Las Vegas Casinos? What Else Can We Do There?

April 9th, 2008 Olga Pizza

Casino, luxurious hotels, expensive shops… These are the first things we associate with Las Vegas. So, let’s find out what places and attractions really make Las Vegas so popular.

Bellagio Fountains

If you are a romantic and just like everything beautiful and grandiose, this place is in your must-see list. Just take a camera and have a walk along the boulevard. There is no charge for admission, but you should consider the open hours 3pm - 8pm (every half hour), 8pm - midnight (every fifteen minutes), 8p - midnight (every fifteen minutes).

• the water jets can really span more than 1,000 feet
• and can shoot up to 240 feet in the air
• all this is accompanied by romantic classical music and choreographed lights.

Skydiving In Vegas

Las Vegas is the city of chances, risks and freedom. Skydiving also presents us such feelings, while the picturesque sites of the desert from 10,000 feet make this adventure in Las Vegas really unforgettable. Of course, we can jump everywhere in this world, but such a sharp contrast between the luxurious casinos and the barren desert that surrounds the city is really amazing. The price is about $200, including the transport for returning to the hotel.

• all Las Vegas skydiving companies are located outside the city
• it is necessary about 30 minute drive to get there
• the majority of those who prefer such a type of adventure in Las Vegas are first time jumpers.

The Mirage Hotel and Casino

This hotel is famous with its volcano that erupts every fifteen minutes during the night and incredible Secret Garden. Thus, those who prefer to enjoy tropical theme can see a lot of palms, smell exotic flora, and enjoy the soothing sounds of waterfalls. Just feel yourself on some tropical island, but not in the hotel.

• don’t miss the opportunity to stand on bridge under the 90-foot-high glass atrium and enjoy the tropical surroundings
• the Mirage volcano is closed for renovation until late 2008
• for $15 for adults, $10 for children 4-12 you also can enjoy Dolphin Habitat exhibit

The Grand Canyon

You can choose various types of tours in order to admire this wonderful place. As for me, airplane tour is the best choice if you want to see the grandioseness of the Grand Canyon. Taking such a tour, you will be able to admire the incredible views of the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and Lake Mead.

• the journey may last up to three hours
• the tour operators provide you with the complimentary roundtrip hotel transfers in Las Vegas

Hoover Dam

This place is the second in the must-see list. Moreover, it is also located within the Grand Canyon National Park. Just make a journey along Lake Mead which is at the lower end of the canyon and is formed by the waters behind Hoover Dam. During a tour, you will have two hours in order to explore everything.

• Hoover Dam was built into the walls of Black Canyon to hold back the Colorado River
• enjoy this “modern engineering wonder of the world” traveling on motor coach
• for $10.00 per person you also can access museum, Visitors Center and the movie on the construction of Hoover Dam

Mandalay Bay Hotel

Have always dreamed about such an experience as diving with sharks? Mandalay Bay offers you to enjoy this aquatic adventure. A 1.3 million gallon tank with a tunnel that runs through the center of it allows you to admire sharks and other tropical fish swimming all around you. Open hours from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• you can admire more than 100 sharks
• price of tickets is $12.95 for adults, $9.95 for children
• don’t forget to listen to a guide during the excursion and you will learn a lot about the aquatic life

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino

It is the best place for those who are planning to spend week-end with their children. Circus Circus Adventuredome Theme Park can really thrill your senses and boggle your mind. The best things there are various rides for any age group.

• be sure to check whether you children really should ride some rides (such rides as the Chaos, Inverter and Canyon Blaster are rather dangerous)
• such attractions as Canyon Blaster and Rim Runner overwhelm your senses
• just recollect your childhood and enjoy!

So, you have already planned your trip to the city of dreams?

Posted in Adventure Travel, Hotels, Romantic Travel, Tours | No Comments »

5 Things To Consider Before Your Cycling Tour

March 25th, 2008 Olga Pizza

You know, we girls, don’t like much such a type of vacation. No luxurious hotels, comfortable transport and incredible restaurants. It seems to be not so pleasant… till we met the guy of our dreams who inspire us for such an adventure. He tells us about romantic sunsets and so heady feeling of freedom, incredible views and joy of life during the travel. During such conversations we agree with everything and really are excited about this trip… but you (notwithstanding your gender) should learn several tips in order to make your cycling tour really amazing.

First of all, you should decide how far you are going to travel every day. It will be twice the distance of your typical day trip, so you should train beforehand. It means that you should start to cycle every day three months before the journey. If you are a beginner, the first three days of your training will be horrible… as well as the first three days of your cycling journey. On a trip you will become stronger and at the end you will make a distance without difficulty. The other thing is to set the real goals. Thus, if you plan to ride 50 miles but can make only 25, you will be disappointed and exhausted. It is a trip for your pleasure, so don’t be in a hurry and have a great time without trying to be a record-holder.

Camping… If you have never do that, you should get some experience before your trip. Spend several week ends trying to find out how to pitch your tent and what camping gear is necessary. Talking about the latter I should mention about a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, fuel bottle, can opener, matches, stove, knife, spoon, fork. Be sure that even with the best gear and no experience you will be miserable. So, don’t ignore my tips about such weekend trips. If the above mentioned list is too challenging for you, choose only slight camping. In this case, you can purchase food and forget about the cooking gear. But still a knife, spoon, can opener are the must-take-things.

On the whole you should take as minimum things as possible. Read the following list and add some of your own things to it (though I don’t think there will be a lot of them)

• clean cycling clothes (take two sets of outer clothes and five sets of socks and underclothes, not including what you wear)
• a rain suit (even if you are sure that there will be good weather)
• not less than two bottles of water (fill them at every stop)
• scissors, thread and needle
• repair kits for bike and tires
• small flashlight
• a small bottle of lotion, a chap stick, sunscreen (no more cosmetics, ladies )
• some bright cap or bandanna (which protects your face and ears from the sun as well as help others see you on the road)

Tools
You may get tired, but your bike may get broken. So, what tools you should take. The first thing to consider is what tools you can use There is no sense to carry a tool in this case. But if we are talking about the tools which your bike requires, we should mention about any type of tool that helps you to tighten anything that comes loose. Nowadays the stores offer you all the necessary in a handy mini-kit. It should contain spare crews, a crescent wrench, tire irons, a flathead screwdriver and Allen wrenches. It is wrong time to study the contents of your kit when you are on the trip.

Hostels
For those who are not planning to spend the nights at woods (or just can’t stand it any more after two nights or so), such organizations as American Youth Hostels offer inexpensive places to stay. There may be no private rooms or bath, but you will be in a room with others of the same sex. You can find there all the necessary facilities and cook, all you need is a sleeping sack. As a rule, the hostels are located in some splendid places to visit, so, you can find them on various maps.

Maps
Everything depends on the type of trip you prefer. Whether you want to avoid main roads with heavier traffic. Is it desirable for you to buy food on the road? In any case, you should be aware of features which may not be shown on some maps. For example, mountains or national parks. In both cases, it will be rather difficult for you to cross them. The whole info about how wooded, mountainous or cleared is your route you can get from the 1:250,000 scale that is considered to be the best for cycling.

Food
Don’t be afraid to eat in restaurants if you don’t want to cook. But still avoid greasy food. Meat, fruit, vegetables and grains are the best choice for you. You should plan your ration and timetable, so that you will not feel hungry several miles away from appropriate place to eat. Don’t forget to buy something in the supermarket before you leave a town (even if it seems to you that it’s unnecessary. It is a rule, so don’t violate it).

On the whole, the main rule is to rest before you’re tired, eat before you’re hungry… and make sure that you are really happy

Posted in Adventure Travel, Cycling Tours, Tours | No Comments »

Safari - The World’s Best Places To Kill… Or Admire

March 13th, 2008 Olga Pizza

Mild wind in your hair, sultry day, subdued voices of your friends… You’re tired but still feel so impressed and full of emotions. Just another day on your adventure tour, so exciting and so emotional.

What does adventure travel mean for you? Walking tour, horse rinding, rafting? Notwithstanding the type of activity you prefer, all of us are seeking for more meaningful vacation. Cruise buffet and sandy beaches are not interesting for us any more. We need something exciting and memorable… or just need to try something new in order to understand that the “usual” holiday is just the thing we are dreaming about.

Safari… For some people this word is associated with something cruel and very expensive (such an interesting combination). Well, this time you don’t have to kill anyone. Just admire the nature, animals and perhaps, take some photos. No luxurious hotels, dress codes and cocktail parties on the beach.

India and Africa are considered to be the leaders for such a type of vacation. As a rule, you may choose between 7 or 14 days trip, with at least 3 people in a group. Thus, Indian companies offer you to visit the most famous temples or forests of this country. The other interesting option is the kind of transport you choose. Horses, camels or trivial cars. But of course, you should have some training at home in order to stand 4/6 hours riding everyday. Talking about hotels I wasn’t right. Different packages provide you with all the necessary things including tickets to some regions as well as booking rooms in hotels. And they also may be luxurious

“The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it.” Tree climbing lions, antelopes, hippo and plenty leopard sightings. First of all, you should choose the country. Botswana and Namibia for those who prefer solitude. With only 2 people per square kilometer it is rather possible. South Africa and Namibia have a good infrastructure in Africa, so this is possibly the cheapest safari destination. Tanzania presents you a breathtaking view of Lake Manyara with its millions of flamingoes. Kenya offers you to admire The Annual Great Migration of more than 1.5 million antelope, but you have to fly for traveling between parks. Of course, it will increase your costs. Zambia is lesser known safari country, so its infrastructure also is not so developed.

It is just a short description of the places where you can look differently at this life. Just a reminding about these wonderful places. Sometimes admiring the beauty of leopards or zebras, we may think that this world is perfect. With such beautiful creatures, it is really possible. Just don’t forget about it

Posted in Adventure Travel | 3 Comments »