The Cook Islands are comprised of fifteen islands – Polynesian atolls that truly represent a tropical getaway. Largely unaffected by the tourism trade, the islands afford visitors with the opportunity to enjoy their vacation time at a less-hurried pace. Plus, each island has its own personality. For example, the main island Rarotonga is visited by around 100,000 tourists each year. Yet, it still is infused with island charm - what with its serene atmosphere, ideal climate, and breath-taking scenery.

According to some early estimates, the damage caused be Hurricane Sandy will cost at least $20 billion, which ranks Sandy as one of the most destructive hurricanes in the history. Another $20 billion is the estimated production loss caused by the Hurricane Sandy.

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand in the near or distant future, then you’ll need to know what to expect with respect to such everyday details as banking, using your credit card, shopping, and tipping. For instance, in New Zealand, banks are usually open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and shops and offices keep regular hours five days a week from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. In some popular tourist towns, such as Queenstown or Rotura, retailers are open seven days a week. Shops that stay open later than 5:00 p.m. usually do so on Thursday or Friday nights.

As of this date, seventeen of the countries in Europe use the Euro for currency – all, again, which makes traveling in Europe just that much more attractive. Use of the Euro means visitors do not have to exchange currency every time they cross the border into another country too.

Are you looking for a cost-effective way to experience Europe for an extended time period? Then, you may want to consider studying, volunteering, or working on the European continent. Some colleges encourage studying abroad and international cards are available for students that permits them to see tourist attractions at a discount.

Europe itself is the birthplace of Western Civilization, thereby making it a historically significant location in terms of the advancement of thought and science. European history is denoted by several historical periods, namely the following:

If you are planning a visit to Europe, you may be wondering when it’s best to go. Typically, the high season for travel, at least for Central Europe, is during July and August. However, many travelers are finding that traveling in either late spring or early fall is often preferable as the temperatures are milder and the crowds fewer in number. If your travels take you farther north, or to Scandinavia, then, to avoid the chillier temperatures, it’s best to go during the summertime.

Smartphones are great devices that are useful for more than just phone calls. They are excellent for keeping on top of a variety of things in downloading apps. Some apps fall under the category of travel, which any person who is planning a vacation should obtain. Whether the trip is to Newport Beach vacation homes or overseas, travel apps can help in the organization, planning and navigation during vacation.

The Amazon River jungle is the world’s largest forest and it’s often described as the lungs of the earth. Its dense vegetation covers more than three million square miles of land, and stretches across nine countries. The world first came to the Amazon in search of the mythical Eldorado, the city of gold. What the explorers found instead was what still attracts visitors to this day; trees as tall as skyscrapers, tens of thousands of species of plants and animals, and unique and fascinating cultures that call this region home. . . . Read article...