A Happening Nightlife Beckons You

Nightlife - the word sends energy waves in many people's bodies, while others feel more content to sleep away the darkness! Night owls have limited options in most places, but there are some countries and cities, which are truly the hubs of a dazzling nightlife. One such place is France - and mostly because of its renowned capital city - Paris.

Visit Paris, and you will want to be back for more. Its a city right out of renaissance and into the 21st century. Louvre, Arc de triumph and Eiffel tower jostle for space with pubs, dsicotheques and all night restaurants. Not only is Paris the city of light, but of sound, music, dance, and revelry. Progressive Paris also promises a wealth of nighttime opportunities for gay men and women, mostly in the Marais neighborhood.

If you don't like the French, you might prefer the English! The UK is known for its laidback lifestyle, along with its famous pubs and nightclubs. London - the capital city, is world famous for its party vibe and non-stop nightlife. It is seething with after-hours drinking and dancing dens of all shapes and sizes. From the pulsating dancefloors of major nightclubs to the chilled intimacy of smaller DJ bars, London has something to offer both hardcore party animals and those looking for a quiet drink and conversation. If you plan to visit London, you should be looking to book hotels near London attractions for ease of travel.

However, London is not just the only city in UK to boast of a great nightlife. Manchester is also a fast developing night life hub. From the theme clubs of Peter Street to the underground club nights in the Northern Quarter, Manchester's nightlife has matured since the 'Madchester' era, when the Hacienda and the Boardwalk us on the clubbing map. The club scene made famous by the Haçienda continues to draw crowds. And there’s a stack of smaller, edgier live music venues offering you a chance to catch the next Smiths or Stone Rose. Its a city that loves to party with a huge student population chomping at the bit - you are guaranteed cracking nightlife. Make sure you book hotels in Manchester CBD for the best experience.

A Vacation in Mumbai

Last week I travelled to Mumbai, India's commercial capital and home to the popular Hindi film industry - Bollywood. I loved the place.

Some pics:

Sun about to set at Juhu Beach

Dargah of Sufi Saint Haji Ali

Magic hour at Versova beach

Long shot of Haji Ali right after sunset

Not only is Mumbai a great industrial harbour and India's entertainment hub, but it is also considered one of the safest cities in Asia. To be more specific, a place wear women can feel safe travelling alone at night.

Mykonos - An Exotic Greek Island

Mykonos is a Greek island and one of the top international tourist destinations, famous around the globe for its cosmopolitan character and its intense nightlife. Mykonos hotels are some of the best in the world.

It spans an area of 105.183 km² and rises at an elevation of 1,119 ft at its highest point. The island is composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and relies on the desalination of sea water in order to meet its needs.

Mykonos is widely known for its extremely diverse and often intense nightlife featured by a vast number of bars and nightclubs. It is also distinctive for its sandy beaches. Many Greek and international celebrities have summer residences in Mykonos and can often be seen walking the white-washed roads or having dinner at a small street-side table of an expensive restaurant or a taverna.

Accommodation in Mykonos is widely available thanks to a good variety of hotels and resorts. In fact, Mykonos hotels are the lifeline of its economy thanks to the major international tourist influx influx.

New Zealand - A tourist paradise

New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind. New Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and openness of Kiwis will impress you. And the great advantage of New Zealand is that all of its diverse physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so close to each other. New Zealand accommodation offers a plethora of options for all kinds of tourists.

New Zealand has 3 major cities that act as te main tourist hubs:

1. Christchurch: Located on the east coast of the South Island, Christchurch - just like the rest of New Zealand - is a city of contrasts. It is a place where its residents continue to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle amidst a natural environment world-renowned for its beauty. Among the 'must sees' are the weekend Arts Centre market, Christchurch Cathedral, Botanic Gardens and International Antarctic Centre. Orana Park is New Zealand's largest wildlife reserve and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve has among its displays New Zealand's largest daytime kiwi viewing area. Christchurch accommodation is easy to get and suits every budget.

2. Auckland: Auckland is New Zealand's biggest city. Wherever you stay in Auckland, you're never far from breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches, invigorating walks, idyllic holiday islands, outstanding food and wine, great shopping and exciting nightlife. Auckland's temperate climate, easy access to the coast and variety of activities earn the city consistent top five rankings in international lifestyle surveys. Prices at Auckland hotels start from as little as USD$20.00 while 5 star Auckland accommodation is available from USD$126.00.

3. Wellington: Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, has so much to offer. Set on the edge of a stunning harbour and surrounded by rolling hills, it's a city waiting to be explored. Wellington is New Zealand's political centre, housing Parliament and the head offices of all government ministries and departments, plus the bulk of the foreign diplomatic missions based in New Zealand. Wellington's compact city centre supports an arts scene, café culture and nightlife much larger than most cities of a similar size. It is a centre of New Zealand's film and theatre industry. Wellington has the 12th best quality of living in the world, according to a 2007 study by consulting company Mercer. Wellington accommodation rates start from $63 and my swell up to $1000 for the best luxury hotels.

Travelling to the Heart of Europe

At the very centre - the very heart of Europe lie 2 beautiful countries that charm the tourist with sheer magic. If you havent guessed it yet, they are Germany and Austria!

As holiday destinations , Germany and Austria have a lot of advantages - they are fashionable , efficient and have dynamic cities like Berlin , Munich and Frankfurt , Vienna alongwith quaint old towns and villages that seem straight out of the Brothers Grimm. And Berlin hotels are an attraction in themselves too.

Naure has also blessed these places which have deep forests – like the famous Black Forest. Other major attractions include fairy-tale castles, and to top it all off, the finest range of beers.

Germany hotels suit every budget, but remember Berlin hotels - that is those located in the capital city, might just be more expensive! Meanwhile, Austria a country where the same languae - German is spoken, and its capital Veinna (Wien) is considered one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. You might not get booking in Wien hotels if you're too late!

Planning a Santorini Trip

Santorini in Greece is the most extraordinary island in the Aegean . You sail into a strange, enclosed sea, shut off by the Burnt Islands . It is one of Europe's most famous tourist destinations and offers a wide range of quality hotels, comfortable hotel apartments, luxurious suite hotels and organised camping sites. Santorini's lodging guarantee security and exclusive services.

However, owing to its popularity, its become more and more difficult to get accommodation in Santorini. Thats where the guys fat fantasticgreece.com step in to help. You can easily find a hotel to stay in Santorini by browsing through the webpage. Not only that, the page is extremely user friendly, and also contains the google map to various location on the Santorini island. This not only makes your holiday planning simpler, but also saves a lot of time. But eh icing on the cake is that their webpage also contains supplementary information on dining, sightseeing, nightlife in this herotage city.

So, if you are looking to book Santorini hotels, you know exactly where to browse! Do check ut their list of recommended or "most visit" places on the webpage, inclusive of pictures and descriptions...

Happy holidaying!

Guide for Travelling in Asia

Asia is one hot travel destination if you want an exciting holiday thats value for money and does not put a pressure on your pocket. But, every place in the world is different and similarly an Asian holiday will be vastly different from an American or a European holiday. I recommend you check out the travel stories in Asia to help plan your Asian holiday.

Why should you check it out? Well there are lots of reasons for that. Firstly, its an authority blog on Asian travel news and stories which gives you valuable insights on a variety of topics related to Asian travel. For example, in one of the blog posts - Strange Cultural Habits in China, the blog author delves into some really unique cultural habits of the Chinese which would appear odd to the average westerner.

Secondly, its regularly updated with important stories. There is also one very useful post on the best beaches in Asia. Asia has some fantastic beaches which you would be hard put to find in a western country. From India to the Philippines to Indonesia, there are so many beaches to choose from that naming a few as “the best” is a difficult task. Do check them out!

Now Find Vacation Rentals Worldwide

Vacation rentals is a term in a travel industry meaning renting out furnished apartment or house on a temporary basis to tourists as an alternative to a hotel. Proving to become more and more popular. In some cities e.g Barcelona local authorities considered vacation rentals to be a treat for hotel industry and passed some regulations and limits for the industry. Such vacation rentals or vacation homes as they are now popularly known, provide a great accommodation for all types of tourists.

Goin2travel.com is one website which is a great resource for finding and booking vacation homes online. Be it San Diego vacation rentals, or the Newport beach vacation rentals - the website provides great information and services all around the world.

In their own words, goin2travel.com is a worldwide vacation rentals websites where owners and managers can list their vacation rentals and travelers can inquire directly and book the rental with the owner or manager.

Book Hotels is also an Art

When you're planning your holiday, besides the travel and the destination, the most important factor is booking your accommodation - or more precisely, booking your hotel! When booking a hotel, the obvious factors are price and the standard of the room. Breakfast can often be an afterthought. The most convenient way of booking a hotel is doing it online. Easytobook.com is one great website which allows you to book Amsterdam hotels sitting in front of your computer in any part of the world! Amsterdam of course, is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

Location is a key factor in booking a hotel by costumers, next to cleanliness and pricing, according to a recent consumer ratings and reviews survey by leading accommodation specialist. When we talk of holidays and hotels, the most favoured holiday destination that comes to mind is Europe. Almost all of the countries in western and central Europe are great tourist destinations, and booking a hotel in them can be a mammoth task. Thats where easytobook.com really steps in. Whether you're booking hotels in London or hotels in Prague, easytobook has online soultions for all!

The great thing is, that easytobook service is not just available in Europe but in the United States of America as well. So if you're planning booking a New York hotel, make sure you book it easily via easytobook!

A Cool New Travel Blog

While surfing on the net for some travel information, I came across this relatively new but seemingly great travel blog. Titled RatesToGo, it is well designed with well detailed information on various travel destinations around the world. The main categories on this blog are Asia, Europe, North America and the world. On closer look I realised that this blog is part of an older webite that was launched in 2002 - ratestogo.com! It is owned and operated by Flairview travel.

While surfing through the blog, I found some of the entries completely enchanting. It would be a crime not to mention a couple of them. There is an entry on the Three Most Futuristic Cities - in which the author talks about why and how Dubai, Hong Kong and Tokyo are the three most futuristic cities of the world.

Another very likeable post was the one titled Top Five Ice Cold Hotels! As the name suggests, it talks about hotels in the forzen environment. But its just not that. The article profiles hotels that have been fuly or partially built from ice! Located in places like Canada and Sweden, some of them are built on the concept of the Igloo!

Coming back to the main blog, the catchline on the blog is last minute hotel deals, which is quite nice for those who plan thier holidays at the last moment. The main website on ratestogo.com covers over 12,000 last-minute reservations on hotels. Users can book hotels three weeks in advance and help refer them to extra services including car hire, flights, travel insurance, sightseeing attractions, transfers, and worldwide calling cards.

Tourist Heaven in the Heart of Europe

Berlin, besides being the capital city, is the heart of modern Germany; with a stoic beat that echoes through grand public buildings, glorious museums and theaters, urbane restaurants, bustling pubs and raucous nightclubs. It's a city that thrives on change and that has made a virtue out of reinventing itself. Berlin has one of the most diverse and vibrant nightlife scenes in Europe. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 many buildings in Mitte, the former city center of East Berlin were renovated. Hotels in Berlin can be found cheap if you know the right places to look.

Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria, and the Historic City Centre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It will be one of the eight host cities in the 2008 European Football Championships. The traditional Vienna is but one of the many façades of this city. Vienna is also a dynamic, young city, famous for its (electronic) music scene with independent labels, cult-status underground record stores, and a vibrant club scene. Hotels in Vienna can also be found cheap if you know where to look.

By now you must be aware that this blog post is a tale of two cities - Berlin and Vienna, that combined together make a tourist heaven in the heart of Europe. If possible, you should adjust your European holiday calendar such that you get to travel both the cities. In Germany, Lufthansa has direct flights to Vienna from Berlin (Tegel) and v.v. As the carrier frequently offers special web only deals (as well as a 'happy hour' page where visitors can bid for flights) you are advised to check online for Lufthansa's latest prices. There are now also a number of low-cost flights from Austria to Germany, with Air Berlin operating services to Vienna from Dortmund, Hamburg and Duesseldorf and Germanwings also flying to the Austrian capital from Cologne-Bonn (CGN). In addition, Sky Europe offers a good value service from Stuttgart to Vienna (via Bratislava). Basically, you fly direct to Bratislava and then, from there, ride a SkyShuttle bus to Vienna for an extra €10 (the journey is just 50km).

Accommodation is widely available at most time in both the cities except during peak tourists easons when the hotels raise their prices. Hotels in Berlin and hotels in Vienna can burn a hole in your pocket (as mentioned earlier,) if you dont do your homework. Others it is assured that you will have the time of your life!

The Whistler Effect - Tourist Guide

Traveling to exotic locales and having customised holidays can be great fun. You can rent out stuff like property, car, sports equipment etc to make your holiday more enjoyable and worthwhile. This is where Holiday Whistler steps in.

Holiday Whistler is a vacation rental company based in Whistler, BC. They offer a wide variety of properties for rent all year round. Many are ski-in, ski-out and have wood-burning fireplaces and private hot tubs. It is a is a holiday company with a difference.

Whistler accommodation is one of the best in its class. If you are a large party, they do not mind providing two or more properties that are very close together. The accommodation fits all kind of budgets - from 1 room flats to 10 room properties that include private hot tub; sauna; billiards room and more. There can be no doubt that whistler lodging is the most superior in and widely acknowledged around the world for customized holidays.

While checking out Holiday whistler website, I came across a property that I really liked - the Cedar Ridge 17. This is a prime ski-in, ski-out townhome in the sought-after Cedar Ridge complex just above the Village on the lower slopes of Blackcomb Mountain. Second from the end, it offers a 30-second or less walk from your front door to the slopes. See snapshot below:

Entrance is either through the private garage or up some steps to the first level. Here a spacious hallway has a powder room and storage area and leads into the living, dining and entertainment area with cedar-lined vaulted ceiling, sunken living room with wood-burning fireplace and spacious dining area. The kitchen is at the front and is fully-equipped. At the rear, looking down over the valley is a large deck with sunken private hot tub.

A Football Heaven Called England

England is a football crazy nation; talk to any sports fan here and you will come out highly educated about the ins and outs of this highly electric and entertaining game. From the moment you step onto the underground train full of supporters you can feel the excitement and the anticipation in the air.

Once you get to the game there are 90 minutes of action on the pitch, and about 90 minutes of singing off the pitch! Whether it be the Scousers of Liverpool singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone', or fans singing a song in honour of one of their players, or to taunt the opposition, the grounds are rarely quiet.

It's quite difficult to get Premier League tickets, especially to the big clubs. If you're having difficulty, it's usually best to book a long time in advance, and if you don't mind which teams you see, try some of the lesser known clubs in the Premiership. You are lucky if you're a Manchester United fan, because its easy to get accommodation in a Manchester hotel.

It's usually easier to get tickets to teams such as Fulham (London), Middlesbrough (North East England) or Blackburn (North West England) than it is to get tickets to Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal.

If you can't make it to a game, you may like to do a tour of one of our famous stadiums. A London hotel might not necessarily burn a hole in your pocket! Most of the big clubs offer stadium tours where you can get a behind the scenes look at the players' changing rooms, the facilities and if you're lucky a chance to sit in the Manager's match-day seat! Look at the clubs' websites for more details, or you can book a stadium tour of Chelsea's Stanford Bridge ground here.

Melbourne - A Tourist Heaven

Situated atop Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is Australia's second largest city. A tour to Melbourne would be akin to Mecca for shoppers. The phrase "shop till you drop" holds true for Melbourne, as there is such an exciting range of shops, malls and boutiques. Melbourne is the favored destination for the fashion fraternity and lovers of fine art. Hotels in Melbourne are world class and cater nicley to both the domestic and the international tourist.

Exploring Melbourne
If you want to settle for a joyride you can board a City circle tram service. You can take a tram ride to St. Kilda and take a walk by the quayside. The art lovers can enjoy themselves by having a look at the National Gallery of Victoria, the Victorian Arts Centre and the Myer Music Bowl.

The history buffs can have a trip down in time by visiting the Captain Cook's cottage in Fitzroy Gardens, Ripponlea near St Kilda and the Old Melbourne Gaol. Other major attractions include St Pauls Cathedral and the Rialto Towers observation deck on the 55th floor.

Accomodation
Being a popular tourist destination, Melbourne accommodation offers its tourists a lot of options to choose from, ranging from extremely luxurious to economic accommodations. Melbourne is the home to a lot of popular events and festivals. Booking for Melbourne hotels in advance during a tourist season is recommended.