Visit the top travel destinations, skip the crowds

It’s always good to read about the hottest travel destinations when it is time to plan your vacation, but sometimes it seems like everyone else does the same thing, with hordes of tourists descending on any recommended travel destination. That’s not always a bad thing, but sometimes quaint vacation spots lose their cozy feel when too many people are around.

My secret is to look at past issues of travel magazines and travel websites to see what their top travel destinations were 3-4 years ago and choose from the older vacation hot spots. The travel information and the “what to see” and “what to do” will still be up to date, but the crowds will be visiting whichever travel sites the magazines recommended this year.

For instance, the USA Today Weekend Magazine Top 10 US Travel Destinations For Fun listed:

1. Las Vegas, Nevada
2. Iowa State Fair, Des Moines Iowa
3. Times Square, New York, New York
4. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio
5. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
6. River tubing Texas, Texas Hill Country, west of San Antonio Texas
7. Audubon Zoo, New Orleans Louisiana
8. Disneyland, Anaheim, California
9. National Air and Space Museum, Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington DC
10. Telluride, Colorado

Now that I’ve told my secret for visiting the top travel destinations while skipping the crowds I’ll have to think up a new tactic.

Mexico’s Mayan Riviera, this year’s hot travel destination

Mexico’s Riviera Maya, or Mayan Riviera, is one of the hottest travel destinations this year. Almost anything you want from a vacation you can find on the east coast of Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula. Whether you want to relax on the sunny beaches of Cancun or tour the 3000 year old Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, you will find plenty of fun in the sun .

Cancun is internationally known for it’s fun party atmosphere, and people of all ages can let loose and have a good time in this beautiful beach location. Visitors have an unbelievable selection of luxury hotels and all-inclusive resorts available, and the world-class restaurants and attractions are never too far away.

If you enjoy watersports you can’t miss Cozumel, where beautiful coral reefs beckon you to don your mask and snorkel for a swim. Kayaking, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, or just laying on the beach are all options for visitors to the beautiful island of Cozumel.

Just across from the island of Cozumel lies Playa del Carmen, on the mainland of Mexico about 40 miles south of Cancun. There are so many fun things to do it would be almost impossible to fit them into a single vacation. 10 minutes south of Playa del Carmen is Xcaret, an incredible eco-park with an aviary, botanical gardens, and offers the opportunity to swim in the underground river cutting through the limestone. Enjoy a jungle adventure at Aktun Chen, where you can see monkeys and lizards and beautiful birds, as well as take a guided trip underground in the caves.

That’s just a sample of the fun in the sun you enjoy when you visit Mexico’s Mayan Riviera.

Exotic Singles Cruises

According to Match.com over 3 million of their members are age 45-59, their fastest growing segment (see Online dating attracts the after 50 crowd ). With so many boomer singles there is a growing number of services for finding love and romance after 50. One of the more exciting options is the growing singles cruise industry, where you can enjoy budding romance in exotic locations.

There are singles cruises to suit every schedule, from 3 day singles cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, to 7 day or longer cruises on the Baltic Sea or Cancun and the western Caribbean. Whether you enjoy just relaxing by the pool or shaking your booty in the disco, the modern singles cruise can’t be beat. Scheduled activities make meeting your shipmates easy, including cocktail parties and mixers, fun games, group excursions, and mingling while dining.

For more information on exotic singles cruises, check out these sites.

Singles Cruise information on upcoming singles cruises

Cruise Reviews excellent general cruise resource site with reader’s reviews by cruise line and individual ship

About.com Singles Cruises links to information to make taking your singles cruise more enjoyable

WiFi hotspot directory sites

It’s surprising how important the internet has become in our lives now, from keeping in touch with email to news and shopping. With the growing network of wireless internet (WiFi) providers, it is easier now than ever to get online wherever you go.

Many good WiFi hotspot directory sites are available now, and I have a list of the best hotspot directories at the After50 Technology site. If you travel with your computer, make sure to add these hotspot directory sites to your favorites.

European Vacation Travel Sites

Now that Spring is almost here that means summer vacation is fast approaching. I don’t know about you, but I start planning my next vacation as I’m traveling back home from my latest vacation, but some people still haven’t decided where to enjoy their summer vacation.

Each year over 12 million Americans visit Europe, seeing such sights as castles from the Middle Ages, the canals of Venice, the sunny beaches of Spain and Greece, to the spectacular mountain views of Switzerland. With so many options, every one of them promising to offer a good time, how do you decide?

Fortunately there are some excellent websites available to help you make your vacation plans.

One of the best sites is by Rick Steves, the travel book author and PBS travel show host. You can find his recommendations at his Best Destinations Europe site, where for 2006 his recommendations span from Ireland to Italy. He visits every location he recommends personally, so you get a first hand account of what you’ll find when you reach your European travel destination.

Another fantastic site to help plan your European vacation is Durant Imboden’s Europe for Visitors, full of articles with travel advice. The information at Europe for Visitors is thorough, too, from the information you expect such as hotels, restaurants, and what to see and do, but also how to pack, how to manage your money, to passports and personal safety. If you want to know the things that will make your trip to Europe as simple as possible your pre-trip planning must include a visit to Europe for Visitors.

Last but not least is the official European tourism site Visit Europe, with detailed travel information on all 33 nations that comprise Europe, from Austria to Turkey. For each country you will find a calendar of events, weather information, and useful tips and advice to help make your vacation more pleasant.

Enjoy your vacation, and don’t forget to send a postcard.

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