Popular Destinations

Introducing Rome:

Rome is the capital of Italy and the largest city on the Italian peninsula and has been a crucial city in western culture and history for over two and a half thousand years. Founded by Etruscan and Greeks, around 875 B.C, Rome grew to be the capital of the Roman Empire, an empire that encompassed the entire Mediterranean basin, including North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Northern Europe, including two thirds of the island of Britain and large swaths of Western Germany. Rome and the Roman Empire also had a huge influence in Christianity becoming the dominant religion in Europe when the Roman emperor Constantine decided to adopt Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, supplanting countless pagan religions from all over Europe. The city of Rome lost influence with the decline of the Roman Empire and subsequent split into Eastern and Western halves and by the Middle ages even the papacy had moved to Avignon due to constant outbreaks of Malaria in the city of Rome.

The Italian Renaissance was good for Rome, giving it some of its most beautiful monuments, including the Piazza navonna and Michelangelo’s the crowning achievement: The frescoes on the roof of the Sistine Chappell. Rome became a focus point for Italian unification during the 19th century and was largely untouched by both world wars of the 20th century, leading to a new renaissance during the 1950’s and 60’s, the time of “la Dolche Vita” and Vespas, as seen on “Roman Holyday”, making Rome of the premier tourist attractions in Europe. Visit the Ruins of the Old Roman Forum and the Coliseum, and then enter Vatican city, an independent city state inside of Rome, to admire Michelangelo’s frescoes and the grandeur of the Papacy. Walk the quaint campo del fiori square, with its open air Café’s, bars and flower market, make a wish on the Fontana di trevy , step on the Spanish Steps, walk along the Tiber River. Dine al fresco in one of Rome’s piazzas and order a Pizza, gelato and capuchino, finished off with an amaretto.

Getting Around:

Rome is served by Leonardo da Vinchi international airport and Ciampino, a smaller, regional and low cost airport served by Ryanair. In the city, you can take the Metro or Rome’s efficient Bus system. The Rome Termini Rail station connects with the rest of Italy and Europe. The Port of Civitavecchia is approximately 2 hours by train from Rome Termini station, offering Ferries to all Mediterranean destinations, including North Africa. Long Distance Busies also serve the city.

Things To Do:

Simply walking around Rome is a wonderfully gratifying experience as the city is an open air Museum with over 2500 years of History; on a short walk you would be able to admire the ancient Roman Forum and the Coliseum, not far from the Renaissance masterpiece of Piazza navona. The Vatican is a short Bus drive away and the quaint Plazas and cafe’s are best explored on foot. Rent a vespa and play “Roman Holyday” for a day.

The central area of Rome can be explored easily by foot. But trekking around the streets may be exhausting. You can either opt for a public transport or rent a car. These car rental services take you to the most exclusive tourist destinations.

Rome Climate:

Rome enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters. Summers in Rome are very hot and the temperature can exceed up to 35°C and the city shuts down their business during the month of August to take a vacation to cooler destinations. Winters are normally mild and pleasant and the average temperature in the month of December is close to 13°C. Spring season is the best time to visit Rome when the days are warm with mild showers in between.

Hotel Accommodation:

Rome is a city which is rich in its culture, history, art, tourism and entertainment. The city attracts millions of people across the world, throughout the year. There are plenty of hotels and accommodation of all price range can be found in Rome – from luxury stay to budget stay. Despite ample options, it’s not easy to find hotels without prior booking. So, ensure that the reservation is made in advance.

Introducing Paris:

Paris is a city of contrasting districts and wide boulevards, bisected by the seine river, crowned by the hill of Montmartre and adorned with one of the most photographed structures in Europe: The Eiffel tower. The City of Paris gets its name from the Celtic Gallic tribe called the Parisii of Gaul who inhabited an island on the River Seine and fought against Julius Caesar’s Roman armies who occupied and fortified their island (known today as Île de la Cité, the old Roman walls are still visible under Notre Dame Cathedral). A medieval city grew out of the Roman fort and eventually expanded into a metropolitan region of over 11 million inhabitants. Some of the original medieval buildings of Île de la Cité remain, including Notre Dame Cathedral, La Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie prison, known as the antechamber of the guillotine during the French revolution and counting Marie Antoinette among its many illustrious guests. Paris is divided into 20 districts or arrondissement, distributed in a clockwise spiral from the center of Île de la Cité. Kilometer cero starts in front of Notre Dame Cathedral and marks the first and 4th arrondissement. It is recommended to explore Paris by districts (arrondissement), as each one offers a unique charm.

First Arrondissement: this is a great district to start your explorations of Paris; it includes the Louvre Museum, the Sainte Chapelle, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Palais Royal. This central area is best explored by foot as it is varied and compact. One of the best ways to get an overview of Paris is to jump on one of the Bateaux Mouches boats that glide along the Seine. Take a night cruise and you will understand why Paris is called the city of light, when you see the Eiffel tower glittering with multiple lights.

Left Bank or Rive Gauche: This was the epicenter of 1920’s bohemian Paris, when artists and ex-pats gathered around outdoor cafés in the Montparnasse area, best described by one of its regulars: Ernest Hemingway. An area of the left bank close to La Sorbonne University became known as the Latin Quarter because education was dictated in Latin during medieval times. The Institute Pasteur is another left bank landmark, not far from the entrance to the catacombs of Paris, its somber tunnels and ossuaries are described in Les Misérables and other works of literature.

8th Arrondissement: Includes the Arc de Triomphe and the iconic Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

7th Arrondissement: Home of the Eifel tower, the once reviled and now the best known landmark of Paris and the world famous Musée d’Orsay .

La Défense: The district of La Défense is not officially inside the city of Paris, but its proximity provides a sharp contrast: A collection of ultra modern architecture, including the Arch de la defense that uses the neo-classical lines of the Arc de Triomphe and turns it into a space age version.

20th Arrondissement: Includes Pere Lachaise cemetery, where many of France’s famous artists are buried, including Jim Morrison, Chopin, Molliere and Edit Piaf.

The 18th Arrondissement: is best known for the Hill of Montmatre, crowned with the white stones of the Sacre Coer Basilica and the statue of Joan of Arc and offering sweeping views of the city. The 18th district is also known for its painters, picturesque side streets, steep steps and the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret in the bustling bohemian enclave of Pigalle.

11th Arrondissement: This district includes the most happening nightlife in Paris today, centered around Place de La Bastille and along Rue Oberkampf. If Hemmingway visited Paris today, he would hang out in the Café’s north of Bastille.

12th and 16th Arrondissements: Include large parks; the Bois de Vincennes, and the famous Bois de Boulogne, visible from the Eiffel tower.

Versailles: Just to the west of Paris is Versailles, a visit to the palace is a must, with opulent gardens and magnificent mirrored halls, you can almost hear Maria Antoinette proclaim: “Let them eat cake!”

Getting Around:

Paris is served by two mayor international airports, Orly and Charles de Gaulle plus a smaller domestic airport that receives low cost international flights called Beauvais. Six rail stations connect the city with the rest of Europe, including Gare du Nord, home of the Eurostar Chunnel train to London and Brussels and the Thalys speed train to Amsterdam and Brussels. Other stations offer TGV fast train service to Germany, Spain and the South of France and several long distance overnight trains to Italy and beyond. Once inside the city, the best way to get around is by subway, buy a one day or a five day ticket for convenience. Each one of Paris’s individual districts are best explored by foot, pushbikes are available for rent from automated stations that are strategically spaced 25 minutes apart so that you can get from one district to another and return the bike for more explorations on foot.

Things To Do:

Paris is a state of mind, pick your favorite districts and simple walk and immerse yourself in the culture, from sidewalks café’s to the Buddha bar, from Pere Lachaise to the catacombs, from the arch de triumph to the arch de la defense, from the Louvre to the Musée d’Orsay from Montparnasse to Bastille, from the top of Montmartre, to the top of the Eiffel tower, we will always have Paris. There are plenty of car rental services available in Paris. You can rent a car that takes you around the most exquisite places in the city.

Paris Climate:

Paris is known for its unexpected rainfall that can occur at any time of the year. The temperature in summer is usually warm with occasional heat waves and winters are bitter cold with temperatures close to freezing point. The best time to visit Paris is around the spring when you feel that the city is reborn with fresh flower blossoms and green leaves which enhances the beauty of the city.

Hotel Accommodation:

Paris has plenty of splendid hotels that symbolize French-style elegance and 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 Orlando:

Orlando today is a lot more than just a gateway to theme parks, but it was certainly placed firmly on the map by Walt and Roy Disney’s decision to purchase several acres of swampland on an intersection of interstate close to McCoy Air Force Base (today Orlando International Airport). The Disney’s chose this location over Miami or Tampa due to the large tracts of land available, and their desire to control all of the area surrounding their theme parks in order to avoid the glut that surrounded their Anaheim park, besides, Orlando’s inland location offered additional protection against coastal Florida’s frequent hurricanes. Disney’s original dream was to build a model community surrounding his theme park, reminiscent of an idealized Saturday Evening Post suburbia. Walt Disney died in 1966 before he could see his project completed, but his dream lives on today in the resort that bears his name, and contains four distinctive theme parks, two themed water parks, twenty-three themed hotels, including the iconic Grand Floridian Victorian hotel and the futuristic, monorail served ‘Contemporary Resort’.

The sprawling Disney resorts include a plethora of shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation facilities, all linked by monorail and a fleet of Disney Buses. Walt Disney’s dream of an ideal suburban community became reality in 1996 when the Disney corporation unveiled the master-planned community of Celebration, Florida, with a main commercial street based on ‘Main Street USA ‘ the shopping street outside of Cinderella’s castle in the Disney resorts and with homes built in an early 20th century style. The community is connected to the Disney Theme Park with an exclusive boulevard that enables its residents to drive to the Magic Kingdom without having to cut trough busy thoroughfares.

Getting Around:

Orlando is served by Orlando International Airport and Orlando-Sanford International airport, located in Sanford, a city just north of Orlando. Most people choose to rent a car, and this is useful when exploring several attractions and theme parks, but not necessary if you plan to stay within the Disney resorts as they provide free transportation connecting all their hotels with their different theme parks and even provide an airport shuttle. Downtown Orlando has an efficient metropolitan bus system called Lynx and most hotels in the Orlando area offer shuttles to all the theme parks, including Sea World, Universal Studios and the Disney resorts.

Things To Do:

Orlando is the theme park capital of the world: Sea World, Universal Studios and the Disney Resorts are just the most famous ones, but don’t miss out on the more quaint ones like Gatorland and Holy Land among others. Save one night to stroll along Orlando’s busy Orange Avenue, closed to traffic in the evening, it offers many bars, clubs and restaurants within a small radius. Extend your explorations to Daytona Beach, or the famous Space Coast, home of Cocoa beach and the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, you might catch the launching of a rocket or even the Space Shuttle.

Orlando Climate:

Orlando experiences a warm and humid sub-tropical climate. It has two distinct climate, warm summers and cool winters. It usually rains in summer and storms are quite common in late afternoon. These storms can sometimes be fierce and can bring a lot of wind, thunder, hail and lightning. Orlando is known for its heavy lightning strikes than any other place in the United States. Orlando experiences heavy or violent rainfall in the months from June to September. However, the rains don’t cool the temperature and often the humidity levels are higher immediately after the thunderstorms. Hurricane is also occurs in summer and runs from June through November and can be quite damaging. Winters are usually dry and sunny and this is the perfect time to visit Orlando. There is very little rainfall during this season and the weather is pleasant.

Hotel Accommodation:

Accommodation of all price range can be found in Orlando – from luxury stay to budget stay. Walt Disney World, Kissimmee and International Drive are few of the important hotel districts in Orlando. Most of these hotels also have a tie-up with the car rental services that take you around to the most exclusive destinations of the city.

Introducing San Francisco:

San Francisco is not a geographical location; it’s a vast social experiment in the making; the place where the future gets tested, not only technologically but also socially, or how the locals put it: ‘San Francisco is a state of mind’. Located on the end of a peninsula, at the southern edge of the Golden Gate, the City of San Francisco is just 7 x 7 square miles, but its history and influence have been felt worldwide. As the main city of the San Francisco Bay Area, it has been at or near the epicenter of several important cultural and technological revolutions, a focus point for the hippy movement during the summer of love of 1967, an emerging gay Mecca during the 1970’s and important research center that gave us Silicon Valley, personal computers and internet corporations, including Apple, Hewett Packard, Yahoo, Google, Twitter, Facebook and many more. San Francisco & the Bay Area have also been a center for innovative filmmaking with the aid of technology: Lucas films (Star Wars) and Pixar (Toy Story, UP) are both based there. The San Francisco Bay Area’s incredible ethnic diversity, progressive spirit and breathtaking natural and structural wonders have made the City of San Francisco one of the most visited tourist destinations on earth. But San Francisco wasn’t always a tourists’ paradise; founded by the Spanish as a Mission dedicated to St Francis of Assisi in 1776 located on the windswept and foggy tip of a barren peninsula of sand dunes.

The Mission remained a backwater as it changed from a Spanish rule to Mexican and then as a part of the California Republic and eventually the USA. It was the gold rush of 1848 that established San Francisco firmly on the map and set off successive waves of immigration from all over the world, particularly from Asia and Europe. 1906 saw the City of San Francisco almost totally a destroyed after a strong earthquake and subsequent fires razed most of the city. San Francisco rebuilt and by 1935 it had avoided the worst of the depression with work on its dual bridges: The Iconic Golden Gate Bridge, joining the city with Marin County and the more utilitarian but extremely important Bay Bridge, linking Downtown San Francisco with Oakland. The city suffered another strong earthquake in 1989, when entire blocks in some neighborhood were razed by fires and the city’s aerial freeway system buckled and was dismantled, bringing in positive urban renewal by opening the views along the Embarcadero and turning the ferry building into an attractive tourist area. They say that only Manhattan can compete with San Francisco’s amazing culinary variety; there is always a new trendy restaurant opening or a small ethnic eatery to discover and sometimes a walk along San Francisco feels live traveling through five different continents and cultures in one hour: From Chinatown to North Beach, from the Castro to Height Asbury, from Downtown to the Sunset District and the beach, the possibilities are endless.

Getting Around:

San Francisco is served by San Francisco International Airport, located south of the city in San Mateo County; a rail line connects the airport with San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area Rapid Transit commuter rail system. Oakland airport, across the bay from San Francisco, serves mostly domestic flights and has a shuttle that connected to the closest BART (Fruitvale Station). Once in San Francisco, get a MUNI rail pass, valid in all the buses and MUNI rail trolleys inside San Francisco, the 7 day MUNI pass is also valid on the iconic San Francisco cable cars, a symbol of the city and a must for tourists.

Things To Do:

San Francisco’s mild winter weather makes it a perfect year round destination, most tourists first visit Fisherman’s Wharf, with its assortment of tourist traps among decent bars and eateries, don’t miss the colony of Sea Lions that live off pier 39. The Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps one of the most photographed bridges in the world, offers the best views of the majestic Golden Gate and the City of San Francisco, schedule a sunset visit for spectacular photos. Explore San Francisco’s varied ethnic and culturally unique neighborhoods, from the gay Mecca of Castro St, with its gay friendly stores and iconic old movie house: the Castro Theatre, focusing on classic Hollywood movies from the Golden Age of Cinema. The world famous Height Ashbury district was the epicenter of the summer of love and still offers a livery bohemian vive with good bars and ethnic eateries galore. Chinatown, resembling a classic old town in China, the Italian North Beach, Famous for gelato & pizza and the posh lounges and trendy restaurants of downtown, SOMA and Market street. Leave one day free to explore the Mission, San Francisco’s original neighborhood and now the center of Mexican and Central American food and culture, where you can visit the Mission Dolores, site of the original Mission of San Francis of Assisi. On longer stays head north to the Napa Valley for a taste the famous California wines.

Renting a car is a perfect way to discover the city. There are plenty of car rental services in San Francisco that take you to the most exquisite tourist destinations.

San Francisco Climate:

San Francisco experiences Mediterranean climate with cool and dry summers and mild, wet winters. May to October is a dry period when the weather is usually mild to warm. The months from November to April is usually cold with temperature ranging anywhere between 13–17°C during the daytime and during the nighttime. Snowfall is extremely rare in San Francisco.

Hotel Accommodation:

There are plenty of hotels in San Francisco and it offers a wide range of acclaimed accommodations – from luxury hotels to budget stay.

Introducing Miami:

The South Florida region had been inhabited by the Calusa and other Amerindian tribes for millennia by the time Spanish conquistador Don Ponce de Leon arrived in 1513. Ponce was looking for the fountain of youth but instead found a bay with inlets and a vast swampland. The Name Miami comes from the Calusa Indian word for ‘big water’ and their main village became what we now know as the City of Miami. The area was formally claimed for Spain in 1566 and the first Spanish Mission was built in 1557. The Spanish were never able to successfully settle in the area, beset by wars with the natives and with other European powers and sold Florida to the USA in 1821 for $5 million US dollars. The area remained a sparsely populated backwater known as the ‘Biscayne Bay area’ until the railroad was extended south to the village of Miami in 1896. The boom brought in by the railroad transformed a once sleepy village into a summer resort and by 1915 Miami Beach was founded, aided by the construction of the first bridge over Biscayne Bay. Miami’s population boomed during World War II, as the tourists were replaced by soldiers training to fight German U boats. The Second population boom started in 1959 when the Cuban revolution forced a large number of middle class Cubans into exile.

After several more waves of immigration from Cuba and Latin America, including the ‘Mariel Boatlift’ of 1980 (featured in the movie Scarface), Miami now boast a population that is 67% Spanish speaking or of Latin American descent. Only 25% of Miami residents are registered as Anglo speakers, leading Miami to be called ‘The Capital of The Americas’. Miami is currently the 3rd richest city in the USA, with a booming downtown that is rapidly getting Manhattanised with glass skyscrapers. Miami’s magnificent luxury villas on private islands attract the rich and famous, and it’s gorgeous stretches of white sandy beaches, magnificent boutique hotels and vibrant Latin culture, led by a Cuban community that brought ‘Mojito’ and ‘Cubano Sandwich’ into the American lexicon, attract tourists from the world over. Miami is also known for its ‘snowbird’ population, largely Canadians who flock south in the winter to escape the cold and a large Jewish-American population that have made Miami a haven for retirees, among the youthful exuberance of Latin dance clubs and photo shoots of bikini clad models on the sands of south beach. Miami is the place to be.

Getting Around:

Miami is served by Miami international Airport, offering nonstop flights to Europe and Latin America as well as domestic connections. Fort Lauderdale Airport, just north of Miami is convenient for travelers flying in from the New York area and other domestic USA or Canadian cities. Miami is also a world class cruise port and has both an Amtrak and a Greyhound station. The city counts with an efficient municipal bus system and downtown Miami is interconnected with the suburbs with an overhead metro system. You can rent a bike and pedal along South Beach and downtown as Florida is perfectly flat, the highest elevation in the city is only 20 feet above sea level.

Things To Do:

Miami is a beach paradise during the day and a nightlife paradise at night, with excellent restaurants and a vibrant art scene. Take an afternoon stroll along the pedestrian Lincoln Road for its bars, open air restaurants, art galleries and drag shows. South beach is nonstop fun, with art deco hotels and café’s facing a sandy beach. Downtown has great shopping and museums, including the ‘Casa Vizcaya’ a Venetian style luxury villa facing the waters of Biscayne Bay. Make time for a stop in Little Havana’s ‘Calle Ocho’ for a Cuban coffee, a Cubano sandwich and a couple of refreshing Mojitos.

If you want to explore more of Miami and the nearby places, you can rent a car. There are plenty of car rental services available. You can also check with your hotel staff as most of the hotels provide the car rental services.

Miami Climate:

Miami has a tropical monsoon climate where the climate is hot and humid in summers and mostly warm and dry winters. The humidity levels in summers are very high and they usually range between 85-90 percent, making it one of the humid cities in the United States. Miami receives rainfall during summer and early autumn.

Hotel Accommodation:

Miami Beach is one of the top tourist destinations and has plenty of hotel accommodation that ranges from luxury to mid-range to budget accommodation. Miami Beach, South Beach, Bal Harbour, Central Miami, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and West Miami are the most popular places for lodging.

Introducing Seattle:

You can blame Seattle for the presence of a Starbucks on every street corner of the world, the very first one opened in Seattle’s Iconic Pike Place Market in 1971. It may have something to do with the fact that Seattle only gets, on average, 58 clear and sunny days per year, but don’t let this damper your enthusiasm for Seattle and do what the locals do: Have another cup of Coffee. This is a city that is mad about coffee, having given us, not only the ubiquitous Starbucks, but also a myriad of less famous coffee chains such as; Peet’s Coffee, Seattle’s Best and hundreds of locally owned coffee houses spread all over the city. Seattle, named after a local Indian Chief in 1853, remained a backwater on the edge of Puget Sound that scratched a living from lumber, fishing and coal until Boeing was founded in 1916. The city’s dependence on the aircraft industry caused it to suffer during the oil embargo of the 1970’s and it has only been during the last 25 years that Seattle has managed to outgrow its seedy reputation, powered by the Influx of Microsoft money and other IT, Internet and retail companies that have made Seattle their corporate headquarters, including: Amazon.com, Costco, Nordstrom and Nintendo of America. But perhaps it was the combination of Seattle weather and its economic bleakness during the pre-internet years that gave us one of Seattle’s greatest exports:

The Grunge Movement:

There was a time during the early 1990’s when virtually every Seattle guitar band had a recording contract. Grunge had put Seattle on the word’s musical map and local bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden became household names, selling out stadia worldwide. Hollywood soon followed, making several ‘Grunge’ oriented movies, set in Seattle including “Singles” featuring several local bands.

Getting Around:

Seattle is served by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, known locally as “Sea-Tac Airport”. The Airport is 25 minutes drive south of downtown when there is no traffic. Buses are free in the Downtown Core of Seattle from 6am to 7pm, allowing you to hop on and off. A monorail connects downtown Seattle with the Seattle Center, home of the Seattle Space needle and the Music Experience. Ferries connect Seattle the many islands and communities on Puget Sound and also offer daily connections to Vancouver and Victoria in Canada.

Things To Do:

Seattle today may be a bit less musical when compared to its ‘Grunge’ heyday, but you can still catch an alternative rock band at the Legendary Moore Theatre and many other venues around town. Don’t miss Pike Market and its famous fish throwing fishmongers, The Space Needle, the Music Experience Museum that includes the Jimmy Hendrix’s exhibit (Jimmy was a Seattle native) and also Downtown Underground, the remains of the original downtown. Seattle’s countless natural wonders include hikes up amazing snow capped strato-volcanoes, kayaking around Puget Sound’s many inlets and a long Ski season with numerous ski resorts just 40 minutes from downtown. Downtown Vancouver Canada is just two hours north of downtown Seattle and is a very popular weekend destination for shopping, bar hopping and world class skiing.

Renting a car is a perfect way to discover the city. There are plenty of car rental services in San Francisco that take you to the most exquisite tourist destinations.

Seattle Climate:

Seattle is a perfect place for those who enjoy cool and wet climate. The primary characteristic of Seattle weather is its warm and dry summers and cool and wet winters. Rains are normally mild and misty but the sky always remains overcast even when it is not raining. Summers are warm and it is characterized by dry and sunny long days and cool nights. The months of July and early parts of August are the dry periods of the city. Winter is the wettest season of the year and the temperatures seldom drop below the freezing point and little snowfall. Spring season is the perfect time to visit Seattle when the weather is pleasant with mild temperatures and greenery all around the city. Autumn in Seattle could be dry but you can expect occasional showers.

Hotel Accommodation:

Seattle has plenty of hotels that range from expensive stay to budget stay. Downtown, South Lk Union, Space Needle and Seattle Center are few of the important areas in Seattle where the hotels are located.

Introducing New York City:

Frank Sinatra was not from New York City (he was born in Hoboken, New Jersey), but he described the city best when he sung: ‘New York, New York, if you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere.’ New York City is indeed a city that never sleeps, with a core population of over 8 million, enjoying 24 hour mass transit, entertainment, restaurants, bars, gyms and supermarkets, under a phalanx of skyscrapers that house the highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the world, benefiting from the density and diversity of an urban population of over 18 million people, spread over the 5 boroughs of New York City and 3 adjacent States: New York, New Jersey & Connecticut. New York is a city of ethnically diverse neighborhoods, where you can enjoy any kind of world food delivered to your door: Tibetan cuisine, Vietnamese, Cuban or just plain American Apple Pie. The locals simply put it this way: “New York is everything”. But New York City wasn’t always a world metropolis; the Dutch established a fur trading colony called “New Amsterdam” at the southern tip of the island of Manhattan in 1614, and then they purchased the rest of the island from the native Lenape Indians in 1626 for 60 Guilders. The northernmost edge of the ‘New Amsterdam’ colony was protected by a picket wall that ran along present day Wall Street, hence the name. Circa 1667, the Dutch swapped with the British crown; a small island in the Indonesian archipelago for the Island of Manhattan. As a British colony, now renamed “New York”, the city grew into an important trading port and was the location of several battles during the War of Independence of 1777-1783, when it served as the primary base of the British forces until they faced defeat and expulsion in 1783.

New York then became the nation’s first National Capital and George Washington was declared its First President at 26 Wall Street in Manhattan. The same site became the first National Capitol and sat the first American Congress. The 18th and early 20th century brought several waves of immigration that transformed New York City into a multicultural metropolis with a street grid expanded to cover the whole island of Manhattan. By 1857, the slums that had grown above 59th street were cleared for the landscaping of what would become Central Park. Ellis Island was established on New York Harbor in 1892, next to the Statue of Liberty, as a place to process the ever growing flow of impoverished immigrants arriving into New York every day. By 1954 more than 12 million immigrants had passed through Ellis Island before setting foot in New York City and dispersing trough the country. More than 100 million Americans today can trace their ancestry to Ellis island, including former New York Governor Mario Cuomo and countless American celebrities and important American political and artistic figures, giving credence to the Emma Lazarus sonnet engraved in bronze inside the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,”. New York is indeed, everything.

Getting Around:

New York City is served by 3 main airports and countless regional airports spread over 3 States. The main international airports are JFK international, located in Queens, New York and Newark International Airport, located in Newark, New Jersey. La Guardia airport, located in Flushing Bay, is New York City’s smaller domestic airport, offering spectacular views of Manhattan during take offs and landings as the approach is directly over the Hudson river. Once on the ground, New Yorkers enjoy one of the most efficient mass transit systems in the USA, with 24 hour subway, bus, ferry and even a cable car (to Roosevelt Island) service. Get a Metrocard valid for all the MTA’s forms of transportation. Manhattan’s rail stations offer great interconnectivity, linking with the subway, long distance buses (at Port Authority Bus station) the Amtrak rail system (at Penn. Station), including the Acela Speed train from Boston to Washington DC. The Path Trains connect New Jersey with New York (also from Penn. Station). Metro North’s suburban trains run into Grand Central Station, connecting Manhattan with Connecticut and upstate New York.

Things To Do:

New York is everything but you have to start somewhere: Head to the newly pedestrian Times Square, the epicenter of New York City, with 30 stories of neon and nonstop 24 hour entertainment. The famous Broadway theatre district is next door, featuring long running musicals like ‘Spamalot’ and ‘The Lion King’. For an ethic food fix, head over to Hell’s Kitchen, just a few blocks away and then south to the trendy SOHO district, with cobblestoned streets and boutiques. Chinatown is a must, right next to Little Italy. Keep heading south until you reach Battery Park and catch the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Elis Island (both can be visited during the same tour). For travelers on a budget: Take the Staten Island Ferry for close up views of the statue of Liberty from the bay (The Staten Island Ferry is included in the Metrocard). Then head uptown for a spectacular view of New York City from the observatories atop the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building or the Rainbow Room Bar on the top floor of Rockefeller Center.

Keep heading uptown for museum glory: The American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Museo del Barrio, among others. Cap the evening with dinner at a trendy restaurant (Amsterdam Avenue offers the best value) and then hit a Salsa Club or a hotel Lounge. In the summer take the Subway to Coney Island (a nostalgic play land on the beach) and then walk along the Brighton Beach boardwalk for a taste of Little Odessa. New Yorkers like to entertain in Boutique Hotels, so don’t be surprised if your lobby becomes a nightclub after 9pm, notably the lounge at the Soho Grand, the W hotel’s Whisky Bar, The Iroquois’s James Dean Lounge or any hotel run by Mr. Ian, Schrager of Studio 54 fame. Remember that this is the City that actually lives “Sex & the City”.

To best way to explore the city’s best attractions is to rent a car. Discover the real New York City by driving around and stop over where ever you wish to. No schedules to follow!

New York Climate:

New York has a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The months i.e. from June to early September can be very hot with thunderstorms that pass quickly. Generally in the month of August and September, the city experiences tropical storms and occasional hurricane. Winter begins from December and lasts until early March where the temperature can dip up to near or below freezing point. There is a possibility of snow storms, freezing rain and bitter cold winds during the month of January. The best time to visit New York is during the autumn when the temperatures are warm and the humidity levels are low.

Hotel Accommodation:

The lively city of New York has plenty of hotel accommodation from luxury stay to mid range to budget hotels. Fifth Avenue – Midtown, Grand Central – Midtown, Times Square – Midtown, Madison Square Garden Midtown, Chelsea and Gramercy and Wall Street are the most popular places where the hotels are located.

Introducing Washington D.C:

Washington D.C. can be a very affordable vacation treat, thanks to the Smithsonian institute and the Federal government, the areas surrounding the Mall (from Capitol hill to Pennsylvania avenue and beyond) are chock full of the most exiting museums and monuments in the nation, and they are all free! Children will learn while having fun and adults will have a great time too, as the monuments and museums will satisfy any age. Here is a rundown of the most popular:

The Air and Space Museum: Considered the jewel in the Smithsonian crown, it contains most of America’s aerospace achievements, including a model of the Wright Brothers’ plane and several original relics: Lindberg’s “The Spirit of St Lois” and the Enola Gay. A new wing of the Air and Space museum opened next to Washington Dulles Airport, with a ‘Control Tower’ that overlooks the Dulles runway and a display that includes the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

The Natural History Museum: Plenty of Dinosaur Bones and retro nature dioramas

The National Art Gallery: Portraits of all the Presidents and modern American Art

The National Museum of American History: Impressive collection of American historical artifacts, focusing on everyday items and uncommon lives, including Dorothy’s slippers from the Wizard of Oz

The Holocaust Museum: An eye opening testament of the Holocaust presented in a didactic way and a lesson for the future

Washington has many more museums and monuments, please visit the Smithsonian website for a complete list, including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and National Zoo.

Washington D.C. is a planned town, and some were unhappy with George Washington’s selection of this swampy piece of land on the banks of the Potomac, as the Nation’s Capital. The Location was primarily chosen due to its proximity to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate, rather than its suitability as a real village. With hot and humid summers and bitter cold and snowy winters, the weather in Washington can appear to be less stable than in New York or Boston, with sudden swings from warm and sunny days to driving snow, but don’t let Washington’s wild moods of weather deter you from a visit to this unique American city of wide open boulevards, beautiful neoclassical architecture and with no with no building taller than the Washington monument, Washington DC is a celebration of American democracy in action.

Getting Around:

Washington D.C. is served by 3 airports; the main international gateway is Washington Dulles, located in suburban Virginia. Washington National Airport is located inside the District of Columbia and it offers mostly domestic flights and is the airport most used by members of Congress. Baltimore Airport, located in the town of Baltimore, is just 40 minutes north of Washington, offers domestic flights. Washington DC’s Metro is one of the cleanest in the nation; it covers all the main sites within the District of Columbia and also across the Potomac River to Virginia, including the Pentagon city and Arlington National Cemetery. Washington’s Union Station offers Amtrak rail service and the Acela speed train to Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. Greyhound Bus also serves the city.

Things To Do:

Most of the attractions in Washington D.C are free. Start your trip with a tour of the White House, the FBI Building (Including a machine gun firing demonstration), Capitol Hill (amazing rotunda), The Washington Monument (monumental views), The Lincoln Memorial (of ‘I have a dream fame’), Pentagon City, Arlington Cemetery (The eternal flame, JFK’s tomb) the plethora of Smithsonian museums around the mall (You need 2 weeks to see them all), The Library of Congress, and much more. Cap your day in the Adams Morgan or DuPont Circle area for its many ethnic eateries and trendy lounges, including Thievery Corporation’s “18th Street lounge”.

The city is best explored easily by foot, but trekking around the streets may be exhausting. You can either opt for a public transport or rent a car. These car rental services take you to the most exclusive tourist destinations.

Washington D.C Climate:

Washington D.C has a humid subtropical climate and has four distinct seasons. Summers in Washington D.C are very hot and humid and can be unbearable. The city experiences heavy snowfall during winters and sudden arctic blasts or frozen rainstorms can occur during this period. The best time to visit Washington D.C is during the spring/fall when the weather is pleasant and perfect.

Hotel Accommodation:

Accommodation of all price range can be found in Washington D.C – from luxury stay to budget stay. Regardless of what area you are headed to, you are bound to find great hotels with shops and restaurants around the corner.