28
Nov
Posted on 2007 under Travel Packages |
Vacationers that are traveling by recreational vehicles and automobiles might not know about the unadvertised travel bargains that are within reach at the next stop on the highway. Some of those unadvertised travel bargains will be discounts on amusement parks, or reduced pricing on State park entrance fees that could be used at any time in the State they are in. The welcome centers in each State will have numerous coupons to offer visitors that are taking a break in the parking lot.
Many restaurants throughout the United States will have machines outside the front door. Travelers seem to block these items out because they stop at restaurants so often and the machines seem to blur into the background with so many people going in the door at one time. The machines will store a variety of discount offers that are available to anyone that needs them, and pausing a moment to pick up a magazine could save some happy travelers travel monies spent in the local area.
Many people that enjoy driving recreational vehicles can take advantage of unadvertised travel bargains through an RV membership. There are certain discounts offered to recreational vehicle enthusiasts that can pay off handsomely on trips taken across the United States. Overnight parking costs for a recreational vehicle can be steep if people do not have coupons that state a low rate. Some coupons will provide discounted prices on propane fuel which comes in handy when the driving portion of the trip is finished for the day.
Other Rv’ers through CB radios might pass some of those unadvertised specials on. Those radio channels on the CB that are used primarily by truckers and other commercial vehicles might also provide road travelers with very useful information. Listening pays off when truckers announce to friends the best places to eat on a route they take continuously throughout the year.
Some travel bargains will be passed on through other useful information posted at truck stops along interstates throughout the United States. Some of this travel information will also help travelers keep safe by announcing bad road conditions that are up ahead and traffic snarls that could delay people reaching a certain destination on time. Car repairs can be made more quickly when travelers see discount offers at truck stops for replacing transmissions, making car body repairs and tire repair.
Unadvertised travel bargains will reach travelers through satellites and the cellular telephones that are carried each day. Travelers with internet access can tune the browsers to the locale they are in and find out where discounted deals are for shopping, dining and all forms of entertainment that can be used by the entire family. Each locale will depend on the tourist trade for a great deal of funds and unadvertised specials will make pulling off the road for the night a bargain.
At every hub along the interstate highways, travelers will be exposed to unadvertised bargains that make stopping a wise choice. The marquees on hotels might announce low prices for a night of lodging and let travelers know that good meals are served in the formal dining rooms. Other signs along the road might show the way to shopping outlets and malls, and travelers can save a lot of money by using these unadvertised bargain notices to the fullest.
26
Nov
Posted on 2007 under Historic Capital |
As one of the most exciting cities in the Caribbean, Willemstad - Curacao’s charming colonial capital - allows visitors to experience everything from historic architecture and museums to world-class dining and shopping. Willemstad is divided by a central canal into two districts, Punda and Otrabanda. Generally speaking, Punda is of greater interest to travelers as the most interesting historic sites and shopping areas rest on this side of the capital. For instance, if you want to see the pastel-colored colonial homes that Curacao is famous for, the Punda section is certainly the best place to spend your time. On the other hand, Otrabanda - meaning “other side” - is known as the contemporary half of the city and home to some exciting new developments. Regardless of where you spend your time in Willemstad, you will find plenty of sites and activities capable of exciting any traveler.
One of the best ways to explore Curacao’s capital is by trolley. Each day these open-sided cars embark on a 75-minute tour of the city, passing by all of the most fascinating historical sites. Groups meet at Fort Amsterdam within sight of the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, one of the island’s most significant technological advancements. After touring the Willemstad by trolley car, tourists can walk across this pedestrian bridge that connects the Punda and Otrabanda sections of the city. As the walkway rests atop the city’s busiest canal, the bridge was equipped with a diesel engine and designed to swing open several times a day, allowing cruise ships and commercial fleets to enter the bustling harbor.
As Willemstad is a city rooted in rich colonial history and cultural traditions, local museums offer some of the island’s most captivating sites. One of the most interesting collections can be found at the Museum Kura Hulanda, one of the largest museums in the Caribbean. Showcasing the life’s work of Dr. Jacob Gelt Dekker, the restored colonial warehouses of Kura Hulanda are full of African artifacts and oddities. As African culture has played an important role in the postcolonial development of the Caribbean, several exhibits are devoted to this historical relationship. The most impressive example of this history is a full-scale reproduction of a colonial slave ship, modeled directly after a vessel that sailed from Ivory Coast to the Caribbean and the Americas. Located in Otrabanda, this fascinating museum is open everyday from 10 am to 5 pm and offers a unique, informative experience for the whole family.
Another good site to learn about the history of Curacao and the Caribbean is the Maritime Museum. Located in the picturesque neighborhood of Scharloo, the Maritime Museum details the history of the island from the arrival of the first inhabitants around 600 B.C. to the present. With the assistance of 40 permanent exhibits, visitors are able to chronologically trace the economic and cultural development of Curacao. Alongside the antiques, artifacts and historical maps, guests can also view a number of video presentations featuring oral histories offered by some of the island’s most colorful personalities.
Near the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, you can find the charming Curacao Museum. Housed in a 19th century military hospital that was painstakingly restored in the mid-20th century, this small museum is now home to historic paintings, sculptures and furniture crafted over several hundred years by local and Dutch artisans. The outdoor pavilion is also a popular destination as many performances featuring local and traveling musicians take place throughout the year.
This bustling neighborhood near Fort Amsterdam and the pontoon bridge also marks the entrance to the city’s best shopping district. As you walk through the Punda district and approach the harbor, you will uncover one of the most exciting stretches of shopping at the Waterfront Aches. This special ¼-mile strip is hard to miss as it is marked by historic 30 foot-tall stone arches and cobblestone walkways. Beneath the arches, you will find numerous specialty boutiques and restaurants, with options for every taste and budget. This waterfront district also offers great evening activities, as many businesses remain open late and the narrow streets are elegantly illuminated each night.
Near the central waterfront shopping area, you can also visit one of Curacao’s great shopping traditions. Each day, small boats line the city’s central canal and sell their products directly from their vessels at the Floating Market. As many of the boats arrive from Venezuela, Columbia and other Caribbean islands, the vendors not only offer the freshest produce and seafood imaginable, but also sell art, handicrafts and other unique products from throughout the region. The Floating Market typically opens at 6 am each day and new boats arrive throughout the afternoon, guaranteeing shoppers a distinctive experience whenever they visit.
When you visit Curacao, make sure to spend some time in the island’s captivating colonial capital. Regardless of what areas in Willemstad you visit, your family will be treated to sites and activities that are historic, cosmopolitan and always exciting.
15
Nov
Posted on 2007 under Airport Services |
A new website http://www.fairfare.co.uk aims to help travellers and taxi operators to reduce their carbon footprint by allowing taxi operators to advertise these otherwise empty journeys on their website often at bargain prices.
A site gives guidance to passengers on taxi pricing but allows its customers to set the price. For the taxi driver about to depart empty to pick-up a passenger from the airport some revenue is better to no revenue, so FairFare encourages its taxi operators to sell these empty legs for low prices starting from just 1.00 GBP.
Travellers taking taxis to the airport rarely think about the implications for their carbon footprint. Few realise that less than 20% of these airport taxis carry a passenger in both directions. This means that the taxi airport transfers are blighted with waste and needless damage to the environment.
Travellers are aware that their airport taxi can cost as much as their flight but few are aware that their 100 mile airport run results in a 200 mile round trip typically consuming 5-6 gallons of fuel. This is comparable to the amount of fuel used per passenger on a 90 minute European flight on a modern Boeing 737 aircraft.
The public would be appalled at the prospect of aircrafts flying around empty or even at 50% capacity, but we appear to tolerate 80% of our airport taxis are either driving to or from our airport without a passenger and even bestow them with privileges such as dedicated traffic lanes.
One the co-founders of FairFare said, “Getting passengers into these otherwise empty taxis is one of the best ways for passengers to improve their carbon footprint. In addition, the carbon offset is obvious and immediate and not amortised over 10 years by a developing tree.”
Everybody is a winner the Taxi driver, the Passenger and the Environment.
15
Nov
Posted on 2007 under Thailand |
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Bangkok is also the most fabulous shopping destination in Asia. In fact, shopping in Bangkok is truly fun as well as a great experience, with an array of shopping locations, ranging from glitzy modern shopping malls to traditional bustling street markets selling antiquities and designer and traditional jewelry.
In short, Bangkok is a mecca for shopping enthusiasts, and everything including electronic items, computer software and hardware, art and craft items, Chinese specialties, textiles, jewelry, and much more can be shopped here.
Perhaps most popular among the shopping highlights in Bangkok is the Siam Square, which is strategically positioned at Central Station on the BTS Sky Train route. This area is dotted with hundreds of high-end shopping malls, among which one of the most sought after is Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center, within which one can find a number of shops selling branded items.
There is also an elegant cinema complex on the top floor of Siam Discovery Center, with comfortable seats. This is a great place to relax after a day of tired shopping. Located just ten minutes walk from the Siam Square is another much famed shopping spot in Bangkok, namely, Mahboonkrong Shopping Center, dotted with a large number of shops selling quality clothing and electronic items at knock-down prices.
One can also find a couple of shopping malls and department stores, close to the Chit Lom BTS Sky Train station. Among which, perhaps the most significant is the eight-storied World Trade Center, attached with a number of duty free shops. Found on the top floor of the World Trade Center is an ice skating rink. The Central Group’s flagship store, Central Chit Lom Department Store, is also located here. Such shopping centers as Gaysorn Plaza, Maneya Centre, Sogo, and Narayana Phand, a great spot to shop handicraft items, are also situated in this area.
For those who want to shop computer-related items and peripherals at cheap prices, a great way would be to head to Pantip Plaza on the Phetburi Road. This is a paradise for shopping computer items. Every floor within the plaza has a number of shops selling both original and pirated software and hardware items. One could buy copy of VCD movies for a price as low as 100 baht.
A good number of small as well as large shopping malls can also be found along the Ploenchit Road and Sukhumvit Road, such as, Robinson, Ploenchit Plaza, Times Square, Emporium, and Landmark.
Popular shopping areas in Bangkok also include Silom Road, located to the south of the Siam Square. Just few among the shopping malls in this area are Silom Center, Central department stores, Silom Plaza, Thaniya Plaza, Silom Village, and Holiday Inn Crown Plaza.
Shopping at Bangkok would not be complete without taking a tour to Chatuchak market, which becomes alive in the city every weekend. Located near the Mo Chit BTS Sky Train station, Chatuchak market is an incredible outdoor market, from where everything from handicraft items and livestock items could be shopped and that too at bargain prices. Further, you can also find a large number of food stalls in the market, selling delicious Thai food items such as fried noodles, noodle curry, and barbequed satays.
Other popular shopping areas in the city are Bangrak Market, a bustling area which is famed for its flower stalls, engage in selling enormous variety of cut flowers, jasmines, and orchids; China Town, with alleys packed with outlets dealing in almost all types of goods; Pratunam Market, which is a great place to relish hygiene as well as delicious food items; Woeng Nakhon Kasem - a popular spot to shop items such as brassware, old fashioned furniture, industrial items, antiques, and Chinese porcelains.
Above all, for a unique shopping experience, take a tour to some of the most fabulous night markets in the area. Most prominent among the night markets in the city are the Suan Luam Night Bazaar, whose specialty is stalls that sell products brought from every corner of the country.
Pratunam Market Complex, which is a great spot to shop fashion accessories such as handbags, purses, trendy apparels, and designer accessories; Patpong Night Market, which is not only popular for stalls selling designer good at cheap prices but also for night clubs and other establishments conducting sex shows; Buanglamphu Market, a descent place to shop clothing and food items; and the Memorial Bridge Night Market.