Posts Tagged ‘travel tips’
Visiting Molly Malone in Dublin Ireland
The Molly Malone statue is one of the most famous symbols for Dublin. It is a ‘must see’ tourist attraction when visiting Ireland.
Molly Malone is a famous statue located just opposite of Trinity College. There is a famous Molly Malone song that tells the legend of the fishmonger. Whether or not the song is based on an actual woman, legend has it that the beautiful young woman died from a fever. The statue was unveiled in’88 during the Dublin Millennium celebrations and some regard the song as an Irish anthem.
The Molly Malone Statue is just outside Trinity College, which you can also visit while in the area. Also nearby is Grafton Street, which is a famous pedestrian shopping street. These are just some of the many things to do and places to visit on your trip to Dublin.
If planning a visit to Dublin, you might be looking for one of the centrally located Dublin hotels. The Grafton Capital Hotels is ideal for tourists interested in seeing many of Dublin’s finest attractions. In addition to its great location, the Grafton Capital Hotel has spacious rooms which include all modern amenities.
For those who would like Internet access, it is provided in the public areas of the hotel. Stylish and comfortable duvets and pillows are a staple of the Grafton Capital Hotel and guests can look forward to returning after a long day of exploring the city.
Another of the Dublin hotels you might also consider is the O Callaghan Alexander Hotel. This again is ideal for tourists looking for a central location for which to explore the city, as it is walking distance to many of the most popular attractions. The hotel offers babysitting services on request if you are travelling with children. The rooms include cable TV, coffee and tea maker, hair dryer, ironing board and both wired and broadband internet connection. Another of the main attractions of the O Callaghan Alexander Hotel is the modern gymnasium.
Of course, the Molly Malone statue is just one of the historical monuments you can visit while you are in the fine city of Dublin. Rich in history and loaded with popular tourist attractions, you will have trouble deciding what to see and do first. Since many of the city’s prime tourist attractions are located in close proximity to one another, you will have no trouble getting to see many of them on the same day.
You’re sure to receive a thousand welcomes which ever of the Dublin hotels you choose to stay in. Whatever the purpose or duration or your trip, all your needs will be catered for.
Before booking a hotel in Dublin check out this great information on Dublin Hotels near Trinity College and Hotels in Dublin beside Temple Bar food market
Del Mar – Where Bing Crosby and Lucille Ball Played
Imagine a romantic vacation getaway to a quiet, relaxing and scenic village on the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This getaway has charming hotels and Inns, phenomenal restaurants and miles of gorgeous beaches. It’s just those elements that make up the gem that is called Del Mar, California.
Del Mar is Spanish for “of the sea” or “by the sea”, because it is located near the Pacific Ocean and is one of the most beautiful and romantic resort beach towns in the world. It’s here you find world-class restaurants, romantic bed and breakfasts, exotic hiking trails, delightful beaches and a world famous horse racing track
Del Mar has been home to celebrities ever since the 1940′s when Bing Crosby, Pat O’Brien and Jimmy Durante helped turn the Del Mar Race Track Thoroughbred Club into one of the most beautiful and prestigious organizations in the entire racing world. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez were regulars at the track in those days, and Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickenson also had residences in Del Mar. Brad Pitt purchased a home here recently – an $18 million dollar beachfront home – so now Brad Pitt sightings are the new sport in town.
Del Mar isn’t very large, just two square miles along the Northern San Diego County coast between Solana Beach on the north and Torrey Pines State Reserve on the south. Del Mar has a population of 4000 to 5000 Del-Marians (depending on who is counting) who live among the beautiful sandstone canyons interspersed with hillsides or perched on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, all of them enjoying beautiful sunsets.
Del Mar is home to the endangered Torrey Pine, the rarest species of pine tree in the United States. Only two populations of this endangered species exist – one in Torrey Pines State Reserve the other in Del Mar proper.
Each summer Del Mar plays host to the San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The fair originally opened in 1936, the site selected because it was the perfect spot just off the main highways – while still being near the ocean’s cooling breezes on hot summer days. Selection of a fair queen – Fairest of the Fair – is still a fail highlight each summer.
It was Bing Crosby who took a leading role to ensure that the now-world-famous Del Mar Race Track became reality. Del Mar Race Track opened in 1937 with newspapers dubbing the track “Bing’s Baby.” The next year Bing recorded a song that would eventually open each day of the racing season since those early days – Where The Turf Meets the Surf.
Terry Hunefeld gave up his position as a corporate CEO in 2007 to spend more time at sea. He now volunteers his time on the board of directors of the Audubon Society and leads charter voyages to sea to observe and count seabirds and marine mammals. To learn more, click San Diego B&Bs or Encinitas Beach Hotels.
Vacations In Nottingham
Think of Nottingham and nearly all folk consider the legend of Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest and although folklore attracts increasing numbers of folk each and every year there is much more to Nottinghamshire and the city of Nottingham than meets the eye. Infact Nottingham is home to a reasonable collection of fascinating visitor attractions making it an excellent place for a vacation and the following article examines the city and a small selection of attractions in, and close to, Nottingham, as well as some hotels offering Nottingham bed and breakfast accommodation.
The city of Nottingham is in Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands of England. As well as Sherwood Forest and the legend of Sir Robin Hood, Nottingham is also known for the production of lace especially during the period of the Industrial Revolution when it gained a worldwide reputation for excellence.
The Lace Market, Nottingham
Once the heart of the world’s lace industry, at the time of the British Empire, the Lace Market in Nottingham is, today, a protected heritage area. It features many superb examples of 19th Century industrial architecture. The Lace Market was not like a normal market area, as such, rather than having stalls and stall holders, the lace market featured a selection of warehouses and salesrooms selling and displaying lace. Following the decline in the lace industry the area became rundown however, today, the majority of the warehouses have been renovated and restored for other purposes for example photographic studios and similar. The Lace Market in Nottingham is a popular visitor attraction.
Shire Hall & Galleries of Justice
Near to the Lace Market you will discover the Galleries of Justice and Shire Hall. Shire Hall is a Georgian-built civic building featuring Neoclassical pilasters, columns and dome. The facade has, if you examine it carefully, a misspelled word Goal rather than Gaol. The Hall has 2 well preserved Victorian courtrooms and bath house, old cells, a women’s prison, a prisoner’s exercise yard and an Edwardian police station.
The City of Nottingham is a fantastic place to take a short city break. There is plenty to see and do within the city and an incredible number of visitor attractions not too far away. Places to visit include; Wollaton Hall, Hardwick Hall and Newstead Abbey.
As all all England bed and breakfast, Nottingham accommodation is usually top class at a reasonable price and many people choose to stay in Nottingham for only part of their break and then elsewhere for the remainder.
Vacations for Gay Men and Women to Morocco
Morocco is a country steeped in myths and legend and offers travelers the opportunity to experience a rich history and culture that continues to strongly influence daily life. Morocco offers visitors the chance to cross the desert atop a camel, sleep in a hotel made of sand and haggle with aggressive spice and rug traders in marketplaces that look and feel like they are from another time in history. In many towns and cities former homes have been transformed into guest lodgings, called riads, that often offer a more welcoming atmosphere for travelers on a gay vacation and provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and daily life of Morocco. While there is no visible scene in this conservative Muslim country, there are still abundant reasons for Morocco to be part of your gay travel, including ancient ruins and architecture, exceptional beaches, desert landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see and open air souks (markets) that wind through village streets offering exotic wares.
With splendid Muslim mosques, Roman ruins, street performers and snake charmers, a vacation to Morocco is a once in a lifetime experience full of sights, smells, colors and sounds. Travel to Morocco would simply not be complete without standing in awe of the distinct art deco architecture in Casablanca, climbing atop an ancient white wall in Tangier to take in the expansive ocean views and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, visiting the Dar Si Said Museum in Marrakech and exploring the diverse corridors of the Fes medina.
Jet set European and American composers, writers and socialites once flocked to Morocco in droves, making it a well-known, popular vacation destination; however, while Morocco was once a welcoming playground for gay vacations, a push by Muslim leaders to return to the stricter moral code of Islam has negatively influenced this once liberal vacation spot. While rarely enforced, same-sex conduct was criminalized in 1962 and travelers on a vacation to Morocco should keep in mind that it is a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in prison and fines.
In a 2009 statement, the Moroccan government asserted that homosexuality will not be tolerated and will be repressed, which means there may be an increase in enforcement and travelers should be particularly aware of their surroundings when in public. Laws and attitudes such as this are common in countries that are primarily Muslim and do not necessarily indicate that Morocco should be avoided when partaking in gay travel.
It does; however, indicate that awareness and discretion are advised wile on a Morocco vacation. To avoid possible issues, travelers may want to consider participating in a travel group vacation or planning their trip with the assistance of a gay tours agency well-versed in planning vacations in Morocco.
Article written by Howie Holben. This gay tours tips article focuses on Morocco. Howiee owns Spirit Journeys, a gay travel and retreats organization. Spirit Journeys presents wonderul gay adventure travel. You can learn more at www.SpiritJourneys.com.
Visit The London Eye
The capital city of England and the U.K., London, has a vast and diverse collection of superb tourist attractions, ranging from the incredibly old to the very young. The vast majority of the tourist attractions are well known around the planet (for instance, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament). Amongst the most recently added are the Millennium Bridge, Millennium Dome, London Aquarium and the London Eye.
The Merlin Entertainments London Eye (to give it its correct title), is more frequently named, simply, the London Eye or,sometimes, the Millennium Wheel (because it was built for part of the Millennium celebrations). The Merlin Entertainments London Eye was officially opened by the then UK Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, on the evening of December the thirty first but, sadly, there was a number of safety issues which led to it not opening to the public until March 2000. It was, at that time, the highest Ferris wheel on the planet being one hundred and thirty five metres in height.
The huge wheel can be found in Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank of the River Thames looking over to the Houses of Parliament below. From within one of the 32 capsules towering above London you are able to view an incredibly large number of the many landmarks of London, the already mentioned Houses of Parliament, Hampton Court Palace, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s are just a handful, what an amazingly unique way in which to see nearly all of London and, more thank likely, the reason it is one of the most popular paid for visitor attraction in London.
The London Eye’s first flight is at ten in the morning however the ticket office opens at 9.30 am. The Eye closes at half past nine at night between July and August, 8 at night between April and October and at nine ‘o clock at night for the other months.
Those traveling in a car will be pleased to learn that there are three car parks nearby. For coach parties there is parking incredibly close to the Eye (phone) +44 (0)870 990 8886) for info.
The easiest way to get to the London Eye is via the London Tube, just get off at one of the following stations; Embankment, Westminster, Charing Cross, or the nearest Waterloo. It is also possible to arrive by boat, get off at Waterloo Millennium Pier.
Finding London hotel accommodation is as easy as popping over to Google, Yahoo or Bing (or another popular search engine. Whatever type you prefer you are sure to find your perfect London accommodation because the city has the most bed and breakfasts, guest houses and hotels than any other. cheerful and cheap accommodation to the luxurious, Boutique hotels to the huge corporate affairs and more.
Want to find out more about hotels in London, then visit our site which has the most comprehensive listings of cheap hotels in London.
Spain, The Perfect Gay Travel Place
Spain is among the first countries in the world to allow same-sex couples to freely enjoy the legal rights of marriage, to adopt children openly and to be treated as equals on a level that the American LGBT community is still struggling to achieve. Because of this wide acceptance and legal equality, Spain is among the top choices for safe, enjoyable gay vacations. From the sexually-charged scene in Madrid, to the higher-brow LGBT culture of Sitges, there is a thriving community in every major city and many of the smaller towns throughout this country that offers breathtaking scenery, stunning architecture, rich culture and history, and wonderful year-round weather that makes any time a good time for gay travel to Spain.
Welcoming islands, cities and towns that should not be missed include Barcelona, Benidorm, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Sitges, Valencia and Torremolinos, which are the most popular destinations for gay vacations in Spain. Most of these hotspots offer excellent beaches and all offer exciting nightlife and a visible community. While Madrid is the place to be for anyone looking for a raucous LGBT scene, Ibiza and Gran Canaria offer a more laidback beach lifestyle and Valencia and Torremolinos offer a good mix of bars and beaches.
One of the most welcoming cities in Spain is Barcelona, which boasts amazing architecture, art and culture and is home to more clubs, bars, restaurants, bathhouses and other community establishments than any traveler could fit into their gay vacations. Visitors will surely want to visit LEixample, where most of the community bars and businesses are located, as well as the fabulous beaches located around this city that boasts a very active, very visible community. Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that has earned its rank among the most welcoming, most out places in Europe and also makes a great home base for side trips to other areas that are popular with LGBT locals and visitors, such as the beach town of Sitges.
To get the most out of your gay vacation in Spain, you may want to consider visiting Spain with a professionally organized tour group offered through a company that specializes in gay travel. Partaking in a tour to Spain will allow you to discover the captivating landscapes and enticing adventures Spain has to offer while forging new friendships that will last a lifetime.
Participating in a professionally arranged tour is a wonderful, fun way to discover Spain; however, whether or not you choose to travel to Spain with an organized group, planning your trip through a reputable company that is well-versed in arranging Spain gay tours will help to ensure that your travel experience will be safe, enjoyable and memorable.
Howie Holben is the author of this gay adventure travel article about Spain. Spirit Journeys does spiritual gay retreats with a difference. Go to www.spiritjourneys.com for more info about Howie and his work.
Some Tips For A Hassle Free European River Cruise Trip
If you are are bound for a European River cruise, it is important that you know how to proceed with your escapade. This is especially true if you will be setting foot Europe for the very first time. Remember, it is very important to carry with you a travel insurance. This kind of insurance will protect most everything that you will need to pack for your trip. Indeed, if an emergency occurs in which you get injured, sick, or in need of immediate medical aid your travel insurance will provide your required coverage. If you misplace your luggage or if your personal effects are stolen, travel insurance will protect you and give you peace of mind as you enjoy your European river cruise.
When packing for your European river cruise, make sure you include copies of documents that verify your identity. When traveling overseas, you will also have to bring supporting documents that will attest to your nationality. While a driver’s license is an appropriate form of identification in most places, when in Europe though, you will need a passport as well. In some cases, you may even be required to get a travel Visa. While completing importantvital documents that may be necessary to board your European river cruise, it is also important to consider money matters.
In some instances, there are services that offer tmulti currency transactions. However, there are some river cruises that require only Euros. Be certain that you are aware of the currency requirement of your vessel in order not be caught off guard.
When traveling on a European river cruise, it is essential that you bring along any prescription and over-the-counter medications for common type of ailments. You should also consider getting a travel release from your doctor.
In addition, any medical gadgets that may be useful such as vision accessories or accessories that help in mobility must also be packed. If you take the time to follow the guidelines listed here, you are certain for a hassle free and enjoyable European river cruise!
Preparing for Thames dinner cruise is not an easy task. If you’d like to read advices from experts, you should visit our website. I’d personally recommend Russian river cruise for everyone who wants to see beautiful places in Europe.
European River Cruise: Some Myths And Facts
If you are bound for a European river cruise and have shared this information with others such as family houeshold members, friends, neighbors, and even your officemates, it is most likely that you have been advised of some of the myths surrounding cruises. However, it is likely that these myths were delivered as “truths”. It has been estimated that close to thirteen million individuals travel on cruises each and every single year, but several other million individuals will hesitate to board a cruise on account of some feedbacks from other people.
Here, I will outline some of the most commonly shared myths associated with the popular European cruises sailing along the rivers and offering services to guest travellers.
The initial and likely the most commonly identified myth is the occurence of seasickness. True, there are cases of this occurring to some. However, the barges, cruises, and boats sailing in the waterways of Europe are now structured to be perfectly stable when it comes to design. As a result, this rarely happens. Speaking of health conditions, another myth surrounds the “Norwalk Virus”. Sometimes, people will hear about sickness outbreaks on cruise ships. Each comes down with a stomach problem and it is presumed that the food is toxic or the cause exists in board. The fact is, when people come in mass, spread of viruses may be inevitable. If you take precautions such as washing your hands on a regular basis, and avoid sharing eating and drinking utensils, you will likely never contract any ailment on a European river cruise.
Many people have a great fear that cruise ships are relatively dangerous. They are frightened that they may drop, or that the ship will become subject to pirates or terrorists and other similar security threats.
The fact is, statistics indicates that European river cruises appear as the most dependable tours in the world. If something does occur, they are close to land and help may be sought immediately. , the figure is extremely low. Besides, all ships have law enforcement personnel and a high level of security. If you are apprehensive to try a European river cruise due to these myths, loosen up. Proceed and plan your trip and enjoy sightseeing the beauty that Europe has to offer you.
Preparing for a Danube river cruise is not an easy task. If you’d like to read advices from experts, you should visit our website. I’d personally recommend Rhine river cruises for everyone who wants to see beautiful places in Europe.