How to Plan a Trip Around the World, the Easy Way!

Planning a trip around the world? Maybe you're not looking for around the world but you would like to have a couple different stops along the way to your destination...either way, this new info I have is going to help you!

Honestly, when it comes to planning your own trips that include multiple stops is next to impossible. Actually, that parts not true...it's not next to impossible to FIND it, it's next to impossible to find a Reasonable price, that's the difference. And in most cases, people end up seeking out their travel agent because it's just too much hassle.

But not anymore!

I'm really a fan of booking my own travel and if you are too, then here's a site you don't want to miss. Trip planner makes it so easy to book your own multi-stop, round the world tickets that it's crazy! Seriously, you could make an ultimate dream vacation that includes enough stops that you can well be in the double digits in about oh say, 2 minutes!

Yes I'm serious! Go check out the trip planner, it's definitely something that was needed for online trip planning, it's time for the next step up. :)

Happy travels!

Earth Day Should be a Year Round Event

As some of you may already know, Earth Day was April 22nd. This doesn't mean we should stop or limit ourselves to taking part once a year.

This is something that needs to be done each and every day. Here are a couple of tips to help make our earth a better place to live.

1. Recycle whenever possible - I know this is a no-brainer but there are still so many people who simply don't. Bringing in things like old newspapers, tin cans and bottles you can do your part in recycling to help our landfills. After all, garbage still goes somewhere, even if you don't see it!

2. Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs - General Electric came out with a great brand of these that were featured on the Oprah show. These cost a little more upfront but the money you would save on your electric bill alone outweighs the slight extra cost you'll pay at the store.

3. Use as little plastic Bags as possible - Plastic is very hard to break down, so try to conserve plastic bags as much as possible. Re-use your bags or even go out and buy a bag made of material that can be washed and re-used often.

These are just three tiny steps to help make our world a better place. If every single person in the world did these things we would save BILLIONS of dollars and really give our Earth a chance to live and grow. It's not too late and this is one of those times that YOU really can make a difference!

After all, its our planet and I, for one, want to be apart of it!

Until next time,

WikiTravel - A Good Place With Tips For Travel

Wikitravel is a project to create a free, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide.

Everyone has heard of Wikipedia, and now us travel adventures can created articles, tips for travel, and travel guides all here with this new travel wiki!

This is a pretty neat site with already almost 15, 000 destination guides and articles written by real world travelers.

Check it out, write your own, and help others share in this wonderful world we have yet to be explored.

Until next time,

Find Low Fare Airlines in Europe and Travel for a Flat Rate!

If you're looking to find low fare airlines in Europe, I've just learned of a new program in which a couple of European compananies have introduced. What they have introduced is this...

Fly anywhere in Europe for a flat rate of $99! Yep that's right. Now here's the thing to keep in mind when looking to find low fare airlines in Europe, they do it much better than what we do here in North America! If you ask me anyways because the cost of charter flights there in comparison to what most of our 'charter' prices is quite significant and in fact, paying $99 for a flight within European destinations could actually cost you more!

BUT...

When you buy a flat rate flight pass, you'll get an open-ended, non-stop ticket with no blackout dates or minimum purchase requirements and you can literally travel with all the flexibility you need!

I thought that this was a really cool concept to find low fare airlines in Europe because really, that could cut down on your researching time by a ton and you'll still be getting a great price! To have a look at one of these new sites, check out find low fare airlines in Europe.

Happy travels!

Online Currency Converter - The Best one That's FREE

Looking for an online currency converter? The best one that I have found and also the one that I use everytime I need to perform a currency conversion is with XE.

It's very user friendly, easy to use and more importantly accurate and updated. It claims to be the world's favourite online currency converter and since it's my fave, I'd believe that!

Besides being an online currency converter, it does have other useful tools including historical currency rates, an email currency update service, a travel expenses calculator and more!

It's free and will get you the info that you need quickly, go here to check out the online currency converter.

Happy travels!

What Are the Current Wonders of the World?

Would you like to know what are the current wonders of the world? How about having the chance to have your say in it?

Well now you can!

There's a committee that's been appointed to decide what are the current wonders of the world? The list comprises of 21 nominees and the winners are to be announced on 07/07/07, what a date hey?! :) In Lisbon, Portugal.

If you'd like to have a vote and a say to determine what are the current wonders of the world, then jump on over, read about the different choices and cast your vote!

Happy travels!

Book Online Hawaii Tours Right here!

Looking to book online Hawaii tours? Here at Tropical Beach Destinations, we offer some of the best tour packages that you will find anywhere for the best price, period.

You'll find tours for activities, adventure tours, air tours, cultural learning experiences to cruises and dinner options.

If you're looking to save time and money while on your vacation, make sure to find your favorite activities and then book online Hawaii tours!

Remember, vacations are about the memories we create and we have some awesome packages to do just that!

Happy Travels!

How Much Do You Tip On a Cruise?

Earlier this week, I gave you guys an awesome resource, the Worldwide Tipping Guide but one of the things not covered there, is how much do you tip on a cruise?

Well here I am with THE solution for you!

If you're wondering how much do you tip on a cruise, then you need to head on over to the Cruise Tip Calculator! It's a great resource tool that will calculate exactly how much you should tip and not only that, but also to whom.

How does it work you ask?

It's quite simple really...just choose your cruise ship, the number of nights you're on it for and also the number of people that you're responsible for and that's it, the calculator does the rest!

It will show you who should get what (depending on your ship, you could be tipping the waiter, maitre d', your housekeepers and etc, etc!) and the total amount that your tips will come to.

Knowing how much do you tip on a cruise means no surprise extra costs for you and gives you a more reliable budget to follow!

Happy travels!

Byron Bay, Australia - A Definite Must See!

I thought that I would write today about Byron Bay Australia! I have seen a lot of Australia and this place is definitely one of my favourites!

Earlier, I was reading an account of someone's journey through Byron Bay, Australia and I was flooded with so many of my good memories and feelings from that time in my life. It is truly a magical and one of the most uplifting places that I have had the good fortune to experience.

I've written a great little article that speaks of my experiences and also gives you some background info and a little bit about just what makes Byron Bay really tick!

"It’s an absolutely beautiful, spiritual and amazing little beach town. It’s a must see that no trip to Australia is complete without!

Byron Bay is located on the north coast of New South Wales, about an hour south of the Gold Coast. As soon as you drive in, you can really feel a change of atmosphere to one of pure happiness and relaxation."

Click here to continue reading my account of Byron Bay, Australia.

The article that I read earlier today is really a great read too! I have stayed at the same places and done many of the same things. Her descriptions were so right on the money...it is a bit lengthier but if you like what you read in mine, you'll like what's written in this one which gets right into the details! So here's another for Byron Bay!

Happy travels!

Customary Tipping Rates - If You've Ever Wondered, Here's Your Worldwide Guide

Well guys, I've just come across a very handy guide for us travelers! I know that wherever we happen to travel, one of the things that we always need to look up are the customary tipping rates for that country.

Customary tipping rates vary greatly from country to country and can even be considered insulting in some! The rules tend to change all the time too, so to curb down your researching time, here's a handy guide to check out...

Worldwide Tipping Guide

The site is designed to inform travelers about the customary tipping rates and practices for over 70 countries. Very useful!

Happy travels!

Oahu Heli Tours - Experience the Magic

One of the most magical ways to really see Oahu is by taking a helicopter tour. The thoughts of Oahu, Hawaii alone are enough to make most of us start fantasizing like crazy!

So how about this one?

If you're one of the very lucky visiting this gorgeous island, just imagine what it would be like on Oahu heli tours! From high in the sky, you could be seeing vivid turquoise coral reefs, brilliantly white sands, tropical rain forests and the thrill of seeing the most famous Oahu sights on board a helicopter!

A helicopter itself is cool, so add the above and keep in mind, your pilot is so going to make your trip! There's fantastic narration and music...it's not just all about the thrilling sights, you'll leave knowing more than what you ever thought you'd know about the great island of Oahu.

I think it's brilliant and the best part about it, is you would think that this would cost you a fortune but not here at Tropical Beach Destinations. Check out our Oahu heli tours options because it's SO darn affordable and the memories and stories that you'll be able to share...Priceless!!

Happy Travels!
Oahu Heli Tours

Kurumathi Blue Lagoon, Maldives - Paradise on Earth

Kurumathi blue lagoon, Maldives is a resort that exists in the middle of the ocean offering palm fringed walkways and miles of golden beaches. Those who experience it, experience a little piece of heaven here on earth.

So just what is this blue lagoon?

Well, it's a narrow piece of sandbar that runs straight into the crystal clear blue waters that spans into the absolutely gorgeous blue lagoons. Kurumathi blue lagoon offers a vacation experience that most people only dream of.

How do you get to this resort in the middle of the ocean?

Well there are actually a couple of ways.

The first is by seaplane which takes about 15 minutes from the airport and the other way is to travel via speedboat which takes about 2 hours.

Where exactly is the lagoon you ask?

It's located 70 KM from the Male International airport on the western tip of Kuramathi Island and both night and day transfers are available to reach this spectacular destination.

Surrounded by coconut groves, Kurumathi blue lagoon, Maldives is literally a dream come true for all tourists. You'll be staying in water bungalows and ocean villas which are all equipped with modern amenities.

A holiday dream come true.

Happy travels!

Recommended Travel Books, Your Guide to Experimental Travel

Think you know a lot about travel? I do too but you know what? Lonely Planet has done it again and here is another addition to Sarah's recommended travel books.

What is it you ask?

It is, the Lonely Planet Guide To Experimental Travel.

Why do I recommend it?

Because if you've been looking to really shake up your vacations, maybe acquire a taste for the extraordinary, then this book is for you.

This book is very different from most recommended travel books because instead of focusing on destinations, it instead explores the methodology of travel. While experimental travel doesn't have a definition per say, Lonely Planet defines it as "a playful way of traveling, where the methodology is clear but the destination may be unknown."

How cool does that sound??

OK, well it's very cool to me!

Let's take "Chance Tourism" for instance. This little game involves a dice and an atlas that will determine your destination. Each methodology is like an experiment and there are more than 40 covered in this recommended travel book.

Each chapter covers a "laboratory result" that is written by the person who finished that particular adventure. It's definitely a fun read that's sure to pique your interest and give you a taste of the extraordinary, eccentric and definitely quirky methods of travel that I bet has never crossed your mind before!

Make sure to have a look at this unique recommended travel book!

Happy travels!

New York City Transit - Your Guide to the Big Apple

Heading to the Big Apple any time soon, or maybe you even live there? If so, chances are you're going to need to use the New York City transit.

For some, this can seem like a pretty daunting task...luckily though, I've found a great resource that will serve your New York City transit needs!

Here's how you manage getting around NYC quickly, easily and efficiently.

Head on over to trips123.com who's only mission is to guide you through getting around the Big Apple.

You'll find all kinds of maps, not just any maps though, maps that even include the current weather and traffic conditions, traffic construction AND detailed maps of the bus, subway, train and ferry schedules.

For real time NYC transit info, it's the place to go; it's detailed and a really useful tool.

Happy travels!

Fun Weekend Getaways and The Travel Tool You Want to Try!

Everyone needs fun weekend getaways! That's how we unwind, regroup and become sane again in our insane world.

That being said, there is only one problem with this.

The problem with fun weekend getaways is that our time is generally way too short and we're busy trying to cram so much stuff in, that sometimes we actually end up missing what we wanted to accomplish - rest and rejuvenation!

Often when we visit a new place or city, one of the biggest time wasters is trying to figure out where and how to get around the city you're in, to do the things that you want to see there right?! I know that that has happened to us too many times to count!

Here is one resource that I've found if you happen to be traveling within a few of the major cities in the United States. If your fun weekend getaways happen to include any of these cities: New York, Boston, Chicago, San Fransisco and also, Washington D.C. then I know just what you need!

Hopstop.com features an awesome tool for travelers that you'll want to take advantage of. For visitors who are looking for directions via walking, bus or subway, you'll want to go here and enter your starting and ending destination. You'll be able to select the mode of transport that you want to use as well, you'll have 10 different language options to choose from!

For a quick and easy way to make the most of your fun weekend getaways in these major US cities make sure to go on over and check it out! By the way, I have it from a very reliable source that you will get the most direct routes.

Happy travels!