Travel Bug

Beautiful white sands and cool turquoise bluish green waters are not the only factors that make Brazilian beaches the most loved all over the world. At any time of the year, you can find yourself getting a gorgeous suntan or partying the night away. Brazil has a plethora of beaches that can turn anyone into a beach bum. Long coastlines dotted with pretty cafe’s and long hours spent trying out water sports makes the Brazilian beaches a most sought after destination amongst all beach lovers. Read on to know more about Brazilian beaches and the different kinds of things each coastline has to offer.

This Brazilian beach is a hot spot especially for the New Years evening. Copacabana is located in the southern area of Rio de Janeiro. The beauty of the Copacabana beach is enhanced with the historic forts that are seen at this Brazilian beach. Copacabana also draws a reputation for being known as one of the best beaches in the world. A fun time at Copacabana beach would mean loads of fun in the sun with fun games such as volleyball.

Located in the Southern area of Rio de Janeiro, Ipanema beach has a curious mixture of different cultures. This beach like all Brazilian beaches offers white sands and loads of games and fun! A walk down the sandy shores would reveal people playing games such as beach volleyball, football etc. Swimming is also one of the popular activities at this Brazilian beach. Although the Ipanema beach is also known as the family beach, one interesting factor you can note here is one particular stretch that is known as the Gay Beach and also has a flag to denote the same. At this beach, you can find the traditional drinks such as cachaca and the Caipirinha along with beer that is sold almost everywhere.

The Pipa beach is located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. Pipa attracts people because of its fine white sand and cliffs that offer a gorgeous view of the place. Pipa has a vast number of fine restaurants nightclubs that are run mostly by foreigners. This beach offers a more cosmopolitan crowd.

The Toque Toque Grande beach is located in the city of Sao Sebastiao in Brazil. Although Grande means big in Portuguese, this beach is barely 300m long. The Toque Toque Grande island is quite uninhabited by people. This can prove to be an ideal location for those wanting some isolation and have a love for scuba diving.

Choosing the best Hawaiian island to visit can be a confusing task for some travelers. This is because all the islands are so diverse. With 1,500 miles of eight major islands, undersea seamounts, several small islets (islands), and numerous islands of coral that encircle the lagoons to choose from, Hawaii offers something different for everyone. It all depends on what you want out of your Hawaii vacation and the activities provided at the island. Although there are several islands in Hawaii, not all of them are open for tourists.

The biggest island in Hawaii which is also nicknamed as the “Big Island”, Hawaii is the youngest of all the islands around and it’s still growing. There are 11 different climate zones that contribute to the lush rain forests, black sand beaches, waterless deserts, and snow-crested mountains.

Kauai is also known as “The Garden Isle” because of its lavish tropical vegetation. Perhaps you remember Kauai from the movie Jurassic Park? Take a look at some beautiful Kauai beaches.

Oahu or The Gathering Place, is the most populous and busiest island in Hawaii and comprises 70 percent of the population. It homes the state’s capital Honolulu, Waikiki beach, and has tons of attractions for tourists.

In case you’re wondering which the best Hawaiian island to visit with kids is, then it is Maui. There are 4 islands in Maui, the main island of Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, and Lanai. Personally I feel that the best places to see in Maui are Haleakala National Park, Lahaina, and the Hana Highway. Maui or “The Valley Isle” has 13 volcanoes, 9 hiking points, 11 different beaches, 4 kayaking points, 8 historical locations, 8 deep-sea and local fishing spots, 10 different places for family oriented fun (zoos, water parks, and aquariums), 15 gold locations, 10 National and State Parks, 11 different locations for whale watching and snorkeling.

If you are planning to travel to the beautiful Caribbean, it’s always a good idea to book your Bonaire vacation villas beforehand. It should be a part of your planning stage. This is because the city is packed during peak tourist season and you will not get the exact Bonaire vacation villas you wanted for your family.

But how do you find the right Bonaire vacation villas for your requirements? The Internet is one of the best places to look for and do research whatever you need. You can start by Googling the terms Bonaire vacation villas. The search engine will throw up a huge selection of sites that you can choose from. But as a rule, we suggest that you choose those that are listed on exchanges. This means you will be able to get Bonaire vacation villas that are already set up with food facilities, linen as well as all the requirements for setting your family up on your vacation. This is the best option for any family who want to stay in luxurious Bonaire vacation villas but at very reasonable cost. Of course, you do have to offer your home in exchange for those people who want to travel to your destination from Bonaire.

Brazilian President Lula launches “Brazil is Calling You” campaign in Johannesburg, following South Africa officially handing over the keys to Brazil as the next host nation of the FIFA World Cup.

The new campaign, titled “Brazil is calling you! Celebrate life here”, consists of movies, images and social media elements which aim to encourage the world to visit Brazil for business and leisure and take advantage of the opportunities that Brazil brings as hosts of world´s greatest sports events.

The campaign will be broadcast from 12 July on television channels globally and on YouTube, and forms part of the Ministry of Tourism and Embratur’s strategy to increase international visitors to the country.

The main objectives of this strategy, called “Plano Aquarela 2020 – International Tourism Marketing”, is to secure a 300 percent increase in foreign currency inflows from international tourists and to double the number of these visitors to Brazil by 2020. Brazil aims to invest approximately US$30 million into this campaign by the end of 2010. This will include of a range of marketing initiatives. Read the rest of this entry »

A congressional committee has voted to lift the ban on U.S. travel to Cuba. The House Agriculture Committee voted 25-20 to allow travel to the island and to expand U.S. exports there.

Though the vote is only a first step toward Congressional approval of the changes, supporters view it as a significant step towards rebuilding trade and travel relations between the countries.

The end of the Cuba travel ban would mean a bonanza in tourism to the island at a time when Fidel and Raúl Castro are in desperate need of new revenue streams. But some argue that Cuba’s isolation preserves the dictatorship and that a flood of gringo tourists would weaken it.

Similar measures have failed in Senate in recent years and State Department spokesman would not say whether the Obama administration would support the legislation.

The bill, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, must still go through the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees before it can be considered by the full House. Then the Senate would have to act. Read the rest of this entry »

Architects and officials last week unveiled the planned design for Spaceport America’s 100,000-square-foot (9,300-square-meter) main terminal, pictured above.

The southern New Mexico facility will serve as home base for Virgin Galactic, a space-tourism company started by Virgin Atlantic Airways founder Richard Branson.

According to the designers, the facility will blend into its dusty surroundings to resemble a rise in the desert floor. Groundbreaking on the low-lying structure—a collaboration between the URS corporation and the Foster and Partners architecture firm, is scheduled for early 2008.

Funding in the amount of 198 million U.S. dollars has been in place since April, when residents of New Mexico’s Dona Ana County approved a tax to finance the project.

From National Geographic.

Ah, Hawaii. Sun, sand, surf and… smoke monsters?

Okay, not exactly, but for six years, the TV series “Lost” made its home there, pumping approximately $400 million into the state’s economy, according to Pacific Business News. Fans come from far and wide, not just to enjoy the usual Hawaiian R&R, but to spend as much as 10 hours in a day checking out locations where some of the show’s most memorable scenes were filmed.

Like “Seinfeld” and “Sex and the City” before it, “Lost” tourism has become a business unto itself. One such tour is run by Ed Kos. “‘Lost’ just fell into my lap,” he said. “I was already doing a Hummer/off-road movie location adventure about a year before ‘Lost’ started to film. They started filming along the same roads and trails that I was driving. I never had to change the route.”

Kos, an “obsessive” fan of the show himself, offers four different tours of varying lengths ranging between $79 and $209. He’s been told by some fans that his tour is the reason they came to visit Hawaii. “We had a man propose to his girlfriend at the same location that Jack and Juliet embrace and kiss for the first time on the show,” he said. “We have people bring their own Dharma suits and wear them during the tour.” Read the rest of this entry »

Archaeological sites and monuments of Indian culture since the Spanish colonization, gorgeous beaches and tropical forests, national parks, the colorful carnival and exciting corrida - all these things you can get visiting Mexico.

You can travel through Mexico all the year round, but the best time is from October to May.
It’s quite hot from May to September and from December to February temperature can fall to zero. However, the climate of Mexico is diverse: it is hot and humid on coastal plains, but more moderate on the uplands of the country. It is better to plan your trip during the “off-season”, because the peak of holiday travels inside the country is after the “Easter holidays”, as well as the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Mexican line has become rather popular nowadays. Curious romantics of history, who are ready for days on end inhale the dust of ages and freeze in ecstasy before the pyramids of the Maya, are happy to visit Mexico. And more reach people prefer carefree relaxation on the beach. According to the statistics, the most popular places among the tourists, who gather in groups during vacation days, are a beach holiday on the Yucatan peninsula, such as the resorts in Cancun and El Cid Vacation Clubs. Read the rest of this entry »