Tag: movies

Shopping in Spain

Shopping in Spain

Shopping in Spain is a more relaxed and more economical affair than in the rest of Europe.Bargaining is widespread here and you’ve got a good chance of finding some real bargains.

Shopping In Barcelona

Here’s a city that’s reinvented itself in the last decade and a vibrant shopping scene has emerged in the process. You’ll find all the big names here – Chanel, Max Mara, Loewe, Benetton, Zara, and Diesel – jostling for your attention and your credit card.

You’ll find that boutiques line the avenues along with futuristic malls and beguiling markets. And if you ever get tired of garments, you can head to the throng of antique shops and art galleries.

Te Circuit del Born is the place to go if you want garments and accessories to transform yourself into a Spaniard. You’ll find it in the Ciutat Vella’s Ribera district. It is home to many small studio and shops retailing the creations of local craftsmen and artisan. Specialties include silk items, and designer shoes and clothing.

For a richer experience and a glimpse into Catalonia’s mercantile past, head for the streets around the Barri G?tic. These streets are packed with traditional offering from fish, candles and herbs to bullfighter’s capes.

Opening times for shops in Barcelona is around 8 am and they tend to close a few hours after sunset.

Shopping In Madrid

Spain’s capital is home to an estimated 50000 stores selling everything from the latest fashion clothing, paintings, ceramics and guitars.

Madrid offers the best up-market shopping outlets in Spain. Most of the designer fashion shops lie in the eastern Salamanca district. Here the international temples of fashion such as Prada, Armani, and Louis Vuitton, share space with popular Spanish designers like Sybilla, Amaya Arzuaga, and Victorio & Lucchino.

But if you’re weary of grand boutiques, you’re in for a treat on Sunday mornings in the form of the El Rastro street market. For this event the Calle de Ribera de Curtidores closes to traffic and is transformed in to this great open-air bazaar offering everything from live chickens to pirated movies, antiques of dubious antiquity and erotic post cards. What’s more, it’s a truly Spanish event. But keep a close eye on your wallet and camera.

With such a wide section of hotels in Spain check the internet for hotels in Barcelona and hotels in Madrid.

Disney World Cheapies and Freebies: Doing Dw on a Shoestring

Disney World Cheapies and Freebies: Doing Dw on a Shoestring

Has the high costs of Disney World kept you and your family from taking the vacation of your dreams? Perhaps you haven’t done enough investigating. Being aware of a number of little known cheapies and freebies might make your dream come true. Not everything at Disney World comes with a high ticket.

Boardwalk

Disney’s Boardwalk, reminiscent of Atlantic City Boardwalk in the 1940s, offers plenty of family fun at little or no cost. For those staying on the Disney property, Disney transportation is available to get to the Boardwalk. For those driving, you can get a free 3-hour parking permit from the lot attendant.

• The promenade along the water offers a breathtaking view. It’s fun to stroll and look.

• Often you will see street performers, such as jugglers, comedians, jazz ensembles or fire-eaters.

• Vendors along the Boardwalk sell inexpensive food treats.

• Carnival-style games are available for a small cost. Try your luck!

• Watch the Friendship Boats coming and going.

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney offers a number of free and inexpensive things to do:

• Wonderful interactive fountains are amazing and fun. And what a great backdrop for your take-home photos! Jump in and enjoy!

• The kids will go wild at the Lego Imagination Center. The Center offers a 3,000-square-foot play area filled with thousands of Lego blocks. Huge Lego sculptures are also available to study and admire.

• Stop by the Magic Masters shop and see the FREE magic demonstrations. You may learn a few tricks yourself.

• Pleasure Island is an un-gated area at night. That means during the evening hours, guests are allowed in at no charge. It’s a fun place to soak up the ambiance – for free!

Budget Hotels

During the last decade, Disney has built budget-type, motel-type hotels which offers rooms for less than $100 a night. Efficient and clean, these facilities have met with mixed reviews. Check them out before deciding. The hotels are spread over four sprawling properties:

• All- Star Movies

• All-Star Music

• All-Star Sports

• Pop Century

Fort Wilderness

A little-known area known as Fort Wilderness offers one of the greatest bargains at Disney World, and lots of low-cost fun. Families can come in the family RV or rent one of the cabins. Either way, bring a few of your own basic groceries as the prices as the area stores are a little high.

Air-conditioned cabins (about 400 of them) offer the following amenities:

• Fully-equipped kitchens

• Dining table with seating for six

• Air conditioning

• Full bathroom

• Nonsmoking rooms available

• Irons, ironing boards, coffee makers, hairdryers and VCRs in each room

• Patio deck

• Picnic table and charcoal grill

• Fold-away crib

• In-room safes

• Dual line phones with voicemail

• Disney Channel and ESPN

• Daily housekeeping

• Access to nearby laundry facilities/services

The Campfire Program at Fort Wilderness is open to all Disney World guests. You’ll find it near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area. A Disney Cast Member leads the sing-a-long while the kids roast marshmallows over the open fire. Your can bring your own marshmallows and snacks, or purchase them at the Chuckwagon.

The kids will be thrilled when Chip and Dale make an appearance and sign autographs. All this is followed by a Disney feature film on the large outdoor screen. Bleachers and benches are available or you can bring your own blankets.

Two heated outdoor swimming pools are available for Fort Wilderness guests – one near the Meadow Trading Post, the second smaller one located near the cabin area.

Guests appreciate the fact that at Fort Wilderness, a boat ferries between Magic Kingdom and the Fort Wilderness dock, which means they beat the crowds following the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks show.

Food and Drinks

No one will deny that food at Disney World is pricey, but planning ahead can greatly reduce these costs.

Bring your own trail mix, energy bars, or bags of bagels for breakfast – a savings in both time and money. Keep in mind that early morning is the least crowded time of day so you’ll not want to waste it waiting for your order at a restaurant.

For another eating time-saver, take advantage of the counter-service outlets such as the Animal Kingdom’s Pizzafari. Portions are large, prices are small, and service is quick.

Order double cheeseburgers and let the kids split them. It sounds cheap, but it’s another bargain idea to consider when a basic combo meal may run more than ten bucks.

Purchase refillable mugs offered at the Trails End Restaurant and refill them throughout the day at the designated locations.

Bring your own water bottles and fill them at the available fountains. Be sure to bring a carrying strap for them so your hands will be free.

Taking the time to plan ahead and cut a few corners with food and drink items, allows you to enjoy a few splurge meals in the more upscale Magic Kingdom eateries.

Add Your Own Ideas

This is not a comprehensive list of Cheapies and Freebies at Disney World, but it should get your creative juices flowing adding ideas of your own. And maybe, just maybe, it will help your dream vacation to become reality soon.

Choose a Hotel Loyalty Program to Get More From your Travel Experience

Choose a Hotel Loyalty Program to Get More From your Travel Experience

If you’re a frequent flier or a frequent traveller, you’ll be familiar with the lonely feeling that constant travel can sometimes instil. Whether you’re a businessman who is required to traverse all corners of the country as part of your job, or you live in New York and are in a long-distance relationship with a lover in San Francisco, you probably feel that there should be more to travel than simply getting from one place to another!

But never fear – there is a solution! Many leading airlines and hotel chains now offer loyalty programs that help loyal customers collect points and airmiles for both hotel stays and flights – a system that delivers rewards on an entire range of other goods and services. A hotel loyalty card, for instance, allows you to collect points on every hotel stay that you make. Collecting a certain number of points will allow you to reap certain exclusive benefits that hotel guests without loyalty cards won’t be able to enjoy.

A common reward afforded by hotel loyalty programs are the luxury of free nights, complimentary in-room movies and even upgrades to the hotel penthouse or a luxurious resort – so your hotel holiday experience can be enriched at every turn. Additionally, owning a hotel loyalty card can allow you the benefit of cheaper car rental services, so you’ll be able to explore the surrounding areas around your hotel with ease. This can come in especially handy if your hotel is located just outside the city centre, or if you’re staying in a particularly secluded part of the country.

What’s more, hotel honors rewards systems can incorporate additional benefits like offers on cruises around the world. This can include carnival cruises in the Bahamas and other luxury Caribbean islands, which can depart from a range of easily accessible American destinations, including Los Angeles, Miami and New Orleans.

And, if you’re a parent, you’ll even find that hotel loyalty programs will help you accrue benefits that will benefit your partner and children as well. For instance, many hotel loyalty cards will offer deals or discounts on travel to theme parks and entertainment parks all over the country, including prime vacation destinations such as Disney World and Universal Studios.

If you already participate in a hotel rewards system and you’ve built up a number of points that you have yet to redeem on benefits, you might be able to find interesting and commendable ways to put your loyalty points to greater good. Hilton’s hotel loyalty program, for example, allows you to redeem your honors points to any number of charitable organisations supported by the company. In this way, not only will you be able to exercise your charitable instincts through your loyalty program, you’ll also be able to experience personal and spiritual rewards that are sure to make all your future travels more enjoyable!