Discount Air Travel

On the Internet, you can get information on the best way to get cheap airfare. Apart from airfare websites, you can get to read up articles on the tricks of getting cheap airfare on the Internet. Finding cheap airfare is actually a skill that must be perfected.

Your life as a student can be made more exciting with cheap airfare. You can go on a vacation to your most favorite place in the world because of the discount given to you as a student. If you are a student, you will do well to take advantage of student discount flights.

New deals and packages come up each day. Airlines and travel agencies are constantly striving to increase their customer base. You can use the competition in the aviation industry to find the best cheap airfare.

Sometimes the period that you travel can determine how much you buy your ticket at. Traveling during weekends can get you an airline ticket much cheaper. Weekdays cost a lot more in terms of plane tickets because of the influx of people during that time.

There are specific airlines that are known to offer air tickets at low rates. Flybe is an example of an airline that offers low flying costs. You can patronize easy jet for a low flying rate if cheap airfare is your target.

Cheap airfare investigation is more of science than an art. You need to diligently search all the sources of cheap airfare on the Internet if you are going to find what you want. Cheap airfare can be gotten with only the best of diligent searches.

If you are a student, you have a whole lot to gain air wise. Students are taken into special consideration by airlines and are given a discount on the tickets. As a student cheap airfare shouldn’t be a problem.

Blogs can make a delightful source of cheap airfare information. People looking to spill their guts on the best cheap airfare buy have blogs that can be of great help. You can get yourself a blog and share your tricks for getting cheap airfare with other people.

TimeShares

Reselling of timeshares has become big business for some people. These are the kinds of people that have become very good at it and make it a kind of business for themselves. You can join such people but before doing so, ensure you learn all there is to learn about the process, especially the tips and tricks to ensuring you always make profit.

If you are considering buying a vacation home, go for one you can use now and again. Don't buy timeshare in a place where you won't be likely to visit year after year. This will be a complete waste of money, unless of course you are sure of reselling it or renting it out profitably.

As the name implies, TIMEshares simple mean SHARING the TIME you spend in a particular vacation accommodation. It doesn't mean you actually OWN the building or the property. And yes, more than one person can buy the particular timeshare, depending on when they want to use it.

Apart from the market forces and the economy, other factors that can help you sell your timeshare at a good price include how very well the timeshare looks. If you have a timeshare that looks very dilapidated, don't expect to sell it for any good amount unless you take the time to make it look very attractive. .

Proper advertising of your timeshare can help to attract potential buyers. Using the right medium to advertise your timeshare will make many buyers aware that you have a great timeshare for sale. So, don't keep quiet about the decision to sell your timeshare. Timeshare sale can be made a lot easier through the proper publicity.

Many timeshares are specially constructed to give a homely feeling thus making it great for relaxation. You will get to enjoy cooking in the kitchen that has nearly everything the kitchen in your home has. Your kids will also get the chance to play around the timeshare as much as they want.

Before you choose a broker to rent your timeshare, make sure the broker is a licensed and specialized one. Using an unknown broker to rent your timeshare unit may open you up to scams. Fraudsters even operate as brokers thus you must be careful when selecting one for your timeshare renting.

Never fall for a timeshare deal that is too good to be true. If you must sell your vacation properly without regrets, then you may consider having a little patience. Being in a hurry is the easiest way to lose both your money and timeshare to fraudsters.

Fight the Cold

The untold instinct of man to survive his everyday life pervades the ultimate reality of existence. When threatened with an unpredicted event, it is almost second nature for man to find ways to prolong his life.

Even with the onslaught of modern technology, it is imperative that man learns survival basics and alleviate himself from the bondage of innovation and technological advancement.

The key is to survive life’s challenges without the tools.

Beating cold weather, for instance, is one of the most basic survival skills that man has to learn. You never know when extreme cold will hit you unless you are magically powerful.

If you want to know how to survive cold weather without resorting to innovative devices such as heaters, here are some pointers:

1. Choose windows wisely

The key to cold weather survival is to find products that will stimulate heat within the area. Getting a double-glazed window, for example, will trap the heat inside your home.

Consequently, you do not have to depend on your heater most of the time just to survive the cold weather. With double-glazed windows in your home, there will be very little heat that will escape your home.

2. Be wary when choosing clothes

It is not practical that you just wear layers of clothes to trap heat from your body. The key is to wear clothes especially designed to trap body heat. These clothes have special fabrics that can lock in heat so that it helps keep you warm.

Do not rely totally on materials that may seem to protect you from extreme cold weather. Many clothing manufacturers are now trying to cut back the cost of producing cold weather materials by replacing them with fake ones.

Take “fur coats” as an example. Most fake fur coats cannot effectively function in the same way as true fur coats.

3. Trap the heat from the top

What most people do not know is that body heat is usually emitted from the top—the head. So it makes sense to stop the heat from escaping from your body by covering your head with a good winter hat.

Keep in mind that it will be totally useless to wear winter clothes if your head is not protected from cold weather.

These are just the basic ways to trap body heat and survive cold weather. By following this advice, you need not depend on heaters or other technological devices that require additional energy consumption.

Miami

Miami is a sub-tropical city, climatically very different from most places in the USA. The city is a cosmopolitan playground that attracts more visitors than any other US destination.

Miami appeals to holiday makers wanting warm sun, clean sandy beaches, a laid back lifestyle, sophisticated entertainment in clubs and bars and a mix of art, music and international cuisines.

Travelers visiting Miami may actually spend their time in Miami Beach, a separate municipality situated 4 miles (6 km) across Biscayne Bay from downtown Miami. The combined greater Miami area includes several ethnic neighborhoods such as Little Havana and Little Haiti.

The population of the Greater Miami Area is a 50% mix of assorted Hispanic and the diverse cultural mix is evident in Latin American languages, cuisine and music throughout the city and. Dining in Miami offers the opportunity to visit a different ethnic restaurant every night and enjoy diverse international cuisines.

Once upon a time, Miami attracted mostly retirees turning their backs on snowy, colder climates but nowadays it attracts the ultra-chic glitterati, cashed up yuppies, the boating and yachting fraternity and Cuban immigrants.

** Miami Vacation Attractions

Greater Miami is a great base for access to several major Florida holiday attractions. The northern tip of the Florida Keys is just off shore, the Everglades are just a short distance inland and the affluent enclaves of Palm Beach and Boca Roton are just a short distance along the coast.

The Miami Beach Promenade, aka South Beach, is a favorite spot for cyclists, skaters, joggers and skateboarders. This is the most instantly recognized beach front location in existence and the place to be seen if appearances are important.

Many of the early Miami buildings from the early 1900's have been restored. A walking tour around the South Beach precinct is recommended to see the spectacular rejuvenation of the 1920's buildings in the Art Deco Historic District.

Miami boasts fine museums, galleries, historic gardens, zoos, sports stadiums, spring fed natural pools and of course, the ever present golf courses. Greater Miami has lots to brag about when it comes to world class golf courses and is home to some of the most testing courses in the world.

** Miami Vacation Cruises

The busiest cruise ship center of any city in the USA is the Port of Miami with holiday cruises to the Caribbean and Latin America making up the bulk of these cruises, but there are also cruises to all parts of the world.

Cruises are usually well equipped for gambling and casinos open as soon as the ship passes into international waters. Non stop food, games, movies and onboard activities ensure guests are always entertained and well fed.

** Miami Hotels & Resorts

Miami visitors are offered a range of hotels, resorts and vacation rentals to satisfy all tastes and budgets. There's accommodation and prices to suit everyone, ranging from the restored boutique hotels in the Art Deco and South Beach district, modern glass and chrome high rise hotels, budget hostels, beach front condos and villas, serviced apartments, inns and guesthouses... it's your choice.

** Miami Vacation Transport

Miami International Airport is one of the major airports in the USA, and a major hub city for American Airlines. Major domestic airlines such as Delta, Northwest/KLM, United and US Airways and Continental all servive Miami as well as several economy carriers.

There are two Amtrak trains that run daily from New York down to Miami and the travel time is approximately 27 hours.

The Metro-Dade Transit Agency runs two Miami rail systems, one being Metrorail which is a modern elevated commuter train that connects downtown Miami and the southern suburbs. Metromover is an elevated line looping the downtown precinct and connecting with many of the important attractions, shopping and business districts.

Tri Rail is the south Florida commuter train service that connects Miami with North Palm Beach and all centers in between.

EME Fussion, Seville, Spain

The last time a new hotel caused such an uproar in Seville, it was 1929 and King Alfonso XIII had just inaugurated his namesake hotel for that year’s huge Ibero-American Expo. The new EME Fusion may have less regal origins, but it doesn’t skimp on style. A cluster of fourteen 18th- and 19th-century houses in the heart of Seville has been ingeniously cobbled together into a 70-room property. Shaded patios, a stunning rooftop pool terrace with a bar and drop-dead views of the cathedral, a tranquil spa and no fewer than four restaurants are the happy byproducts of the transformation. It has all been blended together with a mix of cutting-edge design, Andalusian practicality and a few over-scaled Moorish architectural elements: most notably the loopy grilles on the interior windows, which were adapted from fretwork harem screens. No wonder the hotel recently graced the cover of Spain’s well-respected Diseño Interior magazine.

THE LOCATION

You can’t do any better. Face to face with La Giralda, as the cathedral’s famous bell tower is affectionately known, the hotel is smack in the city center, and the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages mingles with the fragrance of orange blossom from the street below. The Alcázar, Plaza España and María Luisa Park are a leisurely stroll away, as are the city’s best shops and the taverns and squares of Barrio Santa Cruz.

THE ROOM

Each room is unique, but they all share a welcome sense of cool reprieve from the heat and hubbub outdoors. The décor is a luxurious riff on modern monastic — unpolished stucco walls and sleek tester beds with rustic Andalusian grass rugs that seem suddenly urbane when dyed an inky black. My room, No. 219, wrapped around an interior courtyard and felt more like a chic pied-à-terre than a hotel room. Six suites and two superior rooms have terraces with private Jacuzzis.

THE BATHROOM

Spacious and slightly quirky: my large shower had a column in the middle of it that required standing directly under the showerhead. The citrusy-smelling Etro bath products seem at home in Seville.

THE LOBBY

There is little lobby per se, since much of the public space is given over to dining and drinking, which explains why smartly dressed locals join the hotel’s guests sipping juices or spirits on the front terrace by day and practically line up at night to make it up to the popular roof bar. There is also a quiet and comfy lounge opening onto the main courtyard.

ROOM SERVICE

Why bother? The hotel has four restaurants ranging from a tapas bar, a salad and juice bar, a pan-Asian spot called Japo, and the see-and-be-seen Santo serving modern Mediterranean cuisine.

AMENITIES

The rooftop pool tops my list, but there is also a decent gym and a spa with sauna, steam room and Turkish bath. The in-room minibar stocks free beers and water.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Doubles start at 280 euros, about $392 at $1.40 to the euro, but can climb much higher during peak tourist season in the spring, so it’s worth booking early. The prime location and the current buzz surrounding the hotel’s chic design, lively restaurants and roof terrace make it feel like the center of the Sevillian scene at the moment.

Hotel EME Fusion, Alemanes, 27; 34-95-456-0000; www.emehotel.com.

Summer Bounty part 2

Here are some of the things that you should consider when baking in the summertime. Summer is not the time for elaborate cakes and recipes. Heat and humidity are the enemy for most kinds of frosting and glazes, and can make ruin most baked goods. Keep summertime baking on the light side too, sponge cakes and meringues are great summer dessert bases. Whipped cream frostings and custard fillings are usually a poor idea for any outdoor event in the summertime. If you are unable to keep éclairs and cream puffs on ice for the duration of the event, save them for another time of year. Instead of sweetening fruits with sugar, try adding spices and flavor enhancers like vanilla, cinnamon or lemon zest.

Fresh peaches, berries and melons are perfect desserts all by themselves, but if you want to go a little fancier, here are some tips for using fresh fruits in your summer baking. Riper fruits are juicier and sweeter, so you use less sugar to get the sweetness you want. Instead of sprinkling berries with sugar to ‘bring out the juice’, try macerating them in orange juice or a few tablespoons of liqueur. Mix berries or sliced peaches with a little bit of lemon juice, add water and cornstarch and boil until the fruit is soft and pulpy. You can also visit us at www.tailgatting-recipe.com. Strain off the liquid to use as glaze in fruit desserts, and puree the fruit to use in place of fat and sugar in cake recipes. Top meringue cakes or sponge cakes with fresh fruit and a spoonful of freshly whipped cream for the perfect summer dessert. There are a number of sugar substitutes on the market that have versions made expressly for baking, such as Splendid Sugar Blend, a natural sugar substitute. Any of these can be substituted for sugar in recipes on a one for one basis. What would the 4th of July be without strawberry shortcake?

This delicious item is a perfect dessert after a big meal of chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers. Can you imagine the family reunion without your family’s famous refrigerator cake? Some desserts are so associated with summer that it is hard to imagine having to give them up. Guess what? You don’t have to! These light summer recipes are reduced sugar versions of some favorite summertime classics. Sponge Cake is a perfect substitute for shortcake in strawberry or peach shortcake. The texture is light and airy, and the open grain lets it soak up juices and syrups. Sponge Cake: Two eggs 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute 2 tablespoons of corn starch 4 tablespoons flour 8 inch round pan OR 8x12 inch jelly roll pan, greased and floured Beat eggs in a small narrow bowl on high speed with electric mixer until they are thick and creamy. The color should be nearly white. A spoon drawn through the eggs should leave a mark which does not disappear.

Add sweetener one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Sift half the dry ingredients into the bowl on top of the egg and sugar mixture. Fold into batter. Sift the rest of the dry ingredients into the bowl, and fold into batter. Pour and spread mixture evenly into the pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes (round pan) or 7-10 minutes (jelly roll pan). The sponge cake is cooked when your finger leaves a slight mark that disappears almost immediately. Glazed Strawberries 1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced ¼ cup orange juice Pour orange juice over strawberries and set it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Whipped Cream 1 pint fresh heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla ¼ cup sweetener In a narrow bowl, whisk or beat the ingredients and then cream with sweetener and vanilla until stiff peaks form. To assemble, place a slice of sponge cake on plate. Ladle a half a cup of berries over the cake. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle with ‘syrup’ from strawberries. Summer is a great time of year for baking and cooking because there are many possible activities available.

Barbecues, family reunions, block parties, pool parties, and summer weddings are all possible summer activities where you can bring your own baked foods. What better time is there to show off your baking skills with some light summertime recipes that are the perfect ending for any festive celebration from a backyard cookout to a beach blowout? Of course, summertime baking calls for a lighter hand with the sugars and fats, and if you are planning a day outside, food safety considerations are an absolute must. For more resources login on to www.300-chicken-recipe.com. Here are some of the things that you should consider when baking in the summertime. Summer is not the time for elaborate cakes and recipes. Heat and humidity are the enemy for most kinds of frosting and glazes, and can make ruin most baked goods. Keep summertime baking on the light side too, sponge cakes and meringues are great summer dessert bases. Whipped cream frostings and custard fillings are usually a poor idea for any outdoor event in the summertime. If you are unable to keep éclairs and cream puffs on ice for the duration of the event, save them for another time of year. Instead of sweetening fruits with sugar, try adding spices and flavor enhancers like vanilla, cinnamon or lemon zest. Fresh peaches, berries and melons are perfect desserts all by themselves, but if you want to go a little fancier, here are some tips for using fresh fruits in your summer baking. Riper fruits are juicier and sweeter, so you use less sugar to get the sweetness you want. Instead of sprinkling berries with sugar to ‘bring out the juice’, try macerating them in orange juice or a few tablespoons of liqueur.

Mix berries or sliced peaches with a little bit of lemon juice, add water and cornstarch and boil until the fruit is soft and pulpy. You can also visit us at www.tailgatting-recipe.com. Strain off the liquid to use as glaze in fruit desserts, and puree the fruit to use in place of fat and sugar in cake recipes. Top meringue cakes or sponge cakes with fresh fruit and a spoonful of freshly whipped cream for the perfect summer dessert. There are a number of sugar substitutes on the market that have versions made expressly for baking, such as Splendid Sugar Blend, a natural sugar substitute. Any of these can be substituted for sugar in recipes on a one for one basis. What would the 4th of July be without strawberry shortcake? This delicious item is a perfect dessert after a big meal of chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers. Can you imagine the family reunion without your family’s famous refrigerator cake? Some desserts are so associated with summer that it is hard to imagine having to give them up. Guess what? You don’t have to! These light summer recipes are reduced sugar versions of some favorite summertime classics. Sponge Cake is a perfect substitute for shortcake in strawberry or peach shortcake. The texture is light and airy, and the open grain lets it soak up juices and syrups. Sponge Cake: Two eggs 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute 2 tablespoons of corn starch 4 tablespoons flour 8 inch round pan OR 8x12 inch jelly roll pan, greased and floured Beat eggs in a small narrow bowl on high speed with electric mixer until they are thick and creamy. The color should be nearly white. A spoon drawn through the eggs should leave a mark which does not disappear. Add sweetener one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Sift half the dry ingredients into the bowl on top of the egg and sugar mixture. Fold into batter. Sift the rest of the dry ingredients into the bowl, and fold into batter. Pour and spread mixture evenly into the pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes (round pan) or 7-10 minutes (jelly roll pan). The sponge cake is cooked when your finger leaves a slight mark that disappears almost immediately. Glazed Strawberries 1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced ¼ cup orange juice Pour orange juice over strawberries and set it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Whipped Cream 1 pint fresh heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla ¼ cup sweetener In a narrow bowl, whisk or beat the ingredients and then cream with sweetener and vanilla until stiff peaks form. To assemble, place a slice of sponge cake on plate. Ladle a half a cup of berries over the cake. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle with ‘syrup’ from strawberries. Summer is a great time of year for baking and cooking because there are many possible activities available. Barbecues, family reunions, block parties, pool parties, and summer weddings are all possible summer activities where you can bring your own baked foods. What better time is there to show off your baking skills with some light summertime recipes that are the perfect ending for any festive celebration from a backyard cookout to a beach blowout? Of course, summertime baking calls for a lighter hand with the sugars and fats, and if you are planning a day outside, food safety considerations are an absolute must. For more resources login on to www.300-chicken-recipe.com. Here are some of the things that you should consider when baking in the summertime. Summer is not the time for elaborate cakes and recipes. Heat and humidity are the enemy for most kinds of frosting and glazes, and can make ruin most baked goods. Keep summertime baking on the light side too, sponge cakes and meringues are great summer dessert bases. Whipped cream frostings and custard fillings are usually a poor idea for any outdoor event in the summertime. If you are unable to keep éclairs and cream puffs on ice for the duration of the event, save them for another time of year. Instead of sweetening fruits with sugar, try adding spices and flavor enhancers like vanilla, cinnamon or lemon zest. Fresh peaches, berries and melons are perfect desserts all by themselves, but if you want to go a little fancier, here are some tips for using fresh fruits in your summer baking. Riper fruits are juicier and sweeter, so you use less sugar to get the sweetness you want. Instead of sprinkling berries with sugar to ‘bring out the juice’, try macerating them in orange juice or a few tablespoons of liqueur. Mix berries or sliced peaches with a little bit of lemon juice, add water and cornstarch and boil until the fruit is soft and pulpy.

You can also visit us at www.tailgatting-recipe.com. Strain off the liquid to use as glaze in fruit desserts, and puree the fruit to use in place of fat and sugar in cake recipes. Top meringue cakes or sponge cakes with fresh fruit and a spoonful of freshly whipped cream for the perfect summer dessert. There are a number of sugar substitutes on the market that have versions made expressly for baking, such as Splendid Sugar Blend, a natural sugar substitute. Any of these can be substituted for sugar in recipes on a one for one basis. What would the 4th of July be without strawberry shortcake? This delicious item is a perfect dessert after a big meal of chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers. Can you imagine the family reunion without your family’s famous refrigerator cake? Some desserts are so associated with summer that it is hard to imagine having to give them up. Guess what? You don’t have to! These light summer recipes are reduced sugar versions of some favorite summertime classics. Sponge Cake is a perfect substitute for shortcake in strawberry or peach shortcake. The texture is light and airy, and the open grain lets it soak up juices and syrups. Sponge Cake: Two eggs 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute 2 tablespoons of corn starch 4 tablespoons flour 8 inch round pan OR 8x12 inch jelly roll pan, greased and floured Beat eggs in a small narrow bowl on high speed with electric mixer until they are thick and creamy. The color should be nearly white. A spoon drawn through the eggs should leave a mark which does not disappear. Add sweetener one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Sift half the dry ingredients into the bowl on top of the egg and sugar mixture. Fold into batter. Sift the rest of the dry ingredients into the bowl, and fold into batter. Pour and spread mixture evenly into the pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes (round pan) or 7-10 minutes (jelly roll pan). The sponge cake is cooked when your finger leaves a slight mark that disappears almost immediately. Glazed Strawberries 1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced ¼ cup orange juice Pour orange juice over strawberries and set it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Whipped Cream 1 pint fresh heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla ¼ cup sweetener In a narrow bowl, whisk or beat the ingredients and then cream with sweetener and vanilla until stiff peaks form. To assemble, place a slice of sponge cake on plate. Ladle a half a cup of berries over the cake. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle with ‘syrup’ from strawberries. Summer is a great time of year for baking and cooking because there are many possible activities available. Barbecues, family reunions, block parties, pool parties, and summer weddings are all possible summer activities where you can bring your own baked foods. What better time is there to show off your baking skills with some light summertime recipes that are the perfect ending for any festive celebration from a backyard cookout to a beach blowout? Of course, summertime baking calls for a lighter hand with the sugars and fats, and if you are planning a day outside, food safety considerations are an absolute must.

For more resources login on to www.300-chicken-recipe.com. Here are some of the things that you should consider when baking in the summertime. Summer is not the time for elaborate cakes and recipes. Heat and humidity are the enemy for most kinds of frosting and glazes, and can make ruin most baked goods. Keep summertime baking on the light side too, sponge cakes and meringues are great summer dessert bases. Whipped cream frostings and custard fillings are usually a poor idea for any outdoor event in the summertime. If you are unable to keep éclairs and cream puffs on ice for the duration of the event, save them for another time of year. Instead of sweetening fruits with sugar, try adding spices and flavor enhancers like vanilla, cinnamon or lemon zest. Fresh peaches, berries and melons are perfect desserts all by themselves, but if you want to go a little fancier, here are some tips for using fresh fruits in your summer baking. Riper fruits are juicier and sweeter, so you use less sugar to get the sweetness you want. Instead of sprinkling berries with sugar to ‘bring out the juice’, try macerating them in orange juice or a few tablespoons of liqueur. Mix berries or sliced peaches with a little bit of lemon juice, add water and cornstarch and boil until the fruit is soft and pulpy.

Summer Bounty part 1

Summer is a great time of year for baking and cooking because there are many possible activities available. Barbecues, family reunions, block parties, pool parties, and summer weddings are all possible summer activities where you can bring your own baked foods. What better time is there to show off your baking skills with some light summertime recipes that are the perfect ending for any festive celebration from a backyard cookout to a beach blowout? Of course, summertime baking calls for a lighter hand with the sugars and fats, and if you are planning a day outside, food safety considerations are an absolute must. For more resources login on to www.300-chicken-recipe.com. Here are some of the things that you should consider when baking in the summertime.

Summer is not the time for elaborate cakes and recipes. Heat and humidity are the enemy for most kinds of frosting and glazes, and can make ruin most baked goods. Keep summertime baking on the light side too, sponge cakes and meringues are great summer dessert bases. Whipped cream frostings and custard fillings are usually a poor idea for any outdoor event in the summertime. If you are unable to keep éclairs and cream puffs on ice for the duration of the event, save them for another time of year. Instead of sweetening fruits with sugar, try adding spices and flavor enhancers like vanilla, cinnamon or lemon zest. Fresh peaches, berries and melons are perfect desserts all by themselves, but if you want to go a little fancier, here are some tips for using fresh fruits in your summer baking. Riper fruits are juicier and sweeter, so you use less sugar to get the sweetness you want. Instead of sprinkling berries with sugar to ‘bring out the juice’, try macerating them in orange juice or a few tablespoons of liqueur.

Mix berries or sliced peaches with a little bit of lemon juice, add water and cornstarch and boil until the fruit is soft and pulpy. You can also visit us at www.tailgatting-recipe.com. Strain off the liquid to use as glaze in fruit desserts, and puree the fruit to use in place of fat and sugar in cake recipes. Top meringue cakes or sponge cakes with fresh fruit and a spoonful of freshly whipped cream for the perfect summer dessert. There are a number of sugar substitutes on the market that have versions made expressly for baking, such as Splendid Sugar Blend, a natural sugar substitute. Any of these can be substituted for sugar in recipes on a one for one basis. What would the 4th of July be without strawberry shortcake? This delicious item is a perfect dessert after a big meal of chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers. Can you imagine the family reunion without your family’s famous refrigerator cake? Some desserts are so associated with summer that it is hard to imagine having to give them up.

Guess what?

You don’t have to! These light summer recipes are reduced sugar versions of some favorite summertime classics. Sponge Cake is a perfect substitute for shortcake in strawberry or peach shortcake. The texture is light and airy, and the open grain lets it soak up juices and syrups. Sponge Cake: Two eggs 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute 2 tablespoons of corn starch 4 tablespoons flour 8 inch round pan OR 8x12 inch jelly roll pan, greased and floured Beat eggs in a small narrow bowl on high speed with electric mixer until they are thick and creamy. The color should be nearly white. A spoon drawn through the eggs should leave a mark which does not disappear. Add sweetener one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Sift half the dry ingredients into the bowl on top of the egg and sugar mixture. Fold into batter. Sift the rest of the dry ingredients into the bowl, and fold into batter. Pour and spread mixture evenly into the pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes (round pan) or 7-10 minutes (jelly roll pan).

The sponge cake is cooked when your finger leaves a slight mark that disappears almost immediately. Glazed Strawberries 1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced ¼ cup orange juice Pour orange juice over strawberries and set it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Whipped Cream 1 pint fresh heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla ¼ cup sweetener In a narrow bowl, whisk or beat the ingredients and then cream with sweetener and vanilla until stiff peaks form. To assemble, place a slice of sponge cake on plate. Ladle a half a cup of berries over the cake. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle with ‘syrup’ from strawberries. Summer is a great time of year for baking and cooking because there are many possible activities available. Barbecues, family reunions, block parties, pool parties, and summer weddings are all possible summer activities where you can bring your own baked foods. What better time is there to show off your baking skills with some light summertime recipes that are the perfect ending for any festive celebration from a backyard cookout to a beach blowout? Of course, summertime baking calls for a lighter hand with the sugars and fats, and if you are planning a day outside, food safety considerations are an absolute must. For more resources login on to www.300-chicken-recipe.com. Here are some of the things that you should consider when baking in the summertime. Summer is not the time for elaborate cakes and recipes. Heat and humidity are the enemy for most kinds of frosting and glazes, and can make ruin most baked goods. Keep summertime baking on the light side too, sponge cakes and meringues are great summer dessert bases. Whipped cream frostings and custard fillings are usually a poor idea for any outdoor event in the summertime. If you are unable to keep éclairs and cream puffs on ice for the duration of the event, save them for another time of year. Instead of sweetening fruits with sugar, try adding spices and flavor enhancers like vanilla, cinnamon or lemon zest. Fresh peaches, berries and melons are perfect desserts all by themselves, but if you want to go a little fancier, here are some tips for using fresh fruits in your summer baking.

Riper fruits are juicier and sweeter, so you use less sugar to get the sweetness you want. Instead of sprinkling berries with sugar to ‘bring out the juice’, try macerating them in orange juice or a few tablespoons of liqueur. Mix berries or sliced peaches with a little bit of lemon juice, add water and cornstarch and boil until the fruit is soft and pulpy. You can also visit us at www.tailgatting-recipe.com. Strain off the liquid to use as glaze in fruit desserts, and puree the fruit to use in place of fat and sugar in cake recipes. Top meringue cakes or sponge cakes with fresh fruit and a spoonful of freshly whipped cream for the perfect summer dessert. There are a number of sugar substitutes on the market that have versions made expressly for baking, such as Splendid Sugar Blend, a natural sugar substitute. Any of these can be substituted for sugar in recipes on a one for one basis. What would the 4th of July be without strawberry shortcake? This delicious item is a perfect dessert after a big meal of chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers. Can you imagine the family reunion without your family’s famous refrigerator cake? Some desserts are so associated with summer that it is hard to imagine having to give them up. Guess what? You don’t have to! These light summer recipes are reduced sugar versions of some favorite summertime classics. Sponge Cake is a perfect substitute for shortcake in strawberry or peach shortcake.

The texture is light and airy, and the open grain lets it soak up juices and syrups. Sponge Cake: Two eggs 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute 2 tablespoons of corn starch 4 tablespoons flour 8 inch round pan OR 8x12 inch jelly roll pan, greased and floured Beat eggs in a small narrow bowl on high speed with electric mixer until they are thick and creamy. The color should be nearly white. A spoon drawn through the eggs should leave a mark which does not disappear. Add sweetener one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Sift half the dry ingredients into the bowl on top of the egg and sugar mixture. Fold into batter. Sift the rest of the dry ingredients into the bowl, and fold into batter. Pour and spread mixture evenly into the pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes (round pan) or 7-10 minutes (jelly roll pan). The sponge cake is cooked when your finger leaves a slight mark that disappears almost immediately. Glazed Strawberries 1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced ¼ cup orange juice Pour orange juice over strawberries and set it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Whipped Cream 1 pint fresh heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla ¼ cup sweetener In a narrow bowl, whisk or beat the ingredients and then cream with sweetener and vanilla until stiff peaks form. To assemble, place a slice of sponge cake on plate. Ladle a half a cup of berries over the cake. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle with ‘syrup’ from strawberries. Summer is a great time of year for baking and cooking because there are many possible activities available. Barbecues, family reunions, block parties, pool parties, and summer weddings are all possible summer activities where you can bring your own baked foods. What better time is there to show off your baking skills with some light summertime recipes that are the perfect ending for any festive celebration from a backyard cookout to a beach blowout? Of course, summertime baking calls for a lighter hand with the sugars and fats, and if you are planning a day outside, food safety considerations are an absolute must. For more resources login on to www.300-chicken-recipe.com. Here are some of the things that you should consider when baking in the summertime. Summer is not the time for elaborate cakes and recipes. Heat and humidity are the enemy for most kinds of frosting and glazes, and can make ruin most baked goods. Keep summertime baking on the light side too, sponge cakes and meringues are great summer dessert bases. Whipped cream frostings and custard fillings are usually a poor idea for any outdoor event in the summertime. If you are unable to keep éclairs and cream puffs on ice for the duration of the event, save them for another time of year. Instead of sweetening fruits with sugar, try adding spices and flavor enhancers like vanilla, cinnamon or lemon zest. Fresh peaches, berries and melons are perfect desserts all by themselves, but if you want to go a little fancier, here are some tips for using fresh fruits in your summer baking. Riper fruits are juicier and sweeter, so you use less sugar to get the sweetness you want. Instead of sprinkling berries with sugar to ‘bring out the juice’, try macerating them in orange juice or a few tablespoons of liqueur.

Mix berries or sliced peaches with a little bit of lemon juice, add water and cornstarch and boil until the fruit is soft and pulpy. You can also visit us at www.tailgatting-recipe.com. Strain off the liquid to use as glaze in fruit desserts, and puree the fruit to use in place of fat and sugar in cake recipes. Top meringue cakes or sponge cakes with fresh fruit and a spoonful of freshly whipped cream for the perfect summer dessert. There are a number of sugar substitutes on the market that have versions made expressly for baking, such as Splendid Sugar Blend, a natural sugar substitute. Any of these can be substituted for sugar in recipes on a one for one basis. What would the 4th of July be without strawberry shortcake? This delicious item is a perfect dessert after a big meal of chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers. Can you imagine the family reunion without your family’s famous refrigerator cake? Some desserts are so associated with summer that it is hard to imagine having to give them up. Guess what? You don’t have to! These light summer recipes are reduced sugar versions of some favorite summertime classics. Sponge Cake is a perfect substitute for shortcake in strawberry or peach shortcake. The texture is light and airy, and the open grain lets it soak up juices and syrups. Sponge Cake: Two eggs 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute 2 tablespoons of corn starch 4 tablespoons flour 8 inch round pan OR 8x12 inch jelly roll pan, greased and floured Beat eggs in a small narrow bowl on high speed with electric mixer until they are thick and creamy. The color should be nearly white. A spoon drawn through the eggs should leave a mark which does not disappear. Add sweetener one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Sift half the dry ingredients into the bowl on top of the egg and sugar mixture.

Fold into batter. Sift the rest of the dry ingredients into the bowl, and fold into batter. Pour and spread mixture evenly into the pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes (round pan) or 7-10 minutes (jelly roll pan). The sponge cake is cooked when your finger leaves a slight mark that disappears almost immediately. Glazed Strawberries 1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced ¼ cup orange juice Pour orange juice over strawberries and set it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Whipped Cream 1 pint fresh heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla ¼ cup sweetener In a narrow bowl, whisk or beat the ingredients and then cream with sweetener and vanilla until stiff peaks form. To assemble, place a slice of sponge cake on plate. Ladle a half a cup of berries over the cake. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle with ‘syrup’ from strawberries. Summer is a great time of year for baking and cooking because there are many possible activities available. Barbecues, family reunions, block parties, pool parties, and summer weddings are all possible summer activities where you can bring your own baked foods. What better time is there to show off your baking skills with some light summertime recipes that are the perfect ending for any festive celebration from a backyard cookout to a beach blowout? Of course, summertime baking calls for a lighter hand with the sugars and fats, and if you are planning a day outside, food safety considerations are an absolute must. For more resources login on to www.300-chicken-recipe.com.

City Hotel Tirana, Albania

I stayed in this hotel for 3 days and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.

The location is superb; every attraction in the city like Skandenberg square, Taiwan and other entertainment areas are just a few minutes walk away.

The hotel is new; so are the rooms of course. Rooms were very comfortable, spotlessly clean and quite. The room provided all the amnesties that you would expect from at least a 4 star hotel. The only downside about my room was that its huge bathroom didn't have a heating which could be problematic during cold winter days. I was there during December times; it was still manageable though. Still, this matter should be discussed with the staff especially if you are traveling with a baby during colder times.

The breakfast was quite sufficient with good espresso at your will. There is a free wi-fi broadband connection in the lobby area.

What makes this hotel really special is the staff and the owner. They all are very friendly, positive and helpful people. What is more valuable is that the owner has a very honest (repeat very honest), and honorable attitude which was exemplified by his approach to a problem we encountered - something that wasn't related to the hotel itself.

In a nutshell, I would recommend this hotel to anyone who is planning a stay in Tirana. Even business travelers who look for cheaper but still manageable alternatives in town should consider this hotel seriously.

This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked — Location and staff
Disliked — nothing

The Donovan House, DC, USA

Most cabbies still know it as the Holiday Inn, but the 193-room Donovan House in Washington, D.C., underwent a total overhaul and reopened last January as part of the trendy Thompson Group (which owns 60 Thompson in New York City and the Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles). The lobby is modern and small, with Jetsons-esque chairs and leather benches aligned so perfectly that they look more decorative than functional. Also in the lobby, playing silently, is a loop of Washington-themed movies — “Citizen Kane” (at check-in), “The Candidate” (that evening), and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (at checkout). The Donovan House, after all, is almost as dark as a theater. The brightest nooks are the elevators, thumping out a steady stream of hip-hop. You get the feeling this is about as much hipness as the political crowd can handle.

THE LOCATION

It’s smack in the center of Thomas Circle, which is a heavily trafficked, but very conservative pocket of the city. But the location is central and it’s a 20-minute walk to the Mall. For a romantic dinner or cool bar, you’ll need to drive — the address must have been chosen with lobbyists, not tourists, in mind.

THE ROOMS

The modern décor was spare but inviting, like the crash pad of a young tech lobbyist who’s rarely home. There is a large flat-screen television, floor-to-ceiling windows, a plush bed wrapped in 400-thread-count Sferra sheets and, somewhat curiously, a brown leather ceiling that, together with the eggplant-colored rug, gave the room a dark, cozy feeling. Considering this is Washington, the room could have been a little bigger. The minibar — stocked with snacks from Dean & Deluca and bottles of Veuve Clicquot — was so thrilling we almost didn’t mind the $8 Swedish Fish. Almost.

THE BATHROOM

Crisp, sterile-looking, modern and white all over, you won’t know if you should brush your teeth or perform a surgical procedure. The most exciting fixture is the shower — a door-less, paisley-shaped pod with a rain showerhead. There was a healthy supply of Kiehl’s products and towels of all shapes and sizes.

AMENITIES

It says a lot about a hotel when it finishes its business center before its bar, and here it serves as a reminder of the city you’re in. So for now, the most enticing amenities are the Wi-Fi at no extra cost, a 24-hour fitness center that doesn’t seem to get a lot of traffic, and a 24-hour business center, which does.

ROOM SERVICE

A much-hyped Todd English restaurant has been delayed until at least the inauguration. So for now, room service comes from Il Mulino, an Italian restaurant across the street. Meanwhile, the hotel staff is trying to make do. During our stay in October, the continental breakfast that arrived was disappointing: cold bagels and muffins. So the front desk suggested we order from the Washington Plaza Hotel across the street. Thirty minutes and $45 later, a plate of sad, brown fruit and cold, greasy eggs arrived. The front desk felt so bad that they forgot about the Swedish Fish.

BOTTOM LINE

If you’re in town on business, you’ll be the coolest kid at the convention by staying at the Donovan House. But expect a few kinks. Rates for a standard double room start at $295 a night.

Donovan House, 1155 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C.; (202) 737-1200; www.thompsonhotels.com.

3 Great Festivals

They always say that one small initiative can easily become a massive movement, that all it takes is the first step for leaps and bounds to turn an event that may have had no more than a smattering of people at its first show into one crowded with thousands of attendees. When they say it, it may not always seem true, but for South by Southwest it most definitely was.

South by Southwest began as a small music festival in Austin 22 years ago. Today it has grown to include three different festivals - music, film and interactive - with thousands of participants, days of fun and networking at each and more positive press than the organization knows what to do with.

Events begin in mid-March, with the last to start being the Music and Media Conference. At this festival, 80 stages in downtown Austin hold bands and musical acts from around the world, for nights filled with unbelievable music. And at the South by Southwest Trade Show in the Austin Convention Center, attendees gather valuable information, listen to interesting panel discussions and network with others in the music and media field.

Before the music festival even gets started, the Film Conference and Festival begins. This 9-day event examines the art and business sides of independent filmmaking. For five days, speakers and mentors discuss trends and new technology in the film world; and for the full 9 days, documentaries, dramas, comedies and all types of independent films are showcased at various theatres throughout Austin. Anywhere between 150 and 200 films are shown, for a week of great entertainment and definite education.

Finally, the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, which runs at the same time as the Film Conference, offers five days of panel discussions and five nights of parties. You will challenge your creativity as you learn through hands-on demonstrations that test your ability and force you to think out of the box. Topics include Web design, blogging, usability, new technology business models and wireless innovation. It is a week of true geekiness you can’t help but love.

If you want to attend any, or all, of the South by Southwest festivals, you should register . . . now, or as soon as you are able. There are several options for registration. You can get the Platinum badge, which will give you access to all three festivals, every day they are in session; the Gold badge, which gets you into the film and interactive conferences; or a badge for a specific festival (music, film or interactive). Whatever you decide, decide soon, for the closer it gets to start time, the more expensive the tickets become. And if you wait until the day of, you’ll be paying far more than if you had bought them in November or even September.

South by Southwest is undoubtedly a festival not to be mixed. It is the perfect combination of geeky innovation and arty thought. You can be a witness to great film in the making, great music at its start and great ideas from their birth. So don’t wait, visit Website SXSW for more information, today.

South Africa Travel

Welcome to South Africa, proud host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™!

We welcome you with open arms and hearts and the warmest, widest of smiles, excited to invite you to our shores, homes and braais.

Come and experience our hospitality wherever you go and get in touch with our wide variety of fascinating cultures and local traditions. Our people are ready to show you our country's natural wonders, draw you into the rhythm and soul of Africa, give you close encounters with our regal wildlife and take you on an unforgettable journey through our ancient and recent past.

Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. It befits its position at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent, with more types of terrain than photographers can shake their zoom lens at.

There’s the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers, iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point, Kruger National Park’s wildlife-stalked savannah (scene of the famous lion-buffalo-crocodile battle watched more than 40 million times on YouTube) and, running through the east of the country and into Lesotho, the Drakensberg. KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins.

Great Outdoors

Austin is a beautiful city, alive with music, shops, people and entertainment. If you are looking for something fun and interesting to do with a decidedly city feel, there is no better place, no better metropolis. But if you are looking for something less urban and a little more . . . woodsy, is Austin still the location for you? It can be. You just have to know where to look.

The best place to start is the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a 7.9-mile hiking trail on 809 acres located within the city limits of Austin. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the park offers visitors views of sheer cliff walls, lush vegetation and small water reservoirs (where many will happily swim). During the spring, when the creek is running, the sound of rushing water joins the view for a truly blissful experience.

For hikers, the most convenient access point is the Loop 360 access, which will take you right onto the trail in about the middle of the walk, so whichever way you turn you’ll have a decent hike ahead of you. However, there are other accesses: Zilker Access is at Town Lake, and just a few steps away from the Barton Creek swimming pool, a natural pool that is over 1,000 feet long; Twin Falls is on the other side of the Loop 360 Access, and as its name implies usually has a little more running water than Zilker or the Loop; Spy Glass Access and Gus Fruh Access are other convenient points and are situated between Zilker and the Loop.

Wherever you enter, you’re sure to have a great hike, but don’t think that’s all you can do. Bikes are allowed on the paths, too (although no motorized vehicles), and if you’re interested in climbing, there are more than enough walls throughout the park. In fact, it’s rare that day doesn’t seem various Austinites grabbing their gear and journeying to Barton Creek for an afternoon climb. Now, if you’re new to climbing, it’s important that you take all the correct gear and choose wisely the wall you mount. Maggy’s Wall is the easiest with routes from 5.7 to 5.11, while the New/Great Wall has routes from 5.9 to 5.13. Gus Fruh essentially matches the New/Great Wall with routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.12. You must use your own gear on all walls, but don’t feel you need to get carried away with what you purchase. A 40-meter rope should do the trick, but to be on the safe side, a 50 would be ideal.

If you’re looking to camp, look elsewhere. The park is not open to campers, nor does it allow dogs off-leash. This ensures that the park stays as garbage free as possible (thanks to no overnight visitors) and as peaceful as possible (thanks to no free-wheeling puppies). Other rules and regulations apply, but are the standard for all natural parks within the country - don’t litter, don’t destroy the wildlife and don’t take away from the experience for others. Barton Creek Greenbelt is a rarity in cities - it is a natural oasis amidst an urban setting.

Enjoying Sports in Chester

History is one of the toughest suits of England's tourism, but when it comes to telling the episode of its folk, no one does it better than the roadways, walls, and architecture of Chester. This idyllic municipal is a minute pocket of experiences that introduces England in a whole new way. You never will know what Roman England is about until you have walked the boulevards of Chester. From red sandstone walls that catalog Tudor and Victorian edifices, to the shopping avenues in the city centre, you will find composite of England's history in illustrious fashion.

Chester is very proud of its glorious days gone by, but it also celebrates the present. As a Roman outpost, Chester has the mysteries that you will not find in other English large towns. Take past tours as you travel to the rampart Deva, a patch of wall designed to drive out the Welsh. There are also remnants of Viking invasion in the shores of Chester. English fortifications and castles that act as the medieval period abound, starting with the stronghold of Hugh the Wolf. Even the shopping area is memorable with shops peddling their goods as early as the 13th century.

When you swing by the River Dee, you can explore the borough in its significant form with traditional boating trips along the river. The river passes through the heart of the place. Once you have explored the Dee on Chester, you can alight near the place wall and take walks around the medieval municipality. The center walls are the most intact wall structure in Britain. You can walk on the footpath atop these walls, and go around the metropolitan area to view its majesty. After touring the center walls, head to the best shopping outlets in Chester's metropolitan area centre.

Mouth watering - a word that characterises the menu of Chester's finest restaurants. Chester believes in the quality of their local produce. Here, you can pick fresh fruits and vegetables ready to serve in your plate. If that is not enough, you can wait out until the Chester Food and Drink festival, which is a party of 80 restaurant exhibitors bringing together the best of what Chester has to offer. Notable restaurants in Chester include the Blackhouse Grill, the Dene Hotel, and Katie's Tea Rooms. The Watergate Street is the place to chill out and meet the friendly locals.

Chester has a spectacle of sports events and art exhibits that will fill up your day holiday in the center. For local football, you can watch the FC Chester in action. The football club plays in the Coca-Cola 2 league, a 4th-tier league in the English football scene. You can also watch the Chester Roman if you want a taste of American football. Chester also has a strong tradition of rugby, winning the Cheshire Cup a lot of times. Local pubs and bars have their TV sets pointed to the Chester Racecourse where you can bet on horse and dog races.

Chester has a little bit of everything, but it certainly has a lot of history and it shows. Wherever you go, the air in this metropolitan area is refreshing and alluring. From the dated walls to the newly manufactured edifices, Chester is a site for a perfect family holiday.

Swansea

There are plenty of different kinds of Swansea attractions that one can enjoy during a visit to this city in Wales. As well as some medieval castles, you will find that there are plenty of parks and gardens that one can enjoy as well.

One such castle and which sits in the very heart of this city is Swansea Castle. Although it is now surrounded by more modern architecture it may be a little difficult to imagine what the area of would have looked like back then. Although the castle you see now was built in the 13th Century another was previously built in its place back in 1106.

But although the castle is now a ruin it is a wonderful place where you can while away a few hours on a pleasant sunny day. To further enhancement, your enjoyment on a visit to the castle why not take a picnic with you as well.

However, if you would like to do something that is a little more interesting during your time in Swansea make time to visit the Egypt Centre. This centre is to be found in Swansea University and houses a great collection of Egyptian archaeological pieces relating to this ancient civilization. The centre has been devised to try and help bring to the life what ancient Egypt and the people who lived there were like.

But if you would prefer to be doing something a little more exciting then take a trip out to Horton Beach. This is a very clean and sandy beach, which is favoured by water sports enthusiasts, especially surfers and windsurfers. But along with these water sports, one can enjoy snorkelling, wakeboarding and kayaking, plus you may even want to give kite boarding a go whilst you are there.

However, it is important to remember that there is only a lifeguard facility on the beach during the summer months. Plus you will also find that there are shops, cafes and toilets close by. But again, if you are visiting during the off-season not all of these may be open.

Another place that one should visit during your time in Swansea is the Market, which is one of the largest indoor ones to be found in Wales. Here you will find more than 100 stalls selling a variety of different of different Welsh foods. From local cheeses and breads, you will find that there is meat and fish that has only been caught early that morning. But along with the food, stalls there are stalls selling local crafts, which would make superb presents for friends and family back home.

As you can see from above there are plenty of Swansea attractions to keep you amused during your stay in the city. So you may find that a couple of days there is not enough time to see everything that you want.

There are many different places to stay when you visit Swansea. These range from small bed and breakfasts right the way up to large hotels. You'll find Swansea accommodation is available to suit all budgets.

Swansea

There are plenty of different kinds of Swansea attractions that one can enjoy during a visit to this city in Wales. As well as some medieval castles, you will find that there are plenty of parks and gardens that one can enjoy as well.

One such castle and which sits in the very heart of this city is Swansea Castle. Although it is now surrounded by more modern architecture it may be a little difficult to imagine what the area of would have looked like back then. Although the castle you see now was built in the 13th Century another was previously built in its place back in 1106.

But although the castle is now a ruin it is a wonderful place where you can while away a few hours on a pleasant sunny day. To further enhancement, your enjoyment on a visit to the castle why not take a picnic with you as well.

However, if you would like to do something that is a little more interesting during your time in Swansea make time to visit the Egypt Centre. This centre is to be found in Swansea University and houses a great collection of Egyptian archaeological pieces relating to this ancient civilization. The centre has been devised to try and help bring to the life what ancient Egypt and the people who lived there were like.

But if you would prefer to be doing something a little more exciting then take a trip out to Horton Beach. This is a very clean and sandy beach, which is favoured by water sports enthusiasts, especially surfers and windsurfers. But along with these water sports, one can enjoy snorkelling, wakeboarding and kayaking, plus you may even want to give kite boarding a go whilst you are there.

However, it is important to remember that there is only a lifeguard facility on the beach during the summer months. Plus you will also find that there are shops, cafes and toilets close by. But again, if you are visiting during the off-season not all of these may be open.

Another place that one should visit during your time in Swansea is the Market, which is one of the largest indoor ones to be found in Wales. Here you will find more than 100 stalls selling a variety of different of different Welsh foods. From local cheeses and breads, you will find that there is meat and fish that has only been caught early that morning. But along with the food, stalls there are stalls selling local crafts, which would make superb presents for friends and family back home.

As you can see from above there are plenty of Swansea attractions to keep you amused during your stay in the city. So you may find that a couple of days there is not enough time to see everything that you want.

There are many different places to stay when you visit Swansea. These range from small bed and breakfasts right the way up to large hotels. You'll find Swansea accommodation is available to suit all budgets.

West Palm Beach

Historically, West Palm Beach was founded to provide a place where the servants of the residents of Palm Beach proper could reside when they were done with their daily duties in the tony mansions that line the slender island of Palm Beach itself. Those days as a slip for servants is long, long gone. Of course, the island of Palm Beach remains one of the toniest addresses in the world. But, in the 21st century, West Palm Beach has come into its own both with stunning residences as well as with a vibrant entertainment, cultural and recreational scene.

In glancing at entertainment opportunities in West Palm, there is an amazing array of restaurants and bistros that serve a stellar selection of menus. From more casual ethnic fare to the very best in fine dining, dining out in West Palm is a palate pleasing experience across the board.

In addition, the nightlife scene in West Palm draws people from all across South Florida – and that includes partiers from the well established Ft. Lauderdale and Miami – Miami Beach club course. West Palm sports some of the hottest clubs to hit Florida in the past generation.

Of course, as is the case throughout South Florida, West Palm is a paradise when it comes to recreational opportunities. The white sand beaches of West Palm are incredible and offer a resident or visitor the chance to do everything from luxuriate in the sun to engage in a whole host of water sports. Sailing and boating are prime pastimes in West Palm as well.

Culturally, West Palm is a gem as well. There are numerous art galleries lining the avenues of the city. In addition, there are a number of major points of interest dedicated to the unique and interesting history of the region – including sites dating back to the point in time when Florida was part and parcel of the Spanish Empire.

Residential property in West Palm also has a great deal to offer. From elegant condos to more affordable properties that are ideal for growing families, real estate in West Palm really does have something for everyone – from people looking to spend their Golden Years in paradise to young and growing families looking for a safe community with a solid educational system to call home.

People in South Florida generally, and in West Palm specifically, continue to demonstrate a propensity for wanting to look their best. As a result, in West Palm many residents avail themselves of the latest appearance enhancing treatments and procedures including dermal fillers, laser hair removal and dermabrasion. West Palm naturally has attracted some of the most experienced professionals to assist people in obtaining the best dermal fillers, laser hair removal and dermabrasion treatments possible anywhere.

In point of fact, because of the quality of dermal fillers, laser hair removal and dermabrasion that can be found in West Palm, men and women travel to the city from points beyond in South Florida and elsewhere obtain these innovative and quality services and treatments from professionals who truly are experts in regard to these important procedures.

Lake Superior

Once you have seen all the extraordinary photos of Lake Superior and the environment around it, you will never be able to stop dreaming of being there. In the farthest northern part of Upper Michigan, called the Copper Country, there are many stunning things to see and experience, but Lake Superior is the epitome of that area’s beauty and charm. Much of this locale is scattered with picturesque villages in the midst of wooded areas that allow you to feel you have traveled back to a quieter, more innocent time.

While spending time in that area, there are so many tourist attractions to see that it would take an entire season to visit them all. Obviously there are the “ghost towns” that were once inhabited by coal miners and their families. Old lighthouses are definitely something that should not be missed while you are in Upper Michigan. Waterfalls have never been more soothing than those that are way north of the Straits.

Some people who have wanted to see this part of Michigan have considered going there by airplane because of the long drive to get there. After thinking it over, they realize that a plane ride would be a waste of time on this type of trip. All the sites on the trip to the U.P. are too magnificent to see from the window of a plane.

Spending the night in one of the quaint little cabins along the way is too romantic to miss. The night may be a little chilly, but you will be cozy and warm in front of the stone fireplace. If you have the opportunity, make sure you take a Finnish sauna while you are up north. Many of these places are right along Lake Superior with just a few steps to the beach with all the white sand and clean, clear water. Just being able to sit on the beach and smell Lake Superior is both relaxing and exhilarating.

Not only is there a Casino in the Baraga/L’Anse area of the U.P., there are Native Americans there who have their homemade beadwork, baskets, and copper jewelry available. Near the reservation, there are little shops where you can purchase not only these types of items, but also there are many books available about the history of the Copper Country and its people. Seasonal vegetable and fruit stands are everywhere.

Assuming that you will be traveling from Lower Michigan across the Mackinac Straits, you won’t want to miss all the sites that start there. Lake Michigan has many places where you can picnic and even do some swimming. The beaches along the road are very appealing. There are many tourist shops in that area that will be an enjoyment to your entire family.

Just traveling across the Mackinac Bridge is an unforgettable experience. As you go across the bridge, you can smell the freshest air in the world. If you happen to travel at night, it will take your breath away. During the holidays, the bridge glitters with lights. If you are a passenger, you won’t want to sleep through that wonderful experience!

If you haven’t tasted Finnish pasties, make sure you stop and pick some of those up for eating on the trip north. Shops advertising the freshest, most delicious smoked fish, venison, or buffalo are along the highway from the bridge all the way up to Lake Superior. Have you ever tasted potato sausage? Oh my, what a treat!

When you travel to the Lake Superior area of Michigan, take your time to enjoy all the sights and sounds and especially the clean air. Remember, the beaches up there don’t close and it costs you nothing to stop alongside the road and run into the refreshing blue water for a swim. If you prefer, you can just walk along the water's edge looking for pretty rocks or agates. Stop and eat your lunch at one of the many picnic tables that are available beside the highway as well as many rest areas.

Whether you travel by car and stop for the night at a cabin, drive a motorhome, pull a pop-up camper behind your van, or plan to do some tent camping, this will be the trip you will talk to your friends about for years. Take lots of film for your camera because you will want to have tons of pictures for your memory books after your travels in the Land of Lake Superior.

Get Approved by Travel Company

you don't have to be a nationally syndicated columnist and ombudsman to persuade a travel company to see things your way. David Stein isn't. Continental Airlines wanted to charge his newborn daughter 10 percent of his fare plus a $160 fuel surcharge for a recent flight to Mexico, even though its website suggested the fuel surcharge didn't apply to lap children.

Stein wrote a brief, polite e-mail to Continental. Rejected. Then he appealed to Anne Munoz, the head of Continental's customer service department. Two days later, an airline representative called Stein. "She agreed that the policy featured on their website was confusing and inconsistent," he said.

Continental refunded the fuel surcharge.

How do you persuade a travel company to come around to your way of thinking? Here are six suggestions.

1. Mind Your Ps and Qs

No one likes a rude and demanding customer. But a short, tactful e-mail is often all it takes to shake something loose. Consider Ryan Einfeldt's problem with AirTran Airways. He had booked a ticket to New Orleans to attend a wedding when Hurricane Gustav hit. The wedding was postponed, but when he phoned the airline to cancel his flight, he was told he'd have to pay a $75 change fee. I suggested that he ask again -- this time in writing -- and to remember to be nice about it. He did, noting in his e-mail that he had "enjoyed my past experiences with AirTran, and hope to be able to continue to do so." It worked. "Due to your extenuating circumstances, I have waived the $75 cancellation fee that you incurred," an AirTran representative replied.

2. Use Reason

Sometimes, logic really works. It did for Teresa Castleberry, who was flying from Albany, N.Y., to St. Thomas on US Airways recently. Her flight was canceled because of "crew availability" problems. The airline offered her a later flight, but she would have missed two days of her vacation. So she rented a car and drove to Philadelphia, where she caught a flight to the Virgin Islands. She wrote to the airline, asking for compensation. Denied. I recommended she send a concise, well-reasoned e-mail to US Airways, asking it to reconsider. Bingo! A customer service representative phoned Castleberry, offering a refund of the unused portion of her ticket, for a total of $266. "I do believe that is reasonable compensation," she told me. I do, too.

3. Cite Their Own Policies

This is effective not only when the rules favor you, but also when they don't. What do I mean? Well, referring to an online agency's service "guarantee" when you aren't getting any service, for example, is a no-brainer. But citing a travel company's policy when you're obviously wrong -- that's brilliant. Which is exactly what Heidi Houseman did when Northwest Airlines refused to refund her parents' airline tickets and frequent flier miles after her father developed the intestinal flu and had to cancel his trip. "They were packed and ready to go, and they got up at 3am and -- boom!" she remembers. Northwest Airlines was well within its rights to keep the spent miles and her parents' money. I told Houseman that she needed to make sure she told Northwest that she was aware of the airline's no-refunds policy. So she did. Eventually, she appealed to a manager at Northwest, who decided to make an exception for the elderly couple. It refunded the tickets and miles.

4. Remind Them of the Law

Citing state or federal law in a complaint can persuade even the most difficult travel company to come around to your way of thinking. If you're staying at a hotel, there are a number of state lodging laws that probably apply to your visit. Airlines have a contract of carriage, and cruise lines have a cruise contract. When Doug Marshak tried to fly from Duluth, Minn., to Dayton, Ohio, on Midwest Airlines last year, he was denied boarding because there were too few employees working at the ticket counter, and he missed his plane. He had to fly the next day, and was offered no compensation. I told Marshak to write a quick e-mail to Midwest, mentioning its contract of carriage, which has provisions for passengers who are delayed because of operational problems. "Midwest called to offer a whole-hearted apology and gave me some travel vouchers," he reported.

5. Appeal to a Higher Power

It's always a good idea to start any complaint with a succinct, rational letter to the company's customer service department. But if you get a "no," take it to the next level. That's what Naomi Shapiro did when she was denied mileage credit for a trip to Ecuador. She wrote to a customer-service manager at Delta Air Lines, asking for another review of her case. Delta did, and solved her problem by depositing some frequent flier miles into her account. If I didn't know any better, I would say that customer service departments default to "no" when they're asked for something. Maybe that's why all of the examples in this column were solved only after an appeal to a manager.

6. Copy All the Right People

To underscore that you mean business, do what Sue Wilson did when she had trouble with an unexpected fee on an airline ticket she booked through Travelocity. She copied everyone from Travelocity's executives to yours truly on the letter, and that got their attention. Travelocity contacted her airline on her behalf, which refunded the surprise fee. But there are others who must be copied, too. Don't leave out the federal and state regulators who oversee the companies. When an airline sees the Transportation Department on the "cc:" list or a car rental agency notices your state attorney general's e-mail in the address field, they are far likelier to give your complaint a little extra attention.

Given my confession at the beginning of this column, you're probably wondering: How do I solve my own travel problems? When something goes wrong, do I write an indignant missive to the company with my full e-mail signature?

Actually, no. I prefer to go through the front door and I never, ever, tell them what I do for a living. I'd rather resolve my dispute quietly, through normal channels.

Incidentally, I apply the same philosophy to my work as the Travel Troubleshooter. If there's a possibility that a dispute can be addressed through the customer-service department without my intervention, that's the way to go.

I believe that given the choice, travel companies would rather do the right thing. Sometimes, they just need a little nudge.

This article was written by : Christopher Elliott, the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine and the host of "What You Get For The Money: Vacations" on the Fine Living Network. E-mail him at celliott@ngs.org.

Diving Holidays

Sharm El Sheikh offers some of the best sites for diving and snorkeling in the world. More Europeans learn to dive here than anywhere else in the world and the resort is ideal for diving holidays for singles, beginners and experienced divers alike.

The climate is hot, the water warm and clear and great for diving any time of year. However if you would like to dive in extra warm waters it is best to visit between the months of June and September.

Sharm El Sheikh lies at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula in the Red Sea. There are over forty dive sites in the region and nearly fifty dive centers. With such an abundance of dive sites on offer the variety of diving is amazing. From reefs, coral formations, walls and wreck, the dive sites are diverse and teeming with a range of marine life including jacks, snappers and barracudas.

With its pristine coral reefs and countless species of fish Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran are amongst the more famous dive sites. Ras Mohammed has some steep coastal cliffs that plunge underwater to depths of over seventy metres. The Straits of Tiran have four circular reefs surrounded by steep drop offs. More advanced divers can enjoy world class wreck diving by taking a day boat to Thistlegorm, if you are willing to brace the four hour boat trip or the slightly more bearable two and a half hour trip to Dunraven.

For divers Sharm El Sheikh offers unparalleled access to some of the best diving in the world. The beauty of diving is that it is a sport that can be enjoyed by individuals or as part of a group. Complete beginners can begin with an ‘intro dive’ to get them accustomed to diving in the Red Sea. Reassuringly all the dive centres have qualified English speaking instructors to accompany each dive, providing and running diving courses and diving experiences. Experienced divers who already have their PADI certificate can enjoy organized dives with fellow divers.

Aside from being one of the greatest diving destinations in the world, Sharm El Sheikh also has plenty more to offer its visitors. When you are not diving there are other watersports to keep you occupied such as swimming and parascending. Simply relax in the cosmopolitan resort or take the opportunity in between dives to do some desert exploration and visit biblical sites. Outside of the water test your skill and luck on the casino floors or for those that love to shop take a leisurely stroll through bazaars and shopping centres in search of curious and exotic finds. If you are a night owl you will get the chance to boogie the night away and meet like minded people.

Diving holidays to Egypt are available with most major operators but if you are traveling alone it may prove difficult to avoid paying a single supplement. However there are a few tour operators that specialise in offering diving holidays for singles, catered to the single unattached traveller.