Popular Destinations

Introducing Sydney:

Sydney today is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on earth, home to over four million people surrounding Port Jackson, a beautiful natural harbor on the Tasman Sea that has given the city the nickname of “Harbour City”. With its iconic opera house and bridge, surrounded by beautiful natural parks, bays and beaches, make Sydney one of the most pleasant cities to visit. Indigenous Australians had been living in the area for over 30000 years by the time Captain James Cook landed in 1770. The first encounter was hostile, resulting in the exchange of gunfire end spears between the British and the natives. Captain Cook named his landing area Botany Bay and preserved specimens and native spears, some of which survive to this day on display at Cambridge University.

British interest in colonizing Australia grew after Captain Cook’s first visit and a fleet; Captained by Arthur Phillip, was dispatched with a cargo of settlers and convicts, arriving in 1778. Captain Phillip found Botany bay unsuitable for settlement and sailed up the coast to Port Jackson, where they found a protected cove, fresh water and a natural harbor. Captain Phillips named the new settlement Sydney Cove in honor of Lord Sydney, the British Home Secretary. The first years of the settlement were very difficult for the settlers who suffered from isolation (it was over two years before a second fleet of settlers arrived), droughts and disease. As difficult as it was for the settlers, the consequences for the native population were devastating, by 1800 only 10% of the original 1778 aboriginal population survived. The gold rush of the early 1850’s bought in a population boom and massive improvements to the port, rail facilities and general infrastructure of the city. The city prospered with industrialization and by the early 20th century the populating had swelled to over one million. Subsequent waves of immigration during the second half of the 20th century gave Sydney a cosmopolitan flavor, with waves of immigrants from the Middle East, Asia, Southern and Eastern Europe that contributed in changing the aboriginal and Anglo-Celtic character of Sydney into a world class city with a semi-Mediterranean climate and culture.

Getting Around:

Sydney is served by Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport. Long Distance buses serve all of Australia and rail service connects Sydney with all mayor Australian cities, including Melbourne and Perth. Sydney has a well developed public transport system, with buses, light rail and ferries. You can an 8 day tourist pass.

Things To Do:

Don’t miss Sydney’s most famous landmarks:

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can drive over it, sail under it and even climb on it.

Darling Harbour: A dining and entertainment complex set on a pedestrian boardwalk along the waterfront, with the skyline of Sydney looming, an IMAX theatre and even a monorail.

Hit Bondi Beach: Sydney’s most famous beach. Sydney is surrounded with natural wonders, take a cruise on the bay and explore its Zoos and botanical gardens,

Enjoy Sydney’s vibrant theaters and galleries: Sydney Opera House, Dendy Opera Quays, Sydney Theatre Company, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks Discovery Museum and The Garrison Church

Other Attractions: Royal Botanic Gardens, the Rocks Self Guided Walking Tour, North Head Lookout, Cruise Sydney Harbour, Manly Ferry and Whale Watching

Sydney Climate:

Sydney has 300 Sunny days a year, making it ideal to visit year-round! Sydney enjoys warn summers and cool winters with rainfall spread throughout the year. The summer season i.e.; from November to March is the perfect time to visit especially for tourists who prefer sunshine without the scorching heat. During this season, the outdoor sports and activities are in full swing. The spring season is from March to May when the weather is pleasant with fresh variety of spring flowers. Winter is from June to August when it is normally very cold. Rain is often spread evenly throughout the year. It often rains in the afternoons or at nights. Hailstorms occur a few times, each summer which can be damaging, at times.

Hotel Accommodation:

At Sydney, you can choose luxury hotels to budget hotels. There are plenty of luxury hotel especially in the Rocks district which is the heart of the city and in Darling Harbour. Most of the hotels have tie-up with the car rental services that take you around to the city’s most popular destinations.

Introducing Mumbai:

The megalopolis that is Mumbai today, the largest city in India, home of Bollywood and to over 15 million people that can trace their ancestry from the four corners of the sub continent, started as seven separate islands on the Arabian sea, just off the Konkan coast. These seven islands had been inhabited for millennia when the local ruler of the Maurya Empire turned them into a center for Buddhist and Hindu learning around 300 B.C. The island’s path into becoming a Megalopolis gets a jump start when the Portuguese arrived in 1498 and took over from the Sultan of Gujarat. The Portuguese built a fort and a church (which survives to this day) and gave the city its name: Bombay, some say that it means Good Bay in Portuguese, but this would be grammatically incorrect in the Portuguese language (Boa Bahia would be correct) so more than likely it was a transliteration of the Koli goddess Mumbadevi, a revered local deity.

The British took over the islands in 1661 as part of the dowry of Catherine de Braganza when she married Charles II of England. The seven islands of Bombay remained a backwater until the British crown leased them to the British East India Company in 1668 for 10 pounds per year. During the 18th century the British traders built docks and trading houses and causeways that united the islands, eventually turning them into one large island by 1835. Bombay boomed during the 19th century due to the American Civil War having forced the world production and trade of cotton to be moved to India, as well as the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, making Bombay the most important port on the Arabian Sea.

The boom of the 19th century also bought waves of immigration from within India, some founded factories and trading houses and others came to labor. Each wave of new immigrants gave form to the different neighborhoods of the present megalopolis. They say that the seeds of Indian independence were planted in Bombay, due to the large amount of Maharati speaking immigrants who later founded the Indian National Congress, one of the primary political forces against British Rule. Bombay was the setting to several incidents against the British Raj rule until India gained independence in 1947. Bombay’s name was changed to Mumbai in 1996 and today, Mumbai is considered a tolerant Megalopolis where all of India’s ethnic groups are represented and live together in the capital of Bollywood.

Getting Around:

Mumbai is served by Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world and one of the principal gateways to India. Mumbai has one of the world’s best natural harbors and its port handles cruise ships, ferries and cargo ships. The city is served by 4 main train stations that cover the entire sub continent, including the beautiful Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Formerly Victoria Terminus), featured in the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Get around by taxi, or catch the local subway. You can get on a moped powered rickshaw for some fun driving in the Mumbai traffic.

Things To Do:

Mumbai endures you with a lot of must-see attractions that will make your stay the most memorable and joyful experience. Let’s take a look at few of the Mumbai attractions:

The Gateway of India, The Taj Mahal Hotel, Hanging Garden, The religious places: Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mahalaxmi Temple, Tardeo Agiary Parsi Temple and Shri Swaminarayan Temple, The exotic Beaches: Juhu Beach and Kashid Beach beside the Chowpatty are flocked by people where they come to feast on the delicious Mumbai Chats. You can also take a Gateway ferry ride, visit forts, shopping bazaars, the most popular Essel World amusement park and ancient caves like Elephanta Cave.

Mumbai Climate:

Mumbai lies near the Arabian Sea and the climate is normally wet and dry. There are two clear seasons – Humid and Dry season. The humid weather is between the month of March and October. The humidity level can rise up to 30 °C (86 °F) and over. Between the months of June and September, the city experiences heavy rains. The dry season is between the months of November to February which is characterized by moderate levels of humidity and warm/cool weather.

Hotel Accommodation:

Mumbai is a home for some of the finest luxury hotels and budget hotels that offer impeccable hospitality services. The hotel packages have been designed keeping in mind the needs of the travelers. Most of the hotels also provide car rental services to important tourist destinations.

Introducing Shanghai:

Shanghai is the largest and most populous city in China, with over 20 milling inhabitants, making it one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Shanghai today is a modern cosmopolitan city with a 21st century skyline, a charming old town and one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world, hailing from the European and American commercial concessions of the 1920’s and early 1930’s. Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, a once sleepy fishing village by the sea (the two Chinese characters that make the name Shang Hay, literally mean ‘By the Sea’ or ‘Upon the Sea’) was opened to trade with the West after the treaty of Nanking in 1842. The city grew and prospered during the second half of the 19th century and the foreign traders negotiated the creation of several Concessions, the most famous been the French, American and a British concessions, but Shanghai also harbored a large number of White Russians, Germans and European Jews. The large amount of European traders and refugees during the 1930’s gave the city the feel and look of a European metropolis with many Art Deco buildings along the waterfront (the Bund) and European style homes, notably inside the French concessions, giving the city the Nickname of the ‘Paris of the East’ or the “Pearl of the Orient”.

Shanghai was the scene of several bloody battles during the 1930’s, starting with the so called ‘Incidents’ of the Sino-Japanese war and culminating with the Japanese Army taking complete control over the entire city, including the foreign concessions by 1941. During the Japanese occupation foreign traders were sent to concentration camps and most of the factories destroyed (as seen on the movie ‘The Empire of the Sun’), but the Japanese returned the city when they surrendered unconditionally in 1947. The triumph of the communist rebels in 1949 forced the remaining foreign companies to relocate to Hong Kong and Shanghai ceased to be a global city for decades, even though it still was a mayor center of industry and learning within Communist China. The city re-opened to western investment with the economic liberalization of the early 1990’s and grew exponentially after the transfer of Hong Kong back to Chinese control. The creation of the Pudong district, across from the old Bund, marked a new era of space age towers and economic prosperity that characterized the first decade of the 21st century. Shanghai today is a vibrant cosmopolitan city that is as much a product of new China as a place with a long history that can be appreciated in the eclectic architectural mix of East and West, the old and the new, communism powered by capitalism. Shanghai is a city of the future.

Getting Around:

Shanghai is served by two airports, Pudong is the main international gateway and Hongqiao serves mostly domestic flights. Pudong Airport has a high tech mag- lev train that puts you in the city center in 7 minutes. Shanghai has two rail stations, long distance buses and ferry service to Hong Kong and Japan. Get a Shanghai Jiaotong Card valid on the metro and buses. Use the metro to get around, but each individual district is best explored by foot.

Things To Do:

Shanghai is a city of districts, check out The Bund, with its collection of waterfront Art Deco buildings dating back to the 1920’s. The French concession district preserves some of the palatial mansions of the French traders. Jade Buddha Temple, located in the western part of Shanghai, was built more than 100 years back and today it is one of the most popular tourist destinations. You can visit Shanghai Museum to learn more about the history of the city. This ultra-modern building is filled with treasures and art-work and it is definitely worth a visit. Nanjing Road is a great pedestrian shopping district with three kilometer stretch of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Shanghai Climate:

Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate and has four distinct seasons. Shanghai’s summers are very hot and humid. July and August are the hottest months where the mercury can raise up to a maximum of 27.4 degrees centigrade. The months of January to early February are the months where the mercury level can dip up to 3 degrees centigrade. Shanghai receives abundant rainfall from mid June to early July. During July and September strong storms with torrential rain become frequent and the travelers are advised not to travel in these months. It seldom snows at Shanghai.

Hotel Accommodation:

You can find plenty of hotels to stay in Shanghai – from luxury stay to budget stay. Most of the hotels have a perfect blend of comfort, cozy atmosphere and impeccable service, making your holiday the most unforgettable one. Most of the hotels in Shanghai provide car rental services to important tourist attraction.

Introducing Athens:

Athens has been called the cradle of western civilization and the birthplace of democracy due to its cultural and philosophical achievements during its classical era, circa the 5th century B.C., but the city of Athens can be traced back over 4000 years when the high ground above modern Athens was settled during the Neolithic era as a fort located in the present acropolis (high city). By the Classical Period (around 500B.C.) Athens occupied an area of two kilometers that covered the present Monastiraki district, the hill of the Pnyx, and the Acropolis. The origin of the name Athens is proto-Greek, but by the classical period a myth had solidified: The citizenry held a contest between the goddess Athena and Poseidon to name the city. Poseidon struck the ground and produced a stream and Athena created an olive tree. The citizens choose Athena’s gift and named her the patron of the city. Classical Athens became one of the wealthiest city states in Greece and one of the most important centers of learning in the ancient world, with Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum. Athens was also the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, and Sophocles, turning the city into a Mecca of Arts, Philosophy and science.

The Romans ruled Greece for over 500 years but allowed Athens to remain as a free city due to their admiration for Athenian schools. The city declined as a center of pagan learning once the Romans adopted Christianity, but again rose to prominence during the Byzantine period (9th to 10th century). After a period of Prosperity during the crusades, the city suffered a long period of decline under the Ottoman Empire until the wars of Independence against the Ottomans at the beginning of the 19th century, culminating with Greek independence in 1832. Athens hosted the first Olympic games of the modern Era in 1896. The population of the city swelled after the wars against the Turks in the 1920’s and after World War II. By the 1980’s vehicular congestion and factories contributed to air pollution and congestion problems, so the city decided to close or move factories and to start building the Athens Subway. The excavations for the subway revealed several archeological treasures and the city had cleaned up significantly by the time Athens hosted the Summer Olympic Games of 2004. Athens today is a treat for the traveler, with over 3000 years of visible history from the Acropolis, from classical Greek temples to Ottoman and Byzantine buildings, dotted with trendy lounges and cafés, Athens is a charming, modern metropolis that should not be missed.

Getting Around:

Athens is served by The new Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, opened in 2001 as part of the city improvements for the 2004 Olympics and considered one of the most efficient airports in Europe. A central rail station connects Athens with Thessaloniki and Istanbul and also with Eastern Europe. Rail service in Greece is basic compared to the rest of Europe. Athens is a mayor port, offering ferries to all the mayor islands in the Aegean Sea and cruise ships to Europe and Africa. Long distance buses serve the capital and cover all destinations on mainland Greece. Once you arrive, use the modern metro, including the Airport line to the city center.

Things To Do:

Athens is a great place to explore by foot, start at the highest point (Acropolis) and work your way downhill, following the newly developed archeological walk that connects the Acropolis with several quaint districts further downhill. The acropolis was the site of the original bronze era fort and home of the most famous classical monuments in Athens, such as the Parthenon, the Erectheion and the Temple of Athena Nike (the goddess of Victory and Athena’s last name, not the shoe). Don’t miss the new Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009, at the foot of the Acropolis rock, offering artifacts from all the eras of the Acropolis. Visit the Ancient Agora, a beautiful green space, dotted with temples and offering excellent views of the Acropolis. Lycabettus Hill for amazing views of the city. Visit the Plaka or the Kolonaki district for shopping and cafés. Have a souvlaki, a Greek traditional sandwich and then hit the town at night, Greeks like to party and to sip ouzo, you will find many discos and pubs in the center of Athens and also in the coastal zone. Have a drink in the waterfront district of Glyfada, home to some of the best night clubs in Athens, including Balux, waterfront nightclub and lounge.

Athens Climate:

Athens has long warm summers that begins from May and lasts till late September. It has short but significant winters lasting from late November until early March. The monsoon season begins from the month of October to mid April. Spring time i.e. from June- September is the best time to visit Athens.

Hotel Accommodation:

There are more than 300 hotels in the Greater Athens metropolitan area, ranging from low-budget hotels to mid-range hotels to luxury hotel stay. These hotels also have the car-rental services that will take you around the city.

Introducing Madrid:

Madrid is the largest city of the Iberian Peninsula and the third largest of the European Union. The region of Madrid had been inhabited by several Ibero - Celtic tribes by the times the Romans settled on the banks of the Manzanares River. The Romans called their settlement Matrice. The Visigoths overran the Romans in the 5th century and they were subsequently removed by the Moors in the 7th century, calling their settlement: al-Majriṭ. By the 9th century the Moors had built a citadel in the current location of the Royal Palace. The Arabic name evolved into the current spelling Madrid. The Moors were expelled during the re-conquest of 1085 and the citadel’s mosque re-consecrated as the church of the Virgin of Almudena. The Medieval coat of arms of Madrid was a bear shaking a Madroño Tree and this symbol survives to this day as the official logo of Madrid’s City Hall. During the middle ages, the Spanish court moved around the country and first settled in Madrid in 1329 to advice Alfoso XI of Castille. The ascension of Isabella of Castile and Fernando of Aragon consolidated the Spanish monarchy centered on Toledo and Aragon. It wasn’t until 1561 that Madrid became the de facto capital. Commerce with the colonies of the vast Spanish Empire continued to be run from Seville, but Madrid ruled Seville. During the 16th and 17th century, the economy of Madrid was dominated by the business of the court and did not boom with other commercial activities.

By the late 1800’s Queen Isabel II could not contain internal political tensions and the monarchy was overthrown, followed by the short lived First Spanish Republic which was followed by a return of the monarchy and another abdication that created the second Spanish Republic. This was the republic that entered into the Spanish Civil war in 1936. The civil war pitted the republicans, anarchists and communists against monarchists and fascists and Madrid became the first city to suffer an aerial bombardment courtesy of the Luftwaffe, who was allied with the fascist side. Madrid saw bitter battles inside its suburbs until the republicans abdicated and the victorious fascists named General Franco as ruler of Spain for life (Caudillo de Espana). Franco restored the monarchy with himself as Generalisimo but left the Spanish throne vacant. By 1969 Franco had ruled for 30 years and decided to designate the son of a Carlist claimant to the crown, Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón, as Prince of Spain and his legitimate heir. Franco died in 1975 at the age 82 and the new King Don Juan oversaw the transition of Spain from dictatorship to a parliamentary democracy.

Spain flourished after Franco and by the early 1980’s Madrid was going through a cultural renaissance called La Movida Madrileña, a countercultural movement based around nightlife, cinema and art that gave us the movies of Pedro Almodovar and the art-pop music of Mecano. The principal idea of the Movida was to reject all the values of the Franco generation and to adopt the look and feel of the British New Wave acts and the emerging gay culture. You can still see aspects of La Movida in the Chueca district of Madrid, considered one of the most cosmopolitan areas of Madrid and center of the city’s gay nightlife. Other happening districts of Madrid are La Latina and Lavapies near the Plaza Mayor and the more up market Castellana and Torre mayor. But Madrid is a lot more than fantastic nightlife; the food is amazing, start with tapas and a Serrano ham in Museo del Jamon. Go for tapas and Cava (Spanish bubbly) in the La Latina area or around Puerta del Sol and save some energy for a daytime stroll along La Gran Via avenue and in the beautiful El Retiro Park. Get lost inside the Museo del Prado with its amazing collection of Spanish Masters, including Goya and El Greco.

Getting Around:

Madrid is served by Madrid Barajas international airport. Madrid’s Atocha rain station is the central hub of the Spanish rail network. Eight long distance bus stations are scattered around the city and serve all of Spain and Europe. Use Madrid’s clean and efficient subway to get around the city and walk within each individual district.

Things To Do:

Madrileños do not go out to eat earlier than 9pm and are very fond of Mariscadas (Mixed Seafood Platter). The best seafood in Spain is found in Madrid and since most of the seafood comes from Galician shores, look out for Gallego style restaurants for the best Mariscada in the city. Tapas bars abound around the La Latina area and Paella is easily found around the Puerta del Sol area. Go to a Valencia style restaurant for the best Paellas. Hit the Chueca or La Latina district for wild nightlife and have the traditional deep fried Churros dipped in hot chocolate for a hangover curing breakfast at dawn. Visit Museum triangle next to el Retiro Park including the famous Museo del Prado and Reina Sofia Museum. Check out the Palacio Real and its gilded rooms. Madrid is a city of Plazas, some of them are full of bars, cafés and restaurants and offer round the clock fun; start with Plaza Mayor and its tapas bars and Spanish eateries, then hit La Puerta del Sol, under the Tio Pepe sign for more Bars and restaurants, the 16th century style Plaza de la Paja, the Plaza de Cibeles and its beautiful city hall , Plaza de España with Cervate’s statue and the Templo de Debod, a real Egyptian temple in the middle of Parque de los Rosales, the best place to watch the sunset in Madrid.

Madrid Climate:

Madrid enjoys Continental Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool winters. The hottest months are July and August and it is not advisable for tourists to visit Madrid during these seasons. The months of May, June, September and early October experiences warm temperature. Winters in Madrid are very cold and the mercury level rarely dips below the freezing point. Rainfall in Madrid is rare, with a short rainy season in late October and a little shower in spring.

Hotel Accommodation:

Madrid offers all the tourists a full range of hotel accommodation options – from luxury five star hotels to budget hotels. The hotel packages have been designed keeping in mind the needs of the travelers. Most of the hotels also provide car rental services to important tourist destinations.

Introducing Amsterdam:

The city of the dam on the Amstel River: Amsterdam is a traveler’s treat, with unique architecture, historic canals, wonderful shopping and friendly locals that can speak English very well. There is something for every traveler here; from the world famous cannabis coffee shops’ and the glass doors of The De Wallen Red Light District, to the more dignified air of the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House. Old Amsterdam is a 2 kilometer semicircle, emanating from the central station and most of the buildings inside the semicircle have remained untouched since the 1860’s. Most of the hotels and major tourists’ attractions are located within the city or just nearby. Amsterdam is a relatively new city, the first mention of it in the records dates to 1275, when a bridge and a dam were constructed over the Amstel River. The current Old Town was built over land that had been reclaimed from the sea during the 10th century as a source of peat. Amsterdam was granted city rights in 1300 and soon flourished by trading with the Hanseatic League.

Originally a part of Frisia, Amsterdam was absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire and eventually abdicated to the Burundian Kings until the Dutch rebellion of the Eight Year War. The deposing of the Spanish king and the creation of the Dutch republic in 1648 harbored a Dutch golden era of trade and commerce and Amsterdam became the richest city in the world. Known for its religious tolerance, Amsterdam welcomed the religiously persecuted community of Europe: Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, Huguenots from France, and even the English Puritan Separatists Pilgrims, who financed the voyage of the Mayflower to America with Dutch merchants in Amsterdam. The heavy influx of Flemish painters and thinkers powered this golden age and Amsterdam became a center of free trade and free press. Merchant ships left Amsterdam throughout the 1600’s to trade in the far corners of the world and many of these distant trading posts became Dutch colonies: Indonesia, Surinam, the A B C Islands and others. The second half of the 19th century is called Amsterdam’s second golden era; The canals were expanded and most of the buildings currently standing inside the old town hail from this time, mixed in with several guild trading houses from the 17th century. Today Amsterdam still enjoys the same reputation of tolerance and free commerce that made it a magnet of trade since the 1600’s; with flourishing stock exchange and the headquarters of many Dutch corporations, including Phillips, ING Group, ABN AMRO and Heineken.

Getting Around:

Amsterdam is served by Schiphol International Airport, one of the world’s busiest. Amsterdam’s central station is a focal point of the Old town. Most locals get around either on foot or by bicycle. There is a tram and a small section of subway that serves the old town but a boat ride on the canals is a fun way to get around. Some locals actually live on their boats or use them to go grocery shopping and to go out to restaurants in the evening. Boat rentals are available in several locations within the old town.

Things To Do:

Visit the Anne Frank House & the Dutch Resistance Museum for a glimpse at the sufferings of the Jewish population and the brave citizens of Amsterdam that dared to help them during the brutal Nazi occupation. Visit The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum for the Dutch Masters and also the Sex Museum and the Cannabis Museum, this is Amsterdam after all. The Canal Bus Boat is a must; it stops at most of the major tourist attractions.

You can explore the countryside by renting a car. There are plenty of car rental services which include the major car rental agencies like Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar etc.

Amsterdam Climate:

Amsterdam’s climate is very similar to the climate in Britain or Ireland which combines mildness and dampness with occasional continental climate that is experienced in Germany. The best time to visit Amsterdam is from April to September when the days are longer and temperatures are milder when compared to the other months. December to March are the coldest months and you might unlikely experience snow. It is advised to carry rainwear and umbrellas at all times.

Hotel Accommodation:

There are thousands of tourists visiting Amsterdam from all over the world with varying budgets. Amsterdam offers hotels ranging from low budget to luxury hotels. For visitors who don’t mind splurging cash on luxury hotels then Amstel InterContinental is the place to be. It is one of the most luxurious and the most expensive hotels of all.

Introducing London:

Traces of Roman London are still clearly visible above ground by Tower Bridge Tube Station, where they have preserved a few feet of the old Roman wall that used to surround the garrison of Londinium. The old Roman wall protected its Mediterranean soldiers from Celtic barbarians that hid in the mists and bogs of a cold, alien island on the fringes of an empire. From this ancient Roman garrison, sprung a lively medieval settlement, centered in an area currently called the ‘City of London’, and today you can stand above Tower Bridge Tube Station and be literally surrounded by over 2000 years of visible history: From the Medieval rock walls of The Tower of London, to the Victorian ironworks of Tower Bridge, to the glass towers of 21rst century stock trading houses and the sleek lines of the millennium bridge, to the Renaissance styled dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and back to the old walls of the ancient Roman trading post. It’s this very center of commerce, culture and history that gives us a West End and an East End, as the rest of London takes its cue from ‘The City’: Centered between iconic Tower Bridge and the current London Bridge (the original London Bridge was sold to the Americans and now resides in the middle of the Arizona desert).

Getting Around:

London is served by 5 international airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Stansted & Luton, all connected to the city center by express rail lines. Once in town, get an Oyster card, valid in for all London Transit: The Underground, Buses, Light Rail and some boats on the Thames River.

Things To Do:

You will never get bored in London: From West End shows like ‘Mamma Mia’ & ‘Avenue Q’, to world class free museums like the British Museum and the National Gallery, to historical walks around Whitehall, the City and on its many famous lanes like Carnaby St, Bond St, Fleet St, Abbey Road, Park Lane etc. Partake in London’s multi ethnic melting pot with a visit to an Irish or Australian pub, followed by a spicy curry or a falafel and then head down to the famous Marquee Club or up to Camden Town to catch famous bands play live inside intimate venues. There is a London for everyone. The best way to explore London is to rent a car. There are plenty of car rental services available that take you to the most exclusive destinations of the city.

London Climate:

London has a moderate marine climate and it rarely experiences extremely high or low temperature. Summers are normally warm and the temperature can vary anywhere between 21 °C to 24 °C during the day time and 11 °C-14 °C during nights. Winters in London are very cold but rarely reaching below the freezing point. You will experience mild days and relatively cooler evenings during spring and unbearable cold breeze during autumns.

Hotel Accommodation:

There are five major attractions in the city: Mayfair & Marylebone, Paddington & Bayswater, Notting Hill, Knightsbridge & South Kensington, and Covent Garden & Bloomsbury. There are plenty of hotels available that range from the most expensive stay to low-budget stay.

Introducing Bangkok:

Bangkok was a small trading post on a bank of Chao Phraya River until it became the capital of old Siam in 1768 during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The capital was destroyed during the Burmese invasion but Siamese dominance returned shortly, spearheaded by Taksin the Great, who re-conquered the previously lost lands and expanded Siamese dominance into Burma to the West and south to the Malay Peninsula. King Rama I moved the capital to the opposite side of the river in 1782. Nowadays the entire metropolitan region is known locally as Krung Thep, which means ‘City of Angels’ (the locals never refer to the entire city as Bangkok, just to the Old Town). Currently the city of Krung Thep has expanded over both banks of the river and beyond with a population of over 15 million. The city has a cosmopolitan feel, with a large influx of Westerners, Indians, Middle Easterners, Chinese and people from other Asian countries living among the native Thai population. Despite European pressure, Siam (later Thailand), was the only country in South East Asia not to be colonized, serving as a buffer zone between French Indochina and British Burma.

Independent Siam did lose territory to the European powers, chiefly the Malay Peninsula to the British (the area later became Malaysia) and other territories ceded to French Indochina and British Burma. During World War II, Thailand permitted the Japanese to travel freely through their territory in exchange for not been occupied. Since the end of the war Thailand has been solidly allied with the West and has grown into the largest tourism center of South East Asia. Bangkok is located just under 14 degrees north of the Equator, has been voted one of the most traveler-friendly cities in Asia. The first impression may be of a hot and humid concrete jungle but you will soon be taken over by its many charms, specially the friendliness of the local people, the luxury of its four & five star hotels, the bustle of its floating and night markets, and the abundance of tropical fruits.

Getting Around:

Bangkok is served by two airports, the new international Suvarnabhumi Airport and the older now mostly domestic; Don Muang Airport. The city is also served by Rail and Bus stations. The best way to get to the city from the airports is by metered taxi. Once in the city, you can use the air conditioned metro or Tuc Tuc Moped rickshaws (good for driving into small side streets called Soi). Boat taxis are perfect to navigate the canals and floating markets. Avoid the motorbike taxis as they are accident prone, but they are the fastest way to beat traffic congestion.

Things To Do:

Visit old Bangkok on Rattanakosin Island for its many temples and palaces dating to the re-founding of the capital in the 1700’s, including The Grand Palace, the former residence of the King. Cruise Bangkok’s canals for its floating markets and restaurants and get a glimpse of the former “Venice of the east”. Bangkok has the largest and most luxurious shopping malls in South East Asia and many night markets. Relax with live Jazz and drinks at the Bamboo bar in the Mandarin Oriental hotel and then hit the town for the wildest night life in Asia on Bangkok’s Silom district, including the world famous Patpong road, home to over four levels of Go-Go Bars, a Bangkok institution since the 1960’s.

Bangkok Climate:

Bangkok is known for its hot climate and sunny weather with high humidity levels which is noticed more in the months of April and May. The hottest period is from March to August and the rainy season is from June to October. The best season to visit Bangkok is during the winter months which begins in November and lasts until February.

Hotel Accommodation:

Bangkok is one of the major tourist attractions and millions of people visit every year. There are plenty of accommodation options available in Bangkok. If you are looking for big, high quality and affordable hotel, you can find them in Siam Square and Ploenchit Road which is also referred as the main hotel district of the city. There are other areas such as Banglampoo where the backpackers can find inexpensive guest houses across the river and Chinatown which is one of the most vibrant parts of Bangkok. Most of the hotels also provide car rental services to important tourist attraction.

Introducing Los Angeles:

This sprawling Metropolis of over 11 million people, criss- crossed by aerial highways and dominated by the automobile, started life as a tiny Spanish mission within the Viceroyalty of New Spain called: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula. Founded in 1781 by the Governor of Las Californias: Felipe de Neves, under the authority of Charles III, King of Spain. The mission only had 44 settlers at the time of its founding and you can still visit the original site today in Olvera Street, where some of the oldest adobe structures still survive. The town’s name was shortened to Los Angeles over time and in 1821 it reverted to Mexican rule after it gained its independence from Spain. Los Angeles became part of the United States in 1848 at the end of the Mexican-American war as part of the Mexican Session agreed in the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Los Angeles became a municipality and California received statehood in 1850. The Railroads arrived in 1876 and oil was discovered in 1892, by the early 1920’s Los Angeles was producing one-quarter of the world’s petroleum and the population had boomed and was still growing, boosted by the completion of the Los Angeles aqueduct (featured in the Movie Chinatown) and the new industries of Aviation and Motion Pictures. By 1932 the Population of Los Angeles had surpassed one million and it hosted the Summer Olympic Games.

The Post War years brought great prosperity to the city and the beginning of urban sprawl. A Mecca of entertainment since the early 1920’s, Los Angeles symbolized what was glamorous about the Movie Industry and the term Hollywood, named after a district within Los Angeles, became a synonym, the world over, with glamour and success. In 1969 Los Angeles pioneered the internet, with the first ARPNET transmission from UCLA to Menlo Park. During the 1980’s, Los Angeles became the focus, first of the Punk Rock scene and later of the Glam Rock scene, with bands like Guns & Roses and Motley Crue. The early 1990’s brought hard core political rap (known as gangster rap), earthquakes, drive by shootings and racial riots, all products of inner city blight and the collapse of the aerospace industry at the end of the cold war. But by the end of the decade the city was going through a renaissance of gentrification, fueled by waves of immigrants from Asia and Latin America, who moved into previously run down areas of Los Angeles, revitalizing the city’s new and existing districts like Koreatown, Hollywood, Echo Park and Downtown Los Angeles.

By the mid 00’s, Los Angeles boasted a world class classical music hall, a Museum of Modern art, a Theatre and Hotel Complex at Hollywood & Highland and many new businesses and shops in what had been a largely abandoned areas. Los Angeles today is a vibrant city that has a lot to offer: Almost perfect weather all year around, a brand new subway system, beautiful stretches of coastline and a classic coastal highway, the magnetic allure of Hollywood, the glamour of Beverly Hills, the fun for all of Universal Studios and the Pier and boulevards of Santa Monica and even the counter cultural eclectic mix of Venice beach. Just like Frank Sinatra used to sing: L.A. is my lady!

Getting Around:

Los Angeles is served by 6 airports, dotted around the sprawling maze of counties that surround the city. Los Angeles international or LAX is the main international airport, the other 5 are all domestic and some serve cities in Mexico.

Los Angeles International Airport: L.A.’s main international Airport and home to the space age ‘Encounter Lounge and Restaurant’.

Bob Hope Burbank Airport: Located north of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, is convenient for domestic flights and close to studios in Burbank and Studio city.

Long Beach Airport: Formerly the McDonnell Douglas airfield, it serves some low cost domestic airlines, including Jet Blue.

John Wayne Orange County Airport: is located south of L.A., close to Disney and Laguna Beach. It is served by all domestic scheduled airlines.

Ontario Airport: Serving the Inland Empire and offering many low cost carriers.

Palmdale Airport: North of L.A., closest to the Mojave spaceport and the Coachella Music festival.

Los Angeles also has an Amtrak train station and a Greyhound bus station, both located Downtown. Several interstate highways connect in Los Angeles, including Highway 5. Once in L.A., most people rent a car, but now it’s possible to take the subway from downtown to Hollywood and under the Hollywood Hills to Universal studios.

Things To Do:

L.A is so glamorous that even LAX airport has a tourist site: The space age white arches of the ‘Encounter Lounge & Restaurant’, one of the most iconic buildings inside any airport. Rent a convertible car and drive with the top down, as it almost never rains in L.A. Drive to Santa Monica along P.C.H. (Pacific Coastal Highway), shop in the quirky shops around west Hollywood, ride along Hollywood Boulevard with the top down and stop in front of the iconic Man’s Chinese Theatre for a photo op. Stroll along Rodeo drive, hit downtown for a shot of culture at the Disney Concert Hall, drive up to the Griffith observatory for the best views of Los Angeles, hit Koreatown for the nightlife and don’t forget Olvera street, where it all began.

Los Angeles Climate:

Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate and enjoys a warm and pleasant weather all round the year. The months from May to October is normally warm, hot and dry with the temperature anywhere between 24–29°C during the daytime and 14–19°C during the nighttime. The months from November to April are mild and rainy to an extent. The temperature during this season could vary anywhere between 20–23°C during the daytime and 9–12°C during the nighttime. Los Angeles receives 385 mm of rain annually which mainly occurs during winter and spring months i.e. from November to April. Snowfall within the city is extremely rare. However, the mountains within the city limits receive snowfall every winter.

Hotel Accommodation:

There are plenty of hotels in Los Angeles and the place you choose to stay will make a tremendous impact on your LA experience. Downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Westwood are some of the most recommended areas to stay.

Introducing Honolulu:

Hawai’i is a former monarchy and Honolulu is the only city in the USA with a Royal Palace. The monarchy was overthrown in 1896 and Hawaii was annexed as a USA territory in 1900. The Hawaiian archipelago is the most isolated land mass on the globe and was colonized by South Pacific islanders who made their long voyages across the Pacific in canoes, navigating by the stars. The first Europeans came with Captain James Cook. William Bligh, of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame, was part of his crew. Captain Cook was killed by the natives but the current Hawaiian flag includes the Union Jack in his honor. Honolulu’s deep water port became a stop for American and European whaling ships during the 18th century and it became popular with the rich and famous during the 1920’s, who arrived in elegant ocean liners, soon to be followed by the Pan American flying boats of the 1930’s.

The first hotel in Honolulu was the Moana (now the Westin Moana Surfrider) offering unobstructed views of Diamond Head Peak. The next hotel was the iconic “Pink Palace”, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, still popular with visitors today. After the Japanese bombardments of 1941 and the fall of the Philippines in 1942, Hawaii became the largest and most important US territory in the Pacific, becoming the 50th State in 1959. Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu and it means ‘sheltered bay’ in the native language. Waikiki beach, located 20 minutes from downtown Honolulu, has developed into a world class beach resort with shopping, dining and accommodations that cater for every budget.

Getting Around:

Honolulu is served by Honolulu International Airport and cruise ships stop on the island frequently. Most people rent a car to explore the North Shore of Oahu Island. Honolulu counts with an efficient bus service that connects downtown with Waikiki and you can even take the local bus all around the island, including Pearl Harbor and the famous North Shore.

Things To Do:

Downtown Honolulu is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the USA. Visit the former Royal Palace (The Iolani Palace), its lively Chinatown and its many Southeast Asian eateries and food markets. Don’t skip on Pearl Harbor, the boat trip to the Arizona memorial is free and is one of the most touching monuments in the USA. Waikiki is a beach paradise of boutiques, bars and restaurants and the North Shore of the island is popular with surfers due to its amazingly huge waves during the winter season. Use Honolulu as a base to explore other Hawaiian islands, including Kauai and the Big Island, with natural wonders that include a snow capped volcano, the waterfalls featured in ‘Jurassic Park’, locally grown coffee and red hot lava flowing pacifically into the Pacific Ocean.

Honolulu Climate:

Honolulu enjoys a warm and humid climate throughout the year with pleasant breeze, sunny and tropical weather. Honolulu has only two distinct seasons - summer and winter. Rainfall occurs mainly during the winter months i.e. from October to March.

Hotel Accommodation:

Honolulu is one of the most popular tourist destinations and millions of people visit every year. It is no wonder that the the city possesses some of the finest hotels. Waikiki, Ala Moana, Downtown and Airport Areas have most of the hotels. At Honolulu, you can find hotels ranging from luxury to mid-range to budget hotels. Most of these hotels also have a tie-up with the car rental services. They have a chauffeur-driven service who is also a guide as he takes you around the heart of the city.