An Affluent Belgium

Situated in Northern Europe, bordering North Sea, between France and the Netherlands, Belgium, as a country that can boast of rich historical past, dating back to the middle ages. The country is studded with museums and historical sites- Museum of Musical Instruments (Old Brussels), The Bastogne Historical Center, Tresor du Prieure d'Oignies(Namur) and Grand Place(Brussels). There are also a lot of World Heritage Sites in Belgium. Besides these, Belgium also has a large number of Sacred and Religious places.

Belgium is a highly industrialized nation in the world and comes within top ten trading rank. Its economy is primarily service oriented with a high per capita income and a very productive labor force.

Citizens of most European nations do not require any documents to enter the country, people from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and USA do not require a visa for visits up to three months.

The average daily expenses for a tourist will be anywhere above $35, depending upon the circumstances but staying in Brussels will be much more expensive.The major cities in Belgium are Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Dinant, Genk, Ghent, Hasselt, Leuven, Liege, Namur, Oostende. Spa, and Waterloo.

Though the period from May to September is excellent for visiting Belgium, the summer (July to September) is a good time to visit Brussels.

For foreigners, safety is not a big concern in Belgium. Except a few areas in Central Brussels, and the outskirts of Antwerp, most areas are safe for foreigners. Tourists will have to be quite cautious in vacant streets and places and while traveling alone at night.

Among the big hotels, BHC Group (Espace53), Café Bergenhof, Kelly's Irish Pub and O'Reilly's Irish Pub Brussels are the most famous.

During the festive season, Burges Ice Festival is quite famous, with ice pieces sculpted from no less than 300,000 kgs of crystal ice and 400 tons of pure snow. The treasure-trove of icy masterpieces is a specialized thermal tent, where the temperature is kept at a constant -5 degrees C.

At Brussels Rhythm and Blues Club, non-stop live music with men in Blue and the Witness can be had for the tourists. Late evening at the Brussels museums comprise all conceivable subjects, from the most classical to the funniest, from artistic to the scientific passing by technology, industry, history, exoticism and even gastronomy.

All cheap hotels in Brussels have an extensive home page with pictures, prices and rooms descriptions so that we can have a good idea of what the accommodation looks like. Web sites available for booking in about 750 hotels in Belgium and there is a wide variety to choose from.

Copenhagen Offers You a Warm Reception

Denmark can look different from the other European destinations as it is a quiet place unlike the hustle and bustle of the other European destinations. Danes are warm people and well known for their hospitality so that you might cherish your Copenhagen visit. Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark.

Copenhagen is today a charming destination with museums and monuments rich in culture and history. Once, it was just a small fishing Viking village.

There are several places worth visiting in Copenhagen including the Statue of Little Mermaid, the Amalienborg Palace, Tivoli gardens, apart from museums and galleries. You can see around Copenhagen either on harbor buses or on free city bikes. Copenhagen is well known as a bicycle friendly city and nothing beats the value of biking around the city free. In fact you can get around the city faster using the bike than any other available mode of transportation.

The Little Mermaid is a beautiful sight at Copenhagen and also one among the most photographed ladies of the world. Tivoli Gardens, the fairy tale amusement park will keep you mesmerized. The Amalienborg Palace is the winter residence of the royal couple. The national museum and the national gallery are the two "must see" sites that will widen your knowledge on history, paintings and sculpture. The national museum houses archaeological findings from ancient times to the present day while the national gallery have paintings and sculptures dating from the 15th century.

The other places of interest are the Viking Ship Museum, displaying Viking ships of different shapes and sizes. Kronberg will enchant you by its magnificent design. It is a well known renaissance castle referred in Shakespeare's Hamlet. You can enjoy the guided canal and harbor tours organized at Copenhagen.

There are luxury hotels as well as budget hotels in Copenhagen. The big hotels like Marriot, Radisson and Hilton hotel are among the luxury hotels at Copenhagen. There are several luxury hotels that are several centuries old but they offer the latest amenities and the modern facilities in the backdrop of antiques, brass, and marble, complete with spa, mini bar and garden.

The difference between the cheap and luxury hotels can be about 6 to 7 times in terms of dollars. In other words, a cheap hotel can cost you about 30 to 40 dollars while the luxury hotels can be around 200 dollars. However, a little research into hotel rates before you actually book can save you a lot. It is quite possible to come across a higher starred hotel at a lesser per night per room rental than a lower starred hotel.

Thrace Offers Scenic Beauty Combined With History and Culture

If you are visiting Greece, Thrace, its most north-easterly part could well be a destination that you might like to see. The first inhabitants of Thrace were the race of Pelasgians. According to legend, "Thrace" was the daughter of Oceania, sister of Europe, Asia and Libya. The other meaning of Thrace is traced to the Greek word "trahia" that means rough terrain due to mountain and climate.

The Thrace region has three parts: Evros and Xanthi on the east and west, and Rodophi in the center. This place is historically and culturally vibrant. The mythological musical characters Orpheus and Mousaios are associated with Thrace. It was also the birth place of Democritos. There are several historical monuments in the region like Didimotiho and its castle with 23 towers, the cavern of Agios Theodorus in Alexandropoulis, the fortress of loannis Katakouzinos in Pythio.

Xanthi still retains traditional houses and castles. There are several historical monuments including the remains of ancient city wall here.

Komitini lies at a distance of 57 km from Xanthi at the foot of Mount Rhodope. You may like to visit museums rich in folk art, and cultural and religious art and artifacts. You can also visit Porto Lago famous for the chapel of Avios Nikolaos. Moreover, it is famous for fish and eels apart from water-fowl.

Alexandroupolis, the capital of the Prefecture of Evros and the last town of Greece at its border with Turkey is a beautiful place that will make your visit memorable. It is a modern town with a number of cheap  hotels, restaurants, theatres, and beautiful sandy beaches. Since Thales is a popular holiday destination, a number of popular hotel chains have invested there. The large hotels are luxurious and spacious. They have rooms available for hundreds of visitors. The luxurious hotels offer facilities like restaurant cum bar, facilities for disabled guests, air-conditioning and heating, safety deposit box, sound proofed room, shops. They also have a number of activities to keep you fit and fine. You are also offered a number of services so that your stay is like staying in your home away from home. The hotel rental per night is somewhat expensive at Thrace. The luxurious hotels can come for a minimum of 75 pounds per night with discounts. A thorough search before actually beginning your journey and booking the hotel room in advance can save you money.

Torun is a Historical Wonder

Torun is a beautiful city in Poland that is quite popular with the tourists. It is strategically located on the bank of Vistula river that is the junction of major commercial routes. Thus the place has commercial as well as cultural importance.

Two cities combined together to form what is present day Torun. They are old town and new town. The old town is known for a big castle constructed by a Teuton king in 13th century. It was a trading post around which developed the new town.

The old town still preserves the buildings of yore. These Gothic architectural buildings are probably the largest in number in northern Europe. The UNESCO included them among the World Heritage Site in 1997.

Torun is not a big city so it can be easily explored on foot by a tourist. The strolling can be fun when the residents of the city welcome you smilingly. They are warm and take pride in their cultural and historical wealth. Your friendly guide might be able to tell you a large number of folk tales and legends associated with the city. The visitors will perhaps appreciate that the historical monuments are still in their pristine or preserved form since they have been build unravaged by weather or the Second World War as many other historical sites.

Some of the medieval sites worth visiting are the Town Hall, the churches of St John and St James, the ruins of castle, and the city wall. The Town Hall is a 13th century building that has been renovated. The other monuments worth seeing are the Leaning Tower and several other historical sites that were built by the Teutonic kings around 1200 AD. Yet another interesting site is the Pomerarian Theater.

However, central to all these sites is the Nicolas Copernicus University that no tourist can afford to miss. Nicolas Copernicus came from Torun after whom the university has been so named. The city has a tiny population of about a fifth of a million and nearly a fifth of whom are the university students that add to the energetic and dynamic life of this tourist destination. The summer festival is especially the time when the charm and appeal of Torun grows manifold.

Most of the cheap hotels at Torun are located within the historical city, the place you would be visiting in the city. You will have to take a transport from station and get to your hotel after crossing the Vistula river. These hotels are newly constructed and equipped with modern amenities. A decent hotel, two or three starred, can be had for as low as 40 to 50 US Dollars. There are hotels with tariffs as high as 70 or 80 US Dollars. Some of these hotels built over the castle of Teutonic knights appear grand in design and offer luxurious facilities to the clients.

Dublin is Abuzz With Activities

If Dublin is the next blip on your itinerary, be prepared for a very hectic and exciting tourism experience. The city is abuzz with intense energy and bubbling with life. You would hardly find a breathing space amid the hectic sight seeing through parks, and gardens, museums and theatres, libraries and historical buildings, churches and castles, heritage sites and galleries. The list is almost endless. The one place that is a must see is the Airfield House in its rural setting surrounded by enchanting garden along with café where you can sip coffee and marvel at the beauty of nature at the same time.

The Trinity College Library that retains The Book of Kells dating back to 9th century and decorated copy of the first four copies (in Latin) attracts hundreds of visitors every day.

There are libraries like the Chester Beatty Library that amaze with their variety of collections. They are supposed to have the earliest version of the holy Bible. They are famed for housing a rich collection of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Islamic art apart from the richest collection of rare books rarely found anywhere else. This library and museum rolled in one is claimed to house the largest number of printed works including books.

The other places of interest are Christ Church Cathedral founded in 1030, Croke park, Dalkey, more than 150 years old Dublin Zoo, and Dublina.

If you are interested in history and understand a little of Ireland you must visit Croke Park to get a wonderful experience.

Dalkey, the 15th century monument that was once a tower house has been restored today. A tour of Dalkey will come with valuable historical information on history, culture and folklore. There are a number of bars, bistros and cafes at Dalky to sooth your nerves after a hectic and tiring day at Dalkey.

Dublin Zoo is today more of a historical site with a long and interesting history since its beginning in the 1830s. This zoo was designed to house as diverse animals of as different varieties as possible.

Dublin with a long history of a thousand years and the musical nightlife combined with a large number of bars and restaurants will keep you excited during your stay. Most probably you might never exhaust the attractions available to a visitor.

Dublin has a chain of hotels catering to all the needs of their clients and providing quality services. The hotels are in various star categories. In the budget range a last minute hotel deal can work out for as low as 33 Euro per room per night there by saving almost 85 percent. A three star hotel with discount can be available for 36 Euro per room per night thereby saving you 74 Euro or 67 percent. The hotels that charge 40 Euro per room per night have breakfast included in them. These are discounted price for two or three star hotels and their price indicated above includes all taxes.

The Gorgeous Germany

Ever wondered about the land that gave birth to Martin Luther, Einstein, Goethe, Karl Marx and Beethoven? Well you have the grand panorama of Germany to satiate your quest. The land of culture and grace, the land of technology and production, the land of ambition and hard work and the land of scenic beauty and marvels.

One simply is flabbergasted at what Germany has to offer. Museums or mountains, holiday resorts, pleasure spots, architectural pieces, lakes and forests, busy towns and great people! What more is required to satisfy the curiosity of a tourist?

This has been the capital city of Prussia, German Empire, Weimer Republic and after the second world war of West Germany and now again after re-unification of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is unbroken from the beginning of the 18th century. One can easily comprehend the magnificence and magnitude of the most powerful state's capital in Europe!

The Alexanderplatz TV tower, a towering building of 368 meters, is a grand sight. Breathtaking in architectural beauty, it is visible from most of the nearby areas. It has an observation floor at 200 metres from which an incredibly beautiful view of the city can be seen. The Brandenburg Gage is another landmark which must be visited. The Gendermenmarkt is a classic square dating to Napoleonic times.

Schloss Charlettonburg is nothing but a beauty in stone, one of the finest palaces in Berlin. In an imperial city there is no dearth of palaces but this one is something special to be cherished. Apart from great cathedrals and churches of which there are plenty to choose from, one cannot afford to miss the grand Potzdamer Platz. Moreover, its elegant setting during dusk is simply heart warming.

Three great opera houses, theaters and art galleries are from the entertainment aspects a great attraction for the tourists. There would be plenty of vibrant music and dancing and the stage has also its unique attractions. Germany's creative artists are known throughout the world as something solid and special.

From 39 Euros to high up, there are apartment types, suites, luxury rooms and many types of cheap hotels available to cater to every taste and budget. There are more than 600 hotels in Berlin and many of them have online booking facilities. There are discounts for special occasions and for business and pleasure travel groups.

The discipline of the people is a delight to watch. So is their propensity to enjoy the frill blessings of life in the form of food and wine. Germany must be one place which one cannot afford to miss.