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Spain Travel Deals – Why Choose a Smaller Hotel

April 6, 2012 by

Article by Dan McClellan

If you’re planning to visit Spain, among the first things you are likely to search for are Spain travel deals for hotel accommodation. One of the biggest hindrances for holiday planners is often the fact that the high price associated with a hotel stay can be a big limiting factor when deciding where to go. Many travelers from outside of Europe find that exchange rates can make prices especially high for them.

If however you would like to visit Spain, I do have some good news for you that might help you make your travel plan a reality. First of all, you have it in your favor that Spain does tend to be noticeably cheaper than many other western European destinations. There is much more to saving than this however. What I want to suggest to you, is that when looking for the best Spain travel deals, you should consider a smaller privately run hotel. Sure the big name hotel chains can make for a nice holiday in Spain.You may indeed get more amenities with them, and they are often likely to have a few more options in terms of the kind of room you can book.

With all that in mind, I have found in my travels that there are some definite advantages to the smaller private hotels.

Firstly, because these establishments are often not able to offer all the extras that a larger establishment might, they tend to compete with hotel chains mainly in terms of price. I have often found good Spain travel deals at well maintained centrally located hotels throughout Spain. Even though I may not have gotten as many extras at these kinds of places, I have often found low cost rooms close to some of the best attractions in Spain. Now, if you have traveled extensively, you have probably noticed that the most popular hotels, which are close to big name tourist attractions, are often thepriciest. So, if you want be within easy reach of tourist areas, a small private hotel may be the way to gofor you.

Also, keep in mind that if you do get a room in a small, ideally located hotel, you will also save money on transportation, as you will often be able to walk to sightseeing destinations. Also, you will save valuable time when you don’t have a commute, allowing you to see more of Spain.

Another often overlooked reason that small hotels can represent the best Spain travel deals for your stay is that they can offer a lot in the way of atmosphere. With some large hotel chains, I feel that there is often a kind of corporate impersonal feel. In a country like Spain, you can have a truly great experience by staying in a place with a lot of local atmosphere and influences. In certain areas of Spain such as the Andalucia region, you will find some fantastic architecture, and an overwhelming uniqueness that makes for a very enriching experience. Small hotels often have a personal touch that can really make your experience feel uniquely Spanish.

So, the next time you are surfing the internet for the best Spain travel deals, be sure to have a look at what smaller hotels have to offer in terms of both price and atmosphere.

About the Author

I am the administrator for the Spain Travel Deals Blog. The site is a resource to help you find money saving information for your next trip to Spain. You’ll also find reviews for many of the most important Spain tourist attractions to help you decide which places tovisit on your trip.

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Travel Bargains, Deals, And Steals

April 6, 2012 by

Travel Bargains, Deals, And Steals
Traveling Will Always Be Expensive. Luckily, This Guide Will Show You How To Save Hundreds, Even Thousands, On Your Airfare, Hotel Room, Rental, And So Much More. This Insider Guide Will Show You How To Beat The Travel Industry At Its Own Game
Travel Bargains, Deals, And Steals

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Spain Travel Destinations & Places To Visit in Spain

April 4, 2012 by

Article by Gokhan Ozbal

Flamenco music and dance, bullfights, sunshine and beaches, festivals, clear sea waters, sightseeings and attractions, architecture, art, culture, entertainment, nightlife and much more will satisfy the demands of a visitor when s/he is in Spain. Pablo Picasso and Don Quixote also belong to Spain. As you can watch Spain travel videos existing in Travelovideo.com, Spain is a colorful country whose colors make the country a popular travel destination.

A country on the Iberian Peninsula, situated between Europe and Africa and bounding Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Spain is among the best travel destinations not only for its geographical condition and its results but also for a range of factors such as its own traditions, cuisine, variety of places to see. Spain boasts a rich history and owns historical places. Wide sandy beaches, clear waters are charming. The country offers much more which can be experienced while visiting and enjoying each region. Among the popular cities and travel destinations of Spain, there are Madrid, Barcelona, Bilboa, Valencia, Seville,Toledo, Granada, Cordoba,.Zaragoza, San Sebasti?n, Pamplona, Alicante, Cadiz, Andalucia, Malaga, Costa Blanca, Tenerife, Salamanca etc.Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast have worldwide fame as travel destinations and must-see places of Spain.Madrid is the capital of Spain. It’s a city known for bullfighting, fiestas and flamenco dancing, and royal palaces. The top attractions of Madrid are the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Cibeles, Parque del Buen Retiro, Plaza de España, The Prado Museum, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, The Archaeological Museum etc. The city offers dance halls, movie houses, music halls, cafes and more. Barcelona is known as a cultural centre owning monuments, historical sites, numerous art galleries and natural resources.The most visited museum is dedicated to one of Spain’s most famous names, Pablo Picasso.The Alhambra, the palace of the last Muslim ruler of Spain, located in Granada is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions for exhibiting the Islamic architecture together with Christian and Jewish.The Mezquita in Córdoba is a famous tourist attraction. Tomb of Christopher Columbus in Seville is also visited by travellers. A new science centre and futuristic aquarium named L’Oceanografic aquarium are attractive places of Valencia to see.The historic cities of Cadiz and Malaga are visited by travellers. Moreover, Malaga is a wellknown city due to its being the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and movie idol Antonio Banderas. Guggenheim Museum and Plaza Nueva are the tourist destinations of Bilboa.Balearic Isles, the three main islands of which are Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca, is an exotic destination. The island of Ibiza is popular with its club scene, weather and beautiful beaches. When clubbing is talked about, it means Ibiza. It has an international fame. Mallorca is the least crowded island among them. Fresh seafood lunches are delicious. Majorca is as popular as Ibiza as a tourist destination.The Canary Islands, the seven islands in the Atlantic Ocean, of Spain are very popular. These are: El Hierro,  Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, Lanzarote, Tenerife. Gran Canaria Canary Islands is like paradise thanks to its numerous beaches, crystal clear waters and water sports. Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and very popular as a tourist destination. Here is the Mount El Teide. Not only water sports but also hiking, climbing and cycling ara available activities.Among the other travel attractions of Spain, there are Alcázar, Castillo de Santa Bárbara,  La Sagrada Família, Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, Doñana National Park,  The Basque Country, the Parc Guell, Picasso Museum, Las Ramblas and much more.Spain’s folkloristical traditions are certainly Flamenco and bullfights. Running of Bulls is the most popular event during the Sanfermines in Pamplona. Flamenco is the musical tradition of Spain. As a visitor, for an unforgettable memories it is recommended to visit the country in the season of festivals and fiestas. Spain is a beach lovers paradise with its white sand beaches. Delicious Spanish cuisine and wine must be tasted, too.It is not suprising that Spain is a popular travel destination. Such a colorful country should be among the must-see places. For watching videos about Spain, Travelovideo presents many in order to make you have an idea about the country before visiting.

– Copyright © 2008 Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos –

Not: Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine with the information about author/website info & links is included. (URLs in should be set as hyperlinks)

About the Author

Gokhan Ozbal is the travel writer for Travelovideo.com – the place to watch travel videos online for free. Visit Travelovideo.com to view Spain travel videos and places to visit in Spain.

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Hotel Preferences In Recent Leisure Travel Trends

April 1, 2012 by

Article by Kelvin Kong

Leisure travelers and vacationers mostly try to minimize the cost of lodging, which is quite understandable especially during a time of economic decline such as we have now. Most people are focused on the sights and the itinerary, rather than the hotels and other types of accommodation where they will rest up for the night in. Let’s take a look at some of the trends for hotel preferences when it comes to leisure travelers.

The first main trend is that people seem to be leaning more towards staying in independent hotels compared to the bigger branded hotels that are, conversely, more expensive even if they have more in terms of accommodations and luxury. The main reason for this is perhaps the inherent character and unique flavor afforded by independent carriers, compared to the standard fare of their branded counterparts.

The Ypartnership/Yankelovich 2009 National Travel Monitor found that 20 percent of respondents preferred independent establishments, a figure up from 16 percent in the 2008 survey. Still, the cut is clear-80 percent of respondents still prefer the hotels that are affiliated with larger companies or associated with bigger hotel chains.

Peter C. Yesawich, the chairman and CEO of Ypartnership, attributes this trend to two main factors. “First, a growing number of consumers appear more interested in the novelty and/or special character many independent operators have scripted into their properties,” he said. “Second, the quest for better value, now defined in terms of a more attractive price, appears to be motivating many leisure travelers to evaluate independent alternatives.”

Indeed, independent hotels offer the kind of “attractive price” that potential guests nowadays are looking for. With the financial crunch, many people and even some of the most hardcore leisure travelers are considering the payoff of paying more when one could get quality accommodations for considerably less.

Additionally, respondents to the survey were more inclined to choose limited-service hotels and resorts rather than go to full-service hotels with restaurants. That shift is also indicative of the importance many people started giving to their respective travel budgets.

While the trends point to a bigger patronage of independent hotels, the fact is that bigger chain-affiliated establishments still have many things going their way. When you consider reputation, proven quality, and reliability, then it’s still natural for people to choose those. That’s why the National Travel Monitor survey shows that preference for such hotels are down a mere 4 percent.

With the deep impact of the global economic downturn, should be noted that the budget-conscious traveler is becoming more aware than ever of the need to put a high priority on the price tag when choosing the hotel he or she will end up staying in. It should be noted, though, that there’s no compromise for the kind of service bigger hotel chains can offer, which is why business is still relatively doing well for those kinds of hotels.

Still, it is perhaps safe to expect a subtle continuation of the trends above in the coming quarters, however, as people continue to put their budget first in an economic landscape that is slow to recover.

About the Author

Manila Hotels provides fantastic reviews of the hotels available in Manila, Philippines.Do also checkout London Hotels and Singapore Hotels for excellent budget accommodation.

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Useful information for making your Dubai Travel enjoyable

March 17, 2012 by

Article by Vivek Kushwaha

The information on Dubai travel provided in this article will help you to make your Dubai trip enjoyable.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates which form UAE. This city is popularly known as the city of Gold because of its open gold markets. This prosperous city is located in the Persian Gulf and is becoming famous world wide because of the travel opportunities which it provides to tourists. During your Dubai travel , you will surely love everything about this place.

Dubai travel is gaining a fast popularity because this place has emerged as a dream destination for travelers traveling for leisure as well as for business purposes. This city is often referred to as the shopping capital of UAE because of the famous shopping festivals and the shopping opportunities which it extends to the visitors.

During your visit to this city, you will be left spell bound by the magic of the extravagant malls, which are famous world wide because of their international brands. If you want to have the true shopping experience in Dubai, March will be the best time to visit. The Dubai Shopping Festival is held during this month and discounts, prize draws, Raffles, street entertainers, cultural events, spectacular fireworks displays etc are its major highlights.

Besides shopping, you can also enjoy the Dubai nightlife, visit to the amusement and entertainment parks and numerous other recreational activities in Dubai. During your visit to Dubai, you simply can’t miss visiting the fascinating places like Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai Museum, Bastakiya District, Shindagha District, Palm Islands etc.

During your visit to Dubai, you don’t have to worry about lodging. There are numerous Dubai hotels available at a wide range of room tariffs. Dubai is the city which has world famous hotels like Burj al-Arab and Burj Dubai. Therefore, here you can have the experience of living like a king in the expensive hotels or accommodate yourself in a reasonable and comfortable hotel.

You can easily reach Dubai business directory by the different transportation modes available. You can consult a Dubai travel guide or a travel agent for more information.

About the Author

The author is a business writer and has done masters in Marketing.Visit at http://www.highdubai.com to know more about Dubai travel and Dubai hotels.

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Luxury Australia Travel – 7 Of The Best Attractions To Visit On Your Melbourne Australia Travel

March 12, 2012 by

Article by Helen Palmer

Luxury Australia travel has got to be one of the best ways to see one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world. This huge continent which is split into 6 states and 2 territories covers an area of some 7,617,930 square kilometers or 2,941,299 square miles. The largest state alone, Western Australia, is approximately 5 times the size of Texas, USA!

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and one of the most popular destinations for travellers to the continent. So what are the best things to see and do?

Luxury Australia travel does not have to be expensive – lifestyle in Australia comes as a given – it’s the way of life in this part of the world, so add a little luxury into your Australia travel with some of our suggestions.

Take a tour to Phillip Island, home to the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, an easy 90 minute drive from Melbourne itself and you will discover a world of contrasts.

Billed as Victoria’s wildlife island, you will be surprised to find the Grand Prix circuit nestles close to the world famous Penguin parade, the Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Island Heritage Farm and the Nobbies Centre, a marine attraction where you can uncover the secrets of the Southern Seas with interactive displays allowing you to intermingle with seals, sharks and dolphins that abound in these waters.

I did say that it was a world of contrasts, so don’t forget the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory in your itinerary, where you can buy the delectable hand-made chocolates made on the Island.

Take a spectacular sunrise balloon ride over the Yarra Valley, one of Victoria’s beautiful winery regions. Home to 90 vineyards, surrounded by mountains you fly for approximately an hour over the early morning vineyards before ending your experience with a sumptuous champagne breakfast.

Caf? culture abounds in St Kilda and you will want to browse this fashionable bayside suburb of Melbourne with its diverse range of shops and eating venues. Don’t forget the Luna Park amusement park built in 1912, complete with its wooden roller coaster and other historic rides.

For the sports fans amongst you there is the very popular Sports Lovers Tour. Billed as city sightseeing with a difference you will explore the history and excitement of sporting Melbourne. Whichever sport is your particular favourite, be it tennis, cricket, rugby or football, find yourself sitting in the coaches’ box, imagining filing that important media story in the media facilities or smelling the liniment in the changing rooms!

For dinner with a difference, the Colonial tram car dinner is perfect! 1920’s splendour, but with modern day facilities so that not even a crystal glass quivers in your cosy, colonial period dining car. One way glass ensures privacy while traditional silver and white linen don the tables. This is one train ride you won’t forget in a hurry and booking is a must with the restaurant selling out weeks in advance.

Hop on the City Circle Tram ride for a free central Melbourne tour. Steeped in old world charm, these 1920’s brown and gold liveried tram cars are an appealing way to discover the city centre sights. The conductor on board provides valuable knowledge about the tourist attractions you might wish to see.

Spectacular Rhododendrons greet you as you head to The Dandenongs for the Spring flowering. Less than an hours drive from Melbourne, lies this rich hillside area which grows all manner of good things to eat, drink and appreciate, such as the display of Spring bulbs, Devonshire Cream teas and the Puffing Billy Steam Train that gently meanders its way through the beautiful landscape.

I think you will agree that luxury Australia travel is what you make of it. The luxury is in the doing!

I invite you to use these ideas to make the most of your luxury Australia travel and Melbourne.

About the Author

And With your permission, I’d like to offer you free access to my short report, “Sure-fire Australia Destination Travel Ideas That Will Guarantee You Have THE Luxury Australia Vacation You Desire” as a gift. You can download it by going to Tailor Made Australia Travel From Helen Palmer – The Exclusive Vacations Guide and Tailor Made Australia Travel

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Some Good Reasons Why Barcelona Spain Travel Is Such A Great Alternative

March 11, 2012 by

Article by Jeremy S. Abrahamson

Of late, Barcelona has earned a big name because of the recent successes of its football team, though there is plenty more for which this city is also famous for. Barcelona Spain is an excellent tourist destination both for taking short term vacations as well as to enjoy the excellent Mediterranean climate throughout the year. Arriving by air is a good Barcelona Spain travel option and there are in fact three major airports serving this capital city of the province of Catalonia.The El Prat Airport

The first airport that you can choose when arriving at Barcelona is the El Prat that is located twelve kilometers from the center of the city. However, to ensure that nothing spoils Barcelona Spain travel you should try and avoid traveling during the crowded public holidays when you could get lost in the high volume of traffic that comes to Barcelona Spain.

Barcelona Spain travel is an option that is very suitable even for a traveler that speaks a language other than Spanish and English because each tourist office has enough staff that are multilingual and so will be able to help you out in another language besides Spanish and English.

But what makes Barcelona Spain travel so attractive is the excellent accommodation available in this second largest Spanish city. It is possible to live in a one-star hotel for a rent of less than 20 Euros per night or you can choose to rent out the wonderful villas as well as apartments that are available for rent on a weekly basis.

Another good reason to consider Barcelona Spain travel is that this city provides great culinary fare and in fact Barcelona is really famous throughout Spain for its excellent restaurants that offer meals at fixed prices though the choice can sometimes be quite limited. However, for cheaper bites you can choose to eat at the numerous cafes that are mostly crowded with budget tourists and locals but where the food is tasty and well cooked as well as affordable to every kind of tourist.

Sea food is obviously a great option because Barcelona Spain is a major Mediterranean port and the fish named Graellada de marisc in particular is truly amazing and well worth a try. There are excellent shopping opportunities as well and the antique market in particular is very famous and popular.

Barcelona Spain tourism is a major money spinner for the city and a lot of the popularity of the city can be attributed to the excellent weather conditions found in this part of Spain. Being a major port on the Mediterranean you can see the influence of the sea on the climate and people there simply cannot get enough of the cool as well as warm sea breezes that make this city so enticing for not only the locals; but, also the millions of tourists that come here each year.

About the Author

If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article’s author on moving trucks rental and trucks for rent.

It is always interesting to hear what people have to say about their city. In Barcelona I interviewed Nick Musgrave, an englishman who moved from London to pursue photography splat-photo.com and Pilar de la Pena Sanchez, who believes the streets of Barcelona act out like a movie. Siempre es interesante escuchar lo que la gente tiene que decir acerca de su ciudad. En Barcelona me entrevisté con Nick Musgrave, un inglés que se mudó de Londres para seguir splat-photo.com la fotografía y el Pilar de la Peña Sánchez, quien cree que las calles de Barcelona actúan como una película. Translation – Miguel Antón Ámez Segovia. Thanks Miguel Music by Richard Tedesco of www.kanela.com.au

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Choose All Around Australia Travel Insurance

March 8, 2012 by

Article by Jill Clark

No matter how determined you are to experience the Australian way of life you must be practical. You must make certain you have Australian travel insurance in place before you depart. Taking out a policy need not be a headache. In fact, it will immediately give you peace of mind. You need not go to any extra trouble in order to make certain you have insurance while traveling throughout Australia. To be more accurate, you will have insurance cover from the minute you step on the plane to begin your journey. A travel website that is designed to equip visitors to Australia with all they need will help you with insurance needs.

There are different kinds of Australia travel insurance. The best kind of insurance while traveling is one that will take care of you, your possessions and your luggage. Australia has a very good reputation for travel efficiency but it is possible that the unexpected can happen. Your luggage may go missing or you may lose your camera. If you have insurance you will be reimbursed without any effort. Another area where things could go wrong is if you are involved in a particular activity. You could scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef or horse riding in the outback. If there is an accident your medical costs will be paid.

You may intend backpacking throughout Australia. Working your way around this enormous country can take up to twelve months and you can get Australia travel insurance that is valid for this length of time. Australia travel insurance should be an automatic inclusion when you make your travel arrangements. There is no worse way to spoil your trip if you have an unexpected accident that you can?t pay for. The medical amenities in Australia are world class you want to be sure the bill is taken care of.

About the Author

If you want to learn more about Australia travel insurance then you should check out our Australia travel blog for helpful articles and informative videos to help you plan your next trip down unda at JillandStaceyDotheRoo.com

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California Travel: Must See Places in California

March 6, 2012 by

Article by Gokhan Ozbal

How many songs have been made for this place? How many scenes of serials or movies belong to it?So many… California is not just a state that houses ordinary cities to live in. It owns and offers more…It is the golden place that makes the lives shine and the travellers have fun.?On the West Coast of the United States, California offers plenty of travel ideas. It is mainly because of the reason that it is geographically diverse and each diversity results in its own beauty. It is one of the largest state  in the United States regarded as the Golden State due to its historical past. The state is one of the most visited travel destinations not only just by Americans but also by people all around the world.Monterey was the state capital once. However, being located in the central part of the state, Sacramento has been the capital city of California. Los Angeles is the largest and most populous city. Among the popular cities of California there are San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Palm Springs, San Jose, Long Beach, Berkeley, Oakland, Santa Ana, Anaheim,  Santa Cruz, Fresno, Bakersfield, Pasadena etc. Most of these cities are popular with their beauties as they are worldwide famous. For example, Los Angeles called as the “City of Angels” is the most populous and charming city in which many celebrities live.The regions of California are mainly: San Diego County, Deserts,  Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, North Coast,  Shasta Cascade, Central Valley,  Gold Country,  High Sierra.As a travel destination California houses National Parks & monuments, amusement and theme parks, natural attractions, wineries, spots for outdoor activities and beaches.In order to learn tne meaning of “having fun” amusement and theme  parks of California must be visited. Among them there are Disney Land, Universal Studio, SeaWorld, Marine World, Hurricane Harbor, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Earthquake, Knotts Berry Farm, Lego Land, Funderland, Scandia Amusement Park, Six Flags Magic Mountain,   Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Marine World, Paramount’s Great America. These are all mustsee places for the visitors.California has many beautiful National Parks, State Parks and Monuments such as Channel Islands National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Death Valley National Park, Redwood National Park, Sequoia National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Point Reyes National Seashores, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Lava Beds National Monument, Cabrillo National Monument, Lassen Volcanic National Park etc.The state also presents architectural landmarks and museums.  In Los Angeles, casinos offer top class entertainment. No need to tell how much popularity Hollywood owns. Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood Wax Museum, Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo in Carmel, The San Francisco Opera, The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Alcatraz are also places to see.For the ones who love outdoor, California offers mountains, deserts and coastal areas to explore. All kinds of activites are available: rafting, birding, hiking, biking, water and snow skiing, caving, watersports etc. Also, there are wildlife viewing areas. A wide variety of flora and fauna exist in California.The wineries are also popular places to visit. Here one can go on winery tours which mean tasting gourmet food and wonderful wines.Situated along the west coast of the United States, California has always been attractive. If you would like to watch videos about this entertaining state which is also a popular travel destination, you can visit travelovideo.com.

– Copyright © 2008 Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos -Not: Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine with the information about author/website info & links is included. (URLs in should be set as hyperlinks)

About the Author

Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos – the place to watch travel videos online for free. Visit Travelovideo.com to view California travel videos and places to visit in California.

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Florence, Italy Travel Guide Book Secret List

March 6, 2012 by

Florence, Italy Travel Guide Book Secret List
This Is The Only Travel Guide Book To Florence, Italy That Is Designed For The Ultra Chic, Stylish, Jet Set Traveler. Our Florence, Italy Travel Guide Features Hidden Restaurants, Secret Boutique Hotels And “in The Know” Nightlife.
Florence, Italy Travel Guide Book Secret List

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