Christmas is a great occasion to spend time with your family, exchange greetings and gifts with your loved ones, and feel totally in tune with the world. If you want to feel the true spirit of Christmas, then make sure that you spend the next one in Goa. It is bedecked in the colors of the festive season, with almost every third house flaunting a huge Christmas tree, carolers with melodious voices roaming the streets, as well as Christmas stars and fairy lights illuminating every nook and…

On the train from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, thinking about my upcoming climb up the picture-postcard peak of nearby citadel Huayna Picchu, known as “the young mountain,” I realized I'd left my hiking shoes behind! But I'd traveled great distances to climb Machu Picchu’s highest peak, so even a lack of proper footgear wasn't going to stop me. Perhaps I would be the first person to hike this majestic peak in Hugo Boss loafers - maybe I could get Hugo to pay me for bringing his brand to the top of…

Ethiopian food is one of the world's best kept secrets.  Ethiopian food is an exotically spicy mix of vegetables, slow-simmered meat or grain stews, and fresh meat sautés.

Ethiopia is a place of high plateaus and low-lying plains, and home to over 80 million people.  The northern high country is populated mainly by Christians, while the plains are home to Muslims and animists.  Dietary restrictions due to religions and location have given rise to a wide variety of both meat…

A spa resort? Now what could that be? You know what a resort is and you understand what spas are, but a spa resort? Well, let me explain it to you! A spa resort can be described as an accommodation option that focuses on wellness of the mind, body and soul of their guests. People book into these spa resorts for relaxing and unwinding, getting away from their relentlessly tiring daily routines, as well as the hustle and bustle of city life. These have become really popular, especially among…

The great thing about street food in Chennai is that it is easily available, healthy to eat, and quite cheap. You can taste it yourself during your sojourn in the capital city even while staying at hotels near Chennai Trade Centre, a happening location. From ‘parottas’ to the ubiquitous ‘idlis’ and from delicious ‘dosas’ to ‘idiyappams’, your choices simply boggle the mind. Stalls across the streets of the city offer to appease all kinds of palates with hundreds of vendors…

When you are staying at the luxury hotels in Jaipur, reaching some of the most happening marketplaces within the city is going to be your last problem. Some famous bazaars cater to locals and tourists alike with their colorful wares, indigenous, traditional products, and special local items that you'll love to take back home with you. Located in the walled city, surrounding the main two blocks, namely Chhoti and Badi Chaupar, the shops are a great place for bargaining and make…

Sunsets in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica are some of the most spectacular I’ve seen, especially if it is low tide. When the Pacific Ocean recedes from the long coastline of this stretch of the Nicoya Peninsula – Playa Carmen, Playa Santa Teresa and Playa Hermosa – the setting sun…

Have you always wanted to live in the rainforest by a tropical beach? Or are you looking for a vacation home in a warm climate? The special eco-community of Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living in Costa Rica is an excellent option.

Strategically located on the …

To your holiday decorations this year, add some pretty Christmas plants for a living touch of good cheer. Surprisingly, many holiday plants are tropical in origin, which means that you care for them like a houseplant if you live in a cold…

Some of the most elaborate traditional Christmas celebrations take place in the seven countries of Central America. Read on for more about each country’s unique festivity.

Christmas Celebrations in Central…

Tozeur is the largest Tunisian oasis, and one of the most charming towns in the country.  This can be seen in the winding streets in the center of the town, with its characteristic brick designs, in the suq, not as overwhelming as many other Maghreb and Arab markets, and in its vast palm grove, with a surface area of more than 1,000 hectares and live…

Is it a good time to buy real estate in Costa Rica?

According to real estate experts, it is. Costa Rica – one of the hottest real estate markets in the Americas in the early 2000s – is coming back stronger than ever after the economic slump throughout the United States and…

What do a little black mare and the Virgin of Guadalupe have to do with Christmas traditions in Costa Rica?

One of the more interesting Christmastime…

Whenever I travel anywhere that serves delicious meals, I always think, “How can I recreate this at home and enjoy it again?”

In the case of Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa…

Above: One of the Abbey of Our Lady of Guadalupe's sumptuous fruitcakes, awaiting an evening snack down.…

Tourism Australia, Australia’s national tourism organization, can bask in the success of achieving October 2014’s top slot for global travel destinations according to social media.  The Land Down Under suddenly came out on top beating competitors like Walt Disney World Resorts, Visit Florida and the U.S. Department of the Interior. 



Taking #1 overall for travel destination on social media, Tourism Australia owes thanks to the Skift Score.  According to the…

Kayaking (or boating) through the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is an exciting experience. You never know what animal or bird you’ll suddenly come upon…

Goa boasts of a prominent Christian community so it’s no wonder that Christmas time is quite special here. Hotel packages in Goa reflect this celebratory mood and offers for the visitors start here right from November itself. An infectious joyous spirit permeates the people and the surroundings, cradled between Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, this tiny emerald of a state dons the festive garb.  Rich Portuguese history…

Goa is the most happening place to be, especially during the New Year celebrations, when the entire state seemingly comes together to usher in the New Year with great fanfare and hullaballoo. It is also quite difficult to get bookings in Goa during these times, so you would be advised to make your reservations well in advance and avoid the disappointment of not getting to stay in the hotel of your choice. And that has the potential of ruining your entire trip as well as mood. So play…