If you are considering an international vacation sometime in the near future you will need to have a valid United States passport in your possession. If you do not yet have a passport or need to get a passport renewal, you can go online and download a passport application. Once you have your passport you can decide where you want to travel to. A very popular tourist destination for travelers around the world is London, England. London is one of the most exciting and dynamic cities in the world and would make a fantastic international travel destination.

Markets

If you are going to be doing any shopping while in London you should consider making a visit to the famous Portobello Road Market. This is an incredible experience for anyone who loves spending the day strolling through the crowded streets of London looking for something unique to take back home. The best way to get the full experience of the market is to visit it on Saturday or Sunday. Most of the best known street vendors only open their shops on the weekend.

Westminster Abbey

If you are going to be in London and are looking for an interesting tour that discusses the royal culture in England, consider visiting the Westminster Abbey. This medieval church is thousands of years old and has been a tourist favorite for many years. You will be able to step foot in the same place that has hosted many royal wedding ceremonies and coronations. Keep in mind, however, that pictures are not allowed to be taken inside the church. Instead, you can purchase memorabilia from the gift shop to take home. Also, another downside of visiting Westminster Abbey is that the cost of admission is comparatively high when compared to other attractions in London.

Royalty

No vacation to London, England would be complete without seeing the world famous Buckingham Palace. You can actually take a tour and see the building that has housed England’s royalty for hundreds of years. You may even pass by the Queen in the storied hallways! Tours are available to the public and generally last about two hours. The tour is a fantastic way to get a better understanding of England’s royal history and how it influences the culture in London. Anyone who has some time to kill while in London, England should absolutely consider taking a tour of Buckingham Palace. Or, if you do not have that much time, you can witness the changing of the guard outside of the palace that takes place every morning.

If you are trying to decide where to go for an international vacation, think about visiting London, England. London is widely regarded as one of the most interesting and exciting destinations on the planet. If you need to get a expedite US passport renewal before you leave you can go online and find a U.S. passport application. This is important to remember because a valid United States passport is a requirement for anyone wishing to travel overseas. Once you receive your passport in the mail you will have the ability to travel anywhere in the world. Again, if you are thinking about making a voyage overseas, consider choosing London, England as your destination.

Related External Links

• London Olympics 2012 could flunk golden chance to be green | the …

Tours of Europe

In this city spotlight, travel blogger Liz Bird, a longtime resident of Washington DC, steps outside the typical tourist guidebook and shares her personal tips and recommendations for how to best experience America’s Capital.

A Local’s Guide to Visiting America’s Capital

There is no end of guidebooks with useful information about DC’s many monuments and free museums. If you only have a few days in DC, you will be hard pressed to see everything in such a short time, so a guidebook should be sufficient.

However, if you’ve got the time and want to see a little more of what the city has to offer, here are some tips and tricks that I’ve picked up from being a longtime resident in Washington DC.

Seasonal Attractions

One of the things I like most about DC is that it’s a year-round destination, offering fun activities in every season.

• Winter - Bundle up and hit the National Mall for a visit to the National Christmas tree and the 50 State Trees. In early December, the tree lighting ceremony is held (Note – you have to enter a raffle for tickets). Nearby, the sculpture garden rolls out a ice skating rink for a chance to take a spin amongst the artwork
  
• Spring - Experience the beauty and excitement of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Bright pink flowers (a gift of friendship from the Japanese) cover the tidal bassoon and dot the grass surrounding the Washington and Jefferson memorials
• Summer - Escape the heat with a visit to one of the many free (and well air conditioned) Smithsonian’s. Grab a bottle of wine and enjoy free “Jazz in the Garden” each Friday at 5pm in the National Sculpture Garden
• Autumn - Enjoy the changing leaves and cooler weather with a stroll through the many monuments dotting the mall and beyond. This is also a prime time to visit the National Zoo, which is free to enter

DC’s Neighborhoods

It’s worth pulling yourself away from the Mall for a few days to fully appreciate the pulse of DC. Here are a few recommended neighborhoods in the DC area:

Dupont Circle

Friendly and fun, Dupont Circle is a great place to visit thanks to its somewhat central location and its variety of food and drink locations. Although more gentrified than its days of yore, it’s still got some old school DC charm.

There is also a farmer’s market held here on Sunday mornings year round. Plus, it’s a short walk to Massachusetts ave, where you can check out some of the area’s largest Embassies.

Chinatown Penn Quarter

Unfortunately, DC’s Chinatown isn’t much to write home about in terms of Chinese Culture. Dominated by the Verizon Center, home of the Washington Wizards, it’s still a great place to grab a meal or drink before catching a game or concert.

Adam’s Morgan

Although Adam’s Morgan used to be the final word in the DC bar scene, its popularity may have been its demise. Nowadays, the average Adams Morgan patron is most likely a college aged tourist or recent graduate home for the first time in four years. It’s not all bad news though, Ad Mo (as its sometimes called) still has some great spots worth checking out.

U Street/14^th Street Corridor

U street is right now living its Hay Day. Right in the sweet spot between “up and coming” and “over gentrified,” this is the best place in DC for food, night life and unique shopping.

H-Street

This up and coming neighborhood is home to some of the city’s best bars and its sure to provide a fun night out. Although there is no metro stop at H-Street, plans are being finalized for new streetcars. Right now, a free shuttle connects H-Street with the Chinatown metro station.

Georgetown

Expensive and commercialized, Georgetown is worth a quick gander but not an entire day. The main activities are shopping (all chain stores) and eating so if you are pressed for time it’s probably okay to miss.

Also worth checking out: Eastern Market, Capitol Hill, Waterfront (in South East)

Eating and Drinking

DC is a foodie’s paradise with hundreds of wonderful restaurants and bars scattered throughout the city.

Brunch

• Vinotecha (U street) – Wine bar by day, pure brunch-y heaven by morning. Come for the pancakes, cheery atmosphere, and outdoor bocci court, stay (hopefully for several hours) for the all you can drink Mimosa’s, Bellinis and Kir Royales 
• Bourbon (Adams Morgan) – If the Ad Mo nights have now been overtaken by the frat rats and miniskirts, Bourbon Brunch is the rest of the District’s chance to reclaim their former darling. Good food, reasonably priced breakfast cocktails and a chance to see Adam’s Morgan sober

Dinner

• Standard (U Street) – Only open in the warmer months, this outdoor BBQ joint has delicious food, good beer and really good homemade donuts. Grab a seat at one of the aqua picnic tables in the often crowded front garden and enjoy a taste pulled pork sandwich with a side of hush puppies
• Cork (14^th Street Corridor) – You don’t have to be an epicure to love this wine bar/restaurant and its huge selection of wines. Try the avocado bruschetta to accompany your first glass
• Ping Pong (Dupont Circle) - Another restaurant whose popularity has spurred the creation of multiple locations, Ping Pong is a delicious modern dim sum bar. To order, you simply check off your picks from their extensive menu and then the small, steamy plates of dumpling  goodness are served to your table
• Matchbox (Chinatown)- Although several locations have popped up around DC, the original Chinatown location is still my favorite.  It’s known its delicious wood baked pizzas (my favorite is the Gorgonzola topped sliders)

Nightlife

• H-Street Country Club (H-Street) - This isn’t your grandmother’s country club. It may not even be your country club. This fun themed bar located in the up and coming H-Street serves delicious Mexican food and tasty margaritas, but the real draw is the 18-hole mini-golf course upstairs. Each hole is molded after a DC landmark, pitting bar touting golfers against a slippery reflecting pool
• Beer Garden Haus (H-Street) – For more fun, head down the street to the Beer Garden Haus, a German themed bar that features a festive atmosphere complete with polka music and waiters in lederhosen
• Dan’s Café (Adams Morgan) ­– This is the grand-daddy of all dive bars. Still cheap by DC standards, the place gets packed on the weekend, so arrive early. Shots are served in mustard squirt bottles and mixed drinks are handed out in buckets to patrons playing seedy bar games. In my opinion, one of the few fun bars left in Ad Mo. But beware – the bathroom can easily be confused as a bio-hazard

Budget Lodging

My recommendation for budget lodging is to stay outside of the expensive DC downtown area. Visitors can stay in Virginia for much less and still be within reach of the District.

The best place to stay in Virginia is Rosslyn in Arlington, Virginina. Rosslyn is nothing to write home about (unless you want to visit the Iwa Jima memorial), but it’s convenient and well connected to DC’s transportation network.

The popular Georgetown area is an easy walk from Rosslyn across the Key Bridge. The Circulator Bus, which is , also runs a loop every 10 minutes from Rosslyn to Dupont Circle with stops in Georgetown.

To search for accommodations in Arlington Virginia click here

To search for accommodations in Washington DC click here

Transportation

DC has an extensive and easy to use public transportation system. There is no reason why you would need a car or taxi to visit any of the sites in the city (or in the neighboring Virginia and Maryland areas).

From Dulles airport, the DC Metro system runs a bus (the 5A) for .00. If you decide to sleep in Arlington VA, you can take the Metro blue line from Regan National Airport for the normal metro fare.

The Metro

The DC underground trains and the bus system are collectively referred to as the Metro. There are five major train lines, each named with a different color. (A silver line out to Dulles Airport is planned for the future). 

Travel Tip: Unlike some subway systems, you have to swipe your card both entering and exiting, so make sure you hold onto your ticket or you can face a fine.

Bikeshare 

Relatively new to the DC transportation seen, bikeshare is the best way to get around the city in the warmer months. No membership is required, simply walk up to any station and swipe your credit card to rent a bike for the entire day (cost is currently ).

When you are finished, you can return the bike at any station in the city – it doesn’t to be the same one. One caveat though, you must check the bike into a station (any station) every 30 minutes or you will face additional fees.

Travel Tip: If you are visiting a site, check your bike into a nearby station, enjoy your visit, and then pick up a new bike free of charge when you are ready to move on to your next activity.

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Have you visited Washington DC before?
Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below, we’d love to hear about your experiences!

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Author Bio: Liz Bird is a 20-something travel blogger currently living in Washington, DC. You can follow her travels by visiting her travel blog and on twitter

Photo Credits – some photos are from Flickr Creative Commons with approved sharing permissions at time of publication. To find credit source, simply click on the image.

City Spotlight: A Local’s Guide to DC is a post from: Traveling Canucks

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2. Dublin, Ireland – A City of Culinary Delights
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Traveling Canucks

The annual list of the Top 100 city destinations, compiled by Euromonitor International’s global travel research program, has seen London losing the crown of premier tourist location to former British territories Hong Kong and Singapore.



Click the heading to view the full story or visit www.skyclub.com/news

SkyClub Latest News | First and Business Class Travel

This is a guest post submitted by Preeti, a copywriter for HostelBookers

Dublin, Ireland – A City of Culinary Delights

Dublin Cty is Ireland‘s capital city, located on the east coast where the River Liffey joins the Irish Sea. The most populated of The Republic of Ireland’s urban centres, this contemporary city is a leader rich in Irish culture.

Certainly, food is highly important to any culture, and Dublin does not disappoint when it comes to its traditional Irish cuisine. Here is an overview of Dublin’s favourite foods, popular restaurants and food related activities in this modern city.

Best Places to Eat in Dublin

Avoca Cafe

Located on Suffolk Street near Dublin’s town center, this eatery serves the best organic homemade Irish food in a casual, cafeteria style venue. But the best thing about Avoca Cafe is that after you have eaten you can visit the second floor and shop for wooden toys, woollen accessories and other great Irish products; the perfect place to pick up a souvenir or gift.

Chapter One

Situated in Parnell Square near the Garden of Remembrance, Chapter One is an award winning Michelin Star restaurant. Dine in the pleasant, contemporary interior whilst tucking into Irish cuisine at its finest. Indulge in the vegetarian menu or play host in an impressive Kitchen Table Wine Tasting menu.

Gallagher’s Boxty House

A pub style restaurant that serves up the best traditional Irish food all day long. Enjoy a hearty Irish stew or tickle your taste buds with some pork and apple sausages. Whatever you chose for an entree, don’t miss the Bailey’s Cheesecake with milk chocolate sauce! They also have a children’s menu if you are traveling with young ones.

Dine like the locals

What better way to enjoy the city’s delights than like the locals do at the Sea Bank Bistro on Coast Road. This family-run restaurant is widely known for serving the best seafood in town. The menu changes according to season and the morning’s catch, with fresh daily seafood specials.

Spend a romantic evening in true Irish style and visit The Port House on South William Street, located just outside the Dublin city center. The Port House serves up Basque Pintxos and various tapas till late night, the perfect time to sample their eclectic list of wines, ports and sherries.

Found on the south side of Dublin’s heart on Cow’s Lane, the Queen of Tarts is a charming and popular hot spot for breakfast, tea, takeout or any time sweets are desired. Weekend brunch specials and a wide selection of cakes draw the crowds to this comfortable family run cafe.

Dublin’s Best Loved Foods

It’s no secret that the Irish have long enjoyed their dairy, meat and potatoes. Popular Irish foods include handmade sheep’s cheese, sour Irish soda bread and the traditional favourites such as Irish Stew and Corned Beef with cabbage.

Whilst you’re experiencing all that is Dublin, try a dish with a drop of Whiskey or Guinness, the world famous drink of Ireland. Even though it wasn’t consumed much in previous centuries, it is proving a hit with locals and travellers alike by adding another dimension to the Irish dining experience.

Dublin Cooking Classes

For a special Irish cooking experience, sign up for short evening class or entire day at the stunning Howth Castle. The facilities offer gorgeous Georgian kitchens that have been renovated and classes are seasonal. Guests can even learn to cook Indian and Moroccan cuisine.

Those wanting to learn from Ireland’s food experts can join the Dublin Cookery School for specialized one-day classes like Focus on Fish and One Pot Wonders. And, to keep the little ones entertained, consider the Junior Chef School in Blackrock where children can try their hand at cooking with professionals by signing up for classes that fit their age group.

Touring the Butler’s Chocolate Factory, located in the Clonshaugh Business Park, is a hands-on learning experience for both young and old.  Guests can take a tour, observe the chocolate manufacturing process in the Mini Factory and decorate their own chocolates. And, of course, tasting the chocolate is a key part of the decadent experience!

Enjoy Dublin’s Culinary Delights

One of the best ways for travellers to enjoy Dublin is to experience its many restaurants, pubs and cafes. Those planning a trip to Dublin can easily find cheap Dublin hotels in the heart of the city and close to its popular sights and attractions. These hotels will give visitors a quiet retreat after hours of sightseeing, cooking and sampling the many culinary delights of Dublin.

Have you visited Dublin?
Share your favourite restaurants and pubs in the comments section below

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Check out some of our other guest posts and contact us today if you’d like to contribute.

Thanks to Informatique, Loozrboy, Adactio, Txanny and Groovysuvi for the Creative Commons images

Dublin, Ireland – A City of Culinary Delights is a post from: Traveling Canucks

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Traveling Canucks

San Pedro – Ambergris Caye, Belize 

WHERE is it located?

Ambergris Caye is the largest of several hundred cayes (islands) in Belize. Located 35 miles north east of Belize City, the narrow strip of paradise is 25 miles long, a little over a mile wide, and was once part of the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula.

San Pedro town is the heart of Ambergris Caye, offering visitors a wide range of restaurants, bars, tour companies, souvenir shops, banks and grocery stores. Since the airstrip is also located in town, almost everything is within a short walking distance. It’s easy to stroll around town on foot or you can rent a bike or a golf-cart (highly recommended).

Ambergris Caye is conveniently located to Caye Caulker, the “other” popular caye in Belize (don’t forget to check out our photo collection from Caye Calker).

WHY should you visit?

Most people chose to visit Ambergris Caye for its white sandy beaches and the Belize Barrier Reef that runs along its coast. The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest reef in the world, but unlike its famous counterpart, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, it’s only a quarter mile from the shores of Ambergris Caye, which makes it an ideal place for adventure seekers that enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving.

Belize has quickly become one of the world’s top scuba diving and snorkeling destinations. The most popular snorkeling locations from Ambergris Caye are Mexico Rocks, Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. While the most popular scuba diving spots are Hol Chan Cut, Tackle Box Can and The Blue Hole.

WHEN should you visit?

Ambergris Caye is a year round destination. Some visitors prefer the peak season from November to May, when it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere, but this is typically driven by people that want to escape the northern cold and snow. This period is considered the dry season in Belize, meaning bright blue, sunny skies can be expected.

From June to October, prices are significantly lower and crowds are considerably less because this is the rainy season. However, showers tend to be sporadic and short, which is not likely to ruin your vacation plans. We visited in May and had sunshine 95% of the time. It’s a good time to visit because its considered to be the shoulder season, which gave us moderate prices and great weather.

If you visit during the late summer months, be on the lookout for hurricanes and strong tropical storms. Though rare and unlikely, hurricanes can be quite destructive and are serious business in the Caribbean – keep your eye on the weather forecast.

WHAT to see and do?

Aside from its endless outdoor activities and water sports, Ambergris Caye has beautiful beaches and a laid back Caribbean atmosphere. No shirts, no shoes, no problem!

Ambergris Caye is the most developed island in Belize Barrier Reef. It has a number of upscale hotels, like the luxurious Victoria House, and its known for its beach parties and tropical night life. It’s an ideal location for travelers that want to spend the day on the water and the evening dancing and drinking fruity cocktails.

The town of San Pedro is also a great place to relax and enjoy a beer at a beach side bar. Renting a bike or golf cart is a popular way to explore the island and check out the mixture of Mexican, Caribbean and English colonial architecture.

Other Things to do in Ambergris Caye

• Take the 30 minute water taxi or ferry to the nearby island of Caye Caulker, a smaller, laid-back version of Ambergris Caye but with no cars or large resorts. While there, make sure you grab a drink at the popular Lazy Lizard at the Split
• Take a tour to the interior of Belize. Many in-land tours are available to historical Mayan archaeological sites, cave exploring, tubing and horse-back riding through the jungle
• Take a sightseeing, sunset or moonlight boat cruise around the island
• Go fishing for tropical fish, including snapper, grouper, marlin, tarpon, and the list goes on. There are a variety of tours and companies to choose from, catering to all itineraries and preferences

HOW to get there?

The best way to travel around Belize is by boat, plane and/or bus. Ambergris Caye is easily reached by a 1.5 hour boat from Belize City or 2-hour boat from Chetumal, Mexico (here is a photo of the boat we took from San Pedro to Chetumal).

Most people arrive at Phillip Goldson International, located 30-minutes outside of Belize City, and transfer to their desired location using a local airline like Maya Island Air or Tropic Air. The planes are small but very convenient and relatively inexpensive.

It’s possible, and sometimes cheaper, to fly into Cancun International in Mexico and take the luxury ADO bus to Chetumal (5-6 hour trip), where you can catch the boat San Pedro (check the boat/water taxi schedule ahead of time because there are only a few trips per day). The tourist buses are very nice with air conditioning, entertainment systems and large comfortable chairs.

There are also frequent buses that run direct trips from Cancun to Belize City (8-10 hours).

TRAVEL TIPS for Belize

• There is a Departure Tax when leaving Belize
  -US .00 when departing the International Airport (US cash only)
  -US .75 or BZ .50 when departing by land (to Mexico or Guatemala)
  -US .75 or BZ .50 when departing by Sea to an International destination
• Although it’s a Central American country, English is widely spoken and used on signage
• The Belizean dollar is pegged at 2-to-1 to the US dollar (10 Belize dollars = 5 US dollars). We made the mistake of exchanging currency ahead of time (in the US), where the rate was wildly inaccurate. Locals in Belize automatically assume 2-to-1, so don’t worry about doing exchange rate math and don’t let taxis charge you anything other than 2-to-1.

The “Caye Mart” of San Pedro

Local transportation in San Pedro

Typical dock on Ambergris Caye – look at how clear that water is!

City traffic in the streets of San Pedro

Taquitos and Belikin Beer on the beach

Police car in San Pedro

The main reason you should visit Ambergris Caye!
This is the postcard perfect beach at Victoria House

Have you visited Ambergris Caye? Care to share some travel tips with our readers?
Please share your feedback in the comments section below!

City Spotlight – San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize is a post from: Traveling Canucks

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Traveling Canucks

Johannesburg is the capital of South Africa which is not only the economic hub of the country but also offers plentiful attractions. This largest city of South Africa, Johannesburg grabs the attention of tourist from all across the world. This city is blessed with many natural resources.

During 1880’s the world’s richest gold field was discovered in Johannesburg.  This city has attractions for every age group. Johannesburg is also familiar as Jozi among natives and for the first time visitors Apartheid Museum, Rose bank, Johannesburg art gallery, construction hill, Melville Koppies and many other splendid places will definitely not disappoint you and surely you’re going to come back again to Jozi.

Attractions in Johannesburg:

Isando offers you a wide variety of shopping malls and some outstanding hotels including the famous Don Hotel chain. While exploring Johannesburg if luckily you take a trip to Swartsruit Recreational area you will see some spectacular locations for picnic. In the surroundings because of the dam and the huge variety of bird life, it is a not to be missed attraction for the bird lovers.

Rose Bank is one of the most popular destinations in Johannesburg among natives and tourists. This place has successfully combined commercial activities with a pleasant working environment. Rose bank is approximately about half an hour away from Tambo Airport and close to many remarkable centers. Rose bank has something to offer for everyone including great architecture and beautiful art galleries.

Rhino and lion natural reserve park gives you an opportunity to see wild life from very close. In this park you are allowed to come with your family in a car and observe the characteristics of small adorable cubs of lions which are jumping and playing, absolutely worthwhile visiting to this marvelous place. Due to security reasons you are not allowed to get out of your car as these wild animals are very dangerous.

Burma is close to all major Johannesburg attractions and has few of its own. Burma is also very close to international airport and the outstanding transportation services make this destination as a perfect place for business and travelers. You can explore the East gate shopping mall which has an environment that caters for parents and children. Burma Lake is an amazing mixture of lakeside markets and commercial parks. The ideal time to visit this lake is in afternoon because of the magnificent light work and climate.

Water Sisulu National Botanical Garden is a perfect place for travellers to see magnificent waterfalls and plants. This garden is also home of black eagles which are roaming in the surroundings. A telescope is set up to grant a glimpse of the eagles. Many natives usually come to this spectacular destination on weekends for picnic purposes or some of them just simply come here to relax.

If you are planning this summer to take cheap flights to Johannesburg then there are many other outstanding attractions which will definitely make you fall in love with this fantastic destination.

Africa flights and travel news

Photo of the Week: Hong Kong City Skyline

Last week, we posted a photo of what we consider to be the world’s most unique city. For this week’s photo, we’re sticking with the same theme and highlighting a photo of what believe is the world’s most impressive city skyline.

With a population of over seven million people, Hong Kong has about a quarter of the population of all of Canada and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with Tokyo, Seoul and Mexico City leading the pack.

Hong Kong’s never-ending stretch of glass-windowed sky scrapers is an attraction all on its own. Rolling green mountains hide behind clusters of futuristic office towers, making the views from Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour truly one of a kind. At night, the mega-city puts on an entertaining light show that actually uses the buildings as a giant theatre screen — it’s quite the sight.

The green and white Star Ferry in the photo has been transporting passengers between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon for over a hundred years. Every visitor to Hong Kong must take at least one trip on the aging but reliable ferries – it’s like being on a harbour river tour for less than a dollar!

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What city do think has the most impressive skyline?
Share your pick in the comments section below

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This post is made possible with the generosity of All-Paris-Apartments. If you plan to visit Paris, consider booking Paris Apartments for an unforgettable stay!

Photo of the Week: The World’s Most Impressive City Skyline? is a post from: Traveling Canucks

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New Post from Traveling Canucks

Göreme City in the Cappadocia Valley, Turkey

Okay, so we’re probably opening ourselves up to debate with a statement like “World’s Most Unusual City”.

Clearly, subjectivity plays a big role when making such a comment. But, in our opinion, the eye-catching town of Göreme certainly deserves the title (how can one disagree with a captivating panorama like that?!).

Located in the Nevşehir Province in the heart of the Cappadocia Valley, with a population of approximately 2,500 people, the extraordinary town literally weaves itself around pointy fairy chimneys, ancient caves, eroded rock formations and colourful volcanic canyons.

It looks like something straight out of a children’s fantasy story!

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What is the Most Unusual City you’ve ever visited?
Share your city in the comments section below – we’re curious about what you think!

Have you seen our other posts about Cappadocia Turkey:

• Photo Essay: The Magical Landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey
• Video: Hiking the Goreme Valley in Cappadocia
• Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Tour in Cappadocia, Turkey

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This sponsored post is made possible with the generosity of only-apartments. If you’re traveling to Barcelona, make sure to book your Barcelona apartments for an unforgettable stay!

Photo of the Week: The World’s Most Unusual City? is a post from: Traveling Canucks

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New Post from Traveling Canucks

This is a guest post by Clark Boyd, who has featured on a number of travel and finance blogs

A Weekend in Melbourne, Australia’s Second City

Modern-day Melbourne is undoubtedly one of the sporting, cultural and gastronomic hubs of Australia. With so much to do and see in the city, weekend visitors are spoilt for choice.

In fact, if you are planning a short stay in ‘Marvellous Melbourne’, you will need to be selective, as there really is an overabundance of cultural delights here. Fortunately, help is at hand.

Below are a few of the city’s treasures to enjoy during a weekend in Melbourne.

A great place to begin your tour is the Queen Victoria Market.

Of the three Victoria-era markets in the city’s CBD (Central Business District), ‘The Vic’ is the sole survivor; and with 17 acres of space inside, it is the largest market of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

Aside from being one of Melbourne’s landmark attractions – and an excellent place to get a flavour of the city’s vibrant spirit – this is an ideal starting point from which to explore central Melbourne.

Heading south from here towards Flinders Street, there is an enviable wealth of restaurants and cafes, making it a tempting spot to stop and grab lunch.

This area also boasts the shopping haven of Collins Street, which is a boulevard lined with high-end boutiques and glamorous fashion outlets. Once you arrive at Flinders Street, you will find the Immigration Museum – an indispensable resource for those who want to learn more about Australia’s history.

The museum eschews the treatment of overarching themes in favour of a more personal approach focused on the individual stories of migrants to Australia. Melbourne may be brimming with museums, but this is one of the best.

For those in search of something a little sportier, try the National Sports Museum in Yarra Park. The museum is housed within the Melbourne Cricket Ground, surely one of the nation’s great monuments to sport.

Yarra Park is located centrally, so it is easily reached, particularly if you are short of time in the city.

One of the most enjoyable ways to see Melbourne is to dine on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. These trams travel round the city much like the regular fleet of tramcars, with the major difference that they have been converted into top-class restaurants.

Open for lunch, early dinner and dinner, this is a highly recommended way to get a taste of Melbourne.

Another premier location for evening entertainment is the Crown Casino Entertainment Complex. Featuring cinemas, bars, high-class shopping and a wide range of restaurants, there is something for everyone here.

Furthermore, its location in the Southbank precinct is very central, meaning you won’t miss any of the action. It is therefore understandable that this is one of the most popular areas to stay in the city.

There is a plethora of hotels around the Southbank, so there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. These hotels range from the comparatively basic, such as Travelodge, through to premium hotels such as the Mantra Southbank and Crown Promenade Hotel.

All three of these hotels are within walking distance of the Eureka Skydeck, which contains the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform, known as The Edge.

What better way to finish a weekend in Melbourne than a trip to the Edge to survey all the great sights you’ve seen in Australia’s second city?

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Author Bio: This piece was written by Clark Boyd, who has featured on a number of travel and finance blogs. Travellers to Melbourne can make the most of an American Express credit card by using Membership Rewards points to purchase a Crown Promenade Gift Voucher worth up to 00. Gift vouchers purchased with American Express credit cards must be used within 3 months of issue.

Photo Credit: Skyline, Market, Museum, TramRestaurant, SouthBank
Editor’s Note: this is a sponsored guest post

A Weekend in Melbourne, Australia’s Second City is a post from: Traveling Canucks

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4. 6 Monuments You Must See While Visiting Australia

Traveling Canucks

With our recent travels to Central America, we seem to have neglected our monthly City Spotlight Series. This month’s spotlight highlights one of the world’s oldest and most impressive cities – Istanbul, Turkey.

WHERE is it located?
Historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople, the largest and most populated city in Turkey is located on the western most point of the country. Istanbul is the only metropolis in the world that is built on two continents, the eastern part of the city in Europe and the western part in Asia.

The Bosphorus Straight splits the city, and continents, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara (which links to the Aegean Sea, and thus the Mediterranean Sea).

WHY should you visit?
Without trying to sound like a travel brochure, Istanbul is the perfect destination for those that enjoy food, culture, history, architecture, shopping and sightseeing. There are plenty of museums, churches, mosques and bazaars to keep visitors busy for days – we spent 6 days exploring the bustling city and still only scratched the surface!

Listening to the soothing Muslim Call to Prayer while sipping on a Turkish coffee at an outdoor cafe, it’s easy to get seduced by the city’s energy. Istanbul balances Western modernization with Eastern tradition, creating a distinct atmosphere that can only be found in Turkey.

Exquisite Ottoman mosques are sandwiched between stylish boutique shops and cozy restaurants proudly displaying giant rotating meat spits. But it’s the buzzing social scene and energetic nightlife that have given Istanbul the title of “World’s Hippest City”. Istanbul restaurants are open late, catering to the Turkish style of dining that typically spans over several hours, often including mezze (selection of small dishes) and raki (anise-flavored spirit).

To learn more about the variety of Turkish cuisine, check out our Foodies Guide to Turkish Food.

WHEN should you visit?
Istanbul has hot, dry summers and cold, rainy winters. Because of this, the best time to visit Istanbul is around spring and autumn, roughly from April to June and from September to October. Most of the unpleasant weather happens between October and March. Although it’s uncommon, Istanbul can experience snow in winter months, so pack accordingly!

WHAT to see and do?
Even though Turkey is a Muslim country, you don’t need to travel far to find Istanbul nightlife and entertainment districts. Taksim Square, located on the European side of the city, is the major shopping, tourist and leisure district famous for its restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels. Sultanahmet is the heart of historic Old Istanbul, where you will find beautifully restored Byzantine and Ottoman buildings and the majority of the city’s celebrated landmarks.

Some of the most popular Istanbul attractions:

• Topkapi Palace – the lavishly decorated palace was the seat of Ottoman power for over three centuries
• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) – greatest church in Christendom for 1,000 years. First a Byzantine church, then converted to an Ottoman mosque and presently a Turkish museum
• Sultanahmet Mosque – often called the Blue Mosque because of its interior tiles, this is one of Istanbul’s most recognized landmarks for good reason – it’s spectacular!
• Byzantine Hippodrome – the political and recreational heart of Byzantine Constantinople and Ottoman Istanbul, now a city park called the At Meydanı (Horse Grounds)
• Grand Bazaar – one of the largest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 4,000 shops
• Egyptian Spice Market – one of the oldest bazaars in the city and second largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. Every spice you can imagine, displayed in colourful pyramids
• Bosphorus Cruise – the perfect 90-minute, half-day or full-day Istanbul excursion, traveling upriver towards the Black Sea while passing castles, palaces and Ottoman-Victorian villages (see photo below of the boat we took during our trip)
• Dolmabahçe Palace & Mosque – the Sultan’s extravagant European-style palace on the Bosphorus River
• Princes’ Islands – nine small islands about 20km southeast of the center of Istanbul free of motor vehicles
• Historic Hamams – Turkish baths, an essential part of any trip to Istanbul, many cater to tourists

HOW to get there?
Most travelers will arrive in Istanbul via Istanbul Atatürk Airport, 20 km west of the city centre. From IATA, it takes about 20–40 minutes depending on traffic. Travel options from the airport include taking a taxi, the light metro and the express airport shuttle bus called Havaş. The main Havaş city terminals are at Taksim Square (European side) and the Kozyatağı Business Center (Asian side).

Istanbul’s Main Bus Terminal is the Büyük Otogar, a massive station with hundreds of bus companies that run thousands of daily buses. This terminal offers bus transportation to all of domestic Turkey, plus international trips to Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkans, central Europe and the Middle East.

Most international trains arrive at Haydarpaşa Terminal, the busiest rail terminal in Turkey and the Middle East and one of the busiest in Eastern Europe.

TRAVEL TIPS for Istanbul, Turkey
Most visitors arriving in Istanbul will need to purchase a “sticker visa” to enter the country (essentially a tourist tax). It’s a painless process that requires little planning, but make sure you have proper cash on hand. For some reason, Canadians are charged the highest entry fee at US. Almost every other country only has to pay between US to US, or nothing at all.

Taxi drivers are notorious for ripping off both locals and tourists. Public transit in the city is quite good, so plan to use it. Keep in mind, Istanbul has an extensive bus network, various rail systems, funiculars, and maritime services that transport more than 13 million residents every day. Get familiar with the transit maps and purchase the iButtons or smart RFID cards ahead of time – this will save you time and money, and it will prevent the common dilemma of not having proper change.

Bosphorus Cruise about to pass under the iconic Bosphorus Bridge

Entrance to the ancient Grand Bazaar, the ultimate medieval shopping centre

Fresh grilled fish at Eminönü near Galata Bridge

Inside the courtyard of the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet district

Riverside views of Dolmabahce Mosque from the Bosphorus Cruise

Have you visited Istanbul, Turkey? Care to share some travel tips with our readers?
Please share your feedback in the comments section below!

City Spotlight – Istanbul, Turkey is a post from: Traveling Canucks

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Traveling Canucks