For visiting London, proximity to King's Cross is the perfect location. An intersection of six tube lines, including the Northern, Picadilly, and Circle Lines, to name a few, can get you virtually anywhere from King's Cross. King's Cross is also a train terminal, in the case that you are planning to visit the north of the UK. But let's not get off track and get back to seeing London via King's Cross. London, the cultural melting pot that it is, offers amazing and varied shops of anything you could desire. Located near the major shopping zones of London, both commercial and artisan, King's Cross is a convenient place for a shopping tour in London. The city is also a magnet for great and creative minds, as is well known by all the thinkers, writers and artists who both came to and from London. The wide range of museums and galleries reflects this intellectual breeding ground, and again, King's Cross is a skip, hop and a jump away from many of these world-class museums. Less conventional tours to start from King's Cross could include a round of the city's parks, exploring the wide web of the tube itself, or the nearby nightlife hotspots. So, whether it's shopping, rich culture, or any fun explorations that you're after, King's Cross will guide you there quickly and efficiently.

For the shoppers! Have an early and hearty breakfast (you will need the energy) and put yourself on the Northern Line, heading for Camden Town, where you will find open air markets selling art, crafts, clothes, accessories and much more. It's best to spend time here in the morning, as the area isn't the safest at night. After you've stocked up on original craft gifts at the market, head back to your hotel, drop them off, and back on the tube! Via the Picadilly Line, head towards Covent Garden, a famous indoor market, and the surrounding area, full of boutiques, shops, and nice cafes. This picturesque market makes a nice lunch stop, with some cozy restaurants nearby. Picadilly Circus comes next: very commercialized, with many well-known brand stores. Picadilly is a fun place to return to at night, as the lights and pubs draw partiers to them like moths to the flame! Head on to Knightsbridge to see the world famous Harrod's Department store. After this detour, it's on to Oxford Circus to join the crowded throng admiring and buying the riches of Oxford Street, which is equivalent to New York's Fifth Ave, a street of fancy department stores interspersed with chic shopping boutiques. If your spending needs are still not satiated, check out other markets, such as Portobello, or just by walking through London, you will find hidden gems of stores throughout the city. If, however, Oxford Street sums up the shopping day nicely for you, head back into the Oxford Circus tube, and the Victoria Line will conveniently take you right back to King's Cross.
For the culture seeker, you will start your day heading in the opposite direction of the shopper. Head south on the Picadilly Line to Russell Square, and just a few blocks south of the shady square is the British Museum. After your explorations, you may also enjoy Covent Garden for its history and theater – check out the listings as they may draw you back in the evening. Nearby is Trafalgar Square, home of the National Gallery. From here, continue on to Green Park, and gasp at the size and beauty of Buckingham Palace. Changing of the Guard takes place nearby, so check the season's schedule if you are interested. Slide down the Jubilee Line to Southwark, and enjoy the neighboring Tate Modern and Globe Theatre. Make your way back north of the river to Tower Hill, and explore London's Tower. Take the Circle line back to King's Cross to conclude the cultural loop.
The adventurer who wants to learn the city by randomly coming across the interesting things may enjoy traveling from park to park, always great for people watching and discovering the wide variety of London's inhabitants. Regents, Hyde, Green, and St. James Parks are the main ones, each with distinctive personalities. The Tube itself is extremely interesting, and it's worth reading the entertaining advertisements of the tube, listen to some talented and not-so-talented musicians, pick out who the tourists are and who the natives are… the tube can be really enjoyable during your voyage. Take advantage of being in this unique London sub world! King's Cross is also nearby to Leicester Square and Picadilly, both popular night out areas. Or try traveling round Circle line and seeing how many pubs you can manage to stop at… after which, see if you manage to find your way back to King's Cross on this concentric line!

King's Cross, recently made famous through Harry Potter's platform 9 Ύ, is more than a fictitious train platform. It's a station that literally will get you anywhere in London (and beyond) very conveniently. If you're visiting London to shop, to learn its culture, or just to explore it for face value, King's Cross is the best starting and ending point. You will get to where you need to go quickly, and at the end of the long day, you won't have to wait long to be back at your London home, sweet home.
About the author:
This article was written by Pat Stevens with support from The Jesmond Dene Hotel, an inviting bed and breakfast conveniently located in close proximity to King's Cross station. To learn more about how bed and breakfasts can add to your travel experience, please visit http://www.jesmonddenehotel.co.uk/


Royals Put Malta Hotels Back On Map
For a Mediterranean island with good year round weather, a friendly local English speaking population and facilities to rival that of any of her competitors, Malta is a suprisingly often forgotten island for many people planning a holiday in the Mediterranean.
Malta missed some of her own government's tourist targets in 2005, but a recent visit by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh resulted in four days of positive media coverage in the island's most important market – the United Kingdom – and also in over 50 other countries attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, including Canada and Australia.
The Queen began her official visit to Malta before she opened the meeting, and was warmly greeted by friendly islanders.
Malta was governed by the British for a hundred and fifty years, and became independent in 1964. But the island has retained many British characteristics, including driving on the left, and British visitors account for nearly half of the island's tourists.
The George Cross ranks with the Victoria Cross as Britain's highest award for bravery – and Malta was awarded the Cross in 1942 by King George VI for the island's resistance to German attempts to occupy the island, with Malta being under almost constant attack from June 1940.
As well as the challenge of drawing tourists away from other Mediterranean islands like Mallorca and Menorca, Malta has had to face the additional challenge of new holiday destinations in the former Eastern Bloc opening up, such as Bulgaria and Croatia, which tend to be cheaper.
Brighter Future
But where the Maltese tourist board has singularly failed to market the island's appeal to the mass holiday market with any degree of success in recent years, the Queen's visit has come at the right time for hotels and holiday companies hoping for a good 2006.
Tribune Properties, a British based company specialising in overseas properties including Malta comment:
'Malta is not a high priority on the list of holiday destinations for many British people compared to the Spanish Costas, Canary and Balearic Islands. The visit of the Queen showed Malta in a very positive light, and hopefully the island's tourist officials will be able to capitalise on the trip and increase hotel and holiday bookings in the months ahead. Given Malta's past record of promotion though if 2006 sees an increase in visitors it will be despite of the official promotions, and not because of it.'.
More good news for the Malta holiday industry came in October with the announcement that low cost airlines had been been given the right to fly to the island.
'This will help both the hotel and property industries in Malta' add Tribune. 'With the cost of getting to the island coming down, Malta should see her share of the short stay European holiday market increase substantially, increasing employment locally and benefitting the economy overall'.
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For information about Malta including embassy contacts, the weather, a map, Malta hotels including the Qawra Palace and Palm Court, holidays, car hire, villa holiday details and flights, with details of the main towns of Sliema, Valletta, Bugibba, Qawra, St Julian's, Mellieha and St Paul's Bay visit www.yourmalta.com
Details of houses, apartments, villas and other property for sale in Malta are available at www.maltaproperty.info
For hotels in Malta Malta hotels, for a Malta map Map of Malta


Do I Need A Car In Florida ?
Copyright 2005 Chris Neilson
And that answer is both "yes" and "no"…. maybe !
Undoubtedly, not everyone wants to drive on vacation, and for those that fall into this category, there are of course taxi cabs available, as well as limited bus services to get you around. However, although it can be done, the bus / taxi combo is not in any way the most cost effective or convenient way to travel.
Of course, if you are just visiting Florida to soak up the sunshine from the pool deck of your rented luxury villa, then you may be content to forgo the car and just utilise taxi cabs for the odd time that you do venture away from your vacation home. However, there is such a vast world of excitement out there, that to do so would surely be selling yourself short.
And whilst Disney does provide free park to park transport once you are on Disney property, getting there initially can be a time consuming and often expensive experience.
So, to my mind, if you want the convenience of being able to go where you want, when you want, there is no better way to achieve this than by renting a car for the duration of your vacation. Amazingly, with the incredible all inclusive and fully insured rates that a select few on line car hire companies provide, I feel sure that you will be pleasantly surprised how economical it is to have the freedom and luxury that you really deserve.
However, a word of warning is advisable at this point, as not all car rental deals are as clear cut as they first appear. Many travel agents or charter airline companies, will offer you a "free" rental car as an incentive to get you to book with them. In reality, these "fly drive" deals as they are commonly known, can often work out many times more expensive than if you had booked the car hire and flights separately, as they often involve many hidden extras and required insurances to be paid when you pick up your car at your arrival airport.
Of course by that stage, you are thousands of miles away from home, and literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. As a result, you have no option but to pay the hefty extra fees, and very quickly, the "free" car rental doesn't seem such a good deal anymore.
I would therefore always advise that you do a little research and check on line which car rental companies offer a guarantee of fully inclusive, fully insured prices, and also allow you the opportunity to select the size and class of vehicle that is best suited to your travelling party. You will be amazed at how much money you can save by cutting out the middle man and making a simple on line reservation.
So, in conclusion, I would reiterate that whilst it is possible to "do" Florida without a car, the benefits of renting one far outweigh the other options available. After all, for most folks, a trip to Florida is a long anticipated vacation of a lifetime, and once you discover how much there is to experience and enjoy, you'll be glad that you took my advice.

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Chris Neilson is a professional writer and private Villa Owner who has an extensive knowledge of the Florida Travel Industry. He is also the senior copywriter for the well known Florida Car Hire web site US Car Hire – http://www.uscarhire.co.uk
© Copyright Chris Neilson 2005 All Rights Reserved