Sheetal (from Travel CUTS York) – There is lots to do in Ireland. This spectacular destination is certainly one not to miss.

I have spent several years in Ireland and will be the first to admit that the people of this country have to be the most hospitable in the world. However, this is not the only reason to visit Ireland. If its stunning views and scenic drives you are looking for, then you are spoilt for choice in Ireland. From the Giants Causeway in County Antrim to the Cliffs of Moher to Connemara and the Lakes of Killarney there is so much to see and do in Ireland.

Nobody enjoys a party better than the Irish! Wherever you are in Ireland, traditional foot tapping music will be played at informal sessions in original Irish pubs. You will be addicted to this Irish dancing. There is a wide and varied heritage which includes the magnificent Book Of Kells, which was drafted by Celtic Monks in the ninth century AD, is located at Trinity College, Dublin. Other marvellous places to visit include Newgrange in County Meath, a burial chamber and tomb, which predate Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids at Giza. The Burren Area of North County Clare is well worth visiting, not only for the strange rocky landscape, but also for the prehistoric dolmen burial tombs. I would definitely recommend everyone to visit Ireland. Please contact me if you would like to visit Ireland.

Call Sheetal at Travel CUTS York 416.661.0661 TODAY!

Usually, if I want to meet someone when I’m travelling I just start with “Hi”. If I’m feeling really forward I might start with “Nice camera” or “Can you tell me how to get to…”. Not very sexy, I know, but it gets the job done.

Lonely Planet has pulled together some truly fantastic and truly awful pick-up lines for you though, in case “Hi” just doesn’t cut it.

So grab a seat in a pub next to a cute girl and say, “Are you from South England? Cause you Brighton up my day.” Or turn to your seatmate on a train across Africa and ask, “Are you sure you’re not from South Korea? Because I’m sure you’re my ‘Seoul’-mate.”

You can get the full list on lonelyplanet.com.

It was not long after I started working at Travel CUTS, that I booked onto my first Contiki tour in Europe. I had been to Europe once before with siblings, and did the first-time backpacking thing, or as it’s sometime called ‘The Lonely Planet’ tour of Europe’ with our guide books telling us where to go and what to see. We had a good time, but often struggled with accommodation and train bookings in foreign languages.

The itinerary for the Contiki trip looked awesome, but I did have some hesitations. I had never travelled on a group tour before, and I wondered about how much free time I would get, and what it would be like to travel by bus with a bunch of people I had never met before. Little did I know, this trip would open my eyes to a whole new world of travel. With all the accommodation and transportation arranged for me, detailed information about everything I needed, and experienced and friendly drivers and guides to show me Europe, all I had to do on this trip was enjoy myself!

Contiki Holidays is a popular youth travel company for 18-35 year olds that uses centrally located hotels, comfortable modern air-conditioned buses, and most of all amazing guides! The bus quickly becomes your home away from home on wheels, and is a great place to catch up on sleep and share stories and photos with your fellow travellers. At each place we visited, our guide would helps us with anything we needed, from arranging optional activities like a cabaret shows in Paris or a canal cruise in Amsterdam, to just pointing out a nice cafe for lunch. The trips offer plenty of free time to explore on your own, or with others from the tour. Whether you are into shopping, history or adventure, there are many choices everywhere you go. It’s amazing what a bonding experience travelling by tour is as well. A great way to make life-long friends from around the world, and a couch to crash on for your next trip!

Contiki trips are a great way to see the world with like-minded travellers, and with all the little details taken care of, you have more time to relax, explore, or just hang out. Contiki is a great option for anyone from a first time traveller to a season globe-trotter looking for a no hassle vacation of a life time. So if you are sitting on your coach reading this, staring at that map on your wall…get up and contact us today about a Contiki Holiday! You have one life, one shot, make it count! #NOREGRETS!

Contributed by Mackenzie Planedin from Travel CUTS University of Victoria, to find out more or book your next Contiki Holiday contact Mackenzie at MPlanedin@travelcuts.com

Selcuk/Ephesus
Driving down the orange tree-lined streets of the town of Selcuk was a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul. Walking the 5 minutes from the bus station to our hotel quickly gave the realization that this “tourist hotspot” hadn’t let it’s true culture fade. This town was taken up centuries ago by former Ephesians, and is located very close to the famous ruins. Many tours will travel by land to this picturesque town, as it hosts many historical sites such as the Basilica of St. John, Mary’s House, and the ruins of Ephesus.

Having the chance to wander through the ruins and religious sites were like taking a step back in time and feeling as if the world stood still. A laid-back and easy-to-navigate area, this was a great time to go exploring, and see what the “real” Turkey was about. Don’t forget to practice your bartering skills while in this town, especially if you find yourself lucky enough to be here on a Saturday. The sprawling weekend market includes everything from shoes, clothing, and watches, to fruits and vegetables and household goods, and runs through every street in the downtown area. It was an amazing mix of calm and relaxation while still having the chance to see the day-to-day lives of locals and ancient sites. The small-town, quaint feeling you enjoy in this area wasn’t felt as much in any other place that we stopped along.

Contributed by Emily Lobo from Travel CUTS University of Alberta.  To find out more and book your trip to Turkey you can contact Emily at ELobo@travelcuts.com

Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, shopping at the Grand Bazaar, admiring the landscapes of Cappadocia, the mesmerizing whirling dervishes, all this and more is what I experienced when travelling with Intrepid Travel through Turkey. What other country can you visit and say you were on two continents?!

It was seamless travelling with Intrepid, everything was arranged for us along with extra time to shop, enjoy a Turkish coffee or join one of the many optional activities. Intrepid is a great small group adventure company with their groups never exceeding more than about 12 people. We travelled by local transportation, bus, ferry, and flight. We also enjoyed a couple dinners with a local family which wouldn’t have been possible with a large group. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture! The accommodation was fabulous, ranging from small boutique hotels to a cave hotel in Goreme (Cappadocia).

We first arrived in Istanbul where we spent 2 days exploring the city.  Istanbul is a very large city of almost 12 million people. A shopper’s dream: textiles, jewellery, spice markets, and much more everywhere you turned! We did not miss the historical Blue Mosque or Haya Sofia. Taksim also another great area of Istanbul; modern with tons of restaurants, bars and shops.

We took a ferry from Istanbul to Bursa which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire at one time. This is where some of us enjoyed going to a Hamman, a Turkish bath of cleansing and relaxation. Later that evening we had dinner with a local family before seeing the whirling dervishes which was a truly mesmerizing experience.

We then made our way to the delightful town of Selçuk. This was a very relaxing spot on our journey through Turkey as it was nice and slow paced. Some of the sites we included here was the Roman ruin city of Ephesus, Basilica of St. John and the Ephesus Museum.

On a short flight from Izmir with Sun Express we arrived in the beautiful region of Cappadocia. We took a short walk around town and learned everything there was to about carpets from a local lady. This was another evening that we had dinner with a local family before turning in for an early rise at 4am.
We awoke to the call of prayer right at 4am and we were shuttled for our hot air balloon ride. This I think was for most the best part of the whole trip. The sun was rising and the sky was filled with colorful balloons on the horizon. A great way to see this picturesque area!

Later that morning we went for a walk through the Love Valley where we saw the fairy chimneys up close. We then made our way to the Open Air Museum before taking a 45 minute bus ride to the Underground City. Tonight was our last supper before getting on our flight to Istanbul to make our way back home the next morning. I must say you will never starve in this country, amazing food! Very simple dishes but very well-seasoned and prepared, yum! Good Bye for now, Turkey!

Contributed Erin Bauldic from Travel CUTS University of Saskatoon
email Erin to find out more about traveling to Turkey EBauldic@travelcuts.com

Do you want to take an epic tour of Canada?  Look no further than to Moose Travel Network! Canadian-owned and operated, these guys pull out all the stops to make sure you have an amazing time.

This past week I had the pleasure of taking Moose’s Coho tour as part of my ISIC journey across Canada. In just four days I visited Kelowna, Jasper and Banff, saw snow-capped mountains, climbed a pre-historic glacier and slept in a cabin in the woods — all while travelling with an awesome group of people and a fun and knowledgable tour guide. The experiences gained and memories made will definitely last me a lifetime. On top of that, I can now say I’ve toured parts of Canada that I used to only ever dream of visiting.

Are you a full-time student with a craving to explore our beautiful country? Did you know that Moose offers ISIC holders an exclusive discount on their tours booked through Travel CUTS? With trips available throughout both Western and Eastern Canada, you can’t go wrong!

Contact us today to find out how you can make your own Moose memories. Plus, sign-up for our ISIC newsletter, ISIC Canada Travel News, to find out about our special Moose offer for November!

Not an ISIC holder? Click here to find out more about the International Student Identity Card.

My Moose mates and I at Emerald Lake in the Rockies.

 Most people get the post-vacation blues… when you’re back to work and the routine of ‘real life’ settles back in after a whirlwind trip. However, having an amazing new group of friends around the globe to message and post pictures of makes a world of difference! When you share a life-changing experience and form lasting bonds with your fellow travelers, it only makes you excited for your next adventure. I had a massive case of post-trip blues after my recent Contiki Rock Around the World trip, and I wouldn’t trade my epic experience for anything!

 I had such a blast in California and Nevada, that after returning home, reflecting on the whole experience has elevated it to a higher level. I’ve been asked a few times to pinpoint my favourite part, which is so difficult to choose considering the vast number of activities we were treated to! In Los Angeles we had free time to shop, took a driving tour of Rodeo Drive “Pretty Woman” style, enjoyed a clear view of the Hollywood sign and saw Beverly Hills and strolled down the Walk of Fame

In Palm Springs we soaked up three long days of beautiful sun and rocked out to incredible music at the famous Coachella Festival, with excellent accommodation and invaluable transportation to and from the festival grounds.

In Paso Robles wine country, we sampled delicious local fare at an art gallery wine tasting before a scenic drive to majestic Lake Tahoe and our unforgettable American-themed costume/karaoke party!

I’ve wanted to revisit San Francisco for years, and enjoying fresh seafood, a tour of Alcatraz and a private breakfast cruise on San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge, this stop was even better than I remember.

Las Vegas was the last stop, and no city is better to go out with a bang. A flight over the Grand Canyon, VIP treatment to Vegas nightlife, time to shop and hit the casinos – I definitely felt like a rock star!

Nothing can replace the Contiki road team – our tour leader Andy and driver Ray were excellent hosts – talented, reliable and fun. They gave life to each city and neighborhood we visited, and shared a drink with us at night only to work tirelessly the next day while we all napped on the coach. You can’t help but bond with your fellow travelers, becoming a new family on the road, sharing laughs and making memories along the way. 

This life-changing adventure completely surpassed my expectations, and I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. After all the fanfare and excitement, I think one of the best sentiments to sum up my Coachella Contiki trip actually came from my mom. She’s been picking me up from the airport since I was 8 years old, and she said this was the first time I stepped off the plane looking like a million bucks!

Contributed by Renee Langevin from our Adventure Travel Company Calgary office formerly of Travel CUTS University of Calgary email Renee to find out more at RLangevin@atcadventure.com

The highlight of my trip to Colombia was visiting the town of Taganga and Tayrona National Park.  Taganga is a small town that serves as a hop on and off point for most people visiting Tayrona National Park, as well as the numerous beaches and small towns nearby.  Taganga offers many quaint hostel and hotel options as well as a beautiful boardwalk along the waterfront with a large range of dining and shopping options.  Taganga is also well known for diving, is home to many dive shops and offers diver certification as well as opportunities for dive enthusiasts to see some great underwater views.  

Tayrona National Park lies on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, and offers some of South America’s loveliest coastline.  The park is a hot spot for those who are up for the adventure of a 2 ½ hour trek through lush jungle and pristine beach to reach the camping area.  There is also the optional upgrade to horseback riding with a local guide for a small fee.  The hike into the park is well worth the effort.  The park has gorgeous beach and mountain views in all directions.   The campsites in are fully equipped with restaurant, small shop, bathroom and shower facilities.  Surfing is extremely popular in the park, but only recommended for experienced surfers due to a strong riptide.  If you have time you can also get a guide to take you to a native village in the nearby mountains.  Tayrona National Park is a place where you can get away from it all.  Once you are done hiking and surfing you can relax on a sandy beach or while away the hours along the one of the tranquil bays.

The sleeping accommodations in Tayrona National Park are tents or open air hammock.  Our small group chose to sleep in hammocks for our night in the park, and I’m very glad we did! I had wonderful coastal views and the chance to lie in bed and watch a beautiful lightning storm over the water – a memory that I will keep with me forever.

 My short time spent in Tayrona National was amazing in every sense of the word and I highly recommend a stop to anyone who has the opportunity to visit Colombia.

Contributed by Tina Rutledge from our Travel CUTS University of Waterloo Office
email Tina to find out more about Colombia at TRutledge@travelcuts.com