All your stars are out

ARTICLE SUMMARY
An article looking at the different ways of travelling around America and the best sights each method offers.

America   the land of the free. There’s no other continent that offers the same sheer scope for adventure or has so much to see and do. So what’s the ideal way to travel? Here are a few of the best options to make sure you experience everything this amazing place has to offer.

Hit the road

The classic American road trip is surely one of every traveller’s dream holidays – a real Grand American Adventure. Cruising down the highway in an open-topped car, stopping for brunch in a roadside diner; it’s the stuff of legend and song. But where to go? It can only be the iconic Route 66. Spanning eight states, several time zones and almost 4000 kilometres, driving the Mother Road is the perfect way to see the vast variety of sights that America has to offer. Begin your GAA in the Windy City of Chicago then travel to St Louis to experience the vibrant jazz and blues culture. Journey past Oklahoma and Santa Fe for a taste of the Wild West, through fascinating Indian Reservations in the Mojave Desert and finally all the way to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. From fabulous food to inspirational music, driving Route 66 is a master class in classic Americana that makes for an unforgettable adventure.

These boots were made for walking

If you’re looking for a more active adventure, then why not let your feet do the work? There are some amazing National Parks in the south west of the USA which are ideally suited to exploring on foot. Hike the Zion National Park to experience incredible panoramic views at the magically-named Angels Landing or relax by the Colorado River in the Canyonlands National Park. And for a really memorable GAA, tackle a walk in the Grand Canyon National Park. This awesome spectacle of nature is simply spellbinding. Alternatively, travel to Peru in South America for one of the most famous treks in the world   the Inca Trail. Start in the ancient city of Cusco, seat of Incan power for over 500 years, before spending several days hiking past the Sacred Valley for utterly jaw-dropping mountain views. Enjoy sunrise over the spectacular lost city of Machu Picchu before wandering around this most fascinating archaeological site. A truly astonishing trip.

Make a splash

Travelling by boat is a lovely way to appreciate the varied terrain that America has to offer. Journey to Alaska to discover the most incredible unspoiled wilderness. Go out on a boat for some whale watching and to wonder at the dazzling glaciers. Spot rare birds or even have a try at kayaking in Thomas Bay. If you fancy something a bit warmer, take a leisurely paddleboat down the Mississippi River for some fabulous fun in New Orleans. And if you’re up for a bit of a challenge, why not take a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon? You can appreciate this epic sight from a unique perspective, getting right up close to the myriad side canyons and enjoying an exhilarating ride.

Whether you’re driving, walking or sailing, biking, taking a train or even horse-riding, there are plenty of ways to travel round this most fascinating country. However you choose to go, there’s so much to see, you’re sure to be in for a truly unforgettable trip.

AUTHOR BIO
Jennifer Doherty writes for a variety of travel and lifestyle websites. Currently planning her GAA, she’s looking forward to seeing all the sights on Route 66.

Many of us remember summer schools and the chance to learn new sports and skills, develop interests and make new friends in our holidays. Today’s wave of educational travel takes this one step further as it offers incredible destinations and activities for all ages.

Simplicity For Educators
A new wave of travel providers are making it simple to take your students on educational travel. Without professional organisation support, student trips can be complex to organise, particularly with large group sizes, health and safety requirements, administration and changing arrangements. Managed trips will allow educators to focus on the objectives of the journey, whilst the experts ensure that the organisation process is efficient and clear, providing information and updates via online tools. They will provide everything from accommodation, guides, pick-ups and tours, through to insurance, liability and paperwork. All you need to do is pick the destination!

Journeys To Broaden Students’ Minds

The real excitement comes when you review the options on offer for educational tours of all ages. You can choose to stay in your home country and opt for a history tour to an important destination or city, a geographic tour at a wild open space, or a music performance at a concert hall. There are trips to cover topics including the arts, social studies, foreign language tours, college preparation, orchestral, band and choral, drama and theatre and plenty more.

The international tour option is ideal for older students and the trips incorporate countries such as Costa Rica, Spain, Peru, France, Italy, China, Thailand, Ireland and North America. Visit the rainforest of Costa Rica to learn about ecology and wildlife, understand religious history and tradition at Buddhist temples in Thailand and learn about ancient Celtic history at the castles and monasteries of Ireland. For older students, the choice broadens – learn about fashion in Milan, law in Brussels or catering in Paris; these tours can spark off lifelong passions and bring learning to life in a way that no classroom ever could.

Educational Support

Good educational trip organisers will also understand educating, curriculums and the learning experience well too and will be able to translate curriculum requirements into activities to enjoy during the trip. A well crafted travel itinerary will present the students with new experiences and insights, along with managed challenges that promote their cross-cultural understanding and global awareness. The tour should be customised to the group’s needs and will include tours focused by subject and workshops to accompany the experiences and enhance the teaching process. Typical tours will tend to last for seven to twelve days and run during vacation periods and school schedules. However, times and dates will be flexible and organised according to the group’s requirements and budget.

In conclusion, the joy of organised student travel, is that it takes the stress away from educators and group leaders and allows these individuals to fulfill their full-time skilled roles with the students, rather than spending time on administration and practical arrangements. With the comfort and peace of mind that the trip’s finer points are being handled by seasoned travel professionals, the group and the leaders can focus on preparing the students for their trip and ensuring that the group fulfills its objectives which are enjoying the trip of a lifetime and returning with many colourful memories and new ideas.

AUTHOR BIO:
Shannen Doherty writes regularly on a range of holiday topics including educational tours and adventure travels for families, for a range of publications and blogs. She is a keen fan of travel and is planning to learn to cook in Italy next year!

ARTICLE SUMMARY
If you are looking for something a little different but still want a luxurious holiday experience then chartering a yacht will open up the world to you.

When most people think of luxury holidays they imagine five-star hotels, private swimming pools and all-inclusive catering. Once you’ve done that a few times, however, you may start looking for something a little different and turn your attention to either more active holidays or those that include an element of adventure.

Boating holidays allow you to travel to some of the most exotic destinations in the world but don’t tie you down to one resort or island. You can hop from place to place or go nowhere if that’s your choice, basking in the open waters in your own private floating haven. Modern boats are luxurious too, so you won’t feel as though you’re roughing it in any way, shape or form. Yacht charters will take you just about wherever you choose to go.

Destinations

You could choose the Caribbean, where you can explore exciting underwater worlds at the Barrier Reef, visit beautiful beaches such as Treasure Cay, make some shore stopovers for fine restaurant dining or hang out at beach bars or visit museums. With yacht charters you are always your own boss and in charge of your own destiny.

Alternatively, the Indian Ocean is home to the Seychelles, famous all over the world for abundant and exotic wildlife such as giant tortoises and heavenly white sandy beaches. You can also hire boats in the waters around North America, revelling at the sight of whales in the Sea of Cortez off Mexico. New Zealand in the South Pacific or Thailand in the Far East are also good choices.

Types of Yacht

Even the smallest yachts will usually sleep four people comfortably in well-ventilated and bright below-deck accommodation. You’ll find plenty of modern conveniences to make your trip more enjoyable, including a galley with plenty of storage space, a stove and oven and the all-important fridge. Cabins are well furnished, with double beds, a hanging locker and storage, along with opening hatches or ports.

Monohull yachts vary in size, with some of the most popular charter sizes ranging between just over 30 feet in length and over 50 feet. The smaller ones are ideal for four-person parties while the larger ones can accommodate parties of ten or more.

Catamarans are also popular among charter fans. They offer additional space thanks to their twin-hull design and luxurious cabins and are easy to sail.

Experience Needed?

Very often some sailing experience, knowledge of navigation and boat handling and basic seamanship is all that is required to undertake your own yacht charter. Exactly which, if any, certification is needed varies from destination to destination, with more formal certification being needed in Europe. Many charter companies will help you work out which is the most suitable kind of vessel for your experience level and will suggest alternatives until you find something you are happy with. In addition, they will make sure you are completely comfortable around your boat before you leave the dock. Some will provide a temporary skipper for your first few hours to give you additional confidence before you set sail by yourself.

Even if you have never sailed before you can enjoy a yacht charter since there are crewed holidays available too. You can either hire a skipper or a full crew. Unless you love the hands-on experience of operating a sailing vessel, a full crew will greatly appeal to those looking for something different in the luxury holiday market. A full crew will take care of all aspects of sailing and catering, leaving you free to enjoy the scenery each day.

AUTHOR BIO: Shannen Doherty writes regularly on sailing holidays for a variety of websites and blogs. She has enjoyed sailing in a variety of vessels all over the world.

ARTICLE SUMMARY
2012 has already proven to be one of the most incredible years for sport that this country has even witnessed, with the amazing triumphs of both the Olympic and Paralympic teams in addition to Andy Murray finally landing a Grand Slam title. Can the next 12 months possibly match it?

Football

After another comparative failure in a major tournament the England football team is now having to content itself with undergoing a rebuilding process as Roy Hodgson attempts to prepare a team that may just be able to compete in Brazil 2014. In the meantime, the team are having to negotiate what appears on paper to be a relatively easy qualifying group that includes minnows San Marino and Moldova but could prove a potential banana skin as the likes of Ukraine and Montenegro continue to grow in strength.

Hodgson is also now having to build a winning team without the services of long time stalwart John Terry who, of course, has recently announced his retirement from international duty, seemingly due to the ongoing saga of the Anton Ferdinand incident. Whether Terry’s retirement turns out to be permanent or simply a case of the player making a point remains to be seen, either way, love him or loathe him, there is no doubt that Terry will be missed.

On the domestic front, this season is already shaping up to be just as exciting as the last. Both Manchester clubs continue to frustrate at times and with the apparent resurgence of Di Matteos’s Chelsea and an Arsenal team, which currently looks like it may turn out to be the best since the ‘invincibles’, the race for the title could be a fascinating affair right up to the last kick. Equally interesting is the continuing plight of the country’s erstwhile powerhouse Liverpool who continue to spiral downwards from mediocrity to potential relegation candidates. Whether the popular Brendan Rogers can turn things around on Merseyside could be the story of the season.

Rugby

2013 sees the latest in the ever popular British Lions tours as the team travels to Australia in an attempt to better their heroic exploits of South Africa 2009. Taking in cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra along the way the British Lions tour could turn out to be the best so far.

2013 could also turn out to be a great year for the sevens tournaments as the Hong Kong sevens returns in March (21-25). Long regarded as the spiritual home of the sevens competition, Hong Kong 2013 should prove another great event as the current holders Fiji attempt to retain their title from the challengers. New Zealand, Samoa and Argentina should be the strongest of these, while the USA and Kenya may yet again surprise a few people.

The RBS 6 nations also returns in 2013 and the resurgent Welsh team will be hoping to repeat their grand slam feats of 2012. Having held off France 16-9 in the final match the Welsh went on to win their third grand slam of the last decade signalling a return to the kind of success they haven’t enjoyed since their heydays of the 1970s. France are likely to be their strongest opponents again while England will be hoping to repeat their success of 2011.

So whatever your sport its looking good for the coming twelve months, but can anything live up to the spectacle of London 2012? Well that remains to be seen.

AUTHOR BIO
Shannen Doherty writes regularly on the subject of sport for a wide range of related websites and blogs. While her sporting interests are varied his favourite tournaments remain the Hong Kong Sevens and the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Many tourists go all over the world for the holidays. As you know there are many preferred destinations and it is up to you to choose where to go. One good way to spend the Christmas holidays is visit Czech Republic, especially Prague. The whole city is really amazing and you will have lots of things to see there. Basically it will take you more than two or three days if you want to visit all the magnificent things in Prague. As I said the city transforms into a magical place during the winter holidays. If you want you can do some Christmas ornament tours. There are many places and below I’ll share you some of them.

Most of the Christmas ornaments are made of glass. There are many companies in Prague that offer trips to companies that are making glass so you will have to choose among them. Anyway, the vast majority of manufacturers are German so the most famous area that is producing Christmas ornaments is definitely the area around Seiffen located in the Erzgebirge mountains. The easiest way to find routes, prices of transportation and stuff you are interested in is to google Seiffen. You will find plenty of information since you are not the only tourist interested in this kind of stuff. By the way if you want to visit this location you should know that it is far away from the “easiest” area because it is kind of hard to go there without your own vehicle since there is no train station. There are busses which pass near Seiffen but most of them are not going to be useful for you since you are in Prague. Anyway as a conclusion to this area you must know that is it not the kind of trip that you can do for a day.

However if you do not intend to visit Seiffen, then you can just go around the streets of Prague – plenty of interesting stuff going on there. As you know Czech Republic is also famous with its glass so you would have the chance to see many interesting things made of glass and which by the way are perfect for presents. It would be really pity to go visit Prague and not buy a glass souvenir. If you want to visit the places which are producing these amazing things – then you should visit some small towns located in the north area of the country. You can take a look at this site http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=641

Just one last thing to say – book your apartment at least a month earlier since Prague is great and many tourists go there for the holidays. Have in mind that the cost of an Apartments Prague is a bit higher than the price of Barcelona apartments or Apartments in Vienna, especially during the holidays. This is why the earlier you book – the better. Don’t miss your chance to spend the winter holidays in one amazing city.