Hotel Guide

From a business trip to the next weekend get-a-way, personal safety and security should be on your mind. It can be especially challenging when your flight was delayed, the taxi cab line was never ending and all you want to do is park, check-in and get to your room as fast as possible. But wait take some time now to think about your safety with these easy but life-protecting tips

Checking in…

- if valet parking is available, use it. If not, park by the lobby doors and ask for a hotel escort into the parking lot or garage. A small tip to the person assisting you is well worth to protect your safety.

- travel the lot to park in the most safest space possible. Check to make sure no one is loitering and where you park is well-lit. Try to park as close to the lobby as possible.

- take out all personal items, laptops, electronic devices, money or any other valuables out before you or the valet parks your vehicle. Take items with you or lock them in your trunk.

- when registering, use only your first initial and your last name. Use your business address and phone number.

- request for a room not on a first or second floor (more thefts occur on these two levels especially if there is a sliding glass door, window or balcony) and available with an inside corridor. If the hotel has many buildings, get your room within the main building of the hotel.

- ask the front desk attendant to write down your room number, not said out loud to have bystanders overhear what room you are in.

- ask the hotel staff about the safety of jogging nearby or walking from your hotel to nearby restaurants, movie theaters or the parking lot. They are often the most reliable source of information about the neighborhood. Don’t hesitate to ask about transportation shuttle services and escorts to your car or room. If you inquire about or walking areas at the front desk, verify the employee giving you advice has knowledge of the area.

- if your room key is labeled with the room number, take care not to let others see that number. Safeguard your key at all times. Especially in public places. Don’t leave it at a restaurant table, by the swimming pool, bar or gym. Don’t give it to others. Don’t leave it in the room or in the hotel room door.

- do not draw attention to yourself by wearing large pieces of jewelry or flash large amounts of cash.

- keep an eye out for your luggage both to and from your hotel room.

- locate all fire exits, fire extinguishers and elevators.

- Do not use the stairs to get to your room. Always take the elevator. Any secluded part of the hotel is never a good idea to be in i.e. stairwells, parking garages, dark hallways etc.

During your stay …

- make sure the windows and the between-room door are all locked.

- use all the locks on your door every time you’re in your room, especially the dead bolt, flip lock or chain at night.

- put all valuables in the room safe and make sure it is one that is bolted to the floor. Never leave jewelry, credit cards or cash lying around your room.

- if someone knocks on your door, don’t open it right away. Keep the door shut and use the peephole and ask the person to identify themselves. If you don’t know them, don’t open the door. If they claim to be hotel personnel or security, call down to the front desk to make sure the hotel sent them. If their story does not check-out and there is no reason for the person to be there, tell them to go away and then notify the front desk.

- Consider purchasing a portable room alarm. They can hang on the inside door knob, or a floor device that sounds an alarm if your hotel door is opened. To get these room safety devices, go to http://www.safetyquestproducts.com/alarm.htm they’re small and easy to travel with. They can fit into a pocket or purse.

- always leave the ‘do not disturb’ tag on the outside of your door.

- When leaving put the lights and the T.V. or radio on to let no one know you have left the room and it is unoccupied.

- if you loose your key, report it immediately to the hotel’s front desk and ask to be moved to another room.

- immediately report any suspicious activity to the Hotel’s staff.

When you check-out

- search through your belongings to make sure all forms of I.D. are safe and nothing is missing with personal information on it.

- request an escort to your vehicle in the parking garage or lot.

- check the inside of the vehicle before getting in.

By following these hotel safety tips, you can increase your protection from a personal assault or theft. Making your business or vacation trip safer and being less of a target for a criminal.

Michelle Annese is a 3rd degree black belt with 15+ years experience teaching self defense and safety for women and children. She is the creator of The Realtor Survival Guide, Protection for Women , and The SafeGuard System for Kids. For more information on how to protect yourself and your family check out other articles by Michelle Annese at http://www.michelleannese.com and get her free weekly family safety e-newsletter.

Introduction

Manchester is a city in the north-west of England, situated in a bowl
shaped land area. The city centre is located on the River Irwell.
Planning for a vacation in Manchester is a great idea. Manchester is
one of the largest cities of England and contains a rich cultural and
traditional values, worth to see and feel. Great places to see, enjoy
and stay make Manchester a city for tourists? place of interest.

History

The Manchester area was settled in Roman times: General Agricola called
a fort he set up there Mamucium, meaning ‘breast-shaped hill.’ A
facsimile of a Roman fort exists in Castlefield, in the city centre.
Manchester remained a small market town until the Industrial
Revolution, beginning in the 18th century. Its damp climate was ideal
for cotton processing and with the development of steam-powered engines
for spinning and weaving, the cotton industry quickly developed
throughout the region. Manchester quickly grew into the most important
industrial centre in the world. In 1838 Manchester, like many of the
largest towns during this period, was incorporated as a municipal
borough. City status for the borough was conferred in 1853.

Recent history

In 15t June 1996 criminals (PIRA) attacked the City Centre and the
consequent reconstruction spurred a massive regeneration of the city
centre, with complexes such as the Printworks and the Triangle creating
new city focal points for both shopping and entertainment. Since the
regeneration after the 1996 PIRA attack and leading up to the XVII
Commonwealth Games Manchester has changed significantly. Old 1960s
focal points in the city centre were torn down in favour of a new more
modern, up market look. Some areas, like Hulme, have undergone
extensive regeneration programs and many million-pound lofthouse
apartments have since been developed to cater for its growing business
class community.

Place of Interest

Structures of interest in Manchester include:

The Corn Exchange (now the Triangle shopping centre)

The G-Mex Centre

Imperial War Museum North

Manchester Central Library

St Peter?s Square

Manchester Town Hall

Midland Bank Building

The Midland Hotel

Piccadilly Gardens

The Portico Library

The Royal Exchange

South Manchester Synagogue

Sunlight House

Trinity Bridge over River Irwell

Victoria Station

The Victoria Baths

The success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games is commemorated by B of the
Bang, Britain?s tallest sculpture, located near the City of Manchester
Stadium.

Transport

Manchester
International Airport, formerly Manchester Ringway Airport, is the
third busiest airport in the UK in terms of passengers per year and is
served by a dedicated railway station. The city has two main city
centre stations Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly linking
Manchester to other places in the United Kingdom. High speed trains to
London are run from Manchester Piccadilly by Virgin Trains.

Manchester and the surrounding area have an extensive bus network, with
regular services in and out of the city connecting to all the satellite
towns and villages.

Manchester has a tram system called Metrolink. Operated by Serco,
Metrolink links the city centre to Altrincham, Eccles and Bury. It is a
high-frequency service, with trams running every 6?12 minutes.

Universities

Manchester is home to two universities: The University of Manchester
and Manchester Metropolitan University. The former is the largest
full-time non-collegiate university in Britain. Together with the
University of Bolton and the Royal Northern College of Music and
University Centre Oldham all nearby, these give the area a student
population in excess of 73,000, one of the largest in Europe.

Sports

Sport and especially football are an important part of Manchester
culture. Two major football clubs, Manchester United and Manchester
City, bear the city?s name.

Museums & Art Galleries

There are many art galleries in Manchester, notably ?The Lowry? in
Salford Quays, which houses works by the Salford painter L. S. Lowry,
?The Athenaeum?, ?Salford Museum and Art Gallery?, ?Manchester Art
Gallery? etc. Manchester has some great museums like Greater Manchester
Police Museum, Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Jewish Museum and
Manchester Museum. These museums are the lively example earlier and
recent history and one of the main tourist attractions.

Shopping

Manchester has a number of busy squares, plazas and shopping streets.
In the city center Deansgate has many shops, including the department
stores, pubs and bars. There are two large shopping centers; the
Arndale Centre in the middle of the city and the out-of-town Trafford
Centre which includes food hall, multi-screen cinema and Namco games
centre. Other shopping centers include the Triangle which caters for a
more youthful and up market clientele and the Royal Exchange Centre.

Food & Drink

Manchester has a vibrant and exciting range of restaurants, bars and
clubs, spanning the famous curry mile in Rusholme to traditional
?grub?, China Town, modern bars and bistros at Deansgate Lock in the
city centre. Regional favorites include the Eccles cake and the
traditional pie capital of the UK is supposedly at the heart of Wigan,
15 miles outside the city. There is a Hard Rock Cafe, chain restaurants
such as Wagamama and bars that include Waxy O?Connor and The Living
Room. Other, independent restaurants, bars and clubs can be found in
the Northern Quarter area of the city centre. Manchester is also famous
for its beer. Although ?The Cream of Manchester?, Boddingtons has left
the city, there are still many international, local and independent
breweries operating in the Greater Manchester area.

Hotels & Accommodation

Whether you are visiting Manchester on business or just for fun, you
may need to find accommodation in Manchester and stay overnight in a B
& B or a hotel.

Manchester has a number of hotels in different locations, from the
airport to city centre. These hotels can be divided in different
categories, from posh to affordable cheap deals, for travellers or for
businessmen. Cheap hotels in Manchester are available to make your stay
in the city enjoyable. Here is a selection:

Quality Hotel Manchester

Jarvis Piccadilly
Hotel

Premier Apartments Manchester

Days Serviced Apartments Manchester

Britannia Sachas Hotel

The Gardens Hotel

The Merchants Hotel

Mitre Hotel

Alias Hotel Rossetti

Thistle Manchester

Stay Inn Manchester

Arora International Manchester

Novotel Manchester Centre

Westlynne Hotel

Atrium by Bridge Street

The Midland - A QHotel

Copperheads Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Manchester

Palace Hotel

Jurys Manchester Inn

When it comes to touring the most popular cities in Germany, Munich is second only to Berlin. It is the largest city in the German state of Bavaria, and is one of the most prosperous cities in Europe. It has a population of just over 1 million people.

The city is located near the Isar river and lies north of the Bavarian Alps. Compared to other European cities, Munich is relatively new, having been established around the 11th century. Many German kings have resided in the city, and Munich has been one of the homes of the Renaissance and the counter movement against the Reformation.

In recent years, Munich has become Germany’s center for biotechnology and other industries. Munich is a city which mixes the old with the new very well, and its citizens are known for their high quality lifestyles. Travelers to the city will find that there is much to see and do. The best time to visit the city is between May and September, when the weather is opulent.

Munich is the home of numerous museums. The Bavarian National Museum is one of the best places for exploring art exhibitions, tapestries, weapons, and other artifacts from the middle ages. For those who love German automobiles, the BMW museum is a place you won’t want to miss.

If you would like to get a glimpse of Bavarian royalty, you will want to visit the Altstadt and check out the beautiful avenues and architecture. For those who are passionate about science and technology, the Deutsches Museum is a place where you will be able to view different types of gadgets and other mechanisms.

When it comes to dining, Bavarian food is very hearty and appetizing. Very few vegetables are used, and people who love them may find this to be disconcerting. Most meals are a combination of pork and potatoes with a touch of cabbage.

As with most cities in Germany, Munich can be expensive, and it may be best to bring ample amounts of money when visiting. Munich also holds many carnivals and festivals, and you will want to see them while visiting. Munich is also an excellent place for cycling.

If you enjoy sailing, you will want to take a boat trip on the Kleinhesseloher Lake, and you can also surf on the Isar river. It isn’t recommended that you swim in the Isar due to pollution, but the Olympia-Schwimmhalle is a great place for those who like to swim.

Rahul viz recommends that you visit Munich Hotels for more information.