Travel Guides

Christmas is magic, and Vienna is also magic. Results an extraordinary mix ! Really, a Christmas in Vienna(or Wien, as the locals call their city) is something special and unforgettable.

Vienna has a long history, you can still admire some roman ruins in the city. Up to 1857 the downtown(Innenstadt ) was closed inside a defence wall. On the place of the wall it has been build the Guertel, a wide fancy boulevard.

Quality of life in Vienna is the best worldwide, near Vancouver. There are 100 museums, theaters and opera houses. You may not miss the Christmas Ball at Opera house, as you are in Wien. Important to know: in Vienna are organized more than 200 balls in one year! The locals love parties very much, you can feel it. Mozart, Strauss and Beethoven lived here in Vienna, which was always a cultural city. All these composers live even today in Vienna in a way. They are very present at every step.

Vienna is also a very modern city and lives not only through its glorious past. The giant wheel fom the Prater, the UNO quarter and the OPEC houses are some signs of the Vienna’s modern vocation.

On Christmas there are special sales posibilities and special prices on the Christkindlmarkt. You can drink boiled wine (Gluhwein) on the streets. On Christmas in Vienna you can relax and also get a good portion of culture. Don’t miss the Wiener Schnitzel, which is huge and very tasty, or the Sacheltorte( a delicious desert), which you can take in one of Vienna’s many restaurants and cafes!

Last, but not least, a mention about the Vienna architecture, which is an amazing mix of different styles. By the beginning of the xxth century, as a reaction to the modern buildings, the genial painter and architecture Hundertwasser build his house in a very particular way. And this Hundertwasser house is nowadays one of the city’s most visited architectural sites ( other important places: the gothic Stephansdom, and the palaces of Schoenbrunn, Hofburg, Belvedere).

A lot of things to do and to see on Christmas in Vienna.

For many people who enjoy going to new places, getting paid to travel is probably a dream job. There are plenty of opportunities in the travel and leisure industry to get paid to visit various destinations, and here is a list of the some of the main types of jobs available:

* Travel Scout - most tour operators spend a lot of time and money on seeking out new destinations for their books, and also checking up on existing hotels and resorts they already sell holidays with. The travel scout industry can be very competitive, and the perks are obvious - free all expenses paid travel and accommodation in a range of exotic locations, as well as getting paid to write reviews and recommendations from your trips.
* Location Scout - this is a very difficult career to get into, as the competition is fierce and the expectations and pressures are high. Location scouts take the film/tv director’s visions and find suitable, workable locations in which filming can take place. You will need to be prepared to travel to odd locations, sometimes very remote and inaccessible, and as well as being practical, you will need to be very creative and imaginative so that you can translate the director’s visions into something realistic. You will need to have an intimate understanding of both filming and traveling in order to select locations that are logistically viable, and being fluent in various languages can help immensely. Getting a job as part of a filming crew can be a good starting point, as this will provide you with a good background into the industry and also expose you to some valuable contacts for the future.

* Travel Writer - magazines, newspapers, travel guides and even online travel websites all need input from travel writers, either on a freelance or contract basis. Again this can be a competitive industry so you will need some background experience in both writing and traveling, and many full time writing jobs may specify a degree qualification in communications, journalism or English as a necessary basic requirement. Generally though you should be able to write interestingly and accurately on your experiences, and be able to present a ‘fresh’ approach to well traveled destinations. Travel writing can involve some challenging journeys, so you will need to well organized, and good at working under pressure to meet strict deadlines.

Mexico is a diverse country and not only does it have a rich historic past with many significant ancient monuments and structures, but it is also one of the fastest developing modern nations in the world with high tech, cutting edge buildings and many luxury hotels and resorts. Mexico is a colourful and exuberant nation, with many festivals and celebrations embraced joyfully throughout the year, so wherever you choose to visit in country, there will always be plenty to see and do.

Mexico City is the capital, and stands beneath two impressive snow capped volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl. The city is well above sea level, 2240m to be precise, and is full of beautiful rambling buildings that are a patchwork of all the colonial influences over the cities vibrant history. Although Mexico City is vast and hectic it does have a very spacious and open feel, with many quiet back streets and green parks where you can stop for a minute and take a breather. For visitors there is the Cathedral Metropolitana, which is an attractive mix of a number of different styles including Gothic, Baroque and Neo-Classical, with its famously ornate gilded interior chapel and altar. Nearby to the cathedral is the excavated site of one of the great Aztec temples, which can be viewed from various raised walkways. Adjoining this is a museum, which has more information on the temple and displays some of the wonderful artefacts that were excavated from the site. There is also a beautiful concert hall and arts centre in the city, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, which is carved from white Carrara marble and has housed many classic performances for renowned artists over the years such as Maria Callas, Plácido Domingo, Pavarotti, and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

There are some excellent day excursions from Mexico City as well, including the beautiful floating Aztec gardens of Xochimilco, where you can hire gondolas to take serene trips around the many tree-lined canals. Also you can visit the pretty colonial village of Coyoacán, which is popular with many artisans and has lovely market stalls where you can buy high quality arts and crafts.

If you are visiting central Mexico then there are many wonderful examples of Spanish colonial architecture and culture throughout the area, and the milder climate and good local cooking can make for some lovely day trips in and around the pretty towns and villages. The capital of the Jalisco region, Guadalajara, has a lively Spanish atmosphere, with some beautiful parks and architecture, such as the central cathedral which boasts 11 altars and an extensive art collection. There is also a bustling market with lots of fresh local produce, and an annual rodeo show during the October festival where feats of horsemanship and bull fighting are on display. Just a few miles from Guadalajara is San Miguel de Allende, which has some famous hot baths and spas and is classed among Mexico’s national monuments. The town is also acclaimed for its nine-day festival at Christmas, the Posadas, which symbolises the Christian tradition of the journey Joseph and Mary undertook in Bethlehem leading up to the birth of Christ.

Wherever you are visiting in Mexico make sure you research

your destination first, to ensure you do not miss out on any of the diverse attractions on offer, and as with any trip remember to keep your travel documents and currency safe and secure as you make your way about the country.

If you are serious about protecting the environment and reducing your carbon footprint they you may want to organize your holidays this year to take advantage of the many eco-friendly hotels and guesthouses that are now available.

The Falmouth Beach Resort Hotel in Cornwall has state of the art facilities and a stunning view looking out over the beautiful bay, but it is also committed to sustainable environmental management. The hotel adapts strict waste reduction policies including a recycling scheme, and encourages both staff and guest to use public transport, cycling and walking to get around. The hotel also sources produce for the kitchen from the local area to reduce food miles and carbon emissions, and encourages self-catering guests to buy locally as well. You might also be interested in the new eco-friendly holiday village being developed in Pembrokeshire, which comprises of timber lodges and cottages that follow a tradition Welsh village layout, but that are powered by renewable energy sources such as biomass fuels that are developed from local crops.

It is also a good idea to keep an eye on which hotels win awards in the highly acclaimed Considerate Hotel of the Year Awards, which seek out those establishments that have the best environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performances each year. These awards include categories like ‘Green Team of the Year‘ and ‘Green Champion of the Year‘, but the main award to look out for is the ‘The Considerate Hotel of the Year‘ award, which goes to the best all-round environmental performance, which was won in 2007 by The Cavendish Hotel in London.

I think that Prague is a favorite destination for the New Year 2009. Its old downtown is between the world’s nicest and since 20 years an UNESCO heritage site.

A trip to Prague on New Year 2009 will be the right occasion to discover or rediscover the charm of former centuries and the rich art collectionsof czech Museums.

Prague is not a big city (1 200 000 people), is not overcrowded and very easy to discover walking in the downtown. There are plenty of pubs there where you can taste the delicious Bohemia beer and the tasty cuisine. But these traditional pubs are usually overcrowded, even Bill Gates did not find a free table.

Guards changing in the Hradcany Palace has a special ritual and is a show for any tourist.

Prague is a very ancient city lying on the banks of Vltava River, and a boat trip is a must when travelling in Prague on New Year 2009.

A few personalities who lived in Prague are very significant for its history, and appear overwhelming all over: Franz Kafka, Alexander Dubcek, Antonin Dvorak etc. Kafka is from far away the absolute leader and winner, he stays on shirts, cofee cups and many other souvenirs you can find in Prague on New Year 2009.

A travel to Prague on New Year 2009 is a good oportunity to relax and also a cultural trip. They know to entertain the guests in Prague, you won’t be dissapointed. But you must book in advance, and I am sure you will spend wonderful days and nights there.

If you love beaches and seaside holidays then you must check out the South American country of Argentina, which has some truly exotic and unspoilt coastal destinations to offer. From long stretches of pure sandy beaches to ravines and coastal woodlands, there is a wealth of interesting and outstanding scenery to enjoy, especially along the impressive Atlantic coast in the province of Buenos Aires. Here there a number of top beach resorts which are popular with families and also some fun vibrant spots such as San Bernaro and Pinamar which offer lively bustling nightlife for party lovers and is very popular during the college breaks. The southern resorts of Necochea and Monte Hermoso have some of the best waters for swimming all year round, as well as various water sports including snorkelling, water skiing and fishing. Also there are plenty of land based activities on offer, such as horse riding, wildlife safaris, hiking and off-road quad bike adventures.

Mar del Plata is one of the most famous beach side resorts in Argentina and is also one of the top coastal towns in the whole of South America. The scenery of Mar de Plata is lovely, with undulating green hills and over 40km of beautiful sandy beaches. There is also a busy boardwalk, where everyone goes to stroll, eat and be seen, as well as a nice shopping area full of fashionable designer shops. Around the area are some impressive cliffs and ravines, which are ideal for hiking, paragliding and rock climbing, but the main attraction to Mar del Plata is the sociable nightlife with plenty of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres and live outdoor performances to choose from.

Las Vegas is a great destination for New Years Eve, with a wealth of organised shows and entertainments, and some amazing deals on hotels and casinos. Nights out in Las Vegas are pretty special any night of the year, but as you would expect from this glitzy party city, New Years Eve is something else!

There are so many shows on over the New Years period it is a good idea to go to one of the show guide websites such as www.VegasView.com, so that you can scan through all the choices and make reservations on the ones you are interested in to avoid disappointment. Some shows tipped to be sold out quickly this year include the Cirque du Soleil “O” show at the famous Bellagio Hotel, and the Mama Mia show at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. Also there is also a rumour going around that Britney Spears might be doing some special Las Vegas come back shows around this New Years time.

If you are not interested in any of the extravagant shows, then most casinos and hotels offer extremely good deals on food and drink in their restaurants and bars, and also there are some massive parties arranged for the New Years period in Las Vegas. This includes the famous street party that is hosted along all four miles of the famous Las Vegas strip, with lights and fireworks galore, and revelers packing the sidewalks, dancing, eating and drinking the night away.

Because there is so much happening right on the street on New Years Eve there is a forceful police presence throughout the city at this time, so whilst you are having fun try and keep things within a reasonable level to avoid getting into trouble. Glasses and bottles will be confiscated on the sidewalk as there has been trouble with these containers being used as missiles in the past, and also there is an absolute zero tolerance policy on bad behaviour towards law officials, so even if you are a bit tipsy don’t be tempted to moon them or give them any amusing hand signals!

All of the Christmas and New Years period is very busy in Las Vegas, so make sure you book your flights, hotels and tickets to shows as soon as possible. You can find some great deals on hotels online at websites like www.ebookers.com, so make sure you look around as this is a very competitive city, and you can get up to 60% off on standard rooms if you book well in advance.

If you are interested in adventure holidays, then France can be an excellent destination as it has some of the most challenging and scenic countryside in Europe, with high mountains ranges that offer superior climbing and skiing conditions, and miles of coastline that suits a whole range of different water activities. France also has a number of fast running rivers and natural gorges that offer perfect conditions for white water rafting, such as the Isere and Dora Baltee rivers.

One of the highest mountain peaks in Europe, Mont Blanc is located in the stunning French Alps, and there are a number of excellent hiking and climbing opportunities in this area that will challenge all skill levels. Thousands of people flock to the Alps each year to scale the mountain ranges and see the breathtaking scenery, and of course there are the many famous luxury ski resorts, which take advantage of the perfect conditions for skiing and other winter sports. If you are interested in hiking and trekking there is also the Pyrenees Mountain in the south west of France, which offer some amazing views and landscapes.

France is famous for its cycling tours, and the moderate sweeping landscapes of Bordeaux and Burgundy are perfect for beginners, with plenty of stops off a wineries and vineyards to break up the trip. If you are looking for a more challenging cycling adventure then there are some longer tours across the Loire Valley region, which boasts some of the most cultural landscape in France, with many historic towns and villages and some fantastic architectural monuments such as the famous Château de Valençay.

The coastline in France is just as diverse as the countryside, including wide sandy beaches and rocky outcrops, and offers a wealth of water activities including sailing, swimming, diving and fishing. There are also some challenging cliff faces that are popular with climbers, such as the limestone cliffs of Calanques in the south.

To find out more about adventure holidays in France you can visit the official French tourist board website www.uk.franceguide.com, or you could browse through the various independent travel companies that specialise in adventure holidays in this area, such as French Fusion or Headwater.