A Travel Around The World

A "Nice" city break : Vieux Nice, the bustling heart of the Old Nice

2010-09-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Nice has a stunning combination of old and new and Rebecca, our today guest blogger, is showing us the enchanting, pastel-coloured side of the Vieux Nice, as it's known in French.

With its lively markets, narrow streets and beautiful landmarks, Vieux Nice looks as it must have two centuries ago. Boutique shops, smart restaurants and art galleries coexist with homely hardware stores, small cafés, and washing hung between the tenements. On summer evenings, the Old Town resembles an extensive open-air party. During the day, Vieux Nice exhibits some remarkable buildings that reflect the eventful it’s eventful past.

One of the challenges of visiting Vieux Nice is the having to navigate around as there is a lack of street signs; local maps come in extremely handy. Vieux Nice is such a delight to explore on foot and following a day sightseeing, there are many splendid hotels to relax in. For more modern and luxurious places to stay however, it may be more appealing to consider nearby Nice hotels, the capital of the French Riviera and the 5th largest city of France.

Most days, Vieux Nice attracts tourists to its colourful markets where displays of fresh vegetables, fruit, sausages and cheeses can be purchased. Cut flowers, potted roses and other scented plants also decorate the markets. On Monday, the stalls sell bric-a-brac and second-hand clothes. A favourite with all ages is the ice-cream parlour, Fenocchio, which offers an extraordinary choice of flavours.

Place Rossetti is the central square in Vieux Nice from where you can view the beautiful Cathedral de St-Reparate between the narrow streets. Another favourite with locals and tourist alike is the Baroque Chapelle de l’Annonciation, also known as the Chapel of Saint Rita. This pretty building’s main attraction is the stunning faded white bell-tower. Other popular buildings include the museum Palais Lascaris. Built in the Genoan style in 1665, it boasts elegant interior and an amazing stairway which leads to an arcade of paintings and statues in richly ornamented rooms. The former town hall, Place St-Francois features a beautiful eighteenth-century bell tower; remains of the Franciscan monks' presence in Nice.

The Place Garibaldi, recently renovated to highlight the elegant townhouses and arcades surrounds the statue of Garibaldi. Giuseppe Garibaldi is nicknamed the "Hero of the Two Worlds" in tribute to his military expeditions in both South America and Europe. Named famously after this political figure is the garibaldi biscuit which is eaten worldwide! On the street walls of Vieux Nice, you can view several plaques commemorating other French citizens who fought in previous wars.

About the Author:

Rebecca enjoyed many holidays in France, Austria and Italy and she's always on the lookout for adventurous slopes to try. Currently, she is part of Simonseeks' team, a community of travellers, journalists and celebrities sharing travels' tips. Working here allows her to spend her days doing something she really enjoy whilst being inspired for future trips. Keep up with Rebecca on Twitter

Photos' credits: maarjaara, sokole oko, , Tony.M, cking

How to Find a Great Hostel

2010-08-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

Hostels provide a great solution to backpack around the world on a budget whilst connecting with other travelers. Christine Vaughan from LifeCover.ca, our sponsored post of today, shares some great suggestions how to book the right hostel.

Hostel versus Hotel

Travellers often find themselves confronted with several choices when seeking accommodations while traveling. Usually travellers can choose between a hostel or hotel. But what is the difference between the two?
The biggest difference between hostels and hotels is that in a hostel you usually rent out a bed instead of a room. Hostels are similar to dormitories in setup, with guests often sharing communal bathrooms, kitchens and lounges.
There is little privacy at a hostel, and theft is often a problem. Most hostels will allow you to choose whether you want to be housed in a single-sex or mixed room. Hostels tend to be cheaper than hotels, but they also tend to be much noisier as well.

Finding a Great Hostel

There are several ways to find a hostel. The easiest way is to search for hostels online as many hostels maintain websites.
You can look for hostels in a phone book, call a travel agency, or ask the locals and other travellers if they know of any in the area. However, the best way to find a great hostel is to get a recommendation from someone who stayed at a hostel and had a wonderful experience.

Narrowing Down Your Choices

Once you’ve found a list of hostels, you need to narrow down your options. The first thing to do is compare prices – which hostel is the cheapest? Either call the hostel to find out or check out their rates online.
Check to see where the hostel is located – is it in a good or bad part of town? Is the hostel near the center of town where everything is happening or is it in the quiet outskirts? Will you have to travel a long distance in order to reach the hostel? Does your hostel offer any special amenities such as airport shuttle transfers, internet cafes or swimming pools? Many hostels have programs where guests can borrow books or DVDs during their stay.

Things to Watch Out For

If possible, you should read online reviews of hostels to see what other guests have to say or ask around. There are a lot of great hosteling website such as HostelWorld that have extensive reviews so spend some time doing your research and you will be rewarded with your efforts.
Due to the fact that people are sharing rooms, things have been known to get stolen at hostels. If you are traveling alone, be especially careful of staying in hostels that have seedy reputations. Also, check to see if your hostel is clean or is known to be a filthy place.

Those are just a few ways to avoid bad hostels. As you travel more, you will learn how to spot great hostels – most of the best places you will find will be recommendations from other backpackers so pay attention when someone is raving about a recent hostel visit.

What's your best tip to pick a good hostel?

Photo credit: katjung

Turkey – The legend of Jesus Beach - Guest Post

2010-08-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

Today guest post is written by Rebecca Kelly sharing with us some tips, from her recent gateway to Turkey, how to break away from the usual "Brits-beach holiday experience".

On a recent European trip, I decided to example the package-holiday highlights of Marmaris, Turkey. I actually travelled there from Spain and didn’t have the whole package holiday experience, however once I arrived at my destination, I felt like one of a thousand Brits there trying to get my share of fun in the sun.

I was ready for the sun-beds, banana boats and water parks galore however, I was not expecting to see how westernised this city had actually become. From restaurant menus (roast beef dinner with REAL Bisto gravy), shops (Primarni) to locals’ names (Shaggy, Jack and Jordan) it felt like the Blackpool of afar.

My reason for being here was to sample a bargain tour of Pamukkale; beautiful cascades of travertine and mineral pools that have formed over thousands of years. I paid £35 for return transport, breakfast, lunch, and guidance, the entrance fee for Pamukkale and also for Hierapolis (ancient Greek hot springs). This was an unforgettable day and a must-do if you ever venture to Eastern Europe however funnily enough; this wasn’t the highlight of my trip to Turkey.

Walking back to my accommodation (Maltepe Pansiyon hostel), I was annoyingly stopped by a tour rep trying to make a living selling particular excursions and days-out. After making my excuses and trying to walk off, he flashed an image in front of me which I couldn’t ignore. This photograph was of ‘Jesus Beach’, the excursion – a Jeep Safari.

For 35 Turkish Lira (about £15), as agreed when I booked, the jeep arrived to pick me up from outside my accommodation at 9am. We started out journey driving up into the mountains alongside two other jeeps. Somehow, water-pistols came into the equation as they were handed out to us all, I immediately regretted agreeing to the trip. I didn’t want to be a spoil-sport, and after the first soaking there was no stopping me. As we bounced our way over the rocky tracks creating a dusty trail, it was battle of the jeeps; water-pistol style!

After a few stops to refill the pistols and to admire the beautiful scenery, we arrived at our destination; Jesus Beach (and it was as the image reflected – stunning!). The attraction of this beach, apart from the clear waters and fine golden grains is the unusual bank that runs straight through the middle. The story behind this is even more fascinating.

The legend began when an apparent fisherman and the Kings daughter fell in love. The couples love did not win the blessing of the King and so the lovers would meet secretly at night. The princess would meet the fisherman in a small bay out of town and signal him at the other end of the bay by flashing a light; he would then come and find her. The King found out about the secret meetings and sent his soldiers to follow her. They followed the princess, caught her and flashed a light to entice the fisherman. The princess managed to escape from the soldiers and ran to warn her lover. She realised though that it would not be possible to reach the fisherman if she were to run along the beach, so she swam instead.

This is where the miracle happened; wherever the princess stepped into the sea, the water turned into sand, and the sand turned back into water whenever the soldiers followed her. But, as she was reaching her lover, a soldier's arrow meant for the fisherman struck her, killing her instantly. Today, locals proclaim that when the blood of the princess got mixed with the sea water, it changed the colour of the sand. The sand that forms the bank is much darker and redder in colour than the rest of the bay.

Leaving the bay, I felt quite content. I’d experienced the unknown mountains of southern Turkey, got soaked, made some friends, learnt a little history and seen a unique sight that is off the beaten track. Following the bay, we stopped off in a traditional working Turkish village for barbecued chicken and salads then headed back to the resort of Marmaris.

For a longer day out, you can experience Jesus Beach and Turkish spring waterfalls in one day... look out for a sales-rep scouring the streets for the best price!

About the Author:

Since travelling the lengths of the UK as a child on family holidays, Rebecca has taken advantage of foreign trips, activities and jobs whenever they become available. She's a keen skier, having enjoyed many a holiday in France, Austria and Italy and she's always on the lookout for adventurous slopes to try. Currently, she is part of Simonseeks' team, a community of travellers, journalists and celebrities sharing travels' tips. Working here allows her to spend her days doing something she really enjoy whilst being inspired for future trips. Keep up with Rebecca on Twitter

Photo credits: jo fleet, miss_ohara, cannykev,

Top 10 Worst Travel Experiences

2010-08-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

Being RTW was an amazing experience but not everything turned out to be the perfect, dreamed travel scenario. We didn’t get mugged, neither lost any flight or passports, nor had to travel luggage-less, yet we had to face it certain situations that put to the test our patient, travel-enthusiasm and sometimes even manage to put our modest plan into a whirlwind.
They might appear like common situations for every-day traveler, but once you are on the road for a while, traveling to unknown places and especially on a tight budget even an awkward circumstance could be easily amplified and turn into a little drama and a bad travel memory.

We are not moaning about it, it was all part of our fantastic adventure, but it’s time to share with you our Top 10 Worst Travel Experiences around the world.

Hotel - We could say it was our stay in the stark, bungalow of John Moonlight in Koh Lipe – Thailand, where after few days we realized we were sharing our room with a resident, restless rat that wouldn’t simply stop running at night above our head with the only thing keeping us “apart” a mosquito net. Instead it has to be our sojourn at the Harlem YHCA in New York City: despite the fact that the staff was very nice and helpful, it couldn’t help to change the depressing/creepy feeling we got about the whole place which remind us of something in between a mental hospital and a rehab place, definitely our worst hotel stay ever!

Bus - The atrocious 16hours bus ride from Sydney to Melbourne, there was nothing that could cheer us up and to make the journey more comfy in that cramped little seat and with that ridiculously cold air-con. The hilarious part: we promised ourselves we would never take such a long bus trip again…a couple of months after it was our only last-minute, budget choice to get from Melbourne to Sydney by bus AGAIN, damn bus!

Meal - I believe an essential part of the travel experience is savor the local food and, while traveling through SE Asia, street food offered us a good chance to flavor some authentic, traditional and, at the same time, good cheap food. We are no fussy when it comes to eat, not nearly, but it was the way this time our meal got cooked that made lost our appetite …another rat story. While sitting outside a food stall on a sideroad of the infamous Khao San Road, Bangkok backpackers’ ghetto, we watched curiously at the preparation of our dish, a mix of scrambled eggs, fish ‘n vegetables. Rats where playing around the chef’s legs looking to grab any spilled food from the stove, but that didn’t concern us until the metal spoon used to prepare our lovely meal dropped on the street pavement. As nothing happened, the chef picked it up and carried on cooking as usual. We got our plates, left them untouched, paid and we moved on to the nearest supermarket under the astonished eyes of the locals.

Scam - We fell for it, the most classic scam in Asia, the tuk-tuk driver scam. It was so frustrating especially when we acquired the driver wouldn’t give it up on us easily. We ended up wasting almost half a day, being tossed around from shop to shop.
Toilet: squat toilets are common views among backpackers but when it comes to the grossest toilet in a busy bus station in Malaysia, flooded with water and… let’s say only something more, it was just too unpleasant to suck it up.

“Souvenir” - Months of backpacking in South-East Asia, sleeping in low-budget places and none, until our last stop in Miami. In the newly refurbished, nice motel Lombard Inn on Collins Avenue ($50 a night) the surprise came only after we left. We didn’t see any of the scary pests on our room and originally I was convinced it was only mosquito bites’ marks on my skin but as soon as we got home I realized they were nasty itchy, red bumps from bed bugs that wouldn’t simple go away… nice souvenir.

Treat - After few months on the road carrying a 12kg-backpack on our shoulders, it was time to splurge some of our travel budget for one-hour relaxing and re-invigorating Thai massage. We thought it would provide immediate benefits to our body and soul, the naked truth: I am not sure if it was because it was badly done but all that energetic pulling, stretching, pounded away and pressure on my back and legs, was a long hour of torture and it hurt for at least a week.

Snag - Buy a backpacker-alike van and tour the Land Down Under is a popular choice among budget travelers (and sometimes even convenient) but it could turn easily into one of the most feared backpacker’s nightmare: seeing a big chunk of your budget ($4350) go up in smoke. Only a week after we hit the road, our beloved “new” van gave us almost a heart attack when it broke down. 400 AUD less and few new wrinkles on Chris’ forehead at the end, luckily, it was all sorted.

Travel moment - Although I consider myself as a wise traveler, sometimes I fell for Chris’ bad influence as impulsive traveler…as result we got trapped in the mangrove forest in the Capricorn Coast of Australia at sunset and left to roam around in the dark for hours hoping to find a way back, that really frighten me.

Travel Emergency - The worst-case scenarios for any travelers is probably to be involved in an accident or get some healthy issue that require getting hospitalized and maybe have to quit their loop around the world. It wasn’t as serious for me, yet I had to go under a 2-hours long, emergency dental treatment that ruins our last days in New Zealand. On top of the pain, the sudden swelling and the high fever, I had also to worry at the time to shell out 900NZD without knowing if I would ever see it back from our travel insurance.

The Downside of our RTW trip - Coming back home! :-)

Apart this, all the rest was great fun! What has been YOUR WORST travel experience? How did you handle it?

Photo credits: reallocalcelebrity, frenquency

Finding a job after a Round-The-World trip

2010-08-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a year-long, budget travel around the world and we now had to face another “real-life” challenge: GET A JOB! But how can a RTW trip be a professional experience worth it to be included in your CV?

It depends. If you are an electrician it probably won’t be much of a help all the time spent lazing at the beach, sightseeing or photographing all things around you, but for other “related” jobs it could be. A RTW trip could really show off some personal transferable skills. I believe that’s most relevant for jobs in the travel and tourism industry, or if you have been volunteering your way around the world or have been occasionally working in specific field like conservation, nursing or teaching and definitely for some role into the digital media, if you have been blogging your adventures it could really boost your career and open new jobs prospects.

After 15 and more interviews (I lost count at some point) within the first couple of months, I think I have enough to share with you my experience and thoughts of how is like hunting a job after being round the world.

Sell yourself at an interview.

Some employers might think you have taken a year-long holiday. First of all, it wasn’t a holiday!! I challenge anyone to think differently; it was a year of valuable life experience and tangible skills. They might sound silly skills to include in your resume but they are really worth it to show it off during your interview. Not everyone have people skills, can show responsibility, commitment, self-sufficiency, confidence, ability to planning and budgeting (stick to a budget of $50 a day sometimes it was a real challenge), adaptability (unexpectedly got stuck somewhere and had to come up quickly with a new plan?) and even negotiation skill (do you remember all that street-haggling in Asia??).

It’s not so bad.
Despite the economy is still suffering, the level of unemployment in Italy is growing (currently at 8,7% meaning more competition for me), and it seems to be lots of skepticism around, things are turning in my favor. Businesses are increasingly looking to people with flexibility, able to adapt quickly to different tasks and work environment, fast learner with international experience and with knowledge of two foreign languages, open-minded, sometimes even willing to travel frequently abroad, qualities and attitudes many travelers already have or have pick it up on their experience on the road.

Snag
Yet some companies perceive the long-term experience as an independent, fervent traveler as a form of instability and career indecision so, if you manage to get to the point to be interviewed, get ready to crucial, unfailing, tricky questions such as “why you take a career break and travel the world” and “why you are back”. Play your chances wisely accordingly to the company needs and the position on offer. They will need to get reassured you will not run away soon and waste their time.

Plus
A gap-year traveling around the world on your resume is surely a good icebreaker: at any interview they just couldn’t resist making me heap of questions about the trip.

Business blogging is fast becoming a vital part of many companies’ marketing strategy. Hence, companies are on the lookout for dynamic people with new digital skills (but not necessarily educational qualification) to lead them through the new opportunities of the Web 2.0 World. That’s exactly where my blogging adventure comes in very handy!

So what’s up?
Chris got a job almost as soon as we got back but only after being through 8 long interviews in a month (no kidding) with the same company and the very same people. Guess they just wanted to make sure he was serious about it. I had to say it wasn’t thanks to the gap year but mostly for his work experience abroad.

About me? While I got an exciting job offer too as soon as we got back home from one of my previous boss (even for a better role that my previous one) but only back in London, followed by a couple of attractive opportunities proposed to me concurrently and too promptly that I foolishly ruined both, I might have found the one... How? A totally casual contact with a fellow freelance travel writer, followed by a simple get-to-know-you coffee, might have set off a new digital adventure…

My advices?

Leave enough cash from your RTW trip for the “start up” expensive of the first few months of getting back home. It would make your life easier and less stressful and you won’t be so desperate to get the first (maybe crappie) job on offer.
Update your CV before your return and start applying for jobs few weeks before getting back.
While on the road try to build the “right connections”, you never know where they might take you, and keep in touch with your old colleagues and employers, see what happened?
Pointless to tell you that if you hope to become a “professional” blogger, keeping a blog while around the world it absolutely helps! Maybe you could get a one-step closer of living locationless.

My motto after being RTW: There are better things in life than worry to build a career

So, ditch all your worry and enjoy your trip until either the excitement of the travel or the money for traveling last. Once you will be back home, you could then sort it out your career. Keep in mind that sooner or later you will get another job and, besides all the before- during- and after stress from taking a gap year backpacking the world (traveling it’s also hard and exhausting), IT WOULD BE TOTALLY WORTH IT!!

Photo credits: a B Rosen, Arturo de Albornoz

Frequent Flyer Programs, do they really pay off?

2010-07-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

Do you like freebies? Well, technically nothing comes for free, in one way or another, we all pay for it through our purchases but, especially for ardent flyers, it makes sense to choose wisely a right Frequent Flyer Program (FFP).

How does a FFP work? It’s simple: the more you flight the more miles points you will earn. At some stage, you won’t even realize you might have enough points to redeem a free flight and, the best of it all, is that all you had to do was nothing, just enjoying your flights around the world. You might even end it up earning miles points every time you book into a hotel, rent a car, even shopping online or when using a credit card with any flying club partners.

Signing up to a Frequent Flyer Program it’s as easy as completing an online form and normally free but the choice can be bewildering especially when trying to maximize the benefits, it will definitely cost a bit of effort and time to investigate around. It will depend much on your route, airlines, class traveling (not all FFP will get you mileage-earning in economy class) and what rewards you are after, if it’s a free flight or extra benefits such as airline lounge, class upgrade, discounted nights in partner hotels or other travel services.

So, before embarking on our big loop RTW, considering we would taken a hell of a lot on international flights, we spent some times browsing around the net in search of advices to choose the right FFP. The outcome: with our Great Escape ticket we then joint the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Was it the best choice and the easiest to get the most rewards?
I guess we'll figure it out when the times comes to book our award ticket but I could tell you now that, even though we won’t be able to book another RTW ticket using our air miles, it seems like we would have enough to get a free return flight London-New York..in economy, not bad?!

The good thing is that we have also two years time to spend our 27’000 air mileage (if you would buy Virgin Flying Club miles it would be the equivalent of £375) and, even if we are not flying, we could use them to splurge a bit on our next vacation.

Do you think we played it smart? Which frequent flyer program have you been using and what’s your advice?

Tips:

remember to quote always your frequent flyer number whenever you do a booking and save your boarding passes just in case your miles are not credited to your account, is required as a proof;
for some hacking tips to accumulate quickly and wisely air miles points or get the most out of your FFP check Flyer Talk forum, it’s really great!
when choosing a FFP, it’s not only important to check how many points you will earn but also how many you will need when it comes to redeem them.

Happy Travel Hacking!

Italy's most scenic drives

2010-07-13T06:45:00.000-07:00

Roadtrip! Traveling plays a big part of anyone journey. For many roadtripper “getting there” it’s half the fun but when mentioning a road-trip you might think about the classic epic routes along the rugged and most varied landscapes of places like New Zealand, Australia or the wild west countries in the States and the endless American highway through miles and miles of empty road and wide open spaces but what about Italy?

Italy is no short of great drives; they are surely quite different, certainly shorter (most likely it could be fit on a day trip), a bit “maddening” but as thrilling as the overseas counterparts.

Be ready to get a snap of the amazing panoramas offer by these great 4 drives along the Bel Paese:

Amalfi Coast – 50km along one of the most loved coastline for an exhilarating drive twisting your way from Positano to Vietri sul Mare along the SP 163. Idyllic bays, picturesque pastel-hued, cliff-hugging villages, vistas over the turquoise water enhance the charm of this scenic stretch of coastline.

Di Allerina & Glen MacLarty

Passo dello Stelvio –at 2,758 mt high in the Alps, it's the highest paved mountain pass in the whole Italy. This legendary, rewarding, high mountain loop will put to the test your driving skill zig-zagging the dramatic 48 hairpin turns (not that fun if you suffer from motion sickness, believe me!).
Watch Top Gear’s stars having a bit of fun on the "SS38" to get a sense of this majestic road. What a road!

Tuscany Hills – zoom around in the tranquility of Tuscany countryside, through its vineyards and olive groves, rolling green hills, medieval hill towns and castles and sleepy, tiny villages. Try the Chianti Road through the SS222 and as you go along don’t hesitate to refuel in the local “trattorie” and "enoteche" for a taste of the local famous wine and mouthwatering local dishes.

Frederic Poirot

Sardinia – beside the swanky, yacht-set, coastal destinations as Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia captivates travellers yet with many untouched landscapes to explore at your own pace. Just get on the car and drive along its rugged coastline, such on the road Alghero-Bosa, or through its rocky inland either way rest assure you will be enchanted by Sardinia tremendous panoramas. There aren’t many roads so don’t be afraid to lose your way. While you are there, get sunkissed on a white sandy beach fringed by crystal clear waters.

mastino70

Tips:

Don’t go bigger: turn down a big car or a comfy motorhome for a smaller one. It would be cheaper on fuel (it’s already bloody expensive over here at an average of €1,4 per litre) and you will get around more easily through the many Italian narrow streets plus you will have less trouble to park it around.
Don’t be shy: Italians are famous for be impatient drivers and like it to beep on the horn. Come on, give it a quick one!
For a real Italian driving experience hop on a Ferrari, for a grand road trip, ……umm maybe not the best deal if you are traveling on a budget. Then, why don’t you opt for a low-key but as stylish drive on a "cinquecento" (Fiat 500) or, my next dreamy trip, on an old fashion Vespa?

Travel to Italy in summer - 5 things you should know before you go

2010-07-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

Always dreamed of visiting the Bel Paese? Want to take advantage of lots of sunshine, plenty of summer festivals, more daylight hours and maybe some lazy time on the beach?
Then these summer months are perfect but here are 5 things you should be mindful before get to Italy in August.

Crowd: Italian “Citta’ d’arte” (art cities) are full of tourists year-round but the summer months coincide with the school vacation and, specially during the two mid-weeks of August (the 15th is a major bank holiday in Italy “ferragosto”), most offices and business close and the workers are at home too leaving no much leeway in choosing their holiday absence. Tourist + mass of holiday makers= hard time. Major sightseeing can get easily, terribly overcrowded in August. Thinking to retreat to the beach? Would you really fancy sunbathe with someone else feet right in front of your nose? That’s as packed as it can get.

Heat – August in Italy is boiling particularly in the cities ("average" 84°F/29°C but so is July!) where there is no chance to have some sea breeze to refresh the air or the cool temperature of the Alps. But it’s not just hot, it could get unpleasantly muggy. June and September are yet generally sunny but without being stifling.

Prices – recession or not, prices of accommodation from middle July to the end of August skyrocket. Even so, rooms fill up quickly both in the art cities such Rome, Florence and Venice than in the seaside towns.

Hassles – that’s the last thing you want when traveling but more tourists/travelers means more work for the tourism-related workers (bartender, waiters, shop assistance, hotel staff..) which moods are put to the test: the heat, lots of work, a bit of jealously (everyone else is having fun while they are stuck at work) could turn their day into a bad one and your unpleasant too.

Traveling – during the summer getting around Italy can sometimes be… not so much fun. Flights, trains, buses are packed. Opting of getting a car and exploring around at your own pace? Think twice. Italian highways are famous for endless, stillstanding traffic jams especially during the summer week-end and the bank holiday.

If money is not your issue, you are fine to be sweaty hot on a typical August sweltering day and enjoy be among a crowd of people or simple just because that’s your only choice, I don’t see a reason to forgo beautiful Italy.

Have you been to Italy during the summer or at Ferragosto? How was it like?

Photo credit: SpecialKRB, Andy Ciordia

Thailand (slightly) off the Beaten Track – 3 places we wish had visited!

2010-07-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Thailand is one of those destinations par excellence for traveling on a shoestring but, despite been a big country, nowadays is hard to go off the beaten track.

The beauty and charm of places such as Koh Tao, Koh Lipe or Chiang Mai are no longer a secrets but have you heard of Sukothai, Nong Khai, Khao Sok, Chiang Rai, Hua-Hin, Mae Hong before?

Despite have travelled throughout Thailand for 2 months I have no clue of the existence of some of those places. On top of that, we missed out on few places apparently yet to be hit by the crowd of backpackers and somehow peacefully charming that we heard of as we went along.

These are the 3 places we wish had visited during our time backpacking in Thailand.

Tarutao Island – Tarutao National Park

The first and largest marine park of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, Tarutao National Park is composed by an archipelago of 51 islands only few kilometers away by boat to the Malaysian border while almost a thousand kilometers from Bangkok. Koh Tarutao, one of the islands among this marine park, was brought first to our attention by the tales of adventurous, Man-vs-Wild-alike friend that we met on nearby Koh Lipe island. It’s a place of primitive beauty that used to be first a penal colony, then home to sea-gypsies and nowadays the place for passing fishermen. Accordingly to him, it’s a natural paradise where you could "savor the wild". He had many wild encounters with crab-eating macaques, monitor lizards, wild pigs, snakes, countless birds and fishes while sleeping under the stars, kayaking upstream while exploring the mangroves forest, trekking deep into the tropical forest and exploring the marine-gardens surrounding the island.
BTW, where are you Mr Vincet?? Kinda worry now….Perpetually roaming around Thailand trying to find your own secluded place?
Apparently in Koh Tarutato, it’s really all about getting back to basic. There is only a small restaurant next to the park headquarters where you can pitch a tent or get a bungalow. Tarutao is a 2 hour boat ride on the route from Hat Yai – Pak Bara Pier, in the Satun district, to Koh Lipe. Planning to go there? I would avoid the monsoon season (May-November).

Ang Thong National Marine Park

Another marine park with 42 tiny islands scattered in the Gulf of Thailand between the west coast of Koh Samui and the Thai mainland. Rumor has it that it’s an archipelago of such primordial beauty. However it’s a popular destination for daily island hopping tours from nearby Koh Samui (only 1,30mins away by boat). Yet you could ask to be dropped at the Park's Visitor Center and arrange to be picked up within the next days so you could camp there. You could then have the time to explore the islands at your own peace by sea kayak, exploring secrets caves, finding your deserted beach, hidden lagoons and admiring the limestone formations taking a plunge in the deep blue. Pity, that the few companies that arrange these day trips are, for obvious reasons, speculating on it. At the time I rang them to get more info how to get there, they won’t just offer a “transfer-only” option but you would have to pay for the day trip twice! Yep, for each way. This worked out to be 3000 THB pp, roughly 90 dollar each, but was a matter of principle!

Khao Sok National Park

There are probably many daily or multiple-days tours arranged to this park, the most popular being from Bankgok or Phuket, but again experiencing it independently would probably be much more exciting. The park, located in the mainland in the Surat Thani province in the south of Thailand, encompasses 739sq km of thick, lush rainforest, limestone mountains, waterfalls, deep valley, stunning lakes and untouched sceneries. It said that the forest is home to many species of birds, insects, mammals including the leopard, the mouse deer, the Malaysian sunbear, wild elephant, gibbon, tapir, tiger and many snakes such as cobra and python, so keep an eye out! It sounds like the perfect place for intrepid, solitary travelers. Khao Sok NP is also known to have some species of the rare rafflesia, the largest flower in the world that could grow up to 90 cm in diameter but which flower dies in one week from the blooming.

Have you been to any of the above destinations? Are they really untouched by the tourism of mass or do you know any other places around Thailand totally off-the-beaten-track? Maybe some quiet last beaches? You probably wouldn’t tell us, would you??

Photo credits: MyBukit , mark_schermerhorn, rene_ehrhardt

Post-RTW Trip – Following our passion: a new digital travel venture

2010-06-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what happen once you are back home after an extensive RTW trip?
Instead of focusing to earn some cash and get a serious job (maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea), we are dreaming of living a new lifestyle of continuous travel: heard of living locationless before?

You have probably noticed that our posts on A Travel Around The World have been less frequent on this last month while there was a blast of guest bloggers. We are not taking a break from our beloved travel blog, I swear you, we are pretty much stuck every day ‘n night in front of our laptop. So what’s up? Combined no earning and no cash with our love for traveling and blogging that's where this new travel project comes from, umm… actually two: We Love Veneto and We Love Londra.
Two different blogs on two different locations but focused on the same idea: sharing the passion of two places we love and played an important role on our lives, Veneto and London.

Where the hell is Veneto? I am pretty sure you all hear of Venice, this beautiful charming, Italian sinking city. Well it lies within Veneto, our home-region. Since we are back from this RTW trip we realized we don’t know much about this wonderful region that has so much to offer. Hence we decide to start playing tourist in our own background, discovering all the touristy places in Veneto but mainly the one off the beaten track, sharing them along with tips, as a local and a traveler, on this new blogging venture WeLoveVeneto.

What about London? Well, we lived in this cosmopolitan city for 7 years getting to know its attractions, its neighbours, exploring its surrounding, sampling its lifestyle and nightlife. That's why we feel we could inspire, or be of little help, other fellow Italians wishing to visit the British capital and perhaps doing the same life-changing experience through WeLoveLondra.

What happened then to ATravelAroundTheWorld? We would like it to become a travelogue where both first-timer travelers and perpetual nomads could share their passion to discover this world and enrich us through their travel experiences, not to forget we would keep blogging about our city breaks and occasional backpackers alike short trip.

Only a dream? Maybe, but we believe in good blogger karma, in our passions and mostly in you, fellow traveler and blogger to support us in these virtual adventures. How? Just simple connect with us, pop round to our blogs, leave your comments or, even more appreciate it, be our guest blogger and share your travel adventures. And, regardless if this will become a full time job or just a pastime we will blog!

What’s your take? It is possible to live locationless and make a living doing what you love?

Taranaki, New Zealand - A Hidden Secret

2010-06-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

Despite being extravangantly beautiful Taranaki is skipped by travelers who follow the North island-South island itinerary way too often. Which is unfortunate, because not only is getting close and personal with Taranaki volcano one truly enjoyable experience but taking your time to check the nearby black sand beaches will result in great empty surf and windsurf (the road that surrounds Egmont National Park is appropriately named Surf Highway) and just as good photos (cape Egmont lighthouse).

Coming from Wellington we drove our campervan to Dawson Falls, on the SE side of Taranaki volcano. You can take great pictures of it from here, and although the falls are not too spectacular the 10 minute walk from the parking lot across the forest is very much worth the sweat. It feels good to stretch the legs too!

Driving along Surf Highway can sound quite exhilarating to any surfer, but before you get too excited you have to know that you cannot see the ocean from it. What a bummer, I know. You have to divert and take the small roads (many unpaved) that lead to the beach and check the conditions.

Opunake is the "surf city" of the area and it is here you should head to if you want to buy or rent surf gear, get lessons, or meet other surfers.

Nearby New Plymouth is the largest city in the area, yet small enough to easily find your way around. We found free internet at the public library and stocked up on food at Woolworths (we found it slightly cheaper than Coles). It is very easy to find a secluded spot where you can park your campervan and spend the night.

So, should you make Taranaki one of your mandatory stops of your Kiwi Experience? I would say so. It is much more fun than boring Marlborough Wine County and relatively close to Waitomo caves and Tongariro National Park. If you're a photography enthusiast you are sure to get some great shots (assuming the weather cooperates) and if you surf there's plenty of it before you reach Raglan. Don't doubt it and make your way to New Zealand's most climbed mountain: Taranaki!

About the Author

Federico has been 5 times around the world and visited over 80 countries.
Passionate about exploring our world and learning on the way you can read about his travel stories, jot down tips and look at the photos in his travel blog Maitravelsite

The flip side of a RTW Trip - returning home

2010-06-15T02:50:00.000-07:00

During the last months of our RTW trip my attention got captured by a gossip magazine. It wasn’t the latest from a celebrities that drawn my curiosity instead my horoscope forecast for this year: “The world is round, after all you’ll be back” …umm I don’t get it?? What it’s trying to say? Hey, how the hell did it know anyway? Was it every Libra making an epic journey in 2009? A mystery to me or just a lucky guess yet my horoscope didn’t mention what I was getting myself into once back: unexciting “real” life?

Eventually everyone coming home from a big round the world trip would face some downsides, if you are lucky even some sort of prejudices, of being back to reality (particularly if home is Italy!!).

• Reverse cultural shock - Returning home was for us a cultural shock as our first day in Bangkok. I guess traveling (and living abroad) has changed our perception about people and things and seems like we are not entirely fitting back with our own country and people, what happened? We even need to get used back to our infamous TV with plenty of scantily-clad girls and too many a little bland and samey programs.
• Wrong assumptions - Most of the Italians we know are not yet accustom to the phantomatic “gap year”. They either think we suffered a 30-something life crisis and we wanted to escape from our responsibilities or else we are rich and have plenty of time to laze around; either way they will automatically talk or act with some sort of prejudices against two globetrotters like us. What’s wrong with simply pursuing your wanderlust instead of spending your saving for a brand new car??
• Materialism - It just took us a day to realize we are constantly bombarding from media and advertisers and just got back into “who is showing off the most” competition, yeah!
• Leaving out of a bag - Being tosses about from my parents place to Chris parents place is not exactly fun. That’s how stressful it could be until we manage to get our own place.
• Bureaucracy – Surely we missed that a lot while living in the UK and, even while on the road, buying and selling our backpacker van and opening a bank account in Australia were by far a piece of cake. Welcome back to Italy: expensive rental agency fees, long term rental contract, lot of papers and times wasted for any, at first glance, easy tasks.
• Global financial crisis – We hoped on our return things would have be better but Italian economy seems like is not yet picking it up. Not really promising for us.
• Life rolls on - For everyone else life has carry on, along the usual 9-5 routine. While we are so exciting about our travel experiences and we would love to share with all our friends some aren’t too bothered to know it others are asking the same banal questions over and over…haven’t you follow our blog? “sorry I was very busy with work”…
• Summer time – We just got back in time for the summer holiday. Everyone is contemplating on their next vacation. Happy for them, but we have at least 10k less in our pocket so please stop inviting us repeatedly to join you. As much as we would love to, we need to stay with our feet on the ground and focusing to start earning some cash fast and adjusting back home.
• Putting on weight – it might sound silly but among our families everyone is fighting to have us over for dinner. To keep them all happy we are eating, eating and eating.

If working your ass off for years, deciding to leave the cubicle behind and finally taking the plunge to go traveling round the world look as a big challenge, wait until you are coming back. Re-adjusting into the “real world” is even a bigger one but we are hanging there.

Anyone else has been back home since a while? Any advices?

Glasgow - Off the beaten track

2010-06-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

When you grew up in the same city for 25 years it is inevitable that you put the blinkers on and start to become oblivious to the enironment around you, but really this should never the be the case because if you start to look at things in a slighly different perspective you realise that what you walk past on a daily basis can be really quite interesting.

I grew up in Glasgow, which is an incredible place, it is blessed with so many thing that make it a city that any tourist would come away from feeling satisified with. The city has just the right mix of history, architecture, character and enough night life to quence any die hards thirst, that if you have never though of visiting it before, then you should.

If you look up any tourist website for Glasgow the following are the usual things to see and do -

Charles Rennie Mackintosh – This architect must keep the city council happy because virtually every tourist comes to Glasgow to see one or other of his buildings, one of the most famous being the Art School. But there are lots of Macintosh buildings in the city and suburbs that you could just spend a weekend visiting just Mackintosh buildings alone!

The Tenement House – An original 19th centrury tenemant house complete and intact exactly as it was in the early 19th centrury. It's like a time capsule and fascinating to see and definitely worth a visit.

The Barrowlands – The infamous down and dirty market on a Sunday that sells everything from broken china to stolen razors and batteries.

Kelvingrove Museum – You can't come to Glasgow without a trip to this tourist mecca, the second most popular museum outside London, this is essential to any visitor to Glasgow and best of all its free to get into.

photo by pixelsandpaper @Flickr

What about off the beaten track....

Getting back to my original point – when you start to look at your environment differently you find out that there are some pretty cool things around you, you just need to know about them, or be nosy enough to discover them yourself. So this is my off the beaten track to Glasgow.

St Peters Seminary – I found out about this place when I was at an an exhibition at the CCA in Glasgow . Originally a seminary for training priests in Cardross (just outside Glasgow), it was built by Gillespie Kidd and Coia who built a wide range, in my option, of beautiful buildings – in others concrete eyesoars. The seminary now lies in an abandoned and falling to bit in a peacefull forest. You can get into it and look around it at your own risk, but the architecture is quite stunning and it is quite sad to see the building in such a bad state of disrepair.

Botanical Gardens Train Station – Glasgow used to have lots of train stations, but a number of them closed down in a cull on the national rail service after the second world war.
What this means is that there are a number of abandoned railway stations and lots of disued tunnels as well. I discovered the Botanical Garden's train station when I went to a dance party that was being held there. Glasgow has a great underground music scene so there are always parties on in unusual places. You can see some pics of the derelict station on flickr

The Titan Tower – This is located in Clydebank just outside Glasgow. For some reason you don't see a huge amount of advertising about it in Glasgow (well I haven't seen much, put it that way), however it is well worth the jaunt. Originally a ship building crane, it is now been restored into a visitor attraction and it is incredible – if you don't mind heights go to the top of it and you can walk across the mesh floor. And see views right along the river Clyde.

The Panoptican - Above an arcade in the trongate (East end of Glasgow) and largely unknown to the general public till a year or so ago. The Panopticon is an orignal music hall still in exactly the same condition as the day it shut down. It is famous for people like Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy playing there, it also housed a Victorian freak show and zoo, and is suppost to be haunted. – It's open at funny times to the public, but it is absolutely worth a visit if you happen to be in the city when it is open, a delight to see and you won't see anything else like it again.

Glasgow University Anatomy Museum - I studied biology at Glasgow University so was in and out of the anatomy museum most days, but the Univerisity don't make a big deal of it to the general public. You can visit it and it is certainly very interesting. It's almost like a Victorian Freak Show with body parts in jars. Ineresting and certainly not something you see everyday.

Doors Open Weekend – If your a bit of a geek like me, then doors open weekend is the time of the year to visit Glasgow. Doors open weekend is some relationship with the council and private buildings who get funding from the council, in return for which they have to open their doors to the public one weekend a year. All the building are free to visit and you will have a geek overload by the end of it. (The panoptican is always open on doors open weekend)

So there you have it – 6 things that are a bit off the beaten track that you should definitely do when you are in Glasgow in addition to the usual tourist attractions.

About the Author

Ross is a passionate traveller and writes his own blog at Europe Traveler about his travel experiences in Europe (as you may have guessed) sharing interesting things to see, hints and tips and anything the usual guide books miss out.

Top 5 Foods to Eat and Experience in Japan

2010-06-08T03:10:00.000-07:00

No visit to Japan is complete without experiencing Japanese food the way the locals do. In Japan there is no way to separate eating from the atmosphere and experience. Food in Japan touches all of the sense from the minimalistic elegance of sashimi to the visual gourmet versions of hamburger patties. There’s more to Japanese food than sushi but let’s face it, navigating the difficult menus in a New York Japanese restaurant can be daunting, let alone tackling lesser known dishes on their home turf. To guide you through this culinary and cultural experience I have created a list of 5 dishes that are a must for any visitor to Japan.

photo by singingbeagle @Flickr

The Japanese are famous for specializing and defining. It’s no different with food as each of these dishes will usually be served in its own specialized restaurant complete with accompanying unique atmosphere. Warning, if you are a vegetarian this menu is probably not for you, but there are always ways to substitute fish and vegetables for the meat dishes. But be careful, sometimes pork is not considered meat!

Donburimono
Donburi is a large rice bowl and the “mono” (lit. things) refers to the delicious toppings laid over the bed of rice. There is a large variety of Donburi from comfort food, such as chicken and egg oyako-don, stewed beef and onions gyu-don, and fried pork and egg katsu-don, to the more refined variations like tempura ten-don, marinated eel unagi-don, or even sea urchin una-don.

photo by Smaku @Flickr

All of these are a great value, even the more expensive fish dishes, as you can eat out with just one dish. Finding a quality local shop may take a bit of work but it will be worth it. If you are looking to only experience gyu-don visit the chain shops Yoshinoya or Matsuya. You’ll have to decide for yourself which is better as its one of those questions that divides the nation. If you’re by the sea or a fish market look for the seafood versions as they’ll be the freshest.

Okonomiyaki
It’s not really a pancake, or a pizza, definitely not a crepe but it’s certainly delicious. Made with batter, egg, and your choice of vegetables, beef, pork, seafood and even noodles, you have to do the work here. The ingredients usually come out raw and you have to cook them on the large teppan (hotplate) that you sit around. There’s a variety of ways to make it depending if you are in Tokyo, Osaka or Hiroshima (my favorite) but the basics are: cook the fillings, pour on the batter and beaten egg, flatten the mixture on the teppan with the metal spatula provided, and flip over after five minutes. Aim for a browned outside keeping the inside soft. Finally, add the sauce with the brush provided and/or mayonnaise, and sprinkle on the fish flakes…if you’re into that sort of thing.

Yakitori

Literally grilled chicken, there is so much more to these skewers that can contain the full range of chicken bits, meat, liver, heart, cartilage and skin. Prices are usually by the skewer, even if more than one arrives, so be careful. They are cooked to order over charcoal and come with either sauce (tare) or salt (shio) seasoning. Nothing goes better with it than a large cold beer and good company. Yakotori can be found everywhere, from specialized restaurants to street stalls. In either case pull a seat up to the bar and be prepared for your orders to be yelled around the room, repeated by everyone from the server to the cook.

Ramen

These long Chinese noodles have become the staple of the Japanese fast food industry. Pop in for a quick and inexpensive bite during lunch or after a long night drinking on the town. Ramen shops are on just about every corner in Japan and you’ll be able to find one easily.

photo by Pabo76 @Flickr

More difficult will be trying to decide what type you want, from curry to miso to chicken broth, topped with marinated pork to an extra helping of spring onions. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any choice, it’s all delicious. Add in a plate of gyoza, Japanese fried potstickers, and you have one great meal.

Izakaya
This is the ultimate Japanese communal eating experience that can only be described as Japanese tapas. They are a great way to experience a wide variety of Japanese food, and drink copious amounts of beer, sake or chu-hai (shochu with flavored carbonated water. I like ume-chuhai, plum flavored. Yum!

photo by nicolacassa @Flickr

These are friendly places that are like the local pub on the corner. Japanese come after work to share food, stories, and bond with each other. The portions are usually small and the variety of foods can be staggering, as will be your bill if you try to have a proper meal. Use your time in an Izakaya to sample different dishes, get to know those you are with, or even sitting next to, and then decide on a cheaper option for the next stop in the night.

About the Author
Todd is a writer, blogger, and conflict resolution specialist; he blogs about his travels and adventures at Todd’s Wanderings, where his Japanese wife also shares her recipes. He currently lives in Kosovo, and lived in Japan for over five years. He’s working on his first book about walking the 900 mile Japanese Shikoku Pilgrimage, twice. You could follow Todd tweets here

Fancy becoming our next guest blogger? Drop us a e-mail!

The Top 3 Most Over Rated Attractions in Scotland – and Where You Should Go Instead!

2010-06-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

1. Edinburgh Castle – As much as I love Edinburgh, and often refer to it as my home city these days, Edinburgh Castle is by far and away the most over rated attraction not just in Scotland, but possibly the UK. Costing £13 to enter for an adult ticket, the stunning exterior of the Castle on the Crag can be deceiving. When you pay to enter however, it really is just an average experience, with no real difference to any other castle in Britain – except you pay much more to get in! Instead, head down to Princes Street where you will find clear views of the castle, and you won’t have to pay a penny.

The Alternative: there are some great alternatives to Edinburgh Castle littered throughout Scotland, however, if you don’t want to head too far from the city, nearby Stirling Castle is a much cheaper, and much more rewarding experience. The town of Stirling is less than one hour’s drive from Edinburgh, and very recently the remains of an old Knight was found beneath the Castle, dating back hundreds of years to the battles between Scotland and England.

2. The Falkirk Wheel - Although possibly not that well known outside of Scotland, the Falkirk Wheel is advertised throughout the country as a top tourist attraction, however I personally can not see why. Although the wheel’s purpose (to restore navigability across Scotland by canal) was grand, the £84.5million price tag to build it was a complete waste of money. Essentially all the Falkirk Wheel does is lift you from one canal to another, when you could just get off the boat, walk two minutes, and then get on back on the boat much quicker than the wheel actually takes. If your occupation happens to be a structural engineer then you may find this appealing, but the whole process for me was just boring, took to long, and the surrounding town of Falkirk doesn’t really have much to offer a traveller either.

by freefotouk@Flickr

The Alternative: the canal and go for a boat trip on the Firth of Forth, home to the incredible Forth Rail Bridge. The Forth Rail Bridge is one of the most recognisable structures in Scotland, and is currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status. The bridge was built back in the late 1800’s, and during its construction over 450 workers were injured, and 98 lost their lives. It’s a structure which many Scots feel particularly proud of, and a view from down by the banks of the river is truly awe inspiring.

by lilJim @Flickr

3. Edinburgh Dungeons – The Edinburgh Dungeons is yet another over priced, and over rated attraction in Edinburgh. Costing £11 for one adult, the Edinburgh Dungeons, although not bad, isn’t really worth anything like the price tag. Not in the slightest bit scary, although the actors are a little entertaining, you find you are in and out very fast, without really having experienced anything that is individual to the city itself.

The Alternative: for something that feels like a real dungeon, take a tour of the Underground Vaults in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Although similarly expensive, the Underground Vaults of Edinburgh give a real insight into some real history of the city, and are actually quite scary at times due to the fact so many of the stories from here are true! There is definitely an element of theatrics involved with the tour guides, so don’t believe everything they say, but it is truly extraordinary to think that people used to live underground here, often unfortunately with horrific consequences. It’s also quite funny to see people jump at the end!

by dickyhart @Flickr

Scotland has many beautiful and intriguing attractions. Like many countries though, there are often some which are hyped up to be more than they are worth! Above are my recommendations of where you should avoid, but also places you can go instead.

About the Author: Jane has been traveling first to Australia and, on her return, around Europe using Edinburgh both as a base and a launch pad.

As a full time traveller and local Scottish girl she has put togheter a comprehensive guide about her home country at Jane's Guide To Scotland. She is also running a travel blog at Runaway Jane .

Travel adventure: Volunteer Work for a new Africa

2010-06-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

All we hear about Africa in the United States are stories about conflict, famine, disease, HIV/AIDS, and hunger. The news tends to be so negative that it desensitizes people from the problems, makes people feel powerless, hardens us from doing something about it, and even scares them from visiting Africa (beyond for the World Cup or a packaged tour safari).

Our goal is to highlight the stories of hope and success on the ground in Africa. We are visiting and profiling projects and innovations that are working (in sustainable ways) to alleviate hunger and poverty and spotlight things that are working on the ground that could be replicated or scaled up. Danielle is the co-project director for the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet Project, and her on the ground research in Africa will culminate in the release of State of the World 2011 (a book that will focus entirely on hunger). We are also blogging daily from the continent at our personal site called BorderJumper.

We also want to paint a new picture of Africa, one far different from the infomercials and images we've become accustom to. We are meeting with Africans on the ground, who are using their vast knowledge, and developing innovative ways of reducing hunger and improving food security in their communities. We want them to be the face of our project, putting their stories front and center, sharing their hopes and dreams to audiences they've never reached before.

If you haven't already, we urge you to consider seeing Africa with your own eyes, so here are some innovative ways and tips to help you get your hands on African soil

For Students:
-If you are looking for something this summer and curious about Madagascar - we fell in love with the capital city Antanarivo - you might want to check out Reef Doctor. You can get free diving training and certification and conduct hands-on marine research, all while working with local fishing communities in the third largest coral reef system in the world.

-If you are looking for a study abroad, WorldTeach runs a terrific semester program in Namibia. You can teach a number of different courses for elementary and high school children, including English, math, science and computer studies. At the end of the experience, make sure to hang out in Africa a bit longer by taking the Intercape bus company to Cape Town for winter break.

For Adults:
GapYearForGrownUps offers some terrific short and long-term volunteer projects in twelve African countries. Some of the types of volunteering include animal conservation, child development, mentoring youth, teaching reading and writing, and wildlife research. Programs last from a couple of days to several months.

Cross-Cultural Solutions offers a program in Tanzania for people to be placed working side-by-side with local people on community-led initiatives. Programs last from 1-12 weeks.

Planting maize by Julie Carney, Gardens for Health International

For Seniors:
Global Volunteers offers programs that include teaching conversational English and other basic subjects, caring for at risk youth, assisting with health care, building schools and community facilities, and much more. About 50 percent of volunteers are older adults, drawn primarily from the U.S. and Canada.

Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization with volunteer field researchers engaged in scientific and social science research around the world. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, it presently supports about 140 projects in 48 countries, including Africa.

About the Author: Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg, the duo behind the BorderJumpers.org blog, began their journey in October ’09 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to visit nearly every country in Africa.
Although the sporadic internet connections, they are doing a great work bringing stories of hope, stories that aren’t being told—from oil workers fighting to have a union in Nigeria to innovative ways farmers and pastoralists are coping with climate change, from across Africa. At every stop they are meeting with farmers, community organizers, labor activists/leaders, unions, non-governmental organization (NGOs), the funding and donor communities, and local press.

Five Must-See Places in Corpus Christi, Texas

2010-05-27T04:39:00.000-07:00

Not many people from outside the state think of the Texas seashore when they consider taking a vacation. It's not known for palm trees, white, sandy beaches, or swanky resorts that serve fruity drinks with little umbrellas in them. Those who do visit coastal cities like Corpus Christi are most likely to do so during spring break. The fact is, Corpus has a lot more to offer than bars and parties, and throughout the year, not just for one week in the spring. Don't miss out on some really great experiences. Visit Corpus, and be sure to stop by these must-see places.

Texas State Aquarium

If not for the Junior League of Corpus Christi, and the local Jaycees, the Texas State Aquarium wouldn't exist. It started with a coalition of the two groups that came together to form the Gulf Coast Zoological and Botanical Society. The purpose of those organizations was to build a local aquarium that would give residents the opportunity to observe and learn about marine life indigenous to the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo courtesy of mhowry

The Aquarium is a nonprofit organization. All proceeds from admission ticket sales go to maintaining and improving the facilities, and caring for the many animals that inhabit the aquarium. In addition to the original aquarium building, several other attractions have been added over the years. In April 2007, the Hawn Wild Flight Theater opened, and a short time later, the outside sea turtle exhibit, formerly known as Turtle Cove, was expanded, improved, and renamed Tortuga Cay. Eagle Pass opened in March 2009, and is home to several species of birds of prey, the star attraction being Grace, a bald eagle. Swamp Tales, an alligator exhibit, opened in early 2010.

USS Lexington

Photo courtesy of cliff1066™

The longest-serving Essex-class aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, the USS Lexington was commissioned in February 1943. It started out serving during World War II, and went on to provide support to several post-war missions. Eventually, the ship, nicknamed “The Blue Ghost,” became a training ship serving out of the port in Pensacola, Florida.

On November 8, 1991, the Lexington was decommissioned, and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register that same day. The following year, the Navy donated the ship to become a floating museum docked in Corpus Christi, Texas. Visitors can try their hand at piloting in the Flight Simulator, or get behind the controls of the Virtual Battle Stations. There's also a three-story high MEGA Theater that shows aviation and history-related short films and documentaries to enhance the museum visit experience, and admission to the theater is included with the price to board the ship.

Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Educational Center

The Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Educational Center, also known as the Billie Trimble Chandler Arts Foundation, was established in Corpus Christi in 1974. Its mission is to educate visitors about Asian culture and history through the use of art and cultural exhibits, educational classes, special events, and a reference library.

The museum is conveniently located near the American Bank Center, and the Harbor Playhouse. Several other attractions, restaurants, and shops are also within walking distance. Inside the museum, you'll find a gift shop that offers everything from jewelry, to porcelain, to children's games, all adhering to the museum's Asian theme.

University of Texas Marine Science Institute

The need for a marine science station on the Texas coast was first recognized in 1892. The University of Texas began working toward that goal. After a couple of failed attempts in 1900, and 1915, the very first marine science study outpost was established in 1935, in the form of a rough lumber, one-room shack. The Marine Science Institute was officially founded in 1941, and since that time, has become one of the foremost marine science educational organizations in the United States.

The Institute's mission is to perform research in the unique Gulf of Mexico waters, as well as public outreach and education. People are encouraged to visit the Institute, and observe the aquariums in the main visitors' center, and the scientific exhibits throughout the main building. The Marine Science Institute is open Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm, with an hour's closure from 12pm to 1pm.

Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) is located on North Padre Island, off the coast of Texas, near Corpus Christi. It is not to be confused with South Padre Island, known for its beaches, and as a much sought after spring break resort location. The PINS is 70 miles long, with 65.5 miles of it consisting of Gulf beaches. It is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world, offering pristine beaches, undisturbed dunes, and tidal flats.

Photo courtesy of cm195902

Although some limited activities are allowed on the island, such as primitive camping and windsurfing, most of the area is restricted to the preservation of wildlife. The island is a breeding and nesting ground for Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. During the summer, island visitors can witness the release of thousands of turtle hatchlings. The PINS is also on the Central Flyway, a main migration route for birds. Approximately 380 bird species have been documented in the park, and it was designated a Globally Important Bird Area in 1998.

About the Author: Dana Griffen is a freelance writer who loves to travel in her own backyard. She's never left the USA, but has been to 32 of the 50 states.

Travel Vlogging – a guide for video bloggers' wannabe

2010-05-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

Well, first of all what’s Vlogging? It’s probably the new way to go in term of media blogging, it means Video Blogging. I am probably so-yesterday since I haven’t been able yet to put up any decent video from our RTW trip.

So I decided to ask for help and get a pro-travel vlogger to do the talk. Mark is the man behind Overlander.tv and the “Meet the local” travel series where he turns up to unknown places to video-interview some locals and get them to reveal him the best things to do and places to go.

I have some very basic equipment, let’s find out if I could become a video blogger too.

-Let’s get right to the point. What kind of equipments does a video blogger need? Does exist any budget camera that combines photo, video and podcast at a good level all-in-one or it’s only in my dream?
I think what is happening in the area of digital SLR cameras is amazing. Cameras like the Canon 550d allow users to capture High Definition video with sensational filmlike qualities, good depth of field and low light performance.

- Seeing all the travel videos out there, it does seem so easy but how to churn out reasonably good quality videos? All my videos are either blurry, dark or wobbly and the sound horrible.. well often I even managed to score 4 out of 4, crap!.
I think the success of good travel video production is to start with some semblance of story.
Having some idea of what you are trying to say can help plan what shots are needed. Also don’t forget the sound. I think good sound is more important that picture quality. Sound is tied with emotion, so if you get that wrong, the viewer won’t forgive you. To capture interviews, a cheap hardwired lapel mic can help capture clean clear audio.

- How you decide what to shoot? It’s better to be a casual travel vlogger and capture with our camera randomly whatever it moves and then editing later on, or should we visit a place specifically with an idea on mind?
I sometimes arrive in a place with a rough idea of what I would like to cover, but usually I just allow myself to be open to what see happening around me, and what locals tell me represents their town. For this story on San Sebastian in Spain, I noticed a lot of healthy old people wandering around town, so using history and humor, made a story out of this.

- I am a tech-dummy, could you advice any free, easy-to-use editing program?
I’m not sure of programs on the pc side of the fence. But anyone with a apple mac can use imovie. I personally use Final Cut Pro, which is a level up from imovie. Imovie is a great place to start.

- Are there any simple special effects we could all implement to create a more interesting viewing experience?
Editing programs like imovie allow for a lot of effects like transitions, filters. To make your films more professional, try and move the camera like a film camera. Avoid zooms and move your camera through a scene, with help of vehicles, bikes, even skateboards.

- Should we tell the stories through our words, by adding text overlays or creating a feel by using only a soundtrack? And where we could get royalty free music?
Personally I like telling a story, otherwise I’m really only making a music video.
This is one of my favorite sites Incompetech .The other thing filmmakers can do is make their own music using garageband loops. Other sites include - Musicalley and Jamendo .

- What‘s the right length of a video before viewers will start to snooze?
I think for online, less than five minutes is optimum, and if possible under three minutes. I really enjoy the process of making my location videos as short and sweet as possible. It is a real skill to tell a story in a couple of minutes.

- Do you have any tips how we could appear at ease and feel more confident in front of the camera?Practise, and be yourself. When I walked the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain, I made a video of my experience. When I first started talking to camera, I felt very self conscious, but as time went on, and I did it more and more, I got use to the process and, more importantly, worked out what I wanted to say.

- Is it possible to get paid for filming your travel experience?
Youtube is owned by google, if tourism business want to be found in google for their locations, a video is a cost effective way to do this. There are many video producers around the world who are making money making short promotional videos for tourism business. If travelers wish to do this, don’t expect success overnight. Learn the craft, learn the language of film and practise.

Thanks Mark and good luck with your project, will see if you were able to convert me into a travel vlogger.

Anyone has more tips to share how to make good travel videos?

How To Be A Tourist In Your Hometown

2010-05-21T00:26:00.000-07:00

Today guest post is by Sofia @AsWeTravel sharing some great tips how you could satisfy your travel addiction while playing tourist in your own town.

We came back to my home town of Gothenburg, Sweden in the end of March. Our plan is to stay here over summer, during this time we will make a few trips around Europe, but mostly we'll stay here, just relax and do some serious blog work.

It feels good to be home, but a month has pasted and I can already feel the travel bug creeping back under my skin - I've got to ease my travel need. As many of you know traveling is like a drug, once you've started there is no going back, you can't stop.

Please, I just need a small shot... but HOW do I do this without leaving home?

I was sitting on a wall overlooking town as I thought about this, then suddenly a bus stopped some 20 meters away from me, and a group of Japanese tourists ran out with their huge cameras flashing everywhere.

That's when it hit me: Why not be a tourist in my own town?

So Here Is What We Did:

Last week we woke up early, ready for adventure time! We decided to have breakfast at a cafe we had never been to before, sitting there in the middle of town overlooking the harbor. For some reason a place with a nice view is something we tend to only look for when we are traveling.

After that we decided to walk down to the harbor, a place we never go to, and walk along the water. We turned off onto a small cobble stoned street to see where we would end up, and stumbled upon a really pretty little backyard with a bunch of small cafes and boutiques.

We aimlessly walked around, for once actually seeing the real city. We realized how we are normally so focused and busy running in and out of shops, on our way home or to work, that we had never actually stopped and looked around seeing the city for what it is, the beauty of the canals and the old Swedish architecture.

After having visited a church (you can't be a tourist without checking out at least one church right?!), we went and had some typical Swedish lunch at a cafe we've never been to before - it's funny how you never visit those typical tourist cafes otherwise, they're popular for a reason!

Next it was time for some sightseeing - we jumped on the boat to take us all around Gothenburg from a new angle - the water.

It was funny - and at the same time kind of sad, how little we knew about our own city. I'm sure I'm not the only one knowing more about the history of London than of my home town.

We also went to the oldest part of town and entered this little backyard with houses from the 1720's, one in which you can go in and see what it used to look like and read about how the people used to live in the neighborhood I grew up.

After a long day we were totally exhausted, so with our feet hurting we decide to call it a day, walking home with a complete new perspective of our city and that urge to travel somewhat subsiding...

Here is How You Could Do It:

Go to other tourist websites to see what foreign tourists do in your town.
Visit your local tourist center (all cities have this) and pretend that you are a tourist and get them to recommend some things to do.
Find out areas that you have never been to. There are always places you've never been to or don't visit very often. Go there and walk around, there are most likely some things of interest for you to find.
Eat out, and try a new place you have never been to. Ask a stranger if they can recommend you a good place to eat.
When going out partying, act like you're not from town. You know it too, we all act different when we're in a new place. We're more open minded, care free and curious. You don't need to lie and say that you're not from there, but act like it and have some extra fun!
If there is a boat tour or bus tour, take it! Most cities have guided tours around town and you can always learn a lot!

Most people don't ever see their home city for what it really is. We go to work in the morning, come home in the afternoon, and when we get some time off we tend to want to get out of the city ASAP - next time... don't!

Often we cross rivers just to get to the water, in other words, we don't see what's right there in front of our eyes. Get curious about your own city. Find out what draws other tourists and travelers there, I'm sure there are some hidden gems you didn't even know about.

If nothing else, it's a lot cheaper and easier than flying to Lanzarote, and it will feed your travel addiction for a few more weeks ;)

About the Author

Nathan & Sofia started their first travel blog in 2008 as they went RTW for 8 months exploring Oceania, South-East Asia & Europe. Now they are running a travel blog for budget travelers going on their first RTW. Catch up with their travel posts at their blog AsWeTravel or on Twitter @AsWeTravel.

Fancy becoming our next guest blogger? Drop us a e-mail!

We love our travel best kept secrets - Free Travel Tips E-Books

2010-05-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Tripbase free E-books are official live, urrahh!! Chris and I were very honored and proud to team up with other globetrotters for this amazing charity project sharing our travels best kept secrets.

3 reasons why you should download the Tripbase E-books:

• it’s free… we love freebies!
• there are 500 inspirational key travel secrets from all over the world from 199 of the world's best travel bloggers + a 30-something couple that love sharing their travel adventures around the world;
• best of all, it’s for a great cause: for every Travel Secrets EBook downloaded, Tripbase will donate $1 to Charity: Water helping to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Could we all make a difference? We already take a step forward! You could help too by downloading the FREE copies of Best Kept Travel Secrets Ebooks here, it couldn't be easier, you are just a click away.

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Download Free eBooks

led by Tripbase

TRAVEL GADGET - DAMN IPHONE!

2010-05-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

For many fellow, tech travelers the I-phone is their very best travel companion, so what was holding us back to get one? USA.

We never felt the need of getting an I-phone while busy moving up the corporate ladder but we realized for traveling it could be a very handy tool: great to stay connect to the world while using application like skype or twitter, finding your way around with the compass, having translator, city guides and tons of other apps within reach to make travel more easy and enjoyable.
That’s probably why many travelers are relying on this gadget as essential part of their travels, hence why we didn’t buy one just before taking the plunge for our RTW trip? First we didn’t feel confident to bring a brand new piece of technology while backpacking through Asia and lazing around tropical beaches (see what happened to my phone when we got caught into a tropical downpour in Malaysia.. it got literally soggy). Then, we didn’t want to be trapped into expensive roaming charges while using it abroad but the most alluring part of all was its fame of being ridiculously cheap and accessible to all in the USA.

As soon as we landed in the States, we anxiously started tracking down this technological jewel. We wanted one and we wanted it cheap. Turn out it wasn’t quite as expected. It’s not a big deal the fact that officially it comes locked (we could get it unlocked once back in London for maybe GBP20) but AT&T, which is the exclusive Iphone’s distributor, would sell it only to USA residents and only with a 2-year ATT contract and it won't come cheap, damn it! There would be other “unconventional” stores where you could get your hands on Apple’s Phones, obviously paying a bit more, but could they be trusted? Would they offer any guarantee at all and how could you get in touch in case something won’t work while to the other side of the ocean?
We were going home empty handed!:-(

Are you an IPhone-travel addict?

Been RTW but now what?

2010-05-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

So this is it. Our RTW trip is Finito, Done. No more living out of a suitcase, no more with endless trip on buses, uncomfortable flights or lumpy beds but also no more snorkeling, surfing, exploring tropical forests, experiencing different cultures and discovering amazing places and people, no more fighting with the wireless connection, no more with playing tourist…wait a minute, why is that??

There is a fact that we can’t deny: Chris and I have been seriously infected by the travel bug. So although we are kinda broke that doesn’t mean we are stopping with traveling.

And you know that say “you have to lose something to know what you lost” sort of.. Well ironically we were not kick out from our beautiful Italy but since we lived abroad for so many years we feel now we have a lot to catch it up exploring our Bel Paese.

So here is the deal: first we would share our wrap-ups from this trip, there is a whole lot more to know then we actually were able to keep it up, we would travel more to Italy and keep you post it, we would share wisdom suggestions from our extensive previous trips around Europe, insights about life after a RTW trip and keep you update it on travel news.
Soon we will also reveal you few projects we have been working on in the last weeks and most importantly we would like to connect more with fellow travelers through all these social networks that are booming out there and still (shamefully) haven’t figure it out how to use it and by open it up our blog to guest bloggers, so don’t be shy.... until our next big adventure.

Ah, last but definitely not least, I know it might sound cheesy, ok ok I get to the point, we would like to THANK YOU all for having followed and supported us on this crazy journey.

That said, rest assure there will be more from ATravelAroundTheWorld.

All good things come to an end?? Screw that!

2010-05-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Time flies and here we are, on our last stop of our incredible RTW trip and Miami is just the right place to "end" our adventure.

We had few days before getting on the plane back to “reality world” and I can’t tell you how so great it was just to laze around in the beautiful warm weather on a sugary-white, endless stretch of beach washed by turquoise water without worrying where to go next or what to do or how to do it, just soak it up and explore the place.

In the hope of discovering the scenes from the popular CSI, we took a chance to stroll around Downtown, the Harbor and Miami South Beach but our attention turned to the grand luxury hotels along Collins Ave and the famous art-deco, pastel-colors architectures of South Miami Beach.

But I won’t probably remember Miami for tanning on the beach rather for its Sunday “day-of-non-rest”. Normally you would expect parting hard at Friday and Saturday nights and sleep in till late on Sunday but not in Miami. What drawn our interest on a Sunday morning walk along the beach was the loud music coming from what it appeared a very posh hotel. Nosy as I am, I dragged Chris to the entrance asking to the two picky doormen what was going on. “It’s Sunday, it’s pool party” one of the guy said. I wondered then how much was to get in but totally surprised to found out it was absolutely free. There was only a problem, the strictly dress code for men: only swimwear. So we both quickly strip down in our beach outfit and got ready to party. It was just noon but the party had already kicks it off. Fashionable girls and guys, weird people were already dancing at the spinning of grooving tracks but, after all, it had a very relaxed, easy going atmosphere. That was quite a scene!

Soon we discovered that it wasn’t the only party around Miami, free pool parties invade the scene of Miami during Sunday daylight till nighttime but at dark it’s a different matter.
Could there be any better way to celebrate our year or so of traveling?

That was it, next we were heading home. Not because our desire of discovering the world and new people has vanished, neither cause we were yet burnt out of all those traveling …only our bank accounts!

So, what’s next waiting for us out there?

COUCHSURFING - TRAVELING WITHOUT MOVING

2010-05-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a paradox, right? Elena gives us an insight on how she “travel” with the HS phenomenon

My friends look at me a mix of disbelief, skepticism and disgust on their faces. "Seriously? You'd let strangers sleep in your home, use your bathroom and leave all their germs around, and you'll get NOTHING in return? Why would you do that?" Seriously. Why would you?

I'm trying to rewind back to the moment we decided to join Couchsurfing. I won't deny it; perhaps what made us join the CS community in the first place was the possibility to travel more on a tighter budget. Maybe we initially thought that by hosting people it'd be easier to find a free couch for our own travels one day.

But looking in retrospect and being realistic, after a year of active CSing (or mostly CS hosting), I find it unlikely that we have so involved just because of "good karma". What started as a "let's build up our profile and get some references" has become a vital part of our lifestyle.

Nine months into our active CS participation we've hosted over 25 people (some coming in solo, some in groups of 2 or 3). With some overlap in countries of origin, we've had guests from around 13 countries. On the other hand, we've only surfed once and for only a few days. As much as we love traveling, we can only afford (mostly due to financial and time constraints) to travel abroad once a year and maybe for 10-15 days at best. We are not your typical backpackers; we rarely make spur-of-the-moment trip decisions, our most recent hitchhiking was in the last century and we do have a problem with sleeping at train stations. And with age catching up with us and the topic of starting a family firmly on the agenda - we're definitely not the kind of people who are into CS only for the free accommodation.

So, you could say that we've already hosted more than we can possibly plan to surf ourselves in the foreseeable future. You could tell us that we could easily stop hosting, and probably find us a bit crazy for continuing to do so. Why open the door to your home to so many people when you know you'll never knock on that many doors?

It's actually quite simple. Because having 'strangers' stay with you really changes you and your life for the better. For us, hosting people has done many amazing things, perhaps even as amazing as the kind of things you experience when you travel.
First of all, it has gotten us out of our comfort zones. You see, that "ick factor" is all in your head. The same germs you believe a ‘stranger’ will leave behind can also be a leave-behind gift from a friend or relative (before you protest, think about this). We've had friends and family ask us whether we're not afraid that a guest will try to rob us. But really, if someone wanted to rob us, would they really go into the trouble of traveling to our home from god-knows-where to do it? The amount of trust involved in CS is actually quite spectacular, and there are control mechanisms in place. Then, there are the remarks about why would we spend our free time with transient people we'll probably never see again. To those I sometimes respond with a counter question: "Isn't that the same as traveling somewhere? You know you won't move to that country and you're still going to visit?"

The second thing hosting is doing for us is the new-found enthusiasm about our city. Through the eyes of our guests, we've fallen in love with places we barely knew in our own city, we've seen things in a different light and have decided what it is we most like about the place we call home.

The third and most important benefit of being a generous host is quite awesome. For those with economic hats on, listen up: the reward side of hosting is far from being a big fat zero. Yes, we haven't made a cent, but we feel way richer. Hosting people to us is like traveling without moving. Of course, as with everything in life, it's what you make of it. Hosting a couchsurfer can be a purely mechanical process where you offer a place to crash, exchange pleasantries and part ways at the end of it. But if you want it to, having "strangers" over can truly be as enjoyable as traveling even if you have no passport stamps to show for it. The chances of us making it to, say, Brazil are pretty slim at the moment, but we recently hosted a girl who lives there and who painted a better picture of living in the Brazilian rainforest than any guidebook can ever do, including the feeling of mold on your clothes. Through the experiences and stories shared with our guests, we've met the Kyrgyz nomads, drank homemade Italian limoncello, posed for a drawing by a French illustrator, ate Catalan fuet and Estonian chocolate buttons, learned about the Israeli military service system, watched black and white Turkish movies and so much more. Now, that, to us - is priceless. The time we've spend with our guests has been the next best thing to traveling.

So open the door to let the world come in, sit on your couch and tell its story. Happy hosting journeys!

Do you couchsurfing? Have you already crashed on someone floors or being a host before? What are the do and don’t? Be our next guest-blogger.

About the Author

Elena Kostovska is an avid couchsurfer documenting CS hosting experiences at CouchLog.com.

Follow her on Twitter @couchlog

New York City great urban beaches

2010-05-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

The following is a sponsored post by NYCGO.

New York is full of quirky surprises or at least for non-New Yorkers. In fact, did you know that you could get some sand in your toes in New York City?

I just received an email from the guys running the NYC official website who probably knows the city the best and I was surprised to discover that you could sunbathe, chill out and get your head spinning at the sounds of DJs in NYC urban beaches. But hey don’t go swimming!

Hop on the water taxi and check out these spots.

South Street Seaport (New Beer Garden)

Water Taxi Beach South Street Seaport opened for its second season last Friday April 30th kicking off with the Friday Afterwork Party.
Stop by and catch some rays, build a sand castle, grab a drink or play a round of miniature golf. Enjoy the spectacular view of the Brooklyn Bridge and just have some fun.

New this Summer is the Beer Garden, opening today May 5th with a Cindo de Mayo Blowout. Hosted by the Dos Equis Models, get ready for Cinco de Mayo favorites including quesadillas, nachos, burritos and more. Rumor has it there may be some pinata action too. Get ready to enjoy an expanded beer menu and respectfully priced food to pair it with. Check out this weekend's DJ/Event schedule.

Long Island City

Water Taxi Beach Long Island City opens for its sixth season last Saturday May 1st. Just a 3-minute Water Taxi ride from midtown, it features spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, stunning sunsets, beach volleyball, burgers, pitchers of sangria... and did we mention award-winning burgers? This Saturday night marks the return of New York City's biggest outdoor dance party with resident DJ Victor Franco. This year LIC boasts a brand new tent, new seating, cabanas, new bars and all new sound system!

Governors Island

Water Taxi Beach Governors Island (WTB GI) is the premier outdoor live music venue in New York City. WTB/GI will be open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning on Friday June 4 with food, drink, volleyball, basketball and live music, and during the week for special live concerts.

Have you visit these waterfronts before, kick back, have a cocktail alongside with great Manhattan views? Do you know any other hidden beaches or way to get there?

See you on the Beach!