Cheap Flights Cruises

Chinese National Day on October 1 is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the travel industry in China. It is a time when the people of China have several days vacation and millions of people return home to visit relatives.

This holiday period is one to avoid if you are thinking of a vacation in China. The trains and airliners are quite often filled to capacity, or beyond, and it is very difficult to obtain tickets for domestic trips within China.

Another peak period in China is the Spring Festival holiday or Lunar New Year which is normally in January or February. The date of the holiday varies as it is based on the lunar calendar. The next Spring Festival will be on January 26, 2009 which is the start of the year of the Ox. Spring Festival in 2010 falls on February 14.

One good thing about Chinese New Year is if you are in China you can quite often get a

cheap airfare out of Beijing

at the same time everyone is heading to China from overseas. I once got a return ticket to the United States for $250 as flights to Beijing were full however in the opposite direction they were empty.

After the National Day holiday it is probably a good time to find a cheap airfare to Beijing as the winter months are approaching and the Christmas period is still some time away. October is still not so cold that you cannot get out and about in Beijing without thick winter clothing.

For US travellers it is actually cheaper to fly on 1 October compared with 15 October. The cheapest flight to Beijing from Los Angeles on 1 October was $910 USD. This compared to $1043 for 15 October.

The main thing when looking for a cheap flight to Beijing or anywhere for that matter is to try many different dates on a few of the search engines. Also give your local travel agent a call to see what they can come up with if you are looking to travel to Beijing.

read comments (0)

I always wanted to visit Rome and am interested in Italian cuisine. Italy is the place where people are said to be constantly eating pasta or pizza, but there’s a unique museum dedicated to this staple part of the country’s cuisine. This is the first museum of its kind that specialises in one food group. It cannot be missed, especially for the ones who love cooking.

At the ‘Museo Nazionale delle Paste Alimentari’ you will first learn a lot about the history of the famous dish and its production. 8 centuries of pasta history are presented in 11 different rooms. You will also learn about all the different ways of producing pasta, as there is so many different ways of doing so.

Starting with the wheat until you finally get the pasta…you’ll see the evolution from simple ingredients to intricate dishes. Did you know that the history of pasta dates back to the 12th century? So it’s understandable that there’s a lot of information to get! And what exactly is pasta made of? You’ll also get answers to that question.

Even if the more ‘conventional’ museum fails to inspire your young ones, the ‘Museo Nazionale delle Paste Alimentari’ will for sure. Like almost every other child, my daughter loves pasta and there is no other place where she could get so much information about her favourite dish. The museum is at Piazza Scanderberg 117, very close to the Trevi fountain where you should also go. You can visit the museum easily by public transport as there are approximately 10 busses going there. (Yep, the Italians really do LOVE their pasta.)

The museum is open every day (even Sundays) from 9.30am until 5.30pm. (Closed on public holidays) If you want to go with a big group, it’s probably best to let them know in advance. The entry fee is 10 euros for adults and 7 euros for children under the age of 18. The price includes a MP3 player which provides you with all of the information in 6 different languages.

The museum will provide you and your family a whole day of fun. It’s almost guaranteed that everyone will love this day trip, because lets face it, everyone loves pasta. If you visit the Italian capital it is recommended to book your accommodation in the centre (Unterkunft Rom) in advance. If you come with your family, you will have more space in an apartment (Ferienwohnungen Rom) and it is cheaper than a Hotel Rom.

read comments (0)

Australia is the place I call home. I love it. Many people I meet who are from other countries say they want to visit.

Are you thinking of coming to Australia? Do you have any questions you want answered by a local?

Now is a great time to visit. We are in spring at the moment and the weather is very pleasant.

Some of the places people normally want to visit include the Great Barrier Reef, Bondi Beach in Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Uluru and many places in between.

I love going to the beaches here in Australia. We have some of the best. You do have to be careful if you are not a good swimmer and should always find a patrolled beach. You look for the red and yellow flags and swim there if you want the added security of being supervised and can call on help if you are in trouble.

Right now in Canberra there is the Floriade flowere festival. It is really beautiful to visit but it end in early October.

Just some basic facts are that we drive on the left hand side of the road here. The population is around 22 million with Sydney being the largest and perhaps the best known city. Canberra is the national capital and is located 3 hours drive south west from Sydney.

So if you want to know more now is your chance to ask away. Leave your questions in the comments area below.

The official travel and tourism site is australia.com

read comments (0)

On 19 September Qantas took delivery of their brand new Airbus A380 in the Airbus home town of Toulouse. The delivery of the plane was two years late, but that is old news. The giant of the skies flew from Toulouse to Singapore before arriving in Sydney on Sunday.

Qantas plan to put the plane into service on October 20 with a flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles. This will be followed four days later with a Sydney-Los Angeles flight.

Singapore airlines were the first to use the A380 for commercial flights and now have been flying for close to a year with the giant double-decker jumbo. The airline has six of the huge passenger planes in service.

Qantas will start flights from Sydney to Singapore on January 16, 2009 offering three flights a week and flights to London from Sydney will also commence on January 16.

As Qantas are looking to impress new travellers taking the A380 they have gone for a more conservative fitout aimed at gving more room to passengers. As a result the Qantas A380 will have 450 seats with 14 in first, 72 in business, 32 in premium economy and 332 economy. The plane will feature lounges, bars, showers and luxurious first class seats.

If you are interested in a virtual tour of the A380 you can visit the Qantas website.

Have you already flown on one of the A380 aircraft already in service. If you have I would love it if you share your experience. Leave a comment below.

read comments (0)

Cancun is in Mexico’s easternmost state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan Peninsula. This region is sometimes known as the Mexican Caribbean or the Mayan Riviera. It is a coastal city and looks sensational in the photos I have seen or the video footage I watched.

If you want to experience paradise and enjoy a stay with the folks at Hotel Xbalamque Cancun Resort and SPA in your next vacation to Cancun. Xbalamque is a beautiful Mayan Themed Hotel smartly located in downtown Cancun. Enjoy your stay in their comfortable Standard Rooms and Deluxe Suites- all with air conditioning- phone-satellite tv- safe and room service.

You will always have something to do since Xbalamque amenities feature 3 restaurants- 2 bars- a yoga room- Pilates room- a world class SPA equipped with traditional Mayan Temazcal- a saloon- pool- beach club- conference room- money exchange- car rental- wireless Internet- room service and complimentary parking.

Xbalamque is pretty close to just about everything- just a few minutes from shopping centers- craft shops- restaurants- clubs and of course the beach. Ultimately their main objective is to help you have the time of your life and make you think of Xbalamque as your home in paradise.

click here to learn more

Hotel address: Av. Yaxchilan # 31 Sm22 Mz18 Lt18 Col Centro C.P. 77500 Cancun Mexico

read comments (0)

When it is time to take a vacation, there are so many choices you have that it can seem overwhelming. You can take a road trip, you can travel by plane, you can even take a cruise. A Caribbean Cruise is probably the best time you’ll ever have on vacation, even if you take the entire family along. When searching for the best Caribbean cruise deals, however, you still have a lot of choices. You can go online to try to find last minute cruise deals on Royal Caribbean or you can call your local travel agent and have him or her do all the leg work for you. If you’re looking for the best Caribbean cruise deal, have your travel agent find it for you as they’re often the first to know about the best deals available.

Do You Have An Agent?

If you already have a travel agent that you work with, finding the best Caribbean cruise deal shouldn’t be too difficult. If you don’t have one, however, you can find one by looking online or in your local phone book. Travel agents get paid to find you great deals on vacations. They do all the homework for you, they book your tickets and any extras and you don’t have to do anything but pay for it. They make taking vacations very easy and they make finding the best Caribbean cruise deals even easier.

Where And When?

Call your travel agent, or the one you decide to go with, and tell him or her when you’d like to leave. If your vacation dates are open, tell the agent that. Sometimes, you can find the best Caribbean cruise deals by going during an off peak time. This could include hurricane season, when a lot of people like to stay off of cruise ships in the middle of the ocean in case a deadly hurricane comes through. However, these are often when the best Caribbean cruise deals are offered. If your vacation dates are set and you’re limited to when you can go, just tell your agent what dates you have to work with, what you’d like to do on your best Caribbean cruise deal and how many people you’re taking with you.

That’s it. Soon, you’ll get a call from your agent telling you that your best Caribbean cruise deal is all set up and you’re ready to depart. All you have to do is pay for it, pack and get ready to go on the vacation of a lifetime.

read comments (0)

Montego Bay Hotels

With the 5-star resorts and world class hotels scattered all over the island, it comes as no surprise that Montego Bay is one of the best places to stay in the Caribbean. No problems with finding good places to eat or fun things to do and paying for so many different things because they usually have it all planned out for you.

There are lots of resorts that will fit your vacationing needs - some world hotel franchises, and others native. Absolutely no problem to get the best vacation spot for yourself, your significant other or your family. There’s the Alamanda Inn or the Wyndham Rose Hall resort which are lodgings that are quite popular on the shores of Montego Bay. Need a trusted world class resort, then there’s the White Sands and the Ritz Carlton.

Other resorts in the area are the Half Moon resort and Pebbles resort. For some peace and solitude, you can visit resorts on Runaway Bay which is also part of Montego Bay. There you’ll find the Gran Bahia Principe and the Villa Sunflower Beach Resort.

These are only a few of the most popular places to stay in Montego Bay. You will never have a problem finding a good resort as there are just so many to choose from, each offering what every tourist needs - a little mix of fun, rest and relaxation.

Why should you travel to Jamaica?

It is a large expanse of beaches, home of the Rastafarian lifestyle, has cool blue rivers reaching up to more than 100 in number, filled with thick history, home to the Blue Mountain Range, and it’s in the Caribbean. How can you go wrong with a place that already mirrors paradise? Going for holidays to Jamaica is a great idea.

If the greens, reds and golds of the Rasta men don’t capture your heart, then maybe the music will. Jamaica is the home of reggae. With a few days of absorbing the carefree lifestyle, you’ll never want to leave. There’s a kind of magic that thrives only in Jamaica, in the quaint historical towns and in the one-with-nature attitude of the people.

Music runs through the veins of the Jamaican lifestyle. To them, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a native or a tourist. Once you’re in Jamaica, you are part of the community and you are encouraged to live and breathe the Jamaican way of life. Should you be in the mood for pampering, there are lots of 5-star resorts scattered along Jamaica, the 3rd largest island in the Caribbean.

One trip will make you want to come back for more. That’s how they do it in Jamaica. It’s a place to forget the problems of the real world. After a few days or weeks on the island, you’ll be refreshed and ready to head back to conquer another year of work.

Compare this with Hawaii luxury rentals and make your own choice.

read comments (0)

If you are thinking of going to Beijing for a vacation and you have some kids that are still shorter than 120cm you should be aware that kids less than 120cm are able to travel on the bus and subway network for free. Also many of the attractions in Beijing allow kids free entry if they are below this height.

Just recently my family had a vacation in Beijing. Lucky for us my daughter was 119cm at the time. As I mentioned this entitled her to free travel on the Beijing subway and bus network. We were also able to visit the Temple of Heaven with her gaining free entry. There are also other places you can visit that give free entry to short kids.

When we did travel on buses or the subway they were mostly crowded. One nice thing about the locals was that more often than not when we found ourselves on not being able to get a seat someone would offer my daughter their seat.

Inside the kids play area of the Science Museum in Beijing
If you are going to be visiting the home of the 2008 Olympics with your children two places my daughter enjoyed going to were the China Science and Technology Museum and Fundazzle. A science museum may not sound like much fun to a kid but if you ask my daughter it is. The museum has a building that is dedicated to the children where they can play and explore science. It is more aimed at entertainment rather than education.

Fundazzle was another great place to visit for our daughter. She actually went there for a birthday party. Fundazzle is a converted swimming pool. It has a large ball pit for jumping around and also a large climbing activity structure. The play areas are split up into one for they kids from 1-3 and another for the older kids.

The Science and Technology Museum is located at Bei San Huan Zhong Lu. It is actually within walking distance of the main Olympic stadium. Fundazzle is on the eastern corner of Workers Stadium.

read comments (0)

On my recent vacation in Beijing my family decided to try out the bullet train that travels from Beijing to Tianjin. The train line was only opened just before the Beijing Olympics. The Chinese say it is the fastest train of that type on the planet.

To catch the train we went to the Beijing South railway station. It is located just off the south part of the second ring road. We got there by catching bus no. 800. We got off near Kaiyang Road. There is an overpass that took us across the ring canal next to the bus stop, then an underpass to go under the ring road. We headed west then turned south into Kaiyang Road. There is a pedestrian overpass that we went up and headed down towards the station. After getting off the overpass we found that there was a shuttle bus to take us to the West Entrance.

We walked into the colussus of a train station. I had been told that it is the biggest in Asia. I guess it is true, the station is huge. It looks more like an airport terminal. After entering the station we had to pass through a security check where they scanned our belongings.

Next up we found the self serve ticket vending machines. The machines have english or chinese language options. The fares offered were for first and second class. The first class train ticket from Beijing to Tianjin was 69rmb, while second class was 58rmb. We selected first class for the trip to Tianjin and second for the return leg. Our daughters ticket was 34.50rmb. She is six.

We had a 30 minute wait until the train was due to depart. There was plenty of seating so we sat back and waited. At 16.20 we got called to board our train for the 16.35 departure. We went down an escalator onto the platform and saw the sleek looking train. We walked all the way towards the back to board the first class section.

On entering the train you would have thought you were on an airplane. The seats were much the same as on a plane and the train attendants were dressed in a uniform much the same as an airhostess. A few minutes after boarding we were on our way.

The train gradually built up speed as it left Beijing headed for Tianjin. The journey was to take exactly 30 minutes. That is how it turned out. Inside the train there was a display that showed the speed of the train. This slowly increased as I watched the countryside whiz by. After around 10 minutes I saw the speed register at 331km. At one point a train passed up by and it was there one second gone the next.

Sitting on the train you would not know you were going so fast unless you look just straight down at the closest objects. I advise against this as you will probably end up suffering from motion sickness. The train is also nice and smooth. At that type of speed that is a good thing. There was a passenger across the aisle from me who had a jar of tea sitting on the window sill. This was hardly moving.

We arrived in Tianjian right on time. We got off went out and then back into the terminal. The Tianjin train station is also huge. We waited about 10 minutes and then we were back on the train for our return journey. This time it was in second class. The seating configuration had three seats on one side of the aisle and two on the other. There was less leg room however that is to be expected.

Once again the journey took 30 minutes. We arrived back in Beijing and made our way out of the station. At the time there were temporary buses running from the station to a nearby bus interchange.

The train was very impressive as was the new Beijing South train station. I would suggest taking first class both ways if you are going to catch the train.

Overall I recommend just going on the train for the experience.

read comments (0)

The 21st edition of the Floriade flower festival will open on September 13 in Canberra. Floriade is the biggest flower festival in Australia and is well worth a visit if you are coming to Canberra. I try to visit every year and I can personally give it the thumbs up.

The festival will run from 13 September - 12 October and is located in Commonwealth Park just near Lake Burley Griffin. It is only 5-10 minutes walk from the city centre.

This year a feature of Floriade is the NightFest. It runs from 24 September until 28 September each night at 6pm until 10.30pm. NightFest gives you an opportunity to see Floriade in a different light which will surely be spectacular.

Entry to the daytime part of the show is free. Parking is available either near the Civic pool or on the western side of Commonwealth avenue. Buses also stop near the show.

If you need a hotel during your time in Canberra any hotel in the city or in the inner city will be within easy reach of Floriade.

read comments (0)