RSSMar|05|2010
Itching To Discover Saigon
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Cities, Destinations, Travelogger
In less than an hour, I shall be on my way to a country that I have never been to before. I have always wanted to visit Vietnam, if only for their food. Friends who have been there have said nothing but nice things as well. And, apparently, this is one place where I can be a millionaire – at least for a day or two. There aren’t many places where the Philippine Peso has a strong purchasing power, and Vietnam is one of them! For a mere PHP10,000, one call himself a Vietnamese millionaire!
So why am I itching to see Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City – HCMC for short – by the way)? As I said, Vietnamese food is to die for. Fresh spring rolls, the famous pho (noodle soup), …
May|25|2009
Destination Norway: Family Fun And More
Posted by Noemi as Cities, Destinations, Europe, Family
When I have free time, I like to go on trips. Obviously, I cannot go on as many trips as I would want to so in between them, I do a lot of reading (and watching) in order to get ideas for possible destinations. Recently, I discovered a section in The Independent where they feature various destinations, and I liked what I read about Norway.
Dubbed as the most family-friendly destination in the world, Oslo is Norway’s capital. Siobhan Mulholland, the travel writer, states that she has strong reason to believe that the city just might live up to that tagline. She writes:
Foreign capitals and young children don’t always go together. Schlepping around crowded streets tends to be more a task in herding recalcitrant cats than mutual enjoyment. So to find a city that caters brilliantly for …
Feb|11|2009
Refreshing New Jersey
Posted by Zahir as Adventure, Backpacking & Budget, Cities, Destinations, Family, Food and Drink, Hotels, Luxurious, Romantic, Shopping, Spa, Tips, Travelogger, United States
New Jersey is known to have one of the most culturally diverse population in the whole US. People of different nationalities setting up shop creating a unique mix of food, culture, history and hospitality like a basket of fruits that all taste good. From the wonderfully relaxing beaches to the many leisure activities that can be enjoyed day and night comes the time when you need a bit of rest form all the exciting offerings the state has to offer.
from the Sea Isles to the other wonderful beaches many hotels and local inns abound to give tired souls a place to relax and recharge for another days adventure. Some of the best Jersey Shore hotels can be found near the wonderful beaches making it ideal for beach lovers and their families to have a relaxing …
Feb|05|2009
All Bundled up along The Shore
Posted by Zahir as Adventure, Americas, Cities, Destinations, Family, Features, Shopping, Travelogger, United States
New Jersey is considered to be one of the best vacation spots in the whole US mainly due to its diverse landscape giving you the whole deal in terms of activities to engage in. From skiing in some of the best slopes this side of the US, to lounging around in the perfect sands of some of the best beaches along with everything in between included, you get it all in New Jersey. Do you know that they have some of the best beaches in America along with the states of California and Florida? The Shore as it is called is the coastal area of New Jersey which is the best combination of natural beauty with regards to the surf and beach, to all the amenities of modern life, all in one place on the coast of New …
Feb|04|2009
Florida’s Pride on the Gulf Coast
Posted by Zahir as Americas, Cities, Getaways, Luxurious, News, Resorts, Travelogger, United States, Website
Florida has long been known for it’s perfect tropical weather and breathtaking sunsets. This is why most of the world’s rich and famous prefer the area which is rich in unspoiled beauty along the sea where a beach is sure to be within reach all the time. One of the newest and hottest developments along the Gulf Coast is The Village of South Walton, one of the newest development projects in the whole of Florida. Florida hasn’t seem much development due to the sudden collapse of the sub-prime lending market, whose effects have been attributed to be one of the causes that led to the current recession. This being the case, more and more people are running out of options when it comes to vacation homes upon retirement with some of the best having fallen victim to the …
Aug|04|2008
Pensacola Naval Air Museum
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Cities, Destinations, Education, Family, Historical
I know a lot of people who hate airplanes because they are (maybe secretly) scared of the idea of being locked up in a “death tube.” Then again, there are more people who avoid airplanes (and prefer other modes of transportation) these days for a totally different reason – increasing airfares and additional charges. But of course, there are those people who are quite fascinated with these flying contraptions.
If you are one of them, then you might want to visit the Pensacola Naval Air Museum where rare airplanes which have been restored are on display. I think that this is going to be a big treat for airplane enthusiasts as they feature some planes which have changed the course of history.
MSN Travel writes:
Located at Pensacola Naval Air Station, the museum has:
- A seven-story atrium that …
Jul|28|2008
Bangkok On A Shoestring Budget
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Backpacking & Budget, Cities, Destinations, Tips
A friend of mine is taking her family to Bangkok at the end of this week. As she has never been there (and I have), we had a long discussion on what they could do there without burning too big a hole in their pockets. Here are some things that we talked about.
Accommodations
Bangkok is rife with hotels and hostels for all kinds of budgets. Since we are looking for cheap but decent accommodations, the best place to stay would be around the Khao San area. This road is arguably the best road in the world. Though some may think that it is not the perfect place for families, I think that during the day, the road is just fine for kids. There is also a proliferation of cheap accommodation around the area. Another …
May|31|2008
Update on the Singapore F1 Night Race
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Asia, Cities, Destinations, Festivals, Historical, Travelogger
The date of the race is fast approaching and even if it is still several months away, it seems that anyone planning on going to Singapore that weekend should be prepared to pay a hefty price. I did not buy tickets – for the plane, hotel, and race – last month when I first posted an entry on the night race because I was not sure if my finances could handle it. Now that September is looming nearer, I decided to check out the prices yet again to see if something could be done.
I shouldn’t have been surprised, really. As with any other event, the closer it gets to that event, the more expensive and difficult it is going to be. I tried looking at various online hotel booking sites and found very few available …
Apr|30|2008
More Ways To Discover Nearby Cities On A Budget
Posted by Noemi as Cities, Destinations, Tips
In the last post, I suggested either walking tours or bus tours as great ways to discover cities. They are not only cheap but they can also add a different flavor to your trip.
Another way to discover hidden sights and treasures in the city of your destination is to make full use of your concierge – or the people at the front desk. The chances are that these people will know the city by heart. They will also be used to dealing with people and ideally, they will be more than helpful to help you have a wonderful time in their city. Of course, discretion is required as you never know, some hotel staff may try to promote certain places and activities because they have a cut off the whole deal.
Do you like shopping for souvenirs? …
Apr|27|2008
Discover Nearby Cities On A Budget
Posted by Noemi as Cities, Destinations, Family, Tips
We’ve said it time and again – going on vacation does not have to be expensive, even for the whole family. One of the things that you can do on a tight budget is to visit a nearby city and discover it for yourselves. I bet that if you took a look at the map, you would see a lot of cities within a couple of hours’ drive from where you live. More so, you probably have not really explored each and every one of them.
So why not consider visiting a nearby city sometime soon and consider that a short vacation for the family? Here are some things you can do if you do decide to go on a city adventure.
Bus tours
Many cities offer bus tours in order for visitors to get a general feel …
