Why Buy Silver Necklaces?

You could buy silver necklaces not only for yourself but for your boyfriend or husband. Nowadays, men can wear jewelry and look fashionable. Silver necklaces are more understated yet elegant, so most men prefer them more. Your boyfriend, father or husband would surely like wearing them. They are not ostentatious or too elaborate. You could even have them choose the design themselves.

Another good thing about purchasing a silver necklace is that it will not put too much dent in your wallet. It is not as expensive as a gold or diamond necklace, but you can still stand out and give the impression of confidence and elegance.

You can always purchase your silver necklace online. Online companies offer discounts on these items primarily because they have lower overhead expenses. You can save a lot more with online shopping. It is also much convenient as online shopping boasts of 24-hour customer service and access. All you have to do is click on items and you are on your way to having your fashionable silver necklace.

So, if you?re feeling a little dowdy and dull with your outfits, you could try giving your outfit some zing with a silver necklace. Whether you are going to work, attending a family outing or a formal party or just going out with your friends for a night on the town, you can always smarten up your outfit with a stylish silver necklace. You don?t have to buy new clothes to make you feel special, just put on a silver necklace and you?re good to go.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on jewelry, silver and gems and visit our associated site articles for free

Yellowstone Hotels

There is a wide variety of lodging options available at Yellowstone National Park to suit all kinds of budgets.

The in-park lodging is operated by Xanterra Parks and Resorts. The accommodation available ranges from rustic cabins to luxury suites. Cabins include the Roosevelt Lodge cabins that are right near the favorite campsite of President Theodore Roosevelt. One of the largest log structures in the world, the Old Faithful Inn, overlooks the Old Faithful Geyser. The newest lodge is the award-winning Old Faithful snow lodge. There are nine different options for in-park lodging.

There are seasonal lodgings as well. During winter, the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel offers accommodation and is accessible by automobile. It serves as the centre for winter sport activities in the park like Nordic Skiing, snowshoeing and ice-skating, and is the starting point for winter explorations of the interior of the park. The Hotel provides luxurious rooms as well as rooms that have the most basic features. In this manner it caters to a range of budgets.

For a more rustic experience as well as one that would be lighter on the pocket, the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins provides winter accommodation as well. The cabins come in two types: the Western Cabin and the Frontier Cabin. The lodge also provides snowcoach tours to the various natural wonders of the park that are a magnificent sight during winter.

Summer lodging includes the Old Faithful Inn and other lodges and cabins as well as campsites, thus providing more options to the tourist. Summer lodging also includes the Grant Village named after President Ulysses S. Grant who signed the park into existence in 1872. The village consists of a complex of six double-storied buildings that contain 50 rooms each. It is located on the southwestern shore of the Yellowstone Lake and is 20 miles away from Old Faithful geyser. It is also located close to Grand Teton National Park.

There are a number of resorts in the areas surrounding the park as well. There are a number of resorts and hotels in cities like Jackson, Wyoming and West Yellowstone and Big Sky in Montana. These hotels and resorts provide regular guided tours and vehicles to explore the park as well as nearby regions.

It is advisable to book well in advance for your accommodation since Yellowstone is still one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country and it can become really difficult to get accommodation during the high tourist seasons. It should be noted that all lodging within the park boundaries are strict no-smoking areas.

For more information on Yellowstone National Park Lodging please visit:

Xanterra Parks and Resorts website:

http://www.travelyellowstone.com

Information on Yellowstone by communities surrounding the park:

http://www.yellowstoneparknet.com

Information on Yellowstone Lodging and tours:

http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com

Southampton City Guide, Including Hotels

Introduction:

Set on the coast of Hampshire, south of Winchester, this is a place that abounds with a fascinating heritage. The Romans, who established it as a seaport, founded Southampton approximately 2,000 years ago. This was the port from which the ill-fated Titanic had set sail on her maiden voyage in 1912. Even though the place was affected during the Second World War, Southampton has grown sturdy with huge docks built for the cruise industry. The core of the modern city is now based around the City Centre.

Places of Interest:

Southampton is famous for ports, art galleries and museums. The place has a story to tell everywhere you visit.

Museum of Archaeology - This museum recount?s Southampton?s history with displays from prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval times.

Medieval Merchants? House-This is one of the earliest surviving merchants? homes in the UK. Tourists can take in a glimpse and see how life was 700 years ago thanks to the authentically recreated furniture and overall ambience.

Solent Sky ? Solent Sky, where the world?s first seaplane was built. It is also the place where the Spitfire fighter plane, used heavily in the Second World War, was born.

Southampton City Art Gallery - Situated in the heart of the Cultural Quarter, it contains over 3,500 works of art spanning six centuries of European culture. The 20th century British art remains the main attraction here.

Things to do:

Southampton is a great place to shop and dine. Be it enjoying the nightlife or being a part of special events, this city has always had lots to offer.

Shopping - The West Quay complex on West Quay Road offers shoppers a good selection of high street retailers, designer boutiques and traditional shops. The West Quay Retail Park brims with the choicest of retailers that are normally found on the outskirts of towns. Other good shopping areas include the Marlands Mall, Portland Terrace and the Bargate Centre, off the High Street on East Street.

Restaurants - There are many restaurants offering an eclectic mix of cuisines. The rates are competitive and the price range for a three course meal for one, including a half bottle of house wine or equivalent (where available) is:

**** (over ?40)

*** (?30 to ?40)

** (?20 to ?30)

* (up to ?20)

Tipping of around 10% for a three-course meal with wine is given customarily in up market eating places. During weekends most restaurants require prior booking.

Transport - The airport is situated 7km (4 miles) northeast of Southampton on the outskirts of the city. A good rail network links Southampton with the main rail station in the city. The National Express operates regular coach services connecting Southampton with various destinations in the UK. The National Express terminal is located in the centre of the city on Western Esplanade within a stone?s throw from the Central Railway Station. Taxis can be hailed on the street or at ranks at the railway and bus stations. First Southampton is a company that operates a comprehensive network of buses linking all parts of the city. Bus no. 12 operates between the city centre and International airport.

Nightlife - From conventional old alehouses to stylish bars and nightclubs, Southampton has a flourishing nightlife with a huge chioce. The Red Lion, 55 High Street, or The Duke of Wellington, 36 Bugle Street; are two of the traditional old alehouses having a decent bar menu.

Special events - There are events like Titanic Memorial (Sep 4), the Southampton Boat Show (Sep 16-25) and Trafalgar Day with trips on the SS Shieldhall on the Solent (Oct 21), which are specific to Southampton. In Euroblade, October, Southampton?s city streets are closed off and turned into a track for inline skating. The event is not a race and is open to skaters of all ages and abilities. It assumes dimensions of a festival atmosphere with wigs, crash helmets and fancy dress.

Food and Drink:

Langley?s Bistro and Garden Room Caf? -This is a non-smoking restaurant that serves the best of food and wine. The ambience as well as the great customer service is worth writing and raving about.

Kuti?s Brasserie - Situated in the centre of the town, Kuti?s is also a place that has great ambience and offers authentic Indian and Bangladeshi food.

La Cantina - With dishes like fajitas, tacos and fiery chilies, this place makes for a good party environment.

Olive Tree - It offers a selection of the best European dishes.

The Woodlands Lodge Hotel - A 15-minute drive away from the city centre, this place gives you the choicest food in the most scenic of surroundings.

Hotels and Accommodation:

Southampton, being an important sea port, receives visitors by the ferry-load, which means there is no shortage of places to choose from. The hotels given below are categorized into four different pricing categories and are based on the cost of a double room per night with breakfast and including all taxes:

**** (over ?120)

*** (?80 to ?120)

** (?40 to ?80)

* (up to ?40)

The services offered by the larger hotels will usually include a gym, pool and extensive business and conference facilities.

The Star Hotel
Southampton Park Hotel
Dormy House Hotel
Macdonald Botley Park Hotel, Golf & Country Club
Initial Style Conferences
GRAND HARBOUR
Express By Holiday Inn Southampton - M27, JCT7
Novotel Southampton
Chilworth Manor Classic Hotel
Dolphin Hotel
Jurys Inn Southampton

Entertainment:

The Mayflower Theatre on Commercial Road is the largest theatre in southern England. Another good venue for live comedy is the Jongleurs Comedy Club, 2-4a High Street. There is normally a disco after the comedy acts. There are two multiplex cinemas UGC and Odeon, which play the latest movies.

The strategic maritime importance has played a noteworthy part in how Southampton developed over the years. Today the port is synonymous with the city. Tourists love to flock to this place, which is growing every year with several development projects in the pipeline, like a ?162 million project to create a huge entertainment arena at West Quay.

Name: Maria Williams Occupation: Traveller Website: http://www.sleepuk.com Sleep UK are an online hotel booking engine for uk hotels

Pet Friendly Hotels

If your travel companion happens to have fur, or walk on four paws instead of feet, then you will probably need to locate a few pet friendly hotels for your travels. Most hotels will not allow you to bring your four legged friend in for a nights stay, so its important to call ahead to any hotel you plan on staying in to make sure that except pets as well as people.

You can find pet friendly hotels in almost any area, and at almost any price range. Pet friendly hotels are typically just like your normal hotels. You can visit a bed and breakfast, or a spa; all with your cat or dog right there beside you. Since pet friendly hotels are a rarity, the will often book up a little quicker than other similar hotels will. For that reason it's important to call ahead and book your room early if you know you will be traveling with your pet, and be in need of accommodations. Particularly if you are traveling to a cat or dog show in a particular area, the rooms will book up exceptionally quickly in a pet friendly hotel, so you will want to be sure to secure yours before they are all gone.

In many pet friendly hotels the hotel will set aside certain rooms of the hotel specifically for use by pet owners. By setting aside a room specifically for pet owners, they allow other hotel guest to be able to spend their stay in the hotel in a room free from pet dander, as well as the hassle of running into, or hearing other people's pets. For dogs, many pet friendly hotels will sometimes have a special place for you to take your dog outside to relieve him or herself, occasionally the better pet friendly hotels will have some sort of dog park or recreation area as well where you dog can have the opportunity to get some exercise and socialize with the other dogs who are also staying in the hotel.

Hotels that are not only pet friendly, but also those that have the pets in mind with things such as recreation areas and pet friendly dining are usually some of the best to take your pet to. In these situations you pet is often invited to do everything that you are in the hotel, and the hotel sometimes s will offer addition activities for the pets as well, such as a dog day camp that can allow you to go out on the town and have fun, while leaving your dog behind having fun as well.

In most cases be prepared to pay a little extra for your pet to stay in the hotel along with you. While pet friendly hotels do allow pets, most require some sort of supplement for the privilege of having your pet stay along with you in the same room. The supplement is usually not as expensive as having another person stay along with you, but it can get a little expensive depending on the hotel that you select.

Before traveling to any pet friendly hotel do your research. Talk to friends who also travel with their pets that have gone to the area and visit a hotel that they particularly enjoyed. Your friends are often your best resource in locating the very best places to visit. If you know you are traveling to a certain location and want to stay in a particular hotel then book your room as advance as you can. In most cases the earlier you book your room the less expensive it will be, and the better your chances of getting the room and location that you want. Booking your hotel room late or at the last minute could mean that all of the pet friendly hotels are booked up, and you will have to leave your pet at home.

Smooth Hound http://www.smoothhound.co.uk offers affordable hotel, guest house and bed & breakfast accommodation throughout the London and the rest of the world.

City guide to Aberdeen, including Aberdeen hotels

Introduction

Aberdeen (The Granite City) is Scotland's third largest city. Aberdeen is the chief commercial centre and seaport in the north-east of Scotland. It boasts the title of Oil Capital of Europe thanks to the plentiful supply of crude oil in the North Sea, and stands on a bay of the North Sea, between the mouths of the rivers Don and Dee.

History

Aberdeen grew up as two separate burghs - Old Aberdeen at the mouth of the Don and New Aberdeen, a fishing and trading settlement where the Denburn entered the Dee estuary. The earliest charter was granted by King William the Lion about 1179, confirming the corporate rights granted by David I. The city received other royal charters later. In 1319, the Great Charter of Robert the Bruce transformed Aberdeen into a property owning and financially independent community. The city was burned by Edward III of England in 1336, but was soon rebuilt and extended, and called New Aberdeen. For many centuries the city was subject to attacks by the neighbouring lords, and was strongly fortified, but the gates were all removed by 1770. In the 18th century a new Town Hall was built, elegantly furnished with a marble fireplace from Holland and a set of fine crystal chandeliers and sconces. The 19th century was a time of considerable expansion. By 1901 the population was 153,000 and the city covered more than 6,000 acres (24 km?). In the late 18th century, the council embarked on a scheme of road improvements, and by 1805 George Street, King Street and Union Street were open, the latter a feat of extraordinary engineering skill involving the partial levelling of St Catherine's Hill and the building of arches to carry the street over Putachieside. The increasing economic importance of Aberdeen and the development of the shipbuilding and fishing industries brought a need for improved harbour facilities. During this century much of the harbour as it exists today was built including Victoria Dock, the South Breakwater and the extension to the North Pier.

Places of interest

The main places of interest for the tourists in Aberdeen are the museums, art galleries and the Scotland's castle trails. Here is a list of interesting places in Aberdeen:

Aberdeen Art Gallery Aberdeen Maritime Museum Castle Fraser Craigievar Castle Crathes Castle & Gardens Dunnottar Castle Fyvie Castle Provost Skene House

Museums and Art Galleries

The city is blessed with amenities which cover a wide range of cultural activities and boasts a selection of museums. The Aberdeen Art Gallery houses a collection of Impressionist, Victorian, Scottish and 20th Century British paintings as well as collections of silver and glass. It also includes The Alexander Macdonald Bequest, a collection of late 19th century works donated by the museum's first benefactor and a constantly changing collection of contemporary work and regular visiting exhibitions. Some of the other Aberdeen's museums and art galleries are:

Aberdeen Art Gallery Aberdeen Maritime Museum Provost Ross' House The Gordon Highlanders Museum Marischal Museum James Dun's House Museum of Education Victorian Classroom Tolbooth Museum Aberdeen Arts Centre His Majesty's Theatre 1906 (presently -2005- under renovation) is a fine granite theatre which provides a home for popular entertainments.

Shopping

The main shopping districts center on specialty shops on Chapel and Thistle streets and the well-known chains on George and Union streets. Of interest to collectors, Colin Wood, stocks furniture, wall clocks, and grandfather clocks from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. Someone may also want to browse through the eclectic mix of bric-a-brac antiques at Elizabeth Watts Studio, where items include glass, brass, antique jewelry, china, silver, and a few small furniture pieces. For one-stop gift shopping, drop in at Nova, which stocks china, silver jewelry, rugs, clothing, toys, cards, and gift paper.

Other interesting shops are Grandad's Attic, which specializes in Art Deco ceramics and antique pine furniture; Just Scottish, retailers of quality items -- all made in Scotland, including ceramics, knitwear, textiles, silver, and jewelry; and Alex Scott & Co. the town's finest kiltmakers.

Food and Drinks

Although Aberdeen is a well renowned city, it does not have many restaurants in offer. Mainly all the restaurants and bars offer continental or British/Irish/Scottish cuisine. Some of the famous places for wine and dine are:

Elrond's Cafe Bar Ferryhill House Howies Aberdeen Martha's Vineyard Bistro/The Courtyard Restaurant Silver Darling

Education

The first of Aberdeen's two universities, the University of Aberdeen, was founded in 1495 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland. The University of Aberdeen is Scotland's third oldest, and the UK's fifth oldest University.

Robert Gordon's College (originally Robert Gordon's Hospital) was founded in and in the 1990s became co-educational and a day-only school. It also produced the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology, which became The Robert Gordon University in 1992.

Gray's School of Art, founded in 1886, is one of the oldest established colleges of art in the UK. Aberdeen College has several campuses in Aberdeen and offers a wide variety of part-time and full-time courses leading to several different qualifications. Northern College was a teacher training college with campuses in Aberdeen and Dundee. In 2000, the Aberdeen campus of Northern College became the University of Aberdeen School of Education. Aberdeen Grammar School, (now comprehensive, despite its name) founded in 1263 and one of the oldest schools in Britain.

Sports

Aberdeen Football Club was founded in 1903. Its major success was winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983 and three League Championships between 1980 and 1986. The club's stadium is Pittodrie which holds the distinction of being Britain's first all-seater stadium. Aberdeen F.C. holds the distinction of being the last team to have won the Scottish Premier League Championship outside the Old Firm and is the only Scottish team to have won two European trophies adding to their European Cup Winners Cup success by winning the European Super Cup also in 1983. Well known footballers who have played for the club include Gordon Strachan (Current Celtic manager), Alex McLeish (Current Rangers manager) and club legend Willie Miller. Denis Law, the joint top scorer for the Scotland national team was also born in the city, but spent his professional career playing for English and Italian clubs.

Aberdeen Golf Club was founded in 1815. It has two 18-hole courses at Balgownie, north of the River Don. There are other golf courses at Auchmill, Balnagask, Hazlehead and King's Links.

Tours and Sightseeing

The Aberdeen Tourist Information Centre, where the staff can usually find just the right way to visit Aberdeen. Some other organized tours and travel agencies are there in the city. These tours are organized by the operators and vary from its contents, theme and price. The tours mainly feature the museums, art galleries, Scottish Castles etc.

Hotels and Accommodations

Because of increasing numbers of tourists and business travelers to the Granite City -- Europe's offshore oil capital and less number of hotels compare with tourists -- hotels are likely to be heavily booked any time of year. So reservation in advance is a must before stepping to the city. Some of the Hotels in Aberdeen (ranging from Affordable to Luxury) are listed below:

Antrim Guest House Station Hotel Royal Hotel Express by Holiday Inn Aberdeen Thistle Aberdeen Caledonian Copthorne Hotel Aberdeen The Edwardian Hotel Bimini Guest House The Spires Serviced Suites Thistle Aberdeen Altens Summerhill Hotel and Suites Macdonald Ardoe House Hotel Britannia Hotel Aberdeen Waterwheel Inn Dyce Skean Dhu

Transport

There are four main roads serving the city: A90, A96, A93, A92, A90 now used as a tourist route.

The city's original ring road, Anderson Drive, which was built in the 1930s has long since been engulfed by the expansion of the city, and is inadequate for dealing with today's traffic. To this end, a new main bypass road, the Western Peripheral Route, is planned to divert through traffic away from the city centre. The road is due to open in 2010.

The city is well served by the national railway network. Aberdeen has regular rail services to Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as long distance trains to London via Edinburgh. It is possible to take the longest scheduled rail journey in the whole of the UK from Aberdeen. Regular trains also run north westerly towards Inverness and north to Dyce for the airport.

Aberdeen also has an airport in the neighbouring town of Dyce, which is operated by BAA plc. As well as connecting the city to the rest of the UK, Aberdeen Airport (sometimes refererred to as Dyce Airport) is the largest helicopter terminal in the world, serving the many North Sea oil installations. The IATA airport code for the airport is ABZ.

Biography

Name: Maria Williams Occupation: Traveller Website: www.sleepuk.com Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK - providers of discounted hotels to make your stay in the UK as comfortable as possible.

Condo-Hotels A New Second-Home Alternative To Time Shares

Condo-hotels have evolved as a better, more reliable second home alternative to time-shares. They are usually attractive, high-rise hotels on the ocean or in other prime locations, and range in price from the mid $200,000s to over 1 million, depending on the size, location, and amenities.

Condo-hotels have evolved as a better, more reliable second home alternative to time-shares. They are usually attractive, high-rise hotels on the ocean or in other prime locations, and range in price from the mid $200,000s to over 1 million, depending on the size, location, and amenities.

Many of the biggest names in the hotel industry have condo-hotel buildings, including Hilton, Four Seasons, Clarion, and Ritz-Carlton. Donald Trump has numerous condo- hotel facilities across the country, including a building in Fort Lauderdale and another in Sunny Isles, Florida.

In general, condo-hotel properties have been highly successful with all or nearly all units selling out within months of the first offering. For example, the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne is a beachfront property with 188 condo-hotel units, all of which sold out a year before the building was even finished. Needless to say, the values of the condo-hotels in this building have gone up significantly.

There are several reasons for the popularity of condo-hotels. When you purchase a property, you purchase a condo unit in the hotel. Unlike a time share, you have access to the property whenever you want, and it is put into a rental pool when you are not in residence. Although developers cant guarantee the properties will rent, management by a well-known hospitality group will typically result in several weeks of rental income. This is one of the biggest appeals of condo-hotels because the rental income can offset some of the costs of owning a vacation property.

In addition, the management company takes care of renting the unit, using their connections and expertise. You dont have to worry about any of these details. Most rental agreements split the income 50/50 between the management company and the owner. However, some properties offer more favorable arrangements, and this is another aspect to consider when deciding which property to purchase.

Despite the fact that the property is in a hotel setting, a condo-hotel is considered a private residence, and owners are eligible for mortgage interest deductions and all the other tax advantages that come from owning a second home. However, most condo-hotels do not allow you to live in the unit year round. This is because the management company wants to rent out the unit when you are not there, so both you and they can profit from that rental income.

Each condo-hotel property has its own residence restrictions that indicate the maximum amount of time you can live in the property. This is an important piece of information to consider before purchasing a condo-hotel unit. Most owners do not intend to live in their condo year round, so this is not a concern in typical circumstances.

Why not just rent a hotel room? In addition to the investment aspect, condo-hotels usually offer more room than a standard hotel room. Most suites are one or two bedrooms, and larger units are available. Condo-hotels typically have cooking facilities and other homey features that hotel rooms do not. This makes it ideal to have family stay with you when they come to visit.

With the advantages they offer over time shares, its easy to see why so many people looking for a vacation property investment they can also enjoy when they want are now looking at condo-hotels.

For more on finding and buying the right condo-hotel, check out Make Your Next Home a Resort, the 2005 Guide to Condo-Hotels, Fractional Shares and Resort Residences. You can download the Guide as a pdf file at http://www.InvestingIN.com/realestate/resorts/resort4u.htm

Leon Altman is the founder of the InvestingIN Real Estate Letter - http://www.InvestingIN.com/realestate/LtrSignup3.htm - and its parent website, http://www.InvestingIN.com - which provides articles, commentary and newsletters about opportunities in different areas.To download the 2005 Guide to Condo-Hotels, go to http://www.InvestingIN.com/realestate/resorts/resort4u.htm