If you’ve never visited the United States, or not had a chance to make it to the cultural capital, you’ve likely dreamt of the day (and night) you can visit New York City. Perhaps the most iconic destination in the western world, countless cinematic representations of the Big Apple have raised its gritty day-to-day lifestyle to a glamorous status. For not only are the buildings and monuments widely celebrated, but the very experience of being in the definitive metropolis makes it a bucket list essential for any eager traveler.
To fully take advantage of that sense of lifestyle, though, you really need to dedicate at least one full night of your trip to staying awake and enjoying the non-stop nightlife, vampire-style. It can begin as the sun sets, with a ticket to the live recording of Seth Meyers’ famous Late Night show. Afterwards, you can fill your shopping bags (or browse for free!) at late night market, the Brooklyn Bazaar. They’ll lay on karaoke, DJs and games to boot!
Once you’re warmed up, you can put those vocal cords to good effect at the live movie experience of The Rocky Horror Show, which will see you through the midnight hour in Manhattan. A drink at Jay-Z’s 40/40 club will soothe your throat and recharge you in time for some all-night bowling at Whitestone Lanes.
If you’re starting to flag by now, take it easy with a bit of pampering at Koreatown’s Juvenex Spa. You’ll be out in time to see the sun rise over the Statue of Liberty – you can find the perfect view on a free ferry to Staten Island from Manhattan’s Whitehall Street Station. What an epic way to finish your first all-nighter in Gotham!
For all the details and more ideas on how to fill those small hours between dusk and dawn, check out Expedia’s new infographic. You can’t say you’ve done in New York until you’ve pulled an all-nighter!
Deciding which Hawaiian island to visit for the first time you visit can seem a bit overwhelming. Each of the different major islands–Oahu, Hawaii island, Kauai, Maui–have something unique and different to offer travellers.
The beautiful island of Oahu offers the traveler many options. Whether you like the hustle and bustle of big city life in Honolulu; enjoy the serenity of nature in the magnificent Kuala mountains; or want to catch some surf vibes along the North Shore–Oahu has something for everybody!
On the island of Oahu, you’ll find a vibrant mix of culture, arts, and entertainment. There’s plenty of shopping available on Oahu. You can also visit museums, cultural centres, and even attend an authentic Luau.
If spending time on the beach is more your style–Oahu has a number of beaches that meet the needs of whatever beach style you prefer. If you like the busy beaches with plenty of people, bars, and restaurants then Waikiki Beach is a must. But if you prefer more to see a more laid back Hawaii–head to the North Shore and find beautiful sandy beaches with sea turtles, surfers, and unique Hawaiian eats.
Oahu is an island best suited for someone who wants the full Hawaiian experience. Urban explorers can wander Honolulu, culture absorbers will fall for the Polynesian Cultural Centre, history buffs can visit the hallowed grounds of Pearl Harbour, nature lovers can visit some of the greatest beaches and swim in some of the most magnificent water. It’s truly an island for everyone and is our choice as the best island for vacation in Hawaii.
Hawaii Island, known as the Big Island, is the largest of the Hawaiian islands–with an area larger than all the other islands combined. This island offers unique biomes with eleven different climatic zones–you can visit sandy beaches, snow-capped mountains, and active volcanoes–all on one island!
The Big Island is home to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park–a national treasure and the largest volcano on the islands, Kilauea is a must see. You can go hiking and find waterfalls, natural pools, and lush green mountains on Hawaii Island. If you’re lucky, you may encounter dolphins, sea turtles, and whales.
Even the beaches of the Big Island have their own unique characteristics from the black sand on Punalu’u Beach, the white sand on Hāpuna Beach, to the green sand on Papakōlea Beach–these beaches really have something to marvel over.
Hawaii Island is best suited for the naturalist. The variety of climatic zones available on the island brings a depth of life that cannot be matched anywhere else. Active volcanoes, colourful beaches, and incredible landscapes await on the Big Island.
Even hearing the name Maui invokes a relaxed, calm, island vibe. There is perhaps a no better word to associate with Hawaii than Maui. 30 miles of beaches, the ancient volcano–Haleakala, and the spectacular waterfalls of Ohe’o Gulch are but a few highlights for those that wish to visit the old Hawaii.
Maui is a terrific year round destination with its mild, consistent weather allowing visitors to enjoy the island at its most brilliant. Beaches for every type line the island’s perimeter. Secluded beaches await those looking for privacy. The sports enthusiasts will enjoy the largest surfable waves in North America. Head to the windy side to take up your new favourite hobby of kiteboarding. Want to relax and spend a day on the water without the water thrashing your body–snorkelling meccas are everywhere.
The island is also home to some of the greatest hiking trails in the word. Maui is host to Haleakala National Park. Celebrating Hawaiian culture–both modern and ancient–the park offers a taste of history. Learn how the interactions humans make on their environment shapes the landscape. Don’t want to spend your time inside the fascinating museums–grab your backpack and spend a night under the darkest sky imaginable. Gaze up at the milky way with your naked eye as you fall asleep in the Hawaiian wilderness.
The people of Maui’s dedication to eco-friendly and sustainable farming means that a lot of the food produced on the island stays on the island. It’s a wonderful island for foodies as the locavore scene is exploding. Farm to table restaurants highlighting the glory of Hawaiian food culture dot the island.
Maui is an island best suited for the outdoor loving foodie. After a long day of hiking and exploring, coming back to your hotel, home, or camp with some of the tastiest local food imaginable…priceless.
Located in the centre of the Hawaiian archipelago lies Kauai. Perhaps the most beautiful of the Hawaiian islands–Kauai is home to some of the best beaches and mountain ranges in the world.
Kauai lays claim to one of the best beaches to visit in Hawaii. Hanalei Bay is a haven for water lovers. Surrounded by majestic forested mountains, to say this location is picturesque doesn’t do it enough justice. In the summer, the ocean’s waves calm and the water is as still as glass. Outside of the summer, surfers from around the world come to enjoy the beauty and splendour of Hanalei Bay.
Known as perhaps the most gorgeous landscape in the United States and perhaps the earth, the Na Pali coastline invites you to take in the lush, tropical environment. See this wonder of geology, with its rocky crags and dense, green foliage by sea, air, or, for the more adventurous, by foot along one of the greatest hiking trails in the world–The Kailua Trail.
Kauai is an island suited best for the adventurous and active. Getting out and interacting with this incredible island is key to the ultimate Kauai experience.
Choosing where to stay in Hawaii doesn’t have to be a difficult decision. Just think about what you want out of your next vacation. Whether it’s beaches, fine dining, city life, history, or wild landscapes–Hawaii has something for everyone. The best island for vacation in Hawaii is the one that will provide you with the most long-lasting memories that you can share with others.
The ultimate guide to ensuring you’re not bumped off the plane on your next flight!
While it has long been a policy for plenty of airlines, the process of potentially bumped off before takeoff is something which has only just come to light for many people.
In April, a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight was forcibly removed from an overbooked flight.
David Dao, a doctor from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who refused to leave the plane, was dragged off by a security officer, cutting his head in the process.
A video emerged of the incident online which sparked a chain of controversy surrounding the process of removing people from overbooked flights. You can take a look at the video by heading to the NY Times site.
While this was clearly a rather overblown example, it made many people aware of the possibility of overbooking.
Avoiding Overbooking
Obviously, overbooking is pretty much out of your hands. However, you need to be aware of the protocol once you have been made aware that your flight has been overbooked.
Firstly, airlines are required to ask for volunteers to switch flights. As a thank you, they will compensate you with a travel voucher or some sort.
If there aren’t enough volunteers, the airline may well select people who will then be entitled to cash.
Clearly, neither of these scenarios are ideal and we would all much rather get to our destination on time, without any unnecessary fuss.
How To Not Get Bumped Off A Flight
So, how do you best avoid situations like this or manage them when they unfortunately arrive? Well, thanks to a new infographic from silverdoor.co.uk, you can learn all you need to know.
It’s called ‘The Ultimate Guide To Ensuring You’re Not Bumped Off The Plane On Your Next Flight’ and you can take a look below.
It covers everything from explaining which airlines are less likely to overbook to which type of flights you should consider booking.
Where In The World Can Brits Travel Without A Visa
The early stages of planning and booking a holiday can bring its fair share of headaches.
There is, of course, a great deal to think about. From settling on a location to booking the flights, choosing accommodation to arranging holiday insurance, the list goes on.
However, there is one thing which regardless of your journey you must not forget, your passport.
International border rulings can vary massively and are constantly altering, so it helps to have a globally respected passport.
British Holidaymakers
The British passport is certainly one of these and allows a holder into a lot of countries without the application of any other travel document.
Just take a look at this list of the world’s most powerful passports from The Telegraph. This article ranks the United Kingdom third in the world, closely behind Germany and Sweden.
However, despite its power, there are still certain countries which require some form of visa upon arrival.
Knowing which countries require a Brit to have a visa is important. Without one your dream holiday could turn into your worst nightmare.
Infographic
Thankfully, citybaseapartments.com has created a smart infographic which clearly displays all the relevant information.
The infographic is called ‘Where In The World Can Brits Travel Without A Visa’ and you can take a look at it at the bottom of this post.
It offers information on all types of visas, as they can differ quite a lot. In this case, there are three types, a standard visa, visa on arrival and an electronic visa.
The most straightforward of the three is a visa on arrival, which does what it says on the tin. You simply fill in a visa either while on the plane or when you land. The majority of countries which use theses are in Africa.
An electronic visa is a step up from this and a standard visa requires more planning than any other. So, next time you book a trip abroad, make sure that you have all the relevant documents at hand.
Take a look at the infographic for yourself below.
As the promise of a new year is upon us, and sounds of Merry Christmas fill the air, it is time of the year when many couples are planning that much-needed (and often postponed!) romantic getaway. Whether you are looking to spend some quality time together or rekindle the spark in your relationship, heading on to a romantic getaway can give you the solitude and tranquillity to start off the New Year on a positive note.
While there are many countries in Southeast Asia that offer the best in terms of tourist attractions and services, Malaysia holds a significant place, owing to its eclectic mix of modernity and tradition. A people-friendly country, Malaysia has built a solid reputation owing to its tourism initiatives. So, if you are planning a romantic winter getaway in Malaysia this Christmas and New Year’s eve, find out the best hotels and resorts in Malaysia.
Tanjung Aru Beach, Sabah
A highly rated beach, Tanjung Baru is a favorite among couples, courtesy its majestic sunsets and proximity to the capital Kota Kinabalu. The beach offers exhilarating views of the coastline and just idling on the beach before and after the sunset will give you a feel that can’t be expressed in words. For adventure junkies, kayaking and jet-skiing are some of the key activities. A golf course and sailing club is also in the vicinity of the beach, so you have a host of options to choose from. The local resorts at the beach offer accommodation at an affordable rate, whereas seafood and authentic Malaysian cuisine are on offer at the beach and also at nearby restaurants. There are a number of tour operators that offer attractive Malaysia getaway packages at affordable prices.
Langkawi
While there are many urban tourist attractions in Malaysia, Langkawi often tops the list of most attractive places to visit in Malaysia, thanks to its over 100 beaches and staid, laidback village life. If you desire a romantic ambience that few places can match, we recommend you to climb (or take a cable) to the Gunung Mat Cincang Mountain. The majestic views from the hilltop will simply mesmerize you, and a candlelight buffet will complement the gorgeous setting and ambience of the place. Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah remain the most popular beaches in terms of facilities and services, whereas Tanjung Rhu and Datai Bay are the best places for shopping.
Tioman Island
Tioman Island is one of the most popular Islands and situated in Rompin District, Pahang, Malaysia. Southeastern side of Peninsular has 64 Islands and Tioman is one of the biggest in those. It is known for its beaches, wonderful diving, snorkeling, fishing, resorts and its tranquil atmosphere. You will find more of lush tropical jungles on this Island than any roads. Couple can enjoy during winters its pristine beaches, mountain streams, aqua sports and exotic marine life. Taking a holiday in Malaysia will help you and your loved one unwind and enjoy your time.
Pangkor Island
Pangkor is another one of the most popular Islands in Malaysia which is worth visiting to create life time memories. It is situated next to the west coast of the Malaysian Peninsula in Perak . Couples can have number of exciting things to do here like taking a stroll on some fantastic beaches, snorkeling, explore some mystic temples, trekking in jungles and enjoy stay at some exquisite resort.
Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is a highland as the name suggests and because of its high location it is one of the coolest places in Malaysia for couple to enjoy during winters. Its climate is best suitable for cultivating tea. Cameron highlands are very popular among tourists who can walk for hours and hours in its cool climate. For scenic beauty, Cameron highlands are the best place for a romantic couple to visit. One can also visit popular places here for sightseeing like Cactus valley, Cameron Bharat Tea plantation, Cameron highlands Butterfly farm, Raaju’s hill Strawberry farm, Time Tunnel, Sam Poh Temple and lot more.
Taman Negara
For couples who wish to experience tropical rainforest to the fullest, Taman Negara is definitely a best place to visit during winters. Couples will find here one of the best resorts, jungle treks, walk across one of the longest Malaysian suspension bridge in the world, Bird watching, travel upstream in the Boats, Marvel at flowers that only bloom at night and lot more.
Santa Barbara, a beautiful a city on the central California coast, is a major tourist attraction in the US. Santa Barbara is a favorite among tourists looking to spend quality alone time. The destination is also a popular New Year’s Eve getaway with its relatively warm weather offering a hospitable abode to tourists escaping the wintery chill. If you are planning a getaway and are wondering what to see in US, rest assured that Santa Barbara will completely live up to your expectations and offer you the perfect setting to ring in the new year.
State Street
The State Street is one of the most visited places here. With over 300 shops and 160 restaurants, the street is known as the shopper’s paradise. However, more than the shopping, it is the ambience and vibe of the street that makes it a standout among other shopping districts here. While you can take the convenient electric shuttle, we recommend that you walk your way through this awe-inspiring street.
Water Fun
Santa Barbara Sailing Center
This city is known for its water sports and adventure activities, and if you too enjoy these, the Santa Barbara Sailing Center is the place for you. Kayak rentals and stand up paddle board rentals are most affordable and you can spend a day out even if you are visiting during the winter. One of the best things to do here, water fun can be an immersive, adventurous activity.
Santa Barbara Zoo
Also known as an “animal spa”, the Santa Barbara Zoo is a beautiful place with no cages, beautiful grounds and many interactive features. With over 500 animals from 160 species, the Santa Barbara Zoo is among the most frequented tourist attractions for families.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
One can enjoy a 360 degree view of the lovely city from Santa Barbara County Courthouse tower. You can take an elevator to reach the top of the tower.
Moreover, the courthouse is a working courthouse which makes it all the more interesting. The ramparts, circular staircases, and tile work were aesthetically pleasing, offering an awe-inspiring milieu to tourists. The walls of this courthouse are decorated with paintings from famous artists, such as Van Cina and Allan Gilbert.
Cabrillo Bike Path
The Cabrilo Bike path is a hit among the tourists looking for a tranquil 3 mile ride all by themselves. Cabrillo Bike path’s attraction is its vicinity to the ocean. If you are looking to explore the natural beauty of this city and other hamlets at your own pace, we highly recommend cruising along the Cabrillo bike path. While summers are the best time to enjoy a ride, the fun and excitement is no lesser during the winters.
Food & Drinks
Helena Avenue Bakery at 131 Anacapa
The restaurants and hotels here offer wide range of cuisines that’s sure to appeal to a diverse culinary tastes and preferences. We recommend you to visit the Helena Avenue Bakery at 131 Anacapa St for some mouth-watering sandwiches and pastries. Other restaurants frequented by tourists include Yoichi’s, Lucky Penny, Downey’s, The Black Sheep, The Lark, and Bouchon.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
An educational and entertaining tourist attraction, the botanic garden gives visitors an opportunity to explore a variety of habitats. While West Coast flora remains a key point of interest, the garden also hosts redwood forest vistas and ridges. You can also buy souvenirs from the on-site retail shop; we recommend taking some locally made wildflower honey back home!
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
If you are game for watching maritime documentaries and movies, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum can be the ideal place for you. This tourist attraction should be on your itinerary if you are travelling with your kids.
Shoreline Park
Santa Barbara coastline, a majestic view of the mountains, playgrounds, and barbeques – these and much more await you at the Shoreline Park in this city. The entry to the park is free and you can enjoy a day out at the beach.
These were some of the best Santa Barbara attractions. If you are planning a trip to Santa Barbara, these tourist attractions can offer the ideal setting. If you know of any attractive unique tourist attractions, do let us know in the comments section below.
Ever since then, we have enjoyed the experience of being a panel of glass away from some of nature’s most fascinating creatures.
Amusement Parks
Another good example is the amusement park, which is still a popular day out for children and adults alike.
The first amusement parks began in the late 19th century, offering many things we would still recognise today.
From competition stalls to optical illusions, sugary treats to roller coasters which are perhaps the main feature, we still enjoy them all today.
Roller Coasters
One of the first roller coasters ever built was the Switchback Railway at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.
While it doesn’t exactly sound thrilling to us, its top speed of six mph made it a hugely popular attraction at the time.
Roller coasters quickly became a global sensation and their success hasn’t taken its foot off the accelerator since.
This is, of course, despite the emergence of increasingly brilliant home entertainment system such as VR technology.
Regardless of what you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, seemingly there’s still an appetite for the physical thrill of a rollercoaster.
Part of this is down to the variety available to us in the many parks around the world.
We’ve come a long way since the humble wooden railway. Now we have the extremes of vertical drops, +100 mph speeds and even break-away tracks!
Infographic
There are roller coasters being unveiled every couple of years which are breaking the boundaries of what we previously thought was possible.
Travel site globehunters.com has created a great infographic which offers up some of the most outstanding and truly spine-tingling rides on the planet.
It’s called ‘A Thrill Seeker’s Guide To The World’s Most Terrifying Roller Coasters’ and you can check it out at the bottom of this post.
This great infographic pulls together all of the top roller coasters in the world, from those with the highest speeds to those with dizzying heights.
One of the most impressive coasters in the list is the Formula Rossa which is situated in Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi.
To celebrate the engineering brilliance of the famous car manufacturer, this roller coaster reaches staggering speeds of 149 mph.
Riders of the Formula Rossa will go from 0-149 mph in just 5 seconds while experiencing highs of 4.8Gs.
As well as the fastest coaster in the world, this list also presents the tallest. Kingda Ka in the US is a dizzying 456 ft tall and is only the second strata roller coaster in the world.
It also reaches an eye-watering 128 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Regardless of how much of a roller enthusiast you are, this ride will certainly get the butterflies in your stomach fluttering.
If you fancy testing your metal, take a look at the list below and plan your world trip of the most terrifying roller coasters.
A Thrill Seeker’s Guide To The World’s Most Terrifying Roller Coasters – An infographic by the team at Globehunters.com
For big food fans, it’s fair to say that we now have access to more tastebud tingling meals than ever before.
Take a walk down your local high street or into the closest supermarket and you’ll find a range of delicious dishes from every corner of the globe.
Of course, it’s not as if we’ve suddenly experienced an international food revolution, instead, our options have simply expanded.
For many years, Indian, Chinese and even Japanese restaurants have been a firm fixture on any high street and we have all become accustomed to the flavours they offer.
In fact, Indian food has long been a firm favourite in the UK, overtaking the traditional fish and chips to become the most popular takeaway option.
However, in 2016 all of this changed. The Mirror reported that the popularity of Korean food had indeed skyrocketed in the UK, with the number of orders placed climbing by 85%.
On top of this, cuisine from the Caribbean, north and west Africa and Mexico has seen a sharp uptake in recent years too.
International Spice
One of the most appealing things about trying cuisine from different parts of the world is experiencing ingredients and flavours which we may not have come across.
A particularly popular sensation is spice. Spice is such a diverse taste, which is proven by the amount of different dishes which contain that heat.
For example, while both a curry and a burrito can contain high levels of spice, there is no comparing the flavours.
Extreme Spice
Obviously, some foods are much spicier than others. For example, when ordering a curry, we all understand the difference between a rogan josh and a vindaloo.
The Scoville Scale is the official way to grade the heat of particular foods. It assesses the types of peppers used in a dish which are all charted in the scale.
Plenty of us get excited about spices and enjoy testing out what we can handle. In fact, sousvidetools.com created a great infographic for spice lovers to take a look at.
It’s called ’16 Of The World’s Spiciest Foods’ and offers up dishes from every corner of the globe, some you’ll have heard of and others you won’t.
The infographic even includes the Scoville Scale rating of each dish. So, take a look and maybe even try some out for yourself, if you dare.
December is here and you can sense the onset of festive vibes, the anxious waiting for the season holidays to start, to get together with loved ones and celebrate the joyous time. It’s Christmas and most people would plan on having the typical white Christmas vacation and travel to western places where Christmas is a grand occasion – everywhere you go, its snowflakes, Santa clauses and Christmas trees. Though the festival at western destinations are an elaborate celebration, for travelers, visit such places in December means less amenities and earlier closing time as everyone would be enjoying Christmas with their families. Most shopping areas and entertainment spots will be brimming with crowd and the weather can be unpleasantly cold. December month also means a break from work and stress for most people, hence travel plans during this season should also aim on de-stressing from routine life style, and relaxation. This year, why not try something new this Christmas? Take a detour from usual and plan a tropical Christmas vacation in Thailand. The climate would be perfect for a day at the beach plus there are lot of ways to make your vacation a relaxing one, away from the buzzes and chaos of festivities. Check out these selected ideas for an idyllic Thailand Christmas escapade.
There are largely two different types of globally popular foods. There’s those that belong to one particular culture and those which become broadly interpreted and enjoyed.
A great example of the first is sushi. Sushi is unmistakably Japanese and is enjoyed across the world by all classes and cultures, from Michelin star restaurants to convenience meal deals.
Learn more about how sushi became a global sensation in this article from The Guardian.
At the other end of the scale, you have dishes which are enjoyed all over the world but are interpreted and enjoyed differently wherever you go. Generally, this means they don’t have one individual identity.
A brilliant example of this is sausage. Sausage is defined by dictionary.com as:
“Minced pork, beef or other meats, often combined, together with various added ingredients and seasonings, usually stuffed into a prepared intestine or other casing and often made in links”
This definition is pretty vague and sums up the versatility of the dish. This is why there are so many iterations of it around the world.
In the UK the classic banger is the sausage of choice at meal times. It picked up the name during the Second World War when meat was in short supply.
Sausages had a much higher water content and tended to burst or “bang” when placed in the oven or frying pan.
The classic British dish, of course, is bangers and mash which is simply pork sausages and mash potato covered in an onion gravy.
However, this is massively different to some of the other popular sausages around the globe.
Consider Spanish chorizo, German Bratwurst, American Corn Dogs and the many others, all varying massively from one another.
Infographic
In fact, sousvidetools.com has created a globetrotting and mouthwatering infographic which charts the different types of sausage from all across the world.
It’s called ‘How Do People Eat Sausages Around The World?’ and you can read about all of those mentioned above, along with plenty more in the infographic below.
How Do People Eat Sausages Around The World? – An infographic by the team at SousVideTools.com
Best Travel Guides to Destinations Around the World
