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When you think about taking a vacation, the first thing that would come to mind is finding the best vacation destination to spend your holiday. One of the best vacation spots in Fiji is the magnificent and beautiful Navala Village. This place is not a high traffic tourist destination because it is an undiscovered haven in Fiji. The Navala Village has a lot of surprises to offer to its visitors. Aside from its scenic beauty, the weather is great all year round. It is a tropical destination that stays warm from November to April, and its cold season begins in May and ends in October with an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius, or 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Even at that temperature, the cold season isn’t really cold at all!

If you are going on Fiji holidays, then Navala Village should be on your list of places to visit. It takes just about 50 minutes of traveling up to the highlands to reach Navala Village, where you will find a hidden haven teeming with local culture. You will see stunning homes that are all made from traditional materials. Each house is usually just one single open-space room. Its walls are made from woven bamboo and its roof is made of thatches. Visitors can  attend the Yaqona ceremony, which is basically their simple way of welcoming guests. Guests can drink the Yaqona tree drink mix, which is called Kava. Although the taste isn’t that great, this drink was very relaxing.

One of the best features of the village is the bure huts. This is a wood and straw hut that looks very similar to a cabin. Due to the advent of modern technology, you will seldom find a house that is not made of concrete, wood, plastic, or metal materials in your own country. But in Navala Village, you will be delighted to know that the villagers are able to preserve their customs by making homes out of materials that are gathered on the island. Though these homes are made from lightweight materials, the sleeping experience in this one-room hut is still very comfortable. Just being able to sleep in a hut is quite the experience. Today, around 200 of the bure huts are standing in the village and local traditions say that a new bure is added every time a new couple is married.

It doesn’t cost much to reach the village, so this is a budget option for Fiji travelers. The sceneries are simply breathtaking, and you can walk around the village and meet the locals.

Photo by: Mark Heard

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Fiji cruises make wonderful holidays. These islands are fringed with palm trees and white sand beaches surrounded by gentle ocean waves. An easy rhythm of life allows travelers to enjoy the sunshine, swim or snorkel in pristine waters full of colorful fish varieties. Inland trips to Fijian villages provide opportunities to explore South Seas hospitality.

Blue Lagoon Cruises

Traditional cruise experiences include all the fun Fijian options with the addition of a private island stopover. Blue Lagoon Cruises owns Nanuya Lai Lai, an island in the Yasawas. Its beaches stretch out to azure blue ocean waters. Passengers are assured a clean and beautiful beach on which to enjoy a traditional Lovo feast cooked in an earth oven. Beach parties continue with singing and dancing on the starlit beach.

Blue Lagoon Cruises are designed to fit anyone’s holiday schedule. The Mystic Princess, their flagship, is the only first class ship of its kind in Fiji with unmatched luxury for the discerning traveler. Conscious of passengers’ budget limitations, Blue Lagoon Cruises provides a range of three vessels whose standards and costs vary from 3 to 5 star ratings on cruises lasting from 3 to 7 days.

Captain Cook Cruises

Fiji holidays are transformed into a voyage of discovery with Captain Cook Cruises. The islands’ tropical diversity and beauty are enjoyed by travelers who needn’t choose one resort, but have over 330 islands to discover. Guests can learn to dive, swim in the blue lagoons, snorkel the coral reefs, investigate ancient limestone caves and visit traditional villages, meeting with native hospitality.

Northern Fiji Cruises take visitors to experience the natural beauty, culture and history of the garden islands. Two choices are available: Discovery Heritage visits rarely seen islands and reefs, includes the colonial capital—historic Levuka—and swimming in the Bouma Waterfall or Savusavu’s hot springs; and a Cultural Cruise which circumnavigates Vanua Levu, meeting three different cultural peoples and exploring Labasa markets and town, snorkeling above the Great Sea Reef, traveling the Labasa and Dreketi Rivers, and visiting the Yadua Iguana Sanctuary and manta ray natural hatchery.

P & O Cruises

Timelessness is the watchword on Dravani Island holidays. Nothing reminds the visitor of modern life; time there stopped 1,000 years ago. Spectacular ocean views and the surrounding islands may be seen from the top of the hill. Guests enjoy the 200 locals who demonstrate Fijian hospitality for which they’re famous.

When the ship drops anchor in Savusavu the travelers will view a port full of yachts in this essential port o’ call for yachtsmen worldwide. Lush vegetation and tropical rainforests touch the spectacular coastline around Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island. Crystal clear waters off white sand beaches, coral reefs and abundant marine life mesmerize visitors to these island chains. Taking a tour of Denarau Island’s orchid gardens, visiting the sugarcane fields or shopping in town and sampling the restaurants, cafes and bars makes this island a perfect holiday stop for every traveler. These are just three of the cruising companies offering options available for Fiji holidays.

Have you been to Fiji?

Photo by: CillianStorm

Greece is a destination highly valued among those looking to explore the culture, the archeological sites, the beaches and the food. But not many travelers know that it’s possible to go golfing in Greece .Although there are not that many golfing resorts and clubs in the country, if you want to explore this other side of Greece, you won’t be disappointed.

Airfare to Greece is affordable although the peak season is approaching. And you can always plan a golfing vacation during the shoulder season, as well. In mid-August, a round trip flight between New York and Athens starts at $1193 per person (on Aeroflot) , while if you are already in Europe, the flights are much cheaper. A round trip flight from London starts at $378 per person for the same person (if you are not choosing a low-cost carrier).

There is a golf club close to Athens, so you can easily mix the cultural side of the trip with the golfing one. Choose one of the boutique hotels in Athens , maybe even in the town of Glyfada, where the golf club is located, and make your plans. While you are here, don’t miss visiting the Acropolis of Athens and the new museum located close to it. If time allows, you can plan to take a day trip from Athens. But no matter what you plan to do in Athens, look for a hidden taverna and enjoy the real Greek food.

What would qualify for a romantic escape? A week on a hidden island in the Caribbean? Or maybe hiding on one of the romantic Greek islands , while sipping a red wine in the dim candlelight.

If you are like me, the idea of a romantic escape will have to combine the hustle and bustle of large cities – such as Athens, Rome, London, or New York – with the laid back atmosphere of a forgotten paradise island. There is something interesting when you switch from a fast paced city to a lazy island retreat.

For others, choosing one o the boat trips around the world is an excellent way to plan a romantic getaway. Those who want everything to be booked and handled by others and don’t care much about sightseeing will definitely enjoy such a vacation.

But if you are more adventurous than that, you can start with booking Greek ferry tickets online and then plan to stay on various islands for several days. The ferries link the large, popular islands, with the more secluded ones, so it’s not hard to combine the bustle of Mykonos with the laid back atmosphere of Kalymnos, for example.

Do remember thought that many ferries run only during the summer season; typically the number of connections increases right before Easter. And try to avoid traveling in mid-August when everything is fully booked and the prices are at their highest.

If your budget allows it, you can also consider renting a yacht for a week or two and enjoy island hopping at your own pace. Both the islands in the Mediterranean and in the Aegean Seas are worth your time and money.

For those who have never taken a cruise before, this form of travel can be a little daunting. Between formal nights (and the accompanying wardrobe questions) and shore excursions (better to book ahead or wait until you’re on the ship), there are a lot of questions a first time cruiser might have. So we put together a list of things to know about cruising, whether this is your first cruise, or your tenth.

The first step is to figure out what type of cruise experience you want to have – are you more interested in relaxing on deck by day and partying by night, or would you rather have some quiet time to yourself, away from the tourist crowds? Some cruises are favored by an older crowd, some are more popular with families and others cater to those who want to party.

Then figure out your budget, where you want to go, and how much time you have to spend on a cruise. If you’re more interested in a relaxing sailing and have lots of time for your trip, consider a repositioning cruise, which crosses the Atlantic between seasons and can be a great value. When considering which port to leave from, it’s also important to think about the logistics of getting there. Some ports are more accessible than others, and if you’re flying, you may want to arrive a day or two early – nothing it worse than missing the boat thanks to a delayed flight! Check out park and cruise hotels, which are located close to the ports and provide complimentary shuttle service to and from the ship, taking the stress out of planning the logistics for your trip.

A cruise is mean to be a relaxing experience, so if you’re feeling stressed with the details before your first (or next) sailing, check out our trips to help you plan a great cruise vacation.

Photo by quinet