I have always wondered who gets access to the luxury “closed doors” airport lounges at airports. I have only ever been included in such luxury and that was when I was Lucky enough to fly first class in Concorde !

I have always heard rumors as to if you have to pay or not and how big they were - so was a nice surprise when I discovered Trip Extras - They have some cool facts and figures and list the top 10 airport lounges

For those of you want facts and figures now - the top ten go like this:

1. London Heathrow – Holideck Lounge - Terminal 4
2. Manchester International – The Bollin Lounge - Terminal 1
3. London Gatwick – The Aviance Lounge - North Terminal
4. Dubai International – DCA Lounge - Terminal 1
5. Glasgow International – Sky Lounge
6. Birmingham International - Servisair Lounge - Terminal 1
7. Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International - Bidair Lounge
8. Tenerife South - Sala Montaa Roja
9. Malaga - Sala Vip Europa
10. New York - Newark - Continental Presidents Club

Source Lounge Pass 2008

Queenstown and its lake Wakatipu enjoy the privilege of being regarded as the leading centre of adventure tourism and the surrounding mountain ranges are open 365 days a year to experience the scenic beauty.

This wonderful area was called, Queenstown, because “it was appropriate for the Queen of England”.

With high rising mountain ridges that go from coast to coast and completely wild passing alpine meadows and turquoise lakes, it is no wonder that this area of the South Island New Zealand were chosen precisely where Peter Jackson (film director) filmed the epic movie sequel The Lord of The Rings.

Queenstown is the capital of adventure tourism, where you can find a number of activities which will quench the thirst of any adrenaline junkie: skiing, snowboarding, rafting, canoeing, skydiving, hiking, mountain biking. Interestingly, Queenstown was the first location to make “bungy jumping” a commercial travel activity.

Not only can adventure activites be found in Queenstown, the less adventurous can enjoy the view of the alpine landscapes from the heights of a balloon or helicopter flight or taste the excellent wines from the Otago region, just sit back, relax and take it all in.

The climate is different for all four seasons: a hot summer with a clear day gives way to a cool autumn with the red and gold woods, then in winter shining white mountains and finally in spring which is full of color.

For these and other reasons, southern New Zealand is an essential stop off in a trip to New Zealand… when the time comes to have to leave this country, you will think it has anything other than amazing.

There are a number of good Queenstown accommodation options available, including hotels, motels, lodges, campgrounds, and holiday houses.

1. Best time to visit October - May
2. “Goa” originates from the Portuguese language
3. It’s translation to English is a “tall patch of grass” (very deep and meaningful!)
4. The main rivers in Goa are the Mandovi, the Zuari, the Terekhol, Chapora River and the Betul.
5. Goa has a warm mild climate most of the year due to its location
6. Goa’s gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $3 billion in current prices
7. Tourism is Goa’s primary income (not surprising the kind of views you get!)
8. Football is their most popular sport
9. In 2004, BITS Pilani university started its first Indian satellite
10. You can find out about a holiday in Goa on the link!

• Calgary is well-known as a destination for winter sports and ecotourism

• Economic activity in Calgary is mostly centred on the petroleum industry; however, agriculture, tourism, and high-tech industries also contribute to the city’s fast economic growth.

• Calgary holds many major annual festivals which include the Calgary Stampede, the Folk Music Festival, the Lilac Festival, One Yellow Rabbit High Performance Rodeo — Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, Wordfest: Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival, One World Festival (GlobalFest), and the second largest Caribbean festival in the country (Carifest).

• In 1988, Calgary became the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games, and one of the fastest ice skating rinks in the world was built at the University of Calgary to accommodate these games.

Book hotels in Calgary today and see some of the great sites for yourself!

Not a lot of people in Europe know too much about Quebec City - when in fact it is the second largest city in the province, after Montreal. The landscapes are simply breath taking, with an almost fictional feel to the architecture. It’s not surprising really as the history of the city is as interesting as the architecture.

To experience this for yourself you should book up and look for hotels in Quebec City.

If you want to travel to Thailand I suggest you look at some of these awesome facts. I have never been there myself but I had a group of friends come back from a 2 week adventure and they said “it was like living on a different planet”. Here’s a few reasons why:

• The country comprises 76 provinces
• The King has reigned for more than half a century
• Area: 513,115 sq. km.
• People: Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons, Khmers, hill tribes)
• Overall the southern parts of Thailand get by far the most rain with around 2,400 millimeters every year
• Instead of a single main course with side dishes found in Western cuisine, a Thai full meal typically consists of either a single dish or rice khao with many complementary dishes served concurrently

Prague has always been an attractive holiday destination for many, and for the last 15 years has also been a great spot for movie studios to film. It’s picturesque landscape and distinctive medieval architecture are just some of the outstanding features that attract millions of tourists each year.

Staying in Prague can be what you make it and Prague Holiday Apartments is no exception. These guys offer affordable apartments in the center of the city, making them a popular choice to many. A hotel room or a youth hostel may be more appealing for the common man but having your own space to live in a degree of luxury is priceless - with views to match.

As the Champions League gets closer and closer it’s apparent that this whole event has been hopelessly thought out. For a start I don’t believe for 1 minute that anyone thought two English football clubs would reach the final - that was their first mistake. Now - why in the world would they put the final in a country where if you don’t carry your passport with you at all times, you get arrested!

I know a lot of Chelsea fans and one of them bought 2 final tickets in the hope of selling one on. Instead of making a profit, he’s actually taken about a 70% loss. Why? The main reason would be the flights to Moscow - They cost a hell of a lot and it seems you have to either spend 5 days before or after the game to even get out of the country again.

I hope the game goes without a hitch and good luck to both teams!

It’s one of those niggling worries when you go on holiday that you don’t get coffined between 2 seats when you fly abroad. I came across this article from Travel Insurance Web, under their travel features page. Where writer Linsey Mcneil  explains the various ways to blag extra legroom.

Some of the tips include:

1. Choose your airline carefully
2. Book a Charter flight
3. Book an exit row seat
4. Travel premium economy

Some great tips and I suggest you read the entire article for yourself

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