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Viva Espagna

It is no wonder that so many Brits head off to Spain for their annual holidays. Since packages holidays first became so popular in the 1950's and 1960's, Spain has been firmly on our map. Although the package holidays are still very popular, we now have added options such as taking a low-cost flight down there for little more than the cost of a decent meal and then booking our hotels or villas separately.

So what draws us to this part of the world just a couple of hours by plane? Yes, just two hours by plane and yet a world away, which is part of the attraction. Life goes at a totally different pace, people are more relaxed and work to live, and not our usual live to work ethic.

The Spanish eat incredibly well and incredibly healthily too. The Mediterranean diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, olives and olive oil is delicious, not too fattening (in moderation!) and very healthy. (more...)

Use a Travel Guide to Plan Your Next Trip

Introduced more than a decade ago, online travel guides have become a popular one-stop solution for UK residents who are considering a trip. From shopping to hotels to restaurants to activities, a reputable travel guide can help you plan your holiday from beginning to end. More importantly, perhaps, they can help travellers save money.

How do they this? Well, for one thing they offer price comparisons of airfares, hotel and car rental services for nearly any city in the world. A good guide will also include reviews and links to currency exchange brokers, so you can trade in your pounds for euros or dollars before you leave for the airport.

Of particular interest to many tourists in these difficult economic times are bundle deals. A bundle deal is when an airline, hotel and car rental agency gets together and offers customers good discounts if they buy all three services at once. Bundle deals are often easier to find when travel declines. (more...)

Finance Blog - Could debt management help if interest rates rise

If you're a homeowner, there's a good chance you'll have benefited from the low base rate (the rate which is set by the Bank of England and which influences mortgage costs). After all, it's been down at 0.5% since 5th March 2009, and millions of mortgage holders have seen the monthly cost of repaying their mortgage drop to levels they couldn't have expected a few years ago.

However, as they say, 'What goes down must come up'. The base rate can't stay so low forever - and what happens when it goes up again?

People on fixed-rate mortgages, of course, won't be affected until they come to look for a new mortgage, or reach the end of their fixed-rate term. But for anyone with a tracker or SVR (Standard Variable Rate) mortgage, it's a much more immediate issue. (more...)

Florence is an Italian Must See!

When in Italy, visiting Florence is an absolute must. I cannot begin to describe the wealth of history and culture that awaits you – although I will certainly try my best.

The Italian Renaissance was one of the most prolific periods in all of art history and much of it is still to be found today in Florence. You will not fail to be amazed by some of the world's greatest masterpieces such as Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Venus and the numerous Madonnas with babies which adorn nearly every room.

For the first time, figures in the sculptures and paints were portrayed as life-like rather than as a symbol and we can see the painstaking effort that goes into the works. We have seen these works so many times before in magazines and posters, yet to see them first hand still takes your breath away. (more...)

Another Idea for Accommodation in Rome

Click out of those boring hotel websites just for a second and pin your lugholes back for a totally different accommodation concept: rented apartments. Yes, rental apartments are definitely starting to take the world by storm as people have actually become indifferent to staying in nondescript hotel rooms for nights on end.

Rome rentals are the perfect idea for people who are looking for a lot more space when they are away and like to keep hold of far more luxury. Apartments are always scrutinised before they are accepted onto a company's books and this helps to ensure that they are well appointed and fit for purpose.

They come in a variety of sizes: from simple and convenient one bedroom apartments, to much larger properties that are able to cater well for groups travelling together. They always offer the facilities you would be used to at home and this gives you the chance to cut back on that eating-out budget which can be exceptionally expensive in Rome. (more...)

The Lure of the Web

How many times have you seen links to click here for cheap sleeps or click here for cheap accommodation and how many times have you wondered whether it is just too good to be true. Well, the truth of the matter is that there are just some great deals to be found, as long as you are careful and make sure that they are reputable companies.

But how can this be? How can they offer prices that low? There are various factors and one is pure competition. There are so many budget hotels and accommodation out there and they just have to be competitive to win the customers. You may not get the frills and luxury of the more expensive hotels but you get a clean bed and a roof over your head.

Another reason is late availability – if hotels have not sold all their rooms, they might as well take a low price to fill the vacancy, even if they do not make much money. At least then they get the chance to sell add-ons such as breakfast rather than having an empty hotel. (more...)

Warsaw on a Shoestring

Modern Warsaw is often referred to as 'The Phoenix City' because, like the magnificent bird of mythology, the city rose from the ashes of its wartime devastation. Like so much of Poland, Warsaw was virtually obliterated during the Second World War, but 20 years later it was rebuilt as the modern capital of the country and the ninth largest city in the European Union.

Fortunately not all of Poland was razed in 1944 and the cultural heart of the country continued to beat strongly. Krakow, the old capital city, escaped wartime damage and this beautiful medieval city is one of Poland's greatest attractions. It is only a couple of hours by train from Warsaw and a day trip to Krakow is a must for the culture-loving visitor.

No longer a communist country, Poland is proud of its cultural heritage and Warsaw especially boasts many museums, galleries and heritage sites, as well as thirty major theatres known for their avant-garde performances. This makes Warsaw a popular tourist attraction and, with so many places to sleep for cheap in Warsaw a visit can be managed on the smallest budget. Indeed Warsaw has been judged as one of the cheapest and best cultural destinations for visitors. (more...)

Barcelona the Bountiful

I fell in love with Barcelona on my third visit to Spain. Wherever you travel in Spain, you get that wonderful Mediterranean mixture of the old and the new existing side by side in perfect harmony. Barcelona epitomises that fascinating mixture in its architecture and culture. It is the second largest city in Spain and the Catalonian capital.

Barcelona nestles on the shores of the Mediterranean, on the north-east coast of the Iberian peninsula and beckons visitors in that tantalising way that only Mediterranean towns and cities can. One visit to Barcelona and you are hooked!

Its most fascinating aspect is Las Ramblas – a road that cuts deep into the heart of the city and offers an exciting array of stalls, bars, restaurants and street entertainment from morning until late into the night; not to mention hotels full of character and charm offering best to stay on the Ramblas. However, you need to keep a tight rein on your purse-strings as market prices can vary dramatically. (more...)

Where to Stay When Visiting Berlin and Other German Cities

Compared to most world capitals, Berlin is a relatively young metropolis. Though there is evidence that it was settled as early as the 11th century, it was not officially documented until the 13th century. Berlin did not become the capital of the German Empire until 1871. The city later grew into a metropolis during the Industrial Revolution.

Today, Berlin is the largest city in Germany with a population of 3.4 million people. It is also the second most populous city in the European Union. Each year, more than three million tourists come to Berlin, which makes it the fifth most visited city in Europe after London, Paris, Rome and Madrid.

While it does not have the global reputation of the aforementioned, since the Wall came down in 1989, Berlin has become one of Europe’s most important cities when it comes to business. In fact, Berlin is one of the top three convention cities in the world. So, When visiting Berlin and other German cities, it is best to book your room weeks in advance. (more...)

Go on Safari in Kenya

The etymology of the word 'safari' can be traced back to an Arabic word for journey. The word later traveled to Africa where it became 'long journey' in Swahili. When these long journeys became popular with adventurous Englishmen in the 19th century, the word entered English.

At the time, a safari was a hunting expedition, often for big game, often in Kenya. These trips could be extremely dangerous and many adventurers were injured or even killed by wild game in the African plains.

For this reason and many more, guests started leaving their guns at home and began taking their cameras instead. In fact, the term safari today often means an observational trip. Do people Go on a safari for a change? While these observational safaris are far safer than hunting expeditions, there is still an element of danger. After all, there are no cages to constrain them. Going on safari always means that you are entering an animal's natural habitat. You are the outsider. (more...)

The Most Flexible Accommodation

Whether for business or for leisure, those travellers looking for flexible accommodation in nearly any major city would do well to consider a furnished apartment over a hotel. The reasons are quite compelling.

Whether it is a case of Rome rentals Paris apartments or Berlin flats, furnished apart hotels are becoming increasingly popular. People love the freedom of their own apartment, whatever the size and there are now many reasonably priced chains of Apart Hotels throughout Europe, as well as some great deals on private rental apartments.

In these times of economic uncertainty, cost is one important factor. Furnished apartments often work out reasonably priced compared to hotel rooms, particularly if there is more than one traveller to share the costs. It also means that you can prepare your own food instead of having to eat out at expensive restaurants and bars. (more...)

Why be Lonely?

When loneliness sets in, when the days meld into each other, each night tainted with frustration. When empty meals for one prevail, and a beating heart craves a companion, sitesfordating.net is a friend.

Teasing out the joys of life can be a trial alone. A filo-fax of dated numbers, a mobile phone engorged with the loving texts of yesteryear; only serve to remind that new love is needed. Of course new love is out there.

The no strings attached flings can weaken the soul, make stale the will to find the ying and the yang, but opportunity to find the partner is out there. The one is out there on a relevant dating site. This world is a competition, give yourself the competitive edge. (more...)

Show Intelligence and Date for Free

There are expensive dates, there are cheap dates and then there is Totally Free Dating. Women are utterly fascinated by men, sometimes they won't admit this, often they can't even understand it themselves but they know their compulsions. Men are fixated with the female form, the scent, the animal chemistry that guides them to step outside of their shyness and their fears, in order to pursue.

Despite what men might believe, they don't choose, they are chosen. A willingness to step outside of the pack mentality and hunt confidently will of course increase the likelihood of being chosen. What is the number one factor in happiness or despair is surprisingly easy to attain.

Words are the key, nice girls want intelligence, they are busy people and you may only have ten seconds to show your mind, choose them carefully. The most important thing is to say, there is no reward in the club situation for the guy who dances, who struts his stuff without the presence of mind to coordinate his lust into sentences. (more...)

Attracting People to Your Blog

If you have recently started a blog and you are struggling to attract more than just a few followers, you are probably feeling a little disheartened with your enterprise. Before you consider giving away your iphone in a bid to attract some attention to your site, you will want to take some basic steps that will help you to gain a wider readership.

Begin by thinking about your site content. It is always a good idea to write chiefly about what you know. If you aren't following this basic rule there is a chance that your following is small because the blog itself is not informative or accurate enough to hold the attention of potentially interested readers.

Once you have cleared this hurdle, you will want to read up as much as you can on ways to optimise your content. Research SEO techniques on the internet; remember to stick to reputable pages, and apply the best of the methods to your page. (more...)

Finding a Title for Your Blog

If you have recently come up with a great idea for a blog, but you have as yet to think of a title that is equally as great, try to resist the urge to throw your laptop at the wall in frustration. Titling a blog is not always easy, however, there are a few important guidelines to follow in the interest of success and, once taken into account, these should help you to find the right words.

To begin with, you will want to find something that is easy to remember and catchy. If you can, you want to use humour or clever wordplay in order to create interest. Incorporating puns and double entendres is a good means by which to render a title more exciting; try to work these in wherever possible.

In addition, you will want to remember to keep your blog's title as short and accurate as you can. The longer and more cumbersome the name is, the more likely people will be to forget it or mis-remember it. Also, you will want your blog's name to reflect its content in some way too; this will prevent confusion and disappointment in your readership. (more...)

Benefits of the iPhone 4

Every time a new iPhone comes onto the market there is mass excitement amongst technology lovers and the release of the iPhone 4 was no exception. People queued for hours to buy this new piece of technological advancement, technology blogs went crazy all over the world with excitement in the lead up to its release and in the aftermath of the release they went crazy with reviews.

Generally the iphone 4 is seen as superior to other previous models for a number of reasons. It is substantially smaller than the previous models and has a much sleeker finish.

A second benefit that has been blogged about is that it is much more suitable for multitasking on than the other iPhones. It allows the user to open a number of folders at the same time and this means it is much more like using a computer than a traditional phone handset in which it was really only possible to use one application at a time. (more...)

Successful Blogging

Starting a blog is a good idea in a variety of respects. Not only is this kind of online writing a means by which to express yourself and have your say, but it is also an excellent networking solution and, if you happen to be a freelancer, a great way of putting together an easily accessible portfolio.

While it is fairly easy to start a blog, ensuring that yours is a success is not quite as simple. If you are keen to create something that is pertinent and well-written with multiple followers, you will need to think about a few basic principles.

To begin with, you will want to consider your content. It is a good idea to focus your blog so that it is directed at something specific. If you happen to be a technology whizz and SIM Expert for example, you might want to consider writing about mobile phones and telecommunications. (more...)

Choosing a Blog Topic

If you are a freelance writer or web designer, or even an amateur in a field like horticulture, style or cookery, starting a blog is a great way to create a portfolio that is easily accessible to the online public. Your blog page will allow you to get your work and ideas out into the world and you might find this kind of exposure is very useful to your career.

However, while it is easy to decide to set up a blog, it is not always easy to know what precisely you should put in it. Choosing your focus can be difficult, especially if you are creating the page with a view to gain attention in your field of work.

The direction in which you decide to take your blog will dramatically affect your readership; if you choose to focus on an obscure topic, you might find that you need to offer a free iphone to every follower as an incentive to keep reading your work. (more...)