Majorca To Have Spain\'s Top Hotel

The holiday island of Majorca is set to have Spain's most luxurious hotel in Spain on her soil, boosting the island's image and economy while attracting high spenders, according to news reports.

As well as helping the island's economy directly, luxury hotels, especially on a favourite holiday island to many Europeans and North Americans, will doubtless see Majorca mentioned in the press and on entertainment shows when the stars drop in - already Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones own property in Majorca, as does ex Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, who is understood to be selling one house but looking for another.

The luxury hotel has come about unexpectedly from a project started some ten years ago that ran into financial difficulties, nd it is that will be transformed into Spain's finest, with the hotel anticipated to open for business some time in 2009 or 2010.

The hotel will be owned by a Dubai company which also owns the well known Burj-al Arab hotel in Dubai, as well as hotels in London and New York.

Siuated in Mallorca's Port de Soller it is only 10 miles from the Malloca hotel owned by Richard Branson. In Port de Soller two hotels have marketed themselves as boutiques recently, with Port de Soller and neighbouring Soller aiming to become the lucrative luxury area of Mallorca.

Mallorca as an island has been promoting itself to the UK market recently, with the UK advertising campaign for Majorca including a team distributing information at London's Victoria Station. Trains from Victoria run several times an hour to London's Gatwick Airport, allowing easy access to Mallorca for Londoners.

The Balearic Islands of which Mallorca is part consist of three islands, as well as Malloca there is Menorca (the smallest island)and and Ibiza. Menorca has a season that traditionally is at its peak early May to end September, but is now trying to extend that from mid April to mid October.

As part of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has welcomed many visitors back to live full time on the island. Menorca property has proved popular too, for those looking for a gentler pace of life than big sister Mallorca.

Property prices in Mallorca are similar to Menorca property, with a range of apartments and villas in both rural and town locations, and with twenty golf courses plenty of golf course developments too on Mallorca.

Menorca has just the one golf course, recently extended to eighteen holes, and is located in Son Parc, which has a choice of hotels, apartments and villas for holiday makers.

The cost of flying to Mallorca has come down in recent years from most European countries due to low cost airlines, especially in the island's core tourist areas of the United Kingdom and Germany, and last year easyJet started direct flights from London's Gatwick Airport to the sister island of Menorca, as well as serving Mallorca itself.

Despite competition from other destinantions, Mallorca looks set to remain a favourite holiday spot for some time to come.

About Author:
For holiday information about Mallorca including cheap Mallorca flights and villa holidays Mallorca visit YourMajorca.net

The guide also includes a 5 day weather forecast and today's Mallorca weather

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

The Pacific Islands A South Sea Dream

Scattered across a quarter of the earth's surface, The Pacific Islands is divided in to sub-regions of Melanesia (West), Polynesia (South-East) and Micronesia (North). The division is based on the their ethnic, linguistic and cultural differences.

The islanders speak nearly a quarter of the total languages in the world. Most of the islands in this group were once ruled by several imperial powers. Therefore there is great variety of culture, environment and demographic conditions. The members of Pacific Islands are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Most of the tour operators often focus on Australia and New Zealand for arranging vacation for their customers. But the fact is that these counties are very different from the tropical Pacific Islands.

People all over the world consider Pacific Islands as a remote area; there is no meaning in this because you can reach the Pacific Island by traveling just 2 hours from Los Angeles via air to Tahiti. Fiji is situated to the west of Tahiti, midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Most of the people consider South Pacific Islands as a best place for romantic getaway, weddings and honeymooners.

Most of the major destinations in South Pacific are now marketing themselves as a perfect wedding and honeymoon destination. Fiji and Cook Islands are considered as the most winning destination for weddings. Weddings can be arranged here in these locations with a little excitement.

Things are different in French Polynesia; there marriages can only be performed for those who stay there for at least 30 days. Apart from this, French Polynesia is also an excellent honeymoon destination too. Most of the people around the world like to have their wedding and honeymoon in one of these wonderful islands.

Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is the best place for a romantic getaway. Lot of people from around the world visits this place annually. There are several places which are very best for sightseeing and prices are also less when compared to other tourist destinations.

During the months of December to April it is not worthy to visit South Pacific Islands because it is the time of hurricane season. Winter season in South Pacific will be cooler, drier and less humid; this is the best time to visit the region.

From the month of May to August it is off-season in Australia and New Zealand. You will get considerable reduction in this period in air fare and all. So don't wait to book your ticket to any of the South Pacific Islands in this off-season. You can enjoy the fantastic weather in South Pacific at a lowest price.

South Pacific is very safe for travelers because there is nothing to worry regarding terrorists and all. Like other places, simple theft will occur sometimes. Nothing will go off track if a few easy safety measures are taken.

Most of the people choose Tahiti and its neighbors Moorea and Bora Bora as their first choice for their vacation. In the case of Polynesia, the high green peaks and luminous reefs of these island is supreme.

The exotic French atmosphere joins well with the attraction of Polynesia. Fiji is considered as the place with stunning variety of places and the people of Fiji is famous for their friendliness. For New Zealanders, Rarotonga is the most favorite holiday destination. This is small in area and you can explore Rarotonga in a weeks' time. Rarotonga is very famous for the facilities provided to the visitors.

Easter Island is best for hiking or archaeology. Most of the travel agents suggest a short stay in Easter Island. Then you can't explore the place much, if it is a short stay. You can enjoy something really different in Vanuatu. You can enjoy scuba diving and tribal culture there in Vanuatu. Here you can also see active volcanoes and Port Vila - the capital city of South Pacific.

The South Pacific is considered as the best and trouble-free destination for visitors. Problems like unreliable pricing, dishonest officials, aggressive crime, and safety glitches are generally absent here. This fantastic place is best characterized by its remarkable variety, with different culture, histories, cuisines and fantastic environments to experience and take pleasure in.

About Author:
Six exclusive luxury Sofitel and Novotel resorts in French Polynesia, including a private island, offering outstanding natural beauty, sparkling turquoise waters, and all the romance of the South Seas to travelers and honeymooners in search of the ultimate paradise island experience.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

How To Enjoy Your Italian Cooking School Tour To The Max

You're off to Italy on a cooking school tour you've been dreaming of for years, perhaps in the magnificent Barolo wine country in Piedmont or on the east coast in Sicily with views of the Mediterranean and snow capped Mount Etna.

You want to enjoy your sensual experiences in Italy to the maximum: the beauty, the countryside, food, cooking lessons, wine tastings, sightseeing excursions and visits with local people.

Here are four detailed tips on getting all the joy possible out of your Italian cooking school tour, gleaned from my 12 years of experience creating and leading cooking tours in Italy.

1. Many cooking school tour members tell me, "I've eaten too much! There's too much food. I'm a food lover so how can I discipline myself when everything is SO delicious."

Find out what is on your lunch or dinner menu so you can pace yourself. That way you avoid eating a lot of one course only to find three more courses are coming and you don't have room for all the wonderful food.

Most Italian meals for special occasions (all cooking school tour meals are special occasions) have five courses: one to five appetizers, pasta or rice, meat or fish, vegetable side dish and dessert, so pacing yourself makes a big difference in your enjoyment of your meal.

A good cooking school tour guide will list all the dishes on the menu to the group before a meal. If she doesn't, ask her to do so.

Sample a little bit of everything so you experience as many flavours and dishes as possible. That's one reason you go on a cooking school tour, isn't it?

Trying a bit of everything will also avoid offending your hospitable cooking teachers or chefs. Then you can smile and say, "It was absolutely wonderful, but I just don't have the space." I'm on the petite side, so this line makes perfect sense to my Italian hosts.

2. Some cooking school tour participants say, "The cooking classes were hands-on but I didn't get enough time to cook hands-on during the lesson. The chef did too much of the cooking in the class."

If you want to participate more hands-on in the class, get beside the chef and jump right in. If you hang back, waiting to get asked to do something, you may wait awhile and go away feeling disappointed you didn't get a real hands-on class.

Some tour guides and chefs notice who is shy and hanging back in the kitchen and encourage them to "step up to the plate", but others don't. You have to be assertive and volunteer.

3. Some cooking school students wonder, "Will I gain weight during my cooking tour with the vast quantities of irresistible food?"

One woman told me she lost 10 pounds during her cooking lesson trip in Italy. No fried chicken or hamburgers, just healthy, natural, less fatty foods. Italians eat less junk food and more fresh, local foods than many North Americans. She drank water and no pop. She did much more walking than she ever does at home.

If you can find time on your cooking school tour to go for walks or hikes, you'll go home weighing the same or less, and feel much more energetic while on your cooking tour.

Better still, choose cooking school tours that include some good walks perhaps along paths in the Tuscan or Piedmont wine country or along coasts in Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast or Sicily.

4. Communicate in a direct, friendly way with your tour guide about what you want.

Once you're in Italy in the middle of experiencing your cooking school tour, you may want to change the tour itinerary slightly. For example, you discover many tempting leather shops in a Tuscan hill town and want to spend more time shopping and forego your spa treatments on the itinerary.

Ask your tour guide how you can change activities. Most tour guides try to be as flexible as possible. After all, their job is making sure you enjoy yourself!

If there's anything you're not enjoying on your tour, take your tour guide aside, give constructive, friendly feedback and work together to make changes. Don't be like some people who say nothing about their disappointments until they fill out the tour evaluation form at the end of the tour when it's too late to help them.

If you're enjoying an activity tremendously, ask your guide how you can do more of it. "I loved that boat ride! Is there any way we can do more boat rides?" Tour guides love seeing you happy and will do all they can to delight you.

In conclusion, if you pace yourself at the table, try a small amount of everything, assert yourself in the kitchen, enjoy the healthy cuisine, get some exercise and communicate well with your tour guide, your Italian cooking school tour will give you all you dreamed of and more.

About Author:
Margaret Cowan of Vancouver, BC owns a tour company, Mama Margaret Italian Cooking Holidays at http://www.italycookingschools.com.

They ran their first Italian cooking, wine and walking tour in 1995. Margaret and her local Italian tour partners offer cooking school tours all over Italy.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

African Safari Trips - 3 Ways To See Africa On Safari

An African safari trip would be the ultimate vacation for most of us but for the inexperienced, it can be an overwhelming experience on the organization front.

How do you plan for African safari trips; where do you start; where do you go and what do you see? Beginning to see the picture. This article is not so much about how to prepare but what's available for those seeking to head to one of the world's most visited destinations.

The thing to keep in mind about a trip to Africa is it's such a large and diverse place that to see it all and experience everything it has to offer could literally take you years. With that in mind, consider choosing one destination and working your vacation around it.

The big attraction when heading on safari is the wildlife and scenery. There are several ways to experience both including via mobile, self-drive or fly-in safaris. Each has it's own unique characteristics and will differ in cost.

Self-Drive Safaris

These may not be suitable for complete novices to Africa. However, a well orgainized self-drive safari would be a good choice for people travelling in a group with an experienced guide.

A self-drive safari has the advantage of travelling at one's own pace rather than sticking to the strict schedule of an organized tour. You need to be aware though that some destinations may provide conditions which could be considered hazardous.
Understanding the lay of the land, road rules and each destinations political landscape is vital.

Mobile Safaris

These are well organized excursions and can range in length from a few days to weeks. With an experienced guide or guides, mobile safaris are a excellent way to see the landscape in relative safety.

The list of mobile safaris available are too numerous to mention within the scope of this article but they include many options including camping out or staying within the safe confines of motel accomodation.

Fly-In Safaris

For those with limited time, fly-in safaris get you in and out of a destination in good time. However, it doesn't mean you'll miss too much.

One of the advantages of fly-in safaris is seeing the landscape from a wide perspective. These can range in length from four to fourteen days and in many instances, you can spread the trip out over several destinations.

While each of the listed African safari trips offers different aspects, in the end, it is your decision on what to choose. For those who prefer to orgainize their own itinerary, then self-drive and fly-in safaris should be considered.

About Author:
If you are considering an African safari trip then get the latest preparation tips and tricks you need to know. Plus, get the latest African safari related news and reviews.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Last Minute Cruise Deal - How To Find Them!

Is it better to wait before grabbing a last minute cruise deal? This question is often bandied around and the simple answer is yes and no.

Yes, you can get some great cruise deals if you wait until the last minute and no, if the cruise is scheduled to sail during peak holiday periods. Waiting until the final minute would not be a good idea.

Plan Your Trip

Planning for a last minute cruise deal is probably the best advice but how do you plan for a vacation if you are not completely sure there will be spots available when the cruise is just about ready to depart?

The usual practice is for great deals to be available when bookings first open and booking through travel agents is the best course to take. Once the opening flurry settles down cheap prices will not be as readily available.

Be Flexible

Being flexible with your travel arrangements and concentrating on the off-peak times is the key to getting good last minute deals. Cruise companies don't like sailing with empty staterooms as it means lost revenue and the off-peak season is a great time to find the best deals.

If you are planning a trip to the Caribbean for example, the period from September to the end of the year can present excellent late opportunities.

Online Deals

The internet is a terrific source in finding those last minute bargains. It wasn't too long ago when you needed to rely on the cruise companies themselves and travel agents to find a good deal at the last minute and while the latter is still a viable way of sourcing out great deals, going online has presented a myriad of opportunities.

With the massive increase in ships taking to the waters over the past ten years so too has the number of specialist websites increased. Many of these sites specialize in late minute deals and finding one to suit your travel needs is becoming increasingly easier.

Joining a newsletter list is another great way to ensure you are kept in the loop. If an online service is offering you the opportunity to get on their mailing list then it will pay to do so. This will enable them to keep you up-to-date on what deals are on offer as well as news on cruises in the future.

Waing until the last minute to score a great cruise deal will take a little patience on your part but by being kept informed by sources such as those mentioned above will give you little to be concerned about.

About Author:
Want to know how to score some great last minute cruise deals? You'll want to read this informative guide! Plus, read the latest cruise news and reviews on how to score a great bargain.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Things To Do In Cape Cod

If you're planning to take a beach holiday this summer, you'll have a vast range of stunning American locations to choose from. Whether you're planning to take a vacation along the Florida Coast, or you're hoping to take a road trip down California's most stunning pieces of coastline, you'll definitely be in for a treat. But don't spend too much time seeking out some of the USA's most secluded beaches. Instead, go for an old favourite - like Cape Cod, Massachusetts - and get in on some more traditional beach action!

In Cape Cod, you'll be able to enjoy some stunning areas of coastline that justify why so many people return to the area on vacation year after year. The Cape Cod National Seashore stretches along 40 miles, from Chatham to Provincetown, so not only will you be able to experience breathtaking golden beaches, you'll also get a taste of Cape Cod's rich human history. In Provincetown, for instance, you'll see the place where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620.

What's more, if you visit Marconi Beach in Cape Cod, you'll be able to see the site at which Guglielmo Marconi made the first transatlantic wireless transmission originating from the United States in 1903. Marconi Beach is also excellent for surfing and boasts sand dunes that are so high they block the sun - making sure you get to mix a taste of historical culture with serious fun during your vacation in Cape Cod.

If you love seafood, then Cape Cod is also a vacation paradise. Some particularly well-known products from Cape Cod include shellfish, particularly oysters and clams; while lobstering is also a prevalent activity. However, if you don't like eating undersea creatures, but love watching them, you'll adore the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Provincetown. Visitors in the area can choose from several whale watching fleets who berth in Provincetown; most of which guarantee a whale sighting - mostly humpback, finback and sei whales - although only one is federally certified to rescue whales.

Cape Cod's stunning surroundings and uniquely beautiful sunlight also means that the area is especially popular with artists, photographers and ordinary travellers who appreciate the sights and sounds of nature. Moreover, Cape Cod and its islands - like Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard - are home to a substantial number of working lighthouses, including Highland Light, Nauset Light and Chatham Light.

Although Cape Cod has a year-round population of only 230,000, the region experiences a flood of tourists during the summer. So if you're thinking about visiting Cape Cod between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you'll have to book early to make sure you're able to enjoy the accommodation of your choice. By making a hotel booking online well in advance, you can ensure that you'll be able to secure rooms for your vacation with ease. Furthermore, many hotels offer discounts for travellers who book their hotel accommodation early and online, meaning that you could save a significant amount on your holiday if you plan ahead carefully.

About Author:
Get more information at http://www.flickr.com/people/andrew_regan/ Read more articles like this one at http://hyannistravelinn.com

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Important Things To Pack When Vacationing At A Tropical Country

It can be quite a challenge to pack for a vacation when going to a destination with a climate that you are not relatively used to. If you are out for some fun in the sun, here are important items that you shouldn't forget to pack in your suitcase when jet-setting to a tropical paradise.

First and foremost, don't forget to bring the necessary IDs for identification purposes. As you all know, security at airport terminals has been stricter these days as a result from bombings and terrorist attacks. Be sure as well to bring identification for your children who will be accompanying you on your trip.

Bring appropriate clothing. It can be very hot in a tropical country but don't limit your clothes to summer outfits. A storm may often brew in a tropical paradise and having a light jacket with you can keep you warm on some cool nights. Bring along as well a good pair of extra shoes aside from what you will be wearing on the trip and some pants as well apart from the shorts.

It is better to pack light as you'll never know how far you will be walking and carrying your luggage especially if you are destined for a tropical island paradise.

It is important not to forget to bring along your sunscreen. The sun's scorching rays can be harmful for your skin and you need the necessary sun protection factor to avoid damage and possible development of skin cancer. Your sunscreen should have a minimum SPF of 30 otherwise you burn your skin.

Don't forget to bring any prescriptive medication which is very important for you to maintain your health. Bring as well aspirin and other pharmacy items. Bring along the medicine from their original packaging and bring along with you your prescription.

Bringing along a guide book to your vacation destination will not only provide you with a guide on the best attractions that you could visit but it could as well provide information with regards to important phone numbers in emergency cases.

Don't forget to bring your credit cards and traveler's checks. Bring as well some cash in case you will need some. This cash on hand will prove to be useful should tropical storms knock down power and you wouldn't get the chance to withdraw any money or use your credit card.

If you have plans of going snorkeling, you might as well bring you own. While you can rent them there, bringing your own assures you that you are utilizing clean and sterile equipment.

About Author:
James Brown writes about Carnival Cruise Lines promotion code, Beaches Resorts promo code and Vacation Home Rentals coupon codes

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The Famous Mountains Of Whistler In British Columbia

Whistler in British Columbia was founded as a ski resort in the early 1960's and in 1975 it became Canada's first 'Resort Municipality'. This supreme year-round destination resort is around two hours drive from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Whistler is not just for skiing, it is best for a wide variety of summer and winter activities. You can enjoy endless choice in dining, shopping and nightlife in British Columbia's Coast Mountains.

The incredible downhill skiing at Whistler Mountains in winter season made the place world famous. Lot of people around the world visit the mountains of Whistler to enjoy their vacations with fun filled activities. Apart from downhill ski facilities, winter visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, ice skating, heli-skiing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, sleigh-riding and a host of other winter recreational activities.

Same as in winter, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities in the summer season also. You can enjoy world-class golf, mountain top sightseeing , mountain biking, in-line skating, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, sightseeing, kayaking, fishing, and glacier skiing in the summer season.

Whistler is considered as one of the top bike towns in North America. Pedestrian village, situated at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, is one of the major places of attraction. Whistler Village and the adjacent Upper Village which are designed in distinctive mountain resort architecture will be an excellent place to stay for visitors.

Mountains and a huge variety of first class restaurants and distinctive shops are easily accessible from Whistler Village and Upper Village. The surrounding valley is blessed with several parks with boat launches, beaches, picnic areas and hiking trails. There are five beautiful lakes, several creeks and rivers with kilometers of conventional trails for hiker, bikers and inline skaters.

The two mountains in Whistler have over 8,100 skiable terrain, one vertical mile, more than 200 trails, three glaciers, twelve alpine bowls and 38 lifts. Over two millions of tourists visit Whistler Blackcomb, the top ski and snowboard resort in North America, annually. It gets an average of ten meters of snow annually.

As it is situated only 40 kilometers inland from the Pacific Ocean, Whistler enjoys moderate temperatures. Most of the people visit Whistler in summer than in the winter season. Golfing, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and swimming are only a few of the admired summer activities offered in the Whistler area.

Garibaldi Lift Company opened a ski area on the wester side of the Whistler Mountain in February 1966. In 1980, Blackcomb Mountain opened a brand new facility named Whistler Village to complement Whistler Mountain. It was designed by leading architects, planners and landscape professionals from North America. The design of the village highlights outstanding sun exposure and breathtaking views.

A wonderful array of accommodation is available through out Whistler. You can choose your favourite form luxurious mountain chalets to economical hotels. You can also book your accommodation online or with the help of any travel consultants.

During the summer season you can enjoy a sunrise or mid-day ATV tours on Whistler mountain. There are several service providers who are conducting ATV tours. You can contact any one of them to have an ATV tour. Snow-capped peaks, Alpine forests, and indigenous wildlife are just some of the wonders you experience during hiking and walking trails in Whistler.

Heli-hiking is best for experienced explorers. You can hike across rolling meadows against a background of magnificent mountain views. Altogether your trip to Whistler will be a memorable one in your lifetime.

Presently, there is over 9000 permanent residents in Whistler. Whistler has the best ski-in/ski-out accommodation when compared to other recreation resorts in North America. Whistler is home to over 100 hotels and condominiums and bed & breakfasts with more than 4000 well-furnished rooms.

Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains jointly boast 200 runs and 33 lifts and the greatest vertical drop in the continent. Most of the travelers visit whistler with either riding or skiing in mind. Apart from that there are a number of other activities to complement days on the mountain.

People of all ages can enjoy activities such as ice climbing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and even sightseeing. Be there in the mountains of Whistler this winter/summer and enjoy your vacation. Make sure that you will be here for you next vacation.

About Author:
Skiatwhistler.com offers real time bookings of premium properties in the world class ski resort of Whistler, British Columbia. Our business is to market property rentals in Whistler to high end vacationers in order to maximize property owners' return on investment (ROI).

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Largest Holiday Resort in Yorkshire

On the south eastern edge of the North York Moors lies Scarborough. Scarboroughs greatest days as a commercial port and ship building centre came in the early years of the nineteenth century, but the larger iron and steam ships spelt the death of the Tindall's ship yard. The demand for fish, on the other hand, increased as Yorkshire's population grew.

The town is Britains first sea side resort, and visitors have been coming here for over 360 years and is still as popular as ever. The town is the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast.

The town has a South Bay and a North Bay. The South Bay is the main focus and contains several arcades and entertainment facilities, and is overlooked by the town itself and is local for its shopping and night life. In South Bay is the harbour, where local fishermen still land their catches. The North Bay has traditionally been the more peaceful end of the resort

To travel around between the two bays and the harbour, take a trip along the sea front on an Open-Top Bus.

The Brunswick Shopping Centre is Scarborough's premier shopping facility, housing 37 shops and stores it was built in 1991.

Scarborough has a wide selection of bars pubs and cafe to visit both during the day and into the evening, as well as top quality nightclubs and venues to cater for every taste. The towns gay scene is growing and vibrant, and more and more venues are emerging offering gay nights, and a warm welcome to those of us with varied lifestyles and sexualities

Cayton Bay Beach is a small sandy bay backed by cliffs. A favourite beach for surfers. The town has the blue flag for the North Bay beach makes a perfect family holiday destination.

Kinderland is set in a landscaped woodland park, and is a unique and exciting world of good old-fashioned fun, adventure and excitement. It is situated in Scarborough's north bay. This 4.5-acre site is a dreamland of traditional play structures and activities for the young and young at heart.

Scarborough Castle defends a prominent headland between two bays, with sheer drops to the sea. Before the castle was built, this natural fortress was favoured by prehistoric settlers. A rare 3,000-year-old sword from the Bronze Age is now displayed in the Castles interactive exhibition For spectacular views over the Scarborough bay a climb up to the castle high on the hillis a must.

About Author:
Douglas Scott writes for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Scarborough Caravan Rental Site

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

The Wooden City of Europe

Trondheim was founded by the Viking king Olaf I Tryggvason in the 10th century. It is situated where the river Nidelva meets a large fjord, Trondheimsfjorden. There is no darkness from May 20 to July 20 but it has an area of great beauty with rich natural habitats.

During World War Two under the Nazi occupation Trondheim became the base of German naval forces in northern Norway, with U-boats lurking deep in its fjord.

Today the town is spoken of as one of the typical wooden cities of Europe, and the city centre has many special wooden buildings, some built as far back as the 1700s.

Trondheim is the third larges city in Norway. The town is just as expensive as the rest of its Nordic counterparts. It is mainly a student city crowded up with youth that covers all Norwegian origins as well as world wide. Every sixth person in Trondheim is a student which earns it the title of Norway's best student town.

Bakklandet, is a area where the old wooden houses contain everything from cafes and art galleries to antique shops and local designers selling their collections. Walk across the pedestrian bridge Verftsbrua, and you enter the Solsiden area, Trondheims most modern part of town. Here, you find a large shopping mall, several cafs and restaurants.

Right in the centre of the city is Nordre Gate, a popular pedestrian precinct and centre for night life. In is the area you can find quiet cafes and restaurants as well as lively discos and salsa bars.

The city has a rich cultural life with an international flavour. The city is host for a wide range of festivals Kosmorama International Film Festival, Trondheim Jazz Festival, Trondheim Chamber Music Festival and Nidaros Blues Festival.

The Rose of Trondheim is a five-petal rose of the 18th century has mainly been used as a symbol of the city. During this period the Rose of Trondheim was frequently used by the Major and the Aldermen.

The Archbishop's Palace Museum was build in 1983 two large storage buildings which stood in the precinct burned to the ground. After five years of archaeological excavations a new museum building was constructed on the site of the fire. The Archbishop's Palace Museum received the Norwegian Museum of the Year Award in 1998.

The Nidelva river is one of Norway's best trout and salmon rivers, famous far beyond the country's borders because of its unusually large salmon.

About Author:
Douglas Scott writes for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Trondheim Rental Site

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

The Manchester of Finland

Tampere is the biggest inland town in Scandinavia. The city lies on an isthmus situated between Lake Nasijarvi, in the north and Lake Pyhajarvi in the south.

In the late 19th century the textile industry was the most important life support of Tampere. More than a half of the city workers worked in the three biggest factories. The cotton factories of Finlayson and Lapinniemi and the Linen factory at Tampere. That is how it got to be called the Manchester of Finland.

Tampere is famous for its black sausage mustamakkara, a sausage made of blood. Just like the black pudding of the north of England have.

It is an university town with lots of young people which should be enough to assure you it is easy to find a place to party. There are quite a many clubs and discos in the centre, and especially at summer time the city has lots of opportunities.

Koskikeskus shopping centre is the biggest in Tampere.

Pyynikki Ridge is situated between the lakes Pyhajarvi and Nasijarvi offers a beautiful scene to both of the lakes. The observation tower naturally offers very nice scenes of Tampere. The tower of Pynnikki was built in 1929 offers spectacular views of the town. There is also a small restaurant, where you MUST try the doughnuts.

Aleksanterin Kirkko whos name comes from Tsar Alexander II, who celebrated the 25th anniversary of his reign when the foundation stone of the church was laid in 1880. During its history, the church has gone through two large restoration processes, the latter of which returned the original colours to the church hall in 1980. The altarpiece of this majestic room was painted in 1883 by Aleksandra Saltin.

Sarkanniemi is an adventure park in Tampere. The park features an aquarium, a planetarium, a children's zoo, an art museum, an observation tower Nasinneula, an amusement park and the world's most northern dolphinarium. Sarkanniemi is the most popular amusement park in Finland.

The Tampere Town Hall was designed by architect Georg Schreck and inaugurated in January 1890. The Town Hall is the centre of political events in the town. The city's inhabitants gather at the central square in front of the building for example on Finland's Independence Day 6th December and New Year's Eve to listen to the mayor speak. Finnish independence from Russia was declared from the Town Hall balcony during the great strike in 1905.

About Author:
Douglas Scott writes for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Tampere Rental Site

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The Five Sacred Mountains

Tai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Centred around Mount Tai. The leader of the 'Five Sacred Mountains', Mountain Tai is located in the centre of Shandong Province, lying across the cities of Tai'an, Jinan and Zibo. The City is an ancient and mystical land.

Thecity of Tai'an is located in the middle part of Shandong. It is a cultural city of scenery travel with a long history.

The country is prosperous and the people live in peace. The city depends on the gifted tourist resources, the tourism and service trade of Taian is growing vigorously about 8 million visitors at home and abroad come to Mount Tai for tour and sight seeing every year. The mountain was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as the world natural and cultural heritage.

The tourist commodities in Taian are abundant, many tourist gifts are handicrafts and souvenirs as red copper relief, black jade relief, celadon decoration plate and Wenkou antique pottery are characteristic. The local products are Mount Tai red glossy ganoderma, daughters tea, tuber of multi-flower knotweed , and lance asiabell root.

Tai Shan is and has always been the most climbed mountain in China. The first emperor of China climbed it. You can take a cable car to the top of the mountain and have a breathtaking panoramic view of the valley.

Autumn is the most colourful season in the Taishan Mountains layer upon layer of forests in the mountain are dyed out.

The Dai Temple is the largest and most completed ancient building complex of Mount Taishan and is to the north of Tai'an City. Most of the present attractions inside the temple were left over from the Han Dynasty. One of its attraction is the Bronze Pavilion. Lying in the north east corner of the temple, the pavilion is made of bronze castings. Intricate workmanship makes it highly valuable, thus gaining its reputation as one of the famous bronze pavilions in China.

Mount Tai temple was once called the temple of the Eastern Mountain, also call the Thai temple. Mount Tai palace, mainly offer sacrifices to the god of the east mountain Mount Taishan, it is the place where the ancient emperor came to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to Heaven. Every building here reflects the elegance of China's ancient architecture art, every historical relic has reflected the development of civilization of Mount Tai.

About Author:
Douglas Scott writes for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Taian Rental Site

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The Islands Waiting to be Discovered

The Shetland Isles, situated in the North Sea, between Scotland and the west coast of Norway, are remote, beautiful, and waiting to be discovered. The Shetland Islands, more than half-way between London and the Arctic circle. There have 1,697 miles of coastline and out of the approximately 100 islands, only fifteen are inhabited.

The original Norse name for Shetland was Hjaltland. Hjalt in Old Norse meaning the hilt or crossguard of a sword.

The only Shetland Shopping Centre, is situated near to Lerwick Town Centre. The Toll Clock Shopping Centre is the name of theof the shopping area.

In the early 1970s, oil and gas was found off Shetland. The Sullom Voe Terminal opened in 1978 and at its peak was pumping over 55 million tonnes of oil annually. It is still Britain's biggest oil exporting port.

The fish landed in Shetland is herring and mackerel and around 67,000 tonnes a year are landed. Fish farming started in Shetland in the early 1980s and at first was a small-scale, part-time and locally-owned business. It soon grew into a multi-million pound enterprise.

The town in the Shetland is Lerwick. There are two nightclubs in the town and they are open on different nights.

Music is very much alive in Shetland, particularly with regard to the rich tradition of fiddle playing. There are Scandinavian Scottish and Irish influences, Shetland has developed its own distinctive style and there exists a wealth of Shetland compositions.

The Shetland's world-famous miniature ponies can be seen throughout the islands. These creatures stand anywhere between 28 and 42 inches high. Shetland ponies are often a focal point at major competitions including the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley in October and the Shetland Pony Grand National, which forms part of the International Horse Show, at Olympia in December.

The islands are a birdwatcher's paradise one of the major seabird breeding and feeding areas of the North Atlantic.

The most northerly castle in the British Isles is Muness, which was built for Lawrence Bruce in 1598. It takes form of a tower house with circular towers and it has retained a number of fine architectural details.

The Jarlshof settlement is located in the south mainland of Shetland, and is one of Shetland's most popular historical attractions. The oldest part of Jarlshof is thought to date from 4000 years ago. The settlement's fascinating history spans the Bronze Age, Iron Age, the Norse era and onwards to the Middle Ages.

About Author:
Douglas Scott writes and works for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Shetland Rental Site

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The Holiday Fun Coast

Skegness is the biggest resort town on the Fun Coast and has been a premier holiday destination for over a hundred years.

The main road a long the beach is a kaleidoscope of neon and flashing lights fairground rides, advertising arcade machines, slot machines, crazy golf and fish and chip shops.

The name of Skegness like many others in the area, relates to the Danes, Skeggis ness or headland, one of the places where the Vikings landed in the ninth century.

Come to Skegness if you want a traditional British holiday. Bucket and spade and build sandcastles, ride on the donkeys, paddle in the sea, eat fish and chips, go on the rides and arcades, boating lake or crazy golf. The area boasts several Quality Coast Award beaches.

Skegness Pleasure Beach is situated on the central seafront stretches from the Clock Tower Esplanade to the Pier. You will see a wide variety of rides designed to give pleasure and excitement to adults and children of all ages.

The first Butlins holiday resort, was built here built in 1936, which is still here today. Butlins, Skegness located on the coast of Lincolnshire with an award winning sandy beach. It borders miles and miles of soft sandy beaches where you can walk and relax.

Magical World of Fantasy Island Blue Anchor Leisure Ltd is Britains first fully themed indoor family resort with a lot of themed rides. It also has as leisure, shopping, entertainment and outdoor funfair attractions.

On Whit Monday, 1881 Skegness Pier, which was said to be the finest in England, was opened for the first time. It was built for Skegness Pier Company at a cost of twenty two thousand pounds, the Pier was erected by Head, Wrightson and Co.

Bateman's at Wainfleet 4 miles away on the train is a little unusual. It is about as small as you can get without being a micro brewery. The new Brew house called the theatre of beer is very modern, whilst the old brew house adjoining has heritage orders slapped all over it, and its contents. The tour is informative and well thought out, although it lacks a tasting session. The brewer is very much in the real ale.

Tattershall Castle is a vast fortified and moated tower was built for Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer of England from 1433 to 1443. The building was restored by Lord Curzon between 1911 and 1914 and contains four great chambers with enormous Gothic fireplaces, tapestries and brick vaulting.

About Author:
Douglas Scott writes for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Skegmess Holiday Home Rental Site

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Amercias First Capital

The city of Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania. In the 18th century, is was the most populous city of the United States and was the first capital.

The Liberty Bell is perhaps one of the most prominent symbols associated with the American Revolution and the American Revolutionary War. The Liberty Bell was known as the Independence Bell or the Old State House Bell until 1837. It was cast in London, England in 1752 and on June 7, 1753, the bell was hung in the tower of Independence Hall.

Construction of the Pennsylvania State House, which came to be known as Independence Hall, began in 1732, and was not finished until 1753.

Old City is a shopper-friendly district of Philadelphia boasts a slew of art galleries, busy bars and colonial historic sites.

China Town has many different kinds of Asian cuisine, not just Chinese. Also, if you are up late, there are a lot of place to eat. There are also night clubs and concerts venues in China town. If you want to party or see a show, you can do it here. Shopping is also something that people come to China town for from Asian decorations to cheap clothes.

Over 15,000 people participate in the New Year's Day Mummer's Parade in Philadelphia each year. All those in the parade had funky masks or make up. After the parade the mummers continue their celebration on 2nd street where the clubs are locate. Costumes and themed scenes make this parade the extravaganza it is, but the banjo music stirs the soul and quickens the heart. Some of costumes cost thousands of dollars.

Yuengling is America's oldest brewery located in Pottsville, less than 20 miles from Philadelphia and until recently was not sold outside the state.

Congress Hall has been restored to the way it looked during the period. The first floor was occupied by the House of Representatives with the upper floor occupied appropriately, by the upper house, or the Senate. In 1793, President George Washington was inaugurated here for a second term.

The Swan Fountain on Logan Square was the site of the Papal Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in the late 70s. The fountain, where the work of Alexander Stirling Calder, is surrounded by flowers. On the last day of school it is a tradition for the girls of a nearby Catholic school to take a dip wearing their uniforms.

About Author:
Douglas Scott writes for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Philadelphia Rental Site

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Phoenix Arizona - Valley Of The Sun, American Paradise

Summer is slowly turning to fall and the heat and humidity here in New England we complained about for the last 3 or 4 months will soon turn to dry, bitter cold. Heating bills arrive, along with colds and the flu, shovels take the place of rakes, snowthrowers replace lawn mowers. The days of the leisurely barefoot stroll to the mailbox are over. For some of us, winter means hibernation like so many of nature's creatures.

There are those who venture south though. Where the sun is a little higher in the sky, the nightly temperatures don't drop below 40 and the sky's are not cloudy all day. With the weather patterns not being favorable to the south and southeast lately, one of the more inviting spots in America is the desert southwest. I had a chance to spend some time in Phoenix, Arizona a few years back and I can honestly say that wintering in Phoenix is high on my list of todo's.

I rode my bicycle year round, never once touched a snow shovel in the entire time I was there, and could usually walk barefoot to my mailbox. And because I stayed active the whole year, I never piled on those "winter pounds". Yes, life was good.

With an average yearly temperature of just under 73 degrees, Phoenix enjoys what most of us have only read about. July and August averages top out in the low 90's. In the dead of winter, while we are scraping windshields before we can drive to work, Phoenicians are enjoying temps in the low 50's. That's light jacket weather for those of us closer to the North Pole.

The city of Phoenix is situated in a valley in the heart of the Sonoran Desert with the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains to the northeast and the aptly named South Mountain to the south. It's comfortably nestled in this crib at an elevation of about 1100 feet above sea level. Except for a few local outcroppings, the area is flat as an ironing board and if you climb one of the local mountains, Camelback, Superstition Mountains (love that name!) or Phoenix Mountain for instance, you're treated to a spectacular view hundreds of miles in every direction. Voted one of the top 10 safest cities by Risk and Insurance Magazine back in 2005 because of the unlikely event of natural disaster, the biggest concern for residents is the summer heat.

The locals bask in the glow of the sun's rays an average of 211 days a year, we might see 90 if we're lucky. I personally don't count the day as sunny if you can't feel the heat. That brings that 90 number way down in my book.

Outdoor activities abound in Phoenix. More hiking trails, parks and preserves than you can count. Hundreds of miles of canals make perfect bike paths. Of course you'll have to share a lane with the runners or even an occasional horse but it's sheer joy under the fair, blue skies. The only precaution is to make sure you bring water. That's true for almost any outdoor activity in Phoenix. With the dry climate you may not be aware of how much you're perspiring and you can quickly dehydrate without realizing it.

For those hearty soles who don't mind traveling a few miles, the Grand Canyon is just North of Phoenix. Daily tours are available for anyone wanting to hike or maybe take a mule ride down into the canyon. You won't be sorry - anyone who's been can attest to the spectacular views along the trails or even up top at the rim. There's even a new attraction called the Grand Canyon Skyway. Dangling precariously over the South Rim, it places those who dare 70 feet out into the canyon. From nearly a mile up, about 4,000 feet, it provides a glimpse of what the falcons and eagles might see as they hunt prey from their lofty heights.

For the golf enthusiast, there are over 200 courses to challenge you and many of the PGA and LPGA tournaments are held in Phoenix. If speed is your thing, Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) hosts Indy Car and NASCAR. Of course swimming is high on everyone's list and there's no lack of water in Phoenix in spite of its desert location. There are no less than 6 lakes within an hour and a half of the city including Apache Lake, Lake Pleasant, Canyon and Saguaro each offering boating, sailing and fishing. There are more boat owners per capita in Arizona than any of the other 49 states.

Professional sports isn't forgotten in the Valley of the Sun. There are 8 professional teams including the Diamondbacks, Cardinals, the Rattlers and the Suns for baseball, football and basketball fans.

Yes, the city of Phoenix has won a place in my heart just as it has of nearly anyone who's been there. Just ask the approximately 4 million people in the Greater Phoenix area and they'll echo the praises just as this author has. It's a little piece of Paradise on earth.

About Author:
Ron Berry is a freelance journalist who writes for Essay Street - Home of the No~Label RSS Feed. He lived in Phoenix for a short time in the late 1990's and one day, with his Wife's permission, will retire there.

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Wine And Dine Napa Valley Style

On a typical bright, sunny spring day in Napa Valley, you'll find the Napa Valley wine train pulling out of the railway station and rolling northwards heading towards the valley. While the passengers make themselves comfy on the lavish, swivel chairs, wineglasses will be handed to them as they gaze across the hillside that's tinged with tiny traces of mustard.

Only 30 miles in length and narrowing to roughly a mile across the waist, Napa Valley has over 35,000 acres of vineyards to its name, which is about a fourth of the Bordeaux region of France. In the valley, the very best of the natural attributes that California has to offer- the perfectly sunny weather, sheltering hills, rich soil- all merge together to form a mini masterpiece of the artistry of nature. But like every other work in progress wherein the creator is never fully satisfied, change will always be visible.

The last two decades have brought about a ten-fold increase in the number of wineries here. With about every acre of the floor of the valley now occupied with vines, grape grows have virtually taken over the hills. The wine boom has also been accompanied by the explosion in tourism, which has brought about a burgeoning number of restaurants and eateries that offer fine dining experiences that can rival even the best that France has to offer. If you are visiting Napa Valley, then savor some of the culinary delights that are available here: the smoked trout fillet, lobster sausage, or the miyagi oysters in ponzu sauce. What's more, these are just the appetizers!

On a typical day in the Valley, you'll be able to revel in the luxurious pleasures that most people fly all the way to France- from vintage wines and mouthwatering meals in lavish setting to enchanting lodges that are enveloped by vineyards, everything is available right here in Napa Valley. The only thing you'll probably miss out on is the jet lag, the expenses and not to mention the language boundaries!

Most wineries in Napa Valley offer tours and tastings of their products. The largest and most popular wineries like the Beringer and the Mondavi are open daily and have large hosting facilities with guided tours and select tasting of the more expensive wines. The smaller wineries offer tastings only on an appointment basis but the tours are usually conducted by the owner. From the cabernets to the Zinfandels to even the Chardonnays, the best of wines are available in Napa Valley.

Of course, the best thing about wine is that it has a certain affinity for food. The two help enhance each other. Accordingly, food can be elevated. There are many professional chefs in Napa Valley, and there are many amazing dining facilities. From the very expensive to the moderately cheap, dining places are of all kinds here. The expensive joints are more famous and it is very hard to get reservations here. Napa Valley and its assorted wines make an ideal picnic place for tourists. With so many wineries that cater to picnickers, having lunch like this is probably the best way to enjoy food, drink and the beauty of nature all at once.

All in all, Napa Valley is the ideal tourist destination for all of you who like to wine and dine in style. Affordable yet exotic, Napa Valley has become one of the hottest tourist destination spots in the United States. What with the majestic wines and delectable foods, who would not want to visit Napa Valley?

About Author:
Sacramento Limousines are available at Luxury Limousines. We have custom and planned Napa Valley Limos which our expert drivers can impart the secret local hotspots. Please visit http://www.luxxlimo.com.

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Napa Valley Wine Auctions

Napa Valley is situated in Napa County, California. Napa Valley is regarded as one of the finest wine regions in California and the entire United States, with a history that goes back in time to the nineteenth century. The blend of the Mediterranean type of weather, natural features and geology of the valley are advantageous to grow the finest quality wine grapes.

The initial founder George C. Yount was the first to plant wine grapes in Napa Valley. In the year 1864 George C. Yount's son-in-law Thomas Rutherford and his new bride Elizabeth were given 1040 acres of land in the region, which is currently known as Rutherford as a wedding gift from Elizabeth's father. Thomas Rutherford made an investment in producing grapes and winemaking from the year 1850 to 1880 and launched himself as being a cultivator and manufacturer of high-quality wines.

The Napa Valley Wine Auctions are probably the planet's most soigne charitable wine events as they comprise of a four-day churn of parties, wine tasting events, scrumptious dinners, and amazing auctions. However, wine labels are the main source of the renowned names at this event. You might spot Bob Mondavi talking energetically or Robert Sinskey hosting a formal lunch within the caverns that were dug into the rocky hill at the rear of his vineyard. You can also come across John Trefethen getting excited on the subject of walnuts and wine, and Jack Cakebread proudly explaining the gastronomic treasures at his American Harvest Festival that takes place once a year.

Although the majority of the crowd is rich including the executives in the technology sector, restaurateurs, business tycoons as well as entertainment magnates, the event in addition attracts schoolteachers, banking professionals, and the rare appearances of the basketball superstars. There are a lot of them who in no way have raised a paddle to place their bid. However, they all share one general connection. Every one of them simply loves wine and the romance associated in particular.

The Napa Valley Vintners Association that is 50 years old does not lack in any romantic settings; continuous vineyards, wineries dressed in ivy, ancient stone caves and charismatic modern ones. All these thrilling experiences are not cheap in any way. A total Wine Auction package price is set at $1,000 per person. It gives you the right of entry to every one of the events as well as a bidding paddle. All you will have to do is select and decide amongst those that have common characteristics.

Since the past 19 years, the auction has collected approximately $20 million for medical as well as psychotherapy services for land tillers, families having low income and pregnant mothers, women and children susceptible to mistreatment, and people suffering from 'Aids'. The Auction profits that sum up to more than $8 million go to a Napa Valley Health Care Fund, an annual donation for the future health care of the poor valley workers.

The event commences with two silent auctions, one being 'the barrel' auction and the other 'the private donor' auction. 'The barrel' auction takes place at Silverado Vineyards where the guests get to taste the sample wines from barrels that have not yet been released. The silent auction sells private donor lots as well. These donors present well-aged and rare wines that are prepared by the vintners in the Napa Valley.

About Author:
Sacramento Limousines are available at Luxury Limousines. We have custom and planned Napa Valley Limos which our expert drivers can impart the secret local hotspots. Please visit http://www.luxxlimo.com.

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The Capital City Of China, Beijing

China, a nation in East Asia, is home to world's oldest continuous civilizations. With Beijing as its capital, China holds a total geographical area of 9,596,960 sq. km. Its climate is tropical in south to sub-arctic in north.

Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Harbin and Chengdu are some of the major places of attraction. Han Chinese is the largest ethnic group in China who comprise around 91% of the total population. Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uygur, Yi, Mongolian, Tibetan, Buyi and Korean are some of the other ethnic groups which dominates the area.

The Republic of China was formed on 1st January 1912 which leads to the end of Quing Dynasty. Sun Yat-sen, belongs to National Party, was declared as the president of the new republic.

China is almost same size as the United States of America and the eastern part of china is surrounded by the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea. China shares its border with India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam to the South; Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the West; Mongolia and Russia to the North and North Korea to the East.

China is home to several world famous tourist attractions including Great Wall of China, Tibet, Silk Road, Hainan island and tropical paradise. It also holds dozens of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Most of the places in China have famous Buddhist arts. Yungang Grottoes, around 1500 year old, in Sichuan province has more than 51,000 Buddhist carvings.

You can see art and manuscripts dating back to the 4th century in the Mogao Caves situated near Dunhuang in Gansu province. Dazu Rock near Chongqing and Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang hold carvings which date from 5th to 13th century.

China has several sacred mountains which attract tourists in large number. Mount Tai, Mount Hua, Mount Heng, Mount Heng and Mount Song are the five great mountains associated with Taoism: The country also holds four sacred mountains associated with Buddhism and three main sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism including Mount Emei, Mount Jiuhua, Mount Putuo, Mount Wutai, Mount Kailash, Kawa Karpo and Amnye Machen.

Beijing, literally means Northern Capital, is the capital city of China - the most populous county in the world. Untill the fomation of the Republic of China in 1911, Beijing was the seat of Ming and Quing dynasties. It holds several places of historical importance ans government institutions. Famous for its uniformity and standard construction, Beijing has only one hill in the city limits. Beijing has concentric rectangular ring roads which run around the metropolis.

There are many tourist places which attracts lot of people around the world. The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Hutongs, Beijing Zoo, Beijing Botanical Gardens, Beihai Park, Yonghegong, Fragrant Hills, Hutongs and Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution are some of the major places of attaction in Beijing.

Also known as the Palace Museum, Forbidden City is really the spot to value the strength and splendor of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Built by Mao, Tiananmen Square is the largest square in the world. The square is surrounded by Soviet-style monuments and government buildings. It still remains as an amazing place and a place to stay behind and see visitors from all over the world.

Temple of Heaven, situated to the south-east of Qianmen and the Tiananmen Square, is a marvelous sight for tourists. The temple was the place where the king prayed every year for superior harvests and good weather. Summer Palace houses widespread gardens and the ruins of palaces constructed by the Qing emperors in the ancient era. Beijing Zoo has an aquarium which is one of the biggest in the world, and extremely remarkable.

Beihai Park consists of big island and white pagoda which was built in the 17th century. Also known as Lama Temple or Palace of Peace, Yonghegong was built by Chinese emperors in the ancient time. Many Tibetan and Mongolian monks lived and taught here over the years. The temple houses an 18m statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood. Situated to the east of Tiananmen Square, Legation Quarter was famous for Boxer Rebellion. Now it is occupied by government offices and army offices.

About Author:
The Accor Group manages Hotels with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis, Formule 1, Grand Mercure brands and offers services to corporate clients and public institutions: 23 million people in 35 countries use a broad range of services engineered and managed by Accor Services.

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Hyderabad, One Of The Most Modern Cities In India

Republic of India, a sovereign South Asian country, is the seventh largest country by geographical area. India is the second most populous country and most populous democracy in the world.

The southern part of the India is surrounded by Indian Ocean, the west by Arabian ocean and the east by Bay of Bengal. With a coastline of over 7000 kms, it is bounded by Pakistan in the west, China, Nepal & Bhutan in the north-east and Bangladesh & Myanmar in the east.

India is home to Indus valley civilization, vast empires and historic trade routes. Well-known for its cultural wealth, India is the birth place of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism - four major religions in the world.

This federal republic consists of twenty-eight states and seven union territories. Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, and Chennai are the four major metros in the country. There are several other cities which attract tourists all over the world including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Thiruvanthapuram, Agra, Jaipur and Pune.

India is home to Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders in the world and premier sites of India. This architectural beauty is one of the most visited sites in India by tourists. Built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors, Agra Fort is also a major tourist spot in India.

The construction of this fort began in 1565 by Akbar and completed by the time of Shahjahan. The fort has massive double walls with four gateways. The fort consists of palaces, courts, gardens, mosques, baths and gracious pavilions.

There are several tourist attractions around the country. The city of Cochin is famous for its port and Chinese fishing nets, locally know as Cheena vala. The second largest monastery in Asia Tawang is situated on a hill top in Arunachal Pradesh. Another major attraction is the wall built by Rana Kumbha which is running up and down the Aravali hills in Rajasthan.

The wall consists of 34 fortresses and it resembles the Great Wall of China. Many if the temples India has musical stone pillars in which the central part of the pillars produces notes similar to that of Xylophone.

The Hindola Mahal, also known as swinging palace, in Mandu in central India has a peculiar design. It looks like a powerful fort with strange leaning sidewalls making an illusion that the entire structure is swaying. Mandu, the major fortified city of the medieval world, is situated in India.

The first carved image of Lord Buddha lies in Mathura which was carved around 2000 years ago. The Indian Wild Ass, also know as Khur, is seen only in the salt desert of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most modern cities in India. The cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad together known as twin city. The cities are separated by an artificial lake named Hussain Sagar. Founded on the Musi River by the Qutub Shahi dynasty, Hyderabad is famous for the Charminar and the bazaars.

One of the world's largest mosques in the world, Mecca Masjid is situated adjacent to the Charminar. Golconda Fort, Salar Jung Museum, Tombs of Qutub Shahi kings, Buddha Statue, Paigah Tombs and Hussain Sagar are some of the Hyderabadi places of historical interests.

Hyderabad is filled with several recreational centers some among them are Indira Gandhi Park and Nehru Zoological Park. Archaeological Museum, Birla Mandir Temple and Planetarium at Naubat Pahad, Ramoji Film City, St Joseph's Cathedral, Health Museum, Chowmohalla Palace, Purani Haveli, Shilparamam Craft Village and Hi-tech city also attract tourists around the world. You can watch cultural and artistic performances regularly at the Ravindra Bharati Theater.

Hyderabad is home to Hyerabadi cuisine which is famous all around the world. Several trades, fairs and festivals are conducted through out the year in Hyderabad. An annual industrial exhibition is held during the months of January and February. The exhibition comprises colorful fair, displays textiles, machinery, handicrafts, and household utensils.

The Deccan Festival in February is accompanied with several cultural performances. Mrigasira Festival is another famous festival in India which consists of a unique feast to cure asthma. This is festival is held during the months of June-July. The Lumbini Festival is celebrated in the month of December.

About Author:
The Accor Group manages Hotels with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis, Formule 1, Grand Mercure brands and offers services to corporate clients and public institutions: 23 million people in 35 countries use a broad range of services engineered and managed by Accor Services.

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India\'s Tourism Set To Rise

India is set to benefit from the upcoming Commonwealth Games which are being held in Delhi in 2010. The Games are expected to bring in an extra five million tourists to India. Recent studies by the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) reveal that aviation, hospitality and tourism sectors should benefit immensely during the Commonwealth Games and the period before it. People going on holiday close to the event, fans travelling specifically to go to the games and people going on South India package tours are contributing factors towards this increase.

The last time that India hosted a high profile sporting event was during the winter of 1982 for the 9th Asian Games. Not only were the games a major success, India's economy was in a good position as extra money was being spent in the country by tourists. India is hoping that this success is going to be repeated as they start preparing for the games which are due to start in three years time.

According to ASSOCHAM India will receive an estimated 10 million international foreign tourists in 2010. One million of these tourists are expected to be international and another four million are predicted to be domestic tourists. Amazingly, these figures are only for the period during the Commonwealth Games period in October. The period leading up to the games is going to have an even bigger impact on the country but over a wider period of time. The number of international passengers is expected to rise from 25 million from last year to 45 million by 2010 and the number of foreign tourists is also expected to rise from 4.43 percent to 10 percent.

Evidently the aviation sector is also expected to witness a rise as they cater for the extra passenger numbers. Over the next two years, 200 large commercial aircraft will be introduced to the Indian Skies. As well as this, several airports including Delhi, Nagpur, Mumbai and Bengalaru are to be modernised which is set to further increase this growth. It is thought that most of the tourists are going to come from Australia, the UK, Canada, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and South Africa as representations from these countries are likely to emerge as winners from the event.

Not only are the Commonwealth Games going to benefit tourism, they are going to create extra jobs within the local community. Sectors such as airlines, airports, hotels, and tour operators are going to require extra staff as is the process of modernising and revamping airports around the country.

About Author:
Travel Collection offer a selection of package tour holidays to destinations all around the world. south india package tour has all the information you need to help you select the destination and package holiday that is right for you.

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Spice Island of Grenada

If you are going on a package holiday tour of Grenada you are bound to discover that the Caribbean island is notorious for its spices and spice plantations. For this very reason it is known as the Spice Island of the Caribbean and is known world-wide for its nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and allspice. Visitors to the island will no doubt be enticed by the sweet smell of various spices lingering in the air. The island's spices are so popular that they are exported to other countries where they are used for many different purposes such as for use in patent medicines, top restaurants and beauty products.

With more spices in Grenada per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, it's hardly surprising that spice plantations make up such a large part of the tourism industry. Not only do the spices taste good but many of them have healing properties which make them even more popular with tourists and locals. You can find anything from nutmeg oil which is good for aches and pains to clove which can help ease the pain of toothache.

When these Eastern spices were first introduced to Grenada they were a novelty to everyone on the island. Unfortunately though, the spice plantations were destroyed in the Orient but local plantation owners seized the opportunity and gradually the island's spice industry was developed. The islanders are now very proud of their spices and are one of the world's major suppliers of nutmeg and mace.

One of the attractions of your Caribbean holiday will be a visit to the working spice estates as part of your package holiday tour of Grenada. Two popular options are the Douglaston Spice Estate and the Gouyave Nutmeg processing station. Douglaston Spice Estate is a historical monument to Grenada's past where most of the spices are grown and receive primary processing. The Nutmeg Processing Station is one of the largest nutmeg processing factories on the island and as the second largest producer of nutmeg in the world, Grenada accounts for about a third of the world's supply. Tours are available to both of these plantations as well as many more sites as well.

Regardless of what kind of package holiday tour of Grenada you have chosen, make sure that you visit one of the spice plantations as it's bound to be a talking point for the duration of your holiday in Grenada.

About Author:
Travel Collection offer a selection of package tour holidays to destinations all around the world. package holiday tour of grenada has all the information you need to help you select the destination and package holiday that is right for you.

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Take A Joy Ride On The Napa Valley Wine Train

If you see more than 300 people waiting to get aboard one green, gold and burgundy train at 11:30 am or 6:30 pm on any day, do not wonder where they are going. This is the magnificent Wine Train that they are getting on to takes them on a 3-hour long joy ride that is truly one of a kind. This train that caused more controversy than the Hindenburg when it started in September of 1989 has carried more than 1 million passengers till date.

Most of the people who take a trip on the glorious Wine Train alight 3 hours and 36 miles later, having eaten the best food, tasted the best wines and seen some of the best wineries in a region that is scenic and produces the best wine in world. Most of these people 370 people that the train can accommodate admit that the adventure through Napa Valley was well worth the cost of this joy ride.

The train itself, apart from the journey it embarks upon, is beautiful. With its 370 people capacity, it is a step back into an era where romance and luxury were much appreciated. Each car of the train is unique and lavish. Classy upholstery, swiveling chairs, deep mahogany trimming, deep and soft carpets, velvet curtains, marble sinks, snowy white towels and tables set with the best damask linen, china and crystal are what sets the train apart from other touring trains. And ofcourse we must not forget the friendly staff and crew on the train who are there to make sure that you are comfortable and well taken care of during the 3 hour tour. And they won't mind stopping for a minute or two to discuss the wineries, make a comment or two about the scenery.

Everyone is handed a brochure on entering the train. This is the Wine Train's promotional brochure, which lists more than 60 wineries of the Napa Valley. Most of the wineries that are listed are not visible from the train but those that are visible are among the best and most interesting. These wineries are Trefethen, Domaine Chandon, Cakebread Cellars, Inglenook and Sequoia Grove. The most famous wineries are Robert Mondavi, a landmark winery and Beaulieu and Grgich hills. Do not be surprised if a crew member points out a winery or two like Far Niente or Conn creek. At the end of the 3 hour train ride, you will be richer in the knowledge of wineries and wines produced in the Napa Valley area.

The train makes two trips on weekdays and three trips on weekends, which include brunch. The lunch trip which lasts for three hours leaves at 11:30 am, while the three and half hour dinner trip leaves at 6:30 pm. The meals on the Wine Train are par excellence. They match the romantic and luxurious mood of the train. A typical lunch on the Wine Train would include a salad of lettuce tossed with hazelnut and sherry vinaigrette. The main course could be Chicken breast marinated with white wine or Black Angus filet mignon with red wine. Pasta is always on the menu.

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Sacramento Limousines are available at Luxury Limousines. We have custom and planned Napa Valley Limos which our expert drivers can impart the secret local hotspots. Please visit http://www.luxxlimo.com.

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Wines Of Napa Valley

Napa Valley with more than 360 wineries is considered the heart and soul of American winemaking. This beautiful valley located in California is very small, yet where wine making is concerned it is very big. Napa valley produces more than 12 dozen varieties of grapes. The two most popular varieties of that Napa Valley produces are Cabernet Sauvignon for red wine and Chardonnay for white.

The Cabernet Sauvignon variety of grapes is used to produce the best red wines from the regions of Medoc and Graves. Chardonnay which is used to make the best white wines and white burgundies is considered to be the best variety of grapes of the Champagne region of France and is found in Napa Valley. When we talk about wines, we actually talk about the grapes that are used to make them. Here are some of the most popular varieties of grapes of the Napa Valley

Charbono

Charbono grapes, which were brought to California from France in 1869, are red grapes used to produce the best red wines. Inglenook, one of the oldest and best wineries in California started using Charbono to make the best red wine in the 1880s. Now with only 75 acres of Charbono grape vineyard left and most of it in the Napa Valley, it is fair to say that Charbono belongs to Inglenook and Napa.

The Charbono wine is a rich and deep colored wine with a spicy aroma. It is a full-bodied wine with hints of berry and roasted coffee. Its texture is like velvet and it has a cedar undertone to it. This Charbono wine can taste vital, fresh and young even after years of aging, the reason for this is because of the tannins, which keep the wine tasting fresh and young.

Semillon

Semillon though not so well known is a good white wine grape. This Bordeaux wine grape was brought to California and specifically to Napa Valley much later and only for it to be blended with the Sauvignon Blanc, which is a floral and pungent grape. Semillon on its own can make a good wine of a unique flavor and superior quality than the Sauvignon Blanc, but no region in France, which is considered the land of wines, produces a pure Semillon wine. California however has a few wineries like the Clos du Val winery in Napa Valley that makes pure Semillon wine.

Chenin Blanc

The Chenin Blanc grape is a functional grape. It is used to make many wines like Vouvray, Anjou, Saumur and wines that vary from crisp, fruity, dry to rich, full and smooth. California started using Chenin Blanc to make sparkling and jug wines, but in Napa Valley, Chenin Blanc is used to make fruity, airy and delicate fine wines. This was initiated by the Chappellet winery in the Napa Valley. The Chappellet Chenin Blanc wine is popular as being a wine of fine quality and a blend of aromas like green aromas, citrus with a taste of melon, peaches, spice and vanilla.

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Sacramento Limousines are available at Luxury Limousines. We have custom and planned Napa Valley Limos which our expert drivers can impart the secret local hotspots. Please visit http://www.luxxlimo.com.

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Wine Tasting In Napa Valley

Wine has been a part of our lifestyle for centuries. Wine used to be served in royal courts and is now served in every bar and restaurant. Wine is served at almost every occasion in life, from births to deaths, celebration, as part of food and while socializing. If you are the sort of person who enjoys the finer things in life, then Napa Valley in California is the place to be. Napa Valley is called the land of wines, as there are more than 280 wineries in the area alone and it is known to produce some of the best wines in the world and also is the main wine growing area in the United States.

Wine tasting is all about sampling and evaluating the wines. When you swirl the wine in your glass and take that first sip, you judge from the color, aroma, flavor and texture of the wine. Wine tasting helps you understand the quality of the wine, its maturity, flavor and aroma and faults, if any. Wine tasting is also called blind wind tasting. This is where the bottle and label of the wine is unknown to the wine taster. He or she judges the wine only by its taste, color, aroma and texture; this removes all traces of bias. Wine tasting also involves the use of wine tasting kits with blotting strips and aroma bottles.

Wine tasting is very popular all over the world and even more so in the United States and other European countries. People form wine tasting groups and clubs just to enjoy their passion for wine and to socialize. California is the most popular wine tasting state in the United States. This is because it has wine producing areas like Napa Valley and Sacramento. The Napa Valley some 10 years ago had more prunes and walnuts than grapes. There were only 10 wineries then, where now there are more than 280. Cabaret Sauvignon and Chardonnay are like the essence of the wineries and there are very few wineries without these oh-so popular wines.

Wine tasting is a great activity for all those wine lovers whether connoisseurs or novices and Napa valley has a whole plethora of choices. Wine tours and wine tasting events like buffets and parties are the best place to go to for wine tasting. If you are looking for an exciting evening in Napa Valley, consider wine tasting. This offers tourists and others a chance to indulge in an evening filled with fun and education, where you get to taste wine and learn all there is to learn about the process. And if you think you will feel out of place just because you are not a wine connoisseur, do not worry; there are stewards and wine experts that help.

Wine tasting gatherings and events open up a whole new world for you. You will be exposed to the best wines in the world and will be served complimenting breads and cheese to enhance the taste of the wines. Remember to not wear strong perfumes or scents when going to a wine tasting affair, as the scent of the wine is supposed to be stronger than your perfume.

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Sacramento Limousines are available at Luxury Limousines. We have custom and planned Napa Valley Limos which our expert drivers can impart the secret local hotspots. Please visit http://www.luxxlimo.com.

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Touring Napa Valley

For those that think wine is more of a cultural thing than just alcohol, related to celebrations and festivities, a trip to Napa Valley in California is a pilgrimage that one should go on. A trip to Napa Valley is also a great idea otherwise, even if you are only looking for a day of fun.

Napa Valley has got something for everyone, from breathtaking countryside to the rolling hills engulfed with vineries along both sides of Highway 29, which runs right through the middle of the valley. The highway, for its entire length in the valley, is lined on both sides by various vineyards. Touring Napa Valley will give you the unique opportunity to taste some of the best wines from the region, which are renowned world over. This proves to be a highly convenient way to taste some of the best wines, as well as a very cost effective way. Here you can sample some of your favourite wines, while also discovering some new varieties.

There are two ways to go about your Napa Valley tour; planned and unplanned. While a planned tour can save you from a lot of hassles, an unplanned tour has its own charm and enables you to just drive down the Highway 29, and turn into any vineyard you fancy. However, there are few things that you should know even if you are going on an unplanned tour. Most of the vineyards open at around 10 in the morning. It is a good idea to reach the valley around same time. You can easily visit 2-3 vineyards by 5 in evening, which is when most of them close for the day. The idea is not to visit as many vineyards as possible, but to spend quality time, and enjoy the places that you visit.

You should also make time to have lunch, as tasting so many wines on an empty stomach is not a good idea. You can visit "The Spot", which is a burger and pizza joint in the 50s style. On a bright sunny day, you can have lunch at V. Sattui Winery, which features a full deli and you can have your meal on beautiful lush, green lawns. If you want to plan your visit, you can buy a winery/tourist newspaper on entering the valley, which will give you all the facts about the wineries in the area with a map, business hours, etc. Some wineries offer tours on appointments only, and these details can be found in the papers.

Many of the wineries require you to take their guided tour before tasting the wines. This serves two purposes- it educates people on the history and the heritage of the winery, as well as the various facts that go into making quality wines; and it keeps away people who only want to indulge in free drinks.

On entering the tasting room, most wineries present you with a nice glass for tasting, stencilled with the winery's name, along with the menu of the wines available. Visitors are usually allowed to take the glasses as souvenirs with them. If you don't find a particular wine that you were hoping to taste on the menu, you can ask one of their staff, and they will be more than glad to help. Most wineries will have a shop selling souvenirs, as well as their own wines.

About Author:
Sacramento Limousines are available at Luxury Limousines. We have custom and planned Napa Valley Limos which our expert drivers can impart the secret local hotspots. Please visit http://www.luxxlimo.com.

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There Are Las Vegas Hotels And Then There Is Bellagio

Bellagio is a 3400+ room AAA Five Diamond award winning hotel and casino resort located on the famous Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. The resort opened on October 15, 1998. The design of Bellagio was inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy and features an eight-acre lake located between the hotel and the strip. Bellagio is one of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring resorts on the Las Vegas strip.

Built by Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn and then later sold to MGM Mirage along with the Mirage and other hotels, Bellagio is located on the central part of the Las Vegas Strip and occupies the lot at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Flamingo Dr, previously occupied by the Dunes hotel which was demolished in 1993 to make room for Bellagio. The resorts neighbors are Caesars Palace to the north, Bally's and Paris Las Vegas directly across the strip and the new MGM development, City Center is located just south of the resort. Many other hotel resorts are within walking distance, including the Mirage, Imperial Palace, Harrah's, and more.

One of the first features you will notice when you walk into Bellagio is the beautiful hand-blown glass flowers that cover the ceiling of the main lobby. There are over 2000 of the colorful glass flowers and is simply stunning to look at.

If you are looking for a show to see while in Las Vegas, Bellagio is home to a Cirque du Soleil show simply called O. In Italian, O means water and that is what this show is all about with 85 acrobats and swimmers performing in and above a 1.5 million gallon pool of water. In addition to O, there are many more things to do and see at Bellagio. The fountains, which dance in the eight-acre lake to classic songs from the past and a few more recent selections, are a very popular attraction. Each day, the fountains dance to the beat of the music and hundreds of people line the sidewalk and other areas to catch a glimpse.

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is also a must see if you have an artistic side. The gallery features works by Picasso, Monet, van Gogh and many others. There is an audio tour also to guide you through the many works of fine art.

The conservatory and Botanical Gardens are also a must see. The gardens rival any you have ever seen and the colors change throughout the year according to holidays or other events.

In addition to the major attractions, Bellagio has an extremely large casino offering all the games you can imagine with limits to suit all gamblers. There is also plenty of shopping at Via Bellagio, a world-class spa, several nightclubs, over 20 restaurants for all tastes and budgets including the award-winning Le Cirque, and a spectacular pool area to work on your tan at.

One note, if you are not a guest at Bellagio, you must be at least 18 years of age to enter the property.

About Author:
Mark Givens manages several websites as part of the Milion Dollar Homeboy network. One of those sites is Vegas Hangout. Visit Vegas Hangout and find out all you need to know about Las Vegas hotels and Las Vegas shows.

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Travel Destinations -- How You Too Can Get The Most From Your Travel Destination - Part 2

This is by no means an exhaustive list but certainly is useful in helping you achieve your objective. Here are 8 tips which apply to pretty much all travel destinations:

1. How is the place rated by other writers?

Never take one person's work for anything that is subjective. Scan through a few reviews and you'll get an accurate picture of your holiday destination.

2. Does the electricity voltage match yours at home?

Today, you have more electronic gadgets than ever before. Make sue it will work where you are going or else you'll carry extra weight with you. Worse still, you may damage your devices.

Also pretty much every country I have visited, has a different electrical plug and socket standard. Buy one a universal electrical adapter kit and read the fine print to make sure it covers your travel destination. Alternatively, buy only the one adapter suitable for your destination which will be cheaper.

3. How far is your hotel from the airport?

Be careful here. There are many exotic places that are really far from the airport. It sounds silly but you can suffer a lot of discomfort if you are not prepared.

Imagine after a long journey of several hours in the air, you then spend another 2 or 3 hours on a coach to your hotel. Now imagine it is hot and humid and your coach is not air conditioned! Children will particularly suffer.

You will then need a day to recover from your journey. This scenario happens so often you wouldn't believe it. Why do you think some of those hotels are so cheap!

When checking distance, also check the traffic too and find out the journey "time" and not just the travel distance. Back in the year 2000 I traveled to Dubai. A great place in itself and I stayed in a 5 start hotel that was only 20 - 25 minutes from the airport in spite of heavy traffic. Now, seven years later, that same journey can take anything up to one or even one and half hours. Be prepared.

4. Is public transport efficient or will you need to hire a car?

How are you going to get around? Far too many travel locations have poor public transport and at the same time very expensive and difficult private transport, be it taxis or hired cars.

I was in Istanbul back in 1997 ... I enjoyed the city, the weather and so much more but getting around in taxis was not easy nor cheap. And note that Istanbul wasn't a particularly expensive place but the demand for taxis was high

Also the language barrier meant that inevitably there were times that I paid more for a short journey that I expected. But that was OK because I had done my research including about transport and knew what to expect. I needed a day to recover from my very long journey. After that I haggled (bargained) with the taxi drivers as well as others "before" accepting their service and everything worked out just fine.

5. Try to work out an estimation of the budget that you'll need, so that you avoid any shocks and embarrassment once you get there.

This one is obvious and yet many of us over spend while on holiday. I always work out what I need and then add plenty of extra to the total estimate. It works very well. I come back with plenty of spare cash rather than end up in distress in an unfamiliar place.

6. Are there plenty of restaurants nearby or will you have to dine at your hotel for the duration of your stay?

Big, big point: Think of the effect on variety, cost, etc, if you only have a limited choice within one hotel or one complex. Bear in mind that the laws of supply and demand apply here too. If your stay is not all inclusive, then expect to pay a huge price or suffer low quality or even both. The local outlets of course know if you are a "captive" customer and their prices will be adjusted "up" accordingly.

Back in 2001 I enjoyed a Latin dance holiday to Cuba. I absolutely loved it. The people, the music, the dancing, all wonderful. But if you know anything about Cuba then you know that food variety and quality is an issue.

I won't go into the politics or economics of it all. The point is that I spent a portion of my time in an all inclusive resort outside Havana. I experienced first hand the quality issues and lack variety that can happen as a captive customer. Such situations aren't suitable for children at all and barely acceptable for adults. This can happen any place you are a captive customer.

7. Is your hotel or resort able to provide a doctor in case of an emergency?

Don't wait to find out the answer when you really need a doctor. It is a fact of life that we or a traveling companion will need medical attention at one time or other in our travels. The difference between being prepared and not is huge.

My best friend and business partner traveled to a newly built Greek resort. While taking a mid-evening stroll around the poorly lit pool area, his wife stepped into "hole". It was one of these holes around most swimming pools where workmen access pumps, pipes and wiring etc that service the pool. They had left the cover loose and it just flipped when it was stepped on.

Long story short, the local hospital would "not" send out an ambulance! Something to do with not having an arrangement with the hotel because the hotel was outside their region. The hotel knew this but my friend and other hotel guests didn't until the accident.

8. Do you know anyone else who has been there and how did they find it?

Personal experiences are so valuable and worth knowing. Make it a part of your conversation with friends before you travel to your destination. Find out if they or anyone they know has been to that region.

Knowing the answers to the above can make all the difference. A little homework will save you so much precious time once you get there. When you get there, you'll be able to do as much or as little as you desire. Happy traveling, where ever your travel destination.

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How do you get top deals, the best value and most fun from your travels? Answers here: Fantastic Offers And Secret Vacation Travel Tips at www.Travel-Hotel-Beach-Vacations.com

Sami T Fab operates a dedicated travel and vacation information website packed full of free travel tips, informative content and rarely seen travel offers.

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