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Visiting New York City

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The City of New York is the top tourist destination in the United States of America. It also holds the distinction of being the most densely populated city in the country. Over a third of that population is foreign-born and the people of New York speak nearly 170 languages. That diversity is reflected throughout the city.

As a financial, cultural, and entertainment center of not only the US, but the world, New York has earned its nickname as “The City that Never Sleeps.” New York was founded as New Amsterdam in 1624 when it served as a trading post. It became the capital of the newly-formed United States in 1785. The capital was moved to Washington, D.C. in 1790. The “Big Apple” has been the largest city in the country since that year.

In addition to being home to the United Nations, New York is also famous for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the New York Stock Exchange, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, Wall Street, Broadway, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Brooklyn Bridge, just to name a few. The architecture of the city ranges from its famous brownstones to the over fifty skyscrapers that make up the easily recognizable New York City skyline.

New York sets the standard for art and culture. In addition to the thriving theater community of Broadway and off-Broadway, New York is home to the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, the Brooklyn Acadmy of Music, and Radio City Music Hall. The city is also filled with world-famous museums and galleries such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the American Museum of Natural History.

Visitors to this vibrant city can choose from a range of accomodations. There are youth hostels, bed and breakfasts, and five star New York hotels – as well as everything in between. There are countless opportunities for shopping, exploring the incredible and diverse food of the city, or just soaking up the atmosphere of this thriving metropolis.

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Get the Most from a Spa

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In the hustle and bustle of modern life, many people find themselves overwhelmed by stress and desperate for a little relaxation and pampering. The pressure and anxiety created by the current economic crisis to say nothing of the stresses brought on by the holiday season is affecting not only the mental health and peace of mind of individuals, but is proving detrimental to their physical health and well-being.

One of the biggest myths about the modern spa resort is that it is too expensive for the average person. This leaves many people to believe that they will never experience the relaxation and rejuvenation that spa resorts can provide. The reality is that a good spa vacation can be affordable. You just have to know how to get the best deal.

One obvious trick is to plan your spa travel for off-season or avoid the weekends in favor of weekdays. Research your destination to discover when the spa of your choice is at a premium and schedule you visit for the opposite times. Less demand means lower costs for you.

Another tip is to do your research. Many spas offer special packages or discounts at certain times of the year or for certain audiences. Learn to work your club memberships and frequent flier points. Ask your friends and hit the internet to find the best deals available. It might be worth rescheduling your vacation to match the dates of the best package.

Most importantly, you need to be aware of what is (and isn’t) included in the price of the spa package you choose. Be aware of what treatments, meals and classes are part of the deal and what might cost extra. Careful budgeting ahead of time will prevent costly oversight once you’re at the resort.

Lastly, make sure that you schedule all your treatments when you make your initial spa reservation. Even if you’re traveling during offseason, you can never be sure you’ll get the appointment you want if you wait to book it when you arrive. It would be a shame to spend all that time budgeting and then find you can’t get in to the treatments you came for.

In this time of stress, anxiety, and pressure, it might be worth a second look at your budget to see if you can’t find a way to have that spa vacation after all.

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Visiting Edinburgh, Scotland

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Serving as the capital of Scotland since the 15th century, Edinburgh ia beautiful city blending natural terrain, historic architecture and modern convenience into a charming and favored destination for travelers. The medieval Old Town and the Georgian Period New Town sections of the city were both named as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995.

Famous for the annual Edinburgh Festival, the city hosts a variety of celebrations and festivals throughout the year. The well-known Edinburgh Festival is actually a number of independent festivals that run concurrently from late July to early September. These include the Edinburgh Fringe, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Book Festival, and the newly launched Edinburgh Comedy Festivals. Other events occur earlier in the summer, from the Edinburgh International Film Festival to the Edinburgh Science Festival.

In addition to its many festivals, Edinburgh has more sedate attractions. Visitors can stroll through galleries and museums or visit one of the city’s many historic sites. The Edinburgh Zoo is considered the best in all of Britian. Old Town is home Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles’ Cathedral, and the Scottish Parliment. New Town houses the National Gallery of Scotland as well as some of the best shopping and dining in the world. Edinburgh is also home to Portobello beach resort with arcades, playgrounds, and local eateries.

Visitors to Edinburgh can choose accomodations that suit both their budget and their personal tastes. There are youth hostels, guest cottages, modern hotels, and Edinburgh bed and breakfasts. Most provide easy access to all the attractions and events of this captivating city.

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The Evolving City of Mumbai

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The city of Mumbai is a major Indian city.  It was previously known as Bombay.  Mumbai has the highest population of any city in India with a population of seventeen million and growing, and is the capital of the Maharashtra state. Mumbai started off as a group of seven islands on the Indian Konkan coast.  Over the years these islands have been joined together into the city that was known as Bombay.  Bombay had a name change to Mumbai after British rule ended.

Mumbai is one of India’s major ports.  It is also a business, commercial and industrial center.  Presently many organizations in Europe and The US are outsourcing their services to Mumbai.  The city is also home to the blooming Indian film and television industry also known as Bollywood.

Mumbai has two polar opposites.  In many areas poverty is evident and some of the population suffers from the effects of lack of food and lack of medicine.  There is also extreme wealth brought about by its developing industrial power.  This is evident in the many of the glitzy shops and glamorous restaurants around as well as the growing number of five star hotels Mumbai.  Education is moving to the forefront in the country.  The result is a growing population of educated people and a workforce that has the talents to become a major force in the industrialized world.

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A Trip to Yorkshire, England

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Yorkshire is a large county in north eastern England with a population of five million.  To many people it is known as ‘God’s Own County.’ Yorkshire is the largest county in England and covers in excess of 6,000 square miles. Many people visit Yorkshire for it’s contrasts – rolling moorland, rugged coastline, ancient buildings, modern cities.

The North York Moors has been a national park for fifty years.  The area is a heather moorland and is a quiet and peaceful place.  The moorland is intersected with many valleys which cut through it.  These valleys come alive in the springtime during daffodil season. There is eighteen miles of steam railroad that runs through the moorland from Grosmont to Pickering. The area is also popular with walkers, cyclists and wildlife enthusiasts.

Yorkshire is also home to many bustling cities.  These are centers of commerce and industry. You can find most things in these cities ranging from woolen goods and leather items to other commodities such as Yorkshire plumbers.

The Yorkshire Dales is another area that is popular with visitors and tourists becuase of its scenery, wildlife, cultural heritage and solitude. The Yorkshire Dales are close to the Pennines which run across north England. There are more than twenty dales each with their own characteristics. Around 20,000 people live in the farms, villages and market towns of the Yorkshire Dales.

The Yorkshire coast offers wonderful beaches, as well as rocky coves and cliffs. there are also traditional resorts such as Scarborough and Filey and many traditional fishing villages and ports the North Yorkshire Heritage Coast offers rugged cliffs and rocky shores with cliff top hikes and paths streaching along most of it.  The area is popular for sailing, angling golf, and bowls.

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Pitlochry, Scotland

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Pitlochry is a Victorian town located at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in Perthshire.  The scenery in this area is remarkable and was a great favorite of Queen Victoria.  Since that time it has been a popular tourist destination.

The Atholl Palace Hotel and Spa is a famous site when you approach the town from the south.  It sits amongst thickly wooded hills and is very impressive. To the north of the town lies Blair Castle.  This castle is equally impressive and is well worth a visit with its  paintings and armory collections.  There are many other Pitlochry hotels to choose from and which cater to all types of budgets.

Pitlochry is also renowned for its Dam Visitor Center and salmon ladder, Festival Theatre, and woollens shops.  For those interested in whisky there are two distilleries – the Blair Atholl and Edradour distilleries.

Pitlochry is ideally located for exploring the marvelous scenery of the Perthshire Highlands.  One of the most famous Scottish battles occurred at the Pass of Killiecrankie.  This dramatic scenery is not easily forgotten.  The Queens view is another sight that must be viewed.  In the Pitlochry area there are many footpaths, mountain bike routes and the local rivers are some of the worlds best for trout and salmon fishing.

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Vacations in Wales

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Wales probably has it all! From the mountains to the valleys, from the cities to the isolated villages, from the sea shore to hidden river banks. Wales is a country of diversity, of rich history, of poetry and song, of industrial struggle, and of folklore.

Wales is slightly off the beaten track for tourists visiting the UK. However because it is undiscovered that means less crowds and a unique vacation. It has whatever you want – a relaxing holiday by the sea or hiking, climbing or biking for the more adventurous.

Wales is easy to get to. There is a major airport in the capital city Cardiff as well as rail routes from all the major UK cities. Accommodation in Wales is easy to find and runs from classy hotels to a fine array of traditional Wales bed and breakfasts.

Welsh cuisine is renowned and is heavily influenced by local produce such as lamb, beef and leeks. As a large percentage of the country is on the coast seafood is available including the local favorite cockles. Be sure to try afternoon tea with some bara brith and welshcakes. Also local beers and wines are well worth sampling.

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Hurricane Ike to Alter Travel Plans

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Both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines are watching Hurricane Ike closely and offering passengers the opportunity to change their travel plans.  Read more

Improving Travel Etiquette

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It’s the universal symbol of Americana abroad: the camera-slinging, fanny-pack-sporting tourist, clad in shorts, sneakers, unrolled socks and complaining loudly in English. Ever since the Pilgrims crashed the Wampanoag tribe’s Thanksgiving dinner, Americans have been earning a reputation as boorish international travelers.

Even stars and diplomats occasionally drive home the stereotype with egregious behavior. Actor Richard Gere was issued an arrest warrant by an Indian court after laying a wet one on actress Shilpa Shetty at a charity event last year. And President Bush caught flack for giving German Chancellor Angela Merkel an impromptu shoulder rub during a G8 Summit Meeting.  Read more…

Flight Attendant Sees the World

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I like traveling and seeing the world. As a flight attendant I am able to see a lot of it but only for a short amount of time. So, when I get a chance I really like to take long vacations and get to know the place that I’m visiting.

The first place that I am planning on going to is Bulgaria. From the maps of Bulgaria that I’ve seen, the country does not appear to be too big. The population of its capital and largest city, Sofia, is 1,380,406. That’s not too bad.

I also want to take an extended trip to South America. From what I’ve read about the countries and what I learned from South America maps, there is a lot to do and a lot to see.

And my third vacation destination is the Philippines. I love everything I’ve ever heard about this country. This chain of islands has so much culture and from what I’ve seen from map of Philippine, there will be a lot to learn.