Angelyn Paradises

NASA's shuttlecock Enterprise landed safely at Cape Canaveral in Sunshine State today as a launch-damaged wing posed no job upon re-entry, allowing the crew to finish a two-week mission to the International Space Station.

Enterprise was damaged at launch on Aug. Eight when debris, possibly a piece of ice, struck its right wing during takeoff. It left a playing-card-size dent in heat energy tiles that protect the ballistic capsule during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

Following reviews of the shuttlecock in orbit, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Aug. Sixteen cleared the ship to set down after determining the harm didn't present a safety risk. Endeavor's missionary post involved space-station fixes and continuing building of the orbiting platform.

``I take a breath a suspiration of alleviation every clip we have got a successful launch and a successful landing,'' National Aeronautics and Space Administration Administrator Michael Gryphon said in a post-landing briefing broadcast unrecorded on the Internet. ``Anyone that doesn't understand in the truest sense of the word that this is an experimental vehicle doesn't acquire it.

``Every flight, we look to have got some interesting inquiry that have to be resolved. It's a rare flight where we don't and I anticipate that to continue,'' Gryphon said.

Hurricane Concerns

National Aeronautics and Space Administration directed the shuttle's crew to go back a twenty-four hours early because of concerns that Hurricane Dean might close Mission Control in Houston. Managers stuck with the earlier landing even after the violent storm passed to the South of Texas.

Endeavour's crew completed four spacewalks during its stay at the station, completing undertakings that included replacing a broken gyroscope that assists control the outpost's orientation, attaching a truss to back up solar panels and scene up a cast for tools and equipment.

The ship touched down at Cape Canaveral, the land site of NASA's Jack Kennedy Space Center, at about 12:32 p.m.

Shuttlecock Commanding Officer George C. Scott Emmett Kelly said he was ``underwhelmed'' by the size of the dent when he examined it on the ground. He had trusted NASA's judgement that Enterprise was tantrum to defy re-entry amid temperatures high adequate to run iron.

``I was as certain as I could be about anything that it wasn't going to be an issue,'' he said in a post-flight interview on National Aeronautics and Space Administration TV.

The crew of seven included 55-year-old Barbara Morgan, the stand-in for NASA's ``Teacher in Space'' program, which was suspended after Christa McAuliffe died with other spacemen in the 1986 Rival disaster.

`Doing Just Fine'

Lewis Henry Morgan remained on the conveyance vehicle while the remainder of Endeavour's crew boarded a avant garde to go back to their quarters, National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in a statement.

``This was Barbara's first flight, and she was feeling just a small spot under the weather,'' Gryphon said. ``The flight crew business office said she was doing just good but wasn't able to stand up up and walk around in the Sunshine State heat energy just yet.''

NASA have been paying near attending to the shuttle's status after takeoff since launch harm led to the devastation of Columbia River in 2003. The federal agency installed other photographic cameras to enter the launch and had spacemen inspect the satellite after it reached space.

A briefcase-size ball of fuel-tank insularity punched a hole in Columbia's left wing, allowing hot atmospherical gases to rake apart the satellite as it returned to Earth, killing the seven spacemen aboard.

Debris is likely to go on dramatic the ships as they take off, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration will probably have got to maintain inspecting for harm in celestial orbit until shuttlecock flights cease, said William Gerstenmaier, the agency's associate decision maker for space operations. The shuttlecock programme is put to stop after the space station is completed, scheduled for 2010.

``We're going to go on to maintain learning, go on to maintain improving, and we'll anticipate to see some things come up off, and we'll have got to analyze,'' Gerstenmaier said during the post- launch briefing.

Enterprise will be prepared for its adjacent flight, scheduled for February, National Aeronautics and Space Administration said. The shuttlecock Discovery, which last flew in December, is put to go to the space station in October.

To reach the newsman on this story: Chris Dolmetsch in New House Of York at

Before taking a trip to the fantastic state of Morocco, travellers should first look for a Marrakesh hotel where they can stay. This undertaking may sound fairly easy but believe me, finding a nice hotel that tin provide to all your demands can also be frustrating. If a traveller can't happen a Marrakesh hotel where he can comfortably remainder during his vacation, opportunities are, he may not bask his trip after all.

Morocco is among the top states in Africa that go on to pull more than travelers. And if there is one thing they shouldn't make bold miss, it is the medieval appeal of Marrakesh as one of the country's imperial cities. However, for you to do the most out of your traveling adventures, it is highly recommended that you book your hotel as early as possible, that is, to vouch a appreciated Marrakesh vacation. If you go on to be one of the many tourers who wish to see Kingdom Of Morocco this year, here are the top three things you must see in searching for a Marrakesh hotel:

Check the Adjustment Costs

Traveling tin be expensive-- a ground why you necessitate to cognize how much your Marrakesh hotel adjustment may cost. Hopefully, this tin aid you pull off your traveling finances more and anticipate the best in your African tour. If you are in a tight budget, you'll be advised to remain in more than low-cost hotels in Marrakech. Fortunately, there are a figure of terms reduction hotels and hostels in the metropolis that tin ran into your outlooks at the last possible price. All you necessitate to make is expression for inexpensive adjustments to salvage more than money.

You can also hunt through the Net for online Marrakesh hotel engagement federal agencies that offering low-cost accommodations. Or, happen particular bundles or programmes that you can afford to assist you cut on some of your traveling costs.

Know the Location of Your Marrakesh Hotel

If you desire to book a hotel in Marrakech, another thing that you should believe about is the location. Most concern travellers usually remain in hotels near the airports, so they can conveniently travel. This way, transportation system won't be a job with accessible taxis and public public utility vehicles that tin take you anywhere you desire to go.

However, if you are interested in staying longer in the city, it will be better for you to book a Marrakesh hotel near the celebrated attractive forces of Morocco. As such, more than constitutions are now situated around the medina, so travellers can easily travel to the souks or promenade around the historical land sites in Marrakech.

Do Not Forget About the Services

Since your Marrakesh hotel will be your place during your trip, it is of import that you check up on out the services that most constitutions usually offer their customers. Always maintain in head that the staff of the hotel where you will remain must supply you with efficient and high-quality services. Brand certain that your hotel of pick can immediately ran into your needs.

In improver to these, larn about the installations of your Marrakesh hotel. Inquire about the comforts of the hotel, so you can always have got a restful and comfy stay. Five-star hotels usually have got swimming pools, fitness gyms, and in-house restaurants. A price reduction hotel in Marrakech, on the other hand, have the necessary installations and comforts that you can use.

Explore the wild and untouched beauty of Zimbabwe, travel rafting on the Andes or research the Tai wood on elephant back. There are eternal topographic points and ways to compound holiday with adventure. An escapade holiday enables you to prove your physical bounds while also exploring the natural beauty of the great outdoors. More Americans are opting for abroad holidays that enable them to interact with the civilization and environment of the country. An escapade holiday necessitates you to set up for the physical demands of the trip as well as possible exigencies that may necessitate medical attending or even an air ambulance flight back to the US. We've compiled a little listing of wellness related tips that screens a few necessities from research to medical bodyguard services.

Research your destination. You should happen out what wellness and safety safeguards to take. What is the political climate? Are there environmental dangers? What is the best season for your escapade vacation? Off seasons are great for pricing trades but may not be the best clip for an escapade trip. For illustration planning a rafting trip when the Waters are dangerously high.

Assess the physical demands. Don't overestimate your physical abilities. If your trip will necessitate 5 statute miles of day-to-day walking in tough terrain you necessitate to do certain that you're up to the challenge. An escapade trip is not the clip to get a fitness program. If traveling with an escapade outfitter, discourse your normal fitness modus operandi to guarantee that you are in form for the trip. Online traveling forums can be an first-class resource for information from those that have got "been there and done that.

Be prepared for medical emergencies. You could undergo thorax hurting while sitting at your desk. Imagine having that thorax hurting happen when you are in a foreign country. If you undergo a serious unwellness or hurt while traveling, it's likely you will desire to come up place for treatment. No 1 desires to be hospitalized far from friends and family. An air ambulance service can transport you from a foreign infirmary to a infirmary in your place country. As you set up for your trip, maintain the figure to a medical air transportation system services with your other exigency numbers.

Read the mulct black and white on your wellness coverage policy. You may have got insurance restrictions when traveling outside the U.S. Inch addition, your policy may except insurance for hurts related to escapade sports. If your policy is not clear or you have got questions, contact your coverage bearer before you go forth place for clarification. You can also inquire your company to react in authorship as to how they would manage an hurt if it occurred. The tips above volition aid you set up in progress for possible emergencies. While we all hope to go without incident, it's nice to cognize that if you make acquire hurt, a medical conveyance airplane is only a phone call away!

A holiday in the tropical islands of Hawaii! Sun and beaches and a lovely time: Aloha State gives you these and more than as a perfect holiday destination. It is adjacent to eden and what is more, traveling to Aloha State is easy and hassle-free. What about adjustments there, you might ask. There are many low-cost Aloha State holiday leases available which you can book online or offline right from your home.

Choosing the right Aloha State holiday rental, whether a cottage, beachfront hotel, extravagance resort, or condominium is certain to heighten your holiday enjoyment. If budget is important, see engagement your Aloha State lease far in advance, because many leases will offer price reductions for early reservations. Discounts are also available for specific modern times of the twelvemonth and for bigger groups. Hawaiian holiday leases offering a wide degree of services and amenities, which will accommodate a diverseness of vacationers, and are available at very sensible prices. For example, many newlyweds prefer the privateness and romanticist atmosphere of a cottage.

The island of Maui Island is what we propose as the best alkali for your vacation. It is the 2nd biggest island in Aloha State and have a fewer people than one would think. Maui Island offers more than 'privacy' and you will have got a pleasant holiday in a less crowded setting. Oceanfront Maui Island holiday leases can be booked whether they be a bungalow, cabin, condominium or a house -- your choice. A friendly and non intrusive people do your remain here even more than pleasurable.

The best manner to do your holiday memorable is to stay at a Maui Island vacation rental, stopping point to the escapades you will desire to experience. From this base, you are within short distance to kayaking, deep-sea fishing, diving or climbing. There are 80 different beaches to promenade or sunbathe or you can prosecute in a spot if golfing. Maui, nicknamed the 'Valley Isle', offers climbers an extinct, volcanic volcanic crater from top of which 1 can undergo a fabulous bird's-eye position of the island.

Maui characteristics one international airdrome and two other commuter train airports, in improver to a figure of heliports. Being a portion of the United States, English Language is the local language, the Dollar the medium of exchange and recognition card game are used everywhere. Maui Island Island is wonderfully different but at the same clip the local atmosphere is warm and accommodating.

Besides Maui, there are four other 'neighbor island' with a significant population, holiday leases and tourer attractive forces -- and each have its particular properties offering different activities and rubber-necking vistas. The island of Kauai Island have a 10-mile long canyon; Oahu Island have surfing and the Big Island have an active volcano. There are ferryboat services from Maui, Lanai, and Molokai Island islands and boats to other islands for jaunts and tours.

Despite forecasts of a busy hurricane season, the idea of a summer vacation on a tropical beach appeals to many travelers. And there is one advantage: It costs less now than at other times of year.

"Many of these places - Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico - are warm-weather destinations and this time of year is their offseason, so deals are abundant," said Linda D'Arcy, a travel specialist with American Express Travel.

Here's what you need to know about making your vacation hurricane-proof.

THE FORECAST: The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 17 named storms in the Atlantic this season, with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five expected to be major. Last year forecasters also predicted a heavy hurricane season, but they were wrong. The El Nino weather phenomenon, which warms the Pacific and calms storms in the Atlantic, kicked in unexpectedly.

AIR TRAVEL: According to David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association, if a hurricane is headed for your vacation destination and you're not there yet, air carriers "will generally, under any severe weather conditions, provide some sort of a period of time in which you can use that ticket without paying the penalty for changing a nonrefundable ticket."

If you're at your destination and you need to leave because a hurricane is en route, "they'll just rebook you on whatever flights they have to get you out."

But it gets complicated when the forecast is imprecise. "They're not going to allow passengers to just change reservations because of a remote possibility that a hurricane could be near," Castelveter said.

Some passengers who tried to leave Cancun ahead of Hurricane Wilma in 2005 found airlines unwilling to rebook them without hundreds of dollars in additional fees. That's when it pays to have used a travel agent or tour company, or to have purchased insurance.

INSURANCE AND OTHER GUARANTEES: For 5 to 7 percent of the cost of your trip, you can buy trip-cancellation insurance that will refund tickets and reservations if your vacation is canceled, delayed or interrupted due to severe weather or other reasons. You'll also be covered for rebooking flights, extra days in a hotel, and other expenses, loss of belongings or damage to rental cars, and certain medical expenses, according to Jon Ansell, spokesman for the US Travel Insurance Association. A comprehensive policy also usually includes 24-hour hot line assistance.

You can buy trip insurance through travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines and even travel-booking Web sites. Or visit to see a list of member companies like AIG.

Trips booked through Expedia.com are automatically covered by the Web site's "hurricane guarantee," according to Expedia spokeswoman Katie Deines.

"If there is a major weather-related incident and someone is unable to travel to their destination or the trip is disrupted by a hurricane, we will refund their payment, and if they're in the middle of a trip, we'll reaccommodate them and work with airline and hotels to do that." She added that "there's nothing special the customer has to do to be eligible. Anyone holding tickets for affected areas is covered."

In addition, Expedia offers a package protection plan that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, not just weather. That costs $49 a person within the continental U.S., $69 to Europe and $89 elsewhere.

American Express Vacations also offers a "Cancel For Any Reason" plan. For trips $999 a person or less, the insurance costs $89 per adult, $109 for Europe. And you don't need an American Express card to use American Express Vacations - it's a travel company that sells to anyone.

Many hotels and resorts have hurricane guarantees, but details vary. Most refund unused days; some credit deposits toward a future trip.

Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic will refund 100 percent of your money if a hurricane watch or warning is issued for La Romana or your origination city or route, within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival, plus 5 percent of the refund will be credited to a future visit. Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts offer a "Blue Chip Hurricane Guarantee" that assures a free future vacation if a hurricane interrupts your stay. The Bahamas Hotel Association, which has about 75 members, has a long-standing "Hurricane Cancellation Policy" that gives travelers the choice of using deposits toward a future stay or getting a refund.

"The real question is what happens when there's a storm out there, and you're traveling within the bubble, which has a huge error margin within a five-day forecast," said Florida Keys & Key West tourism spokesman Andy Newman. "Each property is going to have its own policy on that. So ask the question in advance," especially if you're the type of person who'd rather stay home than take a chance on a storm that might or might not make landfall.

CRUISES: "Cruise lines can and do change their itineraries for many reasons, including to avoid bad weather," according to Douglas Stallings, editor of "Fodor's Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises" and "Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call." And passengers are not usually entitled to any sort of compensation.

But "you might get some sort of onboard credit, especially if you have to spend a day aboard ship" that you had expected to spend sightseeing or shopping on an island.

Policies vary by cruise line. Carnival provides a standard $20 per person credit for each missed port if other ports of call cannot be substituted. "If we know before a voyage starts that we cannot offer the scheduled itinerary for whatever reason, guests have the option to cancel without penalty," said Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz.

On the other hand, even if the itinerary changes, you'll still get a vacation on a cruise, whereas a land-based trip wouldn't be so easy to salvage.

"There are many worse things that could happen to your vacation than having to go to St. Thomas instead of San Juan because of a storm," Stallings said.

Last year, New Jersey's attorney general sued Royal Caribbean Cruises for diverting a Bermuda-bound cruise to Canada and refusing to issue refunds. The ship was headed into a tropical storm, and because it departed from New Jersey, the only alternative itinerary was to head north. Passengers were given a $42.50 credit as compensation and a 25 percent discount on a future Royal Caribbean trip.

Under the lawsuit settlement, all the passengers got was an increase in the discount on future trips to 35 percent, according to the attorney general's office.

FLORIDA: The state maintains an emergency hot line just for tourists, at 800-287-8598.

For meeting planners, Visit Florida, the state's tourism agency, has a program called "Cover Your Event," which provides free supplemental insurance that covers any costs directly related to rebooking a meeting should it be displaced due to a named hurricane, August-October. Coverage will pay for room rate differentials and rescheduling expenses such as reprinting program books, signs, etc. Details at .

The Florida Keys & Key West tourism Web site at offers a downloadable brochure about hurricane safety information. The Web effort and a related storm safety communications program have won awards from the 2007 National Hurricane Conference and the 2007 Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference.

The major theme parks - SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove, Universal Orlando and Disney - all have hurricane guarantees, but details on credits, rescheduling and refunds vary. In general, you must book your trip through the theme parks' vacation companies to be eligible.

NEW YORK - Despite forecasts of a busy hurricane season, the idea of a summer vacation on a tropical beach appeals to many travelers. And there is one advantage: It costs less now than at other times of year.

"Many of these places - Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico - are warm-weather destinations and this time of year is their offseason, so deals are abundant," said Linda D'Arcy, a travel specialist with American Express Travel.

Here's what you need to know about making your vacation hurricane-proof.

THE FORECAST: The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 17 named storms in the Atlantic this season, with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five expected to be major. Last year forecasters also predicted a heavy hurricane season, but they were wrong. The El Nino weather phenomenon, which warms the Pacific and calms storms in the Atlantic, kicked in unexpectedly.

AIR TRAVEL: According to David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association, if a hurricane is headed for your vacation destination and you're not there yet, air carriers "will generally, under any severe weather conditions, provide some sort of a period of time in which you can use that ticket without paying the penalty for changing a nonrefundable ticket."

If you're at your destination and you need to leave because a hurricane is en route, "they'll just rebook you on whatever flights they have to get you out."

But it gets complicated when the forecast is imprecise. "They're not going to allow passengers to just change reservations because of a remote possibility that a hurricane could be near," Castelveter said.

Some passengers who tried to leave Cancun ahead of Hurricane Wilma in 2005 found airlines unwilling to rebook them without hundreds of dollars in additional fees. That's when it pays to have used a travel agent or tour company, or to have purchased insurance.

INSURANCE AND OTHER GUARANTEES: For 5 to 7 percent of the cost of your trip, you can buy trip-cancellation insurance that will refund tickets and reservations if your vacation is canceled, delayed or interrupted due to severe weather or other reasons. You'll also be covered for rebooking flights, extra days in a hotel, and other expenses, loss of belongings or damage to rental cars, and certain medical expenses, according to Jon Ansell, spokesman for the US Travel Insurance Association. A comprehensive policy also usually includes 24-hour hot line assistance.

You can buy trip insurance through travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines and even travel-booking Web sites. Or visit to see a list of member companies like AIG.

Trips booked through Expedia.com are automatically covered by the Web site's "hurricane guarantee," according to Expedia spokeswoman Katie Deines.

"If there is a major weather-related incident and someone is unable to travel to their destination or the trip is disrupted by a hurricane, we will refund their payment, and if they're in the middle of a trip, we'll reaccommodate them and work with airline and hotels to do that." She added that "there's nothing special the customer has to do to be eligible. Anyone holding tickets for affected areas is covered."

In addition, Expedia offers a package protection plan that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, not just weather. That costs $49 a person within the continental U.S., $69 to Europe and $89 elsewhere.

American Express Vacations also offers a "Cancel For Any Reason" plan. For trips $999 a person or less, the insurance costs $89 per adult, $109 for Europe. And you don't need an American Express card to use American Express Vacations - it's a travel company that sells to anyone.

Many hotels and resorts have hurricane guarantees, but details vary. Most refund unused days; some credit deposits toward a future trip.

Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic will refund 100 percent of your money if a hurricane watch or warning is issued for La Romana or your origination city or route, within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival, plus 5 percent of the refund will be credited to a future visit. Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts offer a "Blue Chip Hurricane Guarantee" that assures a free future vacation if a hurricane interrupts your stay. The Bahamas Hotel Association, which has about 75 members, has a long-standing "Hurricane Cancellation Policy" that gives travelers the choice of using deposits toward a future stay or getting a refund.

"The real question is what happens when there's a storm out there, and you're traveling within the bubble, which has a huge error margin within a five-day forecast," said Florida Keys & Key West tourism spokesman Andy Newman. "Each property is going to have its own policy on that. So ask the question in advance," especially if you're the type of person who'd rather stay home than take a chance on a storm that might or might not make landfall.

CRUISES: "Cruise lines can and do change their itineraries for many reasons, including to avoid bad weather," according to Douglas Stallings, editor of "Fodor's Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises" and "Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call." And passengers are not usually entitled to any sort of compensation.

But "you might get some sort of onboard credit, especially if you have to spend a day aboard ship" that you had expected to spend sightseeing or shopping on an island.

Policies vary by cruise line. Carnival provides a standard $20 per person credit for each missed port if other ports of call cannot be substituted. "If we know before a voyage starts that we cannot offer the scheduled itinerary for whatever reason, guests have the option to cancel without penalty," said Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz.

On the other hand, even if the itinerary changes, you'll still get a vacation on a cruise, whereas a land-based trip wouldn't be so easy to salvage.

"There are many worse things that could happen to your vacation than having to go to St. Thomas instead of San Juan because of a storm," Stallings said.

Last year, New Jersey's attorney general sued Royal Caribbean Cruises for diverting a Bermuda-bound cruise to Canada and refusing to issue refunds. The ship was headed into a tropical storm, and because it departed from New Jersey, the only alternative itinerary was to head north. Passengers were given a $42.50 credit as compensation and a 25 percent discount on a future Royal Caribbean trip.

Under the lawsuit settlement, all the passengers got was an increase in the discount on future trips to 35 percent, according to the attorney general's office.

FLORIDA: The state maintains an emergency hot line just for tourists, at 800-287-8598.

For meeting planners, Visit Florida, the state's tourism agency, has a program called "Cover Your Event," which provides free supplemental insurance that covers any costs directly related to rebooking a meeting should it be displaced due to a named hurricane, August-October. Coverage will pay for room rate differentials and rescheduling expenses such as reprinting program books, signs, etc. Details at

The Florida Keys & Key West tourism Web site at offers a downloadable brochure about hurricane safety information. The Web effort and a related storm safety communications program have won awards from the 2007 National Hurricane Conference and the 2007 Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference.

The major theme parks - SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove, Universal Orlando and Disney - all have hurricane guarantees, but details on credits, rescheduling and refunds vary. In general, you must book your trip through the theme parks' vacation companies to be eligible.

A visit to Florence is a must for any art lover. UNESCO estimates that 60% of the world's most important artworks are in Italy, with over half of them located in Florence. Situated in the northwest of Italy, surrounded by the wine-growing hills of Chianti, the city attracts rapture and awe altogether. It is also one of the most crowded cities in Europe, as once the visitor drops down to street level, the profusion of traffic, tourists and touts can remove all sense of tranquility. To ensure however, that your stay in Florence, either for tourism or corporate purposes, is a success, the easiest way is to go to online hotel booking. The offer is varied and provides the best money can buy.

Choose among Florence's cheaper and comfortable locations If you are looking for cheaper solutions for your stay in Florence, Hotel Giada may be one of the options. The district of St.Lorenzo, known all over the world for its lively market, is one of the most fascinating and typical market-places of Florence with the unfinished church of San Lorenzo, built in 393 and reconstructed by Brunelleschi. Just in front of the right side of the church you can see the picturesque location; a small hotel in the heart of Florence, but a real oasis of relax, with its particularly comfortable rooms, all equipped with modern amenities. The staff is always willing to help in the organization of your holidays, in the reservation of museums tickets, restaurants, car hire and sightseeing tours. Hotel Orcagna is located in one of the most distinguished and calm areas of central Florence, close to the Arno river and a short walk from Piazza S. Croce.

The hotel offers comfortable guestrooms, a small garden, where you can relax, bicycles for sport lovers and an internet point in the lobby. Another ideal place if you are in town on holiday or on a cheap business travel, choose the famous Hotel Semifonte, centrally located for all tourist flows and cultural itineraries to Viena-Florence-Pisa-S.Gimignano, between the Val d'Elsa and the Chianti territory. The hotel offers cozy rooms with all the modern amenities and with all the corporate comfort if you are on a business travel. The great period doorway of the three-star Hotel Donatello opens out onto the large garden of Piazza Indipendenza. Thanks to this central position, all of the principal monuments of the city are easily reachable on foot: Piazza San Marco, the Accademia delle Belle Arti, the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio. The rooms of the hotel, embellished with customized paintings, are all fully equipped. The bar and lounge overlook the internal garden where, during the summer, you can have a drink while relaxing at an open-air table.

Accommodation for bigger taste and pockets For corporate travel and for luxury tastes, Florence is the place to be. One of the best solutions, for surprisingly low rates is Hotel Croce di Malta, located only a few steps from both the Arno River and the Santa Maria Novella railway station. The location is perfect for those who wish to be close to the most prestigious boutiques, the banks of the Arno River and the main monuments. The rooms charm goes hand in hand with the comfort of the most modern, functional amenities. The Kraft Hotel is situated in a residential and romantic area of Florence, just a few steps away from the Opera House, the Arno river and the railway station, a symbol of style, elegance and Florentine hospitality. It is a refined and quiet first class hotel always preferred by artists. Athenaeum is a contemporary hotel in the heart of the historical centre of Florence. Personal attention to the needs and desires of each guest characterizes this completely new structure that presents an array of services that also include a Putting Green for golf enthusiasts, a modern free fitness room.

Luxury meets comfort in Florence's villas If you are however willing to spend more, some of the accommodation palaces stand at your disposal. Located opposite the Cascine Park and the famous Lugarni, the Starhotel Michelangelo is a deluxe hotel which occupies a privileged location, just minutes from historic buildings, museums and shops. The hotel has a restaurant that offers Tuscan cuisine in a contemporary setting. If you are more interested in a view, choose Villa La Vedetta. With a partial view of Florence, these intimate rooms are located on the ground and first floor of the Romantic Villa, besides the main building, facing the Italian beautifully furnished with a combination of real antiques and pieces of contemporary design. The rooms located in the Romantic Villa also dispose of a small private garden fully equipped, to enjoy the mild Florentine weather from Spring to Autumn. Original antiques are tastefully combined with elements of modern design. A warm welcome awaits you at the five-star Hotel Savoy in the heart of Florence. Located on the historic Piazza della Repubblica, close to the landmark Duomo and just steps away from the main fashion houses, museums and galleries, this is the ideal base from which to visit the key attractions of this beautiful and historic city. The hotel's elegant decor offers a chance to experience the best that Florence has to offer with the highest standards of accommodation, cuisine and personalized service.

No matter, however, what accommodation you may choose, keep in mind that it is best for visitors to avoid the peak summer months of July and August, when the weather can be unbearably sticky and the prospect of trailing around museums becomes unappealing. Early autumn, when the countryside glows with mellow fruitfulness, is the best time to visit.