“Underoath is proud to announce that they will be taking part in the Abbey Road Live series and will have a live recording of their March 11th show at the Koko in London available for purchase exclusively online at …
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Known as the second city of the UK after London, Manchester is a lively and dynamic place. Economically thriving, it offers up a vibrant social life, with a multitude of interesting places to visit and things to experience. And, voted as the best place to locate a business, as well as having the fastest growing economy in the UK, the city has a lot going for it. For the young professional then, Manchester can be regarded as a great location in which to live. All work and no play, however, can make for a dull time, not least for the singletons out there. Indeed, since so many are tending to focus more on their careers, there is little spare time to play the dating game. This has resulted in an abundance of professional singles in the city, many of whom would like to find a partner, but have no idea how to fit searching into their already busy lives. With the Summer fast approaching, how can you make the most efficient use of the little time you do have, to find a partner to share those hot nights with? The questions that comes up again and again are; where to meet the right people and how to reduce the likelihood of going out on that first rendezvous, only to discover your date has the personality of a doork***? Blind dates or going out with friends’ of friends – typically have low success rates. We all know that meeting new people is time-consuming and you can be left not only feeling disappointed and discouraged you have invested time and not met a good potential match. This is where online dating comes into its own. In the past it was predicted that the internet would become essential to finding a partner in the future, and these predictions were not far wrong. In fact, digital dating has revolutionised the singles scene. Online dating’s biggest success is its ability to offer singles an efficient method of sifting through the masses to find ‘the one’. And, since most dating sites ask that people create a comprehensive profile of themselves, complete with pictures, it’s easy to see at a glance the type of personality you can expect to meet. Therefore, the potential time spent meeting people who are likely to compliment your way of thinking is minimised. According to one online dating study, 94 percent of respondents questioned saw their first ‘e-partner’ again. Although there are a host of professional people looking for love, it can be hard work. But, with the right approach you can make the best use of your time. Why not give it a go and try online dating in Manchester today? You never know, by the time Summer makes an appearance, you may have just found the perfect partner!
Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
Cited as one of the most exciting destinations around, London arguably has it all. From historical intrigue and a thriving cultural programme to entertainment opportunities galore, itâs a major global city bursting with a host iconic landmarks and exhilarating activities. The atmosphere is electric and those who visit cannot fail to be impressed by its unparalleled range of offerings. Embracing the spirit of the festive season in true British style, the English capital is one of the best places to go for those looking to start their New Year with a bang. Indeed, thereâs a superb selection of daytime events, after hours parties and thrilling firework displays to soak up, meaning thereâs never a dull moment to be had. Whether youâre looking to indulge in Londonâs cultural programme or pursue the Christmassy activities on offer, thereâs something to entertain everyone, from families and romantic couples to groups of friends embarking on a fun-fuelled weekend break. An annual festive favourite, The Nutcracker has been playing at the London Coliseum for the past eight years and is the perfect way to while a couple of hours away before the New Year festivities really kick in. However, if youâre too excited about the imminent approach of midnight to sit still, then it may be worth checking out one of the cityâs many art galleries and exhibitions or undertaking a spot of ice skating. London plays host to a number of outdoor ice skating rinks, including those at Kew Gardens and the Tower of London. In addition to whizzing around the ice, skating provides an ideal opportunity to marvel at the sights of London in all its Christmas glory. When it comes to the evening activities, New Year revellers will not be left disappointed. In fact, with the majestic fireworks display at the London Eye, Medieval banquets, James Bond-themed parties and countless club nights taking place around the city, the difficulty will be in deciding how to celebrate. If you havenât partied too hard the night before, Londonâs New Yearâs Day Parade is another definite highlight. Established in 1987, the event attracts over 10,000 performers and thousands more onlookers every year. Lasting for just over two hours, thereâs a host of entertainment on offer, from the giant floats and animals, to the clowns and live musical performances. While London is a great place to spend New Year, itâs also very popular. Therefore, if youâre intending to hit the capital this year, itâs wise to sort out your London accommodation early on. Indeed, spaces fill up extremely quickly and if youâre not on the ball, you could be left out in the cold. Regardless of your budget, there are thousands of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from luxury apartments and London hotels to budget hostels. By booking in advance, you can ensure you get to stay where you want to. Consequently, the only thing left to worry about is choosing how to make New Year’s Eve go with a bang!
Matthew Pressman writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
London is well known for its vibrant arts scene and its year-round packed musical programme. From Camden’s Roundhouse to the world famous Royal Albert Hall, the UK’s capital is overflowing with eclectic musical venues that attract concert-goers from all corners of the globe. But amongst the giants of London’s summer musical fixtures looms one well-known regular: the world-famous Puccini opera, Tosca.
Tosca has been played at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden every year since 1964, when Italian director Franco Zeffirelli famously adapted the opera for Maria Callas, a Greek-American soprano who is often referred to as the best-known opera singer of the post World War II period. In 2006, however, Tosca at the Garden (as it is now popularly known) received a revamp from the Almeida Theatre’s Jonathan Kent – a bold move, given that Zeffirelli’s version had been used for forty-two years.
The story of Tosca is set amidst the backdrop of revolutionary Rome in 1800, and sees Scarpia, a police chief, seeking an escaped prisoner called Angelotti. Scarpia arrests the artist Cavaradossi, whom he is certain has helped Angelotti escape, but also brings into the mix Cavaradossi’s girlfriend – Tosca – who he thinks may have been an accomplice.
Scandalously, Scarpia agrees to save Cavaradossi’s life if Tosca allows him to have his way with her. However, the tragic ending comes when Tosca, convinced that Scarpia has let Cavaradossi go, stabs the police chief before finding out that her lover has in fact been shot, and ultimately flings herself from the Castello d’Angelo’s ramparts as Rome’s police pursue her.
Puccini based Tosca upon a drama by French playwright Victorien Sardou and since its premier in Rome in 1900, it has become one of the world’s most performed operas. Maria Callas, the original Tosca of Tosca at the Garden, is seen by many opera fans to have made the role her own and it’s possible to find footage of her powerful performance as the tragic h*****e on YouTube today.
Jonathan Kent’s new production of Tosca sees Puccini’s “shabby little shocker” with a whole new cast, including Finnish National Opera director Mikko Franck making his conducting debut. With a mix of established operatic talent and new voices taking part, this year’s Tosca at the Garden is sure to be a success.
Moreover, with flights to London leaving most international airports daily, taking a trip to Britain’s capital to see this momentous production of Tosca won’t be hard if you’re not a British resident. And with the Garden’s 2007 season continuing with revivals of Rigoletto, Cosi fan tutte and all three of Wagner’s Ring cycles, there’s much more to come from London’s centre of operatic art.
Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen amateur photographer. His portfolio, called Capquest Photography is available to view online.
Dating online â could it be the perfect environment? Virtual dating allows you to control your environment, talk to people safely, and total control over each experience. For more and more people, itâs the ideal place to start a new relationship.
There is an inverse relationship between crime and the usefulness of technology and the internet. The internet is no longer a playground of useless applications and âmorally questionable contentâ, and the streets in many places arenât as safe to walk down at night as they were 10 years ago. Luckily, sites like Meet2Go are providing a great place to meet people with similar interests to you. No more wading through the drunks and clouds in smoky bars hoping to meet Mr. or Ms. Right.
How many times have you met someone at the [bookstore/library/Blockbuster/etc] and had high expectations. After multiple dates and several months, you discover that the person isnât at all what you expect. âIf only I had known they didnât like cats in the beginning. I could have saved myself two months of aggravation!â If you were able to screen your dates like people query Google, the world would be a much easier place.
Internet dating has changed the way that people meet, greet, and connect. No longer do you have to wait to find out small details about a person. There are a few great sites that allow you to build a query, revise your query, and select the people that youâd most like to meet. From there, youâre free to email them, chat with them online, and possible schedule a date. After that, itâs up to the two of you, and Mother Nature.
Just talk to people that have used internet dating. Theyâll testify that itâs one of the easiest ways to meet new people that they are well matched with. And not just one person, depending on how selective you are there can be hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people. Your best friend told you, âthere are lots more fish in the seaâ… well, fishing is not what it used to be. You still use a net, but this is a new type of net!
Not convinced yet? Need more reasons to try dating online? Here are five:
* Variety: Where else can you sort through a giant database of eligible people looking for the same thing that you are?
* You are in 100% control: Connect with the people that you want to connect with. If you see someone that looks interesting, send them a message or chat with them through a secure, double blind system.
3) Community: Meet2Go.com provides you with the tools to wander among like-minded people in your virtual community. Not everyone is the same, but you can be as specific, or as open, about your desired match as you would like. Itâs that simple.
2) Itâs convenient: Chat from your own home. When is the last time you cruised the singles bars wearing your pajamas, or even no pants at all, and no one noticed? Probably never. Now, the only people that know will be the ones that you tell.
1) Itâs Free: Sign up, come inside, and look around all you want. There are no charge for the basic services and you can âscope out the singlesâ until your heart is content.
Chloe Miller http://www.meet2go.com
London nightlife is vibrant and full of activities for young and old. London has an enormous variety of night entertainment to please everyone.
London’s theatres in the West End and on the South Bank are world famous. There is a healthy, innovative fringe theatre scene too, plus world-class ballet and opera in venues such as Sadler’s Wells, the Royal Opera House and the Coliseum.
London offers a wide range of theatrical entertainment including musical, drama, thriller and comedy.
In London you will be able to hear the best music, ranging from classical, jazz and rock to rhythm and blues. There are excellent indoor arenas like the O2 Arena and the Royal Albert Hall to stage top-class concerts. Concerts in London are well organised and attract top international artists.
London nightlife for the dedicated movie buffs means there are hundreds of different films, both in large, multi-screen complexes and excellent small independent cinemas.
London Pubs and Bars play an important role in London nightlife. Apart from serving good food and drinks, pubs also provide excellent entertainment. Some pubs have live music, like modern jazz at the Bull’s Head in Barnes, and the Golden Eagle in Marylebone is a central London piano pub with nostalgic singalongs a few times a week.
Sports bars are popular as well. The Sports Cafe at 80 Haymarket, Piccadilly, has four bars over two floors, a dance stage and 120 television sets showing global sporting events.
Nightclubs and cabarets are hot again. These are scattered from Soho to Shoreditch and most of them have restaurants serving great food. They also cater for stag nights and hen parties. Notable nightclubs include Egg Nightclub in Kings Cross, Cargo Nightclub in Shoreditch and Pacha located in Victoria.
You can also go on a London nightlife bus tour of the West End night clubs. They also cater for comedy nights at one of London’s infamous comedy bars.
Renowned as the world’s dining capital, London thrives on an extraordinary culinary diversity. With lots of Chinese, Indian, Italian and French restaurants, eating out in London restaurants enable you try out different cuisines from around the world.
The broadest choice of restaurants are scattered around Covent Garden, Piccadilly, Leicester Square, Soho and Mayfair. There are also plenty of great restaurants in Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate and Kensington.
Many people are taking up dancing in London, both to keep fit as well as for fun. From jazz to hip hop, ballet to ballroom, pole dancing to tap, you can do it all in London.
Dance Attic Studios in Fulham host dance classes including hip hop, ballet, jazz, salsa and Bollywood. Danceworks in Mayfair offer an array of classes including Broadway tap, flamenco and burlesque. Marylebone Dance Studio in Marylebone has classes in ballet, belly dance, swing and folk as well as general fitness and martial arts.
Chow Siew is a retired management accountant. He now enjoys travelling and is the webmaster of http://www.my-london-breaks.com . This site provides event news and activities in London including hotel accommodation , theatre and concert tickets and London Passes.
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Upsizing or downsizing, establishing a second or even third office, relocating to a more prestige location or simply finding somewhere that is more affordable in uncertain times – these are many of the reasons that you may be looking for a new office space in London.
While location, location, location is always going to be the mantra when it comes to finding residential property – and may still be a significant factor in choosing commercial office space in London, depending on your sector and your particular needs – there may be another more important choice to make before you decide exactly where you’re going to move to: should I rent a serviced office space or a conventional leasehold commercial property in London?
Each has its benefits and its drawbacks. However, the following key factors should help you decide:
1. Flexibility of contract
There is no real question that serviced office space is more flexible in terms of your financial commitment – contracts tend to be extremely short and can be terminated with little or even no notice. A standard leasehold agreement for a conventional commercial office space in London would be for 5 years with a break in the 3rd year so represents a far more long-term commitment. However the flexibility of serviced offices comes at a premium and generally you would pay much more compared to a conventional space.
2. Flexibility of space
While contracts are flexible with a serviced office, your use of the space will not be and it is likely that, not only will you have to abide by regulations when using the space, but you will also be unable to redecorate or personalize the space to suit your business needs. That said, you can upgrade or downgrade as required – so if the physical nature of your business changes you can adapt quickly and easily.
Conventional commercial office space provides a much more bespoke environment for your office – you can redecorate, refurbish and redesign the space totally according to your needs: for customer-facing and cutting-edge industries such as design agencies, media companies or architects for example may require a more flexible space that reflects their business more effectively, provides a showcase for their services and an attractive place to bring clients. Of course, such a space will mean a certain loss of flexibility in terms of ability to expand or contract at will and therefore will suit well-established, essentially predictable businesses better than new, uncertain or rapidly changing businesses.
3. Price
For most businesses, the bottom line with office space is going to be cost and, while serviced offices offer a great deal of flexibility they are not a cost effective way of housing your business in the long-term. A conventional office space in London, particularly if you have sourced it through a company who can aggressively negotiate rents on your behalf (rather than a commercial estate agent who represents his clients interests first and foremost) will virtually always make the most commercial sense for an established business.
Shivani Gurtu-Louth – Operations Manager of Devono Property Limited. Devono are the only commercial property agents in London to exclusively represent tenants looking for office space in London to rent. Our aim is to secure the best commercial property at the best price. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Shivani Gurtu-Louth Devono Operations Manager Tel(DDI): +44 (0)20 7096 9911 E-mail: sg@devono.com
One of Britain?s prime ministers said that Malta?s capital city, Valletta, is a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen. Truly, Valletta ranks as one of the most beautiful cities in the world filled with breathtaking architectures that reflect the richness of Malta?s culture and history. If you find your way in Valletta, it is a smart idea to have a camera with you because you will surely find yourself wanting to capture the wonderful sights of the city. There are many places you can visit in Valletta and most of them are easily accessible by public transportation. Valletta is one of the cities in the world that has something to offer to anybody, whatever the interest. Museums and Theatres National Museum of Archaeology ? All the prehistoric relics of ancient Valletta are displayed in this museum. Collections of pottery, scriptures, sculptures and other works of art by early Maltese natives can be found here. Each floor is dedicated to the different eras in Valletta: Baroque, Bronze, Byzantine, Punic, Roman and the modern age Valletta. Grandmaster?s Palace Armoury ? The House of Representatives and the President of Malta can be found on the Grandmaster?s Palace. The Palace?s armoury contains different types of armours, weapons and artilleries that date as far back as the 15th century. The British Government once tried transferring the collection to London in the 1850?s and caused public disapproval. Malta War Museum ? Located at Fort Saint Elmo, the place where the bloodiest battle in Malta took place. The fort itself has withstood the Great Siege against the Ottoman Empire. The Museum displays the important role of the military during the British occupation of Malta in the 1800?s. Manoel Theatre ? is the third oldest working theatre in Europe. The Manoel theatre is the National Theatre of Malta and is where the Orkestra Nazzjonali, or the National Orchestra of Malta, is found. Royal Opera House ? Designed by Edward Middleton Barry, and English architect, this opera house was built in 1866. During 1873, the interior of the opera house was burned but was restored four years later. Before being bombed in 1942 during World War II, the Royal Opera House was the most imposing sight in Valletta. Dining Out Gianni ? Serves Mediterranean cuisine with a modern ambiance. The restaurant is located above an elevated bastion giving patrons a great view of the city and the sea. Da Pippo Trattoria ? Is a restaurant favourite by many of the locals. Da Pippo Trattoria serves different Sicilian and Maltese dishes. The only problem with this restaurant is that it can only accommodate few people, but the cuisine is worth waiting for. Chiaro Scuro ? Has a fantastic selection of wine, so if you are a wine aficionado, Chiaro Scuro is one of the places you need to visit. During the day, this restaurant serves buffet lunches. Events and Festivals in Valleta Malta Arts Festival ? This festival starts during July 1 until the 15th. The Malta Arts Festival is packed with daily events and various displays of art in different media. Malta Fireworks Festival ? Is a festival boasts the ingenuity of the firework?s factory in Malta by the Malta Tourism Authority. This festival is held during April or May. Village Fiesta – Once summer hits Malta, it is fiesta time! This tradition has been passed down for generations since the 16th century and is one of a must-see in Malta. The fiesta lasts for a week and ends on either Sat***ay or Sunday with firework display.
Holidaysmaltagozo is a great place to find out more about Malta & Gozo Town Valletta and also about Harbour Cruises in Malta. Visit our web site to learn more.
From Deadline|London editor Tim Adler: Observers I’ve spoken to say that the decision to wind down the London office of 19 Entertainment could be the first sign of owner CKX preparing to sell. Staff at 19’s London office have been put …
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The high travel season is at the corner now. People from all walks of life around the world are currently busy searching for the best offers of air and land travel, accommodations, vacation packages to suit their dreams, needs and budgets. Some of them have even started to make their reservations.
Here I would like to emphasize one vitally important thing, which is a must to remember when booking a trip, but ignored by a great number of travelers.
Much has been written on the importance of having insurance coverage while you are on a trip, away from home. This is an issue that remains somewhat ignored by many travelers. After all, they have been traveling frequently for many years, and nothing happened so far to worry about. So, to buy a travel insurance should not a be a must. It is only an optional precaution!
But, reality urges us to believe traveling anywhere in the world without protection today, is a vital mistake. Regardless of where you are traveling in the world, you must have an insurance coverage to survive any unexpected attacks and disasters, especially after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.A.
Let’s say, you have been planning the trip of your dreams for a long time; you have finally found the opportunity to make your long time dreams of a special trip come true.
You are so excited! You have thought of all the details. You have been actively preparing for this travel; thinking, programming, shopping . . . spending a lot of time, money, and energy! You are proud of yourself that you have finally managed to materialize your dream!
Your trip can really be an unforgettable experience from start to the end, on one condition.
When booking your trip, you should have remembered that, like most exciting events in our lives, travel has some important risks, too. For example, potential medical and/or financial risks associated with travel, can suddenly turn all the excitement and pleasures of the trip to a nightmare.
Your baggage and/or your hand bag with your money, passport, credit cards in, can be stolen leaving you desperate & frustrated in a foreign country.
No one can guarantee that a natural disaster would not happen at the place you would be staying during your trip.
An unexpected accident, injury or illness would suddenly ruin everything. In fact, in the recent years medical costs have increased dramatically, worldwide. How would you be able to pay the emergency medical expenses, expensive hospital bills if you needed an urgent treatment, or surgery and care during your travel when you have lost your money, credit cards, and passport? Isn’t it a real nightmare?
In such a frustration, the only thing you would have needed to survive was a reliable medical and travel insurance policy, wasn’t it?.
Especially in the light of the horrible threats on and after September 11 t******** attacks, the war on terror, other ruthless terror attacks in Istanbul, Spain, Egypt and London, frequent flight disruptions and cancellations, airlines’ bankruptcies, and more. In addition, travel suppliers such as tour operators and airlines worldwide have made cancellation policies more restrictive.
Therefore, if you have to cancel a trip, it’s likely that a big portion of your pre-paid travel expenses will not be refunded by travel suppliers.
Recent SARS and bird flu threats have also been urging travelers and vacationers to seriously consider to buy a travel and medical insurance.
Travel Insurance types and prices defer from one travel insurance provider to another.
You have to review, compare and select the best offers to suit your personal needs.
For instance, some insurance providers do not offer coverage outside the U.S.A. Some companies do not provide emergency medical coverage and care, while others do.
Some airlines do not accept to be held responsible for the acts of God, weather problems, natural disasters, riots and unrests, SARS, bird flu, and similar outbreaks.
The Insurance types you will need on a trip are reviewed below:
Last Minute Cancellation Insurance
With the last minute cancellation and/or interruption insurance you will get coverage on non-refundable deposits you had made when you bought your travel insurance. Read the fine print on the policy carefully when buying this insurance. You should discuss your personal needs with your insurance agent before buying it.
Medical Insurance
This is one of the most important insurance policies you should have. Buying health and medical insurance must be considered as an important part of your travel budget. You can face a health problem or an accident anywhere and anytime during your trip. Be sure your medical and health insurance policy covers illness, accidents, surgeries, hospitalization bills in the countries you will be visiting, emergency medical transportation to your home country. Please remember to have your policies with you when traveling, leaving the copies of your insurance policies with a relative in your home country, in case the policies you have with you are lost.
Comprehensive Insurance Policy
This policy generally covers emergency medical transportation and trip cancellation and interruption, plus other needs you would expect. This insurance costs 5 to 7 percent of the total cost of the trip. You should have it for your safety.
What types of insurance policies do we need for a full protection?
The Essential Insurance Types offered by most providers are Travel, Last Minute, Medical, Health, Life, Hotel, Cruise, Air, Vacations, Luxury, car insurance, sports, and Spa Insurance policies.
Some travel insurance companies also offer affordable coverage for a wide range of winter sports including Ski, Off-Piste and Snowboarding.
We might need not one, but several types of insurance policies according to the general conditions at the destinations we’re going to.
If your your kids are going with you, many travel insurance providers let them go free with adults.
Some companies provide policies for students, backpackers, cheap travel, holiday insurance, long stay, international, family travel, single travel, annual travel, annual multi-trips, and more. It’s good to know that in this cyber age, you can buy the insurance policies you need online, without even leaving your home.
Most Travel Insurance policies cover Luggage Loss, too.
But you should definitely ask about what’s covered and what’s not when choosing Travel Insurance Policy to buy. Do ask questions, all questions you might have in mind, until you get all the information you need. It’s much better to ask questions when buying insurance than to be sorry later.
How can I find the best insurance type to suit my personal or family needs?
When choosing a travel insurance policy to buy, you should get information on the offers of various insurance providers to compare.
Knowing how time consuming is to search, compare and choose the best travel and medical insurance types and prices to suit your needs and budget, we advice to visit the websites where you can find lists and information about various offers, then compare them, and choose the best ones to suit your needs.
You should keep in mind that buying your travel insurance through travel insurance providers, instead of travel agencies, would save you money in most cases.
In the light of t******** attacks, unexpected natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, deadly hurricanes, floods, epidemics, accidents, illness, SARS, bird flu, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives at many places around the world, especially in the recent years, every traveler must seriously consider to buy a travel health and a medical insurance, and some other insurance policies if needed, providing a reliable full coverage against both expected and unexpected threats.
Copyright © Aall-Dreamlands.com 2005
About the Author: Sevim OR has been an online marketer, owner and operator of several Marketing websites since 1997, helping clients advertise their businesses worldwide, substantially increase sales, revenues, ROI, & achieve big SUCCESS, at: http://www.aaa-advertise.com
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We could all use a break from the monotony of our jobs and the humdrum of domestic chores, and the first thing that comes to mind is often a vacation. As many health experts say, taking a vacation every now and then is indispensable to good health.
The next thing we do is look for great travel deals through a travel agency. This is important because if taking a vacation means emptying out our wallets and bank accounts, what good can that do to our financial health? In dire economic times, topmost in our minds is to get the best deals, which are typically possible only from travel agencies.
Many people think that getting travel deals on the Internet is the way to go. The reason for this is that there is very little overhead involved. Online ticket sellers donât need a physical location; all they need is a web site and a marketing campaign. A recently released white paper says, however, that people who book with travel agents receive discounts of as much as $56.00 more than when booking with the Internet or with an airline.
Great Deals through Your Travel Agency: Tips
Here are some things to bear in mind when you want to obtain great deals through a travel agency.
1. Remember the concepts of off-peak and peak â these concepts relate to travel time periods. For instance, peak travel periods would be Thanksgiving, Christmas, graduation and Easter. You probably still might get a great deal, but chances are very slim. Peak season equates with greater demand for tickets and more crowded airports, not to speak of higher fuel costs. You can obtain great deals if you schedule your trip during off peak travel periods.
2. Air consolidators â when you hear someone say, âmy ticket is a consolidated ticketâ, that means they are travelling to an overseas destination like Asia or Europe and their travel agents sold them consolidated tickets. Agents have access to consolidated tickets because they have special and exclusive arrangements with major carriers, thanks to frequent volume purchases.
3. Wide network of providers â travel agents work on special computer systems that provide access to the worldâs discounted travel packages. This is why your best bet is to deal with a travel agent when hunting for deals because agents use the most sophisticated program applications, technology and relationships to do some bargain hunting for you.
4. Group travel – just as buying in bulk would fetch a lower price at a food wholesaler, your travel agent will be pleased to seek additional discounts for you if youâre travelling in a group. If you tell your travel agent that you need tickets for a party of four or five people, the potential of obtaining great deals is higher.
5. Budget travel â ask your travel agent for a variety of ways of travelling on a tight budget. You should tell your travel agent that you are willing to take the train, stay in a youth hostel, and eat in cheaper restaurants. Numerous travel associations here and abroad cater to younger travellers who are usually on a limited budget. Your travel agent has access to a wealth of information relating to cheap accommodations and cheap dining, as well as access to discount coupons and free passes to attractions.
6. Advance booking â it used to be that the magic number was â21â; that is, booking your trip 21 days in advance, giving you a cheaper fare. Not anymore. If youâre going to London for Christmas, call your travel agent six to seven months ahead and ask her to look for the cheapest possible flight; be aware though that Christmas time can be an expensive time to travel anywhere. If youâre travelling to say Hong Kong for Chinese New Year, youâre better off booking about seven months ahead.
7. Restricted plane fare â if youâre a no-fuss traveller and you know exactly what you want, tell your travel agent. For instance you can tell your travel agent the following:
· Youâre travelling on say June 21 and thatâs a definite date (which means youâre not going to change the date) and youâre returning on July 31 (again no changing of dates);
· You donât mind a circuitous route (direct flights are more expensive)
· Youâre open to taking red eye flights
· You donât mind being on stand-by
· Remember that if you do change the dates, you could be paying a penalty.
8. Retiree – if you are a retiree, tell your travel agent. Some travel agents offer hot deals to seniors and have special relationships with hotels and sightseeing tour operators that cater specifically to this age group.
9. Children â again, some travel agents can offer half fares or practically free fares for children under a certain age. Some agents will even offer the fourth ticket free if youâre travelling with four children.
10. Day of the week â it matters what day of the week you want to travel â provided these days are not close to national holidays. For instance, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sat***ay are considered off-days.
Jeremy Foster is a freelance writer who writes about vacationing and the travel industry, often discussing tips and travel deals one would find through working with a travel agency.
More people are becoming interested in travelling to the Orient, either in search of spiritualism, or just to get a taste of the unique culture that places like China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and others can offer.
China travel is particularly interesting because of the variety of interesting places and cultural hot spots that can be found. Another very important factor is that a holiday to China is very easy on your budget. The accommodation facilities are cheap, yet comfortable and tasteful, and there are several places to visit which tourists can easily avail of either through a holiday tour guide, or simply by getting a map and a backpack and setting off in search of adventure.
China is a country that has the largest population statistics, yet other than the cities, large portions of rural China are full of scenic beauty and tranquil settings and will give you the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday activities if that is what you are looking for.
China holidays are becoming increasingly popular with student groups as well. The advent of globalisation has resulted in airfare prices being reduced, and as a result, there are several cheap flights to China, whether you are looking to take a flight from the UK to China between semesters and go on a sightseeing trip, or if you are interested in the Beijing Olympics of 2008. Accommodation is cheap and the food is inexpensive and available on every street corner from small eateries to roadside stalls to high-end restaurants.
One of the must-see places in China is the Great Wall. This remarkable manmade structure can even be seen from the moon and has been listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Wall is said to be over 6000 kilo metres long and was built to defend China from the Huns. It is certainly worth going to China just to see this one part of history, if not for anything else. Even if you take a flight to Beijing, the Great Wall is at good proximity to the city so you could easily pay a visit there.
Another great place to visit in China is Shanghai. This is an ultra modern city full of skyscrapers and steel and glass buildings located near the Yangtze River delta. The Oriental Pearl TV tower will offer you a breathtaking view of the entire city and make for some wonderful photographs and memories.
Shanghai is known as the “Oriental Paris” and makes for excellent cheap shopping. The prices are affordable and almost everyone who visits China takes a flight to Shanghai, China because this is the country’s most important city, second to Hong Kong. Shanghai also draws tourists to places like Mt. Sheshan, Chongming Island, Dingshan Lake, and the shopping malls of Xujiahui, Yuyuan Shopping City, and Jiali Sleepless City.
If you are on a China holiday to Shanghai, then make sure to take in the sights of the Donghai Bridge, which is the world’s longest bridge across the sea, the Jing’an Temple, and the beautiful Xujiahui Cathedral.
There are many cheap flights to China, if you are planning to go over and see the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. You can take a cheap flight to Beijing from London or any other place in the United Kingdom. Besides the Olympics, the Forbidden City is the greatest tourist destination in Beijing. Having been declared a world heritage site, the Forbidden City will give you an understanding of China’s history, ancient culture, and traditions.
Honk Kong has many cheap flights that shuttle to and fro straight from the UK as well as from other parts of the world, so making your way to this exquisite city will be fast and convenient, not to mention gentle on your budget. Hong Kong will offer you a chance to experience a blending of Chinese culture, as well as see firsthand the strong influences of the West, whether it is a traditional Catholic church or an English pub where ale is served. Victoria Peak draws several thousand tourists, being the highest mountain in Hong Kong and the best place for a panoramic view of the city. The view of Hong Kong at night from atop Victoria Peak is said to be one of the most incredible sights in China.
Since China is such a massive country, it is almost impossible to experience all that it has to offer on a single trip to the country. However, no matter which places you visit on your China travel holiday, you are guaranteed to come away enriched, especially if you include the Great Wall of China on your list and make a stop at Shanghai.
It doesn’t matter whether you are backp****ng your way from one place to another, or are on a luxury sightseeing trip, China will give everyone who visits an unforgettable holiday.
Cheap Flight To China Tel: 08700 490002 or +44 (0)1780 484824 Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm or Sat – Sun 10am – 4pm or visit or for general travel enquiries visit Business Travel Agents
Our staff are multilingual and very friendly with many years of experience.
The epicenter of modern civilization and development, London is a truly global city. The city is not only an important financial and economic hub but it is a global centre for fashion, art, media, entertainment and whole load of other genres. For the traveller, London offers a veritable feast of absolutely fascinating things to see and do. Among these is the world renowned Royal Albert Hall.
Located in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London is a global centre and venue for arts and is the host of the ever popular annual summer Proms concerts for nearly 70 years. The Royal Albert Hall building itself is an easily recognizable global icon and hosts more than 350 performances each year. This includes rock and pop concerts, classical, opera and ballet concerts, extravagant banquets, various events, awards ceremonies and even tennis tournaments. The Royal Albert Hall was officially opened by Queen Victoria, way back in 1871. The hall was originally dedicated to her late husband Prince Albert who was also known to be a great lover of the arts.
One of the most popular annual events held at the Royal Albert Hall is The Proms. Founded in 1895, The Proms was originally held at the Queens Hall until it was bombed in 1941. Many critiques consider The Proms to be the largest and most democratic music festival in the world with nearly 100 concerts being held during an eight week summer season.
A flagship London hotel, The Langham London features a total of 380 elegantly furnished luxurious guestrooms and suites offering everything a traveller could ever hope for in a hotel room. This London luxury hotel also offers no less than 15 function rooms and the world renowned Palm Court. The property’s location on Regent Street puts guests at the heart of London’s best!
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
Musicians or singers aged between 16 and 25 years are invited to compete for the coveted prize of a year’s licence to busk on London Underground. The winner will also receive studio time, live gigs at various venues and musical …
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mikafanclub.com bring you popworld and the interview they had with Mika at London Zoo 
In terms of density the focus is on central London with local hotspots as the weekend progresses, around Kings Cross and Old Street. There is also a noticable trace along the main transport routes into and out of town, noting that we …
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London has always been among the favorites as a tourist destination. The city now offers even cheaper accommodation which makes it even more attractive to tourists.
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Tourists
The origin of the word “tourist” date back to 1292 AD. It has come from the word ‘tour’. A number of experts have defined the term:”Tourists are the voluntary temporary travelers, traveling in the expectations of pleasure from the novelty and change experienced on a relatively and non-current round-trip”.”Tourist is a person who makes a journey for the sake of curiosity for the fun of traveling”.Tourists are:
-Persons traveling for pleasure, health and domestic reason.-Persons arriving in the sea of sea cruise.-Persons traveling for convention.Tourism – the first commercial venture.A religious Englishman called Thomas Cook in 1841 arranged, for a fee, a one –day rail excursion from Leicester to Loughborough for 540 members of a temperance league. Thus the first bona fide travel agent was Thomas Cook. While Cook himself did not make a profit on this first venture, he was a man of vision and was convinced that there was a need for a skilled “travel arranger”. So by 1845 he had become the first full-time travel agent, operating train excursions from Leicester. The next year he chartered a train and steamer for an excursion to Scotland for 330 people. In 1851 Cook arranged ocean steamship travel and accommodations for more than 1,50,000 visitors to the World Exposition in London and in 1856 he operated the first escorted “grand tour” of Europe. Tours to Europe and Middle East were also conducted and, in 1872, the first around the world tour was conducted.Tourism as a Service Industry
Tourism as a service industry comprises of several allied activities which together produce the tourism product. Involved in the tourism product are three major sub-industries. They are: -1. Tour operators and travel agents.2. Accommodation sector (hoteling and catering) and3. Passenger accommodation.According to international estimates, a tourist spends 35% of his total expenditure on transportation, about 40% on lodging and food and the balance 25% on entertainment, shopping and incidentals.The product in this case is not confirmed to travel and accommodation but includes a large array of auxiliary services ranging from insurance and entertainment and shopping, demand generation, in addition to the consumer motivation, is also heavily dependent upon powerful persuasive communication both at the macro (country) level and the micro (enterprise) level. The participants in the process of this service business can be illustrated by the figure below.Some of the pointers to nature of tourism as a Service Industry1. Tourism accounts for nearly 6% of world trade.2. Bulk of tourism business is located in Europe and North America., with 1/8 of the market being shared between the other regions.3. The highest growth rate in tourism in recent years has been in the third world.4. Tourism, like most pure services, because of the character of inseparability, exemplifies a product, which cannot be sampled before purchase; the prospective consumers have to travel to a foreign destination in order to consume the product.5. The major players in the tourism market include a number of intermediary companies. Some of them transnational in character, some of them exhibit vertical integration, both backward and forward, acquiring interests in all major sectors of this service industry.The Tourism Product- Factors Governing Demand.
Because of the unique nature of the nature of tourism product- it being an amalgam of the characteristics of a destination and the infrastructural as well as managerial efforts of the promoter, the determinants of tourists demand emanate from both individual tourist motivations and the economic, social, technological factors. Some of these are:
• Income Levels
In the last 30 years, disposable incomes around the world have shown upward trends, thus allowing more money for activities like leisure travel. Smaller families have meant higher allocations per person in the family. More and more women are entering the workforce and in real terms the cost of travel has fallen. The dramatic rise of tourism in the last 50 years can be attributed in a large measure to the combined effect of more leisure time and rise in both real and disposable incomes.• More Leisure time:
Increasing unionization of labour right from 1930 onwards has reduced the number of working hours per week. Changing managerial orientations towards human resources have increased the levels of pay and paid vacation time in most developed countries. Now people have longer periods of leisure, which could be allocated to travel.• Mobility
Better transportation and communication services have made the world a smaller place, and have brought both exposure and awareness of distant lands to larger sections of potential tourists across the world. Faster modes of transport have cut down on travel time, making it easier for people to economically plan and execute trips abroad.• Growth in Government Security Programmes and Employment Benefits:
The growth in government security programmes and well entrenched policies of employee benefits mean that quite a large number of families may have long term financial security and may be more willing to spend money for vacations.Tourist Classification:-
Tourists can be classified into the following seven demand categories:-1. Explorer: – Very limited in number, these tourists are looking for discovery and involvement with local people.2. Elite: – People who favour special, individually trips to exotic places.3. Offbeat: – These are filled with a desire to get away from the usual humdrum life.4. Unusual: – Visitors who are looking forward to trips with peculiar objectives such as physical danger or isolation.5. Incipient mass: – A steady flow, traveling alone or in small-organized groups using some shared services.6. Mass: – The general packaged tour market, leading to tourist enclaves abroad.7. Charter: – Mass travel to relaxation destinations, which incorporate as many as standardized, developed world facilities as possible.The Travel Decision:-
The average tourist is faced with considerable uncertainty regarding the decision and may have only scanty ideas about distant destinations. His evaluation of alternatives is also limited to the extent of this awareness about possible destinations. The stages of travel decision can be described as: -1. Travel Desire:-The first step where the need to travel is felt and the pros and cons are thought about.2. Information Collection and Evaluation:-This stage involves the process of finding out the trip from travel agents, books and acquaintances .information so collected is evaluated against criteria of cost and time constraints, alternative possibilities, relative attractiveness of destinations, perceived ‘safety’ o the alternative destinations etc.3. Travel Decision:-This is the decision phase involving selection of destination, travel, mode of accommodation and activities to be undertaken.4. Travel Preparation and Experience:-This involves tickets, bookings, travel, money and documents arrangement, clothing and undertaking of the travel.5. Travel Satisfaction Evaluation:-The whole tourism expenditure is constantly evaluated before, during and after the experience is used to influence future decisions.The marketing concept for the travel and tourism industry is profit driven and customer centric (unlike sales which are volume driven and target centric).Service Marketing TriangleService marketing is unique in many ways in the travel and tourism industry. There are 3 players in the transaction process:-
- Company: A travel and tourism company listens to the customers and evolves/develops the travel/tour package and it communicates the attractiveness and the utility of that very tour package directly to the customers. Here it (the company) performs external marketing. The company makes promises to the customers.- Providers: They are a travel company’s internal customers constituting employees and agents. The company does internal marketing with the providers educating and motivating them about the idea of the particular tour package which they can offer to their customers. This is done to enable the providers to effectively carry out the service transaction process. The providers make provisions for office space, accessibility and connectivity. The company enables promises to be kept by this infrastructural association.- Customers (Travelers): The customers are the reasons that the travel company exists and for whom the company has designed the traveling and touring package as well as set up the infrastructural facilities and spent money on employee development programmes. Here the providers are the only ones who interact with the customers, like the travel agents interact with the customers and not the company. The agents perform interactive marketing which is on-time, all-time, every-time. This is the most crucial aspect of service marketing in the travel and tourism sector. Those agents have the responsibility of ‘keeping promises’ made and enabled by the company. The providers (agents) are responsible for the perceived quality level of the service transaction. This underlines the uniqueness of service marketing. Tourism Products:
1. Accommodation• Hotels• Motels• Boatels• Flotels
2. Destination
• Natural Scenes• Historic Excellence• Artificial Beauties• Social Cultural Excellence
3. Transportation
• Infrastructurali. Airwaysii. Railwaysiii. Roadwaysiv. Waterways
• Local
i. Local transport
4. Tour operators
• Travel companies• Travel agents• Guides
5. Shopping
• Handicrafts• Handloom• BooksMarketing mix for tourism product:
The designing of the marketing mix variables in case of tourism is significant as it helps the marketer in conceiving the right ideas, particularly to raise the acceptability of the tourist product by stimulating and penetrating the demand. Framing of a proper marketing mix is significant because it helps the tourist organization in accomplishing the objective and projecting a fair image.Product Mix:
Tourism is a composite product with components like attraction facilities and transportation. Attraction deserves an intensive care. It includes natural site, places of historic interest, events and cultural attraction.
The facilities compliment attraction. The facilities include accommodation, food, transportation and recreational facilities. The transportation component includes the vehicles and infrastructure. Innovation in the tourism product helps raising the sensitivity. The users of the service are looking forward to better and improved product.
The provider of the tourist is a travel agent or the package tour. A well conceived and designed package tour, covering a wide range of tourist attraction at an economic price, helps in attracting the potential tourist.
The travel agent performs numerous activities such as hotel arrangement and accommodation, site seeing arrangement, domestic transport arrangement, air travel arrangement etc.In a true sense the tour agents and the travel agents are the vehicles who can give a fillip to the tourism industry, provided they are well trained.Pricing:
Pricing of the tourist product is complex. Geographical location of the destination, seasonality and varying demand affects the pricing decision.In India the pricing strategies become important for promoting or contracting the tourism industry, since more than 40% of the total population are below the poverty line. In order to develop the tourism industry more and more potential users are to be transformed into actual users.
When a tourist proposes to visit a particular place, the total cost of his traveling also include the expenses incurred on transportation, accommodation and communication.Liberal pricing strategy is found to be a productive pricing decision, particularly in case of tourism industry. The pricing strategy which includes low income group people, student and retired persons can be more effective. This is possible if the government concessional and subsidized infrastructural facilities to the potential tourist below the average income.
The different pricing methods generally used are cost based pricing, demand based pricing and competition based pricing. Promotions:
The promotion mix includes advertising, publicity, sales support and public relations. The purpose of promotion is to make available the information to the user. Advertising the sales promotion can be effective when supplemented by publicity and personal selling.Radio, TV, newspapers, cinema and printings are some of the important vehicles for traveling of messages. Effective slogans raises the effectiveness of advertisement.
Another important component of the promotion mix is public relation. It helps in projecting the image of an organization. Public relation and publicity include regular articles and photographs of tour attraction, use of TV and travel journalists to promote editorial comment.Public relation officer plays an important role. He should be efficient, active, impressive, intelligent and well-behaved.
Good image projection can be made if the PRO manages the affair like a professional. It is said that word of mouth is the best form of publicity. The word of mouth promotion is an important tool in tourism marketing.Place:
The tourist centers should be located at suitable points if the tourists spots are natural there is no question of selection. In a vast country like India with a divergent socioeconomic and cultural patterns, the promotion of domestic tourism encourages unity in diversity.Infrastructural facilities, transport and communication are important for development of tourist centres. The site selected should have natural surroundings, increased accessibility and improved amenities. At the same time it is also important that the ecological balance is not disturbed. Since growing ecological imbalances leads to pollution, some important steps like promoting afforestation, promotion and beautification may be undertaken in countering the side effects of atmospheric pollution and maintaining ecological balance.
i am an graduate in business management studies and learning computer programming languages since the past 7 to 8 years. i also have practical knowledge in the field marketing and human resources.
On the 8th of March, the city of Edinburgh is likely to see an influx of tourists to see the England v Scotland rugby union match as part the 2008 Six Nations Championship. Held at Murrayfield Stadium – with a capacity just shy of 68,000 spectators – the game itself is just one reason to plan a trip to the Scottish capital. If you are planning on attending the match, there are plenty of things to do before and afterwards to make the trip to Auld Reekie as entertaining and rich as possible.
As one of the most picturesque cities in the UK, Edinburgh combines the ancient and modern with a uniquely Scottish feel. Its historic centre is bisected by Princes Street Gardens, a broad piece of parkland in the heart of the city. To the south is the medieval Old Town, watched over by Edinburgh Castle, perched atop an extinct volcanic crag, while to the north lies the Georgian-period New Town and Princes Street itself – the main thoroughfare and shopping street of the city.
Though the cityâs public transport might seem relatively incomprehensive compared to London or even Glasgow, this shouldnât be a drawback for tourists. One of the beauties of Edinburgh is its compactness â most of the sights and major tourist attractions are within the Old Town and New Town areas of the city and are no further than a 15 minute walk apart, making walking along beautiful and lively streets one of the pleasures of the city. Be prepared however, to deal with a number of hills. For instance, walking from Princes Street, up towards Edinburgh Castle requires some significant legwork up The Mound and the Royal Mile, but is well worth the effort for the views en route.
If you do opt to use public transport, Edinburgh is serviced by two bus companies: Lothian and First. There are also at least three companies that operate sightseeing buses throughout the year. Each sightseeing bus follows a different route around the city, but start and finish at Waverley Bridge, next to Waverley Station on Princes Street.
If you do plan on taking in a lot of the sights, the Edinburgh Pass is well-worth considering; offering entry to many of Edinburgh’s top attractions, a 90-page guidebook and discounts on restaurants and shops. The Edinburgh Pass also includes free public transport around the city and to and from the airport. The cityâs best-known sights include the aforementioned Edinburgh Castle, The Palace of Holyroodhouse, St Giles’ Cathedral, the Royal Mile, The Whisky Museum and the Scottish Parliament. A little further afield, the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored in Leith Docks, just a short bus ride away from the city centre.
Edinburgh is said to have the highest pub per capita ratio in the UK and any trip to Edinburgh should convince you that this is more than mere boasting! There are plenty of traditional pubs throughout the city as well as concentrated in areas such as the Grassmarket and along Rose Street. There are also lots of modern clubs around the Cowgate and George Street, the latter being slightly more upmarket, catering to every type of music and budget imaginable.
Though it is considered one of the most expensive cities in the UK, hotels in Edinburgh are generally good value for money, with B&Bâs and hostels available for the more budget-conscious. Be sure to book accommodation well in advance if you are planning on attending the rugby, though, as the best deals are likely to have been snapped up nearer to the game time.
Be careful though! You might find that with so much on offer to see and do around Edinburgh, you might forget about the rugby altogether!
Paul McIndoe is an online, freelance financial journalist. He lives in Edinburgh with his two dogs.
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