1. Leave yourself plenty of time

Especially when flying during a busy time of the year, it’s vital that you leave yourself with enough time to get wherever you need to be. If you’re unsure of how much time you will need, give yourself way more than seems necessary. It’s always better to have extra time than to be late.

2. Carry local currency

If you’re going to a foreign country, be sure to stock up on the local currency and carry a decent amount when you’re out and about. Even though most places will accept US money, you never know when you’re going to need local currency. Also, try to exchange the funds before you leave, as you will usually get a better exchange rate.

3. Plan out your days

While having an overall plan for your vacation is pretty much a necessity, planning individual days is also a great idea. Figure out what you want to do while you’re vacactioning, and do some research before hand and find out just how you’re going to do that. If you want to be proficient you can even look up directions from your hotel to wherever you will be going and print it out ahead of time. If you’re the kind of person that likes spontaneity, then skip this step and just “go with the flow” so to speak.

If you are having an Ireland holiday and only having a day in Dublin before heading to the countryside, then we suggest that you enjoy the city by walking through its streets. You might not be able to cover all the must see spots but this will be a good start.

Start your walking tour at the ivy-covered Trinity College and see their Old Library. The library can give you a glimpse of Ireland’s history and you can find whatever you want to know by browsing through their vast collection of literature.Head to the City Hall along Dame Street. The best thing to do here is go under the dome of the lobby, and look up. You will find the artwork worth straining the muscles of your neck.
On the riverside of Dame Street, you will find Temple Bar. This is the center of night life where you can find the coolest bars, pubs, and discos. If you want some alcohol this is the place to be. You can also find great finds in some of the shops nearby.

The Dublin Castle is open to the public and you can wander around its courtyard. Don’t forget your cam to capture its charm. You must also see the collections at the Chester Beatty Library.

You can get a good lunch at Avoca Café along Suffolk Street and get some wool blankets from the store downstairs. A few blocks a way will be the National Museum of Ireland-Archeology and History.

Complete your walking tour by passing by the Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green where you can see statue of Wolfe Tone (Irish Rebel), and relax at the lobby of Shelbourne Hotel with a cup of tea.

Some Do’s and Don’ts while in Dublin

Here are some tips to make sure that you go along well with the locals:

Pub life – The pub is where Irish people want to hang out. It is not just for drinking but more importantly to have some chitchat with friends and strangers. The pub usually keeps the locals updated with what is going on in the community. Some pubs work as a post office or double as a shop.

Conversation – The locals are considered friendly and generally you can start a conversation with them and they will not mind. Irish often touch each others arms while chatting and they also love to hug.

Dining – There is no problem if you want to dine alone. Women though do not usually eat alone in restaurants at night.

Phrases you need to know – Black Stuff (Guinness is the national drink), Dodgy(dangerous), Fag(Cigarette), Jammy(Lucky), Kip(Sleep), Dear(expensive)

Traveling on a shoestring budget is great but sometimes, you feel the urge to splurge when you see how living in the lap of luxurious can give one so much pleasure. You don’t need to scrimp when you order at a classy restaurant and neither would you need to think twice before booking a suite at a luxury hotel. I would suggest balancing it out with your budget and see if it is feasible to travel in style based on your desired holiday destination. Take Malaysia for example. It’s an affordable place to travel so if you feel like splurging on luxury hotel stays, THIS is the place!

The Datai, Langkawi
Situated in Langkawi Island, this is a premier hotel built with luxury and service in mind. Whichever suites you happen to book, they will all feature a wide, spacious balcony that lets you take in a breath of clean, fresh air each morning and listen to the sounds of crickets as they lull you to sleep at night. You can also opt to stay in one of the four Pool Suites next to the Beach Club, which is only a stone’s throw away from the beach, allowing you a fascinating view of the sea and sand. Free-standing villas stood majestically in the lush tropical rainforest, giving you a green perspective of the wondrous flora and fauna. And who says you cannot mix business with pleasure? Business travelers will love the amenities at The Datai, Langkawi, especially its conference room that was built to accommodate 50 occupants. A must-experience is dinner under the stars in the rainforest pavilion canopy where you can savor deliciously authentic Thai cuisine!

The Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
Arguably one of the best hotels in the Kuala Lumpur Golden Triangle area, the Mandarin Oriental is the closest hotel to the famous Kuala Lumpur City Center, housing the Petronas Twin Towers which were once deemed the tallest towers in the world. Interestingly, the hotel was named Best Hotel 2004 by Finance Asia Magazine and was awarded “World’s Best Hotel” by Forbes Traveler in the year 2008.

Rooms are spaciously opulent and one can choose to stay in rooms overlooking the sprawling 50 acre KLCC park or the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur. The Mandarin Oriental is also a perfect place to hold world class events and wedding dinners in their extravagant ballroom, deemed the largest pillar-less ballroom in the country.

Grand Millennium Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The Grand Millennium Hotel is one of the most exclusive and yet contemporary of its class. Featuring almost 500 guest rooms that are almost always occupied, the hotel offers world class restaurants, a cutting edge Spa and Fitness Center, and Executive Club. Bintang Walk, the main shopping and commercial hub in Kuala Lumpur is only a stone’s throw away.

Instead however, they will be held in South America for the first time ever. Taking part in the city Rio di Janeiro, this vibrant city will now have another string on its bow when it comes to attracting even more tourists to colorful South America.

However, this decision was much to US President Barak Obama’s dismay and despite many attempts to change the IOC’s mind, they would not be swayed.  Even though President Obama appeared in person after flying to Copenhagen, Chicago was thrown out during the first round of deliberations.

Chicago’s elimination may come as a shock to many Americans, but the reality is that America has hosted the Olympics twice already with the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and also the infamous 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Both times had their fair share of problems with both a bribery scandal and also the attempted bombing during the Atlanta games.

As America fell at the first hurdle during the deliberations, Spain took a surprising lead and made it to the final vote.  This was thanks to a request by former IOC president, 89-year-old Juan Antonio Samaranch’s heartfelt plea to see the games for the last time in his life at home, in Madrid.

With the Olympics being held in Rio Di Janeiro, everyone should be excited as the games are finally coming to Brazil, a country which is famous for its passion.  We can be assured of one thing with the 2012 games, they will be as colorful as the carnival and as passionate as a samba.

Rio is in itself the ultimate tourist destination, so when 2012 comes along you aren’t just visiting a country for the Olympics, but you’re visiting a paradise destination and seeing the ultimate sporting competition.

The International Olympics Committee’s decision was absolutely fabulous. South America now gets the opportunity to host this amazing competition, and there are now only two continents in the world, which have not had the opportunity before.

Thai Hospital

It’s getting more and more popular to travel abroad for healthcare. Whilst traditionally for many it’s been a major taboo, the reality is that it’s sometimes cheaper and also a great deal safer to travel abroad for health care.

Medical tourism is actually big business for many countries you wouldn’t really think of. Thailand, Panama, Malaysia and India are among the most affordable and well known destinations in the world when it comes to medical tourism thanks to the level of luxury that can be afforded to patients that are on a relative budget. It’s a lot easier to suffer in luxury than it is in a state-ran hospital!

Often for a mere few thousand dollars which in some cases can be insurance deductible, you can get top grade international standard care abroad. This has resulted in a boom in the medical tourism industry and as more and more people go private, more and more people find out that it really is safer, more comfortable and far less stressful.

To make things easier, PJ Hayman a popular insurance underwriter in the United Kingdom has just created an insurance package aimed to dispel all your worries about travelling abroad for surgery by providing comprehensive cover in case of complications and also an emergency helpline available 24 hours a day.

Thanks to the general level of high quality healthcare available for free in the United Kingdom, British citizens have always been reluctant to travel abroad for private surgery, but as MRSA gets worse and waiting lists get longer, for many it is the only option.

Typical Private Hospital Room

These days, the typical cost of private healthcare abroad varies substantially, but typically prices start from around $2000 dollars for minor cosmetic surgery and increase. In some countries major operations such as a cardiac bypass only costs around $6,000. This includes top quality health care, quick treatment and complete peace of mind.

Cosmetic surgery and dentistry abroad is really budget friendly. Thanks to the affordable rates offered abroad, you can have the ultimate holiday in a faraway destination, and at the same time take care of the root canal!

Once you’ve tried foreign healthcare, there’s no going back!

There are many top attractions in Honolulu, and here are just a few of the best:
* Polynesian Cultural Center – the Polynesian culture once stretched across Hawaii, Tahiti,
Fiji and New Zealand (Maori), and you can learn more at the Polynesian Cultural Center
about the fascinating history of the Polynesians and see live demonstrations on hula
dancing, coconut husking and traditional cooking methods. The Center is also known for
its fantastic luaus (feasts).

The Polynesian Cultural Center from Honolulu offers the possibility to meet and know an ancient culture

* Bishops Museum – Honolulu has some lovely museums and cultural exhibits and the
Bishop Museum is the largest natural and cultural history museum in the whole of the
Pacific. One of the main attractions is the Science Adventure Centre, which has some
wonderful interactive exhibits that both adults and kids will enjoy.

The Bishops Museum from Honolulu, or the natural history at its best

* Iolani Palace – this was the official residence of the last remaining King and Queen of
Hawaii, and is now open to the public with some lovely displays of priceless jewels and
artefacts once owned by the Hawaiian monarchs.

Play the Hawaii King, and visit Iolani palace

* Sea Life Park – Hawaii has some of the most beautiful tropical marine environments in
the world, and this top class aquarium is well worth a visit with over 2,000 sea creatures
from turtles through to colourful reef fish.

Touching scenes to the Sea Life Park in Honolulu

* Chinatown – Chinatown in Honolulu is a surprise and delight, and has some wonderful
market areas selling excellent quality fresh fruit, vegetables and fish. There are also
plenty of herbal shops, dim sum restaurants and souvenir shops for visitors to enjoy.
* The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center – this is one of the major shopping complexes in
Honolulu, and is great for browsing, with shops selling a whole range of items including
clothes, beauty products, beach wear, music, books and much more. There are several
great restaurants, bars and café here as well, so you can enjoy a quick snack or leisurely
evening meal before you return to your hotel.
* Craft Markets – there are many traditional Hawaiian crafts that make ideal gifts and
souvenirs including artwork, handcrafted wooden decorations and handmade, tropical
scented soaps and beauty products. There are several markets and shops selling these
sorts of items including Little Hawaiian Craft Shop at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping
Center.
* The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – this cemetery is just outside of the city,
and contains the peaceful, final resting place of over 40,000 US servicemen and women.
The cemetery is a slice of history, and has a peaceful, thought provoking atmosphere.
* Byodo-In Temple – this stunning replica of the 950 year old Byodo-In Buddhist temple in
Uji, Japan and is built in the lush green Koolau mountains, and makes an excellent
destination for a day trip from nearby Honolulu. The 9ft wooden statue of Buddhist
covered in gold leaf and three ton brass bell are wonderful additions, and the bell is
intended to spread peace and harmony with every ring.

1. Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, British Columbia is a well renowned ski resort. There are many slopes in Grouse, and the first of them is 80 years old. Beginners and professionals find in Grouse Mountain a ski paradise. Besides, you can do other many outdoor activities: skating, climbing mountains, walking.

A gondola in Grouse Mountains, a skiers paradise

2.Toronto Zoo. Canada is so unique, so proud, so rich when it comes to wild life, that even the country’s biggest Zoo is for sure an event with its 5000 species, offering a good relax in the middle of Canada’s most cosmopolitan city.

3. Civilization Museum in Ottawa ( or in French Musee Canadien des Civilisations) is Canada’s most important and most visited museum. Founded in 1856, it has been moved to the actual location in 1990 despite strong critics and huge costs about its Disneyfication. But the new location and organization showed to be very succesfully, making it a must do during any visit in Canada. You will find many historic artifacts, speaking up about a 20000 years history. Special attention for the Indian culture and civilizations, and special wings for Post museum and Children museum.

The Canadian Museum of Civilizations lies in Ottawa in the front of the Parliament Hill and is a Canadian symbol

4.Ontario Science Center in Toronto is a fantastic museum with avantgarde architecture and design. It actually consists of three main buildings united through escalators and bridges, and hosts many permanent and occasional exhibits. Thesedays it host The lizzard world and How to be a spy. Besides, the outdoor exhibitions are opened on a 24 hours basis. The museum hosts Moon and Mars rocks, hi tec exhibitions etc.

Ontario Science Center in Toronto is the hi tec Canada

5.Quebec City is one of the oldest settlements in North America, founded in 1608. Today hosts many museum, a Summer festival and a Winter carnival and the Old Town looks like old European cities from Middle Age. You will find a fantastic unique atmosphere in Quebec City.

Quebec City is picturesque mainly in the Old Town

6.CN Tower in Toronto with its stratospheric height of 530 metres has been for 30 years from 1972 the world’s tallest building. It offers excelent Toronto view and fantastic food in its 360 Restaurant. Another reason to visit Toronto.

CN Tower is another major reason for the Canadian pride

7.Banff National Park, in Alberta and Canadian Rockies is a fantastic place for all possible outdoor activities, or simply for a relaxing vacations. Banff National Park is unique, much bigger and very different from Yellowstone.

Banff National Park is simply great for outdoor vacations

8. French Restaurants in Montreal. Savoir vivre like in Paris, chic and styled with a sophisticated French cuisine, of course. Best place for gourmands and gourmets, if you understand what I mean.

French Restaurants in Montreal are a gourmets paradise

9.Bay of Fundy is an unique place where could be observed world’s biggest tides (13 foot, or 4 meters). This could represent a huge energy source, but we still wait the best procedure. Meanwhile, here are to see some endangered species and a rich wildlife.

Bay of Fundy with its magic and its huge tides

10.Niagara Falls needs practically no other presentation. It is the most visited place in Canada, but is not my taste anymore. Too touristy, too much mass tourism, too artificial. nevertheless, spectacular and worths a visit.

Niagara Falls is so touristy, that ends up to be old fashioned.

A picturesque sunset over the city of Tunis

The city itself is not very big, counting 1,5 millions of inhabitants. Nevertheless in the urban agglomeration of Tunis live almost 4 millions people, which is pretty impressive and means almost a half of the country’s population. Tunis has a harbor in the beautiful Bay of Tunis. Not far from Tunis is the lake of Tunis, and nearby flow also the two mainly rivers of the country. Thus, the huge surface of the urban agglomeration is used in some places for agriculture ( you have good opportunities everywhere to taste the local wines and olives). Amazing, but completely amazing for a city of these dimensions which is surrounded by water, Tunis has no beaches! Don’t ask why, it is simply a fact, and if you wanna lie in the sun you can simply go to Djerba, which is not so far.

A souk in Tunis

Tunis has a long trembled history. The antic ruins of Carthage, which was a strong rival for Rome, are simply next to the city of Tunis and a must see for any visitor. In the Middle Age Tunis experienced periods of independence with periods of occupation by Turks. In the modern times Tunis was the capital of a French protectorate. All these civilizations let their traces, making such a seducing mix.

The Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis is a local pride and very similar to the Champs Elysees

Start your own visit in Tunis with the Old Arabian City, or Medina. It hosts many old buildings, mosques, palaces and the picturesque souks. The souks are old narow streets fully with little stores and shops. Every single street is oriented to a certain branch ( e.g. leather & skin; gold; copper etc.). The Medina is the typically Arabian city from the Middle Age, and the Medina from Tunis is an UNESCO heritage site. Further, go to the New City (La Ville Nouvele) and walk along the Habib Bourguiba street, which is a local Champs Elysees with luxury hotels and restaurants and fancy boutiques. For relaxing go to the Belvedere park, the city’s biggest, which lie on the Tunis lake and hosts a rich Zoo.

Medina, or the Old City of Tunis

Don’t miss in Tunis The Bardo National Museum, hosting one of the world’s biggest mosaiques collection, and the old Zidouna mosque build in the VIIIth century. Notice in Tunis the friendlinees of the people, but avoid the too friendly people, as they can become dangerous. Keep in mind that the bars in Tunis are exclusively for men and prostitutes.

The Bardo National museum in Tunis is a must see for any visitor

Tunis has wonderful and picturesque sites to visit next to it. You will be able to find the most spectacular Roman villas in many places. Tunis wants to wish you “Welcome”!

Dont Forget Your ToothBrush

An excellent service that comes with a very simple interface. It allows you to choose the type of holiday you’re planning and then start checking off the items you need. It does require a free sign up for you. Once you’re done with the list you can easily print it out and use it for packing.

In addition to that you can easily setup the reminders to your email address. Wherever you plan on traveling next, make sure to visit DontForgetYourToothbrush.com.

Simply Check Lists

Here’s another useful tool that offers lots of detailed checklists for everyday life. It is not just limited to Traveling and including anything from checklists for moving and newborn babies to college and wedding.

You can browse through a wide range of categories including Business/Finances, Education, Emergencies/Storms, Family, Food/Pantry, Green Living, Hobbies/Sports, Home, Jobs, Medical/First Aid, and more. Once you have find the list youneed, simply download and save to your computer. You can even print it out for a hard copy if you like.

PackWhiz

For those of you who are planning their trip may want to consider checking out PackWhiz. In fact I would like to recommend you guys to check this packing list generator. The site comes with a clean interface and works with your Google account. It allows you to generate packing lists for travelers to make sure that they don’t forget anything that’s important for their trip.

The whole process is really simple. All you have to do is fill in some details that includes your destination, activity, accomodation and transportaton. Once you’re done with that simply click the “Generate” button and wait till it processes your application.

Once you have your packing list, you can:

• Add new items
• Delete unwanted items
• Edit items
• Print list
• Email list and much more!

Universal Packing List

Last on our list is UniversalPackingList. It is a simple yet comprehensive packing list generator that helps you build a list of things to do and take with you.

To generate your own Packing list simply log on to their website as it does not require any registrations and

• Select options relevant to your particular trip
• Click “Create Packing List” and you’re all set

Simply email the list to your email account or get a print out.

For those of you who are into cycling and would like to discover new routes and places in United States, Europe and other countries need to check out Bikely. A free web-service that allows you to browse bicycle routes that are shared by other cyclists from around the world.

Bikely allows you to browse up to 100,000 bicycle routes. You can even add yours if it isn’t mentioned on the website yet. To narrow down your search you can also search for bike trails by country, by specific location and filter results by length of the route.

Similarly, if you’re more interested in Motor Bikes then you take a look at Motowhere. It works exactly like Bikely and helps you discover the best places to ride. Whether you’re looking for offroad tracks, fast and twisty mountain passes, or long distance cruising, MotoWhere puts the best rides right on your map worldwide.

To make it look more interesting the website uses Google Maps infrastructure which allows you to literally dray your favorite motorcycle roads straight onto the Maps. If you own a GPS device you can always download routes you plan to ride into your GPS.