US Virgin Islands – a taste of paradise...

Should your Caribbean destination include a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

As citizens of the UK, you are included in the visa waiver program, which stipulates you do not need a visa to visit the U.S. or its territories for a period of less than 90 days. However, you still need to apply online via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) in order to be authorized for travel. Once you have filled out the form you will be issued an e-passport, which in essence is just a glorified visa.

Still, it is a relatively simple and quick process and you should quickly find yourself on your way to the beautiful locations of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Made up of three islands – St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John – these three locations each have unique characteristics that make them a favourite among tourists.

St. Croix is more of a historic and architectural traveller’s dream, with plenty of quaint shops tucked away in picturesque villages that hearken back to the colonial days. St. Thomas is the most popular cruise port within the Caribbean, and a busier harbour you will not find. St. John is perhaps the most beautiful of the three, with a full two-thirds of the island being made up of a U.S. National Park. The hiking trails and beaches here are unparalleled in their majestic beauty.

Accommodation is plentiful on the two main islands, with luxury hotels making your Caribbean holiday nothing short of perfect.

Curiously Columbian: A Tale of Cartagena...

Off the beaten track is a countryside nation covered in amazingly beautiful national parks ranging from lush, tropical forests to alpine retreats high in the mountains. A country known for its coca fields, and some of the best universities in South America, Columbia has a vast store of wealth hidden beneath its troubled past, with rebel wars, kidnappings, and violent crime as a result of the drug trade. But in recent years security has tightened and become such that the country is rapidly becoming a tourist destination that many flock to.

You will not need a visa to visit Columbia as a UK national. And while travel here can be exhilarating, some measure of caution should be taken because despite the heightened security making this destination relatively safe, there are certain parts of the country you probably want to avoid. Sticking to the common tourist attractions is your safest bet.

Your best starting point in Columbia is the stylish port city of Cartagena. Cut through by cobbled streets and overshadowed by shrouded balconies, this city is a haven of fairytale ideals, legends, and an amazing beauty that leads one to wonder just how Columbia came to have such a dire reputation. The open air cafes which dot this city leave a traveller open to simply dropping their bags at the nearest hotel and strolling through the city, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and relaxing aromas.

Accommodation is varied from resort hotels to apartments, and the food is beyond excellent. If a dream-trip to exotic South America destinations is what you seek, then Cartagena is your destination.

Great Travel Locations in the US...

Many people around the world know about locations in the USA such as New York, Maine, California, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, Washington, DC, Hollywood and Nashville, Tennessee. However, there are some great US travel locations unknown to many travellers from other countries.

Many men and women from other countries work in US businesses, hospitals and colleges because of special skills they possess. Often students from around the world work in US companies while attending a college or university. Such people know of many US travel locations.
 
Among the most beautiful areas of the US is Charleston, South Carolina, which English settlers discovered and developed in 1670. The annual Spoleto Festival held in the spring is the premiere American Arts Festival. More than 120 different performances occur every year include opera, jazz, theatre, dance and symphonic and chamber music.

Charleston International Airport has both connecting and direct flights to and from London’s International airports. There is easy access to car hire centres and fuel in Charleston is among the cheapest in the country. There are several hundred hotels, motels and inns in Charleston and nearby cities.

Travel Locations in Australia...

Australia is among the unique travel locations offering activities as diverse as backpacking, swimming with the seals, repelling down the side of a mountain, yoga lessons and meditation. Australia’s natural beauty and exotic animal and plant life causes some visitors to seriously consider living and working in Australia.

Travel locations such as Sydney cause many to wonder whether they would be happy living and working in Australia. Exploring the landscape of the Blue Mountains region with its waterfalls, sandy beaches, rainforest and mountain bike trails is exciting. Just two hours drive from Sydney you can learn to scale the side of a mountain and abseil like a professional.

The Gold Coast has seventy-miles of beautiful, sandy beaches. Australia is one of many travel locations with fun-filled theme parks and quaint beachside towns. Apollo Bay, in the Otway Mountain foothills in Victoria is among the rare travel locations with an ocean road leading to Paradise by the Sea, a breathtaking sight!  Here, you can kayak with the seals, go horseback riding or gaze upon the panoramic view of the town from Mariners Lookout Road.

As with many travel locations, Australia is an appealing, beautiful country. UK citizens need a machine readable, valid passport and an Electronic Transfer Authority (ETA), which attaches electronically to your passport ID. Students who want to work need a working holiday visa.

Drive New Zealand’s Pacific Coast Highway...

Some travellers enjoy luxury. For them, being pampered in a 5 (or better) star resort hotel with full spa-treatment and world-class dining is without par. For others, it is the wind in their face, the horizon in front of them, and the firmness of the dirt beneath their hiking boots, their pack resting comfortably against their shoulders as they trek through wilderness destinations. It is the quite peacefulness that comes with a rustic train ride through locations both wondrous and diverse. But for those of you who enjoy the simple thrill of driving and enjoying the landscape from the comfort of your car, then there is no better destination than the Pacific Coast Highway of the North Island in New Zealand.

You can fly in from either Auckland or Wellington, and if you do so your main centre for travel will be Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. From here you can spend a day or two enjoying the resort town, complete with plentiful beaches and surrounding woodlands, or take a helicopter ride over the steams rising from White Island. Much like the rest of New Zealand, the amount of places and things to see and do while headquartered here is impossible to categorize. Any vacation here will result in satisfaction.

The actual Pacific Coast Highway is an amazing scenic route that takes you from Auckland to Hawke’s Bay, through the long curve of the Bay of Plenty, alongside lush kiwi orchards, golden beaches, and the forests of the Coromandel Peninsula, and through the wild mountains of East Cape. On the eastern coast as you descend to Eastland and Hawke’s bay, revel in the beauty of the vineyards and the magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean stretching across the horizon in front of you.

Caracas: The Hidden Gem of Venezuela...

Another Spanish colonial settlement turned modern tourist city is Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. This is the gateway city for any travellers coming here from abroad, and you can stretch your legs out in any direction should your travels take you beyond the edges of the city.
 
Venezuela is a unique South American country.  The name literally translates to “Little Venice” in Spanish, and this country is absolutely stunning. There are kilometres of Caribbean beaches stretching across the horizon, mountains towering above the surrounding landscape, and even a patch of desert along with reaches of the Amazon rainforest. Venezuela also hosts the Gran Sabana National Park where the famous Angel Falls are located.

Caracas is a traveller’s city. Accommodation abounds, travel is easy, and the food is beyond words. Nestled in a long, thin valley with the majestic Avila Mountain looming over everything, Caracas is quite simply a marvel to behold. The city’s night life is booming, and with your choice of mountains or beach to explore, you simply have to decide before you step out your hotel door.

As a British citizen you don’t need a visa to visit Venezuela for up to 90 days. You can simply come on your passport, so long as you are here for tourism only. As with most South America trips, you will likely want to stay away from renting cars and just take buses or rent taxis. Traffic is entirely too congested and drivers are aggressive to the point of idiocy by modern standards.

You can easily bring both your hiking gear and your beach clothing and still experience all that Venezuela has to offer while staying in Caracas. This jewel of South America will leave an impression that will not fade soon.

Australia – Among the Great Travel Locations...

Australia is among the most enchanting travel locations of the world. The gateway cities of Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin and Cairns. Although flights to Australia can be expensive, cheap flights to various locations in Australian are available if you shop around.

Driving while in Australia allows you to visit many travel locations you might otherwise miss. Prearrange a hire car and pick it up at the airport on your arrival. Wherever you choose to arrive in Australia, keep your eyes open wide so you do not miss anything or run into a kangaroo or a wombat! Travel locations beyond the gateway cities open to a new world as you drive through busy cities and unique little towns to be found in all directions.

When working in travel locations in Australia a working visa is necessary. British citizens need a valid passport and a pre-arranged Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The ETA is valid for three months following a twelve months stay in Australia.

Working in Australia requires an Australian working visa, acquired through the Australian High Commission. Those who are taking a working holiday must have a Working Holiday Visa and can obtain this through various immigration and visa specialists. Australia welcomes temporary workers to many travel locations.

Visit the Northern Territory of Australia...

The Northern Territory of Australia is a mixture of modern elegance and ancient, Aboriginal history. The lush yet rugged natural beauty combined with Aboriginal customs and high-tech gadgetry of the 21st century  create a melting-pot of diversity that surround the traveller from the first moment they set foot in this part of the world.

The capital city of Darwin is the natural headquarters for any serious travelling being planned within this region. National parks abound, and there are plenty of mining towns that allow you a chance to escape from the modern into the old-fashioned traditions.

Starting off in Darwin you will have all the luxuries of home. Hotels, travel arrangements – these can all be settled here. Looking out south over the rest of the Northern Territory you are faced with a wild and fascinating landscape. Kakadu National Park is but a short distance away, while further south is Tennant Creek and the Battery Hill Mining Centre. The massive Devils Marbles are a world-wide phenomenon as they balance precariously above the surrounding landscape. Visit the UFO capital of Australia at Wycliff Well, and immerse yourself in Aboriginal customs.

For a true Outback adventure, transfer your headquarters to Alice Springs, where you can rent 4-wheel drive vehicles or bushwalk as you prefer, or even take a camel ride across the rolling sand dunes of Simpson Desert. Or visit Uluru-Kata Tijuta, looming 348 meters above the desert and learn its ancient history as you trek with an Aboriginal guide.

The Northern Territory of Australia is the perfect adventure destination for any holiday looking for intensity and excitement.

A Colonial Adventure in Bolivia...

If a trip back in time to the colonial days of South America is what gets your motor going, then a trip to the Potosi region of Bolivia is a must.
 
You can fly in direct to the Potosi Airport, and set up your base of operations in a hotel or apartment of your choosing. You can rent a car or hire a driver, or simply use a taxi to get around, but the majority of your time will be spent on guided tours of the Cerro Rico mines or the Casa Real de Moneda.

The Cerra Rico mines are what prompted the Spanish colonials to found the Casa Real Royal Mint House in the 1500s. It was here that they turned mined silver into coinage which would be transported back to Spain, and between this and the mines themselves – a testament to times when slave labour was still a common practice – they make up two of the most visited sites within Bolivia.

It is the Casa Real de Moneda Royal Mint House that is the treasure-trove of history. This is hands-down one of Bolivia’s best museums, and explains the background of silver and the way it has influenced Spanish life over the years. The museum also contains many religious and historically symbolic artefacts of the natural indigenous people.

You can also visit the salt desert sea of Salar de Yuni, which is the world’s largest. This region is probably the most photographed in the entire country, and the landscape is a step into the past as you watch llamas wander by a region nearly untouched by human hands.

Getting Around in New Zealand...

Travel in New Zealand is not difficult. There are a variety of options dependent upon the destination and desire of the individual. Airports are frequent throughout the islands, as well as car rental services being available in nearly every city, and the main islands are all linked by a series of well-maintained roads, along with ferry and air services.

Hotel stays are also not an issue. In fact, New Zealand boasts some of the more unique travel arrangements of any destination, ranging from your typical hotel stay to bed and breakfast lodgings and the ever-popular home-style lodging, where you can take in the Kiwi experience by staying in a country-side lodging right alongside the men and women who continue to make up the heartland of this magnificent country.

As far as trains go, New Zealand is a bit limited in railways, but the South Island does have several railways that are a must-see for any avid enthusiast of landscape. The Tranz Scenic runs two separate railways, one between Picton and Christchurch which allows you to view the Kaikoura Mountain range on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, while the other route travels over the range from east to west. This later trip, called the TranzAlpine, has been called one of the world’s top six journeys by train that you should absolutely take on your travels.

Regardless of your destination, travel arrangements within New Zealand are painless and easy. You can easily rent cars, book lodging, and arrange your travel needs as easily as you can back home, which results in a vacation that is stress free and full of fun.