10 September 2008

Dubai tourist guide

With an excellent climate and a holiday that people claim is the ultimate in luxury, it is not surprising that more and more people are opting in to visit Dubai nowadays. However, there are certain things about the culture of this oil rich nation that you need to know before you visit Dubai. This will make your trip memorable and also ensure that you are prepared for everything that may crop up during your stay in there. Weather might make or break your trip and this is vital for those who are planning to travel to Dubai. One needs to plan the time of their travel carefully so that they do not land up there in the midst of summer.

It can get unbearably hot in Dubai during the summer and hence it is recommended that those who come from cold or moderately climate locations to visit this place during winter only. Some people might argue that the Dubai hotels and transportation are air-conditioned. No arguments about that fact, but then these tourists should stay and enjoy the beauty of the bus and hotels and forget about the other spots. Don’t let the word winter thrill you, since winter in Dubai is a hot 20 degrees centigrade. Taking every thing into consideration, the bets time to visit Dubai is between December and March. The season over there during these months is best for enjoying the sounds and sights of this beautiful city.

Be extremely careful with your behavior while in Dubai. What might be just normal in European and American cities might not be acceptable over here. One needs to learn about the local customs and respect them. It is best if you study a tourist brochure on Dubai before you even plan to visit it and see if you can manage to adhere to them. There are some people who just cannot do without showing off their affection in public. While this might be ok in other parts of the world, it might land you in trouble over here. The country is ruled by Muslim laws hence there is a zero tolerance policy towards immoral behavior. Carrying or taking drugs is just not allowed and there have been cases when high profile people have landed in trouble for not adhering to the drug laws.

There have also been cases of people undergoing up to six years in prison for displaying acts of sex in public. According to the laws of the country, both homosexuality and sex between unmarried people is illegal. Even public kissing is prohibited and if caught one might face imprisonment. The laws are more stringent in the non-tourist areas, so be sure you behave yourself as per local laws and customs. Sale of alcohol is controlled and only those with permits can purchase the same. This means that you can get drinks only in hotels and nightclubs. To keep it simple, just respect the laws and the local customs of the country and enjoy your trip in peace.

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10 September 2008

Toronto Travel Guide

The largest city in Canada, Toronto also happens to be the fifth largest in the continent of North America. With a population of over two and a half million people, Toronto is divided into different neighbourhoods - each with something different to offer. Toronto has a vast number of immigrants - second only to Miami as far as being the city with the most foreign-born residents is concerned. The city thus enjoys a wide and diverse cultural scene, and many ethnic festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Weather is rather extreme in winters especially, and it’s best to visit the city either in late spring or early autumn.

To travel around the huge expanse of a city that Toronto is, it is preferable to use cars, although public transit is probably more useful downtown - the transport system is one of the most heavily used in North America and the subway is fast and efficient. Streetcars, buses and LRT also provide travelling options for a visitor to the city. Taxis are also available and even safe to use, but as is always the case with cabs in the big cities, they are not cheap. Travelling around the city on a bicycle is not unheard of.

There are plenty of tourist attractions in the city which are very accessible as well. The Royal Ontario Museum with its dinosaur and Egyptian exhibits is definitely worth a visit. So are the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Ontario Science Centre and the Bata Shoe Museum. The tallest free-standing structure on the continent, the CN Tower provides an incredible view. The Casa Loma, or the Majestic Castle of Canada, is a treat for eyes with its beautiful five-acre estate gardens, stables, towers and so on. Other places worth a look include the Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto City Hall and the Toronto Zoo. Canada’s Wonderland, a little off to the North from the city, is a large amusement park and is considered to be one of North America’s premier theme parks. There are also some excellent beaches and gardens located in the city.

Toronto provides visitors good options for shopping and almost the entire city has unique shopping places. The multicultural nature of the city is seen in its cuisines as well - the ethnic cuisines are authentic and delicious. Toronto also has plenty of farmer’s markets like the St. Lawrence Market and Riverdale Farm. The nightlife of Toronto is thriving in part due to the number of cafes, bars and pubs, especially in Clubland and the fashion district on Queen Street West.

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10 September 2008

New York, the city that never sleeps

There is hardly a soul alive and who has even a semblance of general knowledge that does not know or has not heard about the city of New York. One of the most famous cities of not just the United States of America, but also of the world, New York is famous all over the world as the city that never sleeps. This is a true fact since you will find countless fun spots that are open throughout the night and remain open until the wee hours of the morning. People who visit New York are puzzled by its sheer size and the number of tourist attractions that this city hosts. If you are planning to enjoy all the sights of New York city in a single visit, just drop that idea from your mind.

One can never complete seeing all the sights of New York City in their entire lifetime for the simple reason that new tourist spots are being added nearly every month. If you are planning to tour New York thoroughly it is advised that you do not rent a car as some tourists do. This is not the way to enjoy and soak in the fun of New York. There are special helicopter tours of New York and you can try them out, but the best way to enjoy New York City and to feel its vibrating pulse is to take a guided bus tour of the city. The city of New York is exotic and there are countless and popular tourist locations like the Times Square, the Central Park, the famous and awe inspiring Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Chinatown, Rockefeller Center and countless more.

Each time you visit New York, you will feel as if you are visiting it for the first time, such is the beauty and ambience of this multicultural city with its exotic sights. You can find people of different races moving side by side during their shopping sojourns or while they are going to the office. The tourism department of New York will provide the visitor with details about how to best tour the city and there are many options like New York City Walking Tours, New York City Tours apart from the helicopter and bus tours already mentioned. Each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages, but would you not like to see New York the way a citizen of New York sees it?

This can only be achieved by a bus tour of New York City. New York City is a shopper’s paradise and one can find many new products, especially electronics that are not available in other parts of the world. It is not a secret than when a new product is launched, especially electronic gadgets, they are first launched in the city of New York. It is not tough to gauge why new products are first launched in New York City. The reason is simple, people shop longer in New York, the city that never sleeps.

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27 August 2008

MADRID

Madrid is the third-most crowded city in the European Union and this is also the capital and political centre of Spain. Madrid is one of the very important economic centres of the Iberian Peninsula; because the financial condition and standard of living is very high here.
-Madrid has a Continental Mediterranean climate. It has very cool winter. And very hot summer. Also winter and summer are driest and most rainfall happens in the autumn and spring.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: - Madrid is the capital of Spain and very rich by other sides but it has less to offer in sightseeing. Still this city is fascinating. And you can find loads of amazingly designed architecture and very famous art galleries here. And these things are simply not to be missed.
Puerto Del Sol – this place is the geographical centre of Madrid. And the strangest part is Puerto del sol is also the centre of Spain. This is the core of Madrid’s transportation. You will find the Council here. In the pavement of this council you can find a marker. That is kilometre Zero. From there they measure all the distance here.
Royal Palace – This is a 3000 room palace! And you certainly wouldn’t miss it. Madrid’s royal family doesn’t live here now. You can avail a short tour here. But only on some official dates you can find this palace open. And those short tours are also arranged by the authority that time.
Prado Museum- Till date this is Madrid’s main tourist attraction. Here you can find many great things and also great works of many famous people. If you come to visit this place this is advisable to contact any tour guide and they will arrange the private tour to this museum.
There are many other places to see in Madrid. Like Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Sorolla and Museo de América. These are another famous museum of Madrid.
If you want to touch the skyline you can avail El Teleférico de Madrid. This is a cable car system which will allow you to get pleasure from great visions of Madrid’s skyline for 10minutes.
Barajas International Airport is the main gateway of Madrid.
But when you want to travel inside Madrid as a tourist, you can avail metro or national rail.
Madrid’s metro is one of the greatest evolving metros in the world. It is the second biggest underground train network. It is second to London. So you can reach to any places of your need with a shorter time.
Madrid national rail is one of the high-speed railway networks. This railway network operates almost the whole Madrid city.
And for tourists the Madrid hotels arranged their tours and packages.
CONCLUSION: - People in Madrid speak in Spanish mostly. But they are cordial enough to make you feel good. Enjoy Madrid in a leisurely mood. This is surely a place which will surely make you feel good and also will help you to understand their culture properly.

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27 August 2008

London

London is the main city of England. It is also the largest urban area of that region. London is a most promising leading business, industrial, cultural centres of the present world. Also the fashion, media, politics and arts are some major factors which help it to become an influential global city. This is a place of culture, education, politics and business. People are very much cosmopolitan and well educated here. Due to economic growth and other interesting facts London has become very popular as a tourist destination.

Tourist attractions in London are mainly based on central London. There are many places to visit.

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square is among the most visited place for many years. London is also the residence to St Paul’s church; also you must visit the Tower Bridge and Tower of London. Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous places of London. The dynasty of the queen attracts tourist of any age. There are many popular museums among London’s mostly visited museums which also includes the very famous British Museum, world famous Madame Tussaud’s and the Tate Britain. Any types of Imperial attractions are always admired that’s we all know. And also the a variety of palaces, stallion Guards Parade is a traditional photo occasion, whilst in close proximity Downing Street is residence to the Prime Minister. And do not miss the world famous Greenwich and National Maritime Museum. They are just too much to miss. Talk to your guide and arrange tours to these places.

There are many more places you can visit in London. For that, you can arrange London Sightseeing pass which offers access to a lot of tourist spots with one ticket, acquired in advance.

London is the heart of transportation in England. There are numerous public and private transport networks. It has the world’s busiest airport that is Heathrow. If you want to avail trains to go from one place to another; you can avail tube rail that is known as underground rail or the docklands light railways.

In the British railway network London is the main focal point. It has 14 terminal stations with all the modern day facilities.

Commuter rail service is also growing these days. It has a cheaper rate that is why commuter rails are a bit over crowded.

By road you can travel by tram also. London tram system is very old. Rather it is the oldest tram system of the world. In 20th century the tramlines disappeared. But then again it started about almost a decade ago. You can see the whole london and enjoy the city while travelling by tram.

London is a busy city. Before visiting this place make sure to plan your routes properly. Also, you do not need to bother about transportation as your hotels will hopefully arrange that. Most London hotels will be very helpful. Language will also not be a problem. The beautiful places will surely make you feel delighted. So visit London and enjoy the city where history and present stay together proudly.

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27 August 2008

Dubai travel guide

Dubai is also known as emirates. This is the main city of United Arab Emirates. Dubai is also sometimes known as Dubai city. Dubai is a very rich city. It is emerging as a world business hub hugely. Dubai is basically an Islamic country. Historically also Dubai is a very wealthy place. It is a very important place for foreign tradesmen as most of the revenue of this city comes from trade, natural gas and petroleum.

Dubai is situated directly within the Arabian Desert but still the climate here is different than the other cities here. The society of Dubai is quite multicultural and diverse. The society here is quite cosmopolitan. Tourists from everywhere turned this city to a very lively place. This place is known for two main reasons shopping and sand. Both attract the people all from over the world to this place.

Dubai international airport is the gateway of Dubai. You will reach Dubai by this place. A few airports are under construction. Soon they will start working. From the airport while travelling into different places in Dubai you can surely avail buses. Dubai has a large bus system. If you want to see how the normal people of Dubai spent their daily life then travelling by a bus can be very helpful. But many hotels in Dubai there arrange cab for their tourists. They are also hospitable enough take the responsibility to show them nice places of their city.

Also the city has a large taxi system also. Here you can travel by government operated taxis or private taxis. With growing popularity traffic congestion has become a part of their daily life.

You can also travel by traditional “Abras”. This is a traditional mode of transport there. This is basically boating. These are small boats. It is very much enjoyable. People often travel by this n their leisure time. It refreshes the mind.

The culture of Dubai is very much open. Now a day the cuisines also have changed. You can have Arabian delicacies there and also western foods are available there.

Go Dubai if you want to buy. This is a common line people use for Dubai. You must visit Dubai museum. Dubai has a great history and here you can get to know about them. There is a place called The Creek. This is a historical focal point where the natural salt water inlet cuts through the heart of the city. Do not miss Ban Yas Square. This is situated in the heart of the city. This dominated by Deira Tower, and here you can get good bargains on electronics, textile products and consumer products. If you want to do some shopping, this place is the one to come. There are many famous parks at Dubai. Few of them are Jumeirah Beach Park, Park, Safa Park, Mushrif Park, Al Mamzar Park and Dubai Creek side. Some other places like Diving Village, Al Boom Tourist Village, Jumeira Mosque, and Grand Mosque are getting popular as tourist spots.

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27 August 2008

New York travel guide

New York is located in the north eastern side of United States. This state is surrounded by Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.  New York City is the biggest city of United States. New York was found by a few Dutch men in 17th century.

New York has a typical continental climate. Little bit humid. Winter is pretty cold and longer here.

Obviously New York is a dream city. While standing in such a dream country anyone can get confused about where to start and what are the places to go. So here is a short attempt to make your confusion clear.

Statue of liberty is a must see for anyone. The statue of pride and glory. You will be amazed to see how 350 pieces can make a statue like this. For so many years this statue is standing in same way.

The second should be Empire State Building. Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2008. With so many floors. Once it was one of the glorious world wonders.

You must visit The Rockefeller Centre. It was absolutely revolutionary in the beginning. It was started in time of great depression and provided required work to the new Yorkers. Also the designing is an eye catcher. It actually proved one thing that was how art work was important and can change many lives. Here you can find radio city music hall, ice skating and Christmas tree.

Nothing is free in this world. But you can enjoy free ferry at Staten Island Ferry service. You will enjoy this ferry ride which starts from lower Manhattan.

You might feel like it is only about sky scrappers and high rise multi nationals then you have to visit central park. It gives welcome break to the new Yorkers for past couple of centuries. A place to go in leisure time or in time of morning or evening walks. People go for picnic there. The wooden path gives a fresh feeling.

If you love modern art you must the first modern art museum of America. It is called the Museum of Modern Art.

Also there are some other beautiful museums like American Museum of Natural History. Here you will come to know about many unknown stories about history of America. Also about the world. The designing and architectures there is splendid.

Grand Central is one of the most visited areas in New York. Because it is not only a terminal but also you can do shopping and dining here.

There are many other places to explore in New York. Your New York hotels and tour guide will plan them accordingly. You can enjoy without any tension.

Do not get confused. Ask your guide to show you all the famous things. And they will arrange a package trip for you to best places of New York. Avail public or pre arranged cab by your hotel. If you don’t know the place so it as suggested that you better travel by your hotel car and enjoy fully.

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27 August 2008

Algarve travel guide

The beautiful, picturesque city of Algarve is located in the southernmost region of Portugal. Faro is the capital of this region. Various other important cities here include lagoa, Loule, Tavira, Olhao and numerous others. The economy is mostly helped by the booming tourism industry and other related activities. Fruit production constitutes an important part of the economy, with the likes of figs, carob beans, oranges and almonds. Apart from this, the seafood and fish industry also helps the industry considerably.

Most of the Algarve region is quite hilly, but is also intersected by rich and extensive valleys. It has about 400,000 permanent inhabitants, which increase considerably during the tourist season due to steady influx of tourists. This place is incredibly famous for a nature reserve, which is actually a lagoon. Thousands of different birds, mostly migratory, make a mandatory stop over at this place. The temperature in this place is quite convenient, with the maximum being pegged at 31degree Centigrade. The temperature never falls below the zero degree mark in the winter months.

The history of this region is very rich. The city was first established in as early as the sixth century BC. In 1807, the entire area was taken over and controlled by the Spanish. Later in 1880, Algarve became the first part of Portugal to liberate itself from the notorious Spanish invasion.

Horticulture is an important aspect of this area because of the unique topographical properties. Agriculture and fishing are the primary activities in the coastal region. The main products are soles, sardines and various other seafoods.

During the late 1960’s Algarve became a very popular tourist spot. Strangely, due to low cost, many tourists have bought their own properties in this region. The ravishing golf courses are a major attraction for the tourists. Many Algarve hotels have sprung up around golf courses, because of the high demand from tourists. They can relax and enjoy a cool game of golf simultaneously. The climate is pretty mild in Algarve. Tourism has become a major constituent in Algarve’s economy.

You can also visit the University of Algarve, which is a public university. It awards all academic degrees in most of the fields ranging from economics to marine biology to environmental engineering. Many higher and medium education private institutions can also be found in this region.

The Algarve region is immensely popular mainly due to the beaches, safety, Mediterranean climate and relatively low costs. The coastline is dotted by grottoes and picturesque limestone caves. This part is only accessible by a powerboat. The entire region is breathtaking and draws a huge number of tourists every year.

You can get luxurious accommodations in the Algarves region. There are various multi-storied high-rises as well as traditional guesthouses in various parts of the region. These guesthouses have become very popular since they are far away from the din and bustle of the main city.

Whenever you wish to see and feel the pristine beauty of waves gushing at your feet, beautiful beaches, enchanting ambience, and hospitable local people, just think of Algarve. It is surely one of the peaceful places to visit.

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26 August 2008

Amsterdam Travel Guide

A trip to Europe can never be complete without visiting the quaint city of Amsterdam - the capital of the Netherlands is famous for its impressive architecture, scenic surroundings, burgeoning shopping areas and warm people, almost all willing and able to speak fluent English. The relaxed attitude of the city’s inhabitants is the first thing you will notice and tourists are made to feel welcome.

Once you are in the city, you can get around and visit most of the tourist destinations on foot, however, it might be a fun experience to rent a bicycle as the city is quite bike-friendly. There is also a tram system which accounts for a large chunk of the public transport.

The tourist attractions of the city include buildings of historic importance, churches, windmills, museums (including Rijksmuseum, Sexmuseum and Van Gogh Museum), gardens, zoos, parks and a beach along the entire west coast of the Netherlands. The famous Red Light District of Amsterdam serves as a major tourist centre - it encompasses several canals along with the intermediary streets. It might sound strange but it is still a residential area as prostitution is limited to certain side streets and alleys. In fact, the oldest church in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk is also part of the Red Light District. There are several guided tours and canal cruises which you should sign up for an informed tour of the beautiful city. When looking for Hotels in Amsterdam, you could also check if the hotel offers tours of the city.

Shopping in Amsterdam is also an extremely pleasant experience - the central shopping streets focus more on clothes and accessories, albeit there are many more types of shops. The side streets of the canals are home to lots of interesting little shops, and there are a few bookstores and a small concentration of Chinese shops as well.

There are a huge variety of eateries which have a wide range of dishes to choose from - literally too many to choose from! You must sample some local cheese in Amsterdam, it is delicious. Also, Heineken tastes much better in Holland than elsewhere.

Amsterdam can be visited at any time of the year, since it is a large city, however certain attractions are seasonal - such the bulb fields, which are in full bloom come spring time. Also, the days are short and the weather is pretty cool in winter; things which should be kept in mind. Regardless of what you are on the lookout for during your visit, you are bound to find it in Amsterdam - if you are an intellectual with an eye for history and culture, or a young greenhorn looking to party and have fun, or even someone hoping for some relaxation then Amsterdam’s charm will definitely be what you were looking for.

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26 August 2008

San Francisco travel guide

San Francisco is a famous city in the Unite States. It is the fourth most populous city in California with an estimated population of about 800,000. The location of the city is quite enviable, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Golden Gate to the north and the San Francisco bay to the east. It is the largest city in the west coast of United States. The city of San Francisco is an extremely famous tourist destination. The incredible landmarks include Chinatown, the famous Golden Gate Bridge, The Alcatraz Island and many others. The city is also famous for its diverse population of Asians and Americans and also a multitude of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals.

The trip of the San Francisco Peninsula houses the city of San Francisco. The city is very famous for its hills. There are over 50 hills within the limits of the city. The important hills can be named as the Telegraph Hills, Russian Hill, Nob Hill and the Pacific Heights.

Earthquakes are very common in this region due to the massive fault lines present. The Hayward faults and the San Andreas faults are the major culprits, responsible for the earthquakes.

San Francisco enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with dry summers and mild and wet winters. Since it is a peninsula, the climate is influenced by the cool currents of the Pacific Ocean. This current helps in moderating the temperature swings and helps maintaining a steady seasonal temperature of around 20 degree centigrade.

You can enjoy the beauty of various parks and beaches strewn all over the city. The famous ocean beach is very picturesque, but is absolutely unsuitable for swimming because of the freezing temperatures of the water and the deadly under currents.

The Fort Funston is quite popular with hand glider enthusiasts and also the dog owners. However, the most famous park in this city is the Golden Gate Park. The entire park stretches from the center of the city to the Pacific Ocean. The park was originally created by planting thousands of trees and plants. The Conservatory of Flowers, Strybing Arboretum and the Japanese Tea Garden are the popular tourist places within this park.

The people of San Francisco are accustomed with the high standard of living. The Internet revolution has really brought in huge amount of cash and many highly educated and high income workers have chose San Francisco as their home. This has increased the standard of hotels in San Francisco as well.

The culturally rich city of San Francisco is home to the famous MOMA or the Museum of Modern Art. This museum houses the contemporary 20th century exquisite works of art.

Tourism forms the backbone of the economy in San Francisco. It is a readily recognized landmark worldwide. It attracts one of the largest numbers of tourists in the United States. You can visit San Francisco any time. It is a very wealthy place and the best thing is to do is to travel the city by availing their transport. You can enjoy the real San Francisco if you travel by bus, train or tram. Surely you will not be disappointed after visiting this great place called San Francisco.

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