Monday 31 December 2012

Visit Some of the Best Beaches in Brazil

By 


If you're headed to South America for a holiday this year, chances are you're planning a stop in Brazil. Known for its incredible parties, beautiful beaches and exciting culture, Brazil draws in more than five million people from around the world every year. Sao Paulo is a an incredible city and the focal point for those travelling on business while many tourists will know Rio de Janeiro and its famous Christ the Redeemer Statue as the destination of choice.
Wherever you end up in Brazil, make sure you make the most of the sun and the sand at a few of the country's top beaches. Check out these spots during your stay and soak in the very best that the country has to offer.
Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro
Sinatra fan or not, Ipanema beach is one of Rio de Janeiro's most iconic - and for a reason. Ipanema isn't just a beach; the restaurants, cafes and shops that line the shore are all part of the city's culture that most lose themselves in. Despite its reputation it can make for a quiet and relaxing day trip during the week and is one of the most scenic shores in the world.
Itapoan Beach, Salvador
Golden sands, a rocky shore and a beautiful little lighthouse on Salvador's Itapoan beach are enough for many who want to rest by the water for the day. There are a nice selection of restaurants and lots of small, naturally formed rock pools where you can dip your feet in and enjoy some sun.
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
One of the most famous in Rio de Janeiro and the world, with yet another name popularised in song, Copacabana is a 4km long beach with a vibrant and lively promenade that has been a staple of the beach for more than forty years since its completion. Hotels, nightclubs and restaurants thrive on its shores and Copacabana is set to be one of the Olympic Zones in the 2016 games.
Cotovelo Beach, Natal
Cotovelo beach's calm waters and picture-perfect skies overhead make it perfect for families and couples who want to relax with a drink or lunch at one of the restaurants by the shore. Nearby resorts offer some of the best stays in Natal and you won't be disappointed with the views from the eateries and cafes nearby.
What are you waiting for? Dig your toes into the sand and wade out into the beautiful blue waters at some of Brazil's top beaches. There's no better place to lose yourself during your South American journey and, with plenty of culture and an unrivalled nightlife, you'll never forget your stay.
Latin Link offer amazing escorted tours of Brazil. Find out more here.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7431013

Sunday 30 December 2012

The Top 3 Reasons You Should Take a Walking Tour in Spain

By 


Walking tours are a favorite pastime of tourists in every corner of the globe. Whether you have just a few days to enjoy your destination, or time is simply a word, engaging in a walking tour allows you to take in the culture, beauty, and history of your locale in a relaxed yet efficient manner. Ranging from casual half-day trips to intense month-long treks, walking tours offer an engaging experience to individuals on every end of the fitness spectrum. Some world travelers have even made it their personal goal to traverse the most famous trails and treks on Earth, routes like those of the Triple Crown in the United States, the El Camino de Santiago in Spain, and the Great Ocean Road in Australia. Regardless of your goals for touring and travel, here are our top three reasons why you should start your journey with walking tours in Spain.
1) El Camino de Santiago
The El Camino de Santiago is possibly the most famous route on the planet. For thousands of years, pilgrims of diverse faiths from around the world have traveled a path to honor Saint James, whose remains are believed to be held at the Cathedral de Santiago in the Galician region of northwestern Spain. With a variety of routes to choose from, the most of popular starting in Paris and running 800 km, the El Camino to Santiago is an incredible way to enjoy a walking tour in Spain and an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.
2) The Vibrant Culture
Spanish culture is as rich and vibrant as the gorgeous sunsets lingering over the Galician horizon. There is never a dull moment in Spain, and you will be hard pressed to go a day without experiencing something beautifully unique. From the rich colors and passion of flamenco dancing in the southern Andalusia region, to a rustic lifestyle found in the old medieval towns of Castilla y Leon, Spain's uniquely varied culture will take your breath away time and time again. Enjoying a walking tour in Spain is easy and stress-free when every place you visit is more magical than the last.
3) The Breathtaking Scenery
Few places on Earth can compare to Spain's breathtaking scenery. As varied as it's culture, Spain's landscape offers every imaginable delight, from golden beaches, to rolling hillsides, to majestic mountains running down rugged coastline. Taking a walking tour in Spain is a new experience every time, and you can't spend a day here without basking in the wonder of this incredible land. Circle a medieval castle on Monday, cross a mountain range on Tuesday, go surfing on Wednesday, and start down the El Camino to Santiago on Thursday. No other country in Europe can offer the variety you will find in Spain.
As you can see, seasoned travelers and excited tourists alike can benefit from taking a walking tour through Spain. From the exotic scenery to the vibrant culture to the historic El Camino to Santiago, no other destination will satisfy your sense of beauty and adventure quite like Spain.
Monica Rooney Riestra grew up in the Spain's northwest Galician region, and is the founder and owner of Adiante Travel. With degrees in both Tourism Administration and International Business, Monica is using her expertise and experience to present travelers with once in a lifetime experiences. Offering guided walking tours of El Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, Adiante Travel provides pilgrims and tourists alike with everything they need to experience the beauty, culture, and spirituality of this historic journey.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7386228

Saturday 29 December 2012

How to Buy the Right Camping Gear to Suit Your Needs

By 


Purchasing gear for your backpacking or camping trips is not rocket science. However, it's not a piece of cake also because there are literally thousands of products and models to choose from. For a first time camper, it can be a difficult task to pick the right tent, the right sleeping bag and sufficient cooking supplies. On the other hand if you are an experienced camper, then it will be an easy job for you since you will know what to look for.
However, this is just the first step of buying camping gear. If you are on a budget, then you will have to look around, compare and research properly on the right goods. As there are a lot of brands and products in this category, the search can be mind-boggling. Therefore, visit tons of online stores; compare various models of the products that you have shortlisted and read user reviews. Reading what others have to say is an extremely helpful in guiding you to make the right decision. If you buy from Amazon, you will definitely come across several reviews on popular items. Don't forget to read those as they will help you make the right buying decisions.
In this article, we will quickly see the basic steps of selecting the right camping gear.
1. The first step is to jot down your specific needs. This will include the destination where you are planning to go, the climate of the place, and duration of stay. Along with this, you should ensure that you are including all the people who are going with you on the shopping list as well. You don't want to end up with one sleeping bag for four people!
2. Secondly, you need to list the essential items that you will need on the trip. This can be slightly tricky for first time campers because they might not know what all things are essential on a camping trip. You can ask friends or family for suggestions because you will know at least one person who has gone on a camping trip before. If in any case you don't of anyone who has, then you can always rely on the Internet to come to your rescue. There are hundreds of articles online which will tell you exactly what all you need. As a matter of fact, there are city or area specific resources as well which guide tourists on various aspects of the place to better prepare them for any problems.
3. Thirdly, you should go online and use price comparison websites to help you get the best deals on the all the items that you want. Shopping online has other benefits as well. For instance, nearly all good shopping websites like Amazon or Best Buy will have plenty of user reviews to guide others on the community. You can refer to these testimonials and know each and every detail about the product that you intend to buy. Sales and discounts are another good feature of shopping online.
My family loves going camping and buys all their camping gear from Jungle Reef Outdoors. We found their prices to be quite low compared to most big brands out there in the market.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7441039

Friday 28 December 2012

Some Reasons to Go Camping

By 


We live in a developed world where cities are growing faster than the hair on your head. Trees are being cut every day and the natural habitat of many places is in danger. Industries and factories now dot landscapes which were once home to thousands of trees, birds and animals. If you look up from your home during the night, you will be lucky to see even one star in the sky. Camping outdoors is a great opportunity to expose you to a myriad of unique experiences. You can get to enjoy the great mysteries of nature by exploring forests and mountains. The joys of sitting around a bonfire, listening to the music of birds and trees are simply fantastic. In addition to this, the clean air, noiseless atmosphere and soothing tranquility of open spaces does wonders to one's well-being. There are just so many reasons to go camping once in a while.
Some people love to go camping because they enjoy contemplating on the various aspects of life during their silent travels during the forests. As a matter of fact, Einstein was famous for taking long walks in the woods. He felt his mind worked better and that he could understand the mysteries of this universe with more clarity. Then there are some people who go camping because it keeps them humble. I remember once when I had gone camping, there was a thunderstorm brewing and when the rains finally started, we were huddled inside our tents. I kept telling myself that we stood nowhere in front of nature's fury. That night helped me appreciate all that I had and be more grateful for all my gifts.
If these reasons seem mysterious to you, there is the economic angle to camping. It works out to be cheaper than booking a hotel and spending your money there. Camping is way cheaper and if you develop a liking for it, your gear can be used again and again.
3 mistakes to avoid if you are camping for the first time
Camping is all about discovering yourself and having a good time but there are some basic pointers which every first time camper should keep in mind. These are some common mistakes which you shoud avoid:
- Get used to your camping gear - A lot of campers don't know how to properly setup their tents. Ensure that you know everything that you need to know about setting up a tent. Practice it in your backyard so that you don't end up looking like a fool when you are out in the wilderness.
- Keep a diary - another situation you would not want to be in would be to forget something important that you would need when out in the wild. Therefore, always keep a diary and ensure that you note whatever things you need so that you don't miss any crucial thing.
- Travel in safe weather - the last you want is to be trapped in a hailstorm. Therefore, ensure that you travel in safe weather.
I am out camping with my family every other weekend and buy all my camping gear online from Techniice.com. They stock camping gear from Jungle Reef Outdoors at very low prices.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7441156

Thursday 27 December 2012

Planning a Camping Expedition

By 


I am a diehard traveler and most of the best trips that I have ever been on, the worth remembering all your life, have been camping expedition. I can barely remember which hotel I had slept in the last time I had gone on a trip but I invariably remember all the details of all the camping trips that I have ever been on.
Once I had gone on a trip with some family friends to Canada and we were living in Toronto. Three days in the hotel and I started feeling as if I had not seen enough of the place. So I and this friend of mine decided to quickly rent some basic camping gear and go on a mini trip outside. And I remember nearly everything about those two days in the campsite about 50 kilometers from Toronto. The thick knee length snow, the dazzling sky at night, those bon fires and the music playing made the camping trip quite memorable. It was just so blissful to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
My point is, if you are thinking of going on a camping expedition, do not think twice. Just assemble a group of people, plan it out, and get the gear. You will have a really good time and remember it for years to come. Now you might get baffled because of the number of things that one might need or during the planning process.
Planning for a camping trip is very simple, as a matter of fact. You just need to decide where you want to go and for how many days. Take into consideration the number of people in your group, consider if any person has medical problems because camping outside requires one to be fit. Also, read up a little about the area where you intend to pitch your tent. Take a map along if necessary as it will also assist you in knowing the area better.
As for camping gear, you will need a tent, sleeping bags, cooking utensils, food and water supplies, knives and a flashlight. To equip yourself, you can also refer to camping guides and books as these will help you in making an educated decision. The guides will also help you know which stores to buy your camping gear from and how to get the best deals so that you do not end up spending a fortune on the gear.
However, my suggestion would be to keep it really basic and handle any emergencies using basic common sense. You will not need any advanced equipment. Plus, there won't be any fun left if all you do during the trip is to worry about "things". Remember, you are going camping because you want a break from the materialistic pleasures of urban living. You will be going to the hills so that you can spend some time exploring nature, spending time alone with the trees and birds of the jungle and generally have fun.
I bought a car fridge from this online camping gear store - http://www.techniice.com. I found it to be the most important thing needed for a camping trip.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7441081

Wednesday 26 December 2012

5 Effective Tips For Budget Friendly Travel Gifts

By 


If you ever visited a foreign country, you will definitely know just how important it is to bring something home for your family and friends. Aside from the pictures that you are going to show on your social media accounts, having travel gifts for people back home is a good way of bringing a remembrance of the place back home. If you are on a budget, you may be asking if it is possible to have these types of gifts. In fact, there are ways on how you can avail of budget friendly travel gifts. Here are some tips that you may want to look into.
1. Have an Interpreter
If you are in a foreign land, you want to make sure that you bridge the gap in terms of understanding each other. Having an interpreter will allow you to haggle with the price of different souvenirs found in the local souvenir shops. Most people can't haggle using the language which is why they simply bring a calculator to show the price that they desire.
2. Research Online
When you have a plan on where to go in the coming days, this can save you a lot of time and money. And while you prepare for your itinerary, you can read blogs and reviews that will give you an idea about what gifts you can purchase. Travel blogs are useful in determining which areas could offer a great price for tourists on a tough budget. You have to be careful though that you don't stick with sponsored blogs.


3. Know what is legal and illegal
It is common for some travel gifts to be confiscated in the airport. This is waste of your resources and you could even face some jail time if you are not legally conscious. Among the travel souvenirs that are most commonly illegal in different countries are stuffed animals and live animals that could be taken in as pets.
4. Don't go for tourist spots
Tourists have the tendency to purchase souvenirs immediately. Most of the time, the souvenirs found on the brochure of your travel agency are typically expensive. You want to do your own search if you want to get the most out of your money.
5. Make it simple
You don't have to be bringing in expensive gifts to your friends back home. Given that it is only a token, it really doesn't have to be too expensive. A simple keychain may already be a good travel gift. The simpler the gifts you purchase, the more friends could be receiving your gifts.
All over the world, countries invest on tourism to generate income for their governments. On the part of tourists, one of the most sought after activity is shopping for souvenirs that they could bring back home. Given that not every tourist is capable of paying for high end accommodations, it is imperative to also have a budget friendly option on your travel gifts. The simpler the travel gifts could get, the better it is for your wallet. Following these tips, you can maximize your funds traveling.
Luckies is a company that provides the best travel gifts in Europe. Now catering to an online audience, you can simply order and get the things you need from their own site.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7457607