Thursday, November 26, 2009

A Guide to Traveling in Portugal by Jim Guerra

About the county

Portugal was a world power in 15th and 16th century but was reduced to rubbles during an earthquake in 1755, Napoleon's Invasion and Brazil's Independence. Sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Spain and bordering Atlantic Ocean by both west and south coast it is popular for its long and varied coastline, sunny climate and the charming towns makes it a traveler's paradise. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.

The best thing about Portugal is that despite being a part of modern Europe one can still find the rural dwellings which has stood by time and has preserved its traditions. While modern architectural marvels like high-rise resorts dot the coast in the Southern province of the Algarve, Lisbon on the west coast on the other hand is a crowded city home to many fine tourist resorts. If you want to go back in time you have to just travel few miles north or east where you will see scenic countryside still resemble medieval villages and towns of earlier centuries.

Population & Languages

The population of Portugal is roughly 10.6 million and the official language being spoken is Portuguese. Mirandese is also second officially language spoken in some parts of Portugal.

Electricity

The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The types of plug used are round pin with attachment and "Schuko" plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts.

Geographic Location

It is located in Southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain in north and east and borders Atlantic Ocean by both west and south coast.

Climate

The climate of Portugal can be classified into two. It is oceanic in the north and Mediterranean in the south. It is also one of the warmest countries of Europe. The average temperatures in the mainland are 13°C (55°F) in the north and 18°C (64°F) in the south. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold and wet. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Portugal.

Local Customs Casual dressing is acceptable. But keep in mind not to wear beachwear in towns. Smoking is allowed after meals in Restaurants. Smoking is prohibited in theatres, cinemas and buses. Tipping is 10 to 15 percent in restaurant and hotels and 10 percent to taxis.

Attractions

Castelo de Sao Jorge - Castle of St. George Alfama - The oldest part of Lisbon Sé (Cathedral) - first church in Lisbon Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Museum The Bairro Alto - The Bairro Alto district, an historic enclave dating back to 1513 Monument to the Discoveries - One of the popular attractions in Lisbon is the monument, situated on the riverbank in the Avenida de Brasilia in the district of Belem, which was designed to commemorate the Portuguese Age of Discovery Tower of Belem - This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Parque das Nacoes Fatima Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis - dedicated to Soares dos Reis, the famous sculptor born and bred in Porto Igreja de Sao Francisco Solar Vinho do Porto Vila Nova de Gaia Frederico de Freitas Museum Sao Vicente Caves Cable Car Cathedral Whale Museum Porto Santo Setubal Coimbra Coimbra University Guimaraes Guimaraes church and palace Braganca

Travel

By Air - The national airline of Portugal is TAP Air Portugal (TP). The airlines operates direct flights to many destinations like Faro, Lisbon and Porto from a number of countries, including Canada, France, Spain, the UK and USA. Portugalia Airlines (NI) operates flights from Europe. Many popular airlines that fly to Poland from UK are British Airways, GB Airways and Monarch Airlines, Easyjet, bmibaby, Jet 2, MyTravelLite, Flybe, Flyglobespan and SATA.The biggest airport is Lisbon International Airport which is located like 4.5 miles north of the city.

By Sea - The main ports for international passengers are Lisbon, Leixes (Oporto), Funchal (Madeira) and Portimão (Algarve), served by Cunard, Italia, Linea C, Olympia, P&O and Union Cas

By Rail - If coming from UK, the fastest way is to get on Eurostar train to Paris and from Paris to Portugal by Sud-Express.

Road - Spain is the only country sharing border with Portugal. The major border posts are open most of the time now.

Duty Free Items 1. Up to 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco for Non-European union countries. 2. 1 liter spirits with alcohol greater than 22%, or 2 liter spirits or aperitifs made of wine less than 22% or sparkling wines or liqueurs, or a proportionate mix of these, and 2 liters of wine 3. perfume up to 50g and 250ml eau de toilette 4. Gifts up to €175 5. 500g coffee or 100g tea or 40g of tea extract 6. Medicines for personal use

Prohibited Items

Birds and poultry arriving from countries infected with Avian influenza, Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

About the Author

Learn about ants with wings, bobcat hunting and other information at the Interesting Animals site.

Amazing Fall Honeymoon Destinations by Jane Atkins

If you're planning a wedding for the autumn, it's time to start thinking about booking your honeymoon! The honeymoon is the ideal way to relax and have some fun with your new spouse after the wedding, and there are many terrific places to go. Here are some ideas for great fall honeymoon destinations.

First let's chat about a place that is not the best for fall honeymoons, and that is the Caribbean and the beaches of the Southeast and Gulf Coast. Although the weather is pleasing and the beaches are not as crowded, the fall is also the peak of hurricane season. If you have got your heart set on a beach honeymoon, you'd be better to choose a Pacific location, or at the least, buy travel insurance that would offer you a refund should your trip be washed out by a hurricane.

It's right that it is very romantic to walk arm in arm with your dear along a sandy beach with the ocean lapping along the shore. In the fall, a very romantic option can be to visit a Northern beach for your honeymoon. This may not be a sunbathing trip, but rather a chance to enjoy some peace and quiet in a gorgeous location. You can take lengthy walks, collect seashells, and spend comfortable evenings in front of a roaring fire at a sweet hotel or inn. One good thing about this kind of trip is that you are going to be ready to get some excellent deals on off-season resorts

new england is a gorgeous place to go to in the autumn, and it would be a great choice for a honeymoon. Spend a little time touring the monumental autumn foliage, shop for local crafts, and take day walks in the mountains. The attitude is laidback ; you won't need to bring extraordinarily dressy clothing, just your comfortable sweaters and maybe an easy piece of your wedding jewellery to wear to dinner in a pleasant restaurant. You may well find yourself needing to return annually for your anniversary!

If you are looking out for a little more excitement, consider a fall honeymoon in Europe. You can enjoy the fabulous museums, shopping ( perhaps a new bauble to complete your marriage jewelry set? ), and restaurants that the great towns of Europe have to offer . The weather is generally pleasant in the fall, and most locations won't be quite as crowded with tourists as they're in the summer vacation months. The grand capitals of Europe such as London, Paris, and Rome are all spectacular, but you might also want to consider some of the less clear honeymoon destinations like Switzerland or Austria.

Autumn boasts many holidays that honeymooners can enjoy ; perhaps the best of all is Oktoberfest in Germany. Even if you are not a big beer drinker ( but especially if you are ), this yearly event is rich with music, food, and conventions. There are rides, carousels, shows, and of course, lots and lots of fine lager. Regardless of the name, Oktoberfest actually occurs generally in September. Anyone who has ever been to Oktoberfest will tell you that it is not to be missed!

Newlyweds who like wine over beer will enjoy a fall honeymoon trip to Napa Valley in California. October is a superb time to go to, as it is around the time of many fall crop parties, including the Sonoma County crop Fair. See the sights, visit the vineyards, and bring home some wonderful bottles of wine as your honeymoon keepsakes.

There are many methods to enjoy the best that autumn has to give. There's a fall honeymoon destination that's just right for any interests or budget. The better part about planning your autumn honeymoon is that it is going to be the best way to cap off the celebration of your new wedding.

What you just learned about Fall Honeymoons is just the beginning. To get more ideas, read stories, check out pictures and videos go to HoneymoonNation.com or check out my squidoo Honeymoon Nation.

You may also be interested in Bachelorette Party Games Free or Honeymoon in the Caribbean- Best Tropical Honeymoon

About the Author

Jane Atkins is the creator of http://www.HoneymoonNation.com, the #1 site on the web for Honeymoon Ideas. Check out Honeymoon blogs forums, pictures,videos and more.

Malta Hotels Hit The Snooze Button by Michael Mahon

Experiencing a fall in tourist arrivals this year of ten per cent or more, some of the hotels in Malta used to staying open year round are cutting costs by mothballing their operations over the coming winter months.

Closing down for the winter is common in many holiday destinations, but for Malta it's unusual as visitor arrivals are year round, thanks largely to the good Malta weather during the winter months.

The explanation lies in that this is the second winter in a row where winter bookings are slow, and no matter how good the Malta weather is it doesn't make up for a poor economy in its mainstay UK market - or help British people when it comes to exchanging Sterling for Euros as the British Pound is doing badly against the Euro.

But does mothballing a hotel during unusually quiet times impact on its ability to do well during the busier spring, summer and autumn months?

Malta is an island that attracts the retired and older generations for the winter months, and they often return again for a week or two in the late spring or early summer - and often they have a favourite hotel.

They have no reason to change the hotel they stay in as they feel comfortable there, and get to know the local area.

But take away their opportunity to stay there in the winter they will have no choice but to find an alternative from the Maltese hotels that are open - and might like it enough to change their second trip to that one too.

So while mothballing Malta hotels this winter might make sound economic sense short term, longer term the hotels that close their doors might find their occupancy levels dropping off at busier times.

The number of people taking holidays in Malta this year has dropped, in common with most holiday destinations, but the island has fared better than some and current thinking is that it could be a drop of around ten per cent this year, and if the economies around Europe improve in 2010 next year could see a rise on the number of people who took Malta holidays this year.

In recent years the cost of taking a holiday in Malta has tumbled, thanks to the introduction of cheap Malta flights from carriers like Ryanair who started popular low cost flights from both London and Dublin to Malta in recent times.

About the Author

Malta flight information for this winter is available by visiting yourmalta.com

For those interested in promoting Malta on the internet they also have two Malta domain names for sale

Winter Holiday destinations by Mark Bartley

Favourite destinations for Europeans during the winter include long haul trips to Australia or Thailand and the beach resorts of the Florida coast. Closer to home are the temperate climates of the Canary Islands, Cyprus and Malta, while more recently the Middle-Eastern resorts of Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Abu Dhabi have found more takers.

The British winter can be a long drawn-out affair. As soon as the clocks change back from daylight saving the days seem much shorter and the evenings suddenly feel less welcoming and cooler. With less leisure time during the week to enjoy outdoor activities, the weekends become more important and unfortunately the British weather doesn't always play its part. Other alternatives include winter sun breaks to the African countries of Senegal and The Gambia. For those with sufficient finances there are other options like The Maldives, Thailand, Bali or the Caribbean Islands.

The island of Curacao is the destination of choice for many Dutch tourists and has a perfect climate for November and December visits. The daytime temperature there regularly sits between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius and the coolest daytime November temperature has never dropped below 20 degrees Celsius. The island is part of the group known as the ABC islands; Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao and is the largest of Netherlands Antilles group. Remote, private beaches are what people enjoy most on Curacao and there are plenty of those archetypal "desert island" vistas that one sess so often in travel brochures.

Of course a bright, breezy winter's day has its attractions and wrapping up warm for a walk in the countryside before retiring for a hearty lunch and a warming brew by the fire in a favourite pub would be perfect for many. However idyllic British winter days don't always materialise for various reasons. For many families the chores and routines of home life are difficult to break free from and only a trip abroad can supply the rest and relaxation many desire. Also sunny winter days are not as frequent as many would imagine. More typical are wet, rainy days or grey, cloudy skies that seem to blanket the countryside and dampen any enthusiasm to get out and about and have some fun.

That is why the run up to Christmas is a very busy time on the travel scene. Come mid-November many people have had enough of the dreary British weather and start to investigate the options for a winter sun break. The typical winter break is not usually an lengthy one. In most cases a week is the ideal duration, but the next choices to be made are about the cost and whether one opts for a winter sports holiday or a warmer climate offering higher temperatures, sunshine and minimal chance of rain.

To guarantee that summer feel, you really need to travel to a country that is in the middle of its own summer season and for the British traveller that normally means places like Australia, Africa or Mexico and or one of the tropical island choices.

For many, a trip to those places would require a substantial investment and merit a trip longer than just a week. That is why the European resorts of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria and the desert resorts of Sharm and Dubai are much more popular.

The November weather in the Canaries is a much safer bet than somewhere like Southern Spain, Mallorca or Ibiza. Certainly those places do have their fair share of balmy winter days, but you could equally be unlucky enough to be landed with a week of rain and strong winds. For less risk head further east to somewhere like Crete or dive deeper south to Tenerife, Fuerteventura or Lanzarote. These islands are almost fully booked over the Christmas period with travellers seeking a warmer festive period, unaffected by the consumerism of the typical British Christmas.

Another option is one of the Greek islands that seem very busy during the height of the summer, yet take on a peaceful calm come Autumn time. Your choice of Greek island should be made very carefully though as some tend to shut down completely once the summer tourists have gone back home. That's the time when the restaurant and hotel owners take their own holidays. An island like Santorini with its beautiful hillside towns of pure white buildings can be difficult to enjoy when shared with hoards of other travellers, but in the relative calm of a warm Autumn day, the place takes on a tranquil atmosphere where even the most stressed visitors cannot fail to start relaxing.

About the Author

A spot of warm winter sun is something many spend their precious holidays searching for. The author offers some advice and recommendations like opting for one of the many cheap flights to Fuerteventura or any of the other Canary Islands.

Vietnam City Voted in World's Top-ten Destinations for Winter Holiday by Narendra Wilson

The U.S.-based Huffington Post has named Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi among a top ten of great winter destinations in the world.

"Hanoi maintains a relatively warm and dry winter, which can be a lot more manageable than the hot, wet summers. Combined with the city's fascinating history and amazing food, Hanoi a great winter destination," the website wrote.

Vietnam's capital last year drew more than 1.3 millions international visitors and is currently preparing hundreds of cultural activities for its 1,000th anniversary in 2010.

The other Top Ten are St. Petersburg, Russia; Reykjavik, Iceland; Krakow, Poland; Tokyo, Japan; Tallinn, Estonia; Mumbai, India; Edinburgh, Scotland; Berlin, Germany; and Sydney, Australia.

The US-based Huffington Post has named Hanoi among a top ten of great winter destinations.

It lines up alongside St. Petersburg of Russia, Krakow of Poland, Edinburgh of Scotland, Tallinn of Estonia, Tokyo of Japan, Berlin of Germany, India's Mumbai, Australia's Sydney and Iceland's Reykjavik.

However while "Huff Post" deserves congratulations for including Hanoi its readers may be better off doing their own research. While Hanoi's autumn is pleasantly cool and largely dry - after Christmas, Hanoi's winters can become bracingly cold.

By late December temperatures can drop well below 10 degrees centigrade. However, Hanoi remains fascinating throughout the year and the cold weather allows you to discover it via long walks across the city rather than having to hide in airconned rooms.

But you might not need to pack your shorts.

About the Author

Vietnam visa for us, that is Legal, Quick, and Economical. www.Vietnamvisasupport.com was built for supporting you with updated information on Vietnam entry visa, suggesting you how to get visa to Vietnam easiest, fastest and reliable but cheapest way.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

All About Michigan and Detroit by David H. Urmann

Michigan is a big state in the United States. It is composed of numerous popular cities that many tourists visit every year.

Michigan is a state within the midwestern portion of the Great Lakes Region in the USA. It has numerous attractions, scenic national forests, parks, state and forests parks along with popular landmarks.

It has approximately 38 water ports, 12,000 lakes and miles of coastline than any other state in the United States except Alaska. Michigan has lighthouses more than any other state in the country. The city's agriculture mostly focuses on tourist-friendly products such as blueberries, cherries, apples, wine and peaches. One will locate around the city some university towns, major metropolis along with countless rural villages.

The Michigan state is composed of 4 districts that the locals refer as UP or Upper Peninsula, Mid-Michigan, Northern Michigan or the Northwards, and Big Rapids as well as Downstate. It is divided into several regions namely the Southeast Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Northern Michigan and UP or Upper Peninsula.

Major City Destinations for Tourists in Michigan State

Great Rapids is the second biggest city in the entire state of Michigan. People go here to enjoy the views and explore the city. Detroit is the state's largest and premiere city. It is also referred to as Motor City.

Holland is filled with wonderful tulips and clear beaches. It is a wonderful spot for nature tripping. The Muskegon City is among the most visited areas in the state. It has ferryboats that will take any tourist to Milwaukee along with celebrations and other events in the summer.

The Kalamazoo area is the home of the University of Western Michigan. And then, Saginaw is a logging city filled with an interesting and vast history. The Sault Ste Marie City lies within the border town of the Upper Peninsula.

Saugatuck Dauglas is an artsy beachfront resort city. It is the closest you will get to the beach here. Lastly, Lansing is Michigan's capital.

This state is blessed with natural beauties. Perhaps the most popular and most visited is the Great Lakes where the waters are depicted from the state's official map. Michigan's Upper Peninsula contains a lot of natural wonders including Mackinac Island, Pictured Rocks, Isle Royal and Tahquamenon Falls, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge and Porcupine Mountains.

The Lower Peninsula has expansive rivers and inland lakes in the northern portion such as Manistee and Huron and sand dunes like the Sleeping Bear along with countless miles of shoreline. The color tours of Michigan's changing leaves are famous during the autumn.

Luxury Hotels in Detroit, Michigan

Atheneum Suites Hotel This hotel is located at 1000 Brush Ave., Detroit, Michigan. For more information about hotel facilities, room amenities and room rates, you can contact +1-313-962-2323. It is a stunning 5-star hotel of Greco-Roman art and ambience in the center of the Greektown downtown area. It can accommodate large gatherings or conferences. It lies within various stadiums in the area.

Hotel St. Regis This 5-star hotel is European-inspired mixed with casual and old-world ambience. It lies within the urban up skirts of Detroit. The hotel features a 10,000 square feet meeting space and a private health center. It is considered as a national historic landmark that offers Broadway performances. Nearby landmarks nearby are Wayne State University, Ford Hospital, downtown Detroit and Motor City Casino

Ferry Street Inns This is a collection of bed and breakfasts along Ferry Street that offers a luxurious Victorian feel. Ferry Street is a historical district located at the downtown area of Detroit, Michigan. The inn strip is located along the world famous Detroit Institute of Arts.

About the Author

For more information on Michigan Hotel and Detroit Michigan Hotelplease visit our website.

Best Beaches in Malaysia by Frog and Princess

It's la rentrée in France, the big return to the office after the long summer break. Depressed, as the grey Autumn weather falls, the last thing we want to do is think about work. So what could be better than plan for your next vacation - Christmas! So here to help out my friends (many of you keep asking) are some tantalizing, exotic beach destinations in Malaysia for you to dream. Just check Monsoon season as West Coast Malaysia is best November - February whilst East Coast Malaysia is best April - September.

Perhentian Islands

North East Terengganu of East Coast Malaysia is sublime. Pristine white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters that would make Leo (di Caprio) rethink twice of filming The Beach in Thailand. Seriously unrivalled diving in the region, the two islands are dotted with rustic beach huts and has become the number one destination for beach lovers and backpackers around the world. The location is so amazing you'll forgive for the lack of luxury hotels. Just suck it up and dive into paradise.

Redang Island

Another diving hot spot in Terengganu, that's not far from Perhentian. One of the largest and most beautiful of the east coast islands, Redang is also the most developed. Redang Archipelago is made of 9 islands that together constitute a protected marine park. With crystal clear waters and some of Malaysia's best coral reefs, the island offers excellent diving and snorkelling.

Langkawi Island

Made up of 99 islands, Langkawi (duty free island) has now been given geopark status by UNESCO. Langkawi is the easiest to access of all the islands (40 mins direct flights from KL) with gorgeous sandy beaches. Boasting some of the most luxurious hotels, such as Four Seasons, The Datai, Westin, The Andaman, Casa del Mar etc you'll be spoilt for choice!

Pangkor Laut Island

It's not the main Pangkor island I'd recommend but Pangkor Laut Resort - a top notch 5star luxury hotel alone on an island. Voted as best romantic hotel, best spa, best hotel in Malaysia - Pangkor Island Resort is the ideal romantic getaway. Book for the Spa Village Villa, on stilts in the middle of the ocean and you'll forget easily the real world. Heaven.

Tioman Islands

The largest of Malaysia's east coast islands, Tioman is famed for its soft, sandy beaches, warm waters and coral reef. Most of the resorts are strung out on isolated bays along the western coast. Diving and snorkelling is excellent but also jungle hiking and sunbathing. Best luxury hotel is Japamala resort - to simply die for!

Rawa Island

Not far from Tioman, the privately owned island of Rawa is surrounded by sugary sands and transparent waters. There's only one place to stay on the island but worth if you're looking for the charming rustic feel.

Sipadan Island

Leaving the best til last, rated among the wold's top 5 dive sites, Sipadan is fringed with white, sandy beaches. Surrounding the island is stunning coral reef teeming with over 3000 species of marine life and sightings of sharks, barracudas, turtles and manta rays are also common. Located in Sabah, Borneo in Malaysia - this is a true paradise delight.

About the Author

Frog the Frenchman and his true Malaysian Princess share with you their journey. Two voices from two fiery entrepreneurs with a gut load of imagination and energy, offer insights in leisure and lifestyle. Join us on "Frog and Princess Blog"