Tour Spain by Car

Author: Levi Quinn

There is nothing quite as free and exciting as traveling to a new place that you have never visited before. Spain is a wonderful place to see and experience. Touring Spain by car is a great idea. It makes it so much easier to be part of the scenery rather than simply viewing it. Many travelers find that driving through Spain allows them to experience it on a personal level and makes them feel less like typical tourists. Make the most of your trip to Spain by touring around on your own schedule and agenda.

Driving in Spain doesn’t have to be difficult. Equip yourself with all that you will need to find your way to where you want to be. Make a list of certain landmarks or locations that you wish to visit. Map them out in advance so when the time comes to find it, you will have no problems. This is also a great time to consider investing in a GPS system. If you are a first time visitor to Spain then a GPS unit could make your driving experience a total breeze.

You are more than welcome to bring your own personal car into Spain if you choose not to rent one. If you do drive it in though then you must be sure to have all of the legal papers needed for that car. Insurance and registration must be up to date and you will have to show that you have a valid driver’s license in your own country. All of the passengers in your car should make sure to have their proper identification present as well in case it is asked for.

There may be some differing traffic laws in Spain than what you are used to. Drivers in Spain are required to carry certain items in their vehicle at all times. Extra light bulbs for your car must be inside the vehicle at all times in case one of yours goes out. You must also have a spare tire and the necessary tools to service your car in a situation that requires a tire or light bulb change. If you do not have these things in your car you could end up being fined.

If you do visit Spain, you can only stay for six months as a visitor. If you stay any longer then you must become an actual resident. If you plan to work in Spain then you must look into all related information to the legal aspects of that choice. You must also be at least eighteen years of age to legally drive a vehicle in Spain. This information is easy to find online so there is no excuse not to have it in advance.

Keep a checklist of this type of information so that you do not enter Spain unprepared. Lack of proper preparation could easily ruin a trip you have been planning for a long time. Touring Spain by car is a beautiful opportunity that not many receive. Make it the best it can be by following the laws and respecting life in a foreign place.

About the Author:

Enjoy your car and find the best deal on the insurance coverage you need. Visit us for money-saving tips, fast online auto insurance quotes and strategies for affordable insurance coverage at Auto Insurance Rates Direct.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/tour-spain-by-car-756904.html

Charlotte, North Carolina: Natural Beauty Nearly Year Around

The largest city in North Carolina, Charlotte is the largest metropolitan city on the eastern seaboard between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Jacksonville, Florida. Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte has a population of nearly 675,000 people. The greater Charlotte metropolitan area has an estimated population of 1,675,495 and its wider thirteen-county labor market region or "combined statistical area" has an estimated population of 2,491,650.

National Recognition As A Great Place To Live And Visit

In 2008, Charlotte, NC received recognition from three nationally recognized sources, based on factors including employment opportunities, crime rates, and housing affordability. First, the website Relocate-America.com named Charlotte as the "Best Place to Live in America". Second, CNNmoney.com ranked Charlotte as #8 of the 100 "Best Places to Live" in the United States. And third, Forbes named Charlotte as the third most undervalued real estate markets in the U.S. Simply put, according to the experts, Charlotte North Carolina is one of the most affordable and attractive places to live in the United States.

This kind of recognition also bodes well for the traveling public. Lower real estate prices always tend to ensure lower retail prices as well. Low crime is also a very attractive trait for any location looking to attract tourism dollars.

Prevention Magazine also named Charlotte as the best "Walking City" in North Carolina (4th in the nation in 2007), and Self Magazine named it one of its "Five Cities with Big Outdoor Appeal". The natural beauty of the Charlotte area is legendary, and its beauty adds to the quality of life value that the Queen City delivers residents and visitors.

Lower real estate prices, a lower cost of living, low crime rates, and the high quality of life were all contributing factors to the underlying economy of the Queen City. Both Bank of America and Wachovia have located their company headquarters in Charlotte. Other major brands, including Lowe's, are headquartered in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area.

Charlotte Has Escaped The Worst Of The Recession Pains

While the rest of the country struggles under the weight of the current recession, fueled by high foreclosure rates and hard-to-acquire bank financing, Charlotte is not feeling the same pain. There are four strong pockets around the country that seem to have escaped the credit crunch - Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and a few localities in California. These four areas have escaped the credit crunch it seems, because the lenders in those areas did not succumb to the temptation to offer the NINJA loans (No income, no job, no assets) that led to the high loan default rates felt in the rest of the country.

In fact, as the Big Three automakers have been hurt tremendously by the banking industry's inability or unwillingness to loan money for car loans. As I write this, the Big Three automakers - Ford, GM and Chrysler - are in Washington, D.C. with hats in hand, trying to get a taxpayer funded bailout from lawmakers.

Banks in other parts of the country have so many bad loans on their books that they are holding tight to their purse strings, but in these four pockets of prosperity, banks are still eager to loan money. Even in my Oklahoma hometown, local banks are advertising daily that they are STILL loaning money for new cars, encouraging people to come and borrow.

With undervalued real estate, a strong corporate employment base, and available credit, Charlotte's economy continues to expand, while the rest of the country is in recession. If you are looking to move to a city with lots of employers hiring, Charlotte is one of the strongest cities in the country right now in the employment sector.

For the traveler, the strong local economy means that tourist attractions may not be starving for money, in the same way attractions elsewhere might be, but that also means that the places you desire to visit will more likely be open for business, with adequate enough staff to treat you the way you want to be treated on vacation.

For those who like to shop, there are seven shopping malls in the Charlotte metro area.

The Sporting Life

While not a major metropolitan area with numerous professional ball clubs, Charlotte is not a slacker either.

Charlotte has a NFL football team - the Carolina Panthers, and a NBA basketball team - the Charlotte Bobcats.

Charlotte also has an indoor football league team - the Carolina Speed. The Eagles is the name of its mens and ladies soccer teams. Its ice hockey team is the Charlotte Checkers. Its International League baseball team is the Charlotte Knights. Charlotte even has a rugby team and a ladies flat track roller derby squad.

Golf is played nearly year-round in the area, due to the areas' mild autumn and spring seasons. With nearly 20 golf courses in the area, there is plenty of choice and diversity for the golfer to test his or her skills.

If you are a NASCAR fan, you may already realize that the Lowe's Motor Speedway is located just 21 miles to the northeast in Concord, NC. This race track features nearly non-stop events, including NASCAR's All-Star race and the Coca-Cola 600, concerts and other special events. Also featured at the speedway is the occasional opportunity to drive around the track or attend racing school.

Transportation On The Ground

The Queen City is rightfully proud of its transportation network, which includes the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). CATS operates light rail transit, historical trolleys, express shuttles, and bus service throughout Charlotte and its immediate suburbs.

The Interstate Highway system feeds into Charlotte through I-85 and I-77. I-485, which is slated to be Charlotte's external loop, remains under construction, but when it is completed, it will stretch for 67 miles around Charlotte, connecting its many suburbs. The I-277 loop freeway encircles Charlotte's downtown. Charlotte's mid-loop is Route 4, which links major roads in a loop between I-277 and I-485.

Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is the 30th busiest airport in the world, bringing visitors from around the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Even Amtrak brings visitors into the Charlotte area from distant U.S. cities. Be advised, if you arrive by Amtrak train, you will be safe as long as you are in the train station itself. But it is strongly recommended that you should arrange for transportation to your hotel. It is recommended that you not try to walk to your destination from the train station, as the neighborhood surrounding the train station is not very safe.

Museums

Numerous museums and historic sites can be found throughout Charlotte, especially in and near the Uptown district. In the works is a new "museum district", which will be found on the southern edge of the district. Also under development, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is being constructed near the Convention Center.

Currently operating museums include:

* The Mint Museum of Art - Its permanent collection is short on real substance, but it regularly hosts high-quality traveling exhibits from around the world. Its primary objects are American art and ceramics, colonial/pre-colonial art, costumes and other decorative art from many countries.

* Discovery Place is one of the nation's most acclaimed children's museums, featuring natural science and technology exhibits.

* Levine Museum of the New South - Southern culture and history.

* James K Polk Historic Site - Tours and information about the home of U.S. President James K. Polk.

* Carolinas Aviation Museum (near the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport) - Offers historic and restored airplanes, air shows and a research library (by appointment only). It is recommended that if you should want to meet the people working on restoring the airplanes, one should visit on a Tuesday or Thursday. Since 9-11, it is hard to find an airport anywhere in the country where you can get close enough to the airport to view takeoffs and landings, but Charlotte remains one of the best airports in the country to see planes taking off and landing, with a good view.

* Schiele Museum of Natural History - Includes a planetarium, an aviary, and many special events and exhibits. This museum is located 24 miles to the west in Gastonia.

Other Charlotte Area Attractions

* Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden - Located just 15 miles to the west in Belmont, the natural beauty and serenity of the gardens make it a favorite destination for romantic day trips and family outings. Guided tours are offered.

* The Reed Gold Mine is located 25 miles to the northeast of Charlotte in the town of Cabarrus, NC, which is just five miles further than Lowe's Motor Speedway located in Concord, NC. The Reed Gold mine was the first gold mine built in the United States, and today, visitors can pan for gold at the mine. This attraction is very kid-friendly, educational, and lots of fun for children and adults. Depending on traffic, this location can be up to a 45-minute drive from Charlotte proper.

* The Paramount Carowinds Theme Park is 13 miles south of Charlotte at the South Carolina state line. Carowinds is a large theme park with its focus on movies and the movie industry. The park features many roller coasters, including Top Gun, The Hurler, and the beloved Thunder Road. The park also features of large variety of other rides and entertainment. Locals generally recommend that you eat before going to the park - because the concessions are pretty expensive, and to bring plenty of sunscreen.

* An hour to the northeast of Charlotte is Asheboro, NC, which is home to the North Carolina Zoo.

* Located an hour to the west near Asheville, the Chimney Rock Park is recognized around the world as a prime tourism spot in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in the Appalachian chain. Chimney Rock is one of the region's most visited parks, featuring a wealth of unusual rock formations and waterfalls.

A Great Place To Visit And Live

Charlotte, North Carolina is an ideal place to visit, even if you want to stay for a while.

The natural beauty of this region makes it a favorte destination for people looking for a nice family vacation. And as is so often the case, people who visit the area are drawn back to it again and again, sometimes to stay for good.

If you are looking to move into an area that has great natural beauty, a rich and diverse cultural experience, and holds great hope for a prosperous tomorrow, then you really should consider the Charlotte area for yourself.


Note: This article in its original format, with attraction links intact, can be found at the author's website:
http://www.americantravelideas.com/blog/2008/12/charlotte-north-carolina/


Visit The Author's Travel Website:

Chuck Saddler has traveled America most of his life. As a writer for AmericanTravelIdeas.com, he shares detailed travel information about the North American cities he has visited. Each city overview is packed with information of interest to travelers, complete with links to the information resources people want to review.


If you are a writer, you are involved in the travel industry, or you just love your hometown, American Travel Ideas is now accepting local articles from the public. Visit the website to learn more:
http://www.americantravelideas.com/blog/submit-your-citys-story/

Read more of Chuck's city overviews and travel reviews at his website: http://www.americantravelideas.com/blog/

Apartments in Prague Offer Luxury Accommodation at Lower Prices

Prague won’t let you down for what you’re looking for including good food, good night life at a good price and luxury accommodation as well. If you are a budget-conscious traveller looking for a clean, well-appointed and nicely located place to stay, then book apartments in Prague. These apartments comprise of room options, ranging from multiple people in one room to private rooms all at reasonable prices. However, decoration, facilities, amenities and cleanliness make you feel as though you are staying in a luxury hotel in the heart of Prague. Within walking distance of apartments are all the well-known tourist spots including Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge and many more.

Prague, indeed a stunning city full of colourful surprises and great for walking, is a well recognized tourist destination in central Europe. One of the liveliest parts of the city, the Jewish Quarter is not only famous for its historical resonance, but also for contemporary street music, great shopping, and ethnic restaurants. Moreover, there is a large variety of traditional as well as modern restaurants, cafes, bars and parks to celebrate holidays.

Apartments in Prague are such extravaganza of styles and colours. Of late, various new ranges of modern apartments are starting to serve more budget-conscious travellers, often in locations that are better than expensive lodgings.

Why travellers select apartments rather than hotels in Prague? Reason is simple, apartments in Prague offer:

Lower prices- Accommodation in apartments can be more than fifty percent cheaper in comparison with hotels.

More comfort- These apartments have modular kitchens, modern bathroom and many other facilities like internet, TV, air-conditioned and many more.

More Privacy- You can spend more time with your partner without thinking about privacy


More Space- For the price of a single hotel room, you can have a whole apartment.

In fact, according to experts, staying in centrally located apartments is the most cost effective alternative to the expensive hotels in Prague. Furthermore, these apartments are also checked regularly to ensure that you are not only getting the best accommodation in Prague but also getting the friendly services.

Honeymoon in Italy: Simple and Sensational

Author: myroadtotravel

Italy. The culture of no other country in the world embraces life with as much zest as the Italian culture. Italy is a country vibrant with emotion, celebration, and opportunities to dive into life at full speed. But it is also a country full of quiet museums, peaceful hillside vineyards, golden beaches, ancient ruins and hushed cathedrals. Italy, in other words, is a splendid place for a honeymoon.

Spending your honeymoon in Italy can find you enjoying the romance of a moonlit Venetian gondola ride, complete with serenade. Or it might find you hiking the expanses and drinking in the magnificent Dolomite views of the Alpe de Suisi, at 6500 feet in altitude Europe's largest alpine meadow.

If your ideal honeymoon in Italy would be a combination of relaxing days at the beach, and a trip back in time, you won’t do better than to stay among the harbor villages and historic ruins of the Amalfi Coast. If your honeymoon budget does not allow an overnight stay in the area, you should at least experience a bus ride coast along the Amalfi Coast, where you will pass hotels and private villas clinging as if by magic to vertical hillsides above cliffs dropping some 500 feet to the tiny beaches below.

If you do not mind the idea of spending part of your honeymoon in Italy being spent among the crowds of one of the world’s great cities, head for Rome. From the glories of Vatican City, the Villa Borghese, and St. Peter's, to the somewhat commercial charms of the Pasta Museum, you will find something in Rome to fill every minute of your day there.

Visit the oldest public art collections in the world at the Capitoline Museum. Climb the Spanish Steps for and on parallel view of the city, and on your descent stop in at the Keats-Shelley Memorial House, a tribute to two of the world's greatest romantics and a fitting place to visit on your honeymoon in Italy!

And your days activities by relaxing Relax, as the Italians do, over a leisurely supper and one of Rome’s tucked-away eateries, which you can find in the older part of the city, the Trastevere. You will be treated to authentic, freshly-prepared Italian cuisine at remarkably affordable prices, and you will never look at take-out from an Italian restaurant back at home the same way again!

Your honeymoon in Italy, no matter where you decide to spend it, will be an exciting, romantic, and fun-filled experience and the perfect way to begin the marvelous years ahead!

About the Author:

myroadtotravel was created in late 2007 as way for my wife and I to do what we love most...Travel. We love to share our experiences with others and have recently created our first blog (http://www.myroadtotravelblog.com) to help us do just that. Through this blog, we offer travel tips, our own personal experiences/adventures and photos from our vacations. Please stop by and give us your feedback and remember, for all your travel booking needs please visit us at
href="http://www.myroadtotravel.com">http://www.myroadtotravel.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/honeymoon-in-italy-simple-and-sensational-750026.html

When To Visit Brazil

By: John P.

Due to Brazil’s size, there is a lot of regional variation in the climate but 90% of the territory is within the tropical zone so for this reason it rarely gets very cold. Due to the fact that Brazil is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere, as follows: from December to March, in Brazil is the summer season; from June until August, they have the winter season. Summer is the best time to travel to the southernmost states (Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina) because parts of the region do get frost and occasional snow during the winter.

The coastal cities of So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador are consistently warm all year round, and get downright hot and humid during the summer. However, if you are looking to really have an exceptional vacation, Carnival celebrations are held throughout the country in February, although prices skyrocket during this period of the year. The northeast has beautiful stretches of seashore; during the region's dry season – May until November the heat is tempered by constant breezes on the coast. This is of course a less expensive season in which to visit in comparison with the Carnival period; many establishments all across Brazil’s territory offer reduced rates from April until June and August to November. Travel in the Amazon should be done when much of the region floods from January to June. While this means that the humidity is higher and the rainfall more substantial, the rivers become navigable thus allowing visitors to see more wildlife than during the dry season. Most of the travelers visit the Pantanal toward the end of its wet season in April, when the area is flooded and fauna are stranded on the remaining spots of dry land, making them easier to spot.

We recommend that you avoid visiting Brazil in the following periods: New Year – December 31st and January 1st – finding accommodation during this period is almost impossible as every New Year, 2 million people gather to celebrate. Carnival Rio – during the end of February and the beginning of March it is very difficult to find accommodations. Independence Day – September 7th also very hard to find a room in a hotel.

If you are visiting Brazil with the main intention of seeing some of Brazil's exquisite beaches, keep in mind that Brazil's fabulous beaches are on the Atlantic coast and so you should try to avoid travelling during the months of June right up until August, when the sea can be notoriously rough and cold. Moving on, Ninety percent of Brazil's landmass falls within the tropical zone, as the country is crossed by the equator in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. However, the nation's climate is far from homogenous and ranges from equatorial to semiarid to subtropical.

All things considered, due to the friendly climate, Brazil can be a very good travel idea almost all the time of the year with few exceptions. A living proof of why Brazil is a wise travel solution is given by the fact that millions of tourists visit it every year and some of them visit the country more than one time.


Article Source: http://www.freeforallarticles.com


John P. is the director of www.rentaflatinrio.com where visitors can find Rio apartments for reasonable prices.

Make a Successful Holiday Trip to Ramsgate

When you are planning for a trip, obviously you will be wondering where to stay and which hotel is good to stay as per the planned budget making the trip more memorable. It's my privilege to introduce one of my friend to you who helps you in choosing the best of the class hotel. Thinking who he might be, he is not a person but a friendly and popular website allhoteldeals.net is one of the best and popular know portal site dealing with all hotels in worldwide with secure online hotel reservations. It provides all type of hotel accommodations like economy, discount, and budget with price comparison facilities.

When you are traveling, definitely your expectations are to make the trip more memorable and obviously you will choose an exciting place as per your life style and taste. First thing comes in your mind when you go to any new place is where to stay, how to make this trip hassle free in terms of accommodation and hospitality and how much of my budget I need spend for staying and Enjoy the trip. It's really tough job for every traveler to choose a good hotel for an unforgettable, pleasant experience in an unknown place.

Ramsgate is a pleasant town to visit and one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. The main attraction in ramsgate is its coastline and its main industries are tourism and fishing. Is your destination for beautiful and memorable holiday or business trip is Ramsgate? Are your restricted make your trip more memorable as per the pre planned budget? You don't want compromise on the facilities and hospitality for the amount you spent? If your answer for any of the above is yes, the best hotel I can suggest you in ramsgate is Comfort Inn rated with 3 stars and it provide personalized services with a wide range of modern and advanced facilities and offers a warm welcome for its guests combining the traditional Greek hospitality, the family environment and the friendly relaxing atmosphere with all comforts of a modern hotel. Rooms and amenities in Comfort Inn are very comfortable and make you to feel the luxury.

Comfort Inn has its own Package on special offers for every occasion like Autumn, Bank Holiday, Christmas Offer, Easter, Midweek Offers, New Years Eve offers, Summer Offer, Valentines Day offers and Festive Deals. If you want to know more information about this special offers u can go through www.allhoteldeals.net

http://www.allhoteldeals.net/

Getaway from Crowds, Be Alone with Nature’s Beauty

México is home to many of the world’s famous beaches. Numerous beach resorts line the coast and offer numerous activities. Acapulco Vacation Getaways are famed as the paradise destinations for both domestic and international travelers. Acapulco is situated on the Pacific Coast of the state of Guerrero, 83 miles away from Chilpancingo, the state capital, and 245 miles west of Mexico City. The Geographical location of Acapulco makes it very popular. Acapulco has a warm, humid climate, which offers sunny days throughout the whole year with temperatures ranging from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the hotels run along side the pristine coast of calm waters, which is composed of numerous beaches and “puntas”. Waters in these beaches are ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.


Picturesque Fondas or typical Mexican restaurants abound in Acapulco for authentic Mexican cuisine. Acapulco vacations are family friendly. Found along Acapulco Bay is CiCi Waterpark. This theme park caters mostly to families with activities available for the entire family. The park has several water attractions like facilities for toboggans, wave pools and a program that gives guests a chance to swim with dolphins. La Quebrada offers picturesque views of jagged rocks being kissed by the waves of the Acapulco waters.

Extreme sports enthusiast and curious hearts can try parasailing and bungee jumping among many other activities offered in Acapulco. Acapulco has limitless attractions and recreational activities, such as golf courses, tennis courts, and underwater attractions, including shopping areas, dance clubs, disco clubs, and nightclubs, as well as day or night sightseeing tours.

Acapulco has a stable tourism industry with solid infrastructure encompassing all hotels, restaurants and vacation providers making Acapulco, Mexico a premiere travel destination.

Enjoy Caribbean vacation getaways the way it is supposed to be enjoyed, away from crowds, cars and almost inescapable noise. Caribbean Vacation getaways transport you to an earlier time, to a simpler and less hectic life.

Pine Cay Island is a secluded private island resort located in Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands. Walk barefoot and feel the talcum powder like sand on the seashore. Pine Cay Island has seven freshwater ponds where guests can fish. There are only 12 clubrooms and a cottage at the Meridian Club on Pine Cay Island. With its indoor and outdoor showers, the resort’s clubrooms face a secluded beach for additional privacy.

Guests can walk in and out of their rooms straight from the beach. The Sand Dollar Cottage is great for honeymooners since it provides additional privacy for a more romantic getaway. The island also contains about twenty-five privately owned homes along the beachfront, some of which can be leased on a weekly basis.

Guests cannot find any TV sets, radios and telephones at the Meridian Club, allowing guests to rejuvenate and rest, surrounded by nature and songs of tropical birds.

Automobiles are not present on the island resort, bicycles are available to use for going to other island beaches. Guests can opt to have their breakfast delivered directly to their rooms. Candlelight dinners featuring fresh Pine Cay seafood are served outdoors. The resort has a freshwater swimming pool available. For those who would rather not swim in a pool the scuba diving, swimming and snorkeling are just some activities that can be done in the waters around Pine Cay.