Banff - Stunning Natural Playground

In the year 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains.

From that humble beginning was born Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and the world's third. Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots.

Banff is the largest town in Banff National Park, in southwestern Alberta within the Canadian Rockies. Banff Hotels in Alberta are varied from the luxury to the campers.

Banff is located about 135 kilometres (85 miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. Banff National Park is the birthplace of Canada's national park system and part of the Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.

Banff Aspen Lodge
has to be my favorite hotel in Banff. A friendly hotel of 89 spacious and comfortable rooms, located conveniently close to Banffs boutiques, galleries and restaurants, yet far enough away to allow for the tranquil enjoyment of the incredible Canadian Rockies. For skiing getaways or hiking expeditions, family holidays or romantic hideaways, the Banff Aspen Lodge offers affordable luxury in an unforgettable setting.

This spectacular town, in the heart of Banff National Park, is a coveted tourist spot owing to its stunning natural mountain scenery, abundant wildlife, four-season recreation and world-class accommodation in a protected National Park setting. One can really celebrate life in Banff soaking oneself in its distinctive mountain lifestyle, exploring the grandeur of Banff?s pristine surroundings, skiing the famed Canadian Rockies and spoiling oneself with international culture and cuisine. The Banff Area offers a multitude of opportunities ranging from shopping to relaxing in the naturally heated mineral waters of the Banff Upper Hot Springs.

Banff can boast of natural heritage in abundance, from the birthplace of national parks at the Cave & Basin, to the mysterious formations called "the hoodoos" and the frozen shores of Lake Minnewanka. Banff is also well known for its abundant wildlife.

Some distinctive aspects of Banff

THE HOT SPRINGS
Natural mineral water is flowing at the Banff Upper Hot Springs; it is a great place to relax and enjoy. The naturally heated hot pool will melt away all fatigue and tiredness.

MOUNTAINS
Banff is flanked on all sides by Alberta's Rocky Mountains; from here one can see more mountains in a moment than most see in a lifetime!

CULTURE AND HERITAGE
The Banff area is a crossroads for international visitors and offers everything from spiritual retreats to contemporary art exhibits and theatrical performances. Prominent places of interests are Banff Park Museum National Historic Site, Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, Canada Place, Canadian Ski Museum West, Cascade Plaza Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and the Whyte Museum of The Canadian Rockies.

WILD LIFE OF BANFF
Banff is also well known for its abundant wildlife. Banff National Park is home to 53 species of mammals (including porcupine, pika, beaver, hoary marmot, moose, elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain sheep, bison, wolves, coyote, cats, black bear, grizzly bear, and weasels), over 260 species of birds (including Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, American Robins, Clark's Nutcrackers, Pygmy Owls, Cassin's Finches, Cliff Swallows, Robins, Starlings, House Sparrows, Pygmy Owl, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Harlequin Ducks, etc.) and several varieties of fish (including cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, arctic grayling, northern pike, mountain whitefish, and lake whitefish).

SKIING AND ADVENTURE
Three outstanding ski resorts, Ski Banff@Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise provide more than 7,700 acres and 240 trails offering countless options to skiers and snowboarders of any ability. The Bow Valley is an incredible mountain playground. One can venture into climbing up a frozen waterfall, hike into the back country, climb peaks, or take a horse drawn sleigh ride.

Thailand Exotic Experiences

Thailand is the most popular tourist destination in South-East Asia with coasts on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

It borders Myanmar (Burma) to the north-west, Laos to the north-east, Cambodia to the south-east and Malaysia to the south, and for a reason. You can find almost anything here: great food, a tropical climate, fascinating culture and great beaches. Thailand?s a country in where you can find a place to practice almost any outdoor sport. Some selections: Golf, Rock climbing, Scuba diving, Trekking, Live aboard Diving.

Thailand will open your eyes to an exotic experience that is safe and affordable, yet equipped with every modern amenity you need, there is something for every interest and every price bracket, from beach front backpacker bungalows to some of the best luxury hotels in the world. The thick jungle as green as can be, crystal blue beaches that feel more like a warm bath than a swim in the ocean and food that can curl your nose hairs while tap dancing across your taste buds.

And despite the heavy flow of tourism, Thailand retains its quintessential Thai ness, with a culture and history all its own and a carefree people famed for their smiles and their fun-seeking fun lifestyle. Many travelers come to Thailand and extend their stay well beyond their original plans. Many visit the wonderful festivals in Chiang Mai. You?ll never find a reason to leave because whatever your cup of tea is, they know how to make it in Thailand.


Language

The official language of Thailand is Thai. Public signage is generally bilingual, written in boh Thai and English. There is also some prevalence of Japanese and Chinese signs. There is no universal agreement on how to transcribe Thai letters that don?t have an English equivalent, so Khao San Road for example is also commonly spelt Kao Sarn, Kao Sahn, Khao San, Koh Saan, Khaosan, and many other variations. Maps with names in both Thai and English make it easier for locals to try and help you. Most ?front desk? people in the travel industry speak at least enough English to communicate, and many are relatively fluent; some also speak one or more other languages popular with their clientele, such as Chinese, Japanese, German, etc.

Across the web you can find an abundance of Thailand information.

Corsica, a perfect holiday destination

Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean to the south of France and to the west of Italy. The weather is mild in winter and hot in summer, and it is perhaps the ideal place for a holiday.

The attractions of the beaches of Corsica are well known ? golden white sand, turquoise sea, and palm trees providing shade behind the beach ? because they have featured in numerous travel brochures and on travel documentaries.

But there is more to Corsica than lying in the sun, pleasant as that will be. If you do have the chance to visit, be sure to venture off the sand for a while to explore some of the other highlights.

Perhaps the astonishing prehistoric carvings at Filitosa will attract your attention. The array of human forms carved into large rocks have stood in the same place for thousands of years?but why were they carved in the first place?

After being baffled by man-made mysteries, head to the Scandola Nature Reserve to see some of the most stunning coastline you?ve ever seen. If possible visit at sunset to see the red rock islands in the sea at their most colourful and beautiful.

Wherever you are on Corsica, the central region of the island is never far away, and is completely different in character from the more popular coastal towns and beaches. It is a region of high mountains, with one of the most challenging hikes in Europe - if you are feeling up to the challenge of the GR20 allow several days for the journey! Otherwise there are plenty of other less arduous hiking trails in Corsica to choose from.

There are also lots of tiny villages that appear to have been squeezed into the Corsican landscape hundreds of years ago, and then left pretty much untouched ever since.

There are numerous other highlights on Corsica, from Ajaccio (birthplace of Napoleon) to the Balagne region in the north, and from wines produced in the renowned Corsican vineyards to the excellent seafood you can enjoy in the many restaurants.

So I recommend you try, hard as it will be, to tear yourself away from the beach for a while, get into the car, and set off exploring a little of what it is that makes Corsica so special.

The Villages of France

Between them, Paris and Provence account for the vast majority of holidays spent in France each year.

A sprinkling of Brits, Germans and Dutch manage to find the coasts of Brittany and the wooded slopes of the Dordogne region, and some adventurous Italians make it as far north as Toulouse, but no other regions attract visitors in anything like the same numbers as the main two ?attractions?.

So here?s a suggestion - close your eyes and stick a pin in a map of France, and then go to that place for your holiday. OK it?s not a fail-safe method, and you might find yourself in the heart of an industrial wasteland, but there is a very good chance that you will be somewhere attractive, interesting, and relatively undiscovered.

One of the great pleasures of a visit to France is the chance to discover small villages where old folk still play petanque in the square, the bread from the boulangerie is hot from the oven when you buy it, and real French people go to buy their fruit in the market.

Given the choice between sitting in the shade of a plane tree watching a quiet French village slowly go about its business, or paying to squeeze yourself onto a space the size of a handkerchief on a beach on the French Riviera, which do you think you would enjoy the most?

Traditional villages of this type are found in all regions of France, and are usually the ones that aren?t mentioned in the guidebooks. Set out up that small track that looks like it goes nowhere and you?ll find it soon enough!

The earlier suggestion about sticking a pin in a map wasn?t very helpful, so here are a couple of ideas:

The Dordogne region of south-west France contains a very high number of picture-postcard villages. To find the ones that are less well known, head about 25 kilometres north or south of the ?tourist villages? along the Dordogne River and you won?t go far wrong.

Elsewhere in the south of France, try the relatively undiscovered region around Rodez. The villages like Belcastel and Conques attract the crowds, but between them are many workaday villages where you can sit quietly and feel the stress lift off your shoulders.

As a third suggestion, head south into the Languedoc region but stay inland, away from the busy beaches along the coast. Just a few miles inland and you will discover the villages and vineyards which make the region so attractive.

Wherever you go, be sure to venture at least a little way off the beaten track and you are sure to have a memorable holiday.

Guide to Driving On Holiday

If your idea of a great holiday is loading the car up, filling the tank, and heading off on a pan-European adventure, then read on.

Before you Leave

Be sure that you're driving safely in Europe, and have adequate car insurance
  • Service your vehicle. At the very least, check the water and oil levels and the tread on the tyres, including any spares.
  • Unless your car has new-style Euro plates, you must display a GB sticker. If in a non-EU country, you must display a GB sticker regardless of any Euro plates.
  • Equip the car with a red warning triangle, a first aid kit, a reflective vest for each passenger, and a full set of spare bulbs.
  • Check that your car is insured for continental driving (also ask whether you?ll need what?s known as a ?green card? as further proof of insurance) and breakdown, and consider taking out travel insurance.
  • Take your full driving licence, registration, insurance documents and an authorisation letter if it?s a company car.
  • Each passenger should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers some medical costs and has replaced the old E111 forms.
European Rules of the Road
  • Unless driving in the UK, Ireland, Cyprus or Malta, the rule of the road in Europe is to drive on the right.
  • All car passengers must wear seatbelts if fitted.
  • There are strict laws governing the seating of children within cars, and more in-depth guidance can be found here. The general rules are: all children must be seated within approved baby, child or booster seats that are appropriate to their height and weight; adult seatbelts must be worn when appropriate; and if a child seat is used in the front of the car, passenger-side airbags must be deactivated.
  • Motorcyclists must wear crash helmets (including passenger) and dip headlights during the day. In Holland, dipped headlights during the day are advised and crash helmets must be worn on bikes capable of over 25kmh. In Italy, a bike must be over 150cc to use the motorway.
  • Most police forces in Europe now issue on-the-spot fines for motoring offences, so carry enough local cash just in case. Better yet ? don?t speed!
Here?s a lighting-fast drive through Europe, highlighting one or two rules of the road for particular countries. Bound for the continent? Be sure to be safe!

France
In rural France, the speed limit can drop from 90kmh to 50kmh with only the sign showing the name of the village as warning, so beware as speeding by 40kmh could lose you your licence; if your car?s parked on a single yellow line it could be towed away.

Spain
It?s illegal to use full-beam headlights in built-up areas.

Portugal
There?s an on-the-spot fine of around ?600 for using a mobile whilst driving, and if you can?t pay, the police may confiscate your car.

Belgium
You must use dipped headlights in poor daytime visibility; there?s a fine if caught on your mobile whilst driving (?hands free? OK).

Germany
Autobahns have no speed limit ? although you?re advised not to exceed 130kmh; road rage sufferers calm down ? you could get an on-the-spot fine for using ?derogatory signs?.

Italy
Dipped headlights must be used on main roads. Only use full-beam lights outside urban areas.

Scandinavia
In Finland, leave sidelights on if parked on a poorly lit street, give way to buses where the speed limit is 60kmh or less, and if caught drink-driving there is no upper limit to a fine. In Norway, vehicles travelling downhill have priority and all vehicles must dip their headlights during the day; In Sweden you must also dip headlights during the day.

Things to Remember

In mainland Europe it?s quite easy to drive for hours without seeing a filling station so keep an eye on the gauge.

Toll roads are far more established on the continent, but on the plus side, you may feel it?s worth the expense for the sheer driving pleasure of cruising motorways that are far less crowded than UK roads.

If your destination is several day?s drive away, don?t be tempted to break the trip into a series of mammoth driving legs ? if you get driver fatigue you?ll risk the safety of everyone in the car so take regular breaks.

If flashed by a speed camera the fine will outrun you. A Europe-wide agreement now allows police forces to chase offenders in their own countries.

Drive Safely

So whether you?re racing along autobahns, cruising Mediterranean promenades, traversing stark Scandinavian tundra, or idling through postcard medieval villages, keep your eye on the road, familiarise yourself with the law of the land, and above all ? drive safely!

Speed and alcohol limits for the more popular European driving destinations. Be sure to check out World Speed Limits

3 Week European Trip

It was a really wonderful trip to Europe, as we had a 3-week holiday period. We decided to visit three European cities but chose only the first location and were to choose the next two during our stay.

Before departing we found splendid hotel in Barcelona through Europe Cities hotel comparison engine. This hotel really deserved to be the best hotel in the ranking. Location is perfect, we didn't use the metro at all, you could reach everywhere by walking.

The staff was very helpful about everything (where to go where to eat etc.) and friendly. I really recommend that hotel if u are travelling to Barcelona!

After a week of visiting Spain we used EC booking services again to book hotel in Zurich. The city was so much different from Barcelona - we enjoyed this diversity. Again a week passed very quickly and we was to change location. Our choice was obvious - to be in Europe and not to visit Rome it would be foolish.

We did our reservation with Europe Cities again. Again we didn't have a thing to complain about. And Europe - it was wonderful, we saw three different cities, a three different faces of Europe, and it was worth it. Three most enjoyable weeks of my life.

Into The Wild Download

Into The Wild is based on a true story and the best selling book by Jon Krakauer. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless (Hirsch) abandons his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness.

Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Watch 'Into The Wild Trailer' here:



Into the wild film download can be found at Vizumi.com

New Ways to play in Creative London

Oscar Wilde famously declared that, "Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life". He might well have been speaking of the latest innovation to burst onto London?s art events scene; the world?s first foray into arts club hotels.

London has long been an inspirational hub for arts of all disciplines; from music, to literature and visual arts, the city is a thriving centre of cultural activity and excellence. However, the search for events in London can, too often, feel like seeking the holy grail. Whilst the city is home to some of the worlds best arts events, there?s a lot of rubbish out there too.

Even if you live in the midst of the creative buzz of London, there?s often a sense that something a little more cutting edge, exciting or exclusive might be going on right next door to you. For those who?ve splashed out on a hotel for a well-earned getaway, this can feel even more frustrating ? leaving a nagging doubt that, even armed with an up-to-date London travel guide, so much more is going on ?out there?. If only you knew how to be in the right place, at the right time without being a friend of Ms. Moss, Beckham or Osbourne. Wouldn?t it be great to sip champagne backstage during London fashion week, without an editorial career at Vogue? What if you?d heard that band who were a sensation on YouTube, before they hit the daily playlist on Radio One? Have you ever wished that you?d heard an up and coming member of the literati read from their latest novel, before Richard and Judy got hold of it?

With the launch of the Concierge Club hotels, accessing this side of creative London is now possible for mere mortals. The opportunity to stay in the sumptuous surroundings of contemporary London hotels, soak up the ambience and keep a finger right on the pulse of the latest arts events has become a valid proposition. Artistic movers and shakers are no longer so elusive; in fact, they?ll come to you, in the comfort of your hotel. Or, you?ll be given the ?secret? to the hottest new show or party along with your room number.

The plan is (as always with great ideas) beautifully simple ? to create hotels that are a playground and showcase for artistic creativity. Rather than displaying artwork, get the artist involved in the whole hotel design. Who needs second-rate cabaret singers or a piano bar, when the hotel could host cutting edge gigs? Forget slipping a back hander to the concierge for a party hot tip, why not include year round access to exclusive events as part and parcel of the overall hotel experience. Everyone?s a winner. Guests enjoy immersion into the cultural vibrancy that epitomizes London, whilst creative talents and arts agencies get a wider arena and audience.

An arts club hotel means that you get to choose style and substance together. Move over ?boutique? and ?five star?, with a new concept in hotels, creative London just got more creative. Life, it seems, now really does imitate art.

New Arts Club Hotel, London

Under the plans, the hotel collection Guest Hotels will turn its five hotels into stages for emerging talent from London's creative arts scene.

At the centre of the idea lies a members club for guests enabling them to enjoy leading-edge contemporary arts events within the hotels where they are staying and exclusive access to events in London.

"Until now, hotels have used art as decoration. We are reversing that concept by allowing artists to use our hotels as their showcase, says entrepreneur Johnny Sandelson, chairman of Guest Hotels and founder of the innovative hotel investment company GuestInvest*.

"I believe we are the only group of hotels in the world to give guests automatic membership of a club that brings the best of London's contemporary arts scene to their door."

The Concierge Club will be open to both guests and non-residents and will offer a diverse programme of cultural events ranging from cabaret and indie music through to back-stage passes to some of the hottest celebrity events in London.

The first 1000 members will be considered as founders and will be rewarded with a free night in one of the hotels within Guest Hotels' collection.

To further strengthen this commitment to the arts, Guest Hotels' has established a network of partners including renowned arts institutions such as the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and the Tate to give members privileged access to their ongoing exhibitions and shows.

Sandelson has hired an impressive team to bring his idea to fruition. Iram Quraishi leaves London's famous Institute of Contemporary Arts to curate the arts club. Management of the five hotels - which includes the iconic Blakes in Kensington - will fall to Caroline King who joins from the private members club Home House.

Internationally acclaimed restaurateur Oliver Peyton takes charge of the bars and restaurants, whilst founder of The Design Museum, Stephen Bayley joins as style director.

Barry Ryan, the fashion photographer is head of visual imagery and will serve as the group's photographer-in-residence.

The first two arts club hotels will open this summer in Bayswater. The Jones is a 176-bed listed building which Guest Hotels has restored to its former Edwardian baroque glory.

Nearby Nest has been recently converted from a row of stucco-fronted terraced houses to an elegant 157 bed hotel.

Simultaneously, the already established Blakes Hotel and Guesthouse West will join the arts club hotel initiative hosting their own arts programmes.

Early next year, the group will open The Chiswell in the City offering a further 200 rooms.

The arts club hotel concept has received wide support from the creative industries and arts communities.

The ICA has also given its support to the scheme and is becoming an official partner to Guest Hotels.

"We are delighted to be working with Guest Hotels on a new collaboration, which aims to present the very best of cultural London and offer a unique insight into the minds and practice of some of the incredible creative talent working in this city" said Ekow Eshun, Artistic Director of the ICA.

GuestInvest was launched in November 2003 as the UK's first buy-to-let hotel company. The concept allows investors to buy their own fully maintained room in a central London hotel, stay there for up to 52 nights a year for free, and receive 50 per cent of the room's income, which is let out by the hotel on their behalf throughout the year.

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