Albania is a mountainous country and the one of the smallest countries of Europe. The residents supposedly descended from ancient Illyrians.
Culture
The culture of Albania is majorly influenced by that of the mainland Greeks especially in the urban locality; nodding one’s head means ‘no’ where as shaking the head means ‘yes’. To greet someone, handshaking is preferred, though Shoku (Comrade) was used before, which has been long forgotten now. People dress informally here. Swim suits are meant for the beaches, otherwise women are expected not to dress in a revealing outfit. When addressing someone prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs) before the name and always remember to carry some gifts when visiting someone, although flowers aren’t much acceptable. The guests are served with coffee, raki or sweets. Smokers don’t have to worry much, but they should avoid it where they see a sign of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit.
Travelling within the country
Buses with relatively cheap fares operate in the main cities of the country or taxis are another choice which provided service for some main hotels.
Visit Dajti Mountain and experience Dajti Ekspres Cable car for an unforgettable 15 minute ride passing through Dajt Oark to reach Tirana. The route is about 4.2 km long and the ride costs €6.5.Alpha Yachting provides crewed yacht which is a luxury in itself. Tirana Bank is the best place for withdrawing money as it allows access to Visa cards.
Eating Out
Restaurants are not always sufficiently heated, so always wear warm clothes if out in the night during winters. Foreigners are charged more than the locals. Both the entry fees as well as any merchandise will be on a higher scale, so it’s better not to reveal the fact that you are a foreigner when out on the streets.
Site Seeing
If you enjoy canoeing, this is the right place to be. There are places right outside Tirana which is an amazing site for not just canoeing, but also rock climbing, hiking, and camping.
Accommodation
If you want a 5-Star ambience, try The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is situated in the middle of a shopping and entertainment center. There are about 151 rooms and 56 suites. So, along with the comfort, one can shop at once convenience here. Another hotel which provides all modern facilities is Hotel Mondial. It is located 1000 m away from the city and is also a good example of traditional architecture.
Getting There
One of the best and the easiest means is to go by air. Albanian Airlines is the national airline which works in collaboration with Tyrolean Airways, and provides service to almost all the big European cities. The airport, Mother Teresa, is 16 miles or 26 km away from the capital. A tourist bus is available every 3 hrs to get to the city center and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Taxis are available round the clock. While waiting for any transport service, tourists can check out the duty free shops, bank, eateries and car hire at the airport. A departure tax of $10 USD is imposed on all foreign nationals. Check out www.flyalbanian .com for flight times and offers.
If trying to get there by sea, try the ferry services which are provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. The main ports are Durres (has ferry connection to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (has ferry connection to Bari, and Brindisi), Saranda (has connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (has ferry connection to Bari). Check out www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com for more information.
Bus is another option. Buses start from Istanbul, Athens and Sofia. Internal passengers have lots of options with bus services provided. If traveling by road in a private car, there is road network to the Kosovo region, but they are too dangerous to use because of the political tensions within the region. Crossings at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and kakavija can be taken. If tired one can take halts at hotels or other designated areas. There is a network of 18,000 km, out of which only 7450 km are main roads, for local travelers. About 2138km stretch of these roads is in poor condition and has pot holes, and utmost safety precautions should be taken when driving on such roads. Speed limit should be strictly followed on highways as well as within towns. Driving at night should be better avoided because of the absence of street lights on the road except for urban areas. Traffic should drive on the right-hand. There is a shortage of gas stations in the countryside, so filling the gas tank completely when passing through urban area is recommended and since there is lack of national recovery system; travelers should be prepared for an emergency or breakdown before hand. One should carry necessary documents like International Driving Permit and national driving license.
Duty Free Items
Following are the items that can be carried without customs duty being levied on them:
1. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of wine
2. 250ml of eau de toilette
3. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
4. 50ml of perfume.
Prohibited Items
Things that are prohibited to carry are firearms, narcotics and ammunitions. Special export permission should be taken for precious metals, books, antiques, work of art, or material of national or historic value.

Century City is located on the West Side of Los Angeles City; the place is a residential and commercial district. Century City covers an area of approximately 712, 000 square meters or 176 acres. The main access roads to Century City are Century Park East, Century Park West, Avenue of the Stars, Pico Boulevards, Olympic and Santa Monica. Century City is primarily a business hub, the majority of which have connections to the music, television and motion picture industries. Many executives and law firms also have their offices in the area.
For countless years the ABC Entertainment Center was at the Century City. Century City was the house for network operations of Shubert Theater and ABC Television Network. However in the year 2004 these buildings were demolished. 20th Century Fox makes its presence at the Century City by its head office building, the Fox Plaza. The Plaza was part of the movie Die Hard and went in the movie by the name of Nakatomi Plaza. The historic and maybe even legendary studio of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM has its head office here as well and the building is called the Constellation Place or the MGM Tower.
Other buildings that make a mark on the Century City scene are the AIG SunAmerica Center, the Century City News, the Century Plaza Hotel and the Century Plaza Towers. The Century Plaza Towers are twin towers and are colloquially referred to as the “Twin Towers”.
A stay at a Beverly Hills hotel is recommended while touring the area. A better option would be to stay at a luxury hotel in Beverly Hills.

Inside modern society, it appears apparent, certainly to me, that we are generally residing in a self obsessed society. We want the very best for ourselves, and forget about everybody else. This is never more apparent than on public transport. I reside in London, and for work, have to travel into central London on the London underground train network, and also London busses. This journey lasts roughly sixty minutes, so a couple of hours to my job and back every day. Daily, I’ll see people who have very little regard for others, only doing what suits themselves best, and I believe it’s a shame folks have this attitude. In this article, I’d like to put forward ideas relating to the correct etiquette when using trains and buses, that ought to make the journey and experience a pleasure to every one who make use of it.
Firstly, I’d want to mention the beginning of the journey, as starting well, will put you off on a good foot. When boarding a train or bus, it’s kind and considerate to stand around the side of the doors while they open, so that it will allow those coming off the train or bus adequate space in which to do so. It’s not a good idea to stand directly infront of the opening door, as the person getting off is going to squeeze past you, and most likely might come barging into you with their body or their possessions.
For everyone travelling with luggage that can take up lots of room, or perhaps with babies or young children, it’s recommended that you travel during off peak hours when possible. I wouldn’t recommend travelling along with your suitcase at 8am on a weekday within rush hour, as those around you are in a rush, and possess little patience, and are often in a poor mind set already at the prospect of going to work, so don’t tip them over the edge. Travelling with big luggage uses up a lot of room, that’s much needed during busy periods, plus holds back those surrounding you as you move it. Another good idea when carrying big luggage is to try and get on the train or bus last out of those getting on. You’ll discover, if you get on the train or bus first along with your suitcase, and the transport then fills out and you need to get off, how hard is it likely to be trying to squeeze that suitcase past everyone so you can get off? It’s far easier to stand nearby the door, out of the way, to ensure people can simply get on / off around you, and so that you disturb few individuals when exiting yourself. Obviously, possibly you have a strict schedule where you can’t get rid of travelling during busy periods, but if you do, try and be considerate and see things from the point of view of the other passengers.
When on the train, don’t be someone who has their mp3 music player or personal stereo on at a ridiculous volume, effecting those around you. Also, on a similar note, it’s no fun if someone next to you is eating take out, or some other food with a strong smell, particularly when they discard of the leftovers in a casual manner, leaving the box on a seat or on the ground.
This brings me onto another point, litter. Whatever you bring onto the train or bus, should go with you once you leave. Don’t dump stuff behind you, as your making the transport method a less enjoyable experience to the individuals that need to make use of it.
If your seated and see an old person, or someone with a disability, or a person with a child, please surrender your seat for that person, particularly when your in good health yourself, as I’m sure that person needs the seat much more than you.
This is the end of this article, and I hope you found it an enjoyable read, and gained something from it. I’d like to thank you for reading.

Switzerland; The very mention of the name inspires visions of a veritable heaven on Earth – with its perfectly manicured landscapes, ever changing sceneries, amazing weather and one of the most advanced transportation networks in the world… Switzerland offers many worlds, each and every day, that one explores this country!

Be it in the shadows of the Swiss Alps, or by the river Rhine, or the Spa Facilities at Bad Ragaz & Leukerbad, or even quaint little Hamlets of Grindelwald & St. Moritz, the soothing pace and the climate of this paradise country, will not only fill your mind with fresh air, but the picture perfect country-sides, and the mere sounds of silence, will rejuvenate your body & soul.

What better way to explore and enjoy Switzerland other than go with the experts Swiss Holidays. With its experienced tour planners, its excellent track record of endless happy guests and its Swiss Roots -Having their own office in Zurich – The Swiss Holidays offers a unique opportunity to the people of The Gulf to spend an unforgettable vacation on this heaven on Earth.

Swiss Holidays offers you many exciting tour package options for you to choose from. You are spoilt for choice between the pristine cities of Interlaken, Luzern, Grindelwald, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Laussane and the mountain excursions of Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Pilatus, Titlis Rotair, Mt. Rigi and many more. The terrific train journey to Kleine Scheidegg via Lauterbrunnen is full of fun and excitement. The famous Jungfrau Railways will take you to the highest station in Europe. The captivating snow peaks of Jungfraujoch, – from where Sunny Deol jumped into the depths, in his Bollywood Starrer “The Hero” are there to mesmerize you. You may visit the Ice Cave with its ice formations or else explore the snow on the glacier. A scenic train will take you to Luzern via the Br?nig Pass. You can enjoy a cruise on Lake Luzern, travel by boarding the steepest cogwheel rail in the world upto Mt. Pilatus (2’132 m/7’000 ft).

The spectacular snowcapped 4000m + Alpine peaks and beautiful lakes make the country a true heaven for tourists. Chocolates, Cheese and Clocks – one of the many things that Sweet Memories are made of, are all found here in their purest forms. You can visit the largest city in Switzerland, Zurich, the Capital and one of the most happening places in the country. The grandeur of the finest churches, contrasts with sparkling treasures like the frescoes of M?stair or the abbey complex of St. Gallen, both World Heritage sites.

Interlaken is a rich and one of the most popular cities in Switzerland. Nestled between the lakes of Thun and Brienz and at the foot the famous three Swiss Peaks: the Eiger, the M?nch and the Jungfrau, Interlaken beckons you with its breathtaking environs.

You may explore legendary city of Luzern by visiting the 700 year old wooden Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and of course the premium Shopping Establishments. A shoppers paradise, so do not forget to claim the VAT refunds when you depart from this vacation of a lifetime……..

The Swiss Holidays offers you the option of choosing from five star hotels to Luxury Apartments or private chalets for long stays with fully furnished interiors including cooking facilities and private car parks – so the next time anyone thinks of a holiday, pack up for Switzerland, and book your “Holiday of a Lifetime” with http://www.theswissholidays.ae/.

One of the biggest challenge, when traveling anywhere in the world, is to locate a car rental company that will provide reliable car hiring services. The problem is there is just too many of them. This is especially true in countries like Germany, Spain or Canada. When there are too many service providers, you are spoilt for choice. You certainly want to avoid being in a situation where you rent a car for a day, only to find out the next day that you could have gotten the same car for thirty percent less rental fees. You also do not want to be in a position where your car breaks down and the car rental supplier is unable to provide you with adequate support services. These are undesirable situations you want to avoid. And renting from countries in Canada just doesn’t make it easier.
Fortunately, technology comes to the rescue. Many car rental suppliers now belong to a network where their services are listed on Internet websites. These websites are actually advanced web applications, where there is a comprehensive database at the back-end for that contains the most updated information from all the major car rental companies. Such information is provided free of charge, and with a few simple clicks, anyone can access important data such as pricing, availability and so on from some of the largest car retailers in the country. Here is how the simple process usually works.
Simply select a pick-up and a drop-off point. Then choose the day when you need the car, and choose the date when you will return the car. Then click on the web button to submit the data. And that’s it. The website will use the information that you have supplied and retrieve all the information you need. In table form, you will be presented with the brand, model and type of cars available, and the pricing. You will then be able to proceed with the booking if you like. You may also email the car rental companies for more information or to request special services such as baby seats, back up drivers and so on. All in all, it’s a very simple and convenient process to hire a car in Canada. If you place your booking early, you can have a car waiting for you at the airport upon your arrival. And at the end of your trip, you can drop off your car at the airport as well.
There are many benefits of renting a car and it is beyond the scope of this article to cover them here. So the next time you are planning a trip, whether to Canada, Spain, or to anywhere else in the world, remember that car rental in this modern age is highly simplified and made affordable by price comparison websites. With their presence, your car rental search worries are certainly over.