Buenos Aires is an amazing vibe city, specially at night

Highlights
If you do stop off on your cruise in Buenos Aires then you may feel slightly overwhelmed at the many amazing sights and activities on offer, so here is a round up of some of the main highlights to give you an idea where to start:
* Plaza de Mayo – this is the main square in the city and a great starting point for a sightseeing tour as it has a number of excellent examples of colonial architecture and is close to many of the main pedestrian shopping areas of Calle Florid and Lavalle.
* La Recoleta Cemetery – this is the main resting place of Argentina’s most famous daughter Eva Peron, and is a mecca for many Argentineans and also visitors interested in the often turbulent history of the country. This is often combined with a visit to the Museo Evita (Eva Perón Museum)

Plaza de Mayo is a good starting point for a Buenos Aires tour

* Docklands – Buenos Aires has a rich maritime history, and this area is full of historic buildings and museums and nearby is also Puerto Madero, one of the cities major regeneration projects.
* Jardin Japones – the translates to the ‘Japanese Gardens’ and is an oasis of calm and reflection in this sometimes chaotic city, so is the perfect place for a relaxing stroll.
* Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes - the National Arts Museum has an excellent reputation and there a number of wonderful exhibits on both South American arts and also important pieces of art from all over the world.

Shopping
Buenos Aires has a number of excellent shopping facilities, and this is one of the favorite pastimes of many of the more wealthy inhabitants of the city. You can buy almost anything you like here, including the latest designer clothing, antiques, stunning gold and silver jewellery and traditional leather handicrafts. For those shoppers that love a bargain there are also a number of thrift shops and markets filled with all kind of affordable trinkets, clothes and odds and ends.

Dining Out
Argentina is famous for its steak, and Buenos Aires has a number of excellent parilla (grill) restaurants ideal for meat lovers. There are also a good number of cosmopolitan restaurants and cafes also, with sushi and South Asian foods being very popular, and of course there are coffee houses all over the place selling fine freshly ground South American coffee. Local delicacies include empanada which are tasty little pastries sold everywhere and dulce de leche, a delicious sweet toffee.

Borges used to go at Cafe Tortoni, and nowadays he has a statue there

When to Go
Buenos Aires can get very hot and sticky in the summer, which can make it a little uncomfortable to go out sight seeing in the day, and the winters can get surprising chilly so the best time to visit is the spring, (Sept through to Nov) when the weather is warm and bright, and the city lively and full of seasonal festivals.

Additionally, guests staying for seven nights or longer can get up to 3 nights free plus a $250 Red Lane Spa Credit at select locations! Please see details of this amazing offer below.

Booking Window: Now – November 30 th, 2009

Travel Window: Now – December 28, 2010

Blackout Dates: December 27 – 31, 2009 & February 13 – 20, 2010

Minimum Stay: 3 nights

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

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

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

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

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

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

Angel Fire New Mexico is a small town but a hugely popular ski resort destination. The actual population of Angel Fire is around 1,000 but thousands more visit every winter to take on the beautiful ski slopes that reach 10,000+ feet in height. Lodging and skiing at Angel Fire is a family tradition for many in the South West, but ski enthusiasts from around the world visit every year.

Deep canyons and crystal clear sunny skies make Angel Fire a breathtakingly beautiful place to visit. The soft blankets of snow also make fantastic ski slopes and snowboarding slopes. There are a number of other activities in the area as well, if you prefer not to ski. Also, you never need to worry about being an amateur because there are plenty of teachers willing to teach beginners how to ski like an expert!

Where to Eat in Angel Fire

Since Angel Fire is a small town you won’t be able to jaunt over to the next huge city too quickly for a bite to eat. There are plenty of delectable little restaurants in the area though, such as Country Club Restaurant, Sand Wedge, Country Club Bar & Grill, a bakery, and a few other hometown favorites. The resort hotel also has a restaurant inside if you prefer not to eat away from the hotel.

Essentials

Angel Fire is small but it does have everything you need to be healthy and safe during your vacation. The great thing is that there are minimal distractions to keep you from relaxing!

Shopping

There are plenty of little shops in Angel Fire, New Mexico to keep you stocked for your holiday vacation. If you forget something, one of the shops is guaranteed to have it! Even if you forgot your beloved ski shoes, there is a ski shop in town to meet your needs.

When to Visit

Anytime is a great time to visit Angel Fire, but there are many festivals that are held throughout the year. If you want to catch them you should check their website to stay up to date on the Hot Air Balloon festival held there yearly, as well as a Chamber Music Festival. Traveling in the summer presents many wonderful opportunities and may be preferred by those who don’t like snow!

Unique Things to Try

One of the most unique things that Angel Fire offers is Night Skiing. Since the sun sets here so early skiers often miss out on plenty of precious ski hours. Now you can ski in the middle of the night! Don’t worry its safe!

You can also go tubing at Angel Fire, which is basically like sledding down a huge slope for hundreds of feet! This can also be done during the night hours, so there is plenty of entertainment to be had even after dark.

Angel Fire is definitely a unique and fun place to visit. Best of all, its pretty cheap for any visitor!

1. Mall of America, Minneapolis

Almost everyone has heard of the Mall of America, but many people have yet to experience it. This 520+ store behemoth is the grand-daddy of all shopping malls. Literally everything you could possibly think of is available for sale at the Mall of America. Obviously due to the massive tourism industry surrounding the Mall, prices are fairly high. However, for most people, the experience is well worth the price. If you can’t afford to drop much money, visiting the Mall of America can still be very fun, even if you only go for a day. There are so many activities and things to see that you will find it hard to get bored.

2. Madison Avenue, NYC

Though there are many hot places to shop in the NYC, some of the most legendary and prestigious stores are headquartered on Madison Avenue. Many of the worlds best designers, such as Dior, Armani, Prada, Ralph Lauren, and others have stores on this well-known street. If you do go to New York, be sure to check out Fifth Ave as well, where you will find Tifanny’s, Saks, and other must-see stores.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada

Though Las Vegas is known primarily for it’s gambling, there are a lot of shopping destinations near the Strip. This is mainly because when people win money they want to spend it, so high-end stores locate themselves as close to casinos as possible. Visit Las Vegas to see legendary stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstroms, and much, much more. Whether you’re a gambler or not, shopping in Vegas can be very enjoyable.

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

Antigua beaches are many and are wonderful

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

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

Sailing in Antigua is a must do if you are there

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

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

Antigua Harbor by the capital St John

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

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

How to Enter:
Entry is easy if you have a facebook account already.
You just have to join their facebook fan club. More details.

Competition Closing Date:
25th December 2009

Win:
Up for grabs in the latest free to enter comp from Comet is a 2 night break to Disneyland Resort Paris for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids aged 3 to 11). You will be travelling standard class on return Eurostar direct to Disneyland Resort Paris from London St Pancras International or Ashford International. The prize includes accommodation for two nights in a standard room at a Disneyland Resort Hotel including continental breakfast and park hopper adult and child tickets to both Disney Parks for the duration of your stay

How to Enter:
Just sign up for the Comet newsletter :
http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/advice/849/Disney-Newsletter

Competition Closing Date:
17th December 2009

1. Leave yourself plenty of time

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

2. Carry local currency

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

3. Plan out your days

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

Tourists and locals enjoy their day at The Green House, a cannabis cafe in downtown Amsterdam

Virtually everywhere you go in Amsterdam you will see what locals and tourists call “Cannabis Cafe’s”. These coffee shops serve all the usuals – mocha’s, latte’s, americano’s, and one unique product – marijuana. You can buy it in many forms, including joints, baked goods, or just in its natural state. Whether you’ve smoked marijuana before or not, Amsterdam can be a very exciting place to visit.

Contrary to popular opinion, legal marijuana is not the only reason to visit Amsterdam. The city is the capital of the Netherlands, and one of the largest cities in Europe. Tourism is booming in the Amsterdamn area (there were over 3.6 million foreign visitors in 2009 alone), so there is a lot of funding going towards the improvement of the town and surrounding areas. This means that you, the tourist, get to enjoy all the sights, smells, and tastes of this wonderful city, whether you choose to indulge in cannabis or not.

Regardless of your stance on marijuana consumption, there is no arguing that Amsterdam is a beautiful, fun city. There are so many sights too see and places to visit that you could literally spend a week just wandering around, and still be far from seeing everything interesting. In fact, Amsterdam is widely considered to be one of the most scenic places in Europe by many people.