Approximate flying times: From New York: 17 hrs. From Chicago: 22 hrs 30 mins. From LA: 19 hrs 25 mins.

If New York is the city that never sleeps, forget the alarm clock. Bangkok, Thailand?s capital city, comes a very close second. The city was founded in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri Dynasty. Today it?s the country’s spiritual, commercial and educational hub, home to approximately ten million people or more than 10% of the Thai population.

City of contrasts and confusion.

Bangkok (or Krung Thep in Thai which means ?city of angels) is an exciting, high energy melting pot of east meets west. A dynamic city that has embraced technology and modern living with its busy expressways, bold skyscrapers and designer-filled shopping malls. Yet underneath it all, it remains a traditional haven of culture, history and time-honored customs, where elders are respected and family always comes first.

As you travel from the airport you?ll see plenty of examples of modern architecture dotting the city scape and amongst them all, standing proud, are glittering Buddhist Wats (temples) such as Wat Phra Kaew and The Grand Palace. Snaking through the concrete jungle, you?ll spy echoes of the ?old Bangkok? below you ? ancient canals and waterways that are well worth exploring on a boat trip.

Every Thai household and building, even the most modern, has a traditional spirit house built outside for good fortune and to honor the spirit of the land. Each day, small offerings of fruit and water are laid out, often with garlands of orchids. If you?re an early riser, keen to make the most of your vacation time in Bangkok, don?t be surprised when you see Buddhist monks in saffron robes making their morning ?alms? rounds accepting food and donations from local people, young and old.

Some like it hot, but not all the time.

Thailand has a tropical climate with an annual average temperature of around 75 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack light clothing for your trip. Natural fibers are often more comfortable when you?re walking and touring in hot weather. Practically everywhere you go in Bangkok you?ll find you some relief from the heat, with blasts of icy cold air conditioning in shops and hotels.

From March to May it?s the hottest time, with the highest temperatures and humidity. From June to October is monsoon season, so remember to take an umbrella. November to February is cooler and less humid. Bear in mind that the monsoon season varies throughout the country and can affect the weather you experience.

Bangkok Hotels to match every budget.

You?ll find every type of accommodation ? from lavish 5 star international names to smaller hostels, favored by back packers. Book online and see what special rates you can find. Web sites such as http://www.hotel.com.au/bangkok have over 100 hotels in Thailand, ranging from the natural peace and luxury of The Sukhothai on South Sathorn Road, to business hotels in busy downtown Bangkok to the Hard Rock Hotel on Pattaya Beach, Bangkok?s favorite seaside resort.

Getting around is easier.

One of the first words you?ll learn in Bangkok is ?Rot tip? or ?rot tit? which literally means ?cars that stick?, in other words traffic jam. But the everyday snarls and gridlock have been vastly improved by Bangkok?s cosmopolitan transport system.

You can now ride the subway, the Hua Lamphong ? Bang Sue line has 18 stations along the 12 mile route. It?s fast, quiet and modern.

Jump on a BTS Sky Train. BTS sky trains ply along Sukhumvit, Silom and Phahonyothin roads. The routes connect Bangkok?s leading hotels and major shopping areas such as Siam Square, Silom, Ratchaprasong and Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Of course, you can?t go to Bangkok without a ride in a tuk-tuk. These zippy three-wheeled open-air motorized taxis are popular for short journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance, it?s part of the fun.

Top 5 must-see highlights.

The Grand Palace: the number one attraction. Every visitor to Bangkok should see the magnificent buildings within the Grand Palace compound to get a feeling of this grand architecture. Since the founding of Bangkok as the Nations capital by King Rama I, The Grand Palace has been the major architectural symbol of The Thai Royal Family. The Royal Family actually resides at Chitralada Palace while The Grand Palace is used for ceremonial purposes.

Wat Pho: possibly the most interesting temple in Thailand. It combines history, medical science and is a center for meditation and traditional massage training. Have a massage while you?re here, at a very fair price.

Chatuchak Weekend Market: with over 9,000 shops and stalls you?ll be tempted over and over. Close to everything that is for sale in Bangkok is here, including antiques, Buddha amulets, handicrafts, clothes, flowers and furniture. (You?ll notice that some maps spell it ?Jatuchak?. Many English words have multiple spellings, so if you?re in doubt, ask the hotel concierge to write it in Thai for the taxi driver.)

Vimanmek Mansion Museum: the world’s largest golden teak building located in the compound of the Dusit Palace on Ratchawithi Road. The three-storey royal mansion has 81 rooms, halls and ante-chambers containing unique memorabilia.

Jim Thompson?s House: this exquisite Thai house and buildings stand as a museum to the man who revived the Thai silk industry after the Second World War. The company he founded, Jim Thompson Thai Silk, is recognized worldwide for its brilliant fabrics, home accessories and fashion items. The gardens are equally impressive with a lush tropical jungle imitating nature’s haphazard beauty right in the center of the city.

Shopping till you drop!

Shopping in Bangkok is not limited to one or two streets. You?ll find dozens of malls, markets and luxury retail outlets throughout the city. The most popular are located around the Ploenchit-Ratchaprasong area, Sukhumvit Rd and Silom-Surawong-Patpong, including the fantastic Patpong night market where you can pick up your souvenirs, fashion and Thai handicrafts. Don?t be shy to bargain in the market (nicely) as your dollar can go a long way.

Bangkok rocks.

Bangkok has no single area for nightlife ? it has several. Bars are spread out all over town in places such as Patpong, Silom Soi 2 and 4, Soi Sarasin and Lang Suan, Royal City Avenue, Banglumpoo, Soi Cowboy and Sukhumvit Soi 33, among others.

One of the hottest new spots is called ?Bed? is an extraordinary space-age designer lounge in fashionable Sukhumvit Soi 11. The Bed Supper Club is a ?dining in bed? experience. Best described as a unique combination of upscale restaurant, club, art gallery, theater and stage merged into one.

Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

If you need another good reason to visit ?The Land of Smiles?, here it is. This year marks the Diamond Jubilee of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. The King has reigned for almost 60 yeas, making him not only the longest reigning Thai monarch, but the longest reigning King in the world today.

A once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

In true Thai style, the Bangkok celebrations promise to be a spectacular tribute to the Royal Family, full of color, pomp and ceremony. One of the main highlights is The Royal Barge Procession on June 12-13 2006. It will be an international event with twenty-eight monarchs from around the world in attendance. This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for visitors, as the Procession is only held to mark significant historical events such as His Majesty?s ascension to the throne.

A river of splendor.

Bangkok?s main river, the Chao Phraya will become the place to be. Imagine a royal armada stretching as far as your eyes can see. A flotilla of superbly carved royal barges slowly sail into view, manned by the Royal Thai Navy dressed in ancient ceremonial uniforms. Each sailor rowing in perfect unison, honed through months of intense practice. If you plan to be in Bangkok in June, do leave the bargains for a few hours and be part of the adoring crowd – and bring your camera.

Incidentally, two major dress rehearsals are planned for the June 6 and 9, so if you can’t attend the real event, this is as close as you may get.

Thailand has a well deserved reputation as the The Land of Smiles. You?ll receive a warm welcome and feel the genuine friendliness of the locals. One thing?s for sure, the memories of a vacation here will stay with you for a lifetime.

Located in the far reaches of Aragon, Spain, the Parador of Sos del Rey Catolico is kind of in the middle of nowhere. The result of this is that relatively few tourists ever find their way here to this sleepy little village of less than a thousand inhabitants. When you enter, you’ll feel as if you’ve just stepped back several centuries in time. The village has a distinctly medieval feel.

The Parador Sos is of a typical Aragonese character. The building conserves and fits congruously with the monumental and historical atmosphere of the town of Sos del Rey Cat?lico. Though by looking at it one would never realize – the Parador here is a modern building. Because the whole town has been declared a National Historic Monument, none of the standing buildings could be changed or altered. The government of Spain hired one of the most renowned architects to create a building that would completely blend in with the historical ambience and appearance of the town. He succeeded completely.

The regal and elegant interior offers beautiful views of the town from some of the rooms. There are wooden interior columns and the furniture is predominately of a Castilian style. The bedrooms are spacious, and because each has it’s own balcony with double doors, and large windows – they fill with light. From those windows can be seen the Aragonese and Navarrese foothills of the Pyrenees in the far distance.

The town of Sos del Rey Catolico has been declared a National Monument. It was the birthplace of influential nobles and of the great Catholic King Ferdinand (who married the equally famous Isabella). From the Parador, a few steps takes you directly into the old quarter of the town.

Interesting nearby excursions from Parador Sos del Rey Catolico:

- As stated earlier, the entire town has been declared a National Historic Monument. It’s great to just meander around with out any special agenda. The town is very small and you can’t get lost.

- See the Sada palace.

- Visit the monastery of Nuestra Se?ora de Valentu?ana.

Interesting day trips from the Olite Parador include:

- Javier Castle (19 km)

- Uncastillo (17 km)

- Yesa Reservoir (25 km)

- Leyre Monastery (28 km)

- Valles de Hecho (89 km)

- Roncesvalles (96 km)

Interesting festivals during the year:

- Local summer festivities in Sos during the 2nd two weeks in August.

- Romer?a Valentu?ana (Procession) Easter.

Sos del Rey Catolico is a very special kind of place. This is not your usual tourist destination – it has none of the hustle and bustle, garrish attractions, or fine restaurants and museums of those places. However; the whole town is like a museum and the Parador serves as fine a cuisine as you’ll find in Spain. Sos is one of my personal favorite places in Spain. Come here for the tranquility and the medieval ambience – you’ll add it your list of favorites as well.

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. http://www.SpainParador.com

Chicago is famed for a number of things, but many people don?t associate the city with its amazing park district. This is a shame because with more than 7300 acres of parkland, encompassing 552 parks, 16 lagoons, 33 beaches and housing one of the world?s largest fountains, it is truly a great place to visit.

One of the most impressive and popular landmarks is definitely the Buckingham Fountain. The fountain is a great draw for tourists when it is turned on in April to signal the onset of summer. Constructed of Georgia pink marble, the attraction was first opened in May 1927 and still puts on spectacular 20 minute displays every day from mid April through to early fall, on the hour every hour between 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The displays consist of all the fountain’s 134 jets shooting approximately 14,100 gallons of water per minute, with the center jet shooting 150 feet into the air accompanied by a tremendous light and music presentation.

The fountain was originally designed by Edward H. Bennett, influenced by the Latona Basin in Louis XIV’s gardens at Versailles, to represent Lake Michigan with four sea horses, created by Marcel Loyau, to symbolize the four states that touch the lake.

The fountain was dedicated to the people of Chicago in 1927 in memory of Clarence Buckingham, the late brother of Kate Buckingham who commissioned the creation of the structure. Kate Buckingham had a vision to construct a fountain which created the effect of soft moonlight, and she worked tirelessly with the fountain’s many technicians to test out a variety of colors for the glass filters and different water currents in order to produce a mystical, ethereal feel to the whole piece.

The pond life around the area is often teeming with frogs, herons, and dragonflies, and the shrubs are frequently filled with resting migratory birds; the lush prairie region is also embedded with native grasses and wildflowers, making the Park District of Chicago a beautiful and serene place to go to while staying in the city. It is within easy distance of the Sears tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world, with its new Skydeck, the up market Merchandise Mart Mall, which will make even the most enthusiastic of power shoppers happy, and luxury hotels like the fabulous Conrad Hotel – so you can get a taste of nature but enjoy all the luxury and amenities that a big city can provide.

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

Your well-deserved vacation is near and you are thinking about making reservations. You have two basic choices:

Do you book different components of your holiday such as airline, hotel, and car rental separately or do you book the components as a package, all in one booking?

Depending on whether you have the time and the patience, you could book separately, which sometimes can lead to some savings. However, if you prefer to have everything ready and included in one price, then the package alternative is for you.

Holiday packages can be cheaper than other alternatives because the company selling the products has already negotiated substantial discounts, some of which are passed down to you, the consumer. The principle of packaged holidays is that places and seats are reserved in huge numbers, thus making an individual package relatively cheap.

In a sense it is good to know that all the reservations have taken place. An added bonus can be traveling with other like-minded people possibly leading to friendship. Also in case any difficulties arise, there is often a company representative who will be able to help you.

It is worth bearing in mind, the apparent ease and convenience that packages bring can have downsides too. This is how lower prices are achieved:

1. Your plane may depart late at night. Be prepared for this and it won’t be too much of a disappointment. Alternatively if you have the choice to have a late night departure you should notice a lower price. If not, ask for the discount. You’ll be amazed how often you get discounts by simply asking.

2. The allocated seats on the aircraft are sometimes in the middle (away from windows). This may be important if you are traveling with children. Make sure you carry plenty of suitable entertainment. Note that the in-flight movie may not be interesting for the children.

3. If there are several members in your party, you may not all be able to sit together. Again this is even more important if you have children with you.

4. Your hotel room may not offer the best view possible, nor may it be the quietest. Can you handle this? Ask before you book, find out the situation and take alternative action if necessary.

5. Packages are geared to suit groups, as opposed to individuals. They are not always flexible. Flexibility costs extra, quite a bit extra.

6. Cancellations usually involve a penalty or at least an administration charge, which can be more than you expect. Always ask before booking.

7. Extras such as upgrades and add-ons can attract a substantial premium.

8. You are stuck with other travelers in the group, whether you like them or not. There is always at least one annoying person in the group but then there are usually a few very interesting and likeable people too.

8. Popular packages are usually fully booked early. You may have to settle for an alternative.

9. Your airline may take an indirect route and a stopover may be on the cards. The right holiday packages can be fun and the majority of people using them are pleasantly surprised. Don’t let the downsides to package holidays put you off.

Remember, there is no such thing as a ‘perfect set-up’. Provided you go into it with reasonable understanding and an open mind, you’re sure to have a great time.

Sami T Fab operates a dedicated travel and vacation information website packed full of free travel tips and informative content.

For more tips on travel deals and other travel subjects of interest to you, please do visit http://www.Travel-Hotel-Beach-Vacations.com

The Parador Santo Domingo De La Calzada occupies a former 12th century hospital built to serve the pilgrims on the Road To Santiago. The first known pilgrim, the French Bishop of Le Puy, stopped in this city on his traverse of what was later to become know as the Way of St. James.

Both the city of Santo Domingo, and the Parador Santo Domingo De La Calzada have been inextricably bound up in the history of this famous pilgrimage route – the Road to Santiago. The founder of this city, a priest named Domingo, was instrumental in establishing the route to Santiago. He was given money with which to purchase lands through which the route ran, and he built bridges over impassable rivers along the way. He also built, in the 11 century, a hospice for pilgrims – on which site the later hospital (now the Parador) was eventually built.

The Parador Santo Domingo is in the heart of the compact old quarter, in an area steeped in history. Directly adjacent to the Parador Santo Domingo is the cathedral with its wonderful bell tower. The Albergue del Peregrinos and it Jacobean museum is also right next to the hotel.

The gastronomy of the region is renowned, and many travel here from afar expressly for that reason. As well as being in the heart one of the world’s most famous wine regions – La Rioja – this fertile land along the Ebro river has hundreds of small farms and large vegetable gardens that yield, perhaps, the highest quality produce in Spain. These provide the raw ingredients for unforgettable dining experiences. A meal in the Parador restaurant should not be missed!

Neither should the traveler miss the opportunity to visit a few of the Rioja wineries and vineyards. Sample some of Spain’s most famous wines – see how it is made – visit the big (and small) Bodegas and maybe a wine museum or two – learn the history and workings of the craft – all this will make your visit a memorable one indeed.

Interesting nearby excursions from Parador Santo Domingo De La Calzada:

- The old quarter of the city is right outside your bedroom window, and makes for very interesting rambling.

Interesting day trips from the Santo Domingo De La Calzada Parador include:

This city is perfectly situated to serve as a base for day trips into the Rioja wine district and points further afield.

- Logro?o and Haro – these are the two wine centers of the Rioja area where many of the well-known Bodegas have their outlets (especially in the Barrio de la Estacion near the train station in Haro).

- La Guardia is a fascinating hilltop village whose inhabitants have tunneled out miles of underground passages through the centuries – in which they age their beloved Rioja wine.

- Burgos and its awe-inspiring Gothic Cathedral is well worth a visit – about 45 min drive.

- Bilbao and its Guggenheim museum are only about an hour and 45 minutes drive north (fast freeway from Haro).

Staying at the Parador Santo Domingo De La Calzada is to stay in a place literally dripping with history (and the famous wines of La Rioja!). It is an experience not to be missed by any aficionado of Spain.

For more information on the Santo Domingo Parador – go to http://www.SpainParador.com where we make it easy 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.

When you get off the bus in the Andean Mountain resort town of Banos, Ecuador, you’ll see several people quickly moving towards you. Some of them will be the actual owners of the hotels in town, and others are working on commission. They’ll all claim to have the nicest and the cheapest hotel.

This onslaught of salesmen may annoy you at first, until you realize what it means. There are vacant rooms tonight, and there is real competition! They have tipped their hands, and you are in charge now. Let the contest begin!

When my wife and I were in Banos recently, we let an older woman drag us off from the bus station. She showed us two hotels she owned, and we preferred the second. We were told the room would be $12. It was clean, with cable T.V. and lots of hot water. We offered $6 per night, paying for four nights in advance. She agreed.

The lesson is clear if you want the cheapest hotel room: Negotiate! The owner knew we were ready to walk away, and that there were others waiting for our business. Unfortunately, most owners here in the U.S. would rather let you drive away than knock five bucks off the room rate. Even here, however, we have negotiated decent discounts by paying for several nights in advance. Of course we let them know that we’ll be looking elsewhere if they say no.

The Cheapest Hotel Rooms – More Tips

You can use the travel web sites to find cheap hotel rooms, but remember that they only give you rates for the hotels and motels that are in their system. I just did a search for Tucson, Arizona, for example, on several sites. One or two of the sites found decent prices on certain hotels, but I know of several nice motels in Tucson that are $15 cheaper than the cheapest rate they found. Use the internet as a place to start, or when you can’t get any other information.

Get coupon books at gas stations along the highways. We’ve often found good deals using these, and it’s rare that a manager won’t honor them. Usually only if they’re absolutely full will they refuse. Read the fine print, however, because they often charge more for certain dates, or for two people.

There are promotions done where if you mention this ad or just use the right words, you get up to 70% discount. Talk, talk, talk. Tell them if you’re a member of the AARP, AAA or whatever. Tell the person on the phone that you saw an ad in the Times, or whatever big paper they might have advertised in.

Get the receptionist to help you. Try asking what the magic words are. Some receptionists will tell you. You might also ask What do I have to say to get the cheapest rate? They will sometimes tell you, or suggest other options. Ask about the hotel too, of course. You don’t want ANY room. You want the cheapest hotel that has nice rooms.

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 42, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For travel stories, tips and a free Travel Secrets e-book, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

Question of trust was always critical on the web and as generally known web today is one of the weakest place in regard to protection of someone?s privacy or rights. It affects almost all industries on the web and hotel reservation as well. This issue becomes more important while the industry expands. The percentage of internet-based hotel reservations was tripled in 2004 to 15.4 percent from 4.9 according to Andersen LLP. It is generally known that 85% of Internet users rely on search engines to find any information on the Web (e.g. MSN, Google, Yahoo, AltaVista, etc). But we have to keep in mind that being listed in the top search results at the major search engines mentioned above gives no guarantee at all that a certain company is really reliable. While search engines make their ranking rules more strict, there are still a good number of websites with false reputation that appear in the top search results at major search engines by using some tricks. To make it clear and help web-surfers to understand this issue from a professional point of view our team will give some major hints to which anyone should pay attention to find the right company. We will discuss some issues about travel industry, which can be helpful in understanding of major problems.

Most of the travel websites if not all of them provide only reservation service without giving any information or news about this fast developing industry on the web. According to the statistics, travel related websites generate a huge traffic on the web and of course it brings to a high competition in this industry. Every day thousands of new travel websites appear on the web but most of them after spending much efforts and finance, disappear from the web as easily as they appeared first. The reason – it is not an easy task to build quality, travel website able to provide not only quality service but also to present a wide range of products professionally. There are many travel websites providing so many information, partly useful and partly not since they don’t understand the market, its specific needs, needs of customers which finally brings to abundance of the information collected on the website thus making a trouble to a visitor to find easily what he needs. Other websites while having good hotel database still can’t organize their website in a proper way. If you visit this kind of website you can hardly find information about the city that you need. You have to spend a few minutes trying to find what you need among huge amount of text links. Hotel search must be organized as easy as possible divided by cities, countries, type of hotels with good advanced search boxes for the best discount hotel deals.

On some websites when you start searching for discount hotel deals, the engine gives you only a few results leaving you almost not a choice. Or you have to visit each hotel link separately resulting in spending much time. That?s why the most important in any industry on the web and especially in travel service is to collect information about all discount hotel deals in the best way and put them in front of the customer professionally to make his reservation procedure as easy and fast as possible. To provide this service a travel website team must be knowledgeable first and experienced through years not just a few days or months.

In addition to the competition, another problem, a visitor is having on the web today is a trust. We have to agree that it is not an easy to pay your hard earned money on the web without knowing anything about website. It is another problem web visitors are having today. You have to be very careful when you choose a website on the web. The best solution is to choose a website which is the old experienced on the web. There are many young sectors on the web where it is hard to find an experienced website. There are a few websites in travel industry that exist on the web for the last 10, 15 years. It is a good criteria to choose the right website. Another advantage of the experienced websites is that they know how to serve their customers since they have a good experience, they know different types of problems that may appear during hotel reservation and they know how to solve these problems professionally. That’s why the best choice is to visit this kind of websites or the ones that connected to them through affiliate links thus providing almost the same quality of service. When you visit a travel website pay attention to Customer Care section, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, Cancel Reservation Policy, Confirming Reservation, Payment Issues and other Frequently Asked Questions section. Availability and detailed description of these sections gives another credibility to a website. Pay attention to the availability of the phone number with a live person to reply to any of your question. If you find subscription to a newsletter option that says that a website team builds a long and strong relations with their customers. A good website provides secure reservation thus protecting their customers from many problems on the web. BBB.org is a Better Business Bureau organization that provides information on over two million organizations and websites and it is advisable to check any website before you invest. When you visit a website and find BBB sign with a link taking you to the main base of this organization testifying that a website you visited has a long presence on the web and a reliable partner then you can stop this website and choose it as your travel provider. If this sign is not available it doesn?t decrease credibility of a website but its availability is preferable.

Finally, we have to keep in mind that a good, quality website is not the one that provides reservation service but rather the one that builds a strong relations with its customers, provides full service including solutions to the problems a customer may have. It is the best strategy any website should follow.

Have a good travel
www.AboutTrip.com

Rufat Kuliyev is the author of the articles on hotel reservations industry, trends, strategies and all kinds of news related to travel subject. By subscribing to a FREE monthly ezine Travel with a reliable partner you can receive all up to date news.

Several years ago, I had to stop working due to a stress-related muscle disease. I didn?t miss my job. What I did miss was traveling. Conferences in San Francisco, contracts in the Northern Mariana Islands, seminars in Bogota? – all of these seemed part of the past. After two years of staying at home, an unexpected opportunity came up to teach a course in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I jumped on it. I was desperate to go somewhere, anywhere.

When I agreed to go, I wasn?t sure I could do it. I knew I would have to plan carefully if my body was going to hold up. I sat down and made a list of the things I needed to remain well and active. The trip was much more successful than I expected.

In later talking about the experience, I learned something I should have already known, that there were a lot of people who could travel only if they planned very carefully taking their physical limitations into consideration. People with disabilities had to put their bodies and their stress levels first.

That?s when I started writing about travel. I wrote for people who didn?t have the kind of stamina that most travel packages required. Careful travelers, I called us, had to think about things other people took for granted like the shock absorbers on a tour bus. An hour in a shoddy bus could send the careful traveler to bed for days. The careful traveler had to try to protect themselves from incidents like this, and think about what they would do if they did land in bed.

Like all Careful Travelers, my first concern in going to Ft. Lauderdale was the hotel. I knew I had to find a place that was comfortable, a place where there was exercise equipment so I could keep my muscles loose. I had to find a place where there was decent, healthy food in case I was too tired or sick to go outside the hotel. In addition, I needed a place where I would feel happy and content even if I did wind up in bed.

I found the perfect hotel, not in Ft. Lauderdale, but in Hollywood Beach a town between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Hollywood has the turquoise water and sugar white sand beaches of south Florida without the massive high-rise development characterizing the other two cities.

The Hollywood Beach Marriott couldn?t be any closer to the beach, and my room looked exactly like the room in the inviting photograph on their website. Marriott has only recently taken over this hotel and some of the reviews on the internet were written before Marriott owned it. I emailed the manager, Fernando Harb, just to make sure. He assured me the hotel was in fine shape and even offered me a long-term stay rate that was a third off the regular price.

When I got to the hotel, I found that Marriott had lovingly refurbished this small hotel in a warm, lush style complete with dark mahogany wood everywhere. In fact, the hotel has the comfortable feeling of a fine home. Almost all of the rooms have a view of the ocean and all have small balconies. The furnishings are made of the same dark mahogany wood that?s in the lobby and have the look of fine antiques in an historic home. The enormous king-sized bed was made up with luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy duvets and oversized pillows. Just getting in the bed every night made me feel pampered and content.

I could even see the beach from my bed. On days when I didn?t feel well, I would open the balcony door, prop myself up in bed amidst the pillows, read and look at the waves and the birds. Other times, I would watch the 75-channel cable TV that even included CSPAN.

Unlike most hotels, Marriott has one button you push on the phone to get whatever service you want. There is no fumbling around trying to find out what number to call for room service or wake up calls. One button connects you with a very nice person who already knows your name before you tell them arranges anything you want without transferring you around the hotel.

I used room service a lot. The food was exquisite. I loved the key lime pie and the seafood pasta with lobster and scallops. The servers were immaculate and seemed to genuinely like their jobs. The presentation of the food was elegant.

One of the things I learned on this trip was that for people with prescription drugs, a room safe is a must. Losing prescription medication, even a few pills, would be worse than losing money. It made me feel that much less stressed to know that the prescription medication was safely locked in my room rather than rattling around in my handbag. The safe was easy to set and unobtrusive, hidden inside a credenza with the mini-bar.

I can?t say enough about the staff of the Hollywood Beach Marriott. They were uniformly helpful, efficient and friendly. I leave quite a mess when I get dressed in the morning, but my room was always immaculate when I returned to it. The maid, Charlene, was friendly and interesting. She and I talked about the political situation in Haiti on numerous occasions.

The staff makes it a point to cater to your needs. I went to Key Largo to swim with dolphins one weekend and then returned to Hollywood. On the way, I phoned to let the hotel know I was coming. They not only had my room ready, they had put my little refrigerator back in the room and plugged it in so it was already cool. They also remembered that I needed an extension cord so I could plug up my laptop computer.

The hotel not only has the beach, great rooms and good service to offer. It has a pool, a fitness room, a hot tub, and a spa where you can get an emergency massage or an emergency facial. The hotel restaurant is right beside the pool. There is a section inside and another section outside next to the beach.

The Hollywood Beach Hotel is a delightful little gem nestled beside the beach away from the monstrous high-rise hotels of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. I would highly recommend it to anybody. There are lots of things to do in and around Hollywood. Both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are short drives and Hollywood is restoring its city center. You can do as much or as little as you want, as much or as little as you can. If you are a Careful Traveler, you will feel as if you had a fine vacation even if you never leave the hotel.

A short drive from Hollywood is Dolphins Plus where you can swim with dolphins. The hearty can drive there and back in a day, but you would probably like to stay the night. Try the Kona Kai Hotel for the cozy, at home feel. Turn off the main road into beautifully landscaped grounds. It?s like entering a little cocoon. They even have their own art gallery.

Swim with Dolphins in Key Largo http://www.dolphinsplus.com/

Hollywood Beach Marriott http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLOF

Sara?s Restaurant, Hollywood http://www.southflorida.com/dining/17777,0,5844547.venue

Dr. Johns is a criminologist, writer, travel planner, and freelance journalist. She has a Ph.D. in Criminology from the Faculty of Law of the University of Edinburgh and has written and published three books.

You can read some of her stories at http://www.cjjohns.com and email her at cjjohns@charter.net.

The Parador of Jarandilla De La Vera is a place distinct in the history of Spain. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V – the most powerful man in the world during his reign – lived here in the Parador building for a few months before retiring to live out his remaining time in the Monastery at Yuste.

He chose this spot for it’s tranquility and natural beauty. The area, on the southern slope of the Gredos mountains, is abundant with streams, waterfalls, and oak woods – producing a scenery of rare beauty. The soil is rich and fertile. There are gardens, apple and pear orchards everywhere. It has been called a paradise, and The best place for repose, and for the pleasures of mind and body.

The 4-star Parador of Jarandilla de la Vera is a fortified palace built in the 15th century. It was constructed over the ruins of a fortress that had been built and inhabited by the Knights Templar. It has all that a castle should have; a draw-bridge, machicolations, embrasures, and robust corner towers. Parador Jarandilla is in an Italian Renaissance style however, with an interior sweetness and graciousness missing in the earlier true fortress style castles.

There is a fine dining room with views out to the open cloister (you can dine al fresco during the warmer months). Wooden ceilings and a baronial fireplace in the reception area give this place an altogether ‘noble’ feel.

Interesting excursions from Parador Jarandilla into the city:

- See the 15th century Church on the main plaza.

- The area immediately surrounding the town is very good for hiking – several different marked trails lead along rushing streams to waterfalls and miniature gorges.

Interesting day trips include:

- Explore over to the Jerte valley – there are a couple of scenic (if not harrowing!) roads that cross over, or you can drive around through Placensia. If you are here in spring, the valley is blanketed in white – with thousands of cherry trees in bloom.

- Placensia is a typical Extremaduran town with a wonderful main plaza. Sit down at one of the many outdoor tables and wait and watch the giant elf (?) in the main clock tower strike the bell to mark each half hour. A cuckoo clock on the grandest of scales! There is a lively Tuesday market held here in the plaza – as it has been continuously since the 12th century!

Visiting the Parador of Jarandilla De La Vera is an experience long cherished by those who have gone out of their way to get to this nearly forgotten backwater of Spain.

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

Current plans to introduce a ?Bed Tax? have been roundly criticized by the hotel and tourism industry. The plan is being proposed as part of a national Government tax review of local government funding and would see a 10% tax surcharge being levied per night on top of the already existing 17.5% VAT.

The plan follows on from a report last year for the Association of London Government, which represents 32 boroughs, which described the tax as, an ideal minor tax in that it relates to a group that imposes clear costs on authorities but which presently contributes nothing directly towards those costs.

The current proposals, as they stand, could raise the cost of a short UK break by up to ?100 for the average family. While the UK is already, throughout Europe, second only to Denmark in the severity of its taxation levels for tourism, the newly proposed tax would put Britain firmly above the Danes making it the highest taxed holiday destination in the EU, nearly three times the European average.

The idea which is presently under consideration by Sir Michael Lyons, who is tasked to review the plans for future local government financing, however the Liberal Democrats warned that implementing such a move could be disastrous for the entire ?12bn UK tourism sector.

Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster told the BBC, When you think that VAT on tourist-related activities in this country is 17.5 per cent, whereas in the rest of Europe it is 8.5 per cent and in countries like France 5.5 per cent, these tourists use services, but they are certainly already paying for them.

Industry news publisher Caterer and Hotelkeeper has been joined by the UK hotel big hitter, Travelodge, along with the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the Tourism Alliance (an umbrella group of 45 trade associations), to formally lobby against the plans. Another hotel industry heavyweight, Hilton, spokeswoman said the company strongly supported the BHA’s efforts.

While Travelodge has set up its own online petition, the deputy chief executive of the BHA, Martin Couchman, said the organisation encouraged its members to lobby independently, a message which online UK hotel directory Superbreak has taken to heart, with its own petition, in an ongoing campaign to bring prices down.

A recent Travelodge survey of 2,000 UK consumers, revealed that 85% already believe UK hotels are too expensive, a perception that will only be exacerbated by a 10% price hike. Current predictions by the tourist industry indicate the impact of the tax could lead to the possible loss of up to ?1.3bn and 32,000 jobs if the tax were to be introduced.

Don Foster commented, We have got a problem and anything like a bed tax that would put people off from coming to this country would be a real disaster.

Submitted by: Michael Hanna

About Michael Michael is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland:

Contact details: E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com Phone: 0131 561 2251 Michael’s Website: Taxi Belfast Airport Belfast Taxis