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Archive for January, 2011

Places To Go In Prague

Since the fall of the Communist regime in 1993 Prague has become one Europes leading holiday destinations. It is the 6th most visited city in Europe behind London Paris Rome Madrid and Berlin respectively. The city is situated on the river Vltava which runs through the heart of Prague the Charles bridge crossing provides a common focal point for tourists. It is also home to the oldest university in central Europe.

The Old Town is the old settlement centre of the city once separated by a moat and wall. However now the moat is covered up by the street having been dismantled with the creation of the new town in the 14th century. The Old town is the most popular tourist hot spot within the city.

Prague is home to the biggest castle in the world and is home to the Czech Crown jewels. It is not only the former homes to the Czech Kings and Holy Roman Emperors but the Czech presidents also took up office there. Having been altered many times over the last few centuries the castle is a must for any one interested in architecture as it represents different styles from the last few hundred years.

Although now overbuilt with 20th century architecture the Josefov area of the city is still worth a visit. This is the oldest Jewish ghetto in which it is thought to have housed 18000 people until 1893 when most of the quarter was demolished when in plans to re model the city and Jewish people becoming more integrated within the city. The Old Town hall now acts as Jewish Museum home to many artefacts which were initially collected by the Nazis for their planned exotic museum of an extinct race.

The Dancing House is worth a visit for the modern architecture alone. It was rebuilt on the site of the old dancing house which was destroyed in 1945 during the bombing of Prague. The new building was only finished in 1996 but to me represents the transition between old and new Prague.

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Parking At Manchester Airport UK

I frequently make use of Manchester airport if travelling on a business trip abroad therefore I use Manchester Airport car parking rather often. This has forced me to be a bit of an expert on parking at Manchester Airport UK and where to find the cheapest airport parking.

Manchester International is a rather well used airport and because of this it pays to have booked your parking prior to leaving for the airport. Practically all of the local parking facilities have a website where you can book your parking before travelling this makes the process easier as you do not need to search for a free space when you turn up for your flight out.

There are numerous car parking facilities near to Manchester airport. There is also hotel parking close to the airport which is excellent if a bit expensive. Many of the Manchester car parking businesses have very similar services and provide high security levels for vehicles and passengers. All the best airport parking businesses offer a free shuttle service from the car park to the airport and all offer a rather good service. One way to make a choice is to decide on your budget.

If money is no object your choises will be either Global Chauffeur or Meet and Greet Parking they offer a great service. They are costly but they can make parking stress free. All you should do is prearrange a change over point and time over the phone and give them your car keys when you get there. Your vehicle will be taken into their care then parked for you.

For the commuter in a rush you could do worse than consider Carminder APH or Premier Parking who are all within a few minutes of Manchester International and are all very reputable Manchester car parking providers. APH are among those who offer inside parking for those cold and wet months.

For those travelling from North of Manchester I recommend that you consider Airparks. A possible problem with this option is that sometimes they take more time for processing and it is recommended that you work on anywhere up to 50 minutes to get parked and transferred.

The majority of parking businesses do ask you to deposit your keys with them to enable them to move your vehicle when you are gone. This is pretty much standard practice but if they do not request them I will always offer the keys anyway.

You can always get a discount on Manchester airport parking by going online to check out the available deals and book in advance. You will usually find that booking two months in advance will save you the most money.

About the writer:  For more information and quotes for Cheap Parking at Manchester Airport visit www.airportcheapparking.co.uk

Packing Your Bags: Airline Luggage Tips

When packing for an airline flight its important to keep a few things in mind how much you pack as well as what you pack.

Many airlines are strictly enforcing maximum carryon and checked baggage allowances. Please check with your airline directly if you are unsure of the size and weight of baggage you are permitted to check or carry on.

What are the size and weight restrictions for my luggage?

Since the Airlines luggage restrictions are going through a recent period frequent change you should check directly with your Airline as to size weight and number of bags that you can check and carryon.

In many cases the Airlines have added new limits on both carryon and checked baggage. You should check but most Airlines limit their carryon bags to a range of 14″” to 16″” high 21″” to 24″” wide and 8″” to 9″” deep. The lower limits are for under seat storage and larger limits for the more generous overhead compartment. A 45″” total heightwidthdepth can be used as a basic guideline to see if your bag will be allowed as a carryon.

Most Airlines have a carryon weight limit of 40 pounds and a checked baggage weight limit of 70 pounds.

Some Airlines allow you a larger size and weight for your first bag but have more restrictive limits for additional bags.

Many Airlines limits vary if you are taking a domestic or international flight are flying first business or coach class or if you are a member of their premium membership clubs.

All limits are much more strictly enforced then in the past. Bags are weighed at checkin and many Airlines have placed bagsizers at their gates. If your carryon bags are too big youll have to check them and that might cause them to be classified as “”extra bags”" which usually carries an extra charge. If you bags are too heavy you can be charged a rather high overweight luggage charge.

How many pieces of luggage can I take with me?

Just because you sneaked it on once dont always expect to get away with it. More rigorous enforcement of the rules and more and more bagsizer stations will likely catch you now. This is especially true during the holidays and other peak flying times when the Airlines are watching closely since the planes are full and everyone is trying to sneak lots of stuff on the plane.

During periods of high security you may be required to check items you would normally be allowed to carry onboard the aircraft.

Most Airlines allow for a combination of three bags to be divided among your carryon and checked baggage. Youll want to check with your specific Airline since there are differences in their allowance programs. The Airlines also look at some items differently; some will count a laptop or briefcase against your allowance while others will not.

You may be allowed to bring more luggage free of charge if you are traveling on a first or business class ticket or are a member of the Airlines premium membership club.

If you plan on bringing extra luggage you had better check with the Airline to see if they will allow it on the plane. Even if you are willing to pay an extra fee they can still refuse your extra luggage if the plane is already full. If you do receive permission to bring the extra luggage have the person granting the permission note this on your reservation and be sure to get their name.

If you are changing Airlines during your trip youll need to take into account the luggage limits for all the Airlines youll use. What is acceptable to one Airline may bring an extra charge on another.

Check the regulations when making connecting flights in European or other foreign countries. You may be held to more restrictive luggage limits while flying within the area than you did flying into the area.

If you are flying on a commuter Airline for any leg of your trip youll need to know their luggage limits. Many commuter Airlines have limited space and only allow carryon baggage they also have more restrictive weight limits.

How can I avoid extra charges for my luggage?

Know the luggage limits on all the Airlines youll use on your trip and try to stay within those limits.

Dont over pack overweight bags have caused a great many injuries to baggage handlers. To try to discourage people the Airlines often charge a hefty fee for handling an overweight bag.

If you really need the items then you should check into paying the extra bag fee. It is usually cheaper to divide your items into two bags and pay the extra bag fee than pay one overweight bag charge. You might also avoid the embarrassment of having your luggage explode because they are packed too full.

About the writer:  Find air travel and more useful information about travel tips on travel directory.