The Secrets of Low Cost Travel

Sint Maarten is a holiday paradise. Warm waters, amazing beaches, tropical culture... it also happens to be famous for its airport with an astonishingly short run way which leaves airplanes to descend very low over the beach, waking up any snoozing tanners! When aircraft take-off from the runway, the force of the jet engines are so strong they can send people flying, like we saw in the video and whip sand up into a storm. It can be undeniably dangerous yet people flock from around the world to see the planes land and take off at Princess Juliana International Airport. It is currently ranked as the 4th most dangerous airport in the world as well as one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean.

Luckily the girl in the video walked away without any serious injuries but the airport is preparing to do something to minimize the risk that flights have to the nearby bathers and visitors to the beach. As long as tourist agencies advertise Maho Beach as "a beach with a thrill, airplanes to touch, a must-see on St Maarten" then it looks like there will always be tourists waiting for the next aircraft to land.

Maho Beach faces westwards on the Caribbean Sea which means the sunset views are beyond phenomenal. When airplanes touch down, they're as close as 40 meters from the beach! Tourist sights advise visitors to arrive at the beach between 1:30pm and 5:00pm to see a couple of airplanes touch down and take-off. Our curiosity with danger sure is a funny thing!

Would you line up at Maho Beach to get a slice of the action?

Most people who travel to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon only see it from one angle, above. Most probably it's also from a viewing platform at the side of the highway. Some may venture into Grand Canyon National Park, for a spot of camping. We say, if you're going to visit the Grand Canyon, you should definitely take time to visit it.

We don't say you have to go as far as these guys, who have climbed, repelled, swam and trekked their way across the entire canyon...

Theodore Roosevelt once said,

"The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison—beyond description; absolutely unparalleled throughout the wide world."

Carved by the Colorado River over the course of several million years, the Grand Canyon is up there on the list of natural world wonders to see before you die. Some parts of the canyon reveal rock layers that are 2 billion years old! Few walk away from this place without feeling some sense of awe.

Want to explore the Grand Canyon? The easiest way to reach it is via Las Vegas or Phoenix. From there you'll need a rental car to take you to Grand Canyon National Park. The Southern Rim is the most popular part of the park and the best equipped in terms of camper amenities. All vehicles entering the park must pay $25, for a permit good for 7 days. 

Hiking is a definitely must. Don't settle for just views from above. There are a ton of trails ranging in difficulty and length. You can trek for weeks if you have time but there are endless day-hikes too. Always carry more water than you think you'll need and if you're hesitant about going into the Canyon on you're own, hire a guide or join a trekking tour. The Canyon is also famous for its white-water rafting... a total thrill!

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? What's the more inspiring natural world wonder you've ever seen?

For the first time in Olympic history, London will soon become the first city to host the games three times. London hosted the games for the first time in 1908, for the second time in 1948 and for the third time the Games will take place in the British capital this summer. Are you heading to London this summer for a taste of the Games? If so, here are a few tips on where to catch public events!

That games will kick-off on July 27th, closing on August 12th a couple weeks later. Even if you haven't bagged tickets to see any events, there will be a ton of other free things going on in the city! Over £30m has been budgeted for concerts and live screens to display events in Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Victoria Parks and the Jubilee Gardens. On top of that, there will be three major events that are free for the public that cannot be missed.

Triathlon

First is the Triathlon, taking place in Hyde Park. Like you know the Triathlon is composed of three events, swimming, cycling and running... in that order. There are no heats, just a single race which consists of a 1,500m swim, a 40km bike ride and then a 10km run. While free, the event is still ticketed and enclosed to arrive early.

Dates: August 4th and 7th

Marathon

The Olympic Marathon will start and finish in The Mall in central London, just like the cycle road race. The route will not be the same as the London Marathon, which starts in Greenwich. Instead the runners will start at 11am and take-off down The Mall towards Trafalgar Square and along the Victoria Embankment to Blackfriars. The runners will head past St. Paul's Cathedral heading north before heading east again past Bank station, past Monument station and back again along the Victoria Embankment. The entire race will take place on the north side of the Thames, ending again on The Mall.

Dates: August 5th (women's) and August 12th (men's)

Road Cycling

Finally the road cycling race will lace in and around London, taking a tour through Richmond Park in the South-West before heading back to the finish line in central London. Both the start and the finish line will be at The Mall but you can bet it's going to be crowded. Try to find a place where the cyclists pass twice, on the way out and on the way back. Fulham, Putney and Richmond will see the cyclists pass twice. At Hampton Court Palace the cyclists will take a circle all the way south to Guildford and Doking before heading back up to London.

Dates: July 28th (men's road race), July 29th (women's road race), August 1st (time trials)

Apart from the Games, there is a ton of other attractions in London, from the Big Ben to the Tate, St. Paul's Cathedral and the London Eye... are you sure you'll have enough time to see it all?

Image: ugardener / Flickr cc.