Search results for 'Europe'

Few destinations are as charming and poetic as Salzburg, Austria.  This cherished city, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, has no end of enchanting qualities.  Flowing rivers, snow-capped Alps, baroque architecture, castles, cathedrals, and a preserved “Old Town” transport you back in time.  It is home to one of the world’s most beloved composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Every summer, the city hosts the Salzburg Music Festival, a renowned celebration of music and drama, to honor their favorite son.  The Von Trapp family, from the beloved film The Sound of Music, also calls this city home.  Throughout Salzburg, you will recognize churches, gardens, and castles featured in the picture.  You may even hear Julie Andrews’ voice echoing from the hills themselves.  

First of all, please be sure to rent a car. This is a must for Los Angeles no matter where you stay, because everything is so spread out. Having stayed in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, the heart of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, I keep finding myself drawn back to the Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel. This property is located between Westwood and Century City and is about a 5 minute drive into Beverly Hills. The area is residential, so you actually feel like you live here. Also, because it is residential, you can find free parking on the street after business hours and can avoid paying for valet parking, which is available if you choose. Let's face it, you will probably be out exploring all day anyway.

The Czech capital is a small city, but don’t let its size fool you. From an infamous 5-storeyed nightclub to some of the most breathtaking castles in the world – Praha will leave you swooning. There are innumerable ways to explore the city – on foot, bike or segway or even in a majestic vintage car. Whatever your choice of transport might be, the awe-inspiring Prague Castle and the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral are not to be missed. 

I feel like I need to whisper about this property, because it's a secret that I'm about to reveal. Assuming you have traveled to Rome in the past and have stayed in the center of it all, here’s a real jewel about 30 minutes away from the action. The Villa Urbani is nestled on a residential street about 15 minutes from the Trastevere area. It is a Villa that dates from the 1900's and is still a family residence that has been partially converted into a Bed and Breakfast.

Ireland is unique - traveling to just a city is not enough – I encourage you to explore the entire country!  It is an amazing and most beautiful place – full of traditions and legends.

I am so excited to write about this true treasure. It is about 20 minutes outside of beautiful Seattle and is rated one of the top 40 restaurants and the top 10 in America. That says it all!

Behold the lush greenery of Ireland’s scenic landscapes while indulging in the fresh air that awakens the country’s warm hospitality, strong heritage and perfect blend of rural and urban atmospheres. 

In 2005 I had the unique opportunity to travel to the nation of Ghana in West Africa. I had been invited by my good friend and colleague, Dr. Godfried Williams, to be the keynote speaker at an information technology conference in the capital city of Accra. The conference was the 1^st International Conference on Advances in Information and Communication Engineering held in August 2005 at the behest of the Ghanaian government. My topic was “Bridging the Digital Divide:  Linking and Closing the Gap between Advanced and Developing Economies.”

I love Hamburg in the summer and even in the winter when it is ice cold!  It is a beautiful city, and I often just take the” hop on hop off bus” which guides you through the hidden hills and magnificent countryside, with breathtaking views overlooking the canals and famous city port. Truly, it should be called a sister city to Stockholm, Amsterdam and Bruges with its lattice of canals running throughout the city –hence its’ name – Venice of Northern Europe!

Join Todd as he takes you to exotic locales worldwide. He has lived in New Zealand and traveled extensively throughout Europe. His backpacking early days are behind him and his Boomer years find him staying in 4 and 5 star hotels!

Pack your bags!

Sponsored by Collette  Vacations

The origination of man’s creative spirit began in the East – but the gauntlet was passed onto the West – as we have seen throughout our European sojourns.  However, we are seeing the Phoenix rise from a humble beginning as a pearl-diving centre, to one of the fastest growing cities in the world!  What makes Dubai so remarkable is that such accomplishments have taken only thirty years!  This is a city constantly on the move that even the updated GPS systems cannot keep up with all the road changes!

On Sunday, June 9, 2013, Susie and I said our goodbyes to our new friends in St.Jean-sur-Richelieu and began our trek to our next overnight stop in Niagara Falls, Ontario. We only had limited time, but had a few hours in the morning to take a quick tour of Montreal.

Well, here's one for the guys and for the ladies who love their cars. The V8 Hotel in Stuttgart, Germany is located in the old former Stuttgart airport building near Meilenwerk, where classic cars are available for viewing or purchasing – this was the airport hangar from the 1920's. There is not much in the immediate vicinity, but it is right by the Autobahn and 10 minutes from town. The bottom line is to come to this location by car and  there is ample free parking at the hotel.

O.K. all you Boomers – here's your chance to leave a mark on the world. This is not exactly about a hotel, but it is about staying somewhere in the world that can use your help. There is a wonderful organization called Global Volunteers based in Minnesota and Boomers played a significant role in developing partnerships worldwide for this organization in its early days.

They engage short-term volunteers for long-term projects “to create, nurture and sustain the well-being of the world's children.” Have I struck a chord?

Though Scotland and, more specifically, the Old Course at St Andrew’s lay claim to being the ‘home of links golf’ there are some who argue that the county of Kent, in the south east tip of England, boasts the widest variety of links golf to be found on the planet, let alone the British Isles.

The Kent region is known throughout Europe as the Garden of England for its rich history for growing fruit, vegetables and hops (for beer), but is now marketed to golfers as Kent’s Regal Golf Coast – and a right royal time you’ll have playing here.

Royal St George’s in Sandwich is, of course, world-famous for hosting The Open Championship on 14 occasions and lies immediately next to Prince’s Golf Club, another coastal gem of Kent.

Connoisseurs of links golf might contend, however, that the finest links of them all lies just two miles away in Deal where, even on a sunny day, Royal Cinque Ports offers one of the sternest tests of golf you are ever likely to find.

Everyone likes good neighbours and, in terms of skiing at least, the Rhone Alp ski centres of Les Deux Alpes and Alpes d’Huez in France are about as good as they come.

Though these two French ski resorts are barely six miles apart as the crow flies, they are, however, a little like chalk and cheese when it comes to comparison and therefore appeal to very different tourist markets. 

These resorts would also make for a great two centre ski break if you like a little après ski action to start your holiday followed by some R&R to end your stay before the journey home.

No trip to Germany would be complete without visiting the romantic city of Heidelberg. You should take 2-3 days and enjoy the sights. The nearest airport is Frankfurt which is about 45 miles away and well worth the side trip. Stop by the Rail Station or Tourist Information Office and purchase a Heidelberg Card. You can get a 2 day Pass for around 10 Euros which will include the Castle, 12 museums, public transportation, a walking tour of Old  Town, a City guide and additional discounts.

Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful and enchanting cities in the world – from the many canals to world-famous museums, it should be at the top of the list for any traveler to Europe.  Its official name is Kingdom of the Netherlands which also has in control its overseas islands, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.  Only the central part of the Netherlands is called “Holland.”

The Balearic Islands that lie to the east of mainland Spain often receive a bad press but, in many respects, it’s hard to know why.

Maybe it’s because of Ibiza’s infamy for being the late night party capital of Europe, or because areas of Menorca and Majorca (or more locally Mallorca) have sold their soul to high-rise package holiday firms catering for the ‘cheap and cheerful’ all-inclusive brigade.

But look deeper and, on the island of Majorca in particular, you will unearth many stunningly beautiful regions with graceful Moorish towns, marvellous beaches and sporting facilities that rival many of the world’s most exclusive resorts.

Avoiding all-night raves like the plague, I travelled to Palma, the historic capital city of Majorca which is the largest of the five Balearic Islands. A beautiful ancient fortified town, I arrived to play golf, try the tapas and taste some wonderful, locally produced red wines. I left, just longing for more.