Amsterdam is the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is the country's largest city and its financial, cultural, and creative centre. Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there, and seven of the world's 500 largest companies, including Philips and ING, are based in the city. In 2012, Amsterdam was ranked the second best city in which to live by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and 12th globally on quality of living for environment and infrastructure by Mercer.
Amsterdam derives its name from the city’s origin as “Dam” of river “Amstel”. In the past, the name was "Amstelredamme" which later changed as “Amsterdam”. The city is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, attracting over 7 million international travellers annually. The city is colloquially known as ''Venice of the North'' because of its lovely canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges. There is something for every traveller's taste here; whether you prefer culture and history, serious partying, or just the relaxing charm of an old European city!
I was looking into taking a vacation over Christmas break, and Milica from Trip Designs suggested going to Hawaii, and to be more specific, island hopping. First we went to Oahu and next to Kauai. As I never been to Kauai I needed some ideas on where to stay, and based on Milica's suggestion we strayed at Sheraton Kauai Resort. I was so glad I followed her suggestion, as the hotel had beautiful views, nice beach and it's very kids friendly. They also offer breakfast buffet, with a wide variety of food, perfect for picky eaters as well as grownups. Nothing beats the fresh bowl of pineapple for breakfast! Pool was perfect for kids, but the best part was surf lessons. My 8 year old son learned how to surf thanks to the best surf instructors! Thank you Trip designs for making my Christmas break so enjoyable.
