January 30, 2009
Dundee Tourist Information & Travel Guide
As you approach the Tay Road Bridge whether by car or by train through the Tay Rail Bridge you begin to understand why they call the river “Silvery Tay”. The city is situated on the east coast of Scotland on the north bank of the firth of Tay.
Dundee is Scotland’s fourth largest city and one of the most beautiful! Driving across the bridge you can clearly see the Law Hill. The city is built around this extinct volcano. You can drive right up to the top of the hill and from this vantage point you can see the whole of Dundee!
Dundee is Scotland's sunniest city (it faces south) with over 1400 hours of sunshine every year. Its title “City of Discovery” comes from the HM Frigate Unicorn, the oldest surviving ship in the UK.
Dundee is known for its “3 Js" – Jute, Jam & Journalism. Although the Jute & Jam industry is no longer predominant in Dundee, you can still see the towers associated with the industry. Verdant Works is ideal for tourists wishing to learn about Dundee's Jute Industry.
Keillers of Dundee pioneered the manufacture of marmalade here. They bought a shipload of oranges which they were unable to sell. Janet Keiller specialized in selling jam and using her knowledge invented marmalade.
Although Jute and Jam are no longer made in Dundee, the journalism sector still thrives. The company began as a branch of the Thomson family business. In 1884, David Couper Thomson took over the publishing business, and established it as DC Thomson in 1905. The firm flourished, and now produces more than 200 million comics, books and magazines every year.
Dundee is also a university town with a student population averaging about 32,000. Due to the high numbers of students, Dundee has a lively pub and club scene. The 2 most popular night clubs are Fat Sams & London Night Club.
A recent quality of life survey ranked Dundee near the top due to its clean air, low pollution levels, riverside location and high sunshine hours.
Shopping in Dundee has now taken off with 2 major shopping centres (Overgate & Wellgate) under pinning the west and east of the city centre. The number of out of town shopping centres in Dundee means that the city attracts shoppers from all the small towns nearby.
The town is a fantastic holiday location with Broughty Ferry having one of the cleanest beaches in the UK.
The city is an ideal starting point for touring the best of Scotland with almost all major attractions less then 100 miles away. Kenmore, Loch Earn, Loch Ness and Ben Nevis are beautiful destinations in their own right. The three other major cities, Edinburgh, Aberdeen & Glasgow are all approximately an hours drive.
St Andrews (the home of golf) & Carnoustie both have championship golf courses and are only 20 minutes drive from the city.
Dundee has three country parks all within 3 miles of the city. Camperdown Park, Monikie Park & Crombie Park are all beautiful and unique in their own ways.
Dundee is renowned for its Dundee Repertory Theatre (the rep) and Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA).
The main Hotels in Dundee are the Hilton Hotel, Apex City Quay, Swallow Hotel & Queens. There are many other smaller hotels and recently many travel lodges/inns have opened to provide room only rates for families on a small budget.
Glamis Castle – known to be haunted due to an ancient curse is a fairy tale castle which will exceed all your expectations.
The town of Glamis also houses the Angus Folk Museum. Visit one of Scotland’s finest museums and learn about Scotland’s history.
Dundee has 2 football teams: Dundee United & Dundee. Some people in Dundee believe that they should unite to form one team. Others have very strong views that the two team should remain separate.
St Andrews Beach has to be seen to be believed. The world famous golf course sits proudly on the beach front.
The British Golf Museum is in St Andrews, the home of golf! Find out about the history of the game and indulge in some interactive highly visual displays.
The best hotel in St Andrews is the MacDonald Russacks Hotel. It was voted one of the Top Golfing Hotels in the world.
St Andrews Castle consists of the ruins of the castle built around the 13th century. Here you can explore the secret dungeons and admire the views.
St Andrews Cathedral & St Rule’s Tower are the remains of the largest cathedral in Scotland.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal Dundee
Dundee
Dundee News
Dundee Tourist Information
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_121145_29.html
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If you are considering exotic international travel to Hong Kong, be sure also to take in the environs of Hong Kong, such as Zhongshan, Macao and Tai Mo Shan. Although Hong Kong itself is a wonderful place to visit, these other attractions offer you an alternative view of China that is less frenetic, and more akin to the China most people have in their minds.
The best way to see this part of China, and it is part of China because the British handed Hong Kong over to Chinese control in 1997, is by means of a personalized tour that only the best international vacation packages can offer. This enables you travel at your own pace, with your own driver, without the encumbrance of a group of others who might have different views than you as to how long to spend at each attraction.
Good planners arrange tours to suit their individual customers and their partners, and although the cost of these might be higher than you would pay for general vacation group packages, it is worth it if you are looking for luxury international trips as opposed to just an ordinary vacation. At least one travel company states that if you can’t live better away from home than at home, then why bother going? A good sentiment.
Back to Hong Kong as a destination for exotic international vacation tours. Its capital is the island of Victoria, which to many is synonymous with Hong Kong. Victoria sits in Hong Kong harbor, and Kowloon is the mainland part of the district. At night you can enjoy the magnificent laser light show from around 8 - 9 pm, when you can see a magnificent display of thousands of lights from the various tall buildings, including the laser beams that shoot across the sky. This show is accompanied by music. The Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is great place from which to watch this display.
Make sure you also visit some of the fishing villages in the district, such as Aberdeen and the Sok Kwu Wan fishing village on Lamma island that is famed for its excellent Chinese seafood restaurants. You should also visit the Chinese border, out past Kowloon into the countryside. However, there is more to exotic international travel to Hong Kong than just that.
The first Europeans to settle in the Far East were the Portuguese, and the oldest settlement was at Macao, also known as Macau. This was also handed back to the Chinese, but you can still visit Macao, especially the Grand Prix circuit and the casinos: Macao is not nicknamed the ‘Monte Carlo of the Far East' for nothing. It also has a unique combination of Portuguese and Chinese culture that is found nowhere else in the world.
Make sure that you also take a tour to Zhongshan, on the Pearl River delta. This is an 800 year old village covering some 20 square miles, inhabited by traditional fishermen and farmers. Also in the area is Tai Mo Shan (Big Hat Mountain), the highest mountain in the district, and providing magnificent views of the Lam Chuen valley and the Shek Kong Airport.
Hong Kong is not all high rise buildings and people dashing frenetically about talking to cell phones. There is also the peaceful part that comprises nine tenths of the district. Places such as the Chuk Lam Shim Yuen Buddhist Monastery and the Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall, with its delicate wood carvings and built in honor of Tang Chung Ling who founded the Tang clan. Close by is one of five famous walled villages, Lo Wai, built in the 13th century.
Make sure, if you can, that the Hong Kong packages you look at include trips to these places of interest that show the real China, as opposed to the westernized influences of Hong Kong as most people know it. Good vacation planners should include tours outside the environs of Victoria island and Kowloon and into the Chinese mainland and surrounding district.
It’s a long way to travel just to visit the skyscraper city that is just like any other modern day city, and miss the real flavor of the Orient that can be found just a few miles away. Real exotic international travel to Hong Kong must involve some element of the mystery of the Orient, and that is what you will find once you get away from the modern parts of the city. Take in a tea plantation, and perhaps a local traditional Chinese market, and try some of the more traditional fare as opposed to the very westernized food of Victoria.
That way you will see and taste the real China of this area, and have a truly exotic vacation to Hong Kong that you will be able to talk about for a lifetime.
——
Exotic international travel to Hong Kong should offer trips to the surrounding area as well as Hong Kong itself, and for really exotic luxury vacations that offer you and your partner personal transport around the Chinese mainland, visit Ultitude.com where you will find everything that you could wish for in a Hong Kong vacation.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_691226_29.html
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January 29, 2009
Exotic holiday destinations for a life time memory
The new apple Imac computers offer good performance with state of art design. This is very slim takes very little space on desk. In comparison to other desktop computers Apple Imac is much better and easy to use.
Apple offers two Imac models with many options
Apple Imac 20″ Inch
Apple Imac 24″ Inch
New Apple Imacs offers latest core 2 duo processors from Intel with speed enhancement and larger storage.
Here are some specs for new Apple Imacs:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8Ghz 4Mb cache
Display: Type Integrated 24" TFT LCD 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution
Memory: 2Gb standard & 4GB Maximum
Hard Disk: 320GB SATA 7200RPM
Optical Drive: Double layer Burning DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW
Video Graphics: ATI Radeon 2600 Pro with 256MB GDDR3 Memory
Camera: iSight Camera
Ports: 3 USB 2.0 on iMac; 2 USB 2.0 on Keyboard; 1 Firewire 400; 1 Firewire 800; Audio Out; Optical Audio In; RJ45
Connectivity: 10/100/1000 Gigabit NIC Wireless Airport Extreme 802.11n
Bluetooth: 2.0+EDR
Operating System: Apple OS
Over all Apple Imac is worth a look if you are heavy internet or audio video user then his is must for you.
Apple Mac Pro is for serious business users. Latest Mac Pro comes with two quad core Xeon Processors from Intel and give 8 core computing experience. This System can handle any memory intensive tasks, audio video editing easily. There are lots of options available to customize you computing needs.
Rentfusion nationwide Computer Rental Company offers both Apple Imac and Mac pro for tradeshows or trainings.
For more information on Apple Imac Rentals and Apple Powerbook Rentals visit RentFusion.com.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_545083_10.html
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Author: Ravinder Singh
Discount Hotel Reservation Deals provide information about the cheap hotels located in various parts of the world and the reservation deals available. The deals offering discount rates on room bookings are suitable for people traveling within a strict budget.
The economy hotels located in different parts of the globe offer discount rates on room bookings. The cheap hotels offer comfortable accommodation facilities to guests at affordable rates. These hotels offer all basic amenities including beds, lighting, and bathrooms and so on.
Tokyo hotels offer cozy lodging at reasonable rates. Discount hotel reservation deals available in Tokyo provide visitors a wide range of accommodation options. Some of the cheap hotels in Tokyo are as follows:
· Yushima Plaza Hotel
· Tokyo Inn Hotel
· Sunroute Ikebukuro Hotel
· Nihonbashi Villa Hotel
· Forest Inn Showakan Hotel
A significant tourist destination, Las Vegas is frequented by numerous travelers throughout the year. Las Vegas hotels cater to the accommodation requirements of these visitors. Some of the hotels located in Las Vegas are as follows:
· Tuscany Suites and Casino
· Stratosphere Tower Hotel
· Siena Suites
· Emerald Suites Hotel
· Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino
Tourists as well as business travelers visit all the states of USA throughout the year. The hotels in USA cater to the lodging needs of all sections of visitors. Some of the hotels in USA include the following:
· Best Western Grand Canyon and Prescottonian, Arizona
· Hampton Inn, Florida
· Millennium Hilton Hotel, New York
· Washington Plaza Hotel
· Piccadilly Inn Shaw Fresno, California
Discount hotel reservation deals are available online and this facility proves to be helpful for all visitors. Information about the cheap hotels, Tokyo hotels, and hotels in USA and Las Vegas hotels helps travelers choose a lodging option according to their requirements and budget.
About the Author:
Ravinder Singh is an associated editor for mapsofworld.com. This website provides maps of world, Car Rentals and complete information Cheap Flights. You can send your feedback at mexicomap@gmail.com.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/discount-hotel-reservation-deals-359168.html
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Some advice on getting discount hotel rates in Ixtapa
Zihuatanejo.
As a hotel owner myself, I feel somewhat qualified to pass on a
little advice on finding the best room rates for your next stay in
Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo. You make also want to read my article on how
to How
to Choose a Hotel in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.
If you arrived at this page looking for list of super cheap hotel
rates, I am sorry to disappoint. There are a gazillion sites offering
the “Cheap Rates on Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Hotels”.
Yeah, right. There can only be one “best”. It’s the one
you are happy with.
Anyway, if you are still reading, here are a few random ideas:
Call the hotel direct.
If you know precisely which hotel you want to stay at, try and
find a local phone number for them. Very soon I will be posting a
list of all the hotels, casas, condos, bungalows, villas, hostels
and rooms that I have telephone numbers for.
This tip is particularly true for the small bungalows or boutique
hotels. Calling the hotel will probably put you in touch with the
owner, and you can be sure that they are perfectly aware that they
do not have to pay a commission to an on line booking agent, (or a
local cab driver). Expect at least 10% flexibility - it
doesn’t cost them anything to give you a discount equal to the
commission they would normally have to pay.
Negotiate.
Mexican commerce is built on negotiation. There is nothing
inherently insulting or wrong about negotiating a better price. If
fact, to the contrary, it is expected. I could probably count on the
fingers of one hand the number of Mexican guests who have stayed in
my bungalows in Zihuatanejo who have not negotiated a rate
(or at least tried to!). On the other hand, the reverse holds true
for American and Canadian guests.
I am never offended by this. It is a way of life. Obviously a
guest wants the best rate they can get for their accommodation, as
does the owner. As a guest, remember one thing: the owner will never
rent a room for less than they are happy with receiving!
This of course is impossible with the large, chain hotels.
Make a reservation in the evening.
Almost every hotel in the world will cancel a reservation if you
don’t show up by 6pm, unless of course your room is guaranteed by a
credit card. This of course will only work if you are already in
Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, or are going to arrive shortly.
With the smaller hotels, notably in Zihuatanejo, a cancellation
may mean that the owners have held back some or all of the guest’s
deposit. You may find them more interested in giving you a
discounted rate. Typically, a 50% deposit is required up front and
they will only refund 80-90% of it if the room is re-rented.
Make a “high-season” reservation in the
“low-season”.
The months of May/June and September/October are the lowest
seasons in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Everyone is broke, or nearly so, and
are therefore more inclined to discount at these times. Running a
hotel is expensive and never stops! Neither do the wages! Be
prepared to leave a large deposit though - you will get a
better discount in the future is they have cash-in-hand now.
Try second best.
The big hotels, like practically all the hotels in Ixtapa, always
have a few rooms “out of order”. Perhaps they are on the
maintenance list to fix a faucet, replace a tile in the bathroom
etc. If you tell the manager that are happy to take this
sub-standard room, you may just get it, for a discount of course!
In the same vein is the idea of picking a cheaper hotel in the
area. Let’s say you want to be on Playa La Ropa (in
Zihuatanejo), but your preferred hotel is asking $350 a night -
well beyond your budget. 200 meters away is a perfectly good, but
not as fancy, hotel that is asking $200 a night. Remember! Same
beach, same sun, and you likely won’t be spending that much time in
the hotel anyway. Get out and explore! If you are staying in Ixtapa,
jump a bus to Zihuatanejo, you’ll enjoy it,
Book one night up front.
Decide whether the location you picked is where you would
like to stay. Maybe Ixtapa is not to your cup of tea after all and
you would rather have a hotel in Zihuatanejo.
Ask around and investigate other options and negotiate a
price you are happy with. The previous tips about cancellations
applies.
Another Caution: DO NOT TAKE ADVICE from the friendly guy
on the beach, the cab driver or the waitress that offers to show
you her “amigos” hotel. They almost always are in it
for the commission. On the other hand, if you do wind up having a
conversation with someone who is not handing you a flyer, hustling
you into a taxi or even worse, selling a time-shares, listen to
them.
Warning: Do NOT try this during Christmas, New Year’s,
Easter or summer vacations. All the hotels, and even the worst
rooms, are booked for these holidays in both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
You could find yourself sleeping on the street (on the beach, no,
it’s prohibited).
If you are not familiar with Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, or think you
can get a better rate while you are “on the ground”,
think about reserving only one night at any promising hotel. Once
you are here, you can then:
Consider other hotel types.
A lot of us feel more “secure” reserving a room in a
big, well-known hotel. In Ixtapa, you will find all the big chain
hotels. Zihuatanejo generally has smaller hotels. There are many 1
to 10 room properties around. There are also condos, houses,
apartments, bungalows, guest houses and the like. Playa La Ropa
and Playa La Madera, in Zihuatanejo, are full of options.
The original uncut article is available on Ixtapa
Zihuatanejo Hotels.
Roberto is a hotelier in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico
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January 28, 2009
Enjoy A Beach Holiday To Cancun
Author: Michael Hood
When you think about a beach holiday, consider going to Cancun. The white sandy beaches with the blue waters in the background are what make Cancun more stunning than any area around. If you think about it, Cancun is one big beach. If you are taking the little ones to the beaches, they will have no problem playing in the sand in the bright sunlight. The sand is airy and composed of plankton fossils, which gives it a cool feeling rather than a hot feeling under your feet. It is truly a delightful place to enjoy the beach.
If you are looking for a great area to do some snorkeling in Cancun, the Westin Regina area has the best place to snorkel. If you think you need a little privacy for topless sunbathing, the beaches do not frown on this practice, but it depends what the area hotel has to say about the practice. Your beach holiday will be one of the best holidays you have ever had. You can swim in the Caribbean or swim in the Nichupte Lagoon. The Bahia de Mujees is great for swimming because of the low waves. The Caribbean is where you will find the waves for surfing and scuba diving.
The Nichupte Lagoon is a nice place to swim, but the crocodiles that live in the area, may leave people with a bit of skepticism. They crocodiles are said to be harmless and not aggressive, but one can never believe that a crocodile is harmless. You would be better enjoying the other area beach locations than the lagoon. Many of the area restaurants do feed the crocodiles for visitors to see. This alone can make someone a little leery about swimming. Your beach holiday can be enjoyed without seeing the crocodiles.
When you are planning your beach holiday for your holiday to Cancun, you will want to schedule some time for sightseeing. Try the submarine tour by Playa Linda beach. This is an incredible experience, but if you are afraid of tight quarters, you might need to skip the tour. It is amazing to see the underwater activity without getting wet. Many of the beaches are located near the restaurants and shopping malls. One beach in particular that is ideal for children is accessible by going through the Xcaret bus terminal. Cancun has more beach space and accessing some the popular spots requires going through the building and establishments that build up in front of the beaches.
Your beach holiday to Cancun can include beaches during the day and some fun and exciting nightlife after dark. The sun goes down and the people come out for some live entertainment and dancing. The clubs have karaoke, dancing, live bands and some have a quiet environment for relaxing. You will even find a piano bar. You will enjoy a beach holiday to Cancun because the beaches are exciting and the water is just right for swimming and everything else.
About the Author:
Please visit us at cheap holidays 24. More beach holiday tips can be found at Beach Holiday Is Your Holiday Delight.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/enjoy-a-beach-holiday-to-cancun-362740.html
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January 27, 2009
Discount and Luxury Hotels in New York
Author: Anjali Bakshi
Four Seasons Hotel: The very well located Five Star hotel is very famous New York City Hotel and well located in the East Street area. Hotel houses total 364 guest rooms with features like setting area, King Size beds and a marble bathroom. The hotel offers luxury spa and fully equipped full facility fitness room with several restaurants on location. The hotel staff is best known for their courteous and helpful support.
Hotel Plaza Athenee: The hotel is situated at the quiet residential block in Upper East Side and best for those who want to enjoy shopping and museum outing in the city. It is one of the best New York luxury hotels which provide best lodging facilities with 24 hour concierge and room service and twice daily maid service. The attractions like the Frick Collection, the MoMA and the Whitney Museum are only a few steps away from the hotel.
The Trump International Hotel & Tower: the hotel is well located at the one central park west. This New York City budget hotel is very close to the visitor’s interest like Lincoln Center, Shopping and fifth Avenue attraction. The hotel offers guest rooms as well as one or two bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchenettes.
Cosmopolitan Hotel- Tribeca: This New York City cheap hotel is located at the 95 West Broadway. It is best situated for the visitors who want to explore downtown New York City. The rooms offer two beds, cable television and private bath with other quality facilities.
Super 8 Hotel Times Square: the New York cheap hotel Super 8 is wonderful hotel to stay in 46th street. Hotel offer free WiFi access and wonderful continental breakfast. All hotel rooms offer private baths, cable and coffee makers. Hotel is located at the midtown and close to subways.
About the Author:
For more information on New York City Budget hotels and New York City Luxury Hotels please visit our website for online booking of New York City Hotels.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/discount-and-luxury-hotels-in-new-york-360017.html
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