Peru is quite an extraordinary country. The Cusco region offers quite an extensive first-hand experience of the Latin American poverty. And yet, Machu Picchu – the famed ruins of an ancient city that have become the most recognizable symbol the Inca Empire, is neighbored by the luxurious Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Having a luxurious hotel where rates for a one night easily exceed $ 1.000 built right next to one of the greatest reminiscences of the Inca Empire, currently voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is quite disturbing. For this reason, I found my stay in a small town called Ollantaytambo at the eastern end of the Sacred Valley. Although I was quick to discover that the ‘homemade’ mushroom soup served by the one of the Ollantaytambo hostel’s kitchen was an instant Maggi, my modest room had a direct access to a terrace that offered a wonderful view of ruins of a less-known old Inca city. Unlike Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo’s ruins are currently neighbored by run-down houses of the villagers.
Lima, Peru’s capital, was founded by a controversial chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro. While denounced for initiating heartless destruction of the Inca civilization, Pizarro is celebrated for bringing Christianity to the people of Peru. Colonial architecture is mixed with derelict buildings and flamboyant residences of the country’s few who share most of its wealth are rising into the horizon surrounded by ghetto-like images. Ever-present barbed wires encircling schools and private properties of the rich, constant honking of taxis, and bullet-proof police SUVs – all that felt quite uncomfortable at first. But I got used to it. What I found most distressing, however, were the countless crowds of children begging for money. Not just because a sight of kids deprived of decent shelter, food and education would be depressing in itself. More because it made me see how quickly you get used to that sight. For a few days, you are shocked and moved. Than, you become apathetic. And suddenly you realize that these small dirty hands pulling your trousers wherever you move genuinely annoy you.
If the aesthetic beauty of Lima is hard to appreciate, great museums, a sparkling nightlife and a notable cooking scene are the qualities that the city certainly has to offer. Along with the National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology and History, the Gold of Peru museum displaying the world’s most magnificent collection of ancient Peruvian art is an absolute must for anyone visiting the city. And so is the Miraflores District, in which tequila flows fast and bare-feet natives dance their troubles.
July 16, 2007 No Comments
Legend has it that when the English missionaries first got to Hawaii, they discouraged the Polynesians from surfing because they felt it was a waste of time. So it’s a little ironic now that the some of the best surfing schools in Hawaii are run by the successors of those very same missionaries. And those schools get to churn out students that get to test their skills at one of the best surf destinations on the planet: the North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii.
In the summertime, the water at the North Shore is relatively quiet, making it a great place to fish or swim. But during the winter, it is an entirely different story. When the weather gets colder, the waves get massive, and the best surfers in the world flock to the birthplace of surfing. It was here that the English first discovered the Hawaiian natives riding the waves on long, wooden boards. And it was here that modern surfing became legendary, on the back of the exploits of local boy Duke Kahanamoku in the 1920s.
The North Shore stretches, uninterrupted, for almost 20 miles, producing beautiful white, sandy beaches that you can lie on while watching the surfing. Between October and February, the beach can boast waves reaching heights of up to 20-30 feet.
One particular location is called the Banzai Pipeline, so called because of the massive tube that forms when the waves curl under their own weight. Another hot spot for surfers and onlookers is Waimea Beach.
The North Shore is also particularly convenient for the American tourist. Since Hawaii is a state, it is much easier to travel here than to travel to many of the other great surfing destinations around the world located in other countries. So, next winter, leave the snowy confines of your home and make you way to Hawaii’s North Shore, to be a part of the best surfing experience in the world.
July 16, 2007 No Comments
Berlin is one of my favorite cities. I have been there on two separate occasions, and I have fallen in love. It is such a fascinating city in so many ways, and it appeals to a sense of history, culture and curiosity.
There’s no city in the world that better epitomizes the second half of the twentieth century. Once we were walking from the Tiergaarten (the zoo) and just randomly stumbled upon a memorial for a protestor that was shot in the back by the Stasi during the Cold War. It was incredible.
There’s sense of history in Berlin that you do not feel anywhere else; walking around the city is almost like traveling back in time. We spent one afternoon going to Checkpoint Charlie, where you could cross from East Berlin to West Berlin. If you closed your eyes, you could almost see the Soviet and American tanks and soldiers facing off at each other.
While you’re in the history mood, take some time and check out the east side gallery too. It is the largest remaining portion of the wall left—more than 1.5 kilometers. The graffiti is simply gorgeous; artists have taken the ultimate symbol of exclusion and war and made it into a piece of art.
Berlin is not just about history, though. It is a really modern city in a lot of ways actually, especially compared to American cities. The architecture is either abstract or of the international school. Most of that is because the city was completely bombed during World War II, and a lot of the buildings are post-1945. But it’s not just about the architecture. The club scene is mostly techno-rave, so if you are not into that, you have to stick with the bars.
Berlin may be THE city of the twentieth century, but it’s also a great city for now. There’s so much culture and history, and when you realize first realize where you actually are and what other people have been there as well, it’s a little overwhelming. But I would definitely recommend going there and experiencing it for yourself. Make sure to grab a bratwurst and a Berliner. Appreciate the history but make sure to enjoy the present.
July 13, 2007 No Comments
Loket Castle is an absolute gem. Located in Western Bohemia, two hours west of Prague, Loket is only a short trip from more famous tourist destinations like Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne. The castle dates back to the twelfth century, and it is beautifully preserved, mostly because it has been declared a national monument.
When you first get to Loket, you might find the area somewhat familiar, because it was the location for a number of scenes in Casino Royale, the latest James Bond film. It took the place of the town in Montenegro where the characters in the movie played their poker game. The town does not have much to offer, especially if you’re not into architecture from the Middle Ages, but it does have one amazing castle.
Guys love castles. I know I have loved them ever since I was kid playing around in forts. And I mention that because Loket Castle makes a special effort to cater to that feeling. Admission charge is required, but once you enter the castle gates, you can wander around wherever you want. You can enter the dungeons (where prisoners were once kept), explore the turrets (where one king stashed his daughters) and even experience the royal view from the balconies.
At certain times of the year, the administrators of the castle organize a special dungeon exhibition. They had opened access to about fifteen different rooms and set up a different torture scenario in each one. The idea of a dungeon exhibition might seem a bit gruesome, but there’s also something fun in seeing what happens to a doll when stretched over a rack.
Do not leave the town right away after you are done exploring Loket Castle. If you are hungry and like central European food, then there is a restaurant in the area worth checking out. It’s simply called Restaurace, and it’s directly to the right of the exit to the castle. The staff there will cook you the best goulash you will ever have (served in a bread bowl), and you can wash it down with a Pilsner.
You may not have heard of Loket Castle before now. While it may not be as well-known or popular as some of Europe’s castles, it is not lacking in quality. Sometimes you can get overwhelmed just visiting all of the churches and castles in Europe, but that does not mean that you shouldn’t go. They are an unforgettable part of the history of the land, and if you are in Western Bohemia, Loket Castle is a must-see.
July 13, 2007 No Comments
An inspiration to poets, and a hideout for the rich, Hangzhou is China’s natural gem. From staying in a palatial villa to biking around the gorgeous West Lake, I had a lot of fun in the city. It’s not really the best place for young people to hang out (its serenity is more attractive to an older crowd), but for a limited amount of time, it’s a great escape.
I was actually supposed to be in Shanghai the whole week, exploring the city with about 15 kids I go to school with. But someone told us about Hangzhou’s scenic beauty, and we felt that we had to go. The bus ride there was only about two or three hours, and the trip is actually pretty amazing. There’s a lot of foreign tourism to Shanghai, but the city can overwhelm you with the amount of people, activity, and pollution. On the way to Hangzhou, you pass this phenomenal agricultural landscape while keeping the water to one side the whole time.
While we were there, we stayed in this villa complex that was simply incredible. It is apparently the same complex that President Nixon and his staff stayed at during their famous trip to China in 1972 (his particular villa goes for $70,000/night). The food in Hangzhou is supposed to be fantastic, but I do have one word of warning. If you are a big fan on Chinese food here in the US, you might not like real Chinese food as much because it is surprisingly different.
No matter how long you decide to stay in Hangzhou, there is one thing you absolutely must do: bike around the West Lake. We rode out from the hotel to the West Lake on bikes, and it was surprisingly easy because the terrain in the city is so flat, and our bike salesman acted as an unofficial tour guide. But the best part was when we actually saw the lake itself.
We ended up driving back to Shanghai soon after we got back from the trip to the West Lake. If you are in the Shanghai area, and you want to see one of the most beautiful cities in China, make the trip out there. It will be worth your while.
July 13, 2007 No Comments
If you plan to travel from the United States to Canada, you should know that the unusually high price of the Canadian dollar could affect your budget and force you to sacrifice comfort over money. However, there are heavily discounted first-class airline tickets available for over 100,000 US and Canada flights. While most people have some idea of how to get cheap airline tickets, only very few know that there are inexpensive first-class airline tickets available. There are a number of reasons for which you might find this article useful:
You plan to travel from the United States to Canada. Knowing how to get the best travel deals could come in handy to compensate for a more expensive Canadian dollar and increased travel costs.
You travel from Canada. You may be in luck as the Canadian dollar’s purchase power has gone up over 10 percent in just the last two months. Why not get first-class airline tickets and save money here, too?!
You like the idea of enjoying a comfortable first-class flight for a fraction of price that you normally have to pay for a first-class ticket.
If any of the above applies to you, read on to find out more about the cheap first-class airlines tickets. The discount first-class tickets offered for US-Canada flights can be unusual. While the passengers sit in first-class, these tickets are intentionally published by the airlines to look exactly the same as any other coach ticket. The origin of these cheap first-class tickets is difficult to trace but it is generally known that they were designed to help the airlines’ most important clients on their business trips. Coded as coach tickets, they allow a handful of chosen clients to get away with skirting corporate “No First-class Travel” policies.
The discount first-class tickets can be less than $300 round-trip. For the most part, the price is approximately the same as that of business walk-up and 7-day advance purchase airfare. Therefore, with a little luck, you get all the first-class comfort when taking your next flight.
7 First-class Airline Tickets Tips That You Should Know About:
Discount first-class tickets are available for most of the United States/Canada flights, including peak days and times, such as Holidays, Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. They could also be available for last-minute trips. There are no discount first-class tickets for international coach, business or first-class air travel outside the Northern American continent.
While most of the air travel transactions happen online, it is important to know that the booking flow for discount first-class tickets does not show up in common travel quote queries based on city/date-based search.
Discount first-class tickets are incomparably more reliable than a first-class ticket upgrade lottery. The upgrade is occasionally available when the airline needs to move more passengers taking a given flight from the rear of the aircraft (Economy section) to the front (Business and First-class sections. These operational upgrades, however, rely on nontransparent and quite unpredictable hierarchy-driven principles. Premier fliers with frequent-flyer programs have a priority, ordinary members, military personnel, and passengers who paid for a full-fare economy ticket follow. Only if there is not enough people in these categories will the ground staff look for someone who is “polite and well-dressed”.
Unlike those counting on the upgrade lottery, travelers with a discount first-class ticket do not have to keep their fingers crossed. They can enjoy the luxury of being “confirmed” first-class.
Most phone agents are trained not to offer cheap first-class tickets. Ask for a discounted first-class ticket explicitly! Also, make sure that you check with the agent that the plane on your itinerary has a first-class cabin. Some of the regional jets do not have these.
Most of the discount first-class tickets are one-way. Therefore, if you miss a flight, ask the airline agent to check for first-class discounts. These might be often cheaper than the walk-up coach ticket for a replacement flight.
Since these tickets are booked in the first-class cabin, the frequent flyer mileage that you receive for these tickets will reflect a first-class ticket purchase.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Buying Airline tickets can be expensive, even when flying domestically, but it doesn’t have to be. Tickets prices can sometimes be unpredictable but there are a few tricks to make sure you don’t overpay. The first tip is to buy the ticket as early as possible. Sometimes, on an unpopular or half empty flight for instance, the airline waits until the last possible minute to sell the cheapest tickets. But usually, the earlier you buy the better. Anything less than a month in advance is going to be expensive. If you know about a trip six months in advance, book it.
Next, try to be flexible about flight times. Flying at 2 a.m. on a Wednesday is going to be significantly cheaper than flying at noon on a Saturday. Red-eyes and mid-week flights are usually always less expensive. Also, as obvious as it seems, book round-trip tickets in the same transaction, on the same airline. It is usually cheaper to do so, instead of buying them separately. When flying to a heavily populated area, such as New York City, try flying into the secondary airport. For example, instead of flying into JFK, fly into LaGuardia or Newark. Also, bigger airlines, such as American Airlines or Continental will be more expensive than airlines such as Jet Blue.
According to the AARP, the best time to book tickets from an airline is Wednesday from midnight to 1 a.m. in the airline’s original time zone. “That’s when the computer systems of most airlines get rid of the reserved but unbooked lower fare reservations. Most of us at one time or another have booked a reservation, and then let it go without purchase. Snap-up these discounted fares right after this happens and you’re likely to get a significant discount.” So, if you were to book a flight with Delta, you would wait until it is 12 a.m. Eastern Time, since Delta’s headquarters’ are in Atlanta, Georgia.
The most consistent advice about booking airline tickets, is shopping around. Don’t be afraid to book an airline you’ve never heard of if the airfare is cheaper. The more airlines and prices you look at, the more likely you are to spot a deal. Also, this will make you more knowledgeable on general airline prices for next time.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Dog sledding is spreading globally from its deep Alaskan roots. The Iditarod Sled Dog Race has come a long way since its creation by co-founder Dick Mackey over thirty years ago. While professional athletes travel the country for their respective sports, dog sled riders train arduously for an eight-day race that includes a hefty prize awaiting the champion.
Dog sledding is a sport in which at least twelve dogs pull a sled steered by a driver and a minimum of six to complete the race. Its growth has attracted people from all over the globe interested in the arduous preparations necessary for this race. While preparations for this competition may be a bit costly, watching the event is quite affordable. Alaskan adventures can also include visiting Denali National Park and white water sea adventures.
The trails and various cruises around the magnificent glaciers are additional wonderful sites in the beautiful state of Alaska. If you watch the race as thousands of viewers do each year, you will have a good story to share with friends and family. This competition is more than a win or go home victory. It is about the opportunity to venture out into the wilderness and enjoy the picturesque, unspoiled beauty of Alaska.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Do you assume that there are secrets to how to get a cheap airline ticket that the airlines try to keep from you? Do you always feels nervous and slightly dizzy whenever you are about to click on the “Buy Now” button when purchasing your flight? Your skepticism and worries are justified. An attempt to get the best airfare could be as difficult and frustrating as trying to figure out on what number to place your bets in a lottery game. But unlike gambling, there is more to airline ticket purchases than a sprinkle of luck. Knowing a little bit about how the system works and remembering a few useful tricks could maximize your chances of getting the best air travel deal possible. And although the suspicion that the person sitting on the plane right next you got his ticket for half the price of yours could never be entirely erased from your mind, there are some key rules of thumb that can put the one cheap airline ticket right into your pocket. Why should you pay more when you can get the same ticket for less, especially when the currency trends already increase most of your travel costs?
The Canadian Dollar recently approaching parity with the US Dollar is just one of many topics driving discussions of a weakening power of the US dollar. Hence, with the US Dollar pushing prices of traveling abroad and overseas up, an extra cheap airline ticket could be a welcomed way of making the trip more economical. Similarly, with a USD/CAD exchange rate possibly hitting a 1:1 ratio, knowing how to get a cheap airline ticket within the United States and Canada could be especially useful.
10 useful tricks to get you your cheap airline ticket:
Know what is a cheap airline ticket
The key to the successful purchase of a cheap airline ticket is knowing what ticket is really cheap. As far as domestic US airline tickets go, a cheap ticket should cost you around $100.00 for a short-distance travel (within or around two neighbor states), around $150.00 for a medium-distance travel and around $200.00 for long-distance coast-to-coast travel. Also, be prepared to pay additional fees and charges to these prices, such as a $20.00 roundtrip non-stop fee, a $40.00 fee for connecting roundtrip flights, or a premium for popular destinations (beaches and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, etc.). Due to a smaller competition that would keep prices low, your cheap airline ticket is likely to be more expensive if you travel to or from smaller regional airports.
Know when to travel
If you are flexible about the date of your trip, choosing the right day of travel could make the airline ticket price cheaper. While beginnings and ends of weeks and weekends are the most expensive due to a high demand (most people travel arrange their flights on these days), Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are usually the cheapest. Also, except Fridays and Sundays, flying in the evening can increase your chances of getting the cheap airline ticket you want. Similarly, taking a “red-eye” flight can pay off well, since not too many people like the idea of leaving the airport at 5:30 in the morning and arriving at their destination at 3 AM.
Use the same airline both ways
For reasons hidden from the eyes of ordinary mortals, a one-way flight is usually just as expensive as a roundtrip. Always go for a roundtrip ticket if possible.
Start searching for your cheap airline ticket early
While the airlines charge a premium for purchasing a ticket prior to four months ahead of the departure, absolutely do book your ticket sooner than two weeks in advance. Fourteen days prior to travel is considered the breaking point for business and leisure. And since most of the airlines make their profits from business travelers, avoid purchasing your ticket too close to your flight date.
Get a travel club membership
If you travel more frequently (more often than twice a year), join a frequent flyer club. Even though you are usually asked to make some initial payment, benefits of the membership will easily pay that off in the long run.
Use your age
Find out about senior and student discounts. Airlines sometimes offer them with their tickets.
Ask about alternative airports
You can most definitely save money by using alternative airports, which are often used by many low cost airlines. While a real money-saver, make sure that you consider the convenience factor. Alternative airports may account for some 2-hour drive extra.
Learn about cheap first class airline tickets
If you are big on comfort but still hope to scoop the best travel deals out there, learn more about discount first class tickets. Many airlines offer cheap first class tickets for flights between and within the United States and Canada.
Keep checking before you purchase
Like the price, the availability of flights is an incredibly volatile element. Airlines may add discount tickets without warning. That way, a flight you gave up on months ago could be suddenly available for even a better price.
Stop checking one you purchase
Prices of airline tickets are subject to a constant change and their purchasing is very similar to trading stocks. There are only a few perfect times a year to purchase. Only hindsight will show what these actually were. Checking the prices after that very online click that has dinged your credit card when you finally purchased your ticket is running a risk of seeing you ticket sold cheaper. On the other hand, keeping a record of how prices fluctuate could help you grasp how this unpredictable market works. Eventually, you might be able to make a better, more informed decision.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Scottsdale, Arizona offers some of the country’s best resort spas. A peaceful hideaway from the fast paced city life, the intimacy of the desert-mountains scenery and understated elegance of the Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain was hard for me to resist. With the lure of Paradise Valley and the tranquil Meditation Garden, the spa offers a range of Asian-inspired treatments in fourteen outdoor and indoor rooms. Specialty full-body treatments are focused on intense moisture replenishment targeting detoxification, the metabolism, or the lymphatic system. Even a basic facial focuses on the whole body experience. With the Asian-inspired treatments, one can choose between a Thai foot reflexology massage, acupuncture, reiki (a gentle, yet powerful holistic healing technique focusing on mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of well-being), shiatsu, or luk pra kope (which literally translates to “to massage with medicinal herbs” and is aimed at soothing sore and aching muscles, enhancing circulation, reducing joint stiffness and refreshing the skin). Possibly the only downside of Sanctuary Spa is the difficulty of selecting from the wide variety of massages, body and facial treatments and aquatic experiences. Whether a relaxing and soothing Swedish body massage, a re-energizing interactive table Thai massage, a longevity treatment with thermal-water firming gel, or revitalizing tangerine scrub. You might choose a bamboo lemongrass scrub followed by a full-body massage with Thai lemongrass body lotion. The skin feels very soft and regained a youthful appearance from this treatment, and the massage experience is incredibly relaxing. When combined with hiking in the shadows of Camelback Mountains, you will find a true energizer!
July 5, 2007 No Comments
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