Thinking of Moving to Spain?

By Henry Kramer

The population of Spain doubled during the twentieth century due to the spectacular demographic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s. The birth rate then plunged by the 1980s, and Spain's population became stagnant, its demographics showing one of the lowest sub replacement fertility rate in the world, only second to Japan's.[citation needed]. Many demographers have linked Spain's very low fertility rate to the country's lack of any real family planning policy. Spain is the Western European country that spends the least on family support (0.5% of GDP). A graphic illustration of the enormous social gulf between Spain and the other countries of Europe in this field is the fact that a Spanish family would need to have 57 children to enjoy the same financial support as a family with 3 children in Luxembourg.

In emigration/immigration terms and after centuries of net emigration, Spain has recently experienced large-scale immigration for the first time in modern history. According to the Spanish government, there were 4,145,000 foreign residents in Spain in January 2007. Of these, well over half a million were Moroccan while the Ecuadorians figure was around half a million as well. Romanian and Colombian populations amounted to around 300,000 each. There are also a significant number of British (274,000 as of 2006) and German (133,588) citizens, mainly in Alicante, Mlaga provinces, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. Chinese in Spain are estimated to number between 10 to 60,000, and South East Asian groups such as Filipinos -whose country was a former Spanish possession- created a small community in Spain. Immigrants from several sub-Saharan African countries have also settled in Spain as contract workers, although they represent only 4.08% of all the foreign residents in the country.

During the early twenty first century, the average year-on-year demographic growth set a new record with its 2003 peak variation of 2.1%, doubling the previous record reached back in the 1960s when a mean year on year growth of 1% was experienced. This trend is far from being reversed at the present moment and, in 2005 alone, the immigrant population of Spain increased by 700 000 people.

Currently Foreign population in Spain Year Population % total 1981 198.042 0,52% 1986 241.971 0,63% 1991 360.655 0,91% 1996 542.314 1,37% 1998 637.085 1,60% 2000 923.879 2,28% 2001 1.370.657 3,33% 2002 1.977.946 4,73% 2003 2.664.168 6,24% 2004 3.034.326 7,02% 2005 3.730.610 8,46% 2006 4.144.166 9,27% 2007 4.519.554 9,99% 2008 5.220.600 11,3%

According to the Spanish government, there were 4.5 million foreign residents in Spain in 2007; independent estimates put the figure at 4.8 million or 15.1% of total population (Red Cross, World Disasters Report 2006). According to residence permit data for 2007, around 500,000 were Moroccan, another half a million were Ecuadorian and Romanians, 260,000 were Colombian. Other important foreign communities are British (8.09%), French (8.03%), Argentine (6.10%), German (5.58%) and Bolivian (2.63%). In 2005, a regularization programme increased the legal immigrant population by 700,000 people. Since 2000 Spain has experienced high population growth as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half of the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving clandestinely by sea, has caused noticeable social tensions.

Spain currently has the second highest immigration rates within the EU, just after Cyprus, and the second highest absolute net migration in the World (after the USA). This can be explained by a number of reasons including its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of its submerged economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors which demand more low cost labour than can be offered by the national workforce. In fact, booming Spain was Europe's largest absorber of migrants from 2002 to 2007, with its immigrant population more than doubling as 2.5 million people arrived.

Immigrants from the European Union

Immigrants from the European Union make up a growing proportion of immigrants in Spain. They mainly come from countries like Romania, the United Kingdom, and Germany, but the British case is of especial relevance due to its magnitude. The British authorities estimate that the real population of UK and Canadian citizens who move to Spain from Canada or are living in Spain is much bigger than Spanish official figures suggest, establishing them at about 1,000,000, about 800,000 being permanent residents.

In fact, according to the Financial Times, Spain is the most favoured destination for West Europeans considering to move from their own country and seek jobs elsewhere in the EU. Must be the Weather!

About the Author:

Word traveler author Henry Kramer has been living in Spain for a decade. After his moving to Spain from Canadahttp://www.bchighway.com/travel/living-in-spain.html he has encouraged immigration to the Spanish speaking sunny lands in all his publications.

Travel - Your International Airport

By Mike Gregorio

Are you planning on flying out of the country this year? If so, have you even been on an international flight before? If not, there is also a good chance that you have never been in an international airport before. Even if you have visited an international airport before, is it the same one that you are planning on flying out of for your next trip? If not, you are advised to fully research and examine the international airport that you will be using. You will find that are an unlimited number of benefits to doing so.

Most international airports do not only house international airlines, but domestic airlines as well. For that reason, most international airports are fairly large in size. In fact, some are so large that they may seem overwhelming. By taking the time to research and examine each airport facility, namely the airport terminals, you will know where to arrive, where to park, and where to wait.

If you are interested in familiarizing yourself with the layout of your international airport, you have a number of different options. Perhaps, the easiest way is to visit the online website of the international airport in question. If you don?t already know the address of that online website, you should be able to find it by performing a standard internet search. Once you have arrived at the airport?s webpage, you should be able to find a map of the airport. Some international airports have interactive maps, but almost all airports have maps that you could easily print off your computer, if you wish to do so.

These fees do not include the cost of your airline tickets, but the cost of using certain airline services or features. For instance, a large number of international airports, especially those large in size, have offsite parking. This means that the parking lots, which are often long-term lots, are not within a reasonable walking distance to the airport terminals. If this is the case, you will need to make different arrangements. Most international airports will offer shuttle rides to and from their airports, but not all are free. In the event that you will be charged for using a shuttle service, you are advised to determine that cost ahead of time.

Although you may be able to receive a free shuttle ride from the airport parking lot to your terminal, you will not be able to get food and souvenirs free of charge. Although it is impossible to determine the exact cost of your souvenir purchases or the cost of your food, you should be able to make a reasonable estimate. This estimate may be important, especially if you are traveling on a limited budget. By examining the shopping centers and restaurants that you will have access to, you should be able to decide how much or how little you would like to spend at the airport.

You will also want to see if the international airfield that you will be using has an estimated arrival time. Almost all airports request that you arrive at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to take off, but some international airports have other suggestions or advice for travelers. If you find that the airfield recommends arriving three hours early, you are advised to arrive three hours early. This will help to ensure that you are healthy to make your international flight. If a problem should arise and you miss your flight, it may be difficult to schedule another international flight right away; you may not only be required to move a few hours, but a few days.

With this research taking a maximum of a few hours, you are advised to do it; you are guaranteed to walk away better prepared.

About the Author:

Go here for information on Travel ? Travel Infos More Travel and Lifestyle Tips : Trends and Lifestyle

Holiday cottage destinations

By reklicom

Simple gardeners first used these plants that looked great and had stamina in their gardens. The new and different plants that looked great soon became popular in the gardens of the people who had more beautiful homes and estates.

Some cottage house plans have double doors that lead to the master suites that are attached with a private bathroom and are accessed to the verandas. The bedrooms on the second levels are attached with the terrace or the galleries. These plans often include separated garages that can park two vehicles.

A cottage design garden can be defined by the structure and the plants in the garden rather than the structure around which it is established. The name cottage garden design refers to a particular style of garden. This garden style has been used for thousands of years, and this type of garden is still currently used.

A Cottage Garden Design Has A Fruitful History: A cottage garden design developed during the time when international trade became possible, and people started to find a vast variety of plants from different places. Some of these plants grew better than others, and some of these plants lasted longer than others. They had many choices that they never had before.

Guest apartments resemble a regular flat, but they tend to be located in a complex with several others. They usually have a full kitchen, living room, bathroom and a varying number of bedrooms. There is almost always a communal pool, and depending on the location, a private balcony.

In Finland, on the other hand, cottages are mainly residential buildings that are used as holiday homes or a relaxed dwelling. The main characteristic about cottages in Finland is that they are made of logs and they too are situated next to a water body. In Hong Kong, they are three storied brick structures, and commonly used as relaxing and rejuvenating getaways from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Cottages are dwellings that are typically found in rural or semi-rural areas. It is built around natural surroundings, and most of the time the surrounding fauna intruding into the actual living space. The term cottages also means a small and cosy place of living, often located near a body of water.

Alternatively, rent a holiday cottage near Penzance, one of Cornwall's most bustling seaside towns, and you'll be within easy distance of St. Michael's Mount, a National Trust property located just off the coast of Penzance and one of Cornwall's most visited attractions. And if you've got a car with you, why not take a drive from your holiday cottage near Penzance to the Tate St Ives, one of the four Tate Galleries in the UK.

But wherever you choose to rent your holiday cottage in Cornwall, there are certain must-see attractions that you'd be a fool to miss! Make sure you visit Land's End - the UK's most south-westerly point - for a taste of one of the country's most famous locations. Moreover, take a trip to The Eden Project when you're in Cornwall, to appreciate the iconic geographical and environmental feature which has fast become one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK since its opening in 2001. Of course, no trip to Cornwall would be complete without tasting the regions' culinary specialities, which include Cornish Pasties, seafood, Saffron Cake and the famous English Cream Tea.

In Finland, on the other hand, cottages are mainly residential buildings that are used as holiday homes or a relaxed dwelling. The main characteristic about cottages in Finland is that they are made of logs and they too are situated next to a water body. In Hong Kong, they are three storied brick structures, and commonly used as relaxing and rejuvenating getaways from the hustle and bustle of the city.

About the Author:

Find your holiday cottage holiday cottage Please visit us! Rekli.com will increase your search engine rankings as the links get picked up.Many of our customers have experienced large increases in PageRank. buy links Please visit us for more information.

Fair Grounds 101

By Ian Kleine

So everyone is excited to go the fair. There's a big fiasco inside the car as to who gets to sit beside the window. Everyone is in high spirits and it feels like nothing could go wrong.

But there are a million things that could happen to break that excitement. A million things that could have been prevented if we took the time to prepare.

Of course, going to fairs or shows isn't much of a big deal. We've been doing the same thing with our peers ever since we could remember. Why should you have to prepare, right? It's just a fun trip to the fair, right?

Well not exactly. It's with this type of thinking that we tend to make the most simple, yet stupidest of all mistakes. So here are a few tips to get by before going to the fair.

One, bring extra clothes. Especially if there's a chance of raining. You don't have to lug it around, you could even just leave it in the car. Going home sopping wet, is a bad idea, hence the extra clothes. The same could work for a hot day too. No one wants to go home inside the car, smelling all foul and moist. Even an extra undershirt would suffice in protecting your back from the sudden cold.

Two, avoid wearing gaudy accessories. They might get snatched, stolen or lost; especially in a tight crowd. That goes without saying that you should wear comfortable clothes. And bring a headgear too. Especially if it's hot.

Three, have an itinerary. Plan your movements out and know when and where to meet. Should any of you lose each other, set out a meeting point in order to collect anyone who went missing.

Lastly, exercise common sense. Common sense isn't really common nowadays, so help yourself, by keeping yourself safe and enjoying the experience all at the same time.

About the Author:

Ian Kleine takes every opportunity to go to festivals in his area, and enjoys it well enough to say a few thing about them. Florida Craft Shows has a complete list on every festival around the state. Don't miss out on your town's fairs and go to Florida Craft Shows.

When Stars Fall on Pasadena

By James Gilbert Pynn

To quote a bad line from a mediocre movie: "Pop quiz, hotshot!" What do Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Kevin Costner, Julia Child, George S. Patton, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Paul McCartney all have in common? True, they've all got (or had) killer hair, but more than that, they are (or were at one time), residents of sunny Pasadena, California. If you've ever visited (or lived in) the City of Roses, you'll know why they all chose to call this fabulous city home.

What makes this former cattle town so great? Well, for one thing, it was a former cattle town and that carries a lot of cowboy credit. To be sure, there are a number of nice places to live in Southern California, but none of them blend their past with their present as effectively as Pasadena. Once home to Hahamog-na tribe, a branch of the Tongva Nation, the first European settlers would not appear until the arrival of the Indiana Colony in 1873. The name of the city, which means "of the valley," was agreed upon in 1886.

Before long, the city was cultivating a cultural and scientific place for itself on the national scene. Though San Francisco was considered the first cosmopolitan city in California, Pasadena wasted no time giving it a run for its money. In 1922, the Norton Simon Museum was founded, while the Pasadena Playhouse was erected five years earlier. The Art Center of College and Design, a well-respected art school, was established in 1930 with a mission to produce students who would work to change the world. And of course, there is the JPL or Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which got its start in 1936. The JPL is, of course, one of the preeminent centers for rocket and space technologies in the world.

From an orange grove to a cattle town to an international arts and education center, Pasadena has fought for every square inch of respect it's earned. The building boom, which began in 1886, doesn't seem to have stopped more than hundred years later. You can still see the grand facades of Old Pasadena clustered on Colorado Boulevard. As you wax philosophical about the history of human progress, keep in mind the ever-popular Tournament of Roses, a New Year's Day tradition since 1890.

Though long affiliated with the Parade, the Rose Bowl didn't come into being until 1902. Until that time it was customary to have chariot races and fun and games for the family after the Parade. With the growing popularity of American football, especially on the collegiate level, the Rose Bowl soon became the "The Granddaddy of them All." Book your tickets by plane train or automobile and come see why Pasadena, California will never be outdone.

About the Author:

Forget Alabama, the stars fall on Pasadena, California. Come enjoy the weather, the people, and the history. Pasadena will never be outdone, despite it's sad sister to the south continually trying to hog the limelight.

Making a Good Impression in Thailand

By Christopher Linch

When visiting another country, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with any customs that may be new to you. It's easy to blunderinto giving offense, particularly in Middle Eastern or Asian countries, where the difference can be significant. Here are a few tips forvisiting Thailand.

One of the most important things a visitor to Thailand should remember is to dress conservatively, particularly at a religious shrine. Basically this means to cover up. No sleeveless tops, no shorts, and definitely nothing midriff-baring. It also means to dress neatly. This is a temple, not a rave. Treat it as you would your own house of worship. Remember to remove your shoes when entering the main enclave where the statue of Buddha is kept.

Every Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.

The Thais have a great respect and affection for their Royal Family. Please don't make any comments that might indicate a lack of respect for them.

The Thais set a lot of store on good manners and in handling things with a smile. If something goes wrong, a Thai is likely to smooth it over with a smile or a laugh. This is not an insult, or disrespectful. This is graceful living. So be gracious. Losing your temper is considered very bad form. If you must complain, do so with a smile.

The title "Khun" is a courtesy. A Thai may add this to your name or address you as such. It's also very common to call you by your first name on first meeting you.

It is not unusual if a Thai does not look at you while he or she is speaking with you. For a Thai, it is considered impolite to look someone in the eye when talking to them.

Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at people or an object. It is considered very rude. Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home.

Thais don't normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a Wai. If someone greet you with a Wai, it is polite to do the same in return.

About the Author:

If you need to book Cheap Hotel Reservations visit the site owned by Chris Linch. He lists multiple hotels and the best prices on the internet, guaranteed!

Exchanging Currencies for Travel Abroad

By Graham Winborne

When traveling to foreign countries, travelers need to think about how and when they will convert their currency. Luckily, there are many options for travelers to choose from when it comes time to make the exchange. There are two major factors to look at when exchanging currency: the exchange rate and the amount of commission charged.

Travelers are often fooled into exchanging for the lowest rate, while being charged a high rate of commission on their transaction. The strength of the US dollar is an important concern when planning to pay for a trip. When the dollar is losing strength, it is best not carry the dollar. Also, if the dollar is losing strength, try to pay for expenses such as airfare and hotels in advance. This way, the large expenses are paid for when the dollar is at its potentially highest point, therefore benefiting you the most in terms of expense. Find out what the current exchange rate is at www.gocurrency.com.

Exchanging Currencies While Still in the States

While still in the states, travelers can exchange their currency at the local bank. Although this may seem to be a convenient way to prepare for your vacation, the costs associated with exchanging in this way can be large. Also, there are several online venues which allow you to pay American funds, and the currency you desire is then sent to your home. These sites generally offer decent exchange rates but charge fees and delivery charges. With these services, there is also the risk that the company is fraudulent or that the currency could be stolen while in transit. Exchanging a currency through this online medium may seem convenient, but be sure to weigh the risks involved.

Exchanging at Hotels and Airports

Your best bet is to exchange currency once you get to the country you'll be staying in. Your hotel may offer an exchange service, and once again, this may seem like a convenient alternative, but watch out. Hotels may charge fees of 20% or more to exchange currency, so try to stay away from hotel exchanges unless it is an emergency. Use one of the three free currency converters to find out how much extra your hotel is willing to charge you. Airports also offer an exchange, but as with hotel exchanges, airports tend to make a good deal of money off of the exchange.

Credit Cards

Many people travel abroad planning to put the majority of the charges on their credit card. Although credit cards generally offer the best exchange rates, you must be careful about using credit cards when the strength of the dollar is falling. Credit card transactions are not immediate, so when the dollar is falling you could end up with a less favorable exchange rate due to the time it takes for transactions to post. We recommend Canadian Credit Cards and Canadian Balance transfer credit cards with Travel Rewards Capabilities.

Don't Want to Carry Large Amounts of Cash?

If you don't feel like carrying cash all the time, ATM's are a convenient way to get foreign currencies. ATM's generally offer a good exchange rate, and are located in many places. One thing to consider before deciding to use an ATM to get cash is what fee your bank charges for withdrawing money abroad. These fees will add up, especially if you plan on using an ATM many different times throughout your trip.

Another alternative to cash is to bring travelers checks with you. Travelers checks can be replaced if they are lost or stolen, and can be used at exchanges to get the currency of the country you are in.

Banks

Another logical place to look to exchange currency is at banks. The exchange rate at banks is usually pretty good, although a bank has two alternatives as to what rate to provide. In some banks, the exchange rate depends on the supply and demand of the currency, and with this system, you end up with an exchange rate fairly close to the ones being offered in major exchanges. The second option is that the government of the country you are traveling sets the exchange rate, and all exchanges must stick to that rate. In either case, banks do offer a convenient way to exchange currency without incurring a large amount of costs.

No matter what way you plan on exchanging your money, be sure to bring along a list of current exchange rates. These rates can be found online or in many major newspapers. With this information in hand, you can judge where the best rates are being offered.

About the Author:

bchighway.com/financial-planning/canadian-credit-cards.html is dedicated to providing complete information on Canadian credit cards. Author Graham Winborne is a graduate of personal bankruptcy and continues to speak positively about hope for financial freedom.

Hotels in Old Havana

By J. M. Maurette

If you are looking around to make up your mind about which Havana hotels to go for your upcoming Cuba Holidays then you are reading the right article. I will let you know which are the best hotels in Havana categorized by star rating and the average price per person.

Havana is divided into 14 quarters of which the most interesting and popular among tourists are the Old Town (Habana Vieja), Vedado and Miramar. Probably the best place to stay is the Old Town.

There are 22 hotels in the Old Town. If you are looking for the best possible accommodation in Havana you can get then I would recommend Parque Central Hotel, Saratoga Hotel and Santa Isabel Hotel.

If you budget can only afford 4 star hotel accommodation then you have more options available. There are about seven 4 star hotels in the Old Town all of which are managed by one of the best hotel chains in Cuba - Habaguanex

Among these 4 star hotels worth mentioning are Florida Hotel and Conde de Villanueva Hotel. The first one featuring 37 rooms is one of the most beautiful palaces in the heart of the Old Town.

On the 3 star category then you can check Hostal Valencia, Comendador, Meson de la Flota and Beltran de Santa Cruz hotels. The only problem with this hotels is that you are not going to find availabilities if you don't book well in advance as they are highly demanded for their price and comfort.

The cheapest hotels in the Old Town are El Lido and Lincoln Hotel. These are 2 star hotels suitable for students or other travellers on a tight budget. They are very basic but they all have air conditioning, bathroom ensuite and satellite TV.

Prices range from 15.00 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos) per person per night for the cheapest hotels to 80.00 CUC per person per night for the most expensive 5 star hotels. The 4 star hotels which I highly recommend can be booked online for around 50.00 CUC per person per night.

About the Author:

Please visit Cuba tours web site by J. M. Maurette for further information on Havana Hotels

Characteristics of Pleasant Holidays

By Dennis Durrel

The Pleasant Holidays Journey Company prepares to present wonderful transactions to personals who are in the market for tour packages going numerous places round the earth.

This specific group prepares to find the excellent fees whilst it comes to departures, cruises marriages to various landing place, marriage pack, hotel lodgings as well as even charter car agreements.

If you are seeking the great trip transaction during the feasts, Satisfying Feasts capable assist you get just that!

There are a great deal of destinations that can be researched and enjoyed when searching through the website that Pleasant Holidays has online.

Pleasant Holidays Travel Group also offers many different types of protection plans that work to serve individuals who require and desire insurance for their travel needs.

This special corporation put the summit charge on ensuring that your journey is covered in each single way that is potential. If you are preparing a|the vacation, it is greatest to consider Pleasant Holidays Journey Unit with your preparation.

Not only will you experience variety, but they will also offer you tremendous savings and a wide range of protection. Visit the website of Pleasant Holidays today to start planning your next vacation! You will be glad that you did.

About the Author:

About Author: Pleasantholiday-s.com. Pleasant Holidays Travel Group offers a wide selection of destinations, accommodations, and savings. If you are planning a trip, visit their website today in order to see how you can benefit!

Purchasing Car CD MP3 Players

By Anne Ahira

nearly all of the cars and trucks you buy nowadays have pure sound systems, but, they arelacking in preference for hearing to your prefer song. The lovely Information is you may well solve that trouble by buying Car CD Mp3 Players.

Prices are reasonable and many retailers will do the installation even if you purchase the equipment online. However, there are plenty of other good reasons for having your own car CD MP3 players.

Ease of Use

Modern vehicles have made it difficult for you to take along your own MP3 CD player. That's because they've gotten rid of cassette decks and lighters which were two of the main requirements for most of the early kits that came before the car CD MP3 players of today. You can sometimes still connect your MP3 player to your existing stereo but it's a hassle because most of the ports are in the back.

When you purchase most car CD MP3 players, however, they include one of these ports in a convenient front location or have an easy-to-use adapter that can be purchased so you can enjoy the music. Make sure to mention your desire to use the stereo for your digital MP3 player when you have it installed.

Musical Variety

Road tours may perhaps be a magnificent experience. You pile into a car with several of your friends and head out for a weekend tripto anywhere But what really make up a road tour exciting is the song. unhappily not everyone has the equal musical tastes nor is everyone going to be of the same mind on a radio station. With car CD MP3 players, you have a several more alternative

Passengers can taking along their favored CDs or create their own mix collection or they could taking along their own flash MP3 players to connect Just remember that generally of the car CD MP3 players on the marketplace today are just well-suited with iPods. Your friend's Zune or Creative Zen player just isn't going to work.

Increased Security

If you do choose to invest in car CD MP3 players, here's a tip: always choose the ones with a removable face plate. These units are going to heighten your security because they won't be a desirable target to potential thieves.

Another advantage of these installed units is that if one is stolen from your automobile the cost will be covered by your auto insurance. Most people don't know that anything not attached permanently to your car is not going to be covered in the event of theft. Keep that in mind when you're comparing car CD MP3 players.

Reasonable Prices

The best reason to choose car CD MP3 players is they provide a lot of music enjoyment at a price that doesn't cost much more than those old car kits once did. You'll give yourself a lot more choices when it comes to how you enjoy your music, plus you'll have an installed unit that is going to be safer in the long run than other alternatives.

About the Author:

About the author: Anne Ahira's Mp3 Players Sale guide. Providing the best, up-to-date information on the best in Mp3 Player 30gb research, tips, & much more!

How To Get Good Cancun Vacation Deals

By Brandon

Cancun, Mexico is located on the Yucatan peninsula, and is known as the Mexican Caribbean, with its white beaches and bright blue water. Apart from being a popular vacation destination, it is also home to over 500,000 citizens. As a vacationer, therefore, you have plenty of places to choose from - whether as near the beaches as possible, or deeper in the city to get the feel of the "real" Cancun. It all depends on why you're going there!

Because of its popularity, accommodations near the touristy hotspots can be quite expensive. What you get in being "right there" at the center of things, without having to waste time taking buses, taxis or limos to your destinations, you pay for.

On the other hand, if you're willing to expand your horizons a little, and look at hotels or locations closer to the actual city, you can find some inexpensive deals, but of course, then you have to pay more to get where you want to go by taxi or bus, and there's the time factor involved there as well.

That's why research is so important, and the easiest way to do research these days is to scope out Cancun on the Internet. You'll want to conduct a two-pronged approach to your research. First, you'll want to find out about the city itself, from such sites as Wikipedia or even their own official website.

Whether you're single, a couple, or a family, there are all sorts of activities for you to do in Cancun, but you'll want to know about them before you arrive.

Once you decide where you want to go and how long you can stay, then you have to start doing the research on the least expensive lodgings...or if expense really isn't an issue, you still want to get the best value for the money that you are paying.

To that end, there are websites such as Orbitz and Priceline that allow you to compare prices for hotels, airplane tickets, and so on. Before booking into the cheapest hotel - check out their websites, to make sure you know exactly what you're getting.

Vacation and tour packages are also a viable option. It's always more fun to go places with a group of people whom you know, or who share similar interests. Consult a professional travel agent to see what they can offer you, to ensure that you get the best Cancun deal possible.

About the Author:

Get more helpful tips and information on cancun vacation packages deals you can look for through my website on cancun vacation packages

Good Travel Advice For The Weekend

By Leroy Calstard

The arrival of summer also brings the weekend trips and week long vacations. There are many things that go into planning a vacation. Travelers need to know where they want to go first. Many factors need to go into this decision to include the actual destination or destinations, how many nights you'd like stay, what your budget is, and how you are going to book all your reservations if any.

Picking a travel destination is not as easy as everyone thinks. A considerate traveler will try to satisfy the likes of all that are involved in a trip. This becomes more difficult as more travelers are joining the vacation. A good way to avoid problems is to plan the trip as a group. The use of computer to research in the same room, or over shared connections is a great way to come up with a trip that everyone wants to go on. Using instant messengers and email to send links to travel location websites is a great way to make sure everyone is on board for where you want to go be it Mexico or Alicante, Spain.

Once you decide on where you're going, you need to figure out how long you want to stay there. Things to take into consideration are how long it will take you to get there, how much money you can spend on hotels and accommodations, and what activities you want to do when you're there. All of these things will factor into how much time you can and want to spend at your destination.

Because your decisions may be based on the types of activities you want to participate in, you may want to research different resorts, hotels, and travel packages to see which types of tours and other activities they offer. Many times, you can save money in travel expenses by choosing a vacation package that includes hotel, activities, and other amenities. Research these packages online or contact your travel agent for additional information. Many agencies put together their own travel packages that could save you even more.

Lastly, you've chosen where you want to go and how long you'd like to stay. You can now book your vacation. While some people like to call directly to airlines, hotels, and rental car companies, this can run your costs up. Using the internet to book your travel can save you a lot of money in the long run. It is easy, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home without having to work your way through an automated phone system.

Planning a vacation does not have to be complicated, but you should make sure that you research the possibilities so you can choose the best vacation for you. This will help you have a much better time and save you some money in the end. When you don't want to have to plan activities and other events once you arrive, vacation packages can reduce your stress.

About the Author:

Leroy Calstard writes almost entirely for http://www.alicante-spain.com , a web publication on the topic of finding flights to spain . You can have a look at his comments on finding flights to spain and flights from alicante here.

Choosing Good Thomson Holidays

By Dennis Durrell

When you are looking for the perfect vacation, you want to be sure that you are working with professionals that you trust.

Thomson Holidays is actually a travel operator that is located in the United Kingdom. It is a minor part of the company that was established in 1965, Thomson Travel Group.

Thomson Travel Group was really formerly an asset of Canada, but in 1998 the property was sold on the London Stock Exchange.

In 1972, the Thomson Travel Group was modernized to create Thomson Holidays. This was done since the company needed to make a source of power in the vacation planning industry.

Thomson Holidays does have an elite group of persons that are members of the Thomson Founder Club. The members truly receive a 10 % price cut on any Thomson holidays. Membership in the club is determined by the individuals that possess at least 294 shares of Thomson Travel Group Stocks.

Thomson holidays designs amazing trip on land and sea alike. Thomson truly has its own cruise line.

The Thomson cruise line claims that it presents affordable European cruises. Thomson holidays originally started operating Thomson Cruises in the early 1970's, but in the 1990's it had a resurrection on the market and keeps on to be popular in the present day.

About the Author:

About Author: Thomsonholiday-s.com. Looking for a guide on thomson holidays? Here it is! A complete guide on thomson holidays absolutley free!

The Little Old Lady: Pasadena

By James Gilbert Pynn

Though you may not be a fan of the Beach Boys, I defy you to not sing along or tap your foot when they hit all the harmonies to "Little Old Lady From Pasadena." Of course, it was a hit for Jan & Dean, those purveyors of all things surf related, first -- but I digress. The song is couched in the history of Pasadena, California that few people know about.

As families fled from the desolation of the Dust Bowl, especially in Oklahoma, they made their way west to California. They settled in Southern California, especially in Pasadena. During the Fifties and Sixties, when many of these transplants began dying, it became folklore that the husbands would die off before their wives, leaving the widows to drive around in their husbands' cars.

It became something of a phenomenon in Southern California for car salesmen to pitch cars with something to the effect: "This car was owned by a little old lady in Pasadena, who only drove it to church on Sunday." Hence, it was a barely-used car in excellent condition. Of course, the song turns that perception around, casting the "Little Old Lady" as a drag racer, firing her Super Stock Dodge up and down Colorado Boulevard.

The little old lady (and Jan & Dean) aside, Pasadena has managed to hold its own against its renown and infamous neighbor to the south: Los Angeles. In fact, it has shaped itself into a haven for artists and engineers alike. Between the students at Caltech and the California Arts Club, the city has a rich selection of cultural and artistic organizations.

Additionally, there is the world-famous Tournament of Roses Parade and the affiliated Rose Bowl. When it comes to the college game, the Rose Bowl is considered the "Granddaddy of Them All." Although Los Angeles tends to take the lion's share of notoriety and prestige, most people who know a thing or two about Southern California know the real class and history reside in the city that made the little old lady famous. The only way to know for yourself is to scour the Pasadena hotels, book a room, and get here as fast as your Super Stock Dodge can go.

About the Author:

There are any number of Pasadena hotels that are right for your budget. From motels on up, Pasadena prides itself on being a tourist friendly town. From the luxurious Pasadena hotels, to the cozy motels, you're sure to find a place to begin your Californian adventures.

How to Keep your Festival Experience Safe

By Ian Kleine

The local fair and trade market can be a very wonderful place for most kids (and kids at heart) to frolic around. Food stalls abound everywhere, some new niceties to buy and play with, a new thing to discover; it can be a whole new adventure when venturing around the festival grounds.

But as with every adventure, danger is there to hound both wary and unwary travelers. They can come in many forms, but each one is sure to deal pain to your family if you are caught unawares.

First, your local security. Florida is not the state most people would assume it to be. Every place can be a danger, and your local trade shows could be one of them. Keep your kids beside you at all times, buy a child safety leash if you can. Child safety leashes ARE not degrading, and gives your child freedom and gives you security at the same time. Do not lose your eye over the stroller or baby carriage and as much as possible, have your family or someone close go with you when out venturing into the festival.

Second, your health. Festivals go from morning to evening. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes so they don't end up sticky or smelly. You wouldn't want to attract flies and insects that would bring you more nasties. For those going to the fair when it is evening tide, a long coat would be nice to keep the warmth in and the cold out.

For the booth keepers and exhibit owners, make sure that at least two or three people man the booth at the same time. A few rascals might cause trouble or someone might steal a thing or two. That would equal to your profit being stolen. Have a comfortable uniform that is easy to wear, so in case of emergencies, your movements will not be hindered. You can never know with our times.

Be extra careful, but learn to relax as well. After all, the point of going to a festival is to enjoy your time with you and your family or loved one.

About the Author:

Ian Kleine takes every opportunity to visit festivals in his area, and enjoys it well enough to say a few thing about them. Florida Craft Shows has a complete list on every festival around the state. Don't miss out on your town's fairs and visit Florida Craft Shows.

Words Of Advice For Tourist Attractions In China

By Chris Channing

A trip to the breath-taking lands of China is considered to be the trip of a lifetime by Western civilizations, so it's good to make use of a trip if one should decide to depart. But to do so, one must first become familiar with their options from the experiences of others and travel agents alike.

When the Western hemisphere thinks of fun tourist attractions in China, The Great Wall is probably one of the first to come to mind. The Great Wall spans an enormous area around China, and is truly a magnificent world wonder considering the age in which it was built. While it doesn't have much defensive use for China now, it still serves as a popular form of tourism income for the Chinese government.

Like The Great Wall, The Forbidden City is another attraction that is hard to pass up. The Forbidden City is an enormous city that has been preserved through the sands of time, despite being built long ago. The architecture of the buildings is classic Chinese culture, the stuff of inspiration and great photograph opportunities. The Forbidden City is such a large attraction that travelers should expect a crowd when visiting on vacation.

For more of a lengthy sight seeing tour, one might consider exploring the rivers and seas of China. In particular, the Li River is popular for its long stretch of beautiful scenery. The route is complete with mountains, rock deposits, cliffs, and beautiful banks to look at while passing along the stretch of river. Tourists appreciate the sights so much, in fact, that thousands of people cross its waters each year just to get a glimpse of nature's beauty.

Going to China just wouldn't be the same without taking part in the relaxation so many tourists experience at the beaches each year. The most popular of China beaches are filled with palm trees, beautiful waters, and plenty of hotels and dining areas for tourists to buy services from. Going to a beach is also a great way to meet locals and learn more of the Chinese culture in its present day form.

If possible, try to plan catching a festival of sorts. Different festivals occur throughout the year that correspond to important calendar dates. The Spring Festival, for instance, is the Chinese New Year and attracts quite the large crowd. Streets are often filled with dancers, parades, and a great number of vendors in which to buy things from. While it may be a cultural overload, it is truly amazing to see.

Closing Comments

China is full of wonderful things to see, do, and take part in. Clearly, a simple guide won't give China the justice it deserves. Talk to a travel agent for more information on how you can plan a truly unforgettable trip to the amazing lands of China.

About the Author:

Learn more on Travel and Travel Guide.

Seychelles Island - A Leading Luxury Safari Destination in Africa

By Andrew Muigai

Seychelles archipelago is one of the most popular destinations in Africa. Seychelles, comprising 115 granitic and coralline islands in the Indian Ocean, is especially popular among visitors seeking for serene luxury vacation or honeymoon destinations in Africa.

Placed 4 degrees south of the Equator, between 480 km and 1600 km off the coast of East Africa, Seychelles is home to some of the most uncrowded and picturesque beaches in the world. These beaches include Anse Source d'Argent the famous beach on La Digue that is framed by impressive granite rocks, Anse Cocos on the eastern coast of La Digue - accessible only by foot and Anse La Reunion placed along its shore on The La Digue Island (the fourth largest island in Seychelles). Other beaches are Anse Patates lying on the northern most tip of the La Digue, Anse a la Mouche situated on the south western coast of Mahe, Anse Union, and Anse Forbans among many others.

Mahe, Praslin and La Digue islands form the cultural heart of the archipelago while the more numerous islands often referred to as outer islands extend in a gleaming arc towards the coast of East Africa. The outer islands are located between 230km and 1150 km from the Mahe, and Only two islands among them: Alphonse and Desroches offer accomodation. Seychelles tours and holidays in Mahe, Praslin and La Digua islands have over the years drawn numerous visitors from around the world.

Mahe, measuring 28 km long and 8 km wide, is the principal island of Seychelles and the home to the Mahe International Airport. Praslin is the second popular island in Seychelles, renowned for the legendary Coco-de-mer nut that grow on ancient giant palms in the wondrous Vallee de Mai Forest. Praslin is located 44 km to the north east of Mahe and it features exquisite beaches such as Anse Boudin, Anse Georgette, Anse Lazio, Anse La Farine, Anse Possession, Anse Matelot, Grand Anse, Anse Volbert, Anse Kerlan. On the other hand, time seems to stand still on La Digue where on-carts hold sway on the paths to the dream beach of Anse La Source d'Argent.

The main point of entry for international travel into Seychelles is the Mahe International Airport, the hub of Seychelles Republic's national airline " Air Seychelles. The airline conducts weekly scheduled flights between four European capitals and Seychelles, and also connects Seychelles with three other Indian Ocean cities. Air Seychelles also operates internal inter-island flights in Seychelles. Several Seychelles hotels can also arrange special flights upon visitor's request, though a helicopter flight service is available between Mahe, Silhouette, Fregate, and North Islands.

There are more attractions to see in Seychelles than just its beautiful beaches. Some fascinating sites for Seychelles visitors include Ile Coco Marine National Park, the famous Vallee de Mai, the legendary Aldabra, Aride Island, and Curieuse Island. Two of these have in fact been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the Aldabra (world's largest raised atoll), and the Vallee de Mai (regarded as the original Garden of Eden by a number of people). Aride Island is among the most important nature reserves in the world, being the breeding ground and home to ten species of endemic seabirds including Fodies, Magpie Robins, and Brush Warblers.

Seychelles enjoys tropical climate all year around. During the North West Trade Winds between the months of October and March, the sea is generally calm and the weather is warm and humid. The map of Seychelles island is self explanatory and visitors can get around the archipelago with much ease.

About the Author:

The Author is the Managing Director of Africapoint.com, online travel agents for Africa travel. Visit Africapoint.com to organize all your arrangements for African tours and safaris including reservations for Seychelles hotels and resorts

Buying real estate in Manzanillo

By James Sanchez

Manzanillo is on the verge of growing into the next must-see destination. Buying real estate in Manzanillo is getting more and more popular every year. Legally purchasing land in Mexico has led to much confusion. This is commonly seen when trying to buy land in restricted areas like near a beach or border.

As experienced real estate owners in Mexico, let us clear up a few misunderstandings about owning International Real Estate. We've dont this before, so following these instructions will make it as easy and quick as possible. The following is at least a partial guide to how you can go about buying property in Mexico's costal areas.

Some people are uneducated to the latest changes in the law, namely that the purchasing of real estate in Mexico is illegal to foreigners. Some people will swear up and down that you cannot own property in Mexico. This isn't the case anymore.

Reality is often different than the perception:

Once upon a time the government did not allow foreigners to buy land in restricted zones (within 50 km. of the ocean, border etc.) because they were worried about being taken over by foreigners. Once a law is included in the constitution of Mexico, it cannot be changed. During this period in Mexico's past, people who loved Mexico and wanted part of it for themselves, tried (sometimes with bad results) to own property.

Next came the Fideicomiso, a land trust system that allows newcomers to Mexico to own land (excluding Ejido land) in previously off limits territory (Manzanillo included). Not unlike a trust created in Canada or the USA where assets are lodged in the trust and held for the exclusive use of the beneficiary, your Mexican trust holds the property deed for the sole benefit of you, the beneficiary. Your property is then yours, and you can build as you desire. You can occupy, rent, sell, develop, lease, etc. at your discretion. It's a good idea to get a trust document for your property as you can legally say who will receive the property in the case of your passing on.

The disadvantages include the cost of creating the real estate trust (only slightly more than Mexican's pay to create a new deed when they buy) and secondly, the annual fee payable to the bank that holds the trust for you. In return for getting to enjoy all that Manzanillo has to offer, this little additional fee is no big deal.

Your real estate purchase does not include the requirement of being a Mexican resident. The laws governing property ownership are certainly different from ours, but the result is nearly the same. Maybe their system is a little inconvenient at times, but it is very comprehensive, providing protection for the buyer and seller. Your notary should abide by the proper procedures when notarizing your documents.

Hope this helps and that it answers more questions than it raises. There is lots of information on trusts in different publications and on the internet, most of which is factual. Most important for you to know now is that, other than the time needed to make a few trips to the Notary, this purchase (we sincerely hope) for you should be painless and efficient.

About the Author:

Manzanillo Mexico offers a gorgeous rejuvinating one of a kind trip in the Costalegre area and the Manzanillo condos are a reliable option. You can't miss going to sojourn Manzanillo on your next Mexico family trip!

How To Arrive in Las Vegas

By Chris Linch

If you are going to go to Las Vegas make sure you know what you need to do when you arrive. This is a very busy airport with many flights all day and night. You want to make the arragements you need to get to your hotel ahead of time. I also suggest that you only carry on luggage. If you have to take a cab, you need to know how to save money, same with renting a car.

I say when you book your flight, book your airport transportation as well. There are no hotels that I am aware of in Las Vegas that offer a shuttle from the airport. You can, however, pick up a shuttle for less than $15 per person for a round trip. You need to prearrange this before you leave. This is the best way to get from the airport to your hotel. Busses and cabs are available, but the prices will be more than the shuttle.

I also recommend if at all possible pack light so you can take just a carry on. Sometimes, especially during peak times, it can take a long time to get your checked baggage. Plus you have to pay a fortune anymore just to check a bag. If you can carry your luggage with you it saves a lot of time, and makes your trip longer.

If for some reason you do decide that you are just going to take a cab, tell your driver not to take the tunnel. You really have to choose here between time and money. If they do not take the tunnel you are going to pay less, but if traffic is heavy you are going to be slowed down. When they do take the tunnel they will charge you more. The decision is what is more important, time or money.

If you really want the trouble of having a car while you are in Las Vegas then I would say go with Fox Rent-a-Cars. They are not in the airport, you have to be shuttled to their building. They do save you a lot of money, though, over the airport locations. I have never rented a car there though, I think my feet and public transportation is the way to go. Then you don't worry about parking and all that, and you usually aren't stuck in traffic.

When ever you are landing in Vegas make sure you have a plan how you are getting from the airport to your hotel. Planning in advance can save you some money. The best way is to arrange for a shuttle and don't check bags, this will save time and money.

About the Author:

Chris Linch is an internet marketer who operates a travel website that can help you save money. Click here for the cheapest hotels.

Johnny B Good in NYs Catskill Mountains

By LJ James

Over the years I have done a few stories on the New York Catskill Mountains and I have done a few stories about places I have enjoyed eating at. Well recently while I was once again up in the Catskill Mountains, I went to a 50's Thyme Diner called "Johnny B Good" located at 5806 RT 23 in the NY Town of Acra.

I was upstate in the Catskills Mountains at my Sister's for the Holidays. My Mother, My Niece and I where out checking out the area. After looking around a bunch of really cool antique stores in the Town of Catskill itself We where all getting Hungry.

Now as I have said before I love to eat! Now my Sister being my Sister well she too loves to eat and I had heard her and my Brother in Law mention Johnny B Good as a great place to eat more then once. So it was the place I wanted to check out!

As we arrived right off the bat I could see from the outside it really looked like an Old style 50's Diner.Now It seems these days everyone has a catch or a thyme to get you threw the door. So as good as the place looked from the outside, I was going to wait before I gave it a thumbs up. As we entered I could see they hadn't missed much with the 50's (and a little bit of the 60's) thyme on the inside. We sat down and started to look threw our menu's and order some food. As I looked though the Lunch and Dinner section of my menu I saw all the meals had names that helped to take you back. There where meals called the Peggy Sue Special , Jimmy Durrante Rueben , La Bamba Burger , Tarzan of the Jungle Salads and the Wimpy Burger (For Wimps) to name just a few. Now being a Biker I felt an obligation to order the Marlon Brando Mushroom Cheeseburger with Onion Rings.

While waiting for my food I started checking out the Breakfast Menu and found a few more Classic meal names like the Rita Hayworth Cheese Omelet , The Cisco Kid Chili Cheese Omelet, The Jolly Green Giant Veggie Omelet and I am going to have to go back to try some of their Hot Rod Pancakes!

I then got up and started to look around at all the great 50's Memorabilia Johnny B Good's had to offer hanging on the walls. There where of Course pictures of the King "Elvis", some old Movie poster's , Pictures of many of your favorite 50's stars, some Classic 45s, some of those old plastic circle things you used to have to put inside the 45's so you could play them on your turn table, (did those things have a name?) and even some old personal Pictures brought in by friends of the owner Bobbi.

I got to meet and speak with Bobbi the owner. I found her to be extremely Friendly. After just a few moments talking to her I could tell she really loves the place. There was no hiding the fact that she puts her heart and Soul into giving Johnny B Good that Nostalgic feel of a 50's hang out. It really is a place where everyone feels at home enjoying a meal with Friends.Bobbi told me during the Summer months Johnny B Good holds many Cruise Nights and many people from far and wide show up in Classic Cars and on Classic Motorcycles. They all hang out showing off their rides talking and eating! On a hot Summer Night both the young and old love to stop by and enjoy an Old fashion Style Ice Cream Soda or Root Beer Float .

Now as I have said before how a Restaurant makes you feel just being there does count for something, but when it comes right down to it the Bottom line is taste and there Bobbi and Johnny B Good's have the most important blast from the past down and this is good old fashion Quality and Taste.

I recommend you stop by Johnny B Good when you are out Cruising up in the Catskill Mountains! Just make sure to remember while in the Catskill Mountains taking this trip back in time at Johnny B Good's "Nobody puts Baby in a corner"!!!

Be sure to check them out on-line at Myspace.com/JohnnyBGood50

I am your Bro LJ James AmericanBikerX.com

About the Author:

LJ lives the Biker Life and loves good Biker Gear LJ works for a Collection Agency .

Top Grand Canyon Tours Reviews!

By Dennis Durrel

There are tons of available Grand Canyon tours for vacations. If you and your family are in the process of visiting the Grand Canyon, and surrounding locations, you will be happy to see that there are a few different locations that you can visit, and several dissimilar ways to go to see them.

One of the most familiar Grand Canyon tours for tourists is the ever-favorite "Canyon River Adventure".

The particular tour gives you the all day event of visiting the Grand Canyon by the stunning Lake Powell.

Other than it, you may see the Glen Canyon Dam. It is one of the most familiar when it comes round Grand Canyon tours!

If you desire experience Grand Canyon tours including a real vision, you possibly want to consider flying! There is nothing like climbing onboard of a undersized airplane and flying above the big canyon in order to real event the majesty plus immensity that it has to present!

Several individuals elect this among all other available Grand Canyon tours. As you can see, there are many different ways that you can explore the Grand Canyon. Check out all the available Grand Canyon tours on your next vacation!

About the Author:

About Author: GrandCanyonTour-s.com. If you are looking for Grand Canyon tours for your vacation, there are many different ones to choose from! Read this to find out more!

Ski Alaska at Beautiful Alyeska Resort

By Emery Noile

Alaska has been a source of awe and mystery for ages. It also has some of the best skiing in the world. Of all the ski destinations in Alaska, the Alyeska Resort is among the best. The area gets an average of 631 inches of snow each year, with a maximum elevation of 2,751 feet and a 2,501 foot vertical drop.

Although the Alyeska Resort offers some of the best skiing in the world, you won't find the slopes overly crowded, and there are no long lines for the lifts. There are nine lifts, consisting of six chair lifts, two surface lifts, and one cable car line. There are 68 trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts, with most of the trails designed for intermediate skiers.

Night skiing at the Alyeska Resort brings more thrill and adventure to your vacation. At night, you'll see the snow capped mountains, hanging glaciers and those famous Northern Lights. This resort is ranked number nine on Skiing Magazine's list of the top twenty-five killer ski trips.

In this part of Alaska, the ski season begins in the middle of November and runs until the middle of April. The area also boasts the longest daytime hours in the United States. In April, you can expect about sixteen hours of sunlight each day. But, in December, there are only about seven hours of daylight. So, if you're hitting the Alyeska Resort slopes in December, be prepared to do a lot of night skiing.

If your perfect vacation includes luxurious rooms and fine dining, the Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to be. You'll enjoy nightly entertainment on site, or you can venture out to take in more nightlife at other nearby hotspots.

If you enjoy tubing, then visiting the Glacier Tubing Park is an absolute must! Featuring two lanes of terrain and a surface lift, everyone in the family will delight in spending time at the tubing park. The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for snowboarding devotees.

There's a lot more winter fun to be found in and around the Alyeska Resort. Try ice climbing, dog sledding, heli-skiing, ocean tours, flight seeing, back country skiing, mountaineering and polar bear watching.

The ultimate winter vacation is yours to experience at the Alyeska Resort. Bundle up, brave the elements and then head back to the hotel for some pampering. Treat yourself to a taste of Alaska and discover how thrilling skiing can really be.

With activities for the entire family to enjoy, and so many unique sights and attractions, the Alyeska Resort really is an awesome winter family ski vacation!

About the Author:

Emery Noile is an author for a variety of popular Internet magazines, on sports outdoors and winter sports themes.

The Strip or Downtown in Vegas

By William Linch

Recently I visited the wonderful city of Las Vegas. It was my goal to figure out which was the best value, the strip or downtown. It didn't take much, I stayed 2 nights at each place and concluded that Freemont Street was the place to go. It is cheaper, more historical, better to gamble on and you still have easy access to the strip.

The rooms are so much cheaper downtown that you can really save a bunch of money. You can stay downtown sometimes as cheap as eighteen dollars per night. The hotels are not as nice as they are on the strip, but they are still decent rooms. How much time are you going to spend in your room in Las Vegas anyway.

These historical buildings are so neat. The highlight of our trip was to go into all of these buildings and just take a peak at what they contained. They have old fixtures and furniture. The setup of the casinos is even different. The rooms are not the luxury type rooms you will find on the strip, but to me the history of the buildings and the prices were more important.

If you need food, you can eat for a day downtown for the price of one meal on the strip. I ate at what I thought was an awful restaurant on the strip in the MGM. We paid $90 each for a meal that was not worth the money. When we got downtown I went and ate a wonderful cut of prime rib for just $10 per person. Breakfast was steak and eggs and it was $3.95.

So though I really don't gamble, I did when I was down town. I mean why not I was saving so much money, I might as well try my luck. The slots have a pay out that is much better than on the strip. I play blackjack. I was with my girl, and I wanted her to learn how to play too. I was teaching her and even the dealers down town were helping her. I would never get service like that on the strip. Even the pit boss was taking time out to help us play.

You can still get to the strip, there is no reason you have to stay downtown. You can catch a cab for about $20 one way, or the best deal is the bus that goes back and forth from downtown to the strip that is seven dollars per person for an all day pass.

So my conclusion is that you should stay downtown at Freemont Street. I will visit the strip, but I don't see why it is so expensive.

About the Author:

Chris Linch is a traveler himself. When he wants to save money he shops only at this website where he can get cheapest hotels.

Paris Hotel Las Vegas Help!

By Anne Ahira

The Paris Hotel Las Vegas is a very popular structure when it comes to accommodations in this section of the city.

There is actually an region of the city where individuals could stroll in the midst of the streets of Paris and take pleasure in many different duplicates of the romantic French city.

By indulging in the Paris Hotel Las Vegas, you be able to be in the middle of all the activity that happens in this particular region!. Here you could take pleasure in a wonderfully lit duplicate of the Eiffel Tower, sidewalks arranged of exquisite cobblestone, and more.

If you would like to experience the essence of Paris without all the problem and cost the Paris Hotel Las Vegas is the place to be!

If you would like to stay at the Paris Hotel Las Vegas, it is a good idea to make reservations ahead of time. This is an extremely busy hotel that hosts a number of individuals who are traveling and vacationing in Las Vegas, Nevada.

There are lots of diverse types of vacation packages that you be able to obtain when setting up a tour to the Paris Hotel Las Vegas.

If you are seeking to save several money, this is a great way to do it! If you are going to be in the Las Vegas area, be sure to look into the Paris Hotel Las Vegas, you will not regret it!

About the Author:

About author: Parishotellasvega-s.com. There are many excellent hotels that you can enjoy when visiting Las Vegas. You should check out the Paris Hotel Las Vegas! Check out this article for why this is a wonderful accommodation choice!

Top Ten Attractions in Miami

By Chris Linch

If you are planning a trip to Miami we have a list of the top ten things you must do. Miami is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Making this list is quite a feat. Anytime you travel to Miami you are sure to have a good time, we just provide this information to add some value to your trip.

#1 Miami Children's Museum - What an experience for all ages. There are tours that are bilingual so everyone can enjoy them. They have educational classes and plenty of displays.

#2 Miami Art Museum - Art from as early as the forties. This place is a great place to so see some beautiful sculptures as well as paintings and photography.

#3 Vizcaya Museum and Gardens - This was the winter get away for John Deering in 1914. They have the main house kept up and it contains much of the original art and furniture. There is also a large 10 acre spread which includes gardens and restored buildings.

#4 Miami Seaquarium - In operation since about 1955 this is where the famous Flipper show was filmed. Take a dip with some dolphins and see the fantastic displays at this great attraction.

#5 Offshore Rockets - The people that worked on Miami Vice are glad to share with you the thrills of jet power boats. You can learn all about them in your visit.

#6 South Beach - Well a whole article could be written on South Beach, right? If you don't know they have the best clubs, and crazy life at night. It is also a beautiful area and neighborhood.

#7 Art Deco Historic District - If you are insterested in historic buildings this would be the place to go. This is one square mile packed with about 800 historical buildings that have all been restored to their original beauty.

#8 Little Havana - Go eat some real authentic Cuban food and tour the sights, sounds and smells of a true Cuban district.

#9 Miami Nice Tours - This group offers tours of various things around Miami. You can go snorkeling take a day tour of the Everglades and go see the beautiful Key West.

#10 Island Queen - These are beautiful cruises of the Biscayne Bay that not only do you get to see, but get told about the area.

That sums up the top 10. I don't think there is anybody that could get all this done in one trip to Miami, so maybe you better book two! However, you go and whatever you do, have fun.

About the Author:

If you need to see cheap hotels, Chris can direct you to them. His website offers over 40,000 hotels at the lowest prices on the net.

Explore Dar es Salaam and Tanzania Southern Safari Circuit

By Andrew Muigai

Many people visiting Dar es Salaam also take tours to such Tanzania national parks and game reserves as Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa, and Selous. These parks are part of Tanzanias southern safari circuit. It takes only a few hours drive to get to Mikumi national park from Dar es Salaam. Getting to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam takes two hours by ferry, and an even shorter time by flight. Some hotels in Dar es Salaam (e.g. Bahari Beach Hotel and White Sands Hotel) can also arrange day trips to nearby islands for visitors.

Occupying 3,230 sq km, Mikumi carries a variety of wildlife including elephants, lion,giraffe, impala, warthog, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, hartebeest and eland. Wild dogs- considered an endangered carnivore species -are found here in good numbers. Other resident animals are crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards. Birds are most plentiful in the wet season when up to 300 species gathers here. Many of these are Eurasian migrants, exercising to the full, the freedom that comes with wings. The Mikumi flood plain is the dominant feature of the park, which is bordered on one side by the Uluguru Mountains and on another by the Lumango range. Mikumi forms the northern border of the Selous Game Reserve and is part of a vast wilderness ecosystem covering 75,000 sq km. Open grasslands stretch on the plains, while the miombo woodlands cover higher ground.

Unlike several other destinations in the southern safari circuit, Mikumi is accessible throughout the year. The park is only four hours by road and one hour by flight from Dar es Salaam. If you are on a budget safari, you can take a bus ride to the park gate then organize game drives from there. You can get limited accommodation at the few luxury lodges and tented camps in the park. There are also three campsites. Mikumi is the ideal wildlife safari destination if you find yourself in Dar on a weekend.

Lying 348 km west of Dar es Salaam and 65 km southwest of Mikumi is the Udzungwa mountains national park. The mountains are part of the Eastern Arch Mountains found southeast of Kilimanjaro. Having been purposely created to conserve plant life, this unique Tanzania national park hosts many rare plants in its forest. The forest is also inhabited by several primates, including the endemic Sanje crested mangabey and Iringa red colobus monkey. Also found in the plateaus are elephants, lions, buffaloes and hunting dogs, though in smaller numbers compared to other parks and reserves. Udzungwa is also an important African sanctuary for bird life In recent times, four previously unknown bird species have been discovered by scientists here. The period between June and October, i.e. the dry season is the best time to visit this park. Hiking trails get unpleasantly slippery during the wet season.

Ruaha National park is the biggest elephant sanctuary in the world and the second largest national park in Tanzania, occupying 12,950 sq. km. The great Ruaha river is the lifeblood of this park, hosting many hippos and crocodiles, and drawing thousands of thirsty animals to its banks. Common animal species include water bucks, leopards, reed bucks, hyenas, giraffes, impala, wild dogs, zebra, greater and lesser kudu, and sable and roan antelopes plus many more. The Ruaha landscape is ideal for hiking, and walking safaris are acceptable. There is abundant bird life (over 370 bird species) especially during the wet seasons (March to April and October to November) during which some Eurasian migratory birds move in.

Ruaha has a very diverse flora, with over 1650 plant species found there. The plant and animal life in Ruaha is a unique mixture of eastern Africa and southern Africa flora and fauna. This national park has a hot and dry climate with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. Located 128 km west of Iringa town in central Tanzania, Ruaha national park was previously inaccessible, but there are roads today enabling year round access. It takes 10 hours by road and one and a half hours by charter flights from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha. The dry season from May to December is the best time for a safari to Ruaha. During that season, thirsty animals flock the Ruaha river banks, with the ensuing drama (feeding, courting and mating, and fighting) being a spectacle to behold. Accommodation in Ruaha is rather limited, with only one luxury lodge and a few campsites and self-catering chalets.

Selous Game Reserve is the star of the southern safari circuit. The reserve is named after the intrepid Fredrick Courtney Selous, a celebrated Victoria era explorer and naturalist. He met his end here in a sideshow of the First World War. The Great War had spilled over from Europe as the Germans then ruled parts of todays Tanzania. Located 500 km to the southwest of Dar, the reserve occupies a staggering 55,000 sq km " larger than Switzerland- and is the largest of its kind in Africa. The Selous was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 due to the significance of both its flora and fauna. This immense wilderness has a diversity of habitats including savanna woodlands, swamps, open grasslands and forests.

There over 2,100 plant and tree species in Selous. Rufiji river is the lifeblood of the game reserve and has many oxbow lakes and tributaries suitable for boating safaris. Lions, elephants, black rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, wild dogs, elands, impala, water bucks, giraffes, zebras, greater kudu, baboons, and bush bucks are just some of the wild animals found in Selous. Birdwatchers also have an exciting tour in Selous, with over 420 bird species. Just like in Ruaha, game animals in Selous are widely scattered due to the large size of the reserve. The best game watching experience is attained by taking a slow pace, preferably 3-4 days. Visitors can enjoy a rewarding photographic safari in Selous, with Stiegler's gorge being a favorite spot also favored by leopards.

To get to Selous from Dar es Salaam, it takes one and a half hours by flight or seven hours by road. Road trips are tiresome and are only advisable for the most adventurous people. Being quite near the coast, Selous is only a few hundred feet above sea level. Selous has a hot and humid climate especially between October and March. During the wet season, March to May, parts of the reserve are closed. The dry season is the best for visiting, during which time you can take walking safaris, boat rides, or self drive safaris in a 4x4 vehicle. There are limited accommodation facilities in Selous, with only a few luxury tented camps and no frills camps.

Sadani game reserve is yet another Tanzania safari destination worth visiting. Situated in the North Coast, about 50km from Bagamoyo, the reserve gives the visitor a unique beach and bush experience. African game found there include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, leopards, and zebras. To get to Sadani however, you have to make your own special transport arrangements.

Getting to Dar es Salaam, and Tanzania in general, requires visitors from yellow fever infected areas to obtain yellow fever international certificate of vaccination. Exemptions are made for visitors arriving from non-endemic areas such as Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The northwestern forest region of Tanzania is considered a high-risk area for yellow fever. Visitors are strongly advised to take anti malaria medication commencing two weeks before travel as malaria is common in Tanzania. Vaccinations against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid are also recommended. In addition, all visitors are required to have a visa except citizens of some African and commonwealth countries. It is advisable to obtain visas in advance from Tanzania Embassies and High Commissions as some airlines may require it before allowing you to board. Visa can also be issued on arrival at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro international airports and at the Namanga Gate on the Kenya /Tanzania border.

It is easy to get to Dar es Salaam through the top travel hubs in Africa e.g Nairobi, Johannesburg and Addis Ababa. Within Tanzania, there are many domestic flights connecting Dar and other Tanzania airports like Dodoma airport and Kilimanjaro international airport. From Mombasa in Kenya, there are ferry services by sea to Dar es Salaam. Traveling within Dar city itself is easy by use of Taxis. Per every journey within the city center, the taxis charge a standard Tsh 2000. Visitors can also get to Zanzibar by ferry, with four choices available: a catamaran, a hydrofoil, and 2 ordinary boats. Before boarding the ferry for Zanzibar, you will have to produce the yellow fever vaccination certificate. You will also pay an additional US$5 for port charges, apart from just the boat fare.

And like the rest of Tanzania, Dar es salaam never really gets cold and light clothing is recommended. Average daily temperatures hover in the 30 degrees celsius range with October to March being the hottest period. Warmer clothing such as sweaters is however necessary to get you through the evenings and early mornings if you are heading for the highlands. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are sufficient and so are short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts for the ladies. Nudity is totally unacceptable in the whole country.

About the Author:

The author works with Africapoint.com, reputable online travel agents for Africa. Visit Africapoint.com and see the Tanzania tours and safari packages available. Make online reservations for Tanzania hotels and lodges or airline booking for flights to Dar es Salaam

The Bed and Breakfast Experience.

By Dave McKinney

"The Bed and Breakfast Experience" is the term sometimes used to describe the differences offered by bed and breakfasts compared to hotels. Instead of staying in a predictable hotel you will experience individual charm and individual attention.

At a bed and breakfast you will enjoy hotel amenities with added personal touches. B&Bs have been described as the next best thing to staying with friends; perhaps better since you can get away and be private. You are even greeted by name! Each B&B is a home as individual as its owners. There is, or should be, no sense of trespassing in someone's home; privacy is paramount.

There's somewhere for everyone to stay: a heritage home, sea-view guest house, elegant inn, country cottage, contemporary home, farm or a woodland retreat. Older houses may ooze charm furnished with antiques whilst contemporary homes have the crisp, sharp lines of modern dcor.

Bed and breakfasts provide good value for money since a full breakfast is included in the rate. Further, you will often receive free parking, free movies and free local telephone calls. Business travelers will appreciate the wireless internet and sometimes full business center facilities.

Amenities and dcor vary greatly, as do price points, so it can be a daunting task to find the right quality of accommodation when browsing through the many bed and breakfast websites in the area of your choice. "Read between the lines" of their websites to find an inn to meet your expectations. Good quality B&Bs generally have good quality websites: you can expect to see an availability calendar with easy online reservations, a toll-free telephone service and easy-to-navigate information. Ponder the ambience of the rooms, house and gardens. Check the amenities whether for business needs or for a relaxing break. Are there desirable special offerings like packages, in-room massages, jacuzzis or hot-tubs, garden seating, private entrances? Are children or pets welcomed?

Reputable bed and breakfasts often subscribe to ratings organisations and associations with exacting inspection and approval standards. If you book with a bed and breakfast which meets these requirements you should be assured that you will not be disappointed by its quality so look for such logos on websites.

Unlike other accommodations a bed and breakfast is typically a private residence whose owners have chosen this type of business because they enjoy meeting people. What better way to experience the richness of an area than to stay in bed and breakfasts whose hosts gladly provide concierge insights into area tourist attractions, activities, restaurants as well as local tips?

In a B&B the beds and the breakfasts are equally important. You will sleep on comfortable beds snuggled in designer linens and awake to savour a full memorable breakfast including home baking and local produce.

If this is to be your first bed and breakfast experience it very likely will not be your last.

About the Author:

A retired travel consultant Dave McKinney favors the Bed and Breakfast experience over all other accommodation. http://www.gazebo-victoria.com/ Gazebo Bed and Breakfast in Victoria BC is one to not miss out on.

Traffic and Road Condition Reporting

By Stanley Records

A traffic report is an element of a radio program or TV news broadcast that informs listeners about general traffic conditions. The reports generally list the locations and severity of traffic accidents, construction detours and slowdowns, etc., on the roadways within the broadcast area. In the United States, the broadcast area is generally defined by utilizing statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and from a ratings company, such as Arbitron.

The Canadian BC Govt, takes road reporting seriously. You can find the BC Highway Road Reports online at http://www.bchighway.com

In addition to legacy information dissemination methods (radio & TV), traffic reporting on the Internet (i.e. TrafficReport.com, Traffic.com, etc...) has become mainstream - including access via mobile computing devices (i.e. Treo, Blackberry, iPhone, etc...) and personal GPS units (i.e. Garmin, TomTom, etc...).

By supplying updates during traffic rush hours, providers offer a public service to commuters to help them anticipate and avoid traffic congestion. Many reports offer recipients an alternate travel route.

At radio stations where news programming is the primary content, roadway conditions are tracked by monitoring police radio frequencies. Some radio stations also have agreements with states' highway patrol that permit a direct connection with a law enforcement computer. This enables real-time information gathering of the latest accident reports to states' highway patrol divisions. However today more and more, state DOTs (Departments Of Transportation) have agreements with various technology providers to deliver automated traffic tracking data which is resold and redistributed.

In many of the largest U.S. cities, states' transportation departments or divisions have installed a series of cameras along the Interstate Highway System to monitor traffic conditions. Systems of this type can be easily seen along the I-95 corridor in the eastern section of the United States. I-95 runs the north-south length of the U.S., from Maine to Florida (just as with I-35, which runs from Minneapolis to San Antonio).

Television stations in Miami, Florida have agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation to enable use of video images generated by this FDOT camera system. These images are shown during morning and afternoon traffic reports, on several local stations, and FDOT is cited by reporters as proving "these images courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation".

Many medium and large radio and television markets, as classified by Arbitron, utilize helicopters to overfly accident scenes and other areas of high traffic volume. This helps each radio or TV station to provide up-to-the-minute, live reports or traffic conditions. Some stations, in larger U.S. markets, at least, may have their own helicopter, or share resources with a local television station to help mitigate the costs. In many markets, a local or regional traffic reporting service may have contracts with several radio and television stations. This helps stations avoid the expense of purchasing or leasing their own helicopter, which necessitates other expenses like hiring of a pilot, and setting a maintenance schedule.

Broadcast reports on traffic conditions, usually heard on radio, became popular in large U.S. cities in the 1960's and quickly spread in use to other areas as population centers grew. As these smaller burgs and hamlets became absorbed into larger metropolitan areas, particularly in the United States, the interstate freeways became cluttered during the morning and afternoon rush.

Many stations began using reports provided only from their studios, depending on information from law enforcement and citizens. Today, most large metropolitan areas have traffic reporters in the air and also depend on advisories from listeners using cell phones and other mobile communications devices.

During the 1990's, competition between radio and television stations led many program and news directors to add traffic reports to their schedules, though many smaller stations could not afford a full-time traffic reporter or aircraft. This led to the expansion of traffic reporting companies, including Total Traffic Network , Shadow Broadcast Services, Metro Networks, and other regional traffic reporting agencies.

In 1997 and 1998 Metro Networks began buying many smaller traffic reporting agencies, as reported in their own financial statements to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In 1999, Metro Networks acquired a firm called Copter Acquisition Company, from Westwood One. Westwood One then purchased Metro Networks, and the two companies merged completely.

Thats about it for the History of traffic reporting stay tuned and remember to check British Columbia Road reports.

About the Author:

Stanley Records writes for the BC Highway ezine at http://www.bchighway.com/report/ As a local resident of British Columbia he has a vast knowledge of current conditions