Travel World Network

A land of romance and exotic tastes, Spain is a place to be taken in with great gulps. If you are planning a trip, here is an overview of the country.

Overview of Spain for Travelers

The official name of the country is the Kingdom of Spain. It covers an area of approximately 194,000 square miles. This includes both the mainland and the Balearic and Canary Islands. This total square mileage makes Spain one of the bigger countries in Europe, approximately the size of the combined states of Arizona and Utah.

The capital of Spain is Madrid, home to roughly 5.5 million residents. Other major cities include Barcelona with 4.9 people, Malaga with 1.3 million, Seville with 1.8 million and Valencia with just over 2 million residents. The terrain of Spain varies from flat to mountainous. Temperatures range from cool in the winter to baking hot in the summer, particularly in cities such as Madrid, which do not have access to costal breezes.

Until 1975, Spain was a functional dictatorship ruled by General Francisco Franco. Following his death in 1975, the Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon was named King and Chief of State. He subsequently moved to liberalize the country and assigned an independent head of state that is now an elected official.

Spain has been in a near constant state of civil war for much of the last 100 years. Basque factions seek independence from the rule of the King and federal government. This has manifested itself in the form of bombings and such. Barcelona is considered a Basque city, which makes for a major rivalry between the city and Madrid. If you have an opportunity to attend a soccer game between the two, do so! Violence is rare, but the insults are definitely unique.

The people of Spain are known as Spaniards or Spanish. The total population is just over 44 million and growing at one percent a year. Ethnic breakdowns are geographically oriented, but include Basques, Catalans and Galicians. The religious tendency of the country is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic.

The official language of Spain is Spanish. That being said, Catalan-Valenciana, Galician, and Basque languages form a prevalent minority. Education is compulsory through age 16 and literacy rates are in the 98 percent range.

Spain is a unique country. Whereas much of Europe seems to be in a rush to mesh cultures, Spain stands uniquely apart.

Orange County is a county located in Southern California, U.S.A. With a current estimated population of three million, it has the second most people for any county in the state of California, and has the fifth most people for any county in all of the Unites States. Known for its wealth and political conservatism, the county, in actual reality is neither as consistently wealthy or as politically conservative as the stereotypical image it has gained suggests. Famous for tourism, Orange County is home to Disneyland as well as miles upon miles of sandy beaches. Orange County is located right at the center of Southern California’s Tech Coast.

Despite its massive population, Orange County has a total area of 2,455 km which makes it the smallest county in all of Southern California. Four Hundred and Eleven of those square kilometers are also made up of water. The county is bordered on the north by Los Angeles County, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Riverside County, on the northeast by San Bernardino County, and on the south by San Diego County. The most northern part of the county sits on the coastal plains of the Los Angeles Basin. The southern half sits on the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.

The majority of the population of Orange County reside in one of two shallow coastal valleys that are in the basin. These two shallow coastal basins are: the Santa Ana Valley and the Saddleback Valley.

The cities in Orange County are connected by a network of freeways. Residents of Orange County typically call these freeways by their route number rather than their formal name. One of the most important Orange County roadways is the Santa Ana Freeway, or Interstate 5, which runs north-south bisecting the length of the county. It is so important as it connects with another key north-south road, the San Diego Freeway. Orange County is often divided into “North County” and “South County” by the residents. This idea is opposed to an East-West ision characterized by coastal and inland cities. There is no actual geographical division of North and South County.

Ontario is a province located between the province of Quebec to the east, and Manitoba to the west. To the north is Hudson Bay and James Bay. To the south are the United States of America, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and New York, Pennsylvania. The border between the two countries are filled with rivers and lakes, Saint Lawrence River, it passes through the four Great Lakes, Lakes Superior, Erie Huron (which includes Georgian Bay), Huron, Ontario. There are approximately 250,000 lakes and 100,000 kilometers of river in the province in the province of Ontario.

The weather is nice and hot (15-30 days above 30C or 86F) in the summer so you can enjoy traveling and visiting the beach. There are many neat things to see there, Niagara Falls is the most visited waterfall in Canada, the Toronto Stock Exchange is a very neat place to visit. You get to learn the history and how it affects the world everyday. You can take tours through out the province seeing all the history that the province has to offer.

Some quick facts
-Largest city is Toronto
-Population is 12,541,410(2005)
-3rd Province in Canada July 1, 1867
-English speaking province

This is a province that you dont want to miss because there is so much of Canadas history here. If you come from a smaller city this is going to be a experience of a life time seeing the towering buildings and just the mass size of the citys.

While living in Siberia for a year, I agreed to speak at a human rights conference. Only in Russia will you find a place like Tinda, a city we stopped in on our way.

Trans-Siberian Railway

When living in Siberia, the only way to get around is car, helicopter or the Trans-Siberian Railway. Since I had neither a car nor helicopter, the train it was. Unfortunately, the train to my conference left at 4 AM after a night spent trying to acquire a travel visa on the sly, which meant drinking a lot of visa.

Dutifully, my travel partner, Oleg Vladimirovich, and I made the train where we were met by a local reporter, Nina, who was coming along. The Trans-Siberian Railway can offer some amazing views, but not at four in the morning. I went to sleep.

The thing about Russia is you simply cant grasp how big it is. Although we were traveling in the same state [oblast], the trip took 30 hours. Since it was winter, the view out the train was mostly of snow covered trees. Yes, it sounds romantic until you have to sit there for a day. Fortunately, the Russians have good taste as the train radio blared John Lee Hooker most of the way. No, I dont know why.

Tinda

Only in Russia will you find a city like Tinda. During the Stalin era, it was determined that the timber and natural resources in a particular spot of Siberia were very valuable. Unfortunately, nobody lived within 500 miles of so of the location. To solve the problem, the authorities decided to build a railroad and city from scratch.

Building in the middle of Siberia is just a slight challenge. Just to get to the location of Tinda, the Russians had to build a railway over permafrost, bogs, huge mountain ranges, roaring rivers and I wont even mention the bugs in the summer.

The unfortunately named BUM railway was started in 1930 and finished in 1984. During this process, hundreds of five story concrete buildings were built to form the city of Tinda. A hundred thousand people were uprooted from their homes and moved to this city in the middle of nowhere. Walla, the communist authorities had a labor force to exploit the natural resources.

With the fall of communism, the authorities in Russia are no longer interested in the area. The city is failing and people are flocking to live in cities with jobs and better wages. The ones that remain in Tinda are in desperate straits. It is a sad statement to the legacy of communism, where the interests of the state dominated.

Much of Spain has undergone a modernization effort. Fortunately, cities such as Valencia, Granada and Seville retain much of their old world charm.

Valencia

Similar to Barcelona in some ways, Valencia is another must visit city in Spain. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean, the city has retained its old world charm without the modernization mistakes made in Barcelona. The old historic quarter is amazing because much of the architecture reflects Arabic influences arising from the rule of invading forces. Palaces are refurbished and streets tend to be strictly of the cobble stone variety.

Perhaps the best way to take in the atmosphere is to grab a seat at an outdoor caf, order tapas and just relax. For a big city, Valencia has a pretty nice collection of beaches, so dont hesitate to grab some rays.

Granada

For many travelers, Granada is the best city in Spain. The prime attraction is the Alhambra, a combination of fortress and palace built and used by the Moorish rulers who controlled Spain. The Alhambra simply has to be seen to be believed. The structure is in excellent shape and is detailed with intricate Moorish architecture and style. The internal structure is one of the most beautiful in the world. In addition to the palace, Granada gives off the air of a “real” Spanish city with cobblestone streets, bullfighting arenas and winding streets. Granada is a good place to just get out and walk.

Seville

If you want to see real Spanish bullfighting, Seville is the place. Whatever your feelings about the sport, the bullfighting ring of Plaza de la Real Maestranza is the finest in Spain and worth a visit. The bullfighting sessions are intense, but you should still visit the structure if you arent interested in the actual event.

If you want nothing to do with bullfighting, you should still visit Seville to see the Alcazar Gardens. I once got lost in Seville and stumbled upon them. They are extremely green and beautiful with waterways, flowers and foliage everywhere. You can easily spend a relaxing afternoon putting around Alcazar and enjoying gardens that rival any others in Europe in my opinion. The Plaza de Espana is also worth a visit.

Spain often has problems mixing the old with the new in city planning. If you prefer the older atmosphere, Valencia, Granada and Seville are good destinations.

Much of Spain has undergone a modernization effort. Fortunately, cities such as Valencia, Granada and Seville retain much of their old world charm.

Valencia

Similar to Barcelona in some ways, Valencia is another must visit city in Spain. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean, the city has retained its old world charm without the modernization mistakes made in Barcelona. The old historic quarter is amazing because much of the architecture reflects Arabic influences arising from the rule of invading forces. Palaces are refurbished and streets tend to be strictly of the cobble stone variety. Perhaps the best way to take in the atmosphere is to grab a seat at an outdoor caf, order tapas and just relax. For a big city, Valencia has a pretty nice collection of beaches, so dont hesitate to grab some rays.

Granada

For many travelers, Granada is the best city in Spain. The prime attraction is the Alhambra, a combination of fortress and palace built and used by the Moorish rulers who controlled Spain. The Alhambra simply has to be seen to be believed. The structure is in excellent shape and is detailed with intricate Moorish architecture and style. The internal structure is one of the most beautiful in the world. In addition to the palace, Granada gives off the air of a real Spanish city with cobblestone streets, bullfighting arenas and winding streets. Granada is a good place to just get out and walk.

Seville

If you want to see real Spanish bullfighting, Seville is the place. Whatever your feelings about the sport, the bullfighting ring of Plaza de la Real Maestranza is the finest in Spain and worth a visit. The bullfighting sessions are intense, but you should still visit the structure if you arent interested in the actual event.

If you want nothing to do with bullfighting, you should still visit Seville to see the Alcazar Gardens. I once got lost in Seville and stumbled upon them. They are extremely green and beautiful with waterways, flowers and foliage everywhere. You can easily spend a relaxing afternoon putting around Alcazar and enjoying gardens that rival any others in Europe in my opinion. The Plaza de Espana is also worth a visit.

Spain often has problems mixing the old with the new in city planning. If you prefer the older atmosphere, Valencia, Granada and Seville are good destinations.

Why It Is Important To Have A Hotel Rewards Credit Card

If youre a person who travels a lot and often stay in hotels, then a hotel rewards credit card can be good for you. Are you familiar with hotel rewards credit cards? Do you know how you can make the most out of them? This article talks about credit cards with hotel rewards and the advantages they offer. Here we will review a few hotel rewards credit cards along with their best features at this time. Like all reward credit cards, benefits are subject to change.

Hilton HHonors Platinum Card from American Express

Hilton HHonors is a hotel rewards credit card that also gives its card members the opportunity to earn mileage points for a free travel with not just one but 50 different airline affiliates. There are over 2, 800 participating Hilton hotels that you can stay with and earn your points wherever you are. This hotel credit card is great for frequent flyers and for often who often have to spend days in hotels and inns.

Chase TravelPlus Visa Card

Having a Chase TravelPlus Visa card enables you to earn travel rewards such as hotel accommodations, airline tickets, cruises and car rentals. It awards 2 mile points for every $1 of travel purchases and 1 mile point for every $1 spent on general purchases. It has a reasonable annual fee of $29 and a 0% APR for up to a 12 month period. Whats great about this travel reward credit card is that it has no blackout dates so you can rack up those points without limits.

Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card

The Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card lets you earn reward points every time you use your card for purchase. Also, you are instantly awarded with 15,000 bonus points right after your first purchase. Get special privileges as a Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card holder from all 2,800 Hilton Family hotels worldwide. It also has no annual fees.

Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card

Do you usually stay at Starwood hotels? The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express gives its holders a chance to earn as much as 10,000 bonus points in their first year. You get 3 Starpoints each time you use your card at any Starwood hotel and resort. You also get 1 Starpoint for every dollar spent on general purchases and double Starpoints from purchases made at participating Starwood partners. After your $15,000 usage, you will be awarded with 15,000 bonus Starpoints. There is no annual fee for the first year and $45 annual fee thereafter. If youre a frequent Starwood Hotel client, then this hotel rewards credit card is definitely for you.

Know More about Your Preferred Hotel Rewards Credit Card

The four hotel rewards credit cards weve discussed are just some of the most popular ones by businessmen and frequent travelers. Remember that every credit card holder has unique needs. The features weve discussed here are just the major benefits of the card. For a complete, up to date list of features and benefits, please visit Reward Credit Card Site.com.

As with all credit cards you should compare the rates and fees to see which one best suits you. Last but not the least, see to it that you choose a hotel rewards credit card that gives you the most points at your favorite hotel.

When you think New York, you imagine a city, full of taxis and blaring horns, right? Besides all of the skyscrapers, clubs and people in a giant city, New York has a whole other part to the state. New York is full of small towns, farmland and beautiful scenery that are often overlooked.

New York is home to many unique attractions, without having to load the kids up on the subway to tour. Here are some fun stops outside of the big city:

North Pole No, you read that right. There is a North Pole in New York. It may seem like the North Pole since it is so close to the Canadian border, but it is in the New York boundaries. What is the North Pole without Santas Workshop? An amusement park by that name was built and opened in 1949 for kids to enjoy all year long. There are shows, gift shops, an arcade and costumed characters and a parade for all to see.

Albany A giant statue of a white dog sits atop the RCA Building. He was placed there in 1954 and is named Nipper. Nipper has appeared as a real dog in versions of commercials for RCA on television. RCA has offices in Albany.

Oneida Need a quick prayer to help get you through a family road trip? Stop in to Oneida, where the Worlds smallest church is located. The church is actually a chapel, and sits on a small platform in a pond. It was built in 1989 and seats two people and a minister.

Jamestown Lucille Balls hometown. There is a museum full of memories from her and Desi Arnazs life together. Her wedding dress, a hairbrush, TV set items and other personal effects are on display for the public. There is also a gift shop to take home little bits of Lucy history as souvenirs.

LeRoy Whats that wiggling on your spoon? J-E-L-L-O? A museum dedicated to the history of Jell-O sits in LeRoy New York. It is full of all the promotions used by Jell-O in the past, as well as TVs that constantly air commercials. Jell-O happened to be manufactured in the town of LeRoy for sixty four years.

Lake George – Does Uncle Sam have an overwhelming presence in your life? In Lake George, a 36 foot tall statue of Uncle Sam will make that feat a reality. The statue was built in honor of Samuel Wilson, who became known as Uncle Sam. He spent his adult life in Troy New York, and is buried there.

Cherry Valley What is a vacation without buying a bunch of rubber tomahawks for the kids? Rubber tomahawks, in case you need a definition, is a term for cheesy, easily-falls-apart, memorabilia that the kids must have before going home. The TePee in Cherry Hill is full of such trinkets for every age. The fifty foot metal teepee replica signals to those highway bound pull over! We have what you need to remember this vacation!

If you looked on the various news headlines emerging from the Middle East, you will notice a substantial shift taking place in the manner they have been reporting about this region as a whole. From various military coups to the stories of political vendetta; from gun totting hostage takers to the unnerving interpretation of Islam; and from the so-called lack of democratization to the non existent human rights, the Middle East has always had to bear the brunt of hostile news reporting. But, the emerging trade and commerce and tourism activities in Dubai are fundamentally changing this long held stereotyped interpretation of the Muslim world now.

Don’t be surprised therefore, if the British footballer David Beckham and the Spice Girl Victoria are seen walking out of one of its famous five star hotels, or if the reigning formula one champion Michael Schumacher is spotted unwinding somewhere on its breathtaking shorelines. You will also come to notice some very famous names from the corporate world making regular rounds of this famous city. From top cine stars to sports celebrities and from the multi-billion empire holders to the average holiday making freaks, all are increasingly being seen on Dubai’s soil these days. This in itself, speaks a lot of how dramatically the world’s vision of the Middle East has transformed.

The next round of Dubai Tennis Championships to be held in February and March 2007 will be another treat for the tennis lovers and the media managers both. Names like the William sisters – Serena and Venus and Andre Agassi have played on this venue and enthralled the audiences in the recent past. Equally reported have had been the events like a friendly match organized between Andre Agassi and Roger Federer on the helipad of Burj Al Arab hotel. Tennis balls kept falling down inside the Arabian sea as the two players proceeded with some of their favourite strokes. Not too behind was Tiger Woods who made use of the same helipad for his golf practice. Woods was in Dubai to take part in the Dubai Desert Classic and couldn’t resist the temptation of practicing on such a breathtaking height.

If the celebrity spotting has become one of the new trends in Dubai’s social life, then so is the emerging competition among the hotel owners for making the best out of this pulsating market. They are making all efforts, like building of more niche hotels, to cap this upscale clientele. This means exclusively targeting the business travellers and the multimillionaires from across the globe. Apart from Dubai, Lebanon and Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt have also been trying to raise their stakes. However, the former is well ahead in the race involving these three.

Dubai’s desire of opening its borers to the outside world has been well received and reciprocated by the latter. As a result we are witnessing the very fundamental image of the Middle East taking a new turn in the global environment. By allowing so many expatriates on its soil, Dubai has made its friendly intentions clear. Expatriates will continue on playing a crucial role in the local economy, hence making the exchange of the Arabian peninsula with the outside world stronger. It speaks of a pleasing scenario, which will continue to get on more shades with each passing day.

What makes A Good Hotel in Barrow?

Many people stay in hotels in Barrow for special occasions or events. Tourists save to take a vacation and a major part of the expense is from hotel bills. Important or once-in-a-lifetime personal or business events are usually held in hotels. People who want to get away but do not want to go so far, stay in hotels.

Whatever your reason, your hotel experience will be part of your vacation, your important once-in-a-lifetime event, or your business meeting. Due to the importance of the occasions and/or reasons for staying in a hotel, it is important to choose a good hotel in Barrow.

What is a good hotel? Hotels in Barrow are classified according to the size, facilities and services offered. But even among hotels of the same category, there are outstanding ones and there are poor ones. A hotel which provides a worry-free experience to its guests will be long remembered as a good hotel, so what makes a hotel stand out among the rest?

- The staff- They are the most important asset of a good hotel. They are the ones who communicate with the guests and who go out of their way to accommodate and attend to their needs.

- Hotel facilities in a good hotel should be well maintained, especially the toilets.

- Small features that make the lives of the guests like a safe for valuables, hair dryer, clock, television, big mirror, conveniently located power sockets.

- Freebies in the room like free coffee, tea, fruits, or candies. They cost little but gives a caring impression to the guests.

- Good food in a wide variety and generous servings.

- Conveniently-located and comfortable beds. Think of the comfort to the guests if light switches and telephones are easily reached without getting up from the bed.

- Security: Guests should feel secure and safe, Are the door knobs all in good condition? How about the windows? The fire exit location should be identified.

-Some reading materials for guests who need to rest first before sleeping.

- A survey sheet in every room or a suggestion box in the lobby and in every function room. This would enable the guests to communicate their complaints to the hotel decision makers. That they have informed the hotel staff of their complaints would make them want to come again to see if their suggestions have been acted upon.