San Francisco continues to be a major destination for tourists and it’s easy to see why. Among its offers are great beaches, shopping and delicious food. With so much to do in San Fransisco, you’ll have no problems filling your days with fun activities. While you could try and fit every activity into your visit, there are some that shouldn’t be missed.

For example, a bike ride on the famous Golden Gate Bridge is an excellent way to experience San Francisco’s scenic mix of natural beauty and architectural masterpieces. Getting a bike is easy, there are plenty of rental businesses nearby with varying prices. With a wide selection of bikes, you’re unlikely to have any trouble finding one to suit your riding style. The best time to go to the Bay Area is when the weather is warm. However, riding a bike in the heat can be tiring so you can take a break midway on the bridge and snap a photo of the unique vantage point.

The cable cars may seem like a mere novelty, but this adds to the enjoyment of riding the classic San Franciscan form of transport. The cable cars are an iconic image on many postcards and they have truly unique history. Public service began in 1873 and the cable cars continue to transport locals and visitors around the city. You can learn more about the history of cable cars at the Cable Car museum.

Shopping is also popular in San Francisco and the Westfield San Francisco Centre is a haven for shopaholics. It houses some of the biggest names in fashion from Abercrombie and Fitch to Kenneth Cole. And don’t forget Union Square which is home to even more designer stores such as Gucci, Guess and Armani..

In San Francisco there a number of great places to dine. For a special occasion, you can head to the harbour where you can choose a table with a view. Dining in the evening is particularly romantic, with the sun setting and reflecting in the water.

If you want a little respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ocean Beach is a peaceful outlet. Running along the Pacific Ocean shoreline, you can soak up some sun and work on your tan. In the evenings it’s populated with bonfire parties. Furthermore, the ocean is known for producing strong waves; making it a favourite with the surfing community.

These are just some of the highlights of the San Francisco. Walking up and down the city’s famous hills can be tiring, so it’s a good idea to choose comfortable accommodation where you can relax after a long day of sightseeing. With so many hotels in San Francisco to choose from, you can pick the right one for you..

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

The rich culture and history that are found in Brussels are also embodied by the city’s tram system. Periodically changing their colours and designs, the trams make an artistic statement and are recognised as a Brussels icon. When visiting Brussels, a trip on the tram will allow you to experience one of the city’s oldest public services.

The tram system in Brussels is rider-friendly, easy to navigate and one of the most affordable options for getting around the city. For one low fare, tram riders can use any combination of the Brussels Metro system services for one hour. When visiting Brussels, you might want to consider looking into a weekend or weekly pass which will give you full access to the tram lines at all times, until the allotted time expires.

The tram is a popular mode of transportation for tourists because of the easy low fares, as well as the well laid out and easy-to-read tram maps. The maps are written in a variety of languages and the thousands of tourists that visit Brussels every year easily use the tram without confusion. The routes are well-planned and cover a large portion of the city, making it easy for you to travel from one attraction to the other with minimal disruptions.

The trams in Brussels are such a staple to the community and culture of the city that a local organisation has taken the experience and turned it into a fine dining and sight-seeing tour. This dinner-hour tram experience is one that visitors won’t forget. Brusselicious offers services in two-hour increments. In your two-hour journey around the city, you will be able to experience the wonderful sights the city has to offer and grab photo opportunities; all while being served a delicious meal, one characteristic of the Brussels culinary culture.

When travelling to Brussels, you might want to consider your options for mode of transportation. There are several train services available, and taking a London Brussels train will give you the opportunity to view the gorgeous countryside leading into the city. You might also want to book your accommodations early to avoid disappointment. It is also a good idea to find a hotel close to the tram line as well.

Thus, the historic tram system of Brussels is a popular mode of transportation for both locals and visitors to the city, and it is an easy and convenient way to get around Belgium’s bustling capital.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

People often dream of spending Christmas in Paris. Known as the City of Lights, one can imagine how magical the Christmas season must be in the French capital. When visiting Paris this Christmas season, you might want to consider spending some time Christmas shopping, as the city offers endless markets, shops and boutiques where you are sure to find a gift for everyone on your list.

First, the most obvious shopping trip will likely be for clothing and fashion accessories. Paris is not only known for its lights and festivities during Christmas season, but also for its wide and varied fashion industry. Paris is full of stylish shops and boutiques that offer clothing and accessories for every taste. You can find and endless selection of shoes, handbags and coats for outerwear. You can pair these items with designer dresses, skirts and suits. You can find a fashionable shop in every corner of Paris, while the more prominent shopping districts include Champs Elysées and Boulevard Haussmann.

Another synonymous item with Paris is chocolate. Cocoa experts from all over the world flock to Paris for a taste of its famous chocolate industry. Paris is home to some of the world’s top rated chocolatiers and, given its strong reputation, a gift of Parisian chocolate this Christmas is sure to please any chocolate connoisseur. You can visit one of the many specialty chocolate shops in Paris to find a great example of the Parisian sweet.

If you have a book collector on your list of people to shop for, a visit to one of the city’s outdoor booksellers will likely be what you’re looking for. Not only do these unique independent booksellers offer both rare books and new releases, they are also perched alongside beautiful Paris scenery such as the Seine River. Paris is home to several types of outdoor markets where you are sure to find that one-of-a-kind gift.

Before you embark on your Christmas shopping trip, consider the amount of luggage space you’ll need upon your return home. It is a good idea to consider the baggage restrictions that are in place with most airlines. Another option is to opt for the train from London to Paris, as you will have more freedom in the quantity and size of your baggage when you make your journey home.

Paris offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities. Thus, for whomever you have on your Christmas list this season, Paris is a great Christmas shopping destination.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Iconic, American and a classic wardrobe staple, the polo shirt has become a pillar of comfortable, stylish fashion. Reproduced the world over, this timeless article has come a long way from its original sporting beginnings.

Despite what the name suggests, the polo shirt as we know it did not first emerge on the polo field. The iconic shirt made its debut appearance in the 1926 US Grand Slam, sported by Rene Lacoste. The 7 times Grand Slam champion, known as ‘the Crocodile,’ was fed up with the stuffy, restricting tennis attire of the times and set about creating an alternative. He designed a short-sleeved, breathable pique cotton shirt. Lacoste’s new tennis top had thoughtful details, ensuring comfort, wear ability and style. The stiff collar protected his neck from the sun and the longer shirttail meant it would stay tucked in.

Tennis players weren’t the only athletes disgruntled with their apparel options. Polo players had been taking the field in long-sleeved, thick oxford cotton shirts since the 1800s. They received some respite when John Brooks, of Brooks Brothers fame, suggested buttons down the front would keep the collars from flapping in the wind; but the outfit remained far from comfortable.

It didn’t take long for the story of Lacoste’s new-style tennis shirt to make the rounds and in the early 1930s the polo players gave it a go. After that, they were hooked. The shirt quickly became standard garb on the polo field. Over the next several decades, the term ‘polo shirt’ and Lacoste’s tennis shirt became synonymous.

After retiring from tennis in 1933, Rene Lacoste formed Chemise Lacoste, a luxury sportswear company. They began mass-marketing the polo shirts in France and North America and the tennis shirt, along with the crocodile logo, soon had a stronghold on the sporting world.

In 1972, a young Ralph Lauren took the shirt from the sporting arena and brought it to the masses. His fledging clothing line, Polo, introduced a version of the shirt in 24 different colours and the humble polo shirt soon became one of the pillars of men’s fashion.

These days, the style has become so popular it is its own category of clothing, seen in school uniforms, semi-professional business attire, outdoor work attire, and everyday use. Hundreds of clothing companies have created their own version of polo shirts as it had proven to be a timeless and essential wardrobe staple.

More than eight decades since it first took the court on the back of Rene Lacoste, the polo shirt and its myriad of modern translations still holds true to its pedigree: a comfortable, wearable and stylish shirt that anyone can wear.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Redevelopment of Cardiff has been a huge success in boosting the tourism appeal of Wales’ bustling capital, which is now widely considered one of the best places to live and to visit in the British Isles. Whether this is your first time visiting Cardiff, or you’re returning once again to the city, you’re sure to find much to occupy you during your visit - as well as a suitable place to stay.

Cardiff offers the same wide variety you’d expect to find in any other big city when it comes to accommodation options - everything from budget hostels for backpackers to five-star hotels for luxury holidays. Areas such as Cardiff Bay are particularly popular, so make sure you book ahead to secure the rooms with the best views if you’re planning on travelling during peak tourism season, while staying a little further out from the city centre could be the best choice for those visiting Cardiff on a budget.

Planning your activities and essential sights to see in Cardiff could help you choose your hotel, especially if you’re only visiting for a short period, such as a weekend break. If you’re visiting to attend a cultural or sporting event, be aware that rooms near the Millennium Stadium and other venues tend to sell out for big occasions, again making it advisable to arrange your stay ahead of time rather than arriving on the day and risking disappointment.

If this is your first time in Cardiff, staying in or at least making the trip to Cardiff Bay is recommended. This revitalised urban area hosts all manner of attractions, chief among them the unique Spirit of Cardiff visitor centre. You’ll also find lots of places to satisfy a craving for culture in Cardiff, including the National Museum and Gallery of Cardiff which ranks among the finest in the UK.

Once you’ve satisfied your appetite for art, you shouldn’t overlook your stomach, and fortunately Cardiff is full of excellent eateries to suit all wallets. There are reportedly more than 200 restaurants and 300 bars within Cardiff’s city limits, so you’ll never be too far from a great meal - and the city’s multicultural make-up means all tastes are accounted for.

If you’re planning on checking out the local nightlife during your visit, it can be wise to choose a Cardiff hotel located near to the major nightclub venues, so you can look forward to a safe trip home and a good night’s sleep.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

When looking to buy a new computer many consumers feel swamped by the amount of choice available. To make the best choice it’s important for consumers to think about where and how they will use their new computer.

The most common types of computers are desktops, laptops, netbooks and tablets. All of these types of machines have their own pros and cons which will be discussed below.

Desktop computers are quite large and comprised of several parts: a tower unit (this is the actual computer), a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. Desktops are generally more powerful and better suited to processor intensive tasks such as video editing, gaming and high resolution photo editing.

The main disadvantage of desktop computers is their lack of portability. As they are larger and comprised of several parts, dismantling and moving a desktop computer can be a chore. Also, desktop computers need to be plugged into an electricity outlet, limiting your choice of location.

A laptop is a portable, feature-rich computer generally capable of all the functions a desktop computer can carry out. Laptops are built as a single unit which houses the main computer, the keyboard, a track-pad (a laptop alternative to a mouse), the battery and the monitor, all-in-one.

The inherent design of laptops means that they are quite portable devices. However, some laptops can be quite bulky and heavy, limiting the ease with which they can be carried around. While laptops can generally perform all of the functions which a desktop can, they are often slower at completing processor intensive tasks.

Netbooks are similar to laptops, but are smaller, lighter and more portable. Other than size, the main differences between laptops and netbooks are the amount of features they have and how powerful they are. By definition, netbooks do not have an optical drive (CD, DVD or Blu-Ray). They also generally have less RAM, a smaller hard-drive and less powerful processors. This can mean that some netbooks struggle to perform functions which a laptop or desktop can easily cope with e.g. playing high definition video or editing high-resolution photos.

Netbooks can however perform many basic functions very well: they can easily cope with browsing the internet, creating spread sheets, word processing, viewing photos and watching non-HD video. Due to their size, netbooks are very easy to carry around, they also tend to be considerably cheaper than laptops.

Modern tablet computers are typified by having a touchscreen display and no keyboard. They are ultra-portable and tend to be thinner and lighter than netbooks. However, they generally have a different set of functions to a netbook. While typically having less processing power than the average netbook many tablets can handle HD video, making them very suitable for portable entertainment uses.

On the down side, many tablets have rigid operating systems. This means that there are many major software applications which can’t be installed on them. However, it is common to be able to find stripped down versions of high-profile programs that have been specifically made for popular tablet operating systems. As they have no keyboard, tablets are also more difficult to type on.

The great thing about all of the options is that they will allow you to get online easily. If you want to make them most out of your new device make sure to pick up a good cheap broadband deal.

As a general guide: if you need a lot of power for video editing or gaming go for a desktop, if you want a lot of functions and portability go for a laptop, if you want cheap and portable basic functions go for a netbook and if you want ultra-portable entertainment and web-browsing go for a tablet.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.