughout the Hawaiian Islands that cater to the needs of the golf enthusiast.

#5: Scuba Heaven

The Hawaiian Islands are among the best places to go scuba diving in the world. In fact, Scuba Diving Magazine named Hawaii the #1 Dive Destination in the world. It's easy to take classes, rent equipment and enjoy the underwater world to the fullest here. This is one of the most popular things to do during Hawaii travel.

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The 4 Most Impressive Glass Platforms Around the World

Ever wondered what it would be like to fly? I bet you have, even if it was when you were a child. Thanks to fictional characters such as Superman, everyone at one point in their life has imagined what it would be like to fly. This article is not going to tell you what you can do to fly, but we are going to list some buildings from around the world with glass floors which you can walk over; maybe the closest you'll ever come.

1. Willis Tower, Chicago - Formerly known as the Sears Tower, this amazing structure is not only a prominent feature in the skyline of Chicago, but can also boast the worlds highest glass floor ( a whole 1,353 feet from the floor), a title it has been able to hold since 2009 when it was taken from the CN tower. The building did hold the title of tallest building in the world up until 1998 when it was surpassed by the Petronas Twin Towers.

The 'Skydeck' was opened on 22nd June 1974 and is located on 103rd floor of the tower. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Chicago for those who dare put their fears to one side and stand in something that gives them the illusion they are floating over the city of Chicago.

2. CN Tower, Toronto - The CN tower is the signature icon of Toronto's skyline, and is a symbol of Canada which attracts a vast amount of tourism for the country. The tower stands at 1,815 ft tall and was the tallest free standing structure for 34 years, before the crown was taken by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The tower has a glass floor and observation deck. The area of the floor is 258 square feet and can withstand pressure of up to 595 psi. It has been known that some people experience acrophobia when looking through the glass floor and looking down at the ground which is a full 1,220 feet below them.

3. Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth - The spinnaker tower is one of the more recent creations in our list, and was chosen and created to coincide with the UK's celebrations of the new millennium. However due to repeated delays and extra funding requests, construction did not begin until mid 2001 before finally being completed in 2005. The structure also reflects Portsmouth's maritime history by being modelled after a sail.

One of the biggest attractions of the tower is the glass floor which visitors can stand over and look down on the pier of Gunwharf Quays. The floor is the largest of its kind throughout the whole of Europe.

4. Tokyo Tower, Tokyo - The Tokyo tower is one of many tourist attractions in Tokyo Japan, and is tower that has been likened to the iconic Eiffel tower in Paris, France. The tower is 1,091 feet tall and is the second tallest architectural structure in Japan.

The tower has two observation decks which both offer a 360 degree view of Tokyo. The tower also has two 'look down windows' which just like the other towers mentioned, allows visitors to stand over a small clear window and look at the ground 476 feet below.

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Mysterious island

There have believes that the monastery was made ​​sometime in the 7th century , and the monastic life existed there for long 600 years. The main reason for leaving the island is looking at its inaccessibility, which in the fact that what we have left the monks for centuries remained intact and unchanged. The name of the island is Irish and means rock Michael. The rock which rises on the island is 230m high. That is why many people are discouraged to go to visit, but it certainly helps this old building to remain preserved.

Niagara Falls Vacation

 

Living in the southern area of New York State, it is not often that we get to visit the Niagara Falls area of our state. A few years back my wife asked to do a four day mini-trip to see the Falls as she had never been there. We decided to go on weekdays to avoid as much weekend traffic crush as possible. We made a hotel reservation and off we went. Using State Route 17 North, the trip takes longer then using Route 287 but the scenery is gorgeous and you get to visit many small Villages that offer great antique stores, restaurants and in Endicott, a 1920 restored Carousel, zoo and exhibits. It took us several days to travel the 500 miles to reach Niagara with all the stopping and shopping but we stopped early, before dark, each day, got a room and had a nice dinner.

One of the most special places outside Niagara Falls was our stop at the Corning Glass factory in Corning, New York. Their museum is outstanding and the chandelier displays are breath taking. More colors of glass than you can imagine and more items made of glass than you can count. Vases, plates shakers, goblets, airport landing lights, chandeliers, lamps and just rooms and rooms of displays. There is also an area that displays their commercial work as well including insulation and fiber optic cables. Well worth the visit.

I had been to the falls as a child but the sheer magnitude of the water and sounds were forgotten. We arrived at the hotel around six PM and our "falls view" room had a great view of a brick wall of the hotel. We paid extra for a view and balcony and we insisted we be moved. The hotel somewhat graciously did so. That was the only minor sour note of the trip. We had dinner at the hotels rooftop restaurant and it was great. The hotel is connected to a casino so we spent the rest of the evening donating some money to them.

The next morning dawned clear and sunny. We took a short walk into the tourist shops area for breakfast and my wife got her first exposure to the conversion of Canadian money to American. We had eggs and coffee and the bill came to something like $37 dollars. Canadian dollars that is. She almost fainted when she saw the $37 bill until the waitress explained the difference in dollars. We had a good laugh at that.

The American and Horseshoe falls are of course visible (and heard) from just about everywhere in the area. You can stand and watch them hours and many people do just that. The are tram tours of mansion gardens which is also well worth the fee and lasts a couple of hours. The highlight of course is the a ride on one of the boats that approaches the foot of the Falls themselves. We rode on the "Maid of the Mist" and it was well worth the waiting line to board. They give you a plastic rain parka to wear and the smart people put it on. Many do not, and are a little sorry afterward. The boat travels to the old Comstock tunnel outlets and to the foot of the falls themselves. The Boat Captain pushes the nose of the boat as close as possible into the falling water from above. The noise from the falling water is incredible and makes any conversation next to impossible. The "mist" is like standing in a heavy downpour of rain. Without the parka you will be soaked to the skin. Many people were, and once you're in the falls it is too late to put one on. They all took it with a smile knowing it was their own fault. This is something everyone needs to do on a bucket list with a dear friend.

Another great attraction is being able to walk through the Comstock tunnels and end up behind the falls. There are actually wooden decks that you can stand on to see. I could not help but think of the men who dared build those decks many years ago. Amazing!

A visit to the Niagara Falls American Museum is also a must. Their displays of all the barrels people have used to go over the falls, for some unknown reason, are on display. Most did not survive the fall and were killed. Walk down to the hand railing directly adjacent to the top of the falls to get a sight of just how high the falls really are and how fast the water is traveling. It is quite breathtaking.

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How to Keep You Sanity When Travelling With a Large Group

It doesn't matter whether your holiday to that far away place is with a group of friends, family or just a packaged tour group, there can be times when it can be frustrating. You don't want the frustration however to ruin the mood of the trip. Traveling with a group of people can actually be a lot of fun if you take into consideration all the different types of people you will be traveling with.

If you happen to be the person that is the one planning this trip it's probably a really good idea if you talk to the different people that will be in your group to see what their personal preferences might be. You could always make up a short informational question sheet and ask all of them to fill it out for you so that you can better cover everyone's needs. After all, you don't want to plan on a trip to a theater to see a musical if the majority of your group are super big sports fans.

It's also a very good idea for you to come up with some sort of system that is fair to everyone. Everyone should be assigned different responsibilities while on the trip. For instance if there is going to be different places that you'll be driving then there should be a couple of people who are chosen to be in charge of all the driving. Certain rooms should go to certain people, where someone might want to sit on a bus, in a van or on a train all might seem trivial but to the person who has certain preferences it might not be so trivial to them. Everyone needs to be comfortable and happy on their trip.

If your trip isn't already a discounted travel package then you might want to check where you are thinking of staying if they offer any kind of group discounts or if there are discounts for certain times of the week. Whatever you can think of feel free to ask, they can only say no.

No matter who you are or where you go it's always a good idea to remember the rule to treat everyone the same way you would expect them to treat you. So make sure that if someone is sleeping not to talk too loud or don't be rude, whatever it is that might annoy you, may be the same things that annoy them so always remember this.

If you are going on a long drive, make sure you bring along things that can be done in the vehicle while you are traveling. Adults get bored to when traveling for long periods of time. So bring some cards or some board games that have been made to suit traveling in vehicles so there is something people can do if they get bored along the way.

Make sure that everyone is well organized especially if your group is traveling through a variety of different countries. For example everyone should know at all times where their own passports are and they need to make sure that they take care to protect their wallets so that they don't end up being broke on the trip because they lost it or it got stolen.

It's important that throughout the entire trip that you respect the possibility that people you are traveling with are going to want some private time, so remember to respect that. It's also a good idea if you request for your own alone time as well. Even the best of friends and closest of relatives can feel like there's just a bit too much togetherness going on and want some time to themselves.

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Top 10 Travel Destinations for Indians

Summer is here, sunshine is here. Holidays are just round the corner and time has come to pack your bags and head overseas. This time you can travel to your heart's content as travel gets cheaper and there are numerous options to explore.

Colombo

Colombo is easily one of the most frequented places for Indians. A few hours away by flight, dense Colombo forests and stunning museums are going to leave you spell bound.

A Must: Watch out for some great buys in semi-precious stones and therapeutic oils!

Singapore

We love visiting Singapore! It is home to favourites like Sentosa Island, the Maria Bay and the Singapore Biennale. It is popular for the art, culture and entertainment events hosted round the year.

A Must: Be there at the right place at the right time for The Lion King broadway at Marina Bay Sands.

Kuala Lumpur

Capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a cost-effective weekend getaway via a four-hour flight from New Delhi. The Petronas twin towers present a new high each time, and compete with the ancient temples of KL for attention.

A Must: Visit Petaling Street in China Town at night time to enjoy bargain shopping.

Fiji

Be a part of the traditional Kava ceremony at any one of the small islands of Fiji or plan a day out for the Sabeto mud pool, an activity kids will always cherish.

A Must: Buy Jack's Handicrafts in Nadi Town for Tapa products.

Maldives

Scuba diving and submarine rides with exquisite views of fishes and coral reefs are what Maldives is all about.Take some time out for the Sultan Park and National museum to explore the unknown marvels of Maldives.

A Must: Every resort in the Maldives has a spa. To rejuvenate at any of these is a must.

Bhutan (Thimpu)

Bhutan or Thimpu is a great attraction for Indians. Plan a trip that coincides with the Annual Tsechu festival where Cham or mask dance is performed.

A Must: Visit the forests of Bhutan to find rare horticultural marvels such as carnivorous plants, the blue poppy and the giant rhubarb.

Paris 

Romance, romance, romance. Nothing defines this city better. Sunset boat dining, a nighttime view of 20,000 lights bulbs on Eiffel Tower, and the Moulin Rouge cabaret make Paris the exquisite city it is.

A Must: Louvre, Le Lido, French cuisine, a walk by the Champs Elysses or behind the Eiffel Tower, shopping at possibly the largest LV store, visit to atleast one of the concept stores. Everything is a must here.

Hong Kong

Climb the Victoria Peak via Peak Tram, enjoy a quick cup of tea at Lin Heung Tea House, and visit the Temple Street night market for authentic Chinese goods.

A Must: A visit to Disneyland makes Hong Kong a must visit for all Indians because it is our closest catch.

Rome

Your sojourn of this historical city can start on a refreshing note with a stroll at the garden of Villa Borghese. Do visit the remains of the mighty Roman Empire can at Domus Arena, The Pantheon at The Coliseum.

A Must: The Vatican City, one of the most hallowed places in Christiandom and home to the Pope Benedict XVI.

Geneva

Visit Switzerland, visit Geneva. Enjoy enchanting views of castles and monuments, the flower clock at Lake Geneva, and the Dardagny vineyard.

A Must: A ski ride for toddlers in the Jura Mountains is an immensely pleasurable experience.

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