Sitting at a cafe terrace in Paris, and watching people passing by while sipping on your Perrier water is not something you want to miss. But here comes the check, and with it the question: should I tip, and how much?

The check is all inclusive

Unlike in America, cafes and restaurants in Paris directly include a 15% service charge in your check. This is required by French law as tips are assessed for taxation purposes.

The 15% service charge is clearly itemized on your check, on top of the VAT tax (a French version of the sales tax). The words ?Service compris? (Tip included) indicate that the tip has already been included in the total to be paid.

The good news is that prices rated on the menus are all-inclusive: they include both the 15% tip and the sales tax. There is no last-minute unholy surprise when you are given your check. What you saw on the menu is what you get charged, no hidden extras.

No further tipping?

A small extra-tip will be well received, of course. It is a way to show you liked how your waiter took care of you. This is not an obligation though.

Small extra tips are also welcome because they go directly into your waiter?s pockets. Oftentimes the 15% service charge goes to a common pot which is divided at the end of the day amongst all waiters. Some bar owners may also retain a portion or the entirety of the service charge: French law does not require that service charges be given back to waiters. So your waiter might not even see a dime of it.

In any case, you are under no obligation to extra tip. You paid your dues when you paid your check.

How much should the extra tip be?

Extra tips may range from just a couple of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft drink, to 1-5 euros for a lunch or dinner. A nice ?Thank You? is 5 to 10% of the total check. But once again, there is no obligation, and no steadfast rule as far as the percentage goes.

How do you tip elsewhere?

In many cases, tips are a valuable income supplement for their recipients.

Take taxi drivers for instance: the average salary of a taxi driver employed by a cab company is about ?1,400 a month, which in Paris is more or less equivalent to a $2,500 salary in NYC. These guys put in 10 hours a day. Some years ago, they used to work 14-15 hours a day, 6 days a week, to make more income. French law forbids them to do so today. So they appreciate your tip all the way: 5-10% of your fare is a good rule of thumb.

At the theater, tip the lady usher: a couple of euros is fine at the opera house [these ladies are also paid on the evening programs they sell, 50 euro cents is good at the movie theaters. Years ago, the lady ushers were not even paid by movie theater operators. They lived on tips only. Even if they are on a salary today, it is doubtful they earn more than the minimum wage.

At your hotel, your porter will appreciate a euro per bag.

At expensive restaurants, classical concert venues, and discos, coat ladies usually take care of your belongings. Tip them a euro per large item when you retrieve your coats.

At the museum, you may leave a couple of euros to your guide if you went through a guided tour.

In summary

These are guidelines based on experience and custom. They are in no way a uniform code of conduct. These advices are also applicable elsewhere in France. In other French regions, where the standard of living is lower than in Paris, tips are even more construed as a mark of generosity.

In the final analysis, tipping is just that: a sign of your generosity and of your appreciation of the level of service you have just received.

(This article has been written in collaboration with Vincent Ramelli, a regular contributor to Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a Paris-born writer, and a specialist of the city.)

***About the Author***

Phil Chavanne shares many useful advices on how to visit Paris. His travel guide offers free information about Paris hotels, restaurants, tours, museums, and other sites.

Introduction

Aberdeen (The Granite City) is Scotland’s third largest city. Aberdeen is the chief commercial centre and seaport in the north-east of Scotland. It boasts the title of Oil Capital of Europe thanks to the plentiful supply of crude oil in the North Sea, and stands on a bay of the North Sea, between the mouths of the rivers Don and Dee.

History

Aberdeen grew up as two separate burghs – Old Aberdeen at the mouth of the Don and New Aberdeen, a fishing and trading settlement where the Denburn entered the Dee estuary. The earliest charter was granted by King William the Lion about 1179, confirming the corporate rights granted by David I. The city received other royal charters later. In 1319, the Great Charter of Robert the Bruce transformed Aberdeen into a property owning and financially independent community. The city was burned by Edward III of England in 1336, but was soon rebuilt and extended, and called New Aberdeen.

For many centuries the city was subject to attacks by the neighbouring lords, and was strongly fortified, but the gates were all removed by 1770. In the 18th century a new Town Hall was built, elegantly furnished with a marble fireplace from Holland and a set of fine crystal chandeliers and sconces. The 19th century was a time of considerable expansion. By 1901 the population was 153,000 and the city covered more than 6,000 acres (24 km?). In the late 18th century, the council embarked on a scheme of road improvements, and by 1805 George Street, King Street and Union

Street were open, the latter a feat of extraordinary engineering skill involving the partial levelling of St Catherine’s Hill and the building of arches to carry the street over Putachieside. The increasing economic importance of Aberdeen and the development of the shipbuilding and fishing industries brought a need for improved harbour facilities. During this century much of the harbour as it exists today was built including Victoria Dock, the South Breakwater and the extension to the North Pier.

Places of interest

The main places of interest for the tourists in Aberdeen are the museums, art galleries and the Scotland?s castle trails. Here is a list of interesting places in Aberdeen:

Aberdeen Art Gallery

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Castle Fraser

Craigievar Castle

Crathes Castle & Gardens

Dunnottar Castle

Fyvie Castle

Provost Skene House

Museums and Art Galleries

The city is blessed with amenities which cover a wide range of cultural activities and boasts a selection of museums. The Aberdeen Art Gallery houses a collection of Impressionist, Victorian, Scottish and 20th Century British paintings as well as collections of silver and glass. It also includes The Alexander Macdonald Bequest, a collection of late 19th century works donated by the museum’s first benefactor and a constantly changing collection of contemporary work and regular visiting exhibitions. Some of the other Aberdeen?s museums and art galleries are:

Aberdeen Art Gallery

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Provost Ross’ House

The Gordon Highlanders Museum

Marischal Museum

James Dun’s House

Museum of Education Victorian Classroom

Tolbooth Museum

Aberdeen Arts Centre

His Majesty’s Theatre 1906 (presently -2005- under renovation) is a fine granite theatre which provides a home for popular entertainments.

Shopping

The main shopping districts center on specialty shops on Chapel and Thistle streets and the well-known chains on George and Union streets. Of interest to collectors, Colin Wood, stocks furniture, wall clocks, and grandfather clocks from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. Someone may also want to browse through the eclectic mix of bric-a-brac antiques at Elizabeth Watts Studio, where items include glass, brass, antique jewelry, china, silver, and a few small furniture pieces. For one-stop gift shopping, drop in at Nova, which stocks china, silver jewelry, rugs, clothing, toys, cards, and gift paper.

Other interesting shops are Grandad’s Attic, which specializes in Art Deco ceramics and antique pine furniture; Just Scottish, retailers of quality items — all made in Scotland, including ceramics, knitwear, textiles, silver, and jewelry; and Alex Scott & Co. the town’s finest kiltmakers.

Food and Drinks

Although Aberdeen is a well renowned city, it does not have many restaurants in offer. Mainly all the restaurants and bars offer continental or British/Irish/Scottish cuisine. Some of the famous places for wine and dine are:

Elrond’s Cafe Bar

Ferryhill House

Howies Aberdeen

Martha’s Vineyard Bistro/The Courtyard Restaurant

Silver Darling

Education

The first of Aberdeen’s two universities, the University of Aberdeen, was founded in 1495 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland. The University of Aberdeen is Scotland’s third oldest, and the UK’s fifth oldest University.

Robert Gordon’s College (originally Robert Gordon’s Hospital) was founded in and in the 1990s became co-educational and a day-only school. It also produced the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology, which became The Robert Gordon University in 1992.

Gray’s School of Art, founded in 1886, is one of the oldest established colleges of art in the UK. Aberdeen College has several campuses in Aberdeen and offers a wide variety of part-time and full-time courses leading to several different qualifications. Northern College was a teacher training college with campuses in Aberdeen and Dundee. In 2000, the Aberdeen campus of Northern College became the University of Aberdeen School of Education. Aberdeen Grammar School, (now comprehensive, despite its name) founded in 1263 and one of the oldest schools in Britain.

Sports

Aberdeen Football Club was founded in 1903. Its major success was winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983 and three League Championships between 1980 and 1986. The club’s stadium is Pittodrie which holds the distinction of being Britain’s first all-seater stadium. Aberdeen F.C. holds the distinction of being the last team to have won the Scottish Premier League Championship outside the Old Firm and is the only Scottish team to have won two European trophies adding to their European Cup Winners Cup success by winning the European Super Cup also in 1983. Well known footballers who have played for the club include Gordon Strachan (Current Celtic manager), Alex McLeish (Current Rangers manager) and club legend Willie Miller. Denis Law, the joint top scorer for the Scotland national team was also born in the city, but spent his professional career playing for English and Italian clubs.

Aberdeen Golf Club was founded in 1815. It has two 18-hole courses at Balgownie, north of the River Don. There are other golf courses at Auchmill, Balnagask, Hazlehead and King’s Links.

Tours and Sightseeing

The Aberdeen Tourist Information Centre, where the staff can usually find just the right way to visit Aberdeen. Some other organized tours and travel agencies are there in the city. These tours are organized by the operators and vary from its contents, theme and price. The tours mainly feature the museums, art galleries, Scottish Castles etc.

Hotels and Accommodations

Because of increasing numbers of tourists and business travelers to the Granite City — Europe’s offshore oil capital and less number of hotels compare with tourists — hotels are likely to be heavily booked any time of year. So reservation in advance is a must before stepping to the city. Some of the Hotels in Aberdeen (ranging from Affordable to Luxury) are listed below:

Antrim Guest House

Station Hotel

Royal Hotel

Express by Holiday Inn Aberdeen

Thistle Aberdeen Caledonian

Copthorne Hotel Aberdeen

The Edwardian Hotel

Bimini Guest House

The Spires Serviced Suites

Thistle Aberdeen Altens

Summerhill Hotel and Suites

Macdonald Ardoe House Hotel

Britannia Hotel Aberdeen

Waterwheel Inn

Dyce Skean Dhu

Transport

There are four main roads serving the city: A90, A96, A93, A92, A90 now used as a tourist route.

The city’s original ring road, Anderson Drive, which was built in the 1930s has long since been engulfed by the expansion of the city, and is inadequate for dealing with today’s traffic. To this end, a new main bypass road, the Western Peripheral Route, is planned to divert through traffic away from the city centre. The road is due to open in 2010.

The city is well served by the national railway network. Aberdeen has regular rail services to Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as long distance trains to London via Edinburgh. It is possible to take the longest scheduled rail journey in the whole of the UK from Aberdeen. Regular trains also run north westerly towards Inverness and north to Dyce for the airport.

Aberdeen also has an airport in the neighbouring town of Dyce, which is operated by BAA plc. As well as connecting the city to the rest of the UK, Aberdeen Airport (sometimes refererred to as Dyce Airport) is the largest helicopter terminal in the world, serving the many North Sea oil installations. The IATA airport code for the airport is ABZ.

Biography

Name: Maria Williams
Occupation: Traveller
Website: http://www.sleepuk.com
Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK – providers of discounted hotels to make your stay in the UK as comfortable as possible.

Sharm El Sheikh is heady mix of sun, sand and mountains located on a promontory at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula along the Red Sea in Egypt at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Owing to the many peace conferences held there it is also called ?The City of Peace?

Being located at a strategic location sharm as it is popularly known was used by the Egyptian navy as a port and naval base until it was captured by Israeli forces in 1956 but restored to Egypt subsequently in 1967.

In the past it was a small fishing village until it became a naval base and today it is a commercial hub and a stunning and magnificent landscaped beach resort. It is also home to a number of sulphur springs, which have therapeutic value.

The virgin fossilized coral reefs in the red sea put the small fishing village and naval base of Sharm El Sheikh on the world map. Sharm El Sheikh has three protected areas- the Ras Muhammad Natural Protected Park, St. Katherine National Park and Nabq Protected area. To gain access to these areas you have to take permission from the tourism department and respective authorities.

If you are interested in taking a diving course while in sharm el sheikh, there are a number of private companies offering the course along with a PADI- Professional Diving Instructors Certificate at a very cheap price!

Like Nuweiba, sharm is also roughly divided into three parts- Na?ama Bay, Ras Um Sid Cliff and Sharm al Maya.

Na?ama Bay

This is long sandy bay home to one of the first hotels of the area built in the eighties. Today it is fully developed bay with a beautiful paved walkway lined with bougainvillea and oleander along the entire stretch of the bay.

Ras Um Sid Cliff

The cliff links the Na?ama Bay and Sharm El Maya centrally located from both the bay and Sharm El Maya. It has magnificent view from atop overlooking the sea. A lot of hotels, restaurants and resorts dot the cliff.

Sharm El Maya

This is the bay area of the old town of Sharm El Sheikh, developed recently for tourism. The magnificent bay is a natural harbor and home to many boats local and tourist. Palm trees line the lovely endearing sandy beaches making it a perfect place to laze around and sun bathe!

Go scuba diving and snorkeling:

There are a number of reliable diving and snorkeling operators in the area. The Tiran strait and the Red Sea have a diverse marine life, and its turquoise clear waters make it even more enchanting for diving.

Some famous dive centers are Anemone Diving Center at Na?ama Bay, African Divers at Sharm el Maya; Aqua active Dive center at Nabq Bay, Aquamarine and Aquanaute are other dive centers. Some virgin untouched diving sites are the Ras Mamla and Ras Abu Gallum; to go there you have to take permission from the Tourist Police and Protect the Reefs Office because these sites are under the Ras Muhammad National Park.

Colored canyon excursion:

This is in the middle of the desert. It is a gorge formed by water passing through the mountain for hundreds of years revealing the different colored layers of rock. The sheer size of the canyon leaves awed.

There are no facilities at all here. You have to take all that you need with you and as for natures call you will have to make do with going behind the rocks! Tour operators arrange tours in four-wheel drives to the canyon.

Go back into the past:

You can also visit the famous St. Catherine monastery between Nuweiba and Taba. The route via Nuweiba is a picturesque one along the flat plains. St. Catherine’s monastery was built around the 4th century, which is believed to be the site of the burning bush. The fortress that surrounds it was built around the 6th century and is still an operating monastery.

Have a Bedouin dinner:

If you are a foodie and love to try different cuisine you can go for a special Bedouin dinner at one of the Bedouin villages.

The Night Life:

Being a beach resort Sharm El Sheikh has an active nightlife. Most hotels have a pub, disco, and arrange beach parties. As for drinks, you can opt for the local brand-Stella, which is cheaper, or an imported one such as Heineken obviously more expensive.

Darren Panto sales & marketing manager for Peltours – a leading tour operator to Egypt and the Red Sea. For more information on Red Sea holiday excursions visit http://www.peltours.com/tabaheights Alternatively, for a full and comprehensive Egypt holiday search visit http://www.peltours.com

Liverpool is a city located in the north west of England. The city rests to the east of the Mersey Estuary and it boasts a population of 444,500. The Borough of Liverpool was founded by King John?s Charter in 1207 and the city quickly developed a firm reputation as one of Britain?s busiest ports. By the beginning of the 19th century, the city was receiving 40% of the world?s passing trade. The wealth that Liverpool generated at this time is still apparent in the numerous impressive buildings dotted along the docks and harbour. In fact, the city?s waterfront was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.

Liverpool?s rich history offers visitors some fascinating attractions as it is home to over 2,500 listed buildings, a large number of public sculptures and numerous beautiful Georgian houses. Just a few of the city?s abundant attractions include: The Anglican Cathedral, which was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, and features the world?s largest organ and highest and heaviest peal of bells. Another essential attraction is the Tate Liverpool, a modern art gallery located on the beautiful and historic Albert Dock. Another popular landmark is the Philharmonic Dining Rooms (known locally as ?The Phil?). The building?s exterior features stunning Art Nouveau architecture, while the interior features Art Deco designs. The Phil was a popular hangout spot for Liverpool?s most famous sons, The Beatles.

The city is home to three universities and as a result it hosts a vibrant and youthful population. Liverpool is a cosmopolitan, bustling city, which features a wide variety of shops, restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. For sport fans, Liverpool also proudly boasts two Premier League football clubs: Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C., who play at Goodison Park and Anfield, respectively. Popular excursions from Liverpool include a visit to the historic city of Chester, just 40 minutes away, and a relaxing trip to the sandy beaches of West Kirby.

Dara Ward is a fanatical Liverpool F.C fan. He also manages Hotels in Liverpool along with many other travel Irish and UK websites including Hotels in Manchester.

During the last decades, Netherlands also known as Holland has become the symbol of freedom due to its legalization of light drugs, euthanasia and marriages between gays and lesbians. Amsterdam, its capital, is the most visited city in the country but besides the access to the above-mentioned liberties visitors have a great chance to see very beautiful city with a lot of cultural attractions.

The government of Amsterdam now is trying to make the city one the world leading business centers and their efforts have a success ? now Amsterdam hosts a significant number of international fairs, business meetings and conferences. Many of the influential multinational corporations have their headquarters in Amsterdam.

Netherlands? capital is a mix of the new and old ? ancient houses of the XVII century border with the up-do-date office buildings.

Amsterdam received its name in the honor of the river Amstel crossing the city. It was founded in XII century as a small fishing village. Now Amsterdam status has some paradox ? although it?s a capital of the country, the capital of its province is Harlem and the country?s government is situated in Hague.

Amsterdam has rich, glorious history. It reached it highest peak in the XVII century the most of the historical attractions belong to that time. In XVII the famous Amsterdam channel net was created. Due to the huge number of channels Amsterdam has become a city of bridges. Now there are about 1200 bridges of different styles, sizes and beauty. A lot of Amsterdam’s canals were filled in the beginning of the 20th century because of the sanitary reasons.

The city has a numerous amount of the museums, some them are world-famous. The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum are the most renowned, but the full list counts about 50 names.

The centre and the heart of the city is Dam Square, a place with historical significance, still boasting beautiful buildings, one of which is Royal Palace. Koninklijk Paleis – The Royal Palace dates back to 1648. Another Dam square?s attraction is Nieuwe Kirk dating back to the 15th century. Although Amsterdam is trying to escape the reputation of the world?s drug capital coffee shops belong to the things Amsterdam is famous for. There are few hundreds of coffee shops in Amsterdam. Popular ones are the commercial and franchised Bulldog and the Grasshopper.

Coffee shops in the country are allowed to sell only small amounts of cannabis. Furthermore, coffee shops must not sell to anyone under 18 and they must not sell more than 5g to any customer. Hard drugs are strictly prohibited.

Another thing Amsterdam is famous for is Red Lights district. It occupies the significant part of the historical centre of Amsterdam.

The whole Holland is known for its love for flowers. Vondelpark is considered to be one of the most beautiful parks in the world. Its style reminds of the best examples of the English style of the XIX century. A lot of lakes, meadows, walking routes present the great opportunity to spend your free time.

For booking a hotel, please, go to Amsterdam hotels page.

Many people travel during the holidays, as well as during vacations. Likewise, business deals are often made as a result of travel. When selecting a hotel, you can learn a lot–and improve your luck–from the Feng Shui of the building.

For example, is the hotel’s main door at the center, left side, or right side of the building? If the door is at the left side, you’ll probably get good advice about things to do and places to see in the area. If the door is in the center, it’s ideal for business travel. However, if you’re on vacation, the best location for a hotel’s door is on the far right side. In Black Hat Feng Shui, the far right side supports travel and indicates helpful people.

If the hotel has a concierge, he or she should be facing the front door. If the concierge has his or her back to the front door, or–worse–is positioned behind a column, don’t be surprised if you received a chilly reception and limited help. Then again, that may not be very important to you.

For the best experience, choose a hotel where the guest rooms open onto a corridor rather than directly to the outside. In Feng Shui terms, if you walk outdoors to your hotel room, the hotel management may not have a sense of connection to its registered guests.

In other words, once you’ve registered and arranged payment for the room, you may feel as if you’re on your own.

Hotel guest rooms can also indicate good or bad Feng Shui. The bed that you are going to sleep and should not be in direct line with the door; they rarely are. Likewise, if the bathroom is at the far left or far right corner of your room, ask for different floor plan. Any other placement of the bed and bath is fine.

Check the view from your window. If you’re only sleeping there overnight, any view is fine as long as it is not a slum. However, if the view is important, if you’ll conduct meetings in your room or suite, or if all you see is poverty, request a different room with a better view.

Many business travelers are phobic about staying in a room above the third floor. Therefore, those rooms are often empty and also provide some of the best views. In addition, if you stay on the top floor, you won’t have of the sound of footsteps overhead. Finally, in Feng Shui terms, higher rooms are generally better; there is less (literal) weight on top of you.

Consider the impression that you received upon entering the hotel as well as your guest room. Look for these Feng Shui signals: Lighting should be adequate, neither glaringly bright nor too dim. If a strong aroma indicates a heavy reliance on air fresheners, look for other signs of problems with housekeeping. From the moment you enter the hotel, you should feel comfortable, relaxed, and welcomed.

Keep in mind that most hotel chains use the same floor plans repeatedly. Therefore, you can visit hotels near your home before you travel. Whether your local hotels are Hiltons, Holiday Inns, Marriotts, or some other line, you can get a good idea of their typical Feng Shui, and what to expect at related hotels when you travel.

Once you have chosen a hotel chain that meets your standards and offers consistently good Feng Shui, make that your first choice when you travel. This will reduce stress by making travel planning simpler, and improve your travel experiences.

(c)2005, Aisling D’Art, Houston, TX

Aisling D’Art is an artist and a Feng Shui consultant. (Feng Shui is pronounced like fung shway. It is the Chinese art of design and placement.) She is the Feng Shui columnist for BellaOnline.com, and offers free Feng Shui advice at Shui To Go! – www.ShuiToGo.com

The modern four-star Parador here occupies its own small, pine covered peninsula that juts out into the Mediterranean Sea. This coast line – the Costa Brava – is spectacularly beautiful. Driving along here, you will come upon many enticing inlets and nearly hidden bays. Cute and timeless villages abound. It has been fairly well built up, but unlike some of the other Costas – it remains aesthetically pleasing.

The Parador Aiguablava provides accommodations that are very special. All bedrooms have incredible panoramic views of the turquoise waters below. There is a gymnasium, swimming pool, and a sauna. The grounds are a delight to stroll. You’ll dine in a sea-side dining room with incredible views. It specializes in seafood – and the cuisine is the finest and freshest available anywhere. A short walk brings you to your own beach. As well, you can arrange boat trips to completely private, nearby coves.

The Parador boasts a very nice game room, as well as a room that provides comfortable seating and accommodation for wireless connections to Internet for guests with laptop computers. There are an abundance of activities of which to partake in the area. Including; canoeing, golfing, mountain biking, parachuting and para-sailing, swimming, horseback riding, and trekking.

Interesting day trips include:

- Don’t miss the medieval villages of Pals and Peratallada – you’ll have them to yourselves on weekdays. Ullastret is the best preserved of the ancient Iberian settlements and is an archaeological work still in progress.

- Walk up to the lighthouse and hermitage at Sant Sebastia near Llafranc – you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views.

- The Dali Triangle is a must see for all art buffs. The southern point of the triangle is the Castell de Pubol – a Gothic-Renaissance mansion re-done by Dali in his outlandish and wonderful style. The other ‘points’ of the triangle are alluring Cadaques – where Dali lived for a time (several of his works are in the Cadaques museum) and Figueres, where is located perhaps Europe’s most unusual museum – the Teatre Museu Dali.

- If you are here in February, you can dress up in outlandish costume of your choosing and lose yourself in the carnival in the nearby town of Palamos.

- Visit the birds reserve of Aiguamols National Park.

The Parador of Aiguablava is a haven for lovers of the sea – and those seeking a tranquil holiday in absolutely stunning natural surroundings. Stay for several days and really soak yourself in the luscious ambience of the place – it will be an experience you’ll want to come back to – again and again.

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. www.SpainParador.com

Dubai was until recently not well known for tourism. How has Dubai managed to catch up with major tourism destinations such as Hawaii, Cannes or Bali? Other destinations have spent decades building up reputations and infrastructure with the hope of becoming a major travel destination. Dubai has managed to surprise all hospitality and tourism experts. These experts did not expect any destination and especially not one in the Middle East to become dominant player in the travel industry.

So how did Dubai manage to build a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert? Dubai started its rise to fame just over a decade ago with the launch of the first annual Dubai shopping festival. The local government decided to use this festival as a tool to promote Dubai as a holiday destination.

The Dubai Sheikh and his sons spend years building an infrastructure and resort area for the tourism industry The Sheikh had learned from oil experts that the oil supply of Dubai could run out by as early as 2010. The leader of Dubai realized that the 2nd largest of 7 United Arab Emirates could not survive without the oil revenue. The Sheikh of Dubai therefor looked for alternative sources of income and came up with the vision of turning Dubai into a luxurious holiday destination as well as an important business centre .The Dubai rulers invested most of the oil revenue into tourism and this has lead to Dubai being a leading holiday and business destination.

Dubai is superbly located geographically as it?s situated at a point where Europe, Africa and Asia meet. This has benefitted especially the MICE segment of the Dubai hotels and travel industry. MICE stand for the Meetings and Incentives branch of the tourism industry. Dubai has several world class facilities for trade shows and exhibitions including the ever so popular Dubai World Trade Centre. Practically every day some form of event or exhibition is held in Dubai which brings thousands of businessmen each day to this busy emirate. Large number of luxurious business hotels in Dubai cater exclusively for these visitors.

Dubai is an excellent choice as a venue for meetings or trade shows as it?s ideally located for events which attract people from various continents. If one looks at the number of flights arriving daily at the Dubai airport and the vast size of the airport, it?s hard to imagine that Dubai only started an airline in 1985 while most countries have had airlines since early 1950?s.

The Jumeirah beach area offers a select number of world class resorts such as the Burj Al Arab. The Dubai Burj Al Arab hotel must certainly be the most famous hotel in the world and its quality of service and its magnificent and luxurious facilities are unheard of in the hotel business. The other Dubai beach hotels are also of excellent quality and some are surprisingly affordable. The Dubai Hilton Beach hotel and the Jebel Ali resort for example offer great deals for families or visitors that can?t afford the rates at the Burj Al Arab but still would like to stay at a 5 star Dubai resort along the beach.

Dubai has plenty of tourist attractions and activities for both the young and the old. An indoor ski piste was even created and opened its doors only a few months back. Other great Dubai activities are the Dubai desert safari?s by jeep, snowboarding on the sand dunes, playing 18 holes at one of the many world renowned golf courses or even just going shopping at the numerous shopping malls. Prices for many items are considerably cheaper then back home so do have a look as you will surely find a great deal. You should spend a few hours at one of the Dubai souk?s such as the Dubai gold souk. A visit is a great experience which should be done by anyone visiting Dubai. Don?t forget that you are expected to haggle about the price but always do it with a smile on your face!

The nicest period of the year to travel to Dubai is from October until about April. During these months the weather in Dubai cools down so that it?s ideal for travelers. The weather in July or August is unbearable with many local residents even trying to get holiday so that they can take their family abroad to a place with more humane temperatures. The trends so far do seem to suggest however that Dubai will have considerably more visitors this year for July and August than any previous year. Many Europeans are now choosing Dubai for their summer holiday destination as opposed to Jamaica or Cuba.

The future of the Dubai tourism industry just keeps getting brighter and brighter and there is no sign that the growth will slow down any time soon!

James has extensive experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. He has managed hotels and resorts in Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and North America. The cheapest rates for Dubai hotels and Dubai beach hotels can be found at the Discount hotels specialist.

Ahhhh, the South Pacific! I have dreamed since I was a little kid to visit the islands, swim in the blue lagoon waters, bask in the sunshine, … This all came true recently. We spent a few weeks in French Polynesia. Our first stop was Moorea. We did not want to completely empty our bank account so we opted not to stay in one of the large resorts with over the water bungalows. One night at these places would have cost us more than our entire stay in Moorea. Here is what we though of Linareva ….

We arrived by plane from Tahiti early in the morning. We had previously organized transfer to Linareva. Upon our arrival we were immediately greeted with the wodnerful location of Linareva. The water was smooth as glass, there were more colorful fish here than in most aquariums and the backdrop with the vulcanic peaks amazed us. Our selection was for a room with air-conditioning (recommended). It can get hot here and some cool air is welcome. The hut or the Tahitian grass fare, as they call it, that we had was very basic. It did have all the ammenities we wanted but they were modest. At night, we were bothered by all sorts of bugs, like large cockroaches, spiders and the like. Sort of interrupted our sleep if you know what I mean … We did not mind the geckos … The small kitchen that was included proved valuable since around here there are no restaurants (apart from the one owned by Linareva). We opted not to have the breakfast included (it did not include much protein which we need). Instead, we would bike to the nearest grocery store, buy eggs, baguettes, cheese, milk etc. and prepare it ourselves. There is a small eating area outside the fare overlooking the Pacific. The beach here was not that great. We would paddle out to the reef and swim in the most wonderful blue waters there. There is a nice swimming area by the small pier. You will swim along side very exotic fish here. Kayaks and bikes at Linareva are free for guests. Bikes are really crappy though. The reception is on the restaurant boat. At night, there did not seem to be anyone there. This was a bit weird being usually used to having a 24 hour reception at your disposal.

Nature is beautiful around Linareva. Unlike most places on Moorea, here you might be the only person in the water, enjoying the scenery for yourself. There is a certain seclusion. Sunsets are some of the best anywhere I have been to in the world. If you like this and do not mind the bugs this is a place for you. We appreciated it more; the more we stayed here. It definitely felt like we were at least somewhat submerged in the South Pacific lifestyle … Recommended for people who would like to taste a bit of real South Pacific

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.

Residence Linareva 1.5km North of Happiti PK 34,5 Moorea, Tahiti (689) 55.05.65

Hitchhiking is a way of traveling when you are short of money or just want to experience an adventure you will never get when traveling with comfort. Both these causes lead to one result ? you come on the road and try to catch a car. Some hitchhikers know the exact point where they want to turn out to be, but some never know where and when their trip will finish. Some piece of advice before you begin your trip.

1)If you know your destination point, you?d better to think over your route not to find yourself far away from the desired city.
2)Be extra careful, because the hitchhiking is always a risk. Take you mobile and try to be in touch with your friends or relatives (if connection allows, of course).
3)Be careful with your money ? don?t store all them in one place.
4)Don?t take too much luggage ? you?ll be tired very soon.
5)Take all you may need ? if your route passes far from the cities you may have no chance to by all the necessary things.
6)When you travel alone the risk increases twice ? so, may be it?s better to have a fellow traveler. There are a lot clubs and communities of hitchhikers (for example, in Internet) where you not only can find a fellow traveler but also receive a useful advise.

What attracts people in hitchhiking is the feeling of freedom and the opportunity to have the real adventure. It?s a challenge in some way and some people like to accept it. Some hitchhikers like to have a chance to meet new people and to make friends.

Of course, sometimes such meetings are not exiting at all ? the boring drivers desiring to describe you their whole lives is the least of the problems. Everybody knows the proverb ? don?t talk to the strangers. It has sense because some of them are really dangerous. If you are locked up in a car with such a person, the best thing is to use your gas spray can and to clear out of the car. So, don?t forget to include your aerosol in list of the necessary things.

Although the hitchhiking is supposed to be free of charge, be ready to pay sometimes. May be the only driver going in your direction will not intend to pick up you for free.

Speaking about the best routs for hitchhiking ? it?s Europe and the United States. The reason? The highways are better, the traffic is intensive and you surely get to the point in a short time. And, again, no borders, no extra visa, no problems with the customs. It?s all true, but if you want the real challenge you can go to some wild part of Asia or Africa. It will be difficult to catch a car (just because they are not widespread there) and if don?t know the language it will be hard to explain what you want. However when you reach your destination you will feel yourself a hero, or at least, a brave traveler seeking for the unknown places.

As for where to stay for the night ? the real hitchhiker tries not to stay in the hotels of even in campings. He or she would prefer to stay on the nature or the house of the local inhabitant.

Now the hitchhiking has become some kind of sport ? and there are some competitions in this field. The aim is to achieve some point in the shortest time and not to pay for it. On TV there are even some shows, devoting to hitchhiking. Its popularity increases. Why? The suggestion is that people are fed up with their comfortable lives and like to feel the adrenaline and to participate in an adventure. As far as the West concerned, it?s true, but as it was said in the beginning, some choose this way of traveling just because they have no money.

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