I went on an amazing international vacation — an African safari to see some of the world’s most prized national wonders: Arusha National Park, Ngorogoro Crater, the Serengeti National Park and Tarangire National Park.
Zebra graze on the hillside at Ngorogoro Crater.
We spent our days cruising in the sun under the popped top of a converted 4×4 Eurovan hunting for sightings of hippo, elephant, gazelle, rhino, giraffe, and lion. We didn’t have to hunt terribly hard.
Melbourne skyline (Courtesy: Tourism Victoria)
By Lena Katz
Melbourne: where leisure is a luxury … for everyone
As a girl who lives on the beach, I’m never head-over-heels to see more white sand. I like cities, especially the ones with character and architecture all their own, which is why I included Melbourne on my Australia vacation itinerary. Though its urban sprawl covers more square acreage than U.S. cities twice as populated — Australians don’t like to live on less than a half-acre — its city center is a colorful labyrinth of laneways sprouting more laneways, where tiny bars are tucked into corners and attics and rooftops.
Federation Square teems with milling tourists and locals hurrying toward the train station across the street. People stroll and bike the banks of the Yarra River whenever the weather permits. Outside the Queen Victoria Market, locals angle for tables two blocks down the sidewalk, chatting and snacking without a care in the world, even at 2 p.m. on a Thursday. For anyone used to the typical 40-means-60-hour U.S. workweek, this spectacle is hard to comprehend. Aren’t these people supposed to be in offices? Maybe we can learn something from them.
By Lena Katz
What changes when you fly across the international date line? Nothing — and everything. That was my takeaway from a recent Australia vacation.
Little Penguins of Phillip Island
The famously nicknamed Land Down Under may be largely unpopulated, but the cities along the coast are packed with amazing (expensive) food, delicious “sticky” wine, laneways and bridges, shops and squares and performing arts. They say you learn something new everyday, but during Australia’s “One Week Walkabouts,” (which are technically 10 days if you give yourself travel and jet lag-recovery time) you’ll have dozens of new experiences each day — if you can handle it. Here are a few of the highlights to inspire you for upcoming holiday breaks.
Penguins!!
One of the most-touristy excursions I took in the state of Victoria was a trip out to Phillip Island to see the nightly “Penguin Parade.”
By Alistar Wearmouth
My wife and I are preparing to pack up our two young kids for a family vacation to Scotland this Christmas, which is where my family lives. Getting on the road is never easy around the holidays, but even less so when you’re facing a long transatlantic flight. Here are some tips for coping with stressful international travel during busy holiday periods.
I traveled to Tanzania after graduating from college to volunteer at Mt. Meru Day Care and the Rift Valley Children’s Village with a close friend of mine. Prior to our trip we mentioned climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, but did not put that on our itinerary until we were living in a town outside of Arusha. The moment we decided to make the trek sticks in my mind like a flash of light: While watching a local soccer game on a late Sunday afternoon in the company of new friends, I saw the clouds quickly roll by and there she was ”like olympus above the Serengeti” as brilliantly described Toto’s 1983 hit song, “Africa.” The moment the summit came into view, we looked at each other and without question or each other’s approval we knew we had to make it to the top.
The four of us reaching Uhuru Peak, the "rooftop of Africa"
We chose a friendly, knowledgeable local guide company and selected our route up Machame, with its disparate pathways it’s also referred to as the “Whiskey Route.” We arrived at the Machame gates to a sea of porters loading the last of each group’s gear, placing the bags on their heads and taking off up the path. Starting up the path, we were quickly taught to go pole-pole (slow in Swahili) to pace and acclimate ourselves. Each day up the mountain the vegetation surprised us with a change: We passed through thick forest, moorland, highland desert and up to the summit with views of glaciers rapidly changing.
For anyone concerned that it’s too much of a challenge, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is not technical and is a very manageable hike. Reaching its summit, however, is a different story. After completing a seven-hour hike (following a decision to do the climb in six days rather than seven) to reach the 15,500-foot-high Barafu Camp, we ate a nice dinner and had our usual warm chai tea before crawling into our sleeping bags to rest our eyes for a brisk three-hour nap. We woke at 11:30 p.m. to start our final ascent to the rooftop of Africa. I donned every article of clothing and gear I had rented from a “storefront” in Moshi, including every pair of socks I had to ensure the two-sizes-too-big rental boots would fit. Fortunately, this all helped brave the quickly dropping temps and strong winds. (more…)
By Emma Simmons
Fes, Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira: It all sounded so exotic that I traveled to Morocco in an attempt to capture everything I had read and heard about over the years. This country that hugs the northwestern coast of Africa offered even more to the naked eye—and to experience it on the ground gave way to more than any magazine story could convey.
I traveled by train and private car (a surprisingly cheap and recommended method of transportation) throughout the country, stopping often to explore and photograph the small towns between the big cities. In the 10 days between leaving my apartment in New York and touching back down on U.S. soil, I roamed many souks (markets) tucked inside each city’s medina (ancient quarter). The souks offered incredible shopping opportunities and even better photographs; the display and color of leather goods and shoes, pyramids of spices in tin cans and beautiful yarn hanging to dry mesmerized me. On a typical day, I would set off with just my camera and get lost in a maze of small shops with Moroccan souvenirs, beautiful fabrics and clothing all for a great bargain.
In addition to being a photographer I am a self-proclaimed foodie and tea connoisseur. In terms of food and drink Morocco did not disappoint and is high on my list in comparison to the culinary experiences on previous travels. Moroccans drink sweetened mint tea poured high from a silver teapot like we drink our grande macchiatos and lattes; there is always an endless supply. The smells that waft through the air in the courtyards of the medinas are intoxicating: a combination of various spices like cinnamon, saffron, ginger and paprika, and meats, including lamb and beef, being seared on the grill. Medinas, such as the Jemaa el Fna in Marrakech, offer hundreds of booths that serve local fare, like couscous, tagine and harira.
Although I cannot share with you the smells and tastes of my adventure, I can show you what I saw and experienced. Below you will find the evidence of my journey—a mélange of people, places, colors and textures that offer a window into the lives of the Moroccan people.
Man taking a break inside a medina in Fes
The fishing village of Essaouira
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by Emma Simmons
In the fall of October 2008, I traveled to Kashmir, India with my photography mentor, John Isaac, to assist a photography workshop through the Maine Media Workshops. Kashmir was a place I wasn’t sure I would be so lucky to experience at my age due to the current turmoil which has happened in the past years. In the past few years John had traveled back and forth roughly fifteen times for his book “The Vale of Kashmir.” It was John’s stories and descriptions of the landscape, both beautiful and serene that inspired me to join him on his next journey.
For photographers like myself, it is hard to describe an experience, a special place, or a culture with only words. Instead, I allow my photographs to speak for themselves. Spending eight nights on a beautiful houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinigar, Kashmir, we spent our days waking up at sunrise to the call of prayer and enjoying a nice cup of Kashmiri tea before venturing around the beautiful country. Whether it was the floating market that was its own little oasis on the Dal Lake at 5am, or driving up into the high mountains and stopping in small rural towns, I was completely taken aback by the sincerity and kindness of the people whom I photographed in their natural surroundings.
Man pulling rootstocks for the floating garden on Dal Lake, Srinigar, Kashmir
Kangan, Kashmir
A family walking through the village of Rezan, Kashmir
School girls in Kashmir
Photo by Richard Curtis
Emma Simmons is the Orbitz Travel Blog’s travel artist of the month. Each week we will feature a series of photographs from her collection. Before we share her amazing photographs, we asked Emma to share a little about herself.
By Emma Simmons
Ever since I can remember, I have had a camera in my hand. What started as a hobby of photographing landscapes, sunsets and the contrast and shadows they cast, has now turned into a career in photography.
The catalyst for pursuing a career in photography was a trip to Tanzania after I graduated from Colorado College in 2006. For three months I volunteered at a day care and orphanage. Throughout this time I realized the extraordinary opportunity I had to see and capture a side of these people’s lives intangible to most tourist and travelers. This is where my camera came in handy. (more…)
Fall is shoulder season, the period between summer and holiday season known for low cost travel and fewer crowds at many vacation hot spots. This year, the Orbitz Insider Index reviewed average hotel costs in 10 popular shoulder season destinations, identifying which give travelers the most value this fall.
Dublin and Bermuda top the list, offering the highest year-over-year percentage savings. But, thrifty travels should set their sights on a fall vacation to Las Vegas, San Juan, and once again, Dublin, all of which offer average hotel rates under $100 per night. (more…)
By Joe Brancatelli
Lest you think the meltdown of the lodging industry would slow the development of new properties, consider this new crop of openings. If there is any bright side to these newbies, consider that several are actually in areas that honestly need new properties. One example: the new Hilton Garden Inn branches in Troy, New York, and Presque Isle, Maine. Then there’s the new 144-room Residence Inn in Yonkers, New York. One property that isn’t opening into a hotel shortfall, however, is the 155-room Aloft, one of Starwood’s new brands, near BWI Airport in Baltimore.
Internationally, two new properties of note: the 272-room InterContinental Kiev in the Ukraine and the 563-room Shangri-La Ningbo in China. Big doings in the luxury segment, too. The 99-room Jefferson in Washington has reopened after a top-to-bottom renovation of the 1923 Beaux Arts building. The Jefferson is about four blocks from the White House. The Hotel Bel-Air will close on September 30 for a renovation that may take up to two years. And Mandarin Oriental is pulling its name off its hotel in Macau, China. The property has been renamed the Grand Lapa. Radisson has planted its flag on the former Red Lion hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (more…)
We love to travel, and we love to talk about it. The Orbitz Blog is another way we can share our expertise, advice and the occasional random thought.
Check back often for fresh insight from Orbitz staff and contributors about cool places to visit, fun things to do and smart ways to save.