VoyageMonkey Travel Blog

Charlotte North Carolina is a wonderful small city to visit in the South East.  It’s located along the border with South Carolina and centrally located between the Appalachian Mountains and the coast.  This makes it a great hub to visit a lot of this southeastern region of the country.  It is nicknamed the Queen City and the international gateway to the south.  Getting there is easy as there are many direct flights to Charlotte from most major U.S. airports.  Once there, the interstate highway system makes it easy to visit many attractions in the region. Go to VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals.

Top attractions in Charlotte include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Mint Art Museum, Discovery Place Science Museum, Aviation Museum, the Carowinds Amusement Park, and the city’s 100 acre Freedom Park.  There is also the National Whitewater Center, a 500 acre man-made whitewater rafting facility and water sports center.  It includes plenty of land activities like zip-lining, rock climbing and mountain biking.  For the history buff, you can enjoy the Levine Museum of the New South, which explores post–Civil War history in the South. While you are in Charlotte be sure to catch a Carolina Panthers NFL game at the Bank of America Stadium, or a Charlotte Hornets NBA Basketball game.  There are many other attractions in and around Charlotte, including the Billy Graham Library and the Hendrick Motorsport Complex.

Just outside of Charlotte you’ll find beautiful wooded areas and lovely country roads.  Take a scenic drive to nearby Lake Norman and hike around its beautiful Jetton Park woods.  The large recreational lake has plenty of good fishing and watersports like jet skis and boating.  Nearby you can visit the Carolina Raptor Center to see these wonderful winged creatures, or visit the Latta Plantation (a working plantation).  If you like shopping or want a good lunch or dinner in the area, stop by the beautiful Birkdale Village.

A popular day trip from Charlotte is the scenic 130-miles drive up to the mountain city of Ashville, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The City is near the Tennessee border and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  You’ll find 130 different varieties of trees in the area and the fall foliage is spectacular. The town of Ashville has a gorgeous downtown filled with quaint shops, art galleries, boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants.  It is all lite up for the Holiday season.  The main attraction there is the famous Biltmore Estate.  Touted as America’s largest home, the 250 room mansion was completed in 1895 by railroad baron George Vanderbilt for his family and friends.  The 8,000 acre property includes some of the best gardens in the country.

For longer road trips that may require an overnight stay, you can visit the coastal Outer Banks or drive to the South Carolina beach resort town of Myrtle Beach.  The Outer Banks located in North Carolina are a group of barrier islands stretching along the Atlantic coast nearly 100 miles. It’s a wonderful vacation spot filled with great beaches, outdoor activities including kayaking, jet skiing, and paddle boards, as well as some food fishing.  While here visit Kill Devil Hills, the site of the Wright Brothers 1903 first 12-second powered flight.  Myrtle Beach is one of America’s hottest beach vacation destinations.  At the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand coastline, you can enjoy over 60 miles of soft sandy beaches stretching south from the North Carolina border. The area is great for swimming, sunbathing, surfing and plenty of water sports.  You will also find plenty of Myrtle Beach entertainment, music, nightclubs, dining, shopping, golf and activities to enjoy on your visit.

While in Charlotte, VoyageMonkey.com travel recommends accommodations at the Hyatt, Le Meridian, Omni, or Ritz Carton Hotel (eat at Rooster’s Grill around the corner).  If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destination, visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

Cruise vacations have grown in popularity because of the excellent value and the expanded choices now available to you.  The major cruise lines have added more new modern super-ships and more home ports and destinations to choose from.  Mixing a few days at the home port cities followed by a fun cruise vacation provides for an awesome vacation of land and sea. Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best cruise vacations, hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals.

Home port cities to spend a few days include Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan Puerto Rico, Seattle, San Francisco, LA, and San Diego.  Imagine a couple days of San Francisco restaurants, New Orleans Jazz clubs, or New York shopping & Broadway shows followed by a spectacular cruise filled with daily entertainment, casinos, pampering and excellent food.  You can see a great show every night, listen to good music, and dine and dance the night away.  Most ships are equipped with world-class spas so you can pamper yourself.  You get to visit wonderful ports of call without packing and un-packing, and are provided many daily fun filled activities to choose from.

Some of the fabulous ports of call include Aruba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Alaska, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, the Panama Canal, and many more.  Winter time is a popular time to cruise as many of these places are warm and sunny during the winter months and the ocean water temperature remains close to 80 degrees, making it perfect for all kinds of water sports.  Beach goers can swim and sun bath keeping up their tans.  Families have found the convenience of having their group gather over the holidays and enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s eve on a cruise ship and leaving all the cooking and cleaning behind.  VoyageMonkey.com travel staff have enjoyed many a Thanksgiving turkey dinner on a cruise ship.  We highly recommend it.

Because of all the competition among the cruise lines, the food on most cruise ships has become really super good over the years.  Also, the prices have become very competitive. The cruise lines make much of their profit after you are on board the ship, on drinks, gambling, shore excursions, and extras.  So they need to fill all the cabins and sail with a full ship. Accordingly, the price of a cruise per person per day can be as low as $100 dollars per day.  Where can you get accommodations and all your meals for less than $100 per day?  There are a few retired people out there that have taken up living full time on a cruise ship.  For $100 per day, that works out to $36,500 per year.  Even if you go with more luxurious accommodations for say $200 per day, you are still getting a deal.

Popular cruise lines include Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival, Crystal, Disney, Norwegian, and Holland America.  VoyageMonkey.com Travel knows these cruise lines well and can assist you in booking the best accommodations available for the best price. If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

The city of Nassau is the capital and the largest city if the Bahamas. Located off the east coast of Florida, the Bahamas are comprised of around 700 islands and cays extending over 500 miles. The warm climate, tropical landscape, crystal clear blue waters, world class shopping and luxury resort hotel make Nassau one of the most popular tourist destinations.  Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals.

There are plenty of sports and aquatic activities to enjoy including diving, snorkeling, golf, boating and fishing.  Nassau has rich colonial history evident from its Victorian architecture, government buildings and historic forts.  This island paradise has some of the best food, drinks and nightlife to make it an ultimate vacation destination.  Rich in cultural arts & entertainment, Nassau features theatre performances, live shows, casinos, nightclubs & discos.  You will find plenty of activities to keep you busy or you can simply relax on a tropical beach and put your toes in the sand.

Nassau is located on New Providence Island, next to Paradise Island, home of the Atlantis Resort.  You must visit this resort while in Nassau.  You can get oriented to the resort at the Day Visitor Center.  The resort has a world-class gambling casino, elegant gourmet restaurants, pools, waterslides, rivers & rapids, aquarium, 7-acre lagoon and tropical beach.  Kids, and adults, can spend the entire day enjoying the water park and water slides which are some of the best in the world.  Next to the Atlantis you’ll find the 5-Star One & Only Ocean Club Resort, which provides some of the best service and amenities in the Bahamas.

Cable Beach is the most popular beachfront on New Providence Island and is home for a string of resorts.  It offers 4 miles of soft white sand.  Along this strip you will find, water sports, restaurants, bars, casinos, music, dancing and other nightlife.  The local water sports include parasailing, jet skiing and water-skiing. There are wonderful resorts along this beach like Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa & Resort, the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, and SuperClubs Breezes.  Breezes all-inclusive resort at Cable Beach offers some great bargain deals. Breezes has 400 rooms and suites, restaurants, bars, live music, disco, pools, Jacuzzi, tennis, water-skiing, kayaking, rock-climbing, volleyball, beach, circus trapeze and other water sports such as small sailing catamarans, windsurfers and water-trikes.  You can walk to nearby casinos, night life, and restaurants.

If you want to experience some of the finer dining in Nassau and don’t mind dressing up less casual, then go try Chez Willie on West Bay St., Dune at the Ocean Club at Paradise Island or the Graycliff Restaurant located at 8 thru 12 West Hill Street in Nassau, across from the Government House.  Otherwise there are plenty of casual restaurants all over the island with fantastic food.

Nassau is a popular destination for the cruise ship industry because they know it is a fun place to visit.  If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

Travel agents are seeing more Americans travel to Mexico again. With a favorable exchange rate, and a realization that tourist areas are generally safe, we are seeing travel to top resort destinations pick up. Many of these destinations have short flights making them a popular choice. The number of luxury resorts in these destinations makes Mexico a superb vacation spot. The most popular destinations in Mexico because of their safety, widely spoken English, and great accommodations are: Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancun. Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals.

The resort area at the tip of the Baja Peninsula is known as Los Cabos. It is made up of the two towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo. Between these two towns is the oceanfront stretch known as the corridor. While San Jose Del Cabo is more of a sleepy village, Cabo San Lucas boasts more action. Each of these towns has luxury resorts as well as the corridor. Most visitors prefer to stay in Cabo San Lucas on Medono beach because it is easy to walk around town. You’ll find a world-class marina surrounded by seafood and Mexican restaurants, as well as great shopping. You’ll find plenty of bars and nightlife as well as daytime activities. You can spend your day on the beach and enjoy plenty of water sports, like jet skiing, parasailing, and deep-sea fishing. There are many Americans and Canadians living in Cabo full-time, so most of the locals speak English. The local people are very friendly and treat the tourist very well. It is generally safe to walk around the town day or night.

Along the west coast of mainland Mexico along Banderas Bay you’ll find the lovely town of Puerto Vallarta. Just north of Puerto Vallarta lies the tourist destinations of Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita. These three areas along Banderas Bay are full of luxury resorts.  While Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita are a bit quieter, Puerto Vallarta has plenty of activities, attractions, nightlife, and fine dining. Most visitors prefer Puerto Vallarta for these reasons.  You can enjoy late-night dancing at one of the local nightclubs and discos. The Malecon is a beachfront pedestrian walk which is a popular gathering spot to watch the beautiful sunset.  Puerto Vallarta is one of the most liberal cities in Mexico, having its own gay pride parade, and women police officers. Because there are many Americans and Canadians living in this town many of the locals know how to speak English. This town truly has some of the best restaurants you will find at any Mexican tourist destination. You can feel safe walking around this town day or night. Simply use the same caution you would use at home. You will enjoy Puerto Vallarta.

Along the eastern coast of Mexico near the top of the Yucatán Peninsula you will find the resort destination of Cancun. The resort area stretches along a barrier island which is connected to the mainland by bridges and forms a large lagoon. This area is known as the hotel zone. Here you will find many luxury resort hotels along the beach. The beach is a long Sandy white stretch that goes several miles along the hotel zone. Cancun is known for its late-night discos and fun activities. You’ll find plenty of water sports to enjoy as well as several shopping malls. The town has plenty of fine dining restaurants and if you go into the adjacent town of Cancun you will find wonderful local Mexican restaurants to enjoy. Many of the locals in this area speak English so you will have no problem getting around. Going south along the coast all the way to the resort town of Playa Del Carmen you will find what is known as the Riviera Maya. This stretch of coast is filled with beach resort hotels all the way from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen. Many of these resorts are all inclusive providing all your meals and drinks and activities. Many of these resorts offer a quiet romantic ambience for those who want to simply get away from it all.

VoyageMonkey staff visit these destinations regularly and always feel safe. If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

The Bermuda triangle is an area north of the Caribbean Sea where ships and planes have been known to mysteriously disappear.  Bermuda is therefore the perfect place for those seeking to disappear from the stresses of life.  Here you can relax in the sunshine on the pristine pinky white sand beaches.  Bermuda has outstanding hotels with luxury accommodation, fine cuisine and year round sunshine. Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals.

Bermuda is an overseas territory of the UK located in the Atlantic Ocean around 650 miles off the East Coast of the United States. Famous for its pink sand beaches, Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay is one of its most popular beaches.   The bay is perfect for snorkeling as well as providing access to a broad range of water sports including sailing, parasailing, fishing, and water skiing.

If you get tired of the beach there are plenty of other things to do on the island.  The popular Crystal Caves are well worth a visit.  Here you descend over 100 feet underground through caves and caverns to admire the stalactites, stalagmites and dramatic rock formations. Bermuda is also great for golf with one of the highest concentration of golf courses per square mile in the world.  All of them are a great test of skill with some fabulous 19th holes to throw back some cold ones. A trip to Hamilton, the island`s main town is always a good hunting ground for serious shoppers. Start the day with coffee and pastries before strolling around the boutique and specialty shops that dot the town, especially along the sea beautiful front.

Another popular attraction on the island is the Royal Naval Dockyard.  You’ll see the world’s first iron house, the Bermuda Maritime Museum and the old ramparts and cannon that make up Bermuda`s fortress. This is a great place for kids wanting a break from the beach who will be well entertained with tales of pirates and sea battles.  The Dockyard too contains many fine shops and boutiques and shopping is another popular pastime here.

The island is a great place for foodies with restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. Bermudian cuisine blends the flavors of West Africa, Asia, India and the Portuguese Azores to create dishes that are distinctly Bermudian. The island specialty is a robust, tomato-based, spicy fish chowder with a prodigious list of ingredients.  Island Cuisine in Southampton specializes in affordably priced, great-tasting, local Bermudian home-style dishes. And to taste some of the island`s specialty fish dishes The Lobster Pot and Boathouse Bar has a great reputation with local and visiting foodies. And for that special occasion try Bermuda`s premier dining spot, the Newport Room, an AAA Five Diamond award-winning restaurant at The Fairmont Southampton. Its exquisite French-inspired cuisine is not to be missed.

Accommodations on the island are outstanding with a wide variety of resort hotels, villas, boutique & cottage properties to suit everyone. The Fairmont Hotels in Southampton and Hamilton offer undiluted luxury and are perfect for those who want to be seriously pampered. More modestly, Aunt Nea`s Inn at Hillcrest in historic St George`s is a very romantic inn. Or for a more intimate bed and breakfast type holiday, the Granaway Guest House & Cottage in Warwick Parish was built in 1734 with terrific views of the Great Sound.

If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

Hawaii is the northernmost Hawaiian island and is located around 100 miles north of Oahu. This lush island paradise has been the backdrop for over 70 Hollywood films.  You’ll find plenty of activities, world-class resorts, fine dining, and white sandy beaches to enjoy on this island.  You’ll find many direct flights to Kauai from major US airports. Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals. 

There are plenty of things to see and do on this island. Kayaking is popular on this island as it has many navigable rivers.  If you travel up the Wailua River you will find the Fern Grotto which is a popular tourist spot. People also enjoyed kayaking up the Hanalei River. For the more advanced kayaker and adventurer, a paddle along the rugged Napali Coast is the ultimate kayaking destination.  This secluded area boasts 1000 foot cliffs that drop directly down to the ocean and glisten with 1000 foot waterfalls. You can also visit this beautiful area by way of boat tour. Although there is a popular hiking trail into the Napali Coast it can be very dangerous so it is not recommended for the novice outdoorsmen.

On the southwestern part of the island you will find the Waimea Canyon.  Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, this reddish gorge is about 10 miles long by 1 mile wide and around 3500 feet deep from the canyon rim to the canyon floor.  The drive up to the canyon is beautiful and you’ll enjoy many panoramic views. Bring a camera because there are plenty of photo opportunities once you get to the canyon.  Just beyond the canyon you’ll reach the Kalalau Lookout overlooking the Kalalau Valley and the rugged Napali Coast.  The panoramic view is spectacular so you will want to take some photos here.  There are plenty of hiking trails in this area but the terrain is fairly rugged.

The outdoor activities on this island are endless.  You’ll find plenty of championship golf courses as well as tennis.  You can enjoy some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving around and there is outstanding surfing and wonderful areas for paddle boarding.  You can also enjoy deep-sea fishing.  You can bicycle around the island, rent a scooter or even rent a Harley-Davidson. But most of all we recommend enjoying one of the many beautiful beaches this island has to offer.  One of the most beautiful beaches on this island is Hanalei Bay. This long white crescent shaped beach stretches a couple miles along the edge of the historic town of Hanalei.

You’ll find plenty of excellent restaurants in the town of Hanalei as well as in Princeville, Kapa’a, Lihue and Po’ipu.  You’ll find everything from five-star fine dining to excellent taco trucks and food stands.  There are plenty of local hole in the wall restaurants that serve local island food and fresh seafood.  You’ll find plenty of burger joints around the island as well as pizza places and fruit stands serving fresh local grown delicacies. Your hotel concierge would be happy to make dining reservations for you or recommend a casual eatery.

The island has plenty of luxury hotels.  Most of these hotels are located in Po’ipu, Princeville, Lihue and Kapa’a.  In Po’ipu you’ll find the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa.  This is a lush luxury property with all the amenities you can ask for.  It has tropical grounds, lagoons and pools, as well as several fine dining restaurants.  In Princeville you’ll find the St. Regis Resort.  This resort has one of the most spectacular views anywhere.  The resort has a beautiful beach, large swimming pool, and fine dining.  Other recommended resorts include the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas the Marriott Kauai Resort Beach club and the Sheraton Kauai Resort.  If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

U.S News & World Report Magazine as well as other reputable sources have ranked Maui as the number one summer travel destination this year.  As hotel prices in Mexico and the Caribbean increase Maui becomes a more popular destination. Recently publicized crimes in Mexico and the Caribbean also make Maui a more sought after destination. Maui has some of the world’s best beaches, beautiful tropical forests and an endless array of activities to keep you entertained.  Getting to Maui is easy. You will find direct flights to Maui from many major US airports, particularly West Coast airports. We highly recommend renting a car as you will want to get around Maui and see all the beautiful sites this island has to offer.  Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals. 

Whether you drive the picturesque Road to Hana or drive up to the top of the Haleakala volcano at 10,000 feet, you will enjoy all that Maui has to offer.  We recommend visiting the historic whaling town of Lahaina. In Lahaina along front Street you will find many restaurants shops art galleries and entertainment facilities. Sunset watchers flock here every evening to watch the beautiful rose colored sunsets and dine on some of the best food you will find anywhere. No trip to Maui is complete without a stop in Lahaina.

Since all the beaches in Maui are public beaches you will not find a shortage of beautiful beaches to visit.  The two most popular beaches are Ka’anapali Beach and Wailea Beach because they are located in the resort areas. One of the longest most secluded beaches in Maui is Makena Beach at the south end of Maui.  No visit to Maui is complete without stopping at Ho’okipa Beach.  This is a world-famous beach for windsurfers who come from all over the world. You can pack a lunch and bring a beach blanket and watch the amazing windsurfers.  In Kapalua near the Ritz-Carlton hotel you will find D.T. Fleming Beach Park.  This is a beautiful beach park great for families as it has picnic areas restroom facilities and is good for body surfing. There are many fantastic beach parks all over the island. So bring your snorkel gear with you as you drive around.

You will find plenty of great high-end shopping in Maui, as well as outlet shops in Lahaina. At Ka’anapali beach you will find Whalers Village.  Whalers Village features high-end shops and restaurants. Here you can find designer handbags and Rolex watches as well as beach attire. There are also several beachfront restaurants where you can enjoy fine dining and watch the sunset. At the southern end of Maui in Wailea, you will find the shops at Wailea.  Similar to Whalers Village this shopping area features high-end shops designer clothing and handbags boutiques as well as fine dining.

Maui has become a major destination for foodies. Many of the restaurants feature Pacific-Rim menus, use locally grown ingredients, and use daily fresh catch fish. Some of the most popular restaurants are Mama’s Fsh House near Paia, Merriman’s in Kapalua, the Lahaina Grill in Lahaina and Fleetwood’s on front Street, owned by Mic Fleetwood the drummer for Fleetwood Mac. Aside from fine dining there are many small hole in the wall restaurants that serve delicious local food. So you can find food for any budget.

Most of the resort hotels in Maui are located at Ka’anapali Beach or Wailea.   Some of the best resort hotels at these locations include the Four Seasons Resort, The Grand Wailea, the Hyatt Maui Resort, The Westin Maui Resort, and the Sheraton Resort at Black Rock.  All these resorts are adjacent to golf courses, are located on the beach, and feature multiple large swimming pools and world-class spas. Each of these resorts also features fine dining restaurants and full guest amenities like workout facilities and concierge services.  These are just a few of the great resort hotels in Maui. If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) consist of over 50 islands, cays and islets grouped together in close proximity to each other.  This is a day sailor’s paradise, perfect for boating with it’s protected waters, trade-winds and tiny islands.  These islands are located around 60 miles east of Puerto Rico.  The largest of the islands is Tortola followed by Virgin Gorda, which is known for “The Baths” a beach with beautiful rock formations.  There are another 10 smaller inhabited islands.  Most of the other islands are uninhabited or private.  Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals. 

Road Town is the capital city on Tortola.  Major cruise ships dock in Road Town bringing in thousands of visitors on any given day.  You can fill your day touring Tortola or take an excursion by boat to Virgin Gorda, or one of the outer islands for the day.  In Road Town you will find many open-air safari buses & taxis that can take you around the island for a tour.  If you rent a car, be sure to stay on the “wrong” side of the road.  Road Town is one of the Caribbean’s largest yacht chartering centers.  The Moorings yacht chartering company can be found in Road Town.

Although the islands are British territory the US Dollar is the only legal tender.  Early British settlers operated sugar plantations here and exported large quantities of rum to Britain.  Rum is still produced on Tortola today although tourism, yachting and international finance are the main industries.  Tax-free international business corporations flourish on paper in this offshore financial haven.

BVI offers many water activities and has many pristine sandy white beaches to enjoy.  Here you can scuba dive ship wrecks, snorkel, sail, kayak, windsurf or lounge around on the beach.  The most popular beaches on Tortola are found at Brewer’s Bay, Brandywine Bay, Josiah’s Bay and Cane Garden Bay.  Cane Garden Bay is one of the most scenic and is popular for its horseshoe shaped bay, water toys, lounge chair rentals, shops and several beach bars & restaurants.  At Cane Garden Bay you will also find the Callwood Rum Distillery where you can buy local rum.  On the island of Virgin Gorda, the must-go-to beach is The Baths.  This geological marvel is one of BVI’s most popular spots that brings visitors from around the world.  This national park is filled with giant boulders that form a series of sea pools and secluded grottoes. 

BVI has many national parks, historic forts & ruins and museums.  While in Road Town visit the Old Government House and Folk Museum.  Road Town offers shopping, local dining and historic sight-seeing.  Most shopping is on Main St. close to the cruise ship dock.  This is the town’s primary shopping street.  There is a large open-air crafts market next to the cruise dock where you can buy inexpensive souvenirs.

You can find some of the best sailing and snorkel tours while in BVI. You can board a sailing catamaran in Road Town, put up the sails and sail across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Norman Island for a snorkel and then over to Peter Island to enjoy the beach at a local beach club.  Once you arrive at Norman Island you snorkel directly from the catamaran at a location called the Caves where you can snorkel into small caves along the cliffs.  Norman Island and its famous pirate history were immortalized in Robert Louis Stevenson’s book “Treasure Island.”  The snorkeling is great and the island is lush and beautiful.  Next stop at Peter Island where you stop at a local beach club to enjoy the beach, swim in the clear waters and enjoy tropical drinks at the beach bar.  On the sail back to Road Town you are served local rum punch while you enjoy the spectacular views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel and some of the other surrounding islands.  These tours are recommended for snorkeling and sailing fans.  Other recommended tours in BVI include: Best of Tortola sight-seeing tour; a trip to The Baths on Virgin Gorda; various “Swim with Dolphins” tours.  There are also various scuba, kayak & bike tours and beach resort escapes offered. 

If you’d like to eat lunch in Road Town, closest to the cruise dock you will find the Captains Table, which offers good seafood, meats & poultry dishes and has nice open air dining overlooking the Inner Harbour Marina.  Fresh lobster, grilled shrimp and conch are favorites.  Another good restaurant in Road Town is the Dove Restaurant & Wine Bar at 67 Main St.  The menu is Eclectic featuring items such as Coffee Crusted Angus Beef, Rabbit Spring Rolls, and Goat Cheese & Beef Salad.  You will also find standard seafood & meat dishes.  The restaurant offers an extensive wine list, specialty martinis, rums, cognacs and single malt scotches.  You can enjoy a harbor view while you enjoy tapas or sushi.  A more casual fun atmosphere can be found at the legendary Pusser’s Pub on Main St.  The pub serves authentic Caribbean cuisine and has the best happy hour in town.  It serves over 50 exotic Caribbean rum drinks.  The pub food ranges from peal & eat shrimp, jerk chicken and conch fritters to shepherd’s pie, grilled fish and pizza.

You’ll find plenty of world-class hotels in BVI to choose from.  If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

Located on the east coast of Australia, Sydney is the most populated city in Australia.  To fly there, in takes around 14 hours and 15 minutes nonstop from Los Angeles California.  The city surrounds on of the largest natural harbors in the world.  There are thousands of things to do and see around Sydney Harbour.  There are parks, beaches, a zoo, a lot of entertainment & attractions, shopping and fine dining.  The area is very safe to walk around and super clean and picturesque.  There are plenty of waterfront scenic walkways for you to stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery.  There are also ferry rides to various points around the harbor and Sydney, so it is easy to get around the area.  Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals. 

One of the most popular iconic attractions in Sydney is the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  There are millions of photographs of this bridge, particularly with the well-recognized Sidney Opera House in the foreground.  The best way to experience the bridge is to take a bridge climb tour of the bridge where you get to climb to the top of the bridge and experience the spectacular view of Sydney and the Sydney Harbour.  A Sydney Harbour cruise is another popular way to get up close to the bridge and enjoy the other sites around the Sydney Harbour as well.

The next most iconic attraction around the Sydney Harbour is the Sydney Opera House with its unique architecture resembling cascading seashells.  Although its name suggest opera, the facility is a multi-venue performing arts center.  While in Sydney be sure to treat yourself to a symphony, live theater, ballet, opera, or pop music at one of the world’s best live performance venues. The large structure also includes a recording studio, cafes, restaurants, bars and retail outlets.

Adjacent to the Opera House, you’ll find the Royal Botanic Gardens.  The gardens were first opened in 1816 and is a popular historic attraction.  Because it is free and open every day, the gardens are a must see for most visitors.  There are 74 acres of gardens, trees, fountains and ponds to enjoy as well as lawn areas to enjoy a picnic.  All with the city in the backdrop.  You’ll also find restaurants and shops at the gardens.  From the Opera House you can follow the seawall walkway to the gardens.  There is a great view of the bridge and Opera House from the gardens.

There are thousands of other things to see and do around Sydney.  You can visit the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, check out the aquarium and if you’re daring, dive with sharks.  Go up to Pylon Lookout for some great photos of Sydney.  The Manly Scenic Walkway, Mosman Bay Walk, and Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walkway are popular strolling areas to get great view of the Sydney area.  You can visit the Art Gallery of South Wales, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Queen Victoria Building, or the Chinese Garden of Friendship.  Stop by the neighborhood called “The Rocks” which is narrow cobblestone streets with restaurants, galleries, shops, and entertainment.  These are just a few of thousands of attractions and points of interest around Sydney.  The restaurants in town are also some of the best in the world.

You’ll find plenty of world-class hotels in Sydney to choose from.  Some of the best hotels include the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, Park Hyatt Sydney, Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney, the Westin Sydney, the Marriott Sydney Harbour, and the Sheraton on the Park.

If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.

Popularized by the big gold rush of 1849, the City of San Francisco began to attract tourists and never looked back.  The city is a sprawling metropolis filled with culture, attractions, entertainment, and some of the best fine dining in the world.   Set upon a background of a beautiful bay, turn of the 20^th century architecture, modern skyscrapers, and spectacular bridges, this city has it all and is the perfect travel getaway with some of the best accommodations around.  The city’s excellent transit systems make it easy to get around without renting a car.  This system will get you from the airport to downtown as well as many other outlying towns and cities around the San Francisco Bay Area.  Visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel for the best hotel accommodations, flights and car rentals. 

Some of its popular attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge which spans from San Francisco to Marin and the lovely town of Sausalito, with its fine waterfront restaurants and shops.  It’s best to walk out to the center of the span of the bridge to really appreciate all its glory.  Along the San Francisco waterfront you’ll find the famous Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39.  Here you’ll discover some of the best seafood restaurants in the world and plenty of shopping & entertainment.  The streets here are lined with street performers entertaining the crowds.  The large number of wild Sea Lions sunning themselves on the platforms at Pier 39 are a popular attraction for all ages.  You can watch them play with each other as they bark at the crowds.  We recommend walking from the Wharf along the Embarcadero waterfront all the way to the AT&T Ballpark (Home of the San Francisco Giants).  This will take you past the historic Ferry Building and underneath the San Francisco Bay Bridge.  The walk takes about a half hour each way.  There is also a trolley.

Most visitors to this City will take the Ferry to the small island of Alcatraz.  This historic prison on “The
Rock” once housed Al Capone and other gangsters of the era.  The tours of Alcatraz are very informative and the island offers excellent views of the city skyline.  They neighboring Angel Island is excellent for hiking, biking and picnics.  Other attractions that are popular include Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Zoo, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium, the Academy of Science, and the curviest street in the world, Lombard Street.  No trip to San Francisco is complete without visiting Union Square, the heart of the City’s shopping district. Here you can shop all day visiting high-end shops, boutiques, and galleries.  From here you can walk to China Town and think you are in China.  Union Square is a great place to get on one of San Francisco’s famous cable cars to get you to other destinations around the city.  We can’t mention all the great attractions because there are so many.

Venturing out San Francisco will give you that much more to see around this beautiful area.  Just half hour north will but you in the Napa Valley wine country (you’ll need a rental car or tour for this).   Minutes across the bay you can visit the town of Berkeley or the City of Oakland (you can get there on the transit system).  One hour south by train your can visit San Jose.  Driving down the Scenic highway 1 along the coast from San Francisco to the surfer town of Santa Cruz will provide you with some of the best coastal scenery California has to offer.  Once in Santa Cruz you can visit the Beach Boardwalk amusement park with its roller coasters and fun rides.

San Francisco has some excellent hotels for your accommodations.  A good central point location is the Westin St. Francis located at Union Square.  If you wish to stay along the Embarcadero Water Front, the Hyatt Regency is a great choice with its large atrium interior and easy access to transportation.  If you want to stay near Fisherman’s Wharf we recommend either the Argonaut Hotel or the Sheraton.  Other hotels we recommend include the St. Regis, Le Meridian, the Mandarin Oriental, and the Four Seasons.

If you need travel reservations for convenient flights and hotel accommodations to any destinations visit VoyageMonkey.com Travel.  You can book online or call our travel consultants who can assist you in planning your getaway.