Going for a tour to a new place?

We all love travelling to a new place. Such place may be near or far from where we live and such trip may also be of short or long time period. For one who is busy all days with his/her work, this type of trip turns out very fruitful because this makes one fresh, healthy and helps to minimize tension, stress etc.

Here your preparation before trip, how do you handle everything during the trip, how do you behave with new people is much important than the trip itself and the place. So, in this post, I am telling things you should take care before and during the journey.

Let me tell you one important tips while choosing spot or place for trip: never plan a guilt trip. If you didn't enjoy your journey, then it will create more problems.

1. Know about the place you are going
   It is not about knowing completely about the place and is not possible in practice as well. It is better to know some basics about the place in advance. Weather condition, culture, people there and if possible it will be better to learn the language that is spoken there. This is easy today because of the Internet. There is much information on the Internet almost of every place in the world. Besides, you can read books, magazines or contact local travel agent.
   


2. Show good behaviour
   Your behaviour, way of dealing with new people etc. plays very important role in making your tour successful or not. I Myself have observed this here. Say Hi, Hello and talk with smiley face to people you are dealing with. Do not argue in small issues such as for $5 or $ 10. Yes, money is important for all of us. But, it is not sure what will happen when. You life is important than that small amount of money.
   


3. Take some basic things
   It will be better to carry first aid box. So that condition will not become worse if any accident happened. Besides, you can carry extra light foods, clothes, map of the route or place etc.
   


4. Do not do alone
   It is suggested not to do a tour to a new place alone if you are going for the first time. Ask your friend to accompany you or go with members of your family. If still you are alone, hire a guide or a porter of the place you are visiting who knows the things of the place. Keep good relation with the guide or the porter.
   


5. Money
   Last but important thing is money. To check whether the money you have is enough or not for your journey, first make a rough estimate of money you have to pay for everything(major one first) on the way. Always take quiet much money than you just need in your estimation. If you've planned to pay $ 500 a for food, maintain this limit and do the same thing in every other things. Do not spend $ 5000 in a single day for food and return home from the middle of the journey. It will again be better not to carry money in cash. Electronic alternatives such as credit cards are much superior and safer than cash.

A Visitors Guide To Zurich Switzerland

Zurich is the biggest city in Switzerland and one of the only destinations in the world that truly has something for everybody. Most of the city's residents can speak multiple languages, including Zurich Swiss travel German, English, French, and Italian. The city is well known for its banking district, luxury goods, and outstanding universities, but it also provides a vast array of athletic and cultural events. All of these elements add up to a great travel place to live, so it should travel come as no surprise that for five successive years, Zurich has been named the city with the highest quality of life in the world by consulting company William M. Mercer.

Zurich accommodates visitors of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, race, gender, sexuality, or social class. Children and their families have many options to choose from, including the outstanding Zurich Toy Museum (Fortunagasse 15, 8001 Zurich), which has free admission and features over 1000 antique toys from all over Europe. Zurich is also one of the world's most queer-friendly cities, with a substantial number of bars, clubs, and cultural events-such as the Pink Apple, a gay and lesbian film festival that takes place every May-that cater to homosexual travelers.

Switzerland's rather posh reputation may give budget-minded travelers pause, but the truth is that a trip to Zurich can be just as affordable as any other European destination. There are a number of stylish and moderately-priced lodging options available to travelers, such as the small and charming Hotel Seehof (11 Seehofstrasse, 8008 Zurich, http://www.hotelseehof.cf). Each of the hotel's 20 rooms (doubles from $215 per night) is simple and elegant, featuring sleek Swiss furniture and wireless internet access. The hotel also contains its own bar and Japanese food restaurant.

One easy way to explore what Zurich has to offer is by purchasing a Zurich Card. This one or three-day pass grants you admission to 40 museums, unlimited access to the city's excellent public transportation system, and special deals at many restaurants and shops. The Zurich Card can be purchased online by e-mailing the orders and information department at contact@zw.ch. A one-day pass costs approximately $12 for adults and $8 for children, while a three-day pass runs around $24 for adults and $16 for children.

The city is home to over 50 museums, which range in focus from art to technology. One of it's most unique is the Circus Museum (Fischmarktplatz 1, 8640 Rapperswil SG). Circus arts travel have a long, proud history in Switzerland, with Knie-the Swiss National Circus-setting up shop in 1919. Zurich also provides its visitors with a huge number of restaurants offering cuisine from virtually every country in the world, including Brazil, Korea, and Lebanon. For a taste of authentic Swiss travel food, head to Adler's Swiss Chuchi (Rosengasse 10, 8001 Zurich) for some of the city's best travel regional cuisine. And of course, no trip to Zurich would be complete without a pilgrimage to the city's most exclusive shopping district: Bahnhofstrasse (Bahnhofstrasse, 8001 Zurich).

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Belgium Travel- Know about Belgium

Belgium is a country that is surrounded by France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. It has a compact size which makes it thperfect country to travel. The capital of Belgium is Brussels and is also known as the heart of the country.

Brussels, BelBelgium is a country that is surrounded by France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. It has a compact size which makes it thperfect country togium is also the headquarters for NATO. There are so many different cultural attractions for travels such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Ancient Art, the Comic Strip Museum, and one of the most popular, the Chocolate and Cocoa Museum. The Chocolate and Cocoa Museum features one of Belgium’s best known products.

The capital is not the only place to experience in Belgium. In fact there are many enchanting cities including Ghent, Liege, and Bruges which all have impressive architecture, top-rated cuisine, as well as the night life.

Bruges, Belgium has been known as the "Venice of the North" because it is one of Europe’s most magnificent and well-preserved medieval cities. One of the best parts about this amazing city is that getting to Bruges could not be any easier. You can get there by Eurostar, a ferry, or Eurotunnel, than take a drive to Bruges.

If you are into popular fashion and modern design then you will want to visit the newly reinvented Antwerp. This city in Belgium is known as being a new hotbed for fashion and design. Antwerp, Belgium has many other sights to offer visitors as well including the mountainous area of the Ardennes region all the way to the East. There are also gorgeous coastline resorts set on the Western seaboard.

Belgium is a country that is best known for its specialty products such as ubiquitous beers, delicious chocolates, beautiful lace, and of course Belgian waffles. If you visit Belgium you must stay at one of their comfortable and inviting bed and breakfasts that they are so well known for.

Hello From Victoria! Reaching The West Coast

Jetlag is an amazing thing. It's barely after 5 am and I have already been reading for an hour an a half. So I figured I might as well use this bout of sleeplessness and record my first impressions of British Columbia.

My WestJet flight out of Toronto left a 7:15 am yesterday, so that meant I got up at 4:30 am, after 2.5 hours of sleep, to check all my luggage, eat a brief breakfast and get myself out to the airport. Sometimes a little travel savvy goes a long way, I had decided to use my Airmiles to go to BC and upon doing some research I found out that WestJet had a special on that only required me to use 1600 Airmiles instead of the regular 3900 Airmiles, so off I went and booked the trip, saving myself 60% of the Airmiles that I would have otherwise spent. When you travel frequently, you have to look at every available option of savings costs and my travel reward miles came through big for me.

I was able to book a flight from Toronto to Calgary and another from Calgary to Vancouver. WestJet is always an interesting experience because its flight attendants are known for cracking jokes over the PA system. The flight to Calgary was actually really bumpy and for about an hour we went through what felt like a dirt road in the sky full of potholes, hitting the occasional air pocket and dropping a few feet. But the WestJet crew brought us down safely and humorously, something I was very happy about.

In retrospect I actually felt pretty lucky, considering that the very night before my departure an Air France flight had crash-landed in Toronto. Fortunately, all 300+ passengers and crew survived and only 43 people ended up with light injuries, despite the fact that the plane went up in flames. Not surprisingly the newspapers referred to this incident as the Miracle Flight.

Well, my aerial transport went a lot smoother and after about 7 hours of flight and transfers our plane touched down in beautiful Vancouver. The natural setting of Vancouver is indeed impressive: it is set in the Coastal Mountain Range, surrounded by Vancouver Island and the Pacific Ocean. It certainly looked breath-taking from the air, but my exploration of this city had to wait since my first item of the agenda was to get myself to the City of Victoria, on Vancouver Island.

I located the Pacific Coachlines desk at the Vancouver airport and for just over C$70.00 I bought a return ticket for a coach and ferry ride across to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. I only had about a half hour between my arrival at the airport until a comfortable air-conditioned bus whisked us to the Tsawassen Bay Ferry Terminal, following which the bus went onto the BC Ferries boat itself.

The ferry was a very large vessel with 3 different decks for cars, trucks and buses. There are 3 additional passenger decks including an open-air sitting area in the front of the ferry. We slowly started our crossing of the Straits of Georgia and I thoroughly enjoyed the panomara of mountains and water. Due to my lack of sleep my head got a little heavy and I fell asleep on the open-air deck. When I woke up we were just chugging through the narrows between Galiano Island and Mayne Island. The narrow channel is embedded in between these islands which are covered by coniferous forests. The entire approach to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal was one of the most scenic waterways I have ever seen.

Punctually at 2:25 pm people headed back down to the bus, at 2:35 the bridge was lowered onto the ferry and our bus was the first vehicle out of the boat. Another 45 minutes later and we arrived in downtown Victoria at the bus terminal, right next to the Fairmont Empress Hotel, one of Victoria's most famous landmarks. Designed as a chateau-style luxury hotel, it was built in 1908 for $1 million and was extensively restored in the late 1980s to the tune of $45 million. But more extensive exploration of this stunning building would have to wait, since a local friend was picking me up at the bus station.

My co-worker Clare, who works with me in my full-time business in new business development, relocated to Victoria with her husband Haishan in March of this year, and the two of them have been graciously accommodating me since my arrival yesterday. Both Clare and her husband are originally from mainland China and have been calling Canada their home for the last few years.

Haishan came to pick me up and after a beautiful drive through Victoria and some of its suburbs, I arrived at Clare and Haishan's beautiful house in a little hillside community outside Victoria. After a couple of hours of rest due to my utter exhaustion, I got up to a beautiful Chinese dinner complete with 3 different meat dishes and the most delicous chicken with chestnuts dish I had ever eaten.

While we were savouring this gourmet meal, a deer made its appearance in the backyard, and Clare had already informed me earlier that deers show up in the backyard on an almost daily basis and take care of all newly planted landscaping and flowers, much to the chagrin of the residents.

After this delicious dinner we went on a little drive in the neighbourhood and drove down to the lagoon from where we had a perfect lookout to the Olympic Mountain Range in Washington State, across the narrow strait from Vancouver Island. One of the mountains was snow-covered and this majestic mountain range combined with the waters of the Pacific creates one of the most stunning sceneries this lovely planet of ours has to offer. We had a view of a historic light house and the Esquimalt navy base and after a brief drive through the hilly coastal roads (and another close encounter with a deer) we drove back to Clare's beautiful house on the slopes.

After another hour or two of shop talk I was positively exhausted and dropped into bed like a sack of potatoes, only to wake up before 4 am, unable to sleep. Well, this early rise has given me a chance to record my first impressions, and I have avidly been reading my guidebook on Vancouver and Victoria, laying out a draft itinerary for today. The sun is coming up now so I've got another couple of hours of reading ahead of me in preparation of today's discovery.

Europe:A few of my favourite places.

1. Lesvos. Truly a magical place to visit. The birdlife is incredible where east meets west bringing with it a few birds you would struggle to see in the usual European locations.

2. Coto Donana Parque national. A totally unspoilt area of a multitude of habitats that is located not too far from the Portugese Border and is situated more or less between Huelva and Seville. It is stuffed with birds. Star bird here is the Spanish Imperial Eagle.

3. The mountainous are around Ronda on the Costa del Sol. Stronghold of many birds of prey including Griffon Vulture, Short toed Eagle plus the odd Egyptian and Black Vulture, Booted and Bonellie's Eagle for good measure.

4. Portugal, the Algarve. Some excellent reserves along this long strip of land running along the southern area of Portugal from Spain to Cabo de sao Vicente. Also just over the Northern Algarve boundary you have the Castro Verde where Great and Little Bustards roam together with large numbers of Montague Harriers, the odd Roller plus many more birds.

5. The NW corner of the Greek Mainland, bordering Albania. You fly into Parga to get there. A hugely underwatched area of Greece with some amazing wetlands with anything from Flamingoes, White and Dalmation Pelicans, Slender billed Gulls and much much more.

6. Mallorca. A smashing birdwatching island with plenty of places to visit. Well worth going to the Albufeira Marshes & waterworks (Depudora), Boquer Valley, Cuber Reservoir, Selina de Levanti and many more.

7. Kefalonia. Not as good as Lesvos as it only has one wetland area but it is a stunning island with many mountains, valleys and plains. Some excellent birds here that can be quite easily found if you look hard enough.

8. Scilly Isles in Autumn. Awesome place to visit if it's rare birds you are after.

9. Norfolk / Suffolk. An anytime of the year area to visit with enough reserves and bird rich habitats to last you a lifetime.

10. Scotland. Based anywhere near Loch Garten (near Aviemore). Use it as a start point to visit the Cairngorms and surrounding area plus venturing throughout the whole of the North of Scotland, perhaps calling into the Isle of Skye as well. What can you see. Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill plus many more.

Romantic Place To Go

When we think of romance, we conjure images of overwhelming imperial splendor, colorful Bavarian architecture, colossal castles and beaches, stylish dining, and great weather all the year round.

Given a choice, there are different romantic places to go in the world. In fact a romantic weekend is all about a bit of seclusion, great scenery and wonderful dinning. From wide Alps mountain range to exotic sea beaches of Hawaii you‘re flooded with innumerable choices. Whether it’s your wedding party celebrations or anniversary, we provide you with the best suitable romantic ideas on spending a romantic holiday with your sweetheart. So here’s a list of different romantic places to go as ---

1. One of the most romantic places to visit is the island of Capri in Italy offering you great sights of art, culture and luxurious accommodation facilities.

2. The Mosel Valley in Germany with its steep riverbanks, vine yards and charming little towns show casing the marvelous castles is considered the most romantic place of the world.

3. South West Wales, in U.K. a place which always bears testimony to many historic events from World War 1 to changing trends of the society, with its ancient art and edifice is truly reckoned to be one of the most romantic destination of the world.

4. If you re planning for honeymoon or a romantic getaway, then try out the beautiful and amazing island nation of Maldives nestled in midst of warm blue ocean and providing you the perfect romantic setting with thousand coral islands, shallow lagoons and great sporting adventure activities.

So, what are you waiting for, just pack your bags and a trip down to rejuvenate yourself in a romantic holiday destination.

Dgreetings.com offers you wide ranging details on varied romantic places to go.

Italy well worth the effort in 2008

Italy is gung-ho for restricted traffic zones in its city centers. This is great for pedestrians, but not for drivers who are finding $100 fines in their mail when they arrive home.

If you drive in Rome, Florence, Milan, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, Orvieto or Verona -- in restricted areas marked by a Zona Traffico Limitato sign -- your car's license plate will be photographed and you can be fined without ever being stopped by a cop. Pay attention to signs, get parking advice from your hotelier, and park outside restricted areas.

Rome

With a revolution brewing among the throngs of tourists stung by the Vatican Museum's stingy hours, the museum has agreed to stay open longer in 2008: Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4:00 p.m.); as usual, it'll be closed on Sunday except for the last Sunday of the month, when it's free and open 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (last ticket sold at 12:30 p.m.). While some Catholics would love a private audience with the pope, those passed away with John Paul II -- Pope Benedict XVI doesn't do them.

It's a good time to be a fan of ancient Rome. On Palatine Hill, the Augustus Rooms, four newly restored rooms in a house from the era of Emperor Augustus open in March 2008 (entry included in the Colosseum/Palatine Hill ticket). At Trajan's Forum, a new Museum of the Imperial Forum just opened, offering ancient artifacts and computers showing how the forum was built.

Nearby, a small part of Nero's Golden House has reopened, but it's in a sad state of ruin -- more historically significant than interesting. And travelers are rediscovering the Ara Pacis -- the first-century "Altar of Peace" built by Emperor Augustus to kick off the Pax Romana. It's wonderfully displayed in a state-of-the-art exhibit housed in a starkly modern building -- the first new construction in Rome's old center since 1938.

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Florence

If you're planning a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, the more-popular-than-ever showcase of Italian Renaissance paintings, reserve a ticket and entry time at least a month ahead (to avoid the two-hour-long ticket-buying line at the gallery). The simplest option is to ask your hotelier to make the reservation (most will do this for free or for a small fee). You can try to make the Uffizi reservation yourself by phone (from the United States, dial 011-39-055-294-883), but the line is often busy, and once you get through, it seems that they almost enjoy keeping you on hold and then disconnecting you.

Venice

The Clock Tower on St. Mark's Square has finally opened, giving visitors a close-up look at the clock innards, as well as expansive views of the square and beyond from the terrace. Unfortunately, you can only see it with a reservation-only guided tour (12 euros, includes Correr Museum). You can make the reservation in person at the Correr Museum, from the States by dialing 011-39-041-520-9070, or online at www.museiciviciveneziani.it.

The glorious dome of Venice's La Salute Church will likely be covered in scaffolding in 2008. The proposed 10-year, multi-billion-dollar Moses Project, designed to protect Venice from flooding through the use of underwater barriers, was funded several years ago ... but construction has yet to begin. Meanwhile construction is under way on the Grand Canal's new, ultra-modern fourth bridge, made of glass, steel and stone. The Calatrava Bridge will connect the Santa Lucia train station with Piazzale Roma as early as this summer, if it's finished on time.

In nearby Vicenza, 2008 promises to be a great year as the town celebrates the 500th birthday of Palladio, the homegrown architectural genius (www.andreapalladio500.it).

Milan

Reservations to see Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper still book up long in advance. It's better to book by phone than online. If you call, you'll have a greater selection of days and time slots to choose from, since their user-unfriendly Website doesn't reflect cancellations (from the United States, dial 011-39-02-8942-1146, www.cenacolovinciano.org).

Milan's new Museum of Art and Science offers a hands-on look at Leonardo's work -- sketches, paintings, and models of inventions -- during the 20 years he spent in Milan. The cathedral's Duomo Museum is still under renovation and may be closed for the first part of 2008, as is the train station (expect chaos until the dust settles, and even after that).

From Milan to Rome, Italy is working hard to spiff up its sights, draw more tourists, and keep the gelato-slurping masses moving as smoothly as possible. It's hot, crowded, expensive ... and well worth the effort.

World Travel Top 10 romantic retreats

Bermuda

Bermuda has long been a choice vacation spot for lovers. Topping their list: Elbow Beach on the south shore, which was named "Best Place for Falling in Love" by The Bermudian magazine. For a secluded retreat, visit Astwood Cove in Warwick Parish or Somerset Long Bay in Sandys Parish; 800/237-6832 or bermudatourism.com.

Manhattan, New York

Hopeless romantics will always find inspiration in the Big Apple. Restaurants are everywhere, but couples flock to the West Village's One if by Land, Two if by Sea (considered one of the best places in the city to pop the question). For skyline views, head to Top of the Rock, the observation deck crowning the GE Building at Rockefeller Center. On Valentine's Day, adults visiting between 9 p.m. and midnight receive a free glass of champagne; rockefellercenter.com. For a different view of the island, try a Manhattan Harbor Brunch Cruise for two aboard a 1920s-style yacht; 866/973-7436, xperiencedays.com, or iloveny.com.

Big Island, Hawaii

The Mauna Lani Resort, on the Big Island's Kohala coast, indulges romantic guests with its Lava Love getaway package. For at least three nights, health-conscious couples may stay in a deluxe oceanfront suite and enjoy sunrise workouts on the beach; a private, lava-rock sauna; spa treatments; and even a hula lesson; 800/367-2323 or maunalani.com.

Whidbey Island, Washington

Stress starts to melt away as you step off the ferry onto this Washington island, just one hour north of Seattle. Rich in natural beauty, Whidbey Island is also home to picturesque towns and romantic B&Bs. Spend the day in Langley (for a special treat, pick up a picnic for two from the Chef's Pantry). Journeying north, drop by Greenbank Farms for wine and cheese before climbing the Admiralty Head Lighthouse for a gorgeous view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Toast to your travels at the new Frasers Gourmet Hideaway in Oak Harbor; whidbeycamanoislands.com.

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Lovers Key, Florida

This Gulf Coast island is popular, but it still offers secluded nooks and stretches of beach where Valentines can get away from it all. Rent a canoe or tandem kayak at Lovers Key State Park, and paddle the canals among manatees and other wildlife. Later, snuggle at sunset on a beach that, at least for the evening, is yours alone; floridastateparks.org/loverskey or fortmyerssanibel.com.

Cumberland Island, Georgia

This hidden gem gained national attention in 1996 when John F. Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette inside the island's First African Baptist Church. Renowned for its privacy and serene beauty, Cumberland has more than 17 miles of white-sand beaches to explore and numerous wild horses to admire. We recommend an overnight stay at the Greyfield Inn, a 1900-era mansion on more than 200 acres of protected shore; greyfieldinn.com or cumberlandisland.org.

Princess Royal Island, British Columbia

Journey off British Columbia's north coast to find wild and beautiful Princess Royal Island. The two of you can get a taste of this remote island when the King Pacific Lodge docks (yes, docks!) at its shores each year. Combining the best of wilderness and luxury, the floating lodge offers couples fly-fishing and kayaking adventures, combined with spa treatments and ocean-view or wilderness-view suites (the Romance and Waterfall suites are top-notch); 888/592-5464 or kingpacificlodge.com.

The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, Miami, Florida

Secluded on a 20-acre island in Biscayne Bay, The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa provides a relaxing escape from the big city nearby. A pool and jogging path overlook the bay, as do 49 bayview rooms. Dine at the acclaimed oceanfront Baleen restaurant, and spice things up with the Tantra Lovers Island Escape package; 800/884-7683 or groveisle.com.

Naples, Long Beach, California

Naples, near Belmont Shores in Alamitos Bay, is actually a series of islands divided by waterways. In classic Italian style, gondoliers take lovebirds on a tour of the canals -- no doubt, the best way to explore this watery village. Surprise your sweetheart with a bottle of vino, then take a Venetian-style moonlit ride. (Don't forget to smooch under every bridge for good luck!) For more information, call The Gondola Getaway, 562/433-9595 or gondolagetawayinc.com; or visit beachcalifornia.com/naples2.html.

Anguilla, Caribbean

With 33 white-sand beaches, this small island is a picture-perfect hideaway. Escape for the afternoon to Long Pond Bay or Katouche Bay (if you're lucky, you'll have the beach to yourself). Couples on the go will love the CuisinArt Resort & Spa (800/943-3210 or cuisinartresort.com), on popular Rendevous Bay (Anguilla's longest beach). The resort offers activities everyone can enjoy, including catamaran cruises and hands-on cooking classes; anguilla-vacation.com