Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has 5 official public holidays in 2025: Founding Day (Feb 22), Eid al-Fitr (Mar 31-Apr 3), Arafah Day (Jun 5), Eid al-Adha (Jun 6-8), National Day (Sep 23). Dates based on lunar calendar.
Travel
Showing 15 of 334 blogs
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Xcaret Children's World: splash pads, shallow pools (2-3"), mini slides, adventure playgrounds, animal encounters (butterfly pavilion, touch tanks, aviary), underground river floats (78°F, life jackets), calm beach snorkeling, Mexico show—ages 2-12.
Rachel Chen 62
Bern, Switzerland In most of the world, the phrase “Swiss cuisine” often means just two things: cheese and chocolate. However, while these are two integral parts of the countr...
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Ek Balam: hidden Mayan ruins 2 hours from PDC. You can still climb the pyramid. Less crowded than Chichen Itza. 30 min north of Valladolid.
Rachel Chen 66
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Top Playa del Carmen: Fifth Avenue shopping/dining, pristine beaches, cenotes (Cenote Azul), Tulum ruins day trips, Cozumel/Isla Mujeres ferries. 3-5 days ideal for beaches, culture, and adventure.
Rachel Chen 95
The Hague, Netherlands The Hague: International City by the SeaThe Hague is one of my favorite Dutch cities despite often being overlooked. It's home to the United Nations' Internatio...
Utrecht, Netherlands Discovering Utrecht's Hidden Gem Status When I first visited Utrecht three years ago, I expected a smaller, quieter version of Amsterdam. What I found instead w...
Rotterdam, Netherlands Rotterdam: A City Rising AgainAfter sustaining catastrophic damage during World War II, Rotterdam literally rose from the ashes and rebuilt itself as one of the...
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Best Riviera Maya family activities: Xcaret eco-park, Xel-Ha snorkeling, Tulum ruins, cenote swimming. Playa del Carmen has the best family resorts and beaches.
Rachel Chen 80
Playa del Carmen, Mexico The Xel-Ha zip bikes offer a unique aerial adventure combining cycling and ziplining through the Riviera Maya jungle canopy, with circuits taking 15-25 minutes at rider-controlled speeds and family-friendly thrills for ages 8+.
Rachel Chen 49
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Maya: Yucatan Peninsula (250-900 CE), independent city-states, sophisticated writing/astronomy/zero. Aztecs: Central Mexico (1300-1521 CE), centralized empire from Tenochtitlan.
Rachel Chen 53
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Cenotes were sacred portals to Xibalba (Mayan underworld) where ancient Maya honored Chaac rain god—"cenote" from Maya "dzonot" = "sacred well." Three types: open (exposed to sky), semi-open (partial cover), cave (underground with stalactites). Maya threw jade, pottery, gold, incense, sometimes human sacrifices. Cenote Sagrado at Chichen Itza had thousands of artifacts.
Madrid, Spain The Spanish tend to live life to the fullest. Whether they are marking big moments or small, there is always a reason to celebrate in the land of fiestas. Of co...
Rome, Italy Whether you live here or are just visiting, it is a good idea to take note of Italy’s holidays. Many of the country’s official 12 public holidays are tied to th...
Marco Rossi 44
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Top cenotes near Playa del Carmen: Jardin del Eden and Chaak Tun (15 min), Azul and Cristalino (20 min). Crystal-clear sacred Maya swimming holes.
