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Booking Guided Tours Israel for an Awesome Vacation

Joining guided tours Israel can make your trip in Tel Aviv, Haifa or Jerusalem and its surrounding areas is memorable. Find out more ways to make this happen.

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Having memorable and fun vacations in Israel begins in the planning stage. If your itineraries and budget are right, you can be sure that hurdles will be minimal, if not non-existent. Read on to find out how you can ensure having the best vacation of your life.

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Don’t Take Guided Tours Israel Packages for Granted

You might think that you can save when you make your own itinerary, but in total, you can enjoy greater savings when you hire the expertise of travel professionals by booking guided tours Israel. For one, you can avoid the guessing game of how much cash you should be bringing in your pockets for entrance fees and transportation costs. With a guided tour, everything is taken care of. In short, you won’t even have to bring a lot of cash with you during the trip, reducing the risk of losing most of your travel money in case you lose your wallet.

But the most important is that an experienced tour guide will be able to give you valuable insight and interesting trivia on the places you’re visiting. With his first-hand knowledge and personal experience, your tour will definitely be something that’s really worth remembering. Unlike visiting the landmarks by yourself wherein you only get to enjoy what you see, being in guided tours Israel will provide you more information about the place such as its history, importance to locals, and appearance in movies, among others.

Determine Where You Want to Explore

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Israel is a nation with so many to offer to tourists and locals alike. Whether in terms of natural beauty or man-made wonders, the country definitely has something for any kind of travelers and wanderers. Its cities alone can offer a lot of splendid things that will make your trip memorable. In Jerusalem, you can find many historical sites considering that it’s the largest and the capital city. Tel Aviv is tagged as the party place in Israel and you can enjoy the beaches there. If your vacation time is limited, you can opt to stay and explore in one city. That alone will still guarantee that you’ll be having a wonderful time.

But you can still book guided tours Israel so that during the daytime or even just a few hours of a day, you can visit stunning tourist spots and marvelous historical landmarks found outside the city. With a booked tour package, logistics are already taken care of and you can be sure that you can come back to your hotel before nighttime.

Consider Your Vacation Time

The shorter your vacation time the more vital it is for you to carefully plan what to do and where to go, making sure that every moment contributes to fun memories of the entire trip. While guided tours Israel can take care of the highlights of your vacation, bringing you to the most interesting spots of the country, you will still have to plan for those little time left in a day. This includes determining the best restaurant to enjoy Israeli cuisine for dinner or visiting the perfect night market to find gorgeous local products to bring home.

Cole is one half of New Zealand's leading adventure travel blogging couple who have been wearing out their jandals around the world since 2009. He loves any adventure activities and anything to do with the water whether it is Surfing, Diving, Swimming, Snorkeling or just lounging nearby on the beach. You can follow Cole on Google+. Or consider following us via RSS Feed, Twitter, Facebook and subscribe to our Newsletter.

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Top 5 Historical Landmarks of Portugal

Top 5 Historical Landmarks of Portugal

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Portugal is a hive of culture, history, and architecture and is home to fifteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you plan a holiday to Portugal to discover some of its glorious histories, look through our top five Portuguese historical landmarks.

Alcobaça Monastery

This beautiful monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça is a prime example of early Gothic architecture. The sanctuary is home to the ornate tombs of Ines de Castro and King Pedro I. There is a tragic love story associated with the burials. Ines de Castro was assassinated in 1355, and the king ordered his tomb to be placed next to hers so that he could face the woman he loved on the day of resurrection. They are considered to be the most beautiful medieval tombs in Portugal. There are also living quarters, including a refectory, dormitory, kitchen, and cloisters that have been inhabited by monks for 800 years.

Convent of Christ

The Convent of Christ is a beautiful roman catholic building located in Tomar. It was initially a stronghold for the Order of the Knights Templar. The building houses impressive art and examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architecture. The walls inside are exquisitely decorated with paintings, carved stone sculptures, and a window depicting symbols and motifs. This site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.

Évora

Évora is a Portuguese city home to several historical sights, some over two thousand years old. The Cathedral of Évora is considered one of Portugal’s most important gothic monuments. Moorish palaces and courtyards, a renaissance fountain built-in 1559, and a one-of-a-kind Roman temple have become the city’s most famous landmarks. It is not surprising that Évorahas is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Belém Tower

Belém Tower was built to be a fortress in 1515 to guard the entrance to Lisbon’s harbor. The tower is constructed from lioz limestone that is local to Lisbon. It is considered one of the prominent examples of the late gothic Manueline style. There is a drawbridge, spaces for cannons, turrets, and arches that have been decorated with images of animals, plants, and royal coats of arms. Inside there are statues, pillars, and gargoyle facets. UNESCO has listed the tower as a World Heritage monument. 



Jerónimos Monastery

Jerónimos Monastery is considered one of the most beautiful monasteries in Portugal and Europe. Located in Lisbon, the monastery has various entrances that have been decorated with carved figures, gables, and pinnacles. There is a 16th Century Portuguese sculpture of Our Lady of Belém in the central doorway, a figure of Prince Henry the Navigator in the center of the monastery, and a statue of King Manuel I. The monastery has been classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

We hope this has inspired you to start planning your trip to Portugal today.

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Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Find out why Sand boarding, Diving and Safaris through the desert are included in the Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar.

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Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Qatar is a country of reinvention. Shimmering towerblocks rise against a desert horizon, and maze-like souks thrive next to 21st-century shopping palaces. It’s also one of the more accessible countries of the Arab Gulf, with a welcoming reputation towards visitors and plenty of attractions to keep them coming. Some of the best holiday activities you’ll find in Qatar are the adventurous kind. And these are the top 5 outdoor adventure activities in Qatar.

Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Sunset in Qatar – Photo by wj2012

Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Diving expeditions

The Gulf Sea is famed for its crystal waters and the exuberant marine life which lurks just beneath the surface. Messaid is a good jumping-off point where you’ll find angelfish and barracuda, while those intrigued by underwater wrecks will love the Hall Island dive site at Al-Sharqi, where bright clownfish circle the abandoned boat.

Sand Adventures

Many of the sports here have been adapted from colder climates, so instead of skiing down a mountain piste, try Khor Al Adaid beach to glide down the impressive dunes on a sand-board. Alternatively, race your blo-kart along the sands of Al Wakrah, south of capital Doha, to experience the thrill of wind-sailing on dry land.

Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Sand Boarding – Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar – Photo by ground zero

Al Jassasiya

The ancient carvings of Al Jassasiya lie to the north near Al Shamal, amid a truly remote landscape of village ruins and limestone. Hire a 4×4 of your own and make the journey to see the 900 petroglyphs which riddle the rocks here. The carvings denote flowers, animals, fleets of shows, or traditional Arab boats, and to this day, their origins remain a mystery.

Sunset Cruise

When the time comes for a more relaxed excursion, you can do no better than a sunset cruise onboard a wooden dhow as you drift past the super-modern Doha seafront of Al-Corniche and the old harbor at Al Khor. If you’re still hankering after some adventure, rent a smaller vessel and go for a fishing trip the following day.

Desert Safaris

Much of the inland desert in Qatar remains inaccessible on foot, but fortunately, that’s where a 4×4 comes in very handy for a safari trip you won’t easily forget. There are numerous options available from Doha, including day-long excursions, bumping, and rolling to the inland sea at Khor Al Adaid. Or make the trip at dusk for a spot of star-gazing before you settle in Bedouin-style tents for the night.

Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Desert Safari – Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar – Photo by robertpaulyoung

Most activities can be arranged via a tour company. Although cash has been the predominant payment method in Qatar, this is beginning to change, which is good news for tourists since  HSBC offers protection against loss or theft. If you’re planning on taking part in several activities, it can be handy to have some plastic on you to avoid expensive traveler’s cheques, plus credit cards from HSBC and other familiar providers also enable easy access to money at the ATMs. However, it’s wise to exercise caution, using only official bank machines here and sticking with local currency at the market and in smaller shops.

There’s no doubt that Qatar offers some world-class cultural attractions beyond the more energetic highlights, and while you’re in the country, set aside some time for the historic Al Zubarah fort or browse the recreated 19th-century Souk-Waqif, in Doha.

This country has been undervalued in the past but is now coming to the world’s attention. With its desert adventures, ancient sites, and thriving culture, this attention is thoroughly deserved.

This is a travel feature by world traveler, Jose Capelo. He loves exploring the top 5 outdoor adventure activities in Qatar and has spent many trips exploring the wild deserts of Qatar.

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Boys will be Boys – Essential Stag Guide to Barcelona

Essential Stag Guide to Barcelona

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Splurging on chocolate in Quebec City

Barcelona has a lot to offer to the quintessential all-boys travel group for a stag weekend in Barcelona. This sunny Spanish city is known for its gorgeous Mediterranean beaches complemented by turquoise waters. In addition to this, this city offers the ideal environment for an all-male party hotspot, considering its vibrant nightlife, football culture, flamenco dance clubs, tattoo parlors, and its delicious sangrias and tapas.

Paella cooking class Barcelona

Barcelona is a widespread consideration for a quick all-boys getaway during the summer. With a variety of heart-thumping activities that can make your trip a memorable one, make sure you take out time to pursue the following –

  • LTW Tattoo:

    If you are looking for a real adventure that will stick with you all your life, there is no better way to commemorate this epic trip than heading to Barcelona’s best tattoo parlor.

  • Barna Paintball:

    Take on your best buddies in a battle of agility by visiting the Barna Paintball. With four thematic areas to choose from, your experience here can be genuinely adventurous.

  • Bar Crawl Barcelona:

    Considered one of the most famous pub crawls globally and the biggest in Europe, the original Bar Crawl Barcelona is a great way to explore the city in its nocturnal state. You and your buddies can visit four bars and then finish at one of the best clubs in Barcelona. Complete with some of the craziest drinking games, this memorable experience costs all but 15 Euros.

  • FC’s Camp Nou:

    If you are a group of football fans visiting the city, you cannot leave without making a trip to Camp Nou, the city’s football ground. With a ticket for the stadium tour, you will have access to the changing rooms, benches, press rooms, and stands. If you are fortunate enough to have a match coinciding with your travel dates, make sure you book your tickets for the game well in advance.

  • Circuit de Catalunya Racing Track:
    If you and your crew are into racing, consider heading to the Circuit de Catalunya, host to various Formula 1 and Moto GP races. Here, you can get a detailed tour of the briefing room, pits, and podium.
  • Comedy Nights:

    Comedy nights are often an option that everybody loves. Especially as a group of single boys, you may love to attend an event organized by the Giggling Guiri program that consists of English-speaking shows.

  • Al Fresco Drinking on Las Ramblas:

    The heart of tourist activity in Barcelona, Las Ramblas, offers unique casual outdoor ambiances for groups of boys to spend hours finishing pitchers of sangria or chugging down buckets of beer bottles. Vibrant as ever, this street located off the Gothic Quarters is a great place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing.

Essential Stag Guide to Barcelona

As a group of boys, you can also research options for day trips to beaches outside of Barcelona that offers relaxing and laid-back environments for your holiday. Many options are available in Barcelona for hiring a car to explore this scenic and exciting city with your friends, such as Thrifty Car Rentals. So when you are in Barcelona with your amigos, nothing stops you from having a great time!

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Meet Cole and Adela

Cole and AdelaWe have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We think our blog is thought provoking and a little witty. But we have been proven wrong before. Find out more about us here...

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