Archive for September, 2007

29 September, 2007 | 2 comments

Goa: only five-star hotels have a right for casino

The government of the Indian state of Goa has entitled 5-stars hotels to operate a casino in which playing only automatic devices are allowed.
Though Goa - is one of the most popular tourist directions, infrastructure and the services market, which could keep tourists for long time, are insufficiently developed. Authorities hope, that the casino will help hoteliers with this problem and, as consequence, it will increase inflow of means to treasury.
Originally the license for a casino cost 1 million rupees, except for that it was necessary to pay an annual payment in 40 000 rupees for the main machine and on 30 000 - for additional one. It is allowed to have no more than 20 slot machines at each hotel.
It was already informed, that soon in Goa there will be a casino on water. For them the registration payment for 5 years makes 50 million rupees, except for that they should pay 100 000 rupees for updating of the license every year. The government also receives 200 rupees as an entrance payment for each casino’s visitor.
The casino has been operating in Goa for already some time, but only one year ago the government began to take taxes from them. Since almost 8,5 million rupees has gone to the treasury of Goa.

 

 

28 September, 2007 | No comments

The most intense air routes

Company OAG has published the list of the most intense air routes of the world. Line Madrid - Barcelona with 971 flights per week (these are 139 flights a day) became the leader.  894 flights a week are being made on a route the San Paulo - Rio de Janeiro, 858  flights - Seoul - Cheju and 851 flights - Melbourne - Sydney. Lines Cape Town - Johannesburg, Delhi - Mumbai (Bombay) and Tokyo - Fukuoka follow the list.
Almost all intense routes are internal. Line Taipei - Hong Kong (about 595 flights) became the leader among international flights. However, this result a little bit artificial - in view of an interdiction on direct flights between China and Taiwan, people travel through Hong Kong.

 

28 September, 2007 | No comments

Times recommends the most unusual delicacies of the world

Times has published the list of the most unusual delicacies of the world. Fried tarantula, which it is possible to try in Cambodia, is the leader of this rating. The taste of the huge spider reminds spicy chicken stick, and this unusual delicacy costs about 1 dollar.
The second place was given to the Japanese fish fugue, which poison is in 1250 times stronger than potassium cyanide: it is necessary to eat it exclusively at expensive restaurants, where cooks make it according to their own special technics of toxins evaporation. Ortolan bunting is on the third place: the bird is being soaked in armaniac and then baked under the special recipe. You may try this dish in France.
The fourth place is given to meat of a petrel (Iceland), the fifth - to the Australian stake from the crocodile, the sixth - to the chickens baked in an egg (Cambodia), and the seventh - to the Chinese snake meat.

27 September, 2007 | 1 comment

Best coffee hotels-plantations

Independent has published the list of the best hotels located on coffee plantations. The first place has been given to the Lime Tree Farm, which is located in mountains of Jamaica: on a farm coffee from grains of the best grades and also dishes of national kitchen are being cooked. The cost of accommodation deviates from $200 per night.
The second place has been given to the plantation Ndali (Uganda), smartly arranged in colonial style: here the lodgers are offered tea, coffee and bananas from own plantation. Cost of accommodation starts from $320 per night.
Guatemalan hotel Tak’alik Maya located on a farm of XIX century is on the third place: here lodgers can visit an operating coffee plantation, and also try to weld coffee. The cost of accommodation is not high- just $130 per night.
The fourth place is occupied with the Indonesian hotel Losari, numbering 32 magnificent country houses: besides coffee trees, on a local plantation fruit and vegetables are being cultivated. The price of accommodation starts from $275 for a night.
Costa Rican hotel Xandari Resort and Spa, where the lodgers can try some of the best local coffee, is on the fifth place. Cost of accommodation starts from $192 per night.

 
 

26 September, 2007 | No comments

All details of rest should be registered in the contract (Part 1)

In tourist agencies we plunge into studying traveling catalogues. But even the part of our attention should be paid to detail studying of the contract, which should be signed with tour agency. It is not so entertaining, but this document will guarantee calm and comfortable rest.
The majority of tour agencies offer their clients to sign the typical contract, explaining this by their sincere desire to pass a stage of red tape somewhat quicker and to appear on a solar beach. Experts insist: it is necessary to read the contract not simply before signing; it needs to be edited, proceeding from the client’s interests.
Travel agencies always with unwillingness informed tourists on the operator, which tours they sell, being afraid, that the tourist will prefer to get the trip at the last one at cheaper price. Now the tourist agency is obliged to register names of tour operator and the insurer, who has given out to it a guarantee in the contract. It allows the tourist to know precisely, to whom it would be possible to address the claims in case of the spoiled rest. But a number of tourist agencies continue to sign contracts with tourists on their own behalf. Thus, they not only deprive with the tourist of an opportunity to check up, whether in the market the tour operator works legally, but also instead of the contract, they offer the tourist the useless piece of paper which is not having any validity.
But after you have found treasured names in the contract, it is not necessary to open there and then last page and to put the signature. Before it is necessary to check up, that the name of travel agency has been equally written both in the contract, and in all internal documents of the company (in the certificate on registration, the certificate of conformity), and on the seal.

25 September, 2007 | No comments

Harmful books are forbidden for reading in planes

It seems like the control, established over the passengers in the USA, has not been enough - now special services carefully study, what books their tourists are read during the flight. The data on travelers are being stored for 15 years, and arriving to America expose estimations which define safety and reliability degree.
Just after the act of terrorism on September, 11th, 2003, the American special services have taken under control over all passengers and citizens.
In particular, Americans collect the diversified data about all tourists - at which company this or that person and where he/she has stopped, etc. But it wasn’t enough - the control of what traveling citizens read in road is being entered now.
The monitoring system for passengers has been put into operation in the middle of 90th. Since 2002, it has been automated. By the way, special automated program (Automated Targeting System), which secretly gives to passengers arriving to the USA the certain index defining a degree of their possible participation in terrorists, has been put into operation.
According to newspaper Christian Science Monitor, now the White House pushes disputable bill “Protect America Act” - to the document, created on the wave of struggle against terrorism. According to it, special services can have an opportunity to listen to telephone conversations without the public prosecutor’s sanction.
The law can already come in force since February, 1st, 2008. Legal experts resolutely object it. Addressing to the US Congress, US National Safety Agency has declared, that public debate about prolongation of the law cost many human lives as it makes measures under the control and supervision transparent for all enemies of the nation.

 

 

 

 

23 September, 2007 | No comments

The longest in the world golf court in Australia

Australia has again all chances to appear on pages of The Guinness Book of World Records. With the purpose of attraction of foreign tourists the federal government will construct the longest golf court in the in the world.
According to the plan of engineers, its total area will make over 1200 square kilometers. The court will have 18 hollows and will be located in the southern part of the country and will cross border of Southern and Western Australia. In cities, through which the huge lawn will be stretched, one hollow will be placed, and one more will even become a “sight” at the sheep farm. Four of 18 hollows are completely ready, while the other 14 will appear in the middle of the next year.
On experts’ tentative estimations, the total cost of the project will cost hundred thousand US dollars; however, Australian authorities are full of optimism and confidence, that this idea will quickly help them to get huge profits.
 

23 September, 2007 | No comments

Beer rivers in Munich

One of the most popular and large in the world of beer festivals - Oktoberfest- has started in Munich.
About six millions people will visit the city within 16 days. National celebrations will be prolonged till October, 7th.
Traditional greater pavilions, “beer gardens”, cafes and restaurants can serve 100 thousand visitors at the time. Almost eight thousand people are occupied in tourists’ service.
Only one detail may disappoint beer fans: the price one liter of beer at Oktoberfest has increased on 40 cents in comparison with the last year.
In order that the holiday has not appeared spoiled, the police have released original instructions for visitors. In their opinion thieves - pickpockets make the main danger to visitors.

22 September, 2007 | No comments

Schengen zone will start to extend since 2008

During the meeting in Bruxelles ministers of Internal Affairs of 27 EU countries have approved the schedule of expansion of the Schengen zone.
So, since January, 1st, 2008, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta will open their borders to citizens of the former fifteen Schengen countries. This decision doesn’t spreads on Cyprus, as there the new airport in Lanark, meeting the requirements of the Schengen agreement, should be opened. Most likely, it will occur in the beginning of 2009.
According to Minister of Internal Affairs of Austria, since the end of 2008 the Schengen zone will include also the countries “from the heart of the Europe” - a princedom Liechtenstein and Switzerland. On the eve the Minister of Justice of Switzerland has declared in Bruxelles, that the country will join the Schengen and Dublin agreements of the European Union, presumably, it will occur on November, 1st, 2008. Bulgaria and Romania can join the Schengen agreement not earlier than in 2011.
Joining Schengen zone entails a canceling of the boundary control over the countries-participants of the agreement that will facilitate moving between these states.
Having entered Schengen zone, new members will have to solve the problem of illegal immigration, and also the contraband of “the alive goods” from Northern Africa and from the East. For example, Poland should stop a stream of illegal immigrants and contraband from Belarus and from Ukraine. The important condition for the new Schengen countries relies in including of all items of the boundary control over information computer system SIS. It gives access to all data on people and the vehicles, which are being in search.

 
 

21 September, 2007 | No comments

Most popular villas of the Mediterranean Sea

Magazine Forbes has made a rating of the most popular tourist villas of the Mediterranean Sea. The first place was given to the villa Luna Blue. The ancient building is in an ideal state. Here, the loggers will be offered - six bedrooms, satellite TV, Internet and warmed up pool. The average price for a week rent makes $11 200.
Villa Incantessimo, Ancona, Marches is on the second place. The lodgers are offered seven bedrooms and six baths. The main peculiarity of this villa is that it offers charming views of the Le Marche region and Mediterranean Sea. The renting price is not so high - just about $4000 a week.
The third place was given to the villa Brusceto. All five bedrooms of this villa are arranged with antiquarian furniture. The villa is located in a picturesque place among hills. Week rent makes $21 000.
The fourth place is occupied by villa Giuncheto in Tuscany, where tourists can enjoy their staying at eight bedrooms, pool, sports club, sauna and small football court just for $18 000 a week.
Villa Viola, which is also located in Tuscany, is on the fifth place. Fans of luxury and elite resorts will surely admire this villa: the marble bathrooms, equipped according to last techniques tendencies, a cozy garden and a marvelous view on the Florentine Hills. This beauty will cost $43 000 per week.
Other villas - Il Cigno (Lake Como), Sorrentina (Amalfi Coast), Le Terme (Tuscany) and Olmo (Sicily) - have been also included into this list.

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