Archive for the ‘island hotel’ Category

Best Hotel Deals Washington Dc

07.28.10

Galapagos Island is a wonderful example of “The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection” and “The Theory of Natural Selection” of Charles Darwin. Best Hotel Deals Washington DcAt present, the island is beaming with visitors who want to experience its remote beauty while staying at a Galapagos Island hotel.

Tourists who want to see the extraordinary fare of Galapagos, travel first into Quito and from there, you can already arrange activities as well as tours to this mainland of Ecuador. While in this region, places you should see include the Avenue of the Volcanoes – Mindo; Banos and the city centers as well as the colonial haciendas of Quito and Cuenca. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most notable features of Galapagos Islands are its unique flora and fauna. It remains a national park; province and biological marine reserve open to tourists who want to explore its insurmountable beauty.

Hotels in and around Galapagos

Apart from staying at a Galapagos Island hotel, you can also book into a lodge in the Amazon region. For a fun and comfortable vacation at Galapagos, there are numerous hotels you can consider:

Bellavista – This family-run hotel offers a prime and convenient location along Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It is located beside Main Street’s tourist pier. This Galapagos Island hotel has its own 35-foot luxury yacht. Aside from that, the hotel offers Galapagos Island Tours either for 4 days and 3 nights or 6 days and 5 nights. The package also includes daily activities. If you stop by the pier, you may even get a chance to mingle with sea lions.

Hotel Espana – This hotel is considered as one amongst the best budget options you can get in Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. It has a friendly and clean atmosphere as well as a convenient location. It was recently renovated. There is a common area downstairs; the rooms are kept clean; and the mattresses are always replaced.

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La Casa de Pepito – This Galapagos Island hotel is actually owned by a Galapagos naturalist guide couple – Pepe and Erika. It is situated along Puerto Ayora’s most quiet and safest neighborhood. It offers fully furnished rental houses complete with modern commodities, cable TVs, stereos and two-bedroom units with single as well as double beds.

Hotel Silberstein – This beautifully landscaped, intimate and modern hotel used to be known as “Hotel Angermeyer”. It offers 22 romantic and clean rooms with ceiling fans, private hot baths, air conditioning units and stunning views of the swimming pool or courtyard.

Galapagos Island is a wonderful example of “The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection” and “The Theory of Natural Selection” of Charles Darwin. At present, the island is beaming with visitors who want to experience its remote beauty while staying at a Galapagos Island hotel.

Tourists who want to see the extraordinary fare of Galapagos, travel first into Quito and from there, you can already arrange activities as well as tours to this mainland of Ecuador. While in this region, places you should see include the Avenue of the Volcanoes – Mindo; Banos and the city centers as well as the colonial haciendas of Quito and Cuenca. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most notable features of Galapagos Islands are its unique flora and fauna. It remains a national park; province and biological marine reserve open to tourists who want to explore its insurmountable beauty.

Hotels in and around Galapagos

Apart from staying at a Galapagos Island hotel, you can also book into a lodge in the Amazon region. For a fun and comfortable vacation at Galapagos, there are numerous hotels you can consider:

Bellavista – This family-run hotel offers a prime and convenient location along Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It is located beside Main Street’s tourist pier. This Galapagos Island hotel has its own 35-foot luxury yacht. Aside from that, the hotel offers Galapagos Island Tours either for 4 days and 3 nights or 6 days and 5 nights. The package also includes daily activities. If you stop by the pier, you may even get a chance to mingle with sea lions.

Hotel Espana – This hotel is considered as one amongst the best budget options you can get in Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. It has a friendly and clean atmosphere as well as a convenient location. It was recently renovated. There is a common area downstairs; the rooms are kept clean; and the mattresses are always replaced.

La Casa de Pepito – This Galapagos Island hotel is actually owned by a Galapagos naturalist guide couple – Pepe and Erika. It is situated along Puerto Ayora’s most quiet and safest neighborhood. It offers fully furnished rental houses complete with modern commodities, cable TVs, stereos and two-bedroom units with single as well as double beds.

Hotel Silberstein – This beautifully landscaped, intimate and modern hotel used to be known as “Hotel Angermeyer”. It offers 22 romantic and clean rooms with ceiling fans, private hot baths, air conditioning units and stunning views of the swimming pool or courtyard.

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Spa Holidays in the Canary Islands

07.09.10

You don’t need to go all the way to Bali to spend a relaxing holiday pampering yourself in the local spa. Canary Island holidays offer the perfect compromise with a plethora of exotic treatments and a temperature to match.

One of the best luxury hotels in the Canary Islands for spa treatments is the Hotel Botanico. This exclusive hotel located in the Puerto de la Cruz area of Tenerife is surrounded by subtropical gardens in a peaceful area, which is just perfect for succumbing to all the luxury spa treatments on offer. The Oriental Spa Garden has a team of qualified therapists ready to soothe away all your aches and pains on a Canary Islands holiday, and with the islands offering the perfect year round climate, this makes the outdoor dragon pagoda the perfect place to indulge in a Shiatsu style massage.

However, if you’re after something a little more private then you may want to consider retreating to one of the 20 private spa rooms on offer. The Hotel Botanico also includes a special package for patrons that wish to lose weight whilst on a Canary Islands holiday. This includes supplies of fresh mineral water and food which is exclusively from an organic source and contains absolutely no synthetic proteins.

The different facilities on offer certainly do their part in setting the hotel apart from other luxury hotels in the Canary Islands, and as well as an ice room, the resort also contains an Oriental lancorum, Japanese Saunas and Turkish Baths. Daily exercise lessons provide the incentive for keeping fit whilst on your Canary Islands holidays and a unisex hairdresser means that you are certain to go home from your break looking your absolute best.

But whilst Oriental massages are certainly a fail-safe option, if you want something a little more traditional on your Canary Islands holiday then why not consider making the most of the islands’ natural resources? Lanzarote is arguably the most volcanic of the seven islands which make up the Canaries and the volcanic ash is considered by many to have aruyvedic healing benefits. The lagoon of Orzola, where white and black sand remain juxtapositioned between turquoise waters, is the perfect place to experience the natural benefits of the volcano and, as the water retains a warm temperature on a year-round basis, there is no excuse for not making the pilgrimage whilst on your Canary Islands holidays.

However, if you don’t want to travel further than the next room in order to indulge yourself on your spa holiday, then you may want to consider a stay in the luxury Canary Islands hotel of Grand Hotel Bahia Del Duque. This plush hotel was built to resemble an old village in the Canaries, with the staff decked out in traditional costume and an ancient bell tower taking pride of place as the hotel’s key focal point. The onsite restaurant boasts one of the few Michelin stars in the Canary region, whilst the spa facilities offered are way above par. In keeping with the traditional island theme, the spa takes natural elements from the Canary Islands such as, Aloe Vera plants, marine extracts and volcanic lava to create indigenous treatments exclusive to a holiday in the Canary Islands.

With the natural resources of the island rivalling those offered throughout Europe, a Canary Islands holiday is a definite must for those who would ordinarily consider travelling further-a-sea for a premier spa experience.

Port Blair Hotels ? A Guarantee For Luxury And Comfort!

06.21.10

Port Blair is anytime a beautiful holiday destination to experience fun and enjoy intimate moments with nature. Situated on the stunning Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the place has always intrigued its onlookers. On a visit to this destination, you are sure to feel the same pull as others. You will not be able to stop marveling at the beauty of this region and after a visit to its noted attractions like Fisheries Museum, Marine Museum and Cellular Jail you will feel like returning to this place again and again. Adding to this pleasant experience are the Port Blair hotels.

All the hotels in Port Blair are well devised and nicely built to meet the needs of its honorable guests. You will find here an array of first class, economy and budget hotels. In each category, you will come across an enviable range of choices. If luxury what attracts you most, then definitely the first class accommodations in Port Blair make the best bet for you. Otherwise, you can also go for the economy and budget class Port Blair hotels that offer best of services and facilities at moderate rates.

For more generic information on the hotels in Port Blair, you can peruse the details below.

1. First Class Hotels
Port Blair hotels that fall under the first class category are meant for luxury stays. Designed with refined taste, most of the hotels in this category boast of opulently adorned rooms furnished with coveted modern amenities. The multi cuisine restaurants serve you the best of Indian, Chinese and continental delights. Never miss the seafood delicacies of the restaurants. Seafood is their specialty. Besides, the first class hotels also house trendy bars and well facilitated business venues. The recreational opportunities are also found in good numbers here. Fortune Resort Bay Island Hotel and Sinclairs Bay View are the best examples in this category.

2. Economy Hotels
The economy hotels in Port Blair are known for their guest-friendly services and modern facilities. These hotels can be said to offer best value for money. Taking good care of the business and leisure needs of the guests, the economy class hotels in this region ensure maximum comfort and pleasurable stay for everyone. Travel desk, room service and dining options are the most sought-after facilities of this category. Andaman Residency and Hornbill Nest Resort are some of the many hotels in this category that can serve your purpose well.
3. Budget Hotels
The Port Blair hotels in this category offer you basic comforts and necessary modern amenities which are absolute must for a nice stay. These hotels are well equipped to cater to your dining and recreational needs. Besides, additional facilities are also offered. Gem Continental and Hotel Shompen are few of them in this category.

However, if you are seeking for an accommodation little away from Port Blair, then Barefoot Resort Havelock Island and Wild Orchid Havelock Island are ideal to consider.

Top 10 Romance Hotels

05.09.10

Everybody needs a little romance in his or her life from time to time. The hectic lifestyles of this modern world often leave little time for enjoyment, let alone quality time with a partner or spouse.

Choosing the right hotel is the first step to a great romantic getaway. Some hotels simply ooze romance (particularly in Japan) and can put even the most sceptical of individuals in the mood for love.

Here is your guide to the top 10 romance hotels in the world.

1.Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris – This hotel is beautifully situated in the most romantic city in the world. It is in a quieter area of the city to afford you some privacy but is also only a few minutes away from the top attractions, like the the Louvre for example. Most of the rooms have private balconies and all of them have an old world feel that simply oozes romance. This undoubtedly makes this hotel the best romance hotel in the world.

2.The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice – This Venetian hotel is one of the most spectacular in Italy. It boasts a prime location on the canal, which is illuminated for effect there. All of the rooms are traditional and there unique design serves to inspire the most unromantic of people! It is in a prime location for the attractions of the city but also gives its guests access to a secluded beach.

3.Le Meridien Hotel Grand Pacific Tokyo – We certainly can’t leave out this 5 star hotel located in Tokyo Bay where many “love hotels” are found. This is the biggest hotel in Tokyo and if you book a room high enough, there are beautiful views of Tokyo’s waterfront and the city. There are 884 romantic rooms. Fantastic customer service and facilities available.

4.Seamark On First Sunshine Coast – This hotel boasts individual apartments instead of rooms for that added bit of privacy when on a romantic trip away. It is set in tropical gardens and overlooks a number of the best beaches in the area so you can enjoy spending time in your partner’s company without distractions. It also has a pool and spa area for your convenience!

5.Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas – This hotel offers all types of accommodation and gives you the privacy you need for any romantic break! The hotel is located in a quiet yet beautiful area with the famous Four Mile Beach within walking distance. It has a cocktail bar, sauna and pool. The ambience simply encourages relaxation and love.

6.Petit Palace Art Gallery Hotel, Madrid – This hotel is a renovated art gallery but is still home to the passion of the artists whose works once called it home. It is a luxurious hotel with modern facilities but is located away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is close enough to take regular trips if you wish, but the hotel is generally quiet and an extremely romantic retreat for couples in love.

7.Royal Palm Hotel & Resort Grand Bay – This hotel is a popular choice for couples wanting a romantic break. It is surrounded by beaches and tropical gardens for an exclusive feel but provides comfortable rooms to make you feel at home. All rooms are facing the sea so you can relax in your room and savour the atmosphere of the destination without moving a muscle.

8.Fenix Hotel, Lisbon – This hotel is a very comfortable base for any visit to the Portuguese capital. It has its own gardens to stroll through, a great little restaurant and easy access to the rest of the city. The roomsare fully serviced with air conditioning, cable TV, mini bar and you can call for room service at any time.

9.Hulhule Island hotel, Maldives – This hotel is perfectly kept with a romantic setting. It has a tropical feel and is located near beaches, quaint cafes and local shops that give an exotic aura of romance for any tourists. All rooms are luxurious with some offering peaceful views of the Indian Ocean.

10.Howard Johnson By The Falls, Niagara Falls – This hotel is superbly located for a trip to view the amazing Niagara Falls. It is designed to provide an elegant luxury for all of its guests and the service is of the highest quality. It is within walking distance of all of the major attractions but also offers privacy, thus combining the best possible factors to conjure up some romance.

If you are planning a romantic break then you need a hotel to match. The ten above are excellent and provide a romantic atmosphere from the minute you check in until the minute you leave. Planning is everything, so always choose the best hotel for the most romantic stay!

Romantic Weddings At Las Vegas Hotels

04.13.10

While planning your Las Vegas wedding, you may consider looking at wedding packages that Las Vegas Hotels offer in addition to accommodation. The idea of getting married at the hotel where you stay while in Vegas is quite reasonable. First of all, this solution is very convenient to the newlyweds and their guests — the ceremony and the reception will be organized at one place and the guests don’t have to go to other hotels before and after the wedding. Usually the hotels offer very good deals if you buy a package from them plus the bride and the groom will get to spend a night after in a luxurious suite, with champagne, chocolate and breakfast in bed, etc. Those are just some of the extras thrown in by the hotel wedding coordinators if you decide to get married at their hotel.

Las Vegas is the place where the customers really benefit from the competition between the businesses by getting the highest quality services and products reasonably priced. Obviously, when you get married at a lavish 5-star hotel you can’t expect to get married with a budget under $1,000. Yes, it is possible in Vegas, but if you’re looking for something special, you have to pay for that. But the hotels in Las Vegas offer much more than the small chapels. The Strip hotels have both the breathtaking amenities (chapels, restaurants, suites and banquet halls) and the best-qualified professional staff — able to create for you the most romantic wedding you’ve always dreamed of.

So don’t l look for a simple Elvis wedding or a quickie drive tru ceremony when you think of getting married at one of Las Vegas hotels. Don’t you deserve to think much bigger? And whatever you dream of it will be delivered… There is practically nothing that the Strip hotels couldn’t provide. From fantastic themed weddings like the very romantic ceremonies on a Venetian-style gondola (at The Venetian) or on top of the replica of the Eiffel Tower (Paris Hotel) to saying “I do!” in an adventurous way – on the pirate ship (Treasure Island Hotel). They can even make a wedding for you based on your favorite TV show! Imagine exchanging vows on the bridge of the USS Enterprise, having Klingons and Ferengi as witnesses; yes, it’s possible, no problem… (Las Vegas Hilton Hotel).

Those are just some of the themed weddings that are becoming increasingly popular lately. The other very popular trend is offering — in addition to the traditional ceremony in the hotel’s chapel — some kind of wedding package that includes exchanging vows outdoors. Usually the ceremony is taking place in a garden (often with a gazebo or a fountain as a backdrop for nice photo opportunities) or near the pool. For example, the Aladdin Hotel, the Paris, MGM Grand, and Sahara Hotel offer poolside weddings. And as for the garden weddings, you will certainly love getting married at the majestic Wynn Las Vegas Hotel that has a secluded outdoor courtyard with trees and fountains, but you also may choose the Flamingo Hotel that has five outdoor garden locations for your nuptials that feature gazebos and waterfalls. If you’d like to get married near a pond or fountain, then Caesars Palace Hotel outdoor wedding will certainly make you happy.

Still, for those looking for more excitement during the wedding ceremony, they may choose saying “I do!” high above the ground with amazing views of the Strip below. The Eiffel Tower package mentioned already (especially the Twilight option) will suit them very well, but how about exchanging vows at the Stratosphere Hotel — at the top of the Tower, 800 feet above the ground on the outdoor observation deck…

But if the height scares you, the Bellagio Hotel may be a good choice for you, because you can get married there on a terrace overlooking their beautiful lake and the world-famous fountain show.

Those tastefully created wedding packages at the Las Vegas Strip hotels don’t come cheap, but having a great way to start new life together is well worth it. And no doubt the bride and the groom and their guests will remember for many years to come their elegant ceremony and reception. Almost every package includes video and picture sets and very often a web cam broadcast is provided so that your family and friends who were not able to come to Vegas can watch you and admire on the Internet how great you looked and how successful your Las Vegas wedding was.

And just if you’re pressing me hard to tell you how much those romantic hotel weddings are, here are some examples (naturally, they may change at any time): Eiffel Tower Wedding At Twilight Package — $10,000 (but only $3,300.00 if not at twilight…); Pirate Ship Wedding — between $2,499 and $3,199; Venetian Gondola Wedding — between $750 and $4,500; Star Trek Wedding — from $500 to $3,000.

Vow renewal packages are also available and they are very popular — because if you come to Vegas once, baby, you’ll be coming back…

A Weekend on the Aran Islands – the Most Westerly Isles in Europe

03.05.10

Inishmor is the largest and most accessible of the Aran Islands. You can reach Inishmor by plane from Connemara regional airport at Minna, near Inverin, about 35km west of Galway or by ferry from Rossaveal about 40km west of Galway. Inishmor, teetering on the very edge of Europe, is an island rich in culture and tradition, a place of timelessness and mysticism. When you land on the island, you will be greeted by a welcoming party of tour operators offering their services to whisk you around the island on a day trip. Speak nicely and they will escort you first to your accommodation before milling you around the island, usually the standard of guide is quite high, full of anecdotes of island life and well versed in it’s history. One of the highlights of the trip is the spectacular Dun Aengus fort almost toppling into the mighty, pounding Atlantic, the views from the top are unforgettable. There are two other forts along the road between Kilronan and Dun Aengus well worth stopping for, namely Dun Eochal and Dun Duchathai. The ruins of monastic settlements dot the island, the highlights being Tempall Chiarain, Teampall Bheanain, Clochan na Carraige and the Seven Churches. Return to Kilronan for a fine evening meal in the Aran Islands Hotel Restaurant recommended for it’s excellent seafood, unwind later with a few Irish coffees and some marvellous live Irish traditional music.

The next day hire a bicycle or better still a horse and tramp around the island, popping in to visit the Old Light House, Man of Aran Cottage and The Worm hole. When you get back to Kilronan make sure to take in the Aran Heritage Centre. Whittle away your evening on a wee pub crawl having a jar or two in Tigh Fitz, Joe Watty’s, Ti Joe Mac’s and the famous American bar.

China’s Hainan Island

02.09.10

It is interesting to note that while the island of Hainan in southwest China is the country’s number two holiday ravel destination (in between Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan and Yunnan’s Lijiang), most foreign tourists and expats living in the People’s Republic have never even heard of Hainan Dao, let alone been there I used to be one of the guilty parties. Despite residing in China for an extended period of time, it was not until I began my epic travels across the country that I was introduced to what is in fact its smallest yet most exotic province.

Hainan’s most popular season is, of course, Spring Festival, when legions of mainlanders shuddering from sub-zero winter temperatures spend Chinese New Year on the invitingly temperate beaches of the tropical island.

Conversely, sweltering summers turn Hainan into a veritable Hades (reclusive sun worshipers take note: you will literally have the beach to yourselves). It is not surprising, then, that Hang Dynasty exiles were once banished to ‘The Edge of the Earth’ as fatal punishment. Hainan island has made significant progress over the centuries, from remote settlement to popular tourist attraction by way of repeatedly falling in and out of control of neighboring provinces until at last being granted provincial status in 1988 (disputably along with some 200 surrounding South China Sea islands) and declared a Special Economic Zone to spur investment.

Resultingly, the colonial capital city of Haikou on the north end of the island has become its commercial center, brimming with transportation hubs, department stores and enough hotels to accommodate all of China (which it literally does during the holidays).

Those wishing to remove themselves from the urban commotion will find rustic serenity on the central coastline around Xiangshui Bay, the only traffic being farmers in coned hats and grazing cattle. There, crystal waters lap at the shores of a brilliant expanse of sugary sand, where one may sip on coconuts, feast on fresh seafood and lay undisturbed beneath the whispering palm trees.

For a more cultural experience, the lush Limuling mountain range in interior Hainan is home to the island’s reclusive indigenous peoples, most notably the Miao and the majority Li minority, a colorful ethnicity whose proud elders contine to embrace their traditional customs, native dress and intricate body and facial tattooing.

But it is Sanya, ‘the Hawaii of the Orient’that is the island’s headlining attraction. Developed along Hainan’s southerniphery, the bustling port city is framed by attractive beaches, a lively city center teaming with tourists gaudily attired in matching florescent beach wear, and a harbor congested with fishing vessels, the docks a blur of tangled netting, malodorous hauls of fish and salty dogs preparing for their next seafaring voyage.

Beyond the Sanya peninsula, Yalong Bay is a remarkable 7km stretch of white beach edged by a citadel of luxury hotels glowing in varying shades of pastel, their well-tended guests lounging poolside to the soothing sounds of Kenny G (on repeat), cocktail in hand.

No matter what your tastes – ridiculously overpriced or beach bum 1.5 billion people agree, Hainan Dao is the tropical escape everyone shohuld treat themselves to at least once during their stay in China.

Tom Carter, a freelance writer and photographer from San Francisco, has lived in PR China the past two and a half years. He is currently backpacking through all 32 Chinese provinces.

Transportation

Flights from Beijing to Haikou Airport, four times daily (four hours, 1,800 yuan)

Accommodation

The Treasure Island Hotel chain in Haikou, Xinglong and Sanya are popular with budget travelers desiring resort-style comfort at economy prices (Prices for a double range from 200 yuan in the off-season, up to 1,000 yuan during Spring Festival)

www.treasureisland-hotel.com

Regional cuisine

Seafood on Hainan is plentiful, so prices are some of China’s cheapest. roves of street vendors come out at dusk to grill a bounty of fresh fare, including various species of fish, clam, lobster, crab, squid and kelp. For desert, locals enjoy gnawing on sugarcane stalks or any of the abundant fruit. And, of course, coconut milk is an islander’s beverage of choice, chopped and chilled for only one yuan.

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