For years you’ve dreamt of quitting your job to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and now you’ve finally decided to take the plunge - well done! Making this momentous decision is incredibly exciting, as a whole world of adventure opens up before you. Once the dust settles, you’re often left pondering the question - now what? Hundreds of other questions also start buzzing around in your head….where should I go, when should I go, which anti-malaria tablets should I buy, should I visit weird Uncle Derek in Adelaide….?

Deep breaths

My advice is to sit down, take some deep breaths and have a serious think about the following: what do you want to get out of your trip? Where in the world have you always dreamed of going? Are you a beach bum, culture vulture, adrenaline junky, all or none of the above?

Where to go…

Armed with this information, you can start deciding where you’d like to go. Write down all the places you’d most like to visit and then prioritise them into ‘must see’ places and those that ‘would be nice’. Next, with the help of a world atlas, arrange the destinations in a logical geographical order. As a general rule, the further off the beaten track places are, the more expensive your ticket will be. So, if you’ve always had a hankering to visit Guinea-Bissau, just bear in mind that that the price of your ticket will increase accordingly.

Round the World tickets

Once you’ve got your wish list of destinations, it’s time to look at which round the world ticket is going to suit you best. It’s a good idea to enlist some professional helps at this stage; a specialist travel agent will help you negotiate the minefield that is round the world tickets. It doesn’t hurt to do some initial planning of your own first though.

Flexibility

Most round the world tickets are very flexible and will allow you free date changes and a year’s travel from the date of departure. Other than that, each ticket has its own rules and regulations. Here’s a lightning quick guide to some of the major round the world tickets:

GREAT ESCAPADE

Main airlines you can use: Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic & Silk Air
Where can I travel to? This ticket is excellent for stops in Asia and the South Pacific. It’s great if you want to combine South Africa with Asia and also covers Australia, New Zealand, USA and the Caribbean.
Key facts:
- Unlimited stops (Maximum of 29,000 miles)
- Ability to add extra mileage - up to a maximum of 33,500 miles
- One stop in each city
- Several booking classes available to give you a better chance of getting availability on the dates you want
- Can upgrade to premium economy on certain sectors

ONEWORLD EXPLORER

Main airlines you can use: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev, Qantas & Royal Jordanian
Where can I travel to? Pretty much anywhere! This is the only round the world ticket that does not have any mileage limitations which opens up some really exciting possibilities. It’s especially good for South America, as it includes flights on LAN who operate throughout the continent.

Key facts:
- Unlimited mileage
- Travel to up to six continents
- 4 different fare levels (3, 4, 5 or 6 continents) - fare rises as you add more continents
- Fly up to 4 sectors in any continent (6 in North/Central America & the Caribbean)
- Same price all year round

WORLD WALKABOUT

Main airlines you can use: British Airways, Qantas, Air Pacific
Where can I travel to?
It’s particularly good for South America in particular, with flights from Santiago to Auckland and Sydney and vice-versa, as well as lots of options on six continents.
Key facts:
- Up to 7 stops
- Must include a transit or stopover in either Australia or New Zealand
- Two fare levels, one with a maximum mileage of 25000, the other 29000
- Cheapest way to include South America in your round the world itinerary

TIKI TOUR:

Main Airlines you can use: Virgin Atlantic & Air New Zealand
Where can I travel to? This ticket is great for stops in the South Pacific in particular, including Raratonga, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii. It’s also good for the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Asia & South Africa.
Key facts:
- Several different fare levels to maximise availability
- You can upgrade your flights on certain sectors to premium economy
- One of the cheapest round the world tickets around

Happy planning!

Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including round the world trip.

Underwater paradises, natural wonders of the world, rainforests of the oceans…. just a few ways to describe the beautiful coral reefs that dot our planet. Like rainforests, coral reefs host an amazing biodiversity, have been around for millions of years and are now facing a serious threat to their very existence. So, if you love to dive or snorkel, strap on your mask and fins and explore these magical ecosystems before they are gone for good. Here are 5 incredible coral reefs to visit on your round the world trip:

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, the Great Barrier Reef stretches for over 1,800 miles and comprises a staggering 2,900 or so individual reefs. It’s so immense, in fact, that it is the only living thing on earth which can be seen from space. Home to more than 1,500 species of tropical fish, it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Snorkelers can enjoy the profusion of colourful marine life in the shallows of the inner reef, while divers might prefer the deeper water and dazzling reef formations of the outer reef.

Belize Barrier Reef, Belize
A UNESCO World Heritage site, this is the second largest barrier reef system in the world. Crystal clear waters play host to vivid, multi-coloured coral reef stretching for 180 miles off the coast of Belize. Here you’ll find over 300 different species of fish and some incredible reef formations. The most famous of these is the incredible Blue Hole, a perfect dark circle in a sea of turquoise. Plunging to a depth of 125 metres, it’s a popular dive site where you can share the water with black tip sharks, nurse sharks and hammerheads - if you’re brave enough!

Raja Ampats, Indonesia
Remote and relatively unexplored, the reefs off Raja Ampats are in pristine condition and the riot of colour that unravels under the surface is dazzling. The diversity of marine life found here is one of the highest on the planet, with an incredible 600 species of hard coral and 1,200 species of fish.

Namena Marine Reserve, Fiji
Sometimes referred to as the soft coral capital of the world, the Namina Marine Reserve is the ultimate underwater playground. Vertical reef walls plummet hundreds of metres below the surface and there are mangroves and grass sea beds to explore. Namena has an abundance of marine life and divers can share the warm tropical waters with bottlenosed dolphins, sperm whales, pilot whales and turtles.

Palancar Reef, Mexico
Located off the coast of Cozumel, an island in Mexico’s Yucatan region, the kaleidoscope of colours and easy access attract divers from all over the world. It’s part of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park and is home to all sorts of exotic marine life including barracuda, parrot fish, angel fish, nurse sharks and sea turtles.

Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including round the world trip.

A quick online search will identify several tour companies that offer cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tours originating in the vicinity of Las Vegas, Nevada. Many people vacationing in the area are interested in taking an aerial tour of this spectacular natural wonder, but some of them are put off because they think it will be too expensive. Fortunately, that’s not the case, and it’s fairly easy to find Grand Canyon helicopter deals.

Shopping around is important, because different tour operators charge different rates, and some of them offer special deals. By finding a good canyon helicopter deal, you can save a pretty penny and still enjoy a spectacular aerial tour.

Many of the more expensive chopper tours take you to various other sights in addition to the Grand Canyon. Flying over these other attractions raises the price, but you might only want to see the canyon itself. If that’s the case, check out the companies offering bare-bones tours that fly straight from Las Vegas to this magnificent canyon and then back again. This type of cheap helicopter ride will be less expensive than the tours that also take you to other attractions.

You can also get a better price on air tours if you’re traveling with a group of people. When you divide up the total price, the cost per person becomes quite reasonable. Helicopters can hold several passengers, so this is an option that can save you and your fellow travelers some money while still allowing all of you to enjoy an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Some tour companies are restricted to flights over just one of the rims of the National Park, so look into which parts of the canyon you’ll be seeing with different companies. A restricted flight will be cheaper but you won’t get to see certain parts of the canyon that way. You’ll get more for your money by choosing a company that offers a cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tour over the entire area.

However, you’ll still want to make sure that you go with a company that uses choppers with large viewing windows. After all, those big windows will make it a lot easier to enjoy the natural scenery and take great pictures that will help you remember this wonderful experience.

You’ll also want to choose a flight that provides headsets and an informative narration that explains the overall history of the area and the different things you’ll be seeing. People get a lot more out of their helicopter adventure when they’re given this type of interesting information. It shouldn’t cost anything extra because the tour operators include the commentary in their price, even when you find a hot promotional offer.

As you can see, a simple online search makes it fairly easy to find cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tours. Just make sure you’re the package you get takes you over the best parts of the canyon and provides an excellent tour. You might be surprised by the special offers you can find online, and taking an aerial tour is certainly worth the cost if you’re already nearby. This is a once in a lifetime experience you shouldn’t miss.

National Park air tours have never been more affordable! Check out the cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tours at http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals.

Tuscany is a popular destination for people traveling to Italy, as Tuscany vacations have much to offer in the way of culture and history. Tuscany is located near the center of the country, with access to several sites that you might not be able to get to if you were in another location. Tuscany is also home to many olive groves and other natural sights that help give it old world charm. Tuscany vacation packages and organized Tuscany tours are probably available through your travel agency if you really want to see everything and not miss any of the important places.

Museums are one of the attractions you’ll want to see with Tuscany vacation packages. The Uffizi Gallery is a museum that houses hundreds of paintings from Renaissance art masters. Famous artists like da Vinci, Michaelangelo and Botticelli all has works of art inside the walls. If you go to Academia, you’ll see the statue of David, by Michaelangelo, which is among the most famous in the world. Art lovers will definitely relish visiting the museums on Tuscany vacations. The region of Chianti is also in Tuscany, where you can sample the famous wine at its roots. Some Tuscany tours will include wine tasting as a main component, so you can sample wines and explore the vineyards.

If you want to add a little medieval history to your Tuscany vacation packages, a visit to Siena may be a good idea. You can sit and relax in the Piazza del Campo and just watch the world go by. There is also a bell tower that you can climb, if you’re so inclined, to get a good view of the surrounding area. The town of Lucca was founded by the Romans in 180 BC, and has an ancient amphitheater and brick wall that encloses the city center. The wall is four kilometers long and is a popular tourist attraction. San Gimignano is a 1,000 year old town that is home to several tower houses, which were a symbol of wealth in ancient times. The Fortress of Montestaffoli is also in San Gimignano and the whole town is a great place to visit on Tuscany tours.

One of the most famous and desirable destinations for Tuscany vacation packages is the leaning tower of Pisa. Pisa is a town that’s roughly 50 miles outside of Florence and can be reached by train, if necessary. Some Tuscany vacations will include a trip to an authentic Tuscan cooking school to learn how to make real Tuscan dishes. You can either choose a quick, one day kind of course, or a longer program if you really want to bring the flavors of the region back home with you. As with many places in Italy, Tuscany has its share of history and culture.

Sit down with a travel agent to go over all your options for Sicily vacations, so you’re sure to see everything that matches your interests.

With incredible Sicily tours for every budget, book your trip today.

One of the places that many people like to visit on an Italian vacation is Sicily. Sicily has some of the most popular ancient sites you’ll ever find, and the island itself is the largest in the Mediterranean. Medieval towns, museums and classic architecture make Sicily a haven for people who enjoy history and a slower paced way of life. Many people who visit Sicily find that one or two days isn’t quite enough to see all of the important sights, so if you plan to go, try to budget up to a week to get the full experience.

The highest active volcano in Europe, called Mount Etna, is located in Sicily. Any Sicily vacation packages or Sicily tours will include a trip to Mount Etna. The town of Syracuse should be on the lists of stops for Sicily tours, as it boasts the Greek Theatre and an ancient quarry called the ‘Ear of Dionysius.’ Many of the stones that built a lot of the ancient Greek structures came from the ‘Ear of Dionysius’ quarry. The largest group of classical Greek ruins is situated in the Valley of the Temples on the southern coast. Many of the temples and monuments in this area are well-preserved, and it’s a must-see for Sicily vacation packages.

Most Sicily vacations will also include a trip to Erice, which is a medieval town that sits 755 meters above sea level. Erice has narrow streets made of cobblestone and small courtyards that are reminiscent of the Middle Ages. A temple at the top of Erice is dedicated to Aphrodite and used to act as a lighthouse for sailors. For those who like the darker side, underground crypts known as Catacombe dei Cappucini just outside Palermo may be a good addition to your Sicily tours. Over 8,000 mummies line the narrow corridors, so it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. Ortygia Island in Syracuse is filled with dozens of ancient ruins that played a role in Greek mythology and date back as far as the 6th century BC. The Temple of Apollo and Doric Temple are two of the main features of the ruins.

If you’re a movie buff, be sure to include the cities of Forza D’Argo and Savoca in your Sicily tours. These cities are where scenes from the movie ‘The Godfather’ were filmed, and visiting the sites would make a wonderful stop for anyone who loved the movie.

There are so many historical and cultural areas to visit while in Sicily, it really does pay to set up Italy vacation packages to ensure you won’t miss any. Set up a meeting with your travel agent to go over all of the different Sicily vacations, so you can choose one that appeals to your interests. You may not get to see all of the sights that Sicily has to offer, but you can see the ones that appeal to your personality and tastes the most.

With incredible Italy vacations for every budget, book your trip today.