Formerly a trade port between China and India, today Phuket is known as one of the world’s most beautiful tourist destinations. Visitors flock to this Thai island to enjoy the gorgeous beaches and soak in its natural beauty and rich culture. Known as the “Pearl of the Andaman,” the island has much to offer beyond the beaches. It is home to forests and parks, waterfalls and wildlife, coral reefs, and even has its own virgin rainforest.

In addition to the natural wonders of the island, Phuket offers many modern conveniences. Visitors can stay in one of the five star hotels on Phuket, enjoy incredible Thai cuisine in top restaurants, and dance the night away in one of the island’s many popular nightclubs. The island has its own international airport and the traditional tuk-tuks have been replaced by motorbike taxis and small vans.

Connected to mainland Thailand by the Sarasin Bridge, Phuket is actually comprised of one main isalnd and 39 smaller islands. Although the temperatures in Phuket are mild all year, the high season for tourists lasts from October through May. There are boats available to take visitors from the main island to nearby islands such as Racha Ya, bon Island, and the Phi Phi islands. Phuket is also close to the Similan islands.

Of all its beaches, Patong is easily the most popular on Phuket. Located in the middle of the western coast, Patong offers bargain shopping, great nightclubs, and a long and wide stretch of beach. Some of the other popular beaches are Karon, Kata, and Kata Noi. Several of the beaches offer great snorkelling and scuba diving. Do some research before getting to Phuket so you’ll know which beaches are more trendy and crowded and which are more quiet and family-oriented.

Crowned as the second most popular city in England (second only to London), Blackpool is known for fun, fun, and more fun. Tourism in Blackpool focuses on its sea-side location and draws over six million people to Britian’s top holiday destination.

In the late 19th century, Blackpool was a mecca for city dwellers wanting to take in the sea air which was believed to have restorative health properties. From 1900 – 1950, Blackpool was overflowing with holiday-seekers from the factories and cities who oftentimes took large group vacations to this city on the Irish Sea. While its popularity has wanned since then, it still remains a popular destination, though more for weekend trips than extended holidays.

Thanks to its popularity, it is believed that there are more Blackpool bed and breakfast and hotel beds in this city than in the entire country of Portugal. Lodgings range from B&Bs to large resorts, offering something to fit most budgets and tastes. The city is also home to a number of theme parks, countless shopping opportunites, a variety of eateries, and a number of great bars and clubs.

Every year Blackpool holds a number of events that bring even more festivities to this recreational wonderland. The Blackpool Dance Festival is an internationally known ballroom dance competition held every year. Recently the Rebellion Punk Rock Festival has called Blackpool home as well.

The Blackpool Tower is the iconic landmark for the city. The Tower opened in 1894 and owes its inspiration to the Eiffel Tower. It houses the world famous Tower Circus and Tower Ballroom as well as a variety of restaurants and entertainment and leisure venues. Other popular attractions in Blackpool include Pleasure Beach, the city’s three piers, and the Illuminations held in the fall which feature five miles of neon and electric lights illuminating The Promenade.

Chennai is located on India’s Coromandal coast and is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu. The citys temples, beaches, and historic monuments are the main reasons Chennai is a popular tourist destination. As the city expands its many industries, there has been an increase in business travelers arriving in Chennai. One of the most vibrant industries in the city is film. Chennai is home to the Tamil Nadu film industry, more commonly referred to as Kollywood.

Kollywood is named after Kodambakkam, the area of the city that houses the most movie studios as well as the residences of many actors, directors, and other filmmakers. The Tamil film industry is second only to the famous Bollywood area in Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) in Indian film production.

Film production in Chennai dates back to 1916, when the city was known as Madras. Silent films were produced beginning in that year. The first “talkie” made in Kollywood was “Kalidas” which was released in 1931. The industry had grown so large by the end of the 1930s that the legislature enacted the Entertainment Tax Act in Madras, signaling film’s importance to the economy.

Kollywood churns out more than 150 movies a year in the Tamil language. In recent years, these films have begun to develop audiences outside of India. Tamil populations in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore have offered consistence audiences for Kollywood films. Tamil films have also enjoyed popularity in countries as diverse as Japan, Canada, the United States, and South Africa. Some movies are even being made in two or three languages simultaneously to increase distribution options. (These films are either produced using several different soundtracks or with subtitles.)

Visitors to Chennai will find the Kollywood affect reaches beyond the Kodambakkam studios. Film soundtracks have a heavy influence on the Chennai music scene. Restaurants, bars, and clubs are frequented by Kollywood’s stars. There is also the chance, as in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and London, that location shooting on various films will occur throughout the city. Find a place to stay such as the many 5 star hotels in Chennai, arm yourself with a map of the Tamil studios, and ready yourself for the Kollywood experience.

Scottsdale is a major city and popular winter vacation spot located in the greater Phoenix area of Arizona. It started life as a farming community and has grown into a large city with many attractions, clubs, shops, restaurants and resorts.

It is a major golf hub and attracts people from over the world who are trying to escape the colder climates during the winter months. It is also known as an art center with the old town hosting many galleries of all types.

Tourism plays an important part in the local economy and many visitors are attracted to the 300 days of sun per year. There are rustic areas to visit including ranches and Indian reservations.

Scottsdale has become a high-tech center and is at the forefront of medical research and healthcare. Mayo Clinic has a clinic, research facility and hospital in the area. So there are plenty of opportunities to locate doctors Scottsdale or family dentists in Scottsdale.

Scottsdale also has many recreational activities in the area including hiking, biking, horse riding, ballooning, and camping. The city attracts many major sporting and cultural events throughout the year.