20 Shot Photos: Castles and Palaces

Panemune Castle

The 17th-century Panemune Castle in Lithuania opened in 2013 after renovations.

Rocca Calascio Sunrise

The first light to Rocca Calascio, a medieval castle in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy.

Hawa Mahal, India

Hawa Mahal, located in Jaipur, glows in the Indian sunset.

Loarre Castle, Spain

Verdant hills surround Spain's Loarre Castle. The complex was built largely during the 11th and 12th centuries.

Karim Khani Castle, Iran

Part of the Golestan Palace complex in Tehran, Iran, Khalvat Karim Khani was built in 1759 and features a small marble throne inside its terrace.

Château de l’Islette, France

This castle is one of many located in the Loire Valley region of central France and once played host to famous artists like Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin.

Jahangir Mahal, India

This Indian palace is a famous monument for both local and foreign tourists.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Overcast skies and slack water produce a haunting atmosphere around Eilean Donan Castle in the western Highlands of Scotland.

Spellbound in Neuschwanstein, Germany

This 19th-century Bavarian castle served as the inspiration for many of Walt Disney's castles.

Biltmore Estate, United States

Built by George Vanderbilt, this 8,000-acre mansion in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is the largest privately owned house in the United States.

Taj Lake Palace, India

Taj Lake Palace, a luxury hotel located on a natural, four-acre rock foundation in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India, glistens under the early morning sunlight. The palace was built between 1743 and 1746.

Kilchurn Castle, Scotland

Kilchurn Castle, or "Fort of the Narrow Rock," is sometimes blocked off by higher-than-usual water levels in Loch Awe, located in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Castel Sant'Angelo, Italy

The cylindrical Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy, overlooks the Tiber River. It now functions as a museum.

Neuhaus Castle, Germany

Built in the style of the Weser Renaissance, this German castle served as the seat of the prince-bishops of the city of Paderborn. “Skies were overcast for most of the day in Paderborn,” writes photographer Todd Wright, “however, as we were leaving, the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes to show some of the beauty of Neuhaus Castle.”

Narin Castle, Iran

The Narin Castle is a mud-brick fort in the town of Meybod, Iran. Today, the castle’s future is in jeopardy. Locals use the site as a garbage dump.

Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal, India

A woman in a dress matching the palatial ceiling stands in Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal, a 17th-century palace in Madurai, India. Today, the palace is protected under Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department as a national monument.

Schwerin Palace, Germany

This tenth-century German castle currently serves as the seat of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament. The palace’s ghost, Petermännchen, is said to still roam the halls.

Lindisfarne Castle, England

This Northumberland castle, located on Holy Island, dates back to the 16th century, when it was primarily used as a fort against invading Scots and Vikings. It sits at the highest point of the island—a whinstone hill known as Beblowe.

Anapji, South Korea

Located in Gyeongju National Park in South Korea, Anapji, also known as Anap Pond, belongs to a palace complex built during the Silla dynasty.

  

Querini Castle, Greece

This historic castle overlooks the town of Chora on Astypalaia, a Greek island in the southeastern Aegean Sea.

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10 Things Not to Do When Renting a Car

In 2012, industry estimates put the annual revenue of U.S. car rental companies at more than $24 billion, with 1.857 million cars at 18,293 rental locations. With so many folks renting cars so frequently, you would think the process would be straightforward and transparent -- yet somehow it is anything but.
Do I need to buy additional insurance? If not, am I exposed at all? What about paying to refuel the car? I hear horror stories about phony damage claims; should I be worried? No one is around to inspect the car with me; should I be worried? Can I drive to Mexico? What about all the other stuff they offer me at the rental counter? These questions come up pretty much every time we rent a car. Again, anything but straightforward.
Among all your options, there are some things you don't need to do, or even should not do, when renting a car. Below are 10 of them.

1. Prepaying for gasoline.

Prepaid gasoline charges appeal to our desire for simplicity while traveling, and also to concerns about being late for flights, as every few minutes added to the trip to the airport create more risk for arriving too late to board. As airport security has added considerable time to this process, rental companies have come up with new options for car refueling, and are giving them the hard sell at the rental desk.
Unless you are completely sure you will return the tank empty, or you have a pre-dawn flight that would make it worth the money not to have to refuel, don't fall for this one. Even the option where they charge you only for fuel you actually use is tipped aggressively in the rental agency's favor because the cost of having them refuel your car is always higher than the cost of doing it yourself.

2. Failing to check on your way out for a place to refuel on your way back.

The best time to find a place to refuel your vehicle is immediately after you pick it up. As you are driving away from the airport or rental agency, take note of the local gas stations, and make a plan to return to the most easily accessible or best-priced of them at the end of your rental. The road and neighborhoods around airports can be confusing and unfamiliar, so you don't want to be driving in circles looking for a gas station as your flight time approaches. Figure this out on your way out, when you are not pressed for time.

3. Purchasing insurance, reason No. 1: your own auto insurance covers you.

Before accepting this one at face value, it should be emphasized that auto insurance policies can vary considerably, so you will want to check with your own insurer directly. If you have the minimum legally permissible coverage, it may not include coverage for rental cars -- whereas if you have what companies call "full coverage," it almost certainly does. Call or email your insurer to find out.
In general, the rule of thumb is that the coverage you have for your main vehicle extends to your rental vehicle, because the rental is considered a replacement vehicle under the policy. So if you have comprehensive coverage on your own car, your policy would also give you comprehensive coverage for the rental vehicle.
Most policies will cover you even if the rental car is a "better" or more valuable car than your own car, so you don't have to worry if you get an upgrade or rent a much better car than the one you insure at home.
It is worth mentioning that an accident in a rental car will typically raise your rates if you have to make a claim on your own insurance policy.

4. Purchasing insurance, reason No. 2: your credit card covers the rest.

Anything your own car insurance does not cover, it is likely that your credit card will. In some cases the credit card coverage is as good as or better than your auto insurance; in others it is intended to be secondary insurance to help cover anything your auto insurance does not.
Of course, you will need to pay for your car rental using that card; just having a qualifying credit card does not give you any protection.

5. Ignoring one possible caveat: "loss of use" insurance.

A new-ish fee applied by car rental companies in the event of a damaged vehicle is "loss of use" charges, which are applied for the potential revenue lost when one of their cars is off the road during a repair. This is typically charged in the amount of a day's rental for that vehicle, and most auto insurance companies do not cover this fee. Many credit cards do, however, as shown in the link above; American Express, Mastercard and Visa all offer "loss of use" coverage with rentals paid for with most of their cards.

6. Ignoring potential offers for upgrades.

In the past, I've recommended reserving a low-priced car and then inquiring about upgrades at the rental desk. This works best at busy times when the garage is running low on lower-priced cars, and may offer you free or very affordable upgrades to a larger car class due to inventory management issues.
In most cases, the desk agent has considerable discretion in setting upgrade rates, so if he or she asks if you are interested in a larger car, respond that it depends on the price; you might find yourself in a much bigger and better car at minimal additional cost.

7. Failing to check for AAA, AARP, reward program or other discounts.

Many membership programs establish relationships with car rental companies as a member perk. These include travel organizations like AAA, airline frequent flier programs, age-specific organizations like the AARP, and even some sports- or hobby-focused groups. Rental car discounts are typically listed on the organization's website; you are already paying membership dues, so have a look before booking and you could find a great deal.

8. Making too cursory an inspection upon departure.

When you pick up your car, check it inside and out for anything that could potentially be considered damage before you drive away. Look for scratches, scuffs, loose parts, working power windows and mirrors, and more.
Keep an eye out for problems both small and big; the tendency is to take a quick walk around the car looking for scratches and blemishes, thinking that big problems would have already been noticed, but this is not always the case. I once rented a car that had a loose back bumper that the car rental company had not noticed previously. If I hadn't caught this before we left the garage and an inspector had seen it later, I would have been held completely responsible -- I would simply have thought that someone had banged into the car while it was parked, and that it had happened during my rental.
Your best protection here: take photos or a video of a slow walk around the car, and "kick the tires," so to speak.

9. Leaving final inspection to chance.

Recently, the procedure of returning cars has come to resemble checking out of a hotel, where you leave your keycard on the night table and head out the lobby door with only a wave to the front desk -- no more official checkout, key return or interaction of any kind needed. Car rental returns have taken on a similar feel; as often as not, you follow signs to the back of a row of recently returned cars, take out your stuff, leave the key in the car and walk away without ever speaking to anyone directly.
If it feels unsettling just to leave the car without an agent checking it over, it should; the most serious complaints about car rental companies in recent months have been disputes over damage claims. If no attendant is present at dropoff (and sometimes when there is), the dispute later becomes your word against theirs. Unfortunately the terms of the contract, and the fact that the rental company has your credit card number, makes it very hard for you to win one of these disputes, at least not without considerable expenditure of energy, resources and potentially money (for a lawyer, court appearance, etc.).
Again, your best protection here is to take photos or a video of a slow walk around the car.

10. Crossing international borders.

Most U.S. car rental agreements do not allow you to drive the car across international borders (which means to Mexico or Canada for domestic rentals). Additionally, your U.S. car insurance rarely covers international car rentals, so you will likely want to purchase insurance from the rental company at the time of rental.
Credit card companies may help here, as most do offer coverage in many international destinations;

Stateside, typically rental counters located near the borders either display or explain this policy clearly -- if you rent a car in Nebraska, they might not mention it, of course -- but you want to be aware of this yourself. If you do drive across international borders and you have a problem, most of the protections of your rental contract, insurance and other sources may be negated.

Do you have any other suggestions? Anything above work well for you, or backfire for any reason? Let us know in the comments.


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7 Tips for How to Pack for Weekend Trips

 

Packing for a weekend away isn’t an exact science. I’m not going to tell you “bring two dresses and a pair of jeans.” So much depends on where you’re going, the weather, and your personal style. But I do have some tips I can offer to help you pack for success.
If I’m traveling, I’m usually working, so I have to bring my laptop. Once you know what you’ll actually need, you can start thinking about things you want to bring. Bottom line: Pack what makes you feel your best and what won’t hold you back from adventure.
Here are seven things to think about while you’re packing for your next weekend trip:
1. Keep calm and carry-on. If you remember your passport, credit cards, and medications you might need when you’re running around before a flight, you’re halfway to golden. Most everything else can be purchased later if left behind. But don’t you dare check a bag on a weekend getaway! Even if you’re not flying, you don’t want to be weighed down. That said, quality luggage is one of the most important investments a traveler can make. Luxury hotel inspector Tiffany Dowd and Erik Wilkinson, a director of sales for Eton of Sweden, both swear by Tumi. The Quintessential Tote is Dowd’s favorite because it’s “stylish and durable,” while Wilkinson prefers the International Carry-On, a bag he reports holds a surprisingly large amount of clothes. Dowd’s also a fan of the brand’s luggage recovery program which identifies your bag with a unique registration number.
2. Don’t underestimate the power of a plastic bag. I put everything from chargers to jewelry in plastic baggies. I also always keep a plastic bag filled with essential toiletries — like contact solution, lotion, and toothpaste — at the ready en route. Bigger plastic bags double as laundry hampers on short trips, but for those of you who want to class it up a bit, Wilkinson recommends trying Flight 001 Spacepaks. “You fold everything in on one side of the bag on your outbound journey and then your dirty clothes go on the other side on your return,” he said.
3. Accessories are your best friend. On a weekend trip, neutral color palates — tans, blacks, whites, grays — can maximize your options while keeping your carry-on, well, carry-able. Then, all you need is a fabulous selection of accessories to brighten and vary your look. “Great accessories are my secret,” Dowd said. “You can add a pop of color to a simple black dress with some vibrant Prada pumps, then change up your look by adding a long Chanel necklace and some high-heeled boots the next night.” I also love adding to my collection when I’m away: Picking up a scarf from a London shop or a bracelet from a market in Dubai remind me of my travels long after I’ve returned home.
4. Wear the same outfit on both flights. Picking out your “plane uniform” is important business, and can help you conserve valuable carry-on space. For instance, always wear your heaviest items, like winter coats and big boots, on the plane. Travelers often end up in quite a different clime when they disembark at their destination, and planes themselves can be chilly, so layering your clothing is always a good way to go.
5. To thine own self be true. Identify and embrace your must-haves. Confession: I own way too many black dresses — but they’re just so easy when traveling, and I don’t care how often someone sees me in one. So when I know I’ve packed a few of them, I feel at ease. And, since I have yet to come to terms with my Medusa-esque head of curls, I always bring a flat iron along with me. Wilkinson, on the other hand, subscribes to something he calls “the blazer effect.” “If there’s a better table to be had at the restaurant, I get it wearing the blazer,” he said. Same with hotel upgrades. “My wife and I laugh about it now because it happens so often.”
6. Be prepared. Part of my power-packing strategy for weekend trips is invisible to the eye. When you only have a few days, you want to spend them wisely, so I do a lot of research about my destination ahead of time. I save tweets, articles, quotes, friends’ advice, and more in documents and spreadsheets, then use SugarSync to link my laptop to my phone so it’s all at my fingertips. Even if you’re a see-where-the-day-takes-you traveler, it always helps to have some idea of what you want to do, especially when it comes to securing reservations at that fabulous new restaurant or tickets to that gonna-sell-out show.
7. Keep it light. This rule is both literal and figurative. In addition to not weighing myself down with checked luggage, I make a habit of leaving books behind on short getaways. Instead, I bring my iPad and buy magazines at the airport for take-off and landing. Dowd, who gave the best advice of all —  “Leave any stress you may have behind!” – reminded me that weekend getaways are about enjoying life and getting some rest. Amen, sister.
Do you have tips for packing for weekend getaways? Share your insights by leaving a comment below:

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Using your credit and debit cards safely when traveling abroad

An important part of your vacation planning process should include consideration of how you will handle money and expenditures on your trip. In most cases, a credit card is the best option when you travel, especially in a foreign country.
Listed below are guidelines and important steps you can take to prepare for your trip abroad.  The list highlights specific information regarding the use of debit cards, credit cards, and currency.

• Notify your bank of your travel plans.  Before you leave, notify your bank, credit card company, or other financial institution that you are traveling abroad and provide them with the specific dates and locations/areas for your travels, as often an unusual change in charging habits or location may result in the fraud department placing restrictions on your account.  To contact your credit card company, call the telephone number listed on the back of your card.
• Consider limiting the cash you carry.  Verify and understand the exchange rate before you travel.  Avoid carrying cash and consider alternate forms of payment such as credit cards.  If you choose to carry cash, carry only enough for one day’s safety net in the event that you run into problems with your credit card.
• Select appropriate debit and credit cards for your destination.  Worldwide, Visa® and MasterCard® are the most widely accepted cards.  Carry only the cards you will need with you on your trip and leave the others in a safe place at home.  Generally one ATM/debit card for access to cash if needed and one or two credit cards are recommended.
• Confirm your card limits and expiration dates.  Check the expiration dates on your card(s) to make sure they will be useable for the entire trip length.  Most cards have daily purchase and cash advance limits.  You may wish to confirm these with your bank or card company prior to your departure.  Generally these limits can be temporarily adjusted to suit your travel needs.
• Find out what fees to expect.  When you contact your bank or card issuer, ask about their foreign currency exchange or foreign transaction fee(s).  Fees generally range from 1%-2%.
• Confirm contact information for your card issuer.  Typically the customer service 800 numbers printed on the back of your card are not good abroad.  Thus, when you contact your bank or card issuer, ask for the appropriate telephone number for the region you are traveling to.
• Backup your critical information.  You will want to have a list of your card(s) information and telephone numbers for card issuers in the event they are lost or stolen.  Additionally, you should photocopy your passport and airline tickets and keep these in the same place in case those are lost or stolen along with your cards.  Keep this separate from your wallet and cards; if you have any secure information on it, you should keep it in a hotel safe or a secure area on the internet that you can safely access.  It is also a good idea to leave copies of the front and back of each card, and any other important documents you are carrying, with a trusted friend or close relative back home.
• Confirm acceptance of your card prior to your purchase.  The presence of a card logo on a door, window, or cash register is not a guarantee of acceptance, so it is important to ask prior to committing to the service or meal lest you will be seeking other payment methods.
• Keep all your receipts.  This is a good rule of thumb for all card expenditures, but particularly for those made abroad.  If a charge appears later that is inaccurate, you will have the proof available for your dispute.  Keep them for several months in the event charges are delayed, which is not unusual with foreign transactions.
• Treat your plastic as if it was cash.  Don't leave it unattended in your luggage or hotel room; store it in your wallet or money belt, and keep these out of view of others while traveling.  Beware of pickpocket scams, a common scenario is someone bumping into you and another distracting you while the pickpocket lifts your wallet or grabs a purse.
• Beware of duplicate charges.  This may most often occur when you have used a card to hold a reservation for lodging or car rental, and then you pay the bill in cash instead.  As stated above, keep all your receipts whether it is cash or credit to ensure you have proof of payment in the event of this sort of error.

A few preventative measures will help keep the loss or theft of your wallet a minor annoyance instead of a vacation-halting affair, making your trip a more relaxing and safer adventure.

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Green Travel on Vacation - with Style

With a business volume surpassing those of oil exports, food products and automobiles, the travel industry sends more than one billion tourists around the world every year. The soaring growth of tourism also has brought the advancement of ecotourism, showing that consumers are becoming more concerned with the negative impact their travel choices have on the environment.
There are numerous destinations we've come to appreciate and love for their extraordinary natural and historical wonders, including the unspoiled, serene beaches of the Galapagos, Mayan ruins found on the Yucatan Peninsula andchronicles of Rome's legendary Empire. By continuing to preserve such fragile places, we can offer future travelers the authentic experiences of the world's most priceless treasures.
There are many ways you can become a green traveler - far beyond hiking into the depths of the rainforest or camping in the Himalayas. In fact, it's gotten so much easier to travel on a clean conscience. You don't need to give up the comforts and conveniences you relish during any other vacation. Think of a paradise with sandy white beaches and calm, turquoisewaters. Visualize a vacation of self-indulgence in massages, savory culinarytreats and boutique shopping.
Whether you desire a peaceful getaway in the countryside, seek an exotic paradise by ship or long for the big, bustling city, a green vacation can easily become your dream vacation. With so many options for every traveler, it's not hard to find something that's affordable and has everything you value in a vacation - plus a few added benefits that make the trip worth taking.

Traveling Green Can Enrich Your Enjoyment
There's no need to trade off the exciting experiences that make a vacation in order to protect the destinations you value. You may find that you'll be able to enjoy more of the beautiful sceneries, friendly faces and unique activities as a result.
Across all seven continents, from the dazzling city nightlife to secluded villages tucked away in quaint valleys and mountains, there are hundreds of ways you can spend your green vacation. See how changing the way you encounter new places can take your vacation memories beyond the ordinary.

Travel by train instead ofplane. Not only will you gain more scenic views along the way, but you'll also escape the headaches of long security lines and lost luggage. Destinations throughout Europe and Asia, for example, offer superior rail travel that allows you to save money and conveniently explore multiple countries and cities in one trip.

Opt for bus, rail and/or ferry transportation. Save money and gain convenience in getting from place to place. In your travels, you'll find several city buses built for tourists, which make frequent stops at many popular shopping and dining districts, museums and theaters.
In the recent years, more transportation systems are actively pursuing alternative resources in an effort to preserve the earth. Numerous bus systems fueled by natural gas, hydrogen or biodiesel are rapidly becoming a part of everyday life. Europe recently revealed plans for the very first hybrid high-speed train, which was originally engineered in Japan and claimed to cut emission levels by 50 percent.

Discover new places by foot. Several of the world's most enchanting sights are set off from main roads, hidden in remote valleys, at the base of a glorious waterfall or in other places only accessible by foot. Take advantage of many unforgettable ways you can capture amazing panoramic views and up-close experiences through hiking, bikingor canoeing to unique attractions.

Consider renting an eco-friendly car. If you need a vehicle for taking day excursions far from your hotel, think about using a car-sharing program like Flexcar or Zipcar, which offers eco-friendly cars with low fees and convenient pick-up and drop-off options. You can also reduce car emissions by renting a hybrid car or the smallest car that can comfortably accommodate you.

It Pays to Be an Educated Consumer
It goes without saying that the best kind of traveler is a prepared one. Just in the past decade, there have been many more travel options made available for responsible tourists, offering bigger ways for individuals to make an impact for the good for the environment.

Use environmentally responsible services. Hundreds of hotels have a linen reuse program, recycling bins for guest use, energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers and alternative energy sources. Restaurants, tour operators, car rentals and other travel service providers are also finding new ways to keep up with travelers going green.
In addition to the U.S. Green Building Council, organizations like AAA, GreenSeal and Sustainable Travel International have launched green certification programs. States have followed suit in creating rating systems or minimum standards designed to help move businesses towards greener practices. Certified businesses frequently display their green stickers (the Green Building Council's LEED certification is the most widely recognized), making it easy for responsible tourists to spot them.

Get the facts on reducing carbone missions.
Many major airlines are taking action to reduce their impact on the environment. You may notice that some have switched over to electronic ticketing, cutting down on paper consumption and waste. Now leisure and business travelers are investing in "carbon offsetting"programs. This option allows you to calculate how much Co2 your vacation will produce and purchase credits from emission reduction projects (such as solar andwind). Plan to research the airline or nonprofit organization and its alternate energy projects before you invest any money.

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