Someone recently asked me why anyone of sane mind would want to move to a third world country such as Costa Rica and actually plan to live there. I would like to share, and to document, the reasons for this to my fellow American citizens who may someday decide to pick up their roots and do the same....

When you think of the Outer Hebrides, you normally think of sandy beaches, ancient standing stones and lilting Scottish accents. You don`t normally associate the Outer Hebrides with some of the best driving in the British Isles... I certainly didn`t expect to enjoy the driving so much when I visited...

Successful packing is all about coordinating. Whether you are going on a business trip or for pleasure, stick with a theme. Believe it or not, you should be able to pack for a week to ten days in a carry-on shoulder bag and a 21? expandable suitcase (which could be carried on if you are nervous ab...

Admit it. When the sun is out and you are at your favorite campsite or cottage on the lake the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time cooking a meal. Often, when vacationing, the lure to purchase instant foods is strong. Unfortunately, these convenience foods often come over packaged u...

Informed travellers are now saving hundreds even thousands of dollars on their next vacation. Many have discovered secrets that the travel industry wants to keep hidden from you. Travel expert and author James Steubing has recently published a book that promises would be travellers how to book hotel...

Writing a résumé can be one of the most daunting parts of any job search. Quite frankly, it is one of the most important elements in helping you finding work. A good résumé can ease doors open while a poorly written one will certainly shut these very same doors. In aviation, there are certain things...

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel & Bookpleasures interviews Susie Ellis, President of Spa Finder Inc. Norm: Could you tell us a little about yourself and your expertise in spas, and why you became interested in them? Susie: I was athletic in my youth and naturally gravitated toward bein...

A Bahamas vacation is something that most travelers will never forget. The 700 islands of the Bahamas make up a 100,000-square-mile archipelago, extending over 500 miles. Including uninhabited cays and large rocks, it has a total estimated land area of 5,382 miles. The two main islands are New Prov...

Those who visit the Hotel Playa Mazatlan have the option of attending one of the longest running dinner shows in Mexico. The Fiesta Mexicana has been delighting guests of the Hotel Playa Mazatlan for nearly forty years. This night of food, drink and entertainment is a night of enjoyment that all w...

A free valentine ecard is an incredibly romantic way to let your loved one know how you feel about her. Free valentine ecards can be anything from sentimental to funny depending on how you want your loved one to respond to you card. A free valentine ecard is a great add on gift for Valentine`s Day. ...

Florida beachfront rentals are a great way to enjoy a Florida vacation. Florida beachfront rentals and Florida beachfront vacation homes can be found in all the most popular beach areas year-round. Besides the fabulous Florida beaches you have to choose from, there`s so much to do while on vacatio...

Unlike the sailboats, a motor yacht does not depend on wind velocity for charting its course. Motor yachts can have more flexible cruising routes than sail boats whose operational area is heavily dependent on wind conditions. Hence, more people prefer motor yacht charters for their dream vacations. ...

We have all heard the saying it is better to be safe than sorry. Indeed, this makes sense and parents love to recite this to their kids, as it makes them feel important and full of wisdom. Lucky for us we had such parents, coaches and teachers who always recited this saying to us. Do you know why? B...

Hong Kong is the 424 sq mi gateway to Chinese Market with 7 Million people living within the territory now defined as the ?Special Administrative Region? (SAR) of the People?s Republic of China. Many businesses in Hong Kong have their manufacturing in Guandong province. Hong Kong`s strengths are i...

So you`ve decided to shun the neon-flashing motel chains and marble-foyered monsters and venture into the world of cozy, intimate bed and breakfasts? After all, you`ve heard how much more personal and romantic the b&b experience is, right? Well....usually that`s the gospel truth. However, there a...

Argentina is one of the most southernly located country in South America. It is situated between the Andes Mountains to the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east and south. Neighboring Argentina to the north is Brazil, and Uruguay to the Northeast. Argentina also has a hold on the Falklan...

History On January 22, 1947, the first commercial TV station west of the Mississippi River, KTLA, began operating in Hollywood. In December of that year, the first Hollywood movie production was made for TV, The Public Prosecutor. In addition, in the 1950s, music recording studios and offices bega...

New Military acoustic torpedo will kill the inbound weapon by pre-detonating it while in route. Think of it as a sound wall in the water being send out from a Navy Ship or Nuclear Submarine; a defense system literally of the future. Imagine how this changes submarine warfare? Even if you can find it...

Long gone are the days when an airline passenger is able to go straight to the gate and catch their flight. As you all know, the way we think about travel has been profoundly changed by the events of Sept. 11 and their aftermath. These shifts have had a practical and psychological impact on all of u...

The Romantic Road follows an old trade route and leads from the city of Würzburg (see a previous article of mine for a description) to the foothills of the Alps. Driving along the Romantic Raod, or part of it, gives you a chance to experience medieval towns, baroque palaces and King Ludwig`s castle....

In May of this year I had my first taste, in Belfast, of Bushmills 20-year-old single malt whiskey aged in sherry casks. It was an unforgettable experience. Appropriately enough, the idea for the trip to Belfast was hatched over a Bushmills in Minneapolis with a new Irish friend. Like most wild goos...

Space tourist Gregory Olsen and the twelfth ISS crew lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad inside their Soyuz TMA-7 at about 11:55 p.m. EDT on October 1. Olsen, who paid $20 million to be a "spaceflight participant" as he calls it, joins an elite group of space tourists: Dennis Tito w...

The determination of whether you should purchase travel insurance is a determination of whether you want to assume nothing bad can happen during your travels, or whether should something bad happen you can adequately resolve these unforeseen events. None of us think something bad will happen. We ass...

Are you working too much? If you are stressed out and in need of some rest and relaxation, consider a weekend getaway. A two day trip to somewhere close can be a great way to recoup and connect with your spouse or loved ones. If you are on a budget, have no fear, with a little bit of planning you ...

Are you travelling to Malaga in Andalucia or the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain? If you are then there is simply a bewildering choice of ways to get here. In total there are 118 different Airports from 30 Countries with direct flights to Malaga International Airport. Although there are only 2 direc...

So many people would like to be paid to fly for a living. Many do not wish to drive a bus or an ?Airbus? in this case and work for a big airline. There are the ups and downs of the airline industry, as it is cyclical and if you get with the wrong airline in a downward sector rotation, you will be la...

How about a step back in time? We began our visit at none other than the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, where we stayed in a Victorian rail car. We were there the week or so before their official season started and it was a little quiet. But I was assured that things came a live when tourist season started....

London is one of the world`s premiere cities. With Buckingham Palace and the world famous London bridge, it has many attractions that draw visitors. With locations all around London, a good hotel in London is not hard to find. It is important to find out some basic information before deciding on ...

Cheap air fares are easy if you keep these 8 tips in mind. Airlines aim to make as much money as possible. They are not going to put the cheap air fares out front, so you need to know how to find those gold mines yourself. There are basically 8 rules I use on a regular basis when booking flights t...

Nearly everyone needs to rent a car at some point in his or her life. It could be while on vacation or when your current vehicle needs some work done or has been in an accident. Enterprise rental cars are a great option for someone who needs to rent a car. While they specialize in local and neighbor...

Southeast Spain along the Costa de Almeria is an unspoilt paradise. A world away from the high-rise hotel blocks and apartments that are associated with some other coastal areas of Spain, this Costa is subdued and altogether much more inviting. Mile upon mile of sandy beach stretches out along the c...

Whenever you book a vacation, choosing a hotel is key to your level of enjoyment. Hotels are usually rated with a star system, and this generally correlates with the hotels` price. When choosing a place to stay, ask yourself the following questions: How much time will I spend in the hotel? What amen...

The wine tradition in Paarl is older than the roots of the aging Oak Trees that line its Cape Dutch streets. The first European settlers arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, planting the seeds that solidified the Cape`s reputation as a wine growing heaven. Now that the work has already been ...

Due to the important extension of land Spain comprehends and the different geographical areas it has, this country shows some different climates at some spots than at in others, although there are some general guidelines which can be applied to it as a whole. In general, all the different areas o...

The Cóte d`Or is one of the most famous regions of France, recognized in the entire world due to its high quality wines. Its location is very particular since it comprehends an area framed by three important water sources: one given by the Saóne River and the Rhóne River, a second one given by the S...

The Zugspitze is a dramatic mountain above the town of Garmisch- Partenkirchen in Southern Bavaria, Germany. I enjoyed walking mountain trails were I lived three hours away, and inquired about the trails to the top of the Zugspitze. In Germany hiking isn`t much of an extreme sport. The trails are we...

Lone Pine, California doesn`t look like much at first. It`s a dusty desert town of a few thousand, on highway 395, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas. There might still be only one traffic light. So what makes it a great vacation destination? The Lone Pine Film Festival Here are some of t...

The winds cut deeper and make progressively louder noises as the days shorten. Fog creeps in from the sea more often. And then Halloween shows up, as if to really remind us about things otherworldly. It`s no wonder Oregon`s northern coast has a load of ghostly tales swirling about. It`s no wonder th...

You?re ready! You?ve been working hard and saving a ton of money. Now you?re ready to buy a brand new Flat Screen TV. Hopping in the car, you head off to the local electronics store and just take it all in. There must be a million sets for you to choose from, but ?come rain or snow or dark of n...

The towers of the legendary Desert Inn in Las Vegas (nine-story each) were imploded on November 17, 2004, in order to make room for a new construction in the "Wynn Las Vegas" project, initially planned to span over 20 acres of land. Nostalgically described as "another chapter in Las Vegas` history...

No matter where you go in the world, each destination or country you visit, has something uniquely there own. They can range from landmarks, both manmade and natural, right the way through to transportation. For example, kangaroos are synonymous with Australia, Big Ben with Great Britain, cigars in ...

The Grand Canyon formed around 10 million years ago after disturbances in the surface of the earth resulted in the land rising, allowing the Colorado River to pierce a path through the rock. The rock forming the riverbed today is over 2 billion years old. The Grand Canyon lies in the southern stat...

Last Minute Travel doesn`t have to lead to expense. Let us show you how to get the best deals and bargains without the stress. For any last minute vacations, it pays to know when the most expensive travel periods are. The high demand for travel during certain periods drives the prices up for m...

Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera have an exceptional array of attractions and activities from the Mayan ruins at Tulum to the Playa del Carmen nightlife, you will love your Mexico vacation. Here is a listing of some of the popular ones: Beaches and sport activities This area has some of th...

Spain is a country in southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France. Spain consists of 19 autonomous communities including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possess...

The only souvenir I still have from the Bahamas is an old ?I survived the Booze and Cruise? t-shirt...and a few snorkeling rules forever etched in my memory. Back in college (as if I needed to say more), my boyfriend, his best friend, and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas. We, of course, did all the...

Each major airline now gives you the opportunity to find information about airline flights and discount airfare and cheap tickets on the internet. One reason that each airline does this is because so many people now have access to computers.. What does that mean to you as a traveler? It means that ...

Fast, easy and efficient could describe life in Singapore. You don?t stroll along the streets in a world of your own with time to spare and you definitely do not walk when a taxi is waiting nearby. Life in Singapore is geared towards the making of money and any spare moment given is put to that task...

Author/Narrator Stephen Schochet researched Hollywood and Disney stories and lore for 10 years while giving tours of Hollywood. He had the unique idea the stories could be told anywhere and that`s what led him to create the critically acclaimed audiobooks "Fascinating Walt Disney" and "Tales Of Holl...

"Son para dinero y trabajo," the plump little witch raises the talismans to eye level. "Con estos tu tendras buena suerte." Magic talismans for money and jobs? Do they work? Of course not, but I need all the luck I can get, so I purchase the talismans for five Bolivianos. Darn cheap if they`ll ...