Tuesday, April 13, 2010

london hotels

Because London is recognized as a world-class destination for theater, shopping, dining, history and art, it's often overlooked as a family vacation destination. But with a wide range of family-friendly hotels in London - and exciting attractions for kids of all ages, it really can be a fantastic vacation spot for even the littlest ones in your brood. All it takes is a bit of planning and a few well-chosen attractions. Here are a few ideas to help get your trip off on the right foot:

• London Zoo. Set on 36 acres, the London Zoo is changing the way people experience nature in London. Through its unique approach to creating interactive, immersive exhibits, visitors can get closer than they ever thought possible to more than 12,000 animals in 750 species, including African gorillas, meerkats, butterflies, Galapagos tortoises, pygmy marmosets and red titi monkeys.

• Sadler's Wells. Introduce your kids to the London theater scene at Sadler's Wells. Just minutes from many hotels in London, this unique, kid-friendly dance hall hosts productions by everyone from internationally renowned ballet companies to the legendary Shaloin Monks. You'll even find modern dance, flamenco and tango performances from some of the world's best dancers.

• Hampton Court Palace. Next to the River Thames, Henry VIII's stunning palace is located in East Molesey, Surrey - and can be easily reached by car, train or bus. Here, families can explore the famous Hampton Court Palace Maze, take a ghostly tour of the palace, see The Chapel Royal and tour England's "last and greatest medieval hall."

• Thames RIB Experience. For full-throttle excitement, book a Thames RIB experience and discover some of the city's most famous sights on an action-packed one-hour tour of the city. Once onboard the company's high-powered boat, you'll cruise past Westminster, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, The Strand, Trafalgar Square and more.

• Hyde Park. With 350 acres of space to roam, plus horseback riding, tennis, playgrounds, skating, boating and swimming, families can spend days exploring all that Hyde Park has to offer. And because it's so near to many hotels in London, if your kids need to go back to your room to change their clothes or grab their cameras, it will probably be a quick trip there and back.

scotland tours

Scotland has a rich heritage that can be traced back prior to the Iron Age and this culture is very much alive and flourishing wherever you go in the country. The country is split into several quite distinct regions. In the South you have the Border regions with their rolling rural landscapes, where sheep often outnumber people. Rugby is the main passion here and Border towns such as Hawick and Kelso have produced some of Scotland's most successful professional rugby stars. Moving slightly north you enter the Central Belt - where over 75% of the population actually live. The 2 major cities of Glasgow and, of course, the capital city Edinburgh, are major tourist attractions in their own right.

Edinburgh has numerous world famous tourist attractions including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and, a more recent addition, The Scottish Parliament. Its dozens of museums, art galleries and, of course, the annual Fringe Festival - the largest arts festival in the world are major draws for visitors from all over.. Glasgow is a less well known tourist destination but has become very chic and increasingly popular in recent years largely thanks to widespread regeneration of the Clydeside area. You must see the newly regenerated riverside area and the famous Armadillo structure at the Exhibition Center if you visit the city.

Golf fanatics are, of course, well catered for with some of the world's finest golf courses located around the country. Scotland certainly has more than its fair share of world class golf courses with the Old Course at St Andrews, just north of Edinburgh and the home of golf, undoubtedly the most famous of all.

Moving further north, the cities of Dundee and Aberdeen offer a new experience. Dundee is steeped in history with the now defunct jute industry still providing a number of fascinating tourist attractions along with Captain Scotts famous vessel the Discovery moored as a permanent display in the River Tay. Aberdeen, by contrast is known as the Oil Capital of Europe and home to a very much thriving North Sea Oil industry. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Scotland, mainly thanks to the legacy of the early oil years and the large influx of foreign workers that this brought, and boasts a huge range of cultures, restaurants and a thriving nightlife.

The last major city in Scotland is the Capital of the Highlands, Inverness which has only recently been granted City status. Sitting at the head of the famous Loch Ness - watch out for Nessie - the worlds most famous monster - it really is the gateway to the Highlands.. Inverness has seen explosive growth in recent years but still retains a very unique 'small town' atmosphere and is a favorite stopping off point of many tourist parties en-route to the Highlands.

newyork holidays

Do you know how flexible of New York City is in the matter of providing the facilities and amenities to the visitors? New York is the marvelous place for spending the vacation peacefully. After working hard round the clock throughout the year, it is the best time to get some relief and relaxation on the vacation period. New York is for the recreational activities and it is also the place for enrichment of the culture and heritage. The world famous literary luminaries and the celebrities in the different spheres of life live in this city or they come from the different corners of the world with the sole purpose of re-filtering their tastes and updating their knowledge by coming into contact with many wonderful historical places, cultural events, entertainments, fun and sports to name few.

However, New York has also shown its expertise to offer the freebies to its beloved brothers and sisters who come from different countries and states. Now you will be able to get the wonderful freebies offer if you do extensive search in the online sites or read the magazines and journals. Read first and collect the information about the freebie offers which are given by companies and tourist agencies. There are many museums which offer the free passes to the children for visiting this historical place. You will get the chance to experience the wonder of the superb technology by visiting Sony Wonder Technology Lab. You will get permission to visit the lab without paying anything.

There are other excellent tourist spots like Rockefeller Center, Queens County Farm Museum, Union Square Green Market and many more. During the wintry seasons, you will be excited to do ice skating in Rockefeller Center. Besides these, there are also excellent historical tourist spots like Federal Hall National Memorial. It is free for all and you can feel free to enter into the main building to pay tribute to our national hero George Washington who is the founder of democracy.

Ellis Isle, the Statue of Liberty, Grant's Tomb, and Fort Wadsworth are the most marvelous historical sites which are open to the people for watching and visiting. Take time and make the proper plans and programs to utilize the golden chance to visit these tourist spots free of cost. Your family members will be fully satisfied after paying the short visits to these places which have the bright historical background.

wonderful holidays in thailand

Bangkok is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. It's loud, it's noisy, it's modern and fast-moving, and at the same time it's quiet, slow and old-fashioned. It's a fusion city, a city where tradition and modernity not just meet, but mix and create something new.

It's a fascinating place. Many people who make a stopover in Bangkok for a couple of days before heading to one of the many beautiful beaches Thailand has to offer do not like it at all. All they see are decadent red-light districts, annoying traffic jams and nosy tuktuk-drivers.

But that's really just Bangkok's most outer layer - that's what is the easiest to find for a tourist who comes here. If you peel that first layer away, you will find the many other faces of Bangkok: the gentle, the kind, the cultural, the culinary, the religious and more.

Temples in Bangkok
There are so many temples in Bangkok, if you have an interest in Buddhism or religious architecture, you will love it here. The temples are built in many different styles, and the "must see" temples are the Wat Pho which features the 46 meter long reclining Buddha image and Wat Arun, which is just across the river.

Wat Trai Mit is another impressive place to see, as it houses the golden Buddha. It's the largest Buddha statue in the world made out of solid gold. And it has an mysterious history. Nobody knows for sure how old this Buddha statue is. And in fact, nobody even knew it existed until a couple of decades ago. It was once covered in plaster, probably to hide it from invading armies who where known to melt down the gold from Buddha statues. Accidentally a monk discovered that under the plaster, there was a golden Buddha, when a piece of the plaster chipped of.

Culture and History
If you want to know more about the history of Thailand and gain a better understanding of Thai culture, the National Museum is a great place to visit.

Many people also like to visit the Grand Palace, which is a huge compound that mixes architectural influences from different regions of the world.

Shopping
Seasoned shoppers love Bangkok. It's a true shoppers paradise. Do you have cash to spend? Modern shopping palaces like the Siam Paragon or Central World offer you ample opportunity to buy pretty much all the material things that one can crave for. Almost every luxury brand of the world has a flagstore at Siam Paragon, and in case you want to buy a new Lamborghini, just head to the second floor.

If you want cheap clothes and fashion accessories, you probably want to check out Pratunam, specially Platinum Mall. But Pahurat also has a lot to offer, just as Bobae.

Monday, March 29, 2010

go!go! GOA

Nestled between the states Karnataka and Maharashtra is the smallest state of India named Goa. Though Goa is small in terms of land area, Goa may be considered as one of the most attractive tourist destination in India. Why do a lot of tourists flock to Goa throughout the year? First and foremost, Goa is known for its picturesque beaches about 40 in total and some of them truly provide the peace and serenity that one would crave for, far from the madding crowd of a city life. Secondly, Goa also has a variety of old churches, colonial houses, historical Cathedrals, forts and classic buildings that make the tour of Goa quite an experience.

Goa's local cuisine is also something that you should not miss as dishes made by Goans are delectable and delicious. What makes Goan cuisine mouth watering is the fact that it is a mix of Konkani, Portuguese South Indian and British cuisines influence. The usual ingredients that Goans use are coconut, fish, and rice. Tourists can enjoy amazing Goan salads, curries, and soups among others. Since Goa has a tropical climate, people get to enjoy their trip to Goa in almost every month of the year. Most tourists also love the fact that it is neither too cold nor too hot in Goa, which makes almost every kind of tourist activity such as swimming and Sun bathing in Goa possible.

Goa is a perfect place for night parties and night life as a whole with some of best night clubs situated across popular beaches.Tito's nightclub which is one of the famous night clubs in Goa and is right across the baga beach. Being a popular tourist destination Goa has a lot of hotels and guesthouses that offer among the best accommodations in the world. During low season, tourists have the luxury of booking a room upon arrival, but during peak season, it is mandatory to make reservations at least a month in advance. Almost every beach in Goa has a beach resort and tourists have the option of choosing from a huge list based on their budget and availability. Some of the big names in hotels such as Taj, Holiday Inn and Marriott are across the beach and that makes it even more attractive as tourists can enjoy the serenity of beach with the luxuries the hotels have to offer.

mountain lovers

It's nearly impossible to get a family to agree on a vacation spot that pleases everybody. Dad enjoys winter sports, while Mom thinks she'll be stuck inside the warm cabin for a week. Sister wants to go on nature hikes, while Brother wants to cheer on the football team. The Great Smoky Mountains are here to help! Whatever your holiday hopes, adventure, nature, shopping, and activities both indoors and out await you--all year round!

Winter lovers flock to the mountains, and the Smokies are no exception. Opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, and other cold-weather sports abound in the Smokies. The moderately cold weather averages about 39.2 degrees farenheit in the peak season of the snow peaks. Most shops and attractions stay open during the winter months, although some adopt fewer operation hours. But the winter holiday season really gets going in late November to early December starting with the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community Holiday Arts & Crafts Show. The Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade draws thousands of visitors' attention to the seasonal decorations and shopping adventures throughout the region. Most winter weekdays during the winter are peaceful in the Smokies, except for the bustling holiday season from late December through New Year's Day.

With melting snow and budding trees comes spring in the Smoky Mountains, and while chilly nights give way to cool days, amazing opportunities arise to witness the breathtaking bounty of nature. Beginning in March, wildflowers bloom, waterfalls cascade, and wildlife emerge from hibernation. Spring fever fully hits in March with the annual Holly and Shamrock Parade and the Smoky Mountain Springfest, which runs from March to June. April boasts Ribfest & Wings, the Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament, and the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimmige. The Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games is in May. Area parks adopt an abbreviated schedule during the spring, so check the hours before booking your trip.

But since most families take vacations during the Summertime when the kids are off of school, late June through early August are the busy times in the Smokies. Outdoor activities abound in the warm weather, and families make time for their time, this time. Theme parks are in full swing, and the lakes and rivers beg for whitewater rafters and flyfishermen. Don't let the occasional mid-afternoon shower deter you, the shops and outlet stores open for extended hours. Some summer festivals include June's Smoky Mountains Tale and Tunes, July's Midnight Independence Day Parade and Gatlinburg's Craft Fair.

Nature lovers, your patience will be rewarded with Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountians. It's impossible to describe the beauty of the fall foliage; it must be seen to be understood. The mountainsides awash in red, yellow, and orange make the fall leaf season (link) a worldwide tourist draw. September through October, depending on the elevation. Bring a sweater or a jacket for the cool autumn evenings as you cheer on the University of Tennesee football team. The towns take decoration to the next level for Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays. Events included the Smokey Mountain Market Festival, Winter Magic Cookoff, Chili Cookoff, Veterans' Day Celebration, and Festival of Trees.

holiday island-gran caneria

When it comes to Tenerife, you will find a variety of climate changes across the island, with winter temperatures of around 15C to 20C in the winter in the North and 20C to 25C in the South. However, for the majority of holiday goers, Tenerife is at its best during the summer season when you can enjoy temperatures in the 30's - perfect weather to enjoy while you're soaking up the rays on one of the island's glorious beaches.

The island houses many fantastic beaches such as Playa Grande, Playa Las Gaviotas and Playa las Vistas - all of which have their own forms of entertainment whether you are looking to partake in some thrilling water sports or if you are simply looking to sit back, relax and enjoy some peace and quiet.

The beaches all provide eating facilities along the promenades which make them the perfect hang out spots and also make Tenerife one of the best places to visit whether you are a family of four, a couple or a gang of friends looking for the holiday of a lifetime. However, for many a holiday destination is chosen based on the culture which they can expect to be treated with.

Tenerife famously houses the amazing volcano Mount Teide, which is the third largest volcano in the world and the highest mountain in Spain - a sight not to be missed. The island is also home to a wide range of Spanish culture, much of which you can experience through some of the exquisite traditional restaurants which will provide you with some of the best Tapas you will ever taste.

The Canary Islands are renowned for providing fantastic tourist attractions and Tenerife is guaranteed not to disappoint. With the AquaPark, Teide National Park, Loro Parque and La Laguna to name but a few-there is plenty to entertain everyone of any age here. Finally there is the nightlife! Tenerife is perfect for all types of groups whether you are looking to dance the night away every night of your holiday or if you are looking for a family friendly holiday.

With masses of bars and restaurants, you can find cuisine from all over the world to suit any taste pubs and with many of the pubs providing food and family friendly entertainment, you are sure to enjoy every night on the island. For those looking to stay out until the early hours of the morning, you will find many bars which are open to the early hours of the morning, providing a wide range of music. With nightclubs such as Tramps and Veronicas providing some of the best music in Europe at the moment, you are sure to return home each night with a smile on your face.

Gran Canaria has a slightly warmer climate, providing highs of around 35C during its hottest season in July and August and with highs of around 25C during the winter months, it makes the island one of the best locations for a winter holiday as well as a summer holiday.

Similar to Tenerife, Gran Canaria houses some gorgeous beaches such as Playa de Puerto Rico, Playa de los Amadores and Playa del Inglés-which is known as being one of the most famous beaches in Europe. You can find a wide range of entertainment near the beaches from water sports, golf courses and various other amusements as well as masses of coffee shops and eateries-perfect for a bite to eat or a chance to cool off from the sweltering heat!

When it comes to escaping the heat, Las Palmas houses some fantastic galleries, museums and musical arenas, providing you with an eclectic mix of entertainment throughout your holiday, as well as some fantastic designer stores-perfect for those die hard shopping fans. The island also has many tourist attractions which you would expect from a Canary Island such as the Aqua Park, Parque de los Cocodrilo Crocodile Park and two casinos for those who fancy taking their chance with lady luck.

The island is home to some of the best cuisine in Europe, which a wide variety of restaurants providing traditional Spanish recipes with an Latin American and African influence, as well as Italian, Indian and Chinese meals. When it comes to the nightlife however, Gran Canaria provides a more vibrant party scene than Tenerife, mainly thanks to its buzzing gay nightlife. The Yumbo centre in Playa de Ingles is one of the most popular spots on the island with the party often not starting until midnight and lasting until last man standing.

wonderful holidays spot for families and teenagers

Family vacations are not that difficult to plan, but the one priority is that it needs to be fun for all involved. There needs to be a bit of something for everyone. The type of family vacation you choose will depend on the things that interest your children. Some children are sports oriented and their idea of a fun vacation may be very different than children who are more scholarly. Both of these vacation ideas leave a lot of options for parents to consider as they try to decide on what will be the best vacation places for them and their kids.

Whether your children are young or teenage, one place that both age groups will love is Disney World. For parents there are numerous golf courses that are award winning designs and these provide a calm and relaxed atmosphere where you can de-stress. For the kids there is the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This is a fascinating place with over 50 sports available all in one area.

One of the most popular attractions for kids as well as parents is the Walt Disney World Speedway. Whether you are a driver or you want to be in the passenger seat, this ride is a thrill of a lifetime. There are a number of different driving options to choose from and both kids and parents will have a blast driving the speedway just like Richard Petty.
Needless to say, Walt Disney World is one of the best vacation places for families with active kids, but for those who are more scholastically inclined, and love the learning experience a vacation can provide, then nothing is better than visiting Washington, DC. This is a town filled with learning experiences for kids and one that many parents enjoy as well.

One of the best times of the year to be in DC is during the springtime when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. For adults this is a wonderful and relaxing walk that many love to take during the morning hours. Some of the most sought after tickets are ones for the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit. This is a glance back into history that will fascinate both young and old. Included with your tickets to this amazing exhibit is a fascinating 60 minute film showing research done inside the tomb of the first emperor of China.If you and the kids are still thirsting for knowledge, then head over to the Smithsonian Institute where there is something for everyone. A favorite exhibit for kids is the Air and Space Museum. Children will be amazed at the massive exhibits of everything to do with flying. Follow that with a visit to the planetarium show, which gives children and parents an amazing show that is a tour of the universe.

These are just a few of the things you and your children can do when you're looking for the best family vacation for you and your children. There is a world of possibilities out there for any family to discover while relaxing and having fun. It's even possible to combine both learning and high intensity activities together if your children are so inclined. America offers a vast range of experience for any family to enjoy, and ones that will be satisfying to everyone.

best honymoon spot ooty

Honeymoon in Ooty has been a well-liked placd in India since a very long time.This custom has been in vogue in the recent times with more and more public from India as well as from all over the world coming for honeymoon in Ooty. Given the title Queen of the hills Ooty is nicely placed at an altitude of 2240 metres over the sea level.

Ooty is a charming and pleasing hill station that is satisfying round the year, so all times are good times to visit this place. Though many assume that the most excellent time is from February to May or otherwise from September to November. The winters are pretty much cold, so it would be a wonderful idea to take your winter collection or warm clothes with you on trip to Ooty India.

Honeymoon in Ooty has been a well-liked place in India since a very long time.This custom has been in vogue in the recent times with more and more public from India as well as from all over the world coming for honeymoon in Ooty. Given the title Queen of the hills Ooty is nicely placed at an altitude of 2240 metres over the sea level.Ooty is a charming and pleasing hill station that is satisfying round the year, so all times are good times to visit this place. Though many assume that the most excellent time is from February to May or otherwise from September to November. The winters are pretty much cold, so it would be a wonderful idea to take your winter collection or warm clothes with you on trip to Ooty India

navarathiri nights celebrations

Navratri is the festival of nine nights in which nine incarnations of goddess Shakti are worshipped. Each of them worshipped on each of the nine days. The nine goddesses worshipped are:

MAA SHAILPUTRI-she is worshiped on 1st day. The deity was born as Sati-daughter of Daksha and wife of lord Shiva. She took rebirth as Parvathi- daughter of Himalaya and the consort of lord Shiva and is closely associated with him.

MAA BRAHAMCHARINI-she is worshiped on 2nd day. It means, under constant meditation. She is a peaceful form and is also known as Uma. This form was undertaken by Sati and Parvathi in each of their births to attain lord Shiva as husband. Women all over India perform fasts based on the strict austerities followed by Brahamcharini.

MAA CHANDRAGHANTA-she is worshiped on 3rd day. She is so called because of crescent moon worn by her on the head. This is the anger look of the goddess. It shows that, if the calm deity is provoked she can become terrible and malevolent.

MAA KUSHMANDA-she is worshiped on 4th day. This goddess has the energy of universe. As she has eight hands, the holy power is known as-Ashtbhuja. She is with a smiling face which is believed to end the eternal darkness and beginning of new light.

MAA SKANDAMATA-she is worshiped on 5th day. She is the mother of Skanda who is also known as kartik. He is the general of lord's army and most handsome god. The mother is holding the child on her laps. She is benevolent in this form.

MAA KATYAYANI-she is worshiped on 6th day. She is so called as being daughter of sage Katya. Though she is daughter form of Durga and epitome of love, she can get angry to defend the righteous and good.

MAA KALRATRI-she is worshiped on 7th day. This form of Shakti destroys ignorance and darkness. It is the most violent form of Shakti. In this, she likes the blood of the demon depicting that violent Mother Nature can create havoc and eliminate all the dirty evil.

MAA MAHAGAURI-she is worshiped on 8th day. This form depicts purity. It was when lord Shiva with water from river Ganga cleaned the soil and dust from the body of Parvathi when she did penance to seek lord Shiva as her husband.

MAA SIDDHIDATRI-she is worshiped on 9th day. In this form Mother Goddess showers knowledge on the devotee. She removes ignorance.