jade asked:


I plan on going to ireland for my senior trip when i graduate and i cant make up my mind on which part to go to.
Help plz.

0l0 asked:


My dad is leaving for Europe tomorrow, and he is having some trouble figuring out what to wear on the trip there.
I’m sorry I forgot to mention he was going to Bosnia.

Dawn asked:


Hi, I am visiting my boyfriend in England for a week. While there, we’re going to take a short trip (2 nights) somewhere else in Europe. Any ideas? I’ve done a lot of research, but it seems that most of Europe hibernates during the winter. We want a city that we will have a great time, easily accessible, and is a lot of fun even during January. THanks!

ve decided it\’s time to take your first trip to Europe. For many Americans it seems like a rite of passage. It doesn\’t matter if you\’re young or old. It\’s something special that first trip to Europe. You\’ve finally arrived somehow.

You\’ve saved the money, you\’ve applied for the passport… wow, you\’re practically ready to pack. But wait… just having made the decision to get a passport and go to Europe is only the first step. There are more decisions to make. Let\’s think through some of this.

How much time do you have? One week will have you concentrating on an area or a city… two or more weeks lets you tour around a bit more.

What part of Europe do you want to go to? It\’s not like you can just go to Europe. That\’s like saying you want to see the United States. There are big areas to be covered, and you need to choose an area to see even if you have several weeks.

Do you just want to see it…? Visit the highlights like maybe London, Paris, Rome, and see the big sights? Or… do you have an agenda? Do you want to find family roots and do a little genealogy research? Is there a festival you\’ve always wanted to see like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona or The Gathering and Highland Games in Edinburgh?

Do you concentrate on one or two countries or try to do a grand circle of Europe?

Do you take a tour? Set up a Custom tour? Or do you want to take your first trip to Europe all on your own and find your own way?

So how will you answer these questions?

If you\’re a student, you may be able to travel for the summer… good for you. You won\’t find a better way to add to your education! If you\’re retired, you can stay as long as your finances will allow… AND you can travel during shoulder seasons when there are fewer crowds.

If you only have one or two or three weeks, try for those shoulder seasons to maximize your experiences and minimize the lines. Try to limit yourself to a country a week. Even at that you\’ll just be getting an overview of the area you choose to visit.

A tour can be a good idea and can take some of the anxiety out of your first trip to Europe. There are so many tours offered that you can easily choose one that goes to the area you want to visit for the length of time you want to spend, and you can even get tours that specifically go to those festivals or visit gardens or let you explore just castles. Your hotels will be taken care of and many of your meals too. It\’s good way to build your confidence abroad.

If groups just aren\’t your thing, being an independent traveler on your first trip to Europe is not difficult either. There is so much information on the internet that it\’s easy to plan it for yourself and leave yourself more flexibility.

Just sit down with a pencil and paper and make the decisions one at a time, and that long awaited first trip to Europe will be a reality.

By: Brad Alexzander

About the Author:

Trina asked:


If you are going on a trip to New York and travel 1/2 the distance on the first day, 1/3 the distance on the second day, and 3/4 the distance on the third day. Today I traveled 1/2 of the remaining distance and I only have 5 miles left to travel to New York. How far is the whole trip?

j.grimes_26 asked:


I am going to be traveling through Canada on my way to Alaska. I will be crossing over in Minnesota. I am looking for any tips and ideas for places to visit on my trip.

ihatecanada asked:


Since May of this year, I’ve had an exclusion order placed against me from entering Canada for a year because I had previously overstayed a visitor visa and lived there illegally for 4 years. I have a wife and 2 young children in Canada who I miss very much and I just want to be back with them.

I tried to appeal it through the Immigration Appeal Division but they said I wasn’t eligible to appeal and they wouldn’t even consider the appeal on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. I was wondering if there’s anything else I can do to try and get it reversed so I can be back with my family in Canada. I’m afraid that if I have to wait another 6 months my children will eventually forget about me and stop loving me because they are so young.

I know people will ask about her coming to the US to see me but we just can’t afford it. It will cost around $3000 for my wife and 2 kids to fly round trip to see me and go back. I just want to be back with them. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
I’ve heard of something called a Minister’s Review but I’m not sure if there really is such a thing or how to go about getting one if there is. Also, is it possible to return to Canada and apply for some sort of refugee status, at a point of entry, based on sending me back home would cause undue hardship and would be cruel and unusual punishment?

South America is a continent of extremes, and there is not just one, but thousands of reasons to explore the human and natural wonders of this remarkable landmass. South America’s expansive human history is visible through some of the best preserved ruins in the world. The fusion of Spanish, Portuguese and native cultures is evident in the distinctive art, food and music of the 12 independent countries.

Though it was the last continent to be inhabited, South America has a long and delicate history of flourishing indigenous cultures before European arrival in the 16th century. Archeological sites in Peru reveal the practice of human sacrifice and other perplexing traditions by the Moche people who lived there 2000 years ago. South America’s most illustrious ancient people, the Inca, held their capital in modern day Cusco and sprinkled the Andes with remnants of their terraced farming and architecture. Machu Picchu, at 7,710 feet, is the best preserved and most breathtaking Inca town, well worth the 4 day hike along the Inca Trail (the less eager can opt for the train ride).

The Sky is the Limit

When it comes to breaking records, South America is the place to see. The massive north-south continent is spread through nearly every climate zone imaginable, which makes for very dynamic travel. The world’s highest water fall, Angels Falls, cascades over 3,200 feet in Venezuela’s Canaima National Park. The Amazon River, which winds across the north through Brazil, is the largest river in the world by volume while the Amazon Rainforest is the largest existing rainforest. Travel along the Andes, the world’s longest mountain range but make sure not to lose your way in Chile or you might end up in the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert. Catch your breath at 3,600 meters while visiting the highest capital city of La Paz, Bolivia. Then, gather your arctic gear and head south to Ushuaia in Argentina, which is – you guessed it – the world’s southernmost city! Along the way, stop by the steppes of Patagonia, which happens to be the cleanest place on earth aside from Antarctica. South America is also home to the stunning diversity of Darwin’s Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) and the most remote island on earth, Easter Island (Chile) with its mysterious stone head sculptures and an inexplicably large population of Pacific Islanders.

South America also offers the comforts and luxuries of modern metropolitan life in any of the countries you choose to explore. Pick up the pace in Brazil’s bustling Rio de Janeiro or immerse yourself in the cosmopolitan chic of Buenos Aires, Argentina, while still gaining an appreciation for the past in these remarkable historic cities. From big city life and resort towns to tropical rainforests and mountain peaks, there is no better place to embark on your world travels than South America, a true melting pot of culture, history and geographic phenomena.



By: Frank Johnson

About the Author:

There it is, plenty of mountains, beaches, adventures and history, all at an affordable price. What are you waiting for your next trip to South America?

As a matter of fact, if you are reading this, you have already decided to go there or, at least ,you are thinking about it. But, where to? I will show you my three favorite locations in South America, you choose by your own.

Peru: Macchu Picchu and The Inca’s Road

Are you the kind of person interested in history and archeological marvels or you would rather go looking for adventure, and a little (or more) fun within it? Whatever option you chose, Peru is the right place for you to go.

Five hundred years ago, the Spaniards ransacked and destroyed most of the legacy of the Inca Civilization. They could not, however, reach the sacred city of Macchu Picchu. These almost intact ruins where found in the twentieth century, and access to the city is believed to have been reserved for the emperor (the Inca) and the nobility (Hiran Bingham, founder of the remains, held that priestesses were raised and prepared here, but this is refused by current scientists)

Macchu Picchu is also some kind of world spiritual centre, people of all credos consider it an incredible point of contact with the spirit. But reaching the Macchu Picchu without walking the Inca’s Road, one of the most spectacular walking roads of the world, would be a sin. The Incas had built a road system only comparable to the one that the Ancient Romans built. The best kept part of the Inca’s road is the one that goes from Aguas Calientes to Macchu Picchu. After paying a USD 50 rate (USD 25 for students with international card), you will be able to start three unforgettable days in which you will walk 60 miles of mountains, with incredible vegetation and landscape.

The contact with the local people is one of the most attractive sides of traveling to South America, and this is particularly noticeable on the Inca’s Road.. You will find several “postas” all along the way (the antique places where Incas messengers got rest), and the natives hired for carrying the heavy luggage (the “portadores”) still resemble those antique messengers: they run at an incredibly rhythm; when you arrive to the “posta” they will have already set up your tent. However, not only rest is to be expected at the end of the day: depending on which “posta” you choose to stop, you can be received but one of the parties enjoyed by the innumerable youngsters that visit Macchu Picchu from all around the world.

The Inca’s Road is usually preceded by a visit to Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, and one of the greatest urban monuments from Colonial times in Latin America.

Yet, if I were you, I would start from the Argentine city of Salta, visit Bolivia, the Titicaca Lake, and just then go to Cusco. It is a bit longer, yes, but you will never forget it.

Brazil, always Brazil

What else can be said of Brazil that you have not heard about? Brazil is not a place to be visited once, it is a place to fall in love with. Brazil is also one of the largest countries of the globe, so my first advice is to get a travel guide book, and also one of those promotional plane tickets including 5 destinations for a reduced price.

Brazilians are worldwide known for their eternal smile and happiness; they tend to have less prejudices regarding human relations. That may be the reason why you will find a party almost wherever you find a Brazilian. Although Rio is “the” place for nightclubs, discos, and related events, the entire coast of Brazil is a permanent party.

If you are planning a trip for two, let me recommend you Trindage, an almost unnoticed place between Rio and Sao Paulo. The road ends at Parati, a beautiful beach town known for its Colonial architecture. After Parati, you will have to walk 8 kms. (around 3 miles). Renting a car is an option too, but I prefer hitchhiking. Every night there are reggae parties on the beach, and the sky is so clean that you will see several falling stars. You can a take a bath in of the rivers of the zone, but please remember not using soap in order to keep the environment unpolluted.

For those who enjoy adventures, the Amazon is a huge challenge. If you want to visit the jungle but without taking big risks, it is always nice to visit the mythic city of Manaos, with its Opera and its glorious past. Manaos is today a tax-free zone, so you may also find very cheap electronic devices.

Buenos Aires: the most pretentious city in South America

I was not surprised when I read that a London magazine has chosen Buenos Aires as the ‘sexiest city in the world’. With most of its population of European origins, and the frenzy proper of a big city, Buenos Aires has an incredible night life. Fancy nightclubs and pubs (accessible to the tourist, because of the low local currency, the Argentine Peso) are concurred by both young and mature people.

I would recommend going to one of the exclusive restaurants located in Puerto Madero, eat some Argentine meat, and then start the night at the Recoleta, the fanciest zone in Buenos Aires. You will ask yourself whether you are in Milan or Paris (do not dear to remind an Argentine they are from South America, they will get mad at you!).

Culturally, Buenos Aires is the most active city in South America. Writers, film directors, philosophers and artists of all kind are usually in the city giving performances or conferences.

If you like Theater, Corrientes Av. is some sort of local Broadway, all along which you will find uncountable spectacles. Of course, you cannot leave Buenos Aires without visiting the Colon Theatre, the most refined of its kind in South America.

During the day, you can visit San Telmo square, place of bohemians and artists, home of Tango, the Argentine typical dance. You can always go to a “tangueria” (tango bar) and get some lessons or just enjoy the sensual movements of the dancers.

For the weekend, going to a soccer match is a must. If you want to go to the biggest stadium in Argentina, go to the River Plate Stadium. However, if you prefer something slightly smaller but much more intense, go to the antagonist Boca Juniors Stadium, where 60,000 souls tight in a reduced space make literally vibrate the concrete. Soccer is not just a sport for the Argentines, it is a passion. Although Argentine beaches are not famous, you can enjoy several near Buenos Aires.

The most crowded is Mar del Plata, but the most beautiful is perhaps Necochea. If you are thinking on going a little more to the south, you can visit Las Grutas, the most southern beach where you can take a bath (below that, it is freezing cold). As a matter of fact, this would be an excellent excuse for visiting the entire Patagonia, with the lakes, the mountains and the Pampa, but this is subject for another article on traveling to South America…

Additional resources and information can be found by going to: http://www.TravelToSouthAmerica.com



By: Jason Gadayan

About the Author:

In the previous part of this article I began covering the top ten locations for UK tourists to visit this year in South America, already covered was Panama City, The Atacama Desert in Chile and cookery classes in Mexico.  The rest of this list continues with some destinations a bit further south including Brazil, Peru and even director Francis Ford Coppolla’s lodge in Guatemala.

7.    Pantenal, Brazil

Brazil is famous for their football team, carnivals and the enormous statue of Jesus that overlooks Rio de Janeiro but aside from these iconic symbols there is a wealth of nature lurking just miles away from the cities.  One such location is Pantenal; it holds the title of the world’s largest wetland and many people in the know claim that the amount of nature present rivals even the Amazon!

Pantenal is just one of the many emerging holiday hotspots in Brazil as well as the Serra Geral Mountains in the southern part of the country.  Recently interest in Brazils has been sparked by the sighting of tribesmen in the jungles within Brazil.  You may not be looking to join a native tribe but the nature in Brazil can certainly rival the draw of the big city.

6.    Peru

Peru is a popular destination amongst backpackers and gap year students partially due to all the ancient ruins which are a spectacle to see.  Manchu Picchu is a popular hot spot for hikers, but beware; the hiking is tough going. 

The culture of Peru is a historic one too with many of the communities sticking to traditions that have lasted generations free of the trappings of modern life.  Some holiday companies have an easy time getting people to come to Peru because in some cases the locals will insist you stay with them as hotels are few and far between in the mountainous areas. 

By sharing the living space of a local family you can get the most authentic feel of what life is like in the region, plus all you’d need to pay for is your flights to the country which doesn’t hurt!

5.    Guatemala

When the man who directed the Godfather and slaved over Apocalypse Now to the point of exhaustion chooses a holiday spot you can rest assured that it will be worth it. Francis Ford Coppolla owns a lodge in Guatemala called La Lancha and is set in an amazing area of Guatemala that should impress the Indiana Jones’ out there.

There are many ancient Mayan ruins which served as inspiration for the latest adventure of Dr. Jones this summer nearby such as Tikal which is home to the enormous pyramids and encroaching jungle undergrowth seen in many movies.  Similar architecture can be found at Uaxacatún which is home to large stucco sculpture traditional to the area.  Yaxhá is a wonderful lakeside location that many people who have seen Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal Skulls will be familiar with.  It is most definitely worthy of booking flights, packing the fedora and bullwhip to go exploring if you are looking for a more historic and interesting holiday.

In the final part of this article I’ll be covering the final four destinations that I recommend for holidays this year.  With cheap flights to Mexico and other countries now may be the best time to explore new grounds.



By: Andy Adams

About the Author: