Travel blog about best family, spa, beach, hotel resorts. Popular travel vacation packages

San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination, renowned all over
the world for its modern architecture, steep hills, beautiful beaches, Victorian
houses, and artistic culture. It is the fourth largest city of California and
one of the most densely populated cities of America. Because of its Coastal
Location, it is cool and windy almost all year long. Being home to the popular
Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, San Francisco has endless attractions and
activity options ranging from sightseeing, water sports, theaters, hiking,
authentic restaurants to extravagant Nightlife.

Top tourist attractions / Popular places to see in San
Francisco are:

San Francisco Nightlife:
The Vibrating and glamorous nightlife of San Francisco has a wide variety of
entertainment options to offer to its visitors. San Francisco has some of the
most extravagant nightlife with plenty of entertainment ranging from Theaters,
Shows, sexy lounges, vibrant nightclubs to exotic wine bars. Some of the best
places for enjoying the San Francisco Nightlife are 1015 Folsom, Mangarine
Lounge, Beach Blanket Babylon, Bottom of the hill, Bimbo’s 365 Club, Hotel Biron
Wine Bar & Art Gallery.

Golden
Gate Bridge:
It is the most popular and prominent structure of San Francisco. Almost every
tourist who comes to California’s San Francisco Bay Area visits this deep orange
colored magnificent suspension bridge completed in 1937. It was the longest
suspension bridge span in the world at that time and connects San Francisco to
the Marin County.

Alcatraz Island:
Alcatraz is one of the most popular tourist attractions of San Francisco,
offering a close view of the former federal prison, oldest operating lighthouse
on the west coast of America along with gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and
breathtaking views of the coastline.

Cable Cars:
The Cable Cars of San Francisco were designated as historic landmarks by the
National Park Service in 1964. They are one of the best ways of exploring the
city since they pass through many well known sights - Fisherman’s Wharf,
Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square.

Lombard Street:
The Lombard Street in San Francisco is the most crooked street of America and is
a popular tourist attraction due to its location and unusual sharp curves. Paved
with bricks, it is a steep, hilly street with Victorian mansions on either side.
Millions of tourists come here every year to see this popular street, built with
eight switchbacks on a 40 degree slope.

Golden Gate Park:
It is one of California’s most beautiful urban parks and is 3 miles long by 1/2
mile wide, it is larger than New York’s Central Park. Once covered with sand
dunes, the Golden Gate Park consists of millions of trees today. The Park is
composed of hundreds of attractions including Gardens, Lakes and Museums that
are linked by wooded paths. It also has several fly casting pools and a lily
pond within its borders. Being home to art, culture, scientific exhibits and
lots of recreation, the Golden Gate Park is the third most visited park in
America with over 13 million Visitors each year.

Chinatown:
The popularity of Chinatown mainly lies in its inexpensive and unique
merchandise and food that is not found any place else. It consists of Chinese
temples, art, culture, shopping areas, events and much more. It gives the
feeling of being in one of the markets of Hong Kong. Chinatown is said to be
drawing more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge making it a must see
attraction of San Francisco.

Fisherman’s Wharf:
Fisherman’s Wharf of San Francisco is one of the most popular tourist
destinations in the world, well known for its historic waterfront, delicious
seafood and beautiful bay views. Watching the California Sea Lions, Shopping,
world class dining, a long coastal row of seafood restaurants, street vendors,
talented street performers and beautiful bay views are some of the things that
have made Fisherman’s Wharf a top attraction of San Francisco.

San Francisco
Zoo:
The San Francisco Zoo is Northern California’s largest zoological park and
conservation center. It houses more than 250 different species of wildlife from
all over the globe including endangered species such as Grizzly bear, Snow
Leopard and Sumatran tiger. San Francisco Zoo is a well organized zoo where
animals with same geographic areas are put together in such a manner that it
does not look like cages.

Other San Francisco Attractions:
The Embarcadero Waterfront Area, Coit Tower, 49-Mile Drive, The Marina District,
Nob-Hill & Russian Hill, The Presidio, Twin Peaks, Union Square and Yerba Buena
Gardens. 

Napa Valley Wineries and Wine Tasting:

With over 250 Wineries, Napa Valley is one of the largest and the most popular
wine producing regions in the world. It is just 35 miles long with over 40,000
acres of land planted to grapes. Most of these Wineries are open for visitors
and offer Wine Tasting and Wine Tours providing excellent wine education. Some
of the Napa Valley Wineries also offer picnic facilities with memorable
opportunities to celebrate any occasion with family and friends. Most of the
wineries are located on CA 29 whereas Silverado Trail also has popular wineries
and has less traffic. While most of the wineries do not require a reservation,
it is best to call in first if you have any particular winery in mind. Since
Wine Tasting is a major Napa Valley attraction, most of the wineries offer some
FREE Wine tasting with an additional charge of $2 to $5 each for other premium
wine tasting.

Besides wine tasting there are several other things to do in Napa.

Petrified Forest:
The magnificent Petrified Forest in Calistoga will take you back to an era of
more than three million years ago. It consists of giant redwood trees that
turned into stones millions of years back after being covered from the ash of
the Volcano that erupted three million years ago. According to Geologists it is
one of the finest examples of a Pliocene fossil forest in the world. The area
also has a small famous museum with interesting fossils and a small gift shop
with crystals and petrified wood that make good souvenirs to take back home. It
is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm in the winters and 9 am to 6 pm in the summers,
it is best to call in first for group tours.

Old Faithful Geyser:
Throwing hundreds of gallons water high up in the air like a giant
fountain, the spectacular performance of the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga is
a must see natural wonder and famous attraction of Napa Valley. Boiling hot
water shoots up to 60 feet up in the sky at regular periods of half an hour,
while spectators gather around it, trying to catch a good picture. It is one of
the three Geysers in the world that perform at regular intervals and have earned
the name of “Old Faithful”. Along With the Geyser, the area also has a small
gift shop and a picnic area for family get together and fun. It is open daily
from 9 am to 5 pm in the winters and 9 am to 6 pm in the summers.

Napa Premium Outlets:
Napa Factory Outlets are located at 629 Factory Stores Drive, Napa, CA 94558 (In
the city of Napa; First Exit off Hwy. 29 ). The stores are open daily 10am to
8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sundays. Being close to San Francisco
with over 50 stores, the Napa Premium Outlets are more popular than Petaluma
Village Premium Outlets and Vacaville Premium Outlets. You will get a
opportunity save 25% to 60% on popular brand stores. Some of the popular brands
at the outlets are Ann Taylor, Tommy Hilfiger, Barneys New York Outlet, Gap
Outlet, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, Jones New York, Kenneth Cole, Liz
Claiborne, Banana Republic, Timberland, Bass, Fossil Company Store, Zales and
more. 

Hot
Air Ballooning:
Floating high up in the air is probably the dream of any one of us, Napa Valley
Air Ballooning has made this dream come true and is a popular attractions of
Napa Valley. With excellent weather for Hot Air Ballooning, rides are possible
almost all year round. The one hour Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon flights begin in
the morning when the winds are gentle, air is cooler and the Valley shines like
a jewel due to the rising sun. It is one of the most romantic and adventurous
ways of exploring the beauty of the Napa Valley and enjoying the spectacular
views of the region. Most balloons launch early in the morning from the
Yountville area. Several companies offer Hot Air Balloon rides and the package
usually consists of the ride first followed by a glass of traditional Champaign
and authentic breakfast after the ride. Depending upon the package, the cost of
the ride ranges anywhere from $195 to $260 per person.

Napa Wine Train:
Being one of the most famous attraction of Napa Valley, the glorious wine train
journey begins at Napa to St. Helena and back to Napa. Since this Wine Train
offers breathtaking views, relaxed atmosphere, elegant surrounding along with
food and wine, it is one of the best ways to explore the Napa Valley which is
one of the top wine producing areas in the world. The three hour round trip
covers 36 miles of Napa Valley vineyards along with the options of Brunch, lunch
and dinner. There are three seating arrangements all serving gourmet food and
premier wines. One of the settings is a open air arrangement where you can enjoy
the beautiful views of the Napa Valley Wineries along with outstanding food and
sparkling wine. This elegantly decorated wine train is also an ideal place for
celebrating any occasion with friends and family.

Along with the above famous attractions of Napa Valley, there are several Art
Galleries and Museums also, the most popular is the Volakis
Gallery in Yountville. There are several other things to do like Bicycle tours,
Kayaking & Boating, Shopping, Spas, Golf Courses and hiking trails to add
some more fun and adventure to your trip. 

Thailand Travel:

This popular country is located in southeast Asia in the north of Malaysia, bordered by Laos and Cambodia on the east. In the recent years, Thailand
tourism has become a very activity in the world, securing a position among the
top 25 most popular tourism places of the world and among the top 5 in Asia. There are several reasons for the increasing popularity of Thailand tourism, the most important one is the friendly and peace loving nature of the Thai
people. Thailand tourism offers a wealth of exotic and culturally distinctive destinations spread throughout its 76 provinces. The Majestic city of Bangkok is the capital of Thailand.
 

Topics:
     
? Thailand Tourism Overview
     
? Getting There
     
? Transportation And Car Rental
      ? Climate / Weather
     
? Visa
     
? Golf
     
? Shopping
     
? Top Hotels
     
? Nightlife
      ? Local Tourist Office
     
? Currency
     
? Recommendation and Safety

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THAILAND TOURISM AND TRAVEL OVERVIEW:

Thailand tourism is an irresistible combination of breathtaking natural
beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of
fabulous ancient kingdoms. It offers everything from crowded markets and bazaars
to ancient temples, to busy nightlife all set against some of the best scenery
in the region. Thailand tourism is mainly divided into four regions - The Central Plain,
The Peninsular South, The Mountainous North and The High Northeast Plateau.
Thailand is a popular travel destination, and tourist facilities and services
are available throughout the country. You will find great food, a tropical
climate, national parks, fascinating culture and, great beaches, its diverse
attractions make it popular with tourists and travelers of all types and ages. Thailand
tourism has been heavily promoted by the Tourism Authority Thailand
(TAT).

 

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GETTING
TO THAILAND:
Since Bangkok is Thailand’s main tourist attraction,
most tourists arrive at Bangkok’s Don Muang International Airport which has
connecting flights to almost all the major cities around the world.

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TRANSPORTATION AND CAR RENTAL:
Thailand has many buses and taxi services that are fast, comfortable and very
easily available. Thailand also has a efficient rail system along with domestic
flights, connecting to all the major cities of the country, therefore getting
around the country is very easy and the tourists have several options including
domestic flights, buses, taxis and rail system. The roads are modern and there
are several Air-conditioned buses offering maximum comfort at a low price.

Car Rental:
Many companies like Avis, Hertz, National and Budget operate rental car
operations in Thailand.
In Thailand you drive on the left hand side of the road. Speed limits signs are
posted in English.
It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with driving conditions and
local laws before renting a car in this popular tourism destination.

Most rental car companies apply the following rules, but do check with your
company for full requirements.
- Minimum driver age is 21 years.
- Driver must hold a valid driving license or International Driving Permit
- Customer must have an international credit card.
- A copy of customers’ ID Card or Passport is required.

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CLIMATE - WHEN TO GO:

Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with 3 distinct seasons summer from March
through May, rainy season with plenty of sunshine from June to September and
winters from October through February. Since Thailand can get very hot in the
summer season, the best time for Thailand tourism is December to February.

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TOURIST VISA:
It is required to have a return ticket and passport ready
before visiting Thailand. The validity of passport should be at least 6 months
beyond intended length. When this article was written in 2007 the citizens of
USA, Canada, Australia, and Britain were exempted from visa for up to 30 days of
stay. Citizens of Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Slovak Republic and Slovenia are granted a 15 day visa on arrival. Citizens of
other countries need a visa in advance.

Visit these official sites for more tourism information:

Thailand Tourism office- USA
61 Broadway, Suite 2810, New York, NY 10006, USA
Website: www.tourismthailand.org

Thailand Tourism office-UK
3rd Floor, Brook House, 98-99 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6EE, UK
Website: www.thaismile.co.uk

Embassy websites:
www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk
www.thaiembdc.org

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GOLF:
Thailand tourism offers great golf clubs to its tourists .Popular 18-hole golf clubs are the Pok-Ta-Pok along the coast of
Caribbean and  Hilton Park Golf Club near the El Rey ruins.
The 9-hole golf course located at the Hotel Melia is relatively cheaper.

Golf has been a popular Thailand attraction for centuries where world’s top
designers have come and left their marks and so have several world class
players. There are Golf Courses within easy reach of all the major cities. For
Golf lovers, the best time to visit is the winter season, from November to
March. Even rainy season is not a bad time since the rain comes down mostly in
the afternoon that too only for a few minutes and most of the Golf courses have
a good drainage system. However, it is highly recommended to get your booking
done in advance, especially over the weekends and peak travel season.

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SHOPPING IN THAILAND:
Shopping has always been a the major Thailand tourism attraction where a wealth of
shopping opportunities await the visitors. Thailand is popular for its
traditional handicrafts, textiles, gems, finished jewellery, antiques, ceramics, Nielloware, silk, silverware, pottery and much more, all at a bargain prices.
Thailand is truly a shoppers paradise ranging from modern malls to street
vendors. The biggest market of all, and the most fascinating, is the Chatuchak
Weekend Market, held on Saturday and Sunday at Chatuchak Park in Bangkok, not
far from the Central Plaza Hotel. Chiang Mai is another popular shopping place
where some of the factories have demonstrations of how these goods (silk, paper,
silver etc.) are made. The Night Bazaar, is a good place to sample the full
range of local products such as cotton, lacquer ware, silver, hill tribe
clothing, Burmese tapestries, painted umbrellas, and woodcarvings. Other than
the big malls that have a fixed price, bargaining is very popular at most of the
other tourism places in order to get the best prices.

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TOP HOTELS:
Thailand tourism offers a vide range of luxury hotels and resorts, some of the
popular ones are - The Peninsula, Lebua at state tower, The Metropolitan, and
Intercontinental in Bangkok; Amanpuri, Aleena resort and spa, and JW Marriott in
Phuket; Four Seasons Chiang Mai in Chiang Mai.

You will also find several budget accommodations and inns in Thailand.

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NIGHTLIFE:

Nightlife is another popular attraction of Thailand tourism, the evening entertainment
is both plentiful and inexpensive. The bars, discos and pubs are open till late
at night and some of the clubs play live music all night. The important
nightlife locations in Thailand include the cinemas that offer excellent value
for money, ticket prices are much cheaper than in many other parts of the world
and most of the country?s cinemas are top of the range. The other locations
include the beaches that are the most sought after nightlife locations. Here one
would find bars, pubs and go-go bars that are very popular. Thailand’s nightlife
has something for all its visitors and offers a wide variety of night
entertainment, it is truly a nightlife paradise.

Thailand tourism has some problems too, prostitution in Thailand is a big
in-famous industry and the Thai red-light branch turns billions of dollars every
year.

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LOCAL TOURIST OFFICE :
Thailand Tourism Office:
1600 New Phetburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee, Bangkok 10310.
+66 (0)2 250 5500 (Bangkok) or www.tourismthailand.org

 

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CURRENCY:
1 USD = 32.125 Thai Baht
For latest exchange rates go to -
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=THB

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RECOMMENDATION & SAFETY:
Solo women travelers should avoid beaches at night. Thailand is overall safe
country to visit from both the health and personal safety aspects. Consult with
your doctor with any immunizations he may recommend. Tourists should also
exercise caution in remote areas along the border with Myanmar. Visit
travel.state.gov for latest safety guidelines.

1. Times Square - Manhattan:
Times Square is a famous intersection and a iconic image of New York City
lying at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. The whole area is
highlighted with vibrant animated neon and Led signs to such an extent that it
is now compared to the glamour and illumination of Las Vegas. Some of these
adveritisements at Times Square are so huge that they are popularly known as “jumbotrons.”
Times Square is also very popular for its annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop,
millions of tourists pour ito the city around that time. Being the one of the
busiest intersection and a top tourist destination of America, Times Square is
also seen in several films and T.V. shows all around the world.

2. The Las Vegas Strip - Nevada:
It is popularly said that the glamorous city of Las Vegas never goes to
sleeps with “The Strip” being the main tourist area. Las Vegas strip is apx. 4
miles long and consists of some of the largest mega casino hotels in the world
and each one of them is based on a theme and has been lavishly decorated. The
city is also famous for its marvelous shows, adult entertainment and alcoholic
beverages. It is sometimes difficult to believe how such a glamorous city can be
built in the middle of Nevada’s desert and yet be such a famous tourist
destination of America, drawing millions of tourists each year from all over the
world.

 

3. National Mall and Memorial Parks - Washington D.C.
Established in 1965, the area within the National Mall & Memorial Parks provide
several opportunities to visitors to commemorate presidential legacies,
celebrate the United States commitment to freedom and equality and to honor the
courage and sacrifice of war veterans. It consists of following famous icons -
Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, WWII Memorial,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam
Veterans Memorial. Located in the capital of America, National Mall and Memorial
Parks is one of the most visited tourist destination of America.

4. Faneuil Hall Marketplace - Massachusetts:
This marketplace in Boston is internationally known for its street performances
including Jugglers and clowns, puppeteers and dancers, musicians and much more.
With over 60 street performances, Faneuil Hall Marketplace has performers from
all over the world and has become one of the top tourist attraction of America.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is also famous for its other activities and sources of
entertainment including annual events such as Harborfest and The Holiday
Lighting Ceremony along with community events and fun fairs.

5. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom - Florida.:
Disney is a city in its own with millions of tourists that come here each
year to see mickey mouse and various other Disney characters. The Magic Kingdom
is a part of the Walt Disney World Resort and was the first theme park here. The
main attractions of this theme park are Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Galaxy
Palace Theater, Disney Dreams Come true Parade and Dream Along with Mickey show.
There are several tours also to add more fun to your trip, some of the popular
ones are Steam Trains Tour, Disney’s Family Magic Tour, Mickey’s Magical
Milestones Tour and several more. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is a must visit
destination of America and is a world of fantasy, adventure and wonder.

6. Disneyland Park - Anaheim, California:
Located in Anaheim, CA. Disneyland is truely a dream land not only for children
but also for adults. Being one of the top tourist destinations of America, it
has welcomed more than 500 million guests ever since it opened in 1955. The park
features eight themed lands with over 50 shops, 65 popular rides, 35 restaurants
along with live entertainment and mesmerizing night fireworks and Disney shows.

7. Fisherman’s Wharf - San Francisco, California:
Well Known for its historic Waterfront, beautiful bay views, delicious seafood
and unique shopping area, Fisherman’s wharf is a famous tourist destination of
America that is also popular all over the world. Some of the most popular
attractions of Fisherman’s Warf are - Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it Or Not
Musuem, PIER 39, Ghirardelli Square, Aquarium of the Bay and much more. It is
also popular for its street shows and performances, open shopping area, road
side seafood along with authentic restaurants.

8. Niagara Falls - New York:
lying at the border of Ontario (Canada) and New York (U.S.), Niagara Falls is a
must see destination of America. Niagara Falls mainly consist of two sections,
the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and the American Falls on the U.S.
side. One has to see to believe the majestic beauty and humbling power of these
falls. Its beauty has been a source of inspiration for several writers and
artists. Over the years countless number of people have come here to get over
powered by its sparkling views.

9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Tennessee/North Carolina:
The park lies at the border of Tennessee-North Carolina. The Great Smoky
Mountains National Park is home to over 3000 plant species along with several
endangered animal species and is the most visited national park of United States
of America drawing more than 8 million of tourists each year. It is recognized
all around the world as a International Biosphere Reserve and is a World
Heritage Site.

10. Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.:
Situated near Chicago’s downtown area, Navy Pier is a large pier on Lake
Michigan that has always been a popular tourist destination ever since it was
opened in 1916. It was initially a military training site along with being a
shipping and recreational hub. Today Navy Pier is one of the top visited
destinations of America amongst tourists and has a unique collection of
restaurants and recreational facilities.