Going Places Travel

20/03/2024

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly hot air balloon festival that takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during early October. The Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event occurring in the first full week of October, and has over 500 hot air balloons each year far from its beginnings of merely 13 balloons in 1972. The event is the largest balloon festival in the world, followed by the Grand Est Mondial Air in France, and the León International Balloon Festival in Mexico.

18/03/2024

The Namib is a coastal desert in Southern Africa. According to the broadest definition, the Namib stretches for more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and northwest South Africa, extending southward from the Carunjamba River in Angola, through Namibia and to the Olifants River in Western Cape, South Africa. Having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for roughly 55–80 million years, the Namib may be the oldest desert in the world and contains some of the world's driest regions, with only western South America's Atacama Desert to challenge it for age and aridity benchmarks.

16/03/2024

Komodo National Park is a national park in Indonesia located within the Lesser Sunda Islands in the border region between the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rinca, and 26 smaller ones, with a total area of 1,733 km².

As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides a refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer.

14/03/2024

The Giant's Causeway is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills.

The most characteristic and unique feature of the site is the exposure of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt in perfect horizontal sections, forming a pavement. This dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland.

The formations are as a result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption, however, legend has it that an Irish giant named Finn McCool created a causeway to get across the Irish Sea to face his rival, the Scottish giant Benandonner. Following their fearsome meeting, Benandonner ripped up the causeway as he fled back to Scotland, leaving what is seen today.

08/03/2024

Montreal Botanical Garden was founded in 1936 by Frère Marie-Victorin, and spans more than 75 hectares (185 acres). The Montreal Botanical Garden has approximately 20,000 plant species and cultivars under cultivation and maintains a herbarium consisting of nearly 100,000 reference specimens. Of the garden’s many greenhouses, 10 are for public display and 23 for service functions and research collections. Its significant collections and special gardens contain commercially important plants, medicinal herbs, alpine plants, woodland plants, ferns, bonsai, cacti and other succulents, begonias, aroids, bromeliads, gesneriads, and orchids.

Fun fact: This giant living sculpture in the Montreal Botanical Garden, called Mother Earth, is made up of 70,000 plants.

08/03/2024

"The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up."

Happy International Women's Day from Going Places Travel!

06/03/2024

Jervis Bay is a 102-square-kilometre Oceanic bay and village in the Jervis Bay Territory and on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Vivid aquamarine waters, a menagerie of wildlife and sand the colour of snow - Jervis Bay has it all. Found in the Shoalhaven region, one can indulge in an assortment of water sports, join dolphin-watching cruises, explore national parks and snorkel with marine life in this coastal paradise.
The bay is renowned for its pristine white sand and lush vegetation, but you’ll also find a hidden wonder that’s both bizarre and beautiful. Due to chemical reactions within plankton, the water in Jervis Bay sometimes displays swirls of glowing blue along the shore. This unusual natural phenomenon, which can only be seen at night, can happen at any time of the year but is more common in the warmer months.

28/02/2024

Miami, officially the City of Miami, is a coastal metropolis in the U.S. state of Florida and the seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida. With a population of 442,241 as of the 2020 census, it is the second-most populous city in Florida after Jacksonville.
Miami is one of the state's – and the world's – most popular vacation spots. Though destinations often are said to offer something for everyone, the Miami area does indeed offer multiple enticements for all: The trendy nightlife of South Beach, bejeweled by the eye candy of the Art Deco district.

21/02/2024

Monte Fitz Roy is a mountain in Patagonia, on the border between Argentina and Chile. It is located in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, near El Chaltén village and Viedma Lake.
Cerro Fitz Roy is named after the Captain of the HMS Beagle, who came to Patagonia in 1834 with Charles Darwin. The mountain is a 3,375m towering spire of rock and ice and it is recognised as one of the great challenges by the world's climbing community. It is also known as "Cerro Chalten" or "smoking mountain".
It was first climbed in 1952 by French alpinists Lionel Terray and Guido Magnone.

19/02/2024

📣Great news!! In November, American Airlines will launch their daily nonstop service from New York to Barbados and a Saturday-only service from Philadelphia! 👏

Contact your favourite Going Places Travel Advisor to start planning your next trip!

16/02/2024

Located to the east of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and formed by snow water of the mountain, Baishui River in Lijiang is the branch of Jinsha River, which is the upper reach of the famous Yangtze River in China.

The bed of Baishui River presents a color of grey white as it is composed of sedimentary crushed limestone, when the thawing water flows through it, the river seems white thus comes the name Baishui River (literally White Water River).

Water in Baishui River is clean and clear, and if you wade barefoot through it, even in hot summer, the bitter feeling will always keep you in mind the quality of it. Thus here is a good place to avoid summer heat and the best time to visit it is from May to July.

14/02/2024

LOVE Park, officially known as John F. Kennedy Plaza, is a public park located in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The park is nicknamed LOVE Park for its reproduction of Robert Indiana's 1970 LOVE sculpture which overlooks the plaza.

LOVE Park serves as the grand entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, carrying residents and visitors between City Hall and top attractions like the Barnes Foundation, The Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Designed to let visitors and vendors use the space as needed, LOVE Park creates an environment that brings together world travelers, lunchtime snackers, sunbathers, fitness buffs and performers.

Major renovations completed in 2018 put the LOVE sculpture at the center of the park, creating plenty of photo-ready opportunities. A new fountain with programmable jets and lights is also selfie-worthy.

09/02/2024

07/02/2024

Rich in history and character, Four Seasons Hotel Madrid brings together seven different historical buildings – the oldest dating back to 1887 – resulting in an interior filled with unique discoveries. Among our 200 guest rooms and suites, there are many one-of-a-kind layouts.

Combining extraordinary dining, sleek and spacious accommodations and legendary Four Seasons service, the Hotel is the city's nexus of success and style.

05/02/2024

Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa, is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. Its high density of wild animals includes the Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. Hundreds of other mammals make their home here, as do diverse bird species such as vultures, eagles and storks. Mountains, bush plains and tropical forests are all part of the landscape.

The Panorama Route is one of the most popular routes in Kruger National Park safaris, taking visitors on a scenic drive through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in South Africa. The route includes a visit to the Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world, offering awe-inspiring natural beauty.

02/02/2024

FROM BARBADOS
From April 27 - May 4, 2024 you can Explore Panama with Going Places Travel! With rates starting at US$1,676 per person you will receive:

• Roundtrip airfare from Barbados
• 7-nights hotel accommodation
• Select meals
• Roundtrip airport transfers
• Emberá Village tour
• City Tour including the Panama Canal
• Easy access to the largest mall in Central America

You will be escorted by Going Places Travel all the way! For more details, call us at 431-2400 or visit us at: www.goingplacestravel.com/panama-package-from-barbados

01/02/2024

The Palace of Fine Arts is a monumental structure located in the Marina District of San Francisco, California, originally built for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition to exhibit works of art. It was constructed from concrete and steel, and the building was claimed to be fireproof.

Its Greek-style colonnades and soaring central rotunda make it one of the most singular and recognizable features of San Francisco's northern skyline. Up close, the scale of the structure is truly breathtaking.

01/02/2024

Wondering what to get your special someone this Valentine's Day? Give the gift of travel with our travel gift cards! They can be used towards flights, cruises and so much more...

Tag your special someone in the comments below in case they need a little help with Valentine's gift shopping!

For more details, visit https://www.goingplacestravel.com/about-us/gift-cards

30/01/2024

The Oceanarium in Manila is home to 14,000 marine creatures from around 277 species, all indigenous to the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Its sheer size and diversity make it one of the world's best public aquariums. The Oceanarium is a stunning walkthrough of the watery depths featuring seven sections and containing 3,000 cubic meters of seawater. At the heart of a 55-meter journey inside the Oceanarium is the main attraction - a 220° curved walkway tunnel with a spectacular underwater view of amazing sea creatures swimming overhead.

26/01/2024

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one the world's largest mosques and a massive architectural work of art that intentionally blends different Islamic architectural schools. It features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet. There are some rules in place when visiting the mosque however.

There is a prohibition against women entering the mosque without wearing an Abaya (the mosque will give you a free one for the purpose of your visit). Both genders must cover shoulders and knees. You will have to take off your shoes at the entry gate. Men and women cannot walk very close nor touch each other.

24/01/2024

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top. Beyond its striking physical appearance, Table Mountain boasts a rich tapestry of biodiversity. A World Heritage Site, it is home to an array of unique plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth.

19/01/2024

Like some fantastical land conjured by a storyteller, Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression (or Afar Depression) exhibits some uncommon wonders: lava that burns blue, bright yellow hot springs, and lakes of bubbling mud. These otherworldly oddities are all manifestations of a tectonic process called continental rifting. In other words, the Earth is pulling apart at the seams here.

In northeastern Africa, the Arabian, Somali, and Nubian (or African) plates are separating, thinning Earth’s crust as they pull apart. The Danakil Depression lies between the Danakil Alps (east) and the Ethiopian Plateau (west), which were once joined until the rifting process tore them apart. The land surface is slowly sinking, and Danakil Depression will someday fill with water as a new ocean or great lake is born. But for now, the region is full of other interesting liquids.

17/01/2024

The standing golden Buddha image looking down from a hill to the valley and mountains beyond is one of the images that often features in travel guides and articles about Nan, Thailand. At Wat Phra That Khao Noi the temple was originally built in 1487 and is particularly important because a relic from the Buddha is enshrined in the main chedi. The statue was erected in honour of His Majesty the King’s 6th cycle birthday anniversary on December 5, 1999. An annual temple fair is held at Wat Phra That Khao Noi (usually in May) with sky-rockets lit to pay respect.

15/01/2024

Rapallo is a town on the Italian Riviera coastline. It’s known for the hilltop Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro, a pilgrimage site with sea views. The Castello di Rapallo, a 16th-century fortress, sits on the waterfront. Southwest, near Portofino village, 10th-century San Fruttuoso Abbey sits in a small cove. Nearby, the Portofino Protected Marine Area includes the underwater Christ of the Abyss bronze statue.

12/01/2024

Kelingking Beach is one of the most famous spots of Nusa Penida, often featured in advertisements for Bali and Indonesia. Its unique rock formations resemble the backbone of a dinosaur and it’s even nicknamed T-Rex Bay on Google Maps. From the top of the cliff, visitors may even spot Manta rays.

Tourists flock to the esplanade for breathtaking views and drone photography. The popularity of Kelingking Beach has greatly contributed to the tourist growth of Nusa Penida island, particularly through social media. Interestingly, “Kelingking” also means pinky finger in Indonesian, but the reason behind it requires a little imagination.

10/01/2024

Overlooking Lake Nasser, the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor, which together make up the Temples of Abu Simbel, are among the most famous and spectacular monuments in Egypt. In a modern marvel of engineering, which matches Ramses II's original construction for sheer audacity, the temple complex was saved from being swallowed by rising waters and lost forever after the building of the High Dam, by being moved lock, stock and barrel to the position it sits upon today.

31/12/2023

Our last city is Dubai.

Dubai, a city known for its superlatives, continues the trend with its extraordinary New Year's Eve celebrations. Renowned for hosting one of the world's most massive fireworks displays, featuring hundreds of thousands of Grucci sparks, the spectacle illuminates iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab. For a prime viewing spot, arrive early and secure a seat by the waterfront near the Dubai Fountain, where an additional light and water show adds to the festive atmosphere.

Whatever you do this evening, enjoy and be safe! Happy New Year!