St Pancras

March 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

St Pancras train station travel to Europe. Railway from London St Pancras International to Kent coast and on to Europe. Calais, Paris, Lille, Brussels to the Netherlands.

St Pancras International is a main interchange station for London and has high-speed trains transferring passengers directly to the Olympics Stadium via international trains. St Pancras International station provides trains to Europe. Direct trains to countries in Western European and connecting trains to Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg, Europe.

http://stpancras-international.co.uk

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Yachting in Greece left you at a loss on where to shop for gifts?

March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Yes, you have indeed gone to Greece and spent a magically refreshing yachting adventure from one island or shoreline to another and you really like to share with your family and friends back home the wonderful feeling you have gained from the experience. You suddenly have this perfect idea of giving them gifts that will somehow let them in to that mystical feeling and to remind them you have always been thinking of them while you were enjoying your yacht charter Greece. Now, still being under the Hellenic yachting spell, you are at a loss on where to start to materialize your plan.

mgyachts 300x225 Yachting in Greece left you at a loss on where to shop for gifts?Rushing into a shopping frenzy in the various tourist shops right after leaving that oh-so-memorable Greece yacht port would probably frustrate you if you do not have a brainstormed gift-shopping plan first. Just relax and take your precious time and do not worry because you have an extensive range of shopping choices in Greece. For your foodie loved ones, you can go to Monastiraki for delicious dry fruits and nuts or Thessaloniki for their famous sweets such as Tsoureki. There are also delightful clothing shops and bookshops there. Maybe you have friends who have experienced yachting in Greece, too, but unfortunately, they were not able to spend the lovely Aegean or Ionian yachting days with you this time, you might want to buy them sailing calendars or sailing books (for the literary enthusiasts). If you have bought clothes instead, you can match those with jewelries from the popular jewelry shops in Santorini. There are handicraft stores in there, too. If you are looking for exotic traditional amber bangles, you can go to Crete.  Back in Athens, you can opt to visit Plaka and get your pick from the array of Athenian souvenir and specialty items there.

There are many more quality shops and stores in Greece. After having a wonderful time yachting in Greece, you probably want to share the more-than-nice feeling. Just correctly identify or categorize what kind of gifts should be given to whom, check your budget, then visit those Grecian cities to shop and your yachting in Greece experience will definitely be complete!

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Enhance Your Luxury Hotel Experience in Italy

October 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Italy is consistently in the top five luxury travel destinations for American Express Vacation clients. Italy is full of history, beginning with the ancient Roman Empire, to the rise of the Vatican, to the Italian renaissance. Traveling to Italy requires certain tips to make your luxury travel vacation.

Hotel Tips

Though traveling to Italy is quite safe. However, it’s advisable and useful to gather some basic Italy travel tips. There are hundreds of small luxury hotels of the world and the cities of Italy have plenty to choose from. Some Italian hotels, and nearly all hotels in Rome, have at least one staff member who speaks English. Search out this person to ask for additional tips, such as great dining spots, local sights, public transportation and shopping areas. Staying in touch with family and friends can be expensive in Italy, especially if you call from your hotel. Keep in mind that American cell phones will not work without special international services or devices. And since hotels tend to overcharge for long-distance and international calls, it is best to make such calls from public phones, using international calling cards. Staying in a luxury hotel is quite fun, but if you have already been there and done that, it’s never too late to consider booking one of the many available luxury world cruises throughout the world.

Shopping Tips

One big draw for Italian tourists on a luxury travel trip is the shopping tour. Consider booking one of these guided tours, instead of charging off on your own. These shopping tours offer travelers a more comfortable way to “shop ‘til you drop.” Most of these tours include transportation to several different shopping districts and stores. Your guide will speak both English and Italian, in order to mediate your shopping experience. Yes, your major credit cards, such as American Express, Visa and Master Card, will work. But keep in mind that most American credit cards will charge a hefty currency fee, and use the most unattractive exchange rates. The best way to be safe and save money would be to use a combination of Euro Travelers Checks, Euros in cash and a credit card. Pick Pocketing can be an unfortunate reality of modern travel, so spreading the type of money you carry is the best choice.

Most stores and shops in Italy have operating hours that can be considered different, at least in comparison to what is expected in the United States. Normally, most Italian shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stores are usually closed between 1 and 3:30 p.m., to allow employees a chance to have a family lunch. Stores usually reopen around 3:30 or 4 p.m., and finally close around 7:30 to 8 p.m. In large cities and tourist areas, there is a tendency to stay open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., with possible variations from town to town. Keep in mind that shopping etiquette in Italy is much different than in the United States. When shopping for clothing, take note that many stores will not allow shoppers to try on shirts and blouses. Also, there is a size discrepancy, so make sure that an attendant measures your body before you purchase. It is also customary to tip attendants if they are personally assisting you with fittings and selection. Whether shopping or relaxing in a small luxury hotel, a customary tip can go a long way!

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Top 4 Hotel Destinations

October 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While traveling I have stayed in a number of hotels. Some I have enjoyed and go back to others I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. So I have put together a short list of my favorite travel destinations based on the hotels. Now please under stand not all hotels in these destinations are great ones but over all I feel there are a number of good ones in each destination. I will also point out the ones I enjoyed, but please feel free to try others I am sure there are great ones that I missed.

1. Hanoi, Vietnam – My first choice is always the Galaxy Hotel. This hotel is located right in the heart of the markets so you can wander and take in Hanoi easily. And if you feel just a bit adventurous you can walk to a number of nice parks and a great indoor market. Plus you can find true Vietnamese food within just a few steps blocks. The other hotel I would recommend is the Sofitel. Sofitel Hotels are always wonderful places to stay when traveling. If you are looking for a cheaper option than either of these I would ask around I know you can find clean comfortable beds in some local hotels for little as $20.00 a night. I have stayed in one of these places before and the room and bed were clean and comfortable. They are a great way to travel on a budget and still enjoy a great city. If you are looking to travel to Vietnam check out Exotic Voyages, they can help you plan the perfect trip.

2. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica – If you are looking for a great romantic getaway or just a place to relax then this is my number one choice to go.  Arenas Del Mar has everything, private hot tubs on the decks, great views of the ocean and the rain forest, and all the amenities you could dream of.  Located just outside the Manuel Antonio National Park you can take  wonderful tours of the park and with any luck you will see a huge variation of the over 109 mammal species and 184 birds that make the park their home.  If you are traveling with a loved one I would highly recommend going on a sunset catamaran voyage.  This might just be one of the best ways to enjoy dinner with your loved one.  Even though you will find that the catamaran has more than just you on it the experience is still amazing.  But my favorite activity has to be the white water rafting.  A bit of adventure is great for the soul and this has to be my favorite adventure.  While rafting you can meet wonderful people you wouldn’t and you never know what types of animals you will see.  I highly recommend this hotel and vacation spot to everyone.

3. Sapa, Vietnam – Part of the great part about traveling from Hanoi to Sapa is the luxury dining and sleeping carriages on the Victoria Express Train.  This is a great way to travel and I have had the pleasure of meeting wonderful people on this ride.    And once you get to Sapa you can find the Victoria Hotel & Resort.  The  inner gardens of this hotel alone seem to put you at peace and help relax you.  They offer great spa and massage treatments that will help sooth the old muscles after a long day of hiking around town.  If you decided to go looking for great food you will find that the French have influenced much of the cooking in this part of Vietnam and there is a cooking school not that far from the hotel where you can enjoy amazing dining and baked goods.  If traveling in Northern Vietnam I would make the train ride and Sapa a spot on your trip.  I know you won’t be sorry.  Again if looking to travel in Vietnam contact Exotic Voyages, I know I mentioned them earlier but they can really help you plan the perfect trip to Vietnam.

4. Las Vegas, United States – Hands down the best place to stay in Las Vegas is the Bellagio.  With 10 great resturants to choose from and a every room is nice I just feel you can’t go wrong staying in this hotel.  If you feel so inclined you can always make your way down to the various casino games and test your luck.  Personally Texas Hold’em is the game I prefer but most of the time I can find much better entertainment to spend my money on in Vegas.  Instead of the casinos I would rather catch a great show like Crique Du Soleil or any other great show they have.  The other part the Bellagio offers is a great shopping experience with 8 great shops, which I think my wife loves them all, the shopping is a great attraction as well.  So if traveling to Las Vegas make sure to check into the Bellagio, I think you might be pleasantly surprised at the cost and remember to check online for promotions.

 

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