Europe & Beyond

Orlando is a city that is located in the central region of Florida. It has a population of over 200,000 and is one of the largest cities in southeastern America. Each year, 47 million people visit Orlando for a vacation. Over 3 million people visit Orlando each year. This city is known for its many attractions, music, art and history.

What is there to see and do in Orlando

There are numerous attractions in Orlando, Florida. One of the most popular attractions is the Walt Disney World Resort, which is also referred to as Disney World. This attraction was established back in the 1960s. Today Disney World is the most visited resort in the world. This attraction features four major theme parks, 2 water parks and night life entertainment. One of the best things about Disney World is that has something for all ages.

Orlando is also a great place to relax. The Wekima Springs State Park is a popular attraction that is comprised on 700 acres of land. It is place where people can swim, fish or canoe. The Central Florida Zoo is a place where people can see animals that are native to the state of Florida. This zoo also features endangered species such as the Amur Leopard. The Central Florida Zoo is also a popular place for hosting birthday parties.

People are sure to work up an appetite when they are having fun. Orlando has many great restaurants to choose from. It is very hard to eat healthy while on vacation. Season’s 52 is a restaurant that specializes in serving food that is not only good to eat, but is also good for the body. This restaurant is very popular among tourists and residents and was named one of the best restaurants in Orlando.

The Old Hickory Restaurant is a place where people can get a good steak dinner. This restaurant serves both grass-fed and Angus beef. It also specializes in serving fine wine and crafted cheese. Emeril’s Restaurant specializes in serving all types of food. This restaurant is also one of the most popular ones in Orlando. Because this restaurant is so popular, it is highly recommended that guests book in advance to avoid long waiting times. Crave is a restaurant that specializes in serving the best American cuisine. Some of the items featured on the menu include: sliders, buttermilk chicken, seafood and fruit salad.

There are many nice hotels in Orlando that allow people to feel like they are right at home. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Disney’s Bay Lake Tower and Hilton Orlando have been named some of the best hotels in the city.

A trip to Orlando can be quite expensive, but fortunately there are many ways to finance it. Below are some tips for saving for a trip to Orlando:

• Start saving early (the earlier that you start saving, the better)
• Consider getting a time share (time shares have helped many people save hundreds of dollars.
• Book in advance (you can save up to 50 percent on hotels, flights, etc by booking in advance)
• Look into getting a cheap rental care (there are numerous ways to get cheap rental cars)
• Take advantage of coupons* (there are coupons available for hotel, restaurants and attractions.

Nashville and Memphis For a Giant Musical Experience

These two great cities are within a drive of each other – and their musical styles could not be more different. Check out the cheap flights to Memphis or Nashville and get to see two of the biggest and best music cities in the world.

Nashville

Nashville is the home of Country and Western Music and every summer the biggest country music event in the world,  is hosted by the Country Music Association. Over the four days, there are music events all over the town, running nearly every hour of the day. You’ll find the big names of country singing there together with new, up and coming bands, which have a fresh approach to the music and the range of sound and interpretation is very wide. The Appalachian mountain songs sit alongside the saccharine sweet and predictable lyrics of songs that people strut their stuff to in line dancing! But there’s room in this town for everyone and the big gig is a memorable event.

You can visit the Ryman Auditorium, which is the original home of the Grand Ol’ Opry, otherwise known as “Mother Church” of country music. The Country Music Hall of Fame set in a modern building, houses more information on Country Music than the most ardent fan can absorb. Old films, records, and memorabilia are everywhere, together with interactive displays – it’s a great museum and anything you want to know about your favourite musicians and singers is here. Try out the Wild Horse Saloon for great live music, and visit Andrew Jackson’s historical home, The Hermitage, a gracious old mansion. A great venue for live music is one of the giant paddle boats moored in the harbour or take a boat ride on the beautiful General Jackson Showboat. Nashville has a professional, up market feel – its slick, organised, and squeaky clean.

Memphis

It’s sister city, Memphis, is gritty and has a history of rhythm and blues – its home to Sun Records – and Sun promoted the greats of the new Rock and Roll, such as Johnny Cash, an untamed Jerry Lee Lewis and of course, Elvis Presley.

Elvis turned up at the tiny Sun Recording Studio, wanting to make a record for his Mother…..he was heard and unique voice and attitude was launched. A visit to Grace land is jaw dropping – the style and taste are debatable, but as an experience, it’s great! Beale Street is a the perfect spot for a bit of live music – there are  bars all the way along this stretch of road, and there is still B B Kings Blues Club to hear fresh sounds and enjoy some local cuisine.

You can try out the fried catfish, spicy gumbo, cornbread, whiskey cake and of course, Barbecue – not the luke warm concoction we are used to, but dishes made with prime beef and pork in mouth wateringly rish and piquant sauces. For the biggest experience in Country Music, keep an eye out for bargain airline tickets to Memphis, which handles a lot of international flights and hear the best in blues and country music in one trip!

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Travelling in Washington DC, USA

Want to take your loved one away for a break but need to keep a rein on the holiday budget?  Seeking new experiences in a cultural city? Combine the two and take a trip to Washington DC – you can avoid expensive hotels, and stay at a  Hostel in Washington!

Things to Do and See

Washington is a city with a real buzz. It’s got incredible monuments, museums, cultural centres and fantastic eateries. There are different neighbourhoods within the City, such as Anacostia,  the African American community base or China Town, for the best in Chinese food and household goods. If you enjoy the odd shopping spree, try the Pentagon Centre, a major shopping Mall with dozens of stores.

North and South collided during the American Civil War over the abolition of slavery, which ultimately meant the end of the Southern States and the privileged lifestyle of Plantation owners.  Battlefield sites range across Virginia and Washington and they still draw the crowds, particularly at Sharpesburg Pike. History buffs will be interested in The Washington Heritage Trail which is a fascinating tour through American recent history.

You can explore Capitol Hill (wear comfortable shoes!) and see Library of Congress,  the Law Courts and of course, The White House.  In contrast, one of the oldest farmers’ markets in the USA, can be found in this part of the town.

For evening, there are lots of dance clubs and bars, cinema’s and poetry readings, off-beat theatres and comedy clubs. Spring and early summer is a great time  to visit – it’s cool enough to enjoy walking, but still warm enough to go out without a heavy jacket.

If you need some fresh air, the Woodlawn Plantation on the Richmond Highway is a fantastic parkland with a beautiful mansion. There are plenty of open spaces in the city, great for hiring a bike and taking a leisurely pedal through the green lanes – remember to take some bread and feed the ducks for a cheap and very cheerful activity!

The Benefits of Hostels – New Review

Staying in a Hostel is a great way to see new places – and when its time to return to base, your Hostel will provide a welcoming, friendly environment, where you can recharge your batteries for the day ahead. Best of all, your hard earned spending money can go on having the time of your life! It’s affordable, fun and you’ll meet travellers from all over the world, who are happy to share their favourite travelling tips. Take a look at HostelBookers Travel Survey to see what travellers want most out of their travelling experience.  Happy travelling!

Wild Wyoming For The Winter Traveller

If you want to enjoy a spectacular, natural winter landscape, consider taking a trip to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.

You can find a cheap flight and fly direct from London to USA and then catch an internal flight with either American Airlines or United Airlines to Jackson Hole Airport, which is about 50 miles from the boundary of Yellowstone.

Yellowstone was established in 1872, as a place of protected wilderness and it remains just that – ethereal, stunningly beautiful and during winter, an extremely challenging environment. People and animals alike are resourceful and resolute when it comes to surviving the winter months. The snow fall is not as heavy as in previous decades, but during November, December and January,  it’s still one of the coldest places in USA.

What’s On In Winter

A few of the Hotels and Park Lodges remain open in the cold season, but it’s best to book ahead before arriving. The tourist crowd doesn’t really get going until mid to late April, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunity to don your ski’s and try out some of the cleared snow trails in the Park. Off the main trails, the soft silence, the natural beauty of the landscape, and the sound of running water under ice is ever present.

You can snowmobile, try out the downhill and land ski-ing, ice fish, trek and hike. The winter fee for accessing the park is just $5.00 per day. You’ll pay extra for vehicles and bikes and of course, extra for the activities, but there are lots of tours available so you pick something that really suits you. The low number of tourists means you’ll be able to experience the wilderness without ever feeling cramped by other visitors.

Wildlife and Geology

One benefit of the snowfall is that it allows visitors to clearly follow animal tracks, such as bison, elk, grey wolf and moose. Alternatively, seeing animal tracks may encourage you to trek in the opposite direction! There are lightening-fast red foxes, chasing mice who thread their way under the snow and liquid-looking otters slipping into open water to fish.  Bison make their way to the geysers and seem to enjoy thawing out in the hot steamy air after digging their way through snow to access grass. They tend to know when the geysers are going to blow and will move back a little from the direct line of fire. Keep an eye on them; they might save you a soaking!

The hot springs are active any time of year, so regardless of  the weather front, you can watch the geysers simmering and boiling up, in a spectacular display of geological force. The park has huge thermal resources, and its hot springs are fascinating. One of the world’s largest volcanoes grumbles beneath the surface of Yellowstone, and this directly affects the biological diversity of this incredible place. Get to see Yellowstone in all it’s natural glory – it’s well worth going the extra mile!

Holidays in Las Vegas

Most people think of a holiday in Las Vegas as one where you’re going to spend all your time in the huge hotel casinos on the Las Vegas strip, gambling, and of course there are indeed plenty of casinos in Las Vegas, and you could spend all your time gambling in them if you wanted to. However, most casinos have a lot more to offer guests than just gambling.

The airport in Las Vegas is very convenient and is literally a couple of miles from the strip. You can get direct flights to Las Vegas from many international airports.

Most of the hotels have shows on every night offering guests everything from dancing girls to variety shows, musicals and magic shows. You can see the Chipendales or Sin City Bad Girls, watch Penn and Teller, or the latest broadway style show.

The Mirage has an artificial volcano that ‘erupts’ every hour on the hour between 5pm and 11pm, spewing pina colada scented smoke out into the air. The Bellagio hotel and casino has fountains outside its doors which are pretty famous, and where a fantastic magical show of lights, music and water can be watched every few minutes throughout the evening.

The tallest free standing observation tower in America is right here in Las Vegas. The Stratosphere Towers, although a casino and hotel too, is best known for it’s observation tower views, and exciting activities that take place waaay up on it’s top. From the viewing platforms, you can see not just Las Vegas, but also the mountains and desert that surround it. There is a revolving restaurant here, known as ‘Top of the World’, and several thrill rides.

Thrill Rides on The Stratosphere Las Vegas

• Big Shot is a reverse bungee jump which shoots you 160 feet up into the air at a whopping 45 miles per hour.
• Insanity dangles you over the edge of the tower then, spins at about 40 miles an hour in a circle so you can see the world revolving at your feet.
• Skyjump is a controlled descent bungee jump style ride. It lets you plummet 855 feet downwards attached to a high speed descent wire before coming safely to land.

Move out, away from the casinos and there are many other attractions in Las Vegas too. The Las Vegas space flights offer people the chance to experience what the astronauts have felt when they went into outer space. It’s not cheap to do, but it’s one of the few experiences you can partake in which will give you the chance to experience true weightlessness as a Boeing 727 takes you high up into the atmosphere, and then performs various moves so that you can get a feel of what it might be like in space. It only lasts a few minutes, but it’s certainly the experience of a lifetime.

The Shark Reef Aquarium is not your typical aquarium. This is a place where you can come face to face with sharks, sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, moon jellies and rare golden crocodiles. There are over 2,000 animals here, more than 100 different species including 15 species of sharks, and over 1.6 million gallons of seawater!

Other nearby attractions you can visit include Madame Tussaud’s where you can enjoy waxworks of many famous people, the El Dorado Canyon Mine Tour just an hour from the strip where you can see a real gold mine, and learn about the history of mining in Nevada, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area.