Need a gift for the ?foodie? in your life? A food gift basket is the answer for all those friends and relatives who enjoy trying new foods. A food gift basket makes a wonderful gift for the ?gourmet? and is also nice for those friends who do not have a lot of time to cook. If you have friends or f...

Notify Family, Friends and Relatives Before leaving on holiday, make sure that you give all travel information to your family and close friends. If anything should happen while travelling, multiple people know where you are and have a better chance of getting a hold of you and others who might need ...

Budapest is an amazing city with so many attractions that it is hard to know where to start. The health resort spas seem as good a place as any. Budapest Spas Budapest sits on a tectonic plate fault line in Eastern Europe. While earthquakes seem inevitable, one advantage to the location is the proli...

Instead of trying to pack another pair of shoes in your suitcase, add a small travel first aid kit. Be prepared for an emergency on the road, in the air, or anywhere on vacation. Use an old lunchbox to easily transport the travel first aid kit wherever you go. Like first aid kits for the home, stock...

The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, and every year, thousands of shoppers overextend their finances in a few short weeks. Overspending and poor money management has the potential to ruin ?the most wonderful time of the year? for many people; but YOU c...

We have all heard the saying it is better to be safe than sorry. Indeed, this makes sense and parents love to recite this to their kids, as it makes them feel important and full of wisdom. Lucky for us we had such parents, coaches and teachers who always recited this saying to us. Do you know why? B...

History On January 22, 1947, the first commercial TV station west of the Mississippi River, KTLA, began operating in Hollywood. In December of that year, the first Hollywood movie production was made for TV, The Public Prosecutor. In addition, in the 1950s, music recording studios and offices bega...

Although just outside one of our nation?s most popular national parks, there are no glass-and-steel condominiums, no cappuccino shops, no traffic jams. Cave City retains its quaint, Kentucky hill atmosphere. Oh sure, there are the golden arches, motels, and gas stations found along any interstate hi...

Through a friend of mine I met Dan and Judith, a professional couple in their 50s who spent two fabulous years in Provence, having traded their lovely Toronto home against a country house in the south of France. Here is the story of the two most exciting years of their lives, how they prepared for t...

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures welcomes as a guest, Francisca Matteoli. Francisca has written several books pertaining to hotels around the world: *Hotel Stories: Legendary Hideaways Of The World: *Adventure Guide Hotel Stories: *Island Hotel Stories: After liv...

Why is it that 2 people can use the same airport, the same airline and even be on the exact same flight, and have 2 totally different stories about their trip? Is it all about attitude? Well...sort of. It`s about our expectations and is influenced by visualization. We have a vision of what we will b...

It seems there were not many comments to the AA crash of November 2001, as soon as it was ruled an accident instead of an attack the media stopped the reports and the story disappeared. The years following have been the safest years in Airline Industry History. What if the terrorists stole an Airbus...

In the summer, the majority of indoor cinemas close and the open-air cinemas take over. Other cities occasionally dabble in open-air cinemas ? temporary ones are occasionally set up in London parks, for example ? but in Greece they are a well-established feature in the evening entertainment scene a...

We all want to arrive at our destination relaxed and refreshed but that does not always happen. Getting some sleep when traveling across time zones or on long flights is often necessary but not always accomplished. Here are some tips to help you get some shut-eye on your next flight. 1) Wear comfort...

I just can?t help but notice, some people just don`t seem to be having any fun. I mean I know sometimes you gotta be all serious and get down to business but jeez, even that can be fun. And the truth is even in business the more fun you have doing it, the more effective you are at it. Fun is one of ...

When you`re traveling it can be difficult to find good food at reasonable prices especially if you happen to be staying in a big city that has an established food and restaurant culture. When you`re faced with a budget, you want to try and maximize your enjoyment per buck. If you want to eat well...

So I am sitting here at the Club Vacances Magog with the wind howling outside at 45+ km per hour and temperatures of about -15 to -20 degrees Celsius, windchill factor not included. We drove up from Toronto last Saturday and it only took us about 6 hours to get to the town of Magog in Quebec`s Easte...

When you think of castles, such places as Windsor, Sterling, and London come to mind. One might not expect that San Francisco, California should be added to this list. Julius castle on beautiful Telegraph Hill is a little known secret; a treasure hidden away at the end of a secluded San Franciscan l...

Dude ranches, as they are known today, first gained marked popularity in the 1920s, in large part due to the writings of Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt spent some time working as a ranchman, and herding cattle, and he urged Americans to explore for themselves. As more and more tourists started arriving ...

The United States has Mardi Gras, Brazil has Carnivale, the Germans have Oktoberfest and Barbados has Holders Season. Each spring marks a nearly month-long celebration of culture, culinary delight, and fellowship in Barbados. Holders Season is indeed one of the premier cultural events in Barbados an...

The LAX airport, or the Los Angeles International Airport, was originally named Mines Field and was a general aviation base during World War II. LAX is located in none other that Los Angeles, California. It is ranked as the fifth busiest passenger airport in the entire world. It also is ranked si...

The Galapagos Islands were named after the giant Galapagos tortoises. The archipelago emerged six million years ago as a result of volcanic activity in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. These enchanted place on earth is composed of 19 islands and more than 40 islets, with white sand beaches, dark and...

Packing for a trip can be a hassle. You?re afraid of forgetting something or it won?t all fit. Here?s a great packing list. Clothes ? Use a ?mix-and-match? philosophy. Pick out two basic colors such as black and grey. Then pick out three colors with which to accessorize such as white, pink, and ...

Ask our client who was riding a bike in Bora Bora and got hit by a truck! There were no hospitals just a clinic where no one spoke English, only French. He broke more bones than most people know that they have! He was prepared for travel and medivac`d back to the USA for extensive surgical repairs. ...

When you dream of taking a vacation, what do you picture in your mind? Vacations symbolize different things to different individuals. Some people like to see everything the city has to offer while others would enjoy nothing more than to spend the entire day getting some relaxation at the hotel. If y...

Yesterday morning I had arranged to meet one of the women from the from the university, a very nice lady in her late 50s, who agreed to show me around the Vedado area and take me through some local markets. Vedado is a beautiful residential neighbourhood with many mansions and villas dating back may...

Traveling requires advanced planning and these easy to follow travel tips can make any trip more enjoyable. Being prepared can help travelers avoid many frustrating situations. Have a smart plan when flying, plan your packing, and have a home security plan. With today?s busy airports and increased...

For your UK holiday adventure travel insurance may be required. Whether you purchase standard travel insurance for your UK trip or whether adventure travel insurance is a must depends on what you`re going to be doing. Some insurers even offer UK adventure travel insurance specific to your activity. ...

One of the most spectacular and unspoiled places on earth, which attracts tourists worldwide, is lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. This lake is considered to have the purest and most tasteful water known to man. The water in the lake is so clean and clear that one can easily catch sight of...

Flying into Paphos Airport, you may be surprised to find that the Airport is 15-20 minutes away from Paphos town centre. You may elect to take a taxi into town coerced by the many taxi drivers in the Paphos Airport hall soliciting you to use them for the drive in. Depending on what you want to do ...

Whether you are a seasoned pro or a novice newcomer to the world of interstate travel, planning a road trip can be more time-intensive than you think. If you are about to embark on a cross country adventure or a coastal tour of the Atlantic, there are a few important things to consider before you hi...

An island nation, Jamaica offers a wealth of natural beauty. Ocho Rios, Jamaica, is home to some of the most well-known of the island?s natural wonders, including a glistening waterfall that attracts visitors from all over and the opportunity to swim with dolphins. Dunn?s River Falls offers a hiki...

The Great Wall of China as some believed originated as a military fortification against intrusion by tribes on the borders during the earlier Zhou Dynasty. In 770-BC-476BC, the ducal states extended the defense work, and built large structures to prevent the attacks from other states. The Great Wall...

Coral reefs around the world are under siege - FACT. Threats from over-fishing, urban coastal encroachment and rising sea temperatures are destroying sensitive corals and devastating the marine life they support. According to The United Nations, in the last four years ten percent of the world`s r...

Some people rarely stay at hotels and other people, like ?road warrior business people? stay at hotels frequently. Here are some ideas from the road warriors to help your stay go even more enjoyable to employ a little hotel etiquette into your stay. · Tip. Feel free to tip the bellhop and the hous...

For many centuries, Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, was regarded as one of the most magnificent cities in Europe. With its long history, Moorish influences, stunning location and vast riches from India and Brazil, it was a trading hub for hundreds of years. But a devastating earthquake in 1755, f...

Anxiety in dogs can be caused by any number of things - illness, travel, thunderstorms, death in the family, separation, or they may develop unexplained phobic or neurotic behaviour, or barking or other antisocial behaviour. If you can identify the cause of the anxiety, then the best solution to t...

In the last 10 to 20 years, advance in technology has transformed many aspects of business travel; from the way we book our hotel rooms to staying in touch with relatives left at home. However it seems that it has not changed one aspect of it: the feeling of loneliness faced by a majority of busi...

Situated on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is the capital city of Hawaii. And Hawaii, for those of you who don`t know, is America`s answer to a daily paradise. Once you`ve visited breathtaking Waikiki Beach, you may decide you never want to leave. The good news for you is that there`s plenty for you t...

Up, up, and away. Do you suppose Orville Wright had any idea of the enormity of his invention? That the world would be forever changed, by the single possible opportunity of flight? Airlines, cell phones, and automobiles have made possible the most mobile society in the history of the world. A...

If you`re looking for the best honeymoon possible, then you need to consider the Smokey Mountains as your destination. Don`t get a motel room or stay in Gatlinburg. Find a cabin to rent that has all the amenities of a 5 star hotel but in the serenity, solitude and secrecy of the mountains. My ...

Being a Orlando travel insider, we are revealing our secrets, and rounded up the best ways to cut costs on your next family vacation to Orlando. It all adds up....

1. Put a lid on gas prices. Your best Orlando, FL travel friend on the road should be
   Great Holidays and Vacations
   
   By Dakota Caudilla - 4/19/2008
   
   
   If you?re asking yourself where to go for a vacation and holiday, you have to ask yourself what kind of holiday and vacation you?re looking for. No point visiting ancient cities if you?re not into digging bones and historical stuff! Also take into consideration whether you?re taking your family alon...
   
   Adventures in Bolivia
   
   By Sandin Phillipson - 5/14/2007
   
   
   As a graduate student, I finally had the opportunity to work on a project in southern Bolivia. Although I had spent previous summers camping alone while conducting fieldwork in remote areas, this was to be my first journey overseas, to a country known variously for coca growing, revolution, and the...
   
   Top of the Mountain: The Masters, Augusta, GA
   
   By Andrew Kress - 5/8/2007
   
   
   If you?re a stockbroker, the center of the world is New York. If you are a commodities trader, it?s Chicago. But if you?re a golfer, the center of the world is?a little further south. ?You actually feel it when you step onto the course? says Brian Montgomery, who has been to every Masters for...
   
   How To Deal With Airport Stress
   
   By Neil Stelling - 4/30/2007
   
   
   Your flights booked, and now it`s airport time. Airport`s can be stressful places nowadays, and these tips are designed for stress reduction... * Leave home early Airport stress starts the moment you leave home. Don`t sit in traffic watching minutes tick away. Aim to arrive at the airport t...
   
   The Memory Collector
   
   By David Kunstek - 4/30/2007
   
   
   Everyone collects something right? It may be baseball cards, hats, or some other type of sports memorabilia. Even if you don?t consider yourself a collector of anything, you may be and don?t even know it. How about the collection of tools in the cellar you don?t really use, but you have to have t...
   
   16 Tips to Prevent Passport Problems
   
   By William Manor - 4/27/2007
   
   
   Carelessness is the number one reason for a passport application being rejected or delayed or for a passport being lost, stolen, or damaged. What steps are necessary to prevent these things from happening? How can you take care of your passport? Below are 16 practical tips you can follow to acqui...
   
   Disneyland for Hikers: A Walk to Mt. Whitney
   
   By Jill Homer - 4/26/2007
   
   
   Base camp sits at 12,000 feet ? stark, windy, unshaded from the blazing August sun, but an otherwise great place to stop for a snack. Voices echo across cold granite as the breeze wraps around dozens of tents, backpacks, cooking stoves, and bear-proof food canisters. An unopened package of banana ch...
   
   Masters Of Disguise
   
   By Stephen Schochet - 4/23/2006
   
   
   Gene Hackman once lamented that the worst thing about becoming a famous actor is that you lose the ability to observe people without being noticed yourself. But some performers are so good at disguises that notoriety is no obstacle. A case in point was John Barrymore trying to buy his first house ...