Traveling Through South Africa
September 4, 2009 by Graham McKenzie
Filed under Flights
A vibrant and diverse land, South Africa is home to dreamy beaches, exciting wild grasslands, awe-inspiring deserts, and even some rather impressive vineyards. The tragedy of Europe’s invasion and exploitation of the land has evolved since the fall of apartheid into a rich melting pot of both European and African culture. On a simple drive you may find yourself torn between the contrasting sights of white and black architecture and culture, from Paris to Delhi and back again. For those who are unaware, Indians are a significant portion of the communities of South Africa that have a great impact.
There is never a bad time to visit South Africa. The climate is warm and pleasant all year, though travelers form the Northern Hemisphere should remember that the seasons will fall in “opposite” order, as South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere: Christmas is in the summer, and July is the “depths of winter.”
In South Africa, June to September is the best time for safaris and wildlife observation. Because of dry season or dryness, animals come out near to the watering places. It is the best time to watch and observe them. Krger national park and in the protected game areas of KwaZulu Natal, are the noted parks of South Africa. Temp is around 25deg C. during day. As compare to the day, nights are cool. South African summer is warm on the east coast. Its Indian Ocean plays very important role in maintaining pleasant role for whole year. Some times summer is very bad and tough. Temperature goes up and very difficult to live. This could make bearable by extreme dryness. The autumn has usually pleasant temperatures. Some time its rains in autumn. Occasionally Cape Town goes thru unpleasant southeast winds. This usually abates from March to April.
The perfect time for celebrations would be during the spring because of the mild temperatures. It’s green everywhere with various beautiful flowers on the trees. Normally visitors visits during August and September and enjoy Nature’s Gift of beauty, flowers. Christmas is a good season to visit South Africa as well.
Following care is a must while traveling in Johannesburg and in the capital Pretoria: 1) Preferable travel in group. 2) Don’t carry much cash while site seeing. Keep cash in your room only. 3) Get full information in detail about tour / program and follow strictly. 4) Never drive with unlocked windows and doors. 5) It is advisable to go for rent a car. 6) If feels danger of attack, drive off immediately.
While special inoculations aren’t necessary, if you’re visiting during the rainier season, you should acquire a malaria shot. Don’t underestimate the mosquitoes; pack long-sleeved shirts and mosquito nets. The hospitals are quite competent and the pharmacies have a wide variety of medicines, but you must pay for these things locally, so you’ll want to get health insurance before you travel.
Customs Allowances: Each person may bring a liter of liquor, two liters of wine, 2 packs of cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco as well as 50ml of perfume. The unit of currency is the South African Rand. As exchange rates vary, you will need to check the rate when you are booking hotels or making travel arrangements. The major, international credit cards are accepted in all states. With your own credit card and pin number you can get cash at many cash machines problem-free. The FIFA Football World Cup takes place in South Africa in 2010.
Graham McKenzie is the webmaster for a leading South African Flight comparison & Booking portal, to book a flight, simply visit our website at: http://www.saflights.co.za
Travel Tips For Germany
July 24, 2009 by Graham McKenzie
Filed under Flights
Planning a trip to Germany will mean that a valid passport is required for non European union members and a valid visa will be required for U.S. citizens if they are staying for longer than 90 days due to business.
Germany of course has a main language of German but you can expect to find many people speaking English along the way. You should consider learning German so that you can ask directions or order off the menu, this will be very necessary in towns or cities that are not used to tourist.
It is recommended that you travel light when visiting Germany or any part of Europe. If your luggage will not fit in the carry on compartment of the plane then chances are it will not fit in the space provided on the trains. You also have to keep in mind that you may be in a hotel with no elevator and carrying three heavy bags up four flights of stairs can be exhausting.
The beautiful countryside of Germany is a delight to see but on a short trip you will be unable to take it all in. You should make a list of the more important places you would like to see and what you would like to do while there to make your trip go smoother and not to exhaust yourself. Central Germany will be more for the athletic ones who would like to ski or hike on their trip and for the more historic interests southern Germany will offer some gorgeous castle tours.
It is best to choose one area to stay in. You can spend a tremendous amount of time running from place to place and checking into hotels if you try to see too much at once. Keep your vacation specific to one area for the most enjoyable trip.
Being in one city for the duration of your trip means you will become familiar with the locals and the old charming town you have chosen will feel like home by the time you are ready to leave and you will be looking forward to your next visit.
If booking your trip through a travel agent you can join some of the tour groups. This is a great way to travel Germany for someone who has never been and may be unable to determine what the hot spots are in the area they are visiting. Someone travelling alone might feel more comfortable in a group tour as well.
Your visit to the local restaurants might surprise you when you get charged for a glass of water and you might also be surprised that you will be seating yourself. When you walk in to the bar or the restaurant you simply choose your favorite spot and have a seat. Wait staff are paid more in Germany than in the states so tipping is much less, for great service you could shell out one or two EUR and it would be considered a good tip.
Supermarkets will be challenging for U.S.citizens who are used to having everything done for them. The carts require a deposit which you will only get back after you return them to their rightful place and bags are to be purchased by the customer and they will be required to bag their own goods. This is a way of reducing staff and will save you money on your overall bill.
Your cell phone will come in handy while in Germany if you are planning on making any calls. Public phones are hard to find unless you are lucky enough to run into an internet caf
Travel Tips for Czech Republic
July 10, 2009 by Graham McKenzie
Filed under Flights
Bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia, the Czech Republic is a small country located in Central Europe. In 1989, the Velvet Revolution facilitated a non-violent overthrow of Communism, and since that historic time, the Czech Republic has grown into a well-developed, democratic country.
The Czech Republic’s tourism dates from the time of the Velvet Revolution, and now offers visitors wonderful diversity and delights. Well-known for its talented musicians and concerts, there are also a variety of festivals to choose from in this country. In addition, fairytale castles, historic churches, public parks, chic spas, and medieval towns are waiting to be explored. The Czech Republic is also the birthplace of the world’s finest beer.
The Czech Republic has two provinces. In the west is Bohemia, and in the east you will find Moravia. With excellent travel accommodations, any location is assessable by train, bus, car, air, or even bicycle.
Moravia’s capital is Brno, and dates from the 13th century. Attractions here include the Capuchin Church, complete with mummies, the Gothic ?pilberk Castle, and the Moravia Museum. There is also an Augustinian Monastery where the Father of Genetics, Gregor Mendel, was Abbot. Oddly enough, in Moravia wine is more popular than beer. Enjoy the rolling ranges, wooded hills, and beautiful vineyards.
Bohemia is located in the western part of the Czech Republic, and here visitors find spa towns and ski resorts. The beautiful ?umava Mountains offer excellent hiking opportunities, as well as a variety of other sports, and tourists delight in medieval towns such as ?esk? Krumlov. Southern Bohemia is famed for its caves as well as many excellent recreational facilities, not to mention dazzling lakes and spectacular woods.
Cesk? Budejovice , or Budweis to the English, is home to one of Europe’s largest town squares. Although it established its wealth on silver mines, the local beer is this town’s main attraction. Founded in 1895, the Pivovar Budejovick? Budvar, or Budweiser Budvar Brewery, sells its beer under the Budweiser name throughout much of Europe. To secure global rights to the Budweiser name, America’s Anheuser-Busch offered to buy out the Czech brewing company, to no avail. For the Czech people, retaining this rich heritage is still a matter of national pride.
A trip to the Czech Republic would be incomplete without first visiting Prague, the country’s capital. Set in the middle of Bohemia, Prague is famous for its many museums and galleries, as well as concerts and imposing castles. Slowly regaining its caf? culture since the fall of Communism, Prague is once again considered the Paris of the East.
Heading south from Prague you will find the second-largest city in Bohemia, Plzen. Sporting an eclectic mixture of Gothic to Art Nouveau architecture, Plzen also offers visitors numerous museums and galleries. However, the Plzensk? Prazdroj brewery is the big draw. Here, beer has been brewed since the town’s foundation, in 1295, and in fact, Plzen takes its name from its world-famous Pilsner beer.
Overview Of Flights to Johannesburg
June 6, 2009 by Graham McKenzie
Filed under Flights
The largest airport in South Africa is Johannesburg OR Tambo International, the air transport hub for the country. If you are flying to Johannesburg, then Jhb OR Tambo is the chief airport except you made flight booking to Lanseria airport.
JHB International, now known as OR Tambo, presently carries approximately 20 million passengers annually and accounts for roughly half the air-traffic that comes and goes out of South Africa.
It?s tough to even think that the lively Johannesburg of today was once a shanty tiny town packed with miners dreaming of diamond. Johannesburg is not only the biggest and the busiest trade centre of South Africa; it is also an excellent tourist destination.
To get a glimpse of Johannesburg?s past, visit Gold Reef City. It also offers a trip to a mineshaft and some present day entertainment. For a quicker look at the tradition of the area, visit the Lesedi Cultural Village, which is a mixed group, comprising of Xhosa, Basotho, Zulu, and Pedi folks. You may find this experience highly pleasing and enlightening, as you see the dances and get information their culture and history.
Some tourists head for places like Soweto and Nelson Mandela?s previous home, the Regina Mundi Church, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum. Take a break and enjoy a refreshing drink at a ?shebeen?. The most popular one is the Wandie?s Place.
The animals are housed in the Johannesburg Zoo without any bars. It has also gone far in reproducing the natural habitat for the animals. This is a good option if you can?t visit a natural reserve. Whilst you are in neighbourhood, you can rent out a dinghy and splurge some time lazing at the Zoo Lake to try bird watching, and if you feel hungry by the day end, stop at the Moyo?s, to enjoy the mouth-watering African cuisine followed by the finest African music of the city.
Another very interesting sight is just an hour?s drive away from Johannesburg, it is called The Cradle of Humankind, which is a World Heritage site. The Sterkfontein Caves can be found here. In this place, Mrs. Ples, a skull, 3 million year old was first found in 1947.
Johannesburg is a haven for the shoppers. It offers exciting shopping experiences. There are stylish malls like Sandton City, Hyde Park, and Nelson Mandela Square; and on the other hand a wide variety of lively African flea markets. Most travellers just can?t go without purchasing some striking arts and crafts, available for sale at the markets. Some of such articles are traditional carvings, local wire-work, bead work, and fertility dolls.
Some of the treat in the city include food and wine. With food influenced by the mized cultures of this place, you can exactly test just anything, such as Italian, Malaysian, Indian, Mexican, Moroccan, French, Creole, and African. So check that you have ample of time to explore all the Johannesburg has to offer.
Information on UK Flights to Europe
May 24, 2009 by Graham McKenzie
Filed under Flights
Flying to different locations all the way through Europe has been trendy with UK travellers for so extensive because of the propinquity Great Britain has to its neighbours. In today?s circumstance when people are worried about the staggering economy and credit crunch, it?s obvious that holidays in Europe come across are the cheaper option than going far. The diverse locations serve as beach vacations, as cultural holidays or romantic breaks of time. You are free to explore Europe to your heart?s content.
Going to Europe from the UK is easy and economical. There are lots of choices depending upon which place of UK you are in. First you will have to select your destination, as prices are cheap and options are many. Many people prefer going to a new place. If you do online booking, this becomes easier as you enter your travel day and total number of people travelling along with the airport you want to fly from, and then you can choice from the locations available.
Alternatively if you favour to go to a selected European place, then also this is very easy. There are many cheap airlines like BMI Baby, and Easyjet, which particularly fly to European short trips, and are thus affordable for everyone. Some of the better-quality airlines such as British Airways, offer flights to Europe, but they are costly. Contrasting to long distance flights, opting for a extravagant airline may be pointless; the trip is so small that opulence and comfort isn?t required.
Much sought after tourist destinations in Europe include countries like Italy, France, Spain, and Germany. These countries house plenty of airports and you will get one closest to the city, which you want fly to. France has Paris, and several other northern and southern territories. Spain has major cities like Madrid, and also the popular Holiday Islands, boasting sand and sun. Many UK flights will travel to these destinations because they are so well-liked.
Don?t forget about other beauty spots like Bruges in Belgium, Prague in the Czech Republic. Well known for having stunning architecture, there are regular flights to these locations not to mention an abundance of accommodation throughout the year. Prague has one main airport that is modern and accepts flights from British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2 and BMI Baby to name a few meaning there are plenty of cheap flights to this location.
There is also Scandinavia, a beautiful part of Europe filled with history and lots of quirky cultural traits; this includes Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. You need to search a little harder for flights to these locations but they are by no means impossible; Easyjet and Finnair both fly to Denmark, as does British Airways. I you specifically want to visit one of these locations go directly to the airlines website and search for the location so you know whether or not you are wasting your time.
Travelling to European destinations is in rage because it is easy, fast, and lucrative. With a British passport, the citizens of UK can any part of Europe without any visa issues. For good bargains, look for last minute and cheap airlines. Do not overlook to see the precise last minute packages on websites such as the lastminute.com, as they help you locate a cheap deal for flights and hotels, saving you botheration and time, when you are in hurry. With so much of options available?exploring Europe is a must!
United Kingdom to Stuttgart
March 27, 2009 by Tom Martens
Filed under Flights
Travelers to Stuttgart will find dozens of convenient flights from London, Birmingham and Manchester, each UK location offering dozens of budget ticket opportunities for direct and connecting flights. Travelers from the UK to Stuttgart also may fly into Frankfurt International Airport and then take a convenient two-hour train from Frankfurt to Stuttgart. In 2007, almost four million tourists from around the world chose Stuttgart.
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-W?rttemberg in southern Germany. It is the sixth largest city in Germany with a population of almost 600,000. The city is also located near two of Germany?s most popular tourist attractions, Black Forest and Lake Constance. Stuttgart is subdivided into a total of 23 city districts, which includes five inner city districts and 18 outer districts.
Stuttgart, like most cities in Germany, has a continental climate. Winters extend from early December into March. The coldest month is January. There are always winter snows. The summers are warm or even hot, especially in the months of July and August. Summer warmth lasts from May until September. The milder spring and autumn seasons are more pleasant for visiting the city.
Stuttgart is known around the world as the headquarters of both Mercedes Benz and Porsche. The automotive industry contributes heavily to the local economy. The Mercedes-Benz Museum is Stuttgart’s most heavily visited museum, with nearly half a million visitors each year. The Porsche Museum reopened in 2008, displaying the very first prototypes of the Volkswagen Beetle based on a design by. Ferdinand Porsche.
IBM and Hewlett Packard have European headquarters in the Stuttgart, contributing to its role as a technology center.
During the Cold War, Stuttgart became home to the joint command centre of all United States military forces in Europe, Africa and the Atlantic, also known as EUCOM, which is still headquartered in Stuttgart today.
Like almost all other German cities, Stuttgart suffered heavy bombing damage during the World War II, but almost all its structures were rebuilt, particularly the historic buildings. Stuttgart also is home to a large number of museums and palaces. The city maintains an expanse of green space, known as Green U. providing recreational opportunities for cyclists and hikers. Astronomy fans can find the Stuttgart planetarium in Green U.
Stuttgart promotes its cultural heritage, especially the State Gallery and the State Theater. The State Theater is home to the state opera and also three smaller theatres. Productions include operas, plays, ballet, and concerts. Stuttgart beer and wine are world famous. The annual Volksfest has beer tents like Munich, but also a French village. The Volksfest is second only to the Oktoberfest in attendance. There is a spring “Volksfest” each April, usually after Easter. Other seasonal attractions include the Christmas Market, the Fish Market, the Wine Village, the Summer Festival, and the Lantern Festival.
Stuttgart’s Swabian cuisine, beer and wine are world famous. The annual Volksfest hosts beer tents and a French village and is second in size only to the Oktoberfest in Munich. There is also a spring version of Volksfest hosted each April. Other popular attractions are the annual Christmas Market, the Lantern Festival, the Summer Festival, the Fish Market and the Wine Village.
Stuttgart is not the most famous city in Germany, but a trip to Stuttgart does not disappoint. Stuttgart offer art, architecture, cycling, festivals, and outdoor events. Consider a stay in Stuttgart on your next trip to Germany.
UK to Cologne
March 10, 2009 by Tom Martens
Filed under Flights
Are you considering a visit Cologne? UK travelers will have the most luck booking flights from London’s Heathrow Airport, which offers frequent direct and connecting flights to Cologne Bonn International Airport. This historic city on the northern reaches of the Rhine also offers an efficient public transit system, including light rail, making traveling around the city very easy inexpensive for UK visitors. Bicycle enthusiasts will find plenty of bicycle paths and trails taking them almost anywhere in the city.
Cologne is the largest city in the German industrial heartland of North Rhine-Westphalia and is the fourth largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. It is also one of the oldest cities in Germany. Cologne was bombed hundreds of times during World War II, which destroyed the city?s center and drastically reduced its population. Cologne was the site of “Operation Millennium”, the first 1,000 bomber raid by the Royal Air Force. Heavy bombers attacked Cologne with 1,455 tons of explosive. This raid lasted about 75 minutes, destroyed 600 acres, killed 486 civilians and left 59,000 residents homeless. Cologne was such a heavy target by the Allies because Allied forces believed that destroying Cologne would severely damage German morale and force them to surrender. Cologne eventually rebuilt and repopulated and is now thriving.
Cologne has many landmarks, among them the Cologne Cathedral, Cologne University the Farina House (birthplace of eau de cologne fragrance), and the Roman-Germanic Museum. The city was mostly rebuilt in the 1950s, and its architecture and style greatly reflect that time period.
The art scene of Cologne is legendary. It is home to more than 30 museum as well as hundreds of galleries. Cologne attracts thousands of dealers each year to trade exhibitions such the Cologne Fine Art Fair and Art Cologne. The Ludwig Museum specializes in pop art, including works by Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol. The museum has one of the world’s largest collections of works by Pablo Picasso. Cologne is also famous for its celebration of the annual reggae Summerjam, the Cologne Carnival, and the gay and lesbian pride festival Christopher Street Day.
There are several television and radio stations based in Cologne. Visitors should also take a go at the Cologne Comedy Festival, usually reckoned to be the largest comedy festival in Europe. And don’t forget the Cologne Carnival, which traditionally begins at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November. Carnival is temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas, and then resumes on New Year’s and ends on Ash Wednesday.
As you will find in any city in Germany, beer is very popular in Cologne. The local brew is known as Kolsch. Tourists and natives alike take their beer with traditional German fare like sausage, cheese, strudel, and kraut. But UK tourists report that beer seems to be more popular than food in Cologne.
The fourth largest city in German has much to offer visitors, including unique culture, architecture, nature, festivals and local delicacies. The frequent availability of flights, extensive public transportation and plenty of cycling paths make it easy to visit Cologne.
UK to Nice
March 5, 2009 by Tom Martens
Filed under Flights
It is easy flights from the UK to warm and glamorous Nice in the south of France, including convenient and competitively priced flights from London, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester. Disembarking visitors arriving at Nice’s C’te d’Azur International Airport arrive at one of two terminals. The numerous, convenient options for flying from the UK to Nice make it a great destination to take a holiday.
Nice is a leading resort on the French Riviera, halfway between Monaco and Cannes. Because of its proximity to Monaco, the Nice airport also serves as the airport for the city-state. Nice is France’s fifth largest city and among its most popular tourist destinations. With a population of approximately 348,000 people, Nice has a large influx of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese immigrants.
Blue skies and turquoise waters flanked by exquisite sandy beaches make Nice a premier travel destination. The entire area gets very crowded every May during the Cannes Film Festival. And besides the film festival at Cannes, Nice offers its Carnaval de Nice and a Jazz Festival as well. Throughout the year, Nice is famed for its nightlife.
Even lovers of peace and quiet flock to Nice for its delightful climate. Rain and especially snow are rare along the Riviera. The summers are dry and hot, the spring is windy, and autumn and winter are mild. Its beautiful weather is one of the most important reasons Nice is so popular with tourists.
A must sightseeing spot in Nice is the Promenade of the English. The promenade is built directly on the beach. The Promenade of the English offers unique shops, fine restaurants, and excellent hotels. Just a short walk from the promenade is the Place Massena, Nice’s city square. The Place Massena has a wonderful Mediterranean feel with its Italian architecture and red tiled roofs.
Many of Nice’s annual calendars of public celebrations take place at the Place Massena. These include the national holiday Bastille Day on July 14. Other attractive public squares tourists should see in Nice include the Place Garibaldi, the Place Rosetti, the governmental center at the Place du Palais, and the Cours Saleya. The Cours Saleya affords a bustling flower market, and the courts of law are to be found in the Place du Palais, also a popular area for nighttime entertainment for tourists and locals alike. The Place Rossetti is also popular for its nightlife.
In addition to its attractive street life, Nice offers wonderful shopping, fine dining, and several art museums. Gourmets will appreciate the ratatouille and bouillabaisse. Local ingredients, as in most of France, play a prominent role in the cuisine of the city.
Travelers have no trouble finding dining options for their tastes and budgets, ranging from quaint, home-cooked meals to the finest formal dining. Whichever level you choose, you will not be disappointed. And if cuisine Nicoise is not to your liking, there are options for foreign cuisine for you as well.
Whether it’s glamour, beaches, shopping, watching for celebrities, nightlife, culture, or great food, Nice has something to offer every traveler.
American Airlines: From Texas to the World
March 3, 2009 by Tom Martens
Filed under Flights
American Airlines is the world?s largest passenger airline with headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, which is also its main hub. American Airlines serves hundreds of destinations and operates flights in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, Japan, China and India.
American Airlines was founded in 1930 and is the first airline to offer electronic ticketing. American Airlines is also the first airline to offer a frequent flyer program. Its AAdvantage rewards program remains the largest frequent flyer program with more than 50 million members.
Flying almost 700 planes to over 250 cities, American Airlines is especially popular on routes within the USA and between the United States and Latin America, carrying over a million passengers a year between the two markets. In fact, no other carrier serves more passengers between Latin American and the USA than American. But American Airlines is also strong in many other international markets.
There are four American hubs throughout the world: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami. The airline also has a strong presence in all the New York airports, in Los Angeles, and Boston. The company’s maintenance facilities, employing thousands of workers are located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kansas City, and Fort Worth.
American Airlines is also the parent company of a regional carrier called American Eagle Airlines. American Eagle Airlines offers regional service in the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico. Like American Airlines, American Eagle is also headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
American Airlines is a founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance, the third largest airline alliance in the world. An airline alliance is an agreement between at least two airlines to work together, with member airlines offering integrated services in order to make airline travel more convenient for passengers. Alliances usually work around shared passenger terminals and frequent flyer programs. Oneworld celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2009.
Part of the reason American Airlines serves so many destinations around the world, but especially in the USA, was its acquisition of Trans World Airlines (TWA) and the TWA hub in St. Louis in 2001. Unfortunately, the acquisition of TWA caused American to bleed cash, and these financial problems were compounded when two American Airlines planes were hijacked and crashed on 9/11. After the September attacks, American Airlines was forced to relinquish its St. Louis hub and to lay off a small number, that is, a few dozen, former TWA employees. American Airlines continues to struggle to minimize its losses, and in 2008 was the first airline to charge fees for checked baggage. Despite the nearly universal unpopularity of the move with passengers, just as they adopted other American Airlines innovations, other carriers also announced their own baggage fees.
Most of American’s jets are McDonnell Douglas MD-82 or MD-88 series twinjets. The carrier announced recently that it will order the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its fleet.
In 2008 American became the first carrier to offer in-flight Internet service on all its planes. This innovation came only a year after the airline began offering Wi-Fi on its flights within the United States.
UK to Berlin
March 3, 2009 by Tom Martens
Filed under Flights
UK travelers to Berlin, the historic and modern capital of Germany, will be not be let down. The enduring popularity of Berlin as a vacation destination means there are convenient flights for every budget from all of the UK’s major airports, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Three airports serve Berlin: Tempelhof, Schonefeld, and Tegel, the latter being the busiest airport in the city. Berlin also serves a hub for rail travel across the continent.
With a population of about 3.4 million, Berlin is both the largest city in Germany and one of the largest cities in Europe. Winters are cold, spring and fall can be chilly, but summers are warm. Rainfall is moderate, and there is usually light snow between December and March.
World War II and the Battle of Berlin largely destroyed the city, and in the aftermath of the war, Berlin was divided between east and west. Since reunification in 1990, however, there has been a building boom, with no plans to scale back soon. The capital city of Germany boasts world class museums, parks, shopping, and museums. It also is home to booming nightlife, diverse architecture, a popularity modern art scene, and dozens of festivals.
The Berlin Film Festival, for instance, is among the most famous, as well as one of the largest, film festivals in the world. Berlin is headquarters for over one thousand TV and film production companies. Hundreds of films and television programs are produced in Berlin each year. The late actress Marlene Dietrich was a native of Berlin.
Berlin is also a world center for media, culture, science, and politics, its economy grounded by the service sector. It is headquarters for many media corporations, creative industries, environmental services, and convention venues. Other large concerns in the Berlin economy include traffic engineering, auto and truck manufacturing, biotechnology, and information technology. The history of Berlin as a science center stretches back to the nineteenth century. Berliner Robert Koch discovered the microorganisms that cause anthrax, cholera, and tuberculosis, and Berliner Rudolf Virchow founded the science of cellular pathology.
For lovers of the outdoors, Germany’s capital offers abundant green space, two major zoological gardens, and dozens of parks. The home of the Botanic Museum Berlin, the Botanischer Garten, boasts one of the most diverse and largest gardens in the world. Berlin is also known world-wide for its bicycle trail system. Cyclists accounted for one in eight trips in the bicycle-friendly capital of Germany in 2007.
With dozens of hotels and accommodations at all price points, Berlin is an affordable city for visitors. Plan a trip to Germany?s capital and you won?t be disappointed. It is easy to see why Berlin is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Europe. Full of history, culture and charm, there is much to see and do in Berlin.






