Thailand Travel - December Events

December is a great time to take a trip to Thailand as the area is packed full of celebrations, festivities, and holiday traditions. Over eleven million people travel to this great country each year, and December is one of the busiest months for tourism.

The Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair takes place in Mid December at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Histirical Park. There are exhibits, booths, a showcase of Buddhist art open to tourists, and a food fair. This is for sure a great family event that the whole gang will enjoy.

Late December is the Star Of David festival that celebrates Christmas, the holidays, and even Santa! There are beautiful light displays, religious displays, and a parade. See religious statues and set ups like you won't believe. This area has some of the prettiest holiday decorations you will ever see.

The 7th annual Chantaburi World Gem Show will take place this month. See stunning gems and one of a kind jewelry creations. Brag to your friends about all the great treasures you will see on display.

December 5th will be the celebration of the King's birthday, his majesty will be turning 83! There will be a fun ceremony followed by a festival of music. Expect a big turnout for this event.

The Laguna Phuket Triathlon takes place in December. This is an "iron man" competition with contestants from all around the world. Watch the competition as the competitors swim, cycle, and run a marathon.

One of the most popular celebrations of the year is Thailand's New Year Countdown. There are celebrations is almost every area, but Bangkok goes all out. If you attend one of these celebrations you can expect classical dance performances, folk songs from the many provinces, and musical concerts. It's a sight to see and everyone enjoys themselves.

The great country of Thailand has amazing white beaches, blue clear water, and lush tropical rainforest. If you are one of the many tourists who visits this year, don't forget to turn out to one of the many parties, gatherings, and festivals. The people are friendly, and there are many free and low cost things to do.

Yukorn Chanmanee: http://www.thhotelbooking.com/

[http://www.thailandinfomation.com]

Top Travel Destinations in Europe - A Brief List

Europe is a beautiful place to visit. There are a number of locations of historical interests as well as scenic beauty, if you want a little change in the daily monotonous routine of life. Moreover, Europe is an ideal place for a long vacation as well. But Europe is so large and developed a continent with many attractions that the variety itself is enough to confuse those planning a visit. Here is a brief list to help you chose a suitable destination.

London

It is a historical city. The tourist will find such a large number of attractions that he will rather be bewildered. You may be attracted towards St. Paul's Cathedral. Many are spell bound by the beautiful sunset as viewed from the Waterloo Bridge. The Tower of London Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace - all are noteworthy. The visitors to London are fascinated by the medieval architecture.

Rome

Rome is known for its artistic and aesthetic achievements that are scattered all over and never fail to attract a tourist. As far as the aesthetic and artistic tastes of Romans are concerned, they even seem to be leading the entire Europe. Who can forget the masterpieces by Michelangelo and a number of other artists? Sistine Chapel is famous in the whole world and people visiting Rome never forget to visit it. There are a number of masterpieces produced by Romans in the field of music, theatre, history, architecture, and culture.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is famous all over the world for the delicious food served in its restaurants. While passing through the streets, you will breathe in the tantalizing aromas of several kinds of foods prepared and served in its restaurants. The people of this city seem to be great food lovers.

Moreover, you can watch a life rich with cultural activities when you mix up with the local people. You will also come across several reminiscences of Amsterdam's history. The outdoor markets, beautiful canals and wide flower spreads will not fail to attract you.

Moreover, the capital of Germany is full of flourishing businesses as well as artists. The beautiful greenery in the Southwest Berlin, the historic center of Mitte is one of the major centers of attraction for tourists. Another one is Prenzlauer Berg located in the northeast.

Vienna

Vienna is often referred to as one of the most beautiful of all the capitals in Europe. Art, economics and even politics in Vienna are quite rich in traditions. This respect for traditions is rarely found in the modern world today.

Florence

This highly charming city of Europe is known for its small but luxurious accommodations, stylish eating houses, and a rich and impressive display of Tuscan hospitality.

Venice

The environment in this city oozes romance. You can spot a number of honeymooners over here. Moreover, it is easy to spot couples over bridges. There are several canals in Venice. The nooks, crannies and even the intriguing Venetian architecture provide a kind of a little heaven to the love birds.

Barcelona

It is almost a curious kind of a combination of Spanish art, fashion, life styles especially the food habits etc.

A Few More European Attractions

Paris

Paris is famous all over the world chiefly for the large number of fashion designers and fashion shows. Almost 24 million people visit Paris every year. Apart from the fashion industry, there are a number of other attractions that attract the tourists. There are a number of museums as well as monuments famous all over the world.

Some of these are as listed below.

Eiffel Tower

It is one of the most beautifully built monuments of Europe. It is almost a peerless landmark as far as European architecture is concerned. Eiffel Towel is always in the lime light whether it is the sight of Cruise and Holmes proposal or the highlight in almost innumerable Paris postcards.

Arc de Triomphe

Though it cannot be compared with Eiffel Tower, it does provide some of the best views of the city and is among the major attractions for the tourists. A large number of people touring Europe come here ever year to enjoy the magnificent views of the city.

Louvre Museum

It is one of the most famous museums not only of Europe, but the entire world. It is here than an art love will find Mona Lisa, the masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci.

Centre Pompidou

Even the modern art lovers will not be disappointed. Centre Pompidou is a magnificent work of art in itself. It offers multiple activities such as films, concerts and a number of shows based upon various types of art.

Cite des Sciences at de l'Industrie

It is an interactive museum that can satisfy your curiosities if you are more interested in Science rather than art.

Bibhash Sharma is an expert writer for a variety of subject matters, including internet, web design and development, computer technology, internet marketing etc. Please visit http://www.obiyanits.com to browse his present activities.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Connecticut - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination

If you live in Connecticut or will be traveling through and have kids then you must make time for a visit to the Stepping Stones Museum for Children. Parents usually want a way to keep their kids entertained when they are traveling or visiting relatives and this museum will help them do just that. The museum is specially designed for children 10 years old and younger. This hands on museum allows kids to learn and have fun in the five different interactive exhibits. There are also educational workshops and performances that help kids keep having fun and learning new things.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children has also been named as one of America's Top 50 Children's Museums, which makes it worthwhile to check out and even visit regularly if you are in driving distance. There are four main galleries that are for children up to age 10 and then one area that is specifically for toddlers. The museum offers kids up to 100 different activities to enjoy, which is a lot to do in one day and leaves plenty to explore during future visits.

This museum focuses on learning by doing, which kids do best, and every activity and exhibit at the museum is designed specifically with kids in mind and they way they learn. There is one whirlpool exhibit that teaches kids about the water cycle and another that allows them to build a house to learn more about construction and design. One exhibit that is popular with kids is the one where they learn more about tropical rainforests and how to conserve them.

Another great aspect of Stepping Stones Museum for Children is that it located in Mathews Park, so families can get outside, play in the grass, and even have a picnic! The building itself has also won awards and it is an exhibit in itself. The tower draws kids in immediately since the windows make up eyes, ears, and a mouth while a sundial makes the nose and a birdcage makes a hat.

There is a café where you can eat lunch or enjoy the park with a picnic of your own. Feel free to let the kids play on the playground called Devon's Place to get some of their energy out before heading home for the day. Admission is $9 and kids under 1 are free. Visit soon because it will be an experience of a lifetime!

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business since the 1970's on the C64, AMIGA, and WINDOWS Computer Systems. He has won magazine awards for the 'Game of the Month', and more, in several European computer magazines.

Dog and Cat Facts

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My Experience With Reading Travel Reviews to Book My Hotel

In anticipation of an upcoming trip to Auckland, New Zealand (NZ) I was on the search for accommodation. With so many options to choose from - bed & breakfast, motels, lodges, serviced apartments and hotels (to name a few) - I eventually decided to choose Auckland hotel accommodation. Now my issue went from: What kind of accommodation do I want to stay in? to: Which provider do I choose?

It's fair to say that had I booked my trip through a travel agent they may well have been able to suggest the right provider for me, but in this day and age of online travel bookings, I had no need to talk to a travel agent. So keeping in line with my online flight bookings, I decided to book my accommodation online too. First though I decided to find out what other people were saying about Auckland hotels, to see if anyone had some good suggestions for me.

I've heard all this talk about user reviews becoming more and more popular in today's online environment, and I can now see why. It's much like talking to your family or friends and asking if they can recommend somewhere to stay, but in this event you have access to a wider range of opinions. The other advantage is that the feedback which is posted on the site is no longer filtered by the providers so that you only read good reviews, instead they are a much more transparent and honest assessment of the hotel.

There are many online travel review sites available, but I must say that it's important to find one which isn't just a general site allowing people to sign up and post comments unanimously, as these are open to unverified reports and even overly positive and sometimes fraudulent comments from accommodation providers themselves. So my first step was finding a trusted Auckland hotel review site/s.

This came in the form of an online booking site. The comments on these types of sites can only be posted by people who have actually booked and stayed at that particular Auckland hotel. This results in me being able to read honest reviews from actual guests. Not only that but it was easier to read the reviews on the same website I could end up booking on, than having to read one site and then find another for the actual Auckland hotel I chose.

Most of the reviews I came across, had a 1 to 5 star rating system where :
1 = poor
2 = below average
3 = value for money
4 = great value for money
5 = excellent experience

This method of rating means I could easily gain a general idea of the value without having to read every review over the past twelve months. From there, further investigation of the hotel was required, which involved reading each of the reviews that caught my attention. At this point it was very important for me to remember that one or two bad reviews did not necessarily reflect poor service on the part of the hotel. People do have bad days, and unfortunately hotels do to. But if dripping taps, poor showers, noisy rooms or bad service is mentioned in a number of the reviews, I considered it safe to assume that the majority of guests are right.

In the end, the one trend that showed up in the majority of bad reviews, is that at times people were expecting more from the hotel than it provided. Such complaints as "the restaurant was closed at 11pm", "no room service" or "I had to carry my own luggage", all show on investigation that these services were not offered by the Auckland hotel in the first place. There is still the perception that a hotel has 24 hour front desks and bar, pools, gymnasiums and spa. Where as today's demands have removed the non essential offerings and services in order to provide a better price to the consumer.

So after reading numerous reviews and now feeling more informed than when I started, I managed to locate an Auckland hotel which meet my needs, not only in terms of service, but in terms of location, price and facilities. Ultimately the reviews were one component of my decision and needed to be viewed alongside my own personal criteria, in order to make my final decision.

ShortRates is a website that specialises in last minute accommodation rates for locations in New Zealand such as Wellington, Christchurch & Auckland hotels, motels and serviced apartments. Currently listings are only within New Zealand knowing and understanding that many loyal customers prefer and take comfort in dealing with a local supplier.

http://www.shortrates.com

How I Get Paid to Travel

Have you ever wondered how it could be possible to get paid to travel?

I have been around the world and it has been a wonderful and enlightening experience. Riding the elephants in Thailand, climbing the mountainous regions of Europe and enjoying the beaches of the Caribbean. It was even better than I expected, the world is truly a beautiful place.

I am not trying to brag; but the point of telling you my good fortune is to help you see that you can have the opportunity to travel as well. It is very likely that you still have the traditional way of thinking when it comes to achieving your travel goals.

Maybe you still have the impression that you have to work your butt off so you can save money for your vacation. And when you think about it, you think you'll have to reach old age before going for the journey of your dreams. It doesn't have to be that way and you don't have to be rich either.

This is why I'm telling you, I have done it. I was not wealthy when I started traveling and I am definitely not a retiree. It's just a matter of knowing what opportunities the travel and tourism industry has to offer and having an awareness and knowledge for utilizing technology to earn a passive income.

I have seen a lot of people like me. Every one of them has their own story to tell but there is one common factor; they all know how to earn and manage their finances while traveling. They are what I call "enlightened" and the more they travel and explore, the more they learn about making money on the move.

There can be a lot of ways to get paid while traveling. So let me disregard the idea that you're only option is saving money for a long duration of time. Here are better alternatives.

The Backpacker Approach:

Backpackers are people with a tremendous craving for experience and exploration. What they do is save a bit of money, pack their stuff and go on a journey. They sustain their travels by finding work in hostels, ranches, or farms all over the world.

They take advantage of the openings. People all over the world especially in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia offer jobs for nomadic backpackers. Jobs are typically helping with the daily chores and other menial tasks. Backpackers will get free food and accommodations in return. Extra pay for additional income is very common as well.

Experienced travelers know where to look for jobs and if they wanted to, they can go on traveling forever because they know how to find money in their travels.

Getting a job with travel perks:

Travel and tourism have a lot of jobs openings. Tour directors, adventure guides, and travel agents can travel for free because it is all part of the job. Hospitality workers can have jobs in hotels and resorts in tourist destinations. Others can work as flight attendants and cruise liner staff where traveling is a lifestyle.

Even teaching and medical jobs also have travel opportunities. They can have work assignments from different parts of the world.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

You can travel and buy products from foreign places and sell them on eBay with huge profits. Travels can also be used as topics for your website to get more traffic. With, savvy optimization you can monetize it either by ad space, affiliate marketing, or product selling. Freelancers can also travel and work anywhere they choose to.

**Attention Readers**

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Travel Agents and Why You Need One

Agents are still a vital part of the industry. Since the internet has revolutionized the industry many people have taken to making their own arrangements. An agent still provides valuable time saving, money saving convenience and personal attention that you just can't get from your computer. Here's how using an agent can help you have the best experience.

They save you time.

You can spend hours searching for the right place at the right time and the right price. Who has that kind of time? An agent does the work and has the insight to match the travel with the appropriate needs. This is especially helpful when the itinerary is complex. Agents have the expertise to efficiently find the perfect arrangements for you.

They save you money.

An agent will help to get you the best value for the money. They also have access to pricing and package deals that are not available to the public. They are connected directly to the resorts, cruise lines and hotels so they can get the first and best for you.

They offer personalized service.

Agents offer a personal touch to your planning by offering help and advice that a website cannot provide. An agent can prepare you a personalized trip based on where you want to go and what you want to do. If you're not sure about that, an agent can provide you with suggestions based on your interests.

They lessen your stress.

Traveling away from home means many details have to be looked after. To avoid the headaches, agents can handle every aspect of your trip from airline tickets to lodging, ground transportation, car rental, activities, tours, passport and visa requirements and more.

They are experts.

Like other professionals, agents keep up in their field and have ready access to the most current information and trends. At their fingertips is the latest information from airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, visas, and other services .

To sort out the many options, agents help you to make the best possible arrangements. The next time you want to go on a trip, instead of turning on the computer use your phone to call your travel agent.

Want more ways to save money on your next trip? Visit The Pilot's Wife Travel Tips for a FREE copy of Budget Travel. You'll also find all the information and tips on where to travel, how to get there, where to stay and what to do.