Aug
21
A Romantic Wedding Destination In The Golden Triangle
Filed Under Romantic Travel, Thailand | Leave a Comment
By Peter R Stewart
A Romantic Wedding Destination could be The Four Seasons Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle on the borders of Thailand. It is perfectly legal to get married in Thailand, Read more
Jun
6
The Huvafen Fushi resort in Maldives
Filed Under Maldives | Leave a Comment
North Male’ Atoll
PO Box 2017
Republic of Maldives
Phone + 960 6644 222
Fax + 960 6644 333
info@huvafenfushi.com
www.huvafenfushi.com
Jan
19
Most Popular Travel Destinations in the World
Filed Under France, Most Popular, Thailand, Travel Trends | Leave a Comment
Every country is beautiful in its own manner and is really worth visiting, but there are some countries that attract much more tourists than others.
There is the list of the 5 of the most visited countries of the last several years
1) France (76.7 million visitors a year)
2) Spain (51.7 million visitors)
3) U.S. (41.9 million visitors)
4) Italy (39.8 million visitors)
5) China (36.8 million visitors)
This is the data of 1998
1) France (70 million visitors)
2) Spain (47,7 million visitors)
3) United States (47 million visitors)
4) Italy (34,8 million visitors)
5) United Kingdom (25,4 million visitors)
The top 4 has remained the same since the end of the last century, but fast developing and becoming more and more popular China replaced the United Kingdom on the fifth place. You can also see that china is going to overcome Italy in amount of tourists. You can also see that the total amount of tourists has increased – people became to travel more.
Read more
Sep
21
Venice: The Floating City
Filed Under Europe, Thailand, Venice | Leave a Comment
For a millennium, Venice has provided inspiration for artists and writers. This coveted city is made up of 118 islands linked by 453 bridges. Each corner of town exhibits individual architectural magnificence, the city combining as one to form a spectacular theatrical stage set.
Beautiful churches adorn the banks of the Grand Canal as she snakes her way through the city. This main artery is at the centre of a myriad of canals running throughout the town.
The lifeblood of Venice is its tourism, a magnet for over 12 million visitors a year. Catering for this influx of visitors, the cities population of 70,000 people continue their daily lives, working the bars, cafes and restaurants.
Despite all this however, it seems that Venice is slowly sinking at the rate of approximately 2 inches every century. Terrible floods in 1966 caused much doom mongering and many people feared that Venice was about to be taken off the map.
The threat to remove funding for vital restoration projects gave serious cause for concern and prompted an urgent response to save the city. It was feared imminent flooding could completely destroy the city; preventative measures were high priority.
The efforts of the past two decades have had considerable success. Reduced pollution, shipping and the restoration of natural sandbanks have all contributed to the cause.
The first settlers of Venice were those fleeing the Barbarians around 400 AD. To create solid foundations for their buildings they drove timber into the mud and began creating a community for their people.
The city’s emblem, the winged lion, derived from Saint Mark the Evangelist. The first significant church of Venice was built in the ninth century to house the relics of Saint Mark, and his emblem was soon adopted.
Venice’s trade brought great wealth and prosperity to the city and for many centuries it continued to grow. The city thrived on its colonies and invested its riches wisely. Churches and palaces became commonplace, as were museums to house many newly acquired works of art.
For the past couple of centuries however, the obvious lack of development space meant the city found it difficult to advance further. Wars with Turkey were a drain on the resources and so Venice was content to consolidate.
Despite this, Venice does not rest on its laurels. Every visit offers something new, a fresh experience to take home. Each region of the city has an individual charm, giving the sense there is always something special around each corner.
Sep
19
Experience Macau
Filed Under Asia | Leave a Comment
Macau, a city famous for its tourism for the past couple of years, is exerting effort to further improve the industry and become a tourist destination with something to offer to everyone.
To advocate tourism, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has employed “Macau: a World of Difference, the Difference is Macau†as the promotional slogan and “Experience Macau!†as the theme for a series of promotions around the world through its representatives.
Macau as a World Heritage Site
Macau was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) two years ago as a world heritage site. Macau is the 31st site in China to be included on the list.
As a World Heritage Site, it sets Macau apart from the rest of the cities in the region. MGTO intends to use this recognition as an edge to encourage not just holidaymakers but also business travellers to visit the city through improving its cultural resort with state-of-the-art facilities that includes large-scale convention an exhibition spaces.
Local Attractions
The city of Macau is abundant in historical landmarks and cultural heritage. It offers just the right blend of Latin and Asian cultures, making it a popular destination for every tourist. Among the renowned places to visit are the Chinese Temples and Religious Spots, Chinese gardens and Portuguese forts. Aside from these, the presence of glazing Vegas-style casinos is what also drives travellers to visit the city.
Where to Stay
There are enough things to do in and around Macau that would surely keep anyone occupied for weeks. That’s why it is better to bunk down for a while at one of the finest hotels in the area.
Grandview Hotel is ideal for tourists, local and international alike, whether staying just for a night or a week-long vacation, even those looking for looking for love.
This four-star hotel offers pleasant guest rooms and stylish suites all in contemporary design. It also has executive floors located on the top floors for corporate-related functions.
It is strategically located in the heart of downtown Taipa, making tourist landmarks such as the famous 4-faced Buddha, the Macau Jockey Club, and the Macau Olympic Complex highly and easily accessible. Admired for its location, Grandview Hotel gives its guests a bit of everything they need for a truly delightful Macau experience.
Should you wish to learn more about Macau and Grandview Hotel or to get best rates online, visit http://www.grandview.com.mo/.
About The Author
Sarah Miller
PR Writer
sarahmill3r@yahoo.com
Sep
19
Traveling in fast forward – Bangkok, Thailand in 24 hours
Filed Under Asia, Thailand | Leave a Comment
After arriving in Bangkok at around 3am, I found that my room was unavailable due to it being flooded, not the best way to start my 24 hour adventure but not enough to slow me down. After a power cut and a couple of hours waiting I finally got my room, I didn’t really have enough time to sleep much after the delay, so I had to settle for just a couple of hours.
I got up at 8.30am and felt surprisingly refreshed, it’s not often you have to survive on only 2 hours sleep but at the same time it’s not often you get the opportunity to explore an environment and culture that’s completely new to you. I took a look out the window and just gazed at the concrete jungle that is Bangkok.
For the troubles of the night before, the hotel graciously gave me a free breakfast and a few other nice treats. I enjoyed a few fruits that I’d never had before; I’m quite the food lover so even simple things like that were interesting to me. It’s amazingly humid and very hot, 30 degrees at just 9am in the morning. Luckily for me and the other Hotel guests having breakfast, there are half a dozen huge fans cooling the area.
After finishing up my breakfast I head out into the unknown. I have no idea where I’m going or what I want to do which is part of the fun, it’s sometimes nice to have no plans or schedule, just the freedom to do whatever crosses your path.
It doesn’t take much time for me to meet some of the locals, there are street vendors everywhere and they can be very persistent, with an emphasis on very. It’s a little intimidating at first but after a good 5 hours of shopping I was a pro.
The Pantip Plaza was the first real building I stumbled into, it was full of cheap gadgets and huge amounts of DVD’s (all no doubt perfectly legal). I moved onto Siam Square next and watched a game of street football which was cool. The temperature was edging 35 degrees at this stage and this seemed even more surprising when I looked up and spotted a huge dark cloud forming right above me.
It didn’t take long for the rain to come and what a display it was. I’ve never encountered such a massive display of thunder and lightening in my life. Everyone scurried through the shop awnings and backstreets to take cover, it was impressive watching the speed at which the street vendors set up protection from the rain, this was obviously something they had learned to put up with. It felt like I was wading through millions of people as I made my way back to the hotel, it was cramped before the rain arrived but now it was just crazy.
After a nice dinner, I did some more looking around. I found some cool t-shirts and plenty of great presents for when I eventually got back home to my singapore clinic. While haggling over prices was new definitely new to me, I ended up enjoying it. It’s not something I could really be bothered with all the time but for that one day it was really fun.
My 24 hours in Bangkok was nearly over. I had to get some sleep before my early flight to London, especially after missing out the night before. It was a shame I had to leave so soon but I’m looking forward to coming back another time and exploring more of Bangkok, especially their many beautiful temples and other tourist attractions. 24 hours certainly wasn’t long but it was enough to give me a taste for Thailand and all the fun and excitement it offers.
About The Author
Rene Smith is a travel guru who lives and works in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Visit http://www.christchurchholidays.co.nz for more articles, reviews and all the information you’ll ever need to know on Christchurch, New Zealand.
Jul
15
Where to stay in Perhentian - the Impiani Watercolours Resort
Filed Under Asia, Malaysia | Leave a Comment
The Impiani resort is probably the most luxurious resort on Pulau Perhentian Kechil, off the northeastern coast the the Western Malaysian peninsula. Long known as a haven for the backpacking diver crowd, it has changed little in the last 20 years and retains the rustic, idyllic charm and peaceful ambience. Which means no television, no cable, no internet.
But this resort, built along a hillside, extending from the beach up the hill, boasts octagonal cottages which boast beautiful views and privacy, with most cottages boasting french doors that open up to your own personal terrace. The toilets are modest but functional. And the lack of television means you’ll have all the time in the world to engage your partner, or tan by the beach, even swim in the crystal clear waters.
The resort restaurant serves piping hot fresh food that has more than a hint of home cooking, which is not a bad thing. It’s not overspiced, there’s no hint of artificial seasoning and the beautiful panoramic view of Coral beach and the whiff of salt on the sea breeze can really lull one into that vacationing mood. Plus the bbq every other night really makes one never want to leave.
The resort boasts it’s own resident PADI accredited dive centre, the Watercolours Dive Centre, which is known for the small size of it’s classes and the instructor’s excellent knowledge of the surrounding waters.
There’s no roads to speak of on the island. There is a network of trails which leads to the Fisherman’s village, where the locals reside, and Long beach, where most of the resorts on Pulau Perhentian Kechil are, and where most of the buzz is. Most people would opt to take the water taxis between beaches, but beware, there’s little light after sun-down, and in inclement weather, the water taxi service can be cancelled, and if you’re having dinner on long beach, do remember to make your way back before sun-down or risk getting stranded on Long beach.
All in all, this resort holds a special place in my heart, for an unforgetable vacation, and being the outdoorsy kind who loves a little pampering after sundown, you would love it too.
Watercoloursworld.com - Operator or the Impiani Watercolours resort.
Jul
11
Balinese schoolchildren
Filed Under Asia, Indonesia | Leave a Comment
 We’ve always loved visiting Bali, where the people are friendly and hospitable. Sure, Kuta beach is probably a little touristy by any standard, but the people have not lost their warmth, and up in the mountains, at Ubud and Kintamani, the warm culture shines through.
Bali boasts it’s own international airport near the island capital of Denpasar. Lots of inexpensive hotels abound, for differing budgets and in the low season, you might even consider visiting without a reservation and hunting around for a bargain. Visit the beaches of Sanur and Manggis, the hill resort of Ubud and especially Kintamani, where there are fantastic views of Mount Agung, and where you can participate in any number of adventure sports, from white water rafting to mountain biking.
Nov
12
Lombok or Ubud ?
Filed Under Asia, Indonesia | Leave a Comment
We’ve been considering a holiday at the year end, and having a headache over the choices. So, Lombok or Ubud in Bali ? Both places are near to each other, in the southern central region of Indonesia, boasting similarly sun-kissed beaches and a wonderful resort experience.
Lombok is probably the less developed of the two, looking somewhat like the Bali of 30 years ago. Lovely for those who love the rustic ambience. Downside is the fewer air connections, with regional airlines flying in from Singapore and Jakarta.
Ubud, on the other hand, with the Ayung river valley, boasts luxury hotels of international repute, like Christina Ong’s Como Shambhala, as well as small little luxury boutique hotels like the very exclusive Viceroy Bali.
We’ll think about, and let you know. For all I know, we’ll end up visiting both places, which is so much better to do a comparison review.
Oct
24
Pangkor Laut Resort
Filed Under Asia, Malaysia | Leave a Comment
View from the pool of Pangkor Laut Resort.
Pangkor Laut Beach Resort and Spa, voted ‘Number One in the World’ and top of the ‘Best Overseas Destination Spa’ category of the Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards is one fancy and luxurious resort.
Boasting a luxurious Spa Village to spoil you silly, Pangkor Laut is situated on its very own private island ( Pulau Pangkor ) with lush, untouched forest greenery. Situated in a sheltered cove, visitors get a choice of a villa sited over the sea, by the beach or on the hill, each elegantly designed and furnished.
Each villa boasts a private balcony with cushioned deck chairs, luxuriously furnished spacious interiors, and oversized tubs. Designed specifically for two guests to a villa, this is an ideal romantic getaway for those who can afford the price.
Prices are guaranteed to set you back around USD 200 for a hill villa to USD 450 for a spa villa.
The Spa Village and Spa treatments
Yet those who come here, are here to relax. Most take advantage of the spa treatments, which begin with the unique Bath House Ritual, representing various bathing traditions from around Asia.
This starts with a foot bath and an invigorating Chinese Foot Pounding, previously only enjoyed by the concubines of feudal China.
From there, visitors are escorted to the Bath Houses to enjoy the traditional Malay “circulating†bath, from when villagers bathed in streams or rivers, and a Japanese-style cleansing with a “goshi-goshiâ€â€ cloth, followed by a dip in the heated Rotenburu pool.
After that, visitors enjoy the signature Shanghai Scrub, gently exfoliating and washing in the private scrub house. In Shanghai, this was traditionally offered exclusively to males.
This is followed by a cup of calming tea in our tranquil surroundings before visitors get to select their spa treatment of choice, ranging from traditional chinese and Ayurvedic treatments.
Awards
In obtaining top place at the Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards, Pangkor Laut Resort took honours over prominent names such as Hotel Cipriani, Venice; Sandy Lane, Barbados; Four Seasons Hotel, New York; Begawan Giri Estate, Bali; the Aman resorts including Amanjena; Amanpuri and Amankila; Four Seasons Resort Maldives; Shangri-La, Singapore; well as Hotel Arts, Barcelona.
In the ‘Best Overseas Destination Spa’ category, Pangkor Laut Resort’s luxurious Spa Village outshone Ananda in the Himalayas, India; Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Thailand; LaSource, Granada; Cal-a-Vie, California; and Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland. . The Spa Village, which opened its doors last year, scored an impressive 85 points and above for all nine categories with the highest rank for its range of treatments.
