7 Tips for a Successful Whale Watching Tour

Written by Cris Puscas

Did you know that South Africa is one of the best places in the world to go whale watching? You can even see whales as you walk on the coast paths or enjoy a meal at a restaurant with an ocean view! How cool is that?

Majestic animals that still intrigue us with their behaviour, whales have been part of the popular folklore and made appearances in books for centuries. If you are also fascinated by the fictional white whale from Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale" and have always wanted to see whales in their natural habitat, a team has put together a useful list of tips to know before you go whale watching.

1. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience

Going on a whale watching safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of course, each experience is unique and it really depends on luck, but even seeing the whales from a distance is a magnificent sight.

The Truth About the Happy People of Copenhagen

I was here in Copenhagen once. I made my booking on my own which is my way of travelling. I visited the city for the second time,  very recently.  I was with Adventure of the Seas' cruise ship. Honestly, I did not like it. The cruise is too long for two weeks. I was sick for the last three days at sea. I suspect it was due to boredom. Cruising, I guess, is not my cup of tea.

Copenhagen is an easy access to Denmark close to Hamburg where I travelled last. It was a week short wandering around the city of Danes - one of the happiest people in the world. 

What made the Danes happier than people of other countries? Let's find out.

Before I jumped to the conclusion, let me tell you what happened and what I have seen in the city during my stay. The things that I am going to describe to you might be your deciding factor in visiting Copenhagen for the first time.

City Hall Square (Radhuspladsen) 

Let me start my story from the time I set foot in the Eurocity Rail Station. People are helpful. A local couple helps in finding our hotel, Sct Thomas which is a walking distance from the central train station. "Go walk straight and turn left and you will find your hotel in that street. You will pass through the City Hall Square (Radhuspladsen), so you won't miss it", she says in a very helpful manner.

Why Am I Revisiting Berlin?

Are you going back to a country if you have had bad experience on your last?

In my case, I would. 

And that is the reason why I am writing this to give justice to Berlin. I visited this city for a whole day tour with the intention of seeing its historical architecture. It was a brief stay but just enough to experience interaction with the local people. The good and the bad side of it.

I should have stayed at least three days because of its size. Berlin is Germany's largest city and the most populated. There are places that I missed and regret it up until now.

Cameron Cobb of Arizona U.S.A.

43. Featured Traveller 

Cameron Cobb

Food & Travel Blogger : Administrator - Social Work : Traveller  

(Arizona, USA)

                               

“ Where Will I Eat Next ” 

Travelling for the Best Street Food and Unique Cultural Experiences

Our friend Cameron has been travelling for many years and this time, we are highlighting his journey for the entire year.  Let's join him in exploring the culinary world and making friends with people he meets along the way. Whether it is street food or incredible dishes from a budget restaurant, he always find ways to make sure it is within his budget and at affordable prices. 

Travelling for one year to eat and learn the local food? How does it sounds to you?

Cam knows very well that a year of travelling needs careful planning, budgeting and managing finances to cut cost. "Budget is almost always a leading factor for travel", he says. Here are his tips on travel expenses on how he save, enjoy more and spend less.

5 Sports Destinations That Are Worth the Trip

Written by Jason Gordon

It isn't uncommon for sports fans to brag about visiting every NFL stadium or going to all of their favourite team's road games. However, you can be a dedicated fan even if you don't spend thousands of dollars to attend professional sporting events.

What are the five of the best cities to visit if you want to see the important sites on the professional sports landscape?

• You Have to Spend Time in Boston

Whether you love them or hate them, you have to admit that Boston is home to many iconic teams. While there, you have to visit Fenway Park for a Red Sox game or Gillette Stadium to watch Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Boston Celtics also have a championship pedigree dating back to the 1960s while the Bruins are routinely in the hunt for a Stanley Cup.

Romantic Wedding Destinations in India

Written by  Rohit Agarwal

Choosing a quaint, romantic, and exotic destination for your wedding should be an important part of your wedding plan, to make the event memorable, loving and priceless. The romantic wedding destinations in India make your wedding look like a fairy tale event.

India has a passionate wedding point for every kind of emotion and feeling. 

We bring to you a handpicked collection of the romantic wedding destinations in India.  These places have the natural richness, artistic wonders, and a timeless exotic charm, for you to celebrate and relish the magical wedding moment here.

Find out how romantic your wedding will be. Make a choice between the 6 equally ideal wedding destinations in India.

1. Goa

Photo by belyakovacat, CC0 1.0

The fascinating Portuguese architecture, and the charming Goa beaches make weddings in Goa truly enjoyable, heartening and beautiful for the memories to store and relish for a long time.

What to Expect in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve

Written by: Freddie Miranda

Are you looking for an escape from a laid-back environment in the New Year? And you want to party all night until the clock strikes at 12 midnight?

If your answer is yes, then, Las Vegas New Year's Eve celebration can provide you with a world-class venue that are known to delight visitors. That means, a celebration for you and your kids.

Three nights to a week is enough to fully enjoy this vibrant city, in the middle of the desert. You will enjoy the festive season, the casinos and your most favourite entertainment shows on the Strip.

Las Vegas continues to be a place for casinos, but it doesn't mean that it is exclusively for nightlife entertainment. It is no longer an adults-only playground, so you do not leave your kids behind. Las Vegas is rapidly becoming a kid-friendly destination suitable for all ages.

Worried about how to entertain your kids in Las Vegas?  Worry no more!

Juan Gallardo about MYANMAR

42. Featured Traveller 

Juan Gallardo

Financial Controller: Author : Traveller  

(Seville, SPAIN)

                               

“ Explore. Dream. Discover ” 

Myanmar Travel Essentials

Juan, our featured traveller from Seville (Spain), is passionate about Myanmar and wants to share the beauty of this country through Culture, People & Food.

It is with great pleasure, to have our friend who hails from Spain, to be a part of this blog. We will treasure it! A native of Seville, who currently lives and works in Yangon, Myanmar.

And, what is the story behind his fondness of a Southeast Asian country named Myanmar? How it started, we'll find out.

Hanne Hellvik of Cochabamba BOLIVIA

41. Featured Traveller 

Hanne Hellvik

Blogger : Traveller  

(Cochabamba, BOLIVIA)

                               

“I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list” 

Hanne is just one of the most patient persons I have known on the web.  She is a twenty-something traveller from Norway who likes meeting people in every place she visits. She wants to learn about each and everyone's culture and tradition, their stories and more importantly, she has the desire to be a part of their lives.

Flag of BOLIVIA

Though she does not have so much money to use in her travels, she will continue visiting countries of Belize, Honduras and Mexico, not to mention her big dream to see more of East Europe and first visit to Cambodia and Vietnam.

Budget and planning for a trip is something that Hanne consider very important to be able to cut cost of her travels. She usually live with the locals, which is most of the time, with free accommodation, food and transportation. With her experiences, she still believe that there are many kind people around the world who welcomes and open their doors to strangers like her. It's amazing!

How To Negotiate a Taxi and Auto- Rickshaw Fares in India

Written by Rohit Agarwal

Taxi and Auto-Rickshaw (often shortened to just "auto") is the most popular mode of transport in getting around the city, especially for tourists. You must exercise caution and keep informed before you hire any of these modes of transport. The drivers often quote unreasonably high prices to foreign travellers or simply include unnecessary extras making travel rather inconvenient. To save yourself from these problems, you need to be careful about certain things. Here are some of the tips to help you...

Auto Rickshaw : Photo Credit - Terry Whalebone - CC by 2.0

Your first time:

1. You need to hire a taxi or an auto from the airport that will take you to the hotel. It is at the airport and in major tourist spots that you can find prepaid taxi or auto counters.

Kellen James of Shanghai CHINA

40. Featured Traveller 

Kellen James

TESOL Teacher : Science and P.E. Teacher : Traveller  

(Shanghai, CHINA)

                               

“A beer at every destination is quite a sensation; it causes a creation of massive amounts of elation ” 

Kellen is an example of a happy-go-lucky type of person. A young man who appreciates anything and anyone while on a journey. Very easy going!

Flag of the People's Republic of China

When asked of his favourite destination, he did not give a direct answer, instead, he expressed his love of the diversity and uniqueness of each individual places.

Although the question seems tough and not easy for him to share, he did a revelation about Barcelona to be truly unforgettable with Japan South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil to be his next to explore.

Keith Yuen of Singapore SINGAPORE

39. Featured Traveller 

Keith Yuen

Manager : Travel Blogger & Photographer : Traveller  

(Singapore, SINGAPORE)

                               

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” 

Flag of Singapore

Keith, though very humble, is an epitome of a person with good taste and a perfect example of a traveller who appreciates anything and anyone while on a journey. 

When asked of his favourite destination, he did not give a direct answer, instead, he expressed his love of the diversity and uniqueness of each individual places.

Although the question seems tough and not easy for him to share, he sub-categorized some of the places that leave him unforgettable experiences.

Beach: Philippines, Greece and Thailand

Citylife: New York City, Singapore and Copenhagen & Stockholm

Landscape: Iceland, Norway and China

People Friendliness: Danish, Filipinos, Germans and Burmese

Road Trip: Australia, Canada and United States of America

Waterfall: Victoria Falls, Iguazu Falls* and Skogafoss

Wildlife: Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa

* Haven't visited Iguazu Falls. Next on his bucket list

A Glimpse of my journey in Foreign Land and Sea

Keith is just one of our young featured travellers. 

A long list of countries he has explored over the years is an inspiration to travellers his age and the young once as well. He opt not to mention one by one but rather invite you to visit his blog, travel inspiration 360 where you will discover the details of his journey. His blog is only four months on the web and have been receiving numerous positive feedback and encouragement since the very start. 

His most viral article reaches over 70,000 readers covering the controversial stereotyped Filipino people. I admire him to the max for writing about the misconception about the Philippines. 

I am so proud of Keith, not only because my origin is the Philippines, but for being honest and with an open mind and heart for the Filipinos. Read his article, it's truly an inspiration. 

No wonder, it's viral!

20 Ways to Piss Off Hotel Staff

Written by JP Chartier

What is it about hotels that bring out the worst in people? 

Having worked in the hotel industry for over three years I can tell you first-hand that there are those individuals who are intent on making the over worked hotel staff miserable.

Hotel staff understand that you have been cooped up in a car driving all day. 

Or have been in an airplane for a number of hours before arriving at the hotel for check in. 

But do yourself a favour and try to be nice and respectful, don’t take it out on the staff, if you do, you will most likely lose out in the end.

If its your thing to piss people off and you happen to be in a hotel, here are 20 Ways To Piss Off the Hotel Staff:

1. Get upset that your room isn’t ready yet, even though you arrived early.

2. Assume all hotel staff know how to do all hotel jobs.

3. Order room service items that aren’t on the room service menu.

4. Threaten staff with a bad internet review.

Omar Oualili of Casablanca MOROCCO

38. Featured Traveller 

Omar Oualili

Student : Traveller : Travel Blogger

(Casablanca, MOROCCO)

                               

“Travel the world, country by country, city by city!” 

Flag of MOROCCO

There are many exciting stories to discover about our 20-something lad from the Kingdom of Morocco. He obtained a French Baccalaureate two years ago and moved to the United Kingdom to study Accounting and Finance at the University of West London. 

Omar in some of the countries he visited

Omar, at his young age has travelled to countries in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Middle East and Asia. He will continue counting as he travel the world wherein Lebanon, Iceland, Montenegro, Greece and Azerbaijan are now high up on his list.

Omar created a travel blog, In A City Near You, showcasing his stories, photos and videos of his trips. 

It is well-written and detailed that made it very interesting. Read his blog, you will be glad you did!

Although Omar have visited more than 30 countries as of this writing, he is highlighting his home town of Casablanca in particular and Morocco in general.

Truly you will learn a lot from a young man like Omar.  Read the full story and be inspired. If you are looking for travel tips, subscribe to his blog and follow him on Facebook.

The Beasts of Boca de Guama

Written by Donna Cederstrand

Deep in the southwest of Cuba, near the Peninsula de Zapata, lays Boca de Guama, a tourist centre that is home to thousands of crocodiles. The crocodile farm is approximately 120 kilometres from Varadero, Cuba and is suggested to take less than 2 hours to travel there. This would be true if taking a tour bus excursion but driving by rental car is quite a challenge. Navigating road maps and coordinating them with dilapidated road signs means a 2-hour drive turns into 3 hours. Asking locals for directions is difficult due to the language barrier but it adds to the excitement and unknown that comes along with travelling to foreign countries.

We pull into the parking lot at Boca de Guama and are immediately hit with the stifling heat. It's just before noon and the sun is hot and air is humid, making beads of sweat break out along my forehead. The place appears to be deserted other than a few employees milling about in the shade. But the experience will be anything but desolate.

Along the pathway, we stop to visit turtles, iguanas and tree rats; a delight for my young daughter who is now chasing chickens around on the grass. We wonder where the crocodiles are and make jokes about them jumping out of the swamps that surrounds us. It's peaceful and beautiful with palm trees littered here and there, the river and mangroves to our right and up ahead... a sign indicating the entrance to the crocodile farm.