Articles - Destination Guides

Bermuda Hotel Rate Outlook 2011

Based on seasonal trends from 2010, Bermuda 2011 should be a fine year for hotel and resort deals.  If you are looking for the lowest rates of the year, without a doubt look at September to November. Yes it is hurricane season, but in the last several years, we have seen deals on 4 and 5 star hotels below $200 per night. The best time to book these fantastic deals is early June, as that is when rates are set for the off season. We will update this page with the best deals in the coming weeks. Check... [Read the full story]

Navigating Idaho’s Middle Fork River

Rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with ROW outfitters is an escape into quarantined wilderness, on a silver platter. Hints of civilization are rare as you twist and turn through the mighty river’s towering, pictograph-blessed canyon walls. The pauses between the riffles and rapids present legendary drifting scenery of wildlife, sage-brushed granite mountains and wildlife. Even the crew of veteran river runner guides seem to be having the time of their life. ROW’s river-floating... [Read the full story]

Side Trip: Chang Mai, Thailand

From Bangkok venture south to Ko Samui Island or north to Chang Mai. Bangkok is an intersection where around-the-world and circle-pacific trips are distinguished. Eastbound voyagers head on to Burma, Delhi or Kathmandu whereas Pacific Rimmers migrate south into Malaysia, Indonesia and down under. Depending upon your inclinations, Thailand’s magic includes beaches and mountains. Up north, Chang Mai is abundantly-equipped with dozens of theme bars, trekking outfitters and motorcycle rental... [Read the full story]

Side Trip: Goa, India

From Bombay venture to GOA, INDIA, a former Portuguese/Roman Catholic settlement located on India’s central west coast. Nomadic western hippies discovered Goa’s enchantment back in the sixties. Nude bathing, respectfully enjoyed with discretion, increases as you head north from Vagator along the cliff-divided beaches — intermittently interrupted by delectable travellers’ restaurants. Hire motorcycle-taxis, tuk-tuks (odd, multiple passenger scooters resembling shell covered... [Read the full story]

Dance The Night Away – Down Under in Venezuela

When referring to Down Under, do not limit yourself to merely Australia and New Zealand. Venezuela, South America’s down under, is geographically staggering, yielding 1800 miles of Caribbean coastline, countless palm-treed isles, the northern spine of the snowcapped Andes, the world’s highest waterfall, American-West style mesa/plains, deserts, and plenty of dense, Amazon-basin jungle — sanctuary for several indigenous Indian societies. Oil money has catapulted Caracas into modern... [Read the full story]

Road Trip (California) 101

What separates a decent road trip from an epic one? Freestyle or itemized? Van or recumbent tricycle? Taking the most offbeat route or finding the edge in an ordinary one? These days getting off the beaten path has become the cliché – there isn’t even a reason to mention it: even Grammy is trying to avoid the mainstream. California’s coastal Highway 1 gets all the glory, so I decided to drive the entire length of the main vain – the 101 – from end to end, and found plenty of edges... [Read the full story]

Things to Do on a Budget in Bali

Bali’s best-known attractions are its many Hindu temples. Each village is required to build and maintain at least three temples: the temple of origin, located at the pure side of the village, the village temple for everyday many  more than the three required temples. Within Bali, there are nine directional temples, which are the largest and most important and are located at certain points around the island in order to protect its inhabitants. Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Uluwatu Temple), at the southern... [Read the full story]

Dining and Drinking on a Budget in Helsinki

There’s a reason that Finnish cuisine isn’t exactly known around the world. Dining out is a relatively new concept in Finland, and one that has only really hit its stride in the last decade or so. The food in Finland was developed out of need, using what the people could cull from the sea and from the cold climate of the country. Even now, food is prepared with relatively little flourish and few herbs and spices. People in Finland tend to eat early and many restaurants close by 10:00pm. Popular... [Read the full story]

Bali Basics

Bali, with its beautiful sandy beaches, rugged coastline and world-class diving, is considered by many to be a paradise.  The small island (it’s only about 90 miles long and 50 miles from north to south) is one of over 17,000 in Indonesia yet over 80% of visitors to Indonesian visit Bali – and only Bali. Since 1945, Bali has been part of the Republic of Indonesia. From the 1970’s on, the main industry in the country became tourism, which has been only slightly abated by the 2002 and 2005 terrorist... [Read the full story]

Dining on a Budget in Bruges

Bruges, Belgium, is a town of charming streets lined with beautiful old buildings, scenic waterways, and sprawling town squares. And while many people come to soak up all this old-world ambiance,  others come to eat all the delicious food Bruges has to offer. As Bruges popularity has grown in recent years, more tourist trap restaurants have sprung up, especially around the town’s square. Try to avoid these as they are generally overpriced and not up to the standards as the rest of the city’s... [Read the full story]

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