Things to do during a Toronto vacation

Toronto is among the world's top international tourist destinations touting many of Canada’s biggest and best attractions. Here is just a smattering few of the myriad things to do during a Toronto vacation.



Get the big picture
Canada National Tower delivers spectacular views with an amazing see-through Glass Floor, motion theater ride, and 360 degree award winning fine dining.

Play in the park
Escape from winter weather or stroll in the summer sun at Donald M. Gordon Chinguacousy Park. Includes a curling rink, volleyball courts, tennis courts, paddle boats, botanical garden and see the animals at the petting zoo, pony ride, mini golf, skateboard, or splash in the children’s pool.

Go bird watching
Interact face to face at the world's largest indoor aviary. Bird Kingdom brings you up close and personal free-flying birds.

Photograph a landmark
Unique architectural monument made with 24,000 pieces of marble and stone without structural steel, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir & Heritage Museum combines 10,000 year old art, architecture and the heritage of India.

Treat yourself at the spa
Inspired by old world European quartz baths, Quartz Crystal Spa located in Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto, has signature quartz healing mineral treatments.

Slip back to the past
Restored to its 1820s elegance, Campbell House Museum, the oldest surviving building from the Town of York and a memorable example of Georgian architecture open as a museum and art gallery.

Get scared
Reptilium, Canada’s largest reptile zoo, boasts some of the world’s largest and deadliest reptiles including Canada’s largest Nile Crocodile at over 14 ft and 1200 lbs.

Taste test
Visit Magnotta, for more than 180 world class VQA and International Series award winning wines, spirits, beer, wine accessories and gourmet food items to taste. Don’t miss Greektown on the Danforth, which boasts one of the highest number of restaurants per kilometer in the world.

For more help with planning your Toronto trip, take a look at Flightandroom's airfares to Toronto.

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Recommended business hotels in Sofia

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in central Sofia

Though Bulgaria’s capital city Sofia isn’t hot news on the tourism front, the past decade has seen a rise in business visiting the city. Where there’s demand, supply will quickly follow. Sofia answered the call for business class accommodation with a wave of hotels which fit the bill. There’s a cluster of five star hotels in Sofia including a Hilton, a Sheraton, and a Kempinski. For business travelers on a tighter budget Sofia has plenty of four stars which are well located for business travelers.

As central Sofia is only a 15 minute drive away from the airport there aren’t any hotels in the direct vicinity of the airport. Here’s a run-down of the top hotels in Sofia for business travelers by website SofiaRooms.com.

The Hilton Sofia – Like all Hilton hotels the Sofia branch is opulent and highly regarded by business travelers. It is located centrally close to Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.

The five star Hilton Sofia

Sheraton Sofia – This luxury hotel enjoys a perfect location for business travelers in Sofia. It is very central with easy access to all major bank headquarters, government buildings, and many cultural and tourist sights.

Anel Hotel – With an unassuming facade and only 50 rooms the Anel is Sofia’s answer to the business traveler’s boutique hotel. Again it enjoys a central location, near the Opalchenska metro station.

Crystal Palace – Another boutique hotel which is located in more bohemian and lively area. Crystal Palace is close to the Sofia University and the National Library.

Metropolitan Hotel – The newly built four star hotel is ideal for business travelers, located close to the main roads leading to the city center and Business Park Mladost. It is just 4 km away from Sofia Airport.

Best Western Expo Hotel – Conveniently located just next to Sofia's biggest convention center - the Inter Expo & Congress Center (IEC). There's a subway station in front of the hotel leading to the city center.

Maxi Park Hotel – There’s no rest for the wicked but even business travelers need to relax sometimes. Sofia’s Maxi Park Hotel and Spa enjoys a tranquil position at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. It also has on site spa and sports facilities.

Virgin Atlantic adds JFK-Heathrow flight

Virgin Atlantic will increase frequency of flights to London adding fourth daily service between Heathrow and JFK starting October 28. The route will be serviced by an Airbus and operating with flight numbers VS025 and VS026. It will depart daily from New York JFK Terminal 4 at 8am arriving to London at 8pm local time.
 
The return flight will leave London Heathrow Terminal 3 at 7pm and arriving back to New York at shortly after 10pm local time.

Check for airfares from JFK to London here.

Things To Do During A Philadelphia Vacation

Philadelphia is known for its arts and culture, early American history and heavily influenced by the immigrant population so has a variety of things to do. The following ideas give you a few suggestions for activities to include on a Philadelphia holiday package.



Ring up Liberty
See the original icon of freedom, the Liberty Bell at Independence National Historical Park. Only steps away, walk into history where some of the most important decisions in US history were made.

Enter the human heart
Climb through this indispensable organ like a human corpuscle, 15,000 times actual size, while learning what makes the human body tick. This hands-on museum one of Pennsylvania’s most visited.

Live a movie moment
If the Philadelphia Museum of Art looks familiar, run up its 72 steps to the museum’s upper terrace like Rocky, or maybe you saw it in the “Eye of the Tiger.” One of the largest museums in the United States, it includes famous artwork of Van Gogh and Monet.

Hunt for treasure
One of Pennsylvania’s most renowned museums, the University Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, houses a huge collection of artifacts including numerous items from the ancient civilizations of the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Mesoamerica. Its pieces of Sumerian script are some of the oldest writing ever found.

Stroll through gardens galore
Explore more than 1,000 acres of manicured gardens indoors and outdoors, fountains, gazebos and historic houses at Longwood Gardens. Make your way to Chimes Tower, marvel at the 5-acre water feature, or gaze at spectacular illuminated nighttime shows.

Become a mad scientist
Mutter Museum started in 1858 is a whacky collection of medical and surgical curiosities with a collection of thousands of bizarre medical items such as a collection of the strangest things swallowed and retrieved and dissected sections of a human cranium.

Revisit American history
Independence - Carpenter's Hall served as the meeting place of Congress from 1790 to 1800. This important place was the backdrop to many significant moments in the nation’s history such as the second inauguration of President Washington, the establishment of the US Navy, and the Federal Mint.

Making money
For a history of the greenback and all the details on how money is actually produced, including eye witnessing the coins in production, head to the US Mint. Entering the building requires a photo ID.

For more help with planning your Philadelphia trip, take a look at these cheap flights to PHL.

Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. turns 100

Things to do during a San Francisco vacation

One of the top 100 tourist destinations in the world, San Francisco is known for steep hills, its famous landmarks, like the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and Chinatown has California classic things to do. The following ideas give you a few suggestions for activities to include on a San Francisco holiday package.



See the incredible view
If there’s one classic San Francisco view across the Bay from Pacific Heights and the northern waterfront toward the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, it’s not to be missed.

Tour the city by cable car
A just few dollars in San Francisco, buy a retro-style tour of the city's hills, and colorful neighborhoods. Catch a cable car climbing up the steep Nob Hill, visit Union Square, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf and the other landmark districts.

Take in Golden Gate Park
About three miles long and half a mile wide, Golden Gate Park is one of the largest man-made parks in the world with gardens views, skating, jogging, walking or biking. Explore the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, and Hippie Hill to feel the love.

Escape to Alcatraz
One of the world's most infamous prisons, no longer in use except in Hollywood films, such as 'Birdman from Alcatraz' in 1962 and 'Escape from Alcatraz' in 1979. Alcatraz is still a popular attraction, enticing over a million visitors a year.

Live a movie moment
Drive down the street on which Steve McQueen has a high-speed car chase in the 1968 film 'Bullitt.' The world's most crooked street, Lombard Street winds steeply down Hyde Street to Leavenworth passing beautifully landscaped Victorian mansions.

Feast on organic cuisine
Demand for seasonal food and sustainable agriculture has created an array of Organic culinary delights in San Fran’s restaurants including all-organic cocktails.

Cheer for the team
The two Bay Area teams are the Giants, with a convenient Downtown stadium, and the Oakland Athletics.

Culture too
Home to America's longest running professional ballet company, the San Francisco Ballet, founded in 1933, mixes traditional works and new choreography.

For more help with planning your San Francisco vacation, check out these San Francisco flights and accommodation deals.

Which is the world’s most expensive cruise vacation?

You’d think $12,500 would cover your entire long-dream luxury cruise vacation plus extras, right? Well, that’s the price tag just for a single day on a new extravagant world cruise that has been put together by UK cruise specialist Six Star Cruises.

The 124-day holiday package costs £1 million per couple (just over $1.5 million) and includes many extras such as a helicopter transfer from your home, private jet charter from London to the US, and a four-night pre-cruise stay at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The 115-day sailing onboard Silversea Cruises' ship Silver Whisper departs from Los Angeles and includes visits to 28 exotic destinations, including French Polynesia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Barbados. The cruise begins on January 4, 2013 with a pre-cruise gala at the Peninsula Hotel, with embarkation the following day.

Once on board, the couple will stay in Silver Whisper's Royal Suite, featuring two bedrooms, two marbled bathrooms, separate dining area and two balconies.

Royal Suite Bedroom on the Silver Whisper cruise ship

However, if the $1.5 million price tag is over your budget, you can still take the 115-day voyage aboard Silver Whisper without all the posh extras for about $50,000 per person (cruise only, based on double occupancy).

Check out more Transatlantic cruise prices at cruisesarecheap.com

Things to do during a Fort Lauderdale vacation

Known for pristine beaches and mysterious Everglades’s wildlife, Fort Lauderdale offers kid-friendly attractions, sightseeing cruises, water sports, science, history and more. The following ideas give you a few suggestions for activities to include on a Fort Lauderdale holiday package.

Relax on the beach
Fort Lauderdale's beaches offer crystal-clear water, beautiful white sand and great weather any time of the year, so head to the beach.



Adventure in science
The whole family will love Fort Lauderdale's Museum of Discovery and Science with over 200 exhibits including the largest living coral reef in captivity, bats, snakes, and the Runways to Rockets aerospace exhibit.

Chase butterflies
Butterfly World offers an up-close look at over a million butterflies. Butterfly World also features the largest free-flight hummingbird aviary in the United States.



Take a cruise
The Jungle Queen dinner cruise that is departing daily at 6pm for a famous "All You Can Eat" dinner of ribs, chicken, shrimp with all the trimmings followed by an entertaining variety show.

Visit the unconquered Seminole Indians
Seminole Okalee Indian Village, home to original Florida natives, offers an alligator wrestling show and wild life presentation, handmade jewelry, clothing, woodwork, baskets, dolls and a window into how they live.

See the Everglades
Visit the Florida Everglades and witness nature's wonders all around while gliding over a river of grass in an airboat. Explore the ecology of unspoiled Florida at Everglades Holiday Park.



Duck tour
Amphibious narrated duck tours lasting one and a half hours on land and sea. Included in the tour are the Fort Lauderdale strip, quaint Las Olas Boulevard, historical districts, the mansions and yachts of Millionaire's Row.

Family recreation
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park has it all; a nature trail, shaded picnic areas, beach access, In-line skating, volleyball, canoes, fishing, Segway tours and bicycle rentals too.

Go fish
Try deep sea fishing aboard the “Flamingo,” it is budget-friendly fun and even has a family package.

For more help with planning your Fort Lauderdale trip, take a look at these flights to FLL International airport and Fort Lauderdale hotel deals.