Eat Safe While Travelling on Holiday

One joy of travel is sampling the variety of foods available in different regions of the world. While one wouldn't want to discourage this, in regions where hygiene standards differ from home, it's worth being a little cautious initially, to ensure one doesn't get sick. Your travel insurance might cover you for medical bills should you eat the wrong thing, but it's best to try and avoid any problems to start with.

Fine Food and Mountains: Skiing Holidays in France

Les Deux Alpes, France

Today's Food and Ski holiday was written by Nick Lewis, a travel writer and copy editor for Eclipse Ski, specialists in group and skiing holidays. Visit Eclipse Ski for more information.

For the traveller keen on both skiing and fine food, there is no better place for a skiing holiday than France. As any gastronomer knows, the French take their food very seriously. And the Alpine French take their skiing just as seriously.

Summer Travel Ideas & Deals - Barbados, Hawaii, Los Cabos & More!

Summer is almost here and it's looking to be a busy one. If you haven't planned your getaway yet, here are some ideas and deals to help you plan. Happy Travels!

Asia, South Africa and the Mountains of Europe Await!

Sunset on Table Mountain, Cape Town South Africa 

Photo Credit: Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it

As usual, here is this week's round of fantastic travel deals. Happy Travels!

Cocktails From Around the World: African Lullaby Cocktail

If you don't know by now, I love a good cocktail and the more I try the more I want to try. I came across this South African cocktail, aptly named African Lullaby, that's made with the award winning, Amarula Liqueur. Amarula is made in South Africa from the fruit of the African Marula tree (also known as the Elephant tree).

Plan Your Memorial Day Getaway and Get Your Cruise On!

Memorial Day is just a month away and many travelers like you are already planning their Memorial Weekend getaway - you can too! Find super deals on hotels and flights, and make it a special weekend for two or include the whole family.

Experience Italy, Tahiti, the Caribbean & Central America for less!

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy (www.freefoto.com)

This week's Friday travel deals feature vacation packages to exotic destinations like Tahiti, the Caribbean and Central America and low low fares to romantic Italy. Experience them all for less! Happy Travels...

Cocktails From Around the World: Sint Maarten Guavaberry Colada

Guavaberry Emporium (Photo credit: flickr user goodcop)

Located on Front Street, Philipsburg is the Guavaberry Emporium where the "Legendary Island Folk Liqueur" of St. Maarten is made. Guavaberry liqueur is made from a locally grown wild berry found in the central hills. The Guavaberry brand has become an essential part of the island's culture and it is there at the Emporium that the island's Guavaberry Colada cocktail was invented. Next time you're in Philipsburg, stop by the Emporium for a free tasting of this delicious cocktail.

Sint Maarten & Saint Martin - More than a shopper's paradise!

Great Bay, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

St. Maarten/St. Martin is probably the smallest land area divided between to two separate nations (Netherlands and France), and the most amicable division of land ever (that I know of anyways). Legend has it that a Frenchman and a Dutchman decided that the best way to determine who gets what land is for them to walk in opposite directions around the island, until they meet up again. The funny thing about it is that they accepted the results even though the Frenchman was clearly the winner. Of course this isn't what actually happened, but nevertheless the two nations have lived peacefully side by side for over 300 years.

It's Gonna Be a Sizzling Summer Vacation! Book Yours Now!

Photo Credit: Last.fm

What's the first thing you think of when you hear "Sizzling Summer Vacation"? Miami, Caribbean, Cancun, Bermuda, Hawaii? Beaches, BBQ, Carnivals, Summer Romance? Well then you're gonna love these Friday Travel Deals!

Cocktails From Around the World: A Venetian Spritz

The Spritz is a fizzy cocktail that's quite common in Northern Italy, and is even said to be the official cocktail in Venice. It's fizzy and light, which makes it perfect for an apéritif, but it can be and is often drunk at any time of day.

Fantastic Friday Travel Deals: Golf & Spa Deals, Flights and more!

Ayana Resort & Spa, Bali

Now is a great time to plan your summer and fall getaways by taking advantage of a wide variety of travel deals on now. From hotels to flights to vacation packages you are sure to find a deal that suits your tastes.

Good Old Fashioned Bajan Mauby Drink

Photo Credit: rawexperiences.typepad.com

Mauby is a bitter-sweet, cold beverage found throughout the Caribbean, made from boiling the bark of the tree bearing the same name (colubrina elliptica) and flavoring the resulting bitter liquid with a variety of spices and brown sugar. Though every island has it's "perfect" blend, the truth is that it is an acquired taste - you either love Mauby or you hate it, there are no in betweens.

Fantastic Friday Travel Deals: Treat Yourself To An Adventure!

Photo Credit: Flickr user Ivan Makarov

April is off to a great start with flowers blooming and life springing once again. After a long winter it's time to treat yourself and discover the places you've always wanted to visit. Check out this week's round of travel deals which include destinations like China, Mexico, Peru, the Greek Isles and more. Treat yourself to an adventure! As always, I wish you Happy Travels...

Taste Your Way Across South America - 10 Dishes To Try

Photo Credit: inloughborough.com

I have always been fascinated with South America because of it's abundance of natural beauty and the unique combination of flora and fauna found there. It is a without a doubt one of the most unique places on earth, just waiting to be explored. No trip to South America would be complete without a first hand taste of the local fare, which can range from simple treats to more complex spicy dishes. Rest assured that whatever you try it will be bursting with flavor. Let's take a short culinary tour of South America!

Fantastic Friday Travel Deals - Last Minute Travel Savings!

Photo Credit: Flickr user ToniVC

It's Friday again and it's time once again to have a look at this week's top deals. Whether you are spending this holiday with family and friends or taking a fun getaway before summer you are sure to find great last minute vacation package deals and more to the destinations you love like Europe, the Caribbean and as far away as Australia! New this week: Find exciting Adventure Travel offers, and scrumptious Food and Wine escapes! As always, I wish you Happy Travels!

Friday Travel Deals - Escape to the beach!

 Taino Beach, Bahamas

This week's travel deals are just what you need to plan a perfect beach escape to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Barbados, Los Cabos, Costa Rica or Myrtle Beach. Take advantage of discounted hotel rates, air credit and free nights!

Colonia Tovar, Venezuela - Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

View of Caracas, Venezuela

I've always wanted to visit Latin America, and when the opportunity came for me to go to Caracas, Venezuela with a group of friends, I was there in a heartbeat. Venezuela is quite the place, from the busy subways of Caracas to the towering Kerepakupai-Merú Falls (Angel Falls) in the heart of the Canaima National Park, but nothing surprised or intrigued me more than a charming little town way up in the mountains called, Colonia Tovar. The fascinating thing about this town is that it is a German settlement in the middle of a Spanish speaking, Latin American country!

Friday Travel Deals - Spring Into Travel With These Super Deals!

Photo Credit: Flickr User WisDoc

Spring is in the air and everyone is getting excited! I hope you are excited too, because this week's deals are even better than last week's. Over 3000 hotels around the world are offering free nights, plus vacation deals to Mexico & Paris, free tickets to Cirque de Soleil and all time low, low prices on Caribbean Cruises. Spring into travel with these super deals!

Signature Cocktail For A Special Day! - Cherry Coconut Fizz

Photo Credit: Flickr User Brian Glanz

I just want to say thank you to all my readers and followers on Twitter by inviting you all to welcome the weekend with a signature cocktail from the Diva! I am an island girl at heart and there's nothing more refreshing than a cold glass of fresh Coconut Water. Growing up my mom used to mix Coconut Water with Red Frutee (a local Barbadian Cherry flavored soda), and as an adult I decided to add some Malibu Rum to give it a kick. So Happy B'day to myself and Happy Weekend to you all! Cheers!

Cherry Coconut Fizz

Ingredients
2 parts Fresh Coconut Water
1 part Red Frutee or Cherry Flavored Soda
1 part Malibu Coconut Rum

Method
Mix all ingredients together in a pitcher and serve chilled. Garnish glass with a Maraschino cherry. Enjoy!

Tropical Fruit Wine-Making - Mango Wine

When I'm in the mood for wine, I usually just buy it from the store or a winery. I have never ventured into wine-making at home, though many islanders are known for making homemade wines from almost any fruit in season. In terms of quality I would say these wines are quite good too. If you are brave enough to try it, here's a tried and true recipe for Mango Wine. Cheers!

Friday Travel Deals - Hawaii on Sale! And much more...

Can you believe it's March already?! Where did the time go? I hope you're ready for another round of Friday Travel Deals. This week's deals include hotels, vacations and flights to the Dominican Republic, Walt Disney and Paris, and a very special promotion to Hawaii so you can 'Catch the spirit of Aloha'. Pack your bags there's a deal here for you! May you find the deal you've been waiting for. Mark your calendar for Happy Travels!

Hotel Deals
Crowne Plaza - Save Now with Crowne Plaza's Bed & Breakfast Package!
Walt Disney World - Book Early & Save up to 20% at the official Walt Disney World® Holiday Inn hotel!
Playa Mujeres, Cancun - 5-Star Cancun hotel on secluded beach up to 55% Off incl. daily breakfast
New York - New York City Hotel Sale through March - Save up to 30%  from USD$89
Hawaii - Hawaii Hotel Sale: Save up to 50%! - Ends 3/31/10
Washington D.C - Washington D.C Hotel Sale: Free Nights & Free Attractions! - Expires 4/13/10
Phoenix, AZ - Escape Winter in Phoenix & Save up to 30% on hotels! - Expires 3/15/10
Southern Hotels - Southern Charm: Free Nights & Hotels from USD$48! - Expires 3/31/10

Vacation Package Deals
Dominican Republic - Save up to 60% hotel and flight + hotel packages! - Expires 3/31/10
Beach Vacations - 4+ Night Beach Vacations w/Air at Top-Brand Resorts Hurry! Ends soon.
Paris & London - 6 Night Dual-City Vacation w/Air & Hotels from USD$849
Ireland - Multi-City 6-Night Sightseeing Package in March from USD$749
Europe - 5-Night Vacations w/Air: 20+ Countries on Sale (Rome, Amsterdam +) from USD$862

Flights & Car Rental
USA to Central America -  Flights to Central America from across the US - Each way from USD$190
USA to Hawaii - Oahu, Kauai and Big Island Flight Sale into May Each way from USD$295
Canada to USA - AA Sale: Canada to the US for less: Flight + 2 Nights from USD$326 - Ends 3/31/10
Hertz Car - Free Weekend Day with minimum 3-day weekend rental - Expires 3/31/10

Barbados Island Tour in Rugged Outback Style!

Today's travel diary is written by Markiesha, my dear cousin and best friend, and co-owner of Baywater Tours. Here's her take on our recent excursion together in Barbados. If you are interested in doing any of the tours mentioned here, visit Baywater Tours for more information. Follow @baywatertours on Twitter.

If you ever plan on visiting the beautiful, tropical island of Barbados there are a couple of tours that you absolutely must consider doing.  There is the Bajan Roots and Rhythms Dinner Show at the Plantation Garden Theatre, the Tiami Catamaran Cruise and the Atlantis Submarine to name a few.

Fish In Wine Sauce - Caribbean Style

Photo Credit: Flickr user jgal

When you live in the Caribbean, one thing is for certain, you tend to eat a lot of fish! There just seems to be an abundance of all kinds of fish, especially at this time of year when many have decided to give up meat and turn to fish for a source of protein. I came across the following recipe in The Multi-Cultural Cuisine of Trinidad & Tobago & The Caribbean, and I loved it so much I decided to share it! I find that it works well with fish like Tuna, Red Snapper, Mahi-Mahi and King Fish. Bon Appetit!

Friday's Travel Deals

Photo Credit: Flickr user muha

If you missed last week's travel deals, you can check them out here. Many of those deals are still good this week. If you're looking for a last minute get-away or you're planning a special vacation in advance, I hope this week's round of travel deals helps you to plan and save efficiently. Happy Travels!

Caribbean Package Deals
Grand Bahama Island - Radisson Our Lucaya Resort 3 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$599
Jamaica - Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa All Incl. 3 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$609
Barbados - Amaryllis Beach Resort 3 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$729
Turks & Caicos - Comfort Suites Turks & Caicos 3 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$789
Riviera Maya - Grand Sunset Princess All Suites Resorts & Spa  All Incl. 6 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$1049
Check out these deals and more at TNTVacations.com

USA Winter Sale - Hotels, Vacation Packages & More
Kauai, Hawaii - Hotel Sale: Up to 30% on Kauai hotels! Expires 2/28/10
San Diego, CA -  Ends Soon - San Diego Winter Sale: Hotels up to 45% off! Expires 2/28/10
Portland, OR - Ends Soon - Up to 30% off Portland Hotels, where shopping is always tax-free! Expires 2/28/10 
Vacation Deals - All-Inclusive Vacation Deals: Flight + 4 nights from USD$521 Expires 3/18/10
St. Patrick's Day - Enjoy St. Patrick's Day travel deals for less green: Hotels from USD$51 Expires 3/11/10
Los Angeles, CA - Fly L.A. to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane: Flight + 4 Nights from USD$1049 Expires 

Rest of the World
Athens & Greek Islands - Explore historic monuments and 2 stunning islands! 8 Nights + Air from USD$1199
Tuscany Italy - Enjoy Tuscany in Spring 6 Nights + Air + Car 2 bdr countryside villas for 4 from USD$859
Peru - 4-Night Peru Trip w/Air + Macchu Picchu Tour ($100 Off) Inclusive of hotel stays from USD$899
Scandinavia & Finland - Summer Fare Sale Each Way, Visit Oslo, Stockholm & more r/t req'd from USD$428

Guest Blogger - Isabelle's Travel Guide

Photo Credit: Flickr user Adventurer Dustin Holmes

Last week I had the opportunity to write a guest post for Isabelle's Travel Guide, which was featured on her website for "#TravelTuesday", a well known "event" among travel-oriented tweeters on Twitter. Isabelle, is a passionate traveler like myself, and she decided to add a "Favorite Blogger of the Week" to her website because as she puts it, "I think it’s interesting to hear another voice telling about their travel experiences! And let’s face it, I can’t be everywhere in the world, even though I wish I could."

Guest blogging is a fun way to meet others who are passionate about the same things that interest us. If you would like to read the post, head over to Isabelle's website. You can also follow us on Twitter for interesting tweets about the world of travel. Happy Travels!

Follow @IsabellesTravel
Follow @FoodTravelDiva

Friday Travel Deals

Photo Credit: Flickr user LuxuryTravelButler

I'm always coming across good travel deals on the internet, and I felt that my readers could benefit from them. So starting today and every Friday from here on out, I will be posting some of my favorite travel deals of the week. I hope it will inspire you to travel and help you save in the process. Happy Travels!

~TNT Vacations.com is having a "Sunsational Sale" from now until March 8th. Here are some highlights.
Punta Cana - 7 Nights All-Inclusive Hotel, Airfare + from USD$899
Riviera Maya - 6 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$849
Cancun - 6 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$699
Jamaica - 3 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$579
Aruba - 3 Nights Hotel, Airfare + from USD$529
Check out these and more great deals!

~Expedia.com is having a variety of promotions and special offers from hotels to car rentals to theme park tickets. Here are some highlights.
Luxury Hotel Sale: Fourth night free at these 4.5 and 5 star hotels! Ends - 3/2/10
Save up to 50% on Las Vegas Hotels when you book and travel in February! - Expires 2/28/10
Ends Soon: NYC Outer Boroughs Hotels from $39, Air + 3 nights from $277! - Expires 2/26/10
Save $200 on Flight + 3 nights Bahamas vacation when you fly out of Florida. Use Code BAH200! - Expires 3/3/10
Budget Cars: Save up to 30% on Weekly and Weekend Rentals when you book on Expedia.com. - Expires 3/31/10
Book California theme park tickets and passes on Expedia and save up to $80! - Ends 3/15/10
Find these and more great deals on Expedia.com!

~KAYAK.com is also having a lot of great deals going on now including cruise, air and hotel deals. Here are some highlights.
Italy Winter & Spring Flights on Sale Incl. Taxes R/T - from USD$599
Worldwide Cruise Sale 7 + Night Sailings on stylish Norwegian Cruise Lines - from USD$369
Hotels in Top California Cities on sale through March - from USD$59
Prague 6 Night Vacation with Flights & Breakfasts - from USD$649
Australia, New Zealand & Fiji Flights on Sale, Each Way - from USD$380
Find these and more deals on Kayak.com

The Ejection Seat - Bungee Jumping in Reverse

Photo Credit: The Ejection Seat

Want to hear a grown man scream like a woman in labor? Welcome to the Ejection Seat! This is an adrenaline-junky, thrill ride that is not for the faint hearted. I repeat - this is not for the faint hearted.

A Romantic Dinner For Two - Inspired by My Restaurant Favorites

There is just something about food that excites our senses and makes us feel good. When you really think of it eating food involves at least 4 out of 5 of our senses (sight, smell, taste and touch), so in that sense (no pun intended) it's a total body experience. Food has the ability to comfort us, and get us in the mood for love.

Since I know that right now, many are looking for ideas and inspiration to craft the perfect romantic dinner, I have picked my favorite restaurant foods (that I have tried so far) and created a menu that I hope will tantalize your taste buds as much as it has my fiance's and mine. Whether it's a special occasion like your anniversary or you just want to surprise your sweetheart, give this menu a try!

Offer: Win a 4 day, 3 night luxury  vacation at a Sandals Resort of your choice (no purchase necessary) !

Appetizer

Photo Credit - Olive Garden

Lasagna Fritta - The absolute best appetizer that has ever caressed my taste buds came in the form of a Lasagna Fritta, from Olive Garden. These little morsels are fried Lasagna pieces breaded with Parmesan cheese on top of Alfredo sauce served with marinara sauce and more parmesan cheese on top. Oh words cannot give justice to how good these Frittas are!

Salad

Photo Credit: Flickr user JD

Spinach Salad with apples, almonds and dried cranberries. This fresh crisp salad can be served with your favorite sweet vinaigrette dressing.

Entree

Photo Credit: Flickr user Another Pint Please

Roasted Rack of Lamb with rosemary-mint glaze inspired by Carvers Steaks & Chops Restaurant, Rancho Bernardo, CA. Serve with Roasted Potatoes, Rice Pilaf or Sauteed Asparagus.

Dessert

Photo Credit: Flickr user Rae Vasky

Belgian Chocolate Truffle Cake inspired by Hans and Harrys bakery in Bonita, CA. Layer upon layer of rich, moist chocolate cake with truffle filling. A raspberry sauce would be the "cherry" on top!

Wine

Photo Credit: Flickr user schonwandt

A Shiraz or Syrah wine would pair well with the Lamb and Chocolate Truffle dessert.