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More “Absolute Musts” If You Want To Take Your Kids To Las Vegas

It doesn’t matter how old your kids are, there’s something for everyone in Las Vegas. From the fun and excitement of exhilarating rides, to the hypnotic kaleidoscope of dancing lights, she truly is a remarkable vacation destination.

Here’s a few tips to ensure everyone’s happy!

Check out the day time stuff in the late morning

After a sleep in, use the late morning/early afternoon time to check out the unique Las Vegas attractions to be seen during the day. Things like the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the many animal exhibitions, Las Vegas zoo, and many, many more, can be checked out during the day. That way, you can all have an afternoon “siesta” and be rested and refreshed to continue your sightseeing after dark.

There are still plenty of other things to do should the kids be a little older - some of the Las Vegas shows are especially kid-friendly, or how about just spending the afternoon at CircusCircus? It doesn’t seem to matter what age the kids are, there’s something for everyone there!

Make a “semi-plan” of your nocturnal wants

Now here’s where you can go really overboard! There’s so many things to do and see, you’ll need a little discipline to fit them all in!

Try and avoid the public transport system between 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm (and as an aside, also 7.00 am and 9.00am) as this is when the many workers are moving to and from their jobs. If you’re travelling any distance - say, staying on the Strip and wanting to go downtown, try and get there either before or after these times.

You simply can’t miss the Fremont Street Experience, located Downtown. We timed it really well and caught The Deuce at about 6.30 pm, so by the time we got there, we got the full effect of all the lights - awesome!

Another good “not to be missed” show is “Sirens of TI” located at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. They have nightly shows at 7.00pm, 8.30 pm, 10.00 pm and 11.30 pm. Kids and adults alike will be enthralled with it! One tip though, make sure you’re outside the casino (on the sidewalk) around half an hour before the start of the show - the sidewalk fills up incredibly fast - any night of the week!

5. Stay kid-friendly

There are so many options of place to stay in Las Vegas, and all of them have appeal for different reasons. One of the best places to stay, especially with kids, is Circus Circus. Its located very conveniently, right on the Strip, and has been designed with kids in mind.

The only strange thing I’ve found is that with the abundant choice of kid-friendly hotels available , few appear to have on-site babysitting services. Still,
there’s a heap of babysitting services listed in the local phone book, a lot of them offering 24/7 services. It’s a good idea to check this out, as you certainly need “time out” too - especially in a playground like Vegas!

Sharron Nixon is a 44 year old mother of 3 who lives in New Zealand and has found cheap, kid-friendly ways to get to Las Vegas. Check out Sharron’s Special Reports www.vivacheapvegas.com Here’s the first,15 Awesome Tips For Your Cheap Las Vegas Affair

6 Things Foreign Study Students Should Do When In Buenos Aires

If you’re attending a language school in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, congratulations, you have made a great selection for a total immersion foreign language study experience. Buenos Aires is a large modern city of approximately 3 million people and is referred to as the “Paris of South America” for its intimate elegance and European architectural influences. A top destination for foreign study abroad students internationally, Buenos Aires is a city of great sights and once in a lifetime experiences.

Learning about the culture of this beautiful and gracious city is a key part to understanding some of the more intimate nuances present within Argentine Spanish. For the first-time foreign study student, the list of activities and historical sites to see may at first appear overwhelming. The following seven activities will go a long way in ensuring that your first visit to the Capital Federal is a truly fulfilling experience that touches on the best of what Buenos Aires and Argentine culture has to offer.

1. LEARN TO DANCE THE TANGO - Argentina and Buenos Aires are famous as the home of the sultry dance known as the tango. There are tango performances daily in the city, tango-themed restaurants, even private or group tango lessons so you can experience this Latin special folk dance for yourself. Each year on the 11th of December, the city holds its annual Tango day when the roots of the dance are celebrated by residents. The Tango is intimately Buenos Aires and its cadence is worth experiencing during any upcoming visit.

2. VISIT MUSEUMS - Many fine museums are located in the city. The Argentina National Museum of History celebrates the history of Argentina, particularly items related to the May Revolution and to the Argentine War of Independence. The Metropolitan National Cathedral is the main Catholic church in the city, originally constructed in 1753. A separate mausoleum contains the tomb of Jose de San Martin, Argentina’s greatest hero. The National Museum of Fine Arts contains one of the most substantial art collections in the entire continent. Currently on display is the renown 20th Century Latin American Art showcase, the Malba-Costantini Collection.

3. BOTANICAL GARDENS AND ZOO - Containing over 5,500 species of vegetables and almost 70,000 square meters of vegetation designed by French landscape architect Carlos Thays. Several garden styles, including a recreation of the garden of Pliny the Younger, a Japanese Garden and a symmetrical French designed garden are all available for viewing. Nearby Buenos Aires Zoo contains over 2,500 species of animals. The mission statement of the Buenos Aires Zoo is to encourage patrons not only to learn about the specific species represented in the enclave, but to view and understand man’s wider role as a custodian of the environment.

4. DINING & NIGHTLIFE - The Plaza de Mayo is an ideal place to start a restaurant tour of Buenos Aires. Situated among the old trees and architecture of Avendina de May, many bars, coffeehouses and restaurants lie to the west of the plaza waiting to be explored. Dozens of fine restaurants allow for dining equivalent to the ambiance you would see in most European capitols. Among them, the Cabana Las Lilas, a premier Argentine steakhouse located in the neighborhood of Puerto Madero. Their cuisine includes the presence of tender and succulent Argentine beef as well as a variety of native and ethnic dishes available for order. Like Paris, Buenos Aires has a large and thriving nightlife scene. The Casablanca, within the neighborhood of San Telmo, is a great Tango nightspot and should not be missed.

5. VISIT THE OPERA - The Opera house in Buenos Aires, the Teatro Colon, is one of the most famous in the world. The performances by the singers are second to none. Be sure you schedule time to spend an evening viewing one of there performances. The opera house was built in the 1908 after twenty years of construction by famed architect Fancesco Tamburini, and has been providing unparalleled music ever since. The quality of the music and the performances here compare favorably with those from the finest European opera houses.

6. ENJOY AN AFTERNOON OF SPORTS - Argentineans take their sports very seriously. Soccer is a sport played by children and adults alike and by those in every segment of society. While no one pretends to think that playing soccer will teach you the Spanish language, spending a Sunday afternoon with a group of friends playing an impromptu game will certainly give you a better understanding of the culture of Argentina as well as a grasp of the more “flavoral” words that make up the Argentine dialect.

Travel to Buenos Aires is a once in a lifetime event. Good food, intoxicating sights and sounds and a vibrant nightlife are just a few of the many benefits that await the foreign Spanish student in Argentina. With an extremely favorable 3:1 exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Argentine Peso, there has never been a more favorable time for foreign study students to make the trip, what are you waiting for?

Casey Markee is a consultant with GIC Argentina a study Spanish in Buenos Aires program provider. Visit them online for detailed information on Spanish language schools in Buenos Aires and plan your next trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina today.

Have You Thought of St. Lucia for your Honeymoon?

In one of my trips, I went to the gorgeous island of St. Lucia. Because the soil is volcanic, the island is luxurious.

As soon as I debarked from the ship, I was right away greeted by the joyful of the music and the citizens walking and chatting.

There are kiosks offering different excursions of different landmarks of St. Lucia. I took the excursion to the famous volcano, La Soufriere. It is, apparently, the only volcano in the world where you walk in the crater.

I was nauseous during the whole road trip. The driver was driving way to fast for me on the curvy and steep roads of the island. We stopped a few times either to admire either the banana plantation or get offers from their local population, who are trying to make a living.

At one point, a guy had a snake wrapped around branch tree. We were curious and a bit amazed by the proximity of him and us from the “danger”. After a minute, he asked us for $10 just because we looked at his snake. I am convinced his snake wasn’t dangerous at all. He is trying to earn some income.

After that, we drove through the Rain forest. It was humid but still nice. At an observation point, we capture a view of the two famous Piton of St. Lucia. The movie Superman II was filmed there.

After much swirling driving around, trying to control my raging stomach, we finally arrived at the volcano. When we got out of the bus, the air smelled like rotten eggs. You get caught off guard by this intense smell. The reason is that the volcano is producing sulfur. Water is pouring from the rocks. After a while, you get use to the smell.

You can take samples of the water and use it to cure various skin problems. Imagine having a radiant skin for your St. Lucia honeymoon! If I had known this in advance, I would’ve brought an empty bottle in plastic to take some samples of the waters.

I did put some on my face because it was hot. Many people were taking the water in different bottle. Later that night, my face was radiant. I don’t know if it is my imagination or if it is the sun that day; one thing I know for sure is that it surely contributed to my beauty that night.

Then we went to be the botanical garden of St. Lucia. There was a gorgeous waterfall. Napoleon’s wife, Josephine, donated this garden to the St. Lucia Island. It was appreciated because the place was nice and cool especially after being in the humidity of the volcano.

So far, St. Lucia is my favorite island on the Caribbean. People of St. Lucia are nice and not afraid or hostile to strangers. They speak English and Creole so you can easily be understood by them.

The ultimate recommended place would be to go at Dasheene restaurant; you have an incredible view of the two Pitons. A dinner for two costs around 90$.

Would I recommend going on a honeymoon vacation to St. Lucia? Absolutely, if you are looking to relax in a romantic environment. It’s also a beautiful lush island made for the outdoor lovers. You can easily get romantic when you have stunning flowers all around.

To see my pictures on my trip to St. Lucia, go to St Lucia honeymoon vacation or http://www.everydaybetterliving.com/romantic_vacation/St_Lucia_honeymoon_vacation.html

The Romance of a Jamaica Honeymoon

If you are trying to decide where to go for your post wedding trip a honeymoon in Jamaica is one of the best places to choose for those days of romance and bliss. Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea known for its scenery and amazing weather is one of the most gorgeous and romantic tropical honeymoon spots in the world. Going off to secluded lagoons, lying on pristine white beaches, watching the coconut fronds wave in the breeze are just some moments unique to a Jamaica honeymoon.

Jamaica has everything a newlywed couple needs to start their life together; steel drums, clear blue Caribbean waters, soft breezes, warm sand, and a slow island pace. It is lush, mountainous and offers plenty of adventure and honeymoon hideaways where any couple can spend intimate moments away from it all.

There is no lack of adventure to be found on this beautiful island, even if it is nothing more then spending time doing nothing together. While the tropical beaches and warm tropical waters are the main draw there is more to this island paradise then that. Ghostly Grotto Lake, which is underground and only accessible by boat, is a favorite spot amongst the honeymoon set. For the more adventurous there is cliff jumping into pools of warm water or the opportunity to swim through underwater caves.

For the couple that is more interested in the night life and enjoying the sight and sounds of a city then Montego Bay is the place. It is a large resort city with a nightlife that just never quits. You can be on the beach with a cold drink in your hand in less then an hour after getting off the plane if you choose to stay in this vibrant tropical city.

If you are looking for a more relaxed atmosphere then check into the resorts around the Negril area of the island. Negril is a laid back resort town with some of the most beautiful sunsets to be found. This sleepy tropical town also has a good nightlife and shopping to keep even the most avid of shoppers happy.

Unquestionably, on you Jamaica honeymoon you and your new spouse will have a lifetime experience because a trip to this tropical island is loaded with all kinds of pleasant surprises. A honeymoon in Jamaica will allow you to enjoy each other in a beautiful setting as your life together begins.

For more information about a Jamaica Honeymoon check out the website Honeymoon Destinations.

Visit Piccadilly Circus For A Taste Of London

If you are traveling to London, make sure to see Piccadilly Circus which can be found at the junction of Shaftesbury Avenue and Regent Street. Much like Times Square in New York, this centrally located area offers most anything that you may find interesting. With it’s neon lights and diverse crowds, no wonder it has the ability to attract tourists.

Besides the theaters, pubs, shops and monuments of London, here you’ll also find some very interesting people. This area was officially named in 1819 but was un-officially known as Piccadilly Circus since 1743.The Shaftesbury Memorial fountain is located here and was a technological innovation for 1893 because it was cast using aluminum. In 1980, it was moved from the center to it’s present day location.

Erected in 1859, the London Pavilion is located in the northeast corner and was originally constructed as a music hall. Shaftesbury Ave bisected the site in 1885 and a new music hall was put up in 1923. This new hall even had electric billboards. The original facade from 1885 was conserved when the building was rebuilt in 1986, after it became a shopping mall. Since that time it’s been attached to the Trocadero Center. The stores of interest that are located here are the Virgin Megastore, Lily Whites and the HMV. Below ground you will find the London underground subway system. The locals know it as the “tube”.

If you go to the Criterion Theatre, you will see the reduced Shakespeare Company, which is located close to the center of Piccadilly Circus. It’s a theater group that specializes in presenting Shakespeare’s complete works in only 97 minutes. It’s performances are fast-moving and very highly improvised. They’ve been performing here since 1995 and if you want to see this interesting event, you had better plan ahead, as the shows are often sold out

If traditional theater is more to your liking, the best of British theater can be found at one of London’s West End shows. These are so good that they are often adapted for Broadway. You might want to check out the latest technology that is fairly new here. It’s a huge curved TV screen that rivals even Times Square.

There are many interesting things in Piccadilly Circus including plenty of pubs. However, be careful when selecting a London pub, because some are for the tourists and others are for the locals, where they might be a little tourist unfriendly.

For more on London travel, visit http://www.londontravelholiday.com - a website that offers tips on London travel destinations such as Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace to name but a few.

Shrouded in Smoke: Barcelona Receives Alarming Reports on Air Pollution Levels.

According to the latest reports, Spain is one of the top five worst ozone polluters in the world, and one of the furthest away from meeting protocols on greenhouse gas emissions as set out by the Kyoto Agreement.

In the Environmental Ministry Report released earlier this month, fifty of Spains biggest cities are more than exceeding governments guidelines for limits on air pollution. The worst offenders are Madrid, Seville, Valencia and Barcelona.

In Barcelona, the biggest contribution to these alarming figures are a massive increase in CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions produced from an influx of personal vehicles on the roads.
CO2 levels have more than doubled since the 1990s, when Cataloni’s most rapid phase of growth and development occurred. The Catalonian Generalitat’s Environment Ministry reports that 98 % of CO2 pollution is directly caused by road transport activity.

In 2006, a report released by the Encuasta de Movilidad indicated that just over 40% of Catalonians use a private vehicle for an average of three trips per day. Three times the figure for those that use public transport. This is despite a high awareness of the damage cars cause the environment as well as the higher costs of using a household vehicle compared to public transport costs.

It wasn’t until 2005 that the Spanish government actually passed laws relating to greenhouse gas emissions but these early reports reveal that laws in themselves are not enough.

A spokesman for Pollution Prevention confirms that air pollution is ‘one of the biggest problems threatening Spains environment today. Almost all cities in Spain are failing to comply with air quality regulations’.

With the naked eye it’s easy enough to observe the thick, dark haze that sits just above Barcelona’s skyline. But there are other signs of the damage affecting not only the environment, but also threatening to affect one of the citys biggest growth industries: tourism.
A recent increase in the amount of jellyfish, locally known as medeusas in waters of the Catalan coast have for the last few years been responsible for beach closures in and around Barcelona, preventing visitors access to one of the area’s biggest summer attractions- the Mediterranean Sea.

A jellyfish plague was first noticed in Catalonia in 2005. The Oceana Environment Group reported that numbers had tripled and that an average of 10 jellyfish per square meter were counted close to beaches surrounding Barcelona.

In 2006, 30,000 people were treated over the summer for jellyfish stings and a number of beaches were closed to prevent further injuries. Whilst not usually fatal, a jellyfish sting can cause pain and discomfort and in severe cases of allergic reaction, a heart attack may be triggered.

Increasing numbers of jellyfish have been attributed to rising sea temperatures, which are now at least 2 degrees above average for this time of year. Rising sea temperatures are caused when a buildup of greenhouse emissions prevent the dissipation of the suns heat. The smog produced from pollution acts like a layer of insulation, trapping the heat close to the earths surface.

Warmer waters boost the rate at which jellyfish grow and multiply, and their natural predators, larger fish such as tuna and swordfish have been migrating further away from the Mediterranean in favour of cooler currents found in the Atlantic ocean.

Small boats can be seen trawling for jellyfish and their larvae just off the coast in an effort to reduce the amount that make their way close to shore, but if a solution is not found to combat the problem on a long term basis, holiday makers will soon have to find alternative summer leisure activities other than a visit to the beach.

Aside from environmental problems, air pollution has been labeled responsible for an increase in the number of cases of illnesses including heart problems, cancer, asthma, allergies and other cardiovascular complications in patients. It appears that Catalonians are now choking on their own smoke.

On July 12th, the Catalonian Regional Government approved a plan to reduce the permitted traveling speed for cars on major roadways in Catalonia to less than 80 kms per hour in an effort to lower car emission levels.

These new limits will come into effect by this autumn and will affect Barcelona as well as 15 other municipalities in Catalonia, with a target reduction figure of 30%.

The affects of this plan remain to be seen. One can only hope that Catalonians will take action to reduce greenhouse gas emission, for the security of their health and the health of the Spanish coast.

Gaizka Pujana is the co-owner of Barcelona Homes, S.L. which is a company
specialized in providing short term tenancy solutions in Seville and Barcelona through its
web pages Barcelona apartment rental
Seville apartment rental
Barcelona holiday apartments

Snow Problems For Andorra Ski Holidays

The small independendent country of Andorra has impressively built her reputation over the last twenty years as a country with quality ski resorts, and has been successful to the extent that a country with a population of 70,000 has attracted ten million tourists a year.

Andorra has spent millions of Euros upgrading her ski facilities, and millions more improving her infrastructure to cope with the extra tourists, with new luxury hotels opening in recent years in ski resorts such as Soldeu.

But the one thing that ski resort needs, Andorra failed to provide at the peak of the season, mid December to mid March. Snow!

In response the Andorra tourist authorities turned to snow cannons providing a good cover of snow, and in the process nearly emptied the lakes, but for many skiers the artificial snow isn’t the same as the naturally falling snow.

The result was conflicting claims from the authorities who claimed a ten to fifteen per cent drop in ski holiday tourists, while some local businesses were saying it was closer to forty per cent. Whichever figure it is is bad news for a country that has invested heavily in the ski holiday market, and who has an economy relying on good tourist numbers.

The tourists who did arrive in Andorra were those brave enough to book a ski holiday in advance of the ski season starting, but based on the last twenty years they had no reason to doubt that Andorra’s ski resorts would have good levels of snow.

For those who didn’t mind skiing on artificial snow the runs were bliss, with few people on the slopes compared to the normal number during what is normally peak season.

As well as being a top European ski destination, Andorra is a tax haven with no income tax.

Buying a property in Andorra is often seen as a route to residency, which entitles people to live in Andorra and benefit from her tax haven status.

To obtain residency in Andorra, applications need to be submitted in Catalan. A notarised copy of the applicants passport, birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct from the home country are submitted at the same time. According to a local travel guide residency normally takes between three and six months to be approved.

Once residency is granted, residents are supposed to spend six months a year in Andorra, but this isn’t policed.

One of the drawbacks for those looking to become a resident in a tax haven when considering Andorra has been that the country has no airport of its own, and is unlikely to have ine future given that it is located in the Pyrenees. The nearest airports are Barcelona and Toulouse.

Recent improvements in the road from Barcelona to Andorra though have cut the travelling time by some thirty minutes to two hours fifteen minutes.

‘Given the tax advantages Andorra has’, note one Andorra travel guide, ‘A two and a quarter hour trip to the nearest international airport could be viewed as a small price to pay for those who will be saving substantial amounts of money in tax. Especially when you consider that their properties could be rising in value quite significantly in the years to come, and for those who like skiing it’s a holiday and tax paradise in one.’

Andorra awaits the new ski season with baited breath.

For ski holiday information about Andorra visit YourAndorra.com

The ski holiday guide includes an Andorra map, a weather forecast and snow report, Andorra skiing information and for the ski resorts hotel reviews.