Archive for September 2011

Taking a Non-Asian Vacation

OK, to be fair, there is a lot of fun and if you prefer your holidays rain-soaked and grey – look elsewhere. Florida takes its name from the Spanish phrase meaning ‘flowery land’ and its by-line is of course, the Sunshine State. But if you associate Florida with theme parks and over-excited kids, then think again. Florida holidays can offer the best of all worlds when it comes to combining fun and relaxation. The region’s climate is defined by its sub-tropical nature. There is no end of entertainment for kids and adults alike; the treats on offer when it comes to holidays in Florida include unspoilt beaches and national parks; beaches offering some of the best water sporting and surfing opportunities; cities and towns offering boutique shopping experiences; historical attractions and 21st-century surprises.

Florida boasts the oldest continually inhabited European settler city in the continental US, St Augustine. In the north of Florida it was established by early Spanish settlers and boasts some of the oldest buildings in the US. The Spanish built Castillo de San Marcos still stands and was an important defensive and administrative centre for the earliest European settlements. The castle was needed on more than one occasion to defend against the invading British or French, though it met with limited success however as both France and Britain controlled the region. In 1862 Florida finally joined the United States, although the state considered seceding shortly afterwards; the laid-back nature of the Floridians perhaps meant the idea of another War of Independence was simply too much and the state remained the tropical jewel in the crown of the US.

Another, more recent, castle can be found a little further south in Orlando in the form of Hogwarts at the Harry Potter World attraction. It would be unfair not to mention theme parks when talking about Florida holidays as it really is the world capital for them. Walt Disney World® Resort was established first and since then the tropical climate and lush soils have proved an excellent breeding ground for theme parks of all manner. Thanks to the climate they operate all year round and provide an incredible range of entertainment and magical treats for kids and the big kids that accompany them on most Florida holidays! Orlando, close to Florida’s eastern Atlantic coast, is the Mecca for all theme park aficionados and holidays to Orlando offer an excellent range of accommodation. Just down the road is the not-to-be-missed Kennedy Space Center and the Space Coast – Orlando’s closest beaches.

Florida – originally christened “La Florida” which translates as the non-too-imaginative ‘Flowery Land’ – is an incredibly rich and diverse State when it comes to wildlife and environment. The State is not exactly a tropical island – but in places you could be forgiven for thinking so. Stuck onto the bottom of the US it has thousands of miles of coastline – more than any other mainland US State and – not satisfied with that statistic – manages to have coast on three different bodies of water. The Atlantic forms the eastern shore, the Straits of Florida in the Caribbean to the South and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Unsurprisingly eating out in Florida is all about the seafood. Beaches are never far from the itinerary on any Floridian holiday; the State has action-packed surf havens and quiet hidden retreats. Orlando holidays can offer a little something for everyone, being the best location for the theme parks, but within easy reach of one of Florida’s most undeveloped coasts making it the ideal centre to make the most of Florida holidays.

Enjoy your Bali Holidays

Bali is an island in Indonesia that lies between Lombok and Java. It is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands and is located on its western most end. The country of Indonesia is divided into 33 provinces, Bali being one of them.

Most of Indonesia’s Hindu minority community of 3,891,000 lives in Bali. Bali is the biggest tourist destination in Indonesia. It is famous for its traditional as well as modern dance, music and arts. Painting, sculpture, metal works and other highly developed art thrive in the island.

Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy their Bali holidays. There are a number of hotels and resorts catering to the traveling crowds. The 4.5-star Padma Resort Bali a huge beachfront resort situated in one of the best places in Legian. The resort has a huge swimming pool, high quality Italian and Japanese restaurants, bars, a number of shops, and a Mandara Spa. The resort is located close to the market and other shopping centers in the region.

The Courtyard by Marriott is situated located on the southern coast of Bali is just a short distance from the pristine beaches in the region. The hotel is located inside the expansive grounds of Nusa Dua. The spa, health club and outdoor swimming pool provide vacationers the chance to relax and rejuvenate their bodies.

Located at the center of Seminyak, the Sentosa Private Villas and Spa is a 5 Star facility close to boutique shops and restaurants in the region. There are a total of 38 villas which feature luxurious and chic interiors for maximum comfort for guests. The villas designed by Ground Kents are high walled to provide total privacy. He also designed the Four Season Jimbaran which won him many accolades. Each of the villas comes with a private pool and a landscaped garden with a lotus pond.

Located along the southern coast of Bali and high on top of a cliff top plateau, the Alila Villas Uluwatu is a 5 Star facility hardly thirty minutes from the Ngurah Rai International airport. The Jimbaran Bay which is close to the Uluwatu Temple can be reached within 15 minutes. Vacationers can relax in this beachfront property in style and luxury.

The Samaya Seminyak Bali is a 5 Star facility situated right on Seminyak beach. It comprises of 18 pool villas which come with their own private pools. The villas also have private terraces which pop out through the thick tropical foliage. The Samaya Seminyak is close to the entertainment and shopping district of Legian.

Enjoy Bali holidays in one of these luxurious and exclusive resorts and hotels and have a great tropical holiday. It could be the best holiday experience of your life.

What to book cheap Flights

Are you planning on a vacation for your family? Head over to eBookers to get the best travel prices possible. Apart from the amount of money that you can save in your flights, the website also has other great features that make it one of the best sites to book your tickets through.

First of all, you need a place to stay. The eBookers lets you select the hotel of your choice from 95,000 different hotels around the world. You can even go through the reviews written by visitors to the site in various different languages.

The site has comprehensive filters to search for the specific type of hotel or location that you are interested in. The site returns location maps based on your search criteria with current prices of the hotels in the region. You do not have to pay extra fees for booking the hotel through the site. There is no charge for modifying or cancelling your booking either.

eBookers offers fantastic deals at unbelievable prices. You get to enjoy discounted rates from time to time. The site conducts flash sales periodically. It also offers promotional discount codes that you can use to get huge discounts on your bookings.

Using the site, you can choose to travel in any one of 250 different airlines. You can also choose some of the world’s best car rentals by using the site’s features. You can get amazing savings when you book multiple travel components all at once. You can save up to 40% using this wonderful feature. You can also save by making your travel and hotel bookings together as a package.

With eBookers, you can stay confident that your money is in safe hands. The site is a member of IATA and ATOL. If any one component of your booking involving a flight element is cancelled, you will get a full refund of your money. All the packages are protected and bonded by the CAA.

The site is secured by Verisign, a reputed online accreditation authority. When you see a price, that is exactly what you would end up paying. All the fee and taxes are included in the total that you see. You will not have any surprises down the way. eBookers have more than 10 years’ experience and are leaders in this field. They are also an Orbitz Worldwide travel brand member.

eBookers is the very first sight to offer a combination of hotel, flight and car bookings together in Europe. You can even access the site using your mobile phone. So, you can make your bookings on the go, wherever you are. There is a separate iPad App known as the eBookers Explorer to allow iPad owners to get the most out of the site.

You can have a live chat with customer service and sales executive online. So, book your flights, hotels and car rentals at the eBookers site.