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Playground to the stars and resort area par excellence to anyone in search of a posh and exotic destination, the French Riviera has it all. Perhaps the most famous vacation spot in the world, the Côte d’Azur is party central, exclusive VIP escape and quiet retreat in one fabulous package.

If you want to plan that first trip to the Riviera and need a place to start, or want to return and elude the crowds this time around, look no further than our handy guide. With a brief description of the 26 towns that dot the Riviera coast from east to west, the first installment of our guide kicks off on the border of Italy.

Menton

Technically a commune - a quirk of French municipal administration - and not a town, Menton’s nickname is The Pearl of France. Smack on the border with Italy, with a quaint port area and historic old quarter, legions of tourists flock to Menton’s famous gardens, baroque basilica and Jean Cocteau museum.

Continue reading A Guide to the French Riviera I »

Our look at noteworthy Russian cities rushes onward with six more veritable gems to round out our top 10. To recap our thesis statement here, there’s much more under Russia’s veil than Moscow and St. Petersburg. Sure, tourism for the most part is concentrated in these incredible, illustrious cities but it’s time to divert some attention towards the rest of the country. Russia’s a behemoth after all and with no less than 20 cities, other than the obvious big two, over the half million mark, there’s just too much out there to ignore.

Behold, the rest of Russia’s Overlooked Cities.

Nizhny Novgorod

The fourth-largest city in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod tops out at 1.3 million people. Like many other towns outside of Moscow, the population has seen a slight decline in the past two decades. However, the city once known as Gorky, after the famous writer by the same name, is the cultural and economic pulse of the Volga-Vyatka region.

Continue reading Top 10 Overlooked Russian Cities Part II »

Russia beyond Moscow is still a land of vast mystery to most. We think we know about the former Soviet Republic but in essence, our collective knowledge is rather thin. The Bolshoi, vodka, Dostoevsky, Stalin, caviar and blinis, oil oligarchs … and what else? Mail-order brides? Really now. Russia is the biggest country in the world - by far by the way, with Canada not even close - and we struggle to recount more than a few hazy details about her. Continue reading Top 10 Overlooked Russian Cities Part I »

Every year without fail, visitors flock to Europe in record numbers. The continent receives more tourists than any other on the globe. In fact, of the most popular vacation destinations worldwide, Spain, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom consistently rank in the top ten. Other European nations like Greece, Austria and Switzerland are not so far behind.

While all of these locations boast a slew of reasons to merit a visit, from architecture to cuisine, beaches to ski resorts, culture to commerce, there is more to Europe than the obvious list of vacation candidates. No coincidence that these three former Soviet republics qualify as veritable hidden gems and appeal not only to those who want to stray from the beaten path but to those who want more bang for their buck. Continue reading 3 Euro Hidden Gems »

Switzerland has long been the premier European destination for alpine skiing. A mountainous country in central Europe, the Swiss alps beckon the ski enthusiast to an unforgettable Christmas skiing experience. There are numerous ski resorts throughout this ski-happy nation and surely there is one that would match any skier’s expectations. Continue reading Skiing Trips in Switzerland For Christmas »

Outside the city of Manchester, England is a beautiful countryside that’s perfect for backpacking and treks over trails, by lakes, and in the mountains. The Lake District National Park is one of the best places in Manchester to hike. Continue reading Guide to Backpacking in Manchester »

Lufthansa airlines in Germany has come up with an excellent idea to install beds on planes specializing in long flights. At the moment, economy class on planes do not have the luxury of a cozy sleep but most business and first classes have these facilities. Obviously airline companies will lose profit if they made it available in economy class due to the amount of space it takes up, bu the new design seems very feasible and appropriate for health reasons and profitability. Read the full report in the travel section of news.com.au.