The World's Most Beautiful Islands

Prepare yourself for the amazingly beautiful islands tripadvisor has put together for us!

Some of them combine exotic panoramic views and magical crystal clear seas, others bring together tradition and romance!

In all cases, who wouldn't love to be there and experience their uniqueness?
If you have already been in at least one of these irresistible islands, write us about it!

1. Ambergris Caye, Belize Cayes

2. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

3. Bora Bora, Society Islands

4. San Juan Island, Washington

5. Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

6. Isla Mujeres

7. Moorea, Society Islands

8. Koh Tao, Surat Thani Province

9. Easter Island, Chile

10. Nosy Be, Antsiranana Province

 Book your tickets for summer now and get the best deals here

By: Progress On 00:55

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Funny signs from around the world!

Signage around the world works on the principle of "Symbolic Reasoning" whereby humans are the only species on planet earth able to give special meaning to a piece of metal or plastic with letters on it.

No doubt you have come across signs on your travels that seem to make no sense! Some of them confusing and others make you roar with laughter.

Perpetual Traveller has complied few collection of funny signs from different countries and places, just to convince you that craziness is common and shared in every country!

By: Progress On 06:59

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Best Sunsets Worldwide

This article is suitable for all those in love, for the romantic ones and most importantly for all those people who love the view of a sunset!

The search for a beautiful sunset never stops and people and tourists keep seeking new and unique places to enjoy it. Below, we present some of the most wonderful destinations worldwide, according to CNN.

U Bein Bridge, Mandaley, Myanmar

When the sun decides to set on the biggest wooden bridge of the world, then the picture is amazing. This 1,2 km bridge is passing over Taungthaman lake. This structruction got its name from U Bein, who used to be the mayor of the area around the mid 1800s. This structure is mostly used by Buddhists monks and locals.

Masai Mara, Kenya.

The African sky is getting dressed in red and draws a picture that stays forever in someone's mind. From July till October you can see zebras and gazelles running relocating to the National Park. Unique camps and lodges are available for accommodation.

Uluru, Australia

Uluru is a huge 348 metres rock which is located in Australia's desert. What is memorable is the fact that the rock becomes magical when the sun disappears, as it is constantly changing colours.

Aci Trezza, Catania, Italy

Aci Trezza is a graphic village in Eastern coast of Sicily, only 10km from Catania, mostly known to the majority of people as "The island of Cyclops". The three gigantic rocks create an exclusive phenomenon sight. Enjoying the sunset from this point, is said to be one unforgettable experience.

Grand Canyon, USA

In an extremely deserted place on the planet, people can enjoy one of the most stunning daybreaks. This huge Canyon has the characteristic to transform, as sun sets above Arisona.

Dubai, UAE

Emirates have one of the most beautiful sunrises of the world. The view of the sun plunging into the sea and the stunning view of the colours that Arabic bay takes from Jumeirah beach it can be said that is an impressive and unforgettable experience. 

West Lake, China

Sun dives in the lake and the Leifeng Pagoda tower seems to be dyed from the colours of the sunrise. Leifeng Pagoda was initially built in 975, and rebuilt in 2002 after its collapse back in 1924, in order to celebrate the birth of Prince Wu. 

Guanshan, Τaivan

Locals claim that from the mountain hill of Guansham someone can see one of the best sunrises of the world. This mountain is located in the centre of Kenting National Park and cannot be described in words. 

Ia, Santorini

Santorini's sunrise is one of the greatest sunrises worldwide and is located in Aegean Sea. The volcanic nature of the ground and the traditional white houses along with Deep blue Aegean Sea are creating one of the most spectacular sights.

By: Progress On 06:45

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Cheap flights and their principles - Why are they so cheap?

There are several low cost airlines around the world. However, all differ in their service and what they offer but many of them are following specific principles in order to lower their costs and gain money.

For all those wondering why some airlines are cheaper than others, we present you some of their key principles and we explain how do they manage to offer cheap flight tickets to travelers.

• Standardized fleet: This might include lower training, lower maintenance costs, purchasing many aircrafts in order to achieve a discount.
• Another key principle is to keep only the essential features. Some of these might be reclining seats, pilot auto-throttle and frequent flyer schemes.
• They prefer to use secondary airports that cost less, in order to decrease their landing fees.
• Many low-cost airlines prefer to have many flights per day in order to be as less time on the ground as possible and pay lower airport charges.
• They also achieve to reduce their costs by not having calling centers and are only operating internet websites, where someone can book and customize a flight.
• Also online check in does not only help passengers to save time but at the same time helps companies to reduce the cost of operating desks at the airport.
• Most of these low-cost airlines impose baggage charges. Fewer bags mean faster loading of aircraft. On the other hand, extra luggage means extra revenue.
• Their staff is trained to do multiple jobs. For example, a cabin crew can also engage with checking tickets at the gate or cleaning the aircraft.
• Hedge fuel costs: With no doubt, fuel is expensive thus, they buy it in advance when it is cheaper.
• Extra features and services are charged: Some of them include on-board services, reserved seating, extra baggage, headphones, pillows etc.
• They do not use reserved seating or they just split people in groups. If any passengers want to get a ‘’good’’ seat, they pay an extra amount and they are boarded before others.
• A large number of airlines of this category charge for last minute baggage check-in.
• They are trying to reduce the weight of the aircraft through several tactics. Some of them are less baggage, very little extra fuel etc. 

Also we present you some interesting facts about low-cost airlines:

• easyJet was the first company who started charging for coffee.
• The cheaper the ticket, the less likely it is you'll be flying at a time of day that suits you.
• Ryanair is expecting to carry more than 81,5 million passengers this year.

By: Progress On 04:47

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Strange Items Found by Airport Security

It's a fact that while travelling, the majority of us are used to carrying a lot of unnecessary things that we are probably not going to use during our vacation or business trip. However, there is no reason to feel ashamed! Perpetual Traveller Overseas is proud to present you with some of the strangest things that airport security has seized, while conducting a search on luggage.

1) Tiger cub
A woman in Thailand was carrying something inside her luggage while travelling to Iran that airport security deemed suspicious. They thought it was a teddy bear in the beginning but when her suitcase was opened they discovered a little 3-month-old tiger cub! This cute animal had been drugged asleep and placed in a bag. According to the woman, she had been planning to sell it in Iran. Luckily, it was in healthy condition and sent to an animal protection centre to find love and care.

2) Skeletons
In Munich, security spotted something suspicious while scanning a suitcase. After opening the bag, they found that the suitcase's owner had been carrying the bones of her brother, who had died 11 years ago. As she explained, she was planning to bury her brother in Italy. Surprisingly enough, they were allowed through inspections after all the necessary documents were presented to the authorities.

3) A Baby
The baby was found alive, luckily. The parents told airport security that they had placed their child in the suitcase because they hadn't had the necessary documents and Visas in order to take the child with them. The couple has been accused for exposing the baby to radiation.

4) Pigeons
What is really peculiar about this case is not that a man was carrying pigeons but the fact that he hid them in his pants and tried to pass through security. As something seemed suspicious about him, they ran a body search and discovered in his pants pigeons that were placed in large envelops!

5) Snakes
A woman tried to transport a python and thought it would be a good idea to hide it in her bra. However, security thought it rather suspicious that she was scratching her breast constantly while waiting to show her passport.

By: Progress On 00:18

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See the Wonders of the Ancient World with your own eyes!

These historic manmade monuments have withstood the wear of time for millennia and their death-defying existence draws countless visitors to their respective sites each year. You may find below a selection handpicked by Perpetual Traveller Overseas. If you have ever wished to witness these sights with your own eyes, now is the time to take action!

1. The Great Wall of China

A massive structure that has been built, maintained and reconstructed under the rule of several emperors, primarily during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D), the Great Wall of China covers a total distance of 21,196 km and is a testament to the great empires of its nation. It is recommended to visit for a hike in spring, early summer and autumn, preferably in the Beijing area where tourist spots are open all year round.

2. The Great Pyramid and Sphinx of Giza

As the oldest and most intact building of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was constructed around 2560 B.C.E and was the tallest structure in the world for almost 4 millennia. The Great Sphinx, about 1 km further away, is the oldest and largest monolith statue in the world. Both are open to tourists at all times of the year; we recommend visiting Cairo first and either taking the bus, metro or a taxi to Giza.

3. Hagia Sophia

The church Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul, Turkey and since its inception in 537 B.C.E has been under the rule of several nations. An impressively resplendent structure that revolutionized the history of architecture, it now serves as a museum exhibiting the Byzantine annals of time and is accessible to tourists all year round.

4. Stonehenge

One of those unique locations that can make you feel as insignificant as an ant in the grand scheme of things, Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England) is a ring of giant standing stones believed to have been constructed sometime between 3000 and 2000 B.C.E. Their original purpose remains a mystery to this very day. We suggest booking tickets in advance before arriving at this destination due to a large amount of tourist demand.

5. Colosseum

The Colosseum is widely thought of as the heart of Ancient Rome in Italy. Built in 70 A.D, it is the largest amphitheater in the world that is estimated to hold between 50,000 and 80,000 people. It was utilized for gladiatorial contests, reenactments of ancient plays and dramas as well as public spectacles; today it is a major attraction for tourists. Once you're in Rome, you can get to the Colosseum by public transport or even walking.

6. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Once upon a time almost a thousand years ago (in 1172 A.D, to be exact) there was built a belfry that inadvertently began tilting to the side during construction. Known worldwide for this accidental quirk, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Tuscany, Italy is a beautiful and unique structure that attracts hundreds of visitors every day. Once you arrive by train, it is advisable to walk to this location so that you may enjoy the artistic marvels and sights of Pisa.

7. Taj Mahal

Built as a resting place for an emperor's beloved wife in Agra, India in 1632 A.D, the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage" (UNESCO). Once you arrive in Agra, we suggest booking a tour bus so that you may appreciate the miracle of the Taj Mahal up close.

Since this list is only a fraction of the many wonders of the world, there are also other locations that undeniably deserve an honorary mention. What places are you looking forward to visiting? Feel free to comment if you have any thoughts!

By: Progress On 03:00

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Top 15 Countries by Most Spending on Tourism

Tourism for many countries is an important aspect and a major source of revenue. Especially for many of them such as Cyprus, Macau, Luxembourg, Bahamas, Italy, Malta and Austria is crucial to gain as much tourists as possible in order to be able to survive financially. At the same time, is also essential to target the right countries that are going to bring to them the most possible revenue as possible. But which tourists seem to spend more money during their holidays?

According to a research conducted by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), at number one it’s the Chinese who spend $102 billion on their travels. This can be considered as normal compared to their population. In the second place are the German tourists, who spend almost $84 billion and in the third position come the Americans, who spend $83.7 billion.

Below are the Britons with $52.3 billion, Russians with $42.8 billion, the French with $38.1 billion, Canadians with $35.2 billion the Japanese with $28.1 billion, Australians with $27.6 billion, and Italians with $26.2 billion. Tourists coming from Singapore, Brazil and Belgium seem to spend around $22 billion and then comes Hong Kong and Netherlands with $20.5 and $20.2 respectively!

Emerging Economies

Last few years, Asian markets have achieved to build a really good and strong economy that continues growing. Furthermore, the rapid urbanization and rising disposable incomes in their country explains the fact that Chinese are on the top of the list. What is more, according to UNWTO, relaxation of restrictions on foreign travel and an appreciating Chinese currency have contributed to this increase in tourism.

Also, many of the countries on the list such as Russia and Germany have achieved to increase their share of world tourism spending over the last decade. According to UNTWO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, ''Emerging economies continue to lead growth in tourism demand. The impressive growth of tourism expenditure from China and Russia reflects the entry into the tourism market of a growing middle class from these countries, which will surely continue to change the map of world tourism.''.

With no doubt, what seems to be true is that China and generally countries with emerging economies are very promising and can bring lots of revenue to those nations which are dependent on tourism.

By: Progress On 01:43

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A colorful city in Germany!

Tübingen is a town situated at the southwestern Germany, and more specifically, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, 40 kilometres south of Stuttgart. What makes this town different from the others is its colorful houses, harmonically built by the river Neckar that crosses the city, as well as the academic atmosphere created by the city's university, which is one of the oldest in Europe.

The city center consists of traditional houses and picturesque squares, while the colorful houses by the river bring joy to all the tourists who travel thousands of miles to experience the city's majestic atmosphere. Do you know what's even better? You can enjoy a trip with a gondola to the heart of this incredible city!

By: Progress On 23:13

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Spitbank Fort Hotel, one Super-luxury Hotel in the Sea!

 
Around the end of 18th century, Lord Palmerston, the British prime minister at that time, constructed several sea forts in Portsmouth in order to protect his country's port. More specifically, he was afraid of any possible French invasions, as Napoleon III had become emperor of France.


The several sea forts were decommissioned around the 80s and were sold to individuals and one of them was transformed into a luxury hotel! Luxurious furniture, 8 suites, swimming-pool, bar, restraurant, sauna and beautiful areas especially designed for its visitors to enjoy the sun.

Spitbank Fort Hotel also offers luxury accomodation packets to its visitors such as sailing and golf packages, hosting events such as weddings and themed parties and promises one unforgettable accommodation to all of those who love experiencing unique, uncommon and not ordinary things.

So, if you plan to do something different this year for holidays, visit this hotel!

By: Progress On 23:38

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Emirate Airlines Announces the Launch of Direct Passenger Flights to Taipei

Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world announced the launch of direct passenger flights to Taipei This flight is going to be its 16th destination in the Far East. This new service will start on February 10th, 2014. At the beginning, the airline company aims to start with 6 non-stop flights to the Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei.

The flight will be carried out by Boeing 777-300ER type aircraft and will have 3 seat categories: 8 luxurious private suites in First Class , 42 fully reclining seats in Business Class and 304 comfortable seats for economy class passengers . In all classes in the airplane, gourmet meals will be offered by Emirates multinational cabin crew.

The aircraft also features the Emirate’s award-winning entertainment system which offers more than 1,400 entertainment channels that broadcast Hollywood subtitled movies, music, TV and games.

Taipei has 7 million inhabitants and is said to be one major economic and cultural center with famous places and sights, several shops and malls. This city is extremely famous for its production and exportation of electronics, fabrics, plastics, optical and photography accessories and chemicals.

Emirate Airlines are currently flying from Dubai to 134 destinations in 76 countries! Earlier this year, the airline launched new routes to Warsaw and Algiers, while in June announced a new route, traveling to Japan .

What is more, the company plans to launch flights to Stockholm and Clark Philippines International Airport. Furthermore, it plans to launch a number of transatlantic routes, the Milan- New York on October 1st , to Conakry on October 27th, to Sialkot on November 5th and to Kiev on January 16th., 2014.

By: Progress On 13:29

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The British do Weird things with their Passports!

British travellers are renowned to be of the most experienced and wide reaching in the world today, which is a legacy that goes back to its former empire! That said, its even more strange that in recent times the Brits have been seeking replacements for their passports at a staggering rate and the reasons why seem to defy logic. According to the British Government, claims for emergency travel documents sharply jumped 300% in 2012. 

As one would expect, many cases of lost Passports involved darker forces and were pick pocketed while traveling. However, not everyone was a victim of crime! An alarming amount of British travellers destroyed their passports as a result of reckless behavior such as:

• Storing a passport in the freezer.
• Using their passport as a coaster for Beer at a Pub somewhere.

Getting a replacement passport can cost both time and money, especially if it involves canceling flights as one waits! 

Interestingly some travelers were simply unaffected by this potentially stressful situation and managed to find creative ways around the problem. Here are some examples:

1. A British man had his passport tattooed onto his back during a backpacking trip to Australia. Surprisingly, this form of skin art was actually accepted as ID. Upon running out of money, the man managed to withdraw cash from an Aussie bank after removing his shirt to flash the teller his unusual passport.
2. A Canadian man managed to get into the United States using just an ipad. He journeyed several hours from his hometown in Montreal, then realized his passport was not with him as he approached the U.S. border. Taking a chance, he whipped out his i-pad which held a scanned copy of his passport and amazingly, the official let him through.
3. A British girl aged 9 actually managed to get through Turkish Immigration after accidentally handing over a fake Passport that belonged to her stuffed Unicorn. Oblivious officials even stamped the toy Passport as they waved her into the country!

By: Progress On 23:17

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The Top Rude Passenger Behaviors you Want to Avoid

Passengers participating in this interesting and noteworthy survey were asked which type of passenger to sit next to on the plane they consider the most disliked one.

The answers they gave were extremely familiar to quite every traveller!

These are the 6 types of passengers we all look to avoid when travelling:

• Poor Hygiene
• Cougher-Sneezer
• Large
• Chatty
• Child
• Snorer

When asked about all the passenger behaviors they see as the rudest, the 1532 surveyed passengers were given the opportunity to choose 2 of them. So, let's have a quick look!

• 919 passengers consider seat kicking very disrespectful
• 827 of them think that loud talking is the most inappropriate thing to do on plane
• 460 travellers find seat reclining terribly rude
• 276 of the surveyed passengers consider arm rest hogging uncivil
• 245 of them believe that stinky food eating is very rude and
• 107 passengers find that unwelcomed conversing  is unusually wrong

Are you a passenger to stay away from?

We would be very glad if you shared with us your story or personal travel experience!

Original source: www.travelocity.com

By: Progress On 22:18

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Volcanoes Around the World

Many years before, volcanic eruptions were thought to be the punishment of Gods. Nowadays, the reasons of a volcanic eruption are well known to the public. 
This, of course, doesn't make their explosive effects less devastating. 

Today, we are going to show you a list of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world!   

Taal Volcano, Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mount Vesuvius, Italy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Popocatépetl, Mexico (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Galeras, Colombia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mount Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mauna Loa, Hawaii (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By: Progress On 02:05

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