One summer my friend and I decided to go to Italy during the summer holidays. Having read information about the tours we decided to do without travel agencies. We didn’t want to stick to strict programs, to be in the crowds of tourists, losing lots of possibilities to get acquainted with the country more intimately so we started to think over our trip.

We managed to do quite well: six days in Rome with a day-long journey to Florence. Italy took us by storm! We’ll try to go there again! We spent less than we expected. Of course, we spend nerves and time to arrange the trip, but Italy was worth that! Of course I was afraid lest something goes wrong, I was especially anxious about the visa. But everything went quite smoothly. So here’s my story.

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world. Millions of tourists come here every day. So when planning your trip to Paris make sure you have a place to stay at. Don’t go to the city without a reservation. The majority of the Paris hotels have official websites, so it’s very easy to book a room on-line. Another variant is to reserve a room via fax, using a special form included in the website. Write dates of stay, time of arrival, number of people, type of room you desire, required facilities and location. Wait until you get a confirmation - and here you are! You have a place to stay at when in Paris! Don’t forget to bring a copy of your reservation (whether it was made via fax or email) when you check in.

Like all the southerners, Portuguese people are gourmands. And they can cook well. Mind that they pay attention not only to the dishes, but also to the place and the time of their meals. And, of course, the company.

Portuguese cuisine differs from any European cuisine, including Spanish one. For instance, Spanish and French restaurants offer a variety of snacks and salads whereas the Portuguese prefer to start their meals with the first course. To be exact, there are only two real salads in Portugal – vegetable and “green” (prepared of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, onion and carrot, all with olive oil), sometimes spices are added.

Valais. Delicious wines by the Rhone River

Sometimes the sun turns Valais into a Mediterranean country. This is one of the reasons why there are so many wonderful specialties produced here.

None of the other 22 cantons can boast of such culinary richness as Valais. The reason for this is its special microclimate and various types of soil. The canton combines territories of arid Mediterranean climate and Alpine grounds. No wonder why the highest European vineyard (1150 meters above the sea level) is located here, in Visperterminen.

The Truth About Holidays at Sea
By Ken C. Morris

So, you’ve been thinking about booking a cruise for the holidays, but you have a lot of thoughts about what a cruise entails that make you wonder if it’s a good idea. While many people have a lot of pre-conceived misconceptions about cruises, we’re here to knock a number of those out of the water.

First, many people believe mainly old people go on cruises. While there is quite an older population that does enjoy cruising, the truth of the matter is that the growing population onboard ships are families who are enjoying the fact that the parents can have a holiday get-away with the kids, since many ships are child friendly and even have special children’s facilities

Costa Rica - Natural Attractions
By Tatyana Kogut

Costa Rica is a resort country with a total of 74 resorts located on its territory. Lush greenery, mountains and ocean – that’s what you should come here for. The country’s main attractions are: national resorts, mountains and underwater caves, waterfalls, picturesque valleys and volcanoes. More than 25% of the country’s territory are occupied by government-protected natural parks.

A Trip to the Past With Palenque
By Tatyana Kogut

The south of Mexico is the cradle of Maya civilization – one of the greatest cultures in human history. Born 3 thousand years ago, it is surrounded with historical mysteries and legends. But the most wonderful thing is that this world is still alive. Meeting with Maya means a travel to the past. The first place to get to know Maya is Uxmal. Then we advise you a travel to Palenque – a wonderful site. One of the main local attractions is the Temple of Inscriptions where in 1952 there was a true treasure found – Maya temple. The temple is one of the oldest Maya erections, preserved in its primeval state. There is also a Palace situated opposite the temple. The palace is adorned with ancient bas reliefs and stone carvings.