Worldwide Destination Guide http://blog.farenavigator.com Travel tips, stories, advice, travel maps and videos Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:30:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 London: Living on A budget – living well! http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/london-living-on-a-budget-%e2%80%93-living-well/ http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/london-living-on-a-budget-%e2%80%93-living-well/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:30:35 +0000 fnblog http://blog.farenavigator.com/?p=143 Continue reading →]]> London is the throbbing heart of the UK. Finding an accommodation here can be easy as well as a tiring experience. I’d say that I enjoy the freedom of backpacking and the security of traveling with family. So, if you are like me, then you’d want to enjoy the best of both the worlds!

I reckon, service apartments fit the bill perfectly. The one good thing about service apartments is that it makes you feel like home even 1000 miles away from home. No wonder these accommodation options are becoming increasingly popular in London. I checked into the Presidential apartments situated near the Oxford Street, Marylebone and Marble Arch junction. The good part is that it is conveniently located and I was able to hop onto the Tube from Oxford Street and travel around London. But, I also had to part with £850.00 each week, so I cut down my “pamper-time” to 3 days.

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I also stayed for 3 nights at the Tower Bridge Road Apartments, which is situated just across the river and a 10 minute walk from the London Bridge station. It cost me £132 a night for the 1-bedroom apartment. What really impressed me was the number of facilities available like broadband connection (my kid spent most of his time over the internet), car parking, maintenance, cable TV, direct dial telephone and lots of peace!!

Having spent over £800 on service apartments for a week, I thought I should look for something on a budget and at the same time make sure that it’s perfect for my family too. For backpackers there are several budget choices like YHA, private hostels and private homes. As for me, the best budget accommodation alternative seemed to be the B&B accommodation.

I tried A26A Notting Hill Gate in Central London, and got a double bedroom with an en-suite shower for £47 per person per night. Pretty cool! After that I moved on to Putney Bridge where my B&B accommodation overlooked the River Thames. I paid £42 for a double bedroom with en-suite bathroom on the first floor. The furnishing was clean and the room had a very neat look. My son enjoyed the WiFi connection as I took a stroll down the street and across the Thames to Wimbledon for Maria Sharapova’s match.

There are great many cheap hotels, inns and other accommodation options in London, but the B&B and service apartments are the best value for money!

]]> http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/london-living-on-a-budget-%e2%80%93-living-well/feed/ 0 Dallas: Boots, Horse, and to Barbeque! http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/dallas-boots-horse-and-to-barbeque/ http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/dallas-boots-horse-and-to-barbeque/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:42:00 +0000 fnblog http://blog.farenavigator.com/?p=141 Continue reading →]]> In all fairness, one must note that neither horses nor boots are requirements of travellers visiting Dallas. But barbeque? This is a place that takes its food seriously.

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Dallas is located in the northern part of the state of Texas. It’s the third largest city in the state and the ninth largest in the United States. Originally, it was founded by the banks of the Trinity River, which was later obscured by levees, or giant earthen walls that protect against flooding. Even later in Dallas’ history, the Trinity was diverted, leaving only a shallow trickle to meander through the city. Now, efforts are underway to bring the river – and the surrounding shoreline – back to its original state.
In terms of weather, Dallas has a humid, subtropical climate.This means that summers can be uncomfortable, with temperatures topping 38 degrees. To make it even more challenging, warm and dry summer winds boost the heat index further still. However, winters are generally mild and often clear and sunny. Spring and fall bring weather that is pleasant but occasionally unstable, producing some spectacularthunderstorms.
Now to the barbeque. A quick search brought up about 250 restaurants in Dallas that specialize in barbeque alone. While this changes from region to region (and within different parts of the same state), Texas-style barbeque is considered one of the finest examples, period. And the portions are more than ample.

There is a veritable multitude of activities in Dallas and the surrounding areas. These include the ever-popular museums, theatres, shopping, and golf courses. Sports fans can take in hockey and basketball games, while nearby Arlington hosts baseball and football teams. Something for everyone? That’s Dallas. (For more information that simply wouldn’t fit here, check out www.visitdallas.com.)

]]> http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/dallas-boots-horse-and-to-barbeque/feed/ 0 Burbank: The Media Capital of the World http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/burbank-the-media-capital-of-the-world/ http://blog.farenavigator.com/2010/08/burbank-the-media-capital-of-the-world/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:23:47 +0000 fnblog http://blog.farenavigator.com/?p=139 Continue reading →]]> Why come to Burbank, located a mere 19 kilometers from Los Angeles? After all, southern California certainly doesn’t lack big-name tourist destinations, from the beaches that line the coasts to Disney Land. The answer lies in two very different aspects of this one town.

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The first reason appears in the title: Burbank, the media capital of the world. This may be more memorable than strictly accurate, but it is based in fact: the entertainment industry is this area’s largest employer. You can take in a taping of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno at NBC Studios or visit Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show at the Warner Brothers studio. Other major entertainment industry players headquartered here include PBS, Cartoon Network, and Warner Music Studios. Nearby is the Burbank Philharmonic (for classical music lovers), the L.A. Equestrian Center (for horse lovers), and DeBell Golf Course (for golfers, naturally!).
The other side to Burbank’s appeal is its small-town feel. The crime rate is low, and – particularly in the Magnolia Park neighborhood – the storefronts hark back to the 1950s. This area also hosts a convivial street festival, featuring live bands and a classic car show.

The Downtown section of Burbank, on the other hand, offers visitors over 75 restaurants and 200 shops to choose from. Activities Downtown range from a Farmer’s Market to a Fine Arts Festival.
Traveling to Burbank is easy. The Bob Hope Airport serves the city itself, but it only accepts a handful of domestic airlines. International travellers will probably be booked through LAX, Los Angeles’ mammoth airport. (This is the airport served by Air Canada.) From there, a half an hour drive (in heavy traffic) will get you to your destination – Burbank, a charming mix of showbiz site and small town.

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