Moscow

According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting’s 2007 survey, the three most expensive cities in the world are, no, not American. While many Americas believe they pay more for everything, the city of Moscow has retained its 2006 title of having highest living costs. The high cost of living means Moscow, so well known for its historic and breathtaking architecture is the place where you would order the most expensive cup of coffee as well. With coffee at £3.14, it is no wonder renting a two bedroom luxury apartment would cost you over two thousand and fifty pounds. There is much to see in Moscow though, and the high cost of living does not drive tourists away. The city has a unique charm and with things getting better, Moscow is a place worth checking out, both for its beauty and history. For those looking for five star accommodation, Sheraton Palace Hotel Moscow is situated in the heart of all activity while the three star Salyut Hotel Moscow remains popular with tourists looking for quality hoteling, as well as a deal that doesn’t hit the pocket too hard.

London

London is not far behind Moscow though, a luxury apartment here would cost you two thousand pounds a month on rent, and a cup of coffee would get you about four miles in the city of Kuala Lumpur and that’s not on foot but in a taxi! So that round £2 coin might get you loads somewhere else, but in good old London you will only be able to drown your sorrow in a cup of coffee with it. An international newspaper in the city of London costs £1.20 in comparison with Moscow’s £3.24 so there is some respite at least, but as a tourist you would probably wish you could have brought your lunches from back home. As far as sightseeing is concerned, it’s free, unless of course yore want to step into a building or enjoy the warmth of a pub. The city is set to be the 2012 Olympics host though, and that has given the living costs a huge boost while shooting the roof off of any imaginary price caps that may have existed earlier. Whereas Royal National Hotel London is an attraction for its bars, bowling alleys and entertainment value for a cheaper package, the Ritz Hotel London is one of the best accommodations you would find in London, if you do not mind the bill too much.

Seoul

A city that has hosted the Soccer World cup and one that has the fastest growing & ultra rich population, Seoul has gone from the second most expensive city in 2006 to the third in 2007. A luxury 2 bed apartment on rent here will cost you over seventeen hundred pounds easily, but the cup of coffee here would cost the same as in London. Similarly the price of an international newspaper is £1.09, only just below London’s prices. The skyline dotted with buildings that regularly challenge the skies belongs to a modern city, unlike London or Moscow. Instead of recommended touring of churches of Moscow, or the historical buildings of London, we would recommend you visit the demilitarized areas which even give you a mutually patrolled tour of the border with North Korea. For those visiting the city, Lotte Hotel Seoul is located in Central Seoul and is the one of the most prestigious hotels in the country. The Hamilton Hotel Seoul is different when it comes to the costs as well as location, but it is a stylish accommodation anyhow, one for those on a budgeted trip.

Situated on the highway to Wanaka, Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World is perhaps the quirkiest way out of the daily stressful life. The theme park designed to puzzle and surprise is not only for children, but one the whole family can enjoy together. The attractions range from the leaning tower of Wanaka, which is tilted at an incredible 53 degrees angle, to the 1.5 kilometer long maze filled with surprises.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands at a tilt of 6 degrees and the Wanaka tower is an uprooted tower set at an amazing angle to make you wonder how safe it is to go too near it? Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World has been around for 30 years and it continues to amaze numerous tourists day in day out. The Labyrinth is similarly awesome and thrills adults and youths alike. Allowing for half an hour to an hour to solve the Labyrinth, the organizers have designed a unique modern puzzle with emergency exits at regular intervals for those who give up or run out of gas, metaphorically speaking.

the Hologram room as well. See to believe may not always be the right way to go about things when you come here; there is a lot to see that has to do with optical illusions and technology. Whether you find it interesting, or a tad freaky, depends on your taste, butIf that’s not enough, you can visit Ames Forced Perspective room that is designed to amaze you with how a perfectly normal room from the outside can make your friend look like a giant while you look like a dwarf. That is not all for the illusion rooms though, there is how would you feel if you walked into a room filled with models of 168 famous faces? What would you feel if all those people turned to follow you with their gaze? The answers to these questions are only possible if you visit and experience the atmosphere first hand.

normal, yet it is tilted at an angle of 15 degrees? The café at the Puzzling World is aptly a puzzle-oriented environment as well. While you wait for your order to be served or enjoy. We have seen the technique used in movies, but how about a house that looks perfectly the meal, you can deal with the puzzles on hand. The staff at the café also helps demonstrate the puzzles…don’t forget to enjoy the interesting kaleidoscope that is a part of the café’s ceiling while you are there. Make it a point to use public toilets. Surprised at the suggestion? Apart from the men’s and ladies rooms, there is a third room that is the Roman style toilet and is not only a fun lesson in history but worth a laugh with friends and family as well.

Wanaka is situated in a charming lake district and the area is a beautiful tourist locale, with nature as the star of the show. The mountains and the lake all attract a lot of attention from the tourists. The centrally located Lakeside Serviced Apartments is a luxury lodging facility which is only a stones throw away from the beautiful lake. It only takes 10 minutes to walk to the town center from the Lodge. The rooms are furnished tastefully and the overall décor reflects the beauty of the location as well, complementing the amazing natural beauty all around Wanaka.

All bookings include a gourmet cooked breakfast to start your day off before you tour the town, visit the Puzzling World, go down to the lake, or even enjoy the tennis and petanque facilities at the lodge. There are also facilities to aid your fishing or hiking expedition along with bike trails or skiing, depending on the weather and when you decide to visit Wanaka. For more information check Puzzling Worlds official site.

There are a lot of adventures and expeditions that would satisfy the cravings of the thrill seekers and dare devils, but who is taking care of people with a sweet tooth??? Well, look no further as someone in Rotterdam, who probably had one such tooth himself, came up with the idea of a pancake cruise. Who wants a relaxing and romantic cruise in a big ocean liner with all the luxuries imaginable, when you can have a trip where right from the word go, you are provided with all different sorts of pancakes; apple, plain or bacon with an array of delicious toppings to choose from.

Pancake boat runs on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It can be categorized as more of a family experience. As soon as the trip starts, the pancake buffet is open. You can make them and you can eat them, and eat as many as you can keep down. People concerned about their waist line or suffering from sea sickness: beware!! As far as putting too much sugar into the kids is concerned, there is a specially designed ‘holding area’ for them, filled with colourful balls to help burn the excess sugar out before getting off the boat.

The trip starts from Parkhaven, opposite the Euromast, and lasts for about an hour in which you will have a sweet tour of the Amsterdam harbour. On Wednesday afternoon, the boat hosts a children’s party and if you want to treat someone special, consider taking the 3 hour cruise on a Saturday, which is supposed to be a romantic pancake cruise.

Rotterdam is a beautiful city with many classy accommodation options available. One great hotel is the Westin Hotel Rotterdam. The hotel is located in the city centre opposite to the Central train station and very close to the night life. The Rotterdam airport is at a distance of about 6 kilometres.

It is a very modern hotel with a lot of style and class. The rooms are equipped with all the latest amenities and the service is also great. The restaurant offers International cuisine and nice views of the city from the seventh floor. Hotel also has a modern gymnasium to help you stay on top of your game.