Blogging Abroad

It’s a paradise for sports fanatics, foodies, wine snobs, animal lovers and shopaholics. Straddling the curvy, lazy Yarra River, Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city but, some would say, its best. Get lost in its narrow, cobblestone laneways, stumble on a cozy little cafe or bar, take in a major art exhibition or join 100,000 other rabid fans at a footy match. It’s got all the big-city perks, and you can get from the big smoke to the rainforest, wine country or ocean in less than two hours’ drive.
There are many ways to explore Melbourne and if you’re not sure where to begin, read our suggested itineraries in Melbourne. Highlights include:
Day 1: The City & Inner Suburbs. Start your first day in Melbourne at the crack of dawn for a bird’s eye view of the city on a Melbourne hot air balloon ride. Or if heights aren’t your thing (and […]

Original post by ChristineC and software by Elliott

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If you’re planning on bringing the kids to New York, there are plenty of options, including things interesting for the grown-ups as well.
The #1 choice is probably the American Museum of Natural History. From dinosaurs and dodos to live butterflies and the planetarium space show, this museum is good for all ages. The cafeteria in the basement should do you for lunch, and you can expect to spend almost all day here. If you’re coming with more than one child and plan to see the special exhibits and an IMAX show, consider buying a museum membership even for the day because it comes with lots of discounts and lets you skip the entrance line.
Across the street from the Natural History Museum sits Central Park. It’s a great spot to let the kids get their ya-yas out after the museum, with rocks to climb on and much space to run around.
Central […]

Original post by BruceM and software by Elliott Back

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If you’re planning on bringing the kids to New York, there are plenty of options, including things interesting for the grown-ups as well.
The #1 choice is probably the American Museum of Natural History. From dinosaurs and dodos to live butterflies and the planetarium space show, this museum is good for all ages. The cafeteria in the basement should do you for lunch, and you can expect to spend almost all day here. If you’re coming with more than one child and plan to see the special exhibits and an IMAX show, consider buying a museum membership even for the day because it comes with lots of discounts and lets you skip the entrance line.
Across the street from the Natural History Museum sits Central Park. It’s a great spot to let the kids get their ya-yas out after the museum, with rocks to climb on and much space to run around.
Central […]

Original post by BruceM and software by Elliott Back

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Sydney, the Harbour City - sunny, welcoming familiar - and why wouldn’t it be with all those famous icons. The Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, that soaring skyline. Breathtaking views, world-class shopping, cutting-edge dining, and vibrant nightlife - there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Sydney.
If you’re not sure how to spend your time in Sydney, read our Suggested Itineraries in Sydney. Highlights include:
Day 1: The Heart of the City. You can cover much of Sydney’s core, Circular Quay, in a day and you have several options for getting around. It’s eminently walkable, though you may want to let someone else do the work. One of the most popular modes is the Sydney hop-on/hop-off bus tour, which from the open top of a double-decker bus gives you a nice panorama. For a different perspective, try a Sydney cycling tour (those hills should give you a workout) […]

Original post by ChristineC and software by Elliott

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Finland may not be on the travel radar of most Americans or Australians. But it’s definitely on the travel radar of the Brits. According to the Finnish Tourist Board there’s been a 10% jump in international arrivals to Finland, with much of that growth coming from London and the UK. The most popular destinations in Finland? Helsinki, followed by Oulu, Tampere-Pirkkala and Rovaniemi.
Now your travel friends at Viator aren’t going to take all the credit for this jump in international arrivals. But it may not be a total coincidence that Viator recently launched a new destination: Arctic Finland & Lapland. This is in addition to our collection of tours and things to do in Helsinki. So yeah, we’ve seen this whole ‘Finland is getting popular’ bandwagon rolling along for a while now. That’s our job, and we’re happy to be doing it.
So what’s popular in Finland this season? Here’s our […]

Original post by Scott Mc and software by Elliott Back

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After taking my side trip from London to Paris in December, I’ll have to admit that I’m hooked on the idea of extending a vacation with an extra day trip. I’ve paid for the plane ticket, I’ve booked a hotel, and you tell me that I’m only 3 hours from something extraordinary? Sleep is for other people, I’m headed out sightseeing!
Here’s the top seven-day trips on my wishlist pulled from our top tours and day trips in January. And, before you ask it, yes it’s not all one trip (unless someone invents tele-transportation this year).
1. Full Day Tour to Naples and Pompeii. After sifting through the 50+ reviews on this tour, it’s hard not to want to go.
2. England’s Finest: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Georgian Bath. Alas, I missed mystical Stonehenge last time.
3. Blue Mountains Deluxe Eco Day Tour. As, Nicole S. describes in her review […]

Original post by SuzannM and a wordpress plugin by Elliott

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