Tipping is a common practice in most parts of the world. After all, service employees are generally not that well paid, and most appreciate the small token of gratitude for their care. Americans go as far as to tip 20% (it is, believe it or not, their standard!), while us Europeans will generally leave a few extra Euros or pounds in cash, or simply give the change back to the employee.

The country of New Zealand has so many beautiful places to visit, so it is sometimes quite difficult to pick a location for your vacation. But there is one place which I always recommend my friends to visit and that is Rotorua.

This is the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry V111 (born 1491 died 1547) lecher and shrewd ruler who changed the course of England’s history, religion and monarchy. When Spanish Princess Catharine of Aragon lost her husband Arthur (Henry’s older brother) to typhus fever after only 20 weeks of marriage, she immediately became engaged to Henry and married him some 7 years later when he was aged 17. Henry longed for a son and heir which Catharine was unable to give.

Weekend Breaks in the UK are becoming increasingly popular due to our hectic lifestyles and limited free time. There are plenty of options out there and it really depends on what you want to get out of your 60 hours of freedom! One of the most popular weekend breaks are visiting cities which are an excellent way to explore, eat well and splash out on some of the finer things in life.

You could possibly visit Greece to dive in the history of the architectural structures and the land, surround yourself with the unique culture or get enraptured with the fresh and delicious cuisine. Discover the origins of the historic tales of the legendary gods and goddesses when you tour the architectural wonder, the Parthenon, at the Acropolis in Athens.

Keeping children entertained in Lancashire is easy, because there is so much to see and do which is suitable for the whole family. The great thing about Lancashire, a county in the North West or England, is that many of its attractions are really affordable and with plenty of accommodation choices available it makes for the ideal county to visit if you want somewhere that is going to keep everyone happy.

New York is one of my least liked places that I have visited but the presence there of a high conglomeration of friends and authentic Indian restaurants ensures that I visit it more often than I would otherwise have. It is a slightly more expensive version of Bombay – that’s my impression, after four trips to the Big Apple. So it wouldn’t be quite so hard for you to take it if I said I had little on my agenda except food and socializing on my impromptu winter vacation in the northeast. Traveling from Atlanta, I was hoping to catch some snow and was ready for a ‘white’ Christmas (as in Home Alone 1/2/3 I was told. Note to self: watch them). It ended up being annoyingly warm on most days I was there.

Miami is a diverse and multicultural hub. There is a lot to see and even more to do there.

When it comes to Venice airport transport, and transfers around the city as a whole, most tourists don’t hesitate to choose water transport over a traditional “land” options. After all, not only is this type of transfer much more picturesque, it is also unique to the Italian “water city”. Furthermore, with Venice being almost entirely comprised of either canals or pedestrian zones, water taxis have a huge advantage over traditional cars, in that they reach further into the historic town centre and are much more versatile and flexible.

The logo of the Oddfellas Cantina sums up the town of Floyd, VA. Drawn in the style of Grant Wood’s painting American Gothic, the logos’ graphic shows three men standing side by side: a farmer wearing bib overalls, holding a hoe; a Jerry Garcia lookalike, and a businessman in a suit sporting a bowler hat.

You’ve landed in sunny Spain, there’s sunscreen splashed over your pale shoulders, the Bermuda shorts are on, your sunglasses are out, and, after taking a taxi from Barcelona airport to your hotel, you’re ready to explore one of the world’s most exciting and interesting cities. But where do you start? Being one Europe’s most vibrant destinations, Barcelona boasts a wealth of places to visit and many things to see and do. What’s more, if you like a bit of sport – especially from a spectator’s perspective – then you’re especially spoilt for choice. So, here is a brief guide to some of the city’s unique, grandest and most entertaining sporting venues.

The problem of accommodation in London during the summer of 2012, as a result of the influx of tourists coming in for the Olympics, is a well-documented one. With rental and room prices quickly rising, it would be a good idea for anyone interested in going to the city for the year’s prime sport event to book their stay well in advance. And if you happen to be on the fence about which area to take up a room in, you may want to consider staying in a Hyde Park hotel. London’s main park will be the venue of at least three key Olympic events (not to mention a couple of major concerts) over the summer, making the area a perfect option for those who like being in the thick of things.