Travel

Every summer I take the family on a vacation to a destination that everyone can agree on. One year we went to Disneyland, the next, the Grand Canyon. This year, we are all having a problem deciding on where to go. Some want to go to the beach and others want to go the mountains. I’m thinking southern California, and then you are not far from either.

I was online recently looking for different ideas and came across many different sites that offer travel ideas. I ordered many pamphlets and brochures to help the family decide on where to go. I got some for southern California and some to New York City. I know that the City is not an ideal vacation spot but it is a place that I would like my children to see.

Ordering free travel brochures online was actually pretty easy. The site had all 50 states listed. All I had to do was pick the one that interested me, order the travel brochure, and then get packing and get going.

There are so many great places to visit across the country; I didn’t realize how many activities there were to do depending on where you want to go. You can go river rafting in southern Utah, or skiing in Colorado. You can go to Disneyland in California or Cedar Point in beautiful Sandusky, Ohio!

Wherever you end up going, you can bet there will be a free travel brochure for it. I found it kind of entertaining to look through all the different places in the country that I had never before considered visiting. Just looking at the possibilities I realized there are a lot of hidden gems in this country.

When I received the pamphlets, we went over all of them with the family and narrowed down the choices of where we are going. The kids are the ones holding us up. They would rather go to an amusement park than a national park.

The site had free travel pamphlets for almost any location you could imagine. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for an indoor or outdoor vacation, all you have to do is log onto the site and find the pamphlets that contain all the details you need.

After getting all these brochures, though, and seeing how much potential there is around the country, it might just make the final decision a little harder. At least we can always depend on another summer coming around so we can go on many more vacations.

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Greece is known as a romantic country with many beautiful people. It also has a wealth of historical and cultural heritage, with contributions such as democracy and the Olympic games and famous citizens such as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Hippocrates, Archimedes, Euripedes and Herodotus. These should be enough reasons to visit Greece but if you want more, here are five great reasons why you should make Greece your next holiday destination.

1. Greek Archaeology

Many people visit Greece just for its ancient monuments, which, for the civilization they represent, is reason enough. Indeed, though in ruins, each monument holds a charm of its own, transporting visitors back to a glorious age of gods and heroes. The most impressive and important monument of ancient Greece, the Parthenon, can be found in the Athens Acropolis, where you can also find the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erectheion, while the largest Greek temple, the Olympeion or Temple of Olympian Zeus can be found just outside. You will also find the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion in southern Athens.

If you are truly interested in archaeology, you shouldn’t stop at Athens, though, since there are many impressive sites and monuments in other cities, as well. In fact, some cities like Delphi, Delos and Olympia are archaeological sites in themselves. Some of the most remarkable monuments outside Athens include the Temple of Demeter at Naxos, the Temple of Epicurian Apollo at Vassae and the ruins of the Knossos Palace in Crete.

While most of these monuments are in ruins, you can see the artifacts, like the statues they originally contained at various archaeological museums in Greece. Most of these museums are located near or even on the site itself, although the finest and most important artifacts can be found in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the largest in Greece.

2. Beaches

One of the reasons why Greece is considered to be such a romantic destination is because it has a long coastline dotted with idyllic beaches, most of which offer white sand and warm, crystal waters, while some are backed by dramatic cliffs and villas. Many of these are Blue Flag beaches, too, with the best ones found in Kefalonia and Zakynthos, while nudism is acceptable almost everywhere, but most particularly on Banana Beach in Skiathos and Eresos Beach in Lesvos. There are many great diving spots, too, and several sea caves to explore.

3. Dining in Greece

If you’ve eaten at a Greek restaurant before, you probably have an idea of what you will eat when you visit Greece, although the dishes you will find here are of course, tastier and more authentic. Many dishes are made with olives or olive oil, like the traditional Greek Salad, cabbage salad and spinach stew, while some are served with feta cheese – both of which are popular Greek products. Meat lovers won’t be disappointed, either, since Gyros, Souvlaki and oven-baked lamb can be found almost anywhere and the same goes for Greek wine and beer.

4. Greece by Night

While Greece is a country steeped in history, it definitely does not live in the past, as you will see for yourself when you visit Greece. In contrast to the quiet of its ancient monuments, Greece has a large number of clubs and bars where you can dance, drink or simply listen to all types of great music all night, even until seven in the morning if you want, especially in Athens, Mykonos, Skiathos, Rhodes and Samos.

5. Movie Locations in Greece

Zorba the Greek. Shirley Valentine. For Your Eyes Only. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. These are just movies which has scenes filmed in various Greek locations like Santorini, Meteora, Kefalonia and Mykonos, and you can even visit the exact places where they were shot when you visit Greece. After all, there is quite nothing like reliving your favorite film or imagining yourself in one.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to global tourist destinations like Greece. To book your car hire in Greece or learn more about car hire worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

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Why visit Slovakia? Slovakia is considered one of Europe’s hidden gems, with a trove of spectacular attractions like those listed below.

Bratislava

The city of Bratislava in itself is one of Slovakia’s major attractions. Indeed, many visit Slovakia just to spend a night or two here. The Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the city, serves as its main landmark and a symbol of its rich history, while other architectural marvels like the Primate’s Palace, Mirbach Palace, St. Martin’s Cathedral and Michael’s Tower are all worth seeing. If you want to relax, you can also do so at one of the spacious parks of the city, like the park surrounding Rusovce Mansion or the forests just nearby, while a trip to museums like the Slovak National Museum provides insights into the history of the entire Slovak Republic.

Aside from Bratislava, make sure you visit Banska Bystrica, too, which is just as beautiful, and other interesting cities like Kosice, Levoca, Trencin and Nitra, which have their own jewels for you to discover.

Tatra National Park

Next to Bratislava, the region of the Vysoke Tatry or High Tatras draws the most tourists each year. This is because it offers a wonderful alpine climate, amazing views and various opportunities for recreation. For those who love the outdoors, a climb up Krivan, its most beautiful peak, is recommended, or a hike along one of the many winding, scenic trails during summer, while facilities for skiing and other winter sports are available in winter. For those who simply want to relax, just sit back and savor the views from the train or one of the cable cars. If you’re lucky, you might spot chamois and rare birds in the distance.

Caves

Out of Slovakia’s roughly 4,000 caves, only– may be open to the public, but each one is definitely worth visiting. Some of them have even been included in the list of World Heritage Sites, like the Ochtinska Cave, the largest aragonite cave in the world, the Dobsinska Ice Cave, the Domica Cave, the Gombasecka Cave and the Jasovska Cave, all of which have many chambers and halls full of remarkable rock formations. The Demanovska Liberty Cave, is the most popular, though, because of its colorful stalactites – in shades of red, orange, yellow and black – and stunning lakes.

Architecture

Slovakia has its share of romantic castles and chateaux, headed by Spis Castle, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the largest castles in Central Europe. It is a popular film location, too, especially for movies with a fantasy or medieval setting. The same goes for Orava Castle, which was featured in the film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, while the castles at Bojnice, Trencin and Nitra are more renowned for their historical significance. In fact, Nitra Castle was once the seat of the Moravian Empire. If you want to spend the night in a castle, there are some that offer this chance, too, like Hradok Castle.

In contrast, you will also find many humble wooden churches when you visit Slovakia, particularly in the Svidnik province, which are just as worth seeing. One of the largest wooden structures in Central Europe can be found in the country, too – the Wooden Lutheran Church – while Podbiel has a collection of more than 70 well-preserved rustic houses. Although not entirely wooden, St. Jacob’s Church in Levoca has the highest wooden altar in the world.

Handicrafts

You won’t have a hard time looking for unique souvenirs when you visit Slovakia, since you will find many that reflect its rich culture. Popular examples include the crpak (an ornamented wooden cup), fujara (a long, woodwind instrument), valaska (traditional axe), kraslice (decorated eggs), dolls in national costumes, the Slovakian national waistband and ceramics from the town of Modra, which are usually blue and white. If you want to take home something edible, try medovniky (decorated cookies) or tatranky (wafers).

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to global tourist destinations like Slovakia. To book your slovakia car rental or learn more about car hire deals worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

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I’m glad that you are considering a trip to Las Vegas. It’s one of the best places on Earth, and you won’t be disappointed! However, you want to stay in a nice place right? When you mean nice, you mean the nicest places Las Vegas has to offer, right? So your first step is finding them.

So, you say that you want to stay in the nicest hotel in Las Vegas. Well there are a couple of options for you, as there isn’t “one best option”. A good place to start would be the AAA Five Diamond Award winning resorts. On Las Vegas Boulevard (or the strip) there is the Bellagio, Venetian, MGM Skylofts, the Four Seasons, and of course the Wynn.

By now I would assume that you really aren’t too interested in a place that has penny slots or $5 blackjack. That’s good, because all of these places can accommodate high limit gambling if you choose to partake. All except the Four Seasons, as that hotel does not offer gambling. Most of the high rollers have been enjoying the action at the Wynn, Bellagio, and Venetian as of late.

The Bellagio is a very elaborate and nicely presented hotel that just screams class. It’s most remembered for the fountains directly in front of the hotel. It offers plenty of fine dining options, and is a sight to behold. During your trip, you should take a look at the Botanical Gardens. It is an elaborate inside garden that they change throughout the year.

The Venetian is an Italian themed hotel. It has gondolas that go inside the mall, and in front of the hotel. Guests can actually ride in them with singing gondoliers. The Venetian puts an emphasis on Italian themed art and decor. The ceilings are painted like the Sistine Chapel, and the tile work and wall decorations bring the whole look together for a great visual stimulation.

At the top of the MGM Grand, you will find the MGM Skylofts. The Skylofts are great rooms with lots of amenities and luxuries that you won’t find in a normal room at the MGM Grand. As far as the MGM Grand itself, it’s a very large establishment with a huge variety of dining, gaming, and entertainment. It isn’t as flashy as the Wynn, Venetian, or Bellagio, but it is still a very nice place.

One of the most famous casino resort/real-estate developers in the world is Steve Wynn. His previous projects include the Mirage, Treasure Island, and the Bellagio before they were sold. Since then, he has outdone himself yet again with the Wynn and most recently its sister hotel Encore.

The Wynn, which Steve claims as, “The only hotel I’ve ever signed my name to” really has has a lot to offer its guests. In the Wynn, you’ll find fine dining, the Esplanade Shoppes which feature some of the most famous brands in retail, to a golf course, and even a Ferrari/Maserati dealership! Around every turn you will find visually stimulating displays. The Wynn really puts emphasis on luxury and great service, and is a great place to stay in Las Vegas.

All of these places are wonderful and absolutely stunning. Keep in mind if you’re looking for dollar drafts or five dollar blackjack, it will be difficult to find in these properties. Be prepared to splurge a little, but if you really want to experience Las Vegas luxury, these places are second to none.

So you want to plan a trip to Las Vegas. Great decision! Now, the question is what are the nicest and fanciest places in town?

So which hotels exactly are the nicest and fanciest? Well good place to start would be the AAA Five Diamond Award winning hotels. These include the Venetian, Bellagio, MGM Skylofts, the Four Seasons, and we certainly can’t forget about the Wynn.

When it comes to gambling and if you like to gamble high stakes, all of these properties can accommodate the limits you like to play (except the Four Seasons, as it doesn’t offer gaming). However, most of the highest rollers tend to hang out in the Wynn, Bellagio, and Venetian.

The Bellagio is a very elaborate and nicely presented hotel that just screams class. It’s most remembered for the fountains directly in front of the hotel. It offers plenty of fine dining options, and is a sight to behold. During your trip, you should take a look at the Botanical Gardens. It is an elaborate inside garden that they change throughout the year.

The Venetian is an Italian themed hotel. It has gondolas that go inside the mall, and in front of the hotel. Guests can actually ride in them with singing gondoliers. The Venetian puts an emphasis on Italian themed art and decor. The ceilings are painted like the Sistine Chapel, and the tile work and wall decorations bring the whole look together for a great visual stimulation.

The MGM Skylofts are located at the top of the MGM Grand. The MGM Skylofts are wonderful rooms with lots of luxuries and amenities that don’t come with a normal room at the MGM Grand. The MGM Grand itself is a nice place with a wide variety of gaming, dining, and entertainment options. It isn’t as flashy as say the Wynn or Bellagio, but it is still a great place.

The Wynn hotel (along with its sister property Encore) is the latest design by renowned casino resort/real-estate developer Steve Wynn. Wynn’s previous projects include the Mirage, Treasure Island, and the Bellagio before they were sold off to other companies.

His current creation the Wynn, has everything to offer guests. Starting with an absolutely amazing visual display around every corner, the Wynn has everything from fine dining, the Esplanade Shoppes which feature some of the most recognizable brands in retail, to a golf course, and even a Ferrari and Maserati dealership! Emphasis is put on luxury and fine service. If you feel like splurging, and taking in everything Las Vegas has to offer, definitely check out the Wynn.

All of these places are wonderful and absolutely stunning. Keep in mind if you’re looking for dollar drafts or five dollar blackjack, it will be difficult to find in these properties. Be prepared to splurge a little, but if you really want to experience Las Vegas luxury, these places are second to none.