Airline & Holiday Information

Archive for the ‘City Guides’ Category

Las Vegas comes alive at night time.  During the day there are plenty of opportunities to visit other areas, such as the Grand Canyon located nearby.  Take advantage of sightseeing trips on offer or spend your days shopping or relaxing by your hotel pool, saving your energy for the evenings.

The evenings in Las Vegas are not to be missed.  Everywhere is brightly lit with millions of lights which make the whole place sparkle.  You can enjoy the dancing waters outside the Bellagio Hotel or enjoy one of the many shows that Las Vegas is famous for.  Trying your hand at one of the many casino games on offer might even bring you some luck.

The Las Vegas Strip has buses running at regular intervals up and down the length of it.  So if you choose to sightsee during the day you don’t have to worry about spending too much time in the sun.  Las Vegas during the day can become very hot thanks to the desert location.  If you want to visit the various hotels along the Strip then walking is perhaps not the best option for everybody.

The casinos themselves are packed with shops.  There are gift shops where you can pick up souvenirs for friends and family as well as other types of shops.  If you decide you want to get married in Las Vegas you will not have a problem finding a wedding chapel.  Las Vegas is well known for its themed weddings, so if you always wanted Elvis to serenade you down the aisle, now you can.

Located in New South Wales, Sydney is based on the south-east coast of Australia.  This city contains numerous world-renowned attractions and cultural activities.  The international airport can be found in the northern region of Botany Bay.  Two of the city’s most famous pieces of architecture can be found at Sydney Harbour: the Sydney Opera House with its gigantic white sails and the majestic Harbour Bridge.  Darling Harbour also houses a number of major sites; tourists can explore the Chinese Gardens, relax on the sands of Manly beach, or catch a glimpse of a whale at North Head.  A great way to obtain an overview of the city is to take a trip to the Tower.  From here, you can obtain some of the best photo opportunities in the area, with wide panoramic views of the city.  As it is a major city, it is not surprising that it is quite easy to indulge in great shopping facilities, luxury restaurants and an eclectic nightlife.

Located on the Pacific Rim, Australia is a huge island.  Although the centre is mainly desert Outback, the country also contains rainforest on the island of Tasmanian and the huge mountains of the Great Diving Range.  As its terrain varies, so does its fauna and flora, some of which are unique to the island.  Australia is not only well known for its vibrant cities, such as Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, but also its natural wonders, for example the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru.  In terms of a holiday, this country’s size means that repeated trips will be necessary just to experience a fraction of what Australia has to offer.

Madrid is the largest city in Spain and is also the country’s capital.  Madrid is famous for its bustling nightlife, cultural activities, cosmopolitan culture and its blend of tradition and modernity.  It is also one of the most industrialised cities in Spain.

Reaching Madrid

Madrid is easily accessible from within Spain and is well-connected with major cities throughout the world. 

Transportation Facilities

Travelling within Madrid is easy and convenient.  Taxis are available and they also run a special service for disabled people.  Metro services and short-range trains are also highly convenient, economical and fast modes of travelling around the city.

Things to See

Madrid is home to a number of attractions including:
•    The Madrid bullfights, which are held every Sunday in summer at the Plaza de Toros in Las Ventas.
•    The Thyssen and Prado galleries, which are famous for showcasing Spanish art.
•    The fascinating murals at the Plaza Mayor, which are visited by thousands every year.
•    The Natural History Museum off the Paseo de la Castellaña, which is the largest in Spain.

Cultural Activities

Madrid is known for its cultural activities including:
•    The Fiesta San Isidro, which is the biggest festival in Madrid.
•    Tapas bars, which offer a range of appetizers and snacks, are famous all over the world.  Spanish people are really fond of their food and drink and love sharing them with travellers.
•    Flamenco, which is a kind of Spanish music accompanied by spirited dancing and singing, can be found in many bars and restaurants throughout the city.    

Madrid Weather

Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons in Madrid, and considered to be the most suitable time to visit.

Thailand, which attracts many tourists throughout the year, has a very large number of hotels.  These hotels can be divided into luxury, boutique and budget style hotels.  This review presents what can generally be expected of hotels in these three categories, and not what will be found at any single hotel specifically.

Luxury Hotels

Almost all luxury hotels are located by the beach or the riverside.  The locations are calm and serene and far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  The rooms are tastefully decorated with expensive decor.  Many hotels prefer to lend an ethnic touch to the interiors and you may find Thai-inspired motifs in the rooms.  The facilities are exclusive and world-class.  Almost all the rooms allow guests to have a full view of the sea or the river.  The hotels provide concierge services.  The cuisine is varied and world-class.  You can sample the local Thai food, or have virtually any kind of food on request.

Boutique Hotels

Boutique hotels are known for their stylish design and world-class amenities.  The rooms are specially designed, and many feature rain showers and a transparent bathroom partition.  Most rooms have a flat screen television set, free internet access, hairdryer, and tea and coffee making facilities.

Budget Hotels

Budget hotels, though not of international standards, are generally acceptable in terms of rooms, cleanliness, hygiene and food quality.  These can be found throughout Thailand.  The rates are competitive, and you can often avail of discounts depending on your negotiating skills.

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands.  It is a popular destination for many British tourists looking for an exciting weekend trip or a longer city break that does not involve lengthy travelling.  Amsterdam is less than half an hour from Schiphol, the international airport where the majority of major airlines fly to from London and other British cities.

Amsterdam’s weather is very similar to that of Britain, with warmer summer months, which can sometimes turn rainy, and colder winter months, which are usually not very severe.  Most visitors come to Amsterdam during the summer months, when there are many street festivals and open-air concerts to enjoy, with a lively bar and restaurant scene and local markets open throughout the city.

One of the main benefits of the city is that virtually everybody speaks English.  You can travel in and around the city on foot, by bicycle – that quintessential Dutch form of transport – train, metro, bus, taxi or car.  The transport network is highly developed, clean, well run and easy to understand.

Amsterdam’s historic centre is home to grand churches, architecturally distinctive townhouses, medieval courtyards, a network of small canals and narrow streets with shops, restaurants, bars and places to stay.  The most famous museums include the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.  If you want to relax watching a film, there are more than 50 cinemas in Amsterdam.

Barcelona is Spain’s second city after the capital of Madrid.  It is the largest city on the Mediterranean coast, with one and half million inhabitants.  It has a temperate climate throughout the year, making it a popular tourist destination for thousands each year.  The city is served by Barcelona International Airport, which is linked to many of Britain’s largest airports.

One of Barcelona’s main buildings is the famous Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia.  The Sagrada Familia is a Roman Catholic Church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi.

A curious fact about the Sagrada Familia is that, although it is a functioning building, consecrated by the Pope, it has not yet been finished according to the original design.  Construction started in the early 1880s.  Gaudi spent the last years of his life working on the church, but it was largely unfinished when he died in 1926.  It was then abandoned during the Spanish Civil War, only to for work to start again in the 1950s.  The building was only half-finished in 2010 and a completion date of 2026 has been announced: a hundred years after Gaudi’s death.

The Sagrada Familia has a mixed style, featuring Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau influences.  It is a minor basilica, but its size is more akin to a cathedral.  The site is open to visitors all year round.

Proud of its heritage as a recipient of one-time transported convicts, Australia has blossomed into a thriving country with a rich heritage and one unique advantage:  the seasons are reversed from those of the northern hemisphere.  Travel during the dreary days of winter from the UK will land you right at the height of summer when you touch down in Australia.

Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales, is the most populous city in the country.  Home to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Bridge and Sydney Harbour, there is so much to see and do in the city that you almost certainly will not accomplish everything in one trip.  The Sydney Opera House is an architectural beauty, and if you can be there during sunrise, sunset, or any musical performance, you will never forget the visit.  
 
Sydney’s seaside location will draw you out to the beach for some sun and relaxation, but do not forget to enjoy the water.  Take one of the Sydney Harbour Ferries to Cremorne, Manly, or Watson’s Bay, but be sure to take your camera.  For a very reasonable price you’ll get world-class views.  Stand on the front bow of the ferry for the best picture-taking opportunities.

View the tall ships in the harbour when you return, then walk along the old section of Sydney known as The Rocks.  Narrow streets built in the 18th century are now quaint restaurants, galleries, and shops.  Do not leave without finding a memento to take back of your trip; you will never regret it.

Mexico has vast appeal as a holiday destination due to its hot sun, sandy beaches and historic sites of interest.  Flights from the UK to Mexico City take about nine to ten hours.

Spicy food lovers are in their element here.  Tamales, quesadillas and enchiladas are the order of the day, and fresh tropical fruit such as papaya and lime feature highly on the breakfast table.  Mexican drinks to sample include traditional chocolate, and of course tequila, which is made from cactus.

Holidaymakers with some time to spend in Mexico City should visit Xochimilco, a beautiful network of waterways where you can spend the day floating in a trajinera, a small brightly-coloured boat.  The area offers a party atmosphere as other boats with live mariachi bands and traditional food and drink will stop to offer their wares.

For architectural sites of interest, Mexico has Chichen Itza, an impressive Mayan city named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  Teotihuacan is a huge site with ancient pyramids close to Mexico City.  There are numerous other Mayan and Aztec ruins to visit including Tulum, Coba and Palenque.  Copper Canyon is an exotic mountain train ride taking visitors nearly 2.5 kilometres high.

Mexico also offers great beach resorts such as Acapulco, also known for its nightlife; Cancun, famous for its crystal waters; and Playa del Carmen.  Holidaymakers who choose to explore Mexico outside of the main tourist areas should take malaria tablets.

Notorious as being one of the most laid back capitals of Europe, Amsterdam has much to offer in the way of culture, history, the arts, and good food.  Most major airlines fly to Schiphol airport, which is around 18 kilometres south-west of the city centre, and trains run directly to the centre every few minutes.  Navigating Amsterdam is easy, as most Dutch natives speak superb English.  Many of the city’s signs are in English as well as Dutch, as are menus in all restaurants.

It has to be said that most visitors do want to take a peek at the notorious Red Light District, where prostitutes do quite literally sit in windows gesturing to passers by.  If you are not brave enough to venture in on your own, official tours are led by ex-prostitutes, the proceeds from which fund a charity which helps women find new work.  Another local activity that is illegal in many other countries can be found in the ‘coffee shops.’  Patrons of these establishments may relax and enjoy mellow music while smoking marijuana.

Amsterdam has historical and cultural attractions as well.  Anne Frank’s House, where visitors can climb the steep staircase to the secret cramped attic rooms where the famous teenager hid during World War II, is a popular destination.  The Rijksmuseum has a huge collection of art to enjoy, as does the Stedelijk Museum, which features a large collection of impressionist and pop art work.  Rembrandt’s House is also in Amsterdam, so there is no shortage of tourist venues in this famous city.

Bad Oeynhausen, near Hanover, is the perfect spot for a relaxing break that combines a wide range of therapeutic natural treatments with stunning scenery.  Since Roman times, people have experienced the hot, health-giving and rejuvenating natural springs here.  Nowadays, apart from taking advantage of the waters, there are a lot of other things to do in Bad Oeynhausen.

The Spa Gardens sit at the heart of the town, with thermal spring water bubbling out of the ground at 31 degrees C, and the gardens themselves are modelled on the classical English country style.

Do not miss the famous World Climate Avenue in the Aqua Magica Park.  The beautiful orchid house and associated gardens are centred on the site of the spectacular Regional Garden Show of 2000, and the colours and smells are breathtaking.

Motoring enthusiasts come to visit the Oldtimer Museum with its extensive collection of classic cars, with pride of place going to a 1919 Model T Ford, and you can get someone to photograph you in the back seat of the Kaiser’s car.

Cycling along the nearby Mittelland Canal is hugely popular, taking you past many historic sites on its East-West route, and Hamlyn also close by has a Pied Piper Tour to enjoy.

There are open-air plays and a kite festival, as well as many other things going on in this cheerful and historic city.  If you are looking for a healthy break with lots of activities for all the family, you cannot beat Bad Oeynhausen.