Travel Planning is Important It’s critical to be sure where you’re going, what you’re doing when you arrive and how you’ll proceed if something goes awry. Leisure travel is unique, in that it’s a leisure activity which requires professional planning to ensure maximum satisfaction. Fun doesn’t beget fun, proper seriousness and attention beget fun, in the case of pleasure travel. Let me share a story with you. My friend, for our purposes we’ll call him Bob – was traveling to Dubai with his wife. They had just been married less than a week prior to their departure and their level of excitement was at an all time high. Bob mapped out a fairly complex itinerary which had the couple heading from JFK (NY) to Dubai International, and after 2 days of shopping and relaxation in Dubai they would head to Egypt to tour the land of the Pharaohs for 3 days and conclude with a 3 day safari and wine tour somewhere in North Western Africa. Cutting to the chase, Bob is in Dubai the night before he was scheduled to fly to Egypt and to him and his wife’s great chagrin; he lost all of his personal ID and cash/credit cards. His wife had very little on her (the man pays for the honeymoon after all). Searching for a quick fix with less than 14 hours until his flight’s departure from one foreign land to the next Bob quickly became overwhelmed. He called the online travel agency he booked his trip with and they simply told him to call the police or purchase a new fare. Bob would’ve liked to purchase something but without money it’s tough to do, especially overseas. Bob, ever the optimist is in the airport now with his wife, hoping to petition his credit card company to call the airline and find some respite from his tiring predicament. Chewing on his fingernails near the expected gate someone sits next to him and looking rather well traveled says to Bob, “nervous about flying?”. Bob explains his predicament to the gentlemen who follows the story with great intrigue. As it turns out, the gentlemen who sat next to him owned a travel agency specializing in trips to Africa and popular places in and around the Middle East. He liked Bob, and since Bob seemed (and really was) a trustworthy guy, the travel agent offered to cover the flight (which they flew together on) and make sure Bob and his lovely wife found their way to the pyramids. Bob saw the pyramids, got chummy with some mummys and tangoed all night long with tigers in the great plains of Africa (before the wine of course). The lesson to be learned is that a travel agent is certainly of value – Imagine how much better his trip would’ve been if he booked through the agent in the first place? Also, Bob’s poor luck wasn’t the result of improper planning – or was it? Maybe you should consult with a travel agent, they’ll know.

A cruise can be the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily living and just enjoy a week or two without responsibilities. Many people are a bit nervous about how they should act on a cruise ship though and aren`t sure exactly what is acceptable behavior.

As one of the Mediterranean's most popular holiday destinations, Menorca has a large array of luxury accommodation. Hotels with ratings ranging from one-star to five-star play host to millions of ...

Think of Tenerife and you might well picture yourself on a beautiful, sandy beach with an icy, tropical drink in your hand. Until recent years, the perfect island vacation was something many people ...

By far the quietest of the Balearic Islands, Menorca has successfully cultivated her image of a serene, peaceful destination over the years, and appeals to parents with toddlers, couples in their ...

Up until recently holidays have often included beach time, party time, family time and relaxation time. The latest popular trend in vacation activities is cycling. Spain and the Balearic Islands are ...

This city has a twin. If combined with Saint Paul they would form the core of the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Surrounded with plentiful water bodies, you would find no other ...

It’s fair to say that there’s some element of judgement, not to say snobbery, between those who go ‘on holiday’ and backpackers. Trekking with a rucksack you tend to become rather dismissive of ...

It is estimated that over 6 million tourists visit Mallorca each year, especially for summer holidays, and many are on a Mediterranean cruise. The tourists are 70% German and British, with the remaining 30% hailing from Spain and abroad. Tourists can get to Mallorca via cruise ships that generally stop off at this Mediterranean playground for about a day. The most popular cruise ship lines to take passengers to Mallorca include Western Mediterranean, Royal Caribbean, Crystal, Windstar, and SilverSea. Getting to Mallorca by Cruise Ship About 700 airline flights land at the Palma airport on a single summer day. These planes are loaded with tourists anxious to visit the Balearic Islands. Once tourists leave their planes, they are escorted to any of the many cruise ships that pack the harbor and will take them to the islands. A cruise ship typically allows passengers one day to spend in Mallorca. What To Do in Mallorca Mallorca is famous for its bright, sunny, white-sand beaches (spanning approximately 130 miles) where tourists will stay for hours to catch some rays. The island is also known as a hot spot for those who like late-night entertainment and dancing. There is, however, much more to Mallorca than these leisure activities. One can't help but notice a huge cathedral that takes up a lot of land in Mallorca. This is the Gothic cathedral known as La Seu. The cathedral is surrounded by walls; it is within these walls that tourists find many attractions to visit, including Placa d'Espanya, where people typically start and end their touring. Also in this area is the Bellver Castle, which sits on a hilltop. The Palau de l'Almudaina (Royal Palace) is a site most tourists want to see, as this was the palace of the Mallorcan kings. The Moorish baths from the 10th century are also a popular tourism spot. These two locations have much history to tell. If you are a historian, then, you will certainly want to explore these places. If shopping is your bag, you will find many souvenir shops in the Mallorca resort areas. Stores in this area are open all day. If you prefer to shop in other parts of Mallorca, stores are generally open from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM and from 5:00 to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday, as well as on Saturday mornings. You can use credit cards, but the preferred currency is the Euro. Mallorca has fine leather goods, pearl jewelry, Lladro porcelain, and even siurells for the children. Siurells are clay whistles that have been made in Mallorca for centuries, dating back to Arab times. There is definitely something for everyone! For the adventurer, you will find small fishing villages, as well as places to hike while in Mallorca. Stop and have coffee at an outside cafe, and don't forget to visit some of the museums. Mallorca has so much to offer, if you're going to cruise the Mediterranean, make sure Mallorca is one of the ports of call!

Me and Cuban cigars go back like baseball and Babe Ruth. We are just meant to be and I have a history that can back that claim up really good. In fact, it will guarantee that I am meant to share my love of Cuban cigars with everybody. You see, I came to this planet through a family who has been smoking Cuban cigars for like four generations. I must say that it truly is a blessing to be part of a family like that. The word unique can describe me fully and especially my Cuban cigar smoking situation.

Whether or not Britain is in recession is debatable - officially the country isn't as it takes two quarters of negative growth to make it officially a recession. But all the talk in the media has ...

One of the Canary Islands - Tenerife - is set to revive a once thriving tourism business. The island was once a premier holiday hot spot amongst the elite, but a lack of investment caused it to fade ...