Archive for the Category » Travel Locations «

Monday, February 16th, 2009 | Author: ajc

If you’re headed to Orlando with the kids, or if you just love water parks, you’ll find four different attractions that may be perfect for you and your family.  These water parks include just about everything: pools, water slides, beautiful views, and more.  Some parks even provide inner tubes, flippers, rafts, and snorkels.  They even allow you to bring coolers, so you can set up your own picnic by the pool!  Of course, don’t forget your sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen—you don’t want to end up with a sun burn.  Be sure your sunscreen is water proof, too.

Along with one of the most desired hotels in Orlando, Disney World contains two of these four water parks.  The first is Disney’s Blizzard Beach.  The Blizzard Beach is not your typical water park.  Instead, it has a very unique concept: the entire park is what would happen if all the ice and snow at a ski resort were to suddenly melt.  There are ski jumps and chair lifts, but instead of taking guests up the snowy peaks, they work around pools and waterfalls.  It’s a very unique experience.

The other Disney World water park is Typhoon Lagoon.  This park, one of Disney World’s traditional parks, also features a theme: this one is of a ship that has been washed ashore on a mountain due to a huge typhoon.  This water park has over 50 acres of water slides and pools.  There’s even a four foot wave that rolls over the lagoon that guests can surf on.

If you want to get away from Disney, you can head over to Aquatica.  It’s a part of SeaWorld, and it is also incredibly fun.  It includes animals, flowing waterfalls, intense water slides, and even sandy beaches.  There are almost 60 acres of water fun!

The fourth and final water park is Wet ‘n Wild, Orlando’s first water park.  Like the other parks, guests of all ages will find something fun to do here, whether it’s lie out in the sun or swim in the pools.  There are even group water rides that the entire family can enjoy at once.

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 | Author: ajc

If you’re visiting Dubai on holiday, there’s one thing you won’t be able to avoid: the shopping!  Dubai is known as the Shopping Capital of the Middle East, and it well deserves that name.  While there are many other tourist attractions in the city, people come from far and wide to shop.  Part of this is because Dubai has low import duties and is an open port.  This means that you can often find luxury and brand name items for much less than you would in other parts of the world.

There are a number of different shopping malls and outlet stores in Dubai, with quite a lot of these found in the many hotels in Dubai, that sell electronics, clothing, jewellery, hand-made crafts, furniture, artwork, carpet, cars, and much more.  You will also find many souks, or traditional markets.  These markets include hundreds of booths that are run by locals.  Two of the most famous souks are the gold souk and the spice souk, which sell jewellery and spices, respectively.  Souks are good places to go if you want to find something hand-made and shop in an area that’s much less commercial.  Haggling at a souk booth is very welcome and is, in fact, almost expected.  While the more commercial stores and supermarkets have had an effect on the souks, there are still many booths and products available.

There are also a number of duty free shops in the city.  These shops allow their merchants to sell items at even lower prices since no duty fee is charged.  Note that while shopping in Dubai, no matter what type of store or souk you’re visiting, that the hours of operation are most likely not the same as in your home country.  In Dubai, stores are open in the morning, but they are all closed in the afternoon.  They generally open back up in the early evening after the hottest part of the day.  On Friday, all shops close for prayers around noon.

Wednesday, January 07th, 2009 | Author: ajc

A relaxing holiday in San Francisco may sound like a great idea, and it truly can be!  There is a lot to see in the city, especially if you’re adventurous and don’t mind doing a lot of walking up steep hills.  Here are just a few of the city’s highlights that you may want to put on your itinerary when you arrive in San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Bridge is, of course, one of the most well known landmarks in the city.  While it’s on the edge of the city proper, many who drive in to San Francisco from the north will have to cross the bridge to enter.  The bay area, the name for the area surrounding the San Francisco peninsula, is absolutely gorgeous.  Driving across or walking across the Golden Gate Bridge is a great way to experience these clear blue waters, but it can be a bit of a walk if you’re staying in one of the San Francisco hotels downtown. Interestingly there you can stay in the Presidio Inn at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The San Francisco Bay is also home to Alcatraz Island, one of the most famous prisons in history.  While it has served as a lighthouse, military base, and prison in the past, Alcatraz now serves as a tourist attraction and historic landmark.  Tours are available from the island, and a ferry takes tourists out to Alcatraz daily from Pier 33.

Another great highlight is Lombard Street, a street renowned for its twisted, windy path.  In fact, you can find postcards in San Francisco bearing the slogan, “I survived a cab ride up Lombard Street!”  It’s incredibly steep and going up (or, even more exciting, going down) the street has been compared to taking a roller coaster ride.  It may not be for the weak of heart, though.  Also, unless you’re used to driving on steep roads, visitors may want to avoid driving on Lombard Street.

There are many other locations to see in San Francisco besides these, of course, but these three are three of the most famous.  No trip to San Francisco is complete without seeing at least one of them!

Tuesday, January 06th, 2009 | Author: ajc

Madrid is a very popular destination for travellers, and there are a lot of great sights to see while you’re in the city.  If you’ve never been to Madrid before, you’re going to have to prioritise—it’s simply not possible to see everything the city has to offer unless you’re going to be there for at least two weeks, if not more.

One of the city’s biggest draws is its museums and art galleries.  The best known art section of Madrid is called the Golden Triangle of Art.  It’s made up of three museums: the Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, and the Reina Sofia Museum.  Among the amazing pieces of artwork found in these three include works by Diego Velazquez, Francisco de Goya, and Pablo Picasso.  In addition to these museums, you can also visit the El Prado Museum, the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, and the Museum of the Americas.

After spending a day at a museum, you may want to catch a show.  Madrid is home to several different opera houses and other music houses.  The Spanish National Orchestra performs classical music at the Auditorio Nacional de Musica every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  You can also hear the RTVE Symphony Orchestra on Thursdays and Fridays.  If you want to see an opera, the Teatro Real is the most famous opera house in Madrid and puts on operas on a regular basis.

There are many other things to see and do in Madrid.  You can see the royal palace, spend a day at the el parquet del Buen Retiro (a park), or see the famous clock tower at Puerta del Sol, the building that lies at the centre of Spain.  Madrid also has a very active night lift, and you can often hear live music or go dancing at a club.

Of course, there may be one reason you’re visiting Madrid: bullfighting.  Madrid is home to the largest bullfighting ring in the world, and the city is the world capital for the sport.  The bullfighting season runs from May until early November, and many local festivals include bullfighting as part of the celebration.

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 | Author: ajc

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a beautiful city featuring all the best of Europe. There is something here for every traveller: natural beauty, history, great food and shopping and convenience.

Most of the great attractions of Amsterdam are located within a 2 km radius of the city centre. This is where you will see the beautiful old-world houses lining the canals, the street markets and the many fine museums.

Among the essential museums to visit are the Anne Frank House, where the teenage diarist hid with her ill-fated family during WWII; NEMO (a science museum); the Rembrandt House; the Rijksmuseum (a world-renown art museum); and the Van Gogh museum. However, there are many other museums that are a bit more unconventional, for example the Katten Kabinet is a cat museum, started by the curator after his favourite cat died. The curator still opens the first floor of his palatial home to visitors. You can get more suggestions of place to visit from your Amsterdam Hotel.

Those who love flowers should make a point of visiting the Keukenhof Gardens. While it is only open in the spring, Keukenhof Gardens is the best place to see the brilliance of Amsterdam’s tulip industry, especially in mid-April.

Tulips are one of two symbols most identified with Amsterdam and the Netherlands. The other is the windmill. While most windmills are located outside the city, you can still see the De Gooyer windmill in town. It is now a private home but it is a well-loved landmark.

Amsterdam is well known for the open attitudes of its people, so it should be no surprise to find such attractions as the Sexmuseum, the Hash, Marihuana and Hemp museum and VodkaMuseum Amsterdam. It should be noted that prostitution is legal. Marijuana sale, possession and usage are technically illegal, but local authorities tend to look the other way.

Those travelling with children will be pleased to know that the city has 30 parks and four beaches. Of these, VondelPark is the biggest, but Amstelpark has the most activities for children, including a playground, pony rides and even a miniature train.

There are all sorts of interesting shops and street markets throughout the city. It is also very easy to get around, whether walking, biking, by canal boat or by many other types of public transportation. Those who remember reading “Hans Brinker” as children will enjoy knowing that you can indeed skate on the canals in the winter. However, it can be risky as quite often the ice is very thin.

For old world color and new age attitudes, Amsterdam is a wonderful place to visit.

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 | Author: admin

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.

Category: Travel Locations  | One Comment
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 | Author: admin

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.

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 | Author: admin

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.

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 | Author: admin

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.

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 | Author: admin

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.