Navagio Beach, Zakynthos
The famous shipwrecked beach is regarded as one of the most famous and iconic beaches in Greece. Also referred to as “Smuggler’s Cove”, this beach immediately makes its presence felt with its sharp cliffs, white beaches, and striking blue water. It feels like you discovered a secret treasure island with the scenery being tucked-away from the outside world.

Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia
Another favorite for the people of Greece, Myrtos offers amazing opportunities for the adventurous and the peaceful. It is known for having excellent waves for surfing and a scenic backdrop of rocky cliffs. Its atmosphere is very laid-back and one of the least crowded beaches, as tourists tend to flock to Corfu and Santorini.

Sarakiniko Beach, Mylos
This beach is truly unique as it is not the traditional white, sandy beaches that you are used to seeing in Greece. Sarakiniko instead has great limestone rocks that make up its shoreline where visitors go to lay out in the sun. It is truly an experience that should not be missed. Lots of great sights to see and do with this island littered with caves and amazing diving spots. This is a beach you’ll never forget.

Costa NavarinoCosta-Navarino-Greece-1
What a great time to visit Greece’s beautiful shorelines, with vivid displays like this Mediterreanean treasure. This one is tucked-away in the Peloponnese peninsula and can easily be overlooked by the unseasoned Greek traveler. Costa Novarino has all the 5-star amenities you’d expect from a major tourist destination, plus luxurious spa resorts, full-sized golf courses, and beautiful olive groves. You can’t go wrong with Costa Navarino!

Red Beach
This beach’s beauty is right in its name. This is a one-in-a-million opportunity to witness the amazing contrast of colors of red, white, and blue playing tag with each other all around you. You have to see it to believe it. Don’t miss this famous beach on Santorini and remember to respect the sand, because it will bite you in the butt!

elafonisi-beachElafonisi Beach
Another magical beach filled with colors that would seem like you were standing on a living painting. It has all sorts of great pastel colors and even more found under the sea with the beautiful reefs of coral surrounding it, which provide a crossing from Crete. Elafonisi is a paradise for photographers, no filters needed, just point and fill up the frame with an entire crayon box! That’s why we love Greece.

Budgeting

Here’s where you’d think would be the easiest part of planning a trip for yourself. We’ll that is both true and false at the same time. It’s true that you’ll be spending less, naturally, by yourself than with a group of people. Although, it can be pretty easy to rack-up expenses if you don’t have a lot of self-control. Gift shopping, especially, can sneak-up on you and start eating into your other budgets, like food and entertainment.

At the same time, you have a lot more give when it comes to overspending by yourself. It can be tough to keep track of the budget for multiple people, while being as fair as possible to everyone. Travelling solo allows you to take advantage of more lodging options like hostels, bread and breakfasts, or extra rooms in hotels where they’d rather fill them at lower rates and you end up saving big for not being picky.

Staying Safe

Traveling alone can be scary, that’s probably the biggest thing holding people back from traveling solo. While traveling in groups is the best way to avoid purse-snatchers, pick-pockets, and etc. –you can still be safe traveling by yourself. You just have to travel smarter. Since you don’t have that benefit of an extra pair of eyes, you need to be more aware of your surroundings and where you’re going to avoid ending up getting lost. Another important aspect of traveling alone is traveling light. Don’t carry your entire vacation savings with you at all times. Keep a little bit with you in your pocket, your wallet or purse, and some in a hidden place where you’re staying. Of course, if you have the ability, use a credit card anywhere you can, to avoid the loose cash situation altogether.

The Lonely Road

Just because you’re traveling alone, doesn’t mean you are alone, thanks to the numerous ways of staying connected with family and friends. Post updates to your social media of all the places you’ve visited, take lots of pictures, and etc. Even if the reception is crappy for a phone conversation, you’ll still have some ability to communicate via text/twitter.

It’s always a good idea to not stray too far from civilization. Which means: if you are planning some type of outdoors adventures or hikes, try to get a guide or fellow traveler to join you if you are unsure of the area. You’re most likely going to meet other solo travelers when traveling solo, it has something to do with that inner human compass that we have for socializing.

Mom and Dad, the Explorers

Take this opportunity to become your child’s own personal tour guide and they will learn more than they ever would in sociology book. Kids are more likely to interact with the locals than your typical tourist. With those interactions brings new experiences and insights into the local culture. You’ll probably end up learning a few things from your children, too.

Accommodations

Europe can be surprisingly accommodating for tourist families, especially in the more developed transportation countries. They actually beat out America in a lot of various ways, which isn’t too surprising considering how wide our quality of infrastructure varies throughout the country.

Preparations

The best way to insure a smooth and adventurous vacation in Europe is the plan, plan, and plan ahead. That includes getting your children prepared, too. The way you do that is to start getting them excited for the different places you’ll be visiting while in Europe and teaching them all about them. Schools don’t usually do a great job in educating us about the rest of the world here in the States, kids usually learn more about places like France, Greece, and Spain from what they watch on TV. Plan some family time with the Travel Channel and movies set in Europe, I guarantee they’ll be pumped-up by the time the time comes to depart.

The key to a successful European family vacation is to slow down and to temper expectations. Don’t overdo it. Tackle one or two key sights each day, mix in a healthy dose of pure fun, and take extended breaks when needed. If done right, you’ll take home happy memories to share for a lifetime.

The Best Time to Take Your Kids Abroad

When is the appropriate age to start taking your kids with you around the globe? Well, it is really up to you, but to get the best experience as a little one, it is really best for them to be able to handle lots of walking and some degree of maturity to be able to handle any small bumps in the road that are bound to happen on any extended trip.

Many parents coddle their children and then get mad when they fuss over the smallest of inconveniences. This can turn a fun learning experience into a boring, stressful, and, potentially, wasteful use of a vacation getaway.

Teenagers can actually be more irreprehensible than grade-schoolers. The little ones have their bad days, but if a teenager decides the parents just “don’t understand,” they’ll forfeit the entire trip and choose to not have a good time at all costs.

So, the short answer is: you know your kids better than anyone else and you should make the decision based on your relationship and remember that you can’t force one of those TV show family’s “happy ending” stories.

No one can deny the influence New York has on the rest of the country and in the world. So many personalities and so much energy fills this city with life. This is where dreams are made and ideas are born, this is New York City!

Places to Go

New York is practically its own little country within a country. It has so much diversity in it that you can literally never visit all the restaurants in one lifetime. Then, you have all the different cultures that all have a story to tell; just visiting the different boroughs can be like sampling NY’s pages of history. You’re probably going to want to be on at least 1 of the major tour guides to really appreciate the scope of just how deep this city’s roots go.

You could also just dive right in to the heart of New York: Times Square. Never a dull moment to be had where the famous New Year’s Eve Ball drops. You can find the Rockefeller Center not too far away. If you’re really a lover for tall buildings, climb up the Empire State building to get the best view of the city. While you’re up there, you may notice another great view at the famous Statue of Liberty. These New York landmarks just can’t be missed on your first trip to the city.

Things to Do

When you’re not busy looking up at all the buildings, you’re going to want to try to experience some of the New York life for yourself. NY is consistently rated the best in the world when it comes to restaurants, shopping, and night life. It’s the city that never sleeps, so good luck at being bored during your stay. In New York, there are countless museums and performing arts centers to be entertained by the best creative minds in the world. If you don’t prefer all the big stage theatrics, you could always pop into any one of the clubs or bars where musicians are born every day.

People to See

When visiting New York, you’re almost bound to meet somebody famous there. If you’re in Times Square, you’ll probably be rubbing shoulders with a star and not even know it. One of those celebrities, who became famous out of sheer will and charisma is the Naked Cowboy. You can’t miss him, so be sure to get your picture taken with one of NY’s finest entertainers!

If you’re having trouble finding where the biggest names of New York reside at, you could grab yourself a star map or hang out where they are often spotted. Restaurants like “The Spotted Pig,” “The Lion,” or “ABC Kitchen.” The last one actually stands for “Always Bursting with Celebrities.” Most people say that it’s much easier to spot famous people in New York than strolling in Hollywood. This is mostly due to the much denser population, but it also has to do with the city’s charm as well. The city is always buzzing, so it’s just not as feasible for paparazzi to travel in large packs to keep tabs on celebrities.

Therefore, celebrities often feel more comfortable visiting their favorite sandwich shops or pizza parlors.

Caramel

Ok, caramel is easily one of the most overlooked sweets in France. The amount of texture and flavor they put into these candies is unbelievable and will change the way you look at caramel. It’s not just an afterthought on some other desert, it IS desert!

Bordier Butter

I didn’t say that this list was for those on a diet, so why not include the worst possible ingredient for all diets? Ok, that’s not what I was actually thinking, but this butter is not your mom’s stick butter. This Bordier butter has its identity. It’s so rich and so creamy that you’ll probably eat an entire baguette in order to sate your cravings. Butter is evil, especially Bordier Butter from France!

Baguettes

The French baguette is a piece of art. It’s crafted with the love and care that you will never find in your local grocery store at home. The journey it takes your sense on is like sticking an entire bakery in your face. When shopping for one in France, keep your eyes on the shape of the baguettes, as the more rounded edges are a sign that a machine has touched them. The quality will still be good enough to eat, but the hand-made baguettes have a much superior texture.

Macarons

Most of the time you’ll eat these in America and they really end up just being a lemon-flavored cookie. The ones in France are more like eating lemon-flavored angel cakes. The filling alone is an amazing piece of culinary artistry. The texture, the flavors, everything has to be perfect to maintain that deliciously light decadence that can only come from a skilled chef.

Cheese

One thing you’ll never have trouble finding in France is bread and cheese. Cheese varied and plentiful. You can even stop by a cheese shop like Laurent Dubois and speak to a cheese expert to help you pick out a cheese bundle and, of course, taste test the world of cheese. You’ll be surprised at just how deep the cheese holes can go.

1. Lodz, Poland

This is an unspoken, secret art hub of Europe. Lodz has a rich entertainment hub of the arts; Polish cinema, performing arts, live theater, and don’t forget the art of the culinary cuisine. The main street of Piotrkowska is one of the longest sprawling streets on the continent. You’ll be hard-pressed to run out of things to do, places to go, and people to meet in Lodz, Poland. While most only check out Warsaw, Lodz is still the 3^rdlargest city in Poland with all the trappings of a capital and twice the charm.

2. Ikaria, Greece

The isle of Ikaria is one of the many little corners of Greece that is an excellent way to experience the beauty of the country, while avoiding the large crowds of tourists. It takes 6 hours to reach it by ferry via Athens, but it’s worth the trip. Once you arrive, you’ll be treated by all the serenity that surrounds these majestic beaches. You’ll also find plenty of staple Greek foods, brought in fresh from the sea. It’s a huge break from modern civilization where everyone is laid back and clocks are irrelevant.

3. Colmar, France

You won’t believe your eyes when you set foot in this old, quiet little town in France. Its hybrid French/Bavarian culture make this city stand out. The architecture is a vintage European flavor with more colors than a crayon box. It gets even better during the holidays when the entire place is transformed into living versions of those Christmas villages you see in shopping malls. You’ll find traditional food and handmade gifts to take a piece of this fairytale village back home with you to your friends and family.

4. Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Now, the scale of this European landmark doesn’t really make for an easy thing to hide, however, it does often get overlooked by travelers. What lies on this partial island is the impressive Callanish Stones, which immediately remind you have the more famous Easter Island’s monuments. They are just as impressive and just as exciting to witness up close. Although, they aren’t as much of a mystery as this monument was erected to embellish a burial chamber down below. Borrowing cues from the Egyptians, which is an odd sight to behold all the way North in Scotland.

Oriental Express

Why not travel from Bangkok to Singapore, and vice-versa, in-style? This is a train like no other, providing a smooth ride with luxurious trappings that you’d never find in one of those aluminum flying tubes in the sky. Rich tapestries and 5-Star dining allows you to travel like royalty while the beautiful architecture passes around you in a fairytale blur. Before you know it, you’ll be back to boring, old concrete slabs. You could always just turn around and go back, right?

Southern Spirit

The world famous train in Australia that has appeared in numerous movies and music. It’s quite the elusive beast as there are a limited amount of trips scheduled every year. This is a pure pleasure cruise as they stop at all the major tourist destinations along the way to let passengers experience the diverse Australian Outback. The tickets aren’t cheap and you’ll want to plan for it in-advanced to get the most out of your trip, but, in the end, you won’t regret it.

The Canadian

Well, we know where this one is heading. America’s neighbors to the north may seem like just one big ice bowl forest, but there’s actually a pretty diverse landscape that is best appreciated from a train ride. It’s a good thing that their trains are totally awesome! This train traverses the Rockies, Canada’s farmland, and past the frozen lakes. You’re guaranteed to spot plenty of animals along the way, too. Bears, meese, beavers, and all sorts of other critters can be spotted in the wild, majestic Canadian landscape.

Glacier Express

This train ride is so invigorating and the same time calming. The 8 hour ride only sounds like a long time on paper, as once you step off, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped out of a dream. It really is quite the journey, you’ll cross hundreds of bridges and tunnels, literally. The ability to traverse the mountains and valleys will have you saying “wow” and making audible gasps on multiple occasions. The train provides lots of viewable real estate with its transparent roofs. The Swiss really outdo themselves on the Glacier Express.

Pride of Africa

This is a train ride you just can’t afford to miss. That’s both figuratively and literally, considering where you’re at. This is a luxury that no average person can afford in Africa, but it would be a real tragedy if you passed up the opportunity to witness Africa’s beauty that is found nowhere else in the world. This train ride is expensive, but serves as the ultimate safari adventure during your stay, allowing you to really take in a huge scope of the homeland of mankind.