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Rachel Sawyer

World’s Biggest Cruise Ships

June 11, 2009
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These days, the operative word in cruise ships is big. And getting bigger as cruise lines order up bigger ships with more amenities. Here’s a look at some that are already sailing as well as a preview of what’s to come.

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Best International Parties

February 6, 2009
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Maybe you’ve already been to all the big parties in the US. Or maybe you just want to see how your neighbors in the Global Village celebrate. But in case you were wondering, there’s a whole world of parties out there.
Carnival- Rio de Janeiro
Although Carnival is celebrated in towns and villages throughout Brazil and other [...]

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Historic Vancouver Landmarks

December 8, 2008
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Vancouver is a relatively young city, going back to only 1886, but it’s not without its share of sites of historical interest. Here’s a peak at a few.
Canada Place
One of Vancouver’s most well known landmarks, the five-sailed complex on the city’s waterfront was Canada’s Pavilion at the 1986 World Expo and is currently the home [...]

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Top Hong Kong Attractions

October 21, 2008
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Hong Kong: It’s the place where East meets West. A major Asian financial center that was once part of the British Empire, Hong Kong has absorbed people and cultural influences from places as diverse as Vietnam and Vancouver. Most people know it as a major shopping mecca. But there’s more to do here than open [...]

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Family Attractions in Cleveland

October 13, 2008
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Children’s Museum of Cleveland
Children’s Museum of Cleveland, dedicated to children up to eight years of age, the museum hosts numerous traveling exhibits as well as several permanent exhibits such as “Splish Splash,” which teaches children about water transportation, weather and the earth’s water systems. It features a two-story climbing structure, a kaleidoscope and the Weather [...]

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Hot Las Vegas Restaurants

October 6, 2008
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Las Vegas: It’s a city of celebrity chefs and and All-U-Can-Eat buffets and everything in between. Here’s a look at 20 of the best, ranging from the best sandwich shop in town to the priciest among the priciest gourmet fare.

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Atlanta Golf Courses

September 17, 2008
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Built on a hilly former Civil War battlefield, one of the chief virtues of the Alfred Tup Holmes Golf Course is its location–10 minutes from the airport and close to downtown. The par 72, 18-hole public course opened in 1940. It was renovated last year and has a a course rating of 69.9 and [...]

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Travel Hot Spots – 11 Volcanic Regions Around the World

September 11, 2008
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Rabaul Caldera, Papua New Guinea
The Rabaul Caldera on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea erupted in 1937, 1944, and 1994. In the 1994 eruption, the two craters of Tavurvur and Vulcan erupted simultaneously, covering the nearby town of Rabaul in ash and causing the evacuation of about 90,000 people. The volcanic activity [...]

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13 Japanese Scream Machine Roller Coasters

August 4, 2008
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If you can’t make it to Japan to test these rides yourself, these videos will give you a good idea of what you’re missing.

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Visiting the Eiffel Tower

July 29, 2008
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Originally built as the main entrance for the 1889 World’s Fair, designer Gustav Eiffel could only get a 20-year permit for the structure. At the time, many thought it was an eyesore that clashed with traditional Paris architecture. By 1909 there were calls to tear it down. Yet the tower survived to become a symbol of Paris.

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Eco Vacations For Everyone

July 28, 2008
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When it comes to vacation ideas, green is the new black. Eco vacations are becoming more and more popular as travelers seek experiences that enable them to get close to nature without leaving a mark.
So what’s an eco vacation and where do you find one?

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Become a Registered Traveler

July 11, 2008

An airport security line

If you’re a frequent flier, you may want to consider enrolling in a registered traveler program.
The Transportation Security Administration and private industry developed the Registered Traveler program to provide expedited security screening for passengers who volunteer to undergo a threat assessment in order to confirm that they do not pose or are [...]

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How To Pack For a Cruise

July 10, 2008

Lots of luggage as a large family prepares to go on an extended trip

No one brings steamer trunks on cruises anymore, instead we’re all faced with the airlines’ 50-pound weight limit on suitcases. When packing for a cruise you should look to limit what you bring as much as possible by packing things that can [...]

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Club Med has something for everyone

July 8, 2008

Club Med Sonora Bay

In the 1970s and 1980s, it was the scene for swinging singles. Now families are the mainstay of Club Mediterranean, better known as Club Med, but the company that gave the world the first all-inclusive vacation package has something to offer everyone from among its 80 resorts worldwide.

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A walk through the Tour de France

July 3, 2008
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The 95th Tour de France starts July 5. This year the tour will begin in Brittany where the tour has started six times before. Choosing the route, which alters every year, begins three years in advance and must take several factors into account:

International regulations: Rules stipulate that the course not exceed 3,500 kilometers spread over [...]

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Taxi rates in major cities

June 27, 2008

It happened again last week: In Washington, DC for a wedding, I took a cab from the Mall to my hotel and the driver took what I thought was a suspiciously long route that led to a suspiciously high fare. I didn’t say anything, but you don’t have to put yourself in this position. Most [...]

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Twisting in the Wind: Great European Roller Coaster Videos

May 6, 2008

Europe, land of castles and culture. But sometimes you need more thrills than a trip to an art museum can give. Sometimes you just want to get the wind in your hair and scream. Here’s a guide to 15 of Europe’s top roller coasters that you’ll want to consult next time you need to let [...]

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Visiting the Louvre

April 17, 2008

The Glass Pyramid outside of the Louvre Museum (Photo via flickr cc)

You could spend a month in the Louvre and not even scratch the surface of the museum’s collection of 35,000 works of art. Most of us don’t have the time for that, so here’s how to get the most from your visit without getting [...]

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Best Snorkeling in the Caribbean

March 27, 2008
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The Caribbean is a great place for beachcombers, but if you’d like to exert yourself a little more, it’s also a great place for snorkeling or diving. Anyone can snorkel, but diving requires some instruction. Fortunately most places with great diving also offer diving courses. Or, you can learn to dive before you take off. [...]

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Explore the Mexican Riviera

March 17, 2008

A sunset in Acapulco .

The cruise industry dubbed Mexico’s Pacific Coast the Mexican Riviera–a name whose glamor was bolstered by its prominence in the 1970s TV show “The Loveboat,” where Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta were often featured as ports of call. The area, which stretches from Baja, California to Mexico’s border with [...]

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Tips for Going on a Volunteer Vacation

March 16, 2008

A backpacking trip through Chile

Not everyone wants to bask on a beach during their vacation. If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, consider a volunteer vacation.
Volunteer vacations give you a chance to interact with people from other cultures and to help others improve their lives. Pick a trip with an organization that shares [...]

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Tips for planning a girls’ getaway

March 6, 2008

Vacationing with a group of your girlfriends can provide a lifetime of memories if you take the time to plan your vacation before hand

Between the demands of work, children and significant others it can be tough to even agree on a date for a girls’ night out, so if you’re planning to get away with [...]

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How to Get a Travel Visa

February 27, 2008

When visiting some countries a US passport won’t be enough for entry. Instead, you’ll also have to apply for a visa. In most cases, you can obtain a visa by writing to the country’s embassy or consular offices here in the United States. Consult the US State Department’s website for information on travel to [...]

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How to get a passport

February 26, 2008

As of January 1, 2007 all US citizens were required to have a passport when leaving the United States, ending a precedent of only need a birth certificate.

To get a passport, you need to apply in person at one of the more than 9,000 passport acceptance facilities in the United States. Bring your completed passport [...]

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Flying styles of the rich and famous

December 6, 2007

The world’s movers and shakers are in the air a lot. Here’s a look at how they make flying more agreeable. A sample:

Steven Page of “Bare Naked Ladies” always brings his noise canceling headphones.
Model Selita Ebanks, never flies without moisturizing lotion, baby wipes and socks.
Professional poker player Annie Duke packs outfits she knows she can [...]

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Track flight prices with Yapta

December 1, 2007

Now available as an extension for Firefox, Yapta allows you to track fare prices across the Internet with the click of a mouse.
Here’s how it works: After you download the extension, visit Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity or your chosen airline site and enter your itinerary then tag it to your My Trips. Yapta will begin tracking [...]

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Putting on the Ritz

November 1, 2007

With rooms starting at $1,000 a night, not everyone afford to stay at the Paris Ritz, but most people can swing a drink at the hotel’s famous Hemingway Bar.

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Roller coasters: 56 American scream machines

October 19, 2007
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Do you enjoy getting turned upside down, being hit with a couple of Gs and screaming your head off? Then this is for you: A guide to 56 of the best roller coasters in the country.
Millenium Force
Cedar Point

Known as a giga-coaster because of its great height, this coaster rises 310 feet above the ground and [...]

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