Spain is different

March 7, 2010 in Europe, Holiday, Travel | Leave a comment

A choice of certain destination depends on your age and what kind of holiday are you looking for. But no doubt there are places in the world suites for all age travellers and just must be visited. Now I’m talking about Spain. Spanish culture is widely known for Flamenco music and dance, bullfights, fantastic beaches and lots of sunshine. But what is Spain known for? It has much more to offer than that. It is – and has been for thousands of years, one of the cultural centers of Europe.

“Spain is different!”, Spaniards use to say. They don’t specify compared to what: to the rest of Europe, to the rest of the world, or even to itself? We don’t know either, but we do our best to supply you with lots of information about Spain´s culture so you can find the answer to this question and many others by yourself.

Spain has an extraordinary artistic heritage. The dominant figures of the Golden Age were the Toledo-based artists El Greco and Diego Velázquez. Francisco de Goya emerged in the 18th century as Spain’s most prolific painter and he produced some wonderfully unflattering portraits of royalty. The art world in the early 20th century was influenced by a remarkable group of Spanish artists: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí, ambassadors of the artistic culture in Spain.

Madrid: Capital City of Spanish Culture
A sparkling, dynamic city full of charm. Spain’s capital for 400 years; delightful and seductive, warm and glittering, aristocratic and inviting. A city that hosts the best of Spanish and world art in a kaleidoscope of sensations.

Andalucia
In the South of Spain, its coasts are bathed by both The Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It is simply magic. Compendium of history and modernity, unmistakable Moorish flavour and more
Basque Country
In the north of Spain bordering the Cantabrian sea … The Basque Country is a fascinating fusion of tradition, avant-garde, elegance, surprising rocky coasts and the Gastronomic Capital of Europe for its famous Basque Cuisine.

Canary Islands
Located near northern coast of Africa The Canary Islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Vast sandy beaches full of outstanding reefs, capes and bays these islands are characterised by its volcanic scenery.

Catalonia
Located in the northeast of Spain it lies on Mediterranean coast and border France in the north. Cosmopolitan region, fascinating cities, wonderful beaches, rich architectural heritage.… one of Europe’s leading tourist regions.

Valencia
Valencia is the perfect place to admire the brightness of the sun delightfully touched by the Mediterranean sea. Its percect combination of ancient buildings with some of most admired futuristic arhitecture in Spain and its mild temperatures make Valencia an amazing city to discover and enjoy at its best.

Mallorca
Situated in the Mediterranean Sea, Mallorca is an island of a thousand faces, of breathtaking natural beauty, an island of diversity, of silence and of light.

Rome Italy

February 26, 2010 in Europe, Travel, Video Guide | Leave a comment

Rome’s history spans three millennia, from the classical myths of vengeful gods to the follies of the Roman emperors, from Renaissance excess to swaggering 20th-century Fascism. Emperors, popes and dictators have come and gone, playing out their ambitions against foreign powers and domestic rivals, stamping out heresies and conspiring for their place in history.

Everywhere you go in this remarkable city, you’re surrounded by the past. The martial ruins, huge Renaissance palazzi (mansions) and flamboyant baroque churches all have a tale to tell – of family feuding, artistic rivalry or personal grief, of political infighting or dark intrigue.

Machu Picchu

February 2, 2010 in Cruise Deals, Travel | Leave a comment

If you would interested in Wikipedia what Machu Picchu is you will read that Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Pikchu, “Old Peak”, pronounced [ˈmɑtʃu ˈpiktʃu]) is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 metres (8,000 ft) above sea level.[1] It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu is one of the most familiar symbols of the Inca Empire.

No doubt this is the palce that must be visited. If you want to get complite information to visit the Citadel of Machu Picchu there are many agencies proposing a reliable, fast and secure system to reserve your excursion on-line, offering all year round without spaces limitation, and consists on a round trip by train from Cusco and the guided visit of the famous Citadel. Here is recommendation for all those who have it as their life-aim to trek to Machu Picchu and who should be aware of some ground-rules before organizing their trip – http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294318-s409/Machu-Picchu:Peru:First.Time.Visitors.html

London Vacation

January 21, 2010 in Holiday | Leave a comment

Every time you visit London is unforgettable and every time you get new marvelous experience. Right? So do I. Last time I’d been there in November 2009. Would like to share with photos were made during business trip to London.

Spring Travel

January 17, 2010 in Hotels, Travel | Leave a comment

As you know there is no matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. Well, if you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. Hop you your soul is ok then you are planning already the ways to travel cheaply this spring. There are plenty of ways to save on getting around and things to do during the spring: city passes, rail passes and discount rates for car rentals are just a few of them. If you do your homework, you’re likely to find discounts for many of the things you’d like to do this spring, and cheaper ways to get to those activities. If you find a cheap hotel rate, you’re likely to save significant money on your next spring trip. You check out some strategies for finding hotel discounts during the spring travel season.

Finding a hotel discount you have to mak follow steps
Search the internet, look for great deals. There are various types of hotels that offer great discounts on the web for online customers. Be sure to check these out.

Plan your trip during the off season months. These are the times when big discounts are given.

Call the hotel of your choice. Ask them about offers and discounts that they can give. List all promotions.

Certain hotels can give discounts to credit card holders of certain card establishments. Ask for the manager and ask him about it. The manager is the best person to ask, since if you can make negotiations, he has the authority to make negotiations with you.

Ask if they give discounts to students or senior citizens.

Simply ask through the phone how can you qualify for a discount. If at certain day of the week or at certain times of the year they give discounts, ask them about it and ask how much or how less can they give, then ask if you could get still a higher discount. Usually at off peak seasons, hotels will be willing to give in, just to fill the empty rooms.

Ask for certain packages. Hotels usually offer rooms with free breakfast.

Do name drop. If you know of someone who frequently stays them, mention his name. It can help. Tell them your friend referred you to them and ask for a discount. Don’t ever give up if they say no. A statement like “is that the best you can do?” can encourage a big discount.

Often, people in the military get good hotel rates. Usually, discounts are offered to government employees.

At off peak seasons, you could definitely ask for special rates. Then if they don’t budge after you have offered a discount, ask some extras, like breakfast.

When negotiating, it is very important to write down all agreed discussions. Write too, the names of the persons that you have been talking to, the time as well as the day and date. Ask for a number that you can call before checking in to the hotel for confirmation.

Upon arrival to the hotel, look around and ask for negotiations once more. For instance if you feel that the hotel is not fully booked, ask for a room with a better view than the one you are in, if you don’t agree with what you see.

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Family Vacation

December 19, 2009 in Canada, Europe, Events, Holiday, Travel, US | Leave a comment

Christmas Holiday is one of the most wonderful time in a year when you can bond with your family the most, and it’s really great idea to plan family vacation that truly capture the magical spirit of Christmas.

Lets go all together to see dazzling Christmas lights or make some amazing Christmas finds, ice skating or watch hockey, to see Santa Claus or visit Santa Claus, Indiana, Orlando’s Universal Studios theme park where you can enjoy Macy’s Holiday Parade with authentic Macy’s balloons and floats. It’s also great idea to take tour to Germany to have a taste of their traditional Christmas markets.

The festive Christmas season is an excellent opportunity to spend this time in a place where the bustling metropolis merges with the pristine wilderness – Canada that can be the ideal place for your family Christmas vacation. The lofty mountain ranges, the glistening lakes and rivers, vivacious city life and a singular culture promises to make your Christmas vacation in Canada an unforgettable experience.

In case you’re looking for both a unique Christmas shopping experience and a relaxing Christmas vacation, you can be sure that a short break or holiday in France will meet all your dreams.

Another big advantage of a family Christmas is the opportunity to escape the holiday hubbub and cold weather (it’s massive snow storm weather right now I can see through my window), just staying at warm, cozy and having holiday-like appearance your home gathering together with all you loved ones around Christmas tree with a glass of good wine.

Ski Vacation in US

October 26, 2009 in Holiday, US | Leave a comment

Do you have any idea on how to spend Christmas vacation with all family? I guess that for the families that love to ski, a winter vacation isn’t complete without time on the slopes. And, no doubt, the luxury of warming up by a Christmas fire ski is something anyone can appreciate, regardless of their skiing skill level.

Here is the top list of ski town you can plan to be visiting trough Christmas 2010 to get really unforgettable experience:

First of all it is Whistler Backcomb in British Columbia of course where you can find the biggest ski resort on the continent and, with well over 200 trails that can accommodate skiers of any skill level. There is also snowmobiling, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and lots, lots more. Ski buffs across the world are familiar with Whistler; it has the best ski parks and pipes in North America, along with glacier skiing (you read that right) and an extended ski season. For a luxurious getaway, I recommend the Upper Village hotels, condos and chalets. Near the bottom of Blackcomb Mountain, Upper Village offers more a more remote ski vacation, with luxury and quality treatment for guests during their time off the slopes.

One more North American ski town is Vail, in Colorado that will meet you with as a luxury resort town with perfect for skiers who also want high quality dining and upscale hotel amenities. Along with skiing and snowboarding, Vail Valley winter vacations can involve dog sled tours, guided llama trekking, sledding and more.

Don’t miss to check out Wyoming’s Jackson Hole that is also one of the best ski resort towns around famous for its natural deep powder and the skiers’ top spot of the US Rocky Mountains.

A Christmas ski vacation in Big Sky is also can be first class. The Big Sky Resort in Montana, right near Yellowstone National Park, gets around 400 inches of powdery snow each season, and has snowshoe and Nordic ski trails as well as half pipes and jumps.

Also good places for ski vacation are Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley border Nevada in northeastern California, luxury ski resort towns Aspen, Colorado, where all your family can able to accommodate a variety of ski skill levels.

Family Christmas Vacations

September 28, 2009 in Events, Holiday, Travel | Leave a comment

Are you planning already all family Christmas Travel? Hope, you are. It’s likely would be great to see there guy in red, calling Santa Claus, right?:-) First of all it’s not bad idea to write him the letter listing all your wishes, do you? Actually there are many places you can spend your family Christmas vacation seeing Santa there. Whether you’re traveling or home for the holidays, check out many fun events in different cities, from The Nutcracker through Hannukah celebrations through Kwanzaa festivals. What about the Magical World of Santa Claus in Montreux, Switzerland? Montreux is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Due to the high-number of foreign residents and visitors, English and German are widely spoken. The annual Montreux Christmas market is open on top of Rochers-de-Naye. At 2,015 m (6,611 ft) snow is guaranteed this time of the year – snow is far less likely during December in Montreux itself.

For children, a highlight of a visit to the Rochers-de-Naye mountain station during Christmas is meeting personally with Santa Claus who gives every child a souvenir gift, sweets, and an official certificate commemorating the visit. Parents will enjoy the awe-inspiring views both from the mountain station and along the spectacular ride to the top of the mountain.

The House of Santa Claus (La Maison du Père Noël aux Rochers de Naye) opens with the Montreux Christmas market usually on November 27. Unlike the Christmas market, which stays open past Christmas Day up to December 28, Santa takes his leave on December 24. Santa usually takes some Mondays off too.

Some places are not special that others but staying to be attractived to spend your Happy Christmas Holidays too. Check out The North Pole (NY), or Orlando, or Chocolate Town USA, Bethlehem CT, Santa Claus Indiana. Choose now the finest places you can see the jolly guy in red.

Gold Coast Adventure for the Whole Family

September 10, 2009 in Car Rental | Leave a comment

Planning a fruitful vacation adventure with your kids shouldn’t be a problem. At Gold Coast paradise, everything is possible. It is a hidden paradise that your kids will surely enjoy and appreciate. This place is perfect for family vacation. It is the most visited place suitable for beach adventure. Take advantage of the island’s most beautiful places by hiring a car hire Gold Coast service that will take you to different exciting places. Having a nice vacation that won’t allow you to spend a lot of money is truly one of a kind. You should look for the most affordable car to take you for a ride.

Your kids will surely enjoy discovering a lot of wonderful attractions in this place. With a wide range of places to choose from, you will be able to treat your kids without spending much. Start your travel with selecting the right car rental Gold Coast for your family. They have the most economical Hyundai Getz, Holden Astra convertibles and the Nissan Pathfinder 4WD. All these cars will take you to the most breathtaking sceneries available. Treat you kids with nice foods and drinks at restaurants that you can find around the paradise.

Make the most out of it and devote your precious time at the coast together with your kids. Capture this precious moments that you will never forget for the rest of your life. Take the opportunity while it’s still available. Your kid’s will never be kids for life. Let them experience this once in a life time moment.

From France – to Netherlands

August 24, 2009 in Car Rental, Europe, Restaurants, Travel | Leave a comment

We have spent short (for 1 week) but truly splendid vacation riding with a rental car from the north France through Belgian to Netherlands. Arriving to Paris and taking rent car without delay we head for Orleans, the planned start point of our travel.

By the way having the strict plan we figured out beforehand helped us not only to save time and money but enjoy the travel in full measure. There is a small and cozy but full of interesting something worth seeing old town Valkenburg in Netherlands where we spent unforgettable 2 days walking with out friends, watching Town Walls and beautiful Valkenburg old streets and houses, Dwingelrots, founded in the 12th century (Castle Rock), which is crowned by the ruined castle of the lords of Valkenburg, trying tasty food in many of restaurants we met on the way.

Then we visited the Valkenburg oldest train station in the Netherlands, that was built in 1853 and still in use then it was checked by us immediately. It is on the train line between Heerlen and Maastricht with connections from both sides every 15 minutes. The city center can be reached on foot from the train station in 5 minutes. So Maastricht is our next destination.

As I said Valkenburg counts plenty of restaurants; most of them proposing snacks, pizzas, Dutch tapes and touristy menus. Some of them, such as Amadeus, we loved the most. Amadeus is named after the famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart of course and designed in style of inspiration and always perfection.

The food is looking and tasting just great and trying the sate royal for lunch we didn’t have to eat for a while. Also we enjoy well cooked food, good portions, the friendly and fluent service there. So, we were not disappointed.