Tag: Considered

  • These 5 National Parks Are Considered The Best In Europe

    These 5 National Parks Are Considered The Best In Europe

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    Visiting a new country and admiring its natural beauty is one way to make a vacation unforgettable. More travelers are looking to connect with nature in 2023 and are considering digital detox experiences. One of the best ways to do it while exploring a new destination is by visiting national parks. 

    The are amazing national parks in the United States, and Europe also has impressive biodiversity and fantastic hikes for those interested in mindfulness and taking a break from social media and high-internet speed.

    Man walking in beautiful park in Switzerland

    According to a survey performed by Money.co.uk and shared on Euro News, these are Europe’s best national parks: 

    5) ​​Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

    This impressive 295-sq.-km forest reserve is located in central Croatia, the Bosnian-Herzegovina border, and has spectacular lakes connected by waterfalls, and peculiar caves that can easily amaze visitors. The turquoise water changes color depending on the minerals and the time of the day. 

    Travelers walking over bridge in ​​Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

    Croatia’s largest National park is also home to bears, wolves, and different bird species. The lake system and its impressive landscapes make it a must-visit park in Europe. The Plitvice Lakes park was included on UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in 1979.

    This park can be visited at any time of the year. Travelers must bear in mind that it is prohibited to swim in the lakes —even during hot summer days— and it can get crowded during peak season. Now that Croatia was included in the Schengen zone and is becoming a very popular destination in Europe, travelers can include this park on their must-visit list. 

    Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week

    Wooden bridge at Plitvice Lake in Croatia

    4) Lake District, United Kingdom

    One of the best places for a digital detox in England is the  Lake District, already considered by millions of brits as a great natural environment to decompress. It’s popular for its glacial ribbon lakes and great activities. Visitors are allowed to swim in the lake and can also rent boats, ride bikes on cycling routes—travelers can rent bikes on site—, just go for a walk or participate in stargazing activities at night. 

    VIew of the Lake District in the united Kingdom

    This park, in the administrative county of Cumbria, is open to the public at all times and there are numerous events and guided tours. Lake District has an official website with relevant information for travelers and great tips to make the most out of your visit. 

    3) Cinque Terre National Park, Italy

    This beautiful coastal region in Italy is known for its fresh and delicious seafood, and fascinating unique villages. Cinque Terre National Park is located in northern Italy, in in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, and is home to gorgeous landscapes and popular towns. 

    View if the beautiful coastal village Cinque Terre in Italy

    This is one of Italy’s smallest parks, and the government has been promoting sustainable tourism at this location. Travelers can visit organic farms, admire local flora and fauna, and connect with local customs and the local community. Cinque Terre National Park was considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

    2) Göreme National Park, Turkey

    The popular image of the sky crowded with hot-air balloons takes place at this wonderful park. The Göreme National Park has an impressive landscape sculpted by erosion over an extinct volcanoes area that extends to  39 square miles. 

    Hot air balloon flying over Cappadocia Turkey

    Travelers can explore its beautiful valleys, and admire the various rock formations, and historic churches. Its history and beauty made it earn UNESCO World Heritage status: “The incomparable beauty of the decor of the Christian sanctuaries makes Cappadocia one of the leading examples of the post-iconoclastic Byzantine art period.”

    1) The Swiss National Park, Switzerland

    And finally, the first place goes to the Swiss National Park. This place is home to charming lakes, villages, and the impressive alps. Visitors can admire its spectacular landscapes and also the medieval quarters, 

    naked in the alps

    It has been considered one of the best parks for mindfulness in the world since it’s a very protected area with rich biodiversity,  low pollution, and great activities to unwind and relax—There are 83 spaces and wellness centers.

    A view of the blue lakes and mountains of Switzerland with buildings in the foreground

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  • These 10 U.S. Cities Are Considered The Safest For Travel

    These 10 U.S. Cities Are Considered The Safest For Travel

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    When planning a vacation, one thing that has undoubtedly crossed travelers’ minds is how safe their intended destination really is. No one wants to fall victim to a crime, especially while on a trip that’s meant to be fun and relaxing. Knowing which countries are the safest in the world is great for international travel, but what about domestic travel? Using current crime statistics, we have determined the top 10 safest cities in the United States.

    Austin Texas skyline with bridges and cars

    The crime index is listed for each city below. Lower numbers are better, and any number below 40 is considered ‘low-crime’. For all other statistics, scores are based on a scale of 100. Also, one of the most common crimes that affect travelers is pickpocketing. For this reason, we have included data about pickpocketing in each city.

    10) San Diego, California

    San Diego tram passing in front of buildings

    Crime Index: 38.43

    Beautiful beaches, near-perfect weather, and countless activities draw millions of visitors to San Diego annually. Though it is a top tourist destination in the U.S., it still ranks quite well for safety. People feel comfortable in San Diego, with little worry of attack due to discrimination.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 31.41 (Low)

    9) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Pittsburgh skyline with bridge and buildings

    Crime Index: 38.19

    Pittsburgh welcomes over 12 million overnight guests every year. It is a popular destination for travelers who love great food, art, and big cities with a small-town feel. People feel particularly comfortable walking alone during the day in Pittsburgh.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 34.70 (Low)

    8) Austin, Texas

    Austin Texas Zilker Park with skyline in background

    Crime Index: 38.03

    Great food, craft beer, local music, and amazing parks draw more than 30 million domestic travelers to this city every year. With an eclectic mix of residents, visitors will feel right at home in the melting pot of Austin. Though crime has been increasing in the city over the last three years, it remains one of the safest cities to visit in the U.S.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 30.00 (Low)

    7) Raleigh, North Carolina

    Raleigh skyline in the summer with crepe myrtle trees in bloom

    Crime Index: 36.11

    Littered with craft breweries, new restaurants, cool coffee shops, and beautiful parks, Raleigh welcomes about 13 million visitors per year. A visitor’s favorite, the Raleigh Beer Trail is designed for craft beer enthusiasts. Prizes are given to those who visit enough breweries, and it is an interesting way to see more of the city.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 29.51 (Low)

    6) Boise, Idaho

    Boise, Idaho

    Crime Index: 35.39

    Visitors enjoy Boise for its proximity to nature and easy access to activities like skiing, fishing, and hiking. The city itself is full of activities and is surrounded by beautiful snow-topped mountains.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 28.57 (Low)

    5) Madison, Wisconsin

    Madison Wisconsin capital building at sunset

    Crime Index: 33.70

    Madison is growing in popularity and is even ranked #1 on Livability’s top 100 places to live in 2022. With over 200 miles of recreation trails for hiking and biking, it’s a popular city for outdoor enthusiasts.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 26.10 (Low)

    4) Salt Lake City, Utah

    salt lake city with mountains in the background

    Crime Index: 32.96

    Salt Lake City is the perfect base camp for visiting five national parks, including Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, Capital Reef, and Zion. Public transportation is widely available for days in the city, and the light rail system, TREX, is free. For winter tourists, there are many ski resorts nearby.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 25.25 (Low)

    3) El Paso, Texas

    El Paso is a city in and the seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. It is situated in the far western corner of the U.S. state of Texas

    Crime Index: 32.28

    Authentic Mexican food, stretching desert landscapes, and visiting the historic Plaza Theater are popular attractions for travelers heading to El Paso. The city isn’t the most popular tourist destination in the states and sees about 2.3 million visitors per year. However, El Paso may be an excellent option for travelers who like to explore places that aren’t as frequently visited.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 24.57 (Low)

    2) Amarillo, Texas

    Row of brightly painted Cadillacs in the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, USA.

    Crime Index: 22.97

    Amarillo sits at the midpoint of U.S. Route 66, making it an ideal place to stop on an iconic road trip. Visitors can leave their mark at the Cadillac ranch, where they can spray paint their own graffiti on old Cadillacs that have been half-buried in the ground. Like El Paso, the city doesn’t see an overwhelming number of tourists per year, making it a more off-the-beaten-path destination.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 20.31 (Low)

    1) Irvine, California

    Irvine California ferris wheel

    Crime Index: 20.58

    Irvine is an excellent location for checking out different parts of California. About 85 miles from San Diego, 45 from L.A., and just a 15-minute drive from Disneyland Resort, Irvine is an excellent base camp. Irvine scored very low across the board for safety considerations, with the index citing low rates of violent crime, drug use, and general crime levels. Visitors enjoy visiting the Irvine Spectrum Center, home to the Irvine Improv, which regularly welcomes well-known comedians.

    • Pickpocketing Worry: 17.05 (Very Low)

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  • 3 Popular Beaches In Mexico Considered Unsafe For Swimming Due To Bacteria

    3 Popular Beaches In Mexico Considered Unsafe For Swimming Due To Bacteria

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    Three beaches in a top resort destination in Mexico have failed cleanliness tests, a story that’s bound to come as a blow to travelers who have plans to visit these areas. Whilst the vast majority of beaches passed the cleanliness guidelines put forth by the World Health Organization (WHO), the three beaches that failed have taken the headlines, and could have an impact on the overall levels of beach tourism in Mexico going forward.

    It’s been a troubling few months for the beaches of Mexico, with authorities not only battling hard against the spread of the stinky seaweed sargassum for weeks, but now also having to contend with this latest development. However, there’s no need to go ahead and cancel your travel plans just yet. Here’s everything travelers need to know about the three beaches that failed the WHO’s cleanliness test, plus a look at how the situation regarding the spread of sargassum is at present.

    Beaches Fail Cleanliness Tests – Information For Travelers

    When it comes to determining the cleanliness of beach water, a range of standard bacterial indicators are used, testing for a range of issues such as E. Coli, fecal matter and enterococci. According to the WHO’s guidelines, beaches must have fewer than 200 enterococcus faecalis – that’s bacteria from a fecal origin – per every 100 milliliters of water. Unfortunately for Mexico, three of its beaches exceeded these limits, making them unsafe for recreational use and potentially jeapordizing the travel plans of many travelers. 

    The investigation, which was completed by COFEPRIS (the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk), found that the three beaches to exceed the limit were all in the same city, Acapulco – a destination that had recently posted tourist arrivals figures higher than the likes of Cancun and Mexico City. The beaches in question are Manzanillo, Hornos and Suave, and their levels of enterocci were 373, 292 and 241 respectively – figures that put them way above the permitted allowance of 200 needed to vacation there safely.

    Last Easter, only one beach was deemed unsafe to visit, yet whilst the situation may appear to be getting worse, that’s not how travelers should see it. Avoiding the three beaches in Acapulco may be a pain for travelers who have already booked to visit that region, however there are plenty of other beaches across the country that are perfectly safe to visit, with an overwhelming majority of Mexican beaches deemed clean enough to enjoy.

    A total of 98.96% of the beaches tested by COFEPRIS passed the analysis – meaning travelers really won’t have to go far to find a clean beach. Some destinations proved particularly clean, such as Yutucan and Tamaulipas, whilst the ever-popular destination Quintana Roo – home to Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum – was also found to have impressively low levels of enterococci on its beaches.

    The 10 beaches that had the most bacteria are as follows:

    1. Manzanillo, Acapulco – 373 enterococci per 100ml water
    2. Hornos, Acapulco – 292 enterococci per 100ml water
    3. Mild, Acapulco – 241 enterococci per 100ml water
    4. Icacos I, Acapulco – 199 enterococci per 100ml water
    5. Nexpa 1, Aquila Michoacán – 194 enterococci per 100ml water
    6. Caleta, Acapulco – 193 enterococci per 100ml water
    7. Yelapa, Jalisco – 181 enterococci per 100ml water
    8. Tumbao II, Veracruz – 173 enterococci per 100ml water
    9. El Bosque, Tabasco – 172 enterococci per 100ml water
    10. Quimixto, Jalisco – 172 enterococci per 100ml water

    Unfortunately, fecal matter isn’t the only thing to blight Mexican shores this year. The country has been beseiged by high levels of sargassum – a harmless, yet unsightly and stinky seaweed that has been washing up all over the Caribbean but has landed in Quintana Roo in particularly large volumes. Whilst help in containing the seaweed has come in the shape of an army of hotel workers and the Navy, travelers should brace themselves for its sulphuric stench and aesthetic-damaging properties.

    Read More:

    Why Montego Bay Is The Trendiest Destination For 2022

    Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

    Digital Nomad Scene In Mexico City Exploding In Popularity

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    Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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