CheapOair – Guest Blogs and Tips on Travel from travel experts, travel writers | CheapOair

Ukraine Not Ready For 2012

Hoteliers in Ukraine are missing early bookings for Euro 2012 with reservation systems in host-city hotels remaining closed for the championship, www.booked.net says. Some 250 days from the start of Europe's top football tournament almost all hotel booking databases across Lviv, Donetsk, Kharkiv and the capital Kyiv are closed. Infrastructure upgrades and reconstruction of stadiums are almost complete in the four Ukrainian host-cities for the event, which begins on June 8, 2012. Ukraine is co-hosting the tournament with Poland, a first for Eastern Europe and with the coveted final will be held in Kyiv the nationa was preparing to reap the rewards of the largest number of visitors its' history. However Booked.net chief communications officer Jared Morgan said Ukraine's hospitality industry was seriously lagging behind. With little more than eight months to go before the 14th European Football Championship starts, hotels on the on-line reservation website's database were not prepared to take bookings, he said. Only at the end of this year will football fans be able to make a hotel room reservation for the championship on host city websites for the competition, Kyiv City State Administration head Oleksandr Popov said last week. Popov said four new hotels would open in Kyiv by the end of this year and a further four hotels will be built in time for the tournament's kick-off, meaning 25,000 beds would be set aside for fans coming to the capital, Popov said. Morgan said the fact ticket-holders could not yet reserve rooms showed a lack of preparation on the part of hotel operators. A search of Booked.net's database and those of competitors, showed only a few hotels in each city had made it possible to pre-book rooms for Euro 2012 matches. It contrasted to the approach taken by hotels linked to other large scale events, Morgan said. Booked.net was taking bookings for next year's Oktoberfest in Munich before this year's event had even concluded, he said. A poll of hotels across the four host-cities showed most had not considered pre-booking guests for the tournament. Anastasia Nezhura, of Rus Hotel – a hotel near the Olympiysky National Sports Complex in Kyiv - was typical of the attitude taken by hotel management. The hotel was not taking reservations for next June because it was “too early” and Rus staff would start taking bookings in December, Nezhura said.

Romantic New York City

New York is known as one of the greatest cities in the world. It is famous because of its landmarks, culture, theater, events, shopping and sports. But NYC is also one of the most romantic cities in the world. The city is filled with romantic spots, restaurants and romantic things to do.  Take a look at what I find to be some useful tips for romantic locations in NYC.

Views

There is nothing more romantic than take a look at the amazing Manhattan skyline with your date. There are several ways to see this. One of them is to take your date on an evening ride on the Staten Island ferry to watch the sunset over Manhattan, or get an overview of NYC at night. Another way to see the great skyline of Manhattan is to go for a drink at one of the rooftop bars.  This is a good way to enjoy your date while enjoying the beautiful Manhattan skyline.

Ice Rinks

An Ice rink is a great way to get to know someone without having the same interview conversation. There are six ice rinks in NYC. The most romantic ones are the Wollman Rink and the one on Rockefeller Center. Wollman Rink is very beautiful with the lights shining through the trees. Rockefeller Center has a great atmosphere and is located near one of the NYC landmarks.

 

Parks

Although NYC is known for its buildings and chaos, the city also has dozens of parks where you can walk around and enjoy the nature. Especially Central park and Union Square Park are good places to enjoy a nice evening walk with your date.

Spots

Two great locations are the Lincoln Center fountain and the Empire Fulton Ferry State Park. When the Lincoln Center fountain is colored, it is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. The hidden Ferry State Park is a great location to propose, watch the sunset or talk at the end of a date. This spot has an amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York downtown skyline.

Article written by J.Besters, blogger and writer for apartime.com provider of vacation rental apartments in New York City.

 

NYC Restaurant Guide

 

A US Waiver Could Save Your Dream Vacation

Before planning your dream vacation, there are a few good questions to ask yourself. "Will I need to deal with US Immigration?" "Have I ever had any issues with US Immigration?" "Do I have what I need to avoid complications such as a US Waiver?"

Let's face it, in today's society a great majority of us are basically working for vacations. A much needed escape from the mundane routine of our everyday lives. We crave a change of pace, some time to sit back and reflect, to spend quality time with our loved ones without the stresses of daily life. And really, there are some absolutely stunning places in this world that simply must be seen, and for many the only way to do this is by taking small vacations here and there when we can.

Maybe your dream vacation is hiking the great Machu Picchu of Peru, or walking the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain. Or maybe, it simply involves a tropical beach destination at an all- inclusive resort where you can bathe in the sun for hours sipping pina coladas and cooling off in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea.

Wherever your dream vacation may take you, be sure you are prepared in every way to ensure a smooth and successful travel experience. Lean from others misfortunes, do your research, and have a US Waiver in hand if you need one. Imagine this; you have planned your entire trip, booked your holiday time, arranges for someone to look after the house , rounded up family or friends to coordinate their holidays with you and off you go. Everything is going just as planned and then you hit the US for one of your connecting flights. Everyone funnels off the plane to proceed through US Immigration. You think nothing of it. As your group approaches the counter everyone is let through and for some the US Immigration officer stops you and begins asking a lot of questions. Much more than they did for anyone else. Before you know it they are asking you into their interrogation room for further questioning. Then it dawned on you the incident from 6 years ago where the US Immigration officer on duty refused you entry to the US because you looked 'Suspicious'. Bet you wish you applied for a US Waiver? Then you could have moved through without complications.

This is a common occurrence with the US, where border officials can deny you entry for any reason they see fit, whether their reasoning is true or false. If you have ever had an issue with US Immigration and plan on traveling through again; even if only on a connecting flight, then it is highly recommended that you look into a US Waiver . It truly could make the difference between your dream vacation and no vacation at all.

 

Australian Adventures

Kangaroo Island Adventure

Visiting the bush in Australia can be very interesting and exciting, but it can be a disappointment because of the commercial effect that has snuck in over the years. Anyone who really wants to ‘go bush’ should consider going to Kangaroo Island. Once there a whole new world will open up and it will be possible to see all the native birds and animals in the wild. Because it is not easily accessible from the mainland, it is truly a wildlife sanctuary. The local rabbits and foxes have not been able to damage the natural bushland and so the birds and animals are thieving. Today a large part of the island is a national park and so it is well protected and will continue to offer visitors the opportunity to find out what the true Austrian bush is really like.

The Best Way to Get to Kangaroo Island

Several ferries operate during the day and it is easy to book a reservation for the short trip to the island. The trip is about 45 minutes and the luxury ship will make it a very enjoyable adventure. It is also possible to fly to the island and the cost is reasonable and this trip will be about 30 minutes. Landing at Kingscote airport provides an easy commute into the city. There are shuttles waiting at the airport to transport visitors anywhere they want to go. It is always a good idea to make reservations so there will be no reason to be disappointed.

Where to Stay on the Island

A great way to see the island and be comfortable while traveling is to stay in a motorhome. It will provide the opportunity to see the places that many visitors miss and all the while being comfortable. If a location seems interesting, there is no need to leave. The motorhome is there and full of food and drink and anything else needed to stay a few days. It is easy to find and compare some of the best motorhome hire offers in Australia online. This is one of the most popular ways to see the island and one that will not leave anyone disappointed. Of course reservations are necessary and should be planned well in advance.

For those who are not fans of motorhome camping, there are many other options available. Once there the options are endless with so many amazing places to stay. Luxury bed and breakfast hotels are fun for people who like the idea of feeling like a personal guest. Often the local host will be able to share information about the history of the island and give ideas of what is important to see. They are usually well versed about all the local events and most visitors enjoy this personal touch.

Hostels are available and many people enjoy these because they can interact with other people and share stories. The bathroom and kitchen is shared and most people feel like it is a home away from home with company. Most hostels are located a little bit off the beaten path, so transportation is important to consider.
 
Holidays are some of the best times to make memories and Kangaroo Island will allow visitors to have many chances to do that. Start planning today and this will be trip to remember for years to come.

Dunya Carter is a freelance travel writer from Australia. Currently, she writes for several magazines, websites and blogs about destinations all around the globe.

Feel free to email me if you want me to add something or make some changes, I'll be more than happy to do so. Let me know when you publish the article. I'm looking forward to reading your post.

What exactly is agrotourism

Agritourism is a mild form of tourism where visitors usually stay on the country side and engaged in agricultural work. The difference between other forms of tourism is the direct contact of visitors to rural life, crops, nature, flora and fauna and all the things that are missing from the modern European citizen, leaving in urban areas. Besides welcoming and hosting guests in an environment with local character the most important aspect of agrotourism is the active participation of tourists in a range of activities. Some typical activities are:

• agricultural activities (participation in work)
• Ecosystem viewing (birds, fauna, flora, etc.)
• adventure sports (eg rafting, hiking, etc.)
• cultural tours (eg, visits to churches, museums, and archaeological sites).
• different courses (eg loom, traditional cooking, local tasting, wineries, etc)

The main peculiarity of practicing this form of tourism in developed agro countries (Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Germany, France) is based on staying in a farm in the countryside.

Cyprus

Cyprus is the jewel of the Eastern Mediterranean sea. A place with ancient history and culture and an outstanding natural environment and climate. Cyprus had the fortune and misfortune with standing at the crossroads of three continents for 6000 years and so it was the object of desire for many countries.

The main economic activities of the island is tourism, exports of clothing and craft items and the shipping industry. Traditional crafts include embroidery, pottery and bronze.

Cyprus is ideal for all types of trips throughout the year and is bound to compensate the guest with the best αnd where there’s always a new world to discover. Where East meets West and a new experience awaits the visitor. Cyprus offers many types of tourism. From luxury tourism with championship Golf courses to relaxing tourism with clean beaches and breathtaking mountain trails. Most importantly Cyprus agrotourism for those that want to get back to nature.

Agrotourism in Cyprus

The Cyprus countryside is full with historical, natural and human riches, waiting to be discovered. There are lots of traditional villages that keep their local character, traditional architecture and village planning. Within such villages the visitors will have the benefit of the hands-on experience of the traditions that characterize these villages:

• The simple rhythms: People say that usually time passes up slower in these villages!
• The folk customs
• The daily activities such as farming and collecting fruits and vegetables
• The authentic tastes of traditional cuisine
• Most importantly, the genuine hospitality of the people leaving in these villages.