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Buckingham Palace And Other Places To Visit in London

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England is wonderful and exciting country in which to spend a little time. It has a great many visitor attractions well worth visiting perfectly suited for all tastes. For instance|One such place is the historical city of York which dates back to the times of the Roman Empire, Torquay (often called the English Riviera) and Liverpool (European City of Culture 2008). One of the most famous, and interesting, places to spend some time in is London the capital city of the United Kingdom of Britain


London is an amazing place to visit, either just for a weekend or, hopefully for a full vacation. You may be surprised at how many people who reside in the United Kingdom who have not yet visited London, even more surprising when you ponder on the fact it is usually top of the majority of visitors lists (of the most enjoyable places they went to).

There is simply so much to see and do in London that it is not possible to list them all all in one go. Surprisingly one of the newest attractions in London also happens to be one of the most popular – The London Eye. Another popular attraction nearby to the London Eye is the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. However, one place which must not be missed is Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace is England’s most widely known Royal residence, maybe because it is home to the Queen. Buckingham Palace is positioned in the center of London which makes it a natural focus for visitors. The daily pageant of ‘Changing of the Guard’ is incredibly fascinating to witness and ever so English.

Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House. It was originally a large town house, constructed in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. It is actually the townhouse that forms the main core of the palace as we know it today.

Over the subsequent three quarters of a century Buckingham House was enlarged by the construction of 3 wings forming a central courtyard. The main architects responsible for these constructions were John Nash and Edward Blore. It was also John Nash who was responsible for the interior design of the monumental staterooms.

The famous architect Aston Webb was responsible for the building of the principal facade of Buckingham Palace which he re-designed in 1912. Webb along with Sir Thomas Brock (the sculptor) were the winners of a competition to design a memorial to Queen Victoria. This memorial can still be today.

The Queen has various other royal residences besides Buckingham Palace. Annually the Queen spends Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk. Sandringham House is privately owned by the Queen (a private royal residence).

Another private residence is Balmoral Castle, situated in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. The Queen was staying in Balmoral Castle when she was told about the untimely accident involving Diana (the ex-wife of Prince Charles).

If you would like to take a break in the United Kingdom you may be surprised to learn that it is possible to find cheap hotels in London without any great difficulty, on the other hand you may want to stay in more luxurious surroundings and the fine selection of boutique hotels in London should be more than satisfactory.

Tips and Tricks for Stress Free Vacation Packing

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Packing for vacation scares many people. Packing for your vacation is such a drag :you just want to be whisked away direct to your destination: no packing involved! Unfortunately this happy state of affairs hasn’t happened to me yet so here are my top 5 vacation packing tips.

Vacation Packing Tip#1; If you “might” need it don’t take it.
If you are taking something “just in case” or because you “might need it” – leave the item at home. I have travelled for far too many years, and never recal actually using any of those “just in case” packed items.

Vacation Packing Tip#2 Put all your Must Have Items on the Bed
Take a real hard look. Then select the half that is most important to pack :put the rest back in the cupboard: you may have the right amount of stuff. If you are still not convinced pack up all your “must haves” and take them for a good long walk, I think you will agree with me now?

Vacation Packing Tip#3 Don’t take specialist clothing
Don’t take any item of clothing that won’t do duel use. If you need a sleep shirt take something that you can sleep in and either use as a beach cover up or as a silky evening top. I have had tankini’s with tops that doubled as a an evening top (bra included too nice!).

Vacation Packing Tip#4 Don’t take Denim
Denim is never the answer. Its bulky, its hard to clean, it takes forever to dry and it has a certain reputation which will still get you turned away from clubs if you are wearing denim. Leave it at home

Vacation Packing Tip#5 Don’t take the Medicine Cabinet
Take a bare minimum of drugs with you. You can buy almost anything you need at almost any location: there is no point being kitted out with 6 months supply of cold remedies if you are off for 10 days at the beach: and don’t have a cold Take any prescribed medicines you need but also take their name and their generic equivalent; you may well find what requires a prescription at home you can get over the counter for a fraction of the cost in many countries.

Mary has a passion for traveling well and loves to share her Vacation Packing Tips with anyone who will listen. Mary is a passionate believer in that “less is more” in travel as well as life and hopes that you will find some useful tricks at http://vacationpackingtips.info

Paris Travel: Good Value not Cheap

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You can’t afford a luxury trip to Paris? There are options, here are some tips on getting more value for your dollar.

The single most important thing for a cost-effective vacation is pick you time. Times to avoid in Paris: Christmas, September/October when there are large trade shows. Do you want to splurg on a 5 star hotel? Rates are often cheaper at weekends and particularly in August, when the locals abandon Paris.

Try to time your departure so that you leave late at night having had a full day in Paris: your hotel will hold your luggage even if you have to check out in the morning. An extra day in Paris and no hotel expenses, perfect! Sleep on the plane its the best thing to do on them.

Don’t go alone: preferably take a couple of friends and share a room: you will normally pay the same for two adults as one and the third person is much less than half the tarrif for two.

Don’t hire a car . Don't waste your money hiring a car in Paris. The city is very walkable and the underground Metro is often faster than a taxi in rush hour. If you are hiring an auto for the remainder of your vacation, arrange it so that your hire period begins as you say au revoir to Paris.

Use an on-line travel search site to find the best hotel prices. Don’t just book with the first site you find though. Try five or six especially if you are looking for smaller, boutique hotels. Not all travel websites list all hotels.

Remember that many attractions including museums close one day a week: usually early in the week. If you are in town for those two days then double check which days your “must see” sites are open to avoid disappointment.

Don’t use taxis to hop around town: use the Metro for longer trips or walk: Paris is one of the most walkable cities in the world and most of the major sights and shopping areas are within easy walking distance.

A new development in inner city transport is the Vélib program (“vélo Liberté” or Freedom Bikes) by which it is possible to rent a bike for a very modest price. The first 30 minutes is free (plus a Euro1 daily fee payable by credit card) and prices rise raipidly for longer rental: designed to encourage you to drop off the bike and pick up a new one as you require: what a great reason to stop at cafe or two…

Paris is a wonderful city and who doesn’t want to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musse d’Orsay, Notre Dame Church. Make sure you make the effort to make it to top stared restaraunt at least once on your visit.

Choose a Paris Luxury Hotel for your next European vacation and really see a different side of that wonderful city. A central Paris hotel will help you spend most of your time in the city of romance not commuting from a remote suburb. Selecting the right Paris hotel or appartment can make a real difference to your trip: and give you lifelong memories.

Things To Do When You Stay In Cardiff

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Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and is a great place to stay - not just for visiting places where the television series Dr Who was filmed or for when you watch rugby.

If you're a fan of history then you definitely have to visit the historic site of Cardiff castle. A guided tour of Cardiff castle ought to be well up on your "to do" list. The location can trace its roots back to medieval days although in more recent times you may well be visiting to be part of the audience for a rock concert or possibly the Welsh version of Mardi Gras.

Cardiff is a regular host for the Welsh National Eisteddfod. Every other year, opera fans from all over the world flock to the city for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World event. Not to mention the 250,000 or so people who go to the Big Weekend Festival, which has rides and other attractions in abundance. Cardiff's free outdoor festival is ideal for those people travelling to Cardiff on a budget.

Between them, Capitol Centre, St David's Centre and Queen's Arcade are the three main shopping arcades in the City. These three centres cater for almost every need: there are national department stores as well as smaller local shops that you'll only find in Cardiff. There are also plenty of other shopping opportunities to be found in Cardiff, including a number of shopping centres that date back to Victorian days, so others in your party can admire the architecture while you shop until you drop.

If you’re on an overnight stay in Cardiff, you may want to check out the musical scene in the city. There are a wide range of music venues ranging from small clubs and pubs right the way through to big venues. If you're uncertain, begin at the Brewery Quarter and work out from there.

There are plenty of hotels and guest houses in Cardiff, so you’re certain to find somewhere to stay when you visit Cardiff.

France Travel: Interesting Facts

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Reims France

Fun Facts About France

The crowd is attracted to sparkling ski slopes of the Alps, sunlit vineyards and sun-baked beaches of this beautiful country. France is a country which draws more tourists than any other country. It is easy to see why this is the case given France’s great reputation for fine wines, good food, high fashion and relaxed lifestyle. But while a city like Dijon France, is undoubtedly a place to eat and drink till your heart is content, there’s much more to this fascinating country than only cutting-edge cuisines. Spring is known as the ideal time to visit, and others with flair for winter fun can slide at the Alps with their gear. The summers are very hot and winters are moderate. An all-weather coat and pair of comfortable shoes are a must. Women, especially, should carry cocktail dresses as some of the restaurants ask for it. Try not to wear sleaveless shirts when visiting religious locations as it is not respected in such places. 

Culture

Although French is the national language, English is widely spoken here. Handshaking is customary greeting and women should be kissed on both cheeks and should be addressed as Monsieur or Madame. French people are popularly known for their like for stylish sportswear
and of course perfumes. Nudism is allowed on some beaches only. Social functions, fine restaurants, and clubs call for more formal dressing. When at a formal dinner, wait till the host gestures to start the dinner. Smoking is banned in public places.

Site Seeing

Paris, the city of love, is a massive city with many attractions in reachable distance thanks to the
highly efficient public transport system. It boasts of more than 80 museums and 200 arts
galleries. A trip to Disney land and the magnificent Eiffel tower will make the trip worthwhile.

The attractive tourists spots are the Arc de triomphe which spans over the tomb of an
unknown soldier, the forbidding gothic architecture of the Notre Dame cathedral, the picturesque
Sacre Coeur, to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Moulin Rouge and boat tours along the
Seine. Get the Carte Musees-Monuments pass, which gives access to 70 monuments and
museums.

Shopping

Although service tax is included in the bill, a humble tip won’t cost much. An extra dollar can be given as tip to the waiter. A tip of $2 can be left for the bus drivers.

Electricity

220-volt, 50-cycle AC current.

Getting There

The national airline that operates here is Air France. Airlines that are inexpensive provide services from within the UK. Paris-Charles de Gaulle also known as Roissy-Charles de Gaulle is the major airport of France, which is 23km away from the city. The airport provides services such as, taxis, limos, and coaches. The railway facility provided by the airport, claims to reach all the terminals within eight minutes. These trains run 24 hours. The other airports that offer flight services are Paris-Orly, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Toulouse.

Ports such as Havre, Atlantic, Mediterranean, and North Sea, are known for their building of cruise ships.

Duty Free Items

1. 250g of tobacco or 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
2. 1liter of spirits over 22 per cent or 2liter of alcoholic beverage up to 22 per cent
3. 2liter of wine
4. 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
5. 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract
6. 40g of tea extract or 100g of tea

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