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Travel tips to European Countries: Bulgaria

About the county

Officially known as the Republic of Bulgaria or Bulgarian Republic, Bulgaria is a beautiful mountainous country lying in Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe bordering the Black Sea to the east, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south. Bulgaria also borders Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia along the sea. The largest and the capital city is Sofia. The country may be very small in area but it is rich in ancient culture, picturesque locales, down to earth and friendly people who provide the warmth and hospitality of old days. Bulgaria is known as “Land of Roses” due to the largest production of roses here. Although Bulgaria is known mostly for its sea resorts much of the actual country can be explored in great mountain regions, with many ski resorts a perfect destination for skiers. With unique customs, spectacular crafts, colorful festivals, folklore and so on Bulgaria has it all to take the imagination of visitors by surprise and excitement.

Population & Languages

The population of Bulgaria is roughly 7.4 million and the official language being spoken is Bulgarian. Turkish and Roma are also spoken by considerable percentage of the population.

Electricity

The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The types of plugs used are Round pin attachment plug and “Schuko” plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts.

Geographic Location

It lies in Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe bordering the Black Sea to the east, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south. Bulgaria also borders Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia along the sea. Bulgaria is strategically located near Turkish Straits making it the control point of key land routes connecting Europe to Middle East and Asia.

Climate

The climate of Bulgaria can be termed as temperate with hot and dry summers and cold and damp winters. Summer temperatures average around 75°F (24°C) and winter temperatures average about 32°F (0°C). The ideal time to visit Bulgaria is summer.

Local Customs
Like any other country Bulgaria has its own customs too and normal courtesies should be followed. Handshaking is customary. Dress should be conservative but can be casual. Souvenirs from home country are appreciated if invited to home. Here is Bulgaria, a nod of the head means ‘no’ and a shake of the head means ‘yes’. Tipping up to 10 to 12 percent is customary for all services including restaurants, bars, clubs, taxis etc.

Attractions

Sofia
* St. Sofia Church
* St. George Rotunda
* Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
* National Ethnographic Museum

Mountains
* Village of Momchilovtsi
* Pirin National Park
* Rila Monastery

Travel

By Air – The national airline of Bulgaria is Bulgaria Air. Other international airlines operating from Bulgaria include Bulgaria include Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, MALEV Hungarian Airlines, Olympic Airlines and Swiss Air. Sofia International Airport EAD (SOF) is the biggest airport which is like six miles east of Sofia. Other international airport is Varna International Airport (VAR) located in the western outskirts of the city about five miles from Varna.

Sea - The important international ports are Bourgas and Varna along the Black Sea.

River – Ferries can cross into Romania from Vidin to Calafat.

By Rail – Sofia is connected to Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessaloniki, Paris, Vienna, Munich and Berlin through frequent services of trains.

Duty Free Items
1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
2. 1 liter of spirits and 2 liter of wine; 50g of perfume and 100g of eau de toilette
3. Gifts and personal use items.
Prohibited Items
Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, pornography, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

Travel Tips to European Countries: Belgium

About the Country

Belgium is situated in the west of Europe. The land here mostly comprises of flat coastal plains in the northeast, and southeast is occupied by the Ardennes Forest. Dutch, Flemish, French and German are the official languages of Belgium, with Dutch being the widely spoken followed by French. The weather here is pretty predictable. Months from April to September are the warmest. Otherwise the weather is pretty humid and skies are gray, that explains why umbrellas and raincoats are a part of the dressing. So, if the visit is planned for holidays during the rainy season, one must not forget to carry sufficient cover for maximum protection, as this is a coastal region. In case of emergency call 100 or 112.

Culture

Belgians are English-friendly and will make every attempt to speak in English with a foreigner. Always remember to carry a small gift or at least flowers especially when invited over dinner. The dress to wear will be mentioned in the invitation, when invited for a party. Smoking in public is acceptable.

Shopping

Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Ostend, Namur, Mons, Liиge, Ghent and Mechelen are the main shopping centers. Belgium is famous for ceramics and hand-beaten copperware from Dinant, laces from Bruges, crystals from Val Saint Lambert, woodcarvings from Spa and Belgium’s finest chocolates. In jewelry, diamonds from Antwerp are on high demand.

Eating Out

The specialty of most of the restaurants is horse and rabbit meat dishes. Although visitors can find a wide range of ethnic foods, but the most famous are frites and mayonnaise and mitraillette; mitraillette is a large bun filled with fries, donair meat and garlic sauce, the vegetarians can ask for a veg. substitute for the donair meat. While eating at a restaurant, tipping is considered customary along with the value-added tax. At the cinemas, leave a Ђ0.50 tip for the attendant and Ђ0.25 after using the public toilets.

Electricity

Voltage is 230 V and frequency is 50 Hz.

Travel

Delta Air Transport has inaugurated its new European airline SN Brussels Airlines recently. It flies to more than 58 destinations in Europe and as well as worldwide. The Brussels Zayentem airport is twelve km from the city and it takes 35 minutes to reach the city from the airport. The airport has facilities like duty free shops, car parking, taxi booking, car hiring, banks, post office, restaurants, and medical help. Internet and fax services are provided for the passengers. The Airport City Express train transports passengers to three main railway stations - Brussels North, Central and South. One can avail a bus which runs regularly from the airport, taxis can also be hired which wait outside the arrival hall. Tipping the taxi drivers is considered customary. Train runs every 15 minutes.

Another airport, Brussels South Charleroi, is 5 km away from Charleroi and 46 km from Brussels. Ryan air serves as the local airline here and has cheap deals for several European destinations to and from Charleroi. The facilities provided here are bus and train services, cafй, car hire, and duty free shops.

Ostend airport is 5 km away from the city and car parking, car hire, duty free shops, and restaurants are provided here.

Antwerp airport is just 2 km away from the city. Buses run to the Brussels Central Station every few minutes.

Liege is situated at a distance of 5 km away from the city. Buses run at regular interval here.

The departure tax at Brussels Zayentem is Ђ20.93, Brussels South Charleroi is Ђ3.49, Ostend and Antwerp is Ђ10, and at Liege is Ђ7.

There is a network of high-speed trains, which are operated by Thalys, from Belgium to France, connecting Brussels with other destinations like Bordeaux, Chambйry, Cannes, Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Valence Perpignan, and Rennes. Booking should be made in advance for these trains. The national railway operates through out the day providing service every few minutes to destinations such as Andorra, Austria, France, Czech, Germany, Italy, Poland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands. Insiders can avail the Inter-Rail pass which allows visitors to travel almost 29 European Countries. This service is valid for residents who have been settled there for more than 6 months.

Duty Free Items

Visitors can carry alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, coffee and tea without getting customs duty levied on them, but only the goods should be limited. Check out for the limits before carrying such goods. Food items that are not preserved are better avoided.

Travel Tips to European Countries: Austria

About the Country

Located in central Europe, Austria celebrates world’s best music festivals like the Salzburg Festival, Haydn Festival in Vienna, and the International Chamber Music Festival. Vienna is the capital of Austria as well as the musical capital of Europe. Music and art are in full flare here after centuries of hardship and innovation. That explains Vienna being the birthplace of Mozart. Horse dances are also part of these festivals. Since it snows in winter, the snow covered Alps is a must be visited place during the winter. Austria experiences a moderate summer. Rains can be expected year round. Incase of emergency call 120 or 123.

Site seeing

The romantic castles simply leave you astounded. The Schloss Durnstein provides a magnificent view besides the River Danube. A 10% tip should be paid to the taxi drivers, which is customary here.

Culture

German, Hungarian, Slovene, and Croatian are the languages spoken by the locals. To greet the locals, a handshake will do. When meeting someone for the first time, its better to refer them by their last name, but once better known they can be addressed by the first name. When out in the public, say Guten Tag or Gruss Gott to greet people and while leaving say Auf Wiedersehen. Carry along flowers when going over to someone’s house. The locals here have a passion for horse riding. The world’s best art of horsemanship can be found here which is as old as 400 years and to watch the horses perform at these schools; tickets must be booked in advance. Although service charge is levied on restaurant bills, an extra 5% should be paid as tip.

Getting there

Three national airlines operate in Austria, Austrian Arrows, Austrian Airlines and Lausda Air, which work in collaboration with the Austrian Airlines Group. The Vienna airport is 18 km away from the city. Airport buses transport passengers to the South Train and West Train Station. Railway, chauffeur-driven car and taxi service is also provided at the airport. Duty free shops, post office, bank, eateries, left luggage, tourism information, conference hall, nursery, car hiring and car parking facilities are provided to the passengers at the airport.
Salzburg airport is 4 km away from the city and buses, trains, taxis and hotel coach shuttle passengers to and from the airport. Facilities such as duty free shops, post office, currency exchange, left luggage, conference hall, restaurants and car hire exist at the airport. Check out the other airports such as Klagenfurt airport, Graz airport and Linz airport for more details. All the airports charge a fixed rate for porter service.

International tourists can get to Austria by Austrian Federal railways, if planning to travel by train. It has a large network which connects the major cities within Austria and also outside Austria. Travelers can find connections to/from Germany, Russia, Greece, Romania, Turkey Brussels, Paris and Italy. International rail passes or Eurail pass can be bought to travel around Austria as they provide unlimited travel and other offers too.

A good network of roads here provides an interesting journey. Take Eurotunnel when crossing the Channel Tunnel while traveling by car. Bookings should be made in advance. The cars can be hired at the airports and railway stations and if driving own car carry documentations like UK driving license or national driving license and car registration papers. Toll booths are installed on the motorways and ‘S’ roads, so if change is carried in advance it will ensure no delays in the journey. Registration documents should be carried along all the time while driving. The lights should be turned on while driving, in the city or outside, all the time. There are strict laws for seat belts and drinking while driving. If using the motorbike, high visibility jacket and helmet must be worn, it’s a compulsion for both the passenger and the driver. Many federal, private companies and local authorities provide bus service. Coaches are provided for moving around within the cities.

Wurm and Kock provide cruise passenger service. Along with the cruise trip, packages include stay at a hotel. Check out, before hand, for offer. There are many Ferry service providers too.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco or a proportional mix of these products
2. 1l of spirits over 22 per cent or 2l of fortified wine or spirits up to 22 per cent or 2l of sparkling wine or liqueur and 2l of still wine
3. 500g of coffee or 200g of extracts, essences or concentrates of coffee, and 100g of tea or 40g of tea extracts
4. medicinal products sufficient for the journey
5. 50g of perfume or eau de toilette
6. All the above mentioned goods should be carried by a person over 17 years of age.

Travel Tips to European Countries: Albania

Albania is a mountainous country and the one of the smallest countries of Europe. The residents supposedly descended from ancient Illyrians.

Culture

The culture of Albania is majorly influenced by that of the mainland Greeks especially in the urban locality; nodding one’s head means ‘no’ where as shaking the head means ‘yes’. To greet someone, handshaking is preferred, though Shoku (Comrade) was used before, which has been long forgotten now. People dress informally here. Swim suits are meant for the beaches, otherwise women are expected not to dress in a revealing outfit. When addressing someone prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs) before the name and always remember to carry some gifts when visiting someone, although flowers aren’t much acceptable. The guests are served with coffee, raki or sweets. Smokers don’t have to worry much, but they should avoid it where they see a sign of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit.

Travelling within the country

Buses with relatively cheap fares operate in the main cities of the country or taxis are another choice which provided service for some main hotels.
Visit Dajti Mountain and experience Dajti Ekspres Cable car for an unforgettable 15 minute ride passing through Dajt Oark to reach Tirana. The route is about 4.2 km long and the ride costs Ђ6.5.Alpha Yachting provides crewed yacht which is a luxury in itself. Tirana Bank is the best place for withdrawing money as it allows access to Visa cards.

Eating Out

Restaurants are not always sufficiently heated, so always wear warm clothes if out in the night during winters. Foreigners are charged more than the locals. Both the entry fees as well as any merchandise will be on a higher scale, so it’s better not to reveal the fact that you are a foreigner when out on the streets.

Site Seeing

If you enjoy canoeing, this is the right place to be. There are places right outside Tirana which is an amazing site for not just canoeing, but also rock climbing, hiking, and camping.

Accommodation

If you want a 5-Star ambience, try The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is situated in the middle of a shopping and entertainment center. There are about 151 rooms and 56 suites. So, along with the comfort, one can shop at once convenience here. Another hotel which provides all modern facilities is Hotel Mondial. It is located 1000 m away from the city and is also a good example of traditional architecture.

Getting There

One of the best and the easiest means is to go by air. Albanian Airlines is the national airline which works in collaboration with Tyrolean Airways, and provides service to almost all the big European cities. The airport, Mother Teresa, is 16 miles or 26 km away from the capital. A tourist bus is available every 3 hrs to get to the city center and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Taxis are available round the clock. While waiting for any transport service, tourists can check out the duty free shops, bank, eateries and car hire at the airport. A departure tax of $10 USD is imposed on all foreign nationals. Check out www.flyalbanian .com for flight times and offers.

If trying to get there by sea, try the ferry services which are provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. The main ports are Durres (has ferry connection to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (has ferry connection to Bari, and Brindisi), Saranda (has connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (has ferry connection to Bari). Check out www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com for more information.

Bus is another option. Buses start from Istanbul, Athens and Sofia. Internal passengers have lots of options with bus services provided. If traveling by road in a private car, there is road network to the Kosovo region, but they are too dangerous to use because of the political tensions within the region. Crossings at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and kakavija can be taken. If tired one can take halts at hotels or other designated areas. There is a network of 18,000 km, out of which only 7450 km are main roads, for local travelers. About 2138km stretch of these roads is in poor condition and has pot holes, and utmost safety precautions should be taken when driving on such roads. Speed limit should be strictly followed on highways as well as within towns. Driving at night should be better avoided because of the absence of street lights on the road except for urban areas. Traffic should drive on the right-hand. There is a shortage of gas stations in the countryside, so filling the gas tank completely when passing through urban area is recommended and since there is lack of national recovery system; travelers should be prepared for an emergency or breakdown before hand. One should carry necessary documents like International Driving Permit and national driving license.

Duty Free Items

Following are the items that can be carried without customs duty being levied on them:
1. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of wine
2. 250ml of eau de toilette
3. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
4. 50ml of perfume.

Prohibited Items

Things that are prohibited to carry are firearms, narcotics and ammunitions. Special export permission should be taken for precious metals, books, antiques, work of art, or material of national or historic value.

Amsterdam Tour

When we talk about Amsterdam, Netherlands, it is very hard not to imagine misty cafes and scantily clothed women moving provocatively in windows with red lights. Many of the travelers from across the world return to this ultimate city of “sin” because of these sights alone. Most of them are busting with tales of the unexpected and if you get chances to visit the place, I’m sure that you will also create your own tales to tell.

Well, Amsterdam is not just about sex and drugs; it has all the great things that Mother Earth has to offer. The Netherlands has in fact that most amount of great museums per square foot than anywhere else in the world. If you take a tram ride 10 minutes from the heart of the city, you can overwhelm yourself with those narrow streets occupied with nothing else other than the cyclist and a car every now and then. The city is in fact so quite, but interesting.

Things to See in Amsterdam

The greatly planned city of Amsterdam is one of the few cities in the world where the people, the streets and the atmosphere are an attraction in themselves. It is in fact well-known throughout the world as the sole city where marijuana and hashish are sold legally. And, the worldly known Red Light District is just as much an attraction as a favorite hub for young men full of testosterone to go at night.

But as mentioned earlier, there is far much more to the city than drugs and prostitutes or sex. The city has long been considered as the “Venice of the North” because it was built on a cobweb of canals. You can greatly see most of the city from a canal boat, and from there you’ll surely appreciate the unique architecture that Amsterdam has long been proud to offer.

Furthermore, Amsterdam is heaving with a culture. It has a lot of great museums and libraries. Of all the interesting museums in the city of Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Museum and Van Gogh Museums are names not to be missed.

Where to Eat

When you stroll around in the city of Amsterdam, you’ll surely find a high volume of restaurants. As commonly noted, you can see sandwich boards in front of the many restaurants advertising their daily specials and from a minute walk down the Damrak, the street facing Central Station, there are some neon lights saying “pizza”.

If you delver further into the city, you can find the Damstraat, the street on Dam Square, also peppered with eateries. Further down again towards Leidseplen, the Leidsekruisstraat and Leidsetraat have their good share of restaurants too. It is necessary to note however that the streets mentioned earlier are located in some of the city’s most touristy areas. So, if you wish to steer clear of such commercial centers, you have the chance to visit the Jordaan as some of the city’s coolest restaurants are found there.

In case you prefer to eat out in a restaurant beyond your budget during your tour, there are also some fast food outlets all over Amsterdam where you can get pizzas, chips or kebabs. However, just be careful when asking for mayonnaise on your French fries for they will be completely drowned.

Amsterdam Hostels

I guess you all know that the great planned city of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most famous cities because of is alternative lifestyle and relaxed attitudes to drugs and sex. However, there is much more to Amsterdam other than sex and drugs. The city is in fact the center of some of the great museums of Netherlands, and with a quarter of the city’s territory where canals, waterways and lakes can be found, it’s no wonder that Amsterdam is now known throughout the world as the “Venice of the North”.

Aside from drugs, sex, museums, canals, lakes and waterways, the great city of Amsterdam is also peppered with restaurants and hostels. You may probably find neon lights and boards with the mark “hostels” or “pizzas” in many of the city’s streets. Speaking of hostels, it is interesting to know that most of the Amsterdam hostels provide the best accommodation and service available, the reason that many tourists from across the globe return to visit Amsterdam.

Now, after saying all of those interesting facts about Amsterdam and you’ve come to consider a short vacation to the city, I guess it is best that you find first the best Amsterdam hostel available – the one that really suits your needs. Well, finding the right Amsterdam hostel is quite tough, with a wide selection of Amsterdam hostel available. But, thanks to some sites online that they have listed the top-rated Amsterdam hostels for the people’s advantage. If you want to know where online you can find the complimentary accommodation and service, here are the choices:

HostelAmsterdam.com

HostelAmsterdam.com currently holds a list of the top-rated Amsterdam hostels that offer the best accommodation and service possible. Aside from that, this site also offers online reservations at the listed hostels in the city of Amsterdam. It is also worth noting that you can choose a hostel from their list buy price or rating to easily find the best choice for your stay. What’s more, the hostels with availability for duration of your stay will automatically appear at the top of the list once you have selected dates for your vacation in the city.

HostelWorld.com

HostelWorld.com basically offers online bookings at the best choices of Amsterdam hostels. For your perusal, HostelWorld.com encourages you to read the customer reviews of the Amsterdam hostels, or view the hostels on the given map of Amsterdam. From there, you can start availing special offers from them, like a free SMS confirmation.

BootsnAll.com

BootsnAll.com is also out there to give you a listing of the available hostels in the city of Amsterdam. Just like the other mentioned sites, BootsnAll.com also offers service for those who wish to book their stay in one of the listed Amsterdam hostels. There are actually about 146 hostels that are available in Amsterdam these days. So all you need to do is to find the best one.

Hostels.com

Finally, here is Hostels.com, which also brings you the best selection of Amsterdam hostels. Their page actually presents a listing of all hostels in the city regardless of availability. Thus, to find out about the pricing and availability of the properties, you need to use their search engine. The choice that corresponds to your needs will appear on the top list once you have made the search.

Cheap Amsterdam Hotels

Amsterdam, as you may know, is one of the top city break destinations of Europe. It has all the characteristics of a wonderful place: great buildings, fascinating museums, canals, and of course a wide choice of lodgings for a short vacation. Although a small city, Amsterdam prides itself for being one of the greatest “small” cities in the world.

If you have been thinking or planning for a short vacation to Amsterdam, note that there are a number of cheap Amsterdam hotels that could provide you with the best accommodation available. These cheap Amsterdam hotels could give you the adventure, fun and excitement you want most. Thus, knowing even just a few of them is worthy of consideration.

Below are the top-rated cheap hotels in the great city of Amsterdam.

Victoria Hotel Amsterdam

Founded in 1890, Victoria Hotel Amsterdam is a four-star luxury hotel located in the heart of the city, opposite Amsterdam Central Station and just a stroll away from Dam Square. This spot is highly well-known for its comfortable and stylish accommodation, as well as its “Active Club” that features complimentary swimming pool and sauna, fitness center, beauty parlor, and solarium. In terms of dining, this cheap Amsterdam hotel has the Tasman Bar and Seasons Garden Restaurant that offer menus ranging from international cuisine to a wide selection of complimentary drinks. There are also 10 fully equipped conference rooms, making the Victoria Hotel Amsterdam the ultimate destination where there is always something to suit everyone’s need on their visit to the city, whether on business or vacation.

Ibis Hotel Amsterdam

Ibis Hotel Amsterdam is a three-star hotel located very close to Amsterdam Central Station. This place offers comfortable accommodation in all 187 of its well appointed guest rooms. What is nice about this cheap Amsterdam hotel is that its hotel staff provides efficient, warmth and friendly service, making your stay a memorable and comfortable one. Ibis Hotel Amsterdam is also within walking distance from the well-acclaimed Amsterdam red light district, great museums, and flower market.

Hotel Arena Amsterdam

Situated in the eastern part of Central Amsterdam, the Hotel Arena Amsterdam is just minutes away from the Artis Zoo. It sits proudly behind the Oosterpark and housed in a stunning monumental building. Just like the other mentioned cheap Amsterdam hotels, Hotel Arena offers stylish and comfortable accommodation as well as fantastic entertainment all under one roof. There is the “To Dine” that offers fine dining in an intimate atmosphere and a great night out is guaranteed without leaving this cheap Amsterdam hotel.

Amsterdam Airport Hotel

Founded in the area of the Schiphol Airport, this cheap Amsterdam hotel offers luxury lodgings without a heavy price tag. It is connected to the Schiphol Airport, making this hotel a Schiphol Airport Hotel. It is easily reached by a free quick regular shuttle bus and guests can reach the center of the city from this place within 30 minutes or even quicker by cab. Amsterdam Airport Hotel currently features 422 rooms that are elegantly furnished, spacious and offer comfortable nights sleep. And, for those trekkers who are not wanting to venture into the heart of Amsterdam for the evening, this cheap Amsterdam hotel has a bar and restaurant, making this hotel a perfect place to relax.

Cheap Flight to Amsterdam

Are you currently looking for a place online where you find a cheap flight to Amsterdam? If so, just don’t worry. There are actually a lot of portals out there on the web that could give you a cheap flight to Amsterdam. All you need to do now is to carefully choose the right portal for you as there are a lot of them. Try to consider their offers, including the reliability of their booking service. If possible, you should also try to note of the security of the chosen airline. So, if you are now ready to know the most well-known booking services online for a cheap flight to Amsterdam, then here they are:

Expedia.co.uk

Expedia.co.uk actually allows you to plan your perfect trip to Amsterdam and book a cheap flight to Amsterdam online. This site currently holds the latest and best flight deals on flights to Amsterdam, bargain airfares, airline tickets and flight deals with all the leading airlines. If in the end you decided to book your cheap flight to Amsterdam through the service of Expedia.co.uk, all you need to do is just to use the booking engine that they have given on their page or select from a choice of departing airports.

LastMinute.com

LastMinute.com is but another notable site where you can find a cheap flight to Amsterdam. As commonly noted, LastMinute.com always has a good flight deals for you whether a charter flight, first class seating or good old economy class. So, there is no reason for you not to book a flight to Amsterdam with their service. They in fact offer loads of discounted flights to the city. All you need to do is to simply employ their search box to book the cheapest flight available.

OnlineTravel.com

OnlineTravel.com generally allows you to compare discounted international airfares from more than 500 airlines. They currently feature their easy to use flight search engine that lets you choose your flight options, choose whatever flight you preferred from their clearly displayed list of available cheap flights to Amsterdam, or book a particular cheap flight to Amsterdam quickly and securely. Furthermore, OnlineTravel.com offers a Fare Finder that allows you to check and find the cheapest fares for your flight. Note that there are always flight bargains to be had on Amsterdam flights, so if you are interested, just look for their saver fare logo for special fares if you can be flexible on departure date. Several other services that you must check out are provided by OnlineTravel.com.

SkyScanner.net

At SkyScanner.net, the best deals on the cheap flight to Amsterdam can be found by way of using their search controls presented on their website. With this tool, you can select your departure airport and set Amsterdam as your destination. The exact month you wish or scheduled to travel is also needed. If all the necessary details are given, the service will find the airline tickets for your holiday, business trip or weekend break flights to the city of Amsterdam. And, if you wish to find more about the available flight deals, you are free to try their travel information pages.

The Amsterdam Coffee Shop

The term “coffeeshop” was first created by the Dutch habit of running words together, and since its application, it has become synonymous with a special kind of coffee shop. As you may have thought, the Amsterdam coffee shops do sell coffee and have one or more table to sit and drink it, but much to your surprise, the primary commodity in the Amsterdam coffee shops is cannabis, the botanical name for the plant from which marijuana comes. They are now licensed by the local council and subject to regulation; however, a strict minimum age of 18 is enforced.

How the Amsterdam Coffee Shops Work

In Amsterdam, the coffee shops are not allowed to advertise, thus you won’t see a big sign saying “Marijuana for Sale”. So, if you don’t see the dealer’s booth, simply go up to the bar and ask to see the menu. You will be presented with a list of the different grasses and hashes available at a range of prices.

In most of the Amsterdam coffee shops, the cannabis is sold by weight, but there are some that sold it by value. Where it is sold by weight, the prices for the cannabis are usually per gram. There are about 28 grams in an ounce, but there are still other Amsterdam coffee shops that actually sell quarters and eights if you want. On the other hand, where it is sold by value, the menu will present the quantity, in grams, that you’ll get of each variety for a fixed amount of 20 euros, for example.

The Usual Prices

Being a primary commodity in most Amsterdam coffee shops, the prices of cannabis generally vary according to the location and type of the Amsterdam coffee shop. The heart of the city, the Amsterdam coffee shops sell the cannabis with prices that tend to be a little higher especially in places that cater for tourists. That involves both the connoisseur’s shops and rip-off joints. It is also worth noting that the Amsterdam coffee shops are prohibited to promote or advertise their wares and most have removed their menus from their web sites.

The Question on Legality

As you may know, the legal situation of Amsterdam coffee shops selling cannabis is quite complicated. International treaties prohibit the Netherlands from legalizing cannabis, even if they wanted to. However, the possession of a small quantity is considered to be a misdemeanor rather than a criminal offence.

Many of the people in Amsterdam are used to a certain practice in which the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis is permitted. The people are allowed to purchase five grams at a time, though, so you could be asked to explain if you are carrying more than five grams. But, along with these regulations, the law prohibits the Amsterdam coffee shops from advertising, exporting outside of the Netherlands, using hard drugs, an excess of five grams, an excess of the maximum of 500 grams of stock, and sales to under 18 years of age. Incidentally, the 500 gram stock rule which as long been maintained by the Amsterdam coffee shops, is routinely broken by the busier shops. It is now used by the authorities as pretence for occasional random raids to keep an eye on them.

The History of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands has always been a well-known name in the world history. It is well-known throughout the world as the greatest planned city of the northern Europe, and is highly acclaimed for its rich heritage. It was considered as the center of world economy in the 17^th century, and now the city of Amsterdam, Netherlands is acclaimed for its tolerant character.

The Early Days

The greatest planned city of Amsterdam, Netherlands was first founded as a fishing village around the thirteenth century. It developed round a dam ion the Amstel river at the end of the 12^th century, and the name Amstelledamme occurs for the first time in October 27, 1275 when the toll concession of Floris V. Count of Holland happened. During the 14^th century throughout the 15^th, Amsterdam, Netherlands experienced a rapid development, which later on laid the foundation for the city’s Golden Age.

It was noted that only very few medieval buildings in the city survive today. The houses were then built of wood, a vulnerable type of construction material. The world famous Houten Huis is no exception to this rule. However, most of them were destroyed, but a surprisingly large number of Amsterdam dwellings still have timber frames.

The City’s Golden Age

The Golden Age of Amsterdam, Netherlands starts from the period 1585 and ends in 1672. This period was said to be the hey-day of the city’s commercial success. During this time, the Amsterdam, Netherlands was the staple market of the world and it is also during this period that the characteristic Amsterdam cityscape was developed. It is just worth noting that in 1613 and 1663, urban expansions are what set the city’s characteristic appearance. It is also during this time that a number of today’s historic buildings were built, like the town hall in the Dam Square, which is known as the Royal Palace at present.

The Age of Gold and Silver

1672 in Amsterdam, Netherlands was a year of disaster for the Dutch Republic as the French and English were attacking simultaneously during this time. The Golden Age of the city had come to end; however Amsterdam, Netherlands was still able to manage the consolidation of its prosperity during the period 1672 to 1795 despite of the predicament that the Republic found itself in.

At that time, the city remained as the major staple market and managed to retain its position as the financial center of Europe. Also, a large number of dwellings were built at this period, both simple and rich canal houses reflect the city’s prosperity.

Amsterdam’s Recession and Decline

In 1795 the government of the patrician oligarchies was overthrown from power and the old Republic ceased to exist. Soon, the French were to occupy the country. It was during the period 1795 to 1813 that Amsterdam, Netherlands has suffered badly from the economic recession, which is a state of affairs reflected by the stagnation of the demographic development. A number of houses were vacant at this time, and some even collapsed for lack of maintenance. However, some facades and interiors dating back to the Empire period of Amsterdam, Netherlands still survive up to these days.

1813 to 1940 in the history of Amsterdam, Netherlands marked the period of economic recovery and it was from 1870 onwards that the expansion began. A rapid population growth started to happen and from here an increasing wealth was accumulated. As many have noted, this development was primarily the result of the Industrial Revolution which triggered off a New Golden Age.