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.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com

Swanage Has Lots of Fun by the Seaside

A visit to Dorset coast will be your ultimate life time experience if you include Swanage among your must see places. There are lots of fun to indulge in there including boat trips and seaside experiences. It is quite a popular place for ice cream lovers too.

The Gem of the Dorset coast - Swanage - is the most beautiful place in the isle of Purbeck. The vast expanse of ocean with gentle waves and occasionally cawing seagull has a calming affect on tourist sun tanning over the beach. No wonder, Swanage will leave a calm and peaceful impact that will wipe all your worries away.

There would be many visitors to this popular beach resort but you will ever feel in your own relaxed private world whether you are in one of the many guest houses over there or watching the popular Punch and Judy show, tanning in the warm sandy beach or carelessly floating over the turquoise blue water surface.

The children will especially love this impeccably clean beach with no danger from calm currents. Children can take their first lesson in swimming here. They will love a large variety of ice creams in hundreds of flavors from the century old Forte parlor begun by Alfonso Forte in 1906, and now being run by the third generation.

The best time to be here is during the Carnival and in the beginning of August when Regatta week commences annually beginning with fun filled music, carnival processions, boat races and finally a grand fire work display.

The local food available here is delicious especially freshly caught local fish preparation will delight your taste buds. Swanage is a regular haunt of local writer who never tire writing about its history and cultural past.

Walking leisurely through the shopping complex right down the Mowlem building you will finally arrive at the restored Victorian pier. Purbeck Line, the local steam railway over the hill, a sight that children will love when they see old fashioned railway engine in action.

However, it is the blue sea that will keep you enchanted here with a large number of pubs by the sea side. The pubs are abuzz with musical events here.

If budget is in your priority, you might be able to find hotels for budget price of 35 to 40 UK Pounds. There are hotels that would give you a good view of nature as they are better located. They also offer value for your money in the level of comfort and luxury. Old castles, forts, and buildings remodeled into hotels offer luxurious and comfortable lodging experience. You will love their ambiance. The rentals to these hotels can be higher in the range of 70 to 120 UK pounds.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com

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 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.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com

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 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.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com

Barcelona, the Cultural Capital of Spain

If you have decided to visit Spain, Barcelona must rank in the top of your itinerary chart. The reason is not simply that it is the second largest city of Spain, or that it is the capital of Catalonia. More than these reasons, Barcelona is a hip and happening city of Spain that is also known as its cultural capital. Barcelona is among the hottest tourist destinations in Europe and probably number one destination in Spain. Millions of tourists from across the world visit Barcelona every year.

Barcelona has so many places to visit that you cannot easily decide where to begin from. It would of course be in your interest to take help of a guide. The few places you can begin visiting are La Rambla, or Sagrada Familia. La Rambla is quite a popular spot in Barcelona where tourists take leisurely walk and enjoy the culture and civic life in Spain. Las Rambla will offer you a lot of cafes, and shops. You can occasionally hop into a café for light refreshment. You may find art crafts and handicraft items in these shops that can serve as wonderful souvenirs. There is a famous fountain in Las Rambla locality associated with the myth that those who drink from this fountain are sure to make a repeat visit. Alternatively, you can decide to walk from Sagrada Familia to Barcelona cathedral. Barcelona is dotted with cafes and should you feel tired during the walk you can always take a short respite in a café. Depending on the weather, the heat can at times turn your somber mood off.

When you are in Barcelona, you must make it a point to visit some of the great creations by the master architect Antonio Gaudi. Some of his works include La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Palau Guell, Casa Mila, Casa Vicens, and Casa Batllo. Sangrad Familia designed by Antonio Gaudi has been under construction since 1882 and will take several more decades before it is completed. Barcelona Aquarium located in the Port area is yet another popular destination that kids will love. Poble Espanyol houses specialist craft shops. La Pedrera Casa Mila is yet another fantastic expression by Antonio Gaudi. You will be amazed to see the wavy brick work used in this building. Besides, there are different kinds of museums, zoo, and stadium that are the unique attractions at Barcelona.

Barcelona hotels remain almost completely occupied round the year. Therefore you must reserve your hotel in advance. There are a number of great hotels in Barcelona while there are also cheap hotels that have per night rentals as low as Euro 20. There are also luxury hotels in Barcelona priced at over Euro 100. Most of these hotels offer discount ranging from 10 to 30 percent.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com

Helsinki Offers a Unique Experience to the Tourists

Helsinki, the capital of Finland is unique in several ways. It is located at the tip of a peninsula. It lies between Moscow and Stockholm, and is surrounded by over 300 islands. It is known as the daughter of the Baltic.

It is a thinly populated city with no more than half a million people. The city appears stretched far and wide with small buildings and sparse population. Nevertheless, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the Europe.

As a visitor to Helsinki, you might like to visit the Temppeliaukio church that is a wonder in architecture. Tourists from far and wide come just to see this church. This church was quarried out of natural bedrock. The interior walls of this church are natural rock surfaces designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, the architect siblings. The concerts held here regularly in the backdrop of natural surface is indeed an attractive sight.

The National Museum of Finland located in the central Helsinki offers an amazing collection of archaeological and ethnographic pieces right since the prehistoric times to the present. You will get complete information on Finland that will keep you mesmerized throughout your visit. The task of collection itself is historical for the process of collection for this museum has gone on for almost two centuries.

The annual Helsinki Festival beginning in the month of mid August to early September is yet another popular attraction with the tourists. A number dance and musical extravaganza is laid out throughout the festive period.

The Korkeasaari Zoo, one among the oldest might keep you spell bound with almost 200 different species of animals and about 1000 plant varieties. There are a number of endangered species among them.

The tourism department has made the task of visiting Helsinki much easier through Citysherpa, the tourism information service. They offer you volunteer guides, the residents of the city, that take you around and show various places.

You can find a number of cheap hotels in Helsinki close to railway station, bus stop or in the market area. The hotel tariff varies from season to season and is priced low during the weekends compared to the working days. The hotel tariff for a three star accommodation per single room per night can vary between 85 to 108 Euros. A single room four star accommodation per night can cost between 108 to 132 Euros, while a similar five star accommodation can come for 120 to 166 Euros.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com

Stockholm is a Blend of New and Old

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden is not just the city of political and economic activities but also a great city of historic, and cultural importance endowed with natural beauty. No wonder, this city is so popular with the tourists across the world. Stockholm has rich history embedded in its monuments and museums that is the pride of Sweden. It is one among few European cities where the tourists from all over the world flock to in large numbers. The city has a long history that witnessed glorious days as well as the painful past. More than three centuries ago the city suffered Black death owing to plague in 1700s. Nonetheless, the city braved to its glory in economy, industry and technology and emerged as a multi-ethnic cosmopolitan city.

The tourists who are wary of Stockholm's climate must be reassured that it has a lovely weather especially in summers that is cool and pleasant. During the times like winter solstice the days could be as small as six hours while at other times the day light might stretch endlessly on for as long as 18 to 20 hours.

Museums in Stockholm are a strong attraction for over ten million tourists who are irresistibly drawn to visit over 70 museums located here. Skansen built in 1891 is the world's first outdoor museum that offers a great learning experience in history to the tourists. However, Natural History Museum and the Modern Museum- that has the collections of Dali, Picasso and the others- are the two most popular museums with the tourists.

Stockholm's Globen is an architectural wonder that can accommodate up to 16,000 spectators. This building, the world's largest spherical structure symbolizes the modern spirit of Stockholm. Above all Stockholm boasts of the waterways that is one among the best and the cheapest in the world and a trip into the Baltic can be a memorable experience for the tourists.

For the tourists arriving by air at Arlanda airport there are decent accommodations nearby. Should you decide to arrive at the central station, you can still find very elegant and cheap accommodation from there, apart from connectivity to the different parts of Stockholm. There are also a large number of restaurants and fast food joints to take care of your taste buds.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com

Berlin in Its Simplicity

Berlin is close to the Poland border, barely 70 Kilometers away. Berlin, the capital city of Germany is a much sought after tourist destination in Europe. It is a cultural and political city that separated the two Germanys before their unification in 1990. The wall dividing the East and the West Germany was the famous Berlin wall. Berlin has made a comeback when the Berlin wall was destroyed in 1990.

Berlin is also a sport loving city especially soccer. The game of soccer defines the national sporting culture, and it is not uncommon to find people lining up to watch the game being played by the German players against the players of the other nationalities. The other favorite past time of the Germans is beer. The spectators casually lounge around sipping beer and watching the game of soccer.

Berlin is the city of great universities and research institutions that could be worth visiting when tourists arrive there. The atmosphere is one of serene calmness with people enjoying the best variety of beer and casually going about their way. As a tourist you too can participate in Berlin marathon but there are several other things to do once you are in Berlin.

There are monuments like Brandenburg gate, Berlin Wall, Alexanderplatz Square, Reichstag, Berliner Dom or Berlin Cathedral, Potsdamer Platz (that was reconstructed in 1990s), and several others that the tourists usually go to visit, shop, see, and watch.

Although Berlin is too big to be seen in a short span, you can make the use of their efficient transportation system known as BVG that includes railways, buses, and tramways. It allows you to reach safely and efficiently to every part of Berlin. You can also switch over from U-Bahn (underground transport) to S-Bahn (over ground railway transport), buses and trams. The transport cost is cheap and you can purchase a week's ticket for approximately 25 euros.

Berlin has international traffic because of international seminars and conferences. The city is especially crowded during the Berlin marathon. However, with little planning and foresight it is not difficult to find cheap hotels. Berlin is relatively cheaper than the other European cities. It is advisable to book early so that you might get a cheap hotel because clinching an affordable deal at the last moment can be difficult.

Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visithttp://www.hoteltravelexpress.com