Carnival and Mardi Gras Activities on City-Discovery.com

PERRYSBURG, OH, January 12, 2011 (Press-News.org) If you're planning a trip to Carnival or Mardi Gras, City-Discovery.com has the answer for the thoroughly overwhelming yet festive season. With crowds of revelers swarming the streets and regular tourist attractions' schedules disrupted by the merry-making, the website aims to make planning a Carnival-theme trip as easy and hassle-free as booking online by offering up its selection of sightseeing, Samba, soccer, and other carnival-themed activities scheduled around official Carnival dates in Rio de Janeiro, Venice, the French Riviera, Sydney, and New Orleans, cities famous for their show-stopping parades and celebrations.

The start of Carnival varies worldwide but festivities--marked by street parties, fireworks, and masked balls--usually build a week before Lent. The best known celebration takes place in Brazil, scheduled from March 4 to 8, regarded as the Carnival capital of the World. According to Marc Azoulay, City-Discovery.com's business development manager for Latin America, "Samba shows and dance tours are available on our website for customers who just can't wait to get a piece of the Carnival action."

Rio de Janeiro's Plataforma Night with Dinner (http://www.city-discovery.com/rio-de-janeiro/tour.php?id=928), features live samba music, brilliant costumes, professional dancers, and rhythmic drumming. Carioca's Passion - Soccer and Samba (http://www.city-discovery.com/rio-de-janeiro/tour.php?id=4164) highlighting two of Brazil's passions involves a visit to Samba Town for some behind-the-scenes experience of the preparation for Carnival. Guests are invited to dress up in festive costumes and dance along to the pounding beat of the bateria (percussion band of the Samba School).

The merry-making carries on through the night with many choices for colorful shows and dancing available, complete with a great meal to celebrate the gustatory delights of the Rio's spirit of the Carnival (http://www.city-discovery.com/rio-de-janeiro/shows_cabarets_and_concerts).

Travelers wishing to experience the Carnival fever outside Rio can take advantage of City-Discovery.com's tours and activities in Buzios, Chapada Diamantina, Fernando de Noronha, Fortaleza, Foz Do Igaucu, Joao Pessoa, Natal, Maceio, Manaus, Paraty, Recife, and Salvador.

Venice has Carnival 2011 The Codega Excursion (http://www.city-discovery.com/venice/tour.php?id=4186), a two-hour masked stroll offering the opportunity to experience Venice during Carnival. The tour guide will be dressed as the Codega, a legendary figure said to accompany travelers and tell fascinating tales. Carnival in Venice takes place from February 26 to March 8.

The best-known center of Carnival celebration in the United States is the Mardi Gras of New Orleans (http://www.city-discovery.com/new-orleans/) falling on March 8 yet usually observed two weeks prior with a series of city parades, balls, and king cake parties.

Carnival is also a big affair in many parts of France (http://www.city-discovery.com/country/France). Carnival in Nice is from February 18 to March 8 while the Paris Carnaval happens on March 6. Nice celebrates with processions of stunning flower-bedecked floats making their way across the French Riviera while Paris throws a street party accompanied by trumpeters moving towards the town hall.

In Sydney (http://www.city-discovery.com/sydney/), festivities kick off with the Queer Thinking cultural festival on Saturday, February 19 and culminate with the Mardi Gras Parade and Party on March 5.

City-Discovery.com advises that many sightseeing tours may not operate during Carnival. Travelers are advised to check with the City Discovery hotline (+1 866-988-8687) before reserving tours during Carnival dates. More local contact numbers for different countries are available on the site.

For more tips, inspiration and insider information on Carnival in Rio and other parts of the world visit http://www.city-discovery.com. For featured travel experiences and photos by customers, read the City Discovery Travel Blog and follow City-Discovery.com on Facebook and Twitter.

City Discovery is a leading provider of sightseeing tours, activities, and ground transportation worldwide. Featuring over 5,000 travel activities in 300 destinations, it sells directly to consumers with a best price guarantee through http://www.city-discovery.com and through a network of over 7,000 travel agencies and affiliates. Established in 2004, City Discovery is managed by Tours and Co Inc, a leading e-travel service company based in the United States with offices in France, Greece, Italy, and the Philippines.