I’m a bit of a flight/mileage/upgrade geek. So, guests going on Zoom trips call me all the time to figure out the best way to get to a Zoom destination the cheapest and most comfortable way possible. As many of you know, not all business class is created equal and not all business class costs the same. So, it makes sense to do a little research to make sure the plane you are booked on meets your expectations. On routes like Peru, for instance, some airlines fly with flat beds while others offer a modest recline in Business Class, typically...
I am writing this from my hotel room in Buenos Aires, full of thoughts about how this city has changed since we offered our first tour here nine years ago. It has certainly become more gay friendly and accepting, both in the mentality of the locals and as evidenced by anti-discrimination laws that have been enacted. The gay scene in Buenos Aires is better than ever, and you can go out every night of the week and find something happening. Also the exchange rate has become very favorable for foreigners. Currently there is a double economy. The official...
I always get a kick out of the sentence, “why would you want to go there”, as there are few places on Earth I wouldn’t want to see for myself. Arguably, almost every country has enough sites of interest and things to do to make a vacation. Granted, of course I understand avoiding a country embroiled in a natural disaster or human-made conflict, or countries that are antigay. However, I have noticed that some people hold ill-perceived ideas about some places, originating from the past. For instance, myself and a lot of my peers grew up during the Beirut War,...
If you have been to Brazil, you have likely seen people walking around, eating a dark purple thick “drink” with spoons out of cups. Or maybe you have tried it yourself. Whatever the case, acai has become very famous in the past few years. The acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit, which grows on the acai palm tree, native to Central and South America. When you buy it as a drink, it generally comes frozen in packets and is then mixed with sugar and/or other fruit, before handed over to you. While it has been touted for having better...
One of my favorite activities that our travelers enjoy on Zoom Argentina is learning to dance the Tango from local professional dancers. Tango is sexy and sensual without being overtly sexual. Before you see two men dance the Tango, you may assume that one dancer will appear feminine, and the other masculine, but this isn’t the case. Instead, the dance lends itself to an uncanny juxtaposition of individuality and communion. In fact, Tango is so popular that Argentinian doctors have been prescribing it for heart attack patients, saying that it can generate the same beneficial effects for coronary arteries...
One of the best things about being on safari is sun-downers: alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks enjoyed at sundown during evening game drives. Usually drinks are accompanied by nuts and biltong (similar to beef jerky), but on one of our recent safaris, guests enjoyed a delicious vegan carrot and coriander soup, served in mugs. INGREDIENTS 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil1 White Onion1 Kg of carrots2 Tablespoons of Ground Cumin1 and 1/2 Liters of Vegetable StockSalt and Pepper to Taste METHOD Heat the olive oil in a large pot Add the onion, carrots and cumin, and fry on a low heat for...
One of the greatest joys of traveling is trying new dishes, authentic to the destination. Even better, is when we have the opportunity to learn how to make these dishes ourselves. For instance, on our trip to China, a woman we know named Mrs Woo invites us into her home and teaches us how to make traditional Chinese dumplings, or Jiaozi. Here is a recipe that we adapted a bit in the Zoom Kitchen. Perhaps this recipe can become a special addition to your next dinner or cooking party! Ingredients Jiaozi dough:* 3 cups all-purpose flour* up to 1...
I just came back to my hotel room, after a great day snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef with our group, and it got me thinking: what makes something considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World? I did a little research and found compelling reasons for each of the current 7 Natural Wonders. Here is a list, as well as why they are, well, wonderful. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest individual formation created by living organisms. The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, are naturally occurring lights that create intriguing and spectacular...
People have often asked us why Zoom Vacations offers yachting voyages instead of big cruises. If you join us on one of our yacht voyages, you will have your answer in about two seconds, as you are welcomed aboard with friendly smiles, a cold towel, and a glass of champagne. Our mega-yacht voyages embody great attention to detail, customization, quality, and casual elegance– all hallmarks of a Zoom Vacation. Since the yachts are smaller we can visit smaller ports, inaccessible to larger ships, and we can stay longer at each destination. The food is exquisite, and since it is all...
Social media has replaced the paper postcard as a means to communicate with friends back home. Facebook in particular continues to let our friends and family know where we are, that we’re safe, we’re enjoying ourselves, and what we’re up to, in real time. And it’s not just about what we’re writing but also what we’re posting, such as movies, articles, and pictures, that help our friends and family travel and experience the destination vicariously. Facebook can also help us connect with locals when we’re traveling. While I was on Zoom Peru just a few weeks ago I posted...
Is cappuccino really better in Rome? Is ceviche really more tasty in Peru? Sometimes, when I am home, I get an uncontrollable yearning for food just the way I had it somewhere else; usually on a sunny beach, a 2,000 year old piazza, a crowded fragrant market, or in the kitchen of an attentive cook. My yearning is usually followed with the conviction that we just don’t know how to make a ceviche like they make it in Peru! Is it that the fish was literally caught hours ago off the coast of Lima, or is it that the limes...
As online reviews and reputations have become more and more important to the success of a business, new services have sprung up that offer restaurants, hotels, etc, the promise of overly-good reviews for them, and even overly-bad reviews for their competitors, often from reviewers who have never actually been to the destination.
