The Expo Shangai 2010 will be, undoubtedly, one of the events of the years (together with the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver and the World cup in South Africa). It starts in exactly 53 days and will last from May 1^st until October 31^st. It is expected to have a sum of 70 million visitors and at least 200 participants.

We all know that Expos always have a mascot. Shanghai’s one is called Haibao. The name is easy to remember and it comes from Hai Bao, a typical lucky name in Chinese tradition. Its shape was developed from a Chinese character meaning people. It has already been place all over Shanghai . Moreover, the theme of Expo 2010 is “Better City, Better Life,” representing the common wish of the whole humankind for a better living in future urban environments.

The UK pavilion is still under construction. It is an outstanding, visual demonstration of the UK as a creative and innovative nation. Developed by Thomas Heatherwick, the centrepiece of the UK pavilion is a six storey high object formed from some 60,000 slender transparent rods, which extend from the structure and quiver in the breeze. This rods will illuminate the interior by day and the exterior by night.

Shanghai World Expo will be the most spectacular and important event of its type. It is an Expo for the 21st Century and every participant is working hard to make be unique and unforgetable. If you haven’t decided what to do in your next holidays, this could be a candidate! Check your hotels in Shanghai in Hotelopia.

The Academy Awards (popularly known as the Oscars) are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world.

Yesterday night was the 82^nd edition of this ceremony, held in the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The night was, as always, full of magic, beauty, fashion and surprises. The biggest surprise was the victory of Kathryn Bigelow. She is the first woman to win an Oscar for best director. Her film ‘The Hurt Locker’ won also Best Picture. The film with low budget triumphed over Avatar, the favourite.

Films with low budget, a woman winning the Best Director Oscar…Does this mean that Hollywood is changing?

When it comes to travelling sometimes we are so obsessed with going abroad and visiting other parts of the world that we forget our own country. Today we will point out some cities or places that are worth visiting within the United Kingdom.

First of all, for those of you who do not live in the capital of our country you should never say no to a weekend in London. It is one of the most important capitals in Europe and there is plenty of things to do: from a cultural visit to an amazing night out. Even if we have been before there is always something new to see or somewhere to be discovered.

In Scotland there are different attractions: Edinburgh is a wonderful city with great museums and buildings with a fantastic architecture; St Andrews, next to the sea, with its magnificent cathedral and its little and cosy streets; The highlands, a place to be in harmony with nature and animals, to discover the beauty of sunsets and green mountains (bens) and valleys (glens) and Glasgow, a fantastic city to have a great party or go shopping.

If your passions are shopping or partying, another city that you shouldn’t miss is Manchester, where the German market is specially famous (only in Christmas time). Moreover, Oxford and Cambridge are well known by their Universities as well as by the gorgeousness of their buildings and campuses. Do not forget Stonehenge, where it all began!

Last, but not least if you travel towards the south there are a few little villages next to the sea that are also nice and quiet, colourful and peaceful places that nobody should miss.

Don’t forget that travelling does not always mean going far far away… check hotels in UK in Hotelopia!

The International Geneva Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Geneva Palexpo convention centre and organised by the “Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles”. It is considered an important major international auto show, where new cars and automobiles are exhibited.

This year’s highlight is the launch of a great number of “green cars”. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, all-electric production, models, concept, and sports cars coming from almost all the manufacturers, from Volkswagen to Ferrari .

For a few days the automobile world has left he global financial crisis and all its negative effects behind it to exhibit new models and concepts of cars in expositions and even in a catwalk… Luxury car makers such as Ferrari or Porsche have launched their very last  models in this salon.

Do yo want to visit? Check the best hotels in Geneva with Hotelopia UK!

CeBIT is the world’s leading tradeshow for the digital industry. It is held in Hannover, Germany and it starts today until Saturday 6^th.  From exhibits to conferences and corporate events, it is the meeting point of the ICT world. The most important sellers and developers of the IT business from all around the globe get together with industrial users and all buyers who are passionate about technology.

This year the official CeBIT Partner Country in 2010 is Spain. This country is not simply one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations; it is also an attractive place for high-tech industrial companies. The country of “sun and party” is already undergoing the benefits of the rapid expansion of ICT technologies in all fields of life, such as e-Government, Education and Health and therefore it is an example of IT application.

If you are passionate about technology or your company is in the ICT business, do not hesitate, CeBIT is a great opportunity to find new partners and to know where the industry is going to in the next future. If you are looking for accommodation you will find the best hotels in Hannover in Hotelopia.

Don’t forget that this Easter Hotelopia has special offers that will help you save up to 20%. All your favourite destinations at lower prices: book hotels in Portugal from $24 or Spain from $50! The best deals are always in Hotelopia, check it out in our webpage!

Oslo from Holmenkollen

This year, the European music contest will be celebrated on 29^th May in Norway. Before, the representative of the UK will be chosen in Your country needs you, a BBC programme. About this programme we only know that last year’s representative, Jade Austen, will be there and so will the rest of the components of Sugababes, who will present their new album.

Oslo is the city where the European Song Contest will take place this year. It is Norway’s capital and also the biggest city and the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of the country. The city’s unique position between a fjord and the hills makes it an unforgettable experience. During summer one can enjoy a summer concert at Holmenkollen, or order a drink at Aker Brygge. Or take a bike ride through Nordmarka. The city also has several interesting museums – the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Fram Museum, the Ski Museum, the Munch Museum etc.

If you want to organise a different trip, try organising a cruise around the fjords and don’t forget to visit the capital at the end of May so you can be there for this fantastic contest which at least will be fun to watch. Don’t forget to make your hotel reservation in Hotelopia. Oslo,why not?

Amy Williams, Skeleton

Vancouver has been, during the month of February, the place to be if you are a winter sports fan. It has held (and will be holding until next Sunday 28^th February) the XXI Olympic Winter Games, an international multi-sport event.

It started on 12^th February with the traditional lighting of the Olympic torch, after the flame had travel by air, earth and water in a 106-days journey across Canada. Of course it was light in Olympia, Greece, as it is meant to be.

At the moment, the countries with more medals are the United States with 25, Germany with 22 and Norway with 17. Great Britain has achieved one gold medal, won by Amy Williams in Skeleton.

Of course, Hotelopia can find the best hotels in Vancouver if you have just decided you would like to see the last days of this magnificent sports event or the closing ceremony, a unique experience.

Betty Jackson (catwalking.com)

London Fashion Week was started last Friday with a bang last night, thanks to Naomi Campbell and her seasonal Fashion for Relief charity catwalk. The top model managed to get the help of some of her most famous friends by getting them to take part in the show, which was organised to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

It will be on until next Wednesday 24th and until then, the catwalk will be full of top models showing the thoughts of the most important designers about what next winter’s tendencies are going to be like. Colours, fabrics, cut… they are the Gods in fashion and tell us what we will be wearing in a year from now.

If you have tickets to go to this event you shouldn’t miss it, check out the best prices for hotels in London in Hotelopia UK!

What about a nice weekend in the south of England? It is not always necessary to go out of the country to discover somewhere beautiful, different, special and charming. Those words describe perfectly the essence of Dartmouth, a small town in the south of England that is famous for its castle and its colourful houses.

Dartmouth is a smart choice; a nice, tranquil and peaceful place to get out of the city’s traffic jams and stress. There are plenty of things to do: have a walk to the castle, or get the little boat that takes you there; or take the ferry to Kingswear, where you can see and get on a steam train. If the weather gets worst the Cherub Pub is the place to be. It is also worth knowing that it is Dartmouth’s oldest building.

Soon winter will be over (or at least it is something we are all looking for) so book your hotel in this wonderful little town and get out of your day to day routine!