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Archive for the Category »General News «

St Patrick’s Day celebrations planned across Ireland

Thursday, March 11th, 2010 / koneill

St Patrick’s Day maybe celebrated all over the world, but the best celebrations can be found on the Emerald Isle itself. Events are going on right across the country, with numerous villages and towns taking part in the festivities alongside Ireland’s major cities to bring locals and visitors a bountiful selection of St Patrick’s Day parades, funfairs, and street parties.

Ireland’s official celebration takes place in Dublin between 12th and 17th March and of course it is one big party. Attractions include one of Ireland’s biggest literary festivals, a treasure hunt – which involves solving clues dotted around the cultural venues of the city – and even a Cuban Salsa festival (Dublin’s first!). Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without the renowned and spectacular St Patrick’s Day parade, which brings the festivities to a close on the day itself.

If you would prefer to explore the action going on in Belfast, however, then you’ll be immediately swept up in the excitement of the city’s lively St Patrick’s Day Carnival. The city is also the starting point for the Rith 2010 – a 1,600 km relay-run, on 9th March, which finishes in Galway city. Thousands take part in the huge run with a specially designed baton, which holds a secret message from Ireland’s President – to be revealed at the end of the run, from the reviewing stand in Eyre Square, Galway.

Moving away from the cities, there is plenty to do in Ireland’s smaller towns and villages for a regional twist on the celebrations. Armagh, Downpatrick, Killarney, Kiltimagh, Limerick, Sligo and Cork all hold their own festivities, and are brilliant choices to get more of a taste of Ireland.

If you want to know more about St Patrick himself, visit the Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, Co. Down. The life and times of the Saint, including the events that led him to become such a dedicated missionary, are revealed to visitors through a series of interactive displays and imaginative reconstructions. Those keen to explore more of St Patrick’s country will find that the Centre also provides an excellent stepping stone.

Wherever you choose to celebrate, you can guarantee that there’ll be no where more fun or lively than the country where it all began. So make sure you book a trip for St Patrick’s Day and get ready to enjoy the rest of the Emerald Isle’s beauty while you’re at it.

Destinations in Florida

Friday, February 26th, 2010 / koneill

Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State, and whether you’re basking on Miami Beach or taking a trip to famous Florida Keys, you can expect to benefit from the blissfully warm weather all year round. The perfect climate for sightseeing, if real Disney-free Florida holidays are what you’re looking for, then consider these top five alternative attractions instead. From hovercraft adventures to historic discoveries, you’ll soon see why Florida is such a haven for holiday-makers, ex-pats and A-Listers.

Everglades
The Everglades is a must see for anyone visiting Florida, as one of the largest wetlands in the world. This national park, a myriad of rivers, canals, springs and swamps, is best explored via the water. Whether you decide to dip in and out of the creeks on an airboat, glide on a hovercraft through Alligator Alley (did we mention the locals?(, or get to know the pond life on a canoe outing, you’ll be spoilt for choice with ways to travel around the 1.Five million acres of marshes. And, should you prefer not to get your feet wet, you can always discover the park by tram, bike or on foot for a drier experience.

Key West
One of the most popular and most southern points in Florida Keys, if you like water-based activities, you’ll love Key West. Spend your time sailing, snorkelling or fishing. Or, for an experience that’s a little more up close and personal, go swimming with Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins. Elsewhere, golf enthusiasts can brush up on their back nine at the renowned Key West Gold Club, while literary fans will delight in the famous works of Ernest Hemingway at his home and museum in the Old Town. Then, as the day draws to a close, watch the sunset from the decks of a Liberty Clipper ship as you’re wined and dined in the bays there.

Miami Beach
In his hit single referring to Miami, Hollywood star Will Smith sang of how one could ‘party in the city where the heat is on, all night on the beach ‘til the break of dawn’, and we really couldn’t have put it better ourselves. The famous backdrop for cult 80s cop show Miami Vice, it is THE place to go for trend-setters, party animals and sun worshippers, who flock here to soak up the A-list atmosphere. The most fashionable beach is undoubtedly South Beach, where clear blue waters and golden sands go hand in hand with designer outlets and cocktail bars. However, if you’d prefer to dodge the flashing lights of the parties and paps, the nearby art deco area is dotted with museums and is a great place to work the brain cells and stretch the legs.

St Augustine
The oldest European city established in America, turn back time with a stop-off at St Augustine. The Old Town is quaint and charming, and a real paradise for culture buffs who delight in its narrow streets and craftmakers. Home to such sights as the St Augustine lighthouse, which was completed in 1874, the Old City Gates, the Fountain of Youth and the Bridge of Lions, Florida has plenty of transport options to ensure you get to see it all. From horse-drawn carriages, old town trolley tours to a helicopter ride over the city, expect the views from every angle to be truly breathtaking.

Kennedy Space Center
Beam me up, Scotty! (Or should that be Kennedy?)? For a truly out of this world experience, NASA’s launch headquarters is just the ticket. A stone’s throw from Orlando’s multitude of theme parks, the Kennedy Space Center attracts milions of visitors each year. And it’s easy to see why. The only place where spectators can bear witness to real-life space shuttle launches, you can also enjoy a completely simulated experience where you get to try out the sights and sounds of heading into space for yourself. Add to this lunch with an astronaut learning all about past and present flights into space, and you’ll be over the moon.

Your First Time Passport – Getting One Can Be Simpler Than You’d Think

Monday, February 22nd, 2010 / koneill

Applying for a New Passport for the first time can be very confusing. Don’t worry though, because it’s perfectly fine to feel that way. After all, you need to deal with a lot of things for the first time, fill in forms, and submit documents. The truth is that applying for passports doesn’t have to be confusing or even stressful. We’ll show you in the following paragraphs how you can easily apply for one minus the confusion and the hassle.

First of all, you need to be familiar with the different forms used when applying for passports. There are forms used when you’re applying for the first time, others are used when renewing it, and there are those that one fills in when they’ve lost their passport. But for the purposes of this article, let’s just focus on what you need for now.

Since you’re a first time passport applicant, you’ll need to fill in the DS-11 form. This is the form used by people who never had passports before. The good thing is that you can already download this form at the US Department of State’s website. You have the choice of filling the form in on your computer then printing it out, or you could also print out the form first then fill it in later by hand. What’s important here is the convenience it gives you. You no longer need to go to the passport office to get this form.

Once your form is complete along with the necessary documents, you’ll need to submit it for processing. For passport processing, you can choose to either have it go through routine processing, or have it expedited. Routine processing will generally be fine if you don’t need your passport to travel in the next ten weeks, as routine processing generally takes four to six weeks to complete.

Meanwhile, if you need to have your passport processed in less than four weeks, then you need to have your application expedited. As the name suggests, an expedited passport takes a lot faster to process than those that go through routine processing. In other words, expedited passports are given priority over routine ones.

In the case of an expedited First Time US Passport, they are usually processed within two to three weeks and is thus the choice of travelers who need to have their passports quickly. If you need to travel within that period, getting an expedited passport is an obvious choice.

Speeding up the process of your application takes more resources. That’s why expedited passports have a small additional fee on top of the regular passport processing fees. Don’t worry about this though, as the price you have to pay isn’t the hefty, and it pays for itself in the form of speed and convenience that you get.

When it comes to applying for a First Time Pass Port, you have two options to go about it. First, you can choose the routine passport processing that doesn’t require an extra fee, but may be too slow if you need to travel soon. Then there’s the expedited passport processing. The price that you pay for this kind of service is offset by the convenience and speed that it affords you.

Car Hire Advice

Monday, February 22nd, 2010 / koneill

It is common for people to think they understand what car hire is all about. It is only when things go wrong that people realize how little they know about car hire. In this article you will find some advice about car hire.

The first thing to think about is the size of the car as this will impact greatly on fuel costs and consumption. Another thing to think about is the the type of journey that you will be taking and the number of people who will be using the car. Smaller cars will be suitable for two or four people on a normal routine journey. They are cheaper and low on fuel consumption.

The likely terrain that you are likely to encounter, you do not want to rent a car with a low suspension when you are going to be traveling long distances or on rough roads. It is also recommended that you try and make your trip in the middle of the week than iver weekends. Different rates apply for the week days and the weekends.

It maybe time consuming but please do read the rental lease agreement closely and in detail. They are not standard and each car rental service will have its own set of rules that do not apply to another. Once you are sign you are legally bound to the conditions stated therein and cannot claim ignorance as a defense.

One thing that should pay particular attention to is the clause regarding who is eligible to drive the vehicle. Extra drivers can be put on the lease but for an extra fee. There are terms and conditions that also apply to traveling with minors.

Some of the local car hire agencies that are recommended include any one of the following: budget car rental cape town airport car rental bloemfontein south africa rondebosch car rental

When renting a car make sure you understand the risk that you carry and the risk that is covered by the car rental company. It is always better to be sure than to assume.

For A Cheaper Holiday Think Wales!

Saturday, February 20th, 2010 / koneill

More and more people are deciding not to go abroad for their holidays this year, instead preferring to stay at home and avoid the cost and stress of travelling. The credit crunch has hit a lot of people hard and many are finding that they are short of money to spend on luxuries like holidays. The recession combined with the current strength of the euro against the pound, means it’s not surprising that the number of UK holidaymakers booking their holidays at traditionally popular European destinations like Spain and Portugal has plummeted.

In fact, according to recent figures released by the European Commission 48 per cent of Europeans intend to holiday in their own countries this year, that’s five per cent higher than in 2008. Those who are still planning to travel abroad are spending a lot more time shopping around for the cheapest deals, and booking in advance on the internet.

The credit crunch may be bad news for the Spanish tourism industry, but for UK destinations such as Wales it could be just the boost they’ve been waiting for. Not only are a lot of UK holidaymakers looking closer to home for this year’s destination, but the weak pound could bring in more visitors from mainland Europe as well.

Wales is the perfect destination in the UK with a huge variety of things to see and do and places to stay, from hotels to camping to rented flats and holiday cottages. The scenery is stunning, from the world famous mountains and valleys to the beautiful coastline which has been awarded no less than 43 blue flag awards for water quality, cleanliness and safety. There is no shortage of options including gardens to visit, walking, exploring or activity holidays, including abseiling, water sports and ‘coasteering’ right along the stunning coast. So if you’re looking for a UK destination this summer whether you’re planning a family holiday, romantic getaway or a short breaks Wales could be the choice for you.

Antarctica: The Land of Ice

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 / koneill

Unlike other landmasses on the globe, Antarctica is as beautiful as it is brutal. The uniqueness also comes from the fact it’s the only continent on earth that has never been bloodied by war. This is true even though it is the biggest continent on Earth, larger than Europe and America put together. Due to the extreme cold of this continent almost no germs can survive in this land, causing more people have died of violent causes than natural ones

Modern Antarctica is a study of contrasts when one considers the opposing politics that come together to work peacefully in comfortable enclosures that are a few inches from a -100-degree environment that would literally freeze them in seconds. People who live in Antarctica never need to worry about gaining weight. They can consume four hearty meals a day and never gain an ounce. This is do to the fact that the extreme cold uses up more calories than the body could on any diet. This site teaches you about antarctica cruise.

Also, a special type of illness called the “Big Eye” afflicts many of the population. Due to the long days and 3-am sunshine, many people find it very difficult to sleep. Also Antarctica is the only place you can join the “300 Degree Club.” There’s no bar that is further south on the Earth, nor is there one that’s less expensive; you can still run up a gigantic bar tab, even though you can buy a beer or a cognac for the same price. In Antarctica the nights are rather lengthy, starting in April and concluding in September.

The heartland of Antarctica is blanketed with a moving cap of ice that is 9,000 feet thick; however, geologists believe that there may be sufficient coal, natural gas, and oil to supply the planet within it. Its laws, or lack thereof, are so strange that a fugitive could not be extradited and any criminal has almost nine million square miles of terrain ranging from open spaces to mountain ranges in which to conceal himself, should he be fortunate enough to survive more than a couple of hours in the most adverse climate known on earth. This site teaches you about antarctica cruise vacations.

Even so, Antarctica has the smallest crime rate of any country or nation out there. Many say it could be the site of the perfect crime. As a matter of fact, if murder has ever taken place here, no charges where ever brought against the murderer. There are now laws ore even treaties that would allow a murder to be charged with anything anywhere on the continent.

While the flags of 10 different nations are flying over this beautiful continent, there are no claims to the real estate located here. Not a single country or nation has even attempted to try and make a permanent colony here on these primal lands. Ironically, these primal lands have some of the most technologically advanced pieces of equipment.

Most of the residents will not permanently live here, but they are some of the brightest in the world. Antarctica has the distinction of having a populace with more college graduates than high school graduates. Not only does it have more talented scientists than most universities, it continues to be the center of more peaceful R & D studies than most world capitals. One of the few laws regarding Antarctica involves the prohibition of nuclear weapons tests and explosions.

As a matter of fact, no matter what continent you go to, you will not find environment laws as strict as they are in Antarctica. Any animal life here now requires very strict licenses in order to kill due to the past slaughter by both sealers and whalers. Every scientist that comes to Antarctica has it in heart to fight to keep this land pure.

Crazy Complaints from British Holiday Makers

Sunday, December 27th, 2009 / koneill

You may recall reports of some of the downright bizarre complaints made by British holiday makers to their holiday reps. These include a complaint from a woman about the fish in the sea startling her children and another who blamed the hotel for her pregnancy after she and her partner had been provided with a double bed instead of two singles.

It looks like Brits abroad just can’t stop complaining. Holiday representatives in Benidorm have reported receiving a constant stream of complaints from British tourists many of whom appeared to be unhappy that they were abroad.

One older, retired man complained that the ‘Spaniards are everywhere you go, you just can’t get away from them’.Even after he’d been reminded of the fact that he was in Spain he moaned on saying that the least they could do was speak English.

There was even a complaint that all the road signs were in Spanish and others who complained that all the restaurant menus were in Spanish.

Food and drink are a constant sources of unhappiness amongst British tourists. One person memorably complained that the seafood platter was ‘too fishy’ and another complained that the Sangria was too strong and had led to him chatting up a fellow hotel guest, upsetting his wife.

The sun and heat are another source of constant moans and grumbles. Lots of British holiday makers appear to think that its the tour companies responsibility to ensure that they use sunblock. Holiday reps are often faced with complaints from people who have let themselves become burned on their first day in the hot Spanish sun.

But one holiday maker complained that the sun rose too early in Spain and another grumbled that the sunlight was too bright and it hurt her children’s eyes.

And one lady complained that the swimwear worn by fellow female holiday makers was too revealing and that her husband had done nothing but stare at women ever since they’d arrived.

So what is the strangest holiday complaint you’ve heard?

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When travelling always be certain that you have the right travel insurance. If you travel on business you will want an appropriate business travel insurance policy and if you’re off on an adventure holiday be certain that you are covered with some adventure travel insurance.

Category: General News, Vacation Tales Tags: british holiday makers, complaints abroad, traveller tales Leave a Comment

Holiday Parks this Half Term

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 / koneill

It seems like only 5 minutes ago we were talking about the summer holidays and how you were going to fill them but here comes another holiday for the school children. This means another week were you have to find something for them to do but fear not as there are plenty of options available by simply opting for a visit to a holiday park.

Holiday parks are the perfect choice for a family holiday this half term. They provide a mix of activities and shows for people of all ages that are sure to keep the kids entertained and you suitably relaxed. Often the problem with a family holiday is that there is not enough for children to do which, in turn, makes things harder for the parents as the children will naturally come to them for things to do.

At holiday parks, children are not just put into one age bracket as older children will want to do more exciting and tasking activities than younger children will. This is why there are 3 different groups, 0-4 years old, 5-12 years old and Teens. This means that the activities can be tailored to the liking of a certain age rather can categorising all young people under one section.

Children can get quite picky when they get older so holiday parks have a range of activities to keep them entertained including football coaching where they can learn some silky skills, dance classes where they can learn some silky moves and a fantastic water park where they can just go crazy and have a wild time.

For the younger ones there are activities and shows that incorporate some of the popular cartoon characters such as Bob the Builder and Barney. This keeps their interest and they are guaranteed to have a great time as they sing and dance along to their favourite tunes from the cartoons. Of course the fun is not only for the young ones as there are a range of activities for the grown-ups with adventure hiking, go-karting and beach sports available. If you fancy relaxing then there is a fantastic Spa available too.

At the end of October there is Halloween themed evenings to enjoy where things get spooky and there are plenty of shows from the countries leading entertainers to enjoy too so there will never be a shortage of activities for you and your family to enjoy.

Check out the cheap uk breaks at one of the family holiday resorts to get a halloween or bonfire night themed family holiday for all the family

Category: General News Tags: Family Holidays, holidays, hotels, tourism Leave a Comment

Amusement Park Ride – A Closer Look

Saturday, November 28th, 2009 / koneill

All of us remember the first time we visited an amusement park, I am sure. The atmosphere of amusement parks anywhere is one of such joy, excitement and anticipation that going to one is an event in itself. And why not? The thrill of the rides, all-you-can eat popcorn and candy floss, and the joy of being able to enjoy it all with every member of your family or your friends is certainly something that cannot be substituted!

The best part of amusement parks is each and every amusement park ride that is available. Granted, it is not everyone who can handle an amusement park ride. There are many of us who will feel queasy at the mere mention of a rollercoaster or the giant wheel. But more often than not many of us love the feeling of going at very high speeds or moving up to extreme heights and experiencing the feel of a free fall from there… the adrenaline rush we all get from amusement park rides is pretty indescribable. An amusement park ride that has just gotten bigger and better over the years is the rollercoaster. There are amusement parks all over the world that compete over having the longest rollercoaster, the rollercoaster with the most number of loops, and even the tallest rollercoaster.

An amusement park ride, fun as it is, has to be made safe for all those who go on it. And safety is a very big issue for any amusement park ride. That is why periodic checks are performed on each and every seat to check if the locks are in place. Also, any amusement park ride will have to be checked regularly for any troubles in the mechanics, as if there are issues they will have to be sorted out immediately. There are also safety methods in use, where kids below a certain age and height are not allowed onto the rides, and some where those with certain medical conditions are not allowed on the amusement park ride.

Any amusement park ride is something to look forward to, no matter what age category you belong to. That is one of the best things about amusement parks – there is something for everyone to enjoy. No wonder then that even today places like Disney World have become household names and are filled with people of all ages, all races and all nationalities.

Category: General News Tags: amusement park ride, amusement park ride fun, amusement park rides, amusement parks rides, handle amusement park ride Leave a Comment

What are the top 2 new holidays?

Saturday, November 14th, 2009 / koneill

Caribbean holidays and Egypt holidays have been holding the positions at the top of the tables as the top holidays for a few years now. At some point people will start to look for different holidays, so who’s to say that Sri Lanka isn’t the next top contender?

Although the Caribbean offers so much to all of it’s tourists, there are other countries in the world that can do the same thing, for cheaper. However what about the Asian countries? Do they not have a lot to offer tourists, especially those from the western world? The Culture is diverse, and very different to that of the life westerners experience. Also the countries are so much more different. Sri Lanka is quite well known for the wildlife that it has, The Flora and Fauna are very diverse.

Sri Lanka has much to offer those that won’t to experience an adventure, this place can give people an insight into their lives and to see what a beautiful country it really is. Sri Lanka holidays have been quite popular in the past, but not as much so as they are now. These holidays have now become members of the top 5 most wanted. So will this holiday be able to reach the top of most sought after holidays, above Egypt? Egypt has much past and culture to offer everyone, it is just a case of whether or not the holiday experience is better?

So what about Maldives holidays? Well these are a great contender to Caribbean holidays and Egypt holidays. Maybe not because of the land that they hold, but because of the water that surrounds them. The Maldives are islands completely surrounded by water, which means they have a lot of Sea wildlife. The Diving in the Maldives is really high quality, the seas are beautiful and the wildlife stunning, not to mention the whale sharks that regularly visit.

Category: Africa, General News, North America Tags: Dubai holidays, Family Holidays, Maldives holidays, News, Sri Lanka holidays, travel Leave a Comment

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Archive for the Category »General News «