Travel tips and experiences

Promotional free discount code (s) for Spanish Vacations

2011-12-20T08:16:00.001-08:00

AC Hotels by Marriott offers modern accommodations in over thirty-five Spanish destinations, such as Barcelona, Granada, Leon, Malaga and Madrid. With AC Hotels’ promotional codes, you can reduce your travel budget. Read on to know more about the latest codes.

15% Free Discount Code

Book any type of guestroom in seven or fourteen days in advance before or on January 8, 2012 to get 15% off. The non-cancelable and non-changeable offer also includes complimentary mini bar, access to AC lounge round the clock and 24-hour room service. However, pre payment is the prerequisite. The promotion is valid all days of the week. You can book maximum of nine accommodations per transaction. Use the promotional discount code ADV at the time of booking.

Weekend in AC Hotels at the Best Price with free discount code

Book an accommodation at least for two nights and get full buffet breakfast. The offer is valid for standard guestrooms booked from Friday to Sunday. The offer does not apply to group reservations. It cannot be combined with other promotions. Enter the code PKG while booking the guestroom. The promotion is available through January 8, 2012.

Everybody to Warner AC Hotels for free discount code!

The package includes a double-bed room, buffet breakfast, two adult tickets to the Warner, a complimentary admission ticket for children less than or 90 centimeters tall and complimentary parking. However, breakfast is not served in the Hotel AC Mostoles. Mention the code THM while booking. The package is available for all days of a week through December 31, 2011. Taxes are extra. Book in advance.

Tour of the “EL Hilo de Arianda” Winery with free discount code

This offer applies to the Hotel AC Palacio de Santa Ana. The package includes buffet breakfast, a guestroom, gift bottle of Cantosan Verdejo and tour of the “El Hilo de Ariadna” and the Yllera wineries. You can also taste a tapa and two wines during the tour. Use code ARN before or no December 31, 2011 to avail the offer, which is valid for seven days a week. However, the package is valid up to two nights only. The Yllera Group produces world-famous wines, including D.O. Toro and Tierra de Castilla Leon reds, and D.O. Rueda and D.O. Ribera del Duero whites.

City of Arts and Sciences | AC Valencia with free discount code

With this package, you get breakfast, an accommodation in double bed room, admission tickets to the Hemispheric, Oceanographic and Prince Felipe museums for two days. The package, available through December 31, 2011, requires discount code ARN. You can choose from AC Twin Room and AC Room. Stay at least for two days. The package price does not include VAT. The offer is not valid for ten or more rooms.

If you want more accommodation choices for the Spanish holiday, check promotional free discount code(s) from uSmileHotels.

discount codes for winter holiday in UK

2011-11-28T04:24:00.000-08:00

Youth Hostel Association (YHA) UK unveiled ten discount codes for its members, so that they can travel more in less.

“Winter Room Offer” includes a family room for GBP 19.95 per night. Mention codes MAGIC-003 and MAGIC-004 for a stay on or before December 28, 2011 and a stay from January 2 to February 29, 2012 respectively.

“Winter Family Magic”, starting from GBP 29.95 per night, consists of an evening meal and a family room. The meal menu may include bread, cheesy mash, Cumberland sausage, fish pie, mushroom and quorn spicy fajitas, seasonal vegetables and stew. Enter codes MAGIC-001 and MAGIC-002 for a stay on or before December 23, 2011 and a stay from January 2 to February 29, 2012 respectively.

Both the above offers are not valid during New Year and Christmas. Book online.

Try “Winter Snowball” promotion to get a room for as low as GBP 10.00 per night. The discounted tariff applies to participating YHA properties across England and Wales. Book online to get the discount on or before February 29, 2012.

With “Escape to… Christmas Getaways” offer, you can save 50% on cottages, lodges and mansions booked for Christmas. Stay at least for four nights. You can save GBP 30.00 if you become YHA member.

Use code CBAUG11 while booking to “Win a Free Stay in a Camping Barn.” The special offer is valid until November 30, 2011. Complimentary stay, if won, should be completed by May 30, 2012.

Enter code “Buy1Get1Alstonefield” while booking YHA Alstonefield Camping Barn to get one night stay free. The offer is valid from Sunday to Thursday until February 29, 2012.

With “Byrness Special Offer”, you qualify for 50% discount on the third night stay. Book for two nights. The promotion is valid through December 20, 2011.

Mention code “Lodges for less” while booking a Scandinavian lodge to avail discounted rate of GBP 550.00 per night for 6 en-suite bedrooms that can sleep 22 guests. The special offer is valid until January 31, 2012 excluding Christmas and New Year.

If you need rucksacks, travel packs, backpacks and accessories for the holiday, use code AA15 to buy these at www.adventureavenue.co.uk and enjoy 15% discount.

All the above discount codes require YHA membership. If you are not a member of the Youth Hostel Association, become today.

Special Offers for a holiday in Black Hills

2011-11-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

Black Hills, blanketed with pines, is located in South Dakota, U.S.A. The hills offer an assortment of vacation options, such as museums, recreational trails, national scenic byways, spelunking, theme parks, wildlife watching and trout fishing. Jewel Cave, the second-longest cave on the planet, is situated in these hills. Browse through the following special offers to enjoy more with less:

Print coupon of South Dakota Museum of Geology to get 10% discount on purchases made at its gift shop. The coupon offer is available through March 2012. The museum in the center of the Black Hills exhibits rare minerals and fossils.

Use a coupon of the Museum at Black Hills Institute to save five dollars. However, you can use one coupon per visit only. The coupon cannot be used in conjunction of other offers. The natural history museum features unique treasure trove of minerals, fossils and dinosaurs’ remains collected from around the world.

Print Badlands Petrified Gardens’ coupon to save one dollar on regular admission ticket. The coupon cannot be used with other offers and discounts. The garden features prehistoric fossils and trees of stones.

With Super 8- Deadwood (Lucky 8 Gaming) coupon, you can get 15% discount. The coupon offer is neither valid during special events and holidays nor with other discount offers. The discount is available through June 22, 2012. Deadwood Super 8 casino remains open round the clock.

With Flintstones Bedrock City Theme Park coupon, you can save one dollar on an adult entry ticket. Only one coupon can be used per visit. The coupon offer cannot be combined with other discounts. The modern park imitates stone-age environment. There is Iron Horse Train, Flintmobile and Slideasaurus. The park also features a full-service campground commanding beautiful views. You can pitch tent, park your recreation vehicle or stay at camping cabin. Even complimentary Wi Fi is available at the campground.

Use coupon of Americas Best Value Inn to save $ 15.00 on a queen bed guestroom. Only one coupon is valid per room, per visit. However, the coupon cannot be used during special events.

With Brookside Motel coupon, you can save five dollars per visit. The coupon cannot be used with other discounts.

Print a coupon to save three dollars on The 2011 Black Hills Coupon Book worth $20.00. The book features freebies and coupons for local attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops. You can redeem this coupon at the Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Free Coupon Codes from Marriott for French Vacations

2011-08-21T04:34:00.000-07:00

Marriott manages eighteen hotels located in different parts of France, including Paris, Cannes and Montpellier. You can choose from its five brands: Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard and Marriott Vacation Club. All these hotels run special promotions with or without promo codes.

Mention free coupon’s code SHO while purchasing “Escape! Shopping Package” from Courtyard Paris Arcueil. The code is valid until December 31, 2011. The package includes 2-night accommodation, breakfast daily, Paris Metro tickets per person, per day, Chic & Trendy- a style guide, and 10% off at Printemps that stocks all popular luxury brands of beauty and fashion products. The package rate starts from EUR 129.00.

Use code RR2 to save 20% on rooms booked at JW Marriott Cannes. The code is valid for Thursday to Sunday through September 5, 2011. Pay in advance with Visa® Card for weekend stay to avail the discount, which is applicable to accommodation rate only. This Visa and Marriott Weekend Deal requires at least one Friday or Saturday night stay.

Book in 7, 14 or 21 days in advance. Bookings are non-changeable and non-refundable. Book by August 29, 2011.

Enter free coupon’s code ZJL while purchasing “Enjoy Summer and Relax with our Beach Package in Monaco” from Riviera Marriott Hotel La Porte de Monaco. The package includes a guestroom with sea or mountain view, full American breakfast for two guests and a pass to Lamparo Beach. The Beach Pass entitles the pass holder an umbrella and two sun beds daily. You can collect the pass at the time of check-in. A full-day pass is valid for one paid night. The package rate starts from EUR 249.00. The code is valid on or before September 30, 2011.

Use free coupon’s code EW5 to book “Experience the Magic of Disney® in Paris!” from Marriott’s Village d’lle-de-France. The code is valid through October 26, 2011. The offer rate varies from EUR 249.00 per room, per night to EUR 398.00 per room, per night. A 4-night stay is required for the discount. The offer includes accommodation in 2-bedroom townhouse and two child and two adult park hopper tickets for Walt Disney Studios Park and Disneyland Park for three days. The townhouse comprises comfortable bedrooms, separate dining and living areas, and a fully equipped kitchen. The code cannot be used in conjunction with other offers.

Where to Find Coupon Code Hotels for a Vacation in New York
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Budget Car Rental Offers for Australian Travel

2011-08-01T04:24:00.001-07:00

Budget is offering three promotional offers for traveling within Australia. Peruse all three and pick one suiting your travel plan.

$100 off 14 days with Budget in Australia!

Enter code MPNZ065 to rent a car for fourteen consecutive days and avail $100.00 discount on time and kilometer charges. The rental car discount code is valid for all vehicle groups. The rate comprises vehicle registration recovery and admin fees, and GST. However, miscellaneous and refueling service charges are additional.

10 days for the price of 8 in Australia!

Rent a car from groups B, C, D, E or P at least for ten consecutive days. Mention code TPNZ123 to get complimentary kilometer and time charges for two days. The rental includes admin and vehicle registration recovery fees and GST, but refueling service charges and other miscellaneous charges may be levied.

Free Single Upgrade with Budget in Australia!

Use rental car discount code UPNZ015 to rent any car from Economy to full-size for four consecutive days and get a complimentary upgrade. The highest upgrade could be to group P’s full-size car. You can choose from vehicle groups E, D, C, B and A. Group E cars can be upgraded to Group P vehicles, Group D to Group E, Group C to Group D and Group A to Group B.

Each of the above three codes is applicable to bookings made prior to December 20, 2011. The offer is not valid during blackout dates. The codes can be used for participating Australian locations only. The codes are not valid for one-way rentals. The promotions cannot be clubbed with other offers or special rates. Customer must meet all driver requirements spelt out by Budget.

$40 Off 5 Days!

Mention rental car discount code MPNZ099 to save forty dollars on time and kilometer charges. The code is valid until September 30, 2011. You can rent a vehicle from groups B, C, D, E or P. Rent a car at least for five consecutive days. The promotion is not valid for Budget locations in Western Australia.

Ski Magic

Use code D010750 to rent a Budget car for a snow drive. The code is valid for some of the Budget locations in New South Wales and Victoria. You can select a vehicle from groups V, W, F, K, E, D and C. The promotion, valid until October 31, 2011, is for Australian residents only. The rate includes unlimited kilometers, admin and vehicle registration recovery fees and GST. One-way rentals are allowed to Melbourne and Sydney airports. Book at least for one day.

5 Hilton Promotions for New York Holida

2011-07-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Mentionhotel promotion code H7 to buy “Fashion Insider Package” from recently opened Hilton New York Fashion District. The code is valid until December 31, 2011. The package features two free bottles of water, two entry tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a yummy chocolate as welcome gift, 20% discount voucher for a spa treatment of fifty or eighty minutes, 15% off coupon for Walking Shopping Tours from Top Button and double Hilton HHonors points.

Enter hotel promotion code H8 to enjoy benefits of “NYC Sports Fanatic Package, double HHonors Points and sports-themed discounts!” The offer includes the following discounts:

A 20% rebate certificate for Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant decorated with baseball memorabilia. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner only.

A 15% off on bike rental from Bike Rental Central Park.

Enjoy 15% discount on food ordered at Duke’s Original Roadhouse.

All three discount certificates will be delivered at the time of check-in. The package is valid through December 31, 2011.

Use hotel promotion code L1 to purchase “Manhattan Museum Package- Featuring American Museum of Natural History, Madame Tussauds and More!” The bookings can be canceled. The family package is valid until December 31, 2011. The offer includes accommodation, two entry tickets to The American Museum of Natural History, 2-for-1 admission offer for the Skyscraper Museum, 15% discount on the City Crab and Seafood Company’s menu, six American dollar discount on entry ticket to BODIES and five American dollars off at Madame Tussauds New York.

Mention code BL to book “Build-A-Bear Workshop® Pawsitively Fun Package”. The promotion includes accommodation and a Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Drawstring Backpack loaded with fun items, such as a bear-sized tee and sports sleeping bag. At the workshop, participants will create furry animals from scratch. The deal is valid through December 31, 2011.

With code ZU, you can enjoy benefits of “Comic Strip Live and Broadway Comedy Club NYC Package” available until December 31, 2011. The code coupon is valid for maximum of four guests. Besides accommodations, the package includes the following:

A coupon worth ten American dollars for any program at Comic Strip Live, the oldest stand-up comedy show in the city

Complimentary entry tickets to Broadway Comedy Club.

The coupons will be delivered at the time of check-in.

Special Offers of Discount Coupons for a Visit to Atlanta

2011-07-09T08:20:00.001-07:00

Buy ATLANTA CityPASS and Save 51%

The pass ensures admission to five famous attractions of the city: Atlanta History Center or Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank Museum of Natural History or High Museum of Art, Georgia Aquarium, Inside CNN Studio Tour and World of Coca Cola. The pass with validity of nine days costs USD 69.00 per adult. If you buy entry ticket to each attraction separately, it will amount to USD 141.28 per adult. The pass holders can skip the queues at these attractions.

Discount Coupons from Drury Hotels

Present discount coupon of "Braves Museum: Hall of Fame" while purchasing an entry ticket to save two dollars. The coupon is not applicable to group bookings.

Print online coupon before visiting The Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum to save two dollars on the entry ticket. The museum has a collection of artifacts representing Jews’ history and the Holocaust.

With discount coupon of “Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta” you can get two dollars off on a general admission ticket. The museum is an ideal venue for children <= 8 years of age. They can play here in leisure.

Use online coupon to save two dollars on an entry ticket to Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. Highlights of the museum include a replica of the Oval Office and historical memorabilia and photographs representing Carter’s political career.

Print discount coupon of the Margaret Mitchell House to save five dollars on admission. This coupon cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions. The house, where Margaret wrote famous “Gone with the Wind” novel, offers guided tours. There is a gift shop and “Gone with the Wind movie exhibition”. All the above five coupons are valid until March 31, 2012.

Use Underground Atlanta’s coupon to enjoy one complimentary guided history tour for one paid tour and get two complimentary underground Atlanta gift bags. Underground Atlanta, an entertainment and shopping district, features eateries and shops, and presents fun events, festivals, etc.

Present SixFlags White Water Atlanta’s coupon to save seven dollars on a regular one-day general admission ticket. The coupon cannot be exchanged for cash. Discount is not applicable to tickets purchased in advance. Use the coupon on or before September 5, 2011.

With online coupon, you can save three dollars on a trilogy pass for “A Southern Trilogy: The Historic Homes of Roswell.” The trilogy comprises Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Smith Plantation. Gorgeous Barrington is an epitome of Greek revival architecture, where as temple-form architecture is used for Bulloch.

Westin Hotels’ Promotional Codes for a Vacation in Blue Mountains (Canada)

2011-05-24T12:27:00.001-07:00

The Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountains, Ontario, Canada, was voted to Conde Nast Traveler-Readers’ Choice: Top 20 Canadian Resorts in 2010. The hotel is a perfect choice for golf, snowboarding and / or snow skiing holidays. While booking the hotel, situated near Niagara Escarpment, use any of the following codes to get a free night or F&B credit.

Mention hotel’s promotional code Z3R to enjoy a complimentary night. Book a 3-night stay before May 12, 2011. Stay must be completed on or before December 31, 2011. Advance payment is the prerequisite. Bookings are non-changeable and non-refundable. The code cannot be used with other promotions.

Enter hotel’s promotional code ZS4 to avail fourth night free and get a beverage and food credit of CAD 50.00. Complimentary night is applied at checkout. The credit cannot be used for room tariff. The code is valid through December 30, 2011. Full payment is required at the time of booking. If available, room upgrade is also complimentary. The code is applicable to new reservations only.

AAA / CAA members can take advantage of Breakfast, Resort Credit or Valet Parking packages. The Breakfast and Valet Parking offers are for stays between Monday and Wednesday. The Resort Credit package is for Sunday to Thursday arrivals. Use code AUTOB to buy Breakfast package that includes breakfast for two at Oliver & Bonacini Restaurant and stay in a traditional accommodation. Mention code AUTORCA to reserve Resort Credit package offering a CAD 50.00 resort credit and accommodation for three nights. Refer code AUTOP for Valet Parking package that features valet parking worth CAD 20.00 for one vehicle and stay in a traditional room.

Try hotel’s promotional code BATHPKG-9 to buy the Scandinave Spa Baths package and pamper yourself. The package features deluxe accommodations equipped with The Westin Heavenly Beds® and the Scandinave spa baths worth CAD 90.00. The offer is valid until June 24, 2011. Advance payment of 50% at the time of reservation is necessary. The code is valid for all seven days of the week.

Use code PKGPLUN1 to buy “Plunge! Aquatic Center” package valid until June 24, 2011. The code is applicable to Friday and Saturday night stays only. The package includes a family pass to the center. The pass worth CAD 50.00 is valid for two children and two adults. The center features slides, docks, rope swings, hot tubs, indoor water playground and swimming pools. Half of the payment should be made at the time of reservation.

Hotel Promo Codes from Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa

2011-05-03T08:46:00.001-07:00

LEGOLAND® California, a park covering 128 acres of land, comprises Dino Island, DUPLO Village, Imagination Zone, Land of Adventure, Castle Hill, Fun Town, Miniland USA, Pirate Shores, SEA LIFE and Water Park for educating and entertaining children of up to 12 years age. Its neighbor the 4-star Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa is offering the following hotel promo codes for up to 40% savings and various freebies. Except ZS4, all hotel promo codes are valid until December 31, 2011.

Family travelers can use code LGL to purchase LEGOLAND® California Package. The offer includes private entrance to the park, accommodations and two free admission tickets to LEGOLAND. However, the tickets do not cover access to the SEA LIFE and Water Park.

Mention hotel promo codes ZS4 for “Sunsational Savings” offer and receive fifth night stay free during May 1 and September 30, 2011. If you book for October or December, you will get fourth night stay free. Minimum four or five nights stay is necessary. The offer also includes a free room upgrade subject to availability and American breakfast for two daily.

Enter code B1P while booking “Free Breakfast” package offering complimentary breakfast for two daily. The room tariff for the package starts from USD 199.00 per night. Blackout dates may apply.

Shopping lovers may use code GLG to purchase “Shopping Plus Spa Equals AHHHH” package. The room rate starts from USD 209.00 per night. The offer includes a gift card (worth fifty dollars) per night, a free VIP coupon book featuring discounts valued hundreds of dollars and 20% rebate on a 50-minute spa service. The card can be used in more than ninety stores of “Carlsbad Premium Outlets”.

With promo code ZB4, you can get 40% discount on the next night. Pay for one night stay at regular rates and get 40% off on the next night. Advance payment for these non-refundable bookings is necessary.

AAA membership cardholders can book rooms at special rates starting from USD 189.00 per night. The offer, requiring code BKA, also includes breakfast for two daily.

Use code S1P to purchase “Ocean Pearl Spa Package” that includes one welcome fruit plate, two bottles of water per day and 20% discount on a 50-minute spa treatment per person up to two guests. The room tariff for the package starts from USD 199.00 per night.

Book in advance and mention code CGP to enjoy benefits of “The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Package”. A golf voucher for a round of golf for two guests will be delivered at the time of check-in.

Free Voucher Codes for Guoman Hotels’ London-based Properties

2011-04-21T01:56:00.000-07:00

The Guoman Hotels boasts four luxury properties in London. The Cumberland Hotel features Michelin-starred Rhodes W1 Restaurant, a modern art gallery and over one thousand plush apartments, guestrooms and suites. The hotel is a stroll away from West End’s theaters, Selfridges and Oxford Street. The Tower Hotel, located close to popular landmarks of the city - the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, lends itself to sweeping views of the city skyline and the River Thames. This centrally located hotel offers suites, guestrooms and apartments.

Award-winning Royal Horseguards Hotel on the River Thames has played host to noted British political leaders, thinkers and writers. This magnificent property near The Strand, Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross commands gorgeous views of London Eye and the river. The Charing Cross Hotel in the heart of the city, housed in the Grade II listed building, prides itself on its opulent Betjeman Suite and stunning views. The hotel puts you close to shops and theatres of West End.

Use free voucher code NNN97 before December 31, 2011 to enjoy benefits of Pre-Theatre package featuring one night stay, a 3-course dinner (pre-theatre), drink (post theatre) per person, breakfast and VAT. The drink price cannot exceed GBP 10.00 per person. Non-commissionable tariff starts from GBP 179.00 per room, per night (prpn) for two persons.

Use code PPP04 for Guoman Shopping Experience package before December 31, 2011 and get a free voucher worth GBP 50.00 to shop at Selfridges. The package rate, inclusive of breakfast and VAT, starts from GBP 175.00 prpn on double occupancy basis. You will get one voucher per room, per stay. The voucher will be delivered at the time of check-in. The non-commissionable rates are valid for new reservations only.

Try free voucher code NNN96 while buying Romance Package starting from GBP 155.00 prpn for two guests. The price includes one night stay, breakfast and house champagne in room and an evening treat. VAT is included in the non-commissionable package rate.

If you have deep pockets, go for Guoman Urban Retreat package valid through December 31, 2011. The package includes 2-night stay, breakfast on both days, a treatment for two at Harrods’ Urban Retreat, chauffeur service to and from Harrods, and VAT. You can choose from four treatment packages: Harmony, Lunch Time Treat, Pre Party Night Out and Urban all Over. Use free voucher code NNN77 while buying the package. Tariff starts from GBP 555.00 per room, per package. Reserve 2 weeks in advance.

Popular Luxury Hotels in Mumbai

2011-04-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

Probably every Indian dreams to visit Mumbai at least once in the life. The city is also a major entry point for foreign travelers visiting India for business and / or leisure. This “fondness” to the city has drawn several hoteliers serving guests from all walks of life. An assortment of places to stay, thus, dot the city, but this article focuses on five popular luxury hotels.

The Oberoi, Mumbai is a plush property in Nariman Point-the main shopping and business precinct of the city. The hotel, lending itself to the views of the Arabian Sea, boasts a complete range of modern amenities. Room tariff ranges from INR 25,000.00 to INR 300,000.00, exclusive of luxury tax. Although it is 100% non-smoking hotel, a few smoking accommodations are available for the convenience of habitual smokers. The Business Center, the Fitness Center and The Spa remain open round the clock.

A historic landmark The Taj Mahal Palace, commanding sweeping views of the Arabian Sea, plays host to rich and famous. Its architecture, a fusion of Florentine, Moorish and Oriental styles, is an attraction in itself. The walls of the hotel are adorned with authentic artifacts and paintings. Rack rate starts from INR 21,500.00 to INR 170,000.00.

Taj Lands End on the famous Band Stand in Bandra (West) prides itself on its banquet, business, conference and dining facilities. Situated close to Andheri, Bandra-Kurla and Worli business areas, the hotel is a perfect choice for business travelers and vacationers. Rack rates vary from INR 23,000.00 to INR 250,000.00.

The Westin Mumbai Garden City in Goregaon East boasts a modern ambience for productive business trips and enjoyable holidays. The hotel affords beautiful views of the green belt and the tinsel town. High-speed internet can be accessed in the comfort of room. All standard Westin amenities, including Business Center, Club Lounge, Heavenly Spa, Kids Club and WORKOUT® Gym, are on the property. The Best Rate varies from INR 7,000.00 to INR 36,000.00

ITC Grand Central in Parel is known for its corporate hospitality. Contemporary design elements are blended with that of Raj era. The rooftop lounge “Point of View” commands gorgeous and 360-degree views of the city. Published tariff ranges from INR 22,000.00 to INR 200,000.00, exclusive of luxury tax.

All these hotels have early bird, extended stay and breakfast inclusive offers. If you have deep pockets, try any of these luxury hotels. Uber rich can even afford the most expensive presidential suites of the hotels.

London - budget traveling

2011-03-31T03:58:00.000-07:00

“Determining Travel Preferences in 2009 and Beyond’ survey by the Visa and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) concluded that a good night’s sleep account for about 30% of total travel budget (excluding airfare) and food and drinks for 22%. More than 50% of the travel budget is thus spent on hotels and restaurants. And, overpriced small rooms prevent many travelers from visiting London, one of the most expensive destinations in the world. But, you can find discount hotels for a London trip if you try the following tips:

Book in advance and avail early booking offers. Reserve Travelodge accommodations 21 days in advance and pay just £19.00 for the room. But, remember this Saver Rate is non-refundable.

Stay in well-equipped hostels. For instance, Palmers Lodge has three hostels in London: Swiss Cottage, Hillspring at Willesden Green and Mapesbury. Both gender-specific and mixed dormitories are available. Tariff starts from €22.00 per person per night. Swiss Cottage, one of the best hostels in the world, offers dorms and en-suites. Piccadilly Backpackers, a hostel in central location, features both private rooms and dormitories. Rates could be as low as £16.00 per person per night for dormitories.

Try economy hotels. Yotel at Gatwick Airport even offers rooms for four hours for £26.00. Its 10-square-meter cabins / rooms feature mood lighting, plush bedding, rain showers and fresh coffee.

Browse through London Discount Hotel, a 25-year old hotel reservation agency offering good value accommodations in budget, mid range and luxury categories. Its hotel prices include continental breakfast and local taxes. Search Special offers for substantial discounts.

Surf the Web for Special Hotel Packages, Sales…

Hoxton Hotel, an award-wining property in London, provides elegant accommodations, mini breakfast and complimentary Wi Fi for the convenience of guests. You can try its £1.00 sale that takes place periodically throughout the year. £1 room can be booked online only. You can neither seek refund nor change the dates of stay.

Browse Visit London and Visit London Offers to find discount hotels, daily value deals, London hotel packages and special offers. Visit London Offers boasts more than three hundred hotels spanning budget to five star categories. You can search the database on hotel name or destination name.

London bed and breakfast lodging is another good option that gives you a chance to interact with locals and save money.

Visit the city in off-peak season when rates are reduced to lure the customers.

Save up to 50% with British Hotel Promotional Codes

2010-08-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Save up to 50% with British Hotel Promotional Codes

A good night’s sleep is a necessity while holidaying like on any other day, requiring affordable clean functional safe accommodations throughout the trip. All of us look for discounts and savings especially for expensive destinations, including the United Kingdom, a popular all season destination. In fact, British hotel prices range from GBP 70.00 to more than GBP 200.00 (VisitBritain.com) in the capital city London. However, with the following hotel promotion codes travelers can save substantially on the hotel bills.

Up to 50% Off on QHotels

QHotels offers up to 50% discount on full-published prices for 2-night bed and breakfast summer packages. The offer, covering Scotland & North, Midlands & East Anglia and South, is valid up to September 5, 2010. Type hotel promotion code “SUMMER10” for perfect summer breaks or “ESUMMER10” for family friendly breaks while booking online to get the discount.

Enter “WEBEX10” in the hotel promotional code box while reserving a 3-night stay or 4-night stay to avail 30% or 35% off. The code is valid for online bookings until stock lasts and in no case later than December 2011. The discounts are applicable on flexible rate of the day. Type “GOLF0510” for savings on golf breaks.

Type “LOVE10” to book a romantic getaway package, costing GBP 280.00 per couple for 2-night stay on dinner, bed & breakfast basis. The deal also includes a bottle of house champagne, an assortment of chocolates and a spa voucher worth GBP 10.00 per person. Book by December 31, 2010.

Use “FANFRI10” for relaxing on Fridays. The “Friday Night Escape”, costing GBP 95.00 per room, features a room for one night for two persons, a 3-course meal and breakfast buffet.

Enter hotel promotion code “ATTRACT10” for attraction breaks starting from GBP 62.50 per guest per night. The offer includes bed, breakfast and a 3-course evening meal. The code expires on August 31, 2011.

15% Discount on Millennium Hotels

Millennium Hotels offers 15% discount on the room booked 21 days in advance, and 15% off with complimentary breakfast for reservations made 28 days in advance. Both the offers are valid until December 30, 2010. Type hotel promotional code “ADVANCEDP” to get the rebate.

10% Off on Airport Hotels across the UK

Enter hotel promotional code of Holiday Extras Ltd “WS970” to avail 10% discount on any UK airport hotel booked with it on or before December 31, 2010.

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Save up to 50% with British Hotel Promotional Codes

Up to 50% Off on QHotels

Use “FANFRI10” for relaxing on Fridays. The “Friday Night Escape”, costing GBP 95.00 per room, features a room for one night for two persons, a 3-course meal and breakfast buffet.

15% Discount on Millennium Hotels

10% Off on Airport Hotels across the UK

Enter hotel promotional code of Holiday Extras Ltd “WS970” to avail 10% discount on any UK airport hotel booked with it on or before December 31, 2010.

Spanish Holidays: Save with Travel Coupon Codes

2010-08-18T06:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, although Catalonia has banned its famous Bull Fight, Spain is one of the ten most visited countries in the world. The Spanish beaches along the Mediterranean coast are perfect for beating the summer heat while its bounty of historic gardens, monuments, museums, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites for other seasons. But, choice is yours!

If you plan intelligently and use travel coupon codes, you can save substantially and see more in less during current recessionary period. Advance bookings for Christmas and New Year holiday may also get you fat discounts. Here, I have compiled a list of travel discount codes for all elements of a standard travel itinerary.

But among all mentioned below ways to save, there is one, which stays apart: uSmile Travel Coupon Codes. Free Travel Coupon Codes from uSmile (See Guided Tour)offers you 15% discount on your total accommodation bill.

RetailMeNot Travel Discount Codes: Up to 30% Off

RetailMeNot offers a voucher code for 25% off on Eurocamp Holidays. Type travel discount code (NCT2) in promo code box while booking the package. Its voucher codes for Auto Europe (10-20%), Hertz Car Rental (up to 20%), Pierre et Vacances (over 30%) and Hotels N Tours (10%) will get you discount on car rentals, hotels and vacation packages.

VoucherCodes’ Travel Coupon Codes

VoucherCodes presents six travel discount codes for products of lowcostholidays.com, an award winning low cost holiday provider. Use the following codes for discounts:

“VC20” for GBP 20.00 off on flight and hotel bookings amounting to more than GBP 200.00. The code expires on August 14, 2010.

“EARLYSAVINGHOL” for GBP 25.00 off on flight and hotel bookings totaling more than GBP 550.00. The offer is valid until stock lasts.

The website also presents a voucher code for 3% discount on rooms reserved on Hotels4u.com. The code “NUVC1Q10” is valid depending on availability of room.

More than 25% Discount from Savings

Visit Savings to get Avis and Rail Europe travel discount coupons. Click on orange button “Get Code” in Avis’ “25% or More off on Any Rental” advertisement to retrieve the code. Enter the code in the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) box while booking the vehicle. Rail Europe offers $15.00 off on any booking, $20.00 discount on rail tickets costing more than $150.00 and $50.00 on bookings worth over $1,000. Click on “Get Code” buttons in respective advertisements to read the codes.

CheapOair Travel Coupons: $10, $15 or $35 off

Avail yourself of discount of $15.00 for international flights and $10.00 for domestic flights at CheapOair. Enter coupon code “INT15” for international bookings and “DOM10” for domestic. Type “BIZ35” to get $35.00 off on business class airfare or “FIRST35” to obtain same discount on first class airfare. The codes, expiring on August 31, 2010, can be used for airfare aggregating more than $2,000.

Summer in Madrid

2010-08-14T03:07:00.000-07:00

Summer in Madrid

Summer is not yet over. The 2010 Veranos de la Villa, an annual festival with a motto – “This Summer Go to Madrid”, presents concerts, films, and dance and theater performances by famous artists from different parts of the world. Highlights of the festival include Flamenco and Zarzuela performances, the Moscow Circus on Ice and outdoor nights. We have generated a list of hotel promo codes to save money on accommodations while you are in Madrid to enjoy the festival through August 22, 2010. So why wait?

uSmile Hotel Promo Code

15% discount on accommodation in Spanish hotels.

19% Prepaid Discount

Voucherseeker offers a voucher code for Engrande-“19% Prepaid Discount on Summer 2010 inexpensive accommodations”. Click on pink button “ Show Code and Open Site”, book the hotel and enter the code in promo code box and hit the Update Price button on Engrande reservation site.

Expedia’s Hotel Promo Code: Saving of $10 per night

Savings offers a hotel promotional code of Expedia. Click on “Save $10 per Night on Your Hotel Stay” to read the details and “Get Code” (orange button) to retrieve the code and avail yourself of a discount of $10.00 per night. However, it requires minimum of two nights stay at the hotel and per night tariff should be at least $75.00 exclusive of fee and taxes. The offer is valid on bookings made by September 30, 2010 and stay concluding on or before October 31, 2010.

HotelClub Discount Coupons: up to 70% Off

Visit Savings and activate coupon with title “20-70% off Hotel Bookings Every Day”. HotelClub.com would open in a new window. Fill check-in and check out dates and destination as Madrid to review discounts on all available hotels. Sort them on Price and review the deals as per your taste and budget. It has both budget as well as luxury hotels. This offer does not require a hotel promotional code. Just click on the blue color button “Activate Coupon”.

Venere Coupons: 4-10% off

RetailMeNot presents a hotel promo code that will get you 4-10% off on hotels booked with Venere.com. Visit Retailmenot and search for Venere. Active coupons of the company will be displayed. Click on the hotel promotional code. Venere will open in a new window. Book a Madrid hotel and enter the code in discount code box. Venere allows you to enter the code and update price before typing guest details unlike some web sites that request guest details before entering the code and updating hotel price.

Coupon code hotels - uSmileHotels.com coupon code hotels video

2010-08-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Promo discount codes for hotels

2010-05-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

Free Coupon Codes for Hotels near Disneyland

Planning to go on a Disneyland vacation in Anaheim, California? You probably know the vacation alone will cost you a lot—Disneyland, after all, is no cheap thrill. Going around Disneyland alone can suck your finances dry, especially because there are so many rides you and your companions will want to try. There are also souvenirs and other paid activities you might simply not be able to resist. Even the concept of Free promo codes for hotels near Disneyland may sound far out of reach!

For that, you must plan your trip well ahead of time. In planning, you should include not only the costs of the Disneyland vacation, but also the travel expenses (the means of transportation to and from Disneyland is known for its exorbitantly high fees!), food expenses, communication expenses and, perhaps the most important of all, the hotel expenses.

Setting the Standards for Discount codes for Hotels near Disneyland

Since Disneyland is a tourist destination, staying in a hotel around the area can be very expensive. To avoid being surprised at the fees in your chosen hotel, you must plan ahead: look at the rates of hotels around the area, compare and contrast. As you are looking for a place to stay in, you must bear in mind that you are looking for a hotel that is principally cheap.

What do cheap hotels near Disneyland entail, exactly? First, that hotel must charge low to very low rates. Figure out how much you are willing to spend for a night. There are hotels ranging from $60 to $100. For that hotel to be cheap, it must also be within walking distance of Disneyland Anaheim. You don’t want to spend $10 on transportation to and from the hotel alone—it will only offset the money you’ve saved on the hotel. Finally, the hotel must provide quality services. You can read through hotel reviews in the Internet or consult your friends who have been to the same hotel. You must keep these three standards in mind when looking for cheap hotels near Disneyland. Contrary to what many people think, cheap doesn’t begin and end in low hotel rates; there are other factors to take into account, as detailed above.

Finding Cheap promotional codes for Hotels

Now that you know what to keep in mind when looking for that promo discount codes for motels, what are your options? There are actually many hotels around Anaheim, but the cheaper ones are located in Kissimmee, Florida. The town is located east of the Disneyland maingate, so it shouldn’t be hard to find. Here are a few hotels that might fall within your budget:

free promo discount codes

With more than 100 rooms, Comfort Inn is considered home by many people travelling in Orlando. Room services do their job well, the location is accessible, and the rooms are sufficient for short vacations. There are rooms here that are as cheap as $50.

How to earn on hotels using discount codes

2010-05-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

Free Coupon Codes provide Hotel code, Hotel coupons, Hotel codes and Hotel coupon for their assorted merchants, thereby reducing costs. Maximize on these offers from time to time and save considerable amount of money. Chill out at Las Vegas. Book online at VegasCasinos.com for Las Vegas casinos, hotels, shows, limos and tours by wisely using the Hotel coupon codes offers. You can also book online for inns, hotels, business hotels and hotel room lodging at a reduced rate from Sleep Inn. Use Hotel discount codes and get hold of discount hotel rooms, economy hotel lodging, discount hotel rates, temporary housing and discount hotel reservations at a low price, saving money in the long run. Traveling is all about relaxation; it brings in change from the regular monotony and comes as a breath of fresh air. Trim your budget and save money on your hotel charges. CheapRooms.com offers a well-stocked selection of discounted rates on cheap hotels, best hotels, vacation packages, airline tickets and car hire. Grab the Hotel promo code offers whenever they are available. Marriott.com brings in Marriott hotel resorts and suites, renaissance hotels, residence Inn, courtyard by Marriott, townplace suites, Fairfield inn and Springhill suites. Enjoy with your family at Sandos hotels and resorts. Drop in to beach and spa hotels and take pleasure in live concerts. Travel Worm takes care of hotel reservations, flights, car rentals, vacation packages, cruises, tickets and group bookings. Check them out and use Hotel discount code offers whenever available. Moreover, keep a lookout for the best travel deals from time to time. Some travelers prefer econo lodge hotels, budget hotel rooms and affordable motels. Businessmen opt for business travel hotel, corporate travel lodging and accommodations for any training programs of their employees. But, while going for these, don't forget to use Hotel free shipping code; Hotel free shipping coupon, Hotel shipping and Hotel shipping services.

How to Make Sending Military Christmas Cards Easy This Year

2010-01-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

Everyone should respect those hardworking guys and girls in the military and when Christmastime comes around, you don’t want to forget about all of them who are working so hard to protect the country. They deserve Christmas cards too and sending military Christmas cards is a really nice idea. They are going to love these cards and it will really brighten up their day.

How to Send Military Cards

A lot of people even those who do not actually know anyone in the military want to start sending military Christmas cards. You will need to know how to get started and the first step that you want to take is to buy some cards. You could send one or a few and it is really up to you and how much money you have to spend.

Then you want to personalize the card. Think of something nice that you want to write and of course if you know someone in the military that you will be sending military Christmas cards to you will want to write something more personal and really tell them how you feel and that you are missing them.

Now if you want to start sending military Christmas cards, you are going to need to find out what mailing address you are going to be sending these cards to. You don’t want to go to all the work of getting these cards ready and signed only to send them to the wrong address. To start sending military Christmas cards, the best resource you can use is the Internet. You want to look for a service such as the Holiday Mail for Heroes which you can go through and this way you know that your cards are going to make it to the right place.

Now all you really need to worry about once you have the address is getting stamps and sending your cards off. There is really nothing that is going to make you feel better than sending military Christmas cards because you know that they are going to a good place and that these guys and girls that are working hard for their country are going to get these cards and it will really boost their moods.

There is no one that deserves more recognition than the hardworking people in the military and this is a great way to show them that they are appreciated.

You may even want to take that extra step and personalize the cards that much more by making them yourself. If you want to start sending military Christmas cards, you could get some nice card and decorations and make the cards by hand. Of course this is going to take you a lot more time but it will be worth it because handmade cards are that much more meaningful. Or you could make homemade cards but make it a bit easier by going online and getting printable cards that you just pick and choose from and print off. Then you can sign them and make handwritten notes however you want and really make it that much more special.

This is the basic way to start sending military Christmas cards but there are also always different donation projects and organizations offering programs that send cards and gifts to the military over the holiday season and so you can always get involved with something like this. The most important thing is that you are sending military Christmas cards and taking time out of your life to make the holiday season special for someone else. Some of these people don’t even have any family and so you can make their Christmas that much better.

Inexpensive Coworkers Christmas Gifts

2009-11-25T22:53:00.000-08:00

Inexpensive Coworkers Christmas Gifts: Ideas for This Holiday Season

So you know that Christmastime is fast approaching and you want to be polite and get your coworkers some nice gifts. Of course this is a very decent offering but at the same time you don’t want to go overboard and end up spending too much money on them because you have your friends and family to worry about already. So if you are going to do this, you want to find some inexpensive coworkers Christmas gifts that are going to be thoughtful and well received but then affordable at the same time.

Gift Ideas

There are some great ideas for inexpensive coworkers Christmas gifts that are sure to work well. One great idea is to go through a company like Avon which offers very reasonable gifts which are also lovely. Especially if you have a lot of female coworkers this would be a nice idea and you know that you can get enough gifts but without having to spend too much money. Another nice idea is to get a big box of chocolates and then you can just get some smaller boxes and sort of divvy up the chocolates so that you can make them go farther. Everyone likes to get chocolate and it is a really nice gift idea for Christmas if you are trying to come up with some ideas for inexpensive coworkers Christmas gifts.

There are a lot of other ideas too if you want gifts for the people you work with to show them that you care. Maybe you want to have a bit more fun with your gifts and you could get them some humorous cards and some candy or funny Christmas jokes which you can always find for a really cheap price. There are lots of ideas that you can use if you want to have fun with it and think that your coworkers would rather get a sort of joke gift that will give them a chuckle.

Another idea for inexpensive coworkers Christmas gifts is to look up a recipe that you think would turn out nicely maybe for coffee cake or some Christmas cookies and then bake them and wrap them up nicely to give out to your coworkers. This is a really nice gift idea because it is very cheap and also because it shows that you took the time and put in the effort to make the gifts yourself. The best part is that there are so many different recipes that you can really mix it up and there is a lot of variety. Also you get to taste some yourself because of course you want to make sure that they are yummy enough to give out.

If you know your coworkers very well and possibly are even good friends with them, of course you are then going to want to put a bit more thought and money into their gift. Just make it personal and show them that you are thinking of them this holiday season and that is what will really matter. There are so many different gift ideas to choose from that you will never run out of ideas and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get Christmas gifts for your coworkers.

Whatever you get for your inexpensive coworkers Christmas gifts the most important thing is that you are doing something nice and caring enough to get the people that you work with a nice gift for Christmas. It is very respectable to get something for the people that you work alongside, especially if you have been working at the same place for quite some time now.
My personal idea for the Christmas gift is baby lamb for this year

Cheap Hotels near Disneyland

2009-11-24T08:18:00.000-08:00

Cheap Hotels near Disneyland

Planning to go on a Disneyland vacation in Anaheim, California? You probably know the vacation alone will cost you a lot—Disneyland, after all, is no cheap thrill. Going around Disneyland alone can suck your finances dry, especially because there are so many rides you and your companions will want to try. There are also souvenirs and other paid activities you might simply not be able to resist. Even the concept of cheap hotels near Disneyland may sound far out of reach!

For that, you must plan your trip well ahead of time. In planning, you should include not only the costs of the Disneyland vacation, but also the travel expenses (the means of transportation to and from Disneyland is known for its exorbitantly high fees!), food expenses, communication expenses and, perhaps the most important of all, the hotel expenses.

Setting the Standards for Cheap Hotels near Disneyland

Since Disneyland is a tourist destination, staying in a hotel around the area can be very expensive. To avoid being surprised at the fees in your chosen hotel, you must plan ahead: look at the rates of hotels around the area, compare and contrast. As you are looking for a place to stay in, you must bear in mind that you are looking for a hotel that is principally cheap.

What do cheap hotels near Disneyland entail, exactly? First, that hotel must charge low to very low rates. Figure out how much you are willing to spend for a night. There are hotels ranging from $60 to $100. For that hotel to be cheap, it must also be within walking distance of Disneyland Anaheim. You don’t want to spend $10 on transportation to and from the hotel alone—it will only offset the money you’ve saved on the hotel. Finally, the hotel must provide quality services. You can read through hotel reviews in the Internet or consult your friends who have been to the same hotel. You must keep these three standards in mind when looking for cheap hotels near Disneyland. Contrary to what many people think, cheap doesn’t begin and end in low hotel rates; there are other factors to take into account, as detailed above.

Finding Cheap Hotels near Disneyland

Now that you know what to keep in mind when looking for that cheap restaurant, what are your options? There are actually many hotels around Anaheim, but the cheaper ones are located in Kissimmee, Florida. The town is located east of the Disneyland maingate, so it shouldn’t be hard to find. Here are a few hotels that might fall within your budget:

Comfort Inn International Drive

With more than 100 rooms, Comfort Inn is considered home by many people travelling in Orlando. Room services do their job well, the location is accessible, and the rooms are sufficient for short vacations. There are rooms here that are as cheap as $50.

Howard Johnson Maingate West

With rooms ranging from $40 to $50, Howard Johnson Maingate West is a place that you can reach by a 4-minute walk west of the main gate. The place has a very tropical feel about it, and you might even feel the same vigor in Disneyland in this place!

La Quinta Inn Orlando

La Quinta is not only near to Disneyland, but to many other hotspots in Orlando as well. That includes the Animal Kingdom, Belz Outlet Mall, Epcot, MGM Studio and Florida Mall. Staying here basically means opening your options to other vacation destinations that are equally cheap. Room prices can are set at an average of $50.

Masters Inn International Drive

Masters Inn is one of the cheap hotels near Disneyland that offer a lot more than you are paying for. For $50, you gain access to free local calls, an outdoor pool, cable television, free breakfast, and other hotel services. Souvenir shops and restaurants within the area are bound to appeal to your taste.

Rodeway Inn Maingate

Rodeway Inn Maingate may not be as close to other cheap hotels near Disneyland, but free shuttle services should make travelling to and from the area a lot easier. The hotel rates are also cheap at less than $40. For a place that’s near to other shopping areas and restaurants, Rodeway Inn Maingate is certainly cheap and sufficient.

Tips for Making Homemade Christmas Ornaments

2009-11-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

Tips for Making Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Making things around the holiday season is something that just comes naturally. Ornaments are especially fun to make right at home and there are a few tips for making homemade Christmas ornaments that you will definitely want to keep in mind this Christmas. Especially if you want to get the little ones involved and make it a family craft project, you are going to want to remember these tips for making homemade Christmas ornaments.

Check Around the House

One of the best tips for making homemade Christmas ornaments is to do a check around the house before going out to buy all your supplies. You may not know it, but you probably have a lot of the supplies that you are going to need right at home already and therefore wouldn’t have to worry about going out and spending money on them. What’s more, there are probably a lot of different items around your home that could be used or recycled and be useful when you are making Christmas ornaments.

So one of the best tips for making Christmas ornaments is to scavenge around the home before getting started, to see what you can come up with.

Be Careful

Another of the most important tips for making homemade Christmas ornaments is to be careful. When you are working with little ones, make sure that you are doing all the work with scissors and that you don’t just leave them or hot glue or any other potentially dangerous supplies just sitting around because the kids could get hurt. It only takes a second for one of them to poke an eye out or cut themselves, so you really have to watch. Especially if you have a couple little sets of hands working with you things can get hectic so make sure that you are cautious and thinking ahead.

Check Online

If you want to get great tips for making homemade Christmas ornaments, another that will be helpful is to check online for different ideas. The Internet is full of great craft projects and the best part of all is that you can get them for free. Check around on a few different websites and you will come up with hundreds of different ideas on what you could make for Christmas ornaments. They will list the supplies that you will need to get and step by step instructions on how to make the Christmas ornaments.

Everyone knows that the holiday season is tight for money because you have all those gifts to get, and so it is definitely nice to get something without having to pay a dime. Your options are endless when you are looking online and even if you have a specific idea for something you want to make, you can type it into a search engine and see what comes up.

Watch Videos

While you are online, another of the best tips for making homemade Christmas ornaments is to watch some videos. You can go through YouTube or another similar online site and watch different videos that are going to show you step by step how to make your favorite Christmas ornaments. This is perhaps the best way of all to learn because then instead of just reading how to make the ornaments you can actually see someone doing it and most people find it much easier this way.

These are all great tips for making homemade Christmas ornaments and which will really be helpful to you when the holiday season comes around and you want to start making some crafts with the kids. These tips will help you to stay safe and make beautiful ornaments.

Funny Christmas Email Cards to Send to Family and Friends

2009-11-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Funny Christmas Email Cards

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It is the time of year when you should be hanging out with family and friends, those that you love. The holiday season is fast approaching and it is important to start planning and figuring out what it is that you are going to get for everyone on your list. If you want a more unique idea for a gift then you could send some funny Christmas email cards to your family and friends. Especially if you have a lot of people that live in other places of the world, using email will be a great idea. It is going to make things a lot easier and more cost effective for you.

Now it is just a matter of figuring out what website you should go through to find funny Christmas cards to send to family and friends. There are a lot of great sites that you can choose from, but some are definitely better than others.

Zazzle

If you want to find some inexpensive funny Christmas email cards to send to family and friends this holiday season, one site that you will not want to miss out on is Zazzle. They have millions of different Christmas and other themed cards that you can browse through and you can personalize your card up just as though you were signing it in person. There is so much variety with their cards that whether you want to be just a bit humorous or really naughty, you can always find cards that work perfectly for the occasion.

If you want to get funny Christmas cards then they have everything that you need and their prices are very affordable so you know that you don’t have to spend a bunch of money.

CardsDirect

This is another company that is worth checking out if you are ever on the hunt for funny Christmas email cards. They offer custom imprinted funny Christmas cards and other themes of holiday cards so you can always get just what you are looking for. Their cards are great for business and personal use so you can send funny Christmas cards to your family and friends but your coworkers as well.

Because you can customize your cards, this means that you can choose whatever card you want and then personalize it and really make it your own so you can share it with that someone special when you finally have it just right. They have cards with kittens wearing Christmas hats if you want a cuter card and then they have angels on cards if you want something more nostalgic.

They are always adding to their selection so you can always find new funny cards and they even have a selection of free cards if you really want to save money this holiday season.

Funny Greetings

Or if you want to get some funny Christmas email cards you could go through Funny Greetings. As their name implies they have all the greeting cards you want if you are looking for something humorous and your friends and family are sure to love the funny email Christmas cards that you pick out. You can pick and chose from the different cards on the site and then you can even get a musical theme to go with it to make it extra special. They have all your favorite Christmas songs and they are actually considered as being one of the most popular greeting card sites online today.

These are just a few of the different online companies that offer funny Christmas email cards and you can pick and choose and find the cards that you like best.

Get Creative and Save Money With Free Printable Christmas Cards

2009-11-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

Get Creative and Save Money With Free Printable Christmas Cards

When Christmastime comes around, one of the most important things of course is to save money wherever you can. There is no better time than to get creative and one of the best ways to be cost effective is by making your own Christmas cards. You can get free printable Christmas cards online and print them out and then decorate them and write on them however you want. So you are saving money by getting free printable Christmas cards but then you can still personalize it how you want before giving it to your friends and family.

Now you just need to know where you can go to get free printable Christmas cards. There are quite a few different sites that offer free printable Christmas cards, you just have to watch and make sure that you are not going to get caught up paying any hidden fees.

Where to Look

If you want to get free printable Christmas cards, one of the first places you will want to get started is Activity Village. Here they know that most people like you are all into the holiday spirit and that you want to get everyone special in your life a nice Christmas card to celebrate. There are literally thousands of different cards that you have to choose from here so you can always find great cards that are going to be just perfect.

If you want to get free printable Christmas cards you have come to the right place here, and you can print the cards out ether on letter sized pieces of paper or on card or construction paper and they will always turn out nice. You can take a detailed look at all of the cards before deciding on which you want to print out and then within a matter of minutes you can have all the cards that you need and can start signing them and have them ready to mail.

Some of their cards are really cute while others are humorous so it depends on who you are getting the cards for and what sort of a feel you are trying for.

Or if you want to get some free printable Christmas cards you could go through Greetings Island. They offer other themes of cards as well besides Christmas cards but their holiday selection is really great. They offer personalized Christmas cards that you can pick and choose from and then you just have to hook up your printer and get things going.

The best part is that you can print off as many or as few as you want and even if you have two hundred people that you want to get a Christmas card for, instead of paying hundreds of dollars to get Hallmark cards you can just stick with your printer and the Internet and get all the different cards that you want from different sites.

The best part about getting your free printable Christmas cards online is that you don’t have to worry about going around from one card store to the next to find the different cards that you want. Instead you can do it all right there from the comfort of your own home. Especially for people who have children or otherwise are very busy, they know far too well that it can be hard to find time to spare, even just to get out and purchase some Christmas cards.

You don’t want to forget anyone when you are signing your free printable Christmas cards and so the best way to get organized is to make a list of the different people that you want to send a card so that you don’t forget them.

Famous Places: Hotel AC Santo Mauro in Madrid, Spain

2009-11-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

Famous Places: Hotel AC Santo Mauro in Madrid, Spain

Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There is so much to love about Spain and so this really comes as no surprise. There is so much to see and do here and it is one of the most romantic places in the world. Whether you are interested in traveling here alone or with a group of people, or even with that one special someone, Spain is a beautiful and magical place to visit.

There are lots of different famous places in Spain that you could visit, one being in Madrid and that is the Hotel AC Santo Mauro. This is a nineteenth century French style hotel that is so well known and loved that even celebrities visit here to stay at the hotel. It is absolutely gorgeous and you will never be able to truly understand just how much so until you visit yourself and see it in person.

The Hotel

View Larger Map

The Hotel AC Santo Mauro in Madrid, Spain is a place where you will always feel right at home. They always ensure that each and every one of their guests has everything that they need to feel comfortable. Make sure if you are going to be staying here that you call in ahead of time so that you can advise them of any special amenities that you would like to be offered during your stay.

At the Hotel AC Santo Mauro you know that you are staying in one of the best lodgings because this hotel has always received rave reviews. The hotel is located in the heart of Madrid in the Chamberi neighborhood and there are metro stations locate only a few minutes walking distance away from the hotel so you know that you will always have transportation right nearby.

It is also located around taxi centers and lots of delicious restaurants and interesting attractions and so you will definitely have found yourself in a good spot if you stay at the Hotel AC Santo Mauro while in Madrid, Spain.

Also at the Hotel AC Santo Mauro you will get everything that you need in your room so that you can have the best time during your stay. They offer a complete bathroom in each room as well as a hairdryer, music equipment, TV, safe deposit box for your valuables, and even 24 room and laundry service so you can always have clean clothes and get food delivered to your room whenever you are hungry.

There are some people who travel to Madrid and who stay for weeks on end in this hotel just because it is so comfortable and everything is so accessible. There is a first-class gym located right in the hotel and so even if you are on vacation you probably want to work out so that you can stay in shape and burn off all those calories that you are eating and drinking and so it is nice to know that there is a fantastic gym service that is available.

The Hotel AC Santo Mauro has even more to offer than all that and this includes affordable prices. You would think that with all they offer you would have to pay an arm and a leg just to get a chance to stay in a place like this while in one of the most romantic and gorgeous cities in the world, but that is not the case.

The Hotel AC Santo Mauro is one of the most famous hotels not only in Madrid but in all of Spain. It is well worth looking into if you are going to be traveling to the area.

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hit your dream destination without breaking the bank.

Easy to Make Christmas Ornaments to Build With the Kids

2009-10-31T04:04:00.000-07:00

Easy to Make Christmas Ornaments to Build With the Kids

The holiday season is just around the corner and there is no better time to get started making Christmas ornaments. There are a lot of easy to make Christmas ornaments that you could get started with now and if you have any little ones they are sure to have a great time helping out. Most of these crafts are easy enough to make and don’t have any sharp supplies that you won’t have to worry about the kids getting hurt if they lend a hand. It is a great activity for the family right before Christmas and best of all you are going to save money by making your Christmas ornaments instead of buying them.

Ideas for Ornaments

For easy to make Christmas ornaments, one of the best to make would be the glitter ornaments. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best and that is definitely true in this case. There are scissors that will need to be used to make these ornaments and so you will want to take over if you have younger children that are going to be helping here. All you will need for these easy to make ornaments is white heavy weight paper, a Christmas shapes template of whatever shapes you want, clear drying craft glue, white glitter, scissors, a specialty hole punch and ribbon or some decorative cord.

Now once you have all the supplies that you are going to need you are ready to get started. The first step for these easy to make Christmas ornaments is to trace the templates onto the heavy paper so that you have copies of them and then you just punch a hole at the top as this will be used for the hanging. Depending on the size of your tree, you will want to make this hole smaller or larger.

You don’t really need a hole punch for this but it is best because it will give you the cleanest hole and you won’t have to worry about ripping. Then you want to put glue on one side of the paper and pour glitter over top of this. You may want to have some newspaper underneath so that you can just throw it all out once you are done because it will be covered in glitter. Don’t forget to shake the ornaments off over the garbage after you have applied the glitter because some will be loose and you want to get it in the garbage before it gets knocked over onto the floor.

Then you just leave the ornaments in a safe place so that they can dry. Make sure that you are not keeping them down where the kids can get to them while they are drying because then you are going to have little hands with glue and glitter all over them. Once they are dry you can put the ribbon or decorative rope through the holes and then hang the ornaments up on the tree. They are really beautiful and the glitter will shine off of the lights on the tree so they are nice ornaments to have up.

Glass Ball Ornaments

There are also glass ball ornaments that you could make. These are really easy to make Christmas ornaments that will cost you next to nothing and which are very simple to make. You are going to need glass ornaments, tinsel, feathers, glue and whatever other supplies you would like to stick on the ornaments.

These are so simple to make and you just put glue wherever you want on the ornaments and then use the decorations to cover them. Kids love making these ornaments and then you can keep them and use them over and over.

Where to Buy a Christmas Theme for iPod

2009-10-30T06:12:00.000-07:00

Where to Buy a Christmas Theme for iPod

The iPod is one of the best selling devices of all time. It is a portable device that is used for storing and playing audio files and is so popular because it is a portable digital media player. There are lots of different colors and there is actually a Christmas theme for iPod that you can purchase and which is really festive for the holiday season. This is one of the most popular iPods that retails today and if you want to get one you are going to need to know where you can purchase it.

There are actually quite a few different options that you have for Christmas theme and wallpaper for iPod and with the holiday season fast approaching there is no better time to get this theme for your own iPod. The Christmas themes are very festive and a lot of fun. When you have these themes on your iPod you can keep your mood festive when the holiday season is coming up. This is a great way to get in the mood and it changes the whole theme of the iPod.

If you want to find the Christmas theme for iPod, there is a long lineup of different websites that you can check out. There are even Spongebob Squarepants Christmas themes for the iPod that you can find. There are always new people who are creating fun themes and wallpapers for the iPod and so every day you can find something new.

Tips

You can actually find a free Christmas theme for iPod but it can take a bit of trying and it may not be the best theme. It usually takes a bit of looking around on the Internet if you want to find a theme that you like but you can always download a few different themes and keep them stored on your iPod so that you can go back and forth between them depending on your mood.

How to Download

It is also important to know how to properly download the theme for your iPod. Usually you can hook up a USB cord from your iPod to your computer and then you will be able to download whatever you want and put it right on your iPod. Then all you have to do is scan on your iPod until you find the theme that you want and choose to use it for your phone.

The great thing about themes is that you are able to pick and choose and every day you could choose a different theme and change your theme to suit your mood.

Themes are one of the best parts about iPods and they are so easy to download onto the device that it is really no hassle at all. Just make sure before you download any themes from a website onto your computer that you have antivirus software up and running because you don’t want to get any downloads from a website that has viruses or they could end up on your iPod.

The Christmas theme is just one option remember and if you wanted something other than the Christmas theme for iPod you could find that as well. You just need to take some time to look around and there are some sites that offer hundreds of different themes and wallpapers you can choose from.

The iPod is a great device and it is lots of fun to personalize it and get different themes. No matter what your style you can find a theme that you are going to love and they are so affordable that you can get as many as you want.

Christmas lawn ornaments

2009-10-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

Christmas Lawn Ornaments: Tips for Setting up

Christmas lawn ornaments are always fun to use for decoration when the holiday season is coming up. They are easy to find and set up and best of all they show your Christmas spirit. If you want to successfully decorate with Christmas lawn ornaments there are a few things that you want to remember and which are really going to be helpful here.

Your Lawn Ornaments

If you want to make things as easy as possible you will probably want to get the inflatable Christmas lawn ornaments. These are so easy because you can pick whatever ornaments you want and then just use an air pump to inflate them and they are all set up. Then you can just pick wherever you want them to go and they are going to be a great showcase on your lawn for the Christmas season. These are air-blown displays that are literally available in every size and style you could imagine. There is Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees and so many other decorations that you can always find just what you want.

A lot of people like to go with a theme rather than doing something random so for instance you could get a Santa and then set up some reindeer and have the Santa leading the reindeer to deliver presents.

There are also lighted Christmas lawn ornaments and these are a bit trickier to set up. The lighted ornaments available today are a lot more impressive than those we had just a few years ago. The lighted Christmas lawn ornaments are really nice because the lights help them to stand out so they are easier to see. Passers-by will be able to see your Christmas setup from the road as they are driving by and it really brings out the Christmas spirit in everyone.

Again it really all depends on how much time you want to spend setting up your Christmas lawn ornaments as to which type you should be buying. At least it is good to know that you have a lot of different options so you will certainly not be lacking any in terms of options here.

One of the most important things to remember when you are setting up Christmas lawn ornaments is that younger children should not be helping you set up because it can be dangerous. Make sure that you really consider safety whenever you are setting up Christmas lawn ornaments. You should always read the instructions especially for the lighted ornaments and those that are more complex to set up like the Christmas nativity scenes. You just want to be extra careful and the last thing that you want is to end up having a fire or other problem right before Christmas.

Make sure at the same time when you are setting up Christmas lawn ornaments that all electrical outlets are up to code because this is going to help prevent electrocution. If you really don’t feel safe about it or you have a house that has had electrical problems in the past, you may want to call in a Christmas decoration company to come in and get the job done for you. This is the route that a lot of people choose to go just because it saves time and hassle for them. You will probably pay around the hundred dollar mark for your entire lawn and house to be set up so it is pretty reasonable.

There are so many beautiful Christmas lawn ornaments to choose from and every year new ones come out. Christmas is a wonderful time of year and there is no better way to decorate and show your spirit than by having gorgeous huge ornaments set up on your lawn.

If you like lamb for Christmas!

Top Picks for Cheap Hotels in Las Ramblas

2009-10-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

Top Picks for Cheap Hotels in Las Ramblas

If you are ever planning to do any traveling to the Las Ramblas area and you are trying to save on cash then you are going to want to find out what the top picks for cheap hotels are in the Las Ramblas area. Just because you want to get a hotel for cheap this doesn’t mean that you need to rent out a roach infested room and there are actually some very nice cheap hotels in Las Ramblas that you will want to learn more about.

The Selection

View Larger Map

One of the best cheap hotels in Las Ramblas is the Hotel Condal. This is a hotel which is situated in the heart of Barcelona and which is very reasonable in terms of pricing. So not only do you know that you are going to save a bundle by staying here instead of in some luxury hotel, but as well you are going to be right in the middle of everything. You are located to all the different amenities and activities that you could want.

This is definitely one of the best cheap hotels in Las Ramblas that are available. You could visit the Liceu’s Theater or the MACB Museum both which are famous attractions that you are sure to love and which are just around the corner. There are all the basic services offered at this hotel. There is a complete bathroom in each room and as well air conditioning, heating, a private phone line, a free safe box and even satellite TV so you don’t have to worry about missing any o your favorite shows.

There are single rooms, double rooms and twin rooms available and you will probably want to contact them ahead of time in order to ensure availability.

Another of the best and most cheap hotels in Las Ramblas is the Hotel Husa Meson Castilla. They may be a very cheap hotel but there is nothing cheap about the look of it. There is sort of an antique feel to it and it is very nice and clean inside. There are lots of great amenities available at this hotel and there are 56 elegant rooms to choose from. This means that there is more than enough room and there are usually available rooms even if you do not call in ahead of time.

There is everything from satellite TV and mini bars to restaurants and free secure parking. The hotel is located only 100 meteres from the Placa de la Universitat and is surrounded by gorgeous winding cobblestone streets. There is certainly more than enough to look at around this hotel and it is truly situated in a beautiful area.

Then there is also the Hotel Principal which is a very well known hotel in Las Ramblas. If you want to stay at a hotel that is not going to cost you a lot of dough, this is one that should be on your list. This is only a 2-star hotel but it is still very nice. Offered here are ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, free Internet access, reception that is open around the clock and a lift as well.

It is easy to see that there are more than enough options if you are ever looking for a cheap hotel in Las Ramblas. You can save money and still stay in a hotel that is nice and comfortable. These are just a few examples and there are many others that you can choose from as well. The most important thing is that you are going to be staying at a hotel that is within your budget so that you can keep your money in your pocket and use it for other things.

Planning Cheap Holidays to Disneyland Florida

2009-10-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Planning Cheap Holidays to Disneyland Florida

One of the most frequently traveled to destinations in the world is Disneyland Florida. Who wouldn’t want to go here? It is called the most magical place on Earth, a statement which is pretty hard to deny. There are few people who would not want to take a trip here but then there is the problem of having to pay for it. Disneyland is an expensive vacation destination but there are ways to get around this. You can plan a cheap holiday to Disneyland Florida as long as you go about things the right way.

There are a few tips that you are going to want to remember if you are trying to plan a cheap holiday to Disneyland Florida. These tips are going to help you stretch your dollars and make sure that you still have a great time even though you are on a budget.

How to Make it Work

If you want to plan a cheap holiday to Disneyland Florida, one of the best things that you can do is stay at a campground instead of at a hotel. This is going to save you upwards of hundreds of dollars, especially if you were planning on staying at a hotel right at Disneyworld. You can still go out to eat and there are all the same amenities for the most part offered at the basic campground as you would find at a hotel.

Another important tip is to make sure that you get a package or all inclusive deal when you are planning your trip. If you want a cheap holiday to Disneyworld then you want to get a package deal because you will save money this way. You want to get your hotel and tickets together at least and this is going to save money as opposed to getting everything separately.

Planning is really crucial if you want to go to Disneyland and you are on a tight budget. The last thing that you want to do is go somewhere like Disneyland on a whim because chances are that you are going to end up spending much more than you planned on. You want to plan your trip far ahead of time so that you can save money.

Budget in a bit of money for extra spending because you are sure to want some souvenirs or other little treats and you want to make sure that you have enough money for this. Budgeting is essential here.

If you want to save money when you are going on a trip to Disneyland, it is important to go at the right time. The trip is going to be more expensive at peak times of the year and crowds are going to be cut in half if you go at the right time of the year. If you are going to stay in a hotel, even the prices per room will be lower when it is not rush season and so you want to really be careful with when you are traveling to Disneyworld.

To save money when you are in the park itself, you are going to want to bring your own food and drink along. This alone could save you a few hundred dollars over a week’s worth of time and so it is definitely worth it to pack ahead and make sure that you have some eats. The food at Disneyland is so overpriced that you won’t even believe it and so this is a really great way of saving yourself some money.

These are all great tips on how you can save money when you take a trip to Disneyland. This way you can still have the time of your life but without spending a fortune and going broke.

Luxury Resorts Year Round: From Spain to Finland

2009-10-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Luxury Resorts Year Round: From Spain to Finland

Who wouldn't want to stay at luxury resorts year round? Of course different times of the year are going to be different for particular areas. A lot of people travel to Spain in the winter and Finland in the summer but it is entirely up to you and what your ideal vacation is. Above all else however, you will want to learn more about some of the most outstanding and luxurious resorts in these areas and in particular that would refer to Baqueira Beret and Sierra Nevada in Spain and Cunucu Arubiano and Boutique Hotel in Finland.

Baquira Beret

There are some fantastic lodgings that are available in Spain, but the Baquira Beret is considered to rank in as one of the best of them all. This is known as being one of the largest winter resorts in Spain and is truly magnificent. It is located in the heart of the Pyrenees and there is an incredibly reputable ski center here where you can learn how to ski if this is your first time.

It offers normal services and as well equipment rental, restaurants and cafes, and they are going to work hard to make sure that you have fun on the slopes and that you really enjoy yourself on your trip. The view of these hills is truly breathtaking and you are never going to forget this ski trip that is for sure.

Sierra Nevada

There is also the Sierra Nevada which is another of the top luxury resorts in Spain. For people who love skiing and snowboarding this is a terrific location to visit. The resort itself is incredible and you have never seen another view like it. This is why tourists keep coming back time and time again whenever they can get away. The great thing about the Sierra Nevada resort it is that it was basically built purely for skiing.

This is not one of those resorts where there is a bit of skiing available and then more concerned with restaurants and cafes. The skiing is what it is all about here and if you ever want to be able to travel to a place where there is always snow in Spain, Sierra Nevada is where you want to head to. The weather is always fantastic here and so you will definitely enjoy yourself and best of all the rates are actually affordable considering the high quality services and features that you get in return.

Cunucu Arubiano

When it comes to luxury resorts in Finland, one of the most world-famous is Cunucu Arubiano. This is an incredibly elegant boutique resort that millions of people travel to, particularly during the summer season. It is nestled close to Santa Lucia hill and always receives rave reviews. If you are looking for a place where you can wine and dine and where you will always have a great time, this is the perfect choice.

It is absolutely beautiful and this is what draws the most people to take a vacation here. There are so many wonderful activities that a person can take part in and so you will never find yourself at a loss when you are staying here. You will want to make sure that you make your reservations early in advance because the place fills up quickly.

Hotel Kamp

Another of the most popular luxury resorts in Finland is the Hotel Kamp. The Hotel Kamp always rates in high in reviews and is one of Finland’s best known hotels. Located in Helinski, Finland, this hotel has more than enough to offer and you are never going to forget your time here. Just looking at the outside of the hotel is a thrill, as it was built in 1887 and remodeled in 1999. It is considered as being one of the first truly deluxe hotels in the Nordic Countries.

The Hotel Kamp is located in the heart of the city center so you stay here and are surrounded by the nightlife and all the amenities.

These are all amazing first-class luxury resorts that you can stay at and if you are trying to decide between them, make sure that you use reviews to assist you in your decision making here. This way your trip is going to be just the way you like it and you are never going to be disappointed.

Helpful Travel Tips if You Are Heading to Costa Brava

2009-10-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

Helpful Travel Tips if You Are Heading to Costa Brava

Traveling to Costa Brava may be in your future plans, but there are a few helpful travel tips that you are going to want to be aware of and which are going to ensure that you have the best time on your life. These are things that are important for travelers to Costa Brava and also other areas of Spain to be aware of but which may be overlooked.

Telephones and Area Codes

Of course you want to be prepared and know what to do in case of the emergency, if you ever needed to use a phone in the area and make a call. There are different area codes in Spain than you are used to and the last thing that you would want is to end up having issues and difficulty making a phone call, especially if it was urgent.

All of the telephone numbers in Spain, regardless of whether you are in Costa Brava or any other area, are nine digits long. It is the first few numbers which show where the number is located and so from one place to the next, the first few numbers are going to change depending on where you are making the telephone call from.

Electricity

Another issue that is important to be aware of when traveling in Costa Brava involves electricity. If you are traveling from the UK or Ireland then you are not going to have to worry because your electrical appliances and devices are going to fit normally into the outlets. However if you happen to be from North and South America, for the most part you are going to need to bring along the proper converters.

Remember that if you have any appliances that are not compatible with the Spanish power supply then for the most part all you are going to need to do is change the actual plug so that it will fit into the outlet in the wall.

Protection

Another issue that is very important when traveling to Costa Brava is protection. Of course for the most part the area is quite safe but as with other popular tourist destinations, there are a lot of thieves and other criminals here who take advantage of this and who prey on tourists just like you. So just be cautious when you are traveling to the area and make sure that you leave as many of your valuables in your hotel room as possible when you are out enjoying a meal or doing some sightseeing.

This way at least you are lowering the chances of you becoming a victim which is the last thing that you want to happen when you are trying to enjoy yourself on a nice getaway.

If you really want to get the best travel tips before heading to a place like Costa Brava, then one of the smartest moves to make would be to talk to a travel guide who has experience with that particular area. They know the areas in and around Costa Brava, they know what to watch for, where to stay, and what problems if any you should expect during your travels. It is definitely nice to know that you are going to have fewer problems and instead can focus your time on relaxing and enjoying yourself. Costa Brava is a wonderful place to visit and it is no surprise that it is one of the most traveled to locations in all of Spain. Whatever your adventure, just make sure that you are ready and that you use these travel tips to your benefit here.

Why Spain is a Better Travel Destination Than France

2009-10-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

Why Spain is a Better Travel Destination Than France

With so many wonderful travel destinations how will you ever choose where to go next? Well there are definitely a few in particular that are sure to catch your attention but above all, Spain is one that you should really have some interest in. No matter what time of the year you are planning to travel, Spain is a beautiful and exotic location that has a lot to offer.

Often time travelers have a debate over whether they should head to Spain or France and it is sometimes a bit of a toss-up, but here are a few good reasons why Spain should be your primary travel destination, rather than France.

Beaches

Even though there are many people who are not aware of it, there are some amazing beaches in Spain. In particular there are beaches near the Malaga, Huelva and Almeria area that are worth paying a visit to and which you are sure to love. These are some of the most beautiful beaches but they are quiet and are perfect if you want a bit of privacy to sun. If you would rather a more crowded beach then you are going to want to stick to the Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol beaches and others like them because this is where you will find the most people.

There are a lot of nudist beaches as well in Spain. You may be a bit shy and want to avoid these, but a lot of people actually travel to Spain and other parts of Europe for that matter just for the sake of the nudist beaches. If you are more of an exhibitionist and want to hang out on a nudie beach for the day, the Costa Natura Nudist Resort on the Costa de Sol is definitely one of the first that you will want to check out.

Festivals

There are always a ton of festivals going on in Spain, especially in main tourist areas like Barcelona. You will never find yourself at a loss for things to do that is for sure, and the festivals are especially exciting. You can find out about the different festivals going on at any particular time before going on your travels, so that you can plan everything out and make sure that you are going to have the best time.

Fiestas

Even if you are not fluent in the Spanish language you should know that a fiesta is a party and there are certainly more than enough fiestas in Spain. If you are lucky enough to get the chance to party in Spain, it is an experience that you are never going to forget. Even if you have traveled around the world to some of the most hyped about nightclubs and bars, the scene in Spain is something different altogether.

The fiestas that take place in Spain are out of this world and are great for those people who want to travel to have the time of their life and who really want to get out there and be a part of the scene.

It is pretty easy to see all the great reasons why Spain would make an ideal travel destination. Whether you want to relax and soak up the sun or head out at night and get entertained at one of the local clubs, you are always sure to have the time of your life. But no matter what you are interested in doing while you are in Spain, just make sure that you are going to plan beforehand, so that you can ensure you are going to have the best time on your trip.

Four Reasons You Would Want a Spanish Husband

2009-10-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

Four Reasons You Would Want a Spanish Husband

Each culture is different and special in its own way. Although it was not this way even just a century ago, today fortunately men and women from different cultures are able to get together and get married if they want. There are more mixed culture relationships today than ever before. In particular there are more women now who are interested in marrying a Spanish man, and for good reason.

There are some great qualities that Spanish men have to offer and which are alluring to the average woman.

The Accent

Okay, so women can admit that they love a man with an accent. It is sexy and attractive and is definitely a feature that most women love. There is nothing better for a woman than meeting a handsome, decent guy and then talking to him and finding out that he has an accent. Although this is of course not the most important feature that a woman looks for in a man, it is definitely something that is quite appealing.

It really is true that Spanish is the language of love and women are just attracted to that. Accents are actually considered as being one of the top characteristics that women look for in a mate, so it is not surprising that Spanish men rate in high on this list for that delectable accent of theirs.

Respectful

Another reason that women of all cultures tend to love Spanish men is because of their personality, how respectful they are towards women. Spanish men just have a certain charm to them and are able to woo women without even trying it seems. A lot of this is in part to how kind and captivating they are.

Think Antonio Banderas in…well any movie he’s ever made. He is tall, dark, handsome, and an all around sexpot. But even with all of that, he treats the women like gold. He protects them and is a strong hero but at the same time is sweet and caring. Come on, what more do women really want?

Good Looks

Now let’s get on to one of the more vain characteristics of why women love Spanish men. They are just so darn good looking, it is easy to admit. The dark skin, dark hair and chiseled features, and that suave air that they always seem to have – it is all very seductive. Of course looks are the first thing that one person notices about another, before they are able to get to know them and their personality, and so this is definitely why there is a huge favor for the Spanish men here.

The Best Lover

Now of course one label cannot be given to all, but Spanish men are known for being great lovers. They are very caring and sensual to the woman and of course this is definitely a big factor in why a woman would want to marry a Spanish man. Of course a woman wants to be satisfied when she is with a man and especially if it is one that she plans on marrying and spending the rest of her life with, this is something that she wants to be sure of.

There are many other wonderful and appealing qualities about Spanish men which are attractive and which go to explain why women love them so much. It is important for a woman to get to know the man, regardless of his culture and what language he speaks. When you are marrying someone, it is supposed to be for life. So you want to make sure that you are going to giving your hand to someone who loves you and who is going to treat you right. But Spanish men are definitely one of women’s favorite, and it is easy to see why.

Cordero Lechal - Venta de Cordero Lechal en la Charcutería Virtual.

How to Avoid Being Ransacked in Barcelona

2009-10-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

How to Avoid Being Ransacked in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most popular cities in Spain. However, because it is known as being such a popular tourist destination, there is a problem with crime. There are a lot of thieves and other criminals in the area of Barcelona who actually set out to rob and attack tourists and so you need to be aware of a few different tips that are going to help you avoid being ransacked in Barcelona and not only that but as well, possibly save your life.

Keep Your Purse Close

Of course this is a tip that seems pretty obvious even when you are walking around in your hometown, but one that you especially need to remember when you are in a place like Barcelona. Women and men who are carrying a purse or other type of bag are going to need to keep it close to them. It is very easy for thieves, especially street robbers, to steal from a purse or other bag when it is open and when the wearer is not paying attention to it.

The streets of Barcelona are incredibly busy and so it is important to be aware at all times as to where your valuables are and make sure that you are never missing anything. At least if you were to notice right away you would have a better chance of finding what you were missing than if you were not to realize that something was gone until the end of the day.

Keep Your Money in the Bank

While you may want to keep your money in pocket so that you just have cash handy for whenever you want to grab a bite to eat or buy a cute souvenir, unfortunately you have to remember that there are lots of criminals out there and so you have to protect yourself. You don’t want to have a wad of bills in your wallet, in case it ever got stolen or even lost. At least if you were to only be carrying around your debit and credit cards, you can always have them cancelled if need be.

The Ramblas

Dangerous Area

This is one of the seediest areas in all of Barcelona and therefore one where you need to be most careful in, especially if you are traveling through here at night. Even some of the regulars in the area get pickpocketed and ransacked and so you really need to be careful with your valuables and yourself here.

The thieves in this area will operate along the entire length of the Ramblas and so you really want to be cautious and stay out of this area entirely during the nighttime.

Identification

Of course it is always important to have proper identification on yourself but at the same time you are going to want to be safe and careful with how much you are carrying around. Identity theft is a hugely common crime in areas like these more than any and the last thing that you want is to be taking a nice vacation in Barcelona only to find out months later after you are home that you have become a victim of identity theft.

These are just a few of the most helpful tips that you can keep in mind and which are going to make sure that you at least have a better chance of staying safe and protected while you are traveling in Barcelona. It is a beautiful place to visit and that cannot be denied, but you also have to face the real world and know that bad things do happen. People take advantage and at least now you have a better chance of not being made a victim.

Tourist Trap: Pineda de Mar

2009-10-19T04:18:00.000-07:00

Tourist Trap: Pineda de Mar

There may be a lot of wonderful places in Europe to visit, but just as with any other country, there are also those areas that should pretty much be avoided. Pineda de Mar is considered to be a prime example of this and an area that can be very dangerous if you are not careful.

Not only that, but also it is considered as being a cheap destination to travel to. There are a lot of poor quality restaurants and lodgings, and these are things that you are at least going to want to be aware of if you are ever considering traveling to the area yourself.

Hotel Mont-Palau

When it comes to bad reviews in Pineda de Mar, Hotel Mont-Palau is one that definitely has to be rated in here. While there may be a few reviews here and there that are on a positive note, the majority are negative. If you have ever traveled anywhere before, either in Europe or anywhere else, then you know that it is important to read reviews and see what past guests have to say before heading there yourself.

It is always necessary to get a better idea of what you are getting into before making any final decisions.

When you start to read even just the tip of the iceberg of reviews given on this hotel you will quickly start to see just how bad the press on this hotel really is. The rooms are quite basic and while they are usually pretty clean, they do not come with a lot of features. Don’t expect your high-speed Internet to work here.

A lot of the reviews on this hotel report that it is disgraceful. Some of the rooms have been reported as dirty and scruffy and some even say that they are not able to stay in the rooms because they were that bad. No matter how little money you are able to spend on your holiday, the last thing that you want is a hotel that is in such poor condition that you are unable to stay there.

Aqua Hotel Promenade

Another hotel that has received quite poor reviews and which is located in the “tourist trap” of Pineda de Mar is the Aqua Hotel Promenade. One of the main complaints that guests have had on the hotel is that the location is just not quite right. The pool at the back is located in the shade and so a lot of the time it is too cool to go swimming in.

Another issue that has been brought up on this hotel is that the air conditioning is quite poor. This may not have been a big issue anywhere else, but where the hotel is located the climate is quite warm and humid and so air conditioning is a must have. Again, you want to be comfortable on your holiday and not sweating and sticky and so you want to have the temperature pleasing and satisfactory for you.

Of course there are other hotels and lodgings that you can stay at as well, but the bottom line is that you need to be aware that overall, the Pineda de Mar is considered as being a poor location to visit. Especially for people that are looking to live it up with nightlife and want to see lots of busy places and crowds and get to know new people, this is really not going to be the ideal travel destination. There are very few people here and almost everything is closed at night and so there is nothing that you can do to occupy yourself. There are certainly many other destinations that would be more to your liking here.

How to Plan Your Next Big Trip Using Myspace

2009-10-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

How to Plan Your Next Big Trip Using Myspace

You must be asking yourself right now: did I read the title right? Is planning my trip really possible using Myspace? That’s the same question thousands of people in Myspace have quietly asked themselves but never really had the guts to ask out loud. To these thousands, they’ve already—and carelessly—branded Myspace as just another social networking site where great music can be found every now and then. Well, brace yourself. In a matter of minutes, you are about to use your Myspace profile to plan your next big trip.

From its humble beginnings as a social networking site, Myspace is well on its way to turning its site into a place for planning travels. After all, majority of Myspace users fall in the age group of young people who are about to graduate from college and are on their feet. Myspace users are constantly looking for adventure and places to go to, to say the least.

So, how exactly can you use Myspace to plan your trips? That’s easily answerable in a number of ways:

Myspace Local and City search

Myspace has recently partnered with Citysearch and come up with Myspace Local. Myspace Local is a listing of businesses and cities in different cities, states, and countries. You can go here to rate your favorite restaurant or bar—just to share people your two cents’ worth of opinion.

If you are planning a trip, then that’s even better! You can go to this site and look over the city you’re planning to visit. You can look over the reviews of restaurants and bars that you will go to when you’ve arrived at your destination. The last thing you want is to be unprepared. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, you will have been hungry enough to even think about what you want to eat. You have to include this in your plan—and Citysearch, with its social director of businesses, will help you do that well ahead of time.

Where I’ve Been

Where You’ve Been is a Facebook application that has been transported to Myspace in the recent past. It allows you to keep track of the places you have gone to. Once you’ve completed your own personal map of travels, you can post it in your Myspace page for everyone to see.

The map in this application is surprisingly well-covered. There are even trivias you can read as you click over certain cities. More than being merely a travel log, this application will immediately strike a conversation with fellow travel-lovers.

The lower windows in this application can be used to plot the places you’re planning to go to. That’s as good as a promise to yourself that you’ll be visiting those places in a number of years. Now that is what you call planning ahead of time!

Travature

Travature works in pretty much the same way as Where I’ve Been. The only difference is that you will be using red pins to point out which places you have gone to. Travature has a user-friendly interface.

Local Picks

Local Picks from Travel Advisor is where you can get personalized recommendations about restaurants from all over the world. Among a few countries covered by this application are United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France and New Zealand. To date, there are about 1,300,000 reviews of restaurants. The categories are also varied—from the savory dishes offered by high end restaurants to the dirt cheap markets that offer great food. Of course, it also has reviews of places you should stay away from.

In planning your travel, Local Picks will help a lot in making your vacation worthwhile. You will want to commit every meal to memory—so you better make sure that you’ll be eating in a place that is worth the money you are saving for it.

Drive Travel

In planning a trip, transportation should be a primary concern. This application is especially useful if you have no idea how to go around a particular area. Your itinerary will be rendered useless if you don’t know how to get from one place to another. With Drive Travel, you can choose from car leasing to motorcycle rental as modes of transportation. You can even canvass for the prices firs by getting quotes until finally booking your car hire online.

Interact, interact, interact!

The joys of travelling will only be at its fullest if you are in the companionship of people who are just as adventurous as you. That’s where you can find people to travel with on Myspace. You can make friends with people within you area, plan a trip and then travel together. This will take away anxiety and even make your trip more memorable. There are Myspace groups anchored on travelling that you may want to join.

Travelling has never been lighter. Myspace, along with other social networking sites, has made planning trips a lot easier and more convenient. Whoever said that social networking sites can never touch into travelling was obviously mistaken. In fact, Myspace is perfect for planning your next trip.

Why France is a Better Travel Destination Than Italy

2009-10-18T01:55:00.000-07:00

Why France is a Better Travel Destination Than Italy

Two of the most traveled to destinations in the world are France and Italy. Often time people find themselves eager to take a vacation and just get away from it all but they are caught up in the decision of whether they should head to France or Italy. Of course Italy has the delicious food and a lot of tourist attractions, but there are some great reasons as to why France is a better travel destination than Italy.

Romance

One of the first things that come to mind when you think about France is romance. Think Sleepless in Seattle, and it is not surprising why people picture true romance when they head to France for a nice getaway. Especially if you are planning for your honeymoon or just for a nice getaway with that special someone, France is the place to go.

There are so many wonderful things that you can do as a couple here, and the atmosphere and environment is just perfect for this type of experience.

Monuments

Another of the reasons that France is a better travel destination than Italy is because there are so many world famous monuments that you can check out in person. These are attractions that draw in millions of travelers each and every year. Sure you can see them in pictures and hear about them from others who have visited, but there is nothing that compares to seeing them up close in person.

Rolling Hills and Lush Landscapes

Besides the gorgeous monuments that are located in France, there are also some breathtaking sights of scenery. The rolling hills and lush landscapes are another of the main features that draw people to the country, and the eastern part of France in particular is full of these gorgeous and picturesque views. Alsace, Lorraine, Franche Comte and Burgundy regions are all lovely places that one can visit when they travel to France.

Paris

Of course we can’t forget about Paris. This is the most visited city in all of France and for good reason. It is actually one of the most visited cities in the world, because it has so much to offer and is so popular. It is the site of some of the most memorable television shows and movies and truly the most romantic place in the world. Paris is so fascinating and has so much to showcase to travelers that come by this way. It is known as the City of Light and is home to the infamous Eiffel Tower.

There are various different tourism and information offices that are located around Paris because of the large majority of tourists who travel this way, and so you know that you will never have to worry about getting lost. They will always be there to offer you any information and advice that you may need on how to get around the area and what different things you can do. If you ever need help making it to a restroom or nearby restaurant, they will guide you.

France is the most visited country in the world and it is definitely easy to see why. There is so much to see and so many great things to do here that there is no way that you would ever get bored or not enjoy yourself. From the beautiful beaches to the entertaining nightlife, the romantic scenery to more monuments than in any other country, this is a very pleasant place to stay and so France is one country that should be right at the top of your list when you are trying to decide on a place to travel to on your next getaway.

How I Can Use Facebook to Organize My Journey

2009-10-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

How I Can Use Facebook to Organize My Journey

Facebook is a social networking site that has become extremely popular since its inception in 2004. It is a great tool to use for reconnecting with long lost friends and flames and with making new acquaintances. There are so many different ways in which to use Facebook to your advantage, that it is quite incredible.

Traveling

Traveling is a hobby of many. The world is such a wonderful place, so why not explore it in all its glory and see as much of it as you can? Not so long ago, people relied on cameras and scrapbooks to keep memorabilia of places that they have traveled to, but with social networking sites such as Facebook, treasuring your travels has never before been easier.

Using Facebook as a Travel Guide

You can use Facebook to organize your journey, plan it down to the last detail. One of the easiest ways to use Facebook to organize a trip is to use it almost as a diary. When you are logged into your account on Facebook, you are able to update your status. This tells other users what you are doing at all times, or at least when you are interested in updating.

You can update your status over your computer or cell phone as many people choose to do. If you are traveling around in Europe, you can let all of your friends know where you are and what you are doing at any given time just by logging into Facebook and updating your status. With a simple sentence or two of writing you can not only keep a detailed record of what you have done on your travels but as well keep others informed.

You surely have loved ones at home and around the world and they are going to love seeing how your trip is going and make sure that you are okay.

Pictures

What better way is there to keep track of an adventure than with great pictures? You can upload pictures within just a few seconds to your Facebook page. You can choose to have an entire album devoted to your trip to Europe, complete with captions and then your friends and family can make comments on the pictures.

Keeping up to date with loved ones and socializing has never been easier than it is today, and Facebook is one of the best applications to do this through.

Groups

One of the most widely used features on Facebook is the Facebook Group feature. This allows users to create a group to which they can either invite only certain people or keep it as an open group and have as many people as possible join. Facebook Groups are extremely popular, and by starting a group of your own, this is a great way to organize your journey along as you go.

You can even use a Facebook Group to your advantage before actually leaving for your trip. You can ask other members questions such as who has been to Europe before, where they traveled to, what attractions they thought were the best and so on and so forth. It is a really quick and simple way of gaining information and best of all there is no waiting around for it. You don’t have to sit there and wait for someone willing to answer you. You just pose the question and will then be notified through your email whenever someone has responded to you.

Organizing a journey, whether to Europe or anywhere else in the world, has never been easier than it will be now. Especially when using a social networking site such as Facebook to help organize the journey, you are going to find that everything flows much more smoothly and that you are going to be able to relax so much more and just enjoy yourself on the trip.

Undiscovered Ski Resort

2009-10-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

Undiscovered Ski Resort: Andorra

Ski resorts are the dream destination for many. One of the best undiscovered ski resorts has to be Andorra. There are still so many people, even the most eager skiers, who are completely unaware of this ski resort and who are sure to have an interest once they start to learn more about it.

Andorra

At first or at least to those who are aware of it, Andorra is all about skiing and shopping. There is certainly more than enough of both of these offered in the area. There are high end shops that offer glamorous garments and there are more than enough hills to go downhill skiing on. But people should be aware that there is much more to it than that.

The official language spoken here is Catalan, and so if you are planning to do some traveling here yourself, you are going to be much better off if you take a bit of time before leaving to study the language, at least so you can be aware of the basics and know how to ask if you need to find a restaurant because you are hungry or need to know where the nearest restroom is.

There are some delightful restaurants for one thing, in the resort and out. The food is exquisite and is actually one of the features of Andorra that keeps people coming back for more. In the last few years in particular the inhabitants of Andorra have opened up even more restaurants and so if you have traveled there before but maybe not in the past few years, it is definitely time to go back.

Now you also want to take into consideration that there has recently been millions of dollars spent on mountain cafes, restaurants and car parks as well as snow making machines. This is in response to the tourism increasing, as more and more people are becoming aware of this ski resort and who are heading there to take it in firsthand and see what it is all about.

There is a great walking abundance as well. So if you love being out in Mother Nature and going on walks then you are going to have a great time in Andorra. You can take an easy stroll hand in hand with that special someone, or maybe just take the dog around the block and enjoy the scenery. There are some great sights in Andorra and you are going to wonder why you never came here before.

One of the downfalls to Andorra right now if there had to be any, would be that there is a lot of construction that is presently going on. Of course this is again in response to the demand of tourists who are traveling here more often than ever before. Laborers are working hard to make sure that there is enough housing and lodgings for people who are traveling in from other areas. They want to make sure that tourists are going to feel not like guests but like they are right at home.

Of course now that more people are aware of Andorra and all that it has to offer, business is sure to pick up and the crowds will be more. Andorra is a gorgeous place to visit and offers a fabulous ski resort that is a thrill ride.

It is still an absolutely beautiful place, and with all the different attractions to take in and sights to see, you are not going to want to forget your camera that is for sure. It is one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe.

4 Places in Costa Brava to Visit

2009-10-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

4 Places in Costa Brava to Visit

Costa Brava is a wonderful travel destination, and there are four places in particular that are going to be worth checking out. Tamariu, Calella de Palafrugell, Tossa and Llafranc are all amazing locations that you won’t believe with your eyes. You have to go there yourself because words and pictures just do not do them justice. Of course anyone who is considering traveling to any of these places is going to want to learn a bit more information first.

Tamariu

Tamariu is certainly one of the best places in Costa Brava to visit. It is located about 70 miles south of the border and is considered as being the Jewel in the Crown of the Costa Brava. The scenery here is truly something else. It is extraordinary, with the crystal clear blue water and white sands. If you are looking to head somewhere tropical that is not too warm but still nice and comfortable then you are going to want to head here.

When you visit Tamariu you will see that there are small coves which are set against rugged pine covered cliffs. The view as you are landing will be astounding enough but when you get down there and get the chance to walk around you are truly going to be blown away. The area has been made world famous for its outstanding beauty and although it was originally a small fishing village, there is much more to the area now, mainly due to its popularity as a tourist destination.

Callela de Palafrugell

Then there is also Calella de Palafrugell which you are sure to love. Of all the places in Costa Brava that one could visit, the Calella de Palafrugell must be at the top of the list. Holidays in Calella de Palafrugell are always amazing. The beaches are the main reason that people head here for their holidays, but there are other reasons that go to back this up as well.

The area is simple, pretty, and thus far is untouched by mass tourism. This means that while the location is definitely a popular place for people on holiday, it is not packed and so you will not always have to worry about crowds and having to wait in lines.

There is sun here almost all year round and you may want to settle in on Calella’s seafront where you can sit and enjoy sipping sangria and watch the sun go down with that special someone.

Tossa

One of the other top locations that is worth a visit in Costa Brava is Tossa. Tossa de Mar in Costa Brava is a charming resort that is full of restaurants, bars and shops and which is always worth a visit. Of course the entire of Spain is beautiful and worth traveling to, but the Tossa area is really extra special. It is a pretty little town with cobbled streets and it really has that old world feel that so many people are looking for.

It is a gorgeous little town in Costa Brava which you should set your sights on if you know that you will be traveling to the area.

Llafranc

Then there is Llafranc. This is one of the coastal towns that belong to the municipality of Palafrugell. Holidays in Lafranc are always very reasonably priced, and because they are affordable this means that more people are able to spend the money to travel to the area. Celebrites travel here all the time and you may even get the chance to meet some while you are there.

There are certainly other areas nearby that are worth seeing for yourself, but if you are interested in heading to Costa Brava for a getaway, these are definitely four of the top places that are going to be worth your time.

Changes on uSmile®

2009-07-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

Great changes are expected on uSmile® Hotel Discount site

Be aware about some sites and their own hotels ranking

2009-06-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

I was curios why on some famous sites with booking services there are so many opinions about hotels, restaurants, and so on and so on....

Then I dig it a little and I discovered "experts". Experts are personalities who write professionally on sites. But sites owners do not pay them. Those people are employed by hotels, restaurants, etc. If you see 2 experts who write a lot about some geographic place or city and you see two different experts, but, frankly, there is only one real person behind those nick names. So, under one name you see 3000 posts, under another one - 6000. And all posts were written in one year!!!! 9000/365=24 posts per day! If you spend 10 min per post, you have 240 min or 8 hour, every day, no weekends, no holidays!

They really work hard.

Do you think they do it for free? I doubt.

CATALONIA

2009-06-28T06:47:00.002-07:00

Catalonia is an autonomous region in the northeast of Spain. It borders France to the north and has more than 500km of mediterranean coastline. It’s official languages are Catalan and Spanish.

The largest city in Catalonia, and its capital, is Barcelona. Other main cities include Girona, Tarragon and Lleida, which are all provincial capitals of the three other regions in Catalonia besides Barcelona.

Catalonia has a rich colonial history, from the ancient Greeks who settled in the north, Cathaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Franks. It wasn’t until the end of the first millenium that the Catalonian culture began to emerge, declaring it’s independence from the Frankish dynasty in 989.

In the 13^th Century, under the Crown of Aragon, Catalonia became a great maritime power and extended its reign to Valencia, the Balearics and Sardinia and Sicily. Over the following centuries Catalonia slowly lost its independence to a more centralized Spanish rule, losing various wars. It then lead the industrial revolution in Spain from the beginning of the 19^th Century and has remained one of Spain’s most industrial and richest regions since then.

After the Spanish dictator, Franco, died in 1975, Catalonia began recuperating its political, financial and cultural autonomy, and to this day continues its passive struggle for more independence.

Today Barcelona and Catalonia are one of Spain’s most dynamic and productive regions. It is a popular tourist destination particularly for European residents from England, France and Germany. Tourists are not only attracted to the extensive coastline with its beautiful beaches and idilic weather. Catalonia is home to many World Heritage Sites, notably many works of Antonio Gaudi that can be found throughout Catalonia, particularly in Barcelona. Gaudi’s most famous work, The Sagrada Familia, is a monument to his genius and still a work of art in the making. A magnificent cathedral, it towers above the skyline of Barcelona. Originally controversial in nature, it has become more so as modern day architects add their own vision to Gaudi’s. Like it or love it, it is a must-visit amoungst Barcelona’s many attractions.

The Ramblas is barcelona’s famous thoroughfare, bristling with life, energy and a little magic, it teems with tourists all year round. Traditionally a place to buy flowers or birds it is now, more than ever, a tourist haven where bustlers and street artists vie for tourist dollars.

Other World Heritage sites in Catalonia include the Roman archeological remains in Tarragona, the Palau de la Musica en Barcelona and the Poblet monastery.

The Catalan culture is truly unique and fascinating. Wonderful mediterranean-inspired food dishes including the famous “Pan con tomate” (thick slices of farm-style bread, fresh or toasted, with garlic and tomato rubbed on). A typical Catalan casserole (escudella) is a delicious thin soup that can be filled with potatoes, chickpeas,pasta, meatballs and cabbage.

Catalan traditional dances (Sardanas) are like few others and an interesting watch, the music being somewhat nostalgic. The famous castellers (Human towers) are spectacular and will leave you breathless. You should not visit Barcelona and Catalonia without the pleasure of viewing a live Casteller performance! Forget the bullfighting and paella (Southern Spain customs) and stay with the “real” Catalonia of Antonio Gaudi, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Castellers, Sardanas and escudella!

Cordero Lechal es una delicia

The Balearic Islands

2009-06-28T06:47:00.001-07:00

The Balearic islands is a beautiful, sunny paradise, just a short plane flight away from Barcelona’s international airport. Blessed with fine sandy beaches, low rainfall and long sunshine hours throughout the year, it is a holiday-maker’s paradise.

These enchanting islands have been the stage for many an invader, including the Phoenicians and Romans, to the modern-day “invaders” in the form of tourists of all nationalities, particularly German and English.

The island’s nightlife (particularly in Ibiza and Mallorca) is infamous and attracts a vast number of young tourists, but there’s a lot more to the Balearic islands than dancing. The climate is probably The Balearic island’s biggest attraction. Mallorca is very popular with the rich and famous; Fréderic Chopin, Joan Mirá, Robert Graves, Claudia Schiffer, Elle MacPherson, Roman Polanski to name a few. Ibiza is the party capital of Europe, and Menorca is the quieter neighbour, housing low-key resorts, golden beaches and rocky landscapes.

Tourists first began visiting the islands in the early part of the 19^th century, rising steadily to an annual average of more than 10 million visitors at the end of the 20^th century. It is also a very popular destination for the Spanish royal family, who have their summer residence in Palma.

The Balearic islands have many interesting natural and historic sights including British colonial architecture, castle ruins and Neolithic remains. It’s natural beauty is it’s prized possession and keenly protected. Currently over 40 percent of the archipelago is legally protected with the entire Menorca island designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. One of Europe’s most precious water marshes can be found in Mallorca’s Parc Natural de S’Albufera. Many of the national parks in the islands may be explored on foot or by bicycle, with well-signposted paths. There are heavy restrictions on the overuse of these natural wonders, as well as the crystal clear waters surrounding the islands. The salt marshes (Ses Salines) in Ibiza is an area of outstanding ecological value, including areas inhabited by thousands of birds.

As a tourist to the islands you will find that it has maintained many of it’s customs and traditions, despite the undeniable impact of the tourist industry. There are numerous local and national fiestas, many of them religious holidays dedicated to patron saints of local parishes or the celebration of an important local anniversary. I would highly recommend the colourful Festa de Sant Antoni held every June in Ciutadella, Menorca. This wonderful celebration includes horseback processions, firework displays and a jousting tournament. I have also had the privilege of experiencing many other celebrations of which I can definitely recommend the Festa of Sant Jordi (April 23), celebrated throughout the islands as well as Catalonia, or the Festa des Butifarró (3^rd Sunday in October) involving dancing and music to complement the consumption of large amounts of delicious pork sausages and a type of pizza bread topped with oven-baked vegetables. Most appetizing!

As a frequent tourist to the islands I can assure you that you will be nothing less than enchanted by all the Balearics have to offer. Some of the best beaches in the mediterranean are accompanied by seemingly endless sunny days and an enchanting atmosphere that will warm even the coldest of hearts. These islands truly give all visitors a unique experience, combining leisure, history and culture to satisfy all tastes. It is one of Europe’s firmly established tourist destinations and a “must visit” in anyone’s travel diaries. I have no hesitation is recommending the wonderful islands of the Balearics to everyone, for here there is indeed a paradise to be found for all.

My Articles about Spain

2009-06-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Now I want you to know about what I wrote about Spain

Summer holidays offer

2009-06-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

Recently uSmile® announced new, very attractive offer for summer holidays. You pay for only 1 discount ticket, second one you have for free + hotels catalog, also for free.
How do you like it?
You purchase those discounts from their summer holidays offer

It works easy!

2009-06-12T04:50:00.000-07:00

You go to uSmile webpage and chose the hotel.
Then you book it.
Then you tell them: I want to apply uSmile® discount program and they answer "OK".
Now you have to purchase discounts. You can do it directly from www.usmilehotels.com, or when you are in Spain, you can buy it in bookshops or in kiosks.
The price of 2 vouchers plus hotels guide is 14.95 Euros. Also you have to pay delivery cost, which can be around 5-6 Euros. Each voucher gives you 20% discount applicable for 1 room/1 stay.

Now lets have a look what we can have from those 2 vouchers.

Classical summer holiday trip could be like one family, 2 adults and 2 kids.

This family normally will book two rooms, one not very far from another. The price, during summer season in Spain, for 3-4 stars hotels, can vary between 70-120 Euros. we assume that average price is 80-90 Euros.

From statistics we also know that, in general, summer holidays lasts 10 days. Further calculations are very easy:

90.00 x 10 = 900.00 x 2 rooms = 1800.00 Euros. If now we apply uSmile® discounts, 20% for each room, we will have 360.00 Euros to put back in the pocket of that lucky family.

Detailed explanation you can find on uSmile® hotels discount page.

In next post I want to explain how we can use those 360.00 Euros for our benefit.

DTCD - how it works?

2009-06-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

Direct to consumer discount (DTCD) is the discount given to consumer and designed by uSmile® to provide customer with better price on accommodation in Catalonian hotels. In theory, it is good for everybody:

1. Participating in the program Hotels have two advantages:

a) It helps them to bring more customers and to increase occupancy rate.
b) They can gain additional advantage giving lower discount rate (only 20%), in comparison to 30-40%.

2. Customer can obtain direct and real discount, significant one, firs time in history!

3. uSmile®, of course, earns selling 2 discount vouchers + hotels guide (goes for free)!

Is that interesting?

In following posts I'll explain how it works in detail.

do they?

2009-06-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

Answering your question: of course they have to earn money, but may I ask you as a customer: do you care of their earnings? If you had a chance to pay less, would you pay more to keep Booking.com business going? I doubt it very much.

To whom those discounts go?

2009-06-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

The point is that whatever promotion you see announced, you will never get that level of price. Even if you buy through Internet. Normally Hotels give, to any kind of intermediary, 20-25-30% discount, which depends on the importance of that intermediary for the hotel. In the past "important" intermediary was Travel Agency.

That was golden time for Travel Agents. In some cases, when they were buying whole hotel for summer season in advance, they could achieve 80% discount.

Not now. The most important player now is Internet and that enormous variety of booking sites out there. For them, hotels give up to 40% discounts.

The question is: did someone of those intermediary ever shared their earnings with customer?

New initiative for Catalonian turism

2009-06-09T03:43:00.000-07:00

Do not have any doubts: I promote here one initiative, which I consider very interesting, because it is direct to consumer discount.

More information you can find here: www.usmilehotels.com.

Later, let's analyze what happens with discounts in travel business: who and to whom and what discount gives?

Any post or comment are welcomed!