Do you know that Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Hong Kong are the most visited cities in China?

A lot of people refer it as the ‘golden route’ or ‘presidential route’ after Bill Clinton visited these cities in 1998.

Certainly the golden route has a good combination of everything: great historical heritages, beautiful landscape, delicious Chinese food, great shopping and so on.

Best time to visit China is spring and autumn when China has beautiful weather and fewer tourists.

If you are a first-time visitor to China, the golden route is your top pick. You would need at least two weeks to complete the tours.

Beijing ? you would need at least four nights to complete what you need to see and do.

Great Wall of China – the longest man-made architecture on earth. This should be your number one destination in Beijing.

Forbidden City – the former palaces and offices of Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is currently a museum with countless treasures.

Summer Palace – the most well preserved royal resort of Qing Dynasty.

Temple of Heaven is the symbol of Beijing. Ming and Qing emperors worshipped Heaven here.

Please do include a hutong tour in order to have an old Beijing feel. After all, don’t forget a Beijing duck feast.

Tip: Beijing travel requires a lot of walking. Please be prepared for it.

Xian ? everyone should visit Xian at least once in life, Chinese and foreigners alike. Spend three nights here is necessary to cover the most important sightseeing.

Xian has been a capital city for 13 dynasties, totaling 1,100 years. It was the world?s most prosperous city in Tang Dynasty, 1300 years ago.

The Terra Cotta Warriors is a full-scale replication of the Qin Dynasty army. There is no other place in the world you can see a life-size army of over 2,000 years old.

Banpo Neolithic village is a famous site of 6,000 years old which has typical features of a matriarchal society. You?ll also see clues of ancient burial, marriages, creative tools and artifacts.

In Xian, don?t forget to go for a dumpling feast which usually goes with a first class entertainment show of Tang Dynasty music and dance.

Guilin is ranked second on China?s list of top 10 tourists? destinations. It has beautiful landscape integrated with fabulous countryside. Make sure you won?t miss the Reed Flute Cave, the Crown Cave and some of the beautiful peaks.

Don?t forget to make a day trip to Yangshuo where the best hills and waters are. Go there on a Li River cruise and return by bus. If you choose to stay overnight, you would be able to watch the spectacular ?Liu Sanjie? performance, which takes place on the Li River. Yangshuo is truly a place for you to relax and enjoy.

In Guilin, make sure to go for a rice noodle feast. Or you can just eat it as a street food at ?2 per bowl. They are extremely yummy.

A Guilin tour including Yangshuo would require a minimum stay of three nights.

Hong Kong is very different from any other mainland Chinese cities. In Hong Kong, you can experience one-country-two-systems. I would suggest a minimum stay of three nights here.

Being Asia?s World City nowadays, Hong Kong is an important leg on the China travel golden route.

There are several ?bests? of Hong Kong. The world?s best night view, best skyline, best shopping paradise, best gourmet?s paradise and so on. You would be able to buy the trendiest everything here at the lowest prices in the world, including authentic luxury goods.

Cantonese cuisine is one of the yummiest among Chinese foods. Don?t forget to go for a dim sum lunch and a typical Cantonese seafood dinner.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an oft cited city in American popular culture, probably more widely known as the point at which Bugs Bunny often lost his way (“I must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque”), than the location of one of the first Microsoft offices in 1977 or the crash site of TWA flight 206 in 1955. However, Albuquerque is home to a large variety of American historic landmarks and institutions – including the famous Rio Grande Zoo and the First National Bank Building. Yet towering above all these landmarks is the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world’s longest single span aerial tramway, and an essential stop-off point for any visitor to the region.

First entering service in May 1966, the Sandia Peak Tramway is now over forty years old. When it was first constructed by Swiss company Bell Engineering, it was considered one of the most difficult tramway construction projects ever embarked upon, primarily due to the steep and rocky terrain of the Sandia Mountains. Located to the northeast of Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains are largely situated within the protected area of the Cibola National Forest. Its highest point is the Sandia Crest, which stands at 10, 678 ft (3255 m) above sea level. The term “sandia” means watermelon in Spanish, and this name is generally believed to have been derived from the color of the sunset viewed from the top of the mountain range.

Popularly known in the region as simply “The Tram”, the Sandia Peak Tramway allows visitors to see this spectacular sunset from the best vantage point possible. Stretching from the northeast corner of Albuquerque to the mountain’s highest peak, the panoramic views are truly spectacular. To the west and south, there is a view of Albuquerque, the Rio Grande and the New Mexico deserts that lie in the background. In a northerly direction, there are clear outlines of Santa Fe and Taos in the distance, and to the south there are pine forests that stretch out across the plane.

Conveniently, the main tram terminal is situated at the apex of the Sandia Peak Ski Area, which is perfect for winter skiing holiday-makers. Although the ski area does not operate over the summer, activities continue in the area as over 26 miles of mountain bike trails are made available for use. As well as this abundance of recreation, there are also a variety of restaurants available at the summit of the Sandia Mountains, including the critically acclaimed High Finance Restaurant, which is said to offer the best view in New Mexico of any restaurant.

Visitors to the Sandia Peak Tramway will find the nearby Homewood Albuquerque Uptown conveniently placed accommodation; it offers comfortable suites in the northeast of the city and is located in close proximity to the Winrock Mall and the Colorado Shopping Center. Visitors to the Sandia Peak Tramway, therefore, will find it is well situated, so that people can enjoy the beauty of the mountain scenery without being too far away from the luxuries of the city.

The internet has revolutionized the way we live our lives. We can now make international phone calls across the internet for only a few pennies. We can plan, book and check in for a holiday with a few clicks of the mouse. If you?ve ever turned up at a hotel only to find out they don?t have your booking then this ?how to? guide is for you. Read on.

The internet has hundreds of websites that are designed to help you book a hotel. Unfortunately, some of them just seem to make the process harder. In a few short paragraphs below we?ve included some hints and tricks that will help you feel confident about booking a hotel online.

You where you?re headed but where do you go from there? Ask yourself questions like: What attractions do I want to see? Where do I want to visit? What is going to make my trip worthwhile? Take a few minutes to understand what you want. It?ll help down the road. There?s no point booking a hotel in New Jersey when you want to spend your week exploring Manhattan. By knowing what you want to see and where you want to go you can narrow down the number of hotels to choose from.

The next step is to think about how much you want to spend. What?s your price range? Will you pay more to be closer to the tourist spots? Travel websites like Expedia and Travelocity will let you organise the hotels in price order. That way you can quickly skim the list and rule out any hotels that are too expensive.

Once you know what you want you?re ready to log on and start browsing the web for hotels. There are a multitude of hotel booking websites that can be found with a quick Google search. Some of the larger hotel booking sites include: Expedia, Travel-o-city, Hotels.com and Lastminute.com. Most of these sites will give you detailed information about the listed hotels. They will tell you what attractions are nearby, the approximate room prices, availability in the hotel and any price offers that may be running. Ensure you choose a site that offers instant booking confirmation. If they don?t then move on.

Choose a few hotels that you like and then look them up on a review site like drakeandcavendish.com. Review sites will give you that little bit of extra information from past guests and independent reviewers. Information you won?t probably won?t find on the hotels website. You can judge the quality of the hotel from the reviews and work out your preferred choice.

Now you should be ready to book. Keep the email confirmation that the website sends you. The confirmation is that extra bit of insurance should any problems come up. It also pays to make sure that there is a little yellow padlock in the bottom right hand corner of your screen as you enter your credit card details. This padlock means that the site is secure and the financial information entered is safe.

Good luck and happy travelling.

There is an old saying – you get what you pay for?. If that?s true then what would you expect for nearly $11,000 a night? If you said gold leaf, your own butler, 13 different pillow options, one Jacuzzi and a revolving bed then the Burj Al Arab in Dubai is the hotel for you.

Forbes magazine rates the Burj Al Arab in Dubai as one of the most expensive hotels in the world. Prices start from $1,770 a night for a basic suite and range up to $10,890 per night for the Royal Suite. Whilst the Burj Al Arab is the most expensive hotel in the Middle East, it is by no means unique. The luxury hotel market is growing by the day with more and more developments on the way. Forbes has quoted the Smith Travel Research as saying that the average luxury hotel price has risen 16% in the 12 months prior to May 2006. Developers are taking advantage of this growing market and planning more high class hotels for the region.

A range of boundary setting luxury hotels are expected in the region with Donald Trump, Giorgio Armani and the Versace Group all planning to take advantage of one of Europe?s favourite holiday destinations. And the little luxuries seem to be limitless. The beachfront palazzo planned by the Versace Group will regulate the sand on the beaches to prevent burned feet. Perhaps gold flip flops were considered but were ruled out because they were just too heavy!

Africa and Asia also have their own prestigious group of jaw dropping luxury hotels for the occasional millionaire. The Londolozi Tree Camp in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the six specialty tree-top suites start at $1,916 per night, and each comes with a private plunge pool. Rates include three Pan-African meals and two game drives per day, plus bush walks, and guests can view elephants, lions and leopards. Now that’s value for money.

Does anyone have an American Express gold card I could use?

It is the end of an era in Thailand. Political changes occur rapidly in SE Asia. Nowhere is that more evident than inside the Land of Smiles. In the wake of the John Karr / JonBenet Ramsey fiasco, Thailand has tightened restrictions on Tourism Visas and stymied the lives of tens of thousands of travelers. Officials claim the two are not connected.

For many years now, backpackers have flocked to Thailand. It?s tropical climate, gentle citizens, inviting beaches and ease of travel beckon youthful exuberance. Over time, many of us have matured to suitcases and still less-stylish travelers followed suit.

During these Golden Years of Thai travel visitors form 39 countries could enter the Kingdom of Thailand for thirty days without obtaining a visa before their arrival. Those staying on longer would simply make a border run, cross out of the country and return, often within minutes. Whish! Stamp! Boom! They had another thirty days.

Currently details of the new regulations are as clear as mud in an unlit cave. It appears starting October 1, 2006, travelers such as myself will be able to make a maximum of two border runs. We receive thirty days on arrival. Then, we receive thirty days each for the two reentries. After that we may not enter Thailand again for ninety days. In other words, after ninety days in, we must leave for ninety days. Whish! Stamp! Stamp! Out!

The tourism industry will suffer! From taxi drivers and guest houses, to massage schools and laundry services, the impact will be felt. I imagine a Tuk Tuk driver will look up this January and think, ?Hey, where?d everybody go?? I like to believe the cumulative economic loss will be more than the Kingdom fathoms and policies will loosen again over time. I also still hang a Christmas stocking up for myself.

Alongside Thais, how are long-term travelers being affected by the changes? If you think the inconvenience to individuals is negligible, consider the following. Here are some examples.

Donald Wood ? UK
?My sister and her family were to spend February in Thailand with me. They have canceled their trip. Why? Because, I?ll be out for ninety days by then.?

Kelly Laidlaw ? USA
?I paid for a one month TEFL Course and two months ?volunteer? teacher training on Samui next year. That?s three months total. I lose days from each 30 day allotment, because I have to do my visa border runs on weekend (to not miss class). This is what I?m left with. I leap into Thailand the day before class starts and sprint for Samui. Then, I fly out the day after I finish teaching/graduate. Perhaps a prospective school can interview me in the Tuk Tuk on the way to the airport.?

Claude DeVosjoli ? France
?I had many plans for my six months? sure to travel, but more. I?m always doing something. Mahout training, an expansive meditation experience, maybe I learn to cook Thai. And, there?s trekking, Muay Thai courses? There?s so much to do here. Now I can do only half. Half lose my francs. It?s so hard to choose.?

Barry Anderson ? Australia
?Funny thing is Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar) lost business because of the Thai regs. I wanted to hop over there bouts for a week mid-November. Can?t now. That would use up one of my precious two visa runs early. Don?t wanna torch thirteen days I figure.?

Kathy Taylor ? Canada
?I sold my home to come to SE Asia for a couple years. The thinking was I would maintain a small apartment in Chiang Mai, take some classes, travel around a bit and have a place to nest and write in between. Now when I travel to other countries it will go lock, stock and barrel, along with my tourism dollars for many months.?

Alan McLawrie ? UK
?I?m currently taking classes to learn to speak Thai. I?ll miss the third level now. Of course, I?ll be off in Vietnam not able to practice what I just learned anyway. Also, I volunteer at a dog rescue and will miss the pups. I?m financially independent, yet too young to meet the 50 year old requirement for a Retirement Visa here. Officials actually said this new law will stop bad people and not hurt good people. Well, if financially successful, charitable volunteers who study their culture are bad guys, send me to the front of the line.?

Anita Kroll ? USA
?This change is a bit of a pickle for me. I have a three month course this spring. So, in December when my 90 is up, I have to leave Thailand for almost four months, not three. I?ll need the whole next lot of ninety days to cover my class time. The course starts in late April and I?m out in December. I wish there had been more notice before the government changed things, though in retrospect I did not have to pay in advance.?

As you see there are dozens of ways Thailand?s new policies will cause little inconveniences. But, how little are they? You see, I am Anita. I am Alan. I am Kathy, Barry, Kelly, Donald and even Claude DeVosjoli. All these issues occurred for just one peaceful gal who simply loves Thailand. What else do these issues have in common? That?s easy. They take money away (Whish!) from the Kingdom of Thailand and its citizens.

Oregon has one of the most fascinating landscapes in the United States. It has many faces: beautiful seacoast, impressive mountain vistas, lush greenery, inland waterways and even deserts and prairies.

The historic Columbia River Highway is a good way to view the nice vistas and waterfalls. It has several wilderness areas and national forests. Crater Lake National Park has the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh-deepest in the world. Crater Lake is a stunning and special natural treasure, evolved more than 7,700 years ago. It has unbelievably blue water, according to Scientists, the water is completely clear to a depth of 123 feet and part of its blueness is a reflection of the sky. Rim Drive encircles Crater Lake and there are some spectacular view points on the 33 mile long road. The Oregon Cascades region is also known for the highest mountain in Oregon: Mount Hood. The area is very rainy, that?s why Oregon has magnificent natural beauty and fresh, rain-scented air. The summers are quite warm, but never muggy. In wintertime there are many skiing and snowboarding activities available.

The unique beauty of the Pacific Coastline, stretching 362 miles from Astoria to the Columbia River to Brookings near the California border, is also a breathtaking feature of the state. The whole coastline is public land and offers hiking, scuba diving, surfing, fishing, cycling activities. The coast also includes sites such as the Oregon Coast Aquarium, National Scenic Area and lighthouses. Seaside is the closest major coastal city in Oregon to Portland. With three miles of sandy beach and two miles of manicured, ocean front boardwalk, it is also a popular destination for tourists and travelers. Seaside is a national landmark with rich historical past. The end of the Lewis and Clark trail is commemorated with a statue. Cannon coastline is also a very scenic place of the area.

Portland, the “City of Roses”, known for its world famous parks and vivid nightlife. The city adopted the rose as a symbol of its renewal and growth. Every year they celebrate the Portland Rose Festival. The city is Oregon?s cultural center with large collections of museums, galleries and art centers. This special city and Salem, the capital city of Oregon – is located half way between Portland and Eugene ? are both memorable places of the state.

L.A. has a lot to offer. The City of Angels is always on-the-go and seemingly driven by glitz and glamour. And if you’re willing to fight the traffic, you’ll find some of the world’s best restaurants, shopping and attractions – from studio tours to museums, from beaches to piers.

L.A. is the epitome of big, bold and beautiful – and most of the hobbies in this town hover around “the scene”. So, if you’ve had your share of the beach, head inland to tour the star-studded Sunset Boulevard or Melrose Avenue – and keep your eyes out! Since the restaurants and bars drive the social hustle n’ bustle, you’d better allow yourself that afternoon power-nap if you want to keep up with the cool kids.

Remember: the stars come out at night – this is LA after all. This town seems to shimmer after sundown… you can rock it out on the Sunset Strip or club it up in Hollywood. So, if you like your bars cool, your martinis dry, and your restaurants scrumptious, make sure you’ve got your wallet, your appetite and your energy for your night on the town Hollywood style.

Here’s our insiders guide to some of the best restaurants and nightlife options. Know this: fights broke out between our editorial staff when somebody foolishly suggested we limit our journeyPod Picks in L.A. to only 10 Restaurants and 10 Bars. We had so much fun tearing it up in Tinseltown that we had to go with 15 selections in each category. Of course, another fight ensued when we tried to assign numbers to all of these hotspots — so cooler heads prevailed and we have since removed the rankings.

Be assured of one thing… all 30 of these places are ridiculously fantabulous and require your own A-game. Maybe even after a night on the town, you too will understand why even people in the biz think “Entourage” seems so real…

Bars & Nightlife

1. The Derby: (Los Feliz) “Swingers” wannabes hoping to catch a glimpse of Vince Vaughn or Jon Favreau join swing fans in this hotter-than-ever dance hall. With 1940’s decor, live music (seven nights a week) and dance lessons, your whole posse will have a blast! FYI: The Derby was named a historical/cultural landmark by the Los Angeles City Council in May ‘06. Located at 4500 Los Feliz Blvd. (and Hillhurst Ave.).

2. LAX: (Hollywood) We’ve all been introduced to DJ AM by Nicole Ritchie – but he now needs no introduction! Known as one of the most sought out DJ’s, DJ AM (a.k.a Adam Golstein) opened this first-class airport-themed lounge for all the L.A. jet-setters. Located in the heart of Hollywood, this destination hotspot boasts mirrors in the shape of airplane windows and metal hangar doors. The dance floor often gets cramped (similar to dancing in an airplane cabin), but it’s tons of fun in a “Mile High Club” kinda way! LAX is located at 1714 Las Palmas Ave. (and Hollywood Blvd.).

3. Forty Deuce: (Melrose) The small parking lot across from Paramount Pictures houses this modern institution that’s been transformed into a retro-cool lounge reminiscent of a 1920’s speakeasy. The parlor-style seating, burlesque shows (strutting to the rhythm of a live jazz band) and fine cocktails keep the Hollywood crowd happy and partying until closing time. Located at 5574 Melrose Ave. (at Beachwood Dr.).

4. Barney’s Beanery: (West Hollywood) In L.A., most people think that nothing can get better with age. But the city’s third-oldest restaurant (located at 8447 Santa Monica Blvd. near La Cienaga Blvd.) manages to prove everyone in Hollywood wrong. Since opening its door nearly 90 years ago, it has attracted celebrities to regular Joe-shmoes who crave good ol’ comfort food (your choice of 150 different burgers, 65 chilis and 90 omelettes). While many may refer to this as just a “dive”, the good food and cheap drinks keep this Beanery jumping nightly. (Just make sure you bring your I.D. – even Johnny Drama got carded here recently!).

5. Stone Rose Lounge: (West Hollywood) This recently opened LA version of the NYC nightspot houses itself in the redone Sofitel Hotel (at 8555 Beverly Blvd., near La Cienaga Blvd.). A destination for young starlets (and the guys who want them) boasts a 5,000 square foot lounge and outdoor patio. While it’s not your usual L.A. nightlife scene, this laid-back atmosphere with refined martinis and the outside fire pit cabanas are well worth visiting.

6. Social Hollywood: (Hollywood) What’s old is new again! This place used to be the massive Hollywood Athletic Club and now boasts a lounge, restaurants, games rooms with PlayStations and Xboxes, a screening room and a private club. The Moroccan-inspired venue features food that has been strong right off the bat and a social scene which has won over the cool kids. Located at 6526 Sunset Blvd. (at Schrader Blvd.).

7. Sky Bar: Tagged as one of L.A.’s hottest nightclub spots since the day it opened, Sky Bar is open, airy and makes you feel like you’re floating up in the clouds atop the Mondrian hotel (located at 8440 Sunset Blvd.). Boasting some of the most beautiful views in all of L.A. (along with its trees, pool and candlelight) and the cities most fashionable set – please don’t let the long lines and bouncers deter you. If and when you do get past the red tape, please don’t stare at that hunk that regularly appears on the pages of US Weekly and People!

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