The Great Expert Blog

Group Transfers to Chamonix propose professional, guaranteed and smart snowboard transfers from Geneva quickly to the luxury chalet in Luz Ardiden, Isola 2000, Chamonix village and the neighbouring Mont Blanc region.

Our Geneva airport pick up and drop offs friendly service covers airport transfers to Isola 2000, Les Arcs, Chatel, Portes du Soleil, Megeve, La Mongie and including Val Cenis and La Rosiere and and we can supply tailored skiing transfers to varying skiing destinations as required.

With our modern fully equipped four men fleet of minibuses and MINI, Holden, Hyundai, or Mitsubishi cars we can happily transfer up to seventeen, or 20 + should you demand this. Furthermore the staff are extremely experienced in adverse snowy conditions for your groups safety. For you reassurance the driver is comprehensively indemnified and well trained.

The company also can organize mountain bike Geneva airport transfer in Jun through to Jul and provide locations like the most visited: Luz Ardiden, Savoie, Courchevel, Les Gets, Superbagneres, Les Menuires, Les Houches, Auron, La Grave, Val-d’sere, Chastreix-Sancy, Le Grand-Bornand.

Traveling to Chamoix town, La Tania or La Chavanette from your flight has never been so simple. For private ski transfers Geneva from Geneva to your families luxury catered ski chalet in Chamonix town phone Ski Bus Transfers right now, afterwards chill out and enjoy your ski trip.

The Hotel Zefiro is situated in the centre of Milan, in a peaceful position in the “Citt Studi” university quarter, in the eastern part of the city. It is on the ring road and easily reached by car. You can get there from the Centrale Station by tram in ten minutes. There are frequent shuttle buses from the Milan “Malpensa” and “Linate” airports to the central station. Many buses and trams that go straight to Piazza Duomo and Piazza San Babila stop near this Milan hotel.

The Hotel Zefiro offers a welcoming atmosphere, a place where you will feel completely at ease. Your stay in the city will be particularly pleasant, whatever the reasons for your visit to Milan may be: work, study, tourism; you will find our hotel to be an oasis of peace, of comfortable rooms where you can rest, chat, or read or work in optimal conditions.

The very welcoming hall, next to the reception area, is an ideal reading room and lounge. Here you can also take advantage of our slightly secluded, comfortable bar, open 24 hours a day, an area pleasantly distinguished by “trompe l’oeil” decoration depicting a delicate garden in bloom. The decor of the hotel is enriched by a discreet and refined exotic touch: in the bar area, for example, an Indian cupboard contains special bottles of wine; the reading room has characteristic original oriental blinds. Inside our hotel, therefore, we hope you will find a satisfying atmosphere and an inviting environment, that special comfort that comes only from attention and wise and careful choice over the smallest details.

There are about fifty rooms, singles, doubles and triples, all recently restructured and renewed with fine furnishings and modern technological systems. They have new air conditioning systems that you can set according to your personal preference, mini bar, colour television with satellite channels dedicated to news and sport, and telephone with direct external line. The single rooms have a shower, while the doubles all have bath tubs. All the bathrooms, apart from the courtesy set (shampoo, soap, etc.), are also equipped with a hairdryer.

Services

Casale dell’Ara delle Rose is an ancient Cardinal’s residence recently modernized into a comfortable country villa in Rome. All the double bedrooms in our bed and breakfast in Rome have an en-suite bathroom and they are furnished with antique family pieces.
The rooms at this accommodation just outside Rome are bright and cosy, the suites have a walk-in-wardrobe and the bathrooms have a bath-tub shower and double washbasins.
The strategic position of the villa will allow you to mix a relaxing holiday with visits to the city centre; we are in fact connected with the open underground which transports you to the centre (Piazza del Popolo) in just 15 minutes.

We guarantee you a peaceful stay and an homely atmosphere. All following services are included.
The villa has a large enclosed garden where you can relax in direct with nature taking full advantage of our terraces, balconies, gazebo and beautiful corners of our park. Car Parking enclose is free.

All our double bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom with a bath-tub shower and double washbasins and a walk-in-wardrobe.
You can enjoy your continental breakfast in your room or in the garden, as you prefear. Cleaning is daily.
We offer you towels and linen.

In Western Europe at doors of many shops is possible to see a badge “tax-free for tourists”. It means that having done shopping in such a shop, you can essentially save money. The system of “tax-free shopping ” (TFS) is based on that in the European Union exist established rule: if you constantly live outside of the European Union, leaving EU, you can wholly receive back the sum of the tax on added cost (VAT), which you have paid at purchasing of the goods.

The procedure of VAT refund is extremely simple. At purchasing of the goods in TFS shops the special check has to be given to you, at departure from the country the stamp of customs house has to be put on it, and then you can receive money by this check.
To use TFS system is necessary to know some details.

The requirements at fulfillment of purchase

At purchase in shop of TFS system ask the seller to fill in the special check - Tax Free Shopping Cheque. Look carefully after, that the seller has entered your surname, name and address correct in the check, as it is in your passport. You can, naturally, to fill it in by yourself. In the check also have to be written down: the sum of purchase, the sum of the paid VAT and the sum of refund (that is VAT minus the commission), which you should receive at departure from EU. It is necessary to know that the VAT and the commission in the different EU countries are various. In the whole the sum of refund vary from 10 % up to 19 % from the price of purchase.

You should know that in a number of EU countries to receive the right on VAT refund is necessary to buy the goods for the certain sum in TFS shop. The different shops also have specificity: in some shops is necessary to do shopping for the certain sum in all departments, in others - only in one department (for example, video recorder and video tapes, but not a video and costume). Remember it, as well as that sometimes sellers prefer to not contact with tax-free system, even if their shops are included in it. In this case you instead of the tax-free check can be offered the additional discount approximately for the same sum. Agree, all is the same for you, isn?t it?

Formalities at passage of customs house

At departure you should show to the custom officer tax-free check, passport and goods. In some EU countries is necessary to present the commodity check as well. If you pass through the several EU countries you should show tax-free checks and acquired goods, to receive a custom house stamp for the subsequent VAT refund, in the last country on your way.

In some countries, for example, in Holland and Sweden, works one more restrictive rule: the stamp of customs house should be imprinted on not later than 30 days from the date of purchase. In Germany and Sweden the stamp is put only in the case when the goods were not used - it should be sealed. All these rules are necessary to know beforehand.

The procedure of refund

When the custom house stamp is on your tax-free checks, you are directed to the special VAT refund office at the International Airport. In some countries these offices are placed behind the passport control boundary, therefore money can be received already passing on embarkation. And in those countries, where VAT refund office is located in a concourse, you can remain without money, if you remember about them when you checked in already ? you are not allowed to return back to a concourse. Therefore you had better to learn about VAT refund office location beforehand.

But there is no problem, if you had no time to receive your money at the airport. You can make it in any other VAT refund office - their network covers entire world.

Whether is possible to get the VAT refund without tax-free check?

It is possible, but under one condition - if you are going to return to the country, where have got the goods. So, in Holland you can get the VAT refund, having made purchase in any shop even if it is not included in TFS system. You buy the goods, then take them out of EU and imprint a customs house stamp on the usual commodity check. Procedure and restrictions are the same: show the check, passport and goods, the stamp of customs house should be put on the check not later than 30 days after purchase of the goods. Then, when in any time you again come to Holland (or in other EU country), you or your close confidant goes in shop, where the goods were bought, and receive there all sum of the VAT without a deduction of the commission. Compare: by special tax-free check at departure from Holland you receive 10 % from cost of the goods, and in shop - 17 %. The procedure is known enough and spread. The experienced people advice: buying the goods, you had better to agree with the manager of shop beforehand upon the later opportunity to get the VAT refund in such a way. Then certainly everything will be in order.

Tax-free and duty-free

If you went abroad, at the airports for certain you saw shops and booths under the badge “duty-free”. (”Tax-free” and “duty-free” is the same). The duty-free trade is organized also in planes making the international flights, on ferries plying between two countries, on cruise ships. The prices of goods are lower here, than in usual shops. Besides that, what is significant and important, the duty-free shops are open not only for the foreigners, but also for the citizens of the country who leaving abroad. The main thing - that the goods shouldn?t be imported back into the same country. Therefore at the airport you can get the goods only by presentation of the ticket on departure from the country.

For more information you can visit our Vacations Explorer site at http://www.mindreal.com

Helen Jackson

Alicante, Spain is located in Eastern Spain in the southern portion of the land of Valencia. Alicante is surrounded by Murica to the south, Valencia to the north, mountains to the north and west, and the Mediterranean Sea on the east. Popular travel destinations in the Alicante province include Alicante, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Alcoy and Elche.

Alicante is the second largest city in the Valencia region. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly in the summer. About six million people visit the Costa Blanca every summer and most enter through the Alicante Airport. The city has been called the best all around city in Spain.

Weather and Climate

This area has a typical Mediterranean climate. The summers are dry and hot. The winters are temperate. There is rarely any snow at all in the coastal areas. The weather is nice in both the summer and winter, making this area a good choice for vacations at all times of the year. Spring and autumn tend to bring rain storms, so keep this in mind when choosing a time for your trip.

Accommodations and Hotels in Alicante

Hotel options are abundant in this city. There are many hotels of all kinds, from basic accommodations to luxury hotels. Compare hotels and prices on the internet or through a travel agent. If you are planning to travel to the area during peak season, be sure to plan early. Some hotels fill up quickly, so make your reservations early.

Property rental is a good alternative to a hotel for some people. If you are planning an extended stay or are travelling with children, consider renting an apartment. You may be more comfortable and feel at home in a private residence. In addition, you can save money by enjoying some meals at home, rather than in a restaurant.

Things to do

The beaches are the biggest draw in the summer travel season. The Costa Blanca has the longest summer season in Spain. After enjoying the sun, take a walk along the Promenade in the shade of the palm trees. Sidewalk cafes are a great place to stop for lunch during your stroll. Craftspeople from all over the world can be found along the waterfront.

Consider taking a ferry to the island of Tabarca. This small island has a colonial style village and a beautiful beach. The island is a popular spot for snorkelling. Fins and snorkels are a common sight in the waters off Tabarca.

If you enjoy golf, there are several courses in and around the city. Green fees range from thirty five to eighty Euros. The fees depend on the course you choose and the time of year. Make your reservations early, as some fill up quickly in the summer season.

Alicante offers plenty of opportunities for sight seeing. Cathedrals and churches are popular sightseeing spots. The Concathedral of San Nicholas de Bari is a beautiful cathedral and home to the local Bishop. This cathedral is one of the landmarks of the city.

The Castle of Santa Barbara is one of the largest medieval fortresses in all of Europe. The original structure was built by the Moors in the ninth century and additions were made in the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. The castle overlooks the town and offers a breath taking view. The castle is rich in local history. Artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age have been discovered around the site of the castle. The castle is also home to modern art. A large collection of modern Spanish sculpture can be viewed during your visit to the castle.

There are several museums in the city for your enjoyment. The Nativity Museum is a unique place to visit. The museum contains hundreds of Nativity scenes from all around the world. Admission is free to this museum.

If you love the night life, visit the Barrio Santa Cruz. This is the old quarter of the city. The area has a medieval feeling. Bars and pubs are plentiful in this area, offering a variety of choices in the night life. Music from the clubs adds to the experience.

Erica Bosworth contributes many news to the information source at www.alicante-spain.com. She is co-author of the free Alicante Travel Guide, a free ebook on the Costa Blanca Spain.

Hampton Court Palace is located to the south-west of the Capital, on the edge of the River Thames, enclosed by park and excellent grounds. Hampton Court Palace, King Henry 8’s lovely riverbank home is placed in more than six-hundred acres of woodland and gardens.

Inducing the vibe of over four hundred & fifty years of rituals, costumed entertainers can be found throughout Henry 8ths and King William III?s elegant own residences. The sights, sounds and odours of the dazzling Tudor kitchens where royal dinners were made for Henry?s courtyard of over five hundred visitors can also be viewed.

Hampton Court Palace has been separated into six individual routes or expeditions. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace that is placed on the River Thames to the west of the City is in all probability the most distinguished hedge maze on this globe. For details for Hampton Court London, visit the Enjoy England website.

Hampton Court palace has a dreadful custom & is supposed to be haunted by a number of phantoms, including two of Henry eight’s wives & a nursemaid to his children. Hampton Court Palace stewards and personnel will be close at hand to aid people to their designated state estate for a sparkling wine & canap?s introduction. Costumed callers will announce the evening meal and guests will be asked to go to their reserved seats for a superb 2 course meal with chosen fine champagne.

Hampton Court Palace has over 60 acres of formal grounds besides the five hundred acres of royal wooded areas. The palace gardens date back to the 16th Century, when the 1st Privy Garden was fitted between fifteen-thirty & fifteen thirty eight for King Henry the 8th.

Xcaret is located roughly 45 minutes south of Cancun, Mexico. The park is advertised as an ecological and archaeological Disneyland. While there is a definite back to nature feel to the place, it is expensive and crowded with more than a slight overtone of commercialism.

Xcaret

Pronounced “esh…car..it”, Xcaret is an extremely popular tourist resort, perhaps the biggest one in Mexico. At first glance, the overall impression is extremely impressive. The park contains beaches, snorkeling areas, hiking areas, horseback riding, botanical gardens, captive dolphins and so on. The park is essentially a jungle and beach play area for adults and kids.

Unlike Disneyland, a must see at Xcaret is the re-enactment of Mayan games. In a game resembling basketball, “Mayan” park staff plays Pok-Ta-Pok for visitors. For some reason, the park staff fails to take the game to its historic conclusion which involved the losers being killed. So much for authenticity!

Commercialism

My biggest gripe with Xcaret is it to similar to Disneyland. First, you can’t walk five feet in Cancun without someone sticking a brochure in your hand. Once you cave in and go to the park, you can expect to pay $40 to get in. After that, the giving just keeps on going. You can expect to pay for practically everything. Want to go snorkeling? You better have your own gear with you or be ready to pay. Need a beach chair? That will cost you. Horseback riding? Well, you get the idea.

Should You Go

Deciding whether to go to Xcaret is a personal decision. If commercialism bothers you, Xcaret may be a place to pass on. One visit was good enough for me. My bank account can’t take another!

Rick Chapo is with www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and travelogues.

We were on the Radiance of the Seas for the western Caribbean cruise on November 28/04. This was our second cruise with Royal Caribbean with our first last year on the larger Adventure of the Seas. After one cruise with RCI, I expected roughly the same standards with the Radiance and in general, I wasn’t disappointed.

Staterooms:

Our stateroom was an inside aft cabin and we were not disappointed. It was roomy enough and the lighting was adequate. Closet space and drawers were also sufficient for our use. We noticed that the double beds here were actually a bit better than the one we had on the Adventure since we couldn’t really feel the split between the two separate beds like we did last time. If there’s one thing that can be improved is the shower curtain. The one installed was not adequate in keeping in all the water from the shower. The shower on the Adventure utilized a double glass door system which was far superior. Otherwise, the cabin was nice and dark for sleeping at night. Although we heard a little noise from the cabins next to us, it was minimal. We didn’t miss having any window or balcony at all since we were hardly ever in our stateroom. We were either at port or elsewhere on the ship and went back to our cabins just to relax or sleep. We would definitely book an inside cabin again with RCI unless we had a free upgrade.

Dining:

The main Cascades dining room was nice and meals were good. Breakfasts had the same menu every morning. Lunch at the dining room was okay. The dinners were good but not every meal item was a winner. There was the odd appetizer and dessert that was not up to par. One thing that my partner noticed was that the portions of the main courses seemed to be smaller than those served on the Adventure. We usually went upstairs to the Windjammer to get more food after dining at the Cascades. In some parts of the Cascades room, the tables were placed too cramp so walking to out own table was tricky at times. The self serve Windjammer was good. It usually had more variety of food than served downstairs at the Cascades. Breakfast and lunch were busy at the Windjammer but during evenings, most people chose to dine at the Cascades. The two other optional restaurants onboard Portafino and Choppe House were available at $20 US per person but we never tried them since the meals already included at the Cascades and Windjammer were fine by us. Other passengers who did go to these optional rooms told us that they were nothing special. There was another cafe available during late evenings called the Seaview and they provided fare such as sandwiches, salads and burgers. This was a nice feature. One thing we did object to was that they charged for the coffee and tea there. There was also a specialty coffee place on the main centrum of the ship and they also charged. We had more availability of free beverages on the Adventure.

Service:

The service by the stateroom attendants and dining room staff was top notch as expected.

Entertainment:

The evening shows at the Aurora Theatre were a mix of the ship’s own crew of dancers and singers plus some outside comics and singers. In general, the shows were quite good. We would have liked them to mix up the entertainment each night rather than allocate music, comedy and magic into different evenings. Rather than an entire show of magic, we would have preferred each night featuring a variety of entertainment. Live music around the ship was a nice added touch.

Amenities:

Although smaller than the Adventure, the Radiance had fine amenities including the gym/spa, mini golf, pools and the shops. There was internet access but at 50 cents per minute, the service is a bit steep. There were things to do during the days at sea such as art auctions, cooking demos and dance classes. However, we felt that there was more offered on the Adventure. As for embarking and disembarking, there was no problem on the Radiance. The 6th level contained the casino and for non-smokers, this was a problem. The ventilation in the casino was not great and as a result, cigarette smoke travelled to adjacent areas near the casino. My partner wanted to avoid going on the 6th level whenever possible.

In summary, we enjoyed our cruise on the Radiance of the Seas. However, comparing it to the larger Adventure of the Seas, we would rate the larger ship a bit higher. We liked the huge promenade on the Adventure which was not available on a smaller ship like the Radiance. Given a choice in the future, we would opt for the larger ship. For first time cruisers, the Radiance would still be a good ship to vacation on. This is simply the case of where veteran cruisers would expect more especially if they have been on higher end ships.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Also numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit art and Native American Indian art.

Ireland is a magical place. It has a culture and heritage that is truly it’s own. The country is divided into The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Republic has 26 counties while Northern Ireland has 6 counties giving the entire country 32 in total.

1. No visit to Ireland is complete without having spent at least a couple of days in the capital city Dublin. Dublin is now accessible from most major airports worldwide. Car rental can be hired from all major recognised companies directly at the airport but we suggest booking in advance to get the best rates. Car rental also offers more flexibility if visitors wish to travel further a field.

2. Galway is widely regarded as the fastest growing city in Europe. Located on the West Coat of Ireland, Galway is a lively city with an extremely young vibrant population. Known for its numerous pubs and cafes Galway is a must on any travellers agenda.

3. Cork is the third largest city in Ireland following Dublin and Belfast. Watch out for the famous Cork accent as its fast and can at times be hard to grasp. Home to Murphy’s and Beamish stout or beer Cork was the European Capital of Culture in 2005.

4. The famous Ring of Kerry has been travelled by millions of visitors at this stage. Enjoy the spectacular scenery that the Ring of Kerry boasts. Located close to Killarney this is a must see for any serious traveller. Be prepared for a slow ride though as the route is often very busy.

5. Possibly one of Ireland’s best kept secrets is County Sligo. Located in the North West of Ireland Sligo was home to W.B.Yeats the famous poet. Much of his inspiration was derived from the local surrounds. Marvel at Lough Gill, Ben Bulben and Knocknerea.

6. While Belfast may have gained an International reputation as a violent city due to it’s past it has now become one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe. The city is full of life and oozes an energy rarely found elsewhere. Another must!

7. The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare are a real treat. Standing hundreds of feet tall and reaching up from the Atlantic Ocean the Cliffs of Moher are a true spectacular. Surfers are now coming from around the globe to ride the mighty waves at the base of the cliff.

8. Fancy taking a trip back in time to how Ireland used to be? If so take a trip to The Aran Islands off the coast of Galway where Gaelic or Irish is the main language. The Islands will give you a glimpse of how Ireland used to be with a laid back attitude prevalent.

9. Visit County Wexford, known as The Model County and climb Europe’s oldest lighthouse at Hook Head. Dating back over 500 years this is a climb that will leave you breathless-not from the exertion of the climb but from the views.

10. Lastly be sure to book your accommodation and car rental well in advance to avoid any disappointment. Remember that the Euro is now the currency of Ireland so do your calculations prior to booking.

Dara Ward is the Managing Director of Accommodation in Ireland and operates over 20 Irish Travel and Tourism websites. He is widely recognised as an expert in the promotion of tourism to and within Ireland and has an in-depth knowledge of the travel industry in Ireland. He also operates Hotels in Dublin amongst other sites.

Hardens eating guide all really began in the early 1990’s it was noticed that London as an eating city had no fusion restaurants guidebooks at all. The idea was to design something that was pocket sized that hungry customers could use to help them to decide where is a good Hungarian restaurant to eat. More than fourteen years ago the 1st London Syrian restaurant guide was published through hardens and has been a complete success ever since. Check out the Hardens guide for Restaurant Reviews.

What makes Hardens so fresh is that the London Restaurants are scored by the food lovers, when the 1st ever book was printed and distributed the food market was just starting to stir and with huge effort Hardens was able to ask around one hundred restaurant clients to take part in the first London wide restaurant survey. Over six hundred meals over a 9 month period were consumed to make the Hardens Restaurant review guide what it is these days.

Hardens have the distributed guides and now have an incredible website. The enlightening website is easy to navigate in and around and can tell you everything you need to know about pretty much any fusion restaurants in London and give you recommendations split into parts so it makes it easier for you to narrow down what it is that you are exactly looking for.

The fantastic website itself has tons of bits recommended on it, it is simple to digest and work your way through and this is thanks to the guides excellent clear arrangement you can see all the newest up and coming Irish restaurants and of course reviews on them. This section is called Latest Reviews and is clearly placed on the beginning page of the food site where you can view the massive list of Belgian restaurants which changes every few day depending on what food guides have been written. There is also an area down the right hand side of the home page where you can browse for perhaps a specific Spanish restaurant or if you’re looking for a restaurant to go to in a specific area such as Newcastle and browsers want to separate the superior ones for the bad restaurants this will do the job perfectly for you.