Great Heritages are the Major Tourist Attractions in Lithuania

Lithuania is the fastest growing tourist destination in Europe. Summer is the best season to visit the Lithuanian cities and experience the beauty of beach life of Lithuanian seaside. Visitors can avoid the tourist rush during late spring and early autumn. If, visitors are targeting to experience the night life and restaurants only then perhaps weather does not matter.

Vilnius is one of the main Lithuanian tourist attractions. It is situated at the crossroads between Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Western Europe. Gediminas Castle and Cathedral Square are prime sights of the city. The Old Town of Vilnius also has historical significance and it is enlisted in UNESCO world heritage list in 1994. Vilnius has been targeted to transform into capital of European Culture up to 2009 which will be a great achievement for the city in modern time.

Another, tourist attractions in Lithuania is Curonian Spit and Palanga. Curonian Spit can be recognized as the major separation line between Curonian Lagoon and Baltic Sea. It has been speculating that Curonian Spit was formed approximately 5000 years ago. On the other hand, Palanga is a seaside resort town. There is myth about the name is that it is named after a beautiful priestess who had promised the god to guard her virginity for the whole life but it could not happen and after the death of her husband ‘Kestutis’, she returned to this place and served the god until she died. Today, visitors can get here pagan’s shrine. Some famous tourist centers of Palanga are Church of Saint Marie, Zemaiciu alka, Pajurio Regional Park, Sea Bridge, the street of J. Basanavicius, Birute hill and museum of Amber.

The major pilgrimage site of Lithuania is hill of crosses. Its religious significance was recognized on September 7, 1993 when Pop John Paul II visited this place and declared it as the place of hope, peace, love and sacrifice.

Druskininkai is situated at the estuary of the Nemunas River. The USP of this place is its beautiful landscape which is amalgamation of rivers, lakes, hills and forests. It is also known as ‘spa town’ which was honored by czar Nicholas I of Russia in 1837. The first water park of Lithuania is also in the credit of Druskininkai. The city is also a prime centre of historical museums and galleries. ‘Druskininkai poetic fall’ is a very famous annual event of the city.

Thus, Lithuanian tourist attractions are perfect combination of art, culture and trendiness which have capability to attract visitors of different tastes and interests. If, someone is looking for spirituality then ‘hill of crosses’ may be the perfect choice. Similarly, Vilnius is offering balance between trendiness and historical legacy and everyone should have faith upon the administration as the city is targeted to be the capital city of European culture. The great Myth attached with Palanga may attract various tourists. Even, Curopian Spit has capability to proof itself as a heritage hub. Although, in spite of various environmental concerns; it is in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List under cultural criteria ‘V’.

Author: Nancy Eben

Avoiding Injuries - Snowboard Safety For Beginners

I have never been snowboarding before but I cannot deny how amazingly cool snowboarding holidays look. It now seems likely that I will get a chance to prove myself on the slopes this coming April. After watching a few videos on the internet, I concluded that good snowboarders really do look fantastic. Less than good snowboarders however, look injured on hospital stretchers, which then prompted me to look up basic snowboard safety.

This, however, did not mean that I am put-off from the impending experience, through the fear of pain. If you never did anything that scared you occasionally, you would never take part in anything. I am in the mood to be a bit reckless and do something exciting for once and snowboarding holidays are always great for raising the adrenalin.

As with all snowboarding holidays, in order to get the most out of the experience, and indeed to get out of the experience itself in one piece, a healthy knowledge of the dangers and the pitfalls is essential for a safe snowboarding trip, for yourself and your fellow boarders.

I was slightly amused to find out that snowboarding injuries are statistically similar to car accidents, there is a tendency to be more accidents among women but injuries in men are often more severe. It is 'bump in the car park' vs. '70mph head on collision' gender thinking.

Even if you are a strong skier and it is your first time on a snowboarding holiday, take a lesson or two to begin with. Just because you are a good skier, does not automatically mean you will be a good snowboarder as things like body tension and movement are very different from skiing. This means you will need much time to adjust, it also means the injuries you can sustain vary as well.

The most common injuries sustained while snowboarding are sprained or fractured wrists, elbow dislocations or contusions and rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder area. In addition, other common risks include neck injuries and concussion.

A good advice for beginners (or any snowboarder with safety in mind) is to invest in wrist and elbow guards, kneepads and a pad for your tailbone. People going on snowboarding holidays for the first time are more than likely to spend a significant proportion of their time falling on their backside and a bruised tailbone can be excruciating.

Most people have heard of the term 'tennis elbow', but not many people know that snowboarders have their own signature injury called Snowboarders Ankle. This amounts to a fracture to the lateral process of the Talus bone, located deep in the ankle and is rare in the general population. The injury gains its name by being 15 times more common in snowboarders and is very tricky to spot in the early stages owing to the swelling. If you suffer from sustained pain in your ankle after a fall, you may need a CT scan to rule out this sneaky fracture.

Prevention is simple, when out on the slopes, wearing ankle braces can offer more support, making serious injury less likely. Good training that you can do before, after and during your snowboarding excursions is using a wobble board. In addition, a popular and effective method of rehabilitation, involves balancing on a circular board on top of a half sphere. This works the muscles and ligaments in the ankle and knees, and can reduce repeat injuries cutting down rehab time dramatically.

As with all extreme sports, snowboarding does come with risks (it would not be half as exciting if it did not). The best snowboarding safety advice offered is also the simplest.

* Do not take on more difficult runs than you can manage safely.
* Be aware of other skiers and boarders.
* When trying something new or challenging, do not go it alone and do not let others experiment alone.
* Make sure all your equipment is in good condition and keep checking it.
* Resist the urge to show off. It can end badly.
* Do not give up on your first day, keep on persevering and you will do well.
* Remember to smile!

Author: Anna Stenning

Cheap Airfares Is The Solution For A Budgeted Holiday

Whether you are planning for that dream vacation for the family, making arrangements to see loved ones for the holidays or a special occasion, or making preparations for a business trip, looking for cheap airfares is always high on the priority list anytime people need to travel by air. No one wants to spend more money than is needed to get to their destination. Often the ability to secure discount airline tickets can really make or break a trip.

Most people lose interest in planning for even cheap vacations if they are going to end up being strapped for cash once they get to their destination. Cheaper fares can make a huge difference in the travel budget, both for the business traveler and for those traveling for pleasure.

For some people, finding cheap flights makes a trip possible that would otherwise have been out of the question. For others, a discount on the flight means they can indulge themselves a bit and enjoy some pampering while away.

With the way that gas prices have shot up recently, some travelers who enjoy winding their way cross-country in the car are discovering that cheap airfares can actually make more sense than driving to their destination. But, the increases in fuel costs have also pushed up the rates on plane fares, which as in turn has made it even harder to find those elusive discount airline tickets.

For the most part, the cheaper fares are most abundant when booking your trip early. But, you should be careful not to book too early. Recently, experts have stated that booking airline tickets more than six months in advance can end up costing you more than if you wait for that six-month mark. Booking three to six months before your trip will usually give you the most options and the best airfare deals.

It should come as no surprise that the internet is one of the best places to look for and secure the best deals for your travel needs. While there are many different websites that collect and display comparisons of airfare costs from a number of different airlines, such as Expedia and Travelocity, even these sites do not have all of the discount flight information.

There are some airlines, such as the popular discount airline Southwest, that do not list any of their flight information on other travel websites. In addition, many of the airlines only show their best fares, or special web-only discount airfare rates, on their own websites and not on the travel websites. Because of this, it is a good idea to take the time to go to the web sites of the different carriers that cover your departure and arrival cities.

Another way to find cheap airfares is to check to see if there are better airfare deals available for nearby airports. For example, when planning a trip to the Los Angeles area, there might be cheap air tickets available to some of the smaller landing strips that are nearby, such as Burbank, Santa Ana or Long Beach. Not only are flights into these airports sometimes cheaper, but they might also be more conveniently located to your final destination, as well as being less congested.

Author: MIKE SELVON

Vacationing in the Wilderness

For a unique New Zealand Vacation destination, Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki stands out above the rest. Owner Gerry McSweeny, a biologist who also heads the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, created the lodge together with his wife Anne.

When we established the lodge in 1989, says McSweeny, the immediate concern was to create jobs with ecotourism as an alternative to the timber industry, which was logging 1,000 year old podocarp trees. Now weve moved on to other conservation efforts.

The lodge, located in the lakeside clearing in the historic podocarp forest, is run entirely on hydroelectric power courtesy of the nearby Moerkai Rapids. Guests can enjoy guided treks to the Tasman Sea coast, to view fur seals and Fiordland penguins, take a canoe ride along Lake Moeraki and hike the nearby trails.

The neighboring Te Wahi Pounamu Reserve makes up more than 10% of the total landmass of the country, and is the perfect place for an eco friendly New Zealand vacation. These days, going green is all the rage, and what better place to do so than at one of New Zealands premier eco tourism destinations.

With 24 new Rainforest Rooms, each with private facilities, the lodge itself is the pinnacle of eco luxury. The forests, mountains, rivers, and wildlife around and within Lake Moeraki are protected as property of the South West New Zealand Te Wahi Pounamu World Heritage site, and offer visitors a myriad of sights to see and experiences to enjoy.

The Monro walk, a four hour trek in an exotic rainforest, is perfect for do-it-yourself naturalists and eco adventurers. On the way, the Giant Rimu lookout, with its breathtaking and picturesque views is not to be missed. There are also shorter walks to the Paringa historic cattle track, the Hapuka estuary, and the Cascade Valley glaciers.

Where can you explore a rainforest, view penguins and seals in their natural habitat, explore the cultural origins of the Maori tribe, hike a canyon to a waterfall, and so much more?

New Zealand, of course, and the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki is the perfect place to begin. Book your trip early, as the lodge does tend to fill up fast, particularly during the peak tourist season. Your travel agent will be able to assist you with all of the final details of the planning the perfect New Zealand vacation, and help you chose the itinerary that is perfect for you, so make sure to avail yourself of their expert opinions when it comes to travel.

Author: Phoenix Delray

What to Do In Dubai

Cities Look on the map! Is it Las Vegas? Is it New York City? Is it Miami? No, it is Dubai, the city that is experiencing the biggest construction boom of any city in the world. The most lavish and progressive emirate of the UAE obviously is thinking big, as everything raised here is the largest, the grandest or the most luxurious ever. Dubai currently boasts having the largest shopping mall, the largest manmade island and marina, and the tallest five-star resort hotel in the world. Building marinas and islands on deserts is a majestic feat that is a phenomenal accomplishment.

Since this enclave may one day soon be the most luxurious destination on the planet, we thought a little intelligence on lodgings, fine dining, and things to do would be appropriate.

Luxury Hotels in Dubai

Crowne Plaza Dubai is, that is, at least for now, Dubais most centrally located five-star hotel. It is on Sheikh Zayed Road and directly opposite the World Trade Centre, the International Convention Centre, and the Emirates Towers. Dubai International Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel, and a short distance from the Media City, the Internet City and the Knowledge Village. The hotel is part of the InterContinental Hotel Group. The Montgomerie, Dubai, features a championship golf course, a full service spa by Angsana Spa, an array of fine-dining options, and great proximity to daytime and nighttime fun activities. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which was built to resemble a breaking wave surging through the blue frothy waters, has its own private beach on the shoreline of the Arabian Gulf. The visually and physically exhilarating Wild Wadi Water Park also is on the premises. Jumeriahs striking architectural imagery is on display twice in Dubai with the Burj Al Arab. The billowing sail-shaped hotel was named the best hotel in the world by the Institutional Investor Magazine and the 2007 World Travel Awards.

Best Restaurants in Dubai

Century Village is a modern-day food village with an array of fine dining restaurants located in a central courtyard with fountains, rocks, benches and greenery. Restaurants include menus and influences of Portugal, Italy, Persia, India, the Mediterranean, Japan, France, Britain, and Arabia. The Yakitori House, which is located in the Ascot Hotel, is regarded as one of the best Japanese-themed restaurants of Dubai. The decorum and the menu share the same level of excellence. Ashas offers contemporary cuisine of India. The opulently designed complex puts patrons in an Old World ambiance in the middle of some of the most futuristic manmade environments ever raised.
To Do in Dubai

The entire city is a tribute to visionary architecture and ingenuity. There is the World Trade Centre, the Wild Wadi Water Park, and the Mall of the Emirates. The Mall of Emiates is the largest shopping center in the Middle East with approximately 6.5 million square feet of shopping space. It is so large that there is an indoor ski slope, Ski Dubai, inside the mall. The mall is a shoppers haven with more than 450 upscale stores and boutiques, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Company, and many more. Dubai has several major malls. It is one of the largest importers of luxury goods. The majority of nightlife occurs at the major resorts that offer fine dining and nightclubs. There are numerous manmade parks to enjoy.

When completed the Dubai Marina will be the largest manmade marina in the world. It is a city within a city. There are skyscrapers and moors for megayachts. The marina will have more than 200 high-rise buildings around it. Charter a motor or a sailing yacht with the Bristol Middle East Yacht Solution.

Dubai has many outdoor attractions. There are championship golf courses, spas, water sports, and desert adventures. Sporting events in Dubai include the world's richest horserace at the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al-Sheba; the Dubai Desert Classic Golf Tournament, the Dubai Tennis Championships, Rugby Sevens, the Emirates Grand Prix power-boating; the UAE Desert Challenge, and camel racing.

Author: Phoenix Delray

Great Things To Do In Milan

Arguably Milan is the world capital for all matters concerning style and fashion. It is among the largest cities in Europe with a population of more than 7 million in the Greater Milan area. There are several new construction projects under way in an effort to rehabilitate or revamp some of the industrial areas. Several acclaimed architects, such as Renzo Piano, Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Massimiliano Fuksas and Daniel Libeskind are participating in the development of Milans new skyline.

Both Izmir (Turkey) and Milan are bidding to host Expo 2015. Milans proposed theme is: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.

It is not necessary to pack a hardhat while visiting. The new buildings complement the citys rich history, while the overall growth of the metropolis demands expansion. Here is look at some of citys luxury hotels, best restaurants, and things to see and do while visiting.

Luxury Hotels in Milan
The Straf is a suave, sexy boutique hotel with 64 guestrooms designed with a provocative configuration of exotic woods, metals, and stones. The hotels bar is a stylish haunt with decor on par with the guestrooms and the lobby. Additionally, check out the sensual healing powers of the Japanese massage chairs in the spas chromo and aromatherapy rooms. Let me hear you say aaahhhh!

The Straf is located close by to Duomo Cathedral, La Scala Opera House, and Montenapoleone where the best of haute couture have shops. Townhouse 12 also is a boutique hotel that offers great proximity to local sites of interests to travelers. The elegant 18 guestroom deluxe hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

The Petit Palais Hotel de Charme is a converted 17th century mansion located in the center of the city. Three of the hotels 18 guestrooms have a fireplace and a terrace. The stunning decor makes the place look more like a museum of style than a hotel. The Piazza Duomo, the worlds oldest shopping mall, is within walking distance of the Petit Palais lobby.

Best Restaurants in Milan
Foodies frequently flock to Antica Osteria del Ponte to savor Ezio Santins innovative gourmet cuisine the restaurants extensive wine collection. Chef Ezio opened the restaurant and then became an award winning chef. Previously, cooking was a hobby for Santin. It is all about the food at the Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia. However, the artwork adorning the walls by Paolo Ferrari is as appealing to the eyes as the delicious food is to the palate. However, it is like dining inside an art gallery at times. Owner chef Claude Sadler's of Ristorante Sadler is a culinary genius. Although Sadler's devotion to prime ingredients is viewed as obsessive by pundits, he always delivers with surprising tastiness from simple dishes, such as spaghetti roasted wild duck. The cuisine is Italian, and there also is a full bar. Reservations are recommended.

To Do in Milan
The southwest area of the city is among the best for bars and cafes. The Shocking Club is where you go to shake, find, probe, seek, or establish your groove thing. It is a pulsating dance club with VIP ambiance, multiple bar stations, secluded areas, and a great dance floor. It is big on fun yet cozy enough to be a smoldering nightspot. Milan has highly regarded venues for both theatrical and operatic events, such as La Scala Opera house and the Auditorium di Milano. The Teatro Piccolo is a foundation that has strongly influenced Italian drama since being established in 1947. Masterfully produced works can be seen at three different theaters Teatro Grassi, Via Rovello, and Teatro Studio.

Obviously Milan is hallowed grounds in fashion and design circles. It is the home of such fashionista stalwarts as Armani and Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Ext, Ferragamo, Gucci, Missoni, Prada, Trussardi, Valentino, and Vuitton. These are just a few of the vendors of Montenapoleone. Top designers in home decor are found at the Quadrilateral in Corso Matteoti. Most of the shops are closed on Sundays.

Author: Phoenix Delray

Annual or Single Trip Travel Insurance – Which to Choose?

So what does an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy offer you over a single trip policy? Firstly, the more trips you take in a year, the more cost effective an annual policy will be and one purchase lasts the whole year. Many annual travel insurance policies have options, such as Winter Sports cover, included as standard but do check the small print. It is normally possible to extend the individual trip duration for a small extra premium, say from the industry standard of 31 days a trip to 60 or 90 days, which is a much cheaper option than buying a single trip policy for the same period.

But set against this, an annual policy only provides cover for the area you have selected. That is, if you take out an annual policy that provides cover for Europe but then book a holiday later in the year to the USA, then this destination will not be covered so it is something to consider when buying such a policy. The annual policy is a more expensive up front cost though there are some very good internet annual travel insurance deals to be had. Many insurers impose stricter age restrictions for taking out an annual policy compared to the single trip equivalent and there might be restrictions on family annual travel insurance policies that prevent children from travelling independently.

The place to look is on the internet and most travel insurance providers will provide an annual travel insurance quote at the same time as giving you the single trip price so this helps to compare at the time of taking out insurance. If you can plan ahead and want the flexibility of taking more than one holiday or trip abroad, then buying an annual travel insurance policy is, more often than not, a good investment, but do make sure that what you buy satisfies your particular needs.

Author: Keith McGregor

City Guide To Cabo San Lucas

It is absolutely not true that Sammy Haggar is the official founder of Cabo San Lucas. However, it is true that when Sammy first became aware of the tiny fishing town at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, there was not a single jetsetter to be found in the little municipality of Mexico. Today, Cabo is among the hottest of haute-spot destinations of the JustLux jetset.

And forever young, old school rock and roller Sammy Haggars Cabo Wabo Cantina is where this little communitys trip uptown all began. With one small investment by Sammy, a new haven for luxury loving world travelers surfaced.

Cabo San Lucas, often just called Cabo, is a smolderingly desirable vacation destination for extreme adventure seekers of both daytime and nighttime fun. Cabo is one of the most mentioned hotspots by characters on the hit TV show The O.C. What more needs be said?

Days

Pinpointing the timeframe for the advent of nightlife is much simpler than selecting the finest beach of Cabo San Lucas for daytime adventures. There are eight picturesque, sandy white beaches that are perfect for sightseeing and many water-related activities. For romantics, the Twin Dolphin Beach is perfect for couples seeking an intimate secluded hideaway. Even when more crowded than usual, the beachs rock formations and coves offer surprisingly sufficient privacy to guests. Although topless and nude sun bathing are prohibited in Mexico, such behavior occurs frequently around Cabo. It occurs frequently at the Twin Dolphin and Playa San Pedro beaches.

Nights

The mighty Cabo Wabo Cantina is a music venue, a restaurant, and a nightclub. Haggars former band, Van Halen, was the first act to perform on stage. Other VH members were originally co owners of the Wabo with Sammy. The cantinas pioneering efforts have transformed Cabo San Lucas in to a 21st century Mecca of decadence of worldly proportions. The club has been featured on E Channel, Travel Channel, VH1, and MTV. New bands and acts appear weekly. As the Wabos slogan goes, Go there once, you will be there twice!

The Zoo Bar & Dance has appeal for all party animals regardless of specie. Hunters on the prowl for award winning game will find the surroundings quite invigorating. The decorum is definitely African with tiger spotted seat covers and wild animals throughout the joint. The clubs music runs the gamut from pop to dance, but all music played is danceable. Management baits big end-game hunters to show up Thursday evenings for Ladies Night. The cover charge for gentlemen is $25.

Days

Westin Beach, which is part of Playa Buenos Aires, is located near the Jack Nicklaus designed Eldorado Golf Club and the Cond Nast Traveler recommended Westin Regina Resort. The Eldorado golf course features six oceanfront holes. With the rise of new resorts and influx of vacationers coming to Cabo, Westin Beach is now a good setting for family outings. However, do keep in mind that there are swift sea currents and powerful waves. The beach is ideal for lounging but not recommended for swimming.

Nights

Directly across from the Hard Rock Cafe is El Squid Roe. While it is called both a nightclub and a restaurant, the notoriety of Squid Roe stems from its rep as a raucous house of partying. Directions are not necessary. Just follow your ears! Waiters come equipped with strapped on spray tanks of tequila. Pretty much anything goes. There is no official dress code.

The Hard Rock Cafe is a club of two tales. Families and children are welcomed during the day. However, after 10:30 p.m., the minors are out and the adult swim begins. Hurricane, Earthquake, Howling Wolf, and Lovely Rita are just a few of the drinks served from the bar. Located in the Plaza Bonita Mall, the HRC has been a pillar of the community since opening its fabled doors in 1995.

Cabo is an area that definitely will be revisited, as there are too many pleasurable sources for entertainment and recreation to cover in just one article.

Get Travel Insurance - Make Sure it Doesn’t Happen to You!

Luckily for Mr X he was covered by his travel insurance and is now claiming back for damaged ski equipment, rescue costs, medical expenses, the unused portion of his lift pass and is considering taking out a third party claim against the reckless skier who hit him, which again his travel insurance should cover the legal expenses to do so. This is not an isolated event and resorts in Switzerland now have speed patrols to take action against the ‘boy racers’ and ‘speed merchants’ who endanger others by their actions. Other countries will follow suit as this trend increases.

But alarm bells should be ringing here, not just against the rise in the accident rate on the slopes but that recent surveys still show a high number of people going abroad without any travel insurance at all. Whether this is just forgetfulness or a desire to live dangerously, it is shows that many people view travel insurance as an extra expense which can be added or deleted depending on the holiday budget. But with price of travel insurance premiums, particularly on the internet, being relatively cheap – you can find a week’s Winter Sports cover to Europe for under £10, it does seem to be an unnecessary risk to take. It is not necessary to pay through the nose these days and if you are prepared to surf the net then there some excellent deals to be had.

So to go back to Mr X for a moment. Although he has had to come to terms with having his holiday cut short, he does now have the backing of his insurance company to recover most of his costs and maybe some compensation from his assailant. But picture the scene again if, like an increasing number of travellers these days, he had decided to overlook travel insurance. He would be facing hefty medical and rescue bills including the potential of being repatriated home at own cost. So the next time you are undecided about taking out travel insurance, do remember Mr X, unless of course you are one of that increasing band who do want to live dangerously!

Author: Keith McGregor