Vacation packages for family

I'll be honest with you: I've never been a huge fan of hostels.  And this isn't just because I'm getting older, or because I don't really like to party. I've just never been comfortable sharing my space with strangers. But, as hosteling evolves and more options become available in cities around the world, the face of “the hostel” is changing . Look at any hostel booking website today and you'll see TONS of options — and they aren't just your average 10-bed dorm room anymore. My friend Kash from over at Budget Traveller can attest to this, considering that he is now *the* expert on luxury hostels, especially in Europe. And my friend Laurence from Finding the Universe can confirm that some hostels these days are really thinking outside the box. In light of all this, I decided not long ago to set aside my preconceived notions and give hostels another go. Well, actually, I didn't have much of a choice. As a poor post-grad traveling around Europe thi...

No matter where you travel to in the world today, chances are you can find a food tour. This isn't just because people love to eat though (although I'm sure that's at least *part* of the reason). It's because, no matter where you are in the world, food is one of the best reflections of a culture . Food can give you an insight into a destination's past, and also a glimpse into its future. So when I was invited on a food tour of London's East End (a part of London I knew almost nothing about), I jumped at the chance. Eating London Food Tours is a brand new company looking to break into the food tour scene. They were still in trial runs when I booked a spot on a Saturday morning tour, but our guide Nicole was already quite polished in her presentation. The thing I love about food tours is that it's not just about the food. On this particular tour, we also learned a heck of a lot about the history of the East End. It's this history — of immigrants, pove...

Do you have an adventurous dog in your life? A dog that is up for anything — rain or shine, day or night? In the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of raising seven pups for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and each one of those pups has encouraged us to explore more. We’ve hiked mountains, paddled lakes, and camped under the stars together — our pups’ boundless energy inspiring us along the way. With all the puppies bouncing into our lives, it’s not surprising that we’ve tested a lot of gear, from travel and training gear, to outdoor essentials. If you’re still searching for that perfect gift for your favorite adventure companion, we’ve got you covered. These are our favorite gifts for dogs who love adventures. Travel Gear for Dogs Does your dog love a good road trip? I know mine does! The following products make life easier and safer for traveling with dogs. Benebone Chew Toys We find it really helpful to give our dogs a special...

As a really nerdy kid who loved history and books and things like mythology, I'm not sure there was ever a time when visiting Egypt wasn't on my travel bucket list. I wanted to see the tombs of the pharaohs and the ancient temples and the mighty Nile River. I wanted to visit the Pyramids and see all those exotic-sounding cities that I learned about in history class.. And I definitely am not alone. Prior to the Arab Spring and string of revolutions that rocked northern Africa beginning in 2011, Egypt was a hugely popular tourist destination. Every one wanted that photo at the pyramids and to see King Tut's tomb and to sail on a felucca on the Nile. Pre-2011, Egypt was seeing upwards of 12 million tourists per year. Post-revolution, however, tourist numbers in the country plummeted; at its lowest point, Egypt was getting less than 1 million visitors per year. So many of these boats in Aswan now sit empty. Thankfully, things have finally started to improve in Egypt. While ...