By FOMO Girl
Festivals Travel is increasing each year in many parts of the world. Travelling is considered a right of passage by many people from all walks of life. Nowadays people are travelling from one place to another with an aim of attending a certain event or festival. Festivities take place all around the year and they attract a huge attendance and audience. Some of the major international or globally recognized festivals are the Oktoberfest, Rio Carnival, Running of the Bulls, Mardi Gras and Hogmanay.

A festival is basically an event or an occasion where people from all parts of the world meet up with an aim of socializing and really getting into the festivities of the occasion. People go to great lengths to attend these major festivals and a lot of income and finances is set aside by people to cater for the expenses incurred during such expeditions.

When an event is not nearby, it is necessary if planning to attend to make travel arrangements to get to the event and quite often this needs to be booked well in advance.  For this reason, many companies have been established to help recreational travelers to reach their destinations. One of the most popular tour companies that specialise  in the youth travel, as well as festivals travel markets, is called Contiki. Contiki runs tours to many festivals around the world with utmost ease and generally at a fairly low cost.

Another well-known tour company that operates tours to the above festivals is G Adventures. G Adventures is another tour company that specialises in adventure travel, but they also operate shorter festival trips. Their personnel who are in charge of these tours are very professionals and have years' experience in their work.

TGW Travel Group, also known as Tours Gone Wild, is an alternative tour company that offers excellent and superb services to all its clients. This is a company that has vast experience in Brazil and they are definately the Brazil and Rio Carnival specialists. Busabout is another popular tour company that operates tours to most of these major events and festivals.  All these companies provide accommodation and transportation for the above mentioned festivals.

The Youth Travel market is mostly the group of people who are potential customers to the above listed companies.  However, these events also target other specific audiences such as families, couples or even children.  For special types of customers such as disabled persons, special amenities have to be provided in addition to the ones present in the normal travel packages.

The cost of travelling varies depending on the means of transport used. Use of air transport is considered the most expensive as compared to alternative means such as road and rail transport. Most tour companies give a wide range of options to their clients and customers on various means to move from one place to the other.

Festivals Travel will continue to grow and expand in the coming years with more and more people expected to attend these international festivities. As the customers for this service increase, so will the income from the above business.

FOMO Travel are the Festival and Events Travel specialists and they provide a wide array of information on the major festivals and events from across the globe.

By FOMO Girl
Young people taking trips with youth travel tour operators are making international destinations a popular choice. Backpackers and others, who plan their own vacations and trek around Europe alone, will miss out on the many advantages of using a professional tour company.

There are increasing numbers of current college students or ones that just graduated signing up for these types of tours. They appreciate having professional guides escorting them on their trips. It is not uncommon for guides to be in the same age group as the travelers.

The price for a trip will vary, depending on destinations, length of stays, and inclusions. A top US operator, Contiki, has in excess of 60 European trips to offer. Duration and prices can range from several days in London for $225 to almost $4500 for a 48 day ultimate European vacation. The cost of lodging, meals, and transportation for all excursions are typically included in their price. Oftentimes the price for admission into area attractions is also covered.

For the student travelers who exist on a very small budget, less costly lodging can be arranged at the most affordable hotels and camping grounds in the area. People with more expensive tastes can choose higher priced tours with more luxurious places to stay.

Student and Youth Travel are tour operators who state the most visited location in 2013 was Italy. Travelers can learn about Italian customs and their way of life. Ride the gondolas through the canals in Venice and experience some of the most important places in the history of art. Italy is also home of the Colosseum and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The second most popular destination for youth tours last year was Spain. Its cities offer both modern and historical attractions. The architecture and history of the Roman Aqueduct at Segovia is a definite must see for most everyone. The magnificent culture of Spain is evident in the Plaza de Oriente.

Great Britain has such a variety of things to do and places to see. A trip like this is educational and exciting for the youthful tourist. Among the most popular attractions are Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the London Bridge.  A great Scotland local tour company is HAGGiS Adventures.

France, Austria, and Germany are three charming and scenic countries where student travelers gather. The fantastic construction of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe make France a favorite vacation spot. There are also many wonderful castles to explore.

Located in the middle of Europe is the Czech Republic. It has many unique and several unusual museums to offer its visitors. The Museum of Torture, the Marionette Museum, and the Wax Museum are three places most people will find very interesting.

Although China is not typically considered a destination for student or youth tours, it is still one of the most popular. Reading about the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City in their schoolbooks cannot compare to seeing these historical sites in person.

Youth travel tours allows young people to experience and learn about other cultures. On these trips they will be able to meet and develop new friendships. This is an opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime.

18-35 Travel now has a brand new section dedicated to Youth Travel.  You should start there for some great information.

By Abby Cassinia
Everyone loves to start a new year in style, some opt to travel to places they have never been, and others stay with their families. To kick-start the new year, I recommend going to Edinburgh for the Hogmanay, which is just completely amazing.  The people, the food and the party itself left me with a very memorable experience.   Hogmanay (last day of the year in Scottish) in Edinburgh is recognized as one of the best places to welcome your new year.  I think it is not only the best in the UK but also across the world.  

Many theories have been brought forward to explain the origin of the word “Hogmanay”. The most notable theories explain that the word has Flemish, Scandinavian, or Anglo-Saxon origins. Nevertheless, what is the origin of Hogmanay celebrations? Historians believe that the Hogmanay celebrations are deep-rooted from the Vikings who treated the eve of the New Year with special interest.

Having personally experienced the New Year's Eve celebration of Hogmanay in Scotland, I can confidently say it is a breath-taking event. The fireworks, the astounding skies, the dances and the music among others give one everything you are looking for. For a moment it felt like I was in a different planet and just wanted the party to continue. I was particularly surprised with the large number of people who attended.  I’m thinking there were over 250,000 partygoers from all around the world. I was there with an American friend, Mike, and you could see the smile and happiness in his face at how awesome the night was.

Edinburgh does not only offer the beauty of welcoming a new year but also has some astonishing hotels.   If you are travelling to Hogmanay there are plenty of accommodation options, but it is probably your best bet to book early.  Having booked our hotel early and staying for four days, Mike and I got a great deal at the 5 Star Sheraton Grand Hotel located near to the Edinburgh Centre and the famous Edinburgh Castle.  The accommodation at the Sheraton Grand Hotel was fantastic. The services were good and the staff were really friendly. This made us felt like we were at home.

We tried plenty of traditional Scottish foods whilst we were at Hogmanay. I actually had some of the best shortbread I have ever had.  The cold night means that the food should be served hot though and we tried the Haggis and, well, we’re not real sure.  You will just have to try it for yourself!   There was plenty of different drinks on offer at Hogmanay, but of course Scotch whisky is a drink you will never miss out on in Scotland.   Scotch is not only enjoyed in Scotland but across the world.  We did a bit of a tour around Scotland after Hogmanay and visited a few distilleries.  I think Scotch is my new favourite liquor!  The taste of great Scotch is indescribable.
We noticed plenty of tours groups at Hogmanay, so if you’re looking at travelling with a whole group of people then you should check out some of these companies that organise Hogmanay tours.  Travelling as a group can be the best experience ever if that is you’re thing, but Mike and I decided we would just book everything ourselves and go it alone.   

There was plenty of things happening at Hogmanay, but there is nothing like singing Auld Lang Syne at midnight in the country where the song originated.  It really was a wickedly incredible experience.  

Hogmanay offers a magic way for you to kick in the New Year in style. You definitely will not regret it.

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