Travel Clever » Holidays

Experiencing the Gap Year Travel

b-travel — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:27:08 +0000

Education does not just come from the classroom. More often than not, people also learn when they try to travel to different place and try out new things. It’s also possible to learn through experience since actually doing the things they want to learn will provide real-world experience and not just the theories that are often taught in classroom.

Because experience and travel are well known ways for young people to learn more about life, more and more individuals are opting to go on the “Gap Year”. This is a year for the young adults where they rest and travel to a different country. It’s an opportunity for the kids to learn something different and appreciate the culture, tradition and history of other nations.

Preparation for a year long vacation often takes time and parents are often aware of the setting. The kids who are interested in going on vacation for a year often work part-time or during weekends. A percentage of the money they earn goes to their savings for their vacation. This is also another learning opportunity since kids work hard for something they really want to do.

The most popular destination for the Gap Year is Europe. Kids who often go to Europe for a year learn a lot of things and not just visiting some of the most impressive structures in the world. Some kids even learn a new language in just one year because they were able to practice in the real world.

The Gap Year is increasingly popular to young adults and more parents are supporting this decision. Aside from the much needed rest from the classroom setting, the Gap Year could be a real learning experience for the young adults.

Top 5 Places to Drink in Dubai and Not Get Arrested

b-travel — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:03:59 +0000

Dubai is part of a Muslim state that adheres to strict laws of no alcoholic drinks. But it’s also one of the most progressive parts of the Middle East as it’s practically the world’s shopping center with massive malls and interesting party places. Although the laws of alcohol consumptions are strictly enforced, it’s not enforced in some clubs.

The following are places where you can drink alcohol and have fun without thinking about the authorities:

Chameleon Club

Well known in Dubai for the interesting neon lights and mix of club and house music, it’s a destination that requires a little bit of planning because it could get packed during weekends. Drinks are a bit expensive so make sure to bring some extra cash if you want to visit this club.

Trader Vic’s

The best thing about Trader Vic’s is that you don’t have to be really hip to enjoy the place. It features nightly Cuban music which is a welcome change in Dubai. The place has been open since the 90s which is very impressive for a bar in this city.

Barasti

Although Chameleon Club can easily pack during weekends, Barasti still stands as the leader when it comes to attracting people at the bar. It literally started as a shack that slowly evolved into an amazing bar where everyone can just chill and enjoy the city.

Club Africana

If you’re looking for a themed bar, this is your best bet to see something different during yout holidays in Dubai. Featuring club music with an African mix, it’s a place where you can hear and see something different.

Churchil

Churchil is one of the best places in Dubai if you want to drink beer with your friends. It’s affordable and you can also enjoy a great meal at the bar. The lack of the letter “L” is actually done on purpose.

Top 3 Family Skiing locations

b-travel — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:16:07 +0000

A skiing vacation for the entire family is a highly recommended activity for the holidays. Kids will learn to appreciate the weather as they enjoy different types of activities in the snow. Parents will also love the variety of winter-related activities as well as much needed rest for their busy life.

But not every skiing destination is ideal for the family. Fortunately, there are some amazing destinations every family should consider if they are thinking of enjoying their holidays.

Morillon, Grand Massif, France

You don’t get the reward “Famille Plus” without doing anything with your facilities. This beautiful village is merely 25 minutes from Geneva is a kid-friendly destination. Their main attraction is the “Village des Enfants” which was specifically built for kids from six months to 10 years old. The village comes with a variety of entertainment as well as kid friendly slopes to help them learn skiing.

Adelboden, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

The beautiful Switzerland is also making sure some of their resorts are family friendly and the village of Adelboden is quickly becoming the village to beat in the country when it comes to impressive family-friendly facilities. Aside from the attractive landscapes and snow capped mountains fit for every age, most hotels in Adelboden feature additional entertainment for the family such as gaming consoles and movies.

Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont, USA

One of the most popular family friendly ski destinations in North America boasts of a very expensive child care centre, ski lessons for kids and a dedicated baby-sitter for families with toddlers. The ski resort features a variety of hills fit for every level and it culminates in the “Black Hole” which is only open for experts.

Most affordable activities in the Seychelles

b-travel — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:46:16 +0000

Seychelles is one of the top tourist destinations in the world due to its exotic beaches and beautiful seas. Due of its popularity, many tourists think twice in visiting the island because they might end up spending more than they should. But the Seychelles is actually a great place to enjoy during the summer because of the various activities to enjoy that will not cost a dime.

Enjoying the Camtolet Music

The beautiful traditional camtolet music is a must for every tourist. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend anything just to hear the music because most hotels feature a night where tourists can watch live performance of camtolet music. The camtolet performances increase in frequency during the summer season since it’s the peak season for tourists.

Shopping in Seychelles

Shopping means you have to spend money but you will not end up spending too much because the prices of the souvenirs are very affordable. Shop around especially in the capital (Victoria) so that you can bargain for better prices. Seaside souvenirs are also good sources of souvenirs but they are often more expensive.

The Beach

Seychelles is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world because of the beaches. Tourists often visit the islands simply to enjoy the waters and soak in the sun. We suggest taking advantage of this beautiful setting since you don’t have to spend anything there. We sugest you spend a bit more on a great Seychelles hotel with a magnificent view so that everything else, including the beach, will always be there for you to enjoy.

Discovering the best of Turkey

b-travel — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:28:19 +0000

Turkey is the 3rd most visited country by British holiday makers each year and it’s not hard to see why. The country offers something for everyone, with Turkish baths available for those that want to relax in style, great historic sites for explorers and hot weather throughout the summer months.

Relax

The country is famous for its Turkish baths which offer tourists the complete body cleanse. The process involves staying in a steam room for several minutes before having a complete body wash and a massage. Turkish baths are performed across the country in many different locations and are a must-do for those that love going to the SPA.

Sights

The location is home to many great natural sights including the Cappadocia Mountains and the Pamukkale hot springs. The Cappadocia Mountains are a unique range of mountains made of soft rock. The area is best explored by Hot air balloon, which will allow you to see the land in all its glory.

The Pamukkale hot springs are a natural phenomenon in South West Turkey. The area’s name means “cotton castle” in Turkish and after looking at the areas to not hard to see why. The area has 17 hot springs which push 35oc to 100oc water to the tops of the mountain range. The calcium carbonate in the water is deposited by the water forming travertine, which gives the location its unique white colour.

What Type of Tourists?

The country caters for both the wealthy who are looking for a luxurious way to relax and those that want a cheap getaway with friends or family. The country currently uses Turkish Lira, which has made it popular with European tourists who want to receive a high exchange rate for their Pounds or Euros. The areas of Antalya, Istanbul and Bodrum are very popular with tourists and offer a slightly different holiday. We would suggest Antalya for those that love the beach and Istanbul for those that like luxury shopping malls and great historic sites. The video above is of the Titanic Deluxe hotel in Antalya, the hotel is one of the country’s most luxurious but can still be booked at affordable prices. We suggest Mosaic Holidays as a good reasonably priced luxury travel agent.

The Exquisite Weekend Breaks in Sorrento, Italy

b-travel — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:49:44 +0000

Tucked in the southwest region of Italy is a beautiful and exquisite town of Sorrento. With a population of only 16,500, tourists will immediately observe a homely feel of the beautiful town. The unique appeal of Sorrento to tourists has made the little town an ideal relaxation destination and a favorite weekend trip in southern Italy.

The Beautiful Naples Bay

Sorrento’s top attraction is the Naples Bay. Tourists and locals take full advantage of the calm waters of the bay through travelling by ferry as well as relaxing on its beaches. It’s a regular sight in Naples Bay to see ferries take tourists and locals to different destinations around the area while many other people enjoy the waters not far from the port.

History and Culture

Like most of the towns and cities near the Naples Bay, Sorrento comes with a very interesting history dating back to the Roman occupation. For this reason, different structures that tell the town’s past still stand today. A walking tour in the town’s pedestrian reveals the unique architecture from different eras. As a tip we would suggest you visit the pedestrian-only street in Sorrento at night.

During the day, tourists visit the ruins of Pompeii which is highly accessible from Sorrento’s city center. Naples is also accessible from Sorrento and tourists often stay outside the popular city of Naples to enjoy the serenity of Sorrento. The popularity of Naples is also an advantage for the locals and tourists of Sorrento because of the wide variety of options in transportation. Tourists can use the ferry boat, arrive in Naples airport or use the train to visit this exquisite destination for a weekend break.

Amazing Weekend Breaks to Disneyland Paris

b-travel — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:34:19 +0000

Barely 20 miles from Paris is the world-class tourist destination Disneyland Paris. Since it opened its doors in 1992, the Disneyland in Paris continues to attract millions of tourists every year. It’s an ideal destination for families who want a quick getaway during the weekend. Disneyland Paris is highly accessible from the city of Paris and it features different types of accommodations on a variety of budget.

Theme Parks are Rides

The park features nearly inexhaustible options for families seeking a fun weekend. It has five theme parks namely; Discoveryland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland and Main Street USA. Each theme park has a unique set of thrilling rides and attractions that will surely bring out the imagination of kids and adults alike.

On Location Accommodation

Many families opt to stay in Disneyland Paris for a few days without going in and out of the theme parks. Instead of staying outside Disneyland Paris, tourists book a room in advance in one of the seven hotels within the theme park. Each hotel has a unique feature that can accommodate the preferences of their guests. The hotels in Disneyland Paris usually offer transportation to different theme parks.

Money Saving Options

While a good way to enjoy a weekend break in Disneyland Paris is to stay in a hotel on location, it could be a bit expensive. A money saving option for tourists is to look for a hotel near Disneyland Paris and book a multiple day pass with access to different theme parks. Although it may require some traveling, it’s a lot more affordable than on site hotels.

The beautiful city of St. Omer

b-travel — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:12:28 +0000

St. Omer is a picturesque commune in northwest France. It is the closest land to England (from Dover) and tourists coming to the area usually use the Calais Ferry Port. It’s one of the best places to visit for the weekend because it’s relatively small but offers more than just a picturesque setting for a quick getaway.

Historical Structures

The commune takes its name from a mock that came to the place to preach Christianity. With its deep religious affiliation, one of the commune’s main attractions is their 13^th century cathedral which is also the home to other objects made a century or two after the cathedral’s completion. The cathedral also features an astronomical clock and a painting of Sir Peter Paul Rubens.

Complementing the cathedral is the town hall and its surrounding houses. Most of the structures around the town hall still stand even though it was built as early as 16^th century. Visiting the town hall is a must for every tourist because of the documents, theater and gallery that depicts the past of St. Omer.

The Waterways

St Omer is not just a monk known for his preaching. He is also known for setting up the intricate waterways that help support the merchants inside and outside St. Omer. The waterways are still fully functional and a boat ride is the best way to appreciate the setup.

Beer and Shopping

St. Omer is also the home of one of the oldest breweries in the country. The commune is still the brewery for St. Omer Beer and has been in operation since 1866. The town square is also known as a shopping destination especially because of its numerous boutiques.

Prague on a city break

b-travel — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:09:51 +0000

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic with a history dating back thousands of years. The city is a famous city break destination and offers great views and architecture as well as classic entertainment and great meals.

For those that love entertainment the Estates Theatre in Old Town offers great plays and operas and was even the location that Mozart premiered his “Don Giovanni” piece. There are many great museums to explore including the Czech Museum of Music, Jewish Museum and Mucha Museum. The museums offer a great day of entertainment from around 50czk.

If you’re interested in great food while on your trip we would suggest the Dancing House, the modern striking building has a fine French restaurant on its top floor that gives magnificent views of the river and surrounding area. However the Dancing house will be a little more expensive than some other local restaurants, if you’re interested in slightly less expensive food visit the Old Town Square, built in the 12^th century or the Lesser Town Square also another great places to eat.

If you are visiting the city with your children or have an interest in animals we would suggest the Prague Zoo or the local Sea World, both will cost you around 200czk but offer thousands of species.

Whatever you would prefer to do in a city break to Prague we are sure the city will live up to your expectations and then some.

Memorable City Breaks in Boulogne

b-travel — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:54:57 +0000

Boulogne or Boulogne-sur-mer is a beautiful city in the northernmost region of France. It’s a very popular tourist destination because of its historical significance in modern and medieval times. The city is also an important trade route because of its ferry and access to other countries.

Historic Structures in Boulogne

Tourists visiting Boulogne should visit the following structures because of their role in history:

11^th Century Belfry – standing in the center of the city is the towering belfry. Because of its age and importance, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Cathedral – one of the most interesting structures in France because of its diverse architectural influences. Its dome is a very popular destination because of its height (100 meters) which gives every visitor an amazing view of the city.
St. Nicholas Church – built during the 15^th century, the church is a perfect example of a medieval gothic castle.
Nausicaä or the French Sea Center – a must for every tourist because it chronicles, the relationship of the locals and the sea. But it’s more than just a simple museum as it’s practically a library, featuring many interesting resources on flora and fauna in the waters and marine management.

Boulogne-sur-mer Beaches

The city is not particularly popular for its beaches but it doesn’t mean they’re not attractive. The beach near Nausicaä stretches for miles. Often, the ebach is filled with families enjoying a nice day under the sun and many different sailboats visiting different areas of the city. If you are interested in visiting another beach the nearby beach town of Equihen Plage is just south of Boulogne-sur-mer.