Traveling is a great experience for all, but what you bring with you is always a tough choice to make. Here are the top five travel must haves for any discerning traveler!

Traveling with toiletries and liquids can be a hassle, especially if you need liquid carry on pieces and are limited to the 3 ounce rule. However, some very clever folks have created the dissolvable hand soap, body wash, and shampoo. These are great when you are traveling and in a pinch for some cleansing suds – but don’t want to risk bringing aboard tons of liquids either in your luggage or carry on. Each package (shampoo, body wash, and hand soap) contains 50 sheets. Shampoo requires 4 sheets for hair, but body wash can be used with as little as 1. You simply dissolve the paper in water and suds up! Ta-da!

Wisp toothbrushes by Colgate are a must have for any traveler anywhere in the world. These little toothbrushes freshen your breath and remove plaque in the blink of an eye. Plus everyone knows how stale your breath can get on a long flight around the world or even just across the country. These toothbrushes come in small packaging, contain no liquids, and require no water to be used efficiently. Just slip into a bathroom, scrub, and toss. No one even has to know you just brushed your teeth!

The SteriPen is a must have for anyone traveling out of a big city or out of a first world country for that matter. This innovative pen uses ultraviolet light to sterilize your water before you consume the nasty microbes. It’s great for when you are in areas that you cant trust to have clean and safe water – and even better for hikers or campers traveling in the back country. This pen will not kill all of the bacteria in completely mucky water however, so be careful still.

A Universal Power Adapter is needed whenever you leave the country. You won’t be able to use any of your electricity requiring gadgets without one, so what else is there to say?

USB Rechargeable batteries are a useful gadget for anyone with a laptop USB port. You never know when you will run out of batteries – and batteries are expensive everywhere. These batteries can save you in a pinch though so it’s worth buying a few.

Antigua also has a fascinating history and was once an important colonial base for the British Empire, with
the Royal Navy operating strategic Head Quarters out of English Harbour, and the remains of this impressive
naval past can be seen in the historic Nelson’s Dockyard and the old quarters and forts of Georgian Harbour.
You can also see the remains of the great sugar empire that was once run out of the Caribbean on Antigua,
and old plantations and mills are dotted around the islands.

Antigua beaches are many and are wonderful

In modern times Antigua is an independent country, and English Harbour is famous for its sailing facilities,
with the Antigua Yacht Show and Antigua Sailing Week being two of the highlights of the international
yachting and sailing community’s annual calendar, and over 30,000 visitors come here every year just for the
wonderful sailing alone in the winter months. The main bulk of Antigua’s wealth now comes from tourism and
with duty free shopping, year round sunshine and beautiful tropical surroundings this really is a lovely
destination with lots to offer visitors.

Language
Mainly because of its colonial past and huge influx of Western tourists the main language on the island is
English, but you will also find Spanish spoken in many of the smaller villages and towns.

Sailing in Antigua is a must do if you are there

Currency
The currency of Antigua is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (E.C.), but as with many Caribbean islands the US
dollar is also welcome in most shops and restaurants. There are plenty of ATMs in the main towns and ABIB
and Scotia both have banks near the Heritage Quay in St Johns.

Top Souvenir Ideas
If you are looking for some great souvenirs to take home for both yourself and your friends and family then
check out Antigua’s many shops and stores which sell a huge range of local crafts, hand made clothing,
contemporary Caribbean art, pottery and much more. The local market in St Johns on Saturday is also a
great place for a bargain and it takes place at the junction of Market Street, Valley Road and All Saints Road.

Antigua Harbor by the capital St John

Getting Around
One of the easiest ways for day trippers to get around the island is by taxis, and there are plenty available
just outside the Heritage Quay, and it is best to negotiate a fare to your destination before you set off. You
can also rent cars from leading international companies such as Avis, Hertz and Dollar in St Johns. If you
have not already arranged a tour around the island with your cruise operator then Island Safari offer half day
excursions around the lush tropical forest and hills of the island for very reasonable prices.

Things to Do
There are lots of things to see and do in Antigua and some top activities include:
* Jabberwock Beach – this beach has a number of water sports but is a particular favorite for kite
surfing and you ca take lessons and hire equipment here, or just sit back and watch the energetic
acrobatics of others in the water.
* Betty’s Hope – this 17th Century Sugar Plantation has been restored, and here you can see the
unique heritage of the sugar trade at work, as the plantation is a ‘living museum’ with fully working
mill machinery on display, and fascinating exhibits including maps, pictures and plans.

1. Pack light

Lines for checking baggage can take forever, so try to pack as light as possible. If you can, try to limit yourself to just a carry-on, so you can avoid the lines entirely. Just make sure you know what’s allowed on the airline and what’s not, so you don’t get stopped by security.

2. Leave VERY early

Nobody likes missing a flight, and especially during the holiday season, lines at the airport can be absolutely ridiculous. It’s often hard to predict how much time you’ll need, but it’s always better to have extra time than to be late. So, leave yourself about 1-3 hours (after travel time) just to get through lines and security. If you end up having extra time to burn, most airports have shops, restaurants, etc. that can help keep you entertained.

3. Use public transportation/shuttles

Instead of driving to the airport and parking your car, try using public transportation or a shuttle. Or, if you have someone to drive you, have a friend or relative drop you off. Airport parking lots fill up extremely quickly, and they often cost a lot of money.

4. Use smaller airports

If you want to avoid the crowds, try flying out of smaller airports. Obviously they won’t have as many flights available, but there is rarely lines at small airports, and they are often cheaper than large airports.

5. Travel on “off” days

If you’re traveling during the holidays, try selecting days that are known as low-traffic days. For instance, if you’re going somewhere for Christmas, flying on the day itself is often much easier than flying on Christmas eve or the days before it. And as long as you take an early flight, you can enjoy the full holiday at your destination.

Also known as Candi Borobudur, this magnificent temple was literally carved out of volcanic stones during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty, which is estimated to be around 700-850 AD. Historians are clearly awed at the majestic structure but was baffled as to how and why the temple was erected. They were also puzzled how the temple was abandoned and was consecutively covered by thick layers of ashes (there were lots of volcanoes in the area). The Borobudur temple was rediscovered by the British as they came to Indonesia for the first time in the 1800’s.

The temple featured 9 separate levels leading to nirvana, or rather, the top of the temples for those who are still living on Earth.  As you get to the last 4 levels, you will encounter ornate stupas, little effigies of Buddha in a sitting position. It is interesting to note also that some of these statues were purposefully built to contain the ashes of revered high priests. Should you not be able to make it to the higher levels, you can still obtain a beautiful view of the scenic temple compounds and feast your eyes at the wall carvings and ornate inscriptions upon the walls. I find that a postcard of the Borobudur Temple as well as carefully taken photographs is a must-have to commemorate your trip there.

Nearby Borobudur, you can travel a short distance to Prambanan where you can see many more temples. In the olden days, Prambanan was a kingdom that belonged to King Baka and his daughter, the beautiful and virtuous Princess Lara Djonggrang. However, the king was tragically slain by the evil and conniving Bandung Bondowoso, who wants more than anything to make Lara Djonggrang his queen. The princess refused, because which woman in the right mind would marry her father’s killer? She could not refuse the forceful wishes of Bandung Bondowoso but she could set one impossible task for him as a condition to the marriage – building 1000 temples in one single night!

Of course, the cunning Bandung Bondowoso hired demons to help him build the structures and when the princess thought that they had almost succeeded, she quickly asked her maids to start a fire and pound the rice in the paddy fields. Thinking that the light of the fire was the rising sun and associating the pounding with morning activity, the roosters wasted no time crowing. The demons were then fooled into thinking that time was up and they fled, leaving Bandung Bondowoso only with 999 temples, angry and frustrated. He then cast a spell on Lara Djonggrang and turned her into stone.

The story does not quite end there. To commemorate the incident the temples around the area were inscribed with the tale of the tragic kingdom and the stone princess. Out of the 999 temples, only 50 or so survived the test of time. You can check them out the next time you visit Yogyakarta and Prambanan!

1. Wake up early, visit the market
Not only can you experience the normal everyday lives of the natives around you, but you also get to see how they live, what they eat, and how do they carry on their lives in the morning. Hungry but don’t want a heavy meal to bog you down? Try some dim sum, little dishes of Chinese delicacy (mostly steamed!) to quell your hunger. It’ll be fun to see how people trade around you; buying fruits and food and clothes, seeing the happy faces on the children’s face (and resisting to pinch their rosy cheeks!)… all this cannot be experienced if you are holed up in a tour bus!

2. Forget McDonald’s, taste the noodles!
Pork burgers sold at McDonald’s in China may sound tempting but you can really taste the real essence of China when you eat their special staple food – Noodles. There’s nothing better than filling your tummy with a hot bowl of soupy Lanzhou hand-pulled beef noodles or a tasty Guilin rice noodles, filled to the brim with wondrous condiments!

3. Explore Lijiang on a bicycle
Lijiang is a beautiful province where you can explore the Old Town that time forgot. Rent a bicycle and cycle around it, or if you are feeling adventurous, you can also cycle a leisurely 5 miles to the neighboring Baisha town. Imagine enjoying the cool breeze upon your face and feasting on the beautiful scenery ahead of you as you cycle without a care in the world…

4. Divinity meets normality at the Temple of Heaven
It is said that the aura at the Temple of Heaven is very different from that felt at other temples. Just a stone’s throw away from the Forbidden City lies the grand Temple of Heaven, the largest worshipping complex in China. It’s so large, that it’s even a whopping FIVE times bigger than the Forbidden City itself! You can wonder the grounds the whole day and not cover the entire area. The temple grounds are a great place to be if you like people watching. This is where you can relax and watch people practice martial arts or play Chinese checkers.

5. Visit a hutong
Hutongs are narrow streets, or courtyards, in which people live in houses for generations. If you wander off the main roads and find yourself in a hutong, don’t be intimidated by the residents who stare back at you. They are not used to seeing foreigners but they will quickly offer you a warm smile or a bowl of whatever they could be cooking outdoors near the hutong. Trivia: Did you know that the Qianshi hutong near Qianmen is famous for being one of the most narrowest streets? So narrow, that no two individuals can pass through even when they suck in their guts and squeeze through!

6. Fly a kite at Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is renowned for being the biggest square in the world and in case you’re wondering what can one possibly do in such a HUGE space, the answer would be to go fly a kite! Yes, seriously! The kites can be bought at the square and it would also be wise to ask for string to go with it. Most vendors don’t include the rope so you may end up buying a HUGE roll that you don’t need. One tip: stay at the edge of the square where there are more wind.

7. Be a nomad in Yunnan

No man is an island, not even for nomads in Yunnan. If you are tired of seeing shopping mall after shopping mall, it may do you a bit of good to check out the nomads at Yunnan. You can share a cup of yak butter tea with them, which essentially has a salty tinge with butter swirling about on the top of the steaming hot beverage. The nomads are a friendly bunch, and perhaps you can learn a thing or two about friendship and peace as you run your fingers through the yak’s opulent hair…

Much of Krakow has barely been changed since 13th Century and this has meant that there are some beautiful, unspoilt medieval areas still almost intact, such as the Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square), which is one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe and Old Town, which has achieved UNESCO world heritage site status.

There are many top attractions in Krakow, both historic and modern and here are just a few of the best:

• Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) – this is in the beautiful main market square and is an original building dating back to the 16th Century. These days it is filled with market stalls and cafes, and is very popular with both visitors and locals.

• Kosciol sw Wojciecha – St Adalbert’s Church is also in the main square and is one of the oldest and most important churches in Krakow, dating back to the 10th Century. The impressive gothic brick built church of St Mary (Kosciol Mariacki) is also situated in the squire, which contains a stunning wooden altarpiece (the largest gothic altarpiece in the world) that was hand carved by the famous German sculptor Veit Stoss.

• Zamek Krolewski – This Royal Castle was the seat of the Polish monarchs from the 11th Century right through to the 17th Century, and is mostly built in Renaissance style, but it also has some attractive Romanesque and gothic features. The palace is now a museum open to the public and houses a number wonderful exhibits including the crown armoury and treasury, the royal private apartments and an excellent collection of Oriental Art.

• Katedra Wawelska – Wawel Cathedral is also known as the Royal Cathedral as it was historically the coronation site and final resting place of the Polish monarchs. The building dates back to the early 11th Century and contains some valuable cultural relics of the patron saint of Krakow and Poland, St Stanislaw.

• Muzeum Narodowe – the National Museum has exhibits in a number of individual buildings across the city, but the main collection of decorative art and work by 20th Century Polish artists is located in the main building at Aleja 3 Maja 1. Upstairs in the Cloth Hall is an excellent collection of work by 19th Century Polish artists.

• Muzeum Czartoryskich – Czartoryski Museum specialises ancient art and artefacts from Greece, Egypt, Turkey and the Orient, and there are also some very famous European works of art here including the wonderful ‘Landscape with the Good Samaritan’ by Rembrandt, and ‘Lady with an Ermine’ by Leonardo da Vinci.

• Muzeum Uniwersytetu Jagiellonskiego – Poland is famous for its many educational and intellectual achievements, and the Jagiellonian University is the second oldest university in Central Europe, having been founded back in 14th Century. Although the university was badly damage by bombing and ground fighting in WWII, many of the excellent old buildings remain including one of the oldest, the Collegium Maius, built back in the 15th Century, which is now a museum.

No matter how you love your job, everyone deserves a break. Sad to say, studies show that about 25% on a holiday tend to keep in touch with their work. About 9% have to check their email or voicemail since they are expected to by their boss to report.

Sales workers check in with their work 50% of the time while financial services and IT professionals do the same at about 37%. Some 7% of workers going on a holiday declare that they can not be contacted while on vacation.

Worse, about 15% of employees who went on vacation in 2008 had to give up on trying to enjoy their holiday because of the demands of their work.

Enough of the numbers, here are our tips so you will not be part of the figures above:

* Let people know that you are going on a holiday – Your vacation should not be a secret. As you make those reservations be sure to let your boss or superior know that you will be out to have fun.

* Write notes for those who will be left behind – You don’t want a phone call to ruin a glass of margarita because they cannot find a report needed at work. Make sure you make a list of things to cover and people to contact so all functions at work will flow smoothly while you are away.

* Choose the right dates on the calendar – Big projects and holidays do not mix. If you want to avoid the hassle make sure you plot the vacation way off big deadlines at work. Being stressed out because of delays with a project is not a good start for a vacation.

* How to handle the Unavoidable – If you really must check in with work, make brief phone calls away from your friends or family. They do not want to share their holiday with your cell phone or laptop.

* Be an example – You work hard. You party hard. Just make sure that everything at work is handled properly and you go back the day your days off end.

If you’re thinking about a trip, an environmentally responsible holiday can give you the chance of a lifetime to visit endangered species, exotic climates without impacting the environment.

You may be thinking that ecotourism means a boring holiday, but the reality is far from it, as many eco holidays are filled with excitement from start to finish, except you’re holidaying in nature.

Perhaps one of the most traditional examples of eco-tourism is Safari.  Many safaris operate on a strictly leave only footprints, take only photos approach which is the mantra of the eco-tourist.

However, it’s not all Safaris.  You could be involved in a ten-day elephant trek in India, actually riding elephants as you make your way through dense jungle.  It certainly beats watching a movie and riding a tour bus!

There are eco friendly destinations in so many countries and whilst initially the idea of an eco-friendly tour may not be appealing, the fact is as soon as you start to live like a ‘local’ your perceptions change.

As more and more people undertake the vacation of a lifetime, it’s providing many with memories that stay with them for the rest of their lives.

From working on dive boats and surveying coral reefs to trekking along the Himalayas you can see things with an eco-tour that you would never otherwise get a chance to enjoy.

Madagascar, India, Nepal, Thailand, Australia, Brazil and even Poland are all examples of countries which have plentiful destinations for the aspiring eco tourist.

But whilst an eco friendly holiday may sound great in theory, it’s only really suitable if you can put away the luxuries for a few weeks and get back to basics.  Everyone likes to think they can, but can YOU really switch off from technology?

If so, then the time is now!

The World Famous Floating Market

Hidden away in a corner of Southeast Asia is the wonderful and rather unique country of Thailand.  Often a much over-looked holiday destination, one can be assured of a once in a lifetime experience when visiting this award winning holiday destination. 

The capital of Thailand is a city known as Bangkok and it is the largest Southeast Asia and one of the largest cities in the world. There is nothing like quite like a trip to this amazing metropolis which seems to be a sprawling mass of building after building.

But perhaps that illustrates the reason Bangkok has so much charm.  It’s not so much the city people love, but the nature of Thai people who will stop at nothing with their hospitality and eagerness to please.

Thailand is most famous for its unique cuisine which is as colorful as it is spicy.  Thai food has gained worldwide acclaim for the way it blends Asian flavors together creating dishes which can be sweet, spicy, sour and salty all at the same time!  

a Temple in Thailand

The Thai people are devout Buddhists and temples are hidden amongst skyscrapers and dotted along the river, the very same river which is known as the Chaopraya, and brought the City to so much popularity back in the early 1900s when Thailand had its first boom.

Bangkok Sunset

The Land of Smiles also makes a wonderful Land of Luxury, and with almost everything you could ever imagine from the finest five star hotels down to cheap and affordable guesthouses, this wonderful country will leave you longing for another visit after it provides you with the ultimate vacation with its variety of beaches, islands and relaxing retreats.

1. La Defence is one of the the newest quarters of Paris. Simultaneously La Defence is very spectacular with its skyscrapers and the underground circulation. You will be amazed first time you see La Defense: it is too silent to be in Paris. You need only to take care to the hurdles of skaters, who simply love this part of the city.

La Defence is a apectacular part of Paris and a skaters paradise

2.Pere Lachaise cemetery is very realaxing and offers a silence oasis in the middle of Paris. Some of the monuments are really masterpieces of arts and architecture. Besides, the rich vegetation makes it similar to any important park and you can spend a few hours searching the tombs of some prominents who found their rest here (Jim Morrisoon, Edith Piaf, Moliere, Balzac etc.)

Pere Lachaise cemetery could also be seen as a silence oasis and a big park

After visiting the cemetery take a look and a walk in the surrounding neighborhood of Belleville. Which is a popular one, comparing to the rest of wealthy Paris. You will find here a highly interesting multicultural environment, with many immigrants from North Africa and other former French colonies. You will also find here the cheapest city hotels and some interesting exotic restaurants.

3.Centre Georges Pompidou. If you are supposed to take part in Paris to an avangardistic cultural event, the probability to visit Centre Culturel George Pompidou is very high. The architecture of the Centre itself is a vision of Le Corbusier and is said to be a very creative environment for artists and visitors. Give it a look and visit.

Centre Culturel George Pompidou is an avantgardistic vision of the revolutionary architect Le Corbusier

4.Catacombs of Paris are the right place for you if you are looking strong or macabre sensations. The huge quantity of bones of the Paris Catacombs come from more than 6 000 000 people. Many of them were killed during the French revolutions (Robespierre and Marat are surely here, but no one can identify them), or perished during the pest. Some of the bones constitute artistic creations (they are sculptured, or are special arrangements).

The Paris catacombs host over 6 000 000 bodies

5.Les Grands Magasins de Paris are not only interesting through the bargains or luxury products you are looking for, but also through there spectacular architecture.  Les Galeries Lafayette are almost one century old, but still in the best shape. Its  rounded glass roof is simply breathtaking.

Galeries Lafayette with its spectacular rounded glass roof