For those who have always dreamed of traveling to Europe but didn’t have the money, now is your chance. Right now the dollar-euro exchange rate is at its best in over a decade, and flights and hotels are more affordable. Frequent traveler Hussain al Nowais details the top reasons why now is the best time to pack your bags and explore Europe.

Flights to Europe are cheaper

In the past, vacationers could expect to pay about $1,000 for a flight to Europe. But, with the rise of budget airlines, flights to Europe have become much more affordable. Budget airlines like Wow Air, Norwegian Air and Spirit Airlines are offering great prices on flights to Europe. Back in April, Time.com indicated that one-way flights on WOW Air from Washington D.C. to Copenhagen in August were available for less than $200, including all mandatory taxes and fees. Flights in early July on WOW Air from Boston to Reykjavik were as low as $155. However, when booking your flight be aware that budget airlines usually charge extra for services, such as seat selection and beverages, which a traditional airline may provide for free.

There’s a strong dollar-euro exchange rate

Right now the dollar-euro exchange rate is in your favor, so your money will go a long way in Europe. Therefore, most of your expenses, including hotels, food, wine, souvenirs and tours, will be much cheaper.

Hotel prices in the U.S. are higher

If you’re leaning towards staying in the U.S. for your next vacation, think again. As travel and hotel expenses in Europe have gotten cheaper, these same prices in the U.S. have increased. According to a recent report, hotel rates are expected to climb about another 6% this year, after rising 5% last year. Unlike climbing rates in the U.S., TripAdvisor data shows hotel rates in Europe are decreasing. This year the cost of a one-week trip to Europe has fallen by 11% in 24 out of 25 European cities.

So, if you’ve dreamed about traveling to Europe, the time to do so is now. Take advantage of Europe’s great travel rates while you can.

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1. Avoid peak travel days – Christmas Eve and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving are the biggest travel dates of the entire year. To avoid long lines, crowded airports, and stress, choose to leave a day or so earlier if possible. Another option is traveling early on Thanksgiving or Christmas. There aren’t as many people traveling at those times, and while you’ll be traveling on a holiday, you’ll avoid the major traffic and headaches of the night before.
2. Book early – Once you figure out your holiday plans, you want to book your flight. Air fares are only going to increase as Thanksgiving approaches. Since it’s a peak season, you’ll be very unlikely to get a good deal by waiting until the last minute. Procrastinating will result in steeper airline prices and a far slimmer selection of dates and times to choose from.
3. Travel early in the day – Airplanes leaving earlier in the day tend to have a better on-time performance, according to flight statistics. Therefore, it’s best to book a morning flight. Also, depending on where you live and the destination to which you are flying, it’s possible that your flight may get cancelled due to bad weather conditions. With a morning flight, you can take a flight later on in the day, should your initial flight get delayed or cancelled.

With these tips from Hussain al Nowais, you’ll be on your way to a stress-free holiday travel experience.

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It’s the most wonderful time of year— Christmas time in New York City. From ice skating at Wollman Ice Rink in Central Park to viewing the spectacular Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to watching the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, there’s no better place to spend the holidays than New York City. To help you get the most out of your celebrations, here are some of the top things to do in NYC during the holidays from Hussain al Nowais.

Ice Skating at Wollman Ice Rink

Nestled in Central Park among the frosty trees with the magnificent cityscape as the backdrop, Wollman Ice Rink is one of the best outdoor rinks in the city. The ice skating rink is located at the eastern end of the park near the Central Park Zoo. To reach the rink, enter Central Park at 59^th and 6^th Avenue or 59^th and 5^th. The rink offers skate rentals, ice hockey, a skating school, park facilities and lockers. Visit the park website for information about rink hours and ticket and rental prices.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

It’s not a holiday celebration in the city without the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. From now until 8 p.m. on January 6, the 78-foot-tall spruce tree will be lit with thousands of sparkling LED lights. To visit the tree, head to Rockefeller Center located between 48^th and 51^st Streets and between 5^th and 6^th Avenues.

5^th Avenue Holiday Window Displays

Window shopping at its finest— during the holidays several shops along 5^th Avenue feature beautiful holiday window displays. The displays are located at 5^th Avenue between 39th and 60th Streets and will truly make you feel like you’re in a winter wonderland.

Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular

Not far from Rockefeller Center is Radio City Music Hall, where you can continue to experience the magic of the holidays. The “Radio Music Hall Christmas Spectacular” has been performed by the Rockettes since the Great Depression, and the shows get better and better every single year. The show, featuring everything from wooden soldiers to candy canes, has several daily show times from now through January 3. Visit the official website to get your tickets.

Check out these great events and enjoy the holidays!

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July is a great time to be in Miami! From the Fourth of July celebrations to the International Mango Festival, the month of July has tons of exciting events in store. Check out these must-attend July events in Miami from resident Hussain al Nowais:

1. America’s Birthday Bash – Miami will be hosting several great Fourth of July celebrations, but the one that appealed most to Hussain al Nowais was America’s Birthday Bash. The fun starts downtown at Bayfront Park and ends with a spectacular fireworks display over Biscanyne Bay. Along with the largest fireworks display in South Florida, the event will feature a Samuel Adams Beer Garden, free kids’ zone, food and beverages, pony rides, petting zoo, and family contra dance.
2. International Mango Festival – From July 11 to 13, Miami will host the 23rd Annual International Mango Festival. The event will feature mango tree sales, a children’s program, educational lectures, a mango cook-off and many more fun events using mangos from the Fairchild Tropical Gardens collection. The event will be exciting and fun for all, whether you’re a professional chef, amateur gardener or someone who loves the taste of mangos.
3. Miami Spa Month – From July 1 to August 31, you can enjoy Miami Spa Month. Miami is notorious for its luxury spas that rank among the “Best Spas in America”. During Miami Spa Month, you can indulge in the highest standards of rejuvenation and pampering and enjoy relaxing spa treatments at Miami’s premier spas for as low as $99.
4. Taste of the Nation Miami – On July 16, join top chefs and mixologists in the fight to end childhood hunger in America. Share Our Strengthen’s Taste of the Nation is the nation’s leading culinary benefit. Guests can sample delicious food and drinks from more than 50 chefs and mixologists representing Miami’s finest restaurants. The event will also have a silent and live auction.

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Consider these major benefits of power walking from Hussain al Nowais:

1. Weight Management

While power walking may not sound as vigorous an activity as running or strength training, it’s a very powerful workout. Power walking involves the intense movement of your arms and feet, which works your muscles and burns calories. By power walking a few times a week and maintaining a healthy diet, you can shed unwanted pounds and maintain a leaner physique.

2. Reduced Stress

Power walking helps minimize stress and improve mood. The exercise releases endorphins in your brain, causing you to feel calmer and more relaxed. Power walking also takes your mind off the stress of your work or home life and leaves you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

3. Improved Health

Power walking regularly can help reduce your risk for illness and disease. The exercise can help lower bad cholesterol levels, decrease blood pressure, and reduce the risk of illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and stroke.

4. Increased Strength

Power walking works both your upper body and lower body strength, which strengthens your muscles and bones. This heightened strength will increase your ability to perform tasks that were once challenging, such as lifting heavy objects.

5. Cost-efficient

With power walking, you can tone your body and reduce stress without spending any money. The activity can be performed without any equipment or a gym membership. You can power walk in the early morning, on your lunch break or after dinner, wherever you are. This makes the exercise extremely convenient and time-efficient.

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Will you be vacationing in Miami this summer? With the city’s beautiful beaches, bountiful wildlife and world-class shopping and eateries, Miami is prime vacation spot all year round. Whether you want to relax on the beach or explore Miami’s wildlife, there are plenty of great attractions to satisfy everyone’s taste. In his bio, Hussain al Nowais listed his favorite places to visit in Miami, including South Beach and the Miami Seaquarium.

Check out his favorite places to visit from his bio:

1. Miami Seaquarium – The Miami Seaquarium is a great attraction for people of all ages. The Seaquarium is a 38-acre tropical paradise, where you can see sharks, manatees, crocodiles, dolphins, sea lions, whales, and much more aquatic life. The park has eight different animal shows and several daily presentations, which give visitors a closer look at the animals.
2. South Beach – Another prime spot listed in Hussain al Nowais’s bio is South Beach. Also known as SoBe, South Beach is located at the southern part of Miami Beach in the Art Deco community. In addition to the pristine beaches, South Beach is known for its great shopping, hotels and restaurants and vibrant night life.
3. Jungle Island – Formerly the Parrot Jungle, Jungle Island is an interactive zoological park that’s home various species of birds and monkeys, as well as reptiles, lions, tigers, leopards, kangaroos, penguins, lemurs and more. Like the Seaquarium, Jungle Island also has shows and animal interactions for you to learn more about the animals up close.
4. Miami Beach Botanical Garden – The Miami Beach Botanical Garden was established over 50 years ago and was given an expansive makeover in 2011. The garden is a free attraction and has 2.6 acres of beautiful horticultural and also serves as a venue for visual and performing arts.

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Syracuse has over 15,000 undergraduate students, of which 44% are male and 55% are female. About 75% of the students live in college-owned, operated or affiliated housing, while 25% live in off campus housing. Many famous celebrities, politicians, athletes and business professionals have graduated from Syracuse, including Husain al Nowais, Shaquille O’Neil, Vanessa Williams, Grace Jones and Joe Biden.

The university offers over 200 majors across nine schools and colleges. While Hussain al Nowais majored in computer science, other popular majors at Syracuse are business, marketing, social sciences, visual and performing arts, engineering, communication and journalism. The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse is one of the top communication schools in the country. The university also has a wide variety of student media organizations, including student-run magazines, radio and TV stations, newspapers and advertising agencies. The school’s TV station, Citrus TV, is one of the largest television studios in the nation that is entirely run by students.

Syracuse also offers over 300 student clubs, as well as many internship and study abroad opportunities. Students have the opportunity to take classes at the Syracuse University in Florence, Italy. Through the schools’ Scholar Exchange Program, graduate students can also take courses at Cornell University and the University of Rochester.

In addition to academics and clubs, Syracuse University also has great sports teams. Many of Syracuse’s athletes have gone on to become professional athletes. The school’s teams, which are known as The Orange, compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. In February 2014, the basketball spectators set a NCAA attendance record when 35,446 attended the game against Duke University.

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From world famous monuments and parks to first-class shopping and museums, there are tons of exciting places to visit in New York City. Whether you’re visiting the Big Apple or want to entertain guests from out of town, be sure to check out these top NYC spots from Hussain al Nowais.

1. Central Park – This 843-acre park is located in central Manhattan and is a prime spot for tourists and New Yorkers alike. The expansive park has 21 playgrounds, 36 bridges and 48 foundations, monuments and sculptures. While you likely won’t be able to see every section of the park, you can take a horse and carriage ride that will take you around the park. The park is also home to the Central Park Zoo, where you can witness penguins, grizzly bears, sea lions and snow leopards.
2. Statue of Liberty – Overlooking Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty is a must-see landmark. To reach the statue you can take the ferry from Battery Park in lower Manhattan to Liberty Island where it is located. Boats run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tickets cost $17. It’s best to get their early to get on the first ferry, so you don’t get stuck waiting for a later ferry ride.
3. Metropolitan Museum of Art – Known as The Met, this internationally renowned museum holds many masterpieces from around the world, including collections from modern Europe, Ancient Egypt and classical antiquity. Founded in 1807, The Met is the largest museum in the United States and one of the largest museums in the world.
4. Times Square – While Times Square is most packed during New Year’s Eve when people gather to watch the ball drop in person, this NYC center is a prime spot all year long. In Times Square you’ll find the giant Toys R US and M&M stores, as well as Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and Discovery Times Square, which has the world’s largest and most elaborate display of Lego art.

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