happy steps

One can never get enough of Europe. It’s just few months after our family vacation in this dreamy continent and Mom was already talking about going there again. LOL. I can just dream about it for now though, like her I am also wishing of visiting more European cities, famous ones such as London, Rome, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Amsterdam and Florence.

Madrid

As the capital of Spain, this city is a blend of medieval and contemporary architecture. Its rich history of royalty and Christianity offers many interesting buildings, cathedrals and museums for tourists to visit. I’m fond of visiting museums, so the Museo del Prado would be on my must-visit list in Madrid. This museum highlights a lot of art masterpieces from the geniuses of Goya, Rubens, Botticelli, Caravaggio and other Spanish and European artists. For those who would like to party, Madrid has a thriving nightlife to enjoy with friends. Other tourist attractions are the Palacio Real or the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, El Retiro and lots more. There are many Hotels Madrid Norte and other accommodations for visitors to choose from.

Lisbon

Another European city to dream about is Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The Gulbenkian Museum is definitely on my list since it highlights works by well-known masters such as Rembrandt, Renoir, Monet (my favorite), and more. The St. George’s Castle or Castelo de Sao Jorge would be a nice place to hang out, it offers a picturesque view of the city and river since it is situated on a hill. The neighborhood of Belem is where famous historical monuments are such as the Torre de Belém or the Belem Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Cultural Center and other attractions. Travel bugs can book early for hotels in Lisbon to get the best deal for an accommodation.

Florence

I missed this place when I went to Italy before, thus I’m still dreaming about visiting it someday. Who wouldn’t wish about stepping on a place where Renaissance was born, where famous artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo and other Renaissance masters originated. Florence is a province picturesquely set in mountains and hills. Tourist attractions include the beautiful Duomo di Firenze with its huge Rennaissance dome, Giotto’s Tower, Palazzo Vecchio and many more historical buildings and monuments, churches, museums and palaces. A beautiful place such as this is an attraction for couples and they have many choices of romantic hotels in Florence to choose from.

Amsterdam

This city has one of Europe’s busiest airline hubs, the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. For instance, from Manila, this was our first entry point in the Schengen territory before we transferred to Prague. Too bad, my stay was just limited within the airport lounge and I was wishing I was staying in one of those Amsterdam hotels or even had few hours outside to go around Amsterdam, being the capital of The Netherlands. The city centre has a concentric canal ring, and consisting of 90 islands and 400 bridges linking them. Tourist attractions include museums featuring modern architecture, Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and more. Amsterdam is famous for its windmills which can be viewed at Molen van Sloten and De Gooyer.

These are just some of the European cities I wish to visit someday. And since the year-end holidays are almost here, it’s best to plan your trip months ahead. Check out available worldwide hotel bookings and flight reservations in the web. Getting a good travel deal means more savings which you could use for extra trip expenses such as souvenir shopping or dining out.

Photo credits: Wikitravel

Recently, big sis and I have been chatting about the coming holidays and their family’s trip itinerary in the Philippines. They’ll be spending few days at Boracay, a tropical paradise situated at the tip of the Panay Island and world-famous for its white sand and clear blue waters.

They already reserved a room at the Boracay Beach Club located beside the White Beach at Station 1. Browsing through their website, I am sure it will be a nice hotel for them.

Photo credits: Boracay Beach Club

To recognize a customer’s loyalty and show appreciation for the business, this is what rewards programs are all about. For travel bugs, this means frequent flyer programs which usually includes free airline tickets, discounts on hotels, car rentals, shopping and more.

Travel rewards credit cards not only give points for the usual purchases but more reward points are given when purchases are travel related. It’s important to compare the amount of travel rewards points or miles earned for every credit card purchase and if there’s a limit as to how many points you can earn annually. Other things to consider are the bonus points offered and their expiry, blackout dates for hotels and flights, and the interest rate. These details can be read in every credit card’s terms and conditions, so it’s best to check them out.

A list of highly rated travel rewards credit card programs on CreditCreator.com ranks Blue Sky from American Express® as the best travel rewards credit card – it offers 1 point per dollar of purchase on any airline, hotel, and other travel related purchases with no blackout dates. Introductory rate is 0% APR (annual percentage rate) for 12 months, free set-up fee, no annual fee and low balance transfer rate. Runners-up include the Chase TravelPlus Visa® Card, Capital One® Orbitz® Visa® Signature, and Miles by Discover® Card. More details about these travel rewards programs can be browsed from the site.

The skyline of Downtown Miami (in Florida) as seen from MacArthur Causeway bridge

Acknowledged as the ‘Sunshine State’ in the US for having a subtropical climate, Florida is a popular haven for tourists from colder places during the winter season. Aside from its beaches, this state is also best known for its famous theme parks particularly Disney World and the Universal Studios.

If you’re traveling to Florida for a holiday and would like to have a ‘home away from home’ ambiance, it’s good to consider vacation rentals for your accommodation. Vacation rentals by owner are usually less expensive since you deal with the owner directly. Vacation homes are usually well-kept and maintained and got all your favorite kitchen and dining appliances and utensils, from microwave oven to dishwasher and even a blender!

Families looking for Florida rentals can browse for properties online at Vacation Home Rentals (vacationhomerentals.com) such as a four-bedroom French villa in Clermont with easy access to shopping, dining, and recreation activities. Within the property is a pool, a playground and park, basketball and tennis courts. Few miles away are hiking, golf, fishing, horseback riding and more outdoor activities to be enjoyed.

For golf enthusiasts, there’s a Naples Florida vacation condo rental where they can enjoy a scenic view of the fairway and the lake from their rooms. All properties featured at Vacation Home Rentals are complete with description such as the number of bedrooms and allowed guests, rental rates and availability, with a photo gallery, list of available appliances, nearby outdoor activities including rental policies and other important rental information.

Photo credits: Marc Averette (5/17/2008)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Miami_skyline_20080517.jpg)

This Sunday morning while looking out the window, I noticed that the streets are deserted and there was just one guy walking his dog. It’s the usual scene here in Pori during weekends when most families spend it somewhere away from the city such as a vacation in a summer house. Weekends are great for relaxation and family get-together.

I’ve been browsing over some sunny French holidays in Western Loire and it would be nice to stay at the La Pergola, a four-bedroom barn conversion in Vendee, France which is just perfect for families and small groups with outdoor heated swimming pool, daily maid service, a garden and it’s just near the beach.

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A French holiday home for rental is known as a gîte, one of the popular types of accommodations in France. Originally, gîtes are cottages and barns owned by farm owners and used to provide shelter for guests. Nowadays, gîtes vary from budget apartments with basic facilities to luxurious holiday villas equipped with modern amenities. The owner usually lives within close proximity to provide welcome and assistance to the needs of their guests and make them feel at home.
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Yesterday my cutie sis in Prague showed me some pics of my parents posing by the trees at the park nearby their flat. It’s spring time there and the photos look so refreshing especially this:

Spring flowers in Prague

It left me green with envy (kidding!) – they’re finally in Prague and I’m still here - but I just tried to cheer myself up with the fact that next month I will be going there too. I can just imagine those hotels in Prague filled up with tourists for the summer.

One of the must-visits in Prague for tourists especially Catholics is the Church of the Infant Jesus or the Church of Our Lady Victorious where you can visit the famous statue of the infant Jesus (Pražské Jezulátko). Another tourist attraction is the Charles Bridge which crosses the Vltava River and is a historical landmark of Prague.

Tourists at the Charles Bridge
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Being Hawaii’s third largest island and home to its capital Honolulu, Oahu offers many tourist attractions and things to do.

Why visit Oahu? There are many reasons why it is an island worth visiting. For one thing, it offers an interesting culture and historical background as well as white sandy beaches and beautiful landscapes. It’s a surfer’s paradise where you can take lessons as a beginner or get on your board and ride the waves as an experienced surfer at beaches such as the Sunset Beach, Ehukai Beach Park or Waikiki Beach. Other attractions are the golf courses, shopping malls, villas and resorts.
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Imagine yourself staying at a luxurious and exotic resort surrounded by the sea.

It’s just like living in paradise isn’t it? Most of the resorts in the French Polynesia especially the islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora are designed and built using all-natural building materials (timber and woven pandanus roofing) which depict the beauty of the islands.
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In the south-west of Nicaragua lies San Juan del Sur, a city known for its beaches where many surfers and vacationers (especially families) go to. This coastal city is great for a Nicaraguan summer getaway. Whether you’re into sailing, fishing or surfing, the beaches at San Juan del Sur are for those looking for fun and adventure.

Doesn’t this photo make you dream of staying in a Nicaragua beach hotel and spending your days sunbathing, swimming or catching waves in the sea? Sigh. It just makes me wish I’m in the beach right now.
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A breathtaking view such as the photo above is just one of the many reasons why New Zealand is another great place to head on this summer. The bigger cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are popular for tourists. Dubbed as the ‘City of Sails’, Auckland is the largest and offers many attractions such as the Waitakere Ranges, the Auckland Harbour ridge, or the family theme park Rainbow’s End. Continue reading »

Most travel bugs will be spending their vacation in beach resorts this summer. The allure of the sea calls them for a nice splash in the water or getting a nice tan or simply strolling barefoot along the shore.

For the water sports enthusiasts, they can go diving, snorkeling or surfing with the waves. There’s just so much to do when you’re at the beach, a day isn’t just enough. Staying for a week is the best option if you want to get the most out of your beach holiday such as opting for Kauai vacation rentals should you wish to spend your vacation in Hawaii.
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With summer finally here, one can only wish to have extra time for travel and relaxation. Choosing where to spend your getaway really depends on your kind of fun. While some would like to spend it on a cruise in the Bahamas or staying in an isolated island paradise, those who go for flashy entertainment, exciting casino and great dining experience would opt to stay in a Las Vegas hotel. And why not?
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I was sorting out my old files when a dusty computer printout took my attention. It was a hardcopy of an email from my professor in Leeds. Aside from the techie stuff, he also gave a bit of an idea about how his family was doing and a little info about the place where he is. Every time he replies to some of my technical queries (he was my adviser on my research study), I would always imagine him to be doing lectures and getting busy with teaching. Having an email from faraway Leeds in the UK made me wish that time that I could travel someday to my professor’s place.
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Its summer in New Zealand now so better take this opportunity to travel there while
it’s still warm and sunny. Serviced apartments in New Zealand are great alternatives to hotels to suit your budget. Cheaperthanhotels NZ offers last minute deals on accommodation throughout the country. Your family can stay in one of New Zealand hotels located in any city like Wellington, Auckland, Queenstown or Christchurch.

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London has many interesting places to visit especially for those with an eye for arts and entertainment. You can go straight to the City of Westminster and find there the West End of London. The main theatre district of London is located in West End. If you appreciate architectural design, most of the privately owned theatres in “Theatreland” are built using Victorian or Edwardian design incorporating palatial neo-Classical, Victorian, or Romanesque facades and decorated with lavish interiors.

Watching a musical is one of the main tourist activities in West End. Les Misérables tops the longest running musical in the history of West End. West End also shows new hit musicals such as Billy Elliot, The Producers and Mary Poppins.

One of the famous streets in the City of Westminster is Piccadilly. This major street in London stretching from Hyde Park Corner to Piccadilly Circus is also the location of Royal Academy of Arts, among others. From Hyde Park Corner you can reach Hyde Park, one of the largest parks in central London and one of the Royal Parks of London noted for its Speakers’ Corner, an area where public speaking is allowed. Continue reading »

One of the places in Europe which I want to visit again is Italy with its beautiful architecture and romantic ambiance. Don’t you just wish you’re on a European holiday and staying in one of those luxurious Italy hotels with your loved ones? My training companions and I stayed in Milan and were housed in fully-furnished rooms at walking distance to shops and stores. Thus we would usually tour around a bit after our classes.
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Torre de Belém, Portugal

One of the places to visit in Europe is Portugal attracting over 12.8 million tourists worldwide with most of them coming from the UK, Spain and Germany. Hmmm…not much from Asia, huh? Maybe because we’re too far from Europe and it really needs longer vacation period for trips to places such as this to make the most of your time and budget.
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