So what's it like to travel Down Under for a visit to one of the most vibrating cities in the world: Sydney, Australia?

Hello fellow travelers! Are you finally ready to experience the world outside of the United States? Before you leave the country, you will need a valid US passport. I thought it would be helpful to share 3 things you should know before applying for your first passport. Where do I go?  You will have to show up in person at either an acceptance facility or a passport agency.  It is best to call ahead and find out if they accept appointments or can tell you best day and time to

Not sure a cruise is for you? Read about the following cruise "myths" and perhaps try it out at least once? Who knows, you may be converted :) 1. Cruises Are Only for Older People Absolutely not! Today, cruises cater to diverse groups of people of all ages and with all interests. Activities are typically tailored to include different age groups and activity levels. There are cruises with ziplining, laser tag to bingo and karaoke and many others in between. 2. Cruises Are Expe

First time visitor to Hawaii and not sure what to do first? Here are some must-dos on your trip to one of the most beautiful destinations in the world! Oahu A hike up Leahi (or Diamond Head Volcano)! It’s likely Oahu's most iconic natural landmark, featuring a very popular hike that finishes with a stunning 360-degree view of the island's southeastern tip. Photo by Daily Travel Dose Big Island of Hawaii Explore the diverse landscapes of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park! 150 mi

While in Sydney, I fell in love with the aboriginal fabrics without knowing anything about them. The friendly store owner told me each fabric has a story. The blue one I bought is called "On Walkabout". The term walkabout refers to a sort of rite of passage that a teenage Australian aborigine would undergo to become a man. The teenager would go out into the bush on their own and use their skills to survive. On a guided tour in Sydney our tour guide said we are going on a "wan

Enroll in what? The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program! https://step.state.gov The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. - Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans. - Helps the U.S. Embassy contact you in an

Have you heard of the award-winning sound and light festival "Vivid"? It will be held in the vibrating city of Sydney from 22 May - 13 June 2020! Vivid Sydney is the largest festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the largest event in Australia. The event brings together light artists, music makers and brilliant minds to share their creativity with you, the visitor. This is a tourist photo created during a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House a few days ago, so I

9 Reasons to travel with friends and family

Have you ever considered taking a cruise to visit the Hawaiian Islands? If you are like me, I honestly never thought about it. I got around just fine on foot, by rental car, excursion boat, and nter-island flight when I visited Hawaii a few years (sheesh, it's really time to go back!). However, taking a cruise that visits 4 Hawaiian Islands, is really something different. Most people who visit the paradise of Hawaii will visit Oahu (Waikiki Beach) and perhaps Maui Island. And

Aloha everyone! We took a bit of a break due to some European travel, which is always a great excuse :) Today we meet Trui Moerkerke who is a tour guide in the "Motor City " Detroit! What is your current job/role in the tourism industry? I just launched A Dose of Detroit, offering guided tours in Detroit (in Dutch, French, and English). I moved with my family to Ann Arbor, Michigan in the Summer of 2016. My husband started a new job here. In Belgium, I had worked full time as

While the Havasupai falls area of Arizona may have beautiful blue/green waters, it will soon be visitors who will be feeling the blues when trying to obtain a reservation for this stunning location. Reservations can be made this year as of 8am Arizona time 1st February 2019 online only (do not call). But here's the heartbreaking news: it's expensive! A minimum 3-night stay will be required at $100 (weekday) or $125 (weekend) per person per night. The area can be visited from

Welcome to the very first Allez les Belges blog post of the new year! I hope you all had an enjoyable and safe end of the year celebration. I am about to fly to Lisbon, Portugal tomorrow! So I thought it would be appropriate to introduce Henk and Ann and their B&B in Palmela, Portugal (about 1 hour from Lisbon). They were also featured on VTM recently, perhaps you saw their Belgian TV appearance in the program Met Vier in Bed? Wat is your role in the tourism industry? Since

Bonjour and Happy Friday, the very LAST Allez les Belges of 2018! Wow, this year has really flown by! Since I like a good Bordeaux and most people enjoy a nice Cognac after dinner, let's visit the Bordeaux-Cognac Region of France where Olivier and Tinne operate a B&B! See you again in 2019!! Happy New Year and best wishes to everyone for the year to come! What is your current job/role in the tourism industry? Since 2014, My wife and I have owned and run our Bed and Breakfast

Happy Holiday Season 2018 everyone!! Today we go to the East Coast of the United States, to meet Helene Toye who not only is a tour guide in Washington DC, but also an author and a member of Via Americana: a unique tour guide alliance consisting of six European women who fell in love with their new hometowns in the United States. What is your current job/role in the tourism industry: 10 years ago I followed my husband to Washington D.C.  Leaving behind my job – and by extensi

Ia ora na, everyone! I closed out the year of 2018 with a bang: a familiarization tour of the French Polynesian islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora! I learned so much, had many great meetings with hotel staff to make personal connections, tried out some tours, explored as much as I could and also had a few cocktails and beach time. If I am guessing right, a trip to French Polynesia may be on your list for the year 2019 (or beyond), so here are some tips for what to pack f

Happy Friday everyone (after 1 week off for a trip to Tahiti!) and welcome to another post of Allez les Belges, where the spotlight is on Julie Biesen who lives in Canada (British Columbia). Canada: our beautiful (and cold) neighbor to the north :) What is your current job/role in the tourism industry? I currently work as the Guest Services Manager for the Holiday Inn West Kelowna, meaning that I lead my team to make sure all guests feel at home from the moment they book a

It's Fri-yay!! Welcome to another blog post for Allez les Belges and today we go to Northern Africa! Let's meet Marijke Spooren who owns a beautiful guesthouse in the middle of the medina of Marrakech! What is your current job/role in the tourism industry? I'm the owner of Dar Chadia, a guest house located in the medina near the famous Jamaa El Fna square in Marrakech, Morocco. We mainly focus on a real personal contact with our guests and we provide personalized recommendat

Bonjour to another blog post of Allez les Belges! Today we meet Ann Goris in the Dordogne region of France! She is the property owner of beautiful Castel de Moulin Haut. What is your current job/role in the tourism industry? We left Belgium in 1998 with 3 little children (a 4-year old, a 2-year old and a baby!) to move to the Dordogne region of France. We built a small touristy villa complex with a big swimming pool (Castel de Moulin Haut). We started with 4 villas. and in 2

Today marks my first anniversary of moving to the state of Arizona from New Jersey! Yay! Welcome to another blog post for Allez les Belges! Today we meet Sylvia in Sweden. Now I want to go on a wildlife safari in Europe... What is your current job/role in the tourism industry? I'm the owner of Amazing Nature Scandinavia and active as a nature and travel photographer. I offer nature photography workshops in Västmanland, Central Sweden and I work together with local companies

I recently got in my car for a quick Southwest/Arizona road trip. The finale was a visit and overnight stay at Monument Valley (Navajo Name: Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii), one of the most iconic symbols of the American Southwest. I LOVED IT! :) 5 tips for a visit to Monument Valley: 1/ The most important thing to keep in mind (especially if you have a tour scheduled) is that the valley is located in the Navajo nation and Daylight Savings Time is observed there. The state of Arizona doe