Guest Articles Archives - Page 2 of 7 -

Geocaching – a world of hidden treasure!

Sssshhh! There’s a whole world out there that you don’t know about! There’s buried treasure all around you. Geocaching is a global treasure hunt that is growing with popularity, now attracting over 5 million followers. It doesn’t cost any money, all you need is a sense of adventure and something to help you find GPS coordinates, whether this is a satnav or your smartphone.

The lowdown

A geocache is a hidden box. All you have to need to find it are the GPS coordinates. Inside a geocache is a logbook to sign in, and often lots of nice trinkets. You are welcome to take something out of the box, but you should replace it with something of equal or greater value. Many of the items in the geocaches are moved from one box to another. In this way, some items make it all the way round the world! Once you have found a geocache, log your visit at www.geocaching.com . That’s it!

Finding a geocache

Geocaches are everywhere. There are over 100 hidden within a 5 mile radius of where I live. Under bridges, in the park, along a cycle track, buried in the banks of a stream. They can be anywhere! You may need a good pair of boots when you are looking for some though! The geocaching website can help give you a few hints and tips if you’re stuck, and other geocachers are always keen to share their experiences. There is also a good app available for smartphone users. Don’r forget to share your story afterwards on www.greattravels.co.uk.

Placing a geocache

If you get really excited, you can place your own geocache out in the world. Just make sure it’s in a good weatherproof container and well hidden.

Trackable

One of the most exciting thing to find in a geocache is a trackable item. Trackable items have a code on them that you can enter on the geocaching website. The owner of the item may have a plan for it. In 2009 I found a small trackable toy squirrel whose plan was “to re-establish the red squirrel population in Britain”. I moved it from Hatfield Forest to another geocache in Norfolk. From there it has now travelled over 3,000 miles around the country. Can’t do that on Ryanair! I also discovered a trackable race car that was part of the “Round the World Cup”. It began its journey in Germany and ended up at the Indianapolis Race Track.

Who goes geocaching?

Geocaching is perfect for families, young children will delight in looking for the boxes wherever you visit. It’s a great way to get everyone out for a good walk too. For the more serious treasure hunter though, you can book yourself a Geotour! The world record for finding geocaches is 1,157 in 24 hours. You can even base a holiday around looking for geocaches. From The Antarctic to Zimbabwe, they are all around the world!

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Top Tips and Ideas for Backpacking Across Australia

Australia is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet, so its status as an attractive tourist destination is more than understandable. People head Down Under in ever-increasing numbers year after year. Whether this is to head to a particular city or landmark, or take in a range of places, tourists simply cannot get enough of Australia.

Despite the vast size of the country, Australia is popular with backpackers. Due to the size of Australia, planning a trip across the country is necessary, prior to heading there. What are the main things you need to consider, and why?

What do You Want?

In a country with so much to see and do, if you don’t have at least an idea of the places you would most like to visit, you are going to find yourself in a constant state of flux. Once you know the places that you most want to see, you can start to work out whether it is feasible.

Look at booking hostels, car hire special offers, and even looking at where you might be able to get a short-term job for a week or two – farms and bars in remote towns are great for this sort of thing – in order to earn some extra finances for your trip.

Once you have organized all of that, you are ready to go.

While you will undoubtedly have your own ideas for backpacking around Australia, we have a few suggestions of our own that you might not have thought of. These aren’t unknown tourist gems, but they are likely to be less busy than other great places around the country.

Kakadu National Park

To get an idea of the scale of this area, get this: it is half the size of Switzerland.

In the Northern Territory a few hours’ drive from Darwin, this is Australia’s biggest National Park, and a must if you are in the area. The number of people who pass this by leaving Darwin to head right for Uluru is staggering; ensure you don’t miss out.

If you managed to hire a cheap campervan or have a high-quality tent, look to spend a few days exploring this amazing place.

Margaret River

Many places within reach of Perth have a great reputation with travellers. Broome, to the north, is usually the pick of most travellers, but for us Margaret River has a certain essence and charm about it that makes it irresistible.

The whole surrounding region is filled with vineyards, while the town itself is filled with great places to stay, shops, parks, and anything you could ask for, to fit any mood or feeling at a given time.

Blue Mountains

Sydney is Australia’s most popular city, and people who travel there often wonder what the huge mountains visible in the distance are. The foothills of the Blue Mountains actually start at the edge of Sydney, yet many people travel right through the city without ever going there.

If you’re in Sydney, it is simple; you have to hire an Aboriginal guide to show you around the Blue Mountains, and introduce you to the unique landscape and history connected to the whole range.

Ensure you make the most of your backpacking trip Down Under. Whether you take in most of Australia or just a small part of it, there are lifetime memories waiting at every turn.

This article is written by Transfercar, a car hire Australia service, providing travellers free transport for major cities in Australia.

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For a different kind of winter vacation try Belize

Belize on the Yucatan Peninsula is a country of contrasts. From the Central American rainforests to the barrier reef in the Caribbean you will find many different experiences. There are beautiful places and fascinating historical sites to explore both inland and around the many beaches and islands.

When to go
The climate of Belize is hot and humid all year round, varying by only about 4 degrees throughout the year, but the rainfall varies markedly from North to South. The wet season is considered to be from the middle of May to November in the south and from June to November in the north. The period between November and February is transitional and the dry season runs from February to April. The peak periods are between mid December and mid January and the Easter period. Many visitors to Belize like to visit in May or June when prices are slightly lower and the country is less crowded.

About Belize
Belize was formerly known as British Honduras and the official language is still English, although Spanish is also widely spoken. The country has more than ten different cultures including Creole, East Indian, Maya and German Mennonites. Tourism has grown considerably in Belize, with cruise ship arrivals contributing to the increase in visitors.

The many attractions include the massive rainforests, Maya ruins some of which have not yet been excavated, the famous Belize barrier reef and various activities centred around the coastal areas where boat hire is available and travellers can enjoy world class SCUBA diving.

Things to do
Experience the history of the Maya civilisation by touring the sites left from the Classic period. Around 40 percent of Belize is under protection and there are many temples to visit, sites that have been restored and unexcavated ruins to explore. Many of the ruins have been overgrown by the jungles and are difficult to find.

The wildlife of Belize attracts many visitors. There are hundreds of species of birds, exotic animals and colourful fish to see. Bird watching is particularly popular and many species can be seen from the resorts close to the jungle and the nearby roads. A prized sighting is that of the keel billed toucan, Belize’s national bird. As you would expect in a region where there are dense rain forests on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, the country is also home to many exotic tropical plants.

Belize has the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere and was once described by Jacques Cousteau as “one of the four must-dive locations on this blue planet”. There are some stunning scuba diving and snorkelling sites in Belize with something for novices and experts alike. Other water based activities include kayaking in and around the reef and islands, all kinds of fishing, sailing and boating. Boats were used by the ancient Maya people for transport between islands, upriver and along the coast and boat hire is still available to explore these areas. Whatever your individual interests, you will find plenty of interesting activities to fill your vacation in Belize.

AUTHOR BIO
Adriana Frederick writes regularly on world travel for many websites and blogs. She is based on the south coast of England and has written articles on boat hire for various publications.

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Perusing the Peruvian Paradise

The humble neighbour to the west of Brazil is often underrated in discussions of vacations and exotic tourism. Peru, however, has some of the most fascinating archaeological and cultural treasures in all of South America. From the Amazon River, through the Inca Trail, all the way to Machu Picchu one can experience a variety of wildlife, ancient ruins, and mountainous scenery that truly captures humble tranquillity of Peru.

The Amazon

The most prestigious jungle in the world allows tourists a deep look inside at all its wonders with expert naturalists as their guides. The Peruvian Amazon contains only 5% of the Peruvian population making it a natural oasis that allows you to experience a part of the world hardly even touched by mankind.

The tours are not limited to the outer skirt of the jungle, but take you into the rivers that vein themselves deep into the jungle. Motorized canoes are an included part of many Peruvian Amazon tours which carry you to intimate riverside lodges as you observe even more of the Amazon wildlife throughout the boated tour. The wildlife in the Amazon consists of some of the rarest species in the world. This habitat, along with the hospitality and lodging throughout these amazing adventures, make for a once in a lifetime experience.

Inca Trail

This trek is an unreal blend of archaeological and mountainous wonder as you hike alongside some of the most glorious and beautiful landmarks in the world. The Inca Trail is actually comprised of three overlapping trails: the Mollepata, Classic, and One Day. Each trail offers its own flavour of majestic scenery and cultural experience.

The Mollepata is the longest out of the three and takes you through the landscapes of the high Andes Mountains. This hike is no easy task but is well worth the venture to see some of the Inca ruins and tunnels as well as majestic views of the local mountains.

The Classic trail is a lot less strenuous and offers a bit more in cultural site seeing. Along this trek you can see the ancient ruins of Patallacta, a site used for religious and ceremonial functions and at one time for the housing of soldiers from Willkaraquay, a nearby hill-top site that was one of the first Inca settlements in this region of Peru around 500 B.C. The historical and cultural experience of this trail makes it a quite a moving experience for tourists, especially history enthusiasts.

The third and final trail is known as One Day. This trail is a two-day walk for the average tourist but is known as the “One Day” trail for the Incas who take great pride in their navigation through the Inca trail and would use its land as a place of rest and recovery. This trail allows you to explore the Intipata, a large set of agricultural terraces that follow the convex of the terrain. This is all right before you come upon the Winay Wayna (forever young) which features a peaceful harmonic flight of fountains used as ritual baths. The 19 springs utilized to make these fountains make it a rare piece of the natural world that is truly a site to see.

Machu Picchu

At the end of the Inca trail stands the great mountain sanctuary, Machu Picchu. Near the peak of the mountain is a city-like settlement that is believed by many archaeologists to have been the estate of the great Inca Emperor Pachacuti during the fifteenth century. Frequently referred to as the “City of Incas”, it is one of the most famous icons of the Inca civilization. Naturally polished dry-stone walls make up the city as it sits high in the heart of the Peruvian paradise surrounding it.

Charlie Bennett is an aspiring travel writer who has recently been sharing his tales of South American travel for the Peru travel specialists GAdenvtures.com

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How Do You Know That School Trips Are Worthwhile?

Whether it is a day out of classroom to visit a local historical monument, an adventure break in the UK or a tour of another country, school trips have seen something of a resurgence in recent years. This article looks at the benefits they bring to students and what to look for in a trip.

Thinking back to our school days it is often the school trips that stick in our memories. The importance of such trips has been recognised and a whole industry has developed providing a range of experiences geared at school age children. Whilst there are undoubtedly benefits for such trips, however, they can be expensive so you will want to be sure they are worthwhile.

The Benefits

There are a number of reasons why educational trips are used as a teaching method. They can help reinforce concepts and ideas that have been taught in the classroom, bring to life or give practical experience of a subject and help children to retain information about the subject being taught. Creating an informal learning environment can be particularly valuable for some children, particularly those who struggle to learn from more traditional methods.

Whilst educational trips are primarily used to educate, there are a number of less obvious outcomes. Children get to go somewhere they haven’t been before and this increases their independence and engages them. The experience also gives them greater social skills as they learn to travel in a group and respect the environment they are taken to. Practical experience can lead to an increased interest in the subject matter of the trip and greater engagement with study going forward and, of course, they have fun!

Making It Worthwhile

A school trip, however, will only give these benefits if it is appropriate, well planned and orchestrated. It should support the learning your child is experiencing in school and the purpose of the trip and its objectives should be clearly stated. The destination should have been thoroughly researched by the school and they should give you clear information about how safety will be managed.

The school itself should demonstrate they are managing the risks associated with the trip in a sensible manner. This does not mean that they have pages and pages of risk assessments but that they have put sensible precautions in place to reduce risk, such as by having appropriate staff to pupil ratios and that the staff attending the trip are clear about their roles and responsibilities.

For trips that include staying away from home you should be provided with full information about the trip including details of the accommodation, the care provided during the night, what kit your child needs, how much spending money is appropriate and whether your child will be able to contact you.

Well organised and appropriate school trips can be of great educational importance to children and young adults. As well as helping to reinforce learning and engage and enthuse students they can also increase independence and confidence and, of course, give lots of enjoyment and memories.

AUTHOR BIO
Adriana Frederick writes about child development for a range of websites and blogs. She is particularly interested in educational trips and learning outside of the classroom.

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Different Categories of Travellers – Budget travellers, Health conscious travellers

Travelling is the highlight for the year for many people. Planning a trip can be fun as well as can be something many people work towards all year long. Some people can just pack their bags and get on a plane and go, whereas others may need to save money and budget all year for their trips. There are different categories of travellers, such as:

Budget travellers

Some people have to save and budget for trips. These people put a certain amount of money in an account each week to fund their trips. They prepare lists for the things they will need to take and things they need to do before the trip. The things they need to do can be like reserving a rental car, booking a motel, making reservations on planes or buses, and looking for activities to do while on the trip.

Rich travellers

People that do not have to worry about money, can just call the airlines, make a reservation, and reserve a rental car or limousine to drive them to their destinations. These people usually pack their bags and take off for the trip.

Not-so-rich travellers

Some people cannot afford to take extravagant trips, so they plan for trips in their area. They may drive to a different state that is close to where they live. They may take a trip to places like the mountains or the coast. Reserving a motel can mean driving up to the motel and booking a room. These people have to save money for gas and food because their budget is so tight. They will need to watch their accounts and fun activities may be a limit for them.

The different categories of travellers can mean the rich or the middle class. The way each goes about planning their trips may vary due to their finances. Preparing a checklist may involve things such as food and shelter.

Health conscious travellers

Some people who travel abroad will get specific shots to protect them from diseases such as flu. This will help them avoid hospital stays and protect them from spending money on medical care. When planning a trip abroad, make sure to see all landscapes and important locations as well as visiting museums and specialty shops. Spending time in these activities may keep your budget intact.

When visiting the UK, make sure to visit places such as the castles, the London Eye, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. These sights can provide you a glimpse of the history of the British Nation. There are day trips and weekend trips that travel agents can plan for you to make the most of any budget.

You can carry your credit card with you during travelling. In case you do not have one, you can make an application to your bank to issue you the same. You can also get a PPI Policy along with it. The bank authorities can explain you the guidelines and conditions for such policies as well as the situations under which you can file a PPI Claim and the period for which you are eligible for making PPI Claims.

Author:
Maria Rodriguez is a guest blogger and author. Find her blog posts here financeport

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Great places to visit in Malaysia

Malaysia can make an amazing holiday, located in the south-east part of Asia. Malaysia has a tagline too “Malaysia truly Asia” which means Malaysia is the only world’s largest continent which is both diverse but amazingly homogeneous Malaysia is rising economically and spiritually day by day and this continent has the greatest growth. Malaysia has some beautiful landscapes, plenty of traditional food and exceptionally nice people. You will love this place for its commendable ethnicities and culture. Once you book your tickets for Malaysia then you can have fun with your partner as well as kids too. A tour to Malaysia will not at all disappoint you and it will not let you forget its memories easily. Although, there are so many restaurants, beaches, and places to hang around but you must once visit places like Kuala Lumpur or Cameron Highlands.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and its one of the most favourite place for youngsters and Parents. You must take a visit to the beautiful and ancient Batu Caves to start up your journey. Kuala Lumpur is like a crown of Malaysia. The famous landmarks of this place are the tall Kuala Lumpur tower, Petronas Towers which is considered as tallest buildings of the 20th century and do check huge shopping malls. An amazing zoo is also situated in this city and you can also try the large variety of ethnic galleries and museums. Kuala Lumpur is clean city and easy to get around. Central Market offers you the opportunity to indulge in some cheap price shopping.

Cameron Highlands: This beautiful place is enclosed by eight small towns and villages. Cameron highlands are famous for its beautiful scenery and its lush green tea plantations. If you are fond of exploring nature’s beauty then don’t miss to see are the butterfly farms, strawberry farms and other walking trails.

Melaka (Malacca): Malacca is known as a historic town where you can plan a short vacation when you are in Malaysia. You can glance at old churches and forts which were made by Portuguese people. These churches are so much beautiful and once you step in to them, you can find the perfect peace of mind. Melaka is also very famous for one of its streets which is also known Jonker Street. Here you can do your favourite shopping as it has lots of antique galleries, some little shops selling tiny Chinese shoes for women and if you are tired of shopping than you can enjoy a coffee in the street’s coffee shop.

Penang: Penang is famous for its Kek Lok Si Temple and Bukit Maung War museum. One thing more that makes it amazing is that whenever you get hungry, you can enjoy the mind blowing roadside snacks or coffee. Moreover, take out some time to explore the tropical spice garden with more than 500 species of flora and Fauna. So, book your tickets for Malaysia now and enjoy the fun.

About The Author: Santosh Gautam is an experience writer and has been writing on different topics like hotel, travel and more. Currently writes for http://www.hotellasuite.com/

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Breathtaking Fountains around the World

Breathtaking fountain is one of the must-have attractions for each majestic city that wish to draw more number of tourists. The more colorful and beautifully prepared it is, the greater the excitement it will create. Almost each big city across the world has a nice fountain and tourists get to see them when travel to that destination. There are few wonderful places in the world where you can thrill on the music of waters and can wonder at seeing water going up and down. We have picked few incredible fountains of the world. Before visiting these fountains, look for flight ticket deals for their destination airports and see the wonderful fountains of the world.

Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas

It is vast and brilliantly choreographed water fountain that performs beautifully with lights and music. These performances of the fountain can be seen from several vantage points. The fountain show is arranged in the afternoons for every 30 minutes. After 8 PM to midnight, the show goes on for every 15 minutes. Set in 9 acres of man-made lake, the fountain show is choreographed with several pieces of music.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

Trevi Fountain or Fontana di Trevi is one of the most stunning sculptures of Rome in Italy. The gorgeous fountain features a Neptune or Oceanus in the center and two tritons; one is trying to nurture a blazing horse representing the uneven sea and another is blowing a shell-horn representing the smooth sea. The fountain is famous for its outstanding structure.

Peterhof Fountain, Saint Petersburg

Founded in 1710 by Peter the Great, Peterhof is a vastly lavish and wonderfully preserved majestic estate on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. The estate has various palaces along with several charmingly landscaped parks and splendid statues and fountains. It features a grand cascade that flows from underneath the palace towards the Baltic Sea and is one of the largest fountains in the world. The fountain is decked up with a splendid gold statue of Samson fighting with a lion.

People’s Friendship Fountain, Moscow

The People’s Friendship Fountain in Moscow is a marvelous tourist attraction of the city that features 16 gilded statues of maidens in their national attires, representing all the Soviet Union Republics. The fountain is framed with an octahedral bowl of red granite that has a surface area of 4,000 square meters. It is serviced through a complex system of 8 powerful pumps that shoot 1,200 liters of water from 800 jets up to 24 meters high per second.

King Fahd’s Fountain, Jeddah

King Fahd’s Fountain is popular for being the highest fountain in the world that throws water up to 312 meters high that is taller than the Eiffel Tower if its antenna is being excluded. It uses 3 massive pumps delivering 625 liters of water per second with an incredible speed of 375 km/hr. This is simply an incredible fountain in Jeddah.

There are various other fountains in the world that can charm you with their incredibility and uniqueness. Marvel with water, music and lights of these fountains and live some moments of pleasure.

Author Bio: This guest post is done by Amrita Barnwal, a web content writer at BookEasyTrip.com (a fast growing travel portal of India for booking international flights). Amrita is passionate about writing and traveling and she has written a number of articles on different aspects of travel and tourism. She maintains a travel blog BookEasyTripTravelBlog.com to share exclusive ideas on holidays.

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A Sneak Peak into The Wonders of Italy

Italy is one of the most beautiful places and is a member country of European Union. This place is officially known as the Italian republic. This place has been very much successful in attracting huge number of tourists every year due to its beauty.

Culture:

Italy greatly contributes to the historical and cultural European heritage. This place is the home to highest number of heritage sites. Italy has enriched collections of art, literature and culture. The place has collected these from different time periods. The place has large number of art galleries, museums, statues, fountains, etc. all these attractions have made the country popular.
The Italian culture is the main reason for attracting tourists to visit this place. People are very much amused by the beautiful culture of the country.

Tourists are attracted by many places and activities in Italy.

The top most source of attraction:

Venice that is also known as City of Water is a very famous water city. Canals of Venice are the dream destination of many and a large number of people visit this place daily. The reason behind the popularity of this city is the Italian architecture and romantic gondolas. About 150 canals are stitched together. This place is considered one of the top most romantic places. One of the reasons behind the popularity of Italy is Canals of Venice.

Other attractions in Italy:

There are numerous attractions in Italy. The Colosseum is the most famous amphitheatre in the Roman world. This is because this is the biggest amphitheatre. The Colosseum is situated in Rome. The construction was initiated by Vespasian, an emperor. The completion of the amphitheater was done by his Titus. This large amphitheatre was capable of holding about 50,000 spectators. There are about 80 entrances. A protection from heat and rain is provided to the spectators by sails that are called the Velarium. This was attached to the attic in the top.

Santa Maria del Fiore is another famous attraction in Italy. It is a beautiful cathedral which has become the city’s symbol. The cathedral’s is beautifully faced using marble panels. The marble panels are faced in different shades of pink and green and bordered with white marbles. This is one of the largest churches in Italy. The dome of the cathedral was the biggest in world until the new era. However, this remains the dome with biggest brick that was ever constructed.

Piazza Del Campo is another famous destination in Italy that is one of the biggest medieval squares. This is one of the major public places belonging to Siena’s historic centre. This place is known for its architectural integrity and beauty. The palazzo Pubblico and also it is a very famous tower, which belongs to wealthiest Siena families. There are also horse races held called Palio di Siena is held twice a year.

There are still a lot of attractions in Italy. People visit this place and get amused by the architecture and beauty of the different monuments and other places. Most of these attractions belong to the olden Roman culture and has its own charm.

Author Bio :

Dealsbell.com is amongst the top discount codes offering websites and have 6500+ Online Stores. Online Shoppers can find all the latest coupon codes and discount codes to avail heavy discounts. For more detailed information on various Coupon Code and Discount Codes please visit dealsbell.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and also on Google+ to get updated on best deals of Dealsbell.

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A Guide To Explore Barossa Valley With Family

Barossa Valley is the perfect destination for a wonderful vacation with family. If you’re not familiar with this area, there’s so much more to see and do, other than exploring vineyards! If you’re taking your family along, make sure you have at least a week or two to explore all the delights of this green paradise on earth.

Take a Professional Barossa Wine Tour

Take a professional Wine Tour for a personalized, private wine-tasting experience. These tours are conducted in classic 1962 Daimler cars, or 4WD, depending on your tour operator. You will be taken to only those cellar doors that you want to visit, based on your individual wine tastes. The tour includes both the large, iconic wineries and also family-owned small boutique cellar doors. You will be accompanied by your personal wine guide who will have a deep and rich experience in the Barossa Valley wine history. These tours are single day and multi day with accommodation, depending on what you choose.

Take A Barossa Valley Sightseeing Tour

Adelaide: This tour starts from Adelaide and takes you through the rolling Adelaide Hills and the beautiful vineyards. The Adelaide Hills has charming villages, many green pastures and the perfect rural ambience. The tour follows the beautiful Torrens River in Adelaide, goes through the magnificent Torrens Gorge, skirts Kangaroo Creek and Millbrooke Reservoir, and meanders through the beautiful stone buildings of Williamstown. Taste some of Barossa’s most famous wines at the Wolf Blass, take pictures from the Menglers Hill lookout, and eat a great lunch at the Kaesler Winery Restaurant. Explore old and quaint craft shops, tea rooms and cottages in Stirling, Aldgate and Crafers villages.

Hahndorf: Enjoy the attractive Barossa Valley villages with their European buildings, classic vineyards and famous landmarks. Listen to the tour guide as he or she describes the fascinating blend of Europe and Australia in the valley. You will also be able to explore the quiet European agricultural village of Hahndorf, and its German influences, reminiscent of the tastes and smells of Bavaria.

Whispering Wall in Williamstown

The Whispering Wall was built between 1899 and 1903 as Barossa Reservoir’s retaining wall. This dam is considered a marvelous and revolutionary engineering achievement for its time. It’s even mentioned in the Scientific American journal. However, what your kids will enjoy best is the wonderful and unique acoustic effects of Whispering Wall. Place one kid at one end of the wall, and the other at the other end, over 100 meters away. Your kids will be able to listen to each other’s whispers clearly, as though they were whispering right next to each other! The adults in your party can enjoy learning about the construction of this dam, and enjoy a bushwalk in the colorful surroundings.

Balloon Over Barossa Valley

The best way to see the whole of Barossa Valley is to view it from a balloon. Take an early morning flight to observe the dew-drenched vineyards, buildings, national parks, quaint streets, cottages, villages and old cellar doors of Barossa Valley. Most Barossa Valley hot air ballooning tours include a buffet breakfast with a local wine, and some of them offer a commemorative flight certificate as well.

Explore the Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park in Tanunda

There are two main walking trails which take you through scrub, open grasslands, creeks, rocky outcrops and low forest areas. Enjoy the panoramic views over the Barossa Valley ranges. Take a local guide along to describe points of interest, native plants and spot the diverse wildlife in its natural setting. Go birdwatching in the early mornings and evenings; watch for kangaroos during the day in the open plans. Take a moonlight walk to spot Echidnas and possums which forage for their food at dusk.

Nelly works for Adrenaline and contributes well-written articles to various blogs on adventure travel in Australia.

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Five Tips to Enjoy a Winter Ski Vacation with Your Family

So you have been skiing since the days when you were a teenager and naturally love the sport more than anything else. And this winter you have an intense intention to plan a winter ski vacation with your family. While the plan sounds to be interesting enough, on a serious note, you might be facing some problems. Skiing with your kids is not really something as enjoyable as it seems to be else while. But… as they very rightly say, if you can plan it right, then every single impossible task turns out to be absolutely possible and that too quite smoothly! So here I have jotted down 5 essential tips that will help you to keep your family happy while on a winter ski vacation; take a quick look –

Stay near the mountains – Though you will find a lot of luxurious accommodations, located not so close to the mountain, it is advised to choose those which are quite near to the hills. Trust me it turns out to be a serious problem to get out your kids in the snow. Hence if you choose to stay somewhere near the slopes, it is likely that you’ll have to face lesser problems and everybody will be happy in the family. It is also important to choose slope side accommodations as this allows you to have the lunch in your own kitchen or to change the diaper of your baby, when needed.

Look out for the right gear rental – Yes it’s true that buying the quality outfits and all the necessary equipments for skiing for the entire family costs you a lot and that’s why you just need to look for gear rental services and book the ski boards ahead of time. Rent acar to visit the local ski shops and find out who is providing what.

Opt for a half day ski – If you have kids with you, many of whom may be going for a ski for the first time in their life, it is wiser to opt for the half day ski packages. Because you never know whether they are competent enough for a whole day ski program. If your kids are not ready to get out of the beds too early, start out late. If all of you are early risers start in the morning and ski till the lunch. Take enough rest, enjoy some indoor games by the fireplace, and if the resort offers night ski as well, head out to hit the slopes again after the dinner.

Be flexible with the ski dates – While booking the tickets, make sure that you are given the option to choose the dates on which you would like to go for the ski. You can face a terrible weather, any of your family members may get sick, and the worst – your kids may suffer from mood swings – so it’s always wiser to be flexible with the dates of the ski.

Take a day to rest – Most of the ski resorts offer different types of entertainments like snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice climbing and various other festivals. So take a day to enjoy these different fun and frolics and make your vacation even more special.

Author’s Bio: Adam Wilson is an avid traveler. He also owns a renowned vehicle rental company (Xceed Car Rental Inc.). In this article, she offers some handy tips to have fun while on a winter skiing holiday.

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Things to look for when organizing a trip

People are known for wanderlust. They love to travel around and explore new places all over the world. Of course, even I like to do. Last year, my friends and I decided to go for an adventurous trip, but it was hard to decide where. We consulted many travel agencies for some good suggestion, but they were more interested in earning money rather than giving any affordable idea. We even went through a lot of travel magazines like Conde Nast Traveler, Islands, National Geographic, Outside, Travel + Leisure and many more. However, unfortunately did not find any nice suggestion about the destination nor tips on how to organize a trip. But thankfully, one of my acquaintances advised me a few factors that we all must consider when planning and/or organizing a trip. So, let us have a look at some of the important factors –

Budget: One of the most important factors that you must consider when organizing a trip is the budget. Forming a budget will help you determine the amount that you will be able to afford on your trip. This will also help you select the right hotel, the mode of transport, things to do and places to visit – all within the budget. Forming a budget will even help you organize a successful and well-organized trip.

Research on the destination: The next important step should be doing proper research on the plan that you have decided to go. Find out about the climate of the place, the mode of transportation, hotels and food available and many others. Also, find out whether the place you select is prone to natural calamity. Try to research if the area is prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, and the like.

Ticket: If you are planning to travel during the peak season, then be ready to pay higher charges for tickets, regardless of your choice. If you want to organize an independent trip, then collect charges of two or more airline. Evaluate them and compare among each other to get the best deal. Using the services of travel agencies may make your things easier, besides being obtaining a bit lower price.

Hotels: This is one of the most important and interesting aspects of organizing a trip. While searching for a hotel, make sure that you consider the important factors associated with it, such as the convenient location, tariff of the room, and services offered. You should look for certain necessary services such as the parking area, high speed internet facility, air-conditioner and other modern facilities. Visit various websites that provide you with a list of hotels, along with their tariff, facility service, and the photos of the room. [Note: Be careful when choosing a hotel through website, since pictures given over there sometime happen to the deceptive.]

Transportation: To add a charm to your trip and to make it more enjoyable and fun, it is always advisable to hire a car service for sight-seeing. Choose a car according to your needs and budget. Make sure that the car you consider is spacious, so that your journey is relaxing and comfortable. There are many websites (such as car-hire.com) that offer you a wide range of car-rental, along with the estimates. This website compares car hire from over 40 countries to offer you the cheapest deal available.

Planning and/or organizing a trip is always exciting and fun, provided that you consider the important factors. Afore mentioned are some of the facets that you must consider in order to organize a successful trip.

Author’s bio: Sam is a well-known travel blogger, who loves to write articles related to travel. In this write-up, he has given a stated all the important factors that we all must consider when organizing a trip.

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