As the FIFA World Cup 2006 descends upon the 12 host cities of Germany, some of the most prominent cities such as Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt will barely bat an eyelid seasoned as they are to staging events on a world stage. For other cities, this is the culmination of arduous preparation and planning and for one or two the month in the spotlight might just be enough to propel them into the league of internationally renowned cities.

Cologne is Germany’s longest established cities. It is a city of deep historical ties and cultural depth. The spires of the cathedral are the symbol of Cologne and one of the most recognised landmarks in Germany. As Germany’s fourth largest city, Cologne is ready to promote itself on an international stage and attract some of the long weekend tourism that the aforementioned cities receive. Tourism is alive and kicking in Cologne and peaks in the winter as bus loads from the UK, France and Scandanavia visit the city’s Christmas markets. There is a feeling in Cologne that it is just perhaps not at the same level as its counterparts and that a spectacle such as the World Cup might just prove to be a tipping point in the fortunes of Cologne.

Cologne will play host to 5 World Cup matches and will derive its share of the anticipated 3-4 million fans set to descend on Germany this summer. Cologne is a pleasant, attractive city with much to offer even the most casual or distracted of visitor and is well geared for tourism. With over 250 hotels in the city and additional accommodation added in preparation for the tournament the infrastructure for tourism in Cologne is on a par with any major city in Europe. Accommodation will be stretched in and around the time of the World Cup and late bookers and prospective visitors would be well advised to check out major hotel websites and the Cologne city authority site (http://www.koeln.de ) for up to the minute information and advice.

Cologne is well served by a large international airport offering domestic flights to other host cities as well as extensive destinations throughout Europe and beyond. The city is also well served by regional train and autobahn networks and its situation in central western Germany make it a good base to follow your team by car. Most of the major car hire firms have a presence in the city and this may be a good option for those traversing the nation to follow their teams’ fortunes.

Before the internet, you picked a neighborhood car insurance agent, and you stayed with the insurance company for years. Now car and truck drivers are finding reasons to shop online for their car insurance company. Saving hundreds off their premiums from the convenience of their home are just a couple of reasons.

Lower Premium Quotes

Saving money is the biggest reason drivers are turning online to find car insurance quotes. By comparing the same service from several different insurance companies on one website, drivers can quickly find low cost quotes. The internet is also pushing insurance companies to be more competitive with their prices.

Convenience

Instead of taking the time to see an insurance agent or being hassled over the phone, drivers are saving time by clicking their way to lower insurance quotes. Unlike a neighborhood agent, internet insurances can give you a quote any time day or night. And you have the added bonus of not being bothered by pesky agents.

Finding the Right Company

There is not one cheap or best insurance company. Some insurance companies give better deals for “no accident” drivers, while others offer a competitive premium for families with teen drivers. As your location, material status, and vehicles change, you should also check to see that you are getting the best deal. The internet makes this an easy task.

Falling Prices

While you may have chosen a competitive car insurance company five years ago, they may be high priced in comparison with today’s insurance companies. Since 2001, insurance premiums have been falling, so it pays to check online to see if you can reduce your car insurance costs.

Before You Buy a Car

Before purchasing a car or truck, many people are turning to the internet not to check out vehicle features but to research insurance prices. Cars and trucks that are accident prone, often stolen, or don’t have the latest safety features can costs hundreds more a year in insurance costs. While few neighborhood agents will give you a list of quotes for several different car and truck models, online insurance sites will.

Finding Information

Online insurance sites offer more than just insurance quotes, they also have helpful information. Many sites will list discounts, the safest cars and trucks, ways to reduce your premiums, and more. You can use this information to apply for new discounts or help you plan the purchase of your next vehicle.

To view our list of recommended companies for auto insurance online, some of
which can give you multiple insurance quotes from different companies, visit
this page:
Recommended Auto Insurance Companies Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of eZerk, an
informational website with articles and the latest news about various topics.

Let’s face it, there are a lot of cities in the US, so for Austin to consistently rate as one of the best to live in, it has to have something the others don’t.

Austin has always been a popular city being the capital, but people are moving there in bucket loads as more and more reports surface of it being the best city in which to live, work and play.

Technically, Austin is full of students, politicians, lobbyists and business people but Austin also prides itself on its live music and entertainment, which helps to counter balance all the other boring people. They go so far as even calling themselves ‘the live music capital of the world’. Those are some pretty big boots don’t you think?

With due credit though, Austin has become a fighting ground for the minorities, the quirky and the eccentric. The slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’ was even brandished about in the face of commercial businesses moving into the city, diminishing the amount of home grown and pre- loved businesses already established.

And good on them. No one wants to visit a boring city, so the fact that Austin has fought so valiantly for the title of being a ‘weird city’ is pretty impressive and gets points for all things underdog.

At a glance, Austin is good at music, entertainment, education, politics and e- business. The most notable being music and entertainment because business, education and politics are hardly as fun to do when you’re on holiday.

The central leisure/ entertainment district is around 6th Street (right), which includes a vibrant selection of live theater venues, nightclubs, music bars and food outlets. East 6th Street is for the bars and pubs, West 6th Street is for shopping. The Warehouse District is also grouped with 6th Street and is known for live music venues also. For reference, keep an eye out for your favorite artist at The Backyard, which is always showing someone really famous and worth listening to.

The top selection of things to do in Austin include midnight treks to 6th Street for a cocktail or two or seven, shopping at the European-esque grocer Central Market, and visiting the State Capitol of Texas building which was built in 1888 and stands at 311 feet!

Typically weird are the Congress Avenue Bats, the largest colony of bats (below) in Northern America, which fly through sunset skies in season behind the Austin American Statesman building.

For the best view of the city, go to Mount Bonnell which also looks out over Lake Austin and surrounding Hill Country. Beware, there are 99 steps to climb.

No matter what, there’s nothing like deciding where you want to go at a moments notice. Cities like Austin are spacious and require time to get from A to B. Do it at your own pace and in your leisure with your own rental car. We have the best prices using the best and most reputable suppliers in the country.