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Magic in Amalfi

Sharon Preston  —  10:00 am

One of the joys of visiting Amalfi is discovering the magic of the magnificent Emerald Cave, or Grott

a dello Smeraldo, which is located on the coastline. Sharon Preston waxes lyrical after a visit…

grotto_large

The famous Emerald Cave is one of several caves around the world that emits a magnificent blue, or emerald light, depending on the time of day. The quality of the color in each of these caves depends on the natural lighting that filters into the cave. And in the case of this most famous one, it appears a brilliant emerald hue.

The Emerald Grotto is actually located between the towns of Amalfi and Positano that sit along the spectacular 40-mile Amalfi Coastline. This beautiful grotto is partially filled with sea water, which apparently accounts for the glorious emerald colour. The surface area of the water covers around 49 by 35 yards and the roof of the cave is 79 feet high above the level of the water.Entering-the-caves

Unlike the famous Blue Grotto which is located just outside Capri, the Emerald Cave has no natural outlet above the waterline. The only opening is just below the level of the water. Refracted sunlight enters the cave through the opening and gives the grotto its characteristic emerald glow.

As a result of the natural opening to the cave being above the waterline, the cave’s existence was a secret for many years. In fact, this emerald treasure was only discovered in 1932 by a fisherman called Luigi Buoncore.

When you visit the cave on an excursion, you will be able to access the cave from Strada Statale, the main road that runs along the Amalfi coast. You have to take an elevator down to cave level, where you will board a boat that will take you through the grotto on a journey of discovery.

On the boat, the guide explains how the effect of the shimmering green-coloured water is created by a secret tunnel that allows the light to filter from deep below the surface. You will also see colorful stalactites and stalagmites that are up to 10 meters high. And there’s a nativity scene below the water that mysteriously appears and then drifts away again, making it quite a surreal experience.grotta-smeraldo1

The guide also explains the history of the cave while you are exploring on the boat. When you’re on the boat, remember to take a look at the water – it’s so clear that you will be able to see right to the bottom, 32 feet below. I promise you – the colour of the water is so magnificent that it will take your breath away.

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Heineken experience in Amsterdam

Sharon Preston  —  10:00 am

inside heinekenWhen you’re next in Amsterdam, take time out to enjoy a beer – or at least two! – as you explore a brewery belonging to Heineken, one of the world’s three largest producers of beer

This 19th Century brewery is the first Heineken brewery to be built in the Netherlands. It dates back from 1867, and was the company’s primary Dutch pilsner brewing facility right up to 1988 when it was replaced by a more modern and larger brewery on the outskirts of Amsterdam.One of Heineken’s charms is that is has remained a family company throughout its history, which started in 1864 and continues world-wide to this day.

One of Heineken’s charms is that is has remained a family company throughout its history, which started in 1864 and continues world-wide to this day.

The old brewery has been open to the public since 1991 and it’s become one of the city’s main tourist attractions. It’s been modernised since then, and opened as the Heineken Experience in 2008, with all sorts of historical artifacts, products and samples on display, including authentic brewery interiors and equipment, old photographs and awards the company received for its beer.

There are also some thrilling interactive exhibits using high tech multi-media technology. In fact, it’s a combination museum and amusement park, which is why it’s such fun to visit.

Best of all, you can learn a little history while you’re having fun on the brewery tour, where you also learn about the process of brewing pilsner beer. Another reason to visit here, aside from the great-tasting beer that beckons, is that you don’t have to go on a guided tour; you can explore on your own.heineken1

You can learn all about the Heineken family and watch commercials of the beer that have been created around the world. You can also make your own music video here if you like, something that isn’t offers in many museums around Europe! One of the most exciting displays is an interactive one where you actually ‘become’ beer. You will we shaken up, sprayed with water and subjected to heat. And then, as a reward for the experience, you will get to sample some refreshing, delicious cold beer.

This is definitely more fun than visiting a museum. It’s a fun adventure just waiting to be experienced.

heineken2

Open Mon- Thu 11am – 7.30pm (last ones in at 5.30pm); Fri-Sun 11am – 8.30pm (last ones in at 6.30pm)
Tour of the facility takes approximately one and a half hours
Note: You have to be over the age of 18 to enter. Ticket price includes 2 glasses of beer at the end of the tour.
Address:
Stadhouderskade 78,
1072 AE, Amsterdam. Website: www.heinekenexperience.com

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Spotlight on… Dubrovnik

Sharon Preston  —  10:00 am

I visited Dubrovnik before the war, and what struck me about this magnificent walled old city was its magic and history. I walked along the ramparts and looked over the Dalmatian coastline, marvelling at the beauty of the Adriatic Sea. I explored the old city, untouched by modernity – and somehow this ancient town stole part of my heart. To this day, I long to return.

dubrovnik_beach_1If you are lucky enough to visit Dubrovnik, this is what you can expect to see. It’s a description I wrote of the city after it stole my heart… One of the most charming old walled cities in Europe, Dubrovnik has had a tumultuous past, but finally this beautiful city, with its red roofed buildings and high stone ramparts, is at peace. Once again people can come to explore this romantic place, with its maze of cobbled streets and idyllic setting close to the azure sea. Located on the magnificent Adriatic coastline with Italy its nearest neighbour over the waters, Dubrovnik has been famous throughout city for its charm and beauty. Of course, the historic Old Town, which is now designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is quite extraordinary. The city itself is enclosed by walls that were built in the 13th Century, and the buildings inside are just as well-preserved. One of the city’s most famous landmarks is Onofrio’s Fountain, located just inside the main entrance to the Old Town at Pile Gate. From there one can walk to the centre of the Old Town, to the main street, known as the Stradun. This street was originally a channel that separated an island from the mainland. The channel was then filled in, joining the two towns on either side – and that’s how Dubrovnik was formed. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a real joy to explore. You’ll find all sorts of fascinating places, including a number of old churches, monasteries and museums. Some of those worth exploring include the Sponza Palace, St Blaisius Church, the Franciscan Monastery and the Rector’s Palace. Of course, Dubrovnik is also full of shops, restaurants and bars and you’ll find good ones both inside the Old Town and on the beautiful coastline just outside the city. This is where visitors find accommodation, and also where they come to enjoy the sun and the sea at various marina’s and coves, or walk along a selection of pretty promenades.

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Beaches to explore in Malta

Sharon Preston  —  2:30 pm

Malta beachThe island of Malta offers a variety of different beaches to suit every taste, whether you enjoy lazing in the sun, or taking part in various water sports, such as windsurfing, jetskiing, waterskiing and wakeboarding, as well as pedalo boats, parasailing and kayaking. On this resort island, you’ll find popular beaches filled with holidaymakers, and ones further afield that are best kept secrets just waiting to be uncovered.

A number of beaches in Malta offer excellent swimming. Two of the safest swimming beaches are the man-made sand beach called Bugibba Perched Beach and St Georges Bay, right next to Paceville. For the best swimming on the island, head for Ghain Tuffieha or Riviera Bay in the north-west of the island. This secluded sandy beach forms part of a string of bays that all offer excellent swimming opportunities. Golden Bay is Malta’s largest and most popular beach and there’s also Qawra Point, a small sand and rock beach next to the Qawra promenade, which is not only great for swimming but also popular for snorkeling.

In fact, snorkeling is very popular all over Malta, particularly at Golden Bay, Paradise Bay, Gnejna, St Paul’s Bay and Comino’s Blue Lagoon. One can purchase or rent snorkeling equipment around the island, and if you would like a guided snorkeling adventure, you can hire a trained guide to help you explore Malta’s magical underwater world.

If you’re really adventurous and want to explore deeper, there are numerous scuba diving opportunities available. Malta is known for its historical shipwrecks, and there are other sites you can explore to see a variety of marine life. Diving excursions are offered all over the island, and you can easily rent the equipment when you book a day excursion.

The best place to go waterskiing is the area around Gnejna Bay on Malta’s north-west coast, as well as St Julian’s, Qawra and Little Armier Bay on the northern tip of Malta. The island is also a paradise for windsurfers, who flock to Mellieha Bay, Ghallis Rock near St Julian’s and St Thomas Bay.

Jet skiing to explore Malta’s coastline is also very popular and the best way to discover secluded beaches and caves that are only accessible from the sea. The best places to jet ski are St Julian’s and Mellieha.

Sea kayaking is also very popular and enables one to explore the coastline in a canoe. Golden Bay and Mellieha Bay are very popular choices for this.

Although the waters are very calm around Malta, there are a few areas where beginners and experienced surfers can enjoy the sport. The most popular are Golden Bay, Mellieha Bay, Imgiebah, St Thomas, and Ghain Tuffieha. However, if you’re planning to surf here, you will need to bring your surfboard with you.

Another popular adventure is sailing around the island. You can rent a boat for the day and explore the spectacular coastline, which is a treasure trove of hidden bays, secluded beaches and caves just waiting to be explored.

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Last Minute Holiday: How to get the best last minute holiday deal

justine123  —  10:00 am

Schools are about to break up around this time of the year. You may have accumulated leaves, and may be eager to spend quality time with your loved ones on a nice holiday. Unfortunately till now you may not have taken any action on this.

Parasols_in_Pulo_Merah,_Banyuwangi,_Indonesia

Fortunately it is not too late to find a good last minute holiday deal. Here is how you can get a good bargain while booking at the last minute.

Many travel businesses would be under pressure to sell as much as possible for the flights and accommodation they are left with. This definitely works to your advantage; because they offer you heavy discounts.

It is advisable to begin by checking reputed tour operators and villa agents. Of course you will find many all over Europe. You will find many advertisements promising you savings. Be a little skeptical about the savings ads. When there are many discounts, a message like “Save 30 percent”, can be misleading.

Percentage discounts make sense only when they represent savings on a stable pricing system. Many package holidays are not priced in a stable way. Their cost varies from day to day depending on how much they are making. The price they advertise on their communications is usually the upper limit. Keep this in mind while negotiating for a deal.

Since you are booking late, you should be flexible when it comes to destination. It is a good idea to look at different destinations. Make price comparisons as broad as possible. You will find really wonderful locations in countries like Greece, Spain and Portugal for immensely attractive prices. Be open-minded.

Once you have decided on a location, check out what is included in the package. Look for elements like transfers, in-flight meals, half board and breakfast. They may be charged extra. Focus on the bottom line while comparing prices.

It is definitely advisable to avoid allocation on arrival. You need to be aware of the location and style of the hotel you are staying in. Your hotel has a huge impact on the quality of your holiday. Spend time to ensure that you are staying in a good hotel.

Be flexible while dealing with tour operators and agents. The more flexible you are, the better are your chances of getting a great deal. It is a good idea to start with popular brands like Thomas Cook. Airtours, Manos and Sunset brands are owned by Thomas Cook. They usually have very broad offering of package. You will usually find attractive packages to locations like Turkey, Crete, Corfu, Zante, Rhodes and Kos.

Many brands start cutting rates for July departures around this time. You just need to keep an eye. Also you need to be able to balance the prospect of a great deal against the risk of, for instance, a delayed flight. Click on “Late Deals” section on the Thomas Cook website.

With a little smartness, you can make your last minute holiday a successful and an inexpensive one. Of course the above-mentioned tips will definitely help you in this.

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Flights to Kuala Lumpur: A brief overview

justine123  —  10:00 am

Popularly known as K.L., Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. This alpha world city is the financial, economic and cultural center of Malaysia. Many people from many parts of the world travel to Kuala Lumpur for business, tourism and other purposes.

Air_AsiaKuala Lumpur is well-connected with other major cities of the world. Many reputed airlines like Malaysia Airlines (national carrier of Malaysia), British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Delta Airlines, Emirates and Quantas operate flights to Kuala Lumpur. These airlines offer excellent service and have been around for many years.

Kuala Lumpur has two airports: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. KLIA is the main airport in Kuala Lumpur. Located in Sepang, Selangor, this major airport is around 45 km from the Kuala Lumpur city center.

If you are traveling to Kuala Lumpur and are keen on saving money, you may consider using the services of a low cost carrier. AirAsia is a major name in this segment.

AirAsia is a Malaysian low-cost airline which is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. It is a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia and has been named the best low-cost airline in the world. AirAsia operates flights to Kuala Lumpur from major cities like Sydney, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangalore, Tokyo, Manila, Singapore, Seoul and Bangkok.

Low-cost carriers usually charge additional fees for checked baggage. You may also have to pay for in-flight food and drink. Most low-cost carriers charge a payment card fee, which will be notified to you immediately prior to purchase. You need to check in online before departure and print your boarding pass for your travel.

Many travel websites claim to help you to get the best deal on flights to Kuala Lumpur. However, it is always advisable to choose reputed brands. Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and AirfareWatchdog are some well-known names in the industry.

These websites have enabled you to book your flight and hotel accommodation from the comfort of your bedroom. They offer attractive discounts on airfares and great deals on hotels.

You will find reviews of many customers of airlines and hotels in these travel websites. These reviews help you to be aware. They help you to take wise decisions. These websites are user friendly. It definitely makes sense to make the most of these websites.

While in Kuala Lumpur, it is important to beware of pick pocketing and theft. Beware of taxi driver scams. If you intend to visit twin towers, do not purchase entry tickets from unauthorized vendors. You need to be prepared for traffic jams. Avoid using public toilets are they are very unhygienic.

Malaysia is a tropical country. So you should be prepared to deal with mosquitoes. Beware of dodgy monks. Avoid carrying drugs. In Malaysia, if you are caught with drugs on you, you will face death penalty.

The above-mentioned tips help you to get the best of flights to Kuala Lumpur; to stay safe in the city; and also to save money on your flight tickets.

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Save Money on International Calls with Call2Call

justine123  —  4:15 pm

Technological advancements have made our world a place full of opportunities. Today people are traveling great distances to realize their dreams like never before. Thanks to advancements in telecommunications, today it is possible to stay in touch with your loved ones and business associates irrespective of your location.

However it can be expensive to stay in touch with people far away from you. International calls are expensive. Fortunately if you are located in the UK, Call2Call helps you to save a great deal on international calls.

click to callYou can use Call2Call service from your land line or your mobile phone. However, you should be able to access the numbers starting with 08 and 09. You need not even make any prepayments. In fact you need not even register.

Using Call2Call is very easy. First you need to find the access number for the destination country. The access codes are available in the Call2Call website. Dial the access number from your phone.

You will be connected to Call2Call service. Once connected, you will hear a welcome message. Here you enter the number you need to call. It is important to include the country code. You will be connected to the person.

For this call you will be paying your service provider only the cost of cost of dialing the access number. Of course it is much less than what you would pay for the international call.

If you have a mobile phone and some free minutes, you could send a text message “CHAT” to 87887. You will receive 5 pounds of international calling credit. You will be billed 5 pounds plus cost of one text message.

You will receive an SMS confirming your purchase. This message will also have a six digit unique PIN number and access number 0121 261 0808. Dial this access number from your mobile phone.

Upon connection, you need to key in your unique PIN number. After entering the number you will get to know the balance. Dial the number you wish to call, including the country code. Once you are connected, you will be debited appropriately from your credit.

Call2Call has been helping people save money on international calls for more than a decade. More than 500,000 callers use the services of Call2Call every month. Call2Call is a fully licensed network operator.

The dedicated team at Call2Call strives to bring you the most reliable service at minimum possible price. They have been doing this successfully till today. Call2Call is well-known for its excellent customer service. You will find many delighted customers of Call2Call.

Mr. L. Baines, a Call2Call customer from Manchester says, “At first I could not believe the low rates for the cheap international calls from Call2Call; however, I contacted their support and I honestly have never talked to such helpful people, who explained how it works. Definite recommendation from me.”

Call2Call is well-known for its clear lines. Its reputation is impeccable in this area. One of its customers, Katie from Southall says, “What a great service with fantastic clear lines, one word springs to mind, quality.” The team at Call2Call is trained not to compromise on quality. For more details about their service, please fell free to call 0203 323 0323.

Next time you feel like speaking to someone far away from you, use Call2Call. You will definitely enjoy disturbance-free conversation and also save lot of money.

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