Рубрика: Travel

Why should you visit Harrogate

Why should you visit Harrogate

Harrogate is a lovely bustling town situated in North Yorkshire, England and is renowned for its healing springs of rejuvenation. In the 17th century, people discovered that water in Harrogate had medicinal powers. The water contained a high amount of iron, sulphur and common salt, which made it a popular health treatment. Ever since then, many visitors travelled to Harrogate for this purpose, contributing to the popularity and wealth of the town. Owing to its popularity, Harrogate is now a very prosperous region and has some of the highest property prices in England. Harrogate boasts a wealth of features – a stunning countryside, bustling market town, a rich history and culture, ample attractions and accommodation – making it a popular tourist destination. Here are a few reason why you should visit Harrogate.

Good transport – Lying adjacent to Knaresborough, Harrogate is in the Nidd valley and is split into two settlements – High Harrogate and Low Harrogate. The town is ideally located to explore several visitor attractions and has ample transportation means. The Harrogate railway station and bus station in the town centre provide the main connections. Leeds Bradford International Airport is situation about 16 kilometres south west of Harrogate.

Parks and Gardens – Harrogate boasts the Royal Horticultural Society’s Harlow Carr gardens – where you can stroll through numerous displays and gardens, such as Scented, Foliage and Winter Gardens. Located near Harrogate is the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which hosts major tourist destinations such as waterfalls (Aysgarth Falls), natural caves (Gaping Gill) and castles (Bolton Castles). ‘The Stray’ is a popular spot, spanning 200 acres, for kite-flying, outdoor games and picnicking in Harrogate.

Museums and Galleries – Take a trip down memory lane and find out the history of Harrogate at the Royal Pump Room Museum. Here you can sample some of the spa water from the Old Sulphur Well and find out more about spa treatment in the past. Enjoy 2000 works of art from the 19th and 20th centuries at the Mercer Art Gallery.

Festivals and Events – For a true taste of Harrogate, try out the many events throughout the year such as the Aldborough Festival, Harrogate International Festival and the Nidderdale Festival.

Shopping, Leisure and Spa Treatment – Harrogate’s has a range of high street shops, boutique shops and designer shops available spruced within the main streets. There are many independent and chain restaurants as well, serving local and foreign dishes – there is something for everyone here and you will be spoiled for choice. If you feel like a spa treatment, then make your way to The Turkish Baths, for a whole range of pampering.

Accommodation – With several B&Bs, hotels, self catering apartments and camping facilities, there are many options for Harrogate visitors. Hotels in Harrogate are eye-catching and offer the best accommodation, with standard single rooms to luxurious suites. Most hotels offer spa treatment, gyms and are conveniently located for you to enjoy all that Harrogate has to offer.

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Ваш отзыв , 30 Jul 2010

Рубрика: Travel

Khlong Saen Saeb – The Venice of the East

Khlong Saen Saeb – The Venice of the East

The traveler who is willing to head off on to the unbeaten path and experience the everyday life of a citizen of Bangkok can glide along the Khlong Saen Saeb. Khlong Saen Saeb is a canal that snakes along the center of Thailand that is used as a means of public transport by an express boat service.
This canal was constructed in 1837 and took 3 years to complete; its main purpose was to be mode of transportation to Cambodia for soldiers and weapons. Stretching over 18km the Khlong Saen Saeb is serviced by 100 boats that accommodate 40 to 50 passengers, reaching a daily mark of 60,000 passengers on any given day. Speed along the canal in a 30 to 40 foot long canoe shaped boat that has a Volkswagen powered engine that shoots up a rooster tail like spray in its aftermath.
Khlong Saen Saeb runs through 4 districts in Bangkok, Prom Prap Sattru Phai, Bang Kapi, Watthana and Huai Khwang. The price range of a ticket varies from 10 to 20 baht depending on your destination and a boat leaves every 15 to 20 minutes. The Khlong Saen Saeb canal transport is a convenient and economical way to do your shopping and site seeing, providing one of the fastest ways to crisscross through Bangkok. On route you will find many temples and interesting simple wooden houses and markets.
Along the 18 kilometer route are many attractions and sites that are worth a visit. A traditional Bangkok market with stalls offering whole sale clothes in Talad Bo Bae lie off Khrung Kasem Road. Visit the famous silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson’s House at the end of BTS National Stadium Station road. Step off beneath Hua Chang Bridge to shop in consumer heaven Siam Paragon.
Located in the heart of the city is the Bangkok Royal President which is a Bangkok serviced apartment. Ideally located close to the river taxis, this Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel offers tranquility in this bustling business center.

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Ваш отзыв , 29 Jul 2010

Рубрика: Travel

Learn How To Prepare Yourself For Culture Shock

Learn How To Prepare Yourself For Culture Shock

The lure of travel abroad is that people get a chance to experience first-hand the beauty of other cultures. Many would attest that their knowledge is broadened and that they develop a deeper understanding of other people. Although traveling abroad can be an enriching experience, sometimes we encounter strange customs and traditions that we have a hard time understanding. Even those who have been to many places in the world have experienced culture-shock in one way or another.
Cultural sensitivity is a key to fruitful and enjoyable trip abroad. But what does it mean to be culturally sensitive? Of prime importance is getting to know a locale’s traditions, customs, and way of life. The more our familiarity with the practice, then the less strange it would seem. Appreciation entails understanding and respect from the traveler. We should be able to see them in their own eyes.
An important travel advice that should be observed by everybody is to be culturally sensitive. This entails getting to know about customs, traditions and local folkways of the place. The key to avoiding misunderstanding is to have a good knowledge and background of the people and locale. That way, we can practice the proper etiquette and respect. Pointing at people for instance is considered insulting in some countries. By knowing information such as this, we are sure to avoid inconveniences along the way.
The importance of communication cannot be overemphasized especially for overseas travel. Not only should we be knowledgeable about the local customs, but the language as well. Not a few would often find themselves frustrated for they are unable to communicate with others. Assuming that everybody speaks the same language as we would, it proves costly. That is why many try to get hold of a phrase book when traveling abroad. That way, we are able to explain ourselves and are able to get around more effectively. Being able to say “thank you” and “please” in the local language is a must.
When it comes to food, we should also be prepared. Those who follow a certain diet like vegetarians must know what kind of dishes they could eat. Trying the local cuisine requires a certain degree of courage so it is best if we know what we are about to put in. Even the gastronomically adventurous would benefit from knowing the local cuisine. We can never know if a dish has an ingredient that we are allergic to. Another advantage is that we can avoid insulting a host and also avoid waste when we are unable to finish the food served or offered.
Be culturally sensitive in taking souvenirs with you. In order to remember our travels in other countries, we often take souvenirs with us. However, we must be careful that the items we take are handled properly. This is especially true if the souvenir we got is an object which is considered sacred by the locals. Immersion in different cultures is truly an enriching experience when one keeps an open mind. Overseas travel would surely result in a deeper appreciation of other cultures if we are prepared. This makes our travel experiences more enriching and colorful.

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Ваш отзыв , 29 Jul 2010

Рубрика: Travel

Athens, Greece: Protests, Strikes Continue Amid Travel Warnings

Athens, Greece: Protests, Strikes Continue Amid Travel Warnings

The violence in Athens has worried many tourists traveling to Greece this spring and prompted several countries to issue travel warnings on Thursday.
The British Foreign Office issued a travel warning today, advising Britons to exercise “extreme caution” around public demonstrations and protests in major urban centers.
The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, has not issued a travel warning, despite the deaths of three bank workers and the burning of four buildings during recent protests in the Greek capital.
Though no formal travel warning has been issued, the State Department is telling American tourist and travelers to avoid the areas of demonstrations and to get away quickly from the vicinity of a protest.
Tourists heading to Greece this summer can do a few things to keep in line with the State Department’s recommendation.
Though protests may look chaotic to outsiders, most Greek demonstrations are scheduled far in advanced and well publicized.
Tourists can keep clear of demonstrations by monitoring them on the U.S. Embassy’s Citizen Service page under demonstrations.
The page provides information about when and where a strike is taking place, and who is partaking in them.
The Embassy also points out areas where a protest is likely to occur and has advised visitors to be cautious around the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in central Athens, and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki.
Travelers with a flexible attitude can then adapt their itineraries to avoid protest locations and days.
During demonstrations, a good alternative for tourists in Athens is to visit towns further from the center of the city such as Glyfada or Vouliagmeni by the coast, or Kifissia or Penteli in the north.
Unfortunately, there is not much travelers in Greece can do about the closing of tourist sites during general strikes.
The best bet is to call sites ahead of time for opening hours and days or enlist your hotel or tour group to keep track of availabilities. For more information, visit petergreenberg.

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Ваш отзыв , 28 Jul 2010

Рубрика: Travel

Travel in Austria: Free Travel Guide of Vienna by Flashbooking for Backpakers

Travel in Austria: Free Travel Guide of Vienna by Flashbooking for Backpakers

Vienna, Austria’s capital city, has 1,533,000 inhabitants and stands on the right bank of the Danube, at the foot of the Wienervald hills. Originally referred to as Vindobona, the city had already gained noteable importance by the period of the Roman Empire. From the 13th century to the end of the First World War, the country was under the rule of the Asburg family.

The guides are full of essential hints on where to go, things to see, Vienna’s Museums, shopping mall and flea markets, quality places reasonably priced where to eat or sip a famous Pilsner, clubs and discos, budget hostels and cheap hotel deals to book, emergency numbers and more.

Nearly all the city’s sights and major attractions are located within a small area and are easily reached on foot.Vienna is divided into districts (bezirke). District number 1(Inneren Stadt) is the centre of the city and contains the largest number of monuments, all of which are indicated with a red and white sign. The Ringstrasse is the visitor’s first indication of Imperial Vienna.

Flashbooking is a growing cheap hostel Vienna and hotels directory specializing in budget accommodation for independent travellers, students, adventurous backpackers, international volunteers, families and all the ones that travel on a budget.

Flashbooking accommodation database is easily available online and comes completed with all relevant information about youth hostel and hotel location and map, description, services, hostel contacts, customer ratings, six pictures and updated prices inclusive of taxes and services together with instant real availability.

With the monthly newsletter, Flashbooking puts at travellers’ and partner hostels’ free disposal some useful information tools as pocket travel guides of the top world cities: the Amsterdam City guide, the London City guide, the Barcelona City guide, the Paris City guide, the Rome City guide, the Florence City guide, and the freshly issued Vienna City guide!

In general, these guides have been written for giving the essential information about the most visited cities in the world and in particular for any traveller or first-time visitor. For a short visit, a week-end, a city break, these free pocket guides are useful printable and downloadable tools available online.

Having the reservation final price is also convenient as it does give the transparency our users pretend while booking. Having the final total amount of your booking means you do not have to worry about other extra surprises! Flashbooking cheap lodging solutions are all available for online bookings and divided by Countries.

Thawte is a system which encrypts all the processed data and guarantees that this will not be read, used or modified by other parties. Confirmed online bookings mean that your holiday is just a click away, that you can get all the information needed to book online, that you can save time and money!

Recently added a new free customer service online at travellers disposal to suggest the perfect accommodation for their trip and voyages. The Skype account ‘Flashbooking Customercare’ gives more assistance also in the booking process for all our travellers and backpackers needs.

Flashbooking chose to provide backpackers, students and families with a list of budget selected and independent accommodations worldwide, mostly run by locals, in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

Our travellers are also our good partners as they help us either giving their ratings of some accommodations, lodgings, cheap hotels Vienna, youth hostels and cheap hotels in Vienna where they personally stayed, either enlarging the hostel offer by reporting some new contacts.

Flashbooking policy tends to privilege small and family-run hotels in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

So mates, we are looking forward to finding you THE budget accommodation that meets your needs and pocket for your next trip!

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Ваш отзыв , 28 Jul 2010

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