There is something unmistakably magical about a total solar eclipse. It is not just about the diamond ring effect or the shadows cast on the earth but the change in atmosphere as well. The further the sun inches behind the moon, the stranger the world becomes. It is almost as if the whole world stops and holds its breath, even the birds will go to roost and become silent.

A total solar eclipse happens on average once a year with one or two annular and partials throughout the year. It is visible from various points on the Earth’s surface depending on the time of year that the event takes place.  An annular eclipse is where the sun and moon are in the correct alignment, however, the moon appears smaller and therefore does not completely cover the sun from view.

There are many companies that will offer a solar eclipse holiday, or you could simply research it first and book the holiday around the event. That way you can have the holiday you want and enjoy the eclipse at the same time. A total solar eclipse is one of those events that once witnessed you will never forget.

A great holiday destination when winter has gotten the better of your spirit and skin colour, Antigua offers endless sandy beaches where travellers can relax and unwind. Of course, there is a lot more to do in Antigua than just lay on the beach. Not that lying on the beach is a problem for most, but if you have an energetic must-go person in your group, there is more to see and do during your holidays to Antigua.

Even though the principal tourist draw to this part of the world is the exquisite beaches, any visitor here would seriously be missing out if they didn’t participate in at least a few of the historical tours and market shopping opportunities.

A trip to Nelson’s Dockyard National Park is an ideal place to get a feel for the local history. From here, you can meander over to Betty’s Hope, which was once a sugar cane plantation. There is also the vibrant St. John’s Saturday Morning Market. Here is a wonderful way to begin any Saturday morning with a stroll through the endless aisles of fresh cut flowers and local produce.

The town of St. John’s, aside from the market, is also worth exploring for its quaint cafes, charming museum, grand cathedral, and peculiar shops. If you find yourself on the eastern portion of the island check out Half Moon Bay, rated as one of the most beautiful beaches without a soul in sight. For a little nightlife, English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour are the best places to go.

If you like to live life to the extreme and experience it to the fullest you may want to consider a storm-chasing holiday. America’s tornado alley is famous for its storm season that runs from April through to June.  However tornados can appear at any time of the year and in the south the main season is during winter to early spring.

The best way to experience this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon is by going on a storm-chasing holiday tour. There are a number of companies that offer their services for this purpose but it is worth noting that you should look for a company that has a qualified meteorologist on board along with a good track record at intercepting tornados.

Tornado Alley is the most famous area in the world for seeing twisters. The area that is covered by this term runs from North Dakota down to Texas and as far west as Ohio. There is no such thing as a typical days storm chasing but in general you can expect the following:

The weather will be analysed so that the best targets for the day can be recognised and discussed.
 
The day’s events may change as new data becomes available. The usual time for most outbreaks is in the mid to late afternoon so lunch will be arranged and snacks will be ready so that you can be out on the road heading towards the target destination. On a day when there is a successful chase you will most likely not return to the hotel until nearing 11pm. However on non-chasing days this will probably be around 7pm.

Please bear in mind that special insurance is required to go on a storm-chasing holiday and that once the chase begins there is no stopping.

Timing is crucial with any cruise, but it may be even more important with Norway cruises. The country can offer the midnight sun to travellers during some seasons, and the dazzling lights of the Aurora Borealis at other times.

The famous midnight sun of Norway must be experienced during the summer. A cruise during Norway’s summer will allow travellers to experience one of the strangest phenomena in nature: sunlight all night long. The 24-hour sunlight invigorates the entire country. If you want to make the most of the daylight hours, summer is the time for a Norway cruise. The best months for this type of cruise to Norway are May, June and July.

Twenty-four hours of sunlight may be a little intense for some. If that is the case, why not try a spring Norway cruise instead? As early as March, signs of spring start appearing in the south, but April and part of May are the true Norwegian springtime. During this time, travellers can experience both waterfalls fed by melted water and metre high snow drifts. Spring is definitely a time of adventure in Norway.

Similarly, autumn is a time of transition in the country. A cruise to Norway in autumn will be full of colour. Red, yellow and orange all appear to decorate the mountainsides, hilltops and woods during Norway’s autumn season. Killer whales approach the coast during this season as well. The best time for an autumn Norway cruise is August to November.

The most breathtaking views, however, belong to winter. This is when travellers will see the Aurora Borealis lighting up the northern sky, as well as beautiful fields of pure white snow. The best time to see the Northern Lights are from October to March, in Norway far away from any artificial light.

Companies from all over the world are involved in doing business in Moscow. The main obstacles to business travellers are the language and the complexity of Russian culture. Here are some tips to help business visitors navigate the city and its customs.

Rather than stay at a hotel, many business travellers choose a serviced apartment as their base in Moscow. There are many online apartment rental companies that can arrange all aspects of a business visit to Moscow. One or two are actually owned by American companies, but most have staff trained to provide a service to English-speaking tourists.

Business class rentals usually have internet access, a scanner, fax and all the facilities such a visitor would expect. A kitchen and laundry are also usually included in the price of the room.

In addition to helping business meetings run smoothly, many serviced apartment companies will also arrange for business lounge access and fast-tracking of your arrival procedures through the airport. They will also help out with transfers to and from the airport and your apartment.

Your rental company should also be capable of taking care of your registration as a foreign visitor to Moscow and any other city in Russia that you may be visiting. Registration is a necessary part of visiting the country, so it is best left to an expert.

As with all cities, Moscow has its more desirable areas for tourists and business visitors. The best place for apartment rental is the Arbat area, which is close to restaurants, embassies, shops and banks, as well as being a safe area to walk around in.

The Mekong Delta snakes through Vietnam’s ‘Rice Basket’, providing those that travel down the river a fascinating glimpse into Vietnamese country life.  The locals around this area have worked on and around the river for generations, yet they are all too happy to greet ‘outsiders’ and show them their way of life.

One of the most productive areas of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta area not only has rice paddies, but also fish and shrimp farms, sugarcane, various fruits and coconuts.

Lots of local wares and fresh produce can be purchased from the many floating market boats, such as pottery, clothing, jewellery, and food such as pineapple, bananas, and even bowls of hot ‘Pha’, the native meat and noodle soup.  If you dare, try the local rice wine, rumoured to increase male virility!

On dry land, there are plenty of places to stay suiting all budgets, from local huts, to grand hotel resorts.  There are beaches nearby too, with excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities.  Try a day on the beach of Hon Chog, or a stay on the picturesque forested island of Phu Quoc, which has the mesmerising An Thoi archipelago in the south and the Mong Tay and Doi Moi islets to the north. 

Places of interest in the area of the Mekong Delta include various pagodas, such as the Khmer pagodas around Soc Trang, as well as wildlife sites such as bird and butterfly sanctuaries, or the stunning Binh Thuy Orchid Garden.

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region that is semi-autonomous, with many of its residents preferring to be completely independent from Spain. Despite their fierce nationalism, the people of Barcelona love to share their country and their culture with foreign tourists.

In summer, the warm Mediterranean evenings do not encourage sleep and Barcelona is a hive of activity well into the night. The first step for any tourist wishing to blend in with the locals is to think of ten o’clock at night as dinnertime, rather than bedtime.

Most of the people have work to attend to and businesses to run during the day, so the late night is the time to catch up with friends and family. This includes children and old people, which is a surprise to many foreigners. There are countless high-class restaurants, shops and nightclubs that are open all night, encouraging visitors and locals to enjoy the sunrise on the beach.

A popular feature of Barcelona is its architecture. The ornate rooftops of La Pedrera, designed by Barcelona’s celebrated architect, Antonio Gaudi and Casa Battllo, remodelled by Gaudi, never fail to excite the interest of tourists.

Gaudi’s crowning achievement was the Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. This church remains unfinished as Gaudi died when only a fraction of the restoration work he envisaged had been completed. The basilica has several facades, each with its own theme, but all united by a distinctive spiral staircase that visitors can climb, taking them to the top of the church. Like Gaudi’s architecture, Barcelona is intricate and full of hidden meaning.

Venturing into the rainforest requires preparation beforehand, ensuring you have the essential items packed will make the time more enjoyable once you reach your destination.  Most of the items will normally be packed to go on a holiday, but there are some items that will make quite a big difference, such as insect repellent.  It is advisable to speak to a doctor concerning any recommended medications or vaccinations before embarking on an Ecuadorian rainforest adventure.  
 
Suitable clothing to take typically includes a pullover or sweater, two or three pairs of pants, two or three long-sleeved shirts, two or three t-shirts, a pair of shorts, and a wide brimmed hat.  Two pairs of good hiking boots or tennis shoes (wear one pair while the other pair is drying) would be advisable, and also sandals for relaxing in and lots of spare socks.  Other clothing includes a poncho or rain jacket and a swimsuit.  
 
Equipment would include sunglasses, sun block, insect repellent (taking vitamins B6 and B12 at least a week before leaving will help), torch/flashlight, well-sealing plastic bags to protect camera, passports etc., You should also take batteries for cameras and lights, a small day-pack for excursions, and battery chargers for the places that only have partial electricity.  Other equipment would include rubber boots (a lot of the lodges supply boots up to sizes 11 / 43), good binoculars to spot birds and animals, rainproof backpack, personal toiletries, and a copy your passport.  Take additional money (in US$) for tips, soft drinks and alcohol and parking permits.

Opting for a skiing holiday in Italy is a wonderful way to take in the Alps from a different perspective.  The Dolomites are a particularly popular destination for many, forming a range of mountains among the Italian Alps and featuring 18 remarkable summits.  Since skiing is the main activity in this part of Italy, it is common to find something for everyone here.  Beginners, and even small children, can benefit from instructors teaching them from scratch, whilst advanced daredevils can test their skills on the more extreme slopes.  Other snow sports are also available, including snowboarding, tobogganing, ice-skating and ice-climbing. 

The Italian Alps see a variety of tourists from all corners of the world during the peak season.  In between skiing, many of them flock to the cosy restaurants and local inns for a taste of some heart-warming local fare.  It is quite easy to reach this area by public transport, since there are many trains that run between the Alps to various cities and towns.  Only one ski lift pass is needed since it includes access to all ski lifts in the area.

You couldn’t ask for much more from a holiday destination like Majorca, it has a variety of things to see and for young and old alike, for solo travellers and for families. The Balearic islands may be known as party islands to many but they do offer a lot more than that and Majorca is a real gem of an island.

The Biggest of the Balearic Islands Majorca is always a favourite of British holiday makers, with plenty of sights to explore from museums, cathedrals and castles in around the capitol, Palma and further afield. There is not just sightseeing on offer, Majorca and all its little towns offer plenty of entertainment no matter what you like. Restaurant choices are covered with cuisines from all round the world as well as lively nightlife or sedate nightlife.
 
With food and entertainment covered, you can also turn your attention to the beaches and this is what this island is really about. You will find plenty of golden sand beaches against turquoise see perfect for catching a tan the only problem is, deciding which one!  Many of the main resorts have an abundance of beaches around them so you’re just a stone’s throw away from a beach at many of the hotels.

For families why not look at staying at resorts in Alcudia, Puerto Pollensa and Cala Bona which cater well for families and if you want something livelier then head to resorts such as Magaluf and Palma Nova. If you want something more sedate then have a look at staying in Ca’n Picafort or Sa Coma which are perfect for couples.