A Few Pointers to Reading Hotel Accommodation Reviews Planning a vacation, but not quite sure where to rest your head? With so many hotel accommodations to choose from, determining which one is the best choice (aside from the price) can be a difficult decision to make. From deciding on the type of accommodation (i.e. hotel, resort, motel, etc.), to choosing an...

Best Places to Stay in Croatia Since the European war of the early 1990’s, Croatia is fast becoming a favourite tourist destination for those who want to get away from the popular Spanish resorts. Now ranked 18th in the tourist favourite destination list, Croatia has something for everyone, and accommodation to suit every pocket. Dubrovnik: Whether visiting Croatia...

A Guide to the Beaches of Koh Samui Thailand

Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, the beautiful island of Koh Samui it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, attracting travelers from all over the world seeking a tropical beach vacation.

Fine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters come together with nodding coconut trees to one side and the beautiful Gulf of Thailand to the other, and those wanting to dance barefoot under the soft light of the full moon can join one of Koh Samui’s wild nightly beach parties.

More than 1.5 million tourists visit the island each year to enjoy the kind of tropical coastline and beaches you find featured in ads. Here are a few of the more popular, and some of my most favorite beaches to visit on the island. “Get a massage, have your hair braided, buy barbecued chicken or sarongs, get to know the locals or simply doze off and chill out.”

Tips for Booking a Holiday Online With summer in full swing, most of us are itching to pack our suitcases and spend some much needed time glued to a sun lounger, sipping on cocktails by a pool somewhere exotic. You can find really great late deals at this time of year, and the majority of the best deals are found online. If you’ve never booked a holiday online...

INTERVIEW: Making a Long Distance Relationship Work Through Travel

There are hundreds of reasons to travel the world – for the adventure, the perspective, the education, the challenge, (just to name a few), though there is one couple currently traveling the world to keep their relationship going.

She’s American and he’s from Australia – their story sounds strangely familiar to my own! Despite living on opposite ends of the globe, Jenn and Jack make their long distance relationship work through travel. Both thrill seekers, food lovers, adventure finders, and a couple who attract misadventure, Jenn and Jack use travel as their excuse to stay together.

A fun loving couple who just wants to explore the world together, this inspiring duo decided that long distance shouldn’t be an obstacle which prevents a relationship, and that with enough creativity and motivation, it’s possible to mold any dream into a reality. After-all, if it’s important to you, you will find a way. This is their story.

What you need to do to teach English in a foreign country Travelling abroad is a wonderful and eye-opening experience that allows you to see the world while gaining new language skills and better understanding foreign cultures. However, the difficult part of sustained travel often comes with finding a means to support your life abroad. A great solution is learning...

Denali Park Village Review: Luxury Accommodation in Alaska’s Wild Interior

Denali National Park is Alaska’s most popular land attraction, though it’s almost impossible to experience everything the park has to offer in just one day. Most visitors choose to stay 3 or 4 nights, we chose to stay for 5, though when you find yourself wanting to spend multiple nights in Alaska’s wild interior, the question then becomes, where do you stay?

Alaska.org advised that “90% of visitors choose a Denali hotel near the park entrance because it’s convenient, less expensive, offers a variety of lodges from luxurious to rustic, is near the national park visitor center, and is within easy access to transportation and interpretive bus trips along Denali Park Road and a variety of recreational activities and Denali excursions.”

Sound enough logic for us! We as such checked into The Lodge at Denali Park Village.

Toronto’s Best Kept Secrets: Best Places to Visit in Toronto

Many people visit Toronto and automatically flock to popular tourist destinations like the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, or make their priorities a ride to the top of the CN tower, and a visit the Eaton Centre for some shopping. These visitors usually end their sightseeing there, and without further exploration leave with the impression that Toronto was nothing special.

Well I’m here to break the news – if you’ve departed Toronto believing the city is nothing special, you haven’t yet discovered what the city is all about. You failed to actually travel here. Your loss!

The following attractions and locations are bound to make you fall in love with Toronto, the top destinations within the city that tourists should be squeezing into their visit for a real taste of what Toronto is all about.

5 Top Tips For +50s Solo Travellers Traveling on your own can be a joy. It is a great way to meet new people, explore new places, learn new languages, and to be able to see and do the things that are most important to you. Everyone should, have the thrilling experience of stepping out into the world on their own. But before you jet off solo to that destination...

British Holiday Makers Unfairly Reserve Poolside Sun Loungers on Holiday Sunshine has recently repeated an online survey that they had first performed in 2012. It shows that since then, British people are the worst culprits at unfairly reserving poolside loungers. Three years earlier, they were the fourth worst for this type of behaviour. Sunshine, an online travel...

Hipmunk City Love: The Top Rated Hotels in Madrid Madrid is the cultural, culinary, and historic capital of Spain – between the restaurants, wild nightlife, and cultural events, this is one of Europe’s most passionate destinations, and no city on earth is more alive than Madrid. As with all travel, your experience begins from the moment you check in, so you may as...

Hipmunk City Love: The Best Beach Hotels in Lahaina, Hawaii. Those looking for a beachfront resort when visiting Lahaina don’t have to look very hard. A city nestled between the West Maui Mountains and the dazzling blue Pacific Ocean, the coastline now teems with options for luxury accommodation right on the sea. The following are the best beachfront hotels in...

Hipmunk City Love: The Most Fashionable Hotels in Milan Milan is a city of extreme elegance and lavish wealth, the epicenter of Italian fashion and design. Travelers flock here for the unparalleled shopping, art collections new and old, thriving nightlife, and to witness the grandeur of Renaissance and Gothic architecture – an experience of European sophistication...

Hipmunk City Love: The Best Budget Hotels in Kowloon. Space is definitely a commodity in Hong Kong, and in a city where real estate comes at a high price, staying in the city on a budget can prove to be a challenge. Though for those who know where to look, there are plenty of options for budget hotels just waiting to be found. Hong Kong hotels are cheaper as you...

Alaska Travel Essentials: Tips For Bear Safety + Our Favorite Photos of Bears

As we began our trek through the wilderness of Denali National Park we knew we were not alone. Fresh footprints marked our trail, and the chew marks on the wooden sign which noted our location at Sable Pass were quite obviously the jaw imprints of a grizzly.

Though far from being afraid, we had actually come for the bears, attempting to track them by their prints and scat which led from right outside our camp deep into the backcountry throughout the park.

These are our top tips on being bear aware, and our favorite photos from our recent trip to Alaska.

Interview: The Inspiring Travelers from Latvia Who Cycled 5,300 Kilometers Across India

They’re the inspiring couple from Latvia who quit their jobs, sold everything they owned and took off to India with little more than a bike. For 5 months they cycled the country from end to end, accumulating phenomenal experiences with each of the 5,300 kilometers they went. Though this was in October 2013, and they have continued to travel full time ever since.

Kaspars and Una have spent the last two years living and working between destinations across Europe and Asia, with the ultimate goal of exploring every corner of the planet before returning home. They travel slowly to truly immerse themselves into each new culture and place, and keep their costs low by volunteering in exchange for food and board.

Because why not quit your office job, give away everything you own and travel indefinitely if you don’t want to return home? Seriously, why not!! That’s exactly this one inspiring couple’s story.

How I Got Paid to Travel to Antarctica

This job made me realize that the world was much smaller and more accessible than I ever knew. Holland America took me all over the Caribbean, around both the Mediterranean and Baltic seas, to Egypt, Greenland, Russia, and everywhere in between! I even managed to travel on my own in between contracts, requesting extensions on flights that were already paid for by Holland America.

Eventually, despite the lure of new places and having made so many great friends, I knew I couldn’t keep doing this forever. Youth staff on a cruise ship was a young person’s job and I was ready to focus on starting a photography career. With this goal in mind, I decided to end my career in cruising, a task that is easier said than done. Ask any former crew member and they will agree!

It was once I stopped, of course, that an irresistible opportunity practically fell in my lap. It was another contract, though this one was different. It would last 6 months, taking me from South America to the Mediterranean, by way of Antarctica!

Hipmunk CIty Love: A Guide to the Best Bars in Berlin One of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, famous for its bar scene, Berlin draws travelers from all over the globe interested in the thriving nightlife. And while Berlin hostels are a hotspot for backpackers looking to cash in on Berlin’s reputation for a party, some of Berlin’s best bars are actually waiting...

Things not-to-miss on your Parisian vacation! Trips to Paris create some of the most memorable moments in peoples’ lives, whether it’s a family holiday or a romantic couple’s get-away, this icon of European culture never disappoints. But with so much to see and do in the City of Light, it can be tempting to overwhelm your schedule, and leave little time for the...

Film Review: Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years In Tibet is a 1997 film which chronicles the true story of Harrer (Brad Pitt) who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China’s takeover of Tibet.

Despite a fairly woeful attempt at an Austrian accent, Brad Pitt’s interactions with the curious Dalai Lama are fantastic – it’s a seven-year personality transformation condensed into 140 minutes, and is captured perfectly, right down to the Dalai Lama’s eager curiosity still sharp at an old age.

There is no better story which highlights conquering the parts of our personality that make us arrogant and self-centered, and no better way to achieve this than setting sights on the highest mountains in the world. And what better place to learn such important lessons than that of the Himalayas – the home to the Dalai Lama.

Hipmunk City Love: Best Photo Opportunities in Las Vegas Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world and is most famous for its buzzing energy, thriving nightlife, and endless options for casinos, resorts, and entertainment. It’s one of the top tourist destinations in the world and is a popular setting for Hollywood films, television shows,...

Hipmunk City Love: What to Pack for a Trip to Houston, Texas Since everything is supposed to be bigger in Texas, that means your baggage should be, too. Houston has a reputation for fabulous weather, shopping and food, though the huge range of activities and attractions on offer doesn’t mean you should be packing everything including the kitchen sink! Following are...

Hipmunk City Love: Best Party Hotels in Miami Beach It’s not just the temperature that’s hot in Miami Beach, one of America’s leading tourist destinations. Thanks to its party and bar scene, Miami is one of the most desirable party destinations in the world. Your experience should start with your hotel, and many throughout Miami Beach deliver the kind of buzz...

Hipmunk City Love: Your Guide to the Best Luxury Hotels in Istanbul Istanbul is a magical melting pot where the East meets the West. It’s a city brimming with artistic treasures and historic buildings ranging from churches to palaces to glittering mosques. When planning your trip to this city it’s important to know which hotels will leave you with a lasting...

Technology You Should be Using to Better Your Travels

It’s a no brainer that technology has become pervasive in our every day life. At a basic level, most travelers use it to book their flight or hotel reservations through sites like Kayak or TripAdvisor, and almost everyone now carries a smartphone…even as it would seem, my tuk tuk driver in Laos who spent more time using his iPhone than watching the actual road!

The following are technology tools and services which will greatly enhance your next adventure.