You’ve just arrived in Rome with a couple of days to kill. How is it possible to see all there is to see in such a short time? This is the guide to get the most out of Rome in the shortest amount of time.

19:00

Hopefully check in at the hotel has been fairly straightforward so now it is to venture out in search of a good meal. A meal in the old Trastevere part of the city has several benefits. Firstly there is a multitude of touristy type sidewalk restaurants and pizzerias to choose from and secondly they are within gentle strolling distance of several significant landmarks, including the well preserved Pantheon.

Rome is just as appealing by night as by day, with the heat of a Roman summer, night time walks may just save a few hours of excessive sweating during the day. Any of the little back streets between the Pantheon and the Spanish steps are perfectly placed to allow a generous meal of pasta and a good carafe of wine to be walked off quite easily.

21:00

Make your way to the Spanish steps to sit and hang out with the locals, while the view from the top of the steps in front of the church Trinita dei Monti offers a great view out over the city. Wander through to the Trevi Fountain and buy dessert in the form of a gelato and try your luck with the change. Throw one coin over your shoulder to come back, two coins to come back and get kissed or three coins to come back and be married.

22:00

Keep on walking through the streets until you reach Piazza Venezia, so named because of the Palazzo overlooking the piazza that resembles the Doges Palace in Venice. The balcony on the second floor may look familiar, it was the podium from which the dictator ‘il duce’ Mussolini delivered his fascist speeches. The other landmark overlooking the piazza is the unmistakable monument to Vittorio Emanuele II.

This has earned several nicknames over the years including the Wedding Cake and the Typewriter. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies here under armed guard along with the eternal flame. If the monument is open there is a fantastic view over the Rome rooftops, a glimpse into the Roman Forum and the Colosseum behind it. This is closed at dusk but many of the ruins are lit up at night.

23:00.

If the night air has revived you there is the option of checking out the local night life as there are plenty of bars and clubs open around the central city area. Also there are some in other piazzas such as Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori that stay open until the early hours. Otherwise it’s back to the hotel to get ready for tomorrow.

08:00

It pays to start early, particularly in the summer to beat the crowds and the temperatures but luckily the city is not too spread out to get from one sight to the next. The metro system is basic to use to say the least, there are only two metro lines that criss-cross the city and the buses are clearly marked with destinations. Termini is the central bus and metro terminal. Tickets must be bought before boarding and validated in the yellow machines, starting from EUR1 for one journey.

No visit to Rome is complete without a trip to the Vatican. San Pietro is on the western side of the river Tiber with the dome of St Peter’s visible from most parts of the city. The Vatican museum rooms are open from 8.45 in the morning until 4pm, with the last entry just before 3.30pm, during the busy summer months. It is open until 1pm on Saturdays and low season, while it is closed on Sundays and religious observances. You need plenty of time to walk through the 7km of museum rooms to reach the Sistine chapel where you can admire the detail and wonder at the creation on the ceiling by Michelangelo. It pays to have some sort of description of the frescoes handy to explain what you are looking at. The Pope gives his public address on Wednesday mornings at 11am.

13:00

If you are still hungry for more there is the vast interior of the Basilica itself, the crypt below and the view from the dome above down into the square. Now is probably a good time to find some lunch before taking on the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Take plenty of water with you in the summer months as wily vendors will sell small bottles at exorbitant prices. Along lunch also gets you out of the hottest part of the day.

15:00

Entry tickets to the Colosseum can be bought at the gate but if the line is too long you can go to the ticket window at the base of the Palatine hill and buy them there. The line here is generally much shorter as not many tourists go up the hill. The remains of the Emperors palace stands at the top overlooking the forum and quite stretegically down on the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. This hill is also said to be where Romulus founded Rome.

Beside the Colosseum stands the Arch of Constantine, which was an exercise in recycling of old monuments by Emperor Constantine to reward himself for beating Maxentius. The Colosseum has been damaged over the last 1800 years by earthquakes, invaders and marble merchants but the recent restoration projects has seen parts of it restored to give a good idea of its original state.

16:00

The Via Sacre leads from the Colosseum up into the Foro Romano, the centre of the ancient Roman trading world. The ruins include the original forum, Julius Caesar’s funeral pyre, his Senate building, the Temple of the Vestal Virgins and the arch of Septimus Severus. The forum was buried over several hundreds of years of flooding, each layer has been stripped back to reveal another Roman era, and in some cases where two eras have merged, as in the case of the Temple of Antonino and Faustina. The door that stands halfway up the exposed wall shows where the ground level was during the 8th Century when the 2nd Century temple was converted to church.

There are plenty of tour guides available as history students and licensed guides offer their services with tours of the forum and the coliseum. The stories they tell really help the ruins to come alive. Across the road is Trajan’s Forum with the very conspicuous Trajan’s column. This marks the edge of ancient Rome and the continuation of the modern city. Unfortunately most of ancient Rome lies beneath the Via dei Fiori Imperiali, the road built by Mussolini to parade his troops up and down before going off to battle.

17:00

The rest of the day can be spent either indulging in some people watching at any of the cafes in Piazza Navona and admiring the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi sculptured by Bernini, or relaxing in the shade in the park at the 17thC Villa Borghese. Then its back to those clubs you missed last night.

08:00

This really depends on when you decide to leave. An early evening departure may enable you to take in one of three options provided you start early. The baths of Caracalla is a 10 hectare space that once held 1600 people there to take advantage of the bathing, shops, libraries, gardens and public entertainment. These open at 9am closing 1 hour before sunset and 2pm on a Monday. You would need around 3-4 hours including travel time to view these.

The other option is to visit one of the vast catacombs that are buried beneath the city. These are miles and miles of tunnels, burial vaults and Churches dug by the early Christians to escape persecution by the Romans. The burial vaults are countless metres tall and the tunnels run down over several levels. The resulting rabbit warren requires a guide to take you through and out again safely. You can choose from the ones on the Via Appia Antica, which are the largest, or the Catacombs of San Callisto which are next door to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano. They open at 8.30am closing at noon, reopening in the afternoon from 2.30pm until 5pm. Again you would need 3-4 hours to take one site in.

10:00

The third and final choice is to leave the whole touristy thing out and indulge in some authentic food experiences. The food markets north of the Vatican are held just off Viale dele Millizie and the ones in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele near Termini offer a selection of fresh and locally made produce.

There you have it, all the major attractions of Rome achievable in just 2 days. The choice now is, do I really want to leave just yet?

Romance is all about indulgence. You don’t have to be romantic around special holidays such as Valentine’s Day. Any day of the year is a good time to add a little romance in your life. One romantic indulgence is spending time at a romantic hotel. Spending a few nights at a romantic hotel is a great for you and your loved one to reconnect.

If you are considering spicing up your relationship by taking a romantic trip, below is a list of the top 10 romantic hotels around the world:

Fairmont Frontenac, Quebec: Located in Old Quebec, the Fairmont Frontenac is a magnificent castle that has distinct European charm. It is also a United Nations World Heritage Site. Its majestic architecture and grand turrets is absolutely charming and its royal décor and elegant rooms make it a very romantic place to stay.

Hotel on Rivington, New York City: Overlooking Manhattan, The Hotel on Rivington provides clear 360-degree views, rooms with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, glassed-in bathrooms with steam showers, and Japanese-style soaking tubs.

Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii: The Fairmont Orchid in Waimea has waterfall massages, oceanfront cabanas, sandy lagoons, and they even have a ‘Make Room for Romance’ option that features Hawaiian bath crystals, orchid petals, tropical massage lotion, bath robes, slippers, floating candles, and champagne and strawberries.

Rosewood Mayakobá, Riviera Maya: The Rosewood Mayakobá is located on a 1,600 acre lavish resort on a mile of beautiful beach. A Lagoon Suite offers: rooftop sundeck, views of the lagoons, private pool, and a bathroom that has a beautiful outdoor garden shower.

Viceroy Anguilla, British West Indies: Viceroy Anguilla is located on 35 acres in the Caribbean Islands. Features include: luxury modern architecture, private oceanfront villas, two white-sand beaches, and a private pool.

La Réserve Ramatuelle, St Tropez: This luxury new hotel sits on a hill that is high above the Mediterranean. There are only 23 rooms and villas that feature open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a charming spa atmosphere.

Villa Bordoni, Tuscany: This country house-turned-hotel in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany is enclosed in olive groves, forests, and vineyards. Enjoy wine, food, and the cooking school. Spend the afternoon cooking up a delicious feast with one of the chefs.

Rayavadee Resort, Krabi Island, Thailand: This beautiful resort is situated on the edge of Krabi National Marine Park and is surrounded by the Andaman Sea. Features include: limestone cliffs, three beaches, and lush flora. Spa Pavilions feature a private outdoor Jacuzzi, shower, and gazebo.

Capella Singapore, Singapore. The Capella Singapore located on exotic Sentosa Island is a lavishly modern hotel with 112 rooms. Constellation rooms feature lunar cycle-inspired spa treatments and salfresco terrace rubs looking on to the South China Sea.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia: A 30-minute flight from Adelaide, you will see Australia’s native animals up close such as: ospreys, kangaroos, koalas, sea lions, fur seals, and echidnas. The hotel features peaceful spas and gorgeous ocean views where you can watch dolphins and whales.

There is never a wrong time to be romantic. With so many beautiful romantic destinations available, this may be the time for you and your loved one to indulge and plan a romantic vacation get-away.

Wine tasting in Argentina is very different than California.  In Napa/Sonoma, Lake County, Santa Barbara,  you can belly up to the bar and visit 8 – 10 different wineries in one day – depending on the strength of your liver, the ease of the traffic and the accuracy of your maps.   In Mendoza, at the smaller bodegas (wineries) each Tasting & Tour is an event and a special occasion between you and the beautiful staff who will become your new friends.    Your new mantra?  Reservations, Reservations and Reservations.  Here are the top 6 things to know before you go tasting in Mendoza, Argentina.

1)  WHEN TO VISIT: This is a personal decision.  We chose late October as it is their spring, it is not peak season and we wanted the freedom to be able to ask a lot of questions (and take an annoying number of pictures.)   We have chosen wisely.  Often we were the only people on the tour and most of the experiences were very unique and tailored just to us.   Mid November things begin to get busier with “high season” considered to be January through April.  Harvest season happens during those months and from what we heard, that can be another great time to visit. 

2)  GETTING TO MENDOZA:  You will book your flights from your originating city  to  Buenos Aires and transfer to another airport for another flight to Mendoza.  Can you do it in one day?  Yes, but it’s a haul.  We met several people who traveled that way and they are troopers.  We broke the trip up with a stay in Buenos Aires to visit my Tango-teaching cousin for 3 days before flying to Mendoza. If you don’t have a Tango-teaching cousin in Buenos Aires, you can pick one up when you get there.

3)  HOTELS: Another entirely personal decision.  We love 4 & 5 star hotels in our travels – but after a while, each one begins to feel just like another no matter which country you’re visiting.  This time, we chose something that would feel more culturally authentic.  We chose to stay in the town of Chacras (20 minute taxi ride / 30 minute fun but diesel scented,  bumpy bus ride) from Mendoza.  There are many small lodges in the smaller towns that are made just for you to feel the real Argentina and we highly recommend them. Authentic Argentine building traditions, small number of rooms (8 – 12 rooms), staff that will spoil you rotten, and outdoor pizza ovens and grills.  When dinner time arrives and you smell the grill & oven fired up, you’ll want to stay there forever.  Look for the brand name Postales – Postales del Plata was the name of our lodge.

4) GET ORIENTED TO MENDOZA: If you are going to Mendoza to taste wine, your first stop as you plan your trip will be Vines of Mendoza’s website. We also suggest you make Vines of Mendoza Tasting Room (their beautiful tasting room in the heart of the city of Mendoza) your very first stop when you arrive.  They were open on a Sunday and their staff are some of the most elegant and knowledgeable people you’ll ever meet.  They will give you the overall perspective of Mendoza and her wine regions and you will be more prepared to have a great time.  Enjoy a flight while you are at Vines of Mendoza, and your trip will have a perfect start.  You can even begin with a “Sensory Lesson”  before your first tasting so your senses are awakened and appreciative of the experience you are about to create.  Most wine tastings at Mendoza wineries are a Tasting & Tour and require a reservation.   You may want to choose your bodegas (wineries) or fincas (estates) in advance of your flight to Argentina.  If so, you can still begin at VINES OF MENDOZA website and email them with any questions.  They are so happy to hear from you and happy to assist you.

5) RESERVATIONS, PLEASE:  Once the staff at Vines of Mendoza assists you in choosing your top wineries for your tasting pleasure, if you like, they can call and make  reservations for you.  There is no charge for this service.  If you’re feeling plucky with your Spanish, you can make the reservations yourself, but Vines of Mendoza knows all of the wineries and the subtleties of each situation, so if this is your first trip, why not let them make the reservations for you?   Tours have a time schedule in Mendoza so you will always want to call in advance for your Tour & Tasting.  Even if the winery descriptions state that you can visit the winery without a reservation, always call first, just to be sure.

6) TRANSPORTATION TO THE WINERIES? Two best options – Pre-organized Local Tours or a private Remise (driver)  The organized local tours seem to choose the wineries and set the itinerary for you.  If you like to choose your own wineries, you’ll want your own Remise.  Depending on the Remise your costs may be a little less than the organized tours.   You should always book your Remise through your hotel or lodge as they will book you with someone they know is reliable and knowledgeable.   Always tip generously and you will begin to find friends for life.  If you’re the hearty, adventuring type, you can rent a car, find a map and figure it out on your own – but I suggest this method only if you have a lot of extra time as you will spend quite a bit of time just finding your way around.  The wine country is rural and roads are not as clearly marked as the wine country in North America. If you’d like to follow along with a map while your driver makes his way through the wine country, we suggest the Official Wine Maps of Argentina  Graphically, it is a work of art – just beautiful.  The map is actually 3 maps/directories and covers 6 different regions and dozens of bodegas.  It does not contain all of the wineries, but no worries… between Vines of Mendoza and this map, you’ll have more than enough wineries to visit.  We wrote in the missing wineries with a pen – and so can you.

7) PLAN TO STAY A WHILE AT THE WINERIES: In Mendoza region, each tasting is a Tour & Tasting and it is an event.  The wineries/bodegas are expecting you as a true guest and the smaller wineries will treat you with a great deal of love.  Your guide will invite you into the heart of their winery and walk you through the intimate details of their own wine making process.  You’ll sit with either a winemaker or the designated knowledgeable professional of the day for your tasting  and you will be transported to a little heaven.  I promise.   You’ll spend more than an hour at each winery and depending on your wine itinerary, you will have a bit of drive time between each location.  Three wineries a day is a perfect schedule.  You can try for four wineries in a day if the wineries are very close to each other, but even the ones that appear right next to each other on the map, can take a 30-40 minute drive.  Only silly people try to do four wineries in one day and they don’t try it twice.  (Yes, we would be those silly people.)

So, those are the basics.  Pack your flexibility, your patience, your curiosity and a deep appreciation for the opportunity to experience the differences of your Southern Cousins.  A note to remember – You’re in a completely different hemisphere, so there are bound to be things that happen that will confuse you.  The people of Mendoza and the surrounding towns are lovely and are more than willing to help you.  Have your cell phone turned on for international use – or rent a local cell phone from your hotel for the duration of your trip as you may need to contact your hotel while you are out.   Be sure your hotel has someway to reach you while you are out (your itinerary, a copy of your Remise’s business card and your cell phone number) in case there are changes to your “vinetinerary” for the next day.

The recent ‘near disaster’ crash of a British Airways scheduled flight into Heathrow in the UK highlighted the professionalism of the pilot and the cabin crew, who supervised an orderly evacuation, and the passengers escaped unharmed. But I wonder if that same professionalism is alive and well on charter flights, where corners are cut to save costs.

The other week I flew abroad for a short break in the sun. Now for me, flying at the best of times can be an ordeal. I’m like a fine wine, I don’t travel well. However, my wife, in her wisdom, persuaded me to fly on one of those No Thrills Low Budget Airlines, and she chose Easyjet, better known to its long suffering passengers as Squeezyjet. Whilst not exactly deluxe travel, it was better, I’m told, than FlyInFear Airlines, powered by Guinness and boasting outside lavatories.

Anyway, there I was, wedged into my seat, with the seat in front of me barely six inches from my face, when I was invited by the Cabin crew to take up my “Don’t Panic, we’re about to Crash” card, as they went through the safety routine. One thing that depressed and fascinated me in equal measure was the brace position to be adopted before impact, and graphically illustrated in my card.

Now the seasoned travellers amongst you will know that this requires you to bend forward into the horizontal position, placing your head between your knees and your hands behind your neck. So after the presentation, I asked the stewardess, in a spirit of enquiry, how in the name of Jupiter I was supposed to adopt this particular position with the amount of room available to me unless I was a contortionist. “I’ve often wondered that myself”, came the cheery reply, “but do the best you can”.

Have these Budget Airlines considered the ramifications of this disarmingly honest reply? And should they be flying at all? And what does the CAA have to say about it, if anything? As for me, I think I’ll stay at home.

A – Address peel and stick labels for all your family and friends before you go. Then stick to postcards along the way and you’ll come home looking good.

B – Bottled water is a must – don’t drink anything else.

C – Cookbooks from your travels are always a great souvenir. Cook a dish from one when you have friends over to see your video and pictures

D – Digital cameras save the day; their small and you never run out of film

E – Expect excitement; go with anticipation, not trepidation

F – Food is fun, try something you’ve never eaten before like zebra pate or Australian wine

G – Give generous tips, especially in poor countries, you’ll be so glad you did

H – Hang out with the locals. Get to know a new person on your trip and get a photo with them

I – Inform someone at home of your itinerary

J – Journal every day. Can you remember now what you did last week?

K – Kids love it when you have packed little surprises to open along the way

L – Learn something: Take a pasta making course in Italy, Scuba diving in Argentina or Belly dancing in Bagdad (just kidding)!

N – Note the local artisans and buy something authentic

O – One substantial souvenir is better than a lot of small things. Then ship it home to lighten your luggage

P – Postcards will rescue you when your photography fails. You can never have too many

Q – Questions help you get the most out of all you see and experience.

R – Read before you leave. Read lots of books about your destination. Find out who the local best sellers are, and read one of their books.

S – Scrapbook within the first week of getting home

T – Travel as light as humanly possible. Dragging luggage is no fun.

U – Unpack as soon as you get home.

V – Vaccinations and certain medications are necessary in some countries – be sure to check with the World Health Organization about what you need.

W – Whining never fixes anything – buck up and deal with the differences

X – exchange your currency at the airport or a bank and be sure you understand the value of your money

Y – You are the one who will make or break your adventure. Plan to be positive

Z – Zero in on one or two experiences and squeeze the most out of them. Adventure overload will leave you confused.

Carlo Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food movement, defined this new cuisine with the following terms “Buono, pulito e giusto”. Italian for good, clean and fair. It all started in 1986 with the opening of a McDonalds outlet in Rome. Carlo Petrini and other like-minded friends have seen the opening of a fast food outlet in the Eternal City as an attack against the diversity and originality of regional and Italian cuisine. Under the good auspices of the snail, the distinguishing feature of the Slow Food movement, they are thriving since then for slow eating and enjoyment of food, and they celebrate with that the joy of cooking and discovery. Ultimately they challenge the food industry that local products and ancient varieties make a much more pleasurable meal in the full respect of nature.

No ready-meals, but regional products whose origin the consumer understand, no cloned beef or lamb roasts, no genetically modified corn or tomatoes these are the main concept of the Slow Food followers on the table. The growing demand for regional and high-quality food from the farm, which is carefully prepared, shows that Slow Food is the ever more followed new trend and certainly influences the lives of tomorrow in nutritional science. Start your own campaign by supporting products with authentic character, made following traditional or natural methods. In Sardinia many producers are still attached to the methods past by their ancestor for example the Vermentino wine, Pecorino cheese or olive oil. Each of them ensures quality and gives extra value to the product. On the island many farmers combine their products with offer of lodging as well as tasting or a visit to the farm grounds. These particular accommodations are called Agriturismo and are very popular with holidaymakers who want an eco-sustainable vacation.

Chile can be among the most fun and exciting vacation destinations in the world. There’s so much to do and see in this South American country that it is a good idea to travel with a plan in mind. From the mystery that represents Easter Island, to skiing, to touring wine country, Chile is full of unexpected activities.

Travel to Easter Island

Easter Island is a small island that is thought to be the most remote inhabited island in the entire world. The island is known for its famous statues, called moai, as well as cave drawings, elaborate woodcarvings and more.

Modern day visitors to Easter Island can travel to a local market, volcanoes, beaches, and of course, the moai. Travelers can go surfing and scuba diving in the island’s ocean waters, hike Mount Terevaka, go horseback riding and more. Although the island is remote, it thrives on tourism so there are plenty of places for visitors to eat and stay.

Skiing in Chile

Ski season in Chile typically runs June through October, though it can sometimes vary a bit. Because South America has a different ski season than North American or European locations, skiers from all over the world travel to South America for ski vacations. One of the newest ski resorts offers snow sports enthusiasts both skiing and snowboarding opportunities. Valle Nevado has over 21,000 acres of skiable snow and caters to both beginners and experts alike. The resort also has a Half Pipe for snowboarders and it is the only one in the country recognized by the International Skiing Federation.

Exploring Wine Country

Chile is one of the most famous wine producing countries in the world. It is among the top five wine exporters and a must see for all wine lovers. Visitors can choose from a number of wine tours that take them through the area’s vineyards and wineries. Guests can travel by coach, car, or even bikes and horseback to help them stay in touch with nature. Wine lovers will enjoy the chance to sample individual Chilean wines and can even purchase their favorites right on the spot to take home to share with friends and family.

Foods to Enjoy in Chile

Many travelers expect the food in Chile to be unbearably hot, after all, the country shares its name with a pepper. This simply isn’t true, however. Chilean food is mild and heavy on the seafood since the country has such a long coastline. A typical dish in the southern part of the country is curanto. Curanto combines fish and other seafood, potatoes, meat and bread. Everything is cooked together, either traditionally over hot rocks in a hole in the ground or in a pot on a stove or fire. If you order a salad in a traditional Chilean restaurant, be prepared to receive sliced tomatoes and onions with an oil-based dressing. Seafood items include almejas con limon (raw clams with lemon juice), ceviche (raw sea bass that’s been minced and combined with lemon juice), mariscal (a cold soup of raw seafood) and congrio frito (conger eel that’s been deep fried).

No matter what travelers want to do on a vacation to Chile, the country offers something for nearly everyone. History buffs will love the experience of visiting Easter Island, while thrill seekers can head to the slopes for some fun. Wine and food lovers are also in luck, which means the most difficult part is to choose which activities to do on their vacations.

California day trips, weekend getaways and Pacific Coast highway vacation

Don’t let summer pass you by! In the spirit of Jack Kerouac – take the weekend off and head out on the highway. Here are some of the best California scenic drives, Pacific Coast highway vacations and California day trips.

Sonoma Mendocino Coast Scenic Drive: Marin City to US 101

This California scenic drive starts on the Marin Peninsula just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and follows Highway 1 up the beautiful Pacific coast. The highway passes through historic sites, redwood forests, wave carved coves, quiet sandy beaches and much more. From Muir Woods to Point Reyes National Seashore there are tons of state parks and beaches to visit and be awed by. It’s the perfect day or weekend retreat away from the bustle of San Francisco.

Angeles Crest Scenic Byway: La Canada to Mountain Top Junction

Only sixty-six miles long, this California scenic drive offers a secluded and scenic getaway from the traffic laden Los Angeles. The Angeles Crest Scenic Byway climbs up from La Canada into the San Gabriel Mountains, offering a stunning panoramic view. From the many vista points along the way, travelers can view the Mojave Desert, the San Gabriel Mountains and Pomona Valleys. This Pacific Coast highway vacation is so peaceful, you’ll forget about your busy life.

Route 1: Monterey to Morro Bay

Not that it needs mentioning, but Route 1 from to Morro Bay is a scenic drive that tops them all. Beginning south of Monterey, the highway takes you along the Big Sur where the Santa Lucia Range meets the Pacific Ocean. This scenic drives offers an abundance of marine life, sandy beaches and breathtaking views. In general, Route 1 from San Francisco to San Diego is a drive worth-taking and renting a convertible is recommended. For photos visit TravelPost blogger Marlon’s entry.

Carson Pass Scenic Byway: Jackson to Woodfords

The Carson Pass Scenic Byway travels along through alpine forests and meadows and over the towering Caron Pass in the central Sierra Nevada region. Spectacular views of rocky peaks and lakes, coupled with volcanic landscapes, deep canyons and dense forests make this seventy-five mile long scenic drive as varied as it is beautiful. There are plenty of historic sites, camping, hiking, fishing and backpacking to be done for this California day trip or weekend getaway.

Sonoma-Napa Valleys Scenic Drive: Santa Rosa to Hopland

A scenic drive and wine tasting extravaganza! This 132 mile scenic drive loops through the wine country of Sonoma and Napa and follows three California highways. Winding through rolling mountains and dense forests, the scenic drive also passes through Clear Lake, the largest natural lake entirely within the state. Along with wine tastings, there are numbers state parks and sites including Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga and the Jack London State Historic Park along the way on this California scenic drive.

BONUS Scenic Drive: San Francisco

At only 49 miles, San Francisco’s official self-guided driving tour is one of shortest. Simply begin anywhere you see one of the Scenic Drive signs with the big seagull, and follow the looping route counterclockwise to Mission Dolores, Coit Tower and other San Francisco highlights. Be wary of rush-hour traffic, I recommend hitting it up mid-week during the day.

We are not ugly anymore.

If you are inclined to being loud, rude, arrogant and like to sight see on the elegant streets of Europe in your sweats and running shoes, no one will sneer. They might even kiss you.

The Americans are not traveling. And we are missed.

It’s “the economy” of course but we are just not going anywhere. Not even out of our driveways to the mall.

It is true that the unemployment rate is approaching eight percent but that also means that 92 % of us are working.

You have saved the money for your dream trip and have hoarded your airline miles. You are afraid to spend them.

The airlines have trillions of dollars tied up on those miles and I guarantee they are going to make it harder and harder for you to use them in the future. They are hoping you will die and your family will not know they can have the miles transferred. But not right now. If you have a lot of miles, you can use them for hotels and car rentals. Check into that. Try to book your flights on line but sometimes you get better information if you pay the fee to call the mileage people on the phone.

I remember being on a Mediterranean cruise which was full of widows hanging over the rails and crying, “How George would have enjoyed this trip.” George was long gone.

I say. GO WITH GEORGE NOW. Or whomever. You are not getting any younger.

You may have to make some adjustments in your plans. That trip for three weeks to 17 countries may have to be cut down to size. Most people don’t remember where they have been on a schedule like that anyway. They spend years arguing if that picture of a church was in Brussels or Rome.

Here are some suggestions to make it your trip recession guilt free.

TRAVEL IN LOW SEASON

That means between November 1 to March 31. You do not go to Europe to swim. Everyone wants to go when the weather is “nice.” I ask you. When is that? The global warming issue is messing up weather all over the world. Just go.

GO TO JUST ONE CITY FOR A WEEK

You can get a full flavor of a major city in this length of time and see almost everything worthwhile. Then come home and count your pennies and your miles for the next one. Pick the city you have most yearned to see. Go there first.

RESEARCH HOTELS YOURSELF

There are many small hotels you can find if you do the work. And bed and breakfasts. Do not ask your travel agent because they do not get a commission on them so they will not book them. Do it yourself. Pick something just a little off the main drag. Not the suburbs. Make sure there is public transportation nearby. There are plenty of travel books in the library. I have found that that is a better source than on line. Fodor’s or Frommer is a good place to start.

I stayed in a very reasonable hotel in London right across from the British Museum. The room was small, the roses on the carpet did not match the roses on the wallpaper which did not match the roses on the bedspread which did not match the roses on the chair – but it was warm, with a big tub and they served a full English breakfast included in the price. The underground stop was a block away. Don’t ask me to remember the name but there are many like that in every major city. They do not spend money on advertising and may not have a web page. They cater to European tourists.

Some of these hotels have emails but they all will have a fax. Or call them up. It is not that expensive to call overseas these days. Be specific about what your requirements are.

Something like this:

Please reserve and confirm one room with two beds with a bath and TOILET for seven nights beginning ______ and ending __________. Please advise availability, cost including all taxes, any meals included and deposit required. (They count nights not days. And I am not kidding about asking for a toilet with the bath.)

Inquire politely about early check in as most international flights from the US come in early in the morning. Ask for detailed instructions by public or other reasonable transportation from the airport to the hotel. Taxis are pricey.

End with your name and contact information. They will answer you. They are very efficient.

EXCHANGE YOUR CURRENCY TO THE LOCAL CURRENCY AT A BANK

There are banks when you come to the airport. You will get a better exchange rate.

AVOID USING CREDIT CARDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Sometimes, a store or a hotel will hold a charge until their currency improves over yours. You might be in for a big surprise months later.

BUY A WEEKLY PASS ON THEIR LOCAL TRANPORTATION SYSTEM

Ask for a discount – senior, student – you might even get one if you are a teacher. Bring your ID. You can usually buy these at most airports so you can get started right away. There is usually a traveler’s tourist desk in major airports if you don’t know where to go to get these things.

(Also ask for a discount at all major sightseeing sites)

AVOID RESTAURANTS WITH WHITE TABLECLOTHS

That’s the signal they are more expensive. Or, look at the menu on the door. Do the math. Bring a little calculator with you.

LEAVE YOUR LAPTOP AT HOME (IF YOU CAN BEAR IT)

Use Internet Cafes which are everywhere. I am getting mixed answers about your using Skype. But bring your headset just in case.

Ditto your hairdryer. Buy a cheap one there. I have burned out several.

HAVE A PICNIC TO SAVE ON MEALS OCCASIONALLY

Buy a nice bottle of wine, some crusty bread and some cheese and have a simple meal watching CNN in your room. You will need some rest after a hard day touring.

And I was just kidding about ugly. I think you are beautiful!

What did I miss? Attention: You savvy travelers!

Add your suggestions!

Whether you want to party, experience Spanish culture, eat good food, drink fine wines, or enjoy live entertainment, you’ll get it in Tenerife. As everywhere else in Spain, the island comes to life when the sun sets. Bars and restaurants in Tenerife titillate and entertain, and clubs stay open until the very early hours – especially in Playa de las Americas – the busiest resort on the island, with the world-famous Veronica Strip. There are so many bars and restaurants in this area, that you are bound to find just what you ae seeking.

Beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery, a variety of watersports, and a warm welcome awaits anyone who visits the island. Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands, and is commonly considered the most popular. Most visitors go to the South of the Island, seeking the hot dry weather that is standard there. All age groups are catered for here – which is why it remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world today. For the golfing enthusiast, Tenerife has 9 courses – what better way to wind down after a late night of tapas, wine and beer, and the varied entertainment on offer.

It boasts one of the most varied landscapes of all the Canary Islands… and you can lie on a sun-drenched beach in the South, whilst gazing over to snow-capped mountains behind you. Add to that, the lush green forests, and staggering beauty of the cliffs, and your camera will rarely be in its holder.