Travel Around Planet

Archive for October, 2010

Low-budget Summer Fun

Is the rising cost of fuel putting a damper on your summer plans? Save on money on gas and discover what is waiting for you in your very own big backyard.

Growing up camping was one of my absolute favorite family vacations. My husband and I go every summer and when we have kids we will no doubt continue the tradition. Camping is a fabulous way to get out of town without spending much not to mention time it provides precious time to spend with family and friends sans the cell phones computers and televisions. It allows you to enjoy the great outdoors and participate in a myriad of outdoor activities. For just a few bucks a night you can stay at a developed campground meaning it has electricity and running water. Many campgrounds namely in state and national parks even have public flushing! toilets. Search online for campgrounds near you ndash; my favorite is ReserveAmerica.com.

Living near the Wasatch Mountains the western range of the greater Rocky Mountains has given rise to my love of Utah hiking; the area is filled with hiking trails apt for hikers of all skills from novice hikers to experienced backpackers. To find hiking trails near you visit www.localhikes.com which maps trails all over the country.

Live near the coast? Get a cheap motel for the weekend ndash; many are only around 50 a night. Since you will be spending all your time outside on the beach you will only be sleeping there for a few hours at night so who cares if it isnt the classiest place? If you prefer bring your own bedding and enjoy a weekend of RR on the beach!

Packed with new worlds waiting to be discovered take a trip to your local public library and pick up a good book. What is more relaxing and enjoyable than laying out in the sunshine with a real pageturner?

Plan a B.Y.O.M. and B.Y.O.B. barbeque! Having good friends over for dinner is a blast but can be awfully expensive especially with the rising costs of food. So plan a barbeque with all your buddies and have everyone bring their own meat and alcohol which are the two biggest food expenses when providing food for a large party.

Look up local attractions in your area such as museums art galleries monuments book signings festivals and free concerts.

About the writer:  Copyright Steve Gillman. To see the Backpacking Food Calorie Counter and get the ebook “Ultralight Backpacking Secrets And Wilderness Survival Tips” for FREE as well as photos gear recommendations and a new wilderness survival section visit: http://www.TheUltralightSite.com

The Complete Caribbean Cruises Guide

The Eastern Caribbean has many historic islands with endless stretches of beautiful beaches. The western Caribbean is which one can explore ancient Mayan ruins as you venture into the Yucatan peninsula. The Southern Caribbean is known for its many dive sites with coral reefs full of fishes.

Each part of the Caribbean is unique and offers exciting places for a great cruise experience.

Eastern Caribbean Cruises: Sun sand sea and shopping

One of the favorite destinations in the Eastern Caribbean is St Maarten. St. Maarten is known for its dutyfree shopping. Christopher Columbus sighted St. Maarten in 1493. French and Dutch divided the island and settled down in 1648. They have lived side by side ever since. St. Maarten gained partial independence from the Netherlands in 1954. The Netherlands Antilles governs St. Maarten while St. Martin is part of the French West Indies. St Maarten and St Martin is the world smallest island shared between two countries. The beaches on the island are among the best in the Caribbean. Clothing is optional on some beaches.

Western Caribbean Cruises: The Ancient and Adventure

The Western Caribbean cruise vacation is interesting because you can explore a number of countries and experience a variety of cultures in the same trip. You can also pop over the Mexican coast. Some cruises include stopovers at Key West and New Orleans.

Southern Caribbean Cruises: For the Young and Adventurous.

It is little wonder that the Southern Caribbean cruises are marketed as cruises for the singles. There are many activities for the young and energetic. Just right for breaking the ice between strangers. The Southern Caribbean is known for its crystal clear waters which are ideal for snorkeling and diving.

There are also some great shore excursion opportunities. Many of the Southern Caribbean ports are booming centers of commerce while others are still large tract of lush rain forests. Some are enclaves for the rich and famous while others look more like the Arizona desert with their towering Saguaro cacti.

The Southern Caribbean islands are further away and less accessible than the Eastern or Western Caribbean islands. If you sail from the USA you will need to plan for a longer trip. Alternatively if you can fly to San Juan Puerto Rico Aruba or Barbados and take a Southern Caribbean cruise from there. The Southern Caribbean cruises from this place starts from 4 days.

About the writer:  Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To get more tips on finding the best caribbean cruise line please visit caribbean cruise vacation.

Old Town Bangkok Can Be Seen In Banglamphu

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Banglamphu in Bangkok is a well known shopping district; it is particularly famous for the Khao San road market. However apart form this; the district also holds a host of other wonderful sights and sounds. The Khao San Road market attracts thousands of tourists daily who come in search of the pleasurable attractions of the area. Among the main attraction in the area are the markets Banglamphu markets are usually cheap places to shop therefore a majority of the areas visitors are young travelers and locals.

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Among the things one can buy here are clothing leather goods such as belts shoes and hand bags silver jewelry and footwear. Dont expect air conditioned shopping malls and designer brands here everything is low cost and mostly counterfeit. The market was a hive of activity during the 70s when hippies taking the Banana Pancake trail would often stop here to buy clothing. Even today the markets in this area are filled with humorous tshits denims hats and inexpensive hair dye that help you achieve that backpacking hippie look.

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The streets in Khao San Road and other areas of Banglamphu still retain a distinct Thai quality about them something that was long since vanished from the tourist hotspots of Silom and Sukhumvit. In what is increasingly cosmopolitan and business oriented city it is refreshing to find that the romantic trials of the 70s are still alive in Bangkok.

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Apart from the extensive collections of markets a large number of street side restaurants can also be found. These cafes and eateries offer inexpensive food for tourists. Though many of them offer Thai cuisine a number of foreign European dishes are also available to suit the palate of visiting tourists.

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A few places of cultural interest such as the Democracy Monument and a collection of historic Buddhist temples are also located in this area. A few shops that sell Thai handcrafts and souvenirs can be found located near the tall golden spires of the Wats or temples. A few Bangkok serviced apartments such as the Royal President are also in the area and offer great options for long stay travelers.

About the writer:  Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing services and specializes in hotel Internet marketing industry.