Mar/100
Top 10 Tourist-Free Destinations
Author: mani
Source: articlesbase.com
Peaceful, idyllic and free of other holiday-makers, pack your bags – and your travel insurance – for a break like no other. 1. Costa Sudoeste, Portugal There’s more to Southern Portugal than the Algarve. On the south-west tip there are over 80 miles of the wildest and most spectacular stretches of coastline. Sheer, rocky cliffs are interspersed with secluded coves, while Cabo de Sao Vicente is a nature lover’s paradise. Take your binoculars and watch for otters feeding in the ocean, rare storks’ nests and eagles soaring overhead. 2. Asmara, Eritrea Thanks to a brief period of Italian occupation, this historic capital city is littered with art deco buildings, modernist masterpieces, colonial villas and continental café culture. Marvel at the futurist Fiat Tagliero building, stroll down Asmara’s picturesque boulevards or hang out with laid back Asmarinos. 3. Cape Wrath, Scotland Wild, windy and completely unspoilt, with nothing more than deer and sea birds, Cape Wrath marks the most north-west point on the British mainland. You’ve got to be hardy for these parts. Visitors reach the cape via a small ferry and minibus ride across desolate moorland. A lighthouse will be the only welcome sign in this untouched wilderness. 4. Samarkand, Uzbekistan Once a crucial stop on the Silk Road, Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. The musk, fine fabrics and jewels are long gone, but the majestic Registan remains – a building to rival the Taj Mahal as one of the finest in the world. The city’s mosque is also an architectural legacy of the city’s medieval might. 5. Kakheti, Georgia Fine wine and cuisine, coupled with traditional viticulture makes the wine region of Georgia a must. Sip from a clay cup, sing along to folksongs and devour hot, spicy Georgian food. A tour to Kakheti, the main wine-growing region, will allow you to meet the locals and explore 300-year-old cellars. Travel during September and October to participate in the harvest. 6. Jaisalmer, Serai Desert, India A desert adventure is on the cards at the Serai camp, just outside Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Set on 30 acres of Great Thar Desert scrub, the only way to reach the camp is by camel, cart or foot along a sand track. Visit the fabled kingdom of Jaisalmer, or take a trip to the Mulana Dunes before sleeping under the stars. 7. New Ireland, Papua New Guinea This tropical island hideaway lies directly north of Australia. Like its namesake, this Ireland is also an emerald isle, but one cast in an emerald sea. Mysterious and beautiful, New Ireland’s unspoilt beaches and fishing villages can only be reached by plane. But once you’ve landed, it’s easy to fall into Melanesian life. With diving, surfing, fishing and sailing on offer, it’s hard to believe this is one of the least visited countries on earth. 8. Lentiira, Finland Close to the Russian border, the spruce and pine forests of this wilderness town in north-east Finland are populated by the elusive brown bear. Set up camp in a private hide and observe large brown paws clawing their way through wild mushrooms and toadstools. Swap the wilderness for a lakeside lodge and unwind with a traditional Finnish sauna. 9. Butrint National Park, Albania Close to the Albanian port of Saranda, Butrint’s dramatic cliffs, caves and harbours make it well worth the visit. The Park’s surrounding lake region is a sanctuary for rare species such as the loggerhead sea turtle. It also contains the ancient city of Butrint, a World Heritage Site and one of the least known truly visit-worthy locations in the Mediterranean. 10. Ardennes, France One of the most under-explored and over-looked regions of France – drive through the mountainous Ardennes in the north-west to discover idyllic riverside villages and secluded lakeside beaches. After you’ve soaked up the dramatic scenery of the Meuse and Semoy Valleys take a boat out and learn to fish, or cycle through the beautiful French countryside. Note: Some of these suggestions are for the truly adventurous who want to visit destinations where Westerners are rare. In such places it’s always a good idea to check out the Foreign Office’s latest travel advice before planning your trip
Dec/090
Discount Travel Online: But Don’t Count Your Time Comparing Prices
Author: Donald Pyle -
Source: articledashboard.com
Check out this scenario. You’ve wanted to take a week off next month for that well-deserved vacation, which you have postponed several times because you just couldn’t get away. But that inner voice is now shouting, “It’s now or never!”
OK. But where and how do you get the best bargain? You want the best price! Do you have to spend 3 to 4 hours hopping from search engine to search engine? The thought almost makes you want to stay home!
NO, you do not have to spend hours researching. Your own time is far more valuable than that. Learning and following just a few guidelines will you hours of research from the beginning.
Three hours of research may save you $5 one each airline reservation. At this point in time (market circumstances will change and also these guidelines will change), being aware of the following guidelines should save you hours of searching.
1) The most expensive tickets are for days and times when more people are traveling.
2) The most expensive tickets are for prime destinations during prime events.
3) Passengers can expect to pay more for tickets purchased at short notice.
4) Likewise, you’ll pay more if you feel you have to book flights weeks or months in advance.
From this information it’s fairly obvious that you won’t get the bargains if you travel during vacation time when lots of others are competing for those seats. If your destination is a popular vacation spot during prime vacation time, you won’t see the bargains. If you fly tomorrow, you probably will pay a premium for the seat. If you have to secure your seat weeks or months in advance to guarantee your place, don’t expect a bargain price.
Where are the bargains?
1) Be flexible and travel when others don’t, or travel to locations that are not prime vacation destinations.
2) Don’t wait until the last minute and don’t book earlier than 14 days out. Remember that airlines charge a premium if you book as far out as 4 months or more.
3) From time to time airlines offer special promotional deals. Frequently check independent travel sites that specialize in travel tips and resource information.
4) Sign up to receive e-mail from specific airlines as an interested customer. The company will notify you of their travel promotions.
Finally, may I offer a few words to those of you who do not have the luxury of flexibility in your travel? You can shop around a bit if you wish, but honestly, you probably won’t find the bargains on search engines or from the airlines themselves. All the online booking engines gather their information from the same source, the airlines. When you find a site that offers something of value in addition to ease of booking, just stay for awhile with that site as a devoted customer. Every six months or so, check out a few to assure that your favorite is still competitive and offers quality service.
When you really want to find those discount airline tickets, you may be tempted to do your own thorough search and visit a dozen online search engines. Don’t waste your time. It is unusual to find ticket prices that vary more than a few dollars. Invest your time by learning a few simple facts and trust in your favorite travel agency.