There are a number of obvious contrasts, but the main one is with regard to the amount of construction that is happening at the moment in New Delhi. Lots of new buildings are under construction as are new roads and even a metro system. From some angles when walking through the streets of New Delhi, you could almost be in any financial district of any modern city in the world. Lots of new glass and steel structures.

Of course, there is a reason for all this new building work. In 2010, New Delhi is hosting the Commonwealth Games and it looks to me like they will put on a really good show.

In contrast, even though Mumbai is one of the densest populated cities on the planet and a lot of money is raked in by the government in the form of taxes, there was little evidence to me that it was being spent on better infrastructure. Not only do all the roads look unfinished, with piles of rubble lying alongside them all, but frequent power cuts are the order of the day due to the age old problem of distributing power around the city.

Given the choice of whether to visit Mumbai or New Delhi on your next visit to India, it really depends on your point of view. If you want a modern, almost cosmopolitan feeling city, then go to New Delhi. However, if you want a city with lots of character to shows the real urban India, then go for Mumbai.

Better still, why not visit both and see the contrasts for yourself. They are only 90 minutes apart by air.

Someone mentioned to me that Jet Airways, an Indian airline, had economy seats that are more like the equivalent of premium economy with other airlines. As I had flown with Jet Airways before on a couple of internal trips within India, I decided to give their long haul flights a go.

I was very pleased that I did, as there are extra little things that made the trip more bearable for me. Not only was there leg room a plenty, but they also had other things to offer you, such as video and music on demand. There was none of the waiting around for the next movie to start. I could watch what I wanted when I wanted, and that included some of the major new realeases that have just been featured at the oscars.

The service was good too, with some very nice flights attendants for whom nothing was too much trouble.

One the whole I would definitely recommend Jet Airways as one of the nicer ways to make a trip to India.

Glasgow is within easy reach of all the cities in Scotland. It
is forty five minutes from Edinburgh, an hour from Perth and one
and half hours from Dundee. It is well served with transport
links and two airports nearby.

Glasgow also has the advantage of being close to some of the
most beautiful country side and scenic spots in Scotland.
Glasgow has the reputation of being Scotland’s friendliest city
and genuinely lives up to this reputation.

Glasgow has a very diverse cultural background which is
reflected in the myriad of culinary pleasures offered by a vast
array of themed restaurants and cafes available throughout the
city from a simple sandwich, to a buffet, right the way along to
an elegant meal in an equally elegant restaurant in opulent
surroundings. Glasgow is more than capable of satisfying all
tastes.

Glasgow is also widely known as the curry capital of Europe
because of the enormous local following of this popular dish as
there are many curry houses across the city; it probably has
more of these than any other.

As night falls and the street lights come to life illuminating
Glasgow’s bustling streets you’ll find all of Glasgow’s bars and
restaurants very welcoming whether you are meeting a friend for
no more than a sociable drink or a more involved celebration
meal for friends or loved ones, I am sure you wont have trouble
finding somewhere or something to suit your taste.

The west end of Glasgow also has many coffee shops and sandwich
bars with street front seating to watch the world go by. There
are also many different pubs to try if this better suits you
with wonderful atmospheres and these are forever popular with
city workers catching up with colleagues to have lunch or a
drink after work.

Glasgow is more than capable of exceeding the expectations of
its visitors and tourists.
Over the years Glasgow has increased its visitor numbers
tenfold and its economy is very strong hence more people are
setting up businesses here to cater for the demand so
increasingly food outlets are multiplying every year. Glasgow
has gone through a complete metamorphosis in the last few
decades, with heavily invested local regeneration programmes and
public amenities so Glasgow’s food and catering industry has
really started to flourish and will continue to do so well into
the distant future.

Visitors to Glasgow will experience first hand the level of
choice there is in relation to dining out and the overall
quality of the service and food available, the hospitality of
Glasgow’s people is second to none and these factors all
contribute in making a visit to Glasgow a must for any avid
traveler. Tourists and travelers alike are sure to receive a
great welcome from “the city of smiles”.

About The Author: Gavin Cooper
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Like many other areas of Scotland Aberdeen and the surrounding area has a wealth of historic sites of interest together with an excellent selection of museums and art galleries , there is much to keep visitors interested. For those looking for a slightly more exciting vacation Aberdeen has fantastic shopping, superb cafes and bars, many classy restaurants and bistros, lively nightclubs and varied selection of festivals.

The city of Aberdeen has a proud tradition in sporting excellence.

In 1780 the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen was founded, (the world’s 6th oldest golf club) which in 1815 saw a change of name to Aberdeen Golf Club and in 1903 it was awarded Royal status to become the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. The club has two golf courses, the Balgownie Championship Links and the Silverburn Course, and the city boasts a further six golf courses, all public, Auchmill Golf Course (Tel: 01224 714577), Balnagask Golf Course (Tel: 01224 876407), an 18-hole and a 6-hole golf course at King’s Links (Tel: 01224 632269) and three Golf Courses at Hazlehead two of which are 18-hole (Tel: 01224 321830) and the other is a a 9-hole Pitch and Putt (Tel: 01224 326293).

Aberdeen has a number of soccer clubs with the most famous being the Scottish Premier League team, Aberdeen FC (formed in 1903). The team has won a number of prestige tournaments including the European Super Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup. They have been champions of the Scottish Premier League three times all during the period in the 1980’s when Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE was the manager.

Further Visitor Attractions

As mentioned Aberdeen has a large number of museums, art galleries, bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants but for the kids Aberdeen means FUN. The city has been blessed with a wonderfully long sandy beach and high sand dunes. Along the Beach Esplanade you will find a number of family friendly visitor attractions which include the wildly entertaining House of Fun.

The House of Fun has two floors of family entertainment which includes the Family Amusement Arcade, The Coconut Climb and the unique Foam Factory, trampoline, Just For Kids (youngsters), Driving Games, hi-tech simulators and video games, Laser Tag,

Adults can entertain themselves at the over 18’s All Cash Arcade or play Prize Bingo, they can play American Pool or spend some time in the Motown Bar, which features a large TV Wall and is a venue for live music, or you can chill out on the BBQ Terrace. The complex has plenty of facilities, a selection of places to eat such as Central Park Deli or the Coffee & Candy Bar, and, if you have been lucky, you can redeem your prize tickets at the Gift Shop where you can also buy souvenirs of your visit to Aberdeen’s House of Fun.

This article has only been able to show you a very small selection of the many aspects of the city of Aberdeen and surrounding Aberdeenshire, so why not consider booking yourself an apartment or hotel in Aberdeen and spending a vacation here soon?

Andrew Kelly has lived in the Hebrides of Scotland for over 16 years. During that time he has travelled extensively around Scotland and writes about his travels on various travel related web sites.

Liverpool is a musical city and it is extremely well known as being the birthplace of the world famous band the Beatles and for the Beatles fan the city now offers a wealth of attractions such as the Magical Mystery Tour, the, award winning, Beatles Story, the Casbah Coffee Club (now a Grade 2 listed building) and the summertime Mathew Street Festival. However Liverpool has produced many music acts over the years and the city continues to produce highly successful musicians on a regular basis but few stand any chance of reaching the levels of success achieved by John, Paul, George and Ringo in the 1960’s onwards.

Maybe the incredible number of nightclubs, restaurants & cafes (which often feature live music) and other music venues has created the atmosphere conducive to encouraging musical creation and performance. It certainly helps make the city’s nightlife one of the liveliest scenes in the United Kingdom which is enhanced by a number of amazing theaters. The Royal Court and Empire theaters often host performances by the world-famous pop acts. The Playhouse and Everyman theaters offer excellent plays from the classics to productions by exciting new writers and directors, and the cafe’s are a favorite meeting place of the artists of Liverpool.

Walking around Liverpool is an enjoyable experience, a popular destination is the waterfront Albert Dock complex in which you will find a host of visitor attractions including the superb Tate gallery which displays contemporary art from 1900 onwards. The Walker Art Gallery is one of Europe’s finest with an incredible collection ranging from medieval masterpieces to the latest artistic creations and all housed in a jaw-dropping neo-classical building. Another architectural masterpiece is home to the World Museum Liverpool, the museum can easily take a full day to explore and it is free to enter, yes, no admission fee!

Maybe the two most dominant features of Liverpool are the River Mersey and the city’s cathedrals.

The Anglican Cathedral looks far older than the Metropolitan Cathedral (Roman Catholic ) which opened in 1967 but although work on the Gothic style Anglican Cathedral started in 1904 it’s final completion was not until 1978. Admission to the Metropolitan Cathedral is free but a donation is expected and admission to the Anglican Cathedral is from about £3.50.

The River Mersey is Liverpool’s lifeblood and the historic waterfront is home to The Three Graces. The Tree Graces are The Royal Liver Building (the roosting place of Liverpool’s famous Liver Birds), The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building and together they help make the cities skyline recognizable around the world. It is from the Pier Head that you catch the ferry across the Mersey made famous by the song by Gerry and the Pacemaker’s.

Gerry & The Pacemakers recorded the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which is the well known anthem of Liverpool Football Club. Liverpool F.C. is one of England’s most successful team and the only comparable club is nearby Manchester United and an intense rivalry exists between the two clubs. However Liverpool F. C.’s (the Reds) closest Premier League rival is the city’s other soccer club Everton Football Club (the Blues). Everton is also one of the country’s top five clubs most successful clubs and the rivalry between the Reds and the Blues is displayed when the two clubs meet at the Merseyside derby.

Liverpool, England, is a friendly and inviting city that continues to grow in popularity as a vacation destination. The city continues to add more visitor attractions each year and the number of hotels in Liverpool have increased to meet the demand. Possibly the best Luxury hotel is Liverpool’s internationally famous Adelphi Hotel which dates back to 1826 and the Edwardian style building is set right in the very heart of Liverpool.

Wherever you decide to stay you are almost guaranteed to have a most wonderful vacation and most visitors can’t wait for another opportunity to visit this most incredible city.

Andrew Kelly was born and brought up in Liverpool until he moved to a remote island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland in 1991. He now writes extensively for travel related web sites.

For more than 35 years, 270 stands are set up every Sunday at 11AM, at the Plaza Dorrego (at the corner of Humberto Primo and Defensa street), where all kinds of merchandise representing a big part of Buenos Aires’s glorious past, are displayed.

The selection is varied and comprehensive, and a careful look at the goods will help you understand the multicultural background behind today’s Argentine culture. Elegant fans and scarves brought by Spanish immigrants escaping from the civil war, pottery brought from Germany and England, delicate Italian embroideries…and, of course, traditional elements of the “gaucho” culture are an integral part of the offer in San Telmo.

It is not easy to have a stand at the Feria in San Telmo. Each stand owner must undergo strict controls in order to ensure the quality of goods that are offered, and permissions must be renovated every 3 years. Even though the Feria’s popularity has notably grown over the years, the number of stands allowed to participate has remained fixed, so that the proper controls and the quality of the merchandise can be assured. When you get to talk to the stand owners, you will immediately notice how proud they are of being part of this traditional market.

A special mention deserves the stand of Juan Carlos Rojas, called Sifonazo, a classic at the Feria that is definitely worth a visit. There you will be able to find a broad collection of antique siphons, decorated with typical porteño art. In Argentina, wine is usually served with soda (sparkling water), and the siphon is an essential part of a well set table. Juan Carlos and his family share a passion for collecting these porteño siphons, which started back in the 1970s at the beginning of the Feria and his business is now operated by the third generation. If you are interested in bringing a piece of, very decorative, Buenos Aires culture back home, look for the Sifonazo stand in San Telmo.

San Telmo is also a Tango neighborhood, and this strong connection with the traditional Argentine dance is also very present every Sunday at the Feria. Most of the neighboring restaurants offer free tango shows during lunch time, which usually include dancers, singers and a small orchestra that help turning a simple lunch in quite an experience. But you actually don’t need to go into a restaurant to enjoy some authentic tango, street dancers and singers are all over the Plaza Dorrego!

Simply relax and enjoy a very porteño shopping day, dive into the wonderful pieces of Buenos Aires’s past accompanied by the melancholy and passion of tango.

The Feria in San Telmo is open every Sunday from 11 AM until 10PM and, although the stands are installed at the open air, the Feria is not canceled when it rains.

You can walk down Defensa St. from Plaza de Mayo, or take a 5 minutes cab to Plaza Dorrego.

Pamela Martinez is an specialist for international tourism to Argentina. Her website WonderfulArgentina.com was specially designed to help international tourists plan their trip to this beautiful country.

Imagine a Valentine’s Day at a winter destination where you can spend romantic evenings walking in the pristine snow with the moon and stars twinkling gently while being reflected on the still waters of a beautiful lake with a backdrop of endless mountains. Imagine returning to a luxurious room with a warm fireplace and a deep bed and gently waking to the glorious winter sun shining into your room to spend another day in the loving company of your partner.

Imagine a short summer vacation spent on a romantic tropical island where secluded beaches are but a short distance from your hotel. You can spend the evenings taking a barefoot walk along the beach with palm trees to one side and the deep red sun setting gently on the horizon creating a rich tapestry of color in the sky and upon the sea which gently rolls backwards and forwards creating romantic music as you wander hand in hand.

Yes we can all admit that the two examples above sound wonderful and would fulfill the dreams of most true romantics but how can such an experience be had? Such a break may not be affordable but, by careful planning, it will be possible for most of us to create the perfect romantic evening for our loved one. There may be no need to travel half way around the globe to find a romantic bed and breakfast there might be one closer to home, a quick look online or a visit to a local travel agent may reveal the perfect destination only a short distance away.

Of course we all have different visions of what can be considered romance so an understanding of your partner’s expectations is important at the earliest stages of planning. Does he or she expect to be wined and dined with a personal musical accompaniment while you present him/her with a dozen red roses or would they be happy with less? If you plan to surprise your partner then your task will be all the more difficult as you will have to gain the relevant information without arising suspicion. However it can be equally rewarding planning the evening together, by doing this you will be almost certain of success and the time spent planning together can also be most romantic.

Once you have chosen your ideal location you must consider making an early reservation, there is nothing worse than finding the perfect place only to find it is fully booked. Draw up a shortlist of suitable places and then see which hotel is able to cater for all of your needs. If you happen to be a same sex couple it would be advisable to contact the chosen bed and breakfasts to ask them if they consider their establishment to be “gay friendly” as some smaller places can be embarrassed or even unhappy to accommodate you. If you find that you are uncomfortable in asking such questions you may want to ask friends if they could recommend somewhere or, failing this, you will find a number of websites which publish lists of gay friendly accommodation.

When you contact bed and breakfasts ask them if they are willing to help you arrange your romantic evenings. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised as many will happily offer assistance and will make useful suggestions that you may not have considered. Most will be able to arrange for flowers and wine (or champagne) to be in the room on your arrival and some may be even able to provide a singing waiter (or other musician). You may want to check if they have a room with a jacuzzi or hot tub, a large screen TV, a romantic view, a balcony or any other romantic frills.

When all your enquiries have been made and the decision made upon the destination all you need do is to make the reservation.

Last Minute Details

Before you set off on your romantic bed and breakfast spend some time relaxing together, allow plenty of time to get to the destination so that you are not rushing. This should ensure that you arrive in the best frame of mind to make the most of your special time together. Upon arrival, or during the journey, try to forget about all of the day to day things of life, leave them behind so that you can focus upon your love for each other.

Above all have fun!

Phil Hamilton writes extensively for travel and accommodation sites about the U. K. (United Kingdom) where he has lived for the past 35 years. Although Phil spends most of his time staying in England hotels he also travels extensively in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Nowadays, most airfares are non-refundable. Hotels, vacation packages and cruises require prepayment or a hefty deposit and they usually carry cancellation fees. Travel insurance will protect you and reimburse you in the event that something goes wrong and you either cannot travel at all or must return home due to an emergency.

Who needs it? Vacationers, student travelers, business travelers, in fact, everybody who travels especially to a foreign country should have some type of travel insurance.

Travel insurance might cover the three basic major expenses that can occur during

a vacation or business trip:

a) Trip cancellation

b) Medical insurance and medical emergency evacuation

c) Accidental death

In addition, it is available in many forms these include, single trip, multi-trip, annual travel, business travel, family or personal, senior citizens and winter sports or ski insurance.

As you can see, purchasing travel insurance can be confusing so it is important to evaluate your needs before buying the insurance you need. Here are some travel tips:

Trip Cancellation & Interruption: The most used type of travel insurance generally covers non-refundable trip costs if you cannot travel due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness death, sickness, airline strike, travel company bankruptcy, etc.

This coverage will not only include airline tickets, but also hotel, tour, or cruise cancellation fees.

Often these plans include travel assistance services, coverage for lost or damaged baggage

Medical Insurance: You may not know this, but chances are that your medical insurance might not cover you while traveling.

If something happens to you and you are in foreign country, travel medical insurance may cover some of the following:

Emergency evacuation and repatriation, medical or legal referral, guaranteed hospital admission, translation services, inoculation information, emergency cash advance, eyeglass replacement and much more.

Emergency Medical Evacuation: In the case of accident or illness, covers land, air ambulance and/or air transportation to the nearest appropriate hospital or medical facility, or in some cases all the way home.

Some plans might include AD&D insurance

Accidental Death & Dismemberment: This type of insurance will pay you or your beneficiary the full amount of the insurance whenever there is a death or the loss of a body part due to an accident.

AD&D might comprise of accidental death or dismemberment due to a flight accident or it may have broader terms that cover any type of accident that might occur during the entire trip.

Protect your investment, and travel with peace of mind knowing that no matter what happens, help will be available should something go wrong.

Alice Flowers is a former airline employee and now writes articles

on travel. Visit the author’s website at:

TravelTips101.com

When planning a vacation abroad the incredible choice of destinations and airlines can seem a little confusing at first but, after a little study and much discussion the task of choosing becomes easier. Once you have chosen a suitable vacation destination you must familiarize yourselves with that country, learn it’s customs and maybe learn a couple of important phrases in the native language. A fantastic resource worth investigation is the CIA World Factbook, which is available to read online, in it you will find a wealth of useful information about each and every country of the world ranging from details of the climate to really important stuff such as any transnational issues (disputes & war, drugs etc.).

Required Documentation for International Air Travel

International air travel necessitates the ownership of a passport. With the increase in the number of international travelers and the recent increases in global security measures the length of time it takes to process a passport application has increased dramatically so it is therefore incredibly important that you allow sufficient time to apply (and receive) your passport. Consider allowing a couple of months to be on the safe side or even apply immediately, it is far better to be fully prepared well in advance of a trip than find yourself panicking at the last minute!

When your passport arrives take a copy of the identification page to leave with family or friends while you travel and another which you should keep with you in a safe place. While away from home you should ensure that you have your passport with you at all times, keep it in a very safe place (but separate from your copy). Consider purchasing a money belt which is easily concealed and safe for important documents as well as emergency cash.

Final Preparations for International Air Travel

A little understanding of the laws of the country you wish to travel to could save you a great deal of bother. While abroad you should always be aware that you are subject to the laws of that country and NOT your own. You should create a short list of important information that will help ensure an enjoyable vacation without stress. Such items could be the address and telephone number of your Embassy there or a list of contact telephone numbers of people who should be contacted in the event of accident or emergency. Consider printing the page about your destination from the CIA World Factbook or get yourself a copy of the relevant Consular Information Sheet.

If you are planning to stay at a hotel in England or another English speaking country you may find it useful to visit their website or even contact them first. Many establishments offer information on local visitor attractions or other relevant information which will help you to make the most of your vacation there. Most travel sites offer such information in a number of languages, if you find yourself on a site in a foreign language just look for the flag of your country and click on it, they can usually be found towards the top of the page.

International air travel is exciting but many can become nervous, you should try to relax but, under no circumstances is it advisable to consume alcohol prior to a flight. Many airlines will not allow you to board an aircraft if they consider you a risk to passenger safety! Keep your hand luggage to an absolute minimum keeping only important items, such as documentation and cash. Do not carry any sharp objects or anything that security personnel could see being used as a weapon. Many airlines also restrict what liquids can be carried and certainly do not carry an pressurized containers such a cigarette lighters.

One final thing to remember before you start your journey is to ensure that you do not carry anything that would cause embarrassment to you if your hand luggage is searched. Consideration of all of the above should ensure a happy and enjoyable vacation.

Phil Hamilton writes extensively for travel and accommodation sites, mainly about vacations in England and hotels in London UK but also about many other countries in Europe.