Everybody has their own idea of what the perfect summer vacation would be. For most it includes sun, sea and sand, whereas for others their idea of a perfect vacation is lying underneath the stars watching the world go by.

Camping is quite a popular outdoor vacation and it can make an excellent vacation. It can be extremely fun and if you have never tried it before, it just may surprise you.

Why Consider a Camping Summer Vacation?

Costa Rica - Natural Attractions
By Tatyana Kogut

Costa Rica is a resort country with a total of 74 resorts located on its territory. Lush greenery, mountains and ocean – that’s what you should come here for. The country’s main attractions are: national resorts, mountains and underwater caves, waterfalls, picturesque valleys and volcanoes. More than 25% of the country’s territory are occupied by government-protected natural parks.

I’m an offbeat tourist. I try not to do as the other tourists do and not to go where the others go. I do not try to show-off or something like that. I just leave many places that are considered to be a must-visit behind. That is all.

For instance, I haven’t been to the Louvre. It’s not a reason for pride and it’s not a cause for regret. I just didn’t want to race through the halls making short stops near three points (Nike, Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa). This museum is worth being admired for a long time, which I didn’t really have. But I do hope to come to Paris again…

It’s impossible to visit France and not to attend one of the main attractions of the French capital - the Louvre. The biggest and the most famous world museum was opened to public on August 10, 1793. Before that it used to be a private museum available only to the elite of the court. The palace, where the museum is situated, is more than 800 years old, being initially a fortress of Philip Augustus. Today there is a special exhibition devoted to this page of the museum history. Works of all historical epochs and art currents (up to the XIX century) are represented in the Louvre. The Italian collection, which is considered to be the best outside the limits of Italy, has always attracted connoisseurs, tourists and artists from all over the world.

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world. Millions of tourists come here every day. So when planning your trip to Paris make sure you have a place to stay at. Don’t go to the city without a reservation. The majority of the Paris hotels have official websites, so it’s very easy to book a room on-line. Another variant is to reserve a room via fax, using a special form included in the website. Write dates of stay, time of arrival, number of people, type of room you desire, required facilities and location. Wait until you get a confirmation - and here you are! You have a place to stay at when in Paris! Don’t forget to bring a copy of your reservation (whether it was made via fax or email) when you check in.

I decided to share my impressions about the trip to Rome as my emotions still linger…

The decision to go to Italy was made shortly before the journey, so we didn’t have much time to prepare for that. But we managed to organize the trip as quickly as possible. And, as it turned out, we planned everything very well.

Rome covered us in the suffocating heat as it’s extremely hot in Rome in August. We wanted to hire a taxi but didn’t like the faces of the drivers approaching us, so we decided to take a suburban train called “Leonardo Express”. I should say it’s rather comfortable and inexpensive.

One summer my friend and I decided to go to Italy during the summer holidays. Having read information about the tours we decided to do without travel agencies. We didn’t want to stick to strict programs, to be in the crowds of tourists, losing lots of possibilities to get acquainted with the country more intimately so we started to think over our trip.

We managed to do quite well: six days in Rome with a day-long journey to Florence. Italy took us by storm! We’ll try to go there again! We spent less than we expected. Of course, we spend nerves and time to arrange the trip, but Italy was worth that! Of course I was afraid lest something goes wrong, I was especially anxious about the visa. But everything went quite smoothly. So here’s my story.

A Trip to the Past With Palenque
By Tatyana Kogut

The south of Mexico is the cradle of Maya civilization – one of the greatest cultures in human history. Born 3 thousand years ago, it is surrounded with historical mysteries and legends. But the most wonderful thing is that this world is still alive. Meeting with Maya means a travel to the past. The first place to get to know Maya is Uxmal. Then we advise you a travel to Palenque – a wonderful site. One of the main local attractions is the Temple of Inscriptions where in 1952 there was a true treasure found – Maya temple. The temple is one of the oldest Maya erections, preserved in its primeval state. There is also a Palace situated opposite the temple. The palace is adorned with ancient bas reliefs and stone carvings.