Surf junkies travel the world to ride the perfect wave. A few countries have the reputation for being a real paradise for surfers – Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Australia, South Africa, Hawaii. Others, such as Cuba and Uruguay, are becoming more popular destinations to surf. However, not many know that at the very heart of the Mediterranean there’s an island that is rich in lush nature, mountains, beautiful small cities, unique archeological sites, … [Read more...]
Why I’m going to Burma (Myanmar)
When word got out I was thinking of taking a group to Burma this November, I received this email: Dear Mr. Bangs: I strongly advise you to drop travel to Burma. The treatment of the Rohingy minority is so appalling that I feel that no one should be visiting that country... This is not the first cease and desist-style communication I’ve received about travel to a destination whose politics are at odds with our own. When I received a permit … [Read more...]
Three Fabulous Colonial Cities in Mexico
Mexico is a huge country, that well deserves a visit. I have been there 3 times and for as much as I try to explore a bit more every time, I am never quite done with it. It is one among the few countries I keep going back to, like Peru or Cuba, because it just has everything I can possibly look for when I travel. Amazing archeological sites, lush nature, beautiful beaches, deserts, interesting indigenous communities, delicious food and gorgeous … [Read more...]
Cyclepaths in Cuba
My father, usually a quiet man, burst through the door and hustled the family in front of the television set. He said we were on the verge of something terrible and we needed to see and understand. It was October 22, 1962. My father, a career officer at the C.I.A., seemed distressed with things he knew that others did not. We then watched in horror as John Kennedy described the Russian missiles west of Havana, capable of reaching our home in … [Read more...]
Should I stay or should I go? Bonaire
I mean you can’t beat hanging around a great Caribbean resort like Harbour Village Beach Club on the island of Bonaire. It’s got a great restaurant, stunning sunsets, a long puffy sliver of silky white sand for a beach, and tons of stuff to do, from diving to snorkeling to kayaking and more. There are also the super comfy ocean-facing rooms set amid tropical gardens, and an ever-gracious staff, never leaving you wanting for … [Read more...]
9th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show Returns
THE 9TH ANNUAL LOS ANGELES TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW® RETURNS TO THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER FEBRUARY 8-9, 2014 Rick Steves, Travel Channel's Samantha Brown, Todd Carmichael, Don Wildman, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz among exclusive featured speakers (LOS ANGELES, CA) - L.A.'s favorite and the country's largest travel show will return to the Long Beach Convention Center on February 8 and 9. Named as one of Southern … [Read more...]
The Different Cancún Another Side of Paradise
The pearls of praise for the place called Cancún often sheen to dizzying effect. There is no refuting that this stretch of soft sand caressing the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean is the acreage of paradise, a dazzling tropical necklace that evokes powerful, even passionate imagery. The acclaim is true….the beaches, the resorts, the sun, the sports, the shopping, the clubs and bars are laced in lavish profusion, and all so close to a host of … [Read more...]
Splitting the Difference, by Tré Miller Rodríguez
No one should have to go through what author Tré Miller Rodríguez went through at her age. At 34, she tragically loses her husband to a heart attack while he is in bed next to her. This true story is her detailed, raw and brutally honest look at how she tries to cope with the grief of his loss in the months afterwards - it hurts, it is not always pretty but it is how she makes do. Tré has already lived enough tragedy for one life. She has … [Read more...]
How Cuba Changed my Perception of Humanity and Restored Hope
I’ve taken a number of great vacations in my lifetime. Each vacation I’ve taken has left me with fond memories, valuable lessons, new friends, new-found knowledge and a new outlook on my surroundings and the world at large but one recent vacation, in particular, left me with more than I could ever imagine gaining from a week-long trip. I didn’t have to travel very far to this destination. In fact, I technically didn’t even have to leave the … [Read more...]
Our Family Glory in the Holiday Attributes of Punta Cana
Thinking of the sun and palm trees, one snowy and stormy weekend in Toronto, I decided to take my daughter Muna, along my grandson Mazin, and his wife Margarita, as a belated honeymoon gift, to the Dominican Republic. Now as we explored the huge Bahia Principe resort complex in Punta Cana, the Republic's resort par excellence, we were living our dream. As we walked the white sandy beach, Mazin remarked, "A great trip! I love your … [Read more...]