Travelling has changed dramatically in the last 50 years; we now travel the world by air, road and sea. There are many differences between the way we travelled in the past and the way we travel now.

Flying was a luxury, saved for only the richest most important people. It was a classy event that people dressed up for, there was no Airport Parking or shuttle buses, nor was there hundreds of daily flights, there may have been one or two daily.

Heathrow Airport Parkingwas only open grassland andLeeds Bradford Airport Parkingwas non-existent, as was the airport. A flight was almost as anticipated as the actual holiday or business trip (this certainly is not the case now) very rarely was there children on board, and an Airline hostess was a coveted position.

The same goes for cars, now there are so many styles and brands on the road it is hard to know which one to buy. When once it was only a select few, and again these cars were only driven by the wealthiest families, and a car ride was a special trip. The glory days of cars long gone, we all dread the thought of a long tiring road trip, even though we now have CD players and air conditioning!

Trains were actually used much more frequently than they are today, this was the main way to travel long distances. While now we have the tube, subway and freeway (and still cannot seem to arrive fast enough) a train was comfortable and easy, you could have lunch or dinner, and it was also possible to get a sleeping car, in order to get a good night’s sleep. Ahhh… the days of old!

Travelling has seen such major growth it is impossible to set the clock back in time (and would you want to) We can now see the beauty of the world like never before, we can taste other cultures as if they are our own and change our destiny with a simple flight. But the next time you are standing inGatwick Airport Parking think about how only a short while ago there was a farm field and a farmer working the very land on which you stand!

Mexico provides the ultimate in adrenaline-racing holidays with unrivalled watersports opportunities. From bobbing around on a banana-boat as a break from sunbathing on the golden beaches, to exploring some of the world’s deepest underwater caves and making friends with new marine life, there is a watersport in Mexico to entice any kind of holiday maker. Possibly our favourite watersport is to just cruise around the coast on the back of a jet-ski. But we’ve picked out a selection of other Mexico Watersport Holiday essentials.

Scuba Diving
Mexico is an international Holy Grail for divers and is unique in that even the wonders of coral reefs in Cozumel are accessible to all, thanks to tropical waters and excellent training schools. While experienced divers will enjoy the challenges of the Cenote caves, diving becomes fun for all the family in Cancun. For those who prefer to experience being underwater without the complexities of an oxygen pack, snorkelling is also a fantastic way to enjoy Mexico’s blue waters.

Surfing
Much like scuba diving, Mexico is a haven for experienced surfers – where unspoilt waves and quiet beaches will reward highly. However, surfing is still a great option for the less experienced or first-time wave riders and Mexico has great surf down the length of its Pacific coast, including Baja California, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Acapulco and Pueto Escondido, which are all notable surfing beaches.

Kayaking and Rafting
This is a great option if you want to get wet and wild away from the coastline, although sea rafting is also an option in Mexico in places like La paz, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun and Acapulco. Those with a real taste of adventure and who are looking for a more exciting way to enjoy Mexico’s scenery will want to head to Veracruz, where they can follow the rivers flowing down from the mountains. Trips often start from the town of Jalcomulco, although rafting in the Chiapas lets you go through the Lacandona Jungle.

Speedboat Trips
Another great way to enjoy the Jungle is with a speedboat tour – which you can even man yourself if you wish! Enjoy the beauty of the Nichupte Lagoon and travel through mangroves until you reach the Pacific Ocean – where there’s even time to hop out of your boat for some snorkelling amongst the world’s second largest coral reef. This is the perfect activity for couples or families on a holiday in Mexico.

Parasailing
Not technically one of the wettest of watersports available in Mexico, but certainly one of the wildest! Those with a fear of heights may not be the greatest fans of parasailing, but it offers a holiday experience to remember for a lifetime as you admire birds-eye views over fantastic Mexican scenery from the safety of a harness and a parachute as you are pulled through the air by a speedboat.

Similar to Parasailing, we recommend trying the trickier art of Water-skiing. Hold tight to the ropes as you are jetted along the coast armed with only a pair of skis! Whether you can master this or not, you’ll have an amazing time trying.

If you’re a total water baby, then Mexico’s 6000 miles of gorgeous coastline, spanning the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, will be a complete dream. You’ll be surrounded by azure blue waters, the coral reefs and caves which lie beneath them, just waiting to be explored. Enjoy!

For those planning that longed for ‘trip of a lifetime’, one of Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines’ ‘Grand Voyages’ could well be the ideal solution.

Fred. Olsen has just released details of two Grand Voyages planned for 2013, and both trips look to be epic in duration and itinerary. Balmoral sails on 5 January 2013 and Black Watch follows a few days later on 10 January 2013. Both ships will be sailing directly from Southampton – a great way to start as it alleviates any worries about flight delays or luggage allowances.

Balmoral’s voyage will be 112 nights’ duration, and highlights include transits of both the Suez and Panama Canals, and a cruise traversing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Encompassing a wealth of different land and sea-scapes, the elegant vessel will work her way round the world, visiting key ports such as Acapulco (Mexico), Papeete (Tahiti), Sydney and Brisbane (Australia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Muscat (Oman), Aqaba (Jordan) and Alexandria (Egypt).

Black Watch’s journey will be 80 nights in duration, and is a first in terms of itinerary for Fred.Olsen, exploring some really fascinating locations around the Indian Ocean. One of the highlights will be a rounding of the legendary Cape of Good Hope.

Black Watch’s route takes in the exotic locations of Mauritius and the Maldives, en route to India. The cruise then travels to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt, with a transit of the Suez Canal, returning via Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, and Libya. Key ports of call include Banjul (The Gambia), Walvis Bay (Namibia), Cape Town (South Africa), Port Louis (Mauritius), Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat (Oman), Alexandria (Egypt), Piraeus, for Athens (Greece) and Valletta (Malta).

Fred.Olsen have factored in some overnight stays in some ports, to allow guests to experience the night-time ambience of cities such as Cape Town and Dubai.

Such comprehensive world cruise itineraries are bound to be the focus of conversation for a long time to come once intrepid travellers return home. Anyone who doesn’t want to alienate the neighbours should heed some advice, however: don’t try to show friends and loved ones your holiday snaps all in one sitting!

I was recently asked to review HotelCalculator.com, a hotel comparison site that crawls all of the engines and delivers results.

Like many of the meta travel sites out there, users begin by putting their  travel dates in and comparing the options returned.  Upon choosing a hotel, users are sent directly from HotelCalculator.com to book the hotel at the hotel booking sites.

Comparing To Other Travel Search Engines
How does Hotel Calculator differ from the other sites out there?  First of all, they compare more than twenty hotel search engines.  That’s quite a few, and more than many meta travel sites.

Hotel Calculator has several ways to list results, including by price, star rating, distance, and popularity.  The popularity option is nice – rather than a biased “our personal picks” selection, like you see on other sites, it allows you to see just what other customers tend to book.  Additionally, it’s nice to have an easy currency changer at the top, allowing you to see the prices in several different currencies.

Hostels, apartments and B&Bs are all included as well as hotels and motels, and it’s easy to separate them by type or look at the complete list as a whole.  Beyond that, you can sort by amenities, including swimming pool, elevator, internet access (albeit not differentiating between paid and free internet, or WiFi accessibility), and accessibility for the disabled.

As far as the site design goes, it’s clean, basic, uncluttered, and very intuitive.  It’s hard to imagine anyone getting confused while using the site!

Hotel Calculator has also developed an iPhone app.  Integrating with the GPS feature on the iPhone or iPod touch, it’s a convenient way to find hotels nearest you.  I imagine this would be most useful when you’re in need of emergency accommodation.

Overall
Like most of the hotel comparison sites out there, Hotel Calculator works primarily with major hotels wired for the web.  If you’re looking for a tiny, family-owned guesthouse in a tiny, somewhat obscure beach town in Thailand, Hotel Calculator may not be the best choice for you.

However, if you’re looking for mainstream hotel accommodation in reasonably known destinations, Hotel Calculator is excellent.  According to the site, the most popular destinations are European cities.

I could absolutely see myself using Hotel Calculator any time I need accommodation.  Even if I already know which hotel I want to stay at, it would be an ideal place to make sure I’m paying the lowest price possible.

When planning a trip, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of travel and the prospects of all you will see and do in a new or exotic location. Without putting a dampener on your excitement, there are also a number of practical considerations and preparations that need to be made before you set off on an overseas adventure.

If you’re about to adopt the title of ‘world traveller’ and be whisked away to your destination on cheap international flights, then here are a few things to consider before your journey begins:

-        Visas. Before you travel to another country, it’s vital that you find out whether or not you require a visa to enter. Whether or not you need a visa when entering a country will depend on your nationality, so make sure you do your research. For some countries (e.g. USA) visas will need to be arranged prior to arrival. For others (e.g. Cambodia) they can be acquired on arrival. There is usually a cost involved in visas, so make sure you factor in the cost of any visa you will need into your travel budget. Check out the Australian government’s website for detailed visa information for Australians travelling overseas.

-        Immunisations. Whether or not you need extra immunisations before you depart on your holiday will depend largely on where you are going. Some countries (those in Africa, mainly) may require travellers to be vaccinated for diseases such as yellow fever. Others will suggest that certain vaccinations are given before travel. Your travel doctor will be able to advise on what immunisations and vaccinations are necessary/advised prior to your departure. Travellers should also check whether they will need protection against malaria (in the form of tablets) while travelling.

-        Money. Before you travel, it is important to consider how you will manage your money while you are away. Make sure you find out what currency is used, and whether you will be able to access the local currency from ATMs using your card. Other forms of money to consider are travellers checks and credit cards. Travel cards that you can load with money and use internationally, usually for a nominal fee, can also be useful.

-        Accommodation. The type of accommodation you stay in while away will have a significant impact on the type of holiday you have – and the budget you will need. A backpacking holiday on which you stay in hostels will be significantly different to a trip in which you stay in hotels or more upmarket accommodation. What type of holiday experience are you looking for?

-        Insurance. Should some bad luck befall you while you are away – whether you get sick, lose something important or have an accident – in most cases travel insurance will cover the expenses involved with the mishap. For a minimal cost, you can insure yourself in the event of expensive foreign medical bills or the cost of replacing important property such as cameras or luggage. And, if you pluck up the courage to try bungy jumping, sky diving or any other adventure sports, you can also insure yourself against any accidents.

Taking these things into consideration before you embark on your travels will help you be prepared and avoid any unforseen issues that may arise while overseas. Being a prepared traveller is being a smart traveller!

There are many places which we can go to experience wildlife within our own country. We can go to zoos, nature reserves, animal sanctuaries and farms amongst others. There are very few places, however, where we can experience wildlife in its own environment. It is for this reason that many people choose to travel in order to experience some of the world’s most amazing creatures first hand in its natural environment. Below are some of the best places to travel to in order to experience wildlife in its purest form:

Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a diverse and magnificent range of wildlife. It is renowned worldwide for its conservation efforts, which include a number of national parks allowing animals to live in their natural habitat. The national parks make for an educational and life changing experience as you will be able to experience an environment which is largely untouched by man. Amongst the wildlife at these natural parks you will find monkeys, crocodiles, jaguars and exotic birds amongst others. The majority of accommodation is built with eco tourism in mind.

South American Rainforest
Widely considered to be home to the largest number of species around the world, the South American rainforest is a magnificent environment which, despite increasing human destruction, still expands over vast areas and provides a home to some of the most amazing wildlife in the world. If you are concerned that you do not want to contribute to the human influence on the forest, there are a number of companies who offer eco friendly trips.

Everglades
Located in southern USA, the Everglades is the ideal place to view wildlife in its own habitat whilst remaining in close proximity to the western world. Amongst the huge range of wildlife to inhabit the everglades include reptiles such as alligators, crocodiles, snakes, turtles and moccasin. The mammals include otters, raccoons and panthers. The birdlife alone is well worth the trip to the everglades, which includes the famous bald eagle together with a range of other rare birds of prey.

Guest post by James who works in the Travel industry and offers Rome apartments and Rome Italy accommodation for European traveller

Fanfaring the launch of their newest superliner ‘Allure of the Seas’ this month, Miami-based Royal Caribbean International and their associated brands continue to go from strength to strength.

Now one of the worlds’ most exciting and innovative ‘American-style’ cruise lines, the company was originally established in 1968 from the amalgamation of three Norwegian cruise lines. Their first ship ‘Song of Norway’ entered service in 1970, with three other ships being added to the fleet over the next twelve years.

In 1986, Royal Caribbean took a private lease on the paradise peninsula resort of Labadee, part of Haiti on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Attractions on offer here exclusively to Royal Caribbean cruise guests include water sports, local crafts and of course, beautiful beaches. The cruise line continues to invest in the resort, with the recent addition of facilities to facilitate visits by their largest ships.

The cruise line first ventured into European waters in 1990, with their ship ‘Sun Viking’, with cruises to Scandinavia and Russia incorporated into the itinerary. By 1993 the company had gone public on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 1997 the company changed its name to the one it is still known by today, Royal Caribbean International (RCI), and in the same year merged with Celebrity cruises, a Greek cruise line, which it marketed as a separate brand. In 1991, Royal Caribbean commenced the practice of branding all their ships with the ending ‘of the Seas’, and the same year saw RCI founding the luxury cruise brand ‘Azamara Cruises’.

Royal Caribbean International certainly know how to pack the fun factor into their ships, targeting thrill seekers with such spectacular attractions as ‘flowrider’ simulated surf-park, rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. With adventure water parks (H20 zones) and kids clubs guaranteed to appeal to young cruisers, luxuries with adult appeal include cantilevered whirlpools, solariums and spas, miniature golf courses and specialist dining.
New ship ‘Allure’ goes bigger and even better in the excitement stakes, featuring two ‘flowriders’, an Aqua Theatre and an incredible ‘zip line’ aerial runway suspended high above the central promenade.

Now responsible for almost a quarter share of the world’s cruise market, and with 42 ships across five brands, Royal Caribbean International goes from strength to strength.

While hundreds of travelers take Viking’s Yangtze River Cruises every year, many do not spend additional time in this fascinating part of the world. But, why not? Most travel experts believe that the coming years will bring more travel opportunities for those looking to explore Asia. And while you may think you already know all about some of these destinations, think again because they probably have little-known wonders just waiting to be discovered. Here are some destinations that should be included in your must-see list.

China
A recent survey said China will edge out Spain for the third most popular global travel destination by 2020; putting it only behind the U.S. and France. If you’ve already experienced the hustle and bustle of China, maybe take a step back and get a larger view of all the activity. You can take a cable car to White Cloud Mountain for a bird’s-eye view of Guangzhou, or a walk on the Bund to admire the Shanghai skyline.

Vietnam
For global travelers, Vietnam has emerged as a travel hot spot. With dozens of bars and clubs on Pham Ngu Lao Street and late night shopping at the Night Market, the night life in Ho Chi Minh City can bring out the night owl in even the earliest of birds. And for the slightly more adventurous traveler, the coolest hangout along the backpacker belt in Asia is central Vietnam’s Hoi An. Located just down the coast from Danang, Hoi An is close to spectacular beaches and some of the finest ruins in Asia, including the Champa ruins at My Son, the largest surviving remnants of Vietnam’s Champa kingdom (dating back to the 4th century).

Burma
Officially called Myanmar, this off-the beaten-path destination has been on many travelers’ wish lists for years, but some have avoided the destination for political reasons. Until now. The country’s leader recently dropped her calls for a tourism boycott and is encouraging visits from Westerners. The former capital, Yangon, boasts the Strand Hotel, the former haunt of Somerset Maugham and is also the home of astonishing gold-leafed pagodas. The pristine beaches along the Bay of Bengal are breathtaking and, if you’re lucky, you might get a glimpse of the Irrawaddy River’s endangered dolphins while sailing to Mandalay.

The Maldives
The Maldives offers the closest thing to paradise in the tropics. Visitors to the Maldives enjoy sun, bountiful sea life and impeccable service. This extraordinary country is located in the Indian Ocean and is an archipelago made up of thousands of tiny islands surrounded by a warm turquoise blue sea. A holiday in the Maldives can be a Robinson Crusoe-type experience, but with all the amenities and comforts. It’s also a paradise for divers and snorkelers. In fact, it is nearly impossible to view so much stunning sea life anywhere else in the world…and it water no deeper than your knee.

Some destinations around the world are perennial favorites. Other more remote places are visited by only a handful of the most intrepid globetrotters. But a critical part of the travel business depends on the places in between. The spots that have the potential to draw travelers but have yet to be developed specifically for vacationers are the travel “hot spots” of the future. These reasons and many more, make each one of these Asian destinations an up-and-coming travel hot spot.

Without a doubt, the best hiking spots in Asia will be in northern India, Nepal, Tibet and southern China, located around the tallest mountains in the world, the Himalayas. But that’s definitely not all that is available, because some of these hikes are legendary in their difficulty, not to mention that unpredictable weather conditions can sometimes cause fatalities in the mountains.

That said, this article will cover hikes of all three levels of difficulty – beginner’s, intermediate and extreme.

Nepal
Everest Base Camp hikes are available in Nepal and are probably one of the most difficult in the world. They require a very good level of fitness and especially no respiratory problems as the air is so sparse so high up. You will most likely have a local guide called a sherpa to help you up the mountain and your belongings may or may not be carried by mules.

India
The Indian himalayas offer less touristy and more out of the way hikes. India is also generally more politically stable than Nepal so this could also be an advantage for a tourist who really just wants to enjoy themselves.

Tibet
Hiking in the Tibetan Himalayas is also a very challenging, but extremely rewarding activity. The views are just as stunning as the ones in Nepal and India, however you will find many Buddhist temples perched precariously high up on cliff faces and steep trails. The hikes here are generally very difficult as well.

Japan
No Asian hiking trip could ever be complete without mentioning Mt Fuji, Japan’s iconic volcano. Hikes up here aren’t too difficult and provide stunning views of a lot of Japan on clear days. Standing on the lip of a volcano is also an experience you are unlikely to ever forget in your life.

First off, the reason why you’d want to know what the top travel blogs are is simply that you always have access to the best information available when you do want to go on your vacation. The most important thing about a travel blog and choosing the best ones to bookmark is that the information is up to date and precise. This means that the people who are writing the blogs need to be experienced travelers and preferably the type of writers who write about places they’ve been to recently.

You can tell the quality of a travel blog in a number of ways, but the first thing you should do is install Google toolbar which will tell you the page ranking of a page. If it’s a very high rank then you can start to assume that the information is very good.

Another way you can tell is if the blog is a prestigious one that is associated with the best travel magazines. It can either be a blog that is written by people who write for the magazine or the personal blog of a writer. You can generally tell by the quality of writing and the level of research. A good blog writer will also entertain you as well as providing useful information. Their articles may make you laugh and they may also wow you with a lot of details.

The best litmus test to determine whether a travel blog is really the top one is to read their articles on the places where you live or the places that you’ve been to. Do they mention the local cheap restaurants that are hidden in small streets away from tourist thoroughfares? Do they mention the best bars and cafes?

These are just some of the ways you can tell what the top travel blogs are.