Author: Vicky Cochrane Christmas markets are the perfect way for shoppers to sample flavours of countries far and wide and tick some Christmas presents off the shopping list at the same time. With Christmas markets popping up all over Europe and the UK, you have a great choice of locations with some even closer to home than you might have expected. Northern Ireland’s capital city Belfast is one of the destinations that hosts a continental Christmas market boasting exotic wares, delicious delicacies and an array of traditional handmade goods. There is plenty to feast your eyes and taste buds on from fine Belgian beers to Dutch cheeses and French charcuterie and cakes. When you’ve had your fill you can browse Parisian knick knacks, French perfumes and Provincial crystal amongst many other types of knitwear, crafts and authentic goods from across the globe. One bonus of picking up some Christmas presents at a continental market is centred around the uniqueness and originality of the items for sale. Quite often you are spoilt for choice if looking for something unusual and different to what’s offered on the high street. Shopping at a Christmas market offers a different experience altogether - no bustling and hot shopping centres to contend with but a more relaxed and enjoyable environment for you to enjoy whilst sipping a Gluwein. Belfast’s Christmas market is held in the grounds of Belfast City Hall, a magnificent Edwardian building located in the city centre which lies in around one and a half acres of gardens that are open to the public all year round. The hall itself was completed in 1906 so is a place of historical interest in its own right and the gardens contain a number of interesting statues and monuments that you can take a peek at if you need a quick break from shopping. In recent years at Belfast’s Christmas market, the grounds of the City Hall were simply divided into a number of different villages including French, Dutch, German, Spanish and of course featuring local produce from surrounding areas in Northern Ireland. Each village usually has a number of stalls selling traditional gifts, toys, crafts and food whilst themed entertainment really adds an air of authenticity to the whole adventure. The continental markets offers a great opportunity to get wrapped up in your winter gear and get into the Christmas spirit by picking up gifts with a difference by either taking a day trip or weekend getaway to Belfast. If you wanted to make a week of it, or even longer, there are plenty of other attractions for you to visit in Belfast and further afield. Travelling from other parts of the UK is nice and easy as Belfast has two nearby airports and is also a popular ferry port with routes available from several locations including Scotland, which is only a few hours away. So, why not jump onto a ferry to Belfast and do some shopping under the Christmas lights? --- Victoria Cochrane 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. This article is free for republishing Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_679171_29.html
Author: Mairead Foley For Christmas shopping, Derry has some of the biggest and best Irish and British stores as well as lots of smaller boutiques. And there's even a little Craft Village tucked away in the middle of it all. Derry is a popular shopping destination in Ireland, especially at Christmas time when the city centre comes alive with Christmas markets and festive shopping galore! Begin your Christmas shopping at Derry’s Guildhall Square where you'll find a hive of activity at Christmas time with the walled City Market attracting thousands of visitors. This City Market is a magnet for traders from all over Ireland and Europe, so you can buy just about anything from these brightly decorated stalls. The market is probably best known for its incredible display of foods with continental cheese, the aroma of freshly baked breads and traditional cakes adding to the Christmas shopping atmosphere in Derry. You might even get the chance to sample some bratwurst sausage, or for the more daring, a bit of ostrich or kangaroo. Of course, you'll also find stalls selling some unique Christmas gifts and crafts so you're sure to find some special (and totally one-off) Christmas shopping here. The City Market takes place in Derry from the 1st to the 22nd December. After you've browsed the stalls, why not head downtown to soak up some more of the festive atmosphere on the busy streets of Derry. Derry city is well known for the Foyleside Shopping Centre – which is one of the largest shopping centres in Northern Ireland. It's open 7 days, has got lots of car parking and over 40 top stores like Dorothy Perkins, RiverIsland, Adams, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Thorntons, Barratts, Topshop, Argos and lots more. It's got everything you need under one roof and you get to keep warm on a chilly December day too! Not far from the Foyleside Shopping Centre (right beside it in fact) you'll find the Richmond Centre. Situated on Shipquay Street, it's definitely worth a visit if you're here for Christmas shopping. Like Foyleside it's a huge shopping arcade with a good variety of shops over three floors. It's open from 9am – 6pm daily except on Sunday's when it's open from 1pm – 6pm. There's late shopping until 9pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Opposite the Richmond Centre is Austin & Co. You won't have any problem recognising this shopping centre as it's a 5 storey Edwardian building which stands proudly on the street corner overlooking the Diamond area of the city. It dates back to 1830 and is one of the city's favourite landmarks. It's worth a browse inside if only to admire the architecture. Austin's claims to be the oldest independent shopping centre in the world – it claims to be 15 years older than Harrods of London and 25 years older than Macy's of New York! It's a popular spot for ladies and men's fashions but you'll also find some beautiful, china, Waterford Crystal, linens and a superb handbag section on the ground floor! The centre also boasts a fantastic 150 seat restaurant on the 3rd floor, which has the most beautiful views of the city. It's open 7 days a week (with late shopping on Thursday and Friday nights) and 1pm – 5pm on Sundays. Other shopping centres in the city include The Quayside Shopping Centre on Strand Road and the Lisnagelvin Centre in the Waterside area. No visit to Derry city is complete without a visit to the famous craft village. It's basically a little cluster of village shops which portray what Derry would have looked like between the 16th and 18th centuries. These quaint little shops mostly sell crafts and in some of them you might even be lucky enough to watch the craftsmen at work. Derry city attracts shoppers from all over Northern Ireland and the Republic in the run up to Christmas so it's important to book your accommodation well in advance. Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Derry, like what to see and where to go. You can also browse our list of Derry hotels and find yourself a great hotel deal! This article is free for republishing Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_676706_29.html
Author: Mairead Foley If you're heading across the border to Northern Ireland to do your Christmas shopping (or for the January sales) this year, then Enniskillen is the place to go. It's situated in the heart of County Fermanagh and borders counties Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan in the Republic. Many shops accept the Euro as well as Sterling and you can make some genuine savings here! Enniskillen is popular for shoppers from the surrounding counties and beyond (even Dublin!) and especially at Christmas time when the town centre is buzzing with bargain hunters. The Erneside Shopping Centre is a popular first port of call. There's lots of car parking, so no worries here. Inside there are a number of well known stores including, Harry Corrys, Next, Lifestyle Sports, Barratts Shoes, Exhibit, Adams, H Samuels, Argos, New Look, Monsoon, Claire's Accessories and Millets. There's also Semi Chem, which is a health and beauty retailer. Here you can pick up your favourite perfumes, and all types of lotions and potions at really good prices. This is very popular with shoppers from the southern counties as even when you consider the exchange rate it's still great value for money. If you've the little ones with you there's a Santa's Grotto – you can't miss it, it's right in the centre of the shopping centre. To get to the town centre from here, just cross the pedestrian bridge at the back of the shopping centre – it's about a 5 minute walk. One place which always catches your eye when crossing the bridge is Crabtree Cottage (near the traffic lights). It's usually all decked out for Christmas and is definitely worth taking a look inside – it's full of unique pressies and Christmas decorations. From here it's only a minute's stroll to the main street . Here you'll find a whole host of popular stores including Topshop, Boots, Gordons Chemist, Woolworths, Dorothy Perkins, Heatons, and one of my favourites Houstons at the top of the street. It sells womenswear, menswear, gifts and also has a section housing a number of popular high street stores. These include Warehouse, Bay, Principles, Oasis and Wallis. There's always a festive atmosphere on this street, especially at week ends, with carroll singers etc. And if you're feeling peckish at this stage there are a number of cafes as well as pubs serving steaming hot lunches. Next on the list are the big supermarkets. At the moment there's Dunnes Stores, Lidl and Asda in the town. Asda, up until recently, was located within the Erneside Shopping Centre – it has moved about 100 metres, you'll see it from the entrance of the centre. Basically, anything and everything you'll need for Christmas you'll find here. It's got the lot, decorations, all the food and drink you could ask for, clothes, electrical goods and much more. You can pay in Euro or Sterling here and you really do save money (shoppers from the Republic) and it's especially good for alcohol. No Christmas would be complete without the odd tipple! The Buttermarket Craft & Design Courtyard is also well worth a visit. Formerly a 19th Century dairy market, it now consists of about 16 craft units, a gift shop and a coffee shop. You can browse through the handmade jewellery, pottery, crafts, paintings, much of which is locally made. It's open 10am until 5pm, Monday to Saturday all year round. Enniskillen attracts shoppers from both Northern Ireland and the Republic in the weeks running up to Christmas and it's a great spot to soak up the festive atmosphere. Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Northern Ireland, like what to see and where to go. You can also browse our list of Fermanagh hotels and find yourself a great hotel deal! This article is free for republishing Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_676708_29.html
Author: paraseek911 Christmas is nearly here, the magical season when our heads and bank accounts turn toward Christmas gift buying, and the nightmare of trudging around endless shops,filled with other desperate folk swarming like disturbed bees, with our heads full of question like, "just what do you buy for him,her, Auntie, a teen boy or girl or even a work colleague?" Gift shopping can turn into a never ending quest for the perfect present. It's cold, we often spend money on items that catch our eyes only to get home and realize that it isn't really suitable for anyone that we have to buy for... we all know that shopping of any sort during the Christmas period can be more trouble than it’s worth and pretty darn miserable, infuriating and costly. Impulse buying can lead to costly mistakes. So why not explore the many benefits of buying your Christmas gifts online this year? Are you forced into Secret Santa for a colleague you really don't know, and have spent hours already trying to think of something other than 'socks' for them? Shopping for corporate gifts, like a gift for your boss, or a present for the kind neighbor who looked after your home while you went away can be a mine field. Buying your Aunt chocolates and driving half way across the country to deliver them to hear 'You shouldn't have, I'm on a diet', is disheartening to say the least too. It can be hard to decide what to buy for friends or relatives who live far away as you have to consider, size, shape, packaging material and cost and timings of postage too. At a time where you need to plan your Christmas, buy food, organize your home and attend parties, finding gift ideas can be an extra stress you just don't need. Gift Shopping Online BenefitsShopping for a Christmas gift online is the best most stress free solution, because you’ll have access to great gift ideas and all from the comfort of your own home. You wont have to worry about getting to the store at set times, or facing shop shelves that have been picked clean already, you can rest assured as somewhere in cyberspace, is the perfect spot to locate a great gift. A gift to convince them that you’ve spent hours perusing your choice before choosing just the perfect gift for them-no packaging to worry about, and if you know where to look, you can even find a unique personalized gift that they'll all love too. Finally the Perfect Gift Idea- Suitable for anyone for any eventWhat do you give the man that has everything, your sister in Australia or her kids that you've never even met, you're young nephew, a close friend or even the nurse that was kind to you when you were sick? Rest assured that the perfect Christmas gift is out there. Is it Easier to 'Wish Upon a Star?A hot tip for a stress free Christmas: How about ordering a gift online, one that will be packaged and shipped to anywhere in the world for you and on-time, and ordering it personalized specially to appeal to the receiver? Make sure it is a unique gift that they will not already own, no matter how much they all ready have and that its suitable for anyone of any age, a special gift they will love and cherish? Sound like a tall order? Why not buy them a Star? Wish-Uponastar.com has just what you need and will ship worldwide. When you buy a star and write an eternal message in the night sky. Before you buy: Look for the important extras that can make it such a perfect gift. Make sure when you purchase that they offer: worldwide delivery, a gift pack, a unique Star, a personalized owners certificate that allows you to state a personal message, better still: An online Star Registry, where Star owners can visit at any time to view the star and personal message from you to mark the event. There are many reasons to buy Christmas gifts online, finding the ultimate perfect personalized gift that will put a smile on your loved ones and friends faces is perhaps the very best one of all. Buy a Star, Contact Carrie or order direct from Buy a Star for information visit Star Registry Example This article is free for republishing Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_674037_47.html
Author: Mairead Foley What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to visit the traditional Christmas Festival Market at the Dublin Docklands in Ireland's charming capital city... The Christmas Market in Dublin has been running for a few years now and there's nothing like the magical festive atmosphere that comes with it! This what makes it a hit for families and shoppers alike. The Docklands Market takes place this year in early- mid December. You'll find everything here from unusual crafts, gifts, wooden toys and beauty products, to handmade jewellery, glassware and ceramics, so you're bound to pick up some unique gifts and stocking fillers here. While you're browsing the market, stop off at one of the food stalls to sample some freshly baked pastries, mince pies and other delicious treats, or indulge in a hot chocolate or traditional mulled wine to warm you up. So for some festive magic, put the Dublin Markets on your to-do list when you visit Dublin this Christmas! Another Dublin market worth a visit is the popular Cow’s Lane Market - the largest designer market in Dublin. Cow’s Lane market is situated in the lively Temple Bar, an area on the south bank of the River Liffey. Cow's Lane market sells everything from fashion clothing, belts, bags, umbrellas, photography and fine art to ceramics and jewellery. This extremely popular market is a must if you're looking for that unique and once-off gift. This market opens from 10am to 5.30pm on Saturdays. Dublin city centre is a shopper's haven with every kind of shop imaginable at your fingertips! Grafton Street and Henry Street are both pedestrianised, full of shops and overloaded with shoppers especially at Christmas. The shopping season seems to start earlier every year. On Grafton and Henry Street you can expect to find top department stores offering the best in international fashion as well as the usual high street stores. Some popular stores to look out for include, Clery's on O’Connell Street, Brown Thomas on Grafton Street and Arnotts on Henry Street. Stephen's Green, Jervis and the Ilac Shopping Centres (also located on these streets) will open later that usual to accommodate Christmas shoppers. If you fancy getting out of the city to do a bit of shopping, then hop on the LUAS tram (green line) which will take you out of town to the Dundrum Shopping Centre – the largest shopping centre in Ireland. With hundreds of shops under one roof, you'll be lucky to get out of it in a day! Another great shopping centre can be found in Tallaght and when you take the LUAS red line, you can be there in approximately 45 minutes. The Tallaght Shopping Centre is great especially at Christmas time with lights, decorations, carol singers and an atmosphere of pure magic. Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Dublin, like what to see and where to go. View B&Bs, guesthouses and self catering in Dublin as well as Dublin hotels. This article is free for republishing Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_669241_29.html
Author: Derek Jones With the festive season fast approaching, people are increasingly turning to online shopping in order to beat the Christmas rush. A comfortable, convenient and easy way to avoid the Christmas crowds and compare gift ideas, shopping via your favourite online store offers an attractive alternative to standing in line for hours on end in a crowded and stressful environment. Buying your Christmas gifts online also offers the distinct advantage that you can quickly and easily compare the prices of your chosen gifts, either by manually comparing prices on a selection of websites, or through price comparison services such as Kelkoo and Pricerunner, for example. In a turbulent financial climate, the ability to maximise your spend at this expensive time of year is, without doubt, one of the main driving forces behind the ever-growing popularity of online shopping. Internet shopping is generally a very safe and convenient medium for today's busy shopper, however to ensure a productive and positive shopping experience it is worth adhering to the top 7 tips of safe online shopping this Christmas. Top 7 Tips for Safe Online Christmas Shopping1) SSL Security CertificateEnsure the website you are buying from carries an SSL certificate on pages where you are entering private information such credit card and billing information. 'SSL' stands for Secure Sockets layer and is used to encrypt sensitive information transmitted over the internet. Information transmitted via SSL cannot be read by unauthorised third parties, thus significantly reducing the risk of fraud. To check whether the website you are buying from is using an SSL certificate (and every website taking credit card details should be) simply check the URL of your page for the https: and/or the secure padlock symbol at the foot of your browser window. 2) Update Your Internet BrowserTo ensure a safe online experience whilst shopping, and in general, it is important to ensure your internet browser is kept as up to date as possible. New browser updates are continually released to address security bugs and vulnerabilities. Updates are free to download and easy to install, so there is no reason not to have the latest version of your browser installed. 3) Update Your Operating SystemAs with Internet Browsers, Operating Systems can also be vulnerable to new bugs and security holes, which is why it is important to keep your operating system up to date for a safe online experience. This is especially important for Windows based operating systems, which are installed in the majority of home computers/laptops, and as such are particularly liable to breaches of security. Most modern operating systems allow you to automatically update your software by configuring your device to do so, or you can manually download the latest updates for free via the web. Either way, you should always ensure your operating system is up to date to ensure optimal security at all times. 4) Install Anti-Virus Software and Regular UpdatesMost people are aware of the importance of installing a good anti-virus package, but it is worth re-iterating this point. Viruses often arrive in the guise of email attachments or website downloads, but they can also be unknowingly downloaded from malicious sites just by visiting that website. There are a variety of excellent anti-virus packages available, some of which are free, so ensuring against potential virus threats is as simple as finding the correct package for you and installing it. You should also ensure your anti-virus software is up-to-date by installing the latest virus definitions when they become available. Updated virus definitions contain code used to recognise new virus threats, so to ensure your device is adequately protected it is important to install these updates. Your anti-virus software should normally download these definitions automatically, and Windows based operating systems will recognise whether or not your virus protection is up-to-date. 5) Install Anti-Spyware/Adware/Malware toolsThere are other forms of malicious software which pose a potential threat to internet users. Spyware and Adware normally install themselves on your computer simply by visiting an unsavoury site. At its worst, this type of software can install malicious programs such as keylogger software, which can log the keypresses of the keyboard on an infected machine, and can be used to obtain sensitive information such as credit card numbers. There are a number of very good free software packages which prevent malicious software such as Spyware/Adware/Malware from running on your machine, so it is a wise move to install such a package on your device. 6) Install Firewall Software on your ComputerA Firewall is a piece of software which prevents access to your computer by an unauthorised user or software program. Without a Firewall, your computer could be vulnerable hacking attempts and malicious software such as viruses, trojans and worms, so it is important to ensure you have one installed. Again, there are some very good Firewall programs available for free download, and in modern installations of Windows operating systems a Firewall is included as standard. 7) Beware of Phishing Websites/Emails'Phishing' describes a relatively well-known security threat whereby a malicious user/organisation attempts to gain access to sensitive information such as usernames/passwords/credit card details by means of a fake website and/or email. Typically, a user may receive an email, e.g. from a well-known bank, requesting that the recipient of the email is required to update their details online. The phishing email usually contains a link to a fake website designed to collect your details for fraudulent purposes. Fake Phishing websites often closely resemble the original website they are based upon, and recipients of phishing emails are often duped into revealing their sensitive information to unscrupulous fraudsters. The latest Internet Browsers come with anti-phishing tools which advise users of potential phishing threats. Vigilance is also recommended, as banking websites will never email clients requesting full passwords or usernames. By following these top 7 tips for safe shopping online, you can ensure your Christmas shopping experience is as safe and secure as possible, with the added satisfaction that you won't have to brave the crowds this festive season. This article is free for republishing Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_667043_81.html
Author: Melissa Kellett Labor Day has passed and the holidays are just around the corner. It is never too early to start thinking about your holiday shopping plans; drawing up a budget, searching for the best stores with the best buys, and figuring out how to pay for it all. Luckily there are many online lenders who offer great rates on holiday loans just in time for you to deck the halls. Make The Season BrighterThe holiday loan can cover all of your seasonal expenses - gifts, the all-important Christmas tree with trimmings, holiday décor, entertaining, tickets to seasonal events, or that special Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas morning brunch, or perhaps even your annual donation to the toy drive or homeless center. Some borrowers set aside part of the proceeds of their holiday loan for a weekend getaway during the holidays, including money for airfare and hotel lodgings. Whatever you plan to spend to make the season brighter, there is a holiday loan out there to help you do it! Apply Via Secure WebsiteTo apply for a holiday loan, you will visit your chosen lender's secure website. There you will fill out an easy application that will require information about your general situation, including your current employment and pay. Once submitted, you can be approved in less than a minute; your holiday loan can be electronically deposited into either your checking or savings account in less than a day, or you can chose to have your holiday loan mailed to you. The holiday loan typically carries a term of 12 months (although you can increase the term if you need to). The 12-month term allows you to easily pay off this year's holiday loan in time for next year's expenses (at which time you can apply for a new holiday loan). Great Deals With Low InterestBecause holiday loans are for a short term, they generally carry a great interest rate, sometimes as low as 5%. The amount of your holiday loan is determined by your needs; most borrowers take out holiday loans for between $1000 and $3500. Keep in mind that you can ask for more or less than these amounts as your situation warrants. Always borrow only the amount that you need and can afford to repay under the terms and conditions of your loan agreement. Shop Early And SaveBy starting your holiday shopping during the early part of the fall season, you not only find the best bargains on what you plan to buy, you also get the best choice. As any procrastinating shopper will tell you, the closer you get to Christmas, the more horrible the selection of available quality gifts you are able to find. Further, if you have children at home, there is always the one toy or other item that is the hottest toy of the season; if your kids do not find this item under the tree, they feel slighted. By shopping early, you can purchase all of these hot items before their supply diminishes Holiday loans can help make this holiday season the best ever. And by shopping early, you free up more of your time for the important things in life - like family and friends Melissa Kellett is an expert loan consultant who has worked for twenty years in the financial industry and helps people to repair their credit and get approved for home loans, unsecured personal loans, student loans, consolidation loans, car loans and many other types of loans and financial products. If you want to learn more about Loans with Bad Credit and Unsecured Bad Credit Loans you can visit her site http://www.speedybadcreditloans.com/ This article is free for republishing Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_664802_19.html
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