My Travelog

Resorts at the Poconos are available for both family and couples only. For romance, there are many resorts that are ready to make your stay a memorable one. Families can put together reunions at one of these family-oriented resorts.

The Poconos resorts history started when Rudolf Von Hoevenberg opened “The Farm on the Hill”, a resort for honeymooners in 1945. Other honeymoon resort owners soon followed and by the 1950’s, resorts in the Poconos became a lucrative business. There are many resorts to choose from that one would have to make their decision carefully to ensure that it caters to the needs of those involved.

Now each year, thousands upon thousands of people visit the Poconos to relax and vacation. Over 200,000 of them are honeymooners to the spot that was once dubbed “The Honeymoon Capital of the World.” Visitors can either stay in a time-share, which consists of mountain or lakefront properties or one of the popular hotels or resorts. Costs of the resorts range from $250 to $600 per night. But those who have experienced a Poconos honeymoon will tell you that it is money well spent. You pay for a resort equipped with heart-shaped bathtubs and whirlpools, log fireplace and round, king-sized beds.
These prices are inclusive of two meals, activities and entertainment. The most well known resort is Caesars Pocono Resort.

Poconos Resorts

Operating in the Poconos for many years, the entranceway of Caesars has welcomed thousands of honeymoon couples. This luxurious resort has four levels of pleasure waiting for you and your loved one. They will go all-out to pamper couples: dry sauna, steam shower, massage table with heat lamp, and breakfast in bed. A concierge is also on hand at the resort to give information that will have your vacation run more smoothly. These include transportation and can help with information regarding resort activities.

Major hotels may offer activities such as water-skiing, golf, indoor and outdoor tennis, paddle boating, snow skiing and snowmobiling. You will be able to explore your own activities away from the resort. In the Poconos, there is really never a dull moment. Go sailing, or a walk on one of its beaches. Why not have a romantic occasion in the park or by the lake. Whatever you do, ensure that you get back to your room just in time for nightly entertainment, which some Poconos hotels include as part of your all-inclusive package.  

If you don’t take the proper preparation seriously you could find yourself in some very dangerous circumstances.
Now everybody knows that a Safari could be quite dangerous, but we need to take into account some of the more preparation side of the situation! When you are preparing for your Safari, you will find that even the most simple things can sometimes slip your mind? Although this doesn’t sound very descriptive Safari wear is key, make sure you visit a specialist. If your thinking about taking a load of personal items you will find lugging them around to be very difficult.

What to wear on safari? Although it is sensible to pack light, you need to make sure that you have all the necessary clothing for night time. Days can be hot in many parts of Africa however; the nights can be extremely cool. Make sure you take a mosquito net and some sun lotion, hats will help with the sun as well, along with being a good device to waft away insects!

Popular Safari Destinations, African lion safaris are always popular. This sort of holiday will show you some amazing animals, and with wild animals becoming endangered across the world, people want to see these magnificent creatures more often. Some of the more popular lion safari destinations include the Masai Mara National reserve in Kenya, particularly during the months of the wilder beast migration, you should consider Kenya holidays in the months of July through August. South Africa safari runs through the vast Kruger National Park, Botswana’s magnificent Central Kalahari, Chobe and Linyati parks and Tanzania’s famous reserves, from the Serengeti to Lake Victoria. Tanzania holidays offer some of the best safari holidays around.

Make sure that you stay with your guide, there are many other animals out in the wilderness, including hippo’s lions and buffalo. What is the one things that is different from Africa to anywhere else, it has one of the most endearing landscapes in the world. Photo’s of Africa’s most awe inspiring landscapes and animals will provide you with some great memories and pictures to show friends.Don’t go anywhere without vital ID, you will find yourself in some sticky situations without it.

This part of our guide to holidays in Greece covers the cuisine of the country…

Dining out is common in Greece, and restaurants there (locally referred to as Taverna or Estiatorio) are widespread. Excellent restaurants can be found in even highly touristed areas, particularly areas that are popular with Greek tourists as well. Try eating in the same places that the locals are dining at to ensure a real Greek culinary experience.

The best restaurants offer not just genuine traditional Greek food and regional specialties, but also the country’s latest culinary trends. So travelers can easily savor a wide and tasty range of both traditional and modern Greek cuisine.

The Greek cuisine shares characteristics with the cuisines of Italy, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Typical ingredients being lamb, pork, vegetables, bread, grains, olive oil, olives, and yogurt, with oregano, mint, garlic, onion, dill and bay leaves being common flavorings.

In coastal regions and on the islands, fish is a mainstay of the local cuisine, and it is often caught, cooked and served on the same day. Greece also offers a broad variety of cheeses with distinctive local flavors; the great bulk of these are hand-made on small farms.

Coffee is an important part of Greek culture and you’ll often see the local people drinking it whilst relaxing in the outdoor cafes that frequent the streets. It tends to be thick, strong, black coffee and is served moderately sweet in small cup, with the coffee grounds left in.

Wine and beer drinkers also have plenty of choice. Greek wines come in many styles and are made from both indigenous and imported grape varieties. A lot of restaurants also offer good, locally produced house wine. Local beers include Mythos and Alpha. Northern European brews are also popular, with Heineken and Amstel being the widely available of these.

This part of our guide to holidays in Greece sees us covering the basic information that travellers there need to know…

Greece offers a wide range of experiences, landscapes and activities. It is famous for its natural beauty, historical sites and nightlife, and of course for its reliably sunny summers and the many beautiful beaches on its islands and coastline, which stretches along the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas.

These features attract more than 15 million visitors each year, making this southern European country one of the world’s top 20 tourist destinations. While 90% of its tourists come from other European countries, in recent years there have been growing numbers of visitors from other parts of the world too.

Athens and islands such as Corfu, Crete and Rhodes are the major destinations, but other parts of Greece are also rewarding. Travelers wanting a quieter holiday can escape large-scale tourism in many attractive places.

The vast majority of visitors arrive during tourism season, which is April through October, with the peak of the season being July through to August. Outside of this time, most of the country’s tourist infrastructure goes into hibernation, particularly on the islands.

Athens and Thessaloníki handle the bulk of scheduled international flights. However, during tourism season, several charter and planned low-budget flights arrive daily from many European cities to many of the islands and smaller cities on the mainland.

A valid passport is necessary to enter Greece. Citizens of some non-EU countries may also need to obtain a visa, but citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can stay as long as 90 days without needing a visa.

It’s considered a safe country to visit (in terms of occurrences of theft and violence against visitors) and no immunization vaccinations are required or advised prior to traveling there.

Beijingers take shopping the same way as athletes take their sports, they can’t be more serious. For several hundred years, Beijingers have been coming back to the same street of shops near the famous Beijing Emperor Hotel for items ranging from paintings to daily-use items.

To attest, an old Beijing saying goes somewhat like this: buy shoes at Nei Lian Sheng, hats at Ma Ju Yuan, fabrics at Rui Fu Xiang, and tea at Zhang Yi Yuan, which are all famous brands nestled on the ancient street of Da Zha Lan.

Right near the Forbidden City, it’s very easy to find Da Zha Lan and the shops that have been in business for hundreds of years.

Take a quick stroll from the Beijing Redwall Hotel, past Tian’anmen Square, and you’ll be there in five minutes.

The oldest commercial street in Beijing, Da Zha Lan began to boom in as early as Ming dynasty 600 years ago. The name sounds a somewhat offbeat, meaning ‘big fences’.Nearly 600 years ago, worrying the rampant thefts in Beijing, an emperor ordered fences to be built to prevent the ill phenomenon. Fences put up in Da Zha Lan were taller and more durable than other districts, and thus gave the area its current name.

Today, as it was in the past, the street is packed with teahouses, theatres, tailor shops, silk stores, restaurants, and handicraft shops. They nestled against each other in ancient buildings that immediately bring you to old times!

The Shops

Nei Lian Sheng

The 160-year old shop Nei Lian Sheng not far from the Beijing International Hotel sells handmade cloth shoes. Their shoes are celebrated for the expert craftsmanship and superb re.

In ancient times, officials working in the nearby imperial palace made up of the largest group of customers of Nei Lian Sheng. Not only were the shoes of superior quality, but the name of Nei Lian Sheng spoke a wish for every official: soaring to be the top-ranked officals.

Today, workers apply the same techniques used a hundred years ago to make customized shoes. The late Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping used to be a big lover of Nei Lian Sheng shoes and had many pairs made in the shop.

Ma Ju Yuan

The hat shop Ma Ju Yuan was built in 1817. Originally a small hat stall, the shop came to make the ‘red turf hat’ worn by Qing government officials.

That was probably why old Beijingers took a hat made in Ma Ju Yuan as a showy object.

In the years that followed, the shop saw countless orders for hats from princes, religious figures, and foreign leaders. Even today, many people prefer to have a hat made to order in Ma Ju Yuan.

Rui Fu Xiang

Established in 1891, the shop sells all kinds of top-quality fabric: cotton, silk, woolen cloth, and so on.

The shop supplied the cloth that made China’s very first flag, which was raised in its nation-founding ceremony in 1949.

Tailors of the shop make some of the most gorgeous cheongsams you are likely to find in Beijing. Numerous foreign tourisits had fell in love with their products and ordered one of their own here for a showy display back home.

Zhang Yi Yuan

In 1900, Zhang Yi Yuan came into business. Thereafter the shop has been enjoying a booming business by selling some of the best tea Beijing has to offer. Every year, they buy tea directly from plantations. Thus they are able to offer only the best tea leaves that are grown in a natual enviroment and picked at the right time.

They apply special techniques to process tea leaves, which is sought after by many tea lovers. Their special jasmine tea is now sold at a low price.

Da Guan Cinema

Da Guan Cinema, Beijing’s first cinema, was established in 1905. It is even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its length of continuous operation.

Today, the cinema is pretty much in its original decor, and you can enjoy a film while sipping tea like people did several decades ago. Every day, more visitors come to admire it and step in for a unique experience of watching movies in Beijing’s oldest cinema.