Whatever corner of the planet you’ll be coming from, packing your things and travelling miles and miles to take a trip to one of the richest countries in the world would all be worth your time, energy and money.

The landscape of Switzerland is breathtakingly-awesome. Many would agree that every inch of this country is visually wonderful. The view of the sunset alone in the Swiss Alps will make you stay longer. An ideal base for a tour would be Interlaken (itself, a well-known tourist destination) since it’s situated in the central part of Switzerland. From there you could begin exploring this country in Western Europe. Of course, you may opt for Zurich, a pride of Switzerland since it’s regarded as the cleanest city in the world.

Teeming with only about 7.5 million, Switzerland is a peace-loving country who don’t take sides on a war (and the country has been doing that since 1815), and is home to known international organizations such as The World Trade Organization (WTO) and, who will fail to recognize, The Red Cross.
It’s noteworthy to tell also that the Swiss people are very accommodating to strangers. Don’t worry if the language that you speak unfortunately does not belong in their four national languages (Italian, German, French and Romansh). They will still exert effort to be of assistance to you. Talk about being a tourist-friendly nation!

Now, what might be the things that you should do to experience the beauty and splendor of Switzerland?

For those who are raring to wear their rubber shoes and put their feet on some energizing adventure and show off the sports enthusiast that they are, scenic Switzerland will not disappoint you. Go rock and mountain climbing at Pennine Alps and Benine Alps and at the country’s most famous mountain, Matterhorn. Try canoeing, river rafting and water sailing at Lake Geneva, Lake Constance or at the Rhone River (you may just swim on their waters!). Experience water rappelling or simply take a dip at Lauterbrunnen Valley where you could chose from its 72 (yes, that many) waterfalls. And if you happen to arrive during its winter season, then ski at Arosa or in Geneva. Since that the country is mountainous and has many valleys and terrains that provide a panoramic view of the countryside, you might as well go hiking and prepare to meet and mingle with Swiss locals since hiking is one activity that they are really passionate about.

If tired of walking and running and hopping from one vehicle to another, then why don’t you rent a bicycle and go cycling? Most railway stations have bicycle stations where you can hire one for a small fee.

After all the sightseeing and adventure, what else is there to do but to shop for souvenirs like the popular Swiss army knife and cow’s bells that will be nice and unique as home décor and the famous Swiss cheese and chocolates. Who does not want to bring home one?

Happy trip!

Anyone who visited India said he didn’t miss the world famous landmark. And the traveler, the wise traveler who visited India said he, after seeing the renowned, white mausoleum, headed to Kerala afterwards. Well, who doesn’t want to set a foot in God’s own country, anyway?

One of India’s current prides is the state of Kerala, which is almost as big as the Netherlands, located on its southwestern part. With its sheer pristine beauty, Kerala, from being one unknown spot in the world, has become India’s most popular niche holiday destinations and one of the fast-rising destinations in the world. The 8.5 million tourists who went there in 2006 alone will be more than willing to attest how beautiful the place is and affirm that is indeed, God’s own Country.

It’s Dr. Vipin Gopal, a community activist and inventor and a certified Kerala resident himself, who thought of the slogan, Kerala—God’s Own Country way, way back in 1993. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation has since used the tagline—nothing perhaps can be more appropriate—in its quest to promote the place to Indians and foreigners alike.

With the splendor of its geographical features combined with the uniqueness and vividness of Indian culture plus commendable tourism infrastructures, Kerala has successfully attracted travelers from the different parts of the globe to try and see for themselves what it has to offer to them. Tourists would definitely agree that Kerala does not disappoint and even highly credible people can support the claim. One of the most highly respected and trusted travel publications in the world, the National Geographic Traveler Magazine hailed Kerala as one of the ten existing paradise here on Earth. Not contented with that, the widely-read magazine even proclaimed to all its readers that Kerala is one of the 50 destinations in the world that they should in their lifetime.

To collectively inform you what’s in store for you in Kerala, well, the place is the land of the Three B’s: Beauty, Beach and Backwaters.

Beauty: scenic landscapes, lush greenery, abundant palm groves and palm-lined shorelines, fertile hill stations and verdant coastal plains, superb waterfalls, attractive paddy fields, interesting temples and churches, exciting wildlife and bird sanctuaries

Beaches: Take a swim in Wayanad in Kuruva Island (find rare species of herbs, orchids, birds and other animals), Kovalam Beach in Trivandrum (one of the finest beaches, expect sparkling, azure water), Shanghumugham Beach also in Trivandrum (perfect for sunset lovers), Thirumullavaram Beach in Kollam (for history buffs since it has an 18th century church and ruins of an old Portuguese fort), Payyambalam Beach in Kannur (great for picnics and ideal for evening rendezvous) and Dolphin’s Point in Kalikut (experience dolphin-watching in the early hours of the morning).

Backwaters: Explore Kerala’s canals, lagoons, rivers and lakes aboard a lovely houseboat. Cruise the water and be enchanted with the unspoiled beauty of the surroundings. Don’t ever miss this houseboat tour.

Go pack your things and visit God’s own country!

Explore America’s wide-range of skiing opportunities as it offers one of the best skiing experiences any ski enthusiasts and tourists can possibly have. Skiers can choose from any ski destinations that are located from the different states particularly in the West Coast area, from California to Alaska. The Lake Tahoe region (which is famous for its blizzards) between California and Nevada is the most popular choice for skiing experience. One can hop from one resort to another as there are a total of nine resorts littered on the different areas near the famous lake, the largest of which is the Heavenly Water Resort in Stateline, Nevada. The next largest is located in Tahoe City, the Squaw Valley and you may take plenty of pictures here since this specific resort was the venue for the 1960 Winter Olympics. The other resorts that are recommendable to try as well is Kirkwood Mountain Resort (it has the biggest volume of snow than any other resorts in Tahoe), Alpine Meadows
(only a few miles off Squaw Valley), Mount Rose Ski Resort (on Slide Mountain, north-east of Lake Tahoe), Diamond Peak (located in Incline Peak, Nevada) and Donner Ski Ranch (on Donner Pass in the northern Sierra Nevada).

Another popular ski destination on the West Coat area is Oregon. There are a dozen ski resorts here namely: Timberline Lodge (the only one of its kind in the whole of North America which is open all months of the year), Mt. Bachelor (one of the largest and a venue for annual international competitions), Hoodoo Ski Area (perfect for night skiing), Mt. Ashland (boasts of an impressive terrain park and 200-acre of skiing where the runs challenge even the experienced skier), Cooper Spur (ideal for first timers and for those who want to improve on their skiing competency as 80% of its terrain is suitable as learning-training environment), Mt. Hood Skibowl (it has 34 lighted runs and is the largest night ski area in America), Spout Springs (has a maximum run length of two miles), Cat Ski Mt. Bailey (its run length reaches up to three miles), Ski Anthony Lakes (compared to any other ski areas in Oregon, this ski haven is renowned for having the highest base elevation—7,100 feet)
, Mt. Hood Meadows (like Spout Springs, it has a maximum run length of three miles and has 2,150 aces of terrain and great for backcountry skiing), Willamette Pass (there are plenty of lodges here so this one’s ideal for those who ski with their family, it has also 29 runs and eight black diamond runs) and Warner Canyon (for those who crave for dry powder snow).
Enjoy the snow!

Now, as you go packing your golf clubs (and please don’t ever forget the sunscreen lotions—you surely want to live long enough to teach your grandchildren your master strokes), think about the following guidelines presented below to assure yourself of an enjoyable, relaxing, hassle-free golf vacation:

• Tag along your golf buddies.

Hey, wouldn’t it be more fun if you are going to invite your buddies to come along and play with you? Going on a vacation all by yourself could be such an utter boredom. Having your friends play with you will definitely make the vacation a lot more worthwhile since you can engage on some friendly competitions with the winner be exempted in paying the hotel bills. It’s a perfect time also to further bond with your buddies after all the time spent working at the office and attending meetings and seminars. Just make the necessary planning and choose a destination that would be agreeable to everybody.

• Think of the golf course first, then the accommodations later.

The reason is simple: if you will first book yourself in a hotel then later you will find out that the nearest golf course is a one-hour drive away, then why undergoes the hassle of traveling that long just to be able to play? Now, if you are going to think first where you are going to play, then it’s quite easy already to find a nice play to stay at. It would be quite well also if the golf course that you are eyeing to play is located in a town or area that has a chain of hotels. That way you don’t need to waste time on travel.

Most high-end golf courses however have their own hotels, and by staying at those hotels you can have free access to their golf courses. In such case, it’s the accommodation that matters most. Nonetheless, your foremost priority here is the golf course. Plan first where will your “playground” be before you consider the hotel that would accommodate you.

• Know the schedule of booking for tee time.

It’s good to check when you can book for tee times so that you could make advance booking prior to your date of arrival. Golf courses have their schedules and rules when it comes to tee times. You and your buddies don’t want to wait forever before you could swing those golf clubs.

Enjoy the rounds with your buddies and give your best swing!

• Trunk Bay Beach, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

An island in the Caribbean Sea, St, John is frequented by tourists from all over the world for its pristine natural beauty and by its highly recommendable beaches, one of which is the Trunk Bay Beach. The respected American luxury travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler has all praises for this beach, and as a matter of fact has proclaimed it to be one of the ten best beaches in the world for numerous times already. Other travel publications couldn’t help but agree and rendered the same compliment and recognition to this beach on the Virgin Islands. Trunk Bay Beach has amenities that will remove the worries of visiting tourists. It has a lifeguard, shower rooms, rest rooms and a snack bar. It also offers snorkeling services since it has an underwater trail for those who want to check out the coral reefs. Underwater photographers—professionals and hobbyists alike may want to include Trunk Bay Beach in their must-see places. Trust the words of the renowned National Geo
graphic Society when it said that Trunk Bay Beach is the most beautiful beach in the world.

• Cancun Beach, Quintana Roo, Mexico

It is reported that a total of four million people visit Cancun every year to swim on its azure waters. Well, that’s a staggering four million reason why you should, too! There more than 100 hotels and 300 restaurants that you and your family or friends could choose from which will fit your budget. Beaches on the northern side are: Playa Tortugas, Playa Linda, Playa Caracol, Playa Langosta, and Playa Las Perlas while on the eastern side: Playa Ballenas, Punta Nizuc, Playa Delfines, Chac Mool, San Miguelito, Gaviota Azul, and Playa Marlin. Most of the beaches have amenities for kayaking, water skiing, parasailing, sail-boarding and pedal biking and for popular beach sports and recreational activities such as badminton, soccer, Frisbee-throwing and of course, volleyball.

• Beaches at St.-Tropez, Southern France

There are at least 40 beautiful beaches in this side of France and among them are Graniers Beach (deemed as the most popular), Plage de Pampellone (a trendy, white sand beach lined with cafés) Bouillabaisse Beach (perfect for families) and Plage de la Moutte (for those who want some real privacy and a quiet beach experience since this one’s isolated).

Call now your favorite travel agent and pack your things! Don’t forget the sunscreen lotion!