Welcome to our site. Here's a link to some of out Most Popular Posts

If you like what you see why not subscribe to our RSS feed. You can also help us by bookmarking this page with any of the buttons at the bottom of each article. Follow us on Twitter for travel deals and travel related news, questions and conversations. Thanks for visiting!

Riders climbing the hill on a Japanese roller coaster

Who can picture Paris without the Eiffel Tower? Yet when the tower was built in 1889, no one thought it would be around for this long.

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. Read the full story

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? Read the full story

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 not suspected of posing a threat to transportation or national security.

It’s a public/private program in which the TSA sets the standards and approves vendors who work with individual airports to implement the plan. Seventy airports across the nation are enrolled in the program.
Read the full story

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 be worn more than once. But cruises also require special thought: You’ll want to make sure you bring essential things like toothbrushes and cotton swabs because you won’t be able to zip into a supermarket or discount drugstore. And you may need special things, such as formal wear. Here are some tips to help you out.
Read the full story

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. Read the full story

photo credit: Brother G

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 21 days with two days of compulsory rest. Also, the individual stages can only exceed 225 kilometers twice.
• Balance: The first week should include several flat stages before the riders take on the high mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees and two days need to be reserved for time trials.
• Equity: The race should pass through as many the regions of France as is possible. So far, the only area that has never hosted the Tour is the island of Corsica.

Here’s a look at the towns on the this year’s tour. Read the full story

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 major cities regulate taxi rates, many of which are posted on the web. You can also take advantage of fare calculator sites to give you an idea of how much it costs to go from Point A to Point B. Read the full story

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 loose.
Read the full story

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 overstimulated.

Buy a museum pass
With the museum pass, there’s no admission charge, no waiting in lines and no limit to the number of times you can visit more than 70 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding area. Consider making two shorter visits to the museum, say a couple of hours on day one and an hour or so on day two. The pass will allow you to split up your visits without paying twice.
Read the full story