Saturday, April 21, 2007

Spectacular Norway

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Spectacular Norway By J. Foley

If you choose to shift your gears and select Norway as one of your travel destinations, then you must know interesting trivia it. You will not regret a chance of a lifetime experience in Norway, being one of the Nordic countries (Scandinavian Region). Its economy is one of the highest in rank worldwide, which means it could offer one the best amenities for a satisfactory chosen destination.

It is the second oil producer in the world next to the Arabian countries. It shares cultural and political commonness with its neighboring Nordic countries namely Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark, all located in extreme Northern Europe with synonymous history and autonomy. But what makes Norway truly one unique travel spot?

Norway has unique geographic interests as a peninsula with its longest perimeter coastline across Europe, lined by the stretch of world famous 114-mile Fjords. This only gives a good picture on how unique the geographic characteristics of Norway is compared to other nation.

Its climate is characterized to be temperate changing to sub-arctic, comparable to some parts of Western United States, while summers are warmer ranging from 20 to 21 degrees Celsius, in rare cases climbing to 35 degrees Celsius. To get further, here are some of the hottest places worth traveling for around Norway:

FJORDS:

It is the outstanding spot Norway is known for uniquely in the Northern and Western boundaries, with glaciers and waterfalls as part of the scenery. Romadalen Valley, also known as the Western Fjord, is one the great showcases of Norway's Vertical slopes through the very narrow routes passing through Trollstigen pass.

OSLO:

Norway's Capital is a splendid City, where a traveler can enjoy the first class train ride at Bergen Railway to enjoy the long natural panorama of ice covered landscape with waterfalls as well as spectacular view of the fjords. It is a route for a joy ride length 470 kilometers from Oslo to Bergen.

Oslo is very attractive City because of its vast greeneries and open space due to its low population compared to other European Capitals. Two-thirds of the City comprised protected forests, lakes and hilly landscapes with generous airy space for parks and greeneries. It is common to find wild mustang lurking the metropolis especially during the winter season.

Sculptural garden in Vigland Park is a much sought-after places to go to in Oslo. The artistic sculptural expositions are the sole accomplishment of the famous Gustav Vigland.

ROROS

The place accommodates the best hiking experience to its popular copper-mining town. Historical and old architecture enhances the classic environment for a memorable stay.

LOFOTEN

Known as great place for fishing, these are islands are rugged and not yet exploited by commercial manipulation, Lofoten is a very dramatic place with mountain sceneries unfolded around. It is noted as Norway's main fishing ground.

SVALBARD

Norway has touched the edge of the Artic has tourist destination in the artic circle. The journey to Svalbard gives the opportunity to have a glimpse of the Arctic belt.

While Norway is 10th in rank in the worldwide expensive cost of living survey, it promises finest places to choose as destination. There is something in its autonomous culture worth knowing being a sub-part of Nordic culture. What is there to know about Norway that is different from other places? It will take days to grasp its fresh air for a grand stop over. Being there is the only way to know.

travel guide for you
Article Written By J. Foley

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Finding The Best Deal On Last Minute Cruises

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Finding The Best Deal On Last Minute Cruises By J. Foley

They say that an early reservation on cruise ships provides big discounts. Most of the cruise lines want to fill up the ships with reliable vacationers beforehand so they would know if they have sufficient passengers. On the other hand, if you do your reservation in a last minute time, you can still do it well.

Honestly, last minute cruising can also offer a bunch of discounts. However, last minute reservation can involve a great risk. One of the risk is the ship could fill up by the early bird cruisers and leave no space for those getting last minute tickets. Aside from that, if you live far away from the airport and seaport, the airline fare could be very costly.

Both if the plane and shipping companies go with the flow of booking as early as possible. Booking early means cheap fees. As a result of this, having a last minute cruise can give you a much expensive fees.

Waiting until the last moment if not done wisely can cause problems. You must be prudent in a last minute cruise. You must find the best deals with each cruising companies. There are several companies that offer better departure time deals. These deals are intended for most of the last minute cruisers who have no other choice but to book at the last minute. For example, the company can increase the discounts for them in order to reach the designated passenger count for each cruise.

If you are a last minute cruiser, the very important thing that you should do is to sail off before sunset to book the cruises. You can also get a middle man. Middleman can do the entire booking job for you. Another thing is you can also save a lot of cash by using the online cruise booking system. Using online booking system can give you a trouble free access. Aside from that, online booking can also save time and effort all at the comfort of your own home or office.

Another thing to be considered is the flexibility of cruising plans. You must know what you have to do. You must know also where you want to go.

Finding a right last minute cruise deal needs a lot of solid leg work. Destiny helps the person who helps themselves. But if you find the best deal, grab the opportunity right away. Sometimes the shining stars are hidden inside the dark clouds and its up to you to find them.

Now here are some basic tips and strategy how to get into a last minute cruise easily.

• Collect all the important cruise brochures and flyers from the traveling office. Always make sure about the cruise features. Check out also the ships and deck methods online. By doing this, you will be able to find the best idea about the fees, destinations, atmosphere, amenities, recreational option, and types of accommodations.

• Outline places where you want to go. As much as possible talk to the travel agencies. The travel agencies can give you some knowledge regarding the cruise and its details. If not, you can also ask your friends for some advice and recommendations. There are a lot of places to go to and things to see in Alaska.

• Decide how many days you will stay in the cruise. Asking the traveling agencies will give you some idea. You can also ask them about their cruising programs. Normally most known cruises last from 5 to 18 days. On the other hand, there are also some companies that offer longer cruising schedules with more things to see and do.

• Plan how much money you are willing to spend. Your budget will determine what type of cruise you will have. Most probably you can level your budget with cheap, moderate, extra-deluxe, and deluxe type cruises. It is recommended that comparing these types will be a great step to know what to expect. By comparing the basic type of cruises you will know which one can make you most comfortable and enjoyable within your budget.

• Last minute cruise needs a short span of time reservation. To do this properly, talk to a travel agent by phone. Do not hesitate to tell the agent about your budget and your needs. Aside from that, you can also refer to some catalogs to select what cruises are right for you.

• With the assistance of the traveling agent, select the most convenient place of departure. After that, book your own departure points to the transportation office. Not only that, you must also get some additional cost for transportation.

Do not overlook last minute cruising values. You can have a better discount from ship reviews and other vital information. It is better to be prepared before leaving for cruise.

travel guide for you
Article Written By J. Foley

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Packing Tips For An Alaskan Cruise Ship Travel

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Packing Tips For An Alaskan Cruise Ship Travel By J. Foley

Packing for an Alaskan cruise ship travel can be different from packing for other cruises simply because you have to be prepared to encounter any of the four seasons in Alaska. The weather is extremely unpredictable. Therefore, it is better if you have a bit of everything in your luggage.

Winter Wears
Alaska is very cold during most of the year. So, carry a few warm clothes in your gear even if you are planning to visit the place in summer. A good option is to wear layered clothing. You can put on a couple of Polo neck tee shirts and then wear a nice jacket over it. Carry a flannel vest or a ski jacket.

Rainy Gears
Though this is highly unlikely, carry some rain gear as well, because rain is a common occurrence in Alaskan summers. An all weather type jacket is a good thing to carry.

The Formals
Pack for the formal night for the cruise ship travel. This can be pain, but it is better if you are prepared for it. Males can pack in a suit or a tuxedo. They can also get it for rent on the cruise itself. Make sure that they have your size. Women can pack a couple of silky cocktail pants and pair it up with a couple of different tops. A gown is also a good option, but has to be carried and then un-wrinkled.

The rest of the restaurants have more of casual dress attire. So, carry those loose shirts, sports shirts, casual trousers, and pantsuits and blouses for women.

Eye Candy
Another absolute necessity is your camera. Carry a good camera, with extra rolls of film and good batteries. Also, carry a good binocular. Sight seeing in Alaska is a dream and it will never be complete without these two things.

When you carry your winter gear and your rainy gear, do not be left behind on your summer wear. Carry a good pair of swimwear and a good pair of shorts. Another important thing is a good glove. Imagine ending up on a glacier, bare handed.

Your Boots
Carry your good old pair of shoes. Avoid a new one. A shoe bite is something you can avoid while you are taking a hike in the mountains. Carry a good pair of hiking boots rather than carrying your sneakers. If the weather gets cold, the hiking boots along with a good pair of socks will be your best defense against the cold.

Keep these tips in mind and have a safe Alaskan cruise ship travel.

travel guide for you
Article Written By J. Foley