City Guides & Information

Recently, the think tank Mercer’s published the results to their 2010 Quality of Life survey. Some of the criteria that are measured in this survey are environment, culture, public transportation, and hygiene. Vancouver, which used to hold the honour of being number one on that list has been usurped by the Austrian city of Vienna. Despite this surprising defeat by the capital of Austria, Vancouver is still a world class city where people enjoy an excellent standard of living.

Although the quality of life in Vancouver is now, officially, not the greatest in the world Vancouverites will brag that it certainly is the best in Canada. If you ask a Vancovuerite what they like most about the city, they will most certainly begin with the Weather. Vancouver enjoys the highest annual temperature in the country; a winter day with a daily low of -40 simply doesn’t happen here. That being said, while the rest of Canada gets snow we get rain.

There is more to Vancouver than just warmer weather. Vancouver is also a cultural hearth, with a rich and vibrant arts scene. The Vancouver Art Gallery, located downtown in Robson Square, has an exquisite permanent collection and also hosts many touring exhibitions. Located in the old provincial court house, the building’s exterior architecture is almost as much of a marvel as what is inside.

Vancouver is a cultural cross roads between east and west. Chinatown, located in the east end of the downtown core plays homage to the role the Chinese people have historically played in the development of the city. On a walking tour through this part of town you will find dozens of restaurants that serve authentic Chinese food, which is regarded by some to be the best in the world. The neighbourhood is also home to over a hundred years of rich history, a quality that certainly adds to its character.

We’ve already discussed on this blog about the excellence of Vancouver’s public transportation system. The three rapid transit lines, seabus, and fleet of busses that serve the city will comfortably and quickly get you where you need to go. As a result, the city has a very high transit ridership rate. To put things into perspective, Translink, the firm that operates the public transit in the metro area carries just over one million riders a day. Considering that Metro Vancouver has around 2.5 million people, its safe to say that nearly everyone rides transit!

To conclude, I really believe that Vancouver deserves the title of world’s most livable city and not Vienna. If you spend any time in the area, I’m sure that you will most definitley agree.

Have you ever visited Mumbai, the city that is comprised of seven islands? If you have not yet explored this colossus metropolis, there is something void in your India tourism itinerary. No matter whether you have come from an overseas destination or from any other city in India, you will be keen on to discover more and find the uniqueness about Mumbai. Both leisure tourists and business tourists visit the city in thousands every day. Accommodation and dining are not a problem as there are countless hotels and restaurants in Mumbai.

Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay) was home to numerous fishing communities and fishing colonies almost dominated the city. With time, these were centered on the coastal areas. It was the British who transformed the city with its civil engineering projects. The city witnessed fast development in no time. The name Mumbai was indented in the year 1995; it was Bombay State with Bombay as the capital after independence. After Maharashtra was created in 1960, Bombay became its capital. To get a clearer picture about Mumbai and read about its historical roots, you can read articles available on web or books on the history of Mumbai, from the past to the present.

Foodie freaks will love relishing the varying delicacies served in the countless restaurants in Mumbai. There are restaurants to suit every taste and budget. You will find here some of the best upmarket eating joints of the world; if you are ready to shed some extra bucks, do dine in these restaurants and cherish the taste for a lifetime!

There are countless centres of shopping in Mumbai. The whole of Mumbai is filled with malls, street markets, emporia, etc. that cater to the tourists’ taste for shopping in the city. You can get hold of things that you would love to buy as all international brands find a place in Mumbai.

The nightlife in Mumbai is bound to attract your attention. Party goers can take delight in the Aaziano, Red Light, Squeeze, Rock Bottom, and other bars and pubs. Mumbai’s nightlife find’s mention in many a review posted on web by tourists who have visited the city.

I bet you already know that Paris is considered a shopping haven. The moment you hear about Paris, you can never take “shopping” out of the picture. Being one of the premiere shopping cities in the world, Paris is every shopper’s heaven here on earth. And because your Paris trip wouldn’t be complete without souvenirs to remind you of this majestic city, you can opt to shop at Paris’ wide range of stores which will make you love the city all the more.

If you’re into designer fashion and haute couture, you will most likely enjoy the shops found along the famous Triangle d’Or. It houses the finest haute couture shops such as Dior, Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Ferragamo, and a lot more. For your trendy finds, you can set foot towards the Champs Elysees and shop at Sephora, Zara, and the famous Louis Vuitton flagship store. Most of these shops are open from 10AM to 7PM, Monday through Saturday.

Fashion boutiques of world-renowned designers can also be found on Paris’ Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore and Avenue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement including Gucci, Hermes, Yves Saint-Laurent and Christian Dior. There is also the Carrousel de Louvre, which is located under the Louvre museum that features a huge food court and a wide variety of boutiques. There are apartments located on the 7th street just in case you can’t get enough of shopping in Paris.

However, if you’re on the hunt for department stores, you can visit Bon Marche, Samaritaine, Printemps, and Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville (BHV). Besides offering a huge variety of items for sale, these shops are also part of Paris’ history.

Paris is part of every shopaholic’s must-shop-at places as this city offers a multitude of shopping malls, boutiques, department stores and designer shops that are sure to capture every shopper’s fancy.

Visiting Paris can be very exciting and pretty overwhelming. With the tons of things this city has to offer, you can hardly know where to start and which places you’re not supposed to miss. Here are some sights and Paris attractions that you should never miss out on.

First off is the world-famous Eiffel Tower that is considered as the main landmark of Paris. It stands 300m high and can offer you a spectacular panoramic view of the entire city. Although you have to endure the long line going to the top, it is all worth it.

Another tourist attraction is the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is the first cathedral built on the city and paved the way for Paris to be regarded as the capital of France. It features an outstanding Gothic architecture, ornamented with large rose windows, stained glasses and innovative sculptures.

Any trip to Paris is not complete without paying a visit to The Louvre Museum that served as a fortress during the Middle Ages. At present, this museum houses the world-renowned painting by Leonardo Da Vinci – the Mona Lisa along with other impressive arts and antiques collected from all over the world. And because it actually takes months to complete a tour of everything in the museum, it is important to choose which to see first.

And for every shopaholic, it’s impossible to visit Paris without going to The Champs-Elysees Avenue, which features the most famous boutiques and automobile showrooms.

Tuileries Garden, the beautiful park located in the heart of Paris, is not to be missed as well. After a long day of sightseeing or shopping at Paris, this is a nice place to unwind. There are also coffee shops along the park that you can enjoy while viewing the park’s fountains and sculptures.

With all these heart-captivating attractions, you are sure to have a memorable vacation in the City of Lights.

Everyone makes plans and feels more relaxed when holiday approaches. We just want to go far from home and simply rest. We want to escape and discover what lies beyond everyday life. Going on holiday alone proves to be often a challenge.

There are plus and down sides to this kind of trip. Among the advantages we can mention: the choice to change your plans whenever you want, you can go wherever you want to without having to take into consideration others people plans and/or preferences; the intensity with which you live entirely the full trip, not being necessary to negotiate, to explain, to ask for something. Also, another advantage is that you get to know new people and learn things that you would not have heard if you had company.

However, there some disadvantages: the fatigue to be permanently attentive to everything around you, to care for the luggage, money, passport etc. There is nobody to look after your backpack not even when you go to the bathroom. There is nobody to see when your pocket is being cut in crowded places, there´s nobody to draw your attention when a bargain leads to a trap which you fail to see. There is nobody else to buy tickets, to order a beer, to inquire how to get in the next town, to talk to the receptionist, and all these little things, sometimes can tire you.

If you choose England for a vacation, and more specific London, you will have a lot of places to see. First of all choose a place to spend the night. Select the hotel depending on what you plan to do with your holiday, if you want to visit the city choose a hotel rather close to the public transport, to pubs, crowded places, so even if you are alone, you will always feel surrounded.

If you want to relax, choose a hotel in the close proximity to the city, for example in Watford. Such a hotel can have its advantages: London is pretty close, could be just 15-20 minutes by train; there is only a short walk from the café district with its clubs and bars; it is a quite perfect base to visit the Roman Verulamium, Garden of the Rose in St. Albans, the shopping centre in Brent Cross and Wembley Arena; moreover, Harlequin Shopping Centre with over 140 shops is a short walk away.

Burley is a picturesque village set in the south west corner of the New Forest National Park. Full of character and charm the village of Burley is an excellent choice to use as a base to explore the New Forest and has some mysteries of its own.

Burley has many associations with smugglers, but more famous is the story of Sybil Leek, an English witch, astrologer, psychic and author on the occult. Legend has it that she was hounded out of the village never to return. The village plays up to this little piece of history with a few shops celebrating all things Pagan.

The first traces of human habitation in Burley date as far back as 3,500 years ago. Bronze Age burial mounds (tumuli) can be found around the village. On Castle Hill the remains of an Iron Age fort dating back 2,500 years can also be found.

The earliest surviving buildings of significance include Burley Manor where Roger de Burley was recorded as domiciled in 1212 and Burley Lodge, documented as a dwelling in 1490. Burley Manor became a hotel in 1933 and has its own stables.

The forest and heath around the village are considered to be some of the most picturesque scenery in the new forest. There are many walking trails and several stables for those interested to explore the forest on horseback. Alternatively hire a mountain bike and try pedalling around the hundreds of miles of tracks and trails.

Burley is tucked away in the corner of the forest with no rail network close by. However, it is easy to reach by road from Sway, Ringwood and Brockenhurst. There are many fine hotels in Burley and because of its idyllic setting demand often outstrips supply. The Burley Manor Hotel with its own stables and long history provides the bulk of the accommodation with 38 rooms. More exclusive is the The Moorhill House Hotel with 31 rooms and an indoor swimming pool.

There are several guest houses providing bed and breakfast accommodation in Burley each of which include a full English breakfast. In addition to B&B, Burley cottages are available to hire for those more interested in self catering and Burley Youth Hostel offers further self catering accommodation.

If you are looking for a place to go for vacation Tel Aviv Jaffa is one of the best locations you can decide to go visit. It is the largest city found in Israel and stretches along a magnificent beach strip of the Mediterranean. It is also the biggest commercial center which is a busy metropolis and attracts tourists from all over the world. It has very many sites and attractions which will ensure that you will have fun while on your visit. Tel Aviv’s travel and tourism industry is well established and is one of the industries that are performing excellently in the country. The top ten attractions to look for while you are in Tel Aviv Jaffa are:

- Beaches: it has white sandy beaches where you can go and relax, have picnics and just have a great view of the blue sea. Here you can also get involved in your favorite water sports and have loads of fun.

- Rich culture: Tel aviv Jaffa is one of the cities rich in culture and you will be able to see many cultural sites to help you increase your history knowledge and you can get to learn more about the residents’ way of life. The most popular site is the old Jaffa where you can walk trough to see the pictures of the neighborhood and take in its natural charm.

- Exquisite night life: if you are a person who is fascinated by the night life there are numerous night life spots you can explore.

- Neve Tzdek: this is where you will get to visit sites such as museums, restaurants and you can be able to experience firsthand Tel Aviv Jaffa’s hopping and you can get to carry as many souvenirs as you can.

- Museums: Tel Aviv Jaffa has many museums where you can go and enjoy Israel’s art at its best.

- Markets: Hacarmel market is one of the markets in the city where you can experience the hustle and bustle of the market life.

- Architecture: while you walk through the city your eyes will be able to feast upon beautiful architecture with the buildings that are all over the city.

- Parks: there are beautiful green parks where you can go and enjoy various sceneries for relaxation and you can take part in outdoor activities for fun.

- Suzanne Dellal Center: this is a place where you can go and enjoy watching and listening to top Israel artists and other top international artists.

- Azrieli observatory: this is a cool place where you can go and get the view of the city from the bird’s eye view angle.

There are a variety of hotels in Tel Aviv Jaffa where you can stay while you are in the city and you do not have to worry about accommodation. Hotels range from beach hotels to hostels and you can choose the one you are most comfortable with and the one you can afford. Most hotels are located near the attraction sites so that you do not have to go traveling long distances to be able to get a good view. If you do not like staying in hotels there are other forms of accommodation you can choose from, such as apartments and rental houses.

If you’re thinking about visiting the North West of England, and want to see more of the region than just the airport or the motorway, then why not visit Bolton? With lot of things to see and do here it’s not surprising that Bolton hotel rooms are popular all year round, and you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained, no matter what your interests.

Here are just some of the things you can see and do in Bolton.

1. Possibly one of the main reason that people come to Bolton is because of the football. Bolton Wanderers, who plat at the Reebok Stadium, hav established themselves as a Premier League team, and are easily capable of competing with the so called “top teams” in the league.. The North West currently features 7 Premier League Teams, Bolton, Blackburn, Blackpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool, and so there must be something about the region!

2. Middlebrook Retail Park is well known as one of the premium retail locations and experiences in the North West, and is attracting increasing numbers of visitors and retailers alike. You’ll be able to find megastores from some of the leading high street names as well as smaller specialised shops too.

3. There’s plenty of entertainment to be found in Bolton, so no matter whether you want to see a play at the Octagon Theatre, comedy at the Albert Halls, or a global megastar appearing in concert at the Reebok Stadium, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

4. Bolton is just 20 minutes from Manchester city centre. If you’re looking for somewhere that’s got the best of both worlds, of being close to the city, yet not too buy or expensive, then Bolton might just be the ideal location, no matter what you’re doing.

5. Although neighbouring Manchester is well known for legendary bands including Oasis, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, the Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses, Bolton is doing its best to unearth new talent. The Soundhouse music venue is proving to be popular for both new and established bands to play in Bolton. Why not see who’s playing during your stay in Bolton?

6. Like most modern towns, there’s an impressive cinema complex in Bolton. With many screens showing the latest blockbusters, you’re bound to be able to find something to watch whilst you’re here.

7. Perhaps you’ll be surprised to discover that you can learn to scuba dive in Bolton. If you’re looking to learn before you go on holiday, or tried it abroad and want to continue earning your qualifications, then you’ll find that scuba diving in Bolton might just be what you’re looking for.

8. Many household names originate from Bolton. Comedians Peter Kay, Dave Spikey and Patrick McGuiness well know from That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights and Max And Paddy’s Road To Nowhere. DJs Sara Cox and Sony Award winning Mark Radcliffe are from the town too. Award winning Paul Heathcote, as well as multi million selling Danny from McFly and Vernon Kay are local celebrities. World renowned boxer Amir Khan makes no secret of his love for his hometown.

9. Thanks to the fact that it’s easy to get to, from all over the region, and from the M6 and M62 motorways, Bolton is popular with those visiting on business too. No matter whether you’re looking for a new factory or office, or an exciting Bolton exhibition venue, you’ll find what you need for your business in Bolton.

10. The University of Bolton has 11 000 students, and is ranked highly in terms of both student satisfaction and teaching. With great relationships with local employers, as well as fantastic student life, and entertainment on the doorstep, it’s not hard to see why Bolton is attracting many new students year on year.

Now you know some of the reasons people come here, when will you visit Bolton?

Las Vegas is located in the midst of the Mojave Desert sands. This magical city was created to become the entertainment capital of the world and it is rapidly achieving it’s aim. Last year this decadent and psychedelic city had over 36 million visitors, not bad for a city with a population of just over 1 million. It was no more than a backwater town less than 60 years ago, a stopover for those on route between LA and Salt Lake City. The city slowly began to turn its attention towards gambling when the State of Nevada legalized this activity which was formerly prohibited. The development of Vegas in those days was aided by the Mafia who injected serious money into several of the major hotels primarily the Flamingo Hilton on which the famous Vegas Boulevard was started.

Vegas also managed to position itself as the entertainment capital of the States as Sinatra and Elvis performed there regularly. The Mafia influence was curtailed in the 1960’s as the major hotel chains began to develop their portfolios in Vegas, and this city now boasts 15 of 21 of the world’s largest hotels. The skyline of Vegas is as equally impressive as any of the world’s largest cities with themed hotels that emulate the great cities of the world such as the canals of Venice and the Pyramids of the Middle East while the theme parks offer a great distraction for families looking for alternative entertainment.

One big attraction of Vegas is the fact that the room rates offer great value for money with affordable rooms, restaurants and alternative entertainment, which is subsidised by the gambling vices of others. Las Vegas has managed to do a great job of marketing itself as a great destination for families shedding its decadent image to offer families a great array of things to do with excellent shopping, affordable entertainment and theme parks. There is no denying however that the main allure to this city is clearly its gambling and the variety of alternative ways that visitors can shed money in pursuit of wealth. The entrances are large and alluring and the exits are hidden and obscure, this city is the master of illusion and no doubt that many who come in search of eternal wealth go home with little.

Anytime is a great time to visit Las Vegas as it is located in the middle of the desert and it is warm all year round. The summer months of July and August are excessively hot however everywhere indoors is air conditioned so this should not affect your holiday if you decide to visit during the peak summer months.

All in all Vegas is a bright, energetic and somewhat lavish place to visit yet it is extremely affordable given the value on offer if you can avoid the vice gambling attractions.

San Francisco is a vibrant city situated on the west coast of America. It is relatively small due to the natural boundaries of the bay and Atlantic. It is famed worldwide as the liberal city where anything goes and is a thorn into conservative America. While the tourist landmarks as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are a worthy visit, San Francisco has a host of attractions and places to visit within its surrounds.

While the downtown is the obvious choice of stay for many tourists, the neighbourhoods with little boutique hotels and guesthouses are the best places to stay if you want to see the real San Francisco and the many faces of this great and beautiful city.

The mission from 15th to 24th Street may look a little rough around the edges, but it offers the best and cheapest eateries and funky bars in the city. 24th mission has a strong Hispanic culture, with many of the Mexican shop fronts. Take a stroll around to admire some of the amazing wall murals that adorn many street walls in the mission. Sit in Dolores park adjacent to the mission and if the city is under fog this area of the city usually gets sun, especially in July or August. Head to the Fillmore and walk up to Upper Haight Street for some good funky boutique shopping. Admire the colourful Victorian houses and bong shop fronts which still reminisce of an era past.

The Golden Gate park is great on a Sunday as the Park closes to traffic and everyone is out in force roller blading, cycling, running with worthy visits to the Botanical and Japanese Gardens, Aquarium, Exploratorium along the way. Golden Gate Park stretches the length of much of the city to Ocean Beach.

The swanky marina neighbourhood with its boutique little shops and fine dining sits on the bay and offers surreal viewpoints of the famed landmarks of the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz. Crissy fields in the Marina park is a fantastic spot on a sunny day and is where the palace of Fine Arts in its architectural splendor sits.

Take a worthy visit by boat to bay area upscale towns of Sausalito or Tiburon and look at San Francisco by night. Tram up the hills from Fisherman Wharf after eating lobster taking in Coit Tower and Lombard street, the world’s most crooked street and go downtown to Macy’s, Nike and the best in brand shopping. Head to the Castro Street as a trip to San Francisco is nothing without visiting the famous Castro, the area where the Gay Movement for Equality first began.

San Francisco is best explored by foot and Tram and don’t worry about getting lost, as it is the best way to find the hidden gems that lie in this small, vibrant, open city and safe city.

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