Travel Guide

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Travel To Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is sometimes referred to as the capital of Scandinavia. People who travel there should know it really is not, but it is a worthy endearment none the less. Located on islands with water all around it is a beautiful place both in winter and summer. This article will cover the general areas of Stockholm and in later ones I will go more in depth considering hotels, restaurants and the like.

Stockholm carries a long history, much of which is much clouded. It was founded in the thirteenth century and the word Stockholm actually means Log Islet because many of the old buildings have a foundation of poles to carry the structures.

The Old City is located on a lake right between the northern and southern city areas. This Old City area has some of the oldest buildings and cobblestone streets dating back to the thirteenth century. This is also the home of the Swedish Royal palace but those who travel here need not knock on the door as the royalties do not live here anymore. The narrow alleyways are crowded with tourists during the summer where there are a lot of gift shops, cafs and restaurants. If you travel here around Christmas be sure not to miss the cosy atmosphere at the Christmas market which takes place during December in Stortorget.

Just south of the Old City is the city district of Sodermalm which is also an island and is connected to other parts by several bridges. This used to be an agricultural area before the seventeenth century with mostly working class houses. It has nowadays become known not as a slum but a chique and fashionable place for entertainment and to live with its wide range of cafs, restaurants and bars. If you travel here try to spend at least a day here walking down Gotgatan from north to south or vice versa and enjoy the sites. The magnificent view of the Stockholm skyline from the rocky high part of northern Sodermalm should not to be missed.

The north western city district is an island called Kungsholmen or The Kings Islet in English. The area is well known for its many restaurants and shopping and a new shopping mall called Vastermalmsgallerian was recently built to further attract people to the area. Several bridges connect Kungsholmen with western suburbs as well as the royal residence further our in the archipelago. If you travel here make sure you visit the south shoreline facing Sodermalm which is a popular walking area with beautiful views. The city park Rolambshovsparken host many concerts and activities during the summer and is also the stationary place for Swedes to celebrate the few successes that the National football team has.

East of Kungsholmen is one large land area which consists of three city districts. Vasastaden has beautiful parks like Vasaparken and Observatorielunden. The hub of Vasastaden is a square called Odenplan, named after the mythological god Oden. From here you can travel by bus anywhere.

Adjacent to Vasastaden is Norrmalm. The lower part of Norrmalm is considered the city centre or downtown and the upper parts are more residential. In the fifties and sixties many houses were torn down to make the area more modern. You can easily tell which buildings are the newer and older ones.

Ostermalm is east of Norrmalm and is considered the posh area of Stockholm. It has many high standard clubs and fancy shopping areas. Housing here is very expensive, although prices have recently gone up all over Stockholm.
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By: Robb Stark

Robb is writing about travel tips from Europe, using travel affiliate program as inspiration.

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When The Effects Of Jetlag Leave You Feeling Left Behind

The disorientation of the body is referred to as jet lag and it is nothing but the consequence of the crossing time zones. It affects the individuals complete internal setup along with his physical condition. People who travel a long distance at a stretch experience this condition and this situation sometimes affects the business of business people. Some common symptoms of jet lag are uneasiness, loss of drive, fatigues, inability to concentrate due to lack of sleep, headache and irritation.

Usually, the severity of jet lag depends upon the direction of the travel. Some experts say that the occurrence of jet lag to people is more during their travel in the eastern direction. This is due to the rhythm of the body extending up to 27 hours during the travel of a person in westward direction. The body is able to adjust to the changes in the environment.

There is something called "circadian rhythm" which is greater than 24 hours for people traveling westwards. This is due to the lengthening of the time of the day giving more time for a persons body to adapt. We cannot have a quick change over from this situation, but can bring ourselves back to normal condition later. Plan ahead and see to it that you are able to cope up with such new bodily changes.

Here are some tips for you to overcome jet lag

-Jet lags can be coped up with natural lights. Hence staying outside during day time is preferred for the body to adjust quickly and get accustomed to the new surroundings.

-Adjustment in their bedtime schedule can prevent the severity of jet lag and in turn the body also will be able to cope up with the change in time setting.

-To start eating and sleeping according to the timing of the new surrounding would help for a better recovery from the condition.

-Business people and athletes who have to keep up their time can go to their destinations ahead of time in order to have some extra time for any adjustments.

There is nothing much to worry about jet lag since it is just the adjustment of the body to the new surroundings for a better experience. Taking proper measures to prevent such unpleasant situations during travel will ensure a pleasant journey. Taking proper rest and having proper food will definitely help you to come out of such jet lag and adjust to the new environmental conditions.
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By: Cathy Peterson -

Cathy Peterson writes about Travel ,Site59 coupons and Travelocity Coupon

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Booking Travel Online - 5 Tips You Must Know

Booking travel online is big business these days and on the plus side puts a lot of power in the hands of the consumer to reserve their own travel arrangements. But its critical you know 5 things to get the best deal and discount available. So before you begin your travel research and booking online start here.

ALL TRAVEL WEB SITES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

When booking travel online theyre two types you can use: the traditional travel web sites such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity, and what are being called these days Travel Search Engines, which include SideStep and Kayak.

The main difference is in the search capability. A travel web site like Orbitz only searches its own database of available flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals. So the search is restrictive. But youll get more search features and booking travel services offered at these sites.

At travel search engines such as SideStep, the results will include selections from airline sites, travel web sites, and other databases containing flight, room and car rental availability. The drawback is a more "spartan" search capability, and you wont get many of cool features youll find at a travel web site.

IT REALLY DOES PAY TO COMPARE AS MANY AND AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN

If you want the cheapest fare or room, always check out multiple sites before booking travel online. Many travel web sites negotiate and purchase large blocks of fares and rooms directly from airlines and hotels, and then pass the savings onto consumers. But because the reduction varies between sites, the quoted rate for the same seat on a flight, or room in a hotel, can vary dramatically... and many times from day-to-day. So it not only pays to check and compare other sites, but if youve the time, to do it often.

TRAVEL WEB SITES DONT ALWAYS GET THE BEST DEAL

Because of the competitiveness of the travel industry these days heres another worthwhile step to take before you press that "submit" button at your chosen online booking site... hop over for a final check at the airline, hotel, or car rental company web site for any special offers or lower rates you may get if you book directly. Sometimes the best deals are reserved for their own online customers or preferred clients, and youll even avoid fees.

BEWARE OF TRAVEL WEB SITE SERVICE AND TRANSFER FEES

Booking travel online at travel web sites usually involves a service fee. In most instances its not outrageous and is usually around $5 per ticket or booking. Recently, Ive seen some fees nudging up around $20 and theres no need to pay that much. But the fees to be aware of are transfer fees when you change itinerary or cancel. It can cost you $100 or more to change after youve booked a flight. And if you want a refund, then it can be very frustrating, as youll likely spend hours on the phone to get to somebody who can authorize it.

The travel search engines make money from paid advertising and a referral fee from the airlines or hotels, so usually you dont pay a fee when using them to book. But this is changing so always check for fee disclosure before booking.

Generally, the fees should never be hidden from you, but in a rush to book you may easily overlook a charge that wasnt obvious before. The profit margins for online travel sites are low, and they can be very creative in their fee structure if you dont pay close attention.

THE HIDDEN LINK THAT CAN SAVE YOU MONEY

Many of the travel web sites have a link on their page that allows you to become part of their affiliate program for no cost. Its usually at the bottom and not obvious. By becoming an affiliate you can earn a small commission for everybody you refer to them that purchases a ticket, reserves a room, or rents a car.

But before you rush out and quit your day job and set yourself up as a home-based travel agent, be aware youll have to send thousands of people to make any decent money. But theres an even better reason to become an affiliate. As an affiliate most sites will allow you to purchase your own tickets and still get paid the commission. Its effectively a discount. Be sure to check the fine print on the agreement just so youre familiar with the restrictions if any, and how theyll pay you. But if you do a lot of booking travel online then check it out to see if itll work for you.

The travel industry continues to adjust to the advantages of the Internet. Billions of dollars have been invested in online travel booking systems, and new players continue to enter the market every year. Armed with these tips youll be better prepared to navigate through the maze to the very best deal for you. And theres still that travel agent in the mall if you just cant be bothered with the whole game of booking travel online.
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By: Cliff Calderwood

Cliff Calderwood is an expert on New England Travel and to pick up your free travel reports go to Cliff's guide to New England Vacations site at: www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/

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