One of North America’s most iconic images, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an incredible sculptural achievement. Carved into the granite mountainside, the heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln represent 150 years of United States history. Each face is about 60 feet tall and sculpted in great detail.

As part of the experience, visitors first walk through the Avenue of Flags, a walkway lined with the 56 flags of the states and territories of the USA. The avenue leads to the Grand View Terrace, from where a great view can be had of the Mount Rushmore carvings. Be sure to carry on along the Presidential Trail which offers some close-up viewpoints of the famous faces.

The experience does not end there, however. At the end of the trail is the Sculptor’s Studio. This is where Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor, carried out his work. His original model can be seen here, allowing for comparisons between his initial vision and the finished work. In the Lincoln Borglum Museum, meanwhile, a short film about Mount Rushmore can be seen, as well as a collection of artwork and artefacts. If visiting during the summer, a lighting ceremony is held each night at 9.00pm, illuminating the presidential faces.

The memorial is located in western South Dakota, 23 miles south-west of Rapid City. Head for the town of Keystone on Highway 16, then take Highway 244 which leads to the memorial entrance. There is no entrance fee, and guided tours can be joined upon arrival at the site.

Picture courtesy of dean.franklin’s

Literally meaning the “Hill of Spring,” Tel Aviv is known for its rich culture, which can be traced back to ancient times. The name can be found in the Book of Ezekiel, a place where the ancient Jews found a new homeland. Indeed, the name “Tel Aviv” is fitting to describe the modern and ever-developing city.

Today, Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel, with a land area of 51.8km2 (20.0 sq miles) and the most populous metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 391,300. It is also classified as a global city and is the centre for major economic activities in the country.

Tel Aviv is known for having its own architectural style, inspired by modern international trends that adapt to cultural, climatic and local traditions of the city. This architectural style is best seen on a group of buildings, collectively known as the “White City”, which was designated a World Cultural Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in 2003.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv is a destination for beach goers and water sports enthusiasts. Its municipal beaches are open to the public from 7:00am to 7pm, depending on the season and month.

The tourism association of Tel Aviv offers walking tours around the city and its cultural and entertainment hubs. Tours include visiting Tel Aviv University, the White City and Old Jaffa.

US tourists can fly to Tel Aviv using Delta, Continental or El Al Airlines, while UK visitors have the choice of British Airways and El Al, among others.

Flights to Belfast arrive at either Belfast International Airport (BFS) or the George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD). Airlines offering flights between Belfast and the UK include Aer Lingus, Thomsonfly, Virgin, Etihad, Aer Arann, Lufthansa, All Nippon, Air Canada, British Airways and Flybe.

BFS has the Airport Express operating from its terminal. Connected to the heart of the city, the railway runs services 24 hours a day, with a 10-minute trip interval. The International Airport Taxi Company operates cabs from the transport terminal of the airport and charges £25 for intra-terminal trips. Rental car services are also available from Budget, Avis, Hertz and National.

Belfast has a rich cultural heritage and diverse art scenes. Cultural diversity has inspired art trends that gained international following, especially in the field of literature. The city is home to world-renowned authors, whose ingenuity exceeds that of many of their contemporaries, forcing the world to look up to Irish artists.

More than 80 clubs fuel the city’s nightlife, while its music is as diverse as Irish art, ranging from classical to rock. Belfast jazz resonates with fresh vibrancy under the masterful hands of Brian Irvine, the Apex Jazz Band and trumpet player, Linley Hamilton. The city also nurtured its own distinctive brand of blues, pioneered by the likes of Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher. Being a versatile musician, Van Morrison also introduced a new breed of rock music with a local flavour.

Among the tourist attractions in or near Belfast are the Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage site, the Carick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery.

Canada is a much underrated country in terms of what it has to offer, both as a holiday destination and a possible future home. It is home to some vibrant cities and a variety of different cultures, which contrast superbly with those of its massive neighbour, the United States.

It is also a budding country in terms of the economic power it possesses and the value it can add to the life of anyone moving there. Canadian Immigration is currently screaming out for a whole host of highly skilled workers who are interested in securing permanent residency in Canada.

For many people, however, a short visit to see what the country has to offer is more than enough. One or two weeks holiday will be enough to provide a fascinating insight into the country, which may later develop into a desire to return on a more permanent basis.

If you are thinking of going to Canada for a break any time soon then there will obviously be paperwork to be completed and visas to obtain. Canadian Immigration has a whole list of countries whose residents must apply for a Temporary Residents Visa if they wish to pay the country a visit.

Fortunately, the United Kingdom is not on this list, but a British citizen looking to stay in Canada for longer than three weeks and possibly carry out some short-term work, will need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. These can be processed in London and are valid for a period of one calendar year.

A visa is a necessity for all South African passport holders for them to enter the Schengen area. The Schengen countries comprise Austria; Belgium, Finland, France, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Iceland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Spain.

If you are planning to visit just one Schengen country, you have to process your application for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of that particular country.

If your plan is to visit several countries within Schengen territory, you need to apply for your Schengen visa at that country’s embassy or consulate where you are planning to spend the majority of your visit. If you are visiting France for five days, and the Netherlands and Germany for three days each, you need to process your Schengen visa application at the embassy or consulate of France.

However, if you wish to visit multiple Schengen countries, but have no major destination, you need to apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of the country which is your first point of entry.

One Schengen visa is equivalent to a multiple visa, which allows you to enter all Schengen countries. There are different types of Schengen visas: a short-stay visa, a long-stay visa, a transit visa, a group visa, and an airport-transit visa.

For any visa application, just contact your respective embassy or consulate.

South Africans will be granted visas as a temporary passport if they are travelling in two months’ time and if they have South African identity documents. Be sure to inquire before you travel, as some Schengen countries do not permit access on a temporary passport.

One the multi-destination spots on any trip to Africa is the beautiful country of Tanzania. This African nation boasts some of the most famous of the African must-see sights, such as the Serengeti Plains, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro. But despite these most famous destinations, there are countless untold sights as Tanzania has some of the wildest wilderness areas in all of Africa, such as the Selous Game Reserve, and Ruaha National Park. And if you look to the west there are is the Gombe Stream National Park and the Mahale Mountains National Park, where you can go on a safari trek in search of chimpanzees.

But Tanzania is not all about wilderness reserves. This country also has some of the most unspoilt tropical beaches in Africa, such as Zanzibar, a name that evokes imagery of exotic spices, amazing architecture, and ancient Sultans.

You will need a visa to travel to Tanzania. You can find the relevant details on their London, England office, including hours and requirements, at Tanzania Online Depending on the area you are travelling to you might also want a malaria vaccination in advance.

There are two international airports in Tanzania, so once you pick your destinations you can fly in to either. Driving between safari destinations can often times be a huge hassle due to the size of open space in Africa, so your best choice of travel is to charter a regional flight staring with Arusha Airport, a 45 minute drive from Kilimanjaro International. Getting around while in Tanzania will require some planning in advance, as it’s not as simple as just renting a car and going off wherever you want to go.

Applying for travel visas can be tricky. Naturally, the requirements vary from country to country. Whilst almost every country requires an individual to have a valid passport, some countries also require the addition of a visa or travel permit. 

Due to immigration requirements constantly changing, some travel visas and permits may be subject to change, so it is best to check with the official government office that handles the document in question. Data online or printed in travel books may be outdated or simply incorrect.

Certain countries do require visas. Some only require them for specific lengths of time, such as those visiting for 30 days or more. It is important to be prepared for your holiday with the correct type of travel visa (if required), because some countries may refuse entry or impose fines – or both. Nothing ruins a holiday faster than being turned away at the gate.

Since nearly everyone needs a passport to travel to a different country, it is important to make sure that it is valid and in date. One of the most common mistakes people make is to wait too long to apply for their passport. The passport agency in the UK states that it takes at least 3 weeks to process a passport, except for urgent requests, which incur an additional fee. Unless it is a last minute offer or an emergency, apply for your passport (or renewal) well in advance to make sure that you will have it in hand before you leave on your holiday.

If you do not have a passport, you may be eligible to receive a Certificate of Travel, but be sure to check with the destinations embassy to verify that this document is valid.

If a luxury trip to scenic destinations is what suits you best, then look no further than Christchurch, located on the South Island of New Zealand. There is no better location for a holiday, honeymoon, or simple getaway than this beautiful part of the islands.

You can book a flight direct to Christchurch International Airport, or travel here by other means, but however you get to this east-coast paradise, be prepared for an experience that will thrill your senses in every way possible.

Christchurch is located on the eastern coast of the South Island, and is surrounded by an explosion of destinations to suit the any traveller. It can even double as a perfect honeymoon destination. The Christchurch region is packed full of romantic and amazing sights. Go whale-watching off the coastal waters of Kaikoura Island. Enjoy a luxurious weekend at the Hanmer Springs Alpine Retreat where you can soak to your heart’s content in the natural thermal springs while enjoying a full spa treatment. Sink a few shots at the spectacular Terrace Downs Golf Course in Christchurch, or give your heart a rush while you charter a scenic flight over the mountains. Rent a car at the airport and enjoy a week of driving around the countryside, enjoying the lush mountain landscapes and scenic overlooks along the coast.

Christchurch is one of the premier destinations for a New Zealand holiday. More than just a rugged, beautiful landscape, this is one of the more luxurious vacation spots within the islands and without a doubt one of the most romantic.  

Africa. The very name conjures up images of vast, desert landscapes and wilderness stretching for as far as the eye can see in all directions. Elephants, lions, zebras, meerkats, rhinos, giraffes … the list goes on. This is the land of the safari, and a land with a much-troubled past and a diversity of cultures and political turmoil that rival any on the globe.

Knowing where to go in Africa is key. Despite the beauty of the land, there are specific countries that you will want to avoid because of their political affiliations. Citizens of certain countries, especially in recent years, have to be extremely careful when going to regions where the laws are thin and those who enforce them pay more attention to cash than they do to actual upholding of the law. But despite the danger inherent in travelling to some foreign destinations, the majority of Africa is a massive, open plain of adventure that is safer than walking down the street to the local market. So long as you watch out for hungry lions!

Some research in advance will need to be done when you decide to head to Africa. With so many different countries on this continent, the visa regulations are as varied as the wildlife. Most trips to Africa revolve around a safari of some kind, and travel agents can easily tell you which countries require which types of visas, if any vaccinations are required, and whether or not you need insurance.

Planning ahead for a holiday is the same no matter where your destination is. And with Africa in particular, you can rest easy knowing that once the paperwork is out of the way, you are on your way to an adventure you will never forget.

Uruguay is often overlooked by travellers when they visit South America, probably because she hides in the shadow of her bigger brothers, Brazil and Argentina. As such, this tiny country is one of the gems of natural beauty that is to be discovered on this continent, and should absolutely be visited.

There are literally hundreds of kilometres of Atlantic beaches to explore, complete with relatively unknown but luxurious seaside resorts, and Uruguay boasts what some have called the best steaks to be found in the world, even better than those of Australia or Argentina. A bold claim, but one that is perhaps justified.

The majority of the country is a rolling sea of flat country and hilly meadows, carved through by rivers and grass. The country is relatively small, so you can probably see most of what is accessible to tourists within a few days to a week, but if you are an adventurous soul you could opt to stay for several weeks and take in the colonial villages that reach back to the 16th and 17th centuries during the Spanish occupation.

British nationals do not need a visa to come to Uruguay, simply their passport for up to 90 days. You can fly in direct to Montevideo, the capital, which sits atop the Rio Plata estuary where the Parana and Uruguay rivers enter the Atlantic. This is a busy harbour city, but is also noted as one of South America’s most vibrant and exciting places to visit, not only because of the food and wine, but the miles and miles of beaches.

Bring your appetite. The food in Uruguay is rated as some of the best in the entire South American continent, and you won’t want to miss sinking your teeth into the fresh tamales or a mouth-watering steak.