Thứ Ba, 11 tháng 1, 2011

Candles Hotel in Jordan, Jordan | Book online

Candles Hotel in Jordan, Jordan | Book online

Candles Hotel


Address: Petra ,Wadi Mousa, Petra
The hotel has 40 air conditioned rooms, with warm hospitality and excellent facilities. It's excellent location makes it perfect for both business and leisure travellers.

Facilities & Services
 
 
The Panorama Restaurant, which seats up to 100 guests, offers both international and Arabic cuisines. This restaurant also has a Bedouin section.

Facilities:
  • Cafe/Coffee Shop
  • Car Parking
  • Internet - Wireless
  • Laundry Service available
  • Restaurant(s)
  • Souvenir/Gift Shop(s)
Services:
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Foreign Currency Exchange
  • Room Service
  • Secretarial Services
Recreation:
  • Cultural Entertainment
  • Cultural Visits/Tours
  • Educational Experiences
Languages Spoken:
  • English
Policies and Other Information
Late check-out policy:
Can be arranged with the reception - determined by the hotel's occupancy rate.

 

Children policy:
- Children over the age of 12 are considered as adults.
- Children under the age of 12 will get a 50% discount on room rates.
- Children under 12 will get a 50% discount on meal rates.
- Children requiring their own room are charged as adults.

 




Payment forms:
Visa, MasterCard

 

Check in time: 14:00
Check out time: 12:00

Cancellation Policy:
50% will be deducted for cancellations made 30 days or more prior to arrival. Full amount will be charged for cancellations made less than 30 days prior to arrival date

Source: http://www.jordan-travel.jo/Candles_

Shopping in Shanghai by Shanghai hotels

Shopping in Shanghai by Shanghai hotels

Shopping in Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the best places to shop in the entire Chinese mainland. You can find everything from designer wear to trivial items at the local markets. Goods are of a superior quality yet come at a reasonable price. There are shops everywhere in the city. The renowned shops are on the Huaihai, Jinling, Sichuan, and Nanjing roads and the trading areas of Xujiahui and Yuyuan.

Shanghai is indeed a shopper’s delight! The most eye-catching feature of this city are the extremely fashion conscious youngsters.

Read our Shanghai shopping guide below for tips on the best places to pick up a bargain. You could also check out our China shopping guide for more shopping ideas across China. After a day of shopping, grab a bite to eat in one of Shanghai's colourful restaurants.


Shanghai Shopping Guide

In the second half of the 20th century, Shanghai has evolved as the biggest commercial hub of China. Its free market system has been attracting plenty of international business investments. This has resulted in a largely consumerist society. Local stores compete with designer labels like Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton and affluent entrepreneurs zoom past in their Lexus or Mercedes.

China’s classiest shopping spot is on Nanjing Road – you can go on a wild shopping spree while here. For Chinese jewellery and crafts, there is the Yuyuan Bazaar, very close to the Bund. If you don’t plan to splurge on shopping then visit the Dongtai Lu Antique Market near Xintiandi. For the patient tourist willing to rummage around, the right place would be Taikang Lu for unusual knick-knacks. The antique shops are also less crowded here. If you plan to take home something as a memento of your trip, you can visit the Shanghai Museum that has a great collection of souvenirs, apart from being a good place to look around.
The Shanghai shopping centres are demarcated as "Four Streets and Four Cities":
The Four Streets
Nanjing Road, one among the famed Four Streets, is the main commercial locality in China. From the old traditional shops to novel establishments stocking speciality and common goods, this street has a whopping 600 shops in all. It also has the reputation of being China’s first shopping street and the most active shopping location in Shanghai, probably in the entire Asian continent. The most popular section of this market is near the Bund on the east, known as Nanjing Road East. It has a 1 km stretch solely for pedestrian use and is full of shops buzzing with activity.
The elegant Huaihai Road is as famous as Nanjing Road. The 400 stores and shops in this area carry prominent international designer labels. Once here, you must stop at the Parkson Shopping Centre. This centre usually has discount sales and special offers running almost all through the year. The collection of branded clothing is also very affordable.
For foodstuff, arts/crafts and anything else you might need as a tourist, you can try the Middle Tibet Road, which is part of the Four Streets. You can find products of good quality and range at the North Sichuan Road at very moderate prices.
Then there is the Fuzhou Road, which was popularly known as "Culture Street" almost 100 years ago. The music, art, books etc., sold here are all connected to Chinese culture. Of late, it has become fashionable for the locals to walk on this road after a day’s work and leisurely browse through the books and magazines stocked in the shops.
The Four Cities
Yuyuan Shopping City is the best place for all kinds of Chinese items like local crafts, antiques, items made out of jade, gold and silver jewellery and other small articles. For an excellent shopping ambience, you can visit the Shanghai Shopping City, which has a lot of good facilities. There are also many new retail shops around this place. Jiali Sleepless City, located opposite the Shanghai Railway Station, is a busy commercial place. Xujiahui Shopping City is a new shopping centre with big shops that sell a wide range of expensive as well as moderately priced items.


Markets
The Xiangyang Market, which was a place of ill repute, closed down permanently in June 2006. If you are looking for fake or imitation goods, there are some new some shopping arcades that sell them. Though known by a few other names, the A. P. New XinYang Fashion Market, as it is popularly called, is the largest ‘replacement’ market. It is located in the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum metro station – Line 2. The metro is the simplest way to reach this place.
The Qipu Lu Clothing Market is a huge collection of stalls packed into a building as big as a warehouse. It would take you an entire day to walk through the huge crowds and casually browse through this market. Then there is the Pearl Plaza that is on Yan'an Xi Lu and Hongmei Lu, and also the simple mall at the corner of Chongqing Lu and Nanjing Xi Lu. Shopping at these markets can be quite an entertaining experience if you are familiar with the art of bargaining and enjoy it. However, if you don’t like the pressure, it is best to stay away. Just step into this place and you will be surrounded by peddlers of watches, bags, DVDs and other knick-knacks trying to sell you their wares.
The Dongtai Road Street Market is a good spot for picking up memorabilia of communist China, handicrafts, antiques and jade. You will have to bargain to get the best price. This market is a favourite with both local and overseas visitors. The Public bus numbers to get here: 17, 18, 23 and 864.
Yuyuan Gardens is also recommended for antique shopping. It has two markets in the basement. You may need to do a lot of searching before you finalize your purchase. And just like in any Chinese market, don’t forget to bargain.
If you are looking for DVDs of TV shows or movies, there are a lot of places where you can find them. Almost all areas have their own DVD shops, with an ample collection of films. You will also come across street vendors selling DVDs from their makeshift shops.
Traditional Arts and Crafts
Jade and Ivory Carvings
The Ivory and Jade carvings of Shanghai are quite popular in China. Though ivory purchase may not be preferred due to ecological considerations, jade is very popular. Jade is a striking looking stone, available in a wide palette of hues. It lends itself to be shaped into artistic bottles, beautiful figurines of birds and animals and almost any shape the artist can conceive.
Local River Crabs
For an authentic Shanghai experience look for the local river crabs or Dazhaxie. Any native Shangainese will be pleased to guide you because every autumn, they become incredibly passionate about this delicacy. According to a Chinese belief, it is best to eat the male crabs in October and the female crabs in September.
Silk
Shanghai is China’s principal producer and exporter of silk. It would be ideal to make your silk purchases at Shanghai during a visit to China. There is a mind-boggling range of textures and categories to choose from. Satin, velvet, silk gauze, brocade, damask silk, crape, sheer silk and spun silk – take your pick.
Weaving and Embroidery
You can come across numerous types of embroidery and weaving of superior quality. Shanghai rugs are mostly woollen and hand woven. They are reputed for their intricate designs and traditional patterns. In Shanghai you can also find silk rugs and carpets.

Source: http://www.shanghaihotel-link.cn/shanghai-shopping

Shopping in Beijing by Beijing hotels

Shopping in Beijing by Beijing hotels

Shopping in Beijing

Shopping in Beijing is quite simply the answer to almost everything you would wish to purchase. Available in a broad price range, from really cheap to quite expensive, you will find almost everything under the sun here - whether real or just a marvellous fake!

If you're after the best products at the best prices in Asia, try shopping in Beijing and grab a hot deal!

Its fun shopping in Beijing. Read our Beijing shopping guide below before you head out for some handy tips of places to go, or take a look at our shopping in China guide for more shopping ideas. After a day of shopping, eat out in one of Beijings colourful restaurants.


Beijing Shopping Guide

Beijing offers a wide array of shopping alternatives from the cheap to the expensive, catering to its burgeoning population of about 12 million. So if you know what you want and how much you want to spend, shopping in Beijing is fun. You can shop at the international designer boutiques in the five star hotels (where you cannot bargain), but make sure not to miss out on the neighbourhood grocery stores and markets (where you can bargain), for here you are sure to find fascinating knick knacks, food and what not.

Dongsi

Dongsi, in the north end of Wangfuijng, is a shopping area with both state and privately owned shops of all sizes. Don’t miss the Longfu Building, a big departmental store near the Longfu temple that offers some interesting choices.

Government Tourist Stores

The Friendship Store at 17 Jiangoumenwai showcases all things typically Chinese, from jade to silk and jewellery and was at one time the only store in Beijing to do so with currency exchange and credit card facilities. Today, there are more government shops, strategically positioned near the state owned tourist restaurants where tourist groups congregate for lunch. If you have adequate time set aside for shopping, these stores are most suitable. They are well staffed and their range is extensive, from porcelain and ceramic to cloissone, embroidery, lacquer ware, jade and silk. They have facilities for exchanging currency, accept credit cards and offer shipping facilities. Unless your purchases are large, these shops do not entertain bargaining.
Start from here so that you have a good idea of prices and the quality before you go elsewhere.

Huotong Area Stores

Shops in this area are almost a hundred years old and are being cleared to make way for the new Beijing. Catch them before they come down, for a novel experience in window shopping and browsing.

Qianmen Dajie

Qianmen Dajie is the five hundred year old main shopping area of the city, located to the south of Tian’anmen square. For a truly Chinese experience, step into the huotong (an alley) in Dazlan, running westward from the north of Quianmen. From Chinese medicine, silk, clothing and food stores to theatres, these four hundred year old shops are literally glimpses of Chinese history.


Silver Street

At Silver Street, you can pick up outfits in the Western style. Running parallel to Wangfujing Street, it lies one block to the east of this street.

Wangfujing Street

This is one of Beijing’s busiest and most crowded shopping areas, especially on weekends. Renovated recently, it has both government and private shops, a huge multi-storied shopping mall and many restaurants.
The streets from the Beijing Hotel to the Palace Hotel are fun areas to browse through. Bargaining is not entertained here, as many shops are state owned and prices are essentially reasonable. Rest assured that you will not be cheated or overcharged in this area.

Xidan

To the north of West Chang’an Avenue is Xidan, another interesting shopping area. Step into the Xiadan Market, the largest shop here, recently modernized and manned by friendly and efficient staff, or browse through the Xidan shopping centre close by for some novel shopping options.

Ganjiakou Market

Right next to McDonald’s, near Beijing Zoo, is the Ganjiakou Market. Stop by to pick up a variety of Asian goods here and don’t forget to bargain.

Hongqiao Market

This market, near the Temple of Heaven, in Tiantan Street, is a veritable treasure trove. You can take your pick from porcelain to pearls, from clothing to accessories, souvenirs and much more showcased across the three floors of the main building. Be sure to look at the antiques behind the pearl stalls. Bargaining is acceptable in Hongqiao Market.

Liangmahe

About 50 small stores, opposite the Kempinski Hotel on the East Third Ring Road, make up the Liangmahe Market. There are ceramics, paintings and antique furniture to choose from. You can also shop at the warehouses of these furniture shops in other areas. Don’t be startled by the high prices, you can really beat them down with some astute bargaining.

Liulichang

Step back in time and browse through the shops in Liulichang, which were rebuilt in the 1980's to resemble a traditional market place of the Qing dynasty. Carry home some fine Chinese calligraphy, rare books, Chinese paintings and art and craft from Liulichang, but unfortunately bargaining is not encouraged here.


Panjiayuan

Panjiayuan is the antique connoisseur’s delight. At the rear end of this market are farmers selling authentic antiques from their villages. Go to Panjiayuan early on a Sunday morning and walk away with some exotic antiques after some clever bargaining.

Russian Market

There was a time when the Russians came here in large numbers to buy clothing to sell back at home, thus giving the Russian Market its name. Situated on the west side of Ritan Park, the market offers clothing that is cheap but of very average quality. You cannot find couture here but a stroll through the Russian market is a novel experience and bargaining can be fun.

Sanlitun Market

Sanlitun Market is the black market of Beijing. Here you can find both the originals and the fakes, right from clothing to accessories, jeans, shoes, ladies wear and what not. It is also a big hub for computer related goods sold at black market rates. Situated at Sanlitun Lu, in Chaoyang district, close to the north East Embassy area, the Sanlitun market is like the Silk Market. However, prices here are lower and you must bargain. Lined with stalls on one side of the street and restaurants on the other, the Sanlitun Market is relatively less crowded and you can pick up some good bargains at a leisurely pace.

Beijing has a prosperous economy for hundreds of years. There are many stores, which are highly reputed, still in existence till today and are liked by the locals as well as foreign visitors. These stores can be found in Dashilan, Wangfujing, Liulichang and some other traditional commercial areas in Beijing.

Source: http://www.beijinghotel-link.cn/beijing-shopping

Arabian Seavillas in Oman | Book online

Arabian Seavillas in Oman | Book online

Arabian Seavillas


Address: PO Box 2403, , Salalah


Set in plantations of bananas and coconuts and with beach and ocean out in front of the property, Arabian Sea Villas is the perfect place to escape to in Salalah. Whether you are looking to relax on this unspoiled beach or are looking for a base from which to explore the Dhofar region, 22 rooms of Arabian Sea Villas are a perfect location.

Facilities & Services
The Arabian Seavillas organises tours all around the Dhofar region with its own team of guides. Wireless Internet is available throughout the property. The restaurant also offers excellent dinners. The terrace on the top of the property is also a wonderful place to sunbathe or simply relax as you gaze out into the ocean.

Facilities:
  • Internet - Wireless
  • Internet available onsite
  • Safe at reception
Services:
  • Arrival/departure point transfers (Extra charge)
  • Concierge/Travel booking and Confirmation
  • Shuttle Service (i.e. to/from town centre - extra charge)
  • Vehicle Hire/Car Rental can be arranged
Languages Spoken:
  • English
  • French
  • German
Policies and Other Information
Late check-out policy:
Late check-out is available upon request.

 

Children policy:
Children can only be accommodated in a family room.

 

Payment forms:
Cash, Bank Transfer

 

Check in time: 14:00
Check out time: 12:00

Cancellation Policy:
A cancellation charge of one night accommodation will be charged for all cancellations within 7 days of arrival. No show will be treated as cancellation and accordingly charged.

Source: http://www.hotels-oman.com/Arabian_Seavillas_Salalah

Lijiang Gu Yun Shan Hotel in Lijiang, China | Book online

Lijiang Gu Yun Shan Hotel in Lijiang, China | Book online

Lijiang Gu Yun Shan Hotel


Address: Shangri-la Road , Lijiang


Built in 2004, Gu Yun Shan Hotel is a 7-floor hotel with a traditional Naxi courtyard located in the New Town. It is a short walk to the Liijang Old Town from the hotel.

Facilities & Services
 
Facilities:
  • Banquet/Function Facilities
  • Barber/Beauty Salon
  • Fax
  • Internet - Wireless
  • Newspapers/ Magazines Available
  • Safe at reception
Services:
  • Arrival/departure point transfers (Extra charge)
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Room Service
  • Shoeshine Service
  • Vehicle Hire/Car Rental can be arranged
  • Visa Service
Languages Spoken:
  • Chinese-Mandarin
  • English
Policies and Other Information
Late check-out policy:
- Half one nights accommodation will be charged if late check is before 18:00.
- One nights accommodation will be charged for late check outs after 18:00.
- All late check outs are subject to availability.

 



Payment forms:
MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Cash, Union Pay

 

Check in time: 14:30
Check out time: 12:00

Cancellation Policy:
- 30% of one nights accommodation will be charged for cancellations made within 2 days of check-in date.
- No-shows are charged one nights accommodation.

Source: http://www.lijiang-travel.com/LIjiang_Gu_Yun_Shan_Hotel

Thứ Hai, 10 tháng 1, 2011

Giza Pyramids - Sakkara & Memphis Tour in Cairo, Egypt, Cairo Tours

Giza Pyramids - Sakkara & Memphis Tour in Cairo, Egypt, Cairo Tours

Giza Pyramids - Sakkara & Memphis Tour

Duration: 8 hour(s) - Location: Your Hotel
For those who are fascinated with pyramids, this tour will take you to the Great Pyramids ofGiza and Sakkara, where the first and oldest pyramid was built. This tour also includes a trip to Memphis, the former capital of Egypt, to view the statue of Ramses II inside the open air museum. You will have a chance to buy souvenirs for your friends from the Papyrus Institute, the Perfume Palace or bazaar if you prefer.

Itinerary
    Vantage Travel International representative will pick you up from the reception of your hotel and transfer you to Giza.

    The day starts with a guided tour of the legendary majestic Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, followed by a guided tour of the Sphinx Monument. proceed to the Valley Temple.
    For an additional entrance fee, you can enter inside the big or small pyramid or visit the solar boat exhibition.

    Next is a guided tour of Sakkara to visit the Step pyramid - the first pyramid to be built. Then your guide will transfer you to Memphis. Little remains (the ruins were plundered to build Cairo) more than the supine colossal statue of Ramsis ll and nearby a still half-buried temple to Hathor.

    After the tour, our guide will return you to your hotel.


    Cancellation policy
    All cancellations must be made in writing prior to your departure date. A cancellation fee will be charged based on the percentage of the total package price. In the event that you should cancel after your departure date, no portion of the tour price will be refunded.

    Cancellation fees:
    Applicable to sightseeing tours, hotel reservations, Nile cruises and water sports
    • 60 days or less before arrival: 25% of the total package price
    • 21 days or less before arrival: 50% of the total package price
    • 7 days or less before arrival: 100% of the total package price

    Any package that includes International flights, 50% of total cost will be required within one week after confirmation; otherwise the airline will release your seats. Additionally, packages that include international flights tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable and/or subject to heavy penalty for any changes.

    International airfares included in their packages or added upon your request are non-refundable and non-changeable. If you must change or cancel your international airline reservations after they have issued your airline tickets, you will be responsible for any or all airline re-booking fees or cancellation penalties, which may equal the full original cost of the ticket(s).

    Vantage Travel does not offer travel insurance, so they strongly suggest you consider buying a good policy to protect you against unexpected costs associated with your travel plans. Be sure to have adequate insurance to protect yourself from losses due to the risks of travel (luggage/personal effects, injury, and health). Vantage Travel is not responsible for such losses. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

    Children policy
    • Free of charge for children under 6 years old sharing with their parents.
    • A 50% discount will be applied for children from 6 to 10 years old sharing with their parents.
    • Children 10 years old or older are considered as adults and will be charged full adult rate. 
    Source: http://www.tours-cairo.com/Giza_Pyramids_Sakkara_Memphis_Tour

      Restaurants in Egypt - Hotels and Restaurants Tips

      Restaurants in Egypt - Hotels and Restaurants Tips

      Food & Cuisine in Egypt

      Egyptian cuisine is flavoured with herbs and is not overly spicy, making it interesting for travellers to experiment with. The Felfela chain of restaurants in Cairo is perhaps an ideal place to begin trying out local food. Like all seaside countries, Egypt boasts of several fish markets and seafood restaurants. Many of the markets have food stalls close by, where a customer can pick out the fish of his choice and watch it being cooked. A visit to one of these places is a must, since it also gives visitors an opportunity to share a table with the locals.
      A visit to local markets off the tourist beat can be a delightful experience. Here, you’ll find varieties of inexpensive, freshly grown tropical fruits like guava, watermelon, mango and ishta (a sweet, creamy-textured fruit like avocado) being sold in fruit stalls.
      This Egypt restaurants guide gives a brief rundown on the food and cuisine of Egypt, with details on some of the most popular dishes that you may wish to sample. Don't forget to do some shopping while you're on holiday - use our Egypt shopping guide for hints and tips on what there is to buy.


      Food & Cuisine in Egypt

      Egypt’s cuisine is heavily influenced by Arab and other Middle Eastern foods. Rice, which was favoured by Arab nomadic tribes thanks to its easy portability, continues to be a staple food in Egypt. Many other basic, natural foods used by the tribes continue to be consumed today.
      As the tribes made further inroads into the Middle East, they were influenced by the culinary traditions of other nationalities, in particular, the Greeks and Turks. Spices began to be added to food and new ways of cooking began to be adopted.
      If you’re looking at value for money, Egyptian cafés are an excellent option. The downside though is that the choice of food is limited unlike Egypt restaurants which are frequented by tourists and local, middle class residents. Street vendors operate in the big towns and cities and are ideal places to pick up an inexpensive, tasty snack.
      Some traditional dishes to try out are Ancient Egyptian Marinade (chicken breasts and legs marinated overnight in buttermilk and flavoured with pepper) and T’amiyaa or mashed chickpeas. Kushari, one of Egypt’s most popular dishes, is a rice-and-lentil preparation, mixed with macaroni, chickpeas and topped with garlic, browned onions and a spicy salsa-like tomato sauce. In some places, another version called taagin is also available.


      Local Dishes

      Ful medames is a classic Egyptian dish, consisting of partly or fully mashed fava beans (ful) simmered slowly in a copper pot. The type of pot is important, as other metals change the flavour of the dish. Olive oil is often used, sometimes with the addition of garlic. Other add-ons are chopped parsley, onion and lemon juice. Some cooks like to season this dish with chilli paste and turmeric. Ful medames is generally eaten with baladi, an Egyptian bread or the Lebanese pita bread, known locally as shami.
      Ta’miya closely resembles the better known Falafel of the Middle East. While Falafel is made of ground chickpea, Ta’miya consists of ground fava beans, shaped into balls and deep-fried. It is thought that the dish was originally invented by Egyptian Bedouins. Ta’miya is usually eaten as a snack.
      Some Egyptian dishes that closely resemble some Arab dishes, are stuffed vegetables, vine leaves and Shawarma sandwiches.

      Beverages

      Juices are very popular in Egypt, thanks to its warm, dry climate. Kasab (sugarcane juice), Sobiia (white juice), tamer (sweetened tamarind juice) and plenty of fresh fruit juices are widely available. Erk soos (liquorice) is another popular beverage.
      Karkadae or hibiscus tea is famous, particularly at Luxor. Egyptians prefer to drink it cold, though it can be had hot as well. Be cautious though, as hibiscus tea has the tendency to lower blood pressure.

      Source: http://www.egypt-whl.com/egypt-restaurants