Vacations, Tours and Holidays

Vacations, Tours and Holidays Resources

Ever feel that the world is moving too fast and you'd like to step off for a while? Or you yearn for adventure, and want to discover the mysteries of the world? Then taking a vacation may be just what you need. Escape to the place that could soothe frayed nerves and seduce you with it's natural beauty like Croatia which has a long history as a favored leisure destination for Europeans, with its glorious Dalmation coastline, rich heritage and culture. Or you could check in to a tranquil romantic retreat, feeling free to laze in a beach hammock, slipping into luminous lagoon and easing into a soothing massage spa in a tropical resort.

Or maybe you have already started thinking of where you would like to have your vacation for this coming summer. Whatever your plan is, you will have to start planning early. Remember, some travel documents need time and regulations could have changed. Be sure to check and see if you need one for your travel destination. Planning ahead can get you some great bargains on getting the best deals on accommodations as well as airfares.

Fifty or sixty years ago traveling abroad for most people was an unrealizable dream. Only the wealthy with a lot of time on their hands could afford to travel to a foreign country for a holiday and even for them the idea of going to South America, Africa or Asia would have been pretty much unthinkable.

The development of air transport over the past few decades has changed all that. Today your often-dreamed-of-trip to Cambodia or Uganda or Bolivia or even Antarctica can so easily become reality. More and more people from many different countries and of all age groups are catching the travel bug all the time.

The most remote places on earth are today accessible to the intrepid traveler. Whether it be the remarkable Yemeni island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean or Lake Baikal in Siberia, or Aitutaki in the South Pacific, none of the destinations in this book should be much more than two days' total traveling time from a major airport - provided you have the determination, energy and money to go there, of course. Truly the world now is your oyster.

Some of the must-visit destination featured are great wonders of nature, but the majority are creations of human beings - towns and cities, cathedrals, castles, museums, gardens and markets - all testament to the industry, ingenuity and perseverance of mankind. Some of them, like the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal or the Acropolis, are famous throughout the world but many are little known. Were you to visit the spectacular lagoon at Dakhla or the beautiful temple of Wat Tham Paplong for example there is still every chance that you would be the only tourist there.

Undoubtedly travel and tourism can have a damaging effect as visitors to some of the world's most famous cities and monuments can readily testify. Some particularly popular places, the city of Venice or Egypt's Valley of the Kings, for example, can at certain times of year be - and feel - almost overwhelmed by the sheer number of visitors and your pleasure at finally reaching your eagerly awaited vacation destination can be marred by the presence of just too many human beings. Sometimes you can dramatically improve the experience if you simply avoid making your trip during the busiest time of the year. Venice or Florence are still beautiful in the winter months. The Valley of the Kings is equally amazing in August - though admittedly the weather will be hot.

There are also many positive and important benefits from international travel and tourism - probably now the world's biggest single business. Some of these, like tourists' spending and the provision of employment are quite obvious. Yet others are arguably just as important if not so readily apparent - the breaking down of national barriers, understanding other people's habits, thinking and cultures, a shared pride in the fruits of the endeavors of one's fellow man.

Of course the traveling to your must-visit holiday destination can often be as interesting and as much fun as the arriving there. The people you meet, the hotels you stay at, the meals you eat, the trips you take on the local trains, buses or taxis - once you return home your memories of your holiday will be of the journey and the whole experience and not just of the destination itself.

If you are the proverbial armchair traveler who, for whatever reason, travels in your mind rather than in fact, then this site should help your fantasies. However if  you have ever remotely considered visiting the destination of your dreams, stop resisting. Take the plunge and go. Your mind and your life will be enriched by the whole experience.

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Countries, Cities and Interesting Places

	Aeolian Islands A volcanic archipelago off the north-east coast of Sicily. Get there by boat, ferry or hydrofoil from Milazzo, Sicily or Naples.
	Assisi A superb example of an Umbrian hill town. Never miss the monastery of St Francis, the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Best time to visit is in early October.
	Pompeii One of Italy's most famous cities, frozen in time. Located on the Bay of Naples, in the Region of Campania in south-west Italy. Do not miss The House of Vettii as it is the best example of human life in Pompeii.
	Rome As the center for centuries of the Christian world, Rome has more than 900 churches and basilicas. It is hard not to be awestruck by its blend of noise, excitement and bustle threaded with sudden calms of tranquil reflection.
	The Amalfi Coast The Amalfi Coast is a beautiful stretch of coastline 40 km (25 mi) long that runs along the south side of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Spring and Autumn is best as the area is really crowded during Summer.
	Torre Annunziata A modern seaport in the shadow of Vesuvius, between Pompeii and Herculaneum. Don't miss the Villa Poppaea for an unparalleled insight into the lives of wealthy Romans.
	Urbino The Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, one of the greatest collections of Renaissance paintings in the world. Visit during the flower festival in May or the Jazz festival in June.
	Venice A 'floating' city built on wooden piles on a series of mud flats and islets. Take a water taxi down the Grand Canal for the best view of the city. Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
	Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este It is two villas and gardens about 30 km (20 miles) east of Rome. Travel there by train or bus from Rome. Do not miss the Medieval Tivoli, with several tower houses, the temples of Hercules and the Tiburtine Sybil.
	Mt Etna Europe's highest active volcano. Some of the trails lie along steep cliffs and extra care should be taken. Get there by bus or the Ferrovia Circumetnea railway from Catania.
	Taormina Sicily's most famous resort. You can reach Taormina by bus or train from Messina or Catania. Taormina splendor has attracted visitors for more then two centuries.
	Noto Located in the south-east of Sicily, Noto is also known as The Baroque city of Sicily. If you are short of time, make sure you see Piazza Municipo. Get there by train from Syracuse, or by bus from Syracuse or Catania.
	Pantalica Pantalica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of Sicily's special hidden surprises. Make sure you follow the trails through Anaktoron and see the rock tombs when visiting Pantalica.
	Agrigento Lies on Sicily's south coast, it presents "The Temple of Concord", the temple of Juno and other monuments of ancient Akragas. The best time to visit is during spring or autumn.
	La Scala You will never regret visiting  La Scala Opera House, the theatre museum and the cathedral. Make sure you also visit the refectory of Santa Maria della Grazia, containing Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper.

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