City Of Lights

It is a city which is visually appealing and has a rich cultural history of the French. Whether you are visiting Paris on a business trip or a fun family vacation, there is one thing certain the City of Lights will captivate you.

So if you are planning to visit a trip to Paris here is a brief and simple travel guide for you which includes where to stay, where to eat and drink, what to do and where to shop in Paris.

What To Do In Paris

  • If you are visiting Paris, then the Moulin Rouge Show is a must to see.
  • Visit the epic Eiffel Tower along with Seine River cruise and make your night majestic.
  • The most horrid sights of Paris are the underground tunnels (Les Catacombe) which have real human skulls and bones, so add some horror to your trip by visiting these underground tunnels.
  • If anything stands in opposition to the Eiffel Tower it is the Arc de Triomphe, give it a visit and read about its history associated with the Napoleon.
  • Visit the peculiar Aquarium de Paris, the reason for its peculiarity is the combination of Cinema and Aquarium in one place, but it coexists nicely.

Where To Eat And Drink In Paris

  • Septime – Visit this amazing restaurant in Paris and excite your taste buds with all the mouth watering dishes.
  • Afaria – Another fine bistro located in Paris offering delicious French cuisine.
  • Frenchie – One of the most visited restaurants of Paris as the name speaks for itself the restaurant specializes in offering tempting French meals.
  • Le Baron Rouge – One of the finest bars in Paris if you want to taste the finest wines then this is the place to visit.
  • Harry’s New York Bar – One of the oldest and most popular American bars open from the pre-war time offers the finest wines in all over France and has been visited by the famous novelists like F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.

Paris is the best place in the world for shopping, so if you want to shop follow the locals.

  • Gab & Jo – This is the best place to shop for souvenirs as it is the first shop in Paris with the concept of original handmade French gifts souvenirs.
  • Fromagerie Goncourt – This boutique style shop is the best place for buying cheese.
  • 38 Saint Loius – The finest place in town for buying wines, fruit juices and artisan drupe chutneys.
  • Chez Helene – This confectionery boutique is a child’s heaven; you will find all kinds of delicious chocolates, marshmallow candies, artistic lollipops, licorice, fudge candies, caramels and Eiffel tower sugar cubes.

Pack When Moving Abroad

  • Big Items First. You should first start with you big items. If you have decided to use a standard cargo container, the best way to pack one is by putting your largest or heaviest items in first. This includes house furniture and appliances. Make sure when packing up furniture, that these items are protected and secured for transportation. The biggest thing to consider during this part of the move is whether it is cheaper to leave this furniture behind. This will reduce stress and hefty storage fees in your new homeland.
  • Most Expensive Items Second. Now it’s time to consider your more expensive and breakable items like electronic equipment. This requires a bit of research about internet and cable services available at your new location. If these services are no longer available to you after the move, there is no reason to include these in your packing. Also, make sure that all of your files and important computer documents have been successfully backed up on the internet or on an external hard drive.
  • Get Help Choosing Clothes. Packing up clothing could become a long, difficult task. Letting go of your favorite coat or bathing suit is something you must be prepared for. You must be strong with your decisions and know that these items are no longer useful to you as they are just clothes. This process shouldn’t have you pulling your hair out, but rather help you look forward to new beginnings. During this process, remember to leave enough clothes out of the storage container for the trip overseas as well as the time it might take to completely move in. Also, consider donating your unneeded clothes rather than tossing them in the trash. This part of the move could become a good way to donate to your favorite charity!
  • Determine What Papers You Do and Do Not Need. While paperwork is extremely important for moving overseas, consider the paperwork you can leave behind. This is the time to shred old documents and organize your information. Make sure to keep your passport, license, medical records and emergency contact numbers close by during your travel. This paperwork is necessary for traveling abroad and will certainly help limit your time dealing with customs.
  • Plan Ahead with Medicines. For medications and personal products, most hygiene items can be left behind to purchase in your new homeland, but it is important to travel with at least two months of medication. This is essential because you never know if your medication will arrive on time in your new destination.

This is just a brief overview of what your packing experience may be like when traveling abroad. There is so much more when it comes to moving your whole life to another country. Planning ahead and being strategic in your move can help this process become a lot simpler and cheaper.

Costa Smeralda

About Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda, as the name implies, is a coastal area about 20 kilometres long. Located in northern Sardinia, holidays here are depicted in travel and lifestyle magazines as the last word in luxury – complete with white sand beaches, golf clubs, private jet and helicopter services, and exclusive hotels. Regular clientele include celebrities, business leaders and high-profile European politicians. With its crystal-clear turquoise waters, pristine beaches, untouched nature reserves and luxurious accommodations, Costa Smeralda is definitely a high-end resort, with facilities including designer boutiques, high-end spas, golf clubs and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Porto Cervo

Built in the 60s as a retreat for the rich and famous, Porto Cervo, the premier town of Costa Smeralda, can be rather expensive, but it’s the best place to enjoy the ambience of this jewel of Sardinia. Holidays spent here may set you back quite a bit, but if you’re looking for coolness, glamour and luxury, it’s well worth it.

The spectacular Cala de Volpe Hotel is one of the best places to stay if you’re looking for the full on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” experience and you’re willing to pay the price – especially during peak season. But there are plenty of other, less pricey, alternatives.

Where to Go

The Porto Cervo marina is a great place to start your exploration of the sights. You’ll have to do a lot of walking, as public transport is almost non-existent, though a few taxis can be had – at a price. Other sightseeing points of interest are Abbiadori, a café high above the water at Cala di Volpe, or the open-air Nikki Beach, where everyone goes to see and be seen. Souvenir shopping can be quite expensive in this area, but there are plenty of affordable gifts like fabrics, crafts and food that can be found away from the centre of expensive Porto Cervo.

Arzachena’s Costa Smeralda Archaeological Park is one of the largest and most significant parks in Sardinia. Holidays to the island are not complete without enjoying some art, history and culture, and this region will afford you all three. Costa Smeralda Archaeological Park exhibits includes eight monuments of pre-historic age, covering almost 5000 years of history, starting from the middle Neolithic Age to the Bronze Age. You should also seek out the Albucciu Nuraghe, the Giants’ tombs and the many temples.

European Cruise

There are many ways of getting to know Europe. You can go on your own, stay at a Bed & Breakfast, rent a car, have lunch at diners, and really spend serious money on overpriced European goods. Traveling on your own apparently seems less expensive, but if you write down everything you spend, you might be alarmed at the expenses. Let’s say you’re walking around London and you feel thirsty, wouldn’t it be terrible to pay for bottled water at a price three times what you pay at home? Paying a local tour guide is almost always more expensive and not always do they have understandable English. The best option for land traveling is going on a package deal if you want to save on a travel guide but that is about it. If you are going on a package deal you might as well go on a cruise!

Think about the advantages of a European cruise. All your food and drink is already paid for, so you won’t pay European prices on food and drink, you will pay what you would pay at home. When the cruise arrives at a city, you have a tour guide with good English. The only downside to cruises is the time limit for exploring the cities ashore, but the advantages totally overshadow this. If you take the total expense for cruising and divide it by the total number of days you will be traveling, the outcome might be much less expensive than land traveling.

So you should stop thinking that cruises are just for rich people because they are not. It is just a question of class and self-allowance. If you believe you can go on a cruise, you will because it turns out less expensive than land traveling.

There are two main routes on European cruises. You can take the cold Northern route, which is the Baltic Sea (Scandinavia and Russia), Norwegian fjords, the Arctic Circle, and British Isles. Make sure you take plenty of winter clothes, because out at sea is much colder than on land. It is a beautiful cruise, although it is more indoors. You can also take the Mediterranean course, which is probably more appealing. You get to know Barcelona, Southern France, Italy, and Greece. It is warm and pleasant there and you can go to the pool on the cruise ship and enjoy the outdoors. There are also possibilities of making a connection between both courses and get to know the entire European coastline.

Vinh Hy Bay

Situated within the Ninh Thuan Province, and part of Vietnam’s tourism triangle, Vinh Hy Bay has successfully maintained its unspoiled nature, and its close proximity to the Nui Chua National Park, makes it an even more irresistible destination for beach lovers, sun worshippers and nature enthusiasts.

One excellent way to enjoy the Vinh Hy Bay’s unspoiled natural scenery is to go for a kayaking or Hobie cat adventure. This will allow you to see up close the bay’s dramatic rock formations. You can also enter hidden caves and experience the delight of discovering secret inlets. The coral reefs that can be found in the East Sea are home to a wide range of tropical fish and other marine animals. In the Vinh Hy Bay Sea Conservation Area alone, there are more than 300 varieties of rare and recently discovered coral species. That is why snorkeling and scuba diving are some of the main activities offered in the Vih Hy Bay area.

Vinh Hy Bay is the home of the Cham people, and the main source of their living is from fishing. There is a tiny fishing village on the bay’s shore. To get to know the local residents and their way of living, spend some time at the bustling fishing village. You can reach it by car or on foot.

While in the area, consider hopping over to the Nui Chua National Park. In this more than 7000 hectares of land area, you have plenty of opportunities to hike. You can also arrange for picnics, wildlife watching and other eco-friendly excursions in the park. A number of the tours offered around the bay are arranged by hotels and resorts in the area, such as the Saigon-Ninh Chu Hotel and Amanoi. However, with careful planning research, it is possible to pull off excursions on your own.

You can find well-equipped tourist boats that provide cruises around Vinh Hy Bay. Once on board, you can enjoy activities like swimming at the nearby Phu Beach. Aside from cruising the calm sea and marveling at the rugged mountain scenery, the boats will also take passengers to see lovely islets like Bo Bo, Yen Cape, Phu Islet and Tay Sa to Tai Islet. While you visit these islets, you can also catch a glimpse of the bay’s famous coral reefs by snorkeling in the area. At some point you will be given a fishing rod to try out your angling luck. And any fish you caught will be grilled on-board. What more can you ask for?

Portovenere

Portovenere’s old buildings and narrow streets complete its medieval appeal. It is known for its rich culture and traditional way of life. Its inhabitants are also applauded for maintaining a harmonious relationship with the natural landscape. These are just some of the reasons why, together with Cinque Terre and the whole eastern Ligurian Riviera; the village is hailed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Portovenere’s layout looks like it was always meant to be a tourism town. As you walk through its main street called Via Capellini, you will be greeted by a series of shops and restaurants. The Pietro Church is one of the most important historical sites in Portovenere and the church’s origins go back all the way to the 6th century. During the 13th century, a bell tower and Gothic-designed sections were added to it.

Another religious building you should explore is the 12th century Church of San Lorenzo, with its impressive Romanesque facade. Lastly, you cannot leave Portovenere without dropping by the Doria Castle. Built between the 12th and 17th centuries; the castle has become the village’s iconic landmark. Visitors to the village usually go for a leisurely walk up the hill, where the castle is nestled. This grand fortress opens its doors during summer. This is also the period when it hosts a number of art exhibits.

Another lovely walking spot is the promenade along the harbor. Here, you don’t have to worry about competing with vehicles as the entire area is for pedestrians only. You can take your time and admire the colorful homes that line the promenade. If you go all the way to the other side, you will come across Byron’s Cave. It is possible to swim near the coast, but there are no sandy beaches. Fortunately, you can easily head out to the nearby island of Palmaria to satisfy your desire for sandy stretches.

Palmaria is the largest of the three islands situated just across the strait. There are several excursion boats that are scheduled to bring tourists to these islands from Portovenere every day. So, you do not have to worry about finding a way to make it to Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. Aside from having nice beaches, Palamaria’s main attractions include the Blue Grotto and the cave named Grotta dei Colombi. Although, they are both military zones, Tino and Tenetto are the homes of an 11th century abbey and a 6th century monastery respectively.

Cruise Line Brochures

Some cruise lines feature their entire fleet with the itineraries in one brochure. Others have brochures for each destination–such as the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe.

The front of the brochure has the table of contents. Here you will also find the illustrations and photos, along with description of the cruise line and the itineraries available in that particular brochure.

Next you will usually find information on any special programs offered such as their kids programs. You will also find a brief description of the ports of call and shore excursions offered.

Deck Plans, Staterooms & Fares, hotel stays and past guest programs are usually listed next. A deck plan is a map of the ship that lists all levels of accommodations, shows the location of the restaurants, bars & lounges, swimming pools, fitness center, spa, shops, casino, kid’s center and everything else the ship has to offer.

The last few pages of the brochure is where you will find the “fine print”. This section usually includes the following information –welcome aboard info, Q&A’s, terms and conditions, what you need to know before you go, important policies and has cruise line contact information. Make sure you read it very carefully!! Always be prepared for modifications in the itinerary as well on board amenities. Never book a cruise based on the itinerary only. If you read the “fine print” you will find that the cruise line reserves the right to change the itinerary for any reason.

The back of the brochure is also where you usually find the information on Air&Sea programs, cancellation insurance and and amenity packages offered for your cruise.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania that was just a short drive to Harpers Ferry. I would go there often as a day trip, sometimes just to get away from the hustle and bustle of work and school and other times to share the town with friends and family. Every trip I made, I always learned something new about the area or saw something that I hadn’t noticed before.

There is so much to see and do at Harpers Ferry. When you arrive in the town, you will think that you can go through it in about 2 hours and be done. While it is a small town, it is packed full of interesting stores and tours that could easily keep you around for a long weekend. If you visit this town, prepare to arrive early in the morning so that you can take it all in.

Harpers Ferry history includes the site of the famous John Brown’s raid. You can read about the raid and trace the steps of this famous event. This town is also the site of the first integrated high school and the site of the first successful railroad. There are historic homes that you can tour and an old grave yard that contains tomb stones that predate the Civil War. You can use a map to do your own tour or take a guided tour of the area.

If you want to shop, you will find anything from antique stores to stores that sell local arts and crafts. There is a jewelry store that contains beaded and gem jewelry. There are a few restaurants that all have great food and an ice cream parlor that you must visit. Don’t forget to take pictures of yourself with famous people in the wax museum.

Once you have toured the town itself, you can hike the outlying areas. There is an old railroad track that overlooks the rivers. You can hike up to the top of Maryland Heights. You can find walking and driving guides online or at the entrance to the park.

If you are ever in the West Virginia area, I highly recommend that you make a stop in Harpers Ferry. Between the beauty, the history and the shopping, you will find a little something for everything in this quaint town.

Amazing Alaskan Cruise

  • When can you actually travel to Alaska? Although winter time is not the best time to travel, you can visit anytime you would like to. The Alaskan cruises, though, usually run from May to September when the waters are easily traveled.
  • Which cruise line should I use? There are many cruise lines that run through this line. It is your best bet to consider which fits your budget as well as your specific entertainment and travel goals. The Alaskan lines offer many wonderful choices in entertainment and sight seeing even some of which offer specific choices.
  • When should I plan my vacation? It is best to start planning early, in the off seasons. Many people make reservations for their Alaskan cruise well in advance especially if you are traveling in the summer months when space is limited. If you go in May or in September, crowds are less likely yet you still should plan ahead.

The Alaskan cruise offers many adventures. It is not just a boat ride into the cold waters. You will find many enjoyable things to do and to see in Alaska, all of which will allow you to enjoy the things that interest you. When planning your Alaskan cruise, make sure to check out several opportunities so that you can find the best part for you. You can even do this on the web.

Eastern Carribean Cruises

An Eastern Caribbean cruise will take you to the American and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, and the Bahamas. December to April is the peak tourist season, when tourists from all around the globe flock here. However, you will get the best bargains during the lean season, during the summer and fall months. But there is a catch to it. The hurricane season is from June to November, and it is wise to avoid these parts of the world at this time. You would definitely not want to be marooned in your hotel room with a storm raging outside.

For short cruises, you can opt for Carnival and Disney, whose ships ply the whole year round but travel only to the Bahamas, while Royal Caribbean’s fleet has a three-night tour covering San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. However, the seven-night tours are the hugely popular ones. These will take you to Jost Van Dyke, San Juan, St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Virgin Gorda. These are the traditional stops in a usual Eastern Caribbean cruise, but old-timers who would like to venture to offbeat places can opt for fleets that will ferry them to St. John, Norman Island and Water Island. The new kids on the block are Tortola and Dominican Republic with the upscale resort Caso de Campo. Rapidly finding favor with the tourists, these places are increasingly being covered by the cruise lines.

The Eastern Caribbean offers immense possibilities for exploration. The cruise lines, fuelled by tourist demand, are not averse to venturing into hitherto uncharted territories either. Thus, quaint, sleepy, tucked-away towns and villages are being unearthed and placed on the tourist map.

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