FEATURED DESTINATIONS
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AMAZING AMSTERDAM
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Amsterdam, the greatest planned city in northern Europe, has always been a well-known name in world history and played a central role in the history of the Netherlands. In the 17th century, Amsterdam was the center of the world economy, and nowadays the city is known for its
tolerant character.
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Key Experiences
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Climb the Westertoren
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Go bungee jumping over the IJ at the Faralda Crane Hotel
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Attend a concert at the Concertgebouw
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Go to Museum N8 ("Museum Night")
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Go over the edge in "Europe's Highest Swing"
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Find out what glows in the dark
Unique Things to do
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Canal Pizza Cruise
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Experience a bubbling fountain on Frederiksplein
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Canal Pizza Cruise
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Harvest fruit, nuts, and other plants from around the city to eat at home
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Do an apple pie taste test: Villa Zeezicht vs. Winkel 43
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Play giant chess
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Anne Frank Story & Private 2-Hour Neighborhood Tour
Regional culinary delights
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Bitterballen
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Stroopwafel (one of our favorites!)
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Raw Herring
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Croquettes from a vending machine!
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Dutch Cheese
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Ontibijtkoek
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Stamp Pot
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And so much more!
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Getting around
All of the major Dutch cities have widespread and inexpensive public transportation systems. The high degree of urbanization has also led many Dutch cities to build comprehensive bicycle pathways that allow people to bike instead of using cars or other vehicles. Still, 79% of the Dutch use their personal cars
for transportation.
EGYPT
The term Um al-Dunya, which means "Mother of the World" in Arabic, is often used to describe Egypt. No wonder. Recorded history in this fascinating country dates back more than 5,000 years, but Egypt's story is so much more than pyramids and hieroglyphics. From its run-in with Alexander the Great to occupation by the Roman, Ottoman, and French empires to the construction of the Suez Canal
to the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, the region has played an important economic and political role in the world.
Key Experiences
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Visit the Pyramids
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Cruise the Nile River
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View the artifacts of Tutankhamun
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Visit the Valley of the Kings and Queens
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HIke Mount Sinai
Things to do
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Take a tour of the Egyptian Museum
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Ride a camel near the Great Pyramid of Giza
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Take an off-road adventure through the dunes
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Ride a felucca (a wooden sailboat)
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Explore Luxor Temple
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Visit the Temples of Abu Simbel
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Explore the oases in the Western Desert
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Regional culinary delights
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Kushari - (a mix of rice, macaroni, lentils, and spiced tomato sauce)
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Ful Medames - (a mix of crushed fava beans cooked in lemon juice, parsley, garlic, onion, and chili pepper)
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Eish Baladi - (the ancient pita-style bread that is used as a spoon to scoop up your food)
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Getting around
When traveling between the Nile Valley, Delta, and Canal Zone, you can use the rail system. Elsewhere, buses and
shared taxis are readily available. If you're covering long distances, consider flying instead. And don't forget, you
can also travel by boat or cruise ship (on the Nile River) or by camel (in the desert). For better safety, you may
choose to hire a driver.
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IRELAND
Ireland is famous for many things: from dramatic coastlines to stunning scenery, from social scenes and live music to literature and the arts. One thing it tends to fall short on, however, is the weather. Average temperatures in Ireland during Spring usually range from 4°C – 10°C. The days will finally be getting longer again after the Winter months. There is also Daylight Savings. It is when the clocks are turned forward by one hour, meaning sunrise and sunset are one hour later, extending daylight. On the downside, there can be up to 70 mm of rainfall on average in March. As Spring finally is in full bloom, leafy green trees and flowers grow again. The temperatures in Ireland thankfully rise to an average of 5°C – 11°C in April.
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Key Experiences
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Cliffs of Moher
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Bunratty Castle
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Giant's Causeway
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The Dark Hedges
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Kylemore Abbey
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Killarney
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King John's Castle
Things to do
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Visit the EPIC Immigration Museum
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Tour the Gardens and meet the horses at The Irish National Stud
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Visit a Distillery and take a cocktail class
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Ride horses in Kerry
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Take a foodie tour in Galway
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See where the Titanic was built in Belfast
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Go on a pub crawl in Dublin
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Visit the filming locations of shows and movies like Star Wars and Game of Thrones
Regional culinary delights
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Full Irish Breakfast
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Irish stew
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Galway Oysters
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Colcannon
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Cockles and Mussels
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Soda Bread
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Barmbrack
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Boxty
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Coddle
Getting around
Getting around in Ireland looks very different depending on location, rural or urban. You go from city to countryside relatively quickly and the challenges between the two can be drastic. Taking public transportation or walking within the cities is highly advised.
That being said -
Driving in Ireland takes a certain amount of skill. For Americans and Canadians, there’s the whole other-side-of-the-car, other-side-of-the-road thing to contend with — just remember to stay left, and you’ll be all right. On highways, there are typically two to three lanes; rarely will you find monster four- or five-lane thoroughfares in Ireland. As on most European highways, the fast
lane — which is always on the right — is used solely for passing slower traffic.
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Be aware that speed limits vary widely on highways; it may be 120-kilometers per hour (approximately 75-m.p.h.) in parts and then suddenly change to 80-kilometers per hour (50-m.p.h.), so always keep an eye out for the number inside the round signage on the side of the highway.
When planning your trip, check to see if your route has any toll requirements. Toll charges are based on the size of your vehicle.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is the world's 25th largest landmass and Southern Africa's biggest nation. The country is so big that it has three capitals, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and Pretoria. South Africa is the biggest manufacturer of platinum, gold, vanadium, alumino-silicates, manganese, and chromium. It is also the home to over 850 species of birds and 300 exotic mammal species, including giraffes, buffalo, cheetahs, and warthogs. Over 55-million people also inhabit the nation.
Key Experiences
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Go on a true safari
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Stay in a tented camp
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See the Big Five
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Experience The Great Migration
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Hot Air Baloon ride over the Savannah
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Visit a native village
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Things to do
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Wander the Garden Route in South Cape
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Visit Seal Island
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Shop and dine in Johannesburg
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See the penguins
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Check out Knysna Elephant Park
Regional culinary delights
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Porrige
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Bobotie
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Vetkoek
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Boerewors
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Chakalaka
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Malva pudding
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Bunny chow
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Koeksister
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Potjiekos
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Biltong
Getting around
Out of all African nations, South Africa has the most extended road network. They believe that their well-maintained road network is the reason they remain competitive in international markets. As long as you have a map, you'll find it easy to drive around South
Africa.
The main public transportation options in the country include commuter rail, the mini-bus taxi, and the Gautrain high-speed rail system. Uber and taxi rides are also available in South Africa. You can also rent scooters, Vespas, and bicycles.