Saraswati Temple (also known as Dewi Saraswati Temple) is one of the most beautiful and stunning Hindu temples in Bali, Indonesia. This temple has been recognised as an official tourist attraction by the island’s government, which means that it’s now legally protected from disrepair or destruction by anyone other than the temple staff and its leadership. The grounds of the temple are also no longer accessible to tourists, so you can be sure that your visit will be respectful to the local Balinese people who hold this temple dear to their hearts.

Traveling has become easier and more affordable nowadays. A lot of reputable travel agencies are offering cheaper rates for an Asia, Europe, or China tour. However, there are still a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to traveling. These few tips will help you have a safer and more unforgettable experience when visiting countries such as China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Europe. Pack accordingly A China tour allows for casual clothing but also you should be prepared for the cold winter. On the other, bringing a jacket to the Bahamas, for example, is a waste of money, time, and space. Additionally, check for local weather conditions as these will help when you pack your clothes and ensembles. Check and double check all your travel documents Different countries need different travel documents. Some countries may require visas while some may not. For example, if you’re planning on taking a China tour, single entry visas are already included in your travel packages, depending on the travel agency. Some countries may require visas while some may not. The use of cell phones abroad cost more Contact your network provider to double check the rates and make sure that the network supports the country you’re about to go to. A Europe tour or a China tour won’t be as much fun if you end up with a high cell phone bill. Credit Card rates abroad The use of credit cards internationally may require additional taxes. Some credit cards don’t apply overseas charges. It’s best to call your bank to be sure. Don’t forget to notify your bank that you’re traveling too. Keep your valuables and luggage in sight It’s very easy to lose a small or even a big bag when traveling. Pickpockets are everywhere and people may try to distract you while checking out your wallet or other personal items. Be alert and stay on track. Always remember that traveling should be fun, but doesn’t mean that responsibilities should be forgotten. These are the basics one must keep in mind, tips that are most important especially to first-time travelers. In the meantime, be safe while planning your next enjoyable vacation.

Flavors of China Next time when you go to China, try the Peking Duck Banquet in Beijing, a Dumpling Banquet in Xian, some spicy Sichuan cuisine in Chongqing, and delicate Dim Sum in Hong Kong! Authentic Chinese food is an art. After trying this flavorful food in China, you will never go to Panda Express again! Peking Duck Banquet: Beijing Peking Duck Banquet is a meal one must experience while visiting Beijing. Prepared right in front of diners, the chef carefully cuts the cooked duck into thin slices. The duck is then wrapped in the pancake along with a few spring onions and hoisin sauce and served to the table. Dumpling Banquet: Xian People know that visiting Terracotta Warriors is one of the must-do things in Xian. But do you know that Xian is also famous for its Dumpling Banquet? After a visit to the Terracotta Warriors, indulge in these delectable dumplings filled with various meats, seafood and vegetables. Sichuan Cuisine: Chongqing With the presence of garlic, chili peppers, peppercorn and ginger in almost every dish, it is no wonder that Chongqing is most famous for its fiery-hot Sichuan cuisine. Most popular is the Ma Po Tofu dish. Packed with flavor, the dish consists of tofu and minced meat in a spicy bean and chili sauce and is typically eaten with a bowl of rice. Dim Sum: Hong Kong More commonly known as “Dim Sum”, this Chinese custom derived from the ancient tradition of “Yum Cha” which means “drink tea”. Tea houses were originally built to provide travelers journeying the Silk Road with a place to relax and drink tea. Over time, small portions of a variety of foods were slowly introduced along with Yum Cha and evolved into the modern tradition of Dim Sum. Among the vast array of choices, most popular at Dim Sum is har gau (steamed dumpling – shrimp wrapped in clear rice flour), Shu Mai, Char Siu Baau (fluffy white bun filled with barbecued pork), Sticky rice (glutinous rice with eggs, mushrooms, dried scallops and Chinese sausage wrapped in a lotus leaf), lo bak go (turnip cakes) and Chicken Feet (for the adventurous). Dessert usually offers a choice of sweet egg tarts, mango pudding, almond flavored tofu, and much more. Expand your taste palate and try these dishes when you visit China. Book a group tour to China and share these experiences with your friends and the new ones you'll make. 

Autumn is an incredible time to explore Europe, with its warm days, cool nights, and breathtaking fall foliage. Visiting Europe in the fall is the perfect way to enjoy the beauty of the continent without the crowds that come with summer. Whether you’re looking to discover the cultural attractions of a big city, take in some stunning natural landscapes, or sample traditional cuisine, there are plenty of reasons to choose a fall visit to Europe. In this blog post, we’ll explore why autumn in Europe is the ideal time for a trip.

There is no better way to experience a culture when traveling than to sample the local cuisine! From the rituals surrounding the meal, the presentation, the smells, the conversation, and of course the tastes…every culture, country, or region has their own spin on this most common denominator of humanity. If you really want to dig in and learn about a destination, then you absolutely have to make time to seek out and experience local authentic dining. This may often mean getting off the beaten path a ways, but that’s just an added bonus considering just how commercialized those tourist traps really are. Now authentic dining doesn’t necessarily have to mean “dive bar” style food, scattered around the world are those delightful family-owned businesses with their own version of local tradition, in some cases just one town or street over! Every well-run diner in the world has its own pulse, almost a signature of sorts, a unique blend of sounds, smells, and taste that really grab a person by the shoulders and yank them taste-buds first into a culture. Etiquette First and foremost, you must know the etiquette of your location. For example, in the United States a tip isn’t just a small “thank you” but rather an integral part of your server’s paycheck! Similarly, in many other countries a large tip is seen as borderline rude. While you won’t be expected to be intimately familiar with all traditions as an outsider, a solid attempt at proper manners will go a long way in improving your experience. Our tour staff will also be happy to answer any questions you have about etiquette or tipping in your travel destinations. Of course etiquette doesn’t just mean “know what the wait-staff expects,” in many cultures both the timing of the meal, as well as duration of it is equally important! After all, you can’t get to know the people in a destination if you are the only one dining, right? Bon Appétit So you are researching the etiquette before heading to a new location, but are still not sure what to look forward to gastronomically speaking. In years past a traveler would be relying on bulky guide books and coin flips to decide where to eat. But that is all in the past, thanks to the boom in world tourism and the wonders of the internet you can quickly and easily find a few places that fit your palate’s needs! Your best bet is to keep it simple: look for establishments and menu recommendations that meet your needs. There are many location specific blogs that review establishments and they have done a lot of the leg work for you. Just be sure to always do your due diligence, carefully read restaurant reviews and also get the lay of the land before venturing into a neighborhood that you are unfamiliar with. Being aware of your surroundings is always important when traveling. While it is somewhat cliché to say, the truth is that the chef’s choice entrée or manager’s specials exist for a reason, and often represent the best foot forward for an establishment. You don’t always have to stick to this tip, but if there isn’t a specific dish you are targeting, the dish that a restaurant is known for is a great place to start. If you have special dietary needs, keep in mind that realistically not every restaurant is going to be able to accommodate or even understand exactly what you need when making a request. A best practice is to always have a translation card for the language of the country you are in that outlines exactly what your needs are. Ask to speak with a manager before taking a seat to ensure that they will be able to create a dining experience that is appropriate for you! Enjoy Yourself While the modern trend is to put everything onto social media in real time, you will find that the practice isn’t always welcome around the world and is decidedly the purview of tourists. It is quite difficult to soak in the atmosphere when glued to your personal-entertainment device. So sit back and soak in the atmosphere, snap a few photos of your interesting dish (to edit and post later), jot down a few notes in your travel journal, and make a toast with your travel companions to great food and great company. Looking for exotic flavors to tempt your palate? Visit Ritztours.com or call 888.345.7489 to learn about the distant lands you can dine in.

The time usually comes when we’re tired of the red eye flights, the 2-star hotel accommodations, the lackluster walking tours, the confusion of being in a new city with no one to turn to but Google… The idea that maybe it’s just easier to have a “staycation” than to worry about planning and executing the perfect budget vacation seems to be more and more commonplace. Once this mindset kicks in, it might be time to consider some all-inclusive luxury packages. Not only do they offer similar experiences for similar prices, the event and attraction research has already been done for you. You have the added benefit of dealing with knowledgeable professionals handling all your bookings and scheduling. It’s the perfect recourse to needing to get out of town and not having the time to plan a day by day excursion of your own. So what is a luxury vacation? If the word “luxury” only resulted in big dollar signs blocking your field of vision, you might be interested to know that “luxury” doesn’t always have to break the bank. Did you know that the average cost of two people traveling Europe for 2 weeks is upwards of $6,000-$7,000? This includes airfare, transportation, food, hotels, entrance to attractions, and misc shopping and spending. Not to mention that you won’t have to be bothered with the countless anxiety-filled hours searching through all of these places, reading reviews, checking the maps against the local attractions you wanted to see. Obviously, this can vary depending on a wide range of factors, but safe to say that the actual cost can be staggering when you break it down, especially, when all the additional unanticipated charges have added up. It’s hard work to travel to brand new destinations for any length of time and we’re hardly ever able to account for every single expense. That’s where all-inclusive packages come in. Luxury vacation packages can actually save you both time and money. High-quality tours to Thailand and Bali can be found for under $2000 per person. Sometimes less if you book in advance. You’ll have an entire itinerary mapped out to the most travel-worthy destinations and local interests, all for a surprisingly comparable price (or less) with no unexpected costs or fees. In addition to accommodation, food, and travel being included, cost to all the locations and attractions is usually part of the package as well. You’ll want to read the fine print, but it should be laid out for your convenience. Or better yet, just ask your friendly travel consultant. Planning an excursion in another country inevitably comes with unexpected hiccups. You find a deal on a hotel only to find out it’s miles from where you wanted to be. You get to the anticipated destination and find out you needed to book a reservation 6 months ago. We’ve all been there. Luxury tours, however, are about offering the very best with little to no inconvenience to you. Everything is taken care of with your happiness and comfort in mind thanks to knowledgeable and professional travel consultants and guides. They’re there to simplify the process and get your travel plans confirmed as soon as possible to get you on your way to your next destination. Private tours and packages offer even more customizability and simplicity without compromising on specific experiences. You can have the vacation of your dreams with none of the unanticipated setbacks. It’s important to remember that luxury tours are built with the traveler in mind. The hours spent researching where to stay, how to get in and out, reserving your hotels, finding interesting sites to explore, etc. have all been done for you. The benefit to having a professional handle your itinerary is that they have ongoing knowledge of the destination you’ll be arriving in. You’ll have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips and can usually ask them location-specific questions and advice. Simply choose your destination and count down the days until your departure. It really is that easy. With a travel package, you can take the worry out of your trip and focus on visiting the incredible city you’re in. Taking in the local food and culture. Relax in a brand new city knowing you don’t need to double check your reservations anywhere. If you’re ready to plan your next vacation, consider a luxury tour. Not only will you save your time and money, but you’ll also have someone there handling all the logistics and to answer any questions you might have before or during your trip. They’ll make it so easy, you’ll never consider budget travel an option again. Happy travels!

While planning your adventure, it can be tempting to include all of the comforts of home in your travel list. This is only natural, as the excitement of the unknown causes an unexplainable need to create mountains of gear to meet every possible situation. Unfortunately every item brought along is another item to keep track of, unpack, and pack along every step of your journey. By mid-trek you will be eyeing that monstrous stack of gear with trepidation and unease. By the time your journey has reached its end you will regret lugging around a gargantuan stack of inanimate objects. “Why did I bring a kitchen sink if there weren't any dishes to do?” you may find yourself shouting at said household item. The physical and emotional toll excess baggage can take on your travel experience will vary based on how many “extras” have been brought along, but you can guarantee that it's worth some planning ahead of time to save on those headaches. Needs vs. Wants Before optimizing your travel gear, first you need to simplify it! At home you can take a lot for granted. You can store most of what you want with little concern as to when you will need it. Unfortunately, travel is not as user friendly, as each item must be accounted for, stored, carried, and easily accessible.  To begin shrinking down that luggage you need to approach the situation with a mindset focusing on “Needs” versus “Wants”. This will vary from person to person, but you can expect to have the following “needs”. Minimum clothing count Small reading book Travel journal Cash Travel documents   It’s a bit generic right now, but we will cover some of those in better detail later. Wants aren’t so simple to list, instead it’s best to look at them from a usage standpoint. “Is this something that I use daily right now? Will I be using it often during my travels?” Many items will fail this simple internal test. We have a tendency to create exaggerated scenarios in our minds to justify packing, but most trips really boil down to the items I listed up above. Now, for your minimum clothing count I truly do mean a minimum. A common way to pack for three or four day trips is to just factor in “1 outfit per day, +1 extra”. This is a good practice if you are visiting family or a common vacation destination, but when hitting more exotic locales you might be better off doing some laundry during the trip. Lighter items like underwear and socks are good candidates for duplication, but larger items such as pants or dresses are bulky, heavy, and will take up valuable space for souvenirs. Larger items such as pants and sweaters can often be worn again or repurposed throughout your trip. Pack clothing items that can be mixed and matched instead of outfits and your “necessary” clothing items will shrink before your eyes! Which medications to bring is almost a large enough topic for its own blog entry and really depends on your destination, but for our purposes I am referring to prescription medication! These things must be prioritized and kept track of at all times! Keep them tucked away safe, and within reach in your carry-on baggage. As for your choice in reading material, I clarify “reading book” up above with “small” because some travelers will bring “one or two books max” per trip, but insist on bringing 1,000 page tomes that weigh almost five pounds each! While a little downtime is to be expected, you will most likely not have the time to focus on such a daunting read. Not only that, but such large books are for escapism, something you should have little need of since you are already on an adventure! Save yourself some packing space, and keep the books small or bring your whole library in a tiny e-reader. Also, don’t forget cash. ATM fees (if accessible) as well as conversion rates overseas can be rough. Keeping cash on hand gives you flexibility during your journey, and takes a lot of the stress out of the experience by smoothing interaction with locals, and also granting you some reassurance that you are not completely without means in your new “home away from home.” Lastly don’t forget your travel documents including things like your tickets, reservation information, passports/visas. Keep these documents somewhere easily accessible and secure. These are obviously the biggest necessity for traveling and should be treated with great care. Ultimately, choosing which gear you find essential can be a daunting task, and every trip will be different, but you will find that a little forethought and planning will go a long way in making your adventure a pleasant experience, maximizing the fun and minimizing the hassle.

Art. History. Culture. Cuisine. With all that it has to offer, Europe is definitely one of the most captivating places one must visit in a lifetime. However, with so many attractions, planning a vacation to Europe can become overwhelming and you may feel as though you don’t know where to begin. That is why we have narrowed down a list of the main attractions you can put on top of your must-see-in-Europe list. Stonehenge, Great Britain Constructed nearly 5,000 years ago, this engineering feat has sparked numerous theories speculating its construction, creators and meaning. This enigmatic site was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites in 1986 and continues to amaze hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. While its original purpose remains uncertain, there is no doubt that Stonehenge should be on the top of your list. Bath, Great Britain Originally established as a spa resort by the Romans in AD 43, the city of Bath is a breathtakingly beautiful town adorned with elegant townhouses and a number of architectural wonders. Pictured above is one of the world’s finest and best-preserved Roman Spas. The Lake District With scenery that rivals Tuscany’s sweeping hills and the French Alps, it’s easy to see why 19th century writers called the Lake District their poetic muse. Witness the breathtaking panoramas of jagged mountains, wooded valleys and some of England’s largest and most stunning lakes in person! Buckingham Palace, London Serving as the Royal Family’s London residence since 1837, Buckingham Palace is a sight to behold. The extravagant Palace serves as an ideal backdrop for any picture! The Eiffel Tower, Paris Described by Ernest Hemingway as a “movable feast”, this romantic city leaves an indelible mark on the soul of each visitor. Venice, Italy Already experienced the gondola ride at the Venetian, Las Vegas? Well, we assure you that although they did do a remarkable job of replicating the scenery, nothing compares to a gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Offering unforgettable views of the parades of palazzos, which date from the 12th-18th century, the experience will be a ride of a lifetime. The Louvre Museum, Paris Venture to the world famous Louvre Museum, enjoy a staggering collection of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo! The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy An architectural project gone awry, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most spectacular pieces of work and Italy’s most famous landmark. The Colosseum, Rome The “Eternal City” of Rome has been known for centuries as the capital of the world, housing an evolving blend of timeless monuments, ruins and ancient culture. No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Colosseum, the iconic symbol of the city. The Trevi Fountain, Rome And last but not least, toss a coin into the legendary Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to this magical city. Would you like to see these sites for yourself? Book the Gems of Europe Tour and don't forget your camera!