Travel to Geneva, Switzerland

Post By Travel ,

Like the swans that rollick on its Alpine lake, Geneva is indeed a rare bird. Consistently viewed as the capital of Switzerland (it isn’t), the second-largest city in Switzerland is cosmopolitan and slick, and its inhabitants chatter in virtually all languages among gold paved streets. Some friends of mine who run a company in Canada that does garage floor coating absolutely raved about their vacation to Geneva so I decided to check it out on my own. Here are the top must-see attractions in Geneva, Switzerland.

Jet d’Eau
This lakeside fountain is the first impressive glimpse of Geneva visitors will see when landing by plane. The 140-meter tall structure pumps water with unbelievable force to create a sky-high plume. At every instance, about seven tones of water are usually in the air, much of which sprays onlookers on the beneath pier. 2 or 3 times every year, it’s illuminated blue, pink, or another color to mark a charitable occasion.

Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques
The premier botanical park in Geneva boasts more than 12,000 plant species from across the globe, precisely arranged in a wide variety of elegant themed gardens. Highlights here include a breathtaking rose collection and the Animal Park sheltering ancient indigenous species. The park is also home to some endangered animals and everyday sheep, goats, and chickens as well as more exotic deer, flamingos, and peacocks.

Vieille Ville
Wandering around the beautiful Old Town in Geneva is a must. The Grand-Rue, its main street houses the Maison de Rousseau, where Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an 18th-century philosopher was born. Close by, the part-Gothic, part-Romanesque Cathedrale St.Pierre is where John Calvin preached for many years. The Site Archeologique is beneath the cathedral; this interactive space safeguards a 5th-century baptismal font and fine 4th-century mosaics.

Cathedral St.Pierre
This cathedral is majorly Gothic with an eighteenth-century neoclassical façade. Protestant John Calvin preached in this cathedral between 1536 and 1564. There are 96 steps inside the cathedral spiraling up the northern tower, providing a spectacular glimpse at the architectural construction of the cathedral. From here, about 60 steps spiral to the southern tower, showing panoramic city vistas and close-up views of the cathedral’s bells. The Site Archeologique in the basement features an eerie tomb and 4th-century floor mosaics.

Quai du Mont-Blanc
Outdoor art exhibitions, statues, flowers and scenic views of Mont-Blanc abound on this charming northern lakeshore front, which starts from the Bains des Paquis to Parc de la Perle, a park where Romans constructed built elaborate thermal baths. The peacock-dotted Parc de l’Ariana lawns are further north and it ensnares the UN and the amazing Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques of Geneva.

Palais des Nations
Since 1966, the Palais des Nations has been home to the UN and was constructed between 1929 and 1936. Visits to this building are only by guided tour and include a 1-hour tour and entry to the 46-hectare park surrounding it, amply peppered with peacocks and century-old trees.

Romania Travel Guide

Post By Travel ,

Romania is a beautiful country with everything from fairytale castles, to jaw-dropping nature, and historical architecture. This travel guide will focus on Bucharest and Transylvania.

Caru’cu Bere

Bucharest is such a beautiful city with incredible architecture at every turn and an unbelievable mix of buildings from across many eras. It’s full of funky bars including Caru’cu Bere, Bucharest oldest brewery with stunning interior design and authentic food. There’s also Lipscani which is filled with loads of great nightlife and surrounded by medieval streets.

Macca Villacrosse Passage

Macca Villacrosse Passage is a picturesque passageway right in the center of the old town with a mix of bars, cafes, and lots of places to enjoy shisha. Then there’s the palace of parliament, it’s the world’s heaviest building and actually has eight stories hidden underground. To this day, it’s still not complete but there are currently 400 rooms in use there.

Sighisoara

Bucharest culture is extremely diverse with everything from jaw-dropping facades to unique street art. If you are looking for the older town appeal, then you should check out Sighisoara. It’s full of beautiful cobbled streets with extremely colorful houses around every corner. Walking through this town feels like you have stepped right into a fairy tale. It’s one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and even has a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Sighisoara was also the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler who was the original inspiration for the tales of Dracula. You can go and see where he was born to learn more about him and the life he led.

Brasov

Brasov is the capital of Transylvania. Here you can visit the Piata Sfatului, it’s the heart of Brasov medieval center and a great place to eat out. Head here in the morning and you’ll practically have the whole place to yourself. But by night it’s an entirely different story as the square comes alive with bustling crowds and culture all around. You will also find one of the narrowest streets in the world here, it’s called Strada Sfornii. Then there’s the black church. Although not black in color, it’s the largest gothic church in Eastern Europe.

Bear Watching

From Brasov, you can leave for one of Romania’s best experiences – bear watching in the wild. You will sit in a bear hide where you can watch these incredible animals from a safe but near enough distance.

Libearty Bear Sanctuary

If seeing animals in the wild isn’t for you, they also have Libearty Sanctuary which is a place for rescued bears that have often come from the circus or being used for entertainment. They can no longer be released back into the wild and Liberty Bear Sanctuary gives them a really happy life where they are taken care of.

Bran Castle

The Bran Castle is where The Legend of Dracula began. It sits on top of a 200-foot cliff in the middle of Transylvania. Vlad the Impaler is said to have made this castle his home and walking through the narrow corridors you can really feel the history within these walls.

Peles Castle

There’s also Peles Castle, a fairytale-like Romanian palace that’s one of the most intriguing castles in Europe. It’s the former home of the Romanian royal family and is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and lush green hills. It’s definitely worth visiting with each room decorated in a completely different style or theme.

Transfagarasan Road

If you are going to Transylvania, you have to check out the Transfiguration Road. It starts in Brasov and rises to a height of 2,134 meters. Twisting its way through the Romanian countryside, it’s full of sharp open turns and is one of the most exciting roads to drive along with beautiful natural surroundings. On this road, you can also travel to Balea Lake. Nestled in the mountains, you’ll find this stunning glacial lake. It’s a great place to stop and take in the views and you can even head to the restaurant for a nice warm soup as well.

Viscri

As far as authentic old towns go, we have already mentioned Sighisoara, but if you have enough time to explore further, we recommend checking out the charming village of Viscri. If you want to get a feel for rural Romania, this is the place to see. With unpaved roads, historic houses, and local animals roaming freely, horse and carts are still a standard form of transport and many traditional jobs like blacksmithing are still an everyday thing here. It really is like stepping back in time.

Anchorage, Alaska Travel Guide

Post By Travel , ,

Alaska is bordered by the icy waters of the Arctic oceans and North Pacific. Anchorage is an Alaska city that lies in the south and it is home to about 40% of Alaskans. This is the land of epic horizons, immense riches, and endless beauty. Alaska is the United States largest state, and it was in 1867 purchased from the Russians at about 2 cents an acre. This makes Alaska one of the greatest bargains in history.

At the height of the summer, Anchorage enjoys up to 22 hours of sunlight. Anchorage is a gateway to the wilderness, so it is an inviting and warm base where you can rest and re-energize between outdoor adventures. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy this as this city is nestled close to the immense Chugach state park. Here are the top must see attractions in Anchorage, Alaska.

Flat Top Mountain
Take the half-hour drive to the Flat Top Mountain and remember to bring along your hiking boots. The turns in the trails of the mountain offer scenic views of the state.

Eklutna Lake
The Eklutna Lake is a glacially fed basin framed by backcountry trails and snow-capped peaks. Climb into a kayak, dip your paddle into the water, and venture to the shores far off.

Girdwood
This is a resort town south of this city. Avid snowboarders and skiers flock here in the winter for the best of the state’s power. When the snows melt and greenery starts to manifest, hikers will enjoy the hillsides of the valley too.

Crow Creek Mine
The Crow Creek Mine is a working relic of the gold rush in Alaska. It has been operational since 1896 and many locals believe there are still some nuggets waiting to be discovered here.

Alaska Native Heritage Centre
Share in the riches of the first people of Alaska at this place. Learn traditional games and dances while admiring the expert craftsmanship of their unique clothing, tools, buildings, and art. The Anchorage Museum carries a bit of everything and celebrates Alaska’s many voices.

Kenai Peninsula
In the Kenai Peninsula, there is a fishing outpost at Seward where you will be treated to the clang of rigging and icy ocean breezes. You can hang out at the desk to watch as the fishermen and women unload their catch.

Kenai Fjords National Park
Set sail to this park to meet some locals and admire the stunning surroundings. Marvel as the sea creatures breach the still waters and witness as the glaciers crumble and creek into the sea.

Godwin Glacier
Godwin Glacier is a colossal river of ice that was formed from many years of mountain snow compactness. It is believed that the glaciers here are snakelike and have been winding through the mountains from the beginning of time.

Europe’s top UNESCO Heritage Sites

Post By Travel , ,

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a special place with an exceptional cultural, historical or natural significance. The UNESCO agency has listed over 1.000 protected sites from all over the world and 400 of those can be located across Europe and no surprising fact as it’s considered to be the birthplace of the Western culture and civilization. From man made marvels to natural wonder, Europe has its fair share of UNESCO World Heritage Sites almost everywhere you go. If you’re planning a trip across Europe, in hopes of exploring its natural wonders and historic relics, here is a list of Europe’s top UNESCO World heritages sites for you to check out.

Acropolis – Athens, Greece
Starting off our list with the remains of an ancient citadel, founded upon the hillside in Athens is the ancient Acropolis where tourists can see a number of historical relics and further more enjoy the breathtaking view from above. The Acropolis is one of the world’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites, being home to historic ruins such the world renowned Parthenon, the monumental gateway of Propylaea, Theatre of Dionysus, which is considered by many to be the first theater build in the world and the Acropolis Museum, where you can find many historical relics from ancient times.

Old City of Dubrovnik – Croatia
Croatia is one of the most visited countries in Europe and a major contributor for that is the old city of Dubrovnik, filled with some of the most amazing cultural and historic sites from the medieval period. The city has some of the most well preserved architecture of the renaissance, back dropped by the rugged limestone mountains and the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Dubrovnik is a home to a number of churches, basilicas and monasteries, but what make the city so glamorous are its fortification walls, which played a significant part in its city’s defense and also in the filming of Game of Thrones.

Venice – Italy
Probably the most unique location on the list is the floating city of Venice, Europe’s most romantic city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. The city of Venice is located on the Veneto region and it’s formed from a staggering 118 islands. The historic center or otherwise known as the main island, dates back to the 5th century AD being home to a number of Italy’s significant historical and cultural sites such as: St. Mark Square, The Doge Palace and The Rialto Bridge. The entire city is filled with canals and bridges and the only means of transport are boats and gondolas.

Stonehenge – Salisbury, England
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument which dates back 5000 years ago in the Neolithic and Bronze Age and earned a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list, in 1986. The monumental rocks rise as tall as 4 meters to form one of the most sophisticated and famous stone circles in the entire world, it’s a sight full of wonders, attracting many people from all around the world.

The Best Things to do Penang Malaysia

Post By Travel

Malaysia is one of the most underrated countries for travel in Southeast Asia but it is incredible and Penang Island is definitely one of my favorite places in Malaysia. Here are a few fun things you can do while visiting to make the most of your time.

George Town

First, you want to base yourself either in or within like a 20 minute drive of George Town as this is likely where you spend most of your time. George Town is like a multicultural capital of the Penang Island it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although the island of Penang is like dotted with high-rise buildings and everything else you would expect in a big city Georgetown remains untouched from the colonial era and just walking the streets feels like you are taking a step back in time.

Transport

To get around, you can use Grab they don’t have UBER anymore but this is like basically the same thing and a 15-minute Grab ride will set you back about eight to twelve Malaysian ringgit which equals about $3 so it’s pretty cheap.

Food Options

Once you get hungry, you will be spoiled for choice – Penang has the most amazing food. If you feel like a Western breakfast I recommend going to Pit Stop for their bacon and eggs or there’s a place called Mug Shot cafe for bagels and coffee. If you are into the more street food scene there are “hawker centers” which is like a food market and they are dotted all around Penang. They have some pretty crazy stuff like frogs, sharks, and soup.

Another cool place for a dinner is called Bangkok garden BBQ. Here you can order some meats, noodles, and vegetables off the menu. There is a round BBQ in the middle of the table where you can put your own meat on and cook it. So if you are looking for something a bit different for dinner, this is just a really cool place to go.

Upside-Down Museum

If you are looking for a mainstream tourist attraction or want to get some cool pictures for the gram, there’s an Upside-Down Museum which is pretty trippy. The interior of the museum is all upside down and the staff there can take your phone or your camera and they will give you these poses to do so that when you like get the photo and flip it upside down, it looks like you are standing on the roof. So if you are in Georgetown, definitely check it out and get some fun new pics to confuse your friends.

Shopping

Also, if you are into shopping, there are so many places to shop in Penang. If you are looking to keep the money you spend to a minimum, then the markets are the place for you. There are these jetties in Georgetown where you can walk overtop the water and they have lots of little shops where you can buy affordable clothing, souvenirs, and other touristy stuff. But if your budget is a bit bigger and you want to go all out shopping there are also a few shopping centers in Penang. The Gurney Plaza is a seven-story shopping center filled with all the big brands you find in any Western country.

Penang Hill

Penang Island is a lot more than just Georgetown too, so if you wanted to escape the madness of the city then you can take a walk or run up Penang Hill for some amazing views of the city. If you are feeling lazy, there is a bus or train you can take up.

How You Could Still Benefit From Hiring a Travel Agent

Post By Travel

Before the age of the Internet took over the world, when people wanted to plan a vacation or a family road trip, most of them used a travel agent. Travel agents are people who are responsible for booking your flights, resort stays, cruises, and pretty much anything else that could possibly be involved in a trip. Back in the day, travel agencies banked hard on travel packages and deals. That being said, travel agents were always middlemen, but that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t provide a powerful economic value. In fact, travel agents had the ability to provide you with the deals that you just couldn’t find on your own, and the main reason why you couldn’t find them on your own is that you didn’t have access to the resources that travel agents did. As you can see, travel agents were very useful back in the day.

However, over the past decade or so, the importance of travel agents has actually decreased significantly. All those online booking websites have made it very easy for travelers to get rid of travel agents and plan their own trips. Also, there is a whole lot of different travel websites and blogs out there that hiring a travel agent just wouldn’t made any sense anymore. But that doesn’t mean that travel agents have become completely useless, because they haven’t. For example, travel agents can be very useful when you are doing a complex trip or when you are traveling with a large group of people. The reason for this is because travel agents have access to all sorts of deals that solo travelers don’t, especially when it comes to high-end cruises, tours, or flights.

Planning a Luxury Trip?

Are you planning a luxury trip or a complicated round-the-world trip for both you and your loved ones? That is something that a good travel agent can help you with. You see, travel agents have access to deals that everyday consumers don’t. Due to the fact that travel agents talk to cruise companies pretty much all the time, hiring one for your family trip would be your best solution – even today.

Are Travel Agents Still Useful?

Yes, absolutely! However, you don’t need to hire a travel agent every single time you want to travel. In fact, in most situations, you would be better off booking on your own. This is especially the case if you are a budget backpacker. But feel free to test the waters!

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy