Declared  a national monument, Toledo, a small city found on a Castilian hilltop overlooking the Rio Tajo (River Tagus), was once the Spanish capital under the Visigoths (567 to 711) and again when Felipe II moved the Court of Spain to Madrid (1085 to 1561). It is still the religious centre of Spain. Locals often refer to Toledo as ‘La Ciudad Imperial’ (The Imperial City).

Getting Info
The tourist information office in Toledo is located on the Carretera de Madrid, next to the main gate officially known as the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra. An additional tourism kiosk resides on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, close to the cathedral.

What to see
The top attractions in Toledo do of course include the city’s magnificent cathedral, which houses some beautiful stained glass, delicate wood and stone sculptures and a large collection of paintings. Also of note is El Alcázar (the Alcázar), a fort that was founded almost 1,000 years ago, while for Spanish art, the Museo de Santa Cruz (Holy Cross Museum) boasts an extensive collection, including a wide selection of paintings by famous Renaissance artist, El Greco. Relatively close by is the Museo de Taller del Moro (the Taller del Moro Museum), where you can learn more about the construction of Toledo’s cathedral itself.

Where to Stay and Eat
Toledo is situated near to Madrid, the capital of Spain, and is full of many charming narrow, winding streets which are almost like a labyrinth. Most of the Toledo hotels are located at the Plaza de Zocodover, which is known as Zoco to the locals, and there are also a good number of excellent restaurants and bars in this area.

The diverse architectural styles that traverse the centuries from Gothic to Baroque have benefited from the city’s ties to the Christians, Moors and Jews. Boasting a plethora of fine arts and including works by the likes of El Greco, Goya and Velaquez, Toledo is one of Europe’s most visited sites and very accessible on foot.

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Vegas is all about getting you to come back. The casinos make so much money from you gambling that they can afford to give a little back. Usually that ‘little’ comes in the form of comps. Comp is short for ‘complimentary’ and comps range from free food and drinks to T-shirts and other souveneirs, all the way up to free hotel suites.  Unless your last name is Sinatra, however, they won’t just offer you this stuff, you have to ask.

The first step in getting comps is to obtain a slot club card. There is usually a slot club window in the casino and all you have to do is fill out a card with your personal information. A slot club card is about the size of a credit card and is used to track your gambling habits within the casino. The card can be inserted into slot machines or given to a dealer at a table game so that your gambling can be ‘rated’. The machine or dealer will then track your average bet and how much you’ve bet. Some casinos have formalized the process somewhat and reward you with points as you gamble that can later be redeemed for a variety of free stuff.

You should also make an effort to meet the host of the casino section that you’re in. The host used to be called a pit boss and their main job is to make sure you have a good time and that you keep gambling at their casino. It’s a good idea to introduce yourself to them when you start gambling as they’re more likely to be generous with you.

Once you’ve been gambling for a while, its okay to start asking for stuff – try starting with a ‘line pass’ to the buffet. It won’t pay for your meal but it will get you to the front of the line. If you’ve spent a fair amount, go ahead and ask for a free pass to the buffet. A good rule of thumb is that you can be expected to be comp’d about 20-40% of what you’d be expected to lose.

Of course, the drinks are the main form of comps. You’ll often see waitresses wandering around, taking orders. Well spirits and tap beers are free, but you should always tip your waitress, especially if you want her to remember you.

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Blackjack has the best odds for the gambler of any game in Vegas; the house edge is only .5%. That means that over time, if you bet 100 dollars on blackjack, the casino will end up with a measley 5 cents. But wait, you ask – if the odds are so good, why do most people lose all their money? It’s because the house edge is based on how much you gamble, not how much you bring to the table. As you win, you play more, out of your own winnings. If you bring 100 dollars to a blackjack table and bet $5 per hand, you’re betting about $150 per hour – more than you actually brought. After 13 hours you’ve bet $1950 and 5% of that is $97.50, meaning that at the end, you’re left with $2.50 and another Vegas story. The other catch is that the house edge is only small if you’re playing with the right strategy. If you do it wrong, you’re playing at a much higher disadvantage. So learn to do it right.

The operating principle in blackjack is simple – there are more cards that are worth 10 than any other value. Keeping that in mind, assume that any card you can’t see – the dealer’s down card or your next hit – is a 10. It’s also important to remember that the dealer has to hit on anything less than 16 so if you’ve got a 14 and his up card is a three, you should stay, since he probably has a 10 and will have to hit and likely bust. It’s not about getting the highest total, its about beating the dealer.

Splitting and doubling down are your two other strategic options. If you have two of the same card you can split them by putting an amount equal to your originial bet next to the cards.  You then play two hands, hitting or standing on each one independently. It’s a good idea to split when you have two aces or two 8s. The former, because of the rule of 10 above and the latter because two 8s are 16, one of the easiest hands to bust.

Doubling down means you double your bet and get dealt exactly one more card. Doubling down is a good bet when you have either a 10 or an Ace.

Two things to avoid are tables where blackjack pays 6:5 and insurance. Without going into why, just remember that these are sucker bets.

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Holidays are expensive. If they weren’t, nobody’d work. One of the main reasons for their priciness is the cost of accommodation. You can easily spend as much for one week in a hotel or resort as you would for one month in your own house. Adding to the strain on your wallet is the fact that resorts are designed like pitcher plants – attractive to look at and apparently filled with nectary goodness, but once you get in you’ll have a hell of a time getting out. That means you pay resort prices for resort foods and, after paying resort prices for resort cocktails you’re all the more likely to indulge in a bit of room service.

Of course, you could always go the time-honoured route of hostels. Of course, in many major cities a private room in a hostel is barely cheaper than a hotel. Dorms are an option but a single room smelling of the socks of the multitudes isn’t conducive to relaxation. Fortunately, you can take a third option and rent your own cottage or apartment.

With a cottage or apartment rental you get the privacy and comfort of a hotel room without the enticing added extras that can send the bill spiraling to Virgin Galactic heights. Cook your own food, bring your own grog, supply your own entertainment, all in surroundings that have a personal touch often lacking in mass market resorts.

A quick google search to the effect of holiday rentals (destination) can often yield some pleasant surprises.  Two Mile Bay Cottage in Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road is one of them. Built by a local artist out of the pylons of the old pier, this quaint, two-bedroom home sleeps up to six and provides a fantastic ocean view. At 200 dollars per night, it’s a very economical option if you’ve got a group.

The Kiwis are an interesting bunch. The country is to Oz what Canada is to the US – the quiet neighbor with a funny accent. But beneath the laid-back, laconic New Zealand exterior there must be a huge red pepper of raging lust for life. After all, this is the country that brought us bungy jumping.

Visitors to New Zealand, no matter where they are, will have a wide variety of grey hair inducing, slightly suicidal activities to choose from and nowhere is this more true than Queenstown, NZ’s capital of crazy.

Bungy jumping is one of those things everyone should try at least once. However, like many of those things (skinny dipping, body shots, running for office in Queensland on a platform of thinly-veiled racism) you’ll often end up fiding out that you don’t want to do it just once.

 


Fortunately, Queenstown is the home of not one, but three different bungie sites. There the Kawaru Bridge, the world’s first commercial Bungie site, measuring in at a modest 42 meters. While it may not seem that extreme compared to the dizzying heights of the other two sites, its more than high enough when you’re standing on the edge. As an added bonus you can elect to be dipped in the river so no one will notice that you’ve wet yourself.

Then there’s the Ledge, located at the Skyline complex, 400 meters above Queenstown. This sites distinctive feature is its unique harness and runway that gives you more than 10 options as to how you jump with names like The Matrix and Flying Squirrel.

Finally, for those who believe that nothing succeeds like excess, there’s the Nevis Bungy. Just getting to the jump site is enough to get your pulse racing as you sit in a gondola suspended over 134 meters of empty air. The drop from Nevis is a heart-stopping 8.4 seconds of free fall – plenty of time for a good chunk of your life to flash before your eyes.

Situated in the southwest area of Victoria, Torquay has its own culture and own surfing lifestyle, making it a must see place for any surf lover.

With a plethora of surf beaches to choose form Torquay also boasts some of the worlds greatest waves and beach breaks.

Jan Juc, Winki Pop and Torquay main beach are all top class breaks, but none of them compare to the right-hander wave produced at Bells Beach.

Bells is one of Australia’s greatest beaches and boasts a rich and culture filled history.

Every year around Easter time, Torquay makes way to the annual surfing event at Bells Beach, the Rip Curl Pro.

As part of the APT Pro Surfing Tour, Bells Beach welcomes a massive list of world-class surfers, and a bunch of global tourists who travel to the shores for the event.

The Rip Curl Pro has a lot of history too, with the event being the longest running on the pro tour and highly regarded as one of the most satisfying to win.

Apart form surfing and heading to the beach, Torquay also has some great scenic locations.

On of these is The Sands, a new estate with breathtaking views of the ocean and some of the state best golf courses.

There is also a bunch of shopping to be had with many surf brands seconds’ factories in the area.

The American state is really often referred to as it’s own country, as it should be considering it is hundreds of miles away from mainland America.

Hawaii’s natural beauty, warm tropical climate, inviting waters and waves, and active volcanoes has made it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists for the past decades.

As well as the great climate, there is also amazing natural beauty about the land, including the amazing tropical fauna and mountain regions.

In addition, there is some intriguing native tribes in the tiny islands which will be sure to interest many sociologists and historians who travel the region.

In terms of what to do in the many islands of Hawaii, there is a plethora of activities ranging from golf trips, bush-walking, horse riding into an extinct volcano, to surfing some of the worlds best breaks.

Currently the state has a population of just over one million, however, die to the massive tourism boom, it generally holds more than that at any given time.

The capital city of Hawaii is Honolulu, although there are many other major cities just as worthy of a visit during your travels.

Hilo, Kahului and Lihu’e are some of the well-known cities/towns around the island region. All cater for tourists and have great water sport activities as well as some interesting nightlife spots to head out to.

The whole world knows Goa as the land of fun and frolic, land of breathtaking beaches or the destination of most effervescent carnivals. However, one thing that instantly strikes you when you land in Goa is the culture. It is just the right blend of ethnic Indian Konkani and the reminiscent Portuguese. On one side there is a vast expanse of beaches where the sun, sand and sea meet to form crystal turquoise waters and on the other, there are lavish Konkani mountains and wild greens.

The Goa carnival, a three-day festival, had its birth in Goa during the era of King Momo. When it is carnival time in Goa, visitors will notice a great deal of excitement across the country, February is the month in question where everyone in Goa dresses up for the carnival festivities. This carnival is celebrated just before the Lent season and starts of only a few days beforehand, finishing on Shrove Tuesday.

During the Goa Carnival season, the atmosphere seems to be dancing as much as the locals. Goa in carnival season is filled with perfume happiness, the roads are flooded with joy and the hearts of the locals exude nothing but enjoyment and happiness. These three days of fun and frolic are easily the most joyful all year in Goa owing to the continuous music and dance.

Consider taking your beach holiday in Goa during the February carnival to forget all the worldly affairs and indulge in the extravagant fun of this carnival.

June, July and August are the time to catch a host of Irish music festivals including the Electric Picnic, Oxygen and the Midlands music festivals, but out west in Galway is where the best Irish summer music festivals are found.

Things seem to go a bit quite towards the end of may and early June with many of the students leaving the city but its not long before the town is buzzing again with the prospect of a fun filled summer

The Galway Arts Festival kicks off on the 17th of July. The festival offers the best in music, theatre and dance, visual art and comedy. Street theatre also plays a major part in the festival providing wonderful entertainment for the summer shoppers. The organisers go all out every year to bring in some of the best international and local acts.

The biggest festival in Galway has to be the Galway races. The races become more popular every year with record-breaking crowds thronging the city. There is hardly an empty bed or empty bar for that matter to be found in the city. The festival attracts punters from every walk of life. There are big time gamblers willing to risk the shirts off their backs as well as the more casual gamblers who are likely to stick a pin in the form guide and risk a Euro or two on the result.

The Oyster Festival, one for the food connoisseurs, takes place in September. This event has proved hugely popular over the years bringing many new faces and strange accents to the city. The pride of the Galway oyster festival is the Native oysters called “Ostrea Edulis”. The oysters are said to go down particularly well with a few pints of Guinness.

Another treat for the artistically minded community in Galway is the film festival. This event gives local filmmakers a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talents. The festival also attracts many international filmmakers as well as their famous leading men and women. In the past such luminaries as Jim Sheridan, Woody Harrelson, Sir Richard Attenborough and Michael Moore have attended the festival.

Ireland is probably not the first place that comes to mind when you think of the typical summer holiday, but believe it or not, it might be the best summer holiday you’ve ever had.

For one Sydney beach, the name says it all. Palm Beach lies with the Pacific Ocean to the east and is lined with opulent mansions belonging to millionaires from the world over. The magnificent beach offers you golden sand and yep, you guessed it – a palm-fringed shore.

Only a short half-hour ride from Sydney’s CBD, Palm Beach is a long stretch of clear sand and water with shops, restaurants and entertainment galore located at the southern end. Palm Beach isn’t the safest of the Sydney beaches, and volunteer lifesavers are on duty only on weekends and holidays. If surfing is not your style, relax and take in the scenery at Barrenjoey Heads to see the lighthouse and see the stunning view across Broken Bay.

If it’s a big name beach your after, Bondi is the one for you. Don’t try to drive to this popular spot as there is little chance of finding a spot, even on a slow day. There is plenty of public transport to this world-renowned beach and there is plenty to do when you get here. Sun bathing, swimming, snorkelling and other water sports are all offered in abundance at Bondi, or you can take a long scenic coastal walk to delight in the great views and sights alone the shore.

Bronte Beach, not that far from Bondi Beach, is a popular choice for those who want a beach destination but less of the hullabaloo of Bondi. The Bronte Baths and Waverly Cemetery are two attractions nearby this dazzling beach, and you can see historic sites where famous Australians have been buried, including poets Henry Kendall, Doreothea Mackellar and Henry Lawson. If you’re lucky enough to be on Bronte Beach during the short time Bronte House is open, you’ll have the opportunity to see amazing views of the coast. There’s the picturesque waterfall at the top of Bronte park and the distant Norfolk Island.

Another popular Sydney beach is Cronulla Beach, known for its excellent waves and shady trees, the waves seemingly Heaven-sent for surfers and body boarders. The waves allow for every level from beginner to expert, and the golden beach usually isn’t overflowing with packed, oiled bodies out for that heavy duty tan. Cronulla is also one of the most popular beaches for scuba diving, offering clear waters in which to view marine life the likes of which you’ll probably never have the opportunity to see again.

Make sure to take a change of clothes, because after an adventurous day on the beach at Cronulla, you’ll want to take in the nightlife – restaurants, clubs, cafes, and a whole host of other attractions. A popular place is Paddy’s Irish Bar and Restaurant with its live bands and comedy nights. If you’d prefer to relax, choose one of the dozens of outdoor cafes on offer or take in a movie at one of the cinemas.

Most of the more populated beaches offer a wide range of activities, from theatre to festivals and food and wine parties. Restaurants and shops abound, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can charter a yacht, hire a kayak, parasail, hang-gliding, snorkel, scuba-dive…the list goes on and on. Surfing lessons are often available at stops right along the beaches, and you might even end up at Ocean World to watch sharks being fed by hand and applaud the antics of the seals as they perform.

Whether you’re making a day of it or taking a romantic walk along the sand, remember that Sydney’s beaches are each unique and draw different types of crowds. Some draw the tourists with their glorious views of the City Harbour, while others attract surfers and body boarders. Others are dotted with family oriented picnic spots, while some draw nude sunbathers. No matter what type you are headed for, you’ll find enough beauty and tranquillity or adventure and fun to dream of Aussie beaches for years to come!