Now more than ever, Ireland is wonderfully within reach. Thanks to amazing values, frequent airfare specials and flights within six hours from New York to Dublin, you needn’t wait another minute!

Whether you follow in the footsteps of giants on the Causeway Coast, savor the rich tapestry of food and drink in Cork, stand in awe at the view from the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, or go in search of some traditional music sessions in Galway, one thing is for sure, here begins the vacation of a lifetime! Get inspired by the videos tours around the island, and don’t miss tips on where to go and what to do. With these great offers, you really could be waking up in Ireland in no time!

 Tahiti

The islands of Tahiti offer something special for every traveler – from powdery white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, vibrant marine life, rugged verdant mountains, and a colorful history. Whether you want a private island picnic near Bora Bora or a canoe delivered breakfast in your overwater bungalow, Tahiti is the ultimate South Pacific island paradise.

Tahiti – Moorea – Bora Bora – are island names that evoke a blissful state of mind, and have been seducing honeymooners, romantics, adventurers, and vacationers looking for escape.

The romantic and famed South Sea isles offer spectacular sunsets framing giant curls of turquoise breaking onto the colorful reefs that protect the tranquil lagoons of warm, bright-emerald and blue waters and white coral-sand beaches.

History

Around 4000 BC, a great migration began from Southeast Asia across open ocean to settle the Pacific Islands. Many researchers conclude that Tonga and Samoa were settled around 1300 BC and from there colonization voyages were launched to the Marquesas Islands in about 200 BC. Over the next several centuries, great migrations to colonize all the Tahitian islands and virtually the entire South Pacific took place.

For more information on history, click here.

Geography

Tahiti covers over two million square miles of the South Pacific Ocean and is comprised of 118 islands spread over five great archipelagos.

Many islands are crowned with jagged peaks while others appear to barely float above the breaking waves. Spread over an area as large as Western Europe, the total land mass of all the islands adds up to an area only slightly larger than the tiny state of Rhode Island.

For more information on geography, click here.

ACTIVITIES

Activities include overwater bungalows, island tours, snorkling, diving, shark feeding, Tahitian cultured pears, Polynesian spas, Motu picnic, and many more!!

For more information on activities, click here.

For more information on this wonderful destination click here. Including history, nature, geography, and things to do!

To read more about the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, click here.

Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

For more information about visiting these Islands, and more, stop by Total Travel! We have our own Australian Destination Specialist!

For more information on things to do, travel information, cruise vacations, land vacations, religion, customs & traditions, and a special video click here.

Introduction

After reading about this wonderful destination, visit our website to sign up for a chance to win a trip to Disney World for you and your family! Link to our website below!

District Guide

Once upon a time, Orlando was a small town surrounded by cow pastures and citrus fields. With the development of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando and a host of smaller attractions, those cow pastures turned into planned communities that house a wide range of residents, from Disney’s 55,000 cast members to sports celebrities and millionaires.

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is so large that it can be considered its own district. You will find everything from hotels to shopping, restaurants, sports and nightlife within this huge park. Pebbles Restaurant and Fulton’s Crab House are among the many fabulous restaurants. There are also thousands of hotel rooms to fit a wide range of budgets, and all provide shuttle transportation that gets you to its many theme parks. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot are all here. Visit the nearby Magic Kingdom. A monorail zips passengers to many destinations; boats and buses serve all the others, and the wait is rarely more than a few minutes for transportation.

Kissimmee

Kissimmee is a nice city along the U.S. 192, which is a long strip of highway along an east-west route from the small but sprawling towns of Kissimmee and St. Cloud to Walt Disney World and beyond. You can find nice discounts in the city as well as interesting attractions, such as Green Meadows Petting Farm. There are also inexpensive restaurants including Golden China.
Universal Studios

When Universal Studios moved in to compete ear-to-ear with the Mouse, a community of hotels, restaurants and all the rest grew up around it. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Emeril’s Restaurant and the Citywalk attract visitors year-round. While Universal’s parks do not yet begin to rival Walt Disney World in size, the surrounding area is growing fast.

Downtown Orlando

Yes, there is a downtown Orlando, although few who come to Orlando ever see much of it. Downtown is one of the prettiest parts of the city, blessed with tree-lined neighborhoods, attractive older homes and its fair share of (but not too many) shops, restaurants, lounges and entertainment areas. An excellent meal can be had at Hue or Kres Chophouse. The History Center and the UCF Center are popular with visitors.

District Guide

The famed Promenade des Anglais, hugging the pebbly shores of Nice, is often the image of the city that immediately springs to mind. But there is also an old town hiding many picturesque treasures and a modern, bustling city center. Unassumingly tucked into the eastern part of town, Nice’s port exudes its own peaceful charm, and the various hills — Cimiez to the northeast of Vieux-Nice, and Mont-Boron to the east of the harbor — make up green and tranquil districts blessed with stunning panoramas. Arénas in the west and Promenade du Paillon northeast of the old town are the main business and conference centers, while the rest of the area is primarily residential.

Sea Front

This is perhaps the best known part of Nice. For more than a century, people have been flocking here to walk along the famous Promenade des Anglais. In the 19th century the gentle winters brought visitors, while today tourist season is at its height during the summer months. The locals never get tired of the place, whatever the season or the weather. Some jog, others rollerblade, many just walk, but they all appreciate the expansive sea view and fresh breeze. Take time to soak it all up sitting on one of the little blue chairs — an endearing, signature characteristic of the “Prom.” The seashore is also lined with an impressive selection of luxury hotels, the most prestigious of which is the Hôtel Négresco.

Vieux-Nice (Old Town)

A marvelous ambiance flows from this little cluster of picturesque narrow and winding streets, from early morning to late at night. The houses sometimes press so close together across these narrow passages that they almost seem to be reaching out to embrace one another. Those with an interest in religious art will marvel at the number of churches such a small corner of town can hold, particularly when you survey it from the heights of the Colline du Château, which rises up like a natural border between the port and the old town. The most majestic of the churches is undoubtedly Cathédrale Sainte Réparate, a fantastic example of Baroque architecture. Another well-known Baroque building is the Palais Lascaris. Visitors more concerned with tastes than sights will not be disappointed. In addition to the architectural gems it contains, Vieux-Nice is also home to the best ice cream parlors, particularly surrounding the Place Rossetti. Glacier Fenocchio is a must, although you’ll need plenty of time to taste every exciting flavor — choices include cinnamon, violet, fig, chewing gum, tomato, lavender and rose! There are also some excellent restaurants serving varied cuisines, including local specialties, Lebanese, and Italian, at very reasonable prices. Beer drinkers should try a pub crawl around the many establishments bordering the old town such as De Klomp. Street musicians playing live music often appear, guaranteeing a great night. For those who prefer more classical sounds to accompany their evening, the city Opéra is also found in Vieux-Nice, and contains a truly magnificent auditorium. Vieux-Nice is also an artistic cornucopia, featuring an extraordinarily varied range of exhibits in all sorts of mediums. There’s much enjoyment to be had just wandering through the little streets stumbling upon the galleries and discovering local art. Cours Saleya is one area where there’s always something going on. The Marché Saleya is the fruit and vegetable market, and the flower market, flea market, and arts and crafts market are also held here. The café and restaurant terraces prove very popular both in summer and winter, especially at La Civette and Brasserie L’F. Perfect places to relax and relish the day!

         
Masséna – Town Center

Place Masséna is the heart of Nice, surrounded by impressive red buildings that contrast nicely with the surrounding greenery of the nearby parks. The Albert I Gardens boasts the immense black metal Arc de Venet, while in the Masséna Gardens, you can enjoy pleasant shade offered by the trees. Outside these parks, the turmoil of the city resumes and the traffic, both on feet and wheels, is always very heavy. Throughout the day, window-shopping crowds walk up Avenue Jean-Médecin and through the pedestrian precinct where most of the shops, including Galeries Lafayette and the Nicetoile shopping center, can be found.

The Port

The tranquil atmosphere of this district is unique in the city of Nice. Here, you no longer feel like you are in one of the biggest cities in France. There are a few great restaurants serving specialties of the region and patronized by discerning locals, including Chez Pipo and Fjord. The port district, especially around Rue Ségurane, is also home to fine antique dealers such as Ginac, where you will find historic treasures to admire (and perhaps to purchase). Outside, the port itself offers as many delights. From the quayside you can enjoy the sight of brightly colored fishing boats moored next to millionaires’ yachts, ferry boats, and cruisers.

Cimiez

The hill at Cimiez has traditionally been the most fashionable residential area of Nice. Two aspects of Nice’s historic past can be found here among the pleasant villas and well-manicured gardens. The remarkable Roman amphitheaters, which hosts the annual Jazz Festival, and the very well-preserved Roman baths are but remainders of France’s Roman history, a past that can be further explored at the adjoining Archeological Museum. Le Régina, an enormous hotel now divided into apartments, conjures up the other important era of Cimiez’s past: la belle époque. Matisse spent the last years of his life here, and there is a museum dedicated to his paintings a little further up the hill. Art fans planning to visit the Matisse Museum might also enjoy the impressive canvasses at the Marc Chagall Biblical Message Museum.

Mont-Boron & Mont-Alban

To get to Mont-Boron, you’ll have to take a car or use public transport, unless you feel like a long walk (it is a pleasant one, meandering through lovely Mediterranean landscapes and charming belle époque estates). However you travel, you’ll pass the Terra Amata Museum of Paleontology, which displays and curates prehistoric relics found in this area. The view of Nice from Mont-Boron is fantastic: most of the postcards depicting a panorama of Nice are photographed from this point. Elton John made a wise choice when he purchased the immense yellow villa atop Mont-Alban, the hill neighboring Mont-Boron.

Arénas/Californie

This is the newest district of Nice and, as a result, the furthest from the center. Situated near the airport, Arénas contains many offices and hotels, where everything is very modern and practical. It is essentially the business center of Nice. Points of interest include the enormous greenhouse at Phoenix Park and the Museum of Asian Arts.

Promenade du Paillon

This district has grown in size and importance over recent years. Here you’ll find the Acropolis Exhibition Center, a huge futuristic building which hosts a variety of events and conferences. The largest room, the Apollon, is reserved for shows given by singers and comedians. The respected Cinémathèque consistently delights both cinema buffs and casual movie fans. A little further afield, you can see the twin towers of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC) and the Théâtre National de Nice (TNN), where the architecture is just as modern and innovative as the art shown inside.

For more information about Nice, click any of the links above!

District Guide 

Cape Town is a fascinating mosaic of Asian, European and African traditions. These streams of history flow together in the city but, particularly because of the legacy of the apartheid system, visitors to Cape Town are often amazed by the dramatic contrasts that remain between different areas. Nature, too, creates very different sub-climates around the mountain so the vegetation varies a great deal, as of course do the vistas. The city, however, is connected by fast freeways. Thus, twenty minutes from the wine farms of the leafy Constantia valley you could be on a beach, in the bustling city center or in a shanty township. It is truly fascinating to discover the different areas and experience the diversity of culture in the city. 

The Atlantic Seaboard

Camps Bay, Bantry Bay, Llandudno and Clifton are the suburbs of foreign house prices. The impressive apartment blocks built into the mountain sides and the old cottages above the fabulous Clifton Beaches have been snapped up by overseas buyers. Expect to see jet skis on the roof garages. Clifton is very sheltered and the perfect place for a picnic at sunset. Camps Bay is picturesque and there are some excellent restaurants and cafés. This is the place to hang out and be cool, but you will be very cool indeed if you try to swim in the sea; the arctic currents don’t know they’ve reached Africa.

Waterfront

The old docks have been excellently converted into the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a very large complex of hotels, restaurants and bars, shops (galore), cinemas (including IMAX), two craft markets and a truly wonderful aquarium. Here you will also find numerous companies offering boat trips, including the Robben Island Ferry, and fun things such as jet skis and helicopter trips. The information desks are helpful and there is VAT refund too. It is a very easy and secure place with lots to do; but just a word on prices, you can find most things cheaper elsewhere, especially jewelery.

City Centre

All the diversity of Cape Town is meshed into the city centre. It is a surprisingly small area and is best covered on foot – but be prepared to fend off hawkers and some street children. Keep your wits and your wallet about you and don’t stay out after dark. St. George’s Mall and Greenmarket Square are the undisputed heart of Cape Town; abuzz with vibes, sounds and crafts of Africa, all mixed up with European heritage. In contrast, The Company Gardens are beautifully peaceful and historically very interesting: Take a walk along Government Avenue, past Parliament, and spend some time in the South African Museum; it is great fun. The Mount Nelson Hotel is at the top—the perfect place for high tea.

It is worth driving around the Grand Parade: The Castle of Good Hope and the City Hall are important buildings, and Adderley Street also has many of the grandest buildings in Cape Town. Just above the city center is the Bo-Kaap—see the brightly colored homes and notice the Malay influences.

At night, the center empties out of all but street people; it is best seen by day. The exception is the top of Long Street which is abuzz with nightlife, and check out the cafés and restaurants of upper Kloof Street nearby in Gardens.

The Southern Suburbs, Constantia & Hout Bay

If you love rugby or cricket head for Newlands and there is a large, up-market shopping centre nearby in Claremont, Cavendish Square. On the mountain slopes you will find the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, a definite “must see.” Around the corner is Constantia; here are some historic and wonderful wine farms (such as Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia), a very impressive shopping mall and some of the best restaurants in the country. There is an extensive walking trail across the Constantia valley.

On the other side of the mountain explore Hout Bay, the land of very horsey, independent-minded people living in a fabulous valley. The fishermen in the harbor are a highly spirited bunch. You can take sea trips from here (see the seals on Duiker Island). If the Chapman’s Peak drive is open, it is a must-do—magnificent.

The South Peninsula

The south peninsula is mountainous and largely a National Park plus some very charming seaside towns, notably the very British Simon’s Town, the fishing village at Kalk Bay, gorgeous Noordhoek and Kommetijie and rustic Scarborough. The beaches are fabulous (and the penguins think so, too); check out the little guys at Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town. The water is much warmer on the eastern side of the peninsula. Cape Point and its massive Nature Reserve are within easy reach and it is worth taking some time to explore the reserve. For a famous picture stop go to the colorful beach huts at St James and Muizenberg.

The Winelands

The winelands are an extensive area of wine and fruit farms in a mountain setting less than an hour from Cape Town. There is a certain charm and dignity to the area and some very pretty towns. There are many wine farms, in all styles and sizes, but the taste and price are bound to please. Check out a variety of big and small wine farms in different areas, but beware of weekend closing. Don’t miss the restaurants of Franschhoek and spending time exploring the great beauty of Stellenbosch.

The Townships

To get some valuable insight into South Africa’s political history and cultural diversity take a township tour (specialist companies include African Dawn and Grassroutes). For many people this turns out to be the unexpected high point of their visit to Cape Town; the resilience, enterprise and hope of these poor communities is very inspiring and the stories of the past are a sobering insight into social planning gone mad. It is not recommended that you try to tour the townships on your own, take an organized tour with a specialist company.

The Northern Suburbs

Predominantly Afrikaans, modern and suburban, these areas lie along the N1 freeway. The classic view of Table Mountain is best viewed from Blouberg. Century City is set to rival the Waterfront as Cape Town’s major leisure complex. The Durbanville Hills may of interest to wine enthusiasts and the Tygervalley Center for those born to shop.

(For more information on this wonderful city, click the link above)

District Guide

Zaragoza’s origins date back to the Iberian settlement of Salduba, but it is to the Roman Caesar Augustus, and Islamic Sarakosta, that it owes both its name and the still easily recognizable rectangular perimeter of its old town, bordered by the lower and upper sections of Calle Coso, Avenida de César Augusto and the River Ebro. The wealth of the city’s historical legacy is a nightmare for present-day builders, since a hole can’t be dug in the ground of this area or its surroundings without uncovering important archaeological remains, as happened recently with the discovery of the ancient Roman Theatre, now being restored, in Calle Verónica, behind Teatro Principal.

Zaragoza has always benefited from a strategic location, a fact as true as ever in our time, being in the middle of a crossroads which traverses Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia. The result is a dynamic and modern town that is continuously growing, yet still having mostly walkable distances, with a legacy of splendid buildings and monuments inherited from all the cultures that have contributed to its development. For convenience, Zaragoza can be divided into three areas of interest: the historic centre, the Ensanche and boulevards, and the University-Delicias area.

Historic centre This area is traditionally the one of greatest interest for visitors since most of the important ancient monuments and buildings are found here. It includes the old town proper, with its natural extensions to the East, Barrio de la Magdalena to the West, Predicadores (also known as San Pablo or barrio del Gancho), plus the area delineated by Avenida César Augusto and Paseo de María Agustín (where Misericordia bullring stands) with its nearby flea market and the Pignatelli Building, an eighteenth-century hospital containing a church with gilt domes that now houses the Diputación General de Aragón (regional government).

On the western end of this area is Aljafería Palace, a castle surrounded by a moat and gardens, and the most important relic of Zaragoza’s Islamic period and today the parliament of Aragón. In Predicadores we should mention San Pablo Church, while La Magdalena Church in the neighbourhood of the same name has in its tower one of the finest examples of the Aragonese variety of the mudéjar style (involving brick and coloured tile decoration due to Moorish artisans who stayed long after the Christian conquest).

It is in the old town proper, however, where we find the greatest number of important monuments and buildings, beginning with the huge Plaza del Pilar, where the famous and grandiose Basilica del Pilar stands, along with the Lonja Palace, Seo Cathedral, the Roman Forum Museum and, at the opposite end of the square, San Juan de los Panetes Church with its leaning tower, the mudéjar tower of La Zuda and the remains of the Roman wall. Pleasant as it may be to wander among the old town’s streets, two parallel ones which cut across it truly make a useful reference point: Don Jaime I, passing near the squares of Santa Marta,Santa Cruz and San Pedro Nolasco, and leading to the Teatro Principal; and Alfonso I, cleared for its view of the Pilar Basilica and from which one can reach San Felipe Square.

This is a very lively area, full of shops of every kind, narrow streets, squares and pleasant corners, with many tapas bars with tables outside and a busy nightlife.

Ensanche and boulevards This is a large area characterized by the main avenues and boulevards opened in the nineteenth century, with their modern extensions and surroundings. It includes Zona Centro, surrounding the twin squares of Aragón and Paraíso, where the beautiful neo-mudéjar building of the old School of Medicine and Science stands. Here is where Gran Vía starts, an important market and leisure avenue which continues in Fernando el Católico, which leads to Plaza de San Francisco and its surroundings, through outdoor cafés, bingo halls and bars all the way to Primo de Rivera Park (known as “parque grande”), the old Feria de Muestras and Romareda Stadium, close to the flea market and Zaragoza Auditorium.

Paseo de la Independencia, starting from Plaza de España and flanked by large arches, is the town’s main promenade, with its cinemas and shops. The nearby Plaza de Salamero is interesting and enjoying renewed popularity, and not too far away, Plaza de los Sitios has a monument commemorating Napoleon’s two sieges on Zaragoza and the Archaeological Museum.

Another important boulevard also stems from Plaza Paraíso, Paseo de Sagasta, which is the axis of a busy commercial area with many shops, bars cafés and restaurants. Calle Moncasi and its surroundings amass huge numbers of the very young on weekends. More sparsely populated and with a rather more adult appeal, there are also many bars and restaurants on and around Bolonia, Camino de las Torres, Avenida Tenor Fleta and José Pellicer. On reaching Pignatelli Park, Sagasta becomes Paseo de Cuéllar, which leads to the Venecia pine groves, the amusement park and the neighbourhoods of Torrero and La Paz.

In the area between the start of Sagasta and Paseo de la Constitución is the traditionally more expensive, ‘posh’ part of town, León XIII, also abundant in pubs, restaurants and shops.

University-Delicias Leaving Plaza de San Francisco with its arcades, distinguished shops, outdoor cafés, pubs and restaurants, one reaches the University campus and an area next to it around Calle Corona de Aragón and Calle Tomás Bretón, also with many bars, bookshops and other shops. Crossing Ciudad Jardín, a residential area with low houses, is the popular neighbourhood of Delicias, with the park and the interesting pedestrian street of the same name, an area perhaps without obvious or spectacular attractions but with quite a personality if one has the time to get to know it.

Click the link above for even more exciting information on New York City!

                 
  
District Guide                                                                           

New York City, arguably the world’s most vibrant and sprawling metropolis, occupies five boroughs, each with its own distinct identity. After all, before the historic 1898 consolidation, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island were each independent municipalities.

Manhattan

Manhattan, home to the most recognizable sites, dominates popular perception of New York City. Its most famous districts are listed below:

Wall Street & the Financial District

New York’s first district remains its most historic. Wall street investment banks coexist with landmarks like Trinity Church. Battery Park draws people for its panoramic views. The World Trade Center was also one of the area’s most popular destinations, until its tragic destruction on September 11, 2001, which took the lives of many New Yorkers and affected the entire nation. New World Trade Center buildings and a September 11 memorial and museum are under construction.

Harlem

Long the national epicenter of African-American culture, Harlem was home to the Harlem Renaissance, arguably this country’s most influential artistic, literary and cultural movement. Harlem is known for its jazz clubs and Southern restaurants.

Greenwich Village

At the turn of the 20th Century, Greenwich Village drew free spirits from around the nation, including poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and playwright Eugene O’Neill. As the years went on, rents inevitably rose. Now, its townhouses are some of the most expensive in the city. New York University students gather here in Washington Square Park. A diverse array of shops, bars and music clubs exist along Bleecker Street.

East Village

Artists, students and young professionals have gone a long way towards gentrifying the long poor and multi-ethnic neighborhood. Even today, the artistic spirit that initially brought about change remains, evident in such vibrant cultural establishments as St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowery Church. Urban gardens, like Tompkins Square Park and art exhibits sit beside cafes, craft shops and vegetarian restaurants.

Soho & Tribeca

Once home to massive factories, artists moved in and transformed the area into a bustling urban mecca. Galleries, designer shops, sophisticated restaurants and trendy bars followed soon after. Among many others in the area, Hundred Acres is a great restaurant, with fresh seasonal cuisine and an upbeat atmosphere. Today, tourists flock to the area and rents have risen sky high.

Lower East Side

This area once housed some of the city’s worst slums, well-chronicled by the Lower East Side Conservancy. Today’s higher rents mean that the only people who can afford to live here, and want to, are young professionals. The historic Orchard Street Shopping District is home to several hip bars and nightclubs.

Chinatown

Asian restaurants, grocery stores and trinket shops line the ever-crowded streets of Chinatown. Dim Sum and other favorites attract diners on practically every corner, especially on famous Mott Street.

Little Italy

Frank Sinatra, Italian restaurants and kitsch draw tourists to the lively neighborhood of Little Italy surrounding Mulberry Street. The Feast of San Gennaro still welcomes its throngs, but the neighborhood is fast becoming surrounded by nearby Chinatown.

Gramercy & Flatiron

The majestic Flatiron Building lords over this beautiful, eclectic district marked by loft spaces to the west and pre-war residences to the east. More than a century after their construction, the apartment buildings and townhouses around Gramercy Park remain coveted residences.

Chelsea

Once a working class community, Chelsea has also become a posh address. As rents in Greenwich Village rose, the vibrant gay community moved upwards to occupy Chelsea’s many brownstones and loft spaces. Others followed, and today it reflects all of New York’s ethnic and cultural diversity. West Chelsea is home to many art galleries, and there are a number of great restaurants, such as Cookshop, which serves seasonal American cuisine. Chelsea still retains some reminders of its more conservative past, as evident by the General Theological Seminary and the Church of the Guardian Angel.

Midtown

As the name implies, Midtown is smack in the middle of everything. Nobody is really sure where Midtown begins (most would say somewhere at the 30-block), but most agree it stops around Central Park. Publishing houses, financial firms, import/export companies and fashion houses all do business here. Trump Tower entices shoppers, along with all those glorious stores along Fifth Avenue. Ice skaters twirl at Rockefeller Center and the spectacular St. Patrick’s Cathedral offers serenity and spirituality.

Times Square & Hell’s Kitchen

Some New Yorkers miss the former seediness of Times Square, as the World of Disney has replaced age-old bookstores and entertainment venues. However, most people begrudgingly admit that it is better this way. Visitors adore everything from souvenir shops to enormous billboards and Broadway musicals. A few blocks west lies Hell’s Kitchen, a community filled with eclectic restaurants, such as Five Napkin Burger, bars, shops, and, of course, the Actors Temple.

Upper East Side

Park, Fifth and Madison have always been posh avenues. Whether in the gilded manors of yesterday, like Gracie Mansion in Schurz Park, or the area’s high-rise modern apartments, old money and high society have long made their home here. Consequently, shops to serve them line Madison Avenue. Baby Gap coexists with art galleries and antique shops. Further east, new money has overtaken the old Yorkville slum.

Upper West Side

When the co-ops of the East Side were freer to restrict residents, the Upper West Side became home to new money. Then, as “modernist” Eastsiders tore down their pre-war palaces, Upper West Side residents kept their old buildings, such as the famous Ansonia and the Dakota; renters now value the neighborhood’s attractive real estate. Meanwhile, bars and restaurants catering to Long Island and New Jersey folk (aka, the “Bridge and Tunnel” crowd) continue to sprout up along Columbus and Amsterdam avenues.

Brooklyn

This massive borough stretches from festive Coney Island to elegant Brooklyn Heights. But wherever Brooklynites hail from, they remain a largely proud lot. They can boast of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the gorgeous bridge that bears the borough’s name, the Brooklyn Museum, and a growing restaurant scene.

Queens

From Flushing to Astoria, Queens is experiencing a quiet renaissance, as refugees from Manhattan’s high rents continue to discover what this working-class borough offers its residents. Inexpensive ethnic restaurants pepper the borough. Queens is also home to the Museum of the Moving Image and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

The Bronx

This borough boasts the Yankees, one of the nation’s finest zoos, and an extraordinary Botanical Garden. Areas including the South Bronx have benefited from economic booms.

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Join Total Travel and the Performing Arts Center in May 2012 for the 5-Night NYC PACage tour! Highlights include: Central Park coach and guide tour, Metropolitan Museum of Art tour, Broadway performances, Garment District tour, Greenwich Village, Battery Park, Tribeca, SoHo, and so much more! Tour also includes accommodations and some meals. Visit Total Travel for complete details!

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