The Staten Island Ferry is a fabulous institution. It is a huge ferry that departs from a very modern, glass enclosed terminal, holds several thousand people and in just about 20 minutes whisks you over to Staten Island, very close to the Statue of Liberty, and all this for free! One thing we really...

After a raucous night in a Belfast pub, Alli and I had just finished our breakfast when we spotted our new friend Billy. We had recently met the charismatic American on a ferry crossing from Scotland to Northern Ireland, and had shared quite a few songs and drinks into the wee hours of the mornin...

City Break to Budapest Anyone who has been to Budapest will know exactly what makes it one of Europe`s best-loved destinations; you`re really getting two cities for the price of one. Bisected by the mighty Danube the city has something of a split personality. On the west side of the river is histori...

You have lived on ground almost all your life so its about time to wake up to a new life on a boat. Houseboating has become a popular past time for both the young and old, especially attracted by the thrill of living on rivers and lakes and enjoying its green banks. Of late, housbeoating rental comp...

Airdrie is a city located in Alberta, Canada. It is just north of Calgary inside of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor. As part of Calgary`s Census Metropolitan Area It adds to area`s estimated (1,037,100 in 2004). Because Airdrie is a member community of the Calgary Regional Partnership, It also adds t...

Ah, the glamour of backpacking through Europe. Of course, the glamour comes with a price as I found in Siena, Italy. Siena Siena is located an hour or so outside of Florence, Italy. My handy dandy guidebook suggested it was a side trip that just had to be made. A medieval structure located behind pr...

Byron Bay accommodation choices are very wide, depending on your budget and preferences. If you`re visiting this beautiful Australian town and want to find a luxury accommodation spot to relax and enjoy your time here, this article will give you some ideas of where to start looking. First things fir...

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is honored to have as a guest, Ian Heydon, author, travel writer, award- winning comedy writer, artist and expert on Vanuatu, Fiji and Cook Islands Ian is here to talk to us today about his expertise pertaining to these exotic i...

Las Vegas is much more than loud slot machines, and noisy casinos. Seriously, there is so much more to do than gamble and eat from block-long food tables. Las Vegas is home to the some of the finest entertainment, attractions, shopping, and golf courses in the world. Your entertainment options are u...

Over the coming week, I hope to lead you on a journey of discovery and adventure. Briefly taking a glimpse into a past so horrid. Of haunting tales and ghastly ends that awaited so many of her most famous occupants. Firing your imagination, so that you will delve deeper into her history for you...

Do you want to get away from the stress of daily life for a few days but do not think you have the money to do it? Think again. eBay, the largest and most popular worldwide trading website, now offers people the opportunity to purchase vacation packages online at bargain prices. Stay at a b...

Portugal has always been known as the land to the left of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, caught among its traditional way of life - fishing and agriculture. But thanks to the technology and the integration, Portugal´s 91.985 km2, of which 88.944 km2 correspond to the mainland territory and the rest...

Tanzania is the focus of this short report on the new wave in cultural tourism. Tanzania has something to offer everyone; many attractions have become a magnet for tourists. Kenya seems to running a poor second to Tanzania over the past two years. Tanzania is a peaceful paradise for the tourist,...

Italy is an extremely diverse country and one of my favourites. It has a fascinating history, going back to the ancient Romans and beyond and was a cultural powerhouse during the Renaissance period. It is truly one of the cradles of Western civilization. Rome is the "Eternal City": Today a hustling ...

Mexicans are some of the most self-sufficient people on the face of the earth. The have had to be because no one comes to their rescue when they need help. They just figure out, not always perfectly, and not always the way something should be solved, how to get something fixed or done. Here is what ...

Your good health is paramount while traveling and taking simple precautions can drastically reduce your chances of falling ill. Health Insurance An insurance package that covers your health, possessions and cancellations is imperative. Immunizations Immunizations are critical ? especially if you are...

Going on vacation usually requires a form of transportation whether it`s the car, train, boat or plane. But only one type of service allows you to transport your car and your family from one destination to another. The Auto Train that runs from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida featured a fun st...

When cleaning boats with a crew on dry dock one must consider water usage and time to wash, as these will affect the variable costs of each unit cleaned. Additionally it will be important to average the number of boats of various sizes, which one expects to wash with the estimated time to wash each ...

Although just outside one of our nation?s most popular national parks, there are no glass-and-steel condominiums, no cappuccino shops, no traffic jams. Cave City retains its quaint, Kentucky hill atmosphere. Oh sure, there are the golden arches, motels, and gas stations found along any interstate hi...

With all of the choices available to you, where should you go to find the best and most affordable Prague Accommodations? I have always felt like getting the right accommodations does as much in helping or hurting a trip as anything else you do, so that makes finding them crucial. It becomes even mo...

Austria, my home country. Where do I start? I guess history is a good place and it was the Habsburg dynasty that shaped this country`s fate for many centuries. Austria is known all over the world as the setting for the Sound of Music and people instantly associate the idyllic lake and mountain scene...

A couple years back, when I was a flight student, struggling to understand and memorize all the procedures, maneuvers, scan patterns, landing pattern, and myriad other aspects of slipping the surly bonds, one of my instructors would routinely see how frazzled I was. After one notable flight, he was...

Jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, North Carolina`s Outer Banks offer visitors plenty of sand, history, and recreational activities. This 100 mile long group of islands welcomed the first European settlers, witnessed mankind`s first winged flight, and is often the first place that hurricanes visit as...

Search for the hotel So you?ve almost completed a search for your hotel where you want to stay. You have compared the price and location of each hotel, and have narrowed it down to two or three hotels. Now, how do you decide which one to choose? Choosing your hotel Each person has their own needs, d...

Fractional flying, you say. Is that division? Well, sort of. Fractional flying is where you, the customer, can own a "share" in a private jet. In most cases these shares allow you to own as much as 1/4 to as little as 1/32 of a 40 million dollar private jet. Where full ownership may be out of reach ...

Argentina is one of the most southernly located country in South America. It is situated between the Andes Mountains to the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east and south. Neighboring Argentina to the north is Brazil, and Uruguay to the Northeast. Argentina also has a hold on the Falklan...

The 5-star Parador at Cangas De Onis presents a wonderful opportunity to combine extraordinary natural surroundings and a unique cultural experience while staying in a historically significant and aesthetically beautiful hotel. The Cangas De Onis Parador is situated on a bend in the stunning Sel...

La Macarena is a typical Spanish neighborhood, full of traditional spots and characteristics which turn it into a very attractive place for tourists. This neighborhood is located towards the northern area of Sevilla, one of the most attractive regions of the country. This spot is among the main ones...

Traveling can be a lot of fun, but sometimes people are limited in their traveling options because of a budget. Here are some ways that you can save money when you traveling? which will let you bring home more gifts for your loved ones! 1. Shop around. Different travel agencies may offer different...

So my stay in the Cuban capital is rapidly coming to a close. Even the good weather seems to have taken leave. This morning it clouded over, followed by an intense downpour and now the sky is grey and the wind is blowing strongly. Unless the weather improves, I think it´s going to be a day for a mus...

It is understandable why California attracts a lot of people. There it is warm and sunny most part of the year, Los Angeles is full of movie stars, rollerblading babes can be found all over the place in Venice Beach. Even if it is exaggerated, this part of the California mystique is real and not ver...

A decade that stands out above the rest of our world?s history as a time of revolutionary changes from all over the globe - changes that even effected outer space. There was unprecedented levels of sexual freedom celebrated among the world?s youth, and teenagers around the world revolted against th...

We just arrived in the little port town of Javea, about 75 km south of Valencia. Yesterday we drove down the coast from Barcelona, stopped in Tarragona for a lovely little lunch and had a quick peak at the remains of the Roman walls. We couldn´t find the supposedly well preserved amphitheatre though...

Deemed by some as the wildest street party on the face of the planet, Carnival in Salvador, Bahia is the place to be during those five crazy days in February or March. Different from the more spectator-oriented Carnival in Rio, Carnival in Salvador puts you in the middle of the music, the dancing, ...

Loches is a very interesting town located within the region of Loire Valley, in France. This town is very attractive due to the several different antique buildings it has and the richness of its historical past. By walking around the central area of the town as well as by its surrounding country lan...

Does travel to places like Fiji, Rome, Italy, Hong Kong, Bora Bora, Paris, London, and Australia sound like something you want to do? Would you like to stroll on secluded beaches, dine in quaint little restaurants, or wander around in ancient castles? If so, becoming a travel agent may be a good cho...

Beaches in Costa Rica, like jaco, may well be one of the most important assets in the eyes of visitors. The beaches come in all sizes, shapes and types. One of the most known beaches is called Jaco. Jaco is one of the first beaches to become a real tourist magnet. It is also one of the closest b...

The best time to go to Italy could well be, well, anytime. In reality the best time is between April and June as the flood of school holidays hasnt yet hit the roads, the countryside is at its fullest bloom and the weather isnt uncomfortably hot yet. When deciding at which time of the year to go t...

If you are traveling to Hawaii in January, here are a few annual local events for you to consider adding to your itinerary. The Ka Moloka`i Makahiki (Ancient Hawaiian Games) is celebrated in the Kaunakakai Town Baseball Park & Mitchell Pauole Community Center on the island of Moloka`i. Every year ...

As a result of hosting the 2000 Summer Olympics, Sydney has become known worldwide as one of the most beautiful and friendly cities in the world with it?s Sydney Opera House on the harbor, it?s beautiful coastline, and the many great places to stay. Perhaps you?ve finally set aside time for your dr...

On my first visit to Denmark, I fell in love with the country and the city of Copenhagen. Contrary to my guidebook, you could see elephants and experience ice hockey in the dead of summer. The Hanson Brothers Upon arriving in Copenhagen, I was burned out from backpacking and looking forward to a...

More than a few times, I?ve caught myself sitting at work day dreaming about dropping everything and just jumping on a plane. In October of 2003, I did just that. Life can grind you down when you get in a rut. In my case, I had a particularly bad case of the blues in October 2003. My girlfriend a...

If you?re a budget traveler or backpacking Europe, Lagos is a cheap slice of paradise. Casa Rosa is the place for general sustenance, while Joe?s Garage is a place to let go. Casa Rosa Casa Rosa claims to be the haven for backpackers in Lagos. The more you travel, the more you know such claims ...

Samuel Johnson said it almost 300 years ago, and I still believe it today ... "If you`re tired of London, you`re tired of life." I enjoy many locations around the world, but none so much as London. It`s the center of civilization, as far as I`m concerned. If something is `happening` there, then ...

Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera have an exceptional array of attractions and activities from the Mayan ruins at Tulum to the Playa del Carmen nightlife, you will love your Mexico vacation. Here is a listing of some of the popular ones: Beaches and sport activities This area has some of th...

In a world where the news flashes daily images of war, terrorism and crime more Americans are dreaming of a safe, quiet place to call home. They imagine moving to a small town community where safety and simplicity are easy to find. Potential homebuyers between the ages of forty and sixty are the mo...

Finding the right priced airlines tickets for cheap flights is an important part of travel these days. There are many, many different options for you to take advantage of when trying to locate cheap airfare. First of all I recommend that, if possible, when planning your trip try to be flexible as to...

Well we definitely found Atlantis! This is according to Robert Sarmast. But who, exactly is Mr. Robert Sarmast? Mr. Sarmast was an architect who became fascinated with the search for lost civilizations and ancient history. For years he traveled, gathering facts in his pursuit of these ancient cultur...

First let`s start with how much cash Americans carry.

 
Under $ 20 .......  32%
$ 21--$ 50 .......  43%
$ 51--$100 .......  18%
$101--$500 .......   6%
$501--$999 .......  .6%
$1,000+ ..........  .5%

So, if you want to be in the rare 6%, just carry over a hundred bucks in your...

What Las Vegas jargon names "whales" is in fact the creme of the high rollers species. They are a handfull of people that in some opinions don`t exceed 500 individuals in the world. Las Vegas hoteliers are nuts about them; some claim four or five of those whales bet much more than the rest of the th...