Hotel Bela Figueira in Figueira da Foz, Portugal delights travelers with its close proximity to the beach, the town center, the casino, the tourist information center and great eats in the area. The hotel is run by its owners Anil and Rozy, one of the warmest and friendliest couples you will ever meet. Bela Figueira is a bed and breakfast or as the Portuguese say, a Pensao, located steps from the sandy beaches of...
Portugal was one of the five super powers of the colonial era, along with Great Britain, Spain, Netherlands and France. It embodies the heart and soul of ancient Europe, with castles, forts, bridges and historic city centers. Cobble-stone streets, red-tile roofs and great seafood exemplifies the ancient and modern fusion that is Portugal. A visit to Portugal deserves at least 10-12 days and renting a car is highly recommended. Not that public transportation is...
Venice (also known as Venezzia) is one of those cities that seem out of this world. The city is built on and around water and the only real means of transport is via water ways and canals. I bet more people here own boats than cars. In fact, apart from taxis, cars are a rare sight in Venice. The public bus is called the Vaporetto and takes people heading to work or tourists to major...
If you have never been to Santorini, you don’t know what you are missing. This Greek Island of the Cyclades, also known as Thira, is a picture perfect setting for its awe-inspiring beauty, white stone-wall buildings and shiny blue domes. The fishhook shaped Santorini, consists of the main area of Fira in the center, with the popular Oia on the north-western tip of the island. The only way to get to Santorini is by...
Airlines are an unpopular foe of the flying public and are constantly the object of frequent flyer criticism. The list of complaints against airlines often include flight delays, cramped seating and charging the customer for food and now even luggage. But while most of these frustrations apply to domestic travel, international travel is still somewhat better, at least for now. This is where the international airlines, specially those from Europe and Asia pull away...
For a small island Lanzarote is big on visitor attractions. Boasting one of the most popular national parks in Spain. Along with lots of picturesque whitewashed villages, a host of natural wonders and the breathtaking man made attractions of a local artist called Cesar Manrique. The island measures just 38km by 58km – making it easy to circumnavigate and tour. Whilst both petrol and car hire in Lanzarote are very affordable – with the...
Rome is a fabulous city and is the epitome of the historic beauty of Europe. It was the capital of the massive Roman empire and has enjoyed an almost mythical status for many centuries. Today’s Rome, although much different than it was at the pinnacle of the Roman empire, still preserves its rich Roman heritage (fortunately for us). So while in Rome, consider staying in the historic part of Rome to completely immerse yourself...
Rome is one of the most memorable cities you will ever visit. Even though most consider Paris to be the most romantic city in the world, I would argue that perhaps that distinction should belong to Rome. If you are planning to visit Rome, I recommend finding accomodation in a very specific area. First, most of what Rome has to offer to tourists, lies within a 3 mile radius so if you are farther...
This post written and submitted by Nick Ball. The Canary Islands have something of a reputation in the UK as a cheap and cheerful holiday destination. But these seven little specks of Spain located off the coast of Africa are not all birds of a feather. As on Lanzarote – the most easterly link in the chain – tourists are able to enjoy an unspoilt island bursting with unique cultural attractions. Lanzarote was first...
First-time travelers to Europe might be in for a culture shock. Different languages from one country to another, mode of public transportation and the way of life is much different in Europe than it is in the US even though Europe is, for the most part, far removed from the cliche “Third World” often used to describe poorer economies in Asia, Africa and South America. But despite the cultural and socio-economic differences between the...
