Apart from these, there are far more to explore when in Sicily. The Valle dei Templi or the Valley of Temples in the city of Agrigento is like the region’s Acropolis. The ridge is home to five Greek temples, including the Tempio di Ercole or the Temple of Hercules, which is the oldest of these. For a bit of the beach, there is Cefalù, an old town known to have some of the region’s best beaches. Cefalù is also the location of Tempio di Diana or Diana’s Temple and other Greek relics. Catania, on the other hand, is a university city, bustling with a vibrant nightlife and the gateway to Mount Etna. Hiking and partying are the main activities while in this part of Sicily.

Travelers to Sicily generally need a valid passport and visa when staying longer than 90 days. Common traveler hassles include pickpockets and muggers. It is advised to practice basic precautions. When traveling by train, it is best to stay with other people and not sit alone. Certain suburban neighborhoods in Messina, Palermo, and Catania may also be hazardous for non-locals. The best times to visit the region are during spring, autumn, and winter. Summers can get really hot in Sicily.

Chiang Mai is on Thailand’s north. Historically, it was part of the country’s trade route. Today, it draws in travelers who come for business, or for the varied well-maintained sights within the city. It is likewise known for the productions of woodcarvings, handicrafts, umbrellas, and jewelry.

Perhaps one of the most daunting characteristics of Chiang Mai is its more than three hundred Buddhist temples, giving its landscape a surreal and somber look. The Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is the most famous of these. The temple sits on top of a hill and dates back to 1383. Apart from the amazing architecture of the place, it also affords the visitor a unique view of the whole city. The Wat Chiang Man is another important Buddhist temple in the city. It was constructed back in the 13th century and was where King Mengrai lived while observing the building of Chiang Mai.

The city is also one of the best places to experience time with elephants. The Elephant Nature Park is an ideal visit and functions as a sanctuary for rescued elephants.

Travelers to Chiang Mai generally need a valid passport and visa when planning to stay at Chiang Mai longer. The city is typically safe – safer than tourist centers like Bangkok. However, there are “crossover” scams like the gem scam and the tuk-tuk scams. Basic watchfulness is advised.

Those bungalows over water and the pretty houses set on stilts are standard in the island. The difference is in the amenities that go with the many houses on stilts. Some are affordable, while others are luxurious and expensive. Nevertheless, these are the best ways to hie off on a vacation. From here, the traveler can swim and snorkel.

There are several snorkeling sites near the resort areas. As alternative, one can join the popular Shark and Ray Snorkel Safaris. These trips take snorklers to waters within the lagoon where sharks and rays are known to converge (partly because tour operators bait them with food).

Matira Beach is the most popular beach in Bora Bora. The beach is beautifully landscaped amidst its marine and mountain surroundings, and is peppered with resorts in convenient distance from each other. There is no problem of overcrowding, as in other popular beaches. It also boasts of several amazing snorkeling sites nearby.

Scuba diving is also a must-activity while in Bora Bora. The island has several breathtaking dive sites and is abundant in lemon sharks, black tip sharks, Manta rays, sea turtles, and Napoleon fish.

For a bit of land adventure, horseback riding and biking are possible in some areas. Likewise, there are jeep tours to American World War II ruins.

Travelers to Bora Bora need a valid passport and visa. The island is generally safe. Of course, basic precaution is advised. It is ideal to visit the islands all year round.

Petra is said to be “half as old as time,” the “rose red city” of Jordan, referred to by the predominant color of its sandstones. It is an ancient Nabataean city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as of 1985. It was only in 1929 when the Trans-Jordan attempted full excavation of the city, even when Western explorers, such as Johann Ludwig Burckhardt and David Roberts, had caught sight of this archaeological wonder. Upon full excavation, it became Jordan’s most visited site.

Being a full-scale archaeological park, a fairly steep fee is charged at the entrance. Options are for single or double day tours. The expanse of the city will require two days for a full exploration.

The Treasury is one of the city’s relics that should not be missed. This is immediately accessible after going through the Siq, the sandstone canyon that serves as Petra’s entrance. Red and grand, the Treasury is an ancient architectural marvel. Atop this structure is an urn that is said to contain the Pharaoh’s treasure. Beyond the Treasury, one goes through the outer Siq, referred to as the Street of Facades, for the many tomb facades etched on its walls. The Roman Theater, Monastery, and Royal Tombs can be accessed after this stretch.

Travelers to Petra are required a valid passport and visa. Petra and Jordan are relatively safe. However, one should observe respect for the local culture and religion. Modest clothing should be worn in historical and religious sites.

The island was one of the badly hit areas when the December 2004 tsunami hit Asian shores. Casualties were in thousands, and included locals and tourists. For a while, it seemed like paradise had been tarnished beyond recognition. However, slowly, the people picked up the pieces. The island was reawakened from devastation to reign again as on of the continent’s top tourist destinations.

The attraction of Phuket is quite apparent. It is a hilly island surrounded by pristine waters. Most of the commercial beaches are to its west, varying in tourist draws and crowd density. The quiet beaches are towards the north and south ends. The party beaches are in the middle, particularly in the beaches of Patong and its neighbor Karon and Karon Noi. Several smaller islands (locally referred to as Ko) are within reach and brimming with possibilities for further adventure. Ko Bon is great for daytrips, snorkeling, and idling on the beach. Scuba diving is likewise popular in the adjacent islands of Ko Racha. Some of these islands have resorts, catering mostly to the high-end market – good alternatives for staying in Phuket.

Travelers to Phuket need a valid passport and visa. Since the island is a tourist center, there are typical traveler hassles, such as petty crime and inflated prices. The tuk-tuks – the local makeshift taxis – are known to gouge visitors with high rates. It is advised to haggle and agree on the best rates first, before riding a tuk-tuk. The climate is hot and humid for most of the year. The best months to go are from November to May.

Belize, a former British Honduras colony, is an autonomous country in Central America. It is the only country in the continent that does not have a coast on the Pacific Ocean. Instead, its shores run along the Caribbean Sea. It boasts of the Belize Barrier Reef, two hundred miles long and second only to the Great Barrier Reef when it comes to being the longest reef in the world. This is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reefs, which extends from Cancun to Guatemala. The reef is accessible from Ambergris Caye, one of Belize’s northernmost islands. Over at Caye Caulker, another Belize island, budget travelers may find plenty of good options for accommodations, food places, bars and adventures. It is popular as a snorkeling and hiking site. Its Forest Reserve extends to up to one hundred acres of the area, and is home to a variety of bird species and mangrove forests. Caye Caulker’s Shark and Ray Alley is very good for snorkeling and spotting southern stingrays and nurse sharks. The infamous Blue Hole is likewise an amazing dive site, teeming with sharks and a variety of other fish.

American, Canadian, and EU travelers to Belize only need a valid passport to get into the country. Those on cruises don’t even need passports. Visitors from other nations need the usual valid passport and visa. Belize City is reputed to be one of the most dangerous cities in the country. However, it is still safe for travelers as long as they practice precautions and keep to the tourist zones.

The majesty of the Boiling Lake is open to visitors after a 3-4 hour hike past free-flowing streams and mountain ridges. Other equally wonderful natural attractions include the Titou Gorge, a small waterfall with hot and cold streams, the Emerald Pool, which is nestled deep in the rainforest, and the Trafalgar Falls. Other natural wonders to amaze local and foreign visitors include the majestic Chaudiere, a river pool that can be reached by taking a short walk through the rainforest, and the Watton Waven, a village famous for its sulphur springs purported to hold healing powers.

Tourists should not miss a short hike up the Gallion, considered one of the best places to see the view and wait for the sun to set. Caribbean sunsets are spectacular, even more so when viewed from the tallest peaks of Dominica. This is truly a relaxing way to end the day, watching the colorful bursts of crimson, yellow, and blue in the sky after an exhilarating day of mountain climbing, biking, horseback riding, walking, and diving.

From the tallest peaks visitors can opt to marvel at the underwater attractions of the ocean, resplendent in its colorful and varied species of fish and corals under a blanket of clear, blue waters. Dolphins and sea turtles may also come out and play for a truly unforgettable marine experience. Aside from diving, snorkeling and kayaking are popular water activities.

For Americans and Canadians, only a valid passport is required for a visit to Dominica. Tourists who want to drive a car need to purchase a Visitor’s Temporary Driver’s license which is valid for up to one month.

The diversity in color is the first to strike the curious traveler. Two shield volcanoes vie to dominate the land, each built on dark rocks, and cut by ravines and valleys. Not far, one is overwhelmed by rich green rainforests. The dark and the green make a foreboding mix – one that contrasts the golden sands and tropical ambience of Maui’s famous shorelines. The beaches are interesting, as they are. Vast and marked with several resorts and recreation areas, these have remained pristine and picture perfect.

Snorkeling is possible practically anywhere in the waters of Maui. One can reach great sites just a few strokes from the shore. Scuba diving and surfing are popular tourist activities, as well. However, Maui is known best for its incomparable whale watching opportunities. Wintertime in the island, humpback whales migrate from the icy waters of Alaska to Maui’s warmer Pacific waters. Its ‘Au‘au Channel is home to these giants during this mating and birthing season.

Ramblers will also find paradise in the island. For one thing, Hana Highway, aside from the spectacular views possible just off the road, has several jump-off points to hiking trails. These may lead to more of Maui’s mystifying waterfalls, interesting flora and fauna, or relaxing beaches. The Haleakala National Park is also a great option for its bamboo forest, waterfalls, and challenging trails.

Non-American travelers to Maui generally need a valid passport and visa. The island is ideal to visit any time of the year; however, for whale watching, coming over the winter is best. It is generally safe; although, of course, basic precautionary practices are advised.

Such is the vibrancy and life typical of Marrakech, an economic center of Morocco. The city is known for souks, big and small, selling most everything under the sun. The popular products available in these areas include teas, spices, kaftans, jalabas, shoes and leather goods, and more. Marrakech is also known for historical and architectural marvels, such as the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Madrassa, the Koutoubia mosque and more. The Saadian Tombs are well preserved remnants of a Morrocan era under Saadian rulers. Several curious markings and decorations have been left within the tombs. The Ben Youssef Madrassa, on the other hand, is architecturally beautiful and a sight to behold. The Koutoubia mosque is recognizable from afar, with its distinguished minaret.

Travelers to Marrakech generally need a valid passport and visa when planning to stay longer than three months. Common traveler hassles when in Marrakech include scammers who pretend to earnestly help out or give henna tattoos. For any purchase, it is advised to always agree on a price first. Likewise, solo travelers should be extra aware, particularly of being drugged. Over all, people of Marrakech are friendly and are not aggressive.

Queenstown is one of the more popular resort destinations in New Zealand. It used to be a gold mining and farming town. Its early residents counted migrant Europeans and Chinese people. As the other industries died out, it became more known as a summer vacation place. In time, with the opening of the Coronet Peak, the country’s first commercial ski field, Queenstown also became a winter getaway.

Today, the town enjoys a yearlong stream of travelers who come for the view, a summer mountain trek or two, or ski tours. Bob’s Peak is one of the best ways to see the marvel of Queenstown and the mountains and lakes that surround it. The Skyline Gondola runs from the town to the peak. The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Cecil Peak, Walter Peak, and Bob’s Peak are great venues for skiing, snowboarding, luge rides, and mountaineering. Lake Wakatipu, on the other hand, offers opportunities for parasailing, flyfishing, whitewater rafting, and lake cruises. Queenstown also has a thriving wine industry. A time in town is opportune to sample some of the local wines.

Travelers to Queenstown generally need a valid passport and visa when planning to stay for more than three months. The town is relatively safe, marred only by occurrences of car break-ins every now and then. Basic safety precautions are advised. Queenstown is a great place to visit all-year round.