Travel News by RatesToGo

We need water to survive, but while most people simply drink it, and perhaps even occasionally wash in it, there are those that use it for much more exciting activities. One such activity is white-water rafting. Personally I think the name is misleading as I tried it once and was so scared, the water ended up yellow! Continue reading Beginners Guide to White Water Rafting »

The eyes of the world will be on Beijing for sixteen days in August of 2008, as the drama of the XXIX Summer Olympics unfolds. But there are two Asian pastimes which have not yet been declared Olympic sports, in spite of the fact that hundreds of millions of Chinese learn them at their parents’ knees and practice them daily throughout their lives. They are the sports of nose picking and “air hanky” tossing, and each is part of the Golden Quintet of Asian Xtreme Hygiene Sports: Nose Cleaning, which really encompasses the two skills of Nose Picking and Air Hanky Tossing; Ear Cleaning; Spitting, and Belching. Continue reading New Beijing Olympic Sporting Event - Nose Picking »

As an avid coffee enthusiast, I regularly seek out local flavors and styles whenever I travel. Sometimes I become such a fan of these novel coffee experiences that I insist on shipping some back home. All around the world, there are exotic, fabulous coffees that are commonly grown at high altitudes in high humidity with a naturally occurring afternoon mist. Some of the more exotic go through preparation extremes before the final product is ready to be devoured by the public. Seeking out the best cup of coffee in the world can be a daunting, but rewarding task.
Continue reading Finding the Best Cup of Coffee in the World »

Travelling alone is a whole different travelling experience. When most people think of vacations, they think of families travelling together, couples going on romantic excursions, or college students trekking to the yearly spring break hedonist rites. Travelling solo has some stigmas attached to it: surveys show that people believe travelling alone is “odd.” The stigmas run deeper with solo female travelers; while many Americans view men travelling solo as “odd”, many more view a woman travelling solo as “odd.” The most uncomfortable aspect about travelling alone seems to be eating dinner unaccompanied. Continue reading Tips For Solo Travelling: Is It For You? »

Santorini is a Greek Island composed of a volcanic rim protruding from the Caldera submerged in the sea. Santorini is the site of a cataclysmic volcanic eruption about 1650 BC that brought an immediate end to the thriving Minoan civilization. After the eruption the Kameni Islands formed, allowing for astonishing sunsets viewed from the village of Oia. Within Oia is the Restaurant 1800 where sunset enthusiasts can dine on traditional Greek Aegean dishes while gazing wondrously upon an ultimate sunset. Continue reading Location of the Worlds Best Sunsets »

What were once private passions between consenting adults has become a growing, multi-million dollar business. While swingers had to indulge their lifestyle behind closed doors and drawn blinds in a strictly hush-hush environment they now can spend their money openly at establishments created specifically for them. Conventions, clubs, and hotels are located throughout the world that caters to this type of clientele. The average swinging couple spends thousands of dollars attending these functions that cater to their lifestyle requirements. Continue reading Tourists spending Thousands at Swinger Clubs »