Archive for November, 2009

Choosing a holiday destination can sometimes be difficult, as it is hard to know in advance what a place will be like. But given that most northern Europeans crave dependable sunshine, the island of Lanzarote is an excellent choice. Because not only does it have a great variety of beautiful beaches and Spring like weather all year round. But it also has plenty to keep more active visitors entertained.

The clement climate makes it the ideal environment for athletes and fitness fanatics to indulge their passion. Whether this is cycling, swimming, surfing, sailing or one of a host of other activities, Lanzarote is a favourite with sports men and women. And is the annual location for the final qualifying heat of the Iron Man tournament before the final in Hawaii.

Yet it isn’t the exclusive preserve of this kind of traveller, as many families and couples visiting the island will discover there is plenty in the way of cultural and tourist attractions. From tropical bird parks to a yellow submarine, there is a range of excursions that reveals the numerous facets of the island and its waters. The varied scenery even makes driving a pleasure, as there are many photogenic spots that are worth stopping at. Car hire in Lanzarote is very cheap – so it´s easy to explore all the island has to offer.

And then there are the centres of art and culture, designed by the island born artist and architect, César Manrique. Which include such diverse projects as the development of the volcanic region into a unique attraction, the Timanfaya National Park, where visitors can get up close to lava flows and fissures. Or have their lunch cooked over the heat of a dormant volcano.

In the north of the island an underground lava tunnel has been used to create a spectacular lagoon, gardens, auditorium, museum and restaurant at the Jameos del Agua. Which once earned the plaudit of the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ from Hollywood actress Rita Heyworth. And which illustrates perfectly Manrique’s ability to blend manmade design with nature.

The island has three main resorts with a wide range of accommodation, to suit every taste and budget. From self-catering apartments through to luxury Lanzarote villas with their own pools and five star hotels. The resorts themselves have all the facilities visitors require, whilst still providing an attractive backdrop to a week’s holiday in the sun. The beaches in each resort have fine golden sand and gently shelve into the sea, making them ideal for young children.

Egypt Travel Deals

The Arab Republic of Egypt known under the name of Egypt is a republic in northern Africa. Egypt was established by the Latin word Aegyptus derived from the Greek meaning the name of a temple of the god Path of Memphis. Cairo Kahira is the capital of Egypt also known as the city for learning culture and trade.

Cairo Egypt travel deals has the opportunities to visit and enjoy the famous tourist destinations. Visitors can choose from a variety of options as a Sahara Safari a trip to Cairo and a cruise down the Nile.

Egypt is well suited to the rail and plane reached but the vast region the country finds its way everyone can take a long time. A journey can be an excellent choice for people who have less time to the earth. However the adventurous can opt for a Nile cruise along the beautiful river and a spectacular experience. Visitors can also view the private guides. The leaders in Egypt are certified by the government and are very useful. The tourism industry in Egypt is in full recovery and has much to offer to individual needs. There are a number of hotels to choose in places such as Luxor Aswan Alexandria Hurghada and the Sharmel Sheikh.

Egypt is a shopping paradise for a variety of local products. The Khan alKhalili bazaar in Cairo has published numerous articles of daily use. There are many bazaars in other cities famous for handmade carpets perfumeconcentrates and pharaohnic objects. Egyptian cotton is known worldwide for its purity. Papyrus authentic can be bought on the local markets.

The best time to visit this country is desert from May to September. A travel deal to Cairo Egypt is information with a host of websites and the rich history of civilization. Tours are available to all the needs of travelers. The visas for tourists may at any port.

About the writer:  Gaurav Malhotra CEO of leading International tour Travel service Provider Company located in New Delhi India. Which provides international travel deals for North America South America Antarctica Australia Europe Asia and African countries. For more details about International travel services pls login http://www.365daystravel.com/

Destination Report: Manchester

What Manchester thinks today London thinks tomorrow used to be the catchphrase a mark of the esteem in which Manchester was held by its inhabitants of many years ago.

Looking at the Victorian splendour of many of the fine buildings in the centre of the city it is easy to see the sort of wealth various industries but especially textiles brought to the city and helped raise its profile both on the national and international stage.

Like so many other UK cities the second half of the Twentieth Century was maybe not too kind to Manchester. And like many of these other cities Manchester has spent the last few years redeveloping to the extent that the modern visitor sees a thriving city centre with plenty of bars restaurants clubs and brand name stores.

To this must be added the building and development of a significant number of events venues that provide organisers with the opportunity to run anything from the smallest intimate sales meeting up to largescale exhibitions and conventions.

I was delighted to catch up with an old industry chum Paula Lorimer. When we first met she was event director of Confex. A few years later she is sales director at Manchester Central the new name of the GMex and MICC centres.

After a lengthy career dealing with venues and destinations Lorimer is well placed to assess the contribution Manchester is making to the UK events scene.

On a personal level its an absolute joy she says. The last time I came to the city was about ten years ago and the transformation has been extraordinary.

Lorimer points to the eclectic mix of architecture great shopping dining and socialising facilities coupled with the important day to day issues such as good schools excellent accommodation that is cheaper than down south and a manageablysized city in which key locations are often just a few minutes away from each other. On the commercial level the city is also hugely attractive.
Manchester is quickly becoming a busy events destination because 80 of the top 100 companies are now either based or have an office in the city it is rapidly becoming the corporate axis of the UK she says. This has driven a change in the amount of business we attract.

This has not been lost on the political parties with both the Labour and Conservative parties running their annual conferences in Manchester Central on two occasions each over the next four or five years.

As events veterans know its all very well having a fine infrastructure in order to enjoy it visitors have to be able to get there easily and it is often a criticism levelled at cities outside London that they are not exactly that accessible. This doesnt seem to be the case with Manchester situated as it is on the UK motorway system and with regular train services to all parts of the country. Added to this is the little known fact that the airport is now the 20th busiest in the world with most key international destinations served by a large number of airlines. And yet for all its international connections the city remains small enough for organisers to give their events quite an intimate feel. Most of the main hotels and venues for example are within walking distance from each other while other places such as Salford Quays and Old Trafford are only a short cab or bus ride away.

Mention of the home of Manchester United is interesting. As one of the most famous soccer clubs in the world it is a brand that has reached far and wide. I wonder how valuable it is to have such an identifiable symbol as part of your marketing campaign.

The thing about United is that it gets the Manchester brand out there internationally it is a very good hook. says Lorimer. We work closely with United through Marketing Manchester because a large number of people that come to events in the city want to visit the ground. Its not the final feature that maybe seals a deal but it is certainly an important part of what we do and it helps us hit the ground running.

Not being a soccer fan I wont be one of those visitors that is desperate to visit the stadium and anyway there is much more going on in Manchester to keep even the most hackneyed exhibition visitor or conference delegate happy.

As a rounded package Manchester has all that event goers could possibly want in a very manageable area concludes Lorimer. I think were in a fantastic position to host more and more high profile events.

As a confirmed and proud Londoner Im not too worried by the Manchester doing today what we do tomorrow slogan Ill let them keep thinking it. In the meantime I look forward to my next visit. And speaking of myths Ive been to Manchester four times now and have yet to see one single drop of rain.

About the writer:  The editor team is for Venues.org which is the most popular sites online for sourcing venues in UK area. The site includes hundreds of Manchester venues and event venues. Please visit www.venues.org.uk for more details.