BOOK EARLY
Whether your designated travel dates seem to be very far as if pushed to the next century, booking early will help you avoid the unnecessary last minute rushes which may be inconvenient and pricey. Remember the saying ‘the early bird catches the worm’? Well in this case be the early bird and grab the fattest deals available. Remember as the holiday seasons approach, prices rise significantly and there may be no deals. If you save on the cost of airfares and the holiday villas you’re staying in then you will have more to spend on the other side.

LEAVE EARLY
During peak travel periods a lot may happen on your way to the airport including traffic jams, full parking lots, and long queues and absent shuttles. Rather than striving to arrive at the airport early you should leave your house early so that you will be able to navigate through the traffic and any other arising delays without the fear of missing your flights. In this way your holidays will start in a relaxed manner without rushing hustles.

PACK WISELY
Packing light is always recommended to avoid excessive charges on too much baggage. If you are travelling to sunny destinations you will not need to pack heavy clothing. Avoid buying things that you can find on the other end as they will increase the weight of your luggage unnecessarily. Alternatively you can shop online and have your travel goods shipped to your destination and avoid excess charges at the airport.

CONSIDER PACKAGE DEALS
If you plan to travel during the peak seasons you may consider package deals as they are often more competitive during this time as the demand is high. You will be surprised that bundled pricing will offer you unbelievable deals to your destination which will make you save a few bucks.

PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is important when travelling as it offers you a safe ground if anything goes wrong while you are on holiday. In as much as we want everything to go smoothly, planning for the worst does not necessarily mean that disasters will strike but rather ensure that you do not stand to lose everything when it strikes. Travel insurance covers medical fees are covered if you fall ill, refunds are made if flights are cancelled or delayed and replacement of lost or stolen items. If you are armed with a great travel insurance cover you are able to enjoy your holidays free of worries if anything may happen. It helps you to enjoy your holidays even better.

5 Travel Tips to Make the Holidays Better than Ever is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

Take a trip to the island of Rhodes which is the Capital of the Dodecanese group of islands and experience its mystifying historical sites well in-cooperated with modern structures. The lush valleys, hills and ancient towns are unrivalled. It is an action packed destination with a special blend of traditions and cosmopolitan flare that is unforgettable. The old town of Rhodes is one of the largest medieval towns in Europe and a confirmed UNESCO World Heritage site. As you peruse through the medieval city which is still inhabited with bustling squares you not only get a glimpse into the ancient civilizations of Greece but also feel like you stepped back in time within the medieval walls. Also known as the City of the Knights, there is no other place in the world that can rival its fascinating history and breathtaking natural sceneries.

Thessaloniki is the second largest city of Greece built near the sea and is a modern metropolis that features traces of its stormy history whilst its cosmopolitan character gives it unique charming beauty. Its importance in the Byzantine era is quite significant with its host of byzantine monuments, some would even consider it an open air museum of the same period. Wandering through its streets is a worthwhile experience as you come face to face with ancient structures that you have never even imagined such as the Heptapyrgion Castle, the Ottoman monuments, the ancient churches and the mosques of Hamza Bey Cami.

Santorini is a volcanic island located in the Cyclades group of islands and is one of the most popular destinations for those taking holidays to Greece. It is famed for its dramatic views, stunning sunsets, whitewashed houses and its very own active volcano. It is a great alternative to the Central American Islands as it has everything to offer anyone, from fine beaches to cliff hanging villages, scenic wine country and of course the legendary sunsets.
Though it is home to picturesque villages the most popular are Firá and Oia which seem to cling tightly on the rugged cliff sides overlooking the turquoise waters. Hundreds of trails interconnect the villages in such a comprehensive manner though one can opt to use a mule or a cable car to explore the quaint villages featuring cobbled lanes and white washed cubic houses with blue rooftops.

Whether it is the sun you are looking for, beaches, sites or even holiday fun, the Greece islands are truly unrivalled.

Greece: Europe’s Answer to Central American Islands is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

Get to know what is covered
Group travel insurance is similar to the normal travel cover but in this case it involves a larger group of people. A great group insurance cover should cover all the basics including luggage loss, flight cancellations, medical emergencies, loss of money or personal items such as phones and cameras.
If you are to engage in group activities that may be considered risky by the insurers, you need to be aware. Whether you plan to ski, scuba dive, and hike or participate in mountain climbing activities you have to ensure that you are covered in any sport you indulge in. This may seem very expensive upfront but in case anyone of your group members get hurt it would mean that you can afford the medical fees in a foreign country.

Bargain with the Insurer
Always remember that nothing is ever fixed when it comes to travelling. Since you are travelling as a group you should not hesitate to pick up the phone and negotiate the price with the insurer, ask for any available discounts that may apply to your group. You may be surprised to find that since you are getting a cover for a higher number of people, you could get additional benefits such as higher amount of baggage cover than from a standalone single trip policy.

Get To Know the Common Exclusions
To avoid nasty travel experiences it is better to study the exclusions carefully: get to know the age limits of the policy, the parts of the state where certain members come from and whether they are applicable to your policy and other nasty finely printed exclusions that will leave you stranded in a foreign country without knowing what to do. The devil is always in the detail.

Compare Different Quotes
Never take the first policy that appears on your screen, rather shop around for the same policy and come up with the best available deal in the market. Seek to compare the look-alike covers from several companies and get one that covers all your areas of concerns and balances with low excesses and has an affordable premium price. Some policies may appear similar but the fine print can make a world of a difference.

Save Money With Group Travel Insurance is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

The Islets of Granada is a group of 365 small islands scattered across Nicaragua’s Asese peninsula.  The islets were formed when the Mombacho volcano erupted some 20,000 years ago. The eruption led to the Mombacho volcano losing most of its cone which were thrown into the lake. Most islets are blanketed by unusual vegetation and have a thriving bird life. Tourists often visit these islets for their private beach resorts and ecotourism opportunities.

Hotels, shops, and boating tours have already been set up in some of these islets. They will make touring of the islets easier. The Fort of San Pablo is also something to look forward to at the Islets of Granada. It’s an 18^th century fort built on one of the islets to protect Granada from pirates.

The Cerro Negro volcano is but one of Nicaragua’s many volcanoes. You can take a hike, go climbing, or set up a camp at Cerro Negro’s grounds. You can even go swimming at the volcano’s crater lakes. Lately, sand skiing has been the trending activity at Cerro Negro. No other Nicaragua volcano provides sand skiing opportunities.

The Apoyo Lagoon is yet another highlight of tourism in Nicaragua. When the Apoyo Volcano erupted about 23,000 years ago, a huge crater formed nearby and slowly filled with water. Eventually, this water filled crater was named the Apoyo Lagoon. A number of water sports thrive at the lagoon but kayaking is a favorite among tourists. Surrounding the lagoon are several restaurants where you can dine after an adventurous day.

Images 1 and 2 from Flickr.

The Highlights Of Nicaragua is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

Another surprising fact about El Salvador is that it’s the smallest country in Central America. Despite this, it is the region’s most heavily populated country. And since El Salvador is in Lonely Planet’s top ten places to visit last 2010, the country is loaded with even more surprises in store for travelers who haven’t been there before.

If you never dived into water sports before, El Salvador will make you fall in love with it. Whether it’s surfing, sailing, kayaking, water skiing, canoeing, boat excursions, or whitewater rafting, El Salvador has it all! Before you get into any of these adventures, be polite and introduce yourself to the country’s beaches. Go ahead and take a swim. El Salvador’s beaches are some of Central America’s finest. After you’ve become acquainted with the El Salvador’s seawater, take a boat excursion to the Gulf of Fonseca for a chance to see nearby volcanic islands as well as some wild dolphins and sea turtles.

After swimming in El Salvador’s beaches and taking a boat excursion to the Fonseca Gulf, work your way into water sport activities. I personally think that it’s best to go with sailing and surfing first before taking on more extreme water sports which will literally make your heart skip a beat.

Not many travelers are fond of hiking and trekking too but El Salvador will make you think twice if you’re one of them. Hiking and trekking along the paths of La Puerta del Diablo, for example, gives you the opportunity to see the Ilopango Lake and the twin peaked Chinchontepeq Volcano. Both of which are iconic landmarks of El Salvador. Besides hiking and trekking, zip lining and rappelling are two more extreme activities that will jumpstart your nerves during your stay in El Salvador.

Image 2: Jorge Quinteros

El Salvador: Make Your Heart Skip A Beat is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

For starters, you can go shopping at the Chichicastenango Market. The Chichicastenango Market is no ordinary shopping center or fresh produce market. Rather, it is a market with an assortment of stores and stalls selling a wide variety of products. Every Thursday and Sunday, the Chichicastenango Market transforms into a chaotic place as the Quiche Maya and other Guatemalan vendors come here to sell handcrafted items. A popularly purchased item is the women’s blouse made by the Maya women.

If you happen to love the handcrafted items sold by modern day Mayans at the Chichicastenango Market, perhaps you could learn more about their culture and history by exploring Maya ruins located within Guatemala. Present day Guatemala used to be the same soil where some of the greatest ancient Mayan cities stood. Tikal and El Mirador are the ruins left behind by these great cities of the Maya civilization. Tours to these Maya ruins can be arranged in cities like Guatemala or Flores.

Pacaya Volcano is probably Guatemala’s most climbed volcano. It’s one of those places that may just convince you to have a vacation at Guatemala. The Pacaya Volcano rises to an altitude of 8,731 feet. At the very top of the volcano, you can peer into its mouth. Having been active since 1965, this makes a climb up the volcano even more exciting. You can climb the volcano all by yourself. However, it’s advisable that you take a tour guide with you so you won’t get lost.

The Maya ruins, Pacaya Volcano, and the Chichicastenango Market should be enough reasons to convince you why taking a trip to Guatemala is worth your time and your money. But Guatemala still has so many other attractions waiting to be explored.

Why Traveling To Guatemala Is Worth It is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

Hitting the beaches is a common favorite among locals and tourists of Costa Rica. While many find the country’s beaches irresistible for swimming, more people prefer adventurous feats like sailing, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. But Costa Rica’s water adventures don’t end here. Remember, there are still lakes and wild rivers dwelling in its rainforests.

Whitewater rafting is another water adventure sport that you can take on in Costa Rica. The country’s whitewater rafting trips cater to beginners and professionals. And because of Lake Arenal’s balmy waters and strong winds, windsurfing is also something you can try inland. Lake Arenal gets an average wind speed of 40 kilometers per hour which is enough to sustain windsurfing.

Not very many Costa Rica tourists include hiking in their to do list. But if you beg to differ and would like to make the most out of your trip, why not include it? Sure, hiking gets you into shape but it does this forcibly by taking you through strenuous uphill paths. Then again, hiking lets you see Costa Rica’s hidden beauty. Through hiking, you have the rare opportunity to see canyons, mountains, waterfalls, and volcanoes like the Arenal, Poas, and Irazu. Bird watching is also something to look forward to when hiking since Costa Rica has one of the world’s most diverse aviafauna.

A Traveler’s Costa Rica To Do List is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

Mayan Ruins in Belize

The Mayans ruins in Belize are an amazing things to see.  The Mayans were among the very first settlers in Belize, leaving behind a total of five ruins. Three of them are in the country’s western region and the remaining two can be seen by heading north. Belize’s Maya ruins are no longer as perfect as those featured in the film. Even so, they are still manage to capture the eyes of thousands of tourists.

The Xunantunich Ruins is situated 130 kilometers west of Belize City, at Cayo District. It is believed to have been a major ceremonial center when the Maya occupied it from 200 to 900 AD. 40 kilometers south of the Xunantunich Ruins are two more Maya sites, El Caracol and Cahal Pech. Both of which can be found at the town of San Ignacio Cayo, still a part of Belize’s Cayo District.

Cahal Pech is one of Belize’s oldest Maya ruins as its structures date back to 1200 BC. The site once belonged to an elite Maya family who resided in the area. El Caracol is another one of Belize’s oldest Maya ruins. Evidence suggests that the site’s earliest occupants settled there in 1200 BC. El Caracol occupies a much larger area than Cahal Pech because it was one of the Maya’s most important political centers at that time.

Temple of the Masonry Altars

On the northern side of Belize, there’s the Altun Ha and Lamanai Ruins. The Altun Ha is an ancient Mayan city. It was occupied by an estimated number of 10,000 Mayans from 200 BC to 900 AD. Though not as old as the Maya ruins in western Belize, its 500 structures spread throughout 8 kilometers of Belize soil are hard to ignore. Lamanai is yet another ancient city of the Maya civilization. The city was set up some time during 16^th century BC. Spaniards tried to colonize the Lamanai but they never got to until they finally left the area in 17^th century AD.

The Mayans flourished in Belize up until 1000 AD. Their civilization never fell apart despite several attempts made by England and Spain to colonize them. Surely enough, the ruins that they left behind in Belize’s soil are the country’s best attractions. You can’t miss seeing these Maya ruins when in Belize.

The Five Mayan Ruins Of Belize is a post from Central America Travel. Central America Travel - Learning How To Travel Central America

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