If you are planning on heading someplace as a hiker or backpacker or just looking to go on a local camping trip there are a few extra essentials that you can add to your kit to help with those unexpected things that turn up.

? Sarong
? Duct Tape
? Plastic Baggies
? Wet Naps or Baby Wipes
? Fold Down bag
? Plastic film canister that comes with each new roll of camera film
? Earplugs and eye mask
? Toilet paper

Many women have found the sarong to be an invaluable tool. You can use it as a skirt, head covering, bag, swimsuit, dress, towel, shawl, blanket, curtain for privacy and it can even be used as an impromptu bandage in case of injury. Duct tape explains itself. It can be your quick fix for numerous problems including a rip in your tent. Plastic baggies can hold everything from food to seashells found on the beach. Baby Wipes come in handy when you are short on running water. If you plan on making a lot of purchases a fold down bag can fold out and hold items for you. Those plastic film canisters make great medicine containers. Those who are on a long flight or in a hotel with paper thin walls will greatly appreciate earplugs and an eye mask. Last but certainly not least you can never know which places will run out of toilet paper right when you need to go, so always keep some on hand.

These are recommended extras that you can pick and choose from at length and will probable be more essential for some people, while merely being extra baggage for others. It?s really up to the traveler to decide what items they should add to personalize their travel kits, but my top three picks are duct tape, Baby Wipes and toilet paper.

Gail Leino is known throughout the internet world as Mrs. Party. She has become the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies with clever themes. Her simple party planning approach demostrates how to use proper manners while teaching etiquette with organizational skills. She shares lots of interesting fun facts. See travel vacations for more tips.

The Catalan town of Alghero is located on the Northwest coast of Sardinia. Known throughout the world for its stunning beaches and characteristic old town centre it is fast becoming one of Europe?s holiday hotspots. Alghero is an old fishing town that has embraced the tourist industry with two very large arms. Sprawling out along the coast line Alghero offers the tourist both the opportunity of a beach holiday or a small city break.

If you are looking to just relax and be somewhere that you can walk out the door and be on the beach you must stay in the Lido area. The Lido is Alghero?s own beach that runs all the way form Alghero to Fertilia, a small hamlet of Alghero. There are a number of hotels located in the area with sea views and private sun beds on the beach for residents. In the summer months the Lido comes to life with a number of bars, restaurants and pizzerias either on the beach or in the area and when the sun goes down you can find live music and parties on the beach.

For those who don?t want to be on the beach and want to experience a little more of the cultural side of Alghero there is the old town. Dating back to the 12th century the old town centre is truly something that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Have lunch along the battlements looking out to sea or take a stroll through the shops in the warren of cobble stone streets. There are a number of churches and historical places of interest to visit and many guided excursions to help make sure you do not miss anything.

The area of Alghero does of course spread beyond the boundaries of the city itself. There is Porto Conte with its natural wildlife reserve that spreads along the coast line in complete natural beauty. Reachable either by land or by boat excursion there is Capo Caccia and Neptune?s Grotto which is a must for any visitor to Alghero.

Away form the coast there is also much to see and do. Why not visit an Agriturismo, a working farm that has lodging and restaurant facilities serving up only produce from the farm.

As mentioned earlier Alghero is a Catalan town and although much of the cuisine available is Italian there are a few Catalan influences to be found. Why not try Paella Algherese or Catalan lobster (served cold with fresh tomato and onion). There are of course many Sardinian specialities to be tried such as roast suckling pig or Seadas, a pastry filled with Goats cheese and then dribbled with honey.

The climate in Alghero allows for a perfect vacation all year round. The summer months get up to about 35 degrees and throughout the day in the winter the temperature never drops much below 15 degrees.

A great place for children and adults alike, Alghero is definitely worth a visit.

For more Sardinian tourist information take a look at Sardinia – tourist information

Born in London Kirk Friis moved to Sardinia where he now lives with his wife and son.

Q. Where is Amorgos Island located?

A.= Amorgos Island is located in Greece in the archipelagos called CYCLADES.

Q. Is it near the Dodecanese Islands?

A.= Yes, it is.

Q. People say that Amorgos Island is quite ancient. How ancient is it?

A.= Life existed in Amorgos Island at the end of the Neolithic age.

Q. What type of life?

A.= Life was organized?people lived in an organized society ?a society with rules and traditions.

Q. Do we have proves of this statement?

A.= Of course, we have. Some excavations done in 1985 have shown that an organized society was living in Amorgos Island from the 4th millennium B.C.

Q. How many museums does Amorgos Island have?

A. Amorgos Island has only one museum.

Q. Where is the museum of Amorgos Island located?

A.= The museum of Amorgos Island is located in the town of HORA near of the center.

Q. People say that the Amorgos museum building itself represents a special attraction ?

A.= It is so indeed. The Amorgos museum building is a 16th century style building. It is a Venetian style building. This Amorgos museum building was the home of the Gavras family? a family of rich and famous merchants.

Q. What is to be seen in the Amorgos Island museum?

A.= The museum has an archaeological collection. The collection is made of a huge rang of antiquities from Bronze Age and from the Ancient World. The ground floor is organized to show a display of ancient pieces which are prehistoric finds. The first floor has a display of sculptures, tomb relief and lots of work of art from Historic period.

Q. How can we get in touch with the Amorgos Island museum, for more information?

A.= For further information, you can place a phone call at his phone number: 228 57 18 31 or call OTE the Greek phone company for an update on the number as phone numbers sometimes change.

Q. Is there a way of transportation to get to the Amorgos Island museum? A.= Yes. There is always a way of transportation to get to the Amorgos Island museums. There is bus service. You can also go by taxi if you live outside the center. The bus is also available if you are far from the center.

by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com

Rooms Apartments in Athens Greece Athensrooms.
Free Greek travel information traveling in Athens Greece. Athens hotels Greek Info.
Apartments in Athens Greece Self catering.

Ancient Athens versus modern Athens??? Could we marry those two antitheses without causing any disgrace? Could we be right to suspect that such a project may end up into showing a considerable lack of vision ?if not, a great lack of culture???? Ancient Athens versus modern Athens??….A question of great importance for tourists who wish to visit Greece?who wish to admire ancient Athens in its original ?dress??who wish to enjoy, at the same time, comfort and modernity in their daily life?

Modern Athens has succeeded to realize such a daring project without damaging its precious ancient atmosphere. We wouldn?t go further into this subject without underlining the presence of a woman at the head of the City Council : a modern young Lady, Mrs Dora Bakoyannis has been elected as the Mayor of modern Athens. Under her guidance, the City Council has developed numerous cultural activities taking place outside (at Summer Time, at Christmas Time, at Easter Time?). Does the year 2004 remind you anything? ?2004? a magic year for modern Athens.

2004? has inspired thousands of artists and workers to create a new look for their city. Modern Athens began to project her new image: a new born city ready for the Olympics Games ? Ancient Athens and modern Athens were proud ?so were the citizens?ready to welcome the crowds of visitors. Many features have been developed to receive the guests: ?walking roads to visit Archaeological Sites ?additional restaurants, Bars, Caf?-Bars ?beaches have become accessible by Trolley ?the public transport system has highly improved ?construction of beautiful highways ?addition of many hotels and rooms in Athens.

From the Airport, you can get to Ancient Athens or modern Athens or to the suburbs) by using public Transport, limousines services or taxis?.Taxis and public transport are more than reasonable (a ticket for the Airport Express Line is 2.90 euros/good for 24 hours). Searching for a place to stay can be simplified with the Internet. Rooms in Athens and Greekster can provide you all information you need for a memorable visit to the land of your dream.

And know let?s play this ??quiz?? to verify our information :

1.The mayor of modern Athens is, A?.Peter Papandreou — B?.Dora Bakoyannis
2. The last Olympics games in modern Athens took place in the year, A?2000 — B?.2004
3.To visit the Archaelogical Sites, going from one place to another, A?. you have to go with the Trolley — B?.you can go on foot
4.The new metro stations look like, A?.a sky painted in blue — B?.a living museum
5.To get to Ancient Athens or modern Athens from the Airport, A?.you have to rent a car or?drive your own — B?you can use the metro
ANSWERS at to this article. Quiz: answers and comments
1.=A, 2.=B, 3.-=B, 4.=B, 5.=B
Comments: If you found, 5 answers = excellent, 4 answers = very good, 3 answers = you need to read more articles on this subject, 2 answers = you need to come to Greece 1 answer = Athens is waiting ?it can?t wait to be discovered by YOU.

This article is designed to help you in your search of Ancient Athens versus modern Athens. Greek travel travelling in Athens Greece free travel tips. thanks

by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com

Rooms Apartments in Athens Greece Athensrooms.
Free Greek travel information travelling in Athens Greece Greekster.
Apartments in Athens Greece Self catering.

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