Travel and Leisure

Are you thinking about changing jobs and moving to Leeds but want all the facts, consider the following guide to living and working in Leeds.

Yorkshire is the UK's largest county and home to one of the most dynamic cities in the UK, Leeds. Leeds is the fastest growing city in the UK with a population of over 750,000 people. Awarded 'Best City for Business' by the Occupier Market Intelligence Service (OMIS 2008), Leeds is now the second largest employment centre in the UK outside London, with 420,000 people employed in the city. More jobs have been created in Leeds than in any other UK city outside London over the past two decades. Despite this, it maintains its rich culture and heritage, its vast historic landmarks, excellent shopping and tourism opportunities.

As a place to work, Leeds is one of the leaders in many sectors including financial & business services, law, manufacturing, retail, tourism, media and the public sector. Leeds has become an important hub outside London.

Keep connected and use the many transport links in Leeds. With easy access to the major motorways, excellent bus and coach routes both locally and nationally, cycle lanes and train routes that include a 2 ½ hour journey to London, Leeds is easily one of the best cities to commute within. It offers the ease of public transport with the luxury of accessible routes if you would prefer to drive. Inter-Yorkshire travel is made easy with direct trains to Sheffield, York, Huddersfield and Doncaster.

Living in Leeds is reasonable with the average house price is £166k compared to £280k in the South East. In relation to salaries, the average salary in Leeds is £34,000.

As a place to settle, Leeds offers a fantastic outlet for an urban buzz in the city centre to lush green countryside. The city is a mixture of modern versus architectural significance and is the home of slick apartment buildings, one off buildings and classic town houses. With facilities on the door stop Leeds City centre is unrivalled in the North for its range of theatres, museums, galleries, a thriving music scene, major shopping destinations and it is a centre for sports & leisure, entertainment and nightlife.

A stone's throw away, you reach the suburbs and can access the countryside. Well connected with excellent schools, shops, transport routes and entertainment. Leeds is a diverse, popular and industry rich city to work in with facilities that ensure new inhabitants are not disappointed.

A company specialising in walking holidays will undoubtedly offer an itinerary that encompasses the spectacular south and north islands of New Zealand.

"Yes, that's right I just walked the length of New Zealand!" has been declared triumphantly at many a dinner party in recent years. Exploring the world via the means of your own feet, with the added benefit of knowledgeable tour leaders, is booming in popularity, A 20-day trek traversing the spectacular and diverse terrain of New Zealand is a definite, stand-out amongst the plethora of transcontinental guided walks on offer.

Mixing it up in NZ is the way of the landscape and the way of the hike; from absorbing the vast array of extraordinary culture and arts and crafts, to enjoying the gastronomic delights of the land (the food is just great!), the sensory experiences on offer are varied and many. Accomodation ranging from the comfort of local hotels or B&Bs, to camping under the stars is a relaxing respite from a day on the road or trail. It's this diverse mix that makes the country extraordinary - it is majestic and often otherworldly but also, in a strange way, always reassuringly familiar.

Five reasons for recommending New Zealand walking holidays for an adventure of a lifetime are:

1. It is diverse

New Zealand is unsurpassed in diversity, beauty and accessibility and is characterised by contrasting scenery and culture. Guided walks with tour leaders include both out-of-the-way and iconic destinations.

2. It is breathtakingly beautiful

The landscape is simply majestic, from the snow fields and lakes of Queenstown and Franz Josef Glacier, to the South Island's Abel Tasman National Park, rolling farmlands, the steaming mud pools of Roturua, Art Deco inspired Napier and the Punakaiki coast. Then there is the Waikato River, quaint villages with picturesque gardens overflowing with colourful blossoms, windswept coastlines, the "finest walk in the world" the Milford Track, and so much more.

3. It is exciting

This is the perfect country for adventure travel. Day to day surprises abound, from seakayaking with fur seals, hiking along glaciers, kite surfing windswept beaches, scaling volcanic peaks, skiing, ballooning, luge riding, horse riding and whitewater rafting, to exploring castles and quaint towns with their galleries and eateries. All these attractions ensure any tour can be as diverse and exciting as the landscapes travelled!

4. New Zealand is safe

Accompanying the enjoyment of trekking the Long White Cloud there is the ease of mind and sense of safety that this special island land offers. New Zealand is generally a very safe country in which to travel. A low crime rate, few endemic diseases and an excellent health care system and friendly, caring people mean that travellers can relax into holiday mode.

5. It is very affordable

A New Zealand holiday is competitively priced and very affordable for the average traveller. Accommodation preferred for guided walking tours ranges from authentic wilderness campsites to comfortable lodges and quaint bed and breakfasts. Outstanding service at each location frequented by those on walking holidays is renowned. The food is excellent, multicultural and great value. The country is rightly famous for its dairy products, meats and seafood.

New Zealand walking holidays are always punctuated with surprise, drama, excitement and a veritable feast of new sights, sounds, tastes and emotions evoked by the beauty of this breathtakingly beautiful country.

When is the best time of the year to visit the Disneyland Resort in California? There are many factors to consider when answering this question.

1. What months are the least crowded?
2. What time of year has the least amount of attractions down for maintenance?
3. What time of year has the best weather?
4. At what time of year are the theme parks open the longest hours?
5. What time of year has the best schedule for shows, parades and fireworks?
6. Do you want to take advantage of special Holiday times at the resort?
7. When are prices the cheapest inside and outside of the theme parks?

If you are looking for the time of year when your wait time for attractions would be the lowest, then fall, winter and spring would be your best bet. This would include the months of September, October, November (up to about a week before Thanksgiving and then resuming the week after Thanksgiving), the first two weeks of December, the last 3 weeks of January, February, April (with the exception of the week before and after Easter), and May.

Summertime (June, July and August) as well as Thanksgiving through New Years are the times of the year when most rides are open. Since these are also the busiest times of the year for the Disneyland Resort, most attractions are operating. Occasionally, an attraction or area at one of the two theme parks is undergoing a major renovation. If that is the case, then that attraction and or area might even be closed over the summer months and holiday times. You should always check the Disneyland Resort website (DisneylandResort.com) prior to your visit to see if any attractions will be unavailable.

The best weather is generally in the fall and spring in Disneyland. This will be the time of year with the most comfortable daytime temperatures and the lowest probability of rain. Summertime is also a dry time of the year, but the daytime temperatures can be very hot.

During the summer months and over Holiday weeks, the Disneyland Resort theme parks will open earlier and stay open later than at other times of the year. This is to accommodate the larger crowds who visit the theme parks at those times of the year. Year-round, the theme parks have longer operating hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week - but not necessarily as long as during the peak summer season and holiday season. You can check the operating schedule for both theme parks for up to 6 weeks from today's date by checking the Disneyland Resort website.

The best schedule for all of the shows, parades and fireworks is also going to be during the summer months and Holiday weeks. During the off-season, when crowds are smaller, the fireworks, parades and shows may only be available once a day or even only a few times a week. Generally, they will be available year-round on the weekends.

Halloween and Christmas are special times at the Disneyland Resort. The theme parks are decorated for the holidays, there are special holiday themed parades, tours, fireworks, food, souvenirs and shows. Some of the attractions such as Haunted Mansion and Small World in Disneyland have special Holiday overlays. There are special night parties for Halloween time that are extra ticketed events. The Halloween season typically starts around the middle of September and goes through November 1. The Christmas season typically starts around the middle of November and goes through the first part of January. The crowds during this time of year usually pick up on weekends and then become more crowded as it gets closer to the actual holiday.

Generally, the best prices will be available in the off-season. You may find cheaper prices for hotels, food and tickets from about mid September through mid December (excluding Thanksgiving week), mid January through the end of February, and April and May (excluding the week before and after Easter).

So, what is the very best time to visit the Disneyland Resort in California? Taking all of the above factors into consideration, anytime between mid September and mid November would be my choice. The crowds are lower, the weather is generally pleasant, there are usually good deals to be found, and you can enjoy the Holiday extras. If your visit includes a weekend, you can also take advantage of extended hours, shows, fireworks and parades.

TradeStation has established itself as a revolutionizing factor in the brokerage sector. This online brokerage service has enabled people to conduct their brokerage activities from the comfort of their homes. As such, it has proved convenient for traders since they can undertake their activities at their appropriate time. It boasts of a platform that comes embedded with several features. This includes the direct-access electronic execution order.

Through this online brokerage platform, people can design, optimize, monitor, automate or test their custom equities. They can also work on their forex trading methods, options or futures. It is a trading platform that allows online traders to keep an eye on various markets at the same time. Its live trading feature is simulated to enable traders to see how their strategies would pan out.

For beginners, this online brokerage platform may be challenging to master. It would take some time to come to grips with the twists and turns involved. The first step is to formulate a time frame, budget and set of goals. Beginners should ask themselves some fundamental questions. For example, they must be ready to allot some of their time to learning this technology. The learning process could cost a couple hundred dollars within a maximum duration of six months.

As part of the learning process, it is important to visit the firm's website. Here, learners can get tidbits on how to use the service. The website contains various learning aids such as, free courses and tutorial videos. The company regularly updates the learning materials and lesson contents. This ensures that learners are always at par with the latest features of the online brokerage service.

For people who may need further tutoring, a guidebook exists for this purpose. It is free and contains all the written instructions on how to use the platform. Alternatively, attending a seminar could prove helpful. Those who do not mind spending would have to part with about $100 as attendance fees. This is besides extra expenses like accommodation and airfare. These expenses could however be eventually worthy since these seminars equip people with hands-on experience. Once again, the online brokerage's website lists all the seminars that are set to occur.

The success of these lessons will depend on the astute planning of prospective online brokers. It is their duty to stick to their set schedules. This involves booking their flights and hotels at the earliest instance. Regardless of their tight routines, they should exhibit sheer dedication to their learning programmes. This requires that they must set some hours aside to indulge in some online lessons.

Prospective online brokers should also remember to practice regularly. Practice makes perfect; practicing how to use it would give them a comprehensive understanding of the market. It also prepares them for the pitfalls of online brokering and how to maneuver them. After coming to grips with this service, it is time to get to business.

One of the must-dos is the construction of a trading platform. It is through this platform that online traders can access the real-time data and integrate their trade orders. Building such a platform is a simple process that begins by visiting the platform's website. Here, they can build their platforms while setting up their desired charts. Thereafter, they have the option of selecting their own brokers. The most appropriate TradeStation brokers are those who use electronic platforms to allow direct access to the trade floor.

Mahabalipuram, formerly known as Mamallapuram is a popular tourist destination in Tamil Nadu. The cultural heritage of this city is very rich and thus UNESCO has crowned this place as a "World Heritage Site." The Shore Temple is the most popular and magnificent attraction of this city. The monuments are monolithic and rock-cut. In the ruins of Mahabalipuram you would find monolithic rathas, cave temples, structural temples and sculpted relief. People take the journey from Mahabalipuram to Chennai and Kanchipuram since they form the "Golden Tourism Triangle" of India along the Coromandel Coast.

The Mahabalipuram hotels range from budget to heritage standards. Following is the list of some of the five star hotels in this city:

The Park

The Park is located within Gemini Film Studios near Valluvar Kottam in Chennai. Various tourist spots like Kalpaleshwara Temple and Valluvar Kottam are very near to the hotel. The hotel feels proud to be able to provide refined ambiance and every kind of modern conveniences. One can expect to the get the best experiences in terms of business facilities, accommodation, traditional hospitality and dining options in The Park.

The hotel has 215 well-appointed and spacious rooms in various categories to suit the requirements of individual guests. The Park has a Thai & Continental restaurant, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a rooftop poolside café and a bar. The various amenities and services offered here include banquet facility, doctor on demand, Jacuzzi tub, spa, TV, etc.

Fisherman's Cove

This hotel is to be found in close proximity to the Covelong Beach. This five-star luxury hotel is conveniently located in the suburbs of Chennai, far away from the city chaos. It used to be a fantastic Dutch Fort once. The hotel offers a range of business and recreational facilities to its guests.

There are 88 rooms in the hotel ranging from standard room to Luxury Villas. You would find a multi-cuisine restaurant, two open-air restaurants, a poolside bar in the hotel. The services and amenities include baby care facility, cable TV, free room service, laundry, banquet, doctor on demand, etc.

The Raintree

The Raintree is located near Marina Beach and has been honored with the title of "First Ecotel O Hotel of South India". The hotel is there to provide outstanding services and amenities to the leisure and corporate traveler.

There are 105 rooms in the hotels categorized into Club Room, Deluxe Room and Suites. In the hotel, you would find a Chinese restaurant, a bar, a bar & lounge, a resto-bar and a multi cuisine restaurant. The services and amenities include 24 hour room service, business center, gymnasium, Jacuzzi, swimming pool, banquet facility, laundry, etc.

You must try to book in advance in these hotels in order to get better deal or discounts.

Winter sports enthusiasts are often looking for the perfect ski club to join and for a number of good reasons. These clubs have many great advantages if you are an enthusiast of skiing or snow boarding. Not least of all being in contact with other people with similar passions.

Ski clubs vary in member prices and some also have specific requirements in order to become an official member. Some can be very affordable but others are also very expensive because of the service that they provide to their customers and of course there is the matter of exclusivity. Belonging to an elite group not only can raise your raise your social profile but also provide contacts and friends that will last a lifetime.

Special promos are often offered to the members and there are many different types of benefits that they can get when they join up and become a member.

Any sport that you take part in that needs lots of snow is quite a niche event. It's not like you can just go out your door and start snowboarding, like you can if you're a running enthusiast for example. It can also be a dangerous hobby. And this raises another benefit of joining an organization like this. Cheaper medical insurance and/or support when (and touch wood nothing does) something goes wrong. Skiing is a very enjoyable sport but requires to proper training before being cable car'd up to the highest slope available. Being a member of a dedicated group of like-minded people will ensure that you are in the best place for proper and professional training. And most of all, learn the best safety practices.

If you ski often you'll probably find that joining a ski club would be the best thing to do. You'll visit often, receive discounts on everything they offer and generally find it becoming a home away from home. In fact, many clubs have accommodation you could take advantage of or at least partner with nearby hotels allowing you to receive cheaper stays.

And it's not just skiing. Snowboarding, climbing, any winter based sport you can think of will more than likely be covered by your organization. So if you wanted to turn your hand to something a little different, it wouldn't be hard.

If you find yourself returning to the same resort more than once, seriously look into joining a ski club. It will be one of the best moves you ever make.

Arguably the most popular of the Balearic Islands, Menorca is the ideal place to escape to on holiday. It is the second largest of the islands and as it is quieter than its famous neighbour Mallorca, it is more suited to the more discerning traveller. The weather is perfect for exploring the island or simply relaxing on one of the white sand beaches and soaking up the atmosphere. Choosing to stay in a Menorca villa means you have the independence and flexibility to make your stay here your own.

The south of the island is home to an abundance of holiday resorts, peaceful and relaxing. Small fishing villages line the northern shores and the island has a rich diversity of flora and fauna flourishing inland. Whether looking for a family holiday, a place to take a group of friends, or to spend a romantic week, this island has something to suit every taste. Spending your holiday in a Menorca villa can find you located close to the beaches, local towns or tucked away in the quiet countryside. There is a huge variety of sizes and locations to pick from.

The island's capital

Mao is the modern capital of the island and has much to offer. If your Menorca villa is close by you will have the opportunity to make the most of this cosmopolitan city. Historically it has been important industrially and commercially and its natural harbour is still alive with activity today. Mao's annual calendar is full of fairs, festivals and fiestas and if you are lucky enough to catch one you will be consumed by the vivacity, colours and atmosphere.

It was the British who established Mao as the island's administrative capital and their legacy has remained here. The deep archaeological and architectural history can be discovered at a leisurely pace and there is excellent tourist information supplying maps and advice.

But Mao was not always the main city of the island. The old capital of Ciutadella is a stunning town with winding, cobbled streets and a quaint charm. Spending a day soaking up the atmosphere here is must as well.

A taste of Menorca

If you decide on renting a Menorca villa you will have endless opportunities to sample the fantastic cuisine of the island, borne from the intense fertility of the land and the vicinity to the sea. Fresh vegetables abound and exquisite seafood is a staple on every menu. The flavours, spices and sauces of the cuisine certainly reflect the influences of the many civilisations that have ruled the island, including the Moors, Catalans, the French and even the British. The gastronomy is varied, special and extremely tempting.