World Travel Guides

A quick walk through two beatiful milenary spanish towns. Baeza and Ubeda were added to the World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.

VacationsByOwners is an innovative website specialized in vacation rentals and vacation homes. The site features a huge vertical directory where you can find easily your accommodations and travel needs directly through the owner.

Search easily your vacation rentals by state. Each state features a full listing of vacation homes by owner. Some of the most popular destinations such as florida vacation rentals or orlando vacations rentals has lots of information and affordable offers. All the information has been provided by the property owner.

In addition, you can to swap your rental with another member through the Exchange Club. An exclusive program designed to exchange rental properties
with other members -for vacation and recreational purposes only- . You can design your dream vacation for free.

Another interesting feature is the possibility of advertise you property on the site. For only $99 per year, you can advertise your home and reach to thousands of potential renters.

Check out Vacation by Owners website for more information and find your dream vacation rental.

Direct Line Cruises is a well established agency specialized in major cruises lines. Direct Line Cruises offers popular Cruises from New York onboard Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruises.

With Departure from New York City, Direct Line Cruises provides you with a unique Norwegian cruise vacation experience: Norwegian Cruise Line. Also known as Freesytile Cruising, onboard a luxury Norwegian cruise ship you can do anything you want. Norwegian cruise options include The Norwegian Dawn, -with 7 night Bermuda cruises-, The Norwegian Gem, -with 7 Night Bahamas and 10 Night Southern Caribbean Cruises and the Norwegian Jewel, with 10 Night Canada /New England Cruises.

Among the most popular cruise line are the highly acclaimed Carnival Cruises . Fun and festive sailing to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Panama Canal. Enjoy endless entertainment onboard The Carnival Miracle for 8-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruises. The Carnival Triumph offers 4, 5 or 7-Night Canada / New England cruises. Each Carnival cruise ship offers three swimming pools, restaurants, casino, shops. spa, gymn and many more.

In addition you wil receive free travel insurance with your online booking.

Check out the Direct Line Cruises website for more information and book your cruise vacation online or by calling 1-800-352-8088. Happy Cruising!

Anyone who knows me well knows that I like cheap and free things to do with the family. It isn’t that I’m not willing to pay good money for good fun, I just happen to believe that the best fun is sometimes as free as the wind. The same holds true when visiting new cities like San Francisco. I will invest a great amount of time looking for activities that me and other members of my family can enjoy for little or no money. This saves money for other things like good food and souvenirs.

I’m also a big fan of David Letterman and in that spirit I decided to devise a top five list of my very own in honor of Mr. Letterman’s Top 10 list. My big 5 list consists of things to do for free when visiting San Francisco.

1) Golden Gate Bridge. This is a favorite among tourists for many reasons. One of those reasons is the fact that it is one landmark that belongs only to San Francisco. It is uniquely a part of this city and represents, for many, your entire trip. Another reason is that there are so many ways to get there. I recommend walking and if you’re up for it, try one of the guided walking tours-this will provide valuable background information about the bridge as well as insuring that you don’t get lost on the way.
2) Golden Gate Park. This park is larger than New York’s Central Park and in my opinion equally grand. There is so much to do and see in Golden Gate Park that you could spend a good portion of your vacation here alone.
3) Cable Car Museum. Kids of all ages will find this museum interesting, especially big and little boys. This museum definitely offers a great deal of education and excitement for the family. In addition to learning about these neat cable cars which have become a trademark of San Francisco transportation. This is one museum I would pay to go to, the fact that it is free is a bonus that I can’t resist and the primary reason it is on this particular top ten list.
4) Walking Tours of San Francisco. These free walking tours are not only entertaining; they are also very informative as well. Learn about the history of the neighborhoods that this city is famous for as well as the great people who rebuilt a grand city, literally from the ashes of what it once was and made it even better. San Francisco has a wonderful story to tell and these guides narrate it wonderfully.
5) San Francisco Fire Department Museum. For the big kid in all of us that wanted to grow up to be a fire fighter, this museum takes the cake. Not only does it provide great historical references and artifacts but it is also really cool! I can think of no greater compliment to give a museum than that. This one, even your children will enjoy and beg to go back again and again.

Whether you are a big kid, a little kid, or just a kid at heart these activities are a great and inexpensive way to pass a day or two while on vacation. If you can’t stand the thought of saving money or not spending it, I’m sure each of these places will be glad to accept donations or at the very least sell you something at the gift shop (if the place you are visiting has one). Regardless, I hope my suggestions have gotten your mental wheels turning and you are coming up with your own great ways to enjoy the day without spending a lot of green.

San Diego is one of the best and most popular cities in the United States. If you have a healthy appetite for good food and good drink San Diego is one place you should visit.

There are plenty of good restaurants in and around San Diego in addition to a many wineries that will be sure to satisfy your thirsts. Among the italian restaurant, the Trattoria Acqua also known as La Jolla seafood restaurant is a must. The award-winning Trattoria Acqua restaurant is specialized in Italian coastal cuisine. Nestled in the quaint village of La Jolla, it is one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Diego , with outstading views of the La Jolla Coastline.

The exclusive menu, created by renowned Chef Damaso Lee and his staff includes fresh local seafood as well as exquisite Italian regional gourmet cooking. In addition, you can choose one of their selected wines. Trattoria Acqua was rated as one of the Top Ten Italian Restaurants in USA.

Check out the Trattoria Acqua website for more information and make your reservation online.

A few months ago, I planned a quick trip to Madrid, the capital and largest city in Spain. It was a cultural travel and I wanted to see the museums and other special interest attractions in the city. World-renowned museums such as Museo del Prado, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum are all located at the historic center of Madrid. Also near are the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Botanic Garden, the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the Almudena’s Cathedral, so my best options was, obviously, to book a hotel room in the center of Madrid.

After some research at several hotel booking websites, I discovered that a good hotel in downtown Madrid was a bit expensive-at least for my tight budget-. Booking a hotel in the suburbs was not a valid option for me. Then, a friend told me about HotelCombined. HotelsCombined is an useful Hotel Search Engine that search through the entire database of major hotel merchants and online travel angents such as Booking.com, Hotels.com, Hotel.info, lastminute or travelocity, among many others.

I could compared rates on literally hundreds of Madrid hotels at a glance and find the best deal. Once chosen the best priced provider , I was redirected to their partner supplier website to complete my hotel reservation directly. Hotelscombined helped me to find an affordable and good located accommodation in the beautiful center of Madrid. Indeed, this tool saved me lots of my valuable time and money too. If English is not your primary language, don’t worry. Hotelscombined website is available in fourteen languages including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. You can plan your travel online easily in a few minutes.

If you want to help other travelers, write a hotel review or share your thoughts about you estance experience. User reviews are always the most valuable and reliable source of information.

Enjoy your estance!

Portugal was a world power in 15th and 16th century but was reduced to rubbles during an earthquake in 1755, Napoleon’s Invasion and Brazil’s Independence. Sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Spain and bordering Atlantic Ocean by both west and south coast it is popular for its long and varied coastline, sunny climate and the charming towns makes it a traveler’s paradise. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.

The best thing about Portugal is that despite being a part of modern Europe one can still find the rural dwellings which has stood by time and has preserved its traditions. While modern architectural marvels like high-rise resorts dot the coast in the Southern province of the Algarve, Lisbon on the west coast on the other hand is a crowded city home to many fine tourist resorts. If you want to go back in time you have to just travel few miles north or east where you will see scenic countryside still resemble medieval villages and towns of earlier centuries.

Population & Languages

The population of Portugal is roughly 10.6 million and the official language being spoken is Portuguese. Mirandese is also second officially language spoken in some parts of Portugal.

Electricity

The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The types of plug used are round pin with attachment and “Schuko” plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts.

Geographic Location

It is located in Southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain in north and east and borders Atlantic Ocean by both west and south coast.

Climate

The climate of Portugal can be classified into two. It is oceanic in the north and Mediterranean in the south. It is also one of the warmest countries of Europe. The average temperatures in the mainland are 13°C (55°F) in the north and 18°C (64°F) in the south. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold and wet. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Portugal.

Local Customs
Casual dressing is acceptable. But keep in mind not to wear beachwear in towns. Smoking is allowed after meals in Restaurants. Smoking is prohibited in theatres, cinemas and buses. Tipping is 10 to 15 percent in restaurant and hotels and 10 percent to taxis.

Attractions

Castelo de Sao Jorge – Castle of St. George
Alfama - The oldest part of Lisbon
Sé (Cathedral) - first church in Lisbon
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Museum
The Bairro Alto - The Bairro Alto district, an historic enclave dating back to 1513
Monument to the Discoveries - One of the popular attractions in Lisbon is the monument, situated on the riverbank in the Avenida de Brasilia in the district of Belem, which was designed to commemorate the Portuguese Age of Discovery
Tower of Belem - This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Parque das Nacoes
Fatima
Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis - dedicated to Soares dos Reis, the famous sculptor born and bred in Porto
Igreja de Sao Francisco
Solar Vinho do Porto
Vila Nova de Gaia
Frederico de Freitas Museum
Sao Vicente Caves
Cable Car
Cathedral
Whale Museum
Porto Santo
Setubal
Coimbra
Coimbra University
Guimaraes
Guimaraes church and palace
Braganca

Travel

By Air – The national airline of Portugal is TAP Air Portugal (TP). The airlines operates direct flights to many destinations like Faro, Lisbon and Porto from a number of countries, including Canada, France, Spain, the UK and USA. Portugalia Airlines (NI) operates flights from Europe. Many popular airlines that fly to Poland from UK are British Airways, GB Airways and Monarch Airlines, Easyjet, bmibaby, Jet 2, MyTravelLite, Flybe, Flyglobespan and SATA.The biggest airport is Lisbon International Airport which is located like 4.5 miles north of the city.

By Sea – The main ports for international passengers are Lisbon, Leixes (Oporto), Funchal (Madeira) and Portimão (Algarve), served by Cunard, Italia, Linea C, Olympia, P&O and Union Cas

By Rail – If coming from UK, the fastest way is to get on Eurostar train to Paris and from Paris to Portugal by Sud-Express.

Road – Spain is the only country sharing border with Portugal. The major border posts are open most of the time now.

Duty Free Items
1. Up to 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco for Non-European union countries.
2. 1 liter spirits with alcohol greater than 22%, or 2 liter spirits or aperitifs made of wine less than 22% or sparkling wines or liqueurs, or a proportionate mix of these, and 2 liters of wine
3. perfume up to 50g and 250ml eau de toilette
4. Gifts up to €175
5. 500g coffee or 100g tea or 40g of tea extract
6. Medicines for personal use

Prohibited Items

Birds and poultry arriving from countries infected with Avian influenza, Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

Seattle, (Washington, USA) is a city that has much to offer young and old alike as a vacation destination. The truly amazing thing about a city like Seattle is that many of the attractions that might appeal to young children, might also appeal to those of an older generation for much the same and very different reasons.

Seattle Aquarium

One of the many attractions that older visitors are sure to enjoy, well, if flowers are there thing, is the Woodland Park Rose Garden. These gardens are free to attend and offer some spectacular blooms if you visit between the months of May and August.

The Seattle Aquarium is another point of interest for young and old alike. Whether you are in your first childhood or your fifth there really is nothing more exciting than watching glorious sea creatures swim above your head. When I was a child, which was something that happened in science fiction, not in real life.

Visit to Seattle Museum

Which brings me to my next timeless attraction: The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. This museum explores the history of science fiction and the impact it has had on the world we see today. I love the way imaginations from times long past have sparked some of the inventions of today. As a serious science fiction lover and fanatic, I completely enjoy this museum and could spend days here. But I also have to admit that there are things I see here that belong to my father, and some things that belong to my children. This is why the Science Fiction Museum made my list.

Seattle Museum Of Flight

The Underground Tours are another thing that someone who is more mature might find very interesting. I know that I was completely enthralled not only in the story, but also in the hearing of the story. This was one tour that was well worth the price I paid for it.  I would pay the price again if for nothing more than to take another stroll around the museum that requires a tour ticket to gain entrance. Of course, the only exit from this tour is through the gift shop, which really poses no problem. I have will power, really!

The Whale Museum and any of the whale watching tours are another draw worth mentioning. If you have never seen one of these magnificent creatures up close it is an awe-inspiring event and one well worth repeating if you have. Young and old alike, no matter how big you are, it’s amazing how small you can feel next to these great animals.

Time Lapse Images Of Seattle

And of course there is always the Private Eye on Seattle Tour. This tour is not for the faint of heart and yet if you are a fan of old private eye novels or ‘true crime’ then you should find this particular tour to be a great amount of fun. There are three tours available: The Queen Anne Mystery and Murder Tour, the Capital Hill Mystery and Murder Tour, and Haunted Happening-also called the Seattle Ghost Tour. Each of these tours costs $25 per person and lasts between two and a half and three hours.

It doesn’t really matter if you are young or simply young at heart, Seattle has something to wonderful to offer all who visit here. From the gorgeous scenery that only nature could provide to the cultural center that this great city has become, I hope you can find plenty to keep you occupied during your stay.

3 Weeks - 3,000 Photos (New York City) from Robbie on Vimeo.