Archive for Practical advices

4 February, 2008 | No comments

Asia is paradise for shopping

In a rating of the greatest shopping centers of the world, made by Forbes, Asian shops are holding leading positions. The first place in the list is given to South China Mall from the Chinese city of Dunguan. Its total area is more than 650 thousand square meters. The territory South China Mall, besides set of shops, is really huge and it also possesses parks, windmills and even an exact copy of the Triumphal arch.
The second place in a rating is given to Peking mega-mall Golden Resources, which occupies 500 000 square meters territory. More than 1000 shops are located on the five levels of this center. Golden Resources Mall has one small lack- it is located on the suburbs of city.
Pride of Philippines - Mall of Asia, being the city of Pasay (suburb of Manila), takes the third place in the list. Here the pool of the Olympic size and first cinema IMAX in the country are located. The trading complex occupies four buildings with a total area in 390 thousand square meters. Special small trams are transporting buyers from one part of the Mall to another one.
The fourth line in a rating is borrowed with shopping center Cevahir in Istanbul. It occupies the territory in 350 000 square meters. Besides shops, it has also some cinemas IMAX, attractions and pool with artificial waves. Canadian West Edmonton Mall, taking the fifth place, is well-known for the aqua park, more than 800 shops, attractions and casino.

15 December, 2007 | No comments

Gays’ favorite cities

American magazine The Out Traveler, which is having the largest circulation among the gay-editions of the USA, has lead interrogation of the readers and has made a rating of the cities chosen by gays.
As it has become known, Amsterdam and Barcelona are the most attractive city for the gay-tourism has appeared.
Amsterdam, favorite city of The Out Traveler’s readers, allocates hospitable reception of all minorities. Among other reasons of love to this year the museum of handbags and purses is mentioned.
The reasons, why gays love Barcelona, relies in its atmosphere of freedom, which has appeared after acceptance of the law on marriages between unisex people, Antonio Gaudi’s creativity and Barcelonian holiday LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival).
The third place in preferences of tourists with no conventional sexual orientation was given to London - basically because of it two hundred gay-bars.
New York, San Francisco and Chicago close this “star” five.
Axel has been recognized the best hotel network for gay, whose director on marketing has drawn a typical portrait the gay-tourist: well brought up, solvent city traveler, who is spending on trips more than other tourists”.
 

11 December, 2007 | No comments

German tourists prefer to spend holidays among compatriots

The majority of Germans prefer to have a rest in their circle. Only some of some are trying to have contact with other tourists or local residents. Such conclusion has been made by experts of German institute of market researches GfK.The German division of large tourist portal TripAdviser recently has published results of research of German tourists’ preferences. Interrogation has been lead by German institute of market researches GfK. More than 1000 German tourists, 500 from which on a regular basis spend holiday abroad have taken part in this research.German tourists do not like to have a rest with EnglishmenGf’K’s experts have informed, that 61 percent of interrogated people have noted that they had to collide with unseemly behavior of other tourists. Answering the question about national identity of noisy and ill-bred tourists, 20 percent of respondents have named Englishmen. 62,2 percent of interrogated Germans have noted that it is extremely unpleasant for them to be among drunk tourists of any nationality, who are frequently behaving in incorrect way.Besides, the majority of respondents have noted, that tourists from Switzerland and Austria do not irritate them with their behavior. However, in Bavaria interrogation has revealed absolutely opposite result: 15,1 percent of the Bavarians, who participated in research, are dissatisfied with behavior of the Austrian tourists, 10,6 percent - with the behavior of Swiss tourists. 

9 December, 2007 | No comments

Fair for millionaires has opened in Amsterdam

The fifth Fair of millionaires Millionair Fair has opened in Amsterdam.
246 world famous firms-participants have presented magnificent ornaments, clothes, furniture, video- and audio equipment, cosmetics, works of art, cars, motorcycles, motor scooters, yachts, planes, helicopters and other goods.
Not only owners of the million capitals, rich businessmen, heads of the large companies, but also known artists, the actors, sportsmen, journalists are among the visitors of this fair.
On the big podium performances of known actors, concerts of jazz music will be held. During fair fashion presentations from Cavalli, Burberry, Gianfranco Ferre, Versace and Moschino will take place.
Amsterdam Company Gassan/Amsterdam Diamond Center has prepared the biggest stand, on which products of known trade marks as Chopard are presented, Breitling, Audemars Piquet, Breguet, IWC, Ebel, will be demonstrated. Here it will be possible to see and to buy various jewels and watches. And many other unique and rare things are also offered here.
Concerning the smart cars, it is possible to prove that the attention new model of Rolls-Roys Drophead Coupe and such perfect machines, as Bentley Continental GT Speed and Maserati Quattroporte QTS, can be also bought at this fair.
Best video- and audio devices have been represented by such companies as Samsung, Bang and Olufsen, Giorgio Armani. Planes for private clients are offered by firm Solid Air - the most fast-growing operator of private aviatransportations in the Europe. Travel agency Talisman offers fascinating trips worldwide, for example, culinary travel to China, Peru, Malaysia and on the Indonesian island Bali. At the next stand the real estate in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is offered.
Works of art are offered by firm Velazquez Art.
Five-star hotels offer solvent clients the diversified services. Known chives show culinary art. Visitors enjoy champagne Piper-Heiadsieck, cognac Remy Martin and whisky Chivas Regal.
On the last day of fair, on December, 10th, on the so-called “Business Monday”, business-seminars, presentations and numerous business meetings will be held.

 

8 December, 2007 | No comments

Internet access will be offered in the American air liners

A number of US airlines are going to offer their clients Internet access right during the flight. So, on Tuesday JetBlue Airways will allow passengers of one of the planes to use e-mail and instant exchange messages system. Other companies - American Airlines, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines - are plan to give wider spectrum of Internet-services within the nearest months, however, passengers will have to pay for theses services.
During take-offs and landings it will not be allowed to use network, but after that ascent passengers will be allowed to send messages through the WorldNet. As it has become known, Virgin America intends to offer Internet even to passengers, who do not have notebooks or smart phones, by means of special screens. Now Virgin’s passengers can already order food and drinks through a small computer.
In spite of the fact that the new technology will allow to provide telecommunication onboard, airlines’ representatives do not hasten to give such opportunity. Other passengers may dislike that a certain talkative fellow travelers will discuss his flight with someone else for several hours, and, if there will be a lot of such fellow travelers, travel will turn into the real nightmare.
The companies recognize that while the Internet onboard the plane is doomed to work much more slowly, than on the ground, and it is necessary to eliminate numerous problems. It is one of the reasons on which users meanwhile will not pay for it. Anyway, Jet Blue becomes the first air carrier in the USA, which will allow its clients to use Internet onboard.
 

7 December, 2007 | No comments

Some useful rules, which should be obeyed during the flight

The etiquette of behavior in planes is standart to everyone. Some items from this list can seem naive, but their disobedience serious problems. In any case, each traveler should know it.
The weight of hand luggage is limited, but dimensions are not limited. Do not take onboard large-sized subjects, as it may cause some inconvenience.
Keep hand luggage in the top compartment, located directly above your landing place. If you need some more space for your hand luggage, ask the stewardess to locate your hand luggage.
Put your jacket or coat atop of the hand luggage. Otherwise it can take a place of the neighbor.
Take a place according to number specified on a boarding pass. You can change your place if you will see that all passengers have taken their places and there are free seats.
If you travel alone, and you are asked to change your places in order to allow your neighbor to his/her join family, remember, that you once you will also have to address to someone with such request.
Remember - in the closed space of the plane people become irritable - everything that they do not do - listen to the player, write documents can irritate them… Sometimes it leads to scandals.
Do not throw back a back of an armchair completely. However, sometimes it is a good way to struggle with disobedient children.
There is a serious problem - many passengers remove in flight the shoes. If you also do this, put on slippers. Respect other people.
Do not tire people with conversations.
Be careful with meal and hot drinks. Cautiously open the container with salad, seasoning and drinks.
If you have spoiled a suit of the neighbor, apologize and offer to pay a dry-cleaner.
The toilet in the plane is not a boudoir or locker room. Be fast and accurate.
Remember, that influence of alcohol amplifies at height. You should know, when to stop.
Plane - is not your office. The scattered papers will create discomfort for other passengers.
 

20 November, 2007 | No comments

Cruise companies ask their clients to pay in addition for trips

The prices for cruises of some leading cruise companies will increase because of introduction of the fuel extra charge. In connection with sharp increase in the prices for fuel companies Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, entering into holding, are to enter the fuel extra charge at the rate of $5 from the person into day for cruises with date of departure since February, 1st, 2008.
However, in order to avoid conflicts with their clients, some cruise companies have gone on many concessions’ measures. So, the fuel extra charges will not be raised from the clients, who have already paid for the cruise. If cruise has been reserved till November, 16th, 2007, the tourist can cancel reservation till December, 7th, 2007 and receive full cost back. The extra charge will be raised only from the first and second passenger of a cabin and will not exceed $70 from the person for cruise. Besides, those, who will pay the extra charge, will receive gifts from cruise companies.
As it has become known cruise company Silversea will also enter surcharge for fuel at a rate of 10 dollars per day. The extra charge will be raised from each passenger of the cabin.

 

 

18 November, 2007 | No comments

Swedes have recognized the ferry Fantaasia dangerous

The Swedish Department of waterways of the message has forbidden tricking to the Estonian ferry Fantaasia, specifying on serious lacks of safety of a vessel.
In June ferry Fantaasia, belonging navigable concern Tallink, has been recognized by the Estonian inspectors suitable for trips.
On November, 15th the Swedish experts have found 18 lacks on the vessel, 12 of them were serious, including idle loudspeakers and not closed water-proof doors.
Water-proof doors are necessary for maintenance of survivability of a vessel as they do not pass water from one compartment into another.
Ferry Fantaasia, constructed in 1979 and renewed in 2004, may transport 1500 passengers and 300 cars.
In October the owner of vessel, concern Tallink, has transferred ferry Fantaasia to half a year in rent to the Norwegian firm Kystlink. In 2005 Fantaasia has been leased to the Algerian navigable company Algerie Ferries, transporting in Mediterranean sea between France, Spain and Algeria. Earlier the vessel worked on lines Tallinn-Helsinki, Tallinn-Stockholm and Riga-Stockholm.
 

16 November, 2007 | No comments

Journalistic investigation in hotels has shocked America

Dearness of hotel unessential means good service - such conclusions have been made by the journalists of American broadcasting company Fox. The journalists have told that they have found out that no matter how much tourists would not pay for the room-number, they(nevertheless)  should better bring own glass. By means of the hidden cameras the group of the journalists, who pretended usual travelers, have found out, what the parlourmaidens do in room-numbers of magnificent hotels and how good they wash glasses. For experiment some glasses in each of numbers, where journalists stopped, have been dirtied with lemonade and lipstick.
To one of the most “innocent” offences of the parlourmaiden in hotels became that they simply rinse glasses not, actually, washing them. In one of hotels of the parlourmaid processed a bowl a special cleaning liquid on which by large letters it has been written “Do not drink “, and sparks of this hazardous to health chemical got on standing near by glasses. In other hotel parlourmaid washed glasses in the same gloves, in which they cleaned a toilet bowl. Experts, who were shown the record made by the hidden camera, were horrified: glasses look pure, but they were hazardous to health - in fact those bacteria and viruses, which usually live in a toilet bowl, were on them. The logger, who will use such glass, risks catching staphylococcus, salmonellas, herpes or hepatitis.
Then the same shadowing the parlourmaiden has been lead in hotels of an average price category, in order to find out, whether they do the work better, than their colleagues of dear hotels. Te same dirty glasses were left in each room-numbers with hidden cameras. In one of four-star hotels observers could see that the parlourmaid wipes the washed up glasses the dirty towels thrown by lodgers on a floor, preparing room-number for following visitors. Experts-physicians consider such “microbes’ exchange” can be very dangerous to health.
According to journalists, glasses in room-numbers of some hotels have not been properly washed for years and thousand lodgers, whose health has undergone to serious risk of infections, used these glasses. Glasses have been taken on the analysis, and a variety of the microbes, which have been found out on them after “washing”, has shocked the journalists. The plot about this investigation was broadcast on telechannel Fox and has caused a storm of spectator responses. The department of public health services has ordered all hotels, where investigation was spent, to wash glasses “properly”. It is necessary to hope, that the parlourmaids will obey officials.
 

14 November, 2007 | No comments

Traveling with animals

Traveling with cats, dogs and other fine pets, including small fishes, faces significant restrictions in many countries.
On import of such animals the veterinary certificate from a clinic, confirming that the animal is healthy and inoculations are made, is required.
If you have decided to travel with pets you will need the veterinary certificate and an inoculation against furiousness (it is valid since 10 days from date of an inoculation and not later than 9 months). Many countries require that inoculations have been made not less than three months prior to departure.
At flying, before registration, you should visit boundary veterinary control of the airport, where on the basis of collected before documents it is necessary to receive the international veterinary certificate. On a trip the dog of any breed and the size should be in a muzzle.
At booking the ticket you should warn, that the animal will depart with you. The dog or cat’s ticket is bought at the airport. Its cost is being counted as cost of above permitted standard luggage, proceeding from weight of the animal, but under tariffs of the first class even if the dog will depart in a luggage space. In a train the dog can follow in one compartment with the owner if other fellow travelers in a compartment do not object it. Otherwise it is necessary to buy the whole compartment plus the dog ticket.
Cats should follow in special bags (baskets). Before the departure the owner may ask for the soothing injection.
In many countries imported animals are located in quarantine:
• On Taiwan and Cuba - for 14 days,
• In the USA - for 1 month,
• Sweden - for 4 months, on Malta, Cyprus and the Great Britain - for 6 months.
All this is on a paid basis (from 150 up to 500 dollars).
Any information on transportation of animals can be received at any airport. At the sehotel (where it is allowed) the tourist with an animal should book a double room as it is considered, that the own vital space is required.

 
 

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