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Швейцария е една от онези места, на които всеки е чувал за, но наистина никой не е бил там. Това дава аура на тайнственост, но и усещане за липса на достъп, както беше Neverland - място, на такива идеалистични качества,,,, че всъщност никога не биха могли да съществуват в реалния свят. Е, добрата новина е, че Швейцария съществува. И това е всяка частица толкова красива, колкото ние си представяме да бъде. Швейцария е една от малкото девствени места по света, където състоянието на най-съвременни технологии и напреднала цивилизация не е задължително да съвпадат със смъртта на природната среда. Пресни зелени пасища, кристално чисти езера, девствени заснежени върхове, гледа надолу на жителите му, докато тези щастливите хора да се възползвате от всички най-новите разработки на 21 век може да предложи. Цюрих, почетния (но не официален) столица на тази земя, на равенството, просперитет и природна красота, е въплъщение на всички най-добрите качества на тази страна. Като един от водещите икономически и финансови градове на света, Цюрих успя да запази своите корени на славното минало и винаги се поставя нуждите на своите граждани за първи път. Тези усилия да reconciliate на технологията и културата, развитието и традиция са били оценени, като го класира непрекъснато Най-добрите градове за живеене година в топ 10 в света след година. Ако искате да изпитате високо качество на живот, посетете Цюрих, дори и само за няколко дни. Граничи с езерото Цюрих, и построен на брега на две реки, градът е една специална връзка с вода се отразява в много фонтани, които можете да се натъкнете неочаквано около всеки ъгъл, където малките улици се разшири, за да образуват един площад или парк . Горди от своята дълга линия на предците, датираща от заселници на неолита и римските колонисти, Цюрих може да се похвали с един забележителен исторически поглед, успешно смесени с модерната си архитектура. Старият град е най-добре запазената част на града,-очарователен всеки посетител просто да се разхождате по тесните калдъръмени пешеходци само улици, граничи от средновековни сгради на града с изящно издълбани декорации, красива на Oriel и богато украсени стъклопис прозорци. Целият град се излъчва една отделна атмосфера с алпийски си архитектура и високи кули, църковни, сред които 500 години Св. Петър Църквата има най-голям циферблат в Европа. Градът е известен също от известната търговска улица, Bahnhofstrasse, където можете да намерите най-скъпите дизайнерски бутици, както и всичко, което парите могат да купят. Не забравяйте, швейцарски часовници не са единственото нещо, което може да донесе обратно към вашите приятели Fashionista. Кафенета, ресторанти, сладкарници се уверете, че имате място да се отпуснете след дълги часове на пазаруване (прозорец). И нищо не бие умора като кутия на оригинални швейцарски шоколади, още от източника! Следвайте носа си, за да намерите гурме ресторанти, защото Цюрих води отворена политика за видовете храни, така че има изобилие от различни кухни, за да се опита. Ако предпочитате по-органичен вид пазаруване, вземете трамвая към езерото Цюрих пазар, където можете да избирате от току-що набрани плодове и зеленчуци, отглеждани от местните земеделски стопани, да не говорим невероятна селекция от истински швейцарски сирена, сладкиши или месо. И дори и да не купуват нищо, просто очите на цъфтящи саксийни цветя, които чакат да намерят своето място в малка градина или перваза на прозорец - това е перфектния сценарий. Но това не би било истинска обиколка на Цюрих, ако не посетите световно известния университет. Швейцарския федерален технологичен институт (ETH Zurich) могат да се похвалят с тази планета повече от 20 лауреати на Нобелова награда. Не е чудно, защото гражданите на Цюрих са известни, да работим усилено, но партията още по-трудно. Цюрих е най-високата плътност на клубовете в страната, така че направете си домашното и да намерят на клуба на мечтите си и специален музикален жанр, преди да премине при търсене на откриването на нощния живот на града. В противен случай отвесни броя на избор може да ви смаже, и ние не искаме това, което правим? Цюрих, разбира се, има много повече да предложи, и всеки посетител може да намери своите точки на интереси, изпълнени в този велик град. Любителите на изкуството? История баба? Технология на онази? Партия на животните? Те имат всичко. Посетете този прекрасен град и ще имате наистина запомнящо се пътуване, за да преживеят.
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Switzerland is one of those places of which everyone has heard about, but no one has really been there. That gives it an aura of mystery, but also a feeling of inaccessibility, like it was Neverland – a place of such idealistic qualities that it could never actually exist in the real world. Well, the good news is, Switzerland exist. And it’s every bit as beautiful as we imagine it to be. Switzerland is one of the few unspoilt places in the world, where state-of-the-art technology and advanced civilization doesn’t necessarily coincide with the demise of natural environment. Fresh green pastures, crystal clear lakes, pristine snowy peaks looking down upon its inhabitants, while these lucky people can take advantage of all the latest developments the 21st century has to offer. Zurich, the honorary (but not official) capital of this land of equality, prosperity and natural beauty, is the epitome of all the best qualities of this country. As one of the leading economic and financial cities of the world, Zurich has managed to maintain its roots to the glorious past and always put its citizens’ needs first. These efforts to reconciliate technology and culture, development and tradition have been appreciated by ranking it continuously in the top 10 World’s Most Livable Cities year after year. If you want to experience high quality of living, visit Zurich, even if only for a few days. Bordered by Lake Zurich, and built on the banks of two rivers, the city has a special connection with water – reflected in its many fountains which you can come across unexpectedly around any corner, where the little streets widen to form a plaza or a park. Proud of its long line of ancestors, dating back from Neolithic settlers and Roman colonists, Zurich can boast of a remarkable historic look, successfully blended with its modern architecture. The Old Town is the best preserved part of the city, charming every visitor to just walk around in its narrow cobbled pedestrians-only streets, bordered by Medieval town buildings with exquisitely carved decorations, beautiful oriel and ornate stained glass windows. The whole town emanates a distinct atmosphere with its Alpine architecture and tall church towers, among which the 500 years old St. Peter’s Church has the largest clock-face in Europe. The city is also known by its famous shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse, where you can find the most expensive designer boutiques, and everything that money can buy. Don’t forget, Swiss watches aren’t the only thing you can bring back to your fashionista friends. Cafes, restaurants, confectioneries make sure you have a place to relax after long hours of (window) shopping. And nothing beats fatigue like a box of original Swiss chocolates, right from the source! Follow your nose to find gourmet restaurants, because Zurich keeps an open policy to food types too, so there are a plethora of different cuisines to try out. If you prefer a more organic type of shopping, take the tram to Lake Zurich Market, where you can choose from freshly picked fruits and vegetables grown by the local farmers, not to mention an amazing selection of veritable Swiss cheeses, pastry or meat. And even if you don’t buy anything, just the sight of the blooming potted flowers waiting to find their way into a small garden or window sill – it’s a picture perfect scenario. But it wouldn’t be a true tour of Zurich, if you didn’t visit its world famous university. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) can boast with giving this Planet more than 20 Nobel Laureates. No wonder, because the citizens of Zurich are known to work hard, but party even harder. Zurich has the highest density of clubs in country, so do your homework and find the club of your dreams and special music genre before embarking upon your quest of discovering the city’s nightlife. Otherwise the sheer number of choices might overwhelm you, and we don’t want that, do we? Zurich, of course, has much more to offer, and every visitor can find their points of interests satisfied in this great city. Art lover? History buff? Technology geek? Party animal? They have got it all covered. Visit this wonderful city and you’ll have a truly memorable trip to experience. If you want to see a truly magnificent city, book a hotel in Berlin. As the second largest city in Europe, Berlin has its own microcosmic energy that fills you up, its own gravitational force to keep you bound to its wonders. Berlin is the place of which you can never get tired, it’s the city that is prepared to astonish you with strange findings at every step you take. Dive into the rich past of this metropolis, and discover its traces that linger on, to widen your horizon and open your eyes to events which left their marks upon history. If you’re in Berlin, you can’t leave without a trip to the Museum Island. This World Heritage Site has the highest “culture per square miles” rate: 5 museums in close quarters! The Pergamun Museum greats you with an original antique Greek altar, and the striking blue Ishtar Gate which was once part of the legends of Babylon. The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) hosts the very best of 19th century paintings, including Classic, Romantic and Impressionistic tableaus and portraits. The Altes and Neues Museums are a must for all those valuing the ancient arts, hiding such archeological treasures as the Bust of Nefertiti, the Berlin Goddess or among others, an exhibition presenting the passing of time through the changing of coins. If you’re more keen on admiring artifacts of the modern era, visit the East Side Gallery, which is an open-air exhibition placed on the largest standing part of the famous Berlin Wall. Interested about the turbulence of the 20th century? Step down to the Topography of Terror where you can have a chilling experience of the time when Nazis and the Gestapo ruled Germany – completely free of charge. But of course there’s more to Berlin than museums and architecture! Did you know, for example, that approximately a third of the city is green? Spend some leisure time outside in the sun unwinding after a whole day of sight seeing in one of the many parks, forests or gardens of Berlin. The Tierpark (Zoo) is an ideal place for grown ups and children who never liked the sight of caged animals. If you prefer flowers over animals, visit the delightful pleasure grounds of Potsdam’s Gardens, where you could spend a whole day just walking around in a haze of wonder at the elaborated palaces, hunting lodges and gardens designed to suit royalties. The Garten der Welt (of the World) assembles the most important garden types known throughout history. Here you will feel the tranquility characteristic of a Japanese Zen Garden, the beauty and vitality of an Italian Renaissance Garden, you can try yourself with the mystery of the Labyrinth, or visit, among others, the traditional yet exotic Oriental “Garden of the Four Streams”. Decided to book a hotel in Berlin? Choose the luxury and excellent services of the five-stars Regent Berlin hotel close to the Gendarmenmarkt with its mirroring French and German Cathedrals. Or if you prefer a more pocket-friendly accommodation, take a look at Industriepalast, a smaller, less fancy place which nevertheless represents the usual German qualities of cleanliness, comfort and hospitality. So book a hotel in Berlin to discover the old city full of beauties and stories, while looking for the new metropolis of glimmering skyscrapers, exciting night-clubs and modern energy of a busy world capital. You’ll see that after visiting this magnificent city, you will be as proud as John F. Kennedy to be able to say: “Ich bin ein Berliner” or at least that you have been, for a couple of days. Book a hotel in Amsterdam and find out its hidden secrets that make it unique for each and every visitor. The cultural capital of Netherlands has two faces: the first presents itself in the characteristic brown brick facades of those narrow houses overlooking the many little canals and bridges, while the other one holds mysterious stories, unexpected treasures behind those respectable fronts. Amsterdam city deceiving in appearances: an ordinary house could host a beautiful little Catholic church kept in secret for decades, just as the Amstelkrig Museum does. On the other hand a majestic Gothic building like the Magna Plaza bears the imposing disguise of an official headquarter, while stepping in reveals itself as a glorified shopping mall. And do you remember the harrowing story of young Jewish Anne Frank, who lived in hiding for many years with her family trying to avoid deportation? Today the flat behind the tricky bookcase where she wrote her astounding diary about love, fear and growing up, is a museum dedicated to her and all the people who had to suffer her fate. Book a hotel in Amsterdam to map out all these bricks and stones from which History builds its own enchanting palace. Visit the Rijksmuseum (State Museum) for a wonderful, nostalgic encounter with Netherlands’ Golden Age, when its ships would sail across the entire world bringing back exotic goods with unfamiliar fragrances, when its painters were famous for their distinct realistic style, when this now small country was a veritable maritime empire. Or walk down to the floating Blomenmarkt (Flower Market), where flower loving people have been buying and selling these delicate beauties since the 17th century right from their boats. Did you know that, at the peak of the tulip mania, different types were even registered at the stock exchange and a singular bulb could cost more than an estate? Choose a veritable old inn like the Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel with a charmingly refurbished 17th century atmosphere, right on the Prinsengracht canal, and you’ll feel as if you were a wealthy ship-owner just returned from India. Or do you prefer 21st century comfort? Check in to the five-star Intercontinental Amstel Amsterdam hotel, where you can indulge and pamper yourself with a truly magnificent stay. Thanks to their available facilities like swimming pool, massage, tennis court, steam bath, you don’t even have to leave the hotel to have a great time – though given the city you’re in, we recommend you do. Are you ready to embark upon an adventure of a lifetime? Book a hotel in Amsterdam and you won’t regret it. Rent a bike or tour its one of a kind canals in a boat and discover the fascinating stories that await the curious visitors around every corner… or bridge. Or have a look at our other favourite cities Book a hotel in Istanbul to experience the magic of the Orient successfully blended with the comfort of the Western civilization. Ready for a life-changing trip? Head towards the capital of Turkey, where old and new, traditional and modern, beautiful and exciting mix together to ensure you the perfect holiday. Istanbul has been a quintessential junction point for centuries, linking the two continents and creating a certain cultural variety rarely seen in other parts of the world. Dating back as early as the 6th century BC, the city, also called Byzantium, has been part of the ascent of such celebrated civilizations as the Greek, the Persian, the Roman and the Turkish Empires. This glorious past is reflected in its stunning, eclectic architecture, where each era is represented by here a Roman church, there an Ottoman mosque, a European Belle Epoque building next to an Oriental bazaar, or a modern, businesslike skyscraper. Book a hotel in Istanbul to visit such iconic sights as the Hagia Sophia, a more than fifteen hundred years old Byzantine church now hosting one of the oldest museums around. Just across the garden stands the beautiful Sultanahmet Mosque, also called the Blue Mosque thanks to the more than 20 thousand hand painted blue tiles covering its inside walls. Topkapi Palace is also a must – after all, who wouldn’t want to see how the empire’s richest sovereigns lived for four hundred years. If you’ve decided to book a hotel in Istanbul, you probably want to enjoy the wonderful hot climate specific of this region, the blue sea surrounding the city, and the great sights which the combination of these two provide. To relax after a whole day of walking through the Old Town, or shopping in the enormous Grand Bazaar‘s many exotic markets, take the Bosphorus cruise for a breathtaking view and amazing photo opportunities. Choose from the many accommodation options available for you according to your needs and budget. Located in the middle of the Old Town, the Antique Hostel & Guest House offers clean rooms and excellent services at a very small price just minutes away from the most famous landmarks of Istanbul. But if you want all the luxury and pampering you can afford, choose one of the many elegant rooms of the Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus or at Sultanahmet, where you can enjoy sky-lit indoor and outdoor pools, exquisite Turkish baths, beautiful gardens and a private dock (at the Bosphorus). Visited by 2 million tourists yearly, Istanbul is a wonderful place to spend your holiday in, and no length of time can be enough to discover all its secrets. Admire the exotic sights, spicy fragrances and lively atmosphere of the pearl of the Orient, the ancient yet exceptionally modern city of Istanbul. Just look through all that variety of hotels, and choose the one which suits your pocket and your expectations. You won’t regret booking a hotel in Istanbul. Brazil: the living history, first named “Monte Pascoal” by Pedro Álvares Cabral, the Portuguese nobleman and navigator who was the first European to see this land (the same Pascoal mount, land of Pataxó Indians, near Prado, south coast of Bahia state) and later renamed Brazil after a kind of reddish dyewood found there, called pau-brasil . - Brazil: the land of dance and rhythm, legacy of the African slaves brought by the Portuguese to work on sugar cane farms. – Brazil: a soul discovery, with its breathtaking desert beaches. – Brazil: a delight for our senses, with its amazing culinary full of flavors awakening in us intense feelings. It was the year of 1500 when Pedro Álvares Cabral, with his 13 caravels, (the big Portuguese ships who won such a reputation for reliability that for several hundred years it was believed only a Portuguese-built ship could navigate African and American waters successfully) sighted, for the first time, this land and native population (Pataxó indian tribes). Mount Pascoal (named this way by Pedro Álvares Cabral), a large rounded hill, surrounded by flat land is still an ex-libris of Whales Coast region, the south coast of Bahia state. The audacity of Portugal’s seafaring adventurers and their merchandising skills, allied to the natural native Indian population’s respect for natural environment are visible in the capacity of the local population to live and prosper without harming Mother Nature. Portuguese people legacy is seen, too, in the intensity of life of Brazilian people, with their passions for good food and drink (Bahian cooking is a real delight to your senses), and for work and play. With its 84 Km of long and almost desert beaches, huge pastures with large herds of cattle and the shore with its preserved mangroves, Whales Coast is, truly, an ecologic paradise, blissfully hidden from the mass tourism crowds. 45 miles off from the Whales Coast you stumble into another treasure of this region: the Abrolhos Archipelago National Marine Park that feature all year round warm waters and a fabulous coral reef. This archipelago of five volcanic islands harbors the greatest chains of coral reefs in the South Atlantic and offers amazing gifts to all divers – the beginner, advanced and the adventurous. According to scientific knowledge, there is no other place on earth where you can see the type of coral reef pinnacle prevalent in Abrolhos waters, locally known as “chapeirão”. The species looks like a giant mutant mushroom and is overgrown with fans of fire coral and round knobs of brain coral also unique to this archipelago. And least but not last, these waters, year after year, are visited by the great Humpback Whales who come to its warm waters to mate and breed and are enthusiastically welcomed by local population who are proud of their Whales and Dolphin sanctuary. Ana Godinho (http://www.aquavillaprado.com) Brazil Awaits I have been personally living in Kiev since 1996, and this city has become my love, my home and my stepping stone for the next of the life. I also have lots of business contacts around the world whom I help with accommodation and when they come to Kiev. At first, most of my business contacts preferred to stay in the hotels. But around 5 years ago they started to vote with their money for another option – renting apartments. Why? (1) First of all, because for the same money that you are paying to the hotel you can get a fantastic apartment: with style, atmosphere and comfort. Sometimes my friends and contacts even managed to rent 2-storied VIP apartments for the same money that they could pay for a very “average” room in the hotel. Obviously the choice is done in the favor of a luxury VIP apartment. This is proven by time. (2) Another important factor is that you can get a big discount when renting apartments. In the hotels they also have a discount policy, but this policy is not very flexible. That is why sales managers in the hotels are restricted in what they can offer. Whereas with renting apartments you can negotiate directly with the owner or his personal broker, and get a great discount. Especially if you are going to stay for a long time. (3) Psychological factor is also important. For me it was a surprise, but then I saw that indeed many people prefer to stay in the rental apartment, because there they can feel a cozier atmosphere. Does it mean that staying in Kiev hotels makes no sense? Surely it does not. But experienced visitors to Kiev, who had a chance to see the pros and cons of hotels and apartments, prefer to rent apartments in Kiev. P.S. If you need help with renting an apartment and/or house in Kiev – please feel welcome to visit our Kiev apartments agency. We will help with finding anything from VIP Kiev apartments to budget apartments. Trying to find the next gorgeous city to spend your holiday in? Look no further, but book a hotel, pack your bag, and fly into Vienna, ranked the world’s most livable city five years in a row! Tired of places with a faded historical splendour, and nothing worthy to show since the last two hundred years? Well, no city blends better its elegant heritage with innovative creations, topping it with an exciting young spirit to make it sizzling. With all the Vienna attractions you will love everything: the beautiful sights, the amazing architecture, the interesting and rich museums, the mouthwatering food, and the vintage wines to accompany it. And if you think that Vienna Waltz is a last season ringtone, you should know that there is more to Vienna than Johann Strauss, and even classical music for that matter. This city has given the world famous DJs, and internationally renown clubs await the fans of electronic beats as much as those in love with opera and operetta. Take a walk on the grand boulevard Ring, and admire the formal glare of the Habsburg dynasty, which provided the downtown with such historical buildings as the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), the State Opera, the Parliament Building and the Rathaus (Town Hall) all constructed in different styles. Or visit the Schönbrunn Palace and stroll along in its parks, gardens and imperial suits where royal highnesses were spending their luxurious lives. If you book a hotel in Vienna, you could feel the coziness of a small but welcoming place like the Tourotel Mariahilf Hotel, or the top notch reception of a five star hotel like the Ambassador Hotel situated right in the shopping area and only few metres from the Stephansdom. Here you can find hotels to fulfill every caprice of yours, but also to be affordable and family friendly. After having visited the tourist places, take some time to get to know the real Wien. Find the Hundertwasser House and try to look at it in the spirit of which it was made: as a link between humans and nature, against the ugliness of utility without form and beauty, and as proof of the empowerment of fresh ideas. Because Vienna might be a chic city, but it’s one that emanates it from inside its whole existence, not only poses it. So try to find the Vienna that you yourself see, not just tick off the sight and what-to-dos that travel books recommend for you. Let yourself be inspired by this city which has given so many artists and happy people to this world, and express your creativity… even if only with your text messages or snapshots of Vienna. If you think that you’ve seen all the “nice” places, and you’re ready for a thrilling one, book a hotel in Minsk where you won’t get astonished only by the architecture and sights, but also by the whole atmosphere of the city, Book a hotel in Minsk as all those feelings it conveys, and the real community its people live in. With a turbulent history, Belarus has had many wars to fight over the centuries to throw back foreign aggressors, but the brave conduct of its inhabitants was acknowledged in 1974, when they received the title of Hero City for their resistance against the Nazi invasion. Having once been part of the Soviet Union, Minks is today also the capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and its people sustained that sense of belonging and togetherness which made them overcome the difficulties of their past. This special unified relationship is reflected greatly when you look at all the festivals this country has, from which the most exciting and enchanting one is the Knights festival that takes place every spring in Minsk. Modern day chivalry is present in many countries, but from admiring period plays and noble gallantry to dressing up in Medieval armour or beautiful long dresses only a queen or a duchess could have afforded at their time, it’s a long way and not everyone is able to meet the challenges. Minsk, however, isn’t just a place for people fond of history, but also a wonderful mixture of old and new as well. Walking on its streets, you will be abashed by the modernity of some of its buildings, like the National Library, or the exceptional subway stations where every single one is decorated uniquely in a different theme. You would also love the variety of churches present there, like the Roman Catholic Red Church, or the Russian Orthodox St. Mary Magdalene’s with its specific golden-green domes and the colourful Alexandr Nevsky Church. It might not be easy to get to Minsk, since you need a visa to enter the country, but it is worth the trouble, and accommodation is really cheap there. Book a hotel in the comfortable three stars Orbita Hotel or the five star International Crowne Plaza Hotel, and enjoy your stay in a city which has lots to offer, even if it isn’t as well known as it should be. Walk on its streets, visit monuments and nearby palaces, go to a beautiful ballet performance, and try out the local cuisine. You’ll see that Minsk is a place you can really fall in love with, and spend a journey there which will always be with you. If you want to experience a cultural journey, book a hotel in Sibiu. As one of the most important cities of Transylvania, Sibiu was chosen European Capital of Culture in 2007. Enjoy a ride back in past times walking on its Medieval streets, admiring never seen artefacts in its many museums, or just letting yourself be filled with the ambiance of this beautiful little Saxon settlement. Book A Hotel In Sibiu the kind of place you can visit on a shorter trip, but its atmosphere will stay with you for a long time. If you don’t know where to go, and want a cheaper but meaningful and relaxing few days away, you can definitely choose Sibiu, or by its German name: Hermannstadt for your destination. For a stroll in history, visit the Old Town, where small colorful houses with bright red roofs present themselves to you just as they did when merchants and proud citizens lived in them five hundred years ago. As an independent town, which wasn’t ruled or protected by a nobleman near by, the citadel of Sibiu had its own powerful stronghold, with towers, walls and tunnels well preserved for the delight of today’s tourists. However, beyond the characteristic cobbled squares with traditional markets and charming cafés on every corner, you should venture on another kind of passage: visit Transylvania’s oldest, and one of its most significant museums, named after the governor who established its collection in the 19th century: Samuel von Brukenthal. With its separate buildings reserved for art, history, arms and pharmacology, it paints a picture in perfect accuracy, the enchantment of professions, people and a way of life that no longer exists, but highlighting what was if only just for seconds when we remember them. But a voyage into the past isn’t authentic without a fitting accommodation. Book a room at Hotel Apollo, which has its own little tower and archway, and eat a delicious meal at one of the many traditional restaurants in the Upper Town, to feel that you really belong in the story. Although, if you want to have all the comfort the 21st century can provide, we recommend you the Hilton Hotel, a five stars treat possible in any part of the world. So book a hotel in Sibiu for a truly memorable journey in the lost world of Middle Ages, where people built a wonderful town with their own hands, spent their days trying to maintain its splendour and strength, and find your spiritual connection with a common ancestry. Here is a little about Romania. Looking for the most romantic place in the world to take your beloved to? Book a hotel in Paris to enjoy the picturesque buildings, delicious French cuisine, exquisite little designer boutiques, heights with breathtaking views, and all the dazzling ambiance of the city of light and love and luxury. Paris is like a perfect vintage champagne: it has the age, the temperature, the taste, the flavour and the sparkles to make your evening (and any time of the day, for that matter) an unforgettable one. You can start by admiring the elegant streets of the capital of France while strolling along to get to a famous Gothic church like Notre-Dame, or Sainte-Chapelle, regarded as one of the most beautiful churches in the world, with stained glass and rose windows producing a mesmerizing dance of light and colours. And if you’re in a state of wonderment already, wait till you see one of its many internationally recognized museums: Book a hotel in Paris and look upon the glass pyramid of the Louvre creates an exciting contrast with the royal palace, just like the exhibitions of so many well-known artefacts so different in subject, style and era. Montmartre, with the Sacré-Coeur on top, was the favourite place of painters like Picasso, Monet, Dali or Van Gogh, and as the highest point of the city, presents an excellent view on it. Even today, the bohemian atmosphere of the artist district is perceptible when walking on its steep cobbled streets with fantastic houses and street musicians making you feel as if you were in one of the many movies inspired by this charming city. But the best scenery, of course, is given on top of the icon of France: the three hundred metres high Eiffel Tower. The indescribable experience of looking down on this gem of city matches only the thought of finally being in Paris, after having read about it, seen it in films, admired in paintings, heard people enthuse about it for so long. Book a hotel in Paris to see the land of beauty, the hotels can’t be exceptions either. Book a room in Best Western Premier Bradford, an enchanting little hotel with neo-baroque enteriours, windows full of flowers and glass ceiling, placed half way between the Arc de Triomphe and the designer shopper’s paradise: the Avenue de Champs Élysées. Book a hotel in Paris: For a more pocket-friendly version, you could stay at the Hotel de Paris, only few blocks away from the Park de Buttes-Chaumont and close to Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur. Book a hotel in Paris, for a trip you’ve always dreamed about, and enjoy the beauty of a city considered the most romantic in the world. Paris is a place which entices all your senses: its sights your eyes, its street music, classical, modern and jazz concerts your ears, its gourmet, feeds your taste buds, its famous French perfumes and parks full of flowers your scent, and the wonderful events and friendly people your heart. To see one of our other favourite recommendations visit book a hotel in Budapest Book a hotel in Palma Mallorca, where the sky is always blue, the sun always shines and the sea is more magical than ever. If you’re looking for the perfect relaxing holiday, there is no place better suited for you than Majorca: white sandy beaches as far as the eye can see, cool frilly waves to bath in, and cozy little towns to make your heart feel warm. Though a relatively small island, Palma de Mallorca (also known as Majorca) has surprisingly diverse places to visit. As the capital of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca is an elegant city with beautiful historical architecture, lively streets and souvenir shops you want to spend all your money on. Book A Hotel In Palma Mallorca ; One of its most famous buildings is the La Seu cathedral, raised in the 13th century in flaming Gothic style, and renovated by Antoni Gaudi, the famous Art Nouveau architect. Palma also gives tribute of its Moor ancestry, which provided the city with such wonderful influences as the exciting middle-eastern style of the Royal Palace of Almudaina. But what would an island be without endless beaches of clear blue water? Book a hotel in Magaluf, like the Magaluf Playa Apartments just outside the beach, and enjoy the party-capital of Majorca traditional Spanish and international restaurants, pubs, clubs, discos and the famous Pirate-show to your entertainment. El Arenal, which also provides quality and on budget accommodations like the Isla Dorada Hotel, is the German twin of Magaluf which has been preferred more by the English-speaking tourists. Both towns have a great amount of water activities you can attend to, even two Aqualands with crazy, adrenaline-pumping water-slides for everybody’s taste and daring. If you’d rather have romantic walks in some charming little native towns, you can visit Valldemossa, where the illustrious couple of composer Frederic Chopin and feminist writer George Sand spent a whole winter, or wander about in the moonlight in Alcudia’s labyrinth under some ancient ruins. Also, you should definitely take a day-trip to the beautiful Sa Calobra through some steep serpentine path which would make your heart race faster than your car could. Booking a hotel in Majorca is easy, but you might want to stay on towns with bigger population because there is more things to do on locations like those. Given the size of the island, in a one-week trip you can easily cover almost all its important tourist places, and have some time left to enjoy the warm sea, even if just for a paddle-boat or windsurfing. Book a hotel in Palma Mallorca for the wonders of an island which has everything to provide you the time of your life. Other cities we recommend. For a twist of cultural shock, book a hotel in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine which is a wonderful mix of Europe and Russia. If you think that Western Europe is too mellow for you, and you want something wilder than that, visit Kiev, on the cultural border of the East and West, new and striking enough to keep you on your toes, but familiar and friendly so you’d be at your ease and feel welcome. Book a hotel in Kiev and for a full experience, start your tour in the centre of Kiev, where enchanting Orthodox cathedrals merge with international hotels and banks to create a unique sight you will become very fond of. Saint Sophia Cathedral and the Bell-tower look amazing with their clean white walls and many brilliant golden or green domes. Independence Square is where you can go to get acquainted with the Ukrainian spirit, as it’s a focal meeting point for Kiev’s citizen, while also a great place to listen to concerts and watch outside performances. When you book a hotel in Kiev another must is the meandering and picturesque Andreevsky Spusk, host of art festivals, picture galleries and souvenir shops with a great view over the city, a funicular to take you to the top, and stunningly distinctive buildings you just can’t stop taking pictures of. But if you truly want to live the life to tell the story, you have to book a table in a traditional restaurant and try out some dishes you’ll never eat in any other part of the world. And if Kiev is part Russian, you know what Russians are extremely good at making? Vodka, of course, from which here they have a great variety, and some restaurants even show you how it’s produced – right at your table! For some reminders of this trip, buy yourself a beautiful traditional hand made blouse or skirt, which you can even wear outside – the ethnic style is really trendy this year. You can book a hotel to make you feel the traditional and exquisite side of Kiev, like the Senator Apartments City Center, where can make yourself at home, and never want to leave. Or for a more secluded and romantic trip at a really great price, stay at the Art Hotel Bakkara, right on the shores of Dnieper River. But if you’re in for the ride, just take a look at the Faraon Floatel Hotel, situated exactly on the river, with fascinating lighting, a terrace overlooking the river and an inside pool just for fun. So book a hotel in Kiev, to enjoy the events and sights of an exotic location to make your blood rush, but also astonish you with its beauty and elegance. Visit the Philippines and book a hotel in Tagaytay there is a wonderfully idyllic atmosphere to Tagaytay City which is against a backdrop of lush environs, dramatic floral landscapes, breathtaking scenery. Tagaytay is a wondrous and popular Philippine summer destination. Book a hotel in Tagaytay Just an hour and a half’s ride away from NAIA International Airport lies Tagaytay, a city much sought after by tourists and travellers looking for the quickest and coolest getaway after experiencing Manila’s often hot and humid climate. Its renowned landmark is Taal Volcano (dubbed as the world’s smallest volcano), which is situated on a serene blue lake. Should you choose to book a hotel in Tagaytay and you don’t mind heights, perched on top of a 700 meter high ridge proudly stands the Taal Vista hotel a premier hotel in Tagaytay and a landmark recognized for its long, prestigious history and heritage. Hotel Kimberly is another affordable and perfect start off point to enjoy the city’s numerous recreational activities for the entire family. Travelling through the Philippines on a budget? Then I would highly recommend that you check out staying at the View Park Hotel Tagaytay city, still only minutes away from surreal beauty with all the great comforts that you need just leaving a bit more in your pocket to spend on those lovely gifts. Tagaytay is a perfect destination that provides its visitors a memorable experience, one can choose to either take a stroll in places such as the Palace in the Sky, Flower Farm, Paradizoo or Picnic Grove and relax in the cool climate while enjoying the scenery, or do fun-filled activities such as horseback riding, cable car, or zipline. One can also arrange for a guided tour to Taal Volcano on hike or horseback. Go ahead and book a hotel in Tagaytay well-known as one of the cleanest and child-friendly cities in the country. Some of the best bargains can also be found in this pleasant place. Book a Hotel Spot the little volcano – Picture courtesy of Gerald Alden If you book a hotel in Salzburg, you can experience the calm of the Alpine mountains while living in perfect comfort in a jewel-box like little town with origins dating back to Celtic time and buildings more than thousand years old. Although just a small city in comparison to its other Austrian neighbours, the amount of tourist which visit Salzburg out numbers its registered citizens. Book a hotel in Salzburg and see the birth place of Mozart (no. 9 Getreidegasse), the city traces its musical ancestry back to very early ages, while the fame of the Austrian prodigy, composer, piano and violin player has intertwined with his home town forever. So if in Salzburg, don’t forget to buy your friends some Mozart-chocolates, or they’ll never forgive you. When you book a hotel in Salzburg you’ll see Salzburg is one of those cities which might not allure you from distance, but once there, the combination of beautiful buildings and wonderful little streets so specific to this city, will definitely win you over. Salzburg’s charm is the Austrian equivalent of „je ne sais quoi”: is it the towering mountains giving that clear air, or the baroque churches, shops with twinkling lights and golden signs, the freshly baked smells from the market, or the melodious open-air concerts? Wandering on the streets of the Old Town, you might feel that you have passed through a magical door and entered into the fairy tale world of the Brothers Grimm. For a total relaxation and replenishment, book a hotel in Salzburg and enjoy your little weekend getaway. Reachable from most places by plane, Salzburg provides recreation in a city big enough to have all the comfort and entertainment you need, but not so big as to have all that noise, traffic and rush an internationally acknowledged tourist destination would surely posses. Book a hotel in Salzburg for a royal treat, book a room at the Altstadthotel Wolf Dietrich, a luxury accommodation at walking distance to the Mirabell Gardens, the Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Salzburg Cathedral. The Plainbrücke Hotel is the budget version of this, while still a pretty place, relatively close to the Old Town and in the opposite direction of the airport. So buy yourself that long earned holiday by booking a hotel in Salzburg to find out how friendly the Austrian people are, and visit one of Europe’s oldest and most well preserved fortresses. If you like winter sports, you can also go skiing or snow-boarding on the nearby Alps, while as a music lover you should come in July or August, for the annual Salzburg Music Festival. Book a hotel in Salzburg and listen to the sound of music accompanying your steps through the city. Book a hotel in Budapest to visit one of Europe’s most astonishing capitals. The city, spreads majestically on the two banks of the Danube river, reflects perfectly the two sides of the old continent: rich past and national heritage on one part, while prosperous innovations and exciting entertainment possibilities on the other. Book a hotel in Budapest an witness the Buda Castle, built on rocky ascents to fend off intruders who during history tried several times to occupy the royal premisses and the heart of the country with it, today is a beautiful reminder of how colourful and charming passed periods could be. Walking around on the narrow cobbled streets of the castle quarter with the thousand years old Matthias Church on one side, and perhaps an intimate traditional restaurant on the other, even those who aren’t interested in history can be touched by its atmosphere. Pest, on the other hand, was always a more lively, more partying, more up-to-date side of the city. The white stone, neo-gothic Parliament building, the grand luxury New York Palace hotel, the delightful promenade Andrássy Avenue with the 19th century jewel Opera House on it, are just some of the many places that take your breath away. Váci Street is known to be a famously expensive and popular place with traditional folk art, souvenirs and well-known retail shops queuing one after the other, while the Városliget (City Park) hosts such wonderfully diverse locations as the Museum of Fine Arts, the Széchenyi Baths, the Grand Circus fun-fair and so on. If you want to book a hotel in Budapest, you can choose form a wide variety of luxury hotels, like the Hilton hotel in the Castle District with an amazing view on the river and the attractions of the left bank, or the Corinthia Grand Hotel in the hearth of Pest, close to the WestEnd City Center shopping mall with over 400 shops at your delight when you book a hotel in Budapest. If you prefer a more modest accommodation, Dominik Panzio hotel near the City Park, or the Marco Polo Hostel could be your place to sleep. Don’t worry about missing out on Budapest’s main sights if you decide on a hotel less centrally located, you can get almost anywhere you like with the world’s second oldest underground – which of course has been renovated and expanded since then. So book a hotel in Budapest, if you want to procure yourself a holiday full of excitement in the blooming city of history, entertainment, shopping and sight seeing. This multicultural location never ceases to surprise you with little unexpected beauties, thrilling events and its warm-hearted citizens. Looking to book a hotel in Poland the country of hidden history? Well the times when the only accommodation one could expect in Poland was a bed in a hostel or the traditional hospitality of a night in a farmer’s barn have thankfully passed. Poland now has a wide network of places of stay, with more opening up all the time. Book a hotel in Poland and see the Gigantic metropolis, historic towns and villages of sentimental charm for which poems and songs have been written. Book a hotel in Poland and discover Poland has officially has a total of 887 towns. The largest is Warsaw ‘where you will find the Westin Hotel‘, with a population of 1.7 million, while the smallest Polish town has just 884 inhabitants. The main cities are not only the capitals of their fast-developing regions, but also have their own unique character. Lodz is famed for its grand Piotrkowska Street and industrial sites of the 19th century. The city also offers Europe’s largest urban forest and Jewish cemetery. Book a hotel in Poland and you’ll find the Hotel Saski in Krakow, the historic capital of the kings who resided at the Wawel castle, is today Poland’s cultural and entertainment centre – it contains one quarter of the country’s museums. The city’s bars and restaurants are too numerous to count. In Wroclaw, apart from the historic buildings of Ostrow Tumski, the Church of St Elizabeth and the Leopoldynska Hall, you can also see the post-modernist Hall of the Century, a reinforced concrete structure which was the most contemporary building of its time. And talking of contemporary you you could stay at The Granary La Suite Hotel Wroclaw The Polish urban landscape is created not only by the giant cities, but also – and maybe most especially – by smaller towns. The country’s small provincial towns were rudely dismissed by the poet Andrzej Bursa. Was he right? Absolutely not! These places are exceptional. Kazimierz Dolny, a town beloved by artists on the Vistula river. Sandomierz, with its numerous monuments standing above a maze of cellars carved out of the rock. Suwalki, with a street lined with buildings from the time of the Congress Kingdom. The military town of Borne Sulinowo, which for 40 years was not shown on any Polish map. Visit Plock, with its Romanesque cathedral and castle on the high banks of the Vistula, and Pultusk, with the longest marketplace in Europe. Next we have Biecz, an architectural miracle dating back 400 years, built from the profits of the local trade in Hungarian wine. Finally, there is Chelmno, an exemplary Teutonic Order town, which has retained its medieval layout and has not been disfigured by modern architecture and is also a Mecca for lovers (relics of St. Valentine can be found there. Book a hotel in Poland and see for yourself just what the west has been missing. Book a hotel in London for an unforgettable souvenir of sights and feelings. As the capital of Great Britain, London is the largest and one of the oldest city in the European Union. Adequate to its historical background, there is hardly any corner in central London which doesn’t have a story of its own. Book a hotel in London to see the beautiful scenery of London has been inspiring artists of many kinds for centuries, nevertheless, London has so many faces that it’s impossible to depict just one important characteristic and close the chapter contented after having described it. Book hotel in London and you could write a vast entity of stories in many different genres depending on the place you are visiting, the part of the day, the weather, the people you are with. At a bright summer day in Greenwich you can understand the 19th century excitement about the prospects of science described by Jules Verne, in an Islington park at dawn you can get a great sense of Dickensian world, while Kensington emanates all around that upper class air so pregnantly presented by Virginia Woolf. Still, London will always be the city where Sherlock Holmes made such ingenious deductions about criminal behaviour, the Da Vinci-code foreshadowed a world-wide conspiracy theory; and visitors shudder by the thought of Jack the Ripper lurking around in the November fog, or try to find Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station. Reality and fiction intertwines in London, like in the case of the Tower of London, which will never ceases to be the place where Henry the 8th kept his wives before executing them, but also the location of many ghost stories, horror films and urban legends. Book a hotel in London if you want to visit a city you’ve heard so much about, book a hotel in London, and find those little places you imagined when reading about them. You can stay at The Grand at Trafalgar Square for a Victorian royal treat, or at Camden Apartments for a magical realism alternative, where anything could happen. You can feel as if taken from a 18th century sentimental novel in San Domenico House, or as in a science-fiction story in Marlin Apartments at Canary Wharf. But the best stories are the ones we ourselves experienced, so if you don’t know which one to choose, just book a hotel in London and write your own adventures. Look up the places others have written about, but don’t forget: it’s time you created your own memories in the world’s most visited city. Book a hotel in Melbourne a vibrant multicultural city offering wonderful food, shopping and cultural experiences. One of the richest cities in the world during the Gold Rush, Melbourne combines impressive historic architecture with modern wonders such as Federation Square. Book a Hotel In Melbourne and discover the laneways that offer hidden gems of bars, cafes and quirky shops and reward those who explore them. From fine dining in modern Australian restaurants to great meals in Asian cafes under $10, Melbourne is a food lover’s paradise. The city has many world class galleries including the National Gallery of Victoria and is home to a number of restored theatres featuring popular big budget Broadway-style productions of shows such as Mary Poppins, Wicked and Jersey Boys. Melbourne will delight plant lovers as it is home to many spacious gardens including The Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne Zoo. Trams are the heartbeat of Melbourne and include a free City Circle tourist tram complete with audio commentary that loops around the city. Book a Hotel says – Whether you spend a weekend or a week in Melbourne, you will be overwhelmed with things to see and do. All this on the doorstep to one of the world’s great drives along the Great Ocean Rd and natural wonders such as the Grampians and the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island. And don’t forget to check out some of the fantastic wineries in the Yarra Valley, just one hour from Melbourne. Photo provided by Rebecca Thorpe