Travel

If you are travelling in Australia or having a Gold Coast holiday it is very likely that you will be visiting the towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads. Rainbow Bay is just east of Coolangatta and north of Tweed Heads and offers one of the worlds longest surfing beaches with consistent breaks and swells starting at the sand bank. Whether you are visiting Rainbow Bay as part of your Gold Coast holiday or specifically the surfing there is something fro everyone to enjoy. In addition to the surfing you will also find Rainbow Bay the ideal location to enjoy relaxing walks along the beach, fishing and snorkelling opportunities. For those who decide to throw in a fishing line you can reasonably expect to catch bream or snapper.

However, Rainbow Bay is more popular as a family resort with the sheltered cove in this area offering safe swimming to every family member including children. The beach is patrolled throughout the day on all the days in the year. Safe kayaking and windsurfing for the entire family is possible in this enchanting Rainbow Bay. The Southern Points Promenade in Rainbow Bay is part of the world famous Oceanway network of Gold Coast. This promenade stretches for 36 kilometres, with viewing platforms, walkways and bikeways.

When Captain Cook navigated this section of the Australian coast in 1770 he named two points of interest at Rainbow Bay, being Point Danger and Mount Warning. The now, and aptlt named, Captain Cook Lighthouse is something that should definately be seen. The nearby Tweed River was developed as a port from 1830 where cedar wood harvested from the Gold Coast rain forests was shipped.

There are several accommodation options available in Rainbow Bay including Rainbow Commodore Holiday Apartments and The Bay Apartments in Rainbow Bay. There are further and a more expansive selection of Gold Coast hotels, Gold Coast motels, Gold Coast resorts and Gold Coast apartments available in the nearby cities of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads. Rainbow Commodore Holiday Apartments offers accommodation in a 15-storey resort style Rainbow Bay complex with a selections of 2 & 3 bedroom self contained apartments. Onsite facilities include: spa, heated swimming pool, sauna, half-size tennis court, and satellite TV

The Bay Apartments in Rainbow Bay is the other option for stay in Rainbow Bay. Three bedroom penthouse type of apartments with own spa and secure underground parking. Two bedroom apartments range from $111 to $209, while three bedroom apartments are priced between $189 and $337. Facilities in the Bay Apartments are equally great with 5-star facilities provided to you at every stage.

Enjoy you Gold Coast holiday in Rainbow Bay and discover all the region has to offer and in particular the relaxed atmosphere. Visit Rainbow Bay to uncover all that it has to offer.

If you want to find out more about the Gold Coast, then visit Bailey Jamieson’s site on how to choose the best Gold Coast Accommodation for your needs.

Like any self-respecting Englishman, I have lived abroad. That is to say, I have lived in the United States and embodied the cliche of the Englishman in not-so sunny California. Rather than cater to too broad of a cliche, I subscribed myself to the fog-prone coasts of Northern California. Granted, this was not as radical a break from convention and expectations as I had thought, but nonetheless, I was spared a horrid sunburn for the five years I lived and worked in and around San Francisco.

A horrid flight delivered me to SFO and bit of confusion managed to somehow convey me to an area I would come to find out was called South San Francisco — not to be confused with the City by the Bay itself (and I do apologize for acquiescing to the use of pseudonyms). I sought shelter in many of the South San Francisco hotels, but finally settled on the one that would actually accept pounds Sterling as payment.

Studying a regional map (and not bothering with scale), the San Franciscan peninsula seemed like a jaunty day trip by public transport. Those of you who are familiar with the Bay Area, of course, know it is impossible to see the entire area in a day, much less by bus or metro. Nonetheless, I had to find out the hard way, as they say. The hard way began with a metro ride (known as the Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART) to the center of the city, Union Square.

It was right around the turn of the century and Union Square was in full, resurgent bloom. It had been cordoned off for a year or so in the late Nineties to accommodate a massive gentrification project. Apparently, I would come to find out from ex-hippie who bore witness to the literal ups and downs of the city, that the square had fallen on hard times. Like it’s Eastern cousin, Union Square had suffered a debased, pornographic existence for almost two decades. And, like Times Square, it had been identified as having tremendous marketing potential.

Nothing could have prepared me for the utter denouement awaiting me as I made my way ground-ward from the bowels of the BART system. I believe the first storefront I happened to gawk at was the Apple Store, which occupied two stories of prime real estate. At every turn I was reminded — mind you, I had just arrived from London — by how incredibly similar this fable city was to my hometown. This, I thought, was a rather anti-climactic realization. Little did I know I would have my fair share of denouements to come.

It is my sincere hope that you may experience the kindness of South San Francisco hotels in person, and with enough time on your hands to appreciate the entire region.

Xian China is a town full of museums where you can find out how life was during ancient times. The culture of the Chinese people can be explored and you absolutely will be astounded by some of the exhibits in many of the Xian museums. Way back in the 11th century BC and the Zhou Dynasty, the town of Xian was a political and cultural area within China. History goes back much further than that however. People settled in the area and it has been documented by the find of Banpo village that was already 6500 years old when it was found in 1954.

The founding date of Xian is about 202 BCE when Emperor Liu Bang belonging to the Han Dynasty made his capital in Changan and a few years later he built a palace in Xian. During the Sui Dynasty about 582 a new capitol was built and there were three different sections one being Xian Palace. The city is in central China surrounded by 8 rivers and streams. Qinling Mountains are on the southern border and to the north is Wei River. With all the history of the area one would expect there to be some very good museums around and Xian has some excellent museums.

Everyone has heard of the Terracotta Army and Horse Museum. Here there are over 7000 terracotta statues placed in 16,300 square meters. There are life sized warriors and horses that stand ready to attack in battle formations. This museum is a must see when ever you are in the area. In 1974 some villagers were building wells and stumbled upon some bronze weapons. They knew they were important and brought in agents from the Cultural Heritage department of the government. This was the beginning of one of the most substantial archaeological digs found in modern times. There were three pits filled with these figures and they built a roof over top to protect them. You can see the horses and chariots and warriors and even see some of the excavation that is still going on.

The Shaanxi History Museum is an important museum in Xian City. It is housed in a beautiful Tang dynasty style building. You can see over 2700 art pieces within the doors. There is a permanent exhibition and also temporary exhibitions revolve throughout the year. The history of the region is the main theme of the permanent exhibition. You will see interesting relics from many of the dynasties including ceramics from Neolithic period, bronze age pieces, weapons, statues in gold and photographs from important archaeological digs. If you want to purchase something in the gift shop be sure to dicker with the clerk to get a good price for it.

Hanyang Tomb is an underground museum that was open in 2006. The exhibits of relics are in glass cases that are easy to view. There are sections of the museum built over pits and have glass floors so you can see down into the pits. This tomb lay quiet for over 2000 years and there are still areas that are being excavated to this day. You will see many different statues of both humans and animals that have extreme detail. You actually go into the tomb and guides will give you a few plastic bags to put over your shoes to protect them from the elements.

The Banpo Village Museum is a Stone Age settlement that was settled in about 5000 to 4000 BC. The museum is inside a building located about 10 miles east of Xian City and was built in 1958. The village was very organized with a building in the center of the village that had a large room circled by several smaller rooms. All around the village was a ditch that was designed to keep large wild animals out. There were 46 individual dwellings, a ceramic production area and a cemetery. In the museum are tools and weapons used by the people and reproductions of what life would be like in the village.

If you can find the Bell Tower you can find the Stele Forest Museum. Here you will find about 1000 pieces of stone that are inscribed with calligraphy created in the Han to the Qing dynasty. This museum was formally a very popular Confucius temple. It is filled with stone tablets that are as old as 4000 years and continue up into the 20th century. All are inscribed with beautiful calligraphy. Guides will help you make your own calligraphy if you wish.

The city of Xian is a great place for those who love history to visit. You can see a variety of historic sites from Neolithic villages to artifacts from the dynasties. You can view the magnificent life sized terracotta figures and try to make a bit of calligraphy of your own. These are only a few of the many museums in town and all of them are worth a visit.

Museums in Xi’an will give you background of the local culture and some will just amaze you with the exhibits that are there for you to explore. We have got the ultimate inside scoop on the best Xian Travel and museums.

If you have a trip to Walt Disney World planned, consider buying discounted Disney parks tickets to save some money. There are many businesses who sell discount tickets to Walt Disney World. The only problem is in identifying who is reputable, and who is not. In this article, we will discuss several some suggestions for determining which companies are trustworthy, and which ones are not.

First of all, look for the Disney logo, and “authorized discount ticket agent” designation. If you don’t see these, the seller does not have the legal authority to sell those tickets. Authorized brokers purchase bulk tickets under contract, directly from the attractions. By purchasing in large volume, they receive discounts from Disney and the other attractions, which in turn are passed on to consumers. Those designations insure that buyers can trust the ticket broker.

Second, see if the business is a member of organizations like the Better Business Bureau, or the local Chamber of Commerce. You can also look at how long they have been in business: a long-standing business is likely to be a good indicator of the company being reputable.

Now take an honest look at the ticket prices. Do they seem too good to be true? Then they probably are. Many websites that seem legitimate offer some unbelievably low prices, and sadly they are usually scams. Some have prices that are so low there is just no way they could sell tickets at that price without losing money. You should also note the URL on the website, since many of these scams operate out of Romania (look for .ro at the end of the URL.) They typically want you to pay by wire transfer, meaning that you will be unable to get your money back when there is a problem. Always, always pay by credit card.

Finally, be certain that the company does not require a timeshare presentation as part of you getting your tickets…unless you want to give up vacation time for something like this. If you read the fine print at the bottom of the website, it will say if they are soliciting for timeshares.

Purchasing discounted Disney parks tickets is a great way to plan an affordable Disney family vacation. Just be certain to choose a reputable, authorized ticket broker for your purchase.

Nancy Bobby has been traveling to Disney World for over ten years. Her favorite resource for how to save money at Walt Disney World has been the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. Learn how to have your own affordable Disney vacation and check out her free Disney vacation planning bonus at her website www.theaffordablemouse.com

Ask anyone about their experiences or perceptions with a travel agent, and they’ll tell you that you should probably move on elsewhere or just use one of the big players. Many people think that travel agents are expensive and don’t offer any value for that higher cost. And you really can’t blame them; the major travel brands, from airlines to rental car companies, have spent a lot of marketing dollars to help reinforce that opinion that you’ll get a better deal when you buy direct with them. But marketplaces have a middleman for good reason, and the tourism industry is no different, as there is a time and place for a travel agent.

The tourism industry has undergone massive transformation in the digital age, and in some ways the travel agent’s role has become misunderstood. While some things are different, many things – including the network of systems and rules that pins together many of the cruise, hotel, and airline systems – is still the same, and a travel agent knows them better than anyone else. You might think it’s all simpler now because of the massive investment that travel brands have made to improve their online presence, but there is a lot hiding under the surface. Wouldn’t you rather work with someone who has access to special deals, or avoid having to spend the night on the floor of an airport when an extra $15 can get you on an earlier flight?

You might find it hard to find the right travel agent for you. But if you think in terms of your needs, that might help: for example, are you looking for a planning for an event in your life, such as a destination wedding? Maybe you need to sit down and talk with someone face to face, and in that case you can just look in the Yellow Pages for someone local. Many popular travel websites also offer travel planning services. The thing is, beyond agent certifications or qualifications, is that you feel they will understand your needs and wants.

Now you might be asking yourself if you should use an agent every time, and of course the answer is no. But when do you need a travel agent? For large groups or a party of you beyond four, it is a good idea to talk to an agent. Another good case is if you’re planning on a ultimate, only once in a lifetime travel event, that’s another. Keep in mind that travel agents don’t just find you seats and a hotel then leave you on your merry way; they’re checking into visa paperwork, can make recommendations on how best to efficiently use your time, insurance and vaccinations required, and provide an emergency support should you have trouble during your travel.

Where are you headed for your next vacation? Regardless of whether you know where it is you want to be or not, you now are clear as to the value and role of a travel agent in today’s marketplace and whether one is for you on that next trip.

Aidan Jones writes for Sharing Travel Experiences, a site where you’ll find several travel more resources, such as their popular travel concierge service.