Santorini is the last of the Cyclades islands to the South. The closests islands are Ios, Folegandros, Sikinos to the North, Anafi and Amorgos to the East and Crete to the South.

We refer to it as one, but actually it is a complex of five islands. Santorini (Thira) is the main island and around it Thirasia and Aspronisi (parts of the ancient Stroggili) and the two volcanic islands Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.

It was one island named Stroggili (circle in Greek) until about 1645 BC, when the volcano in the middle of the island erupted and Caldera was created. The two volcanic islands appeared much later from various eruptions starting from 157 BC until the last one in the 20th century (1950).

Many reasons made this island famous worldwide and more or less we all have seen a picture of it (it was that picture the travel agency used for Greece). There is a talk about the connection between Thira and mythical Atlantis. Also Jules Verne made Santorini famous with its books “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and “The mysterious island” where captain Nemo and his crew watch the volcano eruption. He was one of the visitors and scientists that came to Thira during the eruptions of 1866 – 1870 and wrote the well known book just after it. It is realy the mysterious island, the volcano rules, the caldera view is the most breathtaking one on the planet!

Santorini is connected to Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, Kos and all the major Cyclades islands (Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Sifnos, Milos, Tinos, Syros) by boat and Athens and many countries direct by plane.

The crescent shaped island of Santorini was born in the Bronze Age from the powerful blow of nature. The famous Santorini Island is a renowned vacation place with cluster of volcanic islands. As far as viewing the sun set is concerned Santorini is the one of the most prominent places in the earth that leaves an unforgettable and unique impression upon the visitors. The Island is surrounded by Small towns and villages. Most of the buildings are colored with dazzling white and the color of doors, windows and church domes are blue.

In Santorini you will find the frequently stepped and snaky narrow streets. The economy of Santorini Island is greatly depending upon the Tourism, Wine, tomato export, nuts export and volcanic soil delivery of to the cement industry. Santorini is a must see Island varied in size and characteristics, the ruinations, amazing landscape, beautiful beaches, white Villages, the spectacular sunset and the cliffs of the volcanoes are must to attract visitors from all over the world. This Island is also regarded as Thira. No needs to be worried about the accommodation, as all fascilities are available for you in budget. For your easy accommodation there are luxury hotels, resorts, apartments and villas. Beautiful and popular beaches of Santorini Greece: The beaches of Santorini beautify this island greatly. To take the charm of beaches during your staying in Santorini, You should know few of the very popular and magnificent beaches in Santorini Island as follows:

Kamari Santorini black beach: This beach is one of the most popular, crowded and highly developed beaches situated 10 kilometers south east of Fira. It is a long, impressive and stretches up more than five kilometers with black sandy beach and crystal clear ocean water. The black beach of kamari is well organized to allure international visitors with all kind of modern facilities such as various types of water sports, sun chairs and umbrellas. You will also find a large number of taverns, cafes, hotels, rooms, restaurants and bars along the beach.

Perissa Santorini black Beach: The Perissa black beach resort is located at the 15 kilometers south east of the Fira with crowded tourist and long black sandy beach. The beach is extended for 7 kilometers. The significant of perissa is that it is protected from the summer Aegean winds. Perissa is very different from other villages, which built with the soul purpose to welcome the tourists. It also offers accommodation facilities, sea sports facilities, fine dining at the sea front taverns and bars. It is well connected with the rest of the Island via public buses. Access to this beach is possible by public buses, by foot, by rent cars or private cars and motor bikes Akrotiri Red Beach in Santorini: The Red Beach is one of the most popular and exquisite of the beaches in Santorini which is situated near the ancient site Akrotiri. It is famed as red beach because of the impressive red lava cliffs and the sparkling red sands. You can find foods and drinks at near by hotel. This place is accessible by cars and then by walk.

Monolithos beach: This beach is situated at the eastern part of the island and close to the Kamari black beach with dark sand and deep blue crystal clear water. It is very quite and offers a very few hotels and rooms, cafes and restaurants. The Monolithos beach is very beautiful with children play area, basket ball court and footballs pitch. This place is better accessible by cars and public buses run frequently in summer.

Santorini is connected to Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, Kos and all the major Cyclades islands (Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Sifnos, Milos, Tinos, Syros) by boat and Athens and many countries direct by plane. Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. Its spectacular physical beauty, along with a dynamic nightlife, have made the island one of Europe’s tourist hotspots

Venice is built on one hundred and seventeen small islands, and holds one hundred and fifty canals, connected by an amazing four hundred and nine bridges, of which only three cross the main canal. The area it covers is a mere 284 miles (458 kilometres). Although the city appears small, it is really quite extensive for its size with a fair number of Venice restaurants and Venice hotels (off peak) to choose from. While most tour guides don’t recommend getting lost in the majority of cities during your Venice vacation, Venice is the place to get hopelessly lost for a day. However, Venice isn’t all cities and crowded streets. Through the mysterious alleyways leading off from the city, endless mazes of backstreets and deserted squares, on your Venice trip, you’ll find that this city is a perfect place to walk for hours on end, pretending to know where you are.

The unique Venice activities you’ll discover during a walk around town are plentiful. The now-famous watery villages on rafts of wooden posts driven into the soil, laid the foundations for the floating palaces of today.

The best way to explore the city during your Venice vacation is by foot and the second best way is also by foot. Besides giving you the opportunity to roam the narrow streets and the piazzas, it is the quickest way too: you can walk across the city in one hour. Sometimes it might be quicker to take a shortcut across the water instead of following the bends of the bridges and alleys.

If you feel like doing the canals the touristy way, you can hire a gondola for 50 minutes for the price of €60 ($94US). Prices go up after sunset and make sure you confirm the price before sitting back and watching the gondoliere do all the work for you. A little bargaining might help.

The Vaporetto (water bus) is most amazing method of getting around during your Venice trip; you won’t find too many public transport routes as unforgettable as vaporetto. No 1′s trip along the Grand Canal. Get yourself a travel pass to ride the elusive vaporetto – single tickets don’t come cheap, and are less economical if you plan to spend days travelling Venice and travelling every nook and cranny. The Vaporetto leaves frequently and cover important parts of the city. The tickets, which can be purchased at the landing stages and at shops which show the ACTV sign, costs about € 5 ($7US)(valid for one hour) . If you plan to use the “vaporetto” more often, it might be an idea to buy a 24-hour ticket € 10,50 ($16US) or a three-day pass € 22 ($34US).

While the classic gondola ride with the opera-warbling operator is pretty touristy and expensive, the traghetto is a commuter gondola that crosses the Grand Canal at strategic points. It is the cheapest way to get into a gondola (40 cents only!).  It’s quite a balance test for newbies, as you have to stand. The tragehetto is marked with a green signpost. 

Water taxis (motorboats) are almost as expensive as gondolas, but their pilots don’t wear stripy shirts and bellow out ‘O Sole Mio’.

Regular buses (yes, they do exist) run from one place to another, but it’s probably the least exciting way to get around the city. Obviously, don’t bring the rental car to Venice – you’ll just be paying to leave it in a car park for the duration, and in a few car parks you’ll find yourself with a large fine afterwards.

Rome is a top travel destination in Italy with many top attractions. Today’s Rome, Roma, is a vibrant and lively city with reminders of its past everywhere. In Rome you will encounter ancient monuments, medieval and Renaissance buildings and fountains, and great museums. Rome is the capital of modern Italy and boasts many fine restaurants and cafes, good nightlife, and lively streets and squares. Although its a huge city, the historic center is fairly compact.

Rome is on the west in Central Italy, not far from the coast. Modern Rome’s main port is Civitavecchia, where cruise ships docks to visit Rome. The best way to arrive in Rome is by train. The main station, Stazione Termini is close to the historic center of Rome. There are several outlying stations, too. You can also arrive by bus near Termini station or in Piazzale Tiburtina in front of the Tiburtina train station. Rome’s airport Fiumicino is a major international airport and visitors from the United States often arrive here. You can take a train into Rome from the airport. You’ll probably want to avoid driving in Rome.

Rome has an extensive bus and metro system (Metripolitana) so you can easily get almost anywhere on public transportation. Be aware of pickpockets when riding in crowded subway cars. There is a good transportation map, Roma that’s worth buying if you plan to use public transportation. Look for it in tourist offices, newspaper stands, or souvenir shops.

There is a tourist office in the train station that can help you find a hotel and gives out maps and information. Most staff at tourist offices speak English. The main office is on Via Parigi near the Piazza della Republica.

During the summer there are music and cultural festivals. The Festa di San Giovanni, June 23-24, is an important festival with dancing, music, and food. Around Christmas, there are nativity scenes in many churches and there are religious festivals and processions during the week before Easter as well. The Spanish steps are a good place to go for the Spring Festival in April.

Be aware of pickpockets especially in the train station, on the metro, and in crowded tourist areas. Pickpockets may be groups of children, people trying to get you to read something, or even a woman carrying a baby in a blanket or shawl. As in all crowded places and big cities, you should always carry your credit cards, money, and passport in a travel pouch under your clothing.

Rome has a Mediterranean climate. It is sometimes unpleasantly hot in the summer. Romans will tell you the best weather is to be had in October. They even have a word, ottobrata, for those bright, sunny, Roman days. April and May, or Late September through October are the best times to visit.

Just walking around in Rome can by entertaining and you will can something interesting almost anywhere. Here are some of Rome’s top attractions.

·         The Colosseum – Colosseo is the largest monument in existence from Imperial Rome. It is a huge amphitheater that housed the fierce gladiator and wild animal fights. A good approach is along the Via dei Fori Imperiali. Ticket lines may be long.

·         The Roman Forum – Foro Romano is one of the city’s most important archaeological sites. It was the focal point of Republican Rome and has monuments from 900 years of history. You can buy a combination ticket for the Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill.

·         The Pantheon is Italy’s best-preserved ancient building, It started out as a pagan temple and then became a church. There is a nice piazza in front of it that makes a nice place for an evening drink (although pricey).

·         The Capitoline Hill is a great place to get a view of the Roman Forum. The focal point of the hill is the grand Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo. There are two important museums housing an impressive collection of sculptures, paintings, frescoes, and mosaics.

·         Piazza Navona is a lively piazza ringed by upscale cafes. At its center are three lavish fountains.

·         The Villa Borghese houses the Galleria Borghese, a large collection of famous sculptures and paintings.

·         St. Peter’s Basilica – Basilica di San Pietro is the largest Roman Catholic building in the world. It houses important works by Michelangelo and Bernini. Although not really in Rome, Vatican City is a popular destination for travelers in Rome.

·         Vatican Museums – Musei Vaticani, the largest museum complex in the world, house art spanning 3000 years from the Classical and modern world. Here you will find the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s frescoes.

Bali’s varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides provide a picturesque backdrop to the colorful and deeply spiritual culture of this “Island of The Gods.” First discovered by an international community of traveling surfers and hippies, you can party til dawn in the beachside clubs at Kuta and then sleep on the long, wide beach the next day. For a calmer, more spiritual escape, you can check out the temple sites on Bangli, scuba dive in the global center of bio-diversity off the coast of the island, shop in the unique markets, or simply spend your days swaying in a beachside hammock. From outdoor activities to spiritual escapes to beach relaxation, Bali has a lot to offer travelers with a spirit for adventure and a desire to see one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

With a proud Hindu culture, cheap prices, great tourist infrastructure, thousands of bizarre temples, and amazing beaches and food, this little island has a little bit of everything – and then some. Bali is its own Garden of Eden, with thousands of tourists coming to enjoy her beauty and warmth.

Bali‘s beauty is captivating and many a traveler has come away from the island describing the experience as being almost mystical. There are lush forests, fertile rice paddy fields, volcanoes that peak through the clouds and beaches that give way to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

While the island is a paradise, it is not without its hassles. The tourist scene can be overwhelming. There is a never ending stream of backpackers looking for good times and good waves and it is exceedingly easy to get caught up in it all. If you spend all of your time amongst foreign travelers you will only get a glimpse of what makes the island so special.

No matter what your travel style or budget is for your trip to Bali, there are lots of options for travelers to customize their dream vacation. Once you’ve got your ticket booked, you can check out the many accommodation options on the island which you can both read about and book right here on our site and range from luxury resorts, to cheap, backpacker hostels, mid-range hotels, villas and guest houses.

So, you’ve got your ticket in hand, your hotel booked and now you need some ideas on what to do when you arrive in Bali. Want to scuba dive among some of the most impressive sea life in the world? Surf some of the best waves in warm waters? Hang out at the beach?

The Château de Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles, France. In English it is often referred to as the Palace of Versailles. When the château was built, Versailles was a country village, but it is now a suburb of Paris. From 1682, when King Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in 1789′, the Court of Versailles was the center of power in Ancien Régime France.

Versailles is half an hour by rail from the Gare St Lazarre station in Paris. The Palace of Versailles began as a modest hunting lodge. Well, as modest a lodge as one could expect from a French King. Then Louis XIV enlarged and enrobed the old lodge, turning it into the great Chateau we know today. In 1837, Louis-Philippe converted the whole deal to a museum of French History in what may have been the historic starting point for the development of mass tourism.

Versailles is several KM southwest of Paris. Trains reach Versailles in 30-40 minutes. Three rail lines will get you to Versailles from Paris, or you can take the number 171 bus from Pont de Sèvres.

The Palace of Versailles was the official residence of the Kings of France from 1682 until 1790. It was originally a hunting lodge, built in 1624, by Louis XIII. It  was expanded by Louis XIV beginning in 1669. He used it as a little lodge as a secret refuge for his amorous trysts with the lovely Louise de la Valliere and built a fairy tale park around it.  Jules Hardouin Mansart, the king’s principal architect, drew the plans to enlarge what was turning more and more into a palace from A Thousand and One Nights. The terrace that overlooked the gardens was removed to make way for the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, the Galarie de Glaces. It is here from which the king radiated his power and where the destiny of Europe was decided over a century. The French classical architecture was complemented by extensive gardens.

The palace was stripped of most of it’s furnishings during the French Revolution, and Tuileries in Paris became the royal residence. Versailles is now a national museum 

Versailles is an absolutely awesome palace.  It is probably the best in the entire world.  The building is not only massive, but every square foot is beautiful and you can really see the true power of the monarchs at the time                   

 Dubai City is located in the Emirate of Dubai, within The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a wealthy oil producing nation bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman with excellent relations with the west. The mega wired city is the planet’s biggest construction site, yielding the world’s largest per capita concentration of cranes and Caterpillar’s biggest customer. Its landmarks include the Burj Al Arab, the worlds first seven star hotel. Dubai hosts over 50 major projects, all with sub projects that each dwarf almost anything we can conceive: a Manhattan-sized palm tree shaped peninsula visible from space, 300 man made islands in the shape of the Earth, the world’s tallest tower, tallest residential tower, largest airport and a dozen cities within a city, each with tax free treatment, infrastructure and special benefits for international corporations. The desert magnet has attracted Microsoft, Cisco, Sun, Reuters, Virgin Airways, Donald Trump and Martha Stewart. Not just business brings people to Dubai; in a word the place is fun. Supreme restaurants, golf courses, hotels, malls and nightclubs pepper the beachfront skyline.

Dubai’s diversity rivals the zenith of New York’s immigration boom. At the hotel, women in Abayah’s, the traditional head to toe black dress, sit poolside next to bikini clad Europeans. At mega malls, men in traditional robes push strollers carrying babies with Superman caps past trendy students, Asian businessmen and stores that sell everything from Mont Blanc pens to Persian rugs to Chinese pottery and the latest Sony laptops. What Dubai has achieved is a peaceful and universal melting pot of the world- a land where hundreds of dialects are unified by the international languages of business, hospitality and entertainment.

Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, known locally as Sheik Mohammed. Ever since 1776 when we fought King George III for independence. Sheik Mohammed has accomplished enough to not only truly deserve our deepest respect but to ensure his place in world history. Perhaps, even with great natural talent and intelligence, only one born with such opportunity would be able to dream so large. One cannot help but admire Sheik Mohammed when asking “What kind of man looks at a small desert town and decides to create the greatest city on earth? What kind of man looks at the ocean and resolves to create miles of islands in the shape of the earth and palm trees?”

Dubai is truly international, representing over 160 nationalities in all income and job categories. Most noticeable to me is the lack of Americans. Others in town simply lump us together with the British, of which there are plenty. Of the few Americans that are here, most are engineers almost none are tourists. To the American mindset, the Middle East just isn’t a place where one considers a vacation with the family. Even American companies here are typically staffed by Londoners or Middle Easterners.

Dubai is not only a center of a new global economy but also center of the region we understand least. Islam being the primary religion of the UAE and the area causes even further misunderstanding or outright false perceptions. For example, many Americans do not realize that Islam condemns terrorism, many Americans do not know that Arab and Muslim are two different terms with two different meanings. A religion larger than Catholicism has been condemned by many Americans based on the actions of two dozen fanatics. Few realize that there are peaceful nations in the region with standards of living and per capita wealth near our own levels.  Dubai’s safety ranks with Tokyo or London and a good deal safer than Washington D.C. Crime is almost non-existent in this ultra modern city.

One key to the success of Dubai is its strategic location: equidistant between London and Beijing, nearby India and at the center of the Gulf region. Dubai is home to the region’s largest port where reselling goods is surpassed only by oil and tourism in revenue. Dubai is blessed with oil wealth but less of it than some of its neighbors, sparking the desire to work hard to diversify revenue. A singularly focused and pro business government with ample funding and offerings of huge infrastructure and tax benefits combines well with the can-do attitude of the area. “In Dubai, we make things work.” And working it is; the speed of this development has left even some who follow the story in the dust: by the time we speculate if it will work, it already is working. Yesterday’s concepts are up and running today. In half the time we have plodded along with major projects, this city has completed two dozen equal or larger scale undertakings. The world’s skepticism at this nation’s ability to build a world financial and economic center is already obsolete and outpaced by the speed of Dubai.

 A colossal metamorphosis is indeed occurring in the Middle East and here the change is not from bombs or guns but from handshakes and construction crews. A new global economic center has been born. Welcome to the world’s big leagues Dubai, it’s a pleasure to meet you.

Good Paris tours include plenty of monuments, famous museums, and world renowned dinning. The iconic Eiffel Tower tops out at over 1,000 feet, and contains 2 restaurants, a souvenir shop, a post office (for that one of a kind postmark), snack bar, and a viewing area, all within its iron structure. The Panthéon is a monument dedicated to historical personages of France, housing a crypt containing over 70 people, including Votaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas. A popular stop on many Paris tours is Notre Dame cathedral, with its awe inspiring exterior and ornate interior. Pay homage to French author Victor Hugo, and ascend the bell tower for a look at the gargoyles from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Arc de Triomphe is a great stop on Paris vacations. Located on the famed avenue Champs Élysées and centered in the world largest traffic roundabout, the Arc is a simple, yet daunting monument commissioned by Napoleon. The gothic Saint Chapelle, built in the 13th century, has 15 impressive stained glass windows.

Of course Paris France museums are not to be missed. Many Paris vacations start at the world famous Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa, and 35,000 other pieces of art. Connoisseurs could spend several days covering the Louvre. Paris France has an extinsive modern art collection at the Pompidou National Center of Art & Culture. The building was designed with the pipes and duct work on the outside, and the glass escalator running up exterior of the building is an exciting ride. The Musée d’Orsay, in a former railway station, displays French art nouveau, impressionist, and postimpressionist works. The Musée de Cluny, contains works from the middle ages, and a former Roman bath house, dating back to around 200 AD. Those are only a sprinkling of the quality museums visited during Paris vacations.

Other Paris tourist attractions worth checking out are Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise and le Catacombes. The cemetery includes the remains of Chopin, Moliere, Gertrude Stein, Jim Morrison, and the much kissed tomb of Oscar Wilde. For a darker side of Paris, some Paris tours descend Le Catacombes, an underground corridor made up of the stacked bones of millions of Parisians exhumed from their graves to solve a hygiene problem in Paris France in the late 18th century.

For tours in Paris, try a walking tour, focusing on the history, monuments, and museums of Paris. Some are self guided, while others provide guides. The obvious advantage to self guided tours in Paris is that you can move at your own pace. There are several companies that offer this service including Paris Walking Tours, Classic Walks, and French Adventures. There’s also biking tours in Paris which peddle past famous monuments and icons of the city. One could book a tour through a travel agency, before leaving. With enough to see and do for weeks, the heart of France has delights for young and old. Paris is a city with a varied climate that conjures up its own seasonal delights. In summer, when the mercury rises, the locals flock to the highly successful Paris Plage, where a riverside expressway is converted for a month between July and August into an oasis of swimming pools, sand and deckchairs. The best time to visit the city is, of course, during the famous Paris Spring between April and June, when the days are sunny but not too hot. The autumn and winter months are another good time to come when there are fewer crowds and snow is a rarity, but there really is no bad time to visit one of the world’s truly great cities.