The Parador of Merida is another of the Paradores that is located on the ruta de la plata – which may be the oldest road in Europe. Built by the Romans, the road got it’s name (plata) from the type of stones with which it was paved – called balatha.

The Merida Parador is housed in a building that has a very long history. It has been controlled by Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians, and has gone through times of being a Roman forum and temple, a mosque, a church, a hospital, a jail – and now a very fine Parador hotel.

Most of the ancient vestiges that remain in the Parador of Merida are from the monastery built by the Franciscans in the 15th century. It has a very lovely patio surrounded by arches supported by marble columns. The lounge is the former chapel and has an extraordinarily beautiful ceiling. The Parador of Merida has a serene air and really is one of the prettiest in the Parador chain.

The city of Merida has a fascinating history. Founded around 25 B.C. by the Romans, it was at one time one of the most splendid cities in all of Iberia and was actually the capital of Lusitania (the Roman name for what we now call Portugal). There are more Roman ruins here than anywhere else in Spain, and they make for appealing site-seeing.

Interesting nearby excursions from Parador Merida into the city and nearby environs:

- The Roman Bridge: at a half-mile in length, this was the longest Roman-built bridge in Spain. It has now been closed to car traffic, so you can stroll leisurely and peacefully out across the river Guadiana and take in the views back to the city.

- The Roman Amphitheater: When it was operating in the 1st century B.C. – this grand place seated 15 thousand – who came to watch gladiators and chariot races and fake sea battles (they actually flooded the arena so mock ships could float inside the amphitheater!).

- The Roman Aqueduct: Aqueducto de los Milagros isn’t nearly as well preserved as the one in Segovia, but it has a haunting feel to it and harkens back to pre-Biblical times.

- The Alcazaba: This fairly well preserved Moorish castle-fortress was later used by the Knights of Santiago.

- The National Museum of Roman Art: Well worth a visit – it contains all manner of archeologically interesting remains from Roman times.

- There are many other wonderful things to see in Merida – try to stay a few days in order to do this magnificent city justice.

Interesting day trips from the Parador of Merida include:

- Caceres: 68 kilometers to the north is one of the finest monumental towns in Spain and has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO.

- Trujillo: 90 kilometers away – Trujillo is a simple treasure . . . Spain as it once was, and with a plaza to rival any other in Spain.

- Zafra: 60 kilometers to the south – Zafra is a pleasant town to visit (and there is a Parador there for you to stay at if you prefer).

The Parador Merida is a fine place to stay, and it is located in one of the most interesting cities you’ll ever visit. Don’t hesitate to enjoy this unique combinations of experiences if you are ever traveling in this out-back area of Spain – the far west of Extremadura.

SpainParador.com makes it easy for you to plan and arrange your next trip to Spain. This time stay in palaces, castles, and other places of great historical interest and rare beauty – the wonderful Paradors of Spain.

Orlando is a city in central Florida and is situated in the northeast of Tampa. Though the main economy of this city focuses on aerospace and electronics industries, the presence of Disney World theme park has made this city a well-known vacation spot. Hence, along with being a trade and processing center, tourism helps to bring in the largest revenues for the city of Orlando, which is also called as The city beautiful. The Disney World theme park is one of the main attractions of this city as it includes the EPCOT center and Animal kingdom. There are a number of other attractions such as Sea world and Universal Studios Florida. Since Orlando is a famous holiday destination, it is surrounded by luxury hotels, restaurants and other tourist facilities. This city is said to have a mild climate and is home to the Magic (National Basketball Association).

Orlando is the sixth largest city of Florida and is also known to be its largest inland city. History shows that Orlando got its name in around 1836 after the death of a soldier named Orlando Reeves who died in this area during a war against the Seminole Indian tribe. This city is said to welcome around 52 million tourists every year and hence is also the second largest city in Florida for the number of hotel rooms. Orlando is located in the citrus fruit and farm area and was settled near Fort Gatlin during the Seminole war. This city is also known to have the second largest university in Florida, the University of Central Florida. Along with innumerable tourist attractions on offer, the world’s largest McDonalds is also situated in this city, which is regarded as a tourist attraction too.

Apart from tourism, aerospace and electronics are the main industries in Orlando. Since this city is very close to the NASA Kennedy Space Center, it has a large manufacturing facility for aeronautical crafts and related high tech research. There are a number of computer hardware and software firms such as IBM located in this city too.

Orlando provides detailed information on Orlando, Orlando Hotels, Orlando Vacations, Orlando Restaurants and more. Orlando is affiliated with Orlando Golf Resorts.

In the small town of Miyanoshita in the Hakone Area (close to Mount Fuji) there are limited eating options. Many people come here to stay at the Fujiya Hotel, enjoy the surrounding nature and relax from the city life. Mount Fuji is right at the doorstep here and if you are lucky and the weather is clear, you can see this mountain in all its glory. We stayed at the Fujiya Hotel but were not in the mood to pay for the pricey meals here. Hotel staff recommended several options around the hotel. The tempura restaurant was the only one open on this evening so we went there …

It is located just ’round the corner and uphill from the Fujiya Hotel (to be exact). The sign says Tenpura and it is lit up at night luckily. You have to walk up a flight of stairs before you enter the small restaurant. It was obviously a family run operation. The mother took orders, the father prepared the tempura and the daughter worked in the kitchen … well … maybe they were not related at all … It was close to closing time and we needed to order quickly. As with any place in Japan, we were thankful for picture menus. We selected several shrimp tempura entrees which were around fifteen dollars each. We sat at a table close to the counter. Behind the counter we saw a very intense chef preparing the batter, selecting the shrimp carefully, dropping it in the hot oil afterwards … Rarely have we seen this kind of focus in a tempura restaurant. Shrimp was served in a sweet sauce over rice. It was sooooo gooood. We immediately proclaimed this restaurant as having the best tempura in the world. The batter was just right, it was hot, the shrimp was large and fresh, the atmosphere genuine Japanese. We have tried tempura in many other places but this was just the best …

So, if you ever find yourself in Miyanoshita, ask where the Tempura place is with the Tenpura sign. Go in there for some really good tempura. Enjoy yourself and relax. Very authentic, very good and very recommended.

Tenpura
Turn left from reception and go uphill from the Fujiya Hotel
Miyanoshita, Japan

Michael Philip is one of the editors and contributors for the SeeTheGlobe.com web site. SeeTheGlobe.com is a travel information web site and community. Reviews of restaurants, hotels, airlines and other travel resources are provided from first hand accounts.

After you have decided that you are going on a family vacation, the next step is to decide where to go. The tourist industry offers many destinations that will welcome you but certainly there are better and there are worse choices. Since you have decided that you go on vacation with your children, it is clear that this must be the primary consideration in choosing the destination.

The most common travel mistake with children is Las Vegas or Reno in Nevada. While the tourism industries of both cities have been trying to make the towns into family vacation destinations (Las Vegas a bit more than Reno), these towns are not originally geared toward family.

There is very little in either city that is great for children, and anything that is can be easily replicated in other locations. Besides, if you’re planning on going to Las Vegas, you probably plan on doing at least a little gambling – which is something you should save for an adults- only vacation getaway.

The preferred choice for many parents with children is Disney theme parks. These parks are often the best choice for children over five and under twelve. Children over twelve may well still like it, too. Children under five, especially those under three, might find it difficult to spend the whole day there and later they will hardly remember their visit to Disney.

You should keep in mind, however, that Disney parks are an energetic vacation destination. These are not good places to go for a relaxing time, since they tend to be crowded, and there is always something new to go and see. With younger children, expect cranky afternoons.

For a more relaxed family vacation, you should think about a destination like Hawaii. While Hawaii is not geared specifically toward children, there are still plenty of things for you to do depending on which island you’re staying on.

Hawaii is the best place for a family vacation with children who are ten or older. The reason is that most entertainment activities are suitable for older children – for example Pearl Harbor. If you visit it and your children are too young, they will hardly figure out the significance of the place.

Another suggestion for a family vacation with children is cruise ships. When choosing to spend your vacation on a cruise ship, there are some important facts to consider.

First, it is most likely that you will share a cabin with your family and there won~t be enough room for everybody’s liking. But since there are so many things to do outside the cabin, it shouldn~t be too much of a problem to view the cabin as a sleeping spot rather than a permanent hang-out.

Also, cruise ships are not the ideal choice for teenagers. Teenagers are in a difficult position because on one hand the majority of programs for children are targeted at children under twelve and on the other hand, teenagers are still not old enough to participate in entertainment for adults (casinos, lounges, etc.) But in any case there is the benefit that you will witness marvelous ocean views and will visit many different ports. Watch out for whales!

The conclusion is that choosing the destination for your family vacation is firmly up to you! You are the one who knows best what is interesting for your children and what is not. Take into account what is suitable for them and what is preferred by you, choose a destination or vacation package which offers the best combination of things which appeal to all of you — and you’re halfway to a great trip already.

Andrew Westforth is the owner and operator of FHT Travel — a large and comprehensive collection of information on travel, including articles, resources and a free newsletter.

For great travel information, go to: http://www.fhttravel.com

Because so much of Cyprus?s appeal is its natural beauty, traveling by car has long been the preferred method transportation for tourists. Many of the places travelers hope to visit in Cyprus aren?t accessible by public transportation, but are connected through well-paved, visitor friendly roads that wind though gorgeous Mediterranean scenery.

Finding the Best Car Hire Deal When shopping for a rental car, it?s best to find an agency local to the area that offers rates and cars from 3-4 different rental companies. Local travel agencies know which car rental companies are most reputable and trustworthy in the area. By comparing several options for pricing and packages, you can find money-saving deals and make more educated decisions about the car you choose to hire.

Booking a Car for Hire in Cyprus Car hire dealers often boast money saving discount packages via the Internet. To ensure that deals and reservations are valid once you arrive, book your car hire from a third party travel company within Cyprus who has first hand knowledge and direct access to the rental agencies.

Car Hire Age Requirements To take a car for hire, a renter must be at least 21 years of age and have had a valid driver?s license in any country for at least 3 years. Those with children should reserve child safety seats online when booking their rentals. Children under the age of 5 are required by law to ride in a safety seat. Cypress car hire agencies can also impose a maximum age for rental eligibility for those between 65 and 75 years of age.

Driving in Cyprus Reminiscent of its rule by the British until 1960, Cyprus driving rules follow the guidelines of those in the UK. The steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle and driving is done on the left side of the road. Speed is measured in kilometers per hour with the maximum speed being about 100 km/h, or about 62 miles per hour.

Driver License Visitors only need a valid driver?s license from their own country or an international driver?s license to hire and drive a car in Cyprus. The driver?s license must be valid for the same class of vehicle you wish to rent (such as a passenger car, motorcycle, etc).

Insurance While many car insurance companies cover rental cars within the country where the policy is written, most insurance companies will not transfer the insurance coverage to a foreign country. In Cyprus, third party liability is mandatory up to $78,000 US dollars. When leaving the country, it?s best to take insurance with the car hire package instead of guessing about various requirements or missing details with extended international coverage.

Parking in Cyprus Cities You?ll be able to navigate your way around some of the larger cities such as Lananca, Paphos, and Nicosia, by foot. However, since most hotels are located away from the city and require that you drive in, it?s important to remember to bring change for parking meters. Parking meters usually require one 20 cent coin per hour. Because of the low parking costs, choosing a car hire as opposed to a taxi or bus can be a smart choice economically when traveling around various cities in Cyprus.

Whether you?re planning a trip to Cyprus for its rich cultural landmarks or the gorgeous natural scenery, choosing a car hire for transportation is the preferred method among travelers. Finding the right Cyprus car hire deal can be simple and stress-free when you compare rates and packages through a local agency.

The author is a small business internet marketing consultant and the cofounder of nGenuity Solutions.

For further information on Cyprus car hire options, check out http://www.bookcyprus.com. You can also reserve Cyprus hotel room, villa, and even plan an excursion all in one place.

One of Florida’s most popular cities, among both tourists and locals, Miami has been immortalised in popular culture in a number of violent films: Bad Boys, Miami Vice and Scarface, amongst others, have done much to propel the image of the city into the national spotlight, though not always for the right reasons. But Miami remains a popular tourist destination, and one of its most celebrated highlights is the Bayside Marketplace.

Located on the fabulous Biscayne Boulevard, overlooking Biscayne Bay, the Bayside Marketplace is one of Miami’s primary retail centres in its downtown shopping district. Located over 16 acres, it includes over 150 shops, restaurants and outdoor cafes, and features a pedestrian link to the American Airlines Arena, Miami’s hottest concert destination that has played host in the past to the likes of Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton and Madonna.

The Bayside Marketplace is home to a large number of American and international retail stores, including; Gap, Claire’s accessories, the Discovery Channel Store, the Disney Store, Foot Locker and Sunglass Hut; so Bayside Marketplace clearly caters to a variety of retail styles. Its eclectic mix of restaurants and cafes include: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Los Ranchos, Chilli’s and Hard Rock Café. In addition, Bayside Marketplace also offers live music events, hiring regular bands like Gypsy Heart and Brazilian Explosion, and making the retail experience offered by Bayside Marketplace much more original and exciting.

However, the unique nature of Bayside Marketplace means that it doesn’t just offer retail outlets and a multitude of tasty restaurants; it also organises different clubs and groups for members of the Miami community to join. For example, programs include: El Loro (pirate ship), Heritage of Miami (Tall ship/Sightseeing) and Captain Jimmy’s Fiesta (Party Cruise).

Boasting "the best food, fun and shopping Miami has to offer", the Bayside Marketplace is clearly a hub of activity, a stone’s throw away from Miami Beach and other key Miami attractions, such as the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve and the Miami Children’s Museum. It is also located close to many affordable and comfortable Miami hotels so visitors to Bayside Marketplace can stay in Miami for longer and visit attractions further away from Biscayne Bay, like the Art Deco district, Everglades National Park and the Metro Zoo. Bayside Marketplace is also not far from Miami International Airport, so is an interesting place to while away the time if you’re on an extended stop-over in Miami.

Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local Edinburgh rugby club.