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Archive for September, 2009

Thailand Vacation Packages – An Unforgettable Getaway

Taking the pleasure of a stress-free vacation is among the most wonderful experiences that on go through. There are people who work overtime along with part-time jobs to make their financial needs meet. This is especially exacerbated by the fact that the world is going through a severe recession which leads to enormous economic pressure on people. This is why people find the prospect of a vacation so very alluring. This way, one can take a break from the stressful life, and get re-energized spending some quality time with their loved ones. And if vacation means going for a break to the lovely country of Thailand, as part of Thailand Vacation Packages, the joy is indeed immeasurable. In fact, there are lesser holiday destinations across the globe which are as exotic as of Thailand’s.

There are so many exciting locations and splendid amusements that Thailand has to offer that it will tickle the senses and leave one satiated and supremely satisfied. Furthermore, there is the fantastic capital city of Bangkok which comprises all the sights as well as sounds of a modern city with it’s roots extended back to the ancient Thai tradition. It is also the seat of power, where one can get glimpses of the royal family with all its glorious pomp and splendor. Up next, there are few pagodas to represent the glory as well as grandeur of Buddhism. Thailand Vacation Packages are quite incomplete without a visit to Bangkok, which is also fabled for its many amusements and entertainment avenues as well as nightspots that adorn its streets and city spaces.

Thailand is also well known for its 400 kilometers of pristine, beautiful beaches with Pattaya being at its very center. The Pattaya circuit has many quality resorts, beaches and seaside getaway opportunities that are sought so widely after, by discerning tourists and visitors. Quality days can be spend beside the beach while taking a sun bath and enjoying the unique cuisine that symbolizes Thailand. The Thailand Vacation Packages also associates the worthwhile visit to watch the elephants which an integral role in Thai temple and daily life. Truly, there are a few unique aspects which comprises the Thai culture and life.

If you are seeking for a perfect getaway and want to enjoy a stress-free vacation, then Thailand Vacation Packages is just the right piece of cake for you.

There are many different ideas and destinations for a romantic honeymoon.A large number of people like a tropical location or a remote cabin in a scenic area as an ideal place for a romantic honeymoon.  However, there are many ways to make even a simple trip seem like a romantic honeymoon for a couple, spending very little money, yet creating memories to last a lifetime.  A romantic honeymoon is all about spending time together as a married couple for the first time, enjoying the giddiness of those first few days of married life together.  This is a time in the couple’s life that they are forever committed to each other and they are delighted with that fact.  They want everyone to know that they are married and to share in that happiness.  Their eyes are only for their partner, and they feast on the time they share together.

Ideas For Romantic Honeymoon

There are many different ways to shake up the romantic honeymoon trip.  Perhaps the first few days are enjoying the romantic location that they decided on for the honeymoon. After that, there are ways that each couple can bring an extra surprise into the getaway.  These ideas do take a little planning before the honeymoon takes place, but they are well worth it when the new spouse is surprised by these little gifts of love.

Small presents that can be placed in strategic locations during each day of the romantic honeymoon are fun ways to spice it up and show love for the other person.  These presents do not have to be extraordinary, just simple gifts that relate to things that the partner enjoys, such as a CD of a favorite band, a game that the two can play together, or even a bottle of wine or champagne.One can also gift hidden in cards or gift boxes to their partner telling them the various reasons for which they are loved.  It is also nice to plan ahead when there will be a Jacuzzi in the room with scented candles that can be placed around the tub to make it even more romantic.

One of the great idea to plan on a romantic honeymoon is the selection of the best locations in the area to see the sunrise or the sunset.  Bringing breakfast baskets to the sunrise or bringing a bottle of wine and dessert to a sunset with a blanket to sit on are romantic ways to wake up or wind down together while enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.  It is also romantic to pack a picnic lunch and go to the most scenic area to enjoy a remote lunch together in the midst of beauty.

If you are thinking of catching the February wildlife great migration in the Serengeti national park, now is the time to book.Our honeymoon was spent with 40 of our friends in the Serengeti. Mid February we arrived and our timing was perfect.
What a fabulous scene, gnu and zebra’s filled the plains turning the Serengeti into a moving mass, the air full of sounds with lions roaring to each other in the background zebra’s snorting and gnu calling out to each other this was my own personal safari documentary. As the sun rose on a new day we witnessed mothers giving birth all around us, for many they just paused gave birth, for others they had to continue the march with the herd which meant for them giving birth while walking.
In an amazing sequence we watched as calves were born then encouraged to stand and stagger with the herd. With mixed feelings we watched animals being born, nurtured and encouraged to get up and move off with the herd while others were chased and eaten by stronger predators, not able to take our eyes away from the dreadful scene we knew this was the survival of the fitest.
We went deep into the Serengeti where the scenery was spectacular, but the biggest concentration of game we saw was near lake Ndutu. Lake Ndutu, a picturesque scenery that is surrounded by massive acacias that provide shade for the migration and the lake with the water sparkling in the sunlight the thirsty animals line the lake and quench their thirst.
We stayed two nights at Ndutu Safari Lodge which is quite small (I think we filled it) but was full of old style game lodge charm and is the only lodge where you can sit and watch the migration of the wildebeest as they give birth and feed on the grass. Upon leaving Ndutu Safari Lodge, Lake Ndutu and the Serengeti national park we found it was one of the hardest things we have had to do, our hearts wanted us to stay in Tanzania but we had to return home knowing that we will return to Africa and all of it’s wonderful splendour

You are nearly there – Paris! You can hardly wait to get there. You’ve gotten your flights to France , now you’re looking at some wonderful sounding offers on a bunch of Paris hotels. What arrondissement you are staying in is always an important consideration for Paris hotels even if you are looking at hotels in Paris city centre.  Here’s a guide to Paris’s First arrondissement so you can learn more about whether the First arrondissement is where you want to be!

Paris’ First Arrondissement

Paris’s 1st arrondissement is filled with the sort of elegance and grandeur that centuries’ worth of visitors have imagined when thinking of Paris, France’s capital city. Refined boulevards, exclusive fashion shops , and manicured parks overlooking the dreamy River Seine are all found in this neighborhood, a district primarily of office space and tourist sites. Les Halles, Paris’s unusual take on a shopping mall, can be found here as well.

What To Know :

What’s Good About The First :

Spending time in Paris’s First has many benefits. When you walk under the 19th arches of the Rue de Rivoli arcade, you’ll be following in the footsteps of generations of dandies and duchesses: vanished citizens of Paris of long ago . You’ll be near some of Paris’s most beautiful tourist sites – the Tuileries garden to Chatelet -site of the Comedie Francaise, where Moliere once produced his plays – to the world-class Musee de Louvre. And the shopping, on the elegant Faubourg Saint Honore, is without peer !

The Bad :

While daytime in the First Arrondissement provides a visitor with access to some of Paris’s top sights at a few moments’ walk, the business-like character of the area means that nightlife, by contrast, is limited within the arrondissement. So unless visitors go to the Les Halles/St. Denis area there’s not much to do. Les Halles/St. Denis’s low-budget pleasures may appear slightly seedy to those over the age of twenty-one (that said, the section bordering the Les Halles mall is actually nice – a good place to stop after catching a film in Les Halles’s enormous cinema, which presents many American and British films in their original languages. But avoid going towards Rue St. Denis/Blvd. Sebastopol unless you’re consciously seeking that sort of milieu.) What’s more, this area can get very, very touristy – especially around the otherwise lovely Rue de Rivoli.  So watch your wallet and control your buying impulse for souvenirs until you’re a bit further off the beaten path.

What To Do:
Sites and sights abound here. Take a walk down the Faubourg Saint-Honore, where nearly every famous fashion house of the world has a presence. Visit the Louvre or Tuileries Gardens near the Place de Concorde, see a play at the Comedie Francaise in the Chatelet area.

Where To Go To Eat :
Finding non tourist food is hard in the First , but finding superb desserts is not. Angelina, on Rue de Rivoli, has lost some of its mythic elegance, but the aging-grande-dame feel of the place makes the yellowed mirrors and creaky chandeliers worth seeing on their own merits. Plus, their famously rich hot chocolate and Mont Blanc desserts are among the best in Paris. For a more recent hotspot, Cafe Marley in the Louvre offers views not only of the museum’s art, but also of Paris’s current celebrity scene. For better food, the area right around Les Halles has a number of good brasseries, but, as said earlier, the area closer to Rue St. Denis and Sebastopol has a slightly seedier character – not at all dangerous, but nevertheless unsavory.

Where To Shop In The First :
If the exclusive shopping of the Faubourg Saint Honore is a bit out of your price range , head to the Les Halles mall. A surprisingly beautiful, art nouveau-inspired underground city (complete with street names, a swimming pool, park, and more), Les Halles proves that even Paris’s malls have a particular Parisian flair. While the area around the mall is useful for really cheap (think 3-5 euro) clothes and shoes, the mall itself has much higher quality items at affordable prices.

Basically there are two airports that you can use from Bangkok to Cape town; 1. Don Muang (DMK) route or 2. the Bangkok direct (BKK) route. However there aren’t usually any flights from DMK so we will only focus on BKK.

(BKK) Bangkok to Cape Town

You can choose from any of the following airays that are offering flights to to Cape Town i.e. Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Thai Airways International, Emirates, Cathay Pacific Airways, Malaysia Airways Singapore Airlines or the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Ethopian and Kenyan Airways have the cheapest rates which are about half of the rates being charged by the other airlines.

The Ethiopian airways flight leaves Bangkok at 01:40 and flies to its home country Addis Ababa. It gets there at 06:35 in the morning and leaves for Johannesburg at 08:50 and gets there at 13:15. From here it will head to Cape Town at 15.00 hrs and arrive 17.10hrs the following day.

The total time for this rather cheap flight is 22 hrs and 20 minutes of which 16 hrs and 40 minutes is spent in the air.

Emirates is also the second cheapest flight from Bangkok to Cape Town. It leaves Bangkok at 20:30 for Dubai. You must be prepared to sleep overnight because it will arrive in Dubai at 23.35 hrs and only leave for Johannesburg at 04.40 hrs the next day.

The flight gets to Johannesburg at 10:50 and leaves for Cape Town at 13:00. The final journey takes about two hours and by 15:10 you would be in Cape Town.

Other possible flights that you might use are Cathay Pacific, Malaysia and Singapore Airlines. The one with the highest charges and longest journey is KLM.

Up to date airfares and ways on how to make your travel arrangements can be found from any one of the following:

• Low Cost Internal Flights South Africa
• Flights From South Africa
• Cheap Flights From London To Johannesburg

A tour of Antarctica brings with it rich experiences. Find things in Antarctica not ordinarily seen anywhere else. This article will give you an in depth look into the fascinating world of Antarctica and why you might want to schedule a trip. It is said to be one of the most beautiful and unique places in the world. When you would like to get more information on antarctic cruise ships check out this site.

People often do not have an accurate idea of what is in store for them once they book Antarctica travel tickets. Antarctica is a kind of secret location that remains mostly undisturbed. Fill your days with activities that include walks and dives or camping or other interesting stuff.

Treasure lots of memories from camping while on your Antarctic travel vacation. You can spend one night outdoors in the cold with selected Antarctica cruise ships. There are gear and supplies on hand for use. Your replenishments will make the camp out fun and safe. This is one way to really appreciate the awesome beauty of Antarctica.

Kayaking aficionados are sure to enjoy Antarctica travel. You can get a closer look at the available wildlife as you continue to cruise the Antarctic. You will witness everything from whales to seals and penguins fast asleep. It might be necessary for you to take a moment to appreciate the impressive icebergs. People can do some kayaking to better observe the waters and its accompanying wildlife. As a person looking for antarctica cruise you should visit that site.

Right under the Antarctic Circle people can do scuba diving. Marine life forms here are seldom seen in other locations. From an underwater perspective the view of the sun hitting the ice bodies is superb. Life under the sea ranges from Antarctic fish to a variety of crabs and seals as well as penguins. It is a lucky thing for you to be able to experience this. Those who pride themselves in diving expertise often have not witnessed Antarctica underwater.

The mountain and rock climbing population will also enjoy the experience. A lot of people ask for this activity while in Antarctic tours. The location holds plenty of unacknowledged properties. You might want to take the same path famous adventurers to Antarctica used.

There are guides to tour you and give lectures about the place. These provide additional info on the colorful Antarctic region. Cruising the Antarctic is best with a ship offering you the greatest ways to view the territory. They will take you places telling you about the past of Antarctica. In a matter of seconds you will be filled with admiration for the place known as Antarctica.

Antarctica has usually been associated with cold weather and harsh conditions. Only the most fearless are thought to survive in this unlivable place. But previous info tells you otherwise. Beauty is everywhere in the Antarctic continent. The place is a wellspring of activity and superb sights. Antarctica tours are your chance to get a taste of this region so be sure to take them.

A pair of sunglasses is one of the most popular fashion accessories ever. Men, women, children, elders and folks from all walks of life slip on sunglasses. Because of the increase of online sites and retail outlets that peddle cheap sunglasses, anybody can afford to get these snazzy accessories. A person can conceive of innumerable motives to dress in shades, however, there are a few reasons of note. The main reason is to protect your eyes, obviously. The next objective is to look cool, and the last reason is to conceal your eyes. The precise origin of sunglasses have not been discovered, while we are aware that sunglasses were utilized previously, and not unexpectedly, it did not differ too much from present uses.

The chief reason to donning a pair of shades is to guard your eyes. Sunglasses brands such as Gatorz sunglasses are designed especially to shield one’s eyes while playing x-sports. Ultraviolet radiation from daylight could cause lasting injury to a person’s eyes, creating a number of illnesses relating to transitory and long-term loss of sight, tumors and cataracts. Throughout the the 1800’s and 1900’s men have suffered with outbreaks of syphilis. One of the indications of syphilis is heightened sensitivity to light; numerous medical doctors prescribed dark-colored glasses for the patients to remedy this difficulty. Still today lots of opthamologists offer their patients darkened eyeglasses to put on after certain eye dilating and eye dying exams to shield their eyes from excessive light for sensitive eyes. Dark glasses are also important to wear while driving a car. To protect themselves as well as the folks around them, drivers all over put on shades. The glare from the sun’s rays can impair the ability to see and cause eye strain, making it tough to drive safely. Darkened glasses prevent the glare and bring down the brilliance of the sun.

The second purpose to wear sunglasses is to seem more attractive. Sunglasses have been an essential component of style for scores of years. The most desired and stylish sunglasses follow.

Aviators – Aviators were presented in 1936 by Ray-Ban as a standard issue to the U.S. Armed Services for pilots. Aviators are typified by oversized teardrop lens and a slight metal frame. This sort has been uniquely admired by law enforcement officers and soldiers in the militia. The style has previously been very stylish in the rock music setting.

Teashades – Teashade glasses had their celebrity for nearly all of the 60’s and 1970’s. Teashades have undersized round lenses and slim wire frames. The color of the sunglasses could be purchased in varying tones and was made stylish by legendary individuals such as Ozzy Osbourne, Mick Jagger and John Lennon. These glasses were very popular within the counter-culture youth of the 1960’s, also. Teashade sunglasses are still sold currently, but are much less fashionable.

Wayfarers – Wayfarer glasses are maybe the most well-known sunglasses. Wayfarers are exemplified by fat plastic frames. Wayfarer glasses were first released in 1952 by Ray-Ban, and were made popular by movie actors such as James Dean. These sunglasses remained trendy right through the years starting at its introduction and is still one of Ray-Ban’s best selling shapes at the moment.

Oversized – Oversized sunglasses appear just as they are labeled. The lenses are dramatically huge, and the rims are characteristically broad, plastic, and vibrant. These sunglasses are not put on so much for protection as they are for inane finesse and entertainment. Elton John is recognized for his huge, gaudy shades.

Onassis – The Onassis style of glasses was branded after Jackie Onassis Kennedy. The Onassis style is worn almost exclusively by females. They are exceedingly huge glasses, while not as huge as the oversized style. The lens shapes vary from oval to square, and are darkly shaded
darkly hued. The frames of the sunglasses are large, more so towards the sides of the rim and are made from plastic.

Another reason to put on shades is to hide your eyes from view. During the 12th century in China, Chinese officials wore dark glasses to veil their eyes and facial expressions when questioning witnesses. These days famous people regularly don darkened glasses to hide their eyes and escape being observed by paparazzi and over enthusiastic groupies. Sunglasses are also employed to cover black eyes, wounds to the eye and eye irregularities. Many with impediments such as cataracts, blindness or lazy-eye wear sunglasses to obscure their eyes to try to make others more comfortable and to avoid being generally snubbed because of the appearance of their eyes.

Dallas, TX (PRLEAK), 2009 – The rate of a hotel room in the US now averages $115 per night, as against $139 in 2008. Hotels.com’s Hotels Price Index 17 percent drop in rates signifies a five year low, which is good news for travelers. 

David Roche, President of hotels.com finds this drop in rates the most prominent since the inception of the Hotel Price Index. The hotel industry continues to target guests with discounts and package deals thereby narrowing the gap between top star categories. Travelers tend to benefit since they can stretch their dollar to the maximum, and experience more luxuries than they could have afforded over the past five years. 

The reason for the 17 percent drop in US hotel room rates is mainly due to the decline in prices across every continent. With Europe down by 16 percent on the HPI, Latin America at 18 percent, and Asia by 17 percent, the pattern continued across the US in the first half of 2009. Hotels.com’s HPI also indicates a change in domestic patterns with Las Vegas becoming the preferred destination over New York City by averaging $82 per night. Other favorite domestic destinations include Orlando, Chicago, and San Francisco. 
Despite the HPI drop and change in pattern, New York City is still credited with being the most expensive US destination on the global front, with an average room rate of $196 in the first two quarters of 2009. Dallas, TX (PRLEAK), 2009 – The rate of a hotel room in the US now averages $115 per night, as against $139 in 2008.

State wise, New York made it to the top as the most expensive destination, with Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Wyoming following suit. Wyoming retains its place in the list due to a demand for ski tourism in the state. Nevada, with an average of $77 per night, was the least expensive in the first half of 2009, followed by Idaho and Kansas. 

Hotels.com’s Hotel Price Index latest report included hotel rates paid at 78,000 hotels across 13,000 locations worldwide in the first half of 2009. The report is based on actual rates paid per room and the number of rooms sold in each of the markets that hotels.com services. The HPI report integrates chain hotels, independent hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals, and is therefore considered a valuable reference point for hotel industry research. The report is published globally in fourteen editions and country specific versions are available for countries that include US, Canada, UK, Germany, and more. 

About hotels.com
Hotels.com is a leading portal that provides lodging options worldwide. Its 85,000 strong database includes all categories of hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. Hotels.com features a variety of tools that includes virtual tours, maps, guest reviews, and property descriptions. Through its Price Match Guarantee, Risk-Free Booking, and welcomerewards programs, the company strives to provide travelers with the ultimate holiday experience.

Located approximately 60 kilometres south of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

An outpouring of lava from nearby Mount Warning – many millenia ago – created Tamborine Mountain’s lush, forested plateau which is approximately 8 km long by 5 km wide and now sits 600 metres above sea level.

The many attractions of the Mount Tamborine area and its picturesque villages include craft and antique shops, cafes and restaurants and numerous galleries which attract thousands of tourists every season.

The area is also known for its award-winning wineries with many offering tours, free tastings and affordable meals in beautiful surroundings. If you enjoy walking, nine National Parks within the region await you. Shady walking tracks lead through stunning subtropical rainforest and past breathtaking waterfalls, natural swimming holes and rock pools. Sun dappled picnic and BBQ areas pepper the way and spectacular lookouts offer stunning views towards the ocean as well as to the West over the hinterland.

The Rainforest Discovery Skywalk is the latest Tamborine Mountain attraction and was completed in early 2009. Set on 30 acres of magnificent rainforest and alongside a tumbling creek, the Skywalk consists of an eco walking trail that leads to a 40m-long platform set 30m above the rainforest canopy. A short drive away, another popular attraction are the Glow-worm Caves that offer guided underground sightseeing tours through two spectacular man made caves filled with thousands of glow worms.

The rich volcanic soil of the area supports a diversity of horticulture which can be enjoyed on nature walks as well as by visiting the local Botanic Gardens. The bounty of many residents’ gardens is also on display at several roadside stalls that abound with kiwi fruit, rhubarb, avocados and macadamia nuts quaintly displayed around an ‘Honesty Box’.

This small plateau is also rich in animal and bird life. Platypus, green tree frogs, scrub turkeys, wallabies and of course koalas form part of the Mountain’s varied range of wildlife and in the morning, the calls of lorikeets, kookaburras and lyrebirds can be heard.

The state of Queensland is known as Australia’s Sunshine State and on Tamborine Mountain, you can enjoy abundant sunshine year-round but without the heat and humidity that the more northerly parts of Queensland often endure.

The beaches, shopping malls, theme parks and many other Gold Coast attractions are a comfortable 40-minute drive from Mount Tamborine while Brisbane is one hour away, making the Mountain the ideal ‘base-camp’ location from which to explore south-east Queensland.

The nearest international airport is Brisbane, however national travellers often land at Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport, a mere 45-minute drive from Tamborine Mountain.

Whether you are parents-to-be seeking a tranquil Babymoon destination, a newly engaged couple looking for that perfect Honeymoon location or if you are simply looking for the best Mount Tamborine accommodation you will delight in the serene privacy of Mount Tamborine’s Witches Falls Cottages.

Witches Falls Cottages offer an idyllic retreat to nature and consist of private cottages tucked away along rainforest pathways in one of Tamborine Mountain’s and perhaps even Australia’s most secluded and peaceful locations.

Located in the Rhone Alpes department of France, Chamonix is one of the oldest resorts in the country attracting a wide variety of year round visitors. Boasting stunning scenery, unrivalled winter sports action and a thriving and historic atmosphere, there are many reasons to visit this superb resort and renting holiday accommodation in Chamonix offers the perfect base to enjoy everything on offer.

One of the areas most famous attractions, the stunning Mont Blanc rises to a height of nearly 5000 metres. It’s of no surprise to hear about popular Chamonix has become for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, particularly when considering the facilities and the 700 kilometres of slopes on offer. There are a total of 39 blue (beginner), 25 Red (intermediate) and 10 black (advanced) runs to choose from as well as 50 ski lifts to take you to the top of the slopes.

For both nature and winter sports fans alike, the superb Chamonix Valley offers something for everyone. This breathtaking corner of the French Alps also offers a variety of activities ranging from ice climbing to white water rafting. If however you want to spend time taking in the stunning views and wild countryside of the Rhone Alpes, mountain bike and walking trails are well worth hunting down.

In addition, a trip on the famous d’Aiguille du Midi cable car is well worth a trip. Moving from altitude of 1035 to 3842 metres, the ride to the summit promises superb views of the Mont Blanc Massif. Boasting one of the longest sections between pillars, at three kilometres, it’s also one of the tallest cable cars in the world. If you can puck up the courage to take the ride you’ll enjoy stunning views all across the Alpine peaks.

To enjoy stunning views of the majestic Mont Blanc, without the skis, a ride on the Mont Blanc Tramway is a must. Climbing to an altitude of 2,372 metres, the Mont Blanc Tramway is an ideal day trip, promising some of the best vantage points in the area. The first section of the tram way was opened back in 1909, and the old station and carriages promise a wonderful insight into the history of the region.

Being the oldest resort in the Alps, there will be plenty more heritage and culture to discover in the town centre. Discover the colourful past of the valley, which records indicate goes back as far as the 10th Century. The Alpine Museum is well worth exploring, where you can discover the history of the region including learning about the the fearless explorers Horace Bénédict de Saussure and Michel-Gabriel Paccard who scaled Mont Blanc in 1760. Also worth discovering is the wealth of traditional restaurants in Chamonix that offer the best of the local cuisine.

But whatever your requirements and whatever you are looking for a winter break in Chamonix, Rhone Alpes accommodation is sure to please, placing your perfectly to discover your own 5 reasons to visit the area.