Koh Chang Thailand – Best Travel Destination

May 27, 2010 · Filed Under Travel · Comment 

Travel Destination – Koh Chang Thailand

When looking for a unique, travel spot that also serves as the perfect family get-away, many travellers are now choosing to stay at Koh Chang hotels. It serves as the perfect island retreat.

Looking for a family vacations spot? Koh Chang, Thailand is the largest of 52 islands found in the province of Trad. To stay at one of Koh Chang Thailand hotels might be the best choice you can make. It is a peaceful island in South East Asia that is sometimes referred to as “Paradise Island”. It makes for a fun vacation spot with lots of attractions.

There are several excellent Koh Chang Thailand hotels and hotel packages to choose from. Hotel packages can include difference activities such as water rafting, bungee jumping, mountain biking, go-kart riding, paintball or rock climbing. They could also include an island tour by boat or an adventure in scuba diving or snorkelling.

Koh Chang, Thailand is home to several peaceful, tranquil beaches. Two of the better known sandy beaches located in Koh Chang are the White Sand Beach and Klong Prao Beach. These are extremely popular with tourists. They also boast remarkable waterfalls and extraordinary tropical woodland.

Residents of this spectacular island are known for being very polite and respectful. It is quite easy to adjust to their customs.

When in Thailand, it is customary to put the palms of your hands together (similar to one praying) when one greets another. It is not appropriate to shake hands.

The best accommodation to choose from in Koh Chang Thailand include luxury villas, simple beach huts, apartments, suites, bungalows and hotels. There are so many marvellous resorts and packages that it will be hard to choose just where to stay.

Thai people highly regard their Royal family. Please be respectful to the Royal family. If you are going out to see a movie in Thailand, you will see a picture of the King before the movie starts. Everyone is expected to stand at this time, out of respect for the Royal family.

When shopping in Koh Chang, several great buys are to be found. Some of the tourist’s favourite items to buy are jewellery, antiques, gems, textiles and traditional handmade craft items. One of the favourite handicrafts to choose from is Thai silk. It comes in an array of gorgeous colors and can be bought by the yard, or in souvenirs or clothing.

Bangkok is sometimes referred to as the Colored Gemstone Capital. Rubies and sapphires are found there and every type of colored gem can be purchased there.

On your next vacations you should consider Koh Chang Thailand? You will be amazed with this travel destination.

 

Vacations In Nottingham, England

April 2, 2010 · Filed Under Travel · Comment 

Bring to mind Nottingham and the majority of visitors bring to mind the legend of Robin Hood, his band of merry men, Sherwood Forest and the Sherrif of Nottingham and even though the legend attracts increasing numbers of people each and every year there is a great deal more to the area than you may have thought. Infact the city of Nottingham is home to a respectable number of great local attractions making it an excellent base for a vacation and the article below takes a close look at the city and a small selection of attractions in, and close to, Nottingham, as well as some places offering Nottingham B&B.

Nottingham is located in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England, Great Britain. As well as the legend of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, the city is also associated with the lace business especially during the period of the Industrial Revolution when it gained a worldwide reputation.

The Lace Market

At one time the center of the worldwide lace industry, at the peak of the British Empire, Nottingham's Lace Market is, today, a protected heritage area. It  features many fine examples of Nineteenth Century industrial architecture. The market wasn't like a normal market area, instead of having salesmen and stall, the lace market was a number of salesrooms and warehouses displaying and selling lace. After the collapse in the lace industry the market became derelict however, today, most of the fine warehouses have been restored and renovated for residential use and other purposes such as photographic studios and similar. The Lace Market is a popular tourist attraction.

Galleries of Justice & Shire Hall

Not a great distance from the Lace Market is the Galleries of Justice situated in Shire Hall. Shire Hall is a Georgian-built civic building which features Neoclassical pilasters, columns and dome. The facade has, if you examine it carefully, a spelling error Goal rather than Gaol. The Hall has 2 excellently preserved courtrooms from the Victorian period and bath house, a women's prison, old cells, an Edwardian police station and a prisoner's exercise yard.

Nottingham is a great place to take a vacation. You will find lots to see and do within the city and an selection number of visitor attractions within easy reach. Nearby places well worth a visit include; Wollaton Hall, Newstead Abbey and Hardwick Hall.

As is common in all B&B in England, accommodation in Nottingham is commonly extremely good at a reasonable rate and many visitors choose to stay in Nottingham for part of their vacation and then elsewhere for the remaining days.

Fantastic Vacations And The City Of York

March 20, 2010 · Filed Under Travel · Comment 

Increasing numbers of people are deciding to take local vacations this coming year. For the majority of us the decision is to cut costs but is this the correct decision or a terrible mistake? Often many of us overlook the many local tourist attractions and yet they are commonly brilliant and far better than those we see somewhere else. Folk resident in the United Kingdom have a tremendous list of vacation destinations each having a massive collection of top class visitor attractions to visit. In this article I describe the English city of York and York hotel accommodation.

The city of York is found in the north of England and was, a great many years ago, the capital of northern England. With such an ancient city it will not come as a great surprise to discover a huge selection of incredibly old buildings, however you may not expect the breathtaking sight of the 12th century Gothic masterpiece of York Minster.

The first incarnation of York Minster was a humble wood building in which the Northumbrian King Edwin was, in the 7th century, baptised. It wasn’t until the eleventh century that the earliest sunstantial construction made from stone appeared on the site. Constructed by Thomas of Bayeux, a Norman Archbishop it was extended by Archbishop Roger who constructed a north transept and a south transept. After many more additions and alterations it was declared complete and consecrated in the year 1472. Inside features the world’s biggest medieval stained glass window. York has many other places to visit including; the Jorvik Viking Centre, Barley Hall, the Roman Bath Museum, the National Railway Museum and Fairfax House.

On top of all of the awesome historic and ancient visitor attractions mentioned above, the city of York is a superb city in which to party the night away or enjoy live music. It that doesn’t excite you then you could spend the evening in a pub there are certainly masses to choose from, to name but a few; The Bluebell Inn, The Minster Inn, The Royal Oak, The Bluebell Inn and the Slug and Lettuce, and, lastly, the Black Swan. Of them all the Black Swan is more than likely the most appealing with a friendly atmosphere and sometimes having live music.

B&B Accommodation In York

As in most UK cities you will discover a massive selection of bed and breakfast accommodation in York ranging from cheap and cheerful guest houses to five star hotels. The Middlethorpe Hall hotel is just two miles from York city centre but gives excellent bed and breakfast with private gardens, steam room, gym and sauna, and you can even get a massage. Other superb hotels in York include; Parsonage Country House Hotel, Hotel du Vin and Bistro, Marriott on Tadcaster Road and Bishops at 135 Holgate Road and one of the best guest houses is Crossways, or if you are in need of something different why not consider Marmadukes Boutique Hotel.

Going on a South African Golf Holiday

December 18, 2009 · Filed Under Travel · Comment 

South Africa as a Golfing Destination

As a golfing destination, South Africa is rated very highly by many golfers throughout the world. South Africa has over 450 golf courses, and a number of these golf courses are truly world class. Legends of golf such as Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Greg Norman and Annika Sorenstam have created signature golf courses in South Africa. In South Africa, golf is booming, and has become an extremely popular sport. This is as a result of the ideal climate conditions that exist in South Africa, and golf can be played 365 days a year in most locations throughout the country.

For the international tourist, a South African golf holiday is financially attractive. This is due to the favorable exchange rate of the South African Rand. Visitors can play world class golf courses under the spectacular African sun, and the green fees will be a fraction of what you would expect to pay in America or Europe. Add to this the cheaper accommodation rates, cheaper restaurants and cheaper travel, and one can see why South African golf holidays are gaining in popularity. For South African accommodation, have a look at the GolfLinx South African Where to Stay Guide.

The variety of golf courses which are available in South Africa can make a South African golf holiday really special. Many awesome coastal golf courses provide the golfer with dramatic views of the ocean and a challenging round of golf when the wind blows. The bushveld courses offer the unique experience playing golf in the African bush, and the opportunity to see some South African wildlife during a round of golf. For more information about the top golf courses in South Africa, have a look at the Top 100 South African Golf Courses by Golf Digest.

Besides golf, South Africa boasts many tourist attractions. If you are looking to relax, then take advantage of the many miles of unspoilt and exotic beaches. The swimming and bathing beaches are safe (they are protected by shark nets) and are very clean. The many game reserves that exist throughout South Africa are a popular tourist attraction. There are 17 South African national parks, and also many private game reserves. South Africa is one of the few countries where you can see the Big Five, which are elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo. Other tourist attractions include many spectacular mountain ranges for hiking and backpacking, and the world renowned wine routes in the Western Cape.

There are many tour operators that specialize in South African golf holidays. Do a Google search on the phrase ‘south african golf tours’ to obtain a list of agents and tour operators to help you plan your next South African golfing getaway.

 

For more information about South African golf courses, accommodation, news and links, take a look at GolfLinx.co.za – The Golf Directory for South Africa.

Out Of Resort Accommodation in Lanzarote

December 3, 2009 · Filed Under Holidays · Comment 

The holiday island of Lanzarote has developed three main tourist resorts over the last forty years that provide a great range of accommodation to the vast majority of visitors. Puerto del Carmen is the original and largest seaside town, followed by Playa Blanca in the extreme south and Costa Teguise on the eastern coast.

But for those who wish to experience the island without staying in any of these hotspots, there is a good range of alternatives to be found. Such as the capital, Arrecife, which is often a popular destination for visiting Spaniards. Not only does Arrecife have a delightful golden sandy beach at the Playa del Reducto, but it is also home to one of the best five star hotels in Lanzarote.

The Gran Hotel towers over the capital, due to its status as the only high-rise building on the entire island. Originally constructed in the late 1980’s it was only fully finished and adapted as a luxury hotel in 2004. With a sleek glass covered exterior and modern style suites, it also has its own spa and elevated pool area, with views over the street and beach below. An a la carte restaurant, the Altamar, makes excellent use of the views on one of the top floors of the building.

Whilst there are numerous older and smaller establishments in Arrecife, it is the Gran Hotel that has really put the city on the map as a potential base for holidaymakers. Marking something of a renaissance for the capital, which has steadily been shedding its rather dilapidated appearance with a number of new facilities, such as recently planted parks and gardens.

Then there is the ‘fourth resort’ of Puerto Calero, which started out in 1989 as an exclusive marina for sailors planning to cross the Atlantic. But has gradually grown into a tourist destination in its own right, especially since the introduction of two large hotels, the Costa Calero and the Hesperia. Both of these hotels in Puerto Calero have a full range of spa facilities, open to both guests and visitors alike. Providing an ideal alternative for anyone seeking accommodation in Lanzarote outside of the three main resorts.

The Costa Calero has an impressive spread of tropical gardens surrounding its four swimming pools. The rooms are brightly decorated and all feature air conditioning, whilst the suites offer a touch of luxury. It is a popular choice with families and the spa is well attended by locals, especially at weekends. The Hesperia prides itself on offering a wider range of facilities than any other hotel on the island at present. Including a pet policy that allows guests to bring their four-legged friend with them on holiday. It is also the only establishment at present that has WiFi internet access throughout the whole building.

There´s never been a better time to visit the island as flights to Lanzarote are currently available from as little as £10 return with Ryanair.

Discover Lanzarote This Winter

November 5, 2009 · Filed Under Holidays · Comment 

There are plenty of winter sun destinations around the World.  But few offer both the value and the convenience of the Canary Islands for British tourists.  As the ‘European Caribbean’ is just four hours away by plane – located just off the coast of Morocco.

Over the years these seven specks of Spain have earned a bit of a downmarket reputation.  And on larger islands such as Tenerife tourist development has certainly done little to improve the landscape.  But on Lanzarote high rise buildings are banned whilst strict planning laws curb the worst excesses of the hotel chains and property speculators.  Leaving the island largely unspoiled.

This winter it’s never been cheaper to visit.  As flights to Lanzarote are currently on sale with low cost airlines such as Ryanair for as little as £9.99.  As competition on this route hots up – thanks to a decision by the Spanish government to waive airport taxes and charges until the end of March 2010 in a bid to revive Spain’s faltering tourist sector.   Which has seen visitor numbers drop on Lanzarote by close to 20% over the course of the year as the island struggles with the impact of the current economic crisis and the weakness of sterling against the euro.

Either way Lanzarote still has plenty to recommend it.  Most importantly boasting excellent weather even during the darkest depths of winter.  Along with close to 100 beautiful beaches and a host of things to do and see.

The islands best known attraction is the awe inspiring volcanic interior.  Created around 250 years ago by a series of eruptions that lasted for six years. Leaving a lunar like landscape in its wake that has served as the backdrop for numerous science fiction films and which is surreal in the extreme.

These and other key attractions such as the Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Rio and the Cactus Garden are best explored by car.  As public bus services are very limited.  Whilst car hire in Lanzarote is extremely affordable – starting at around €90 per week and petrol much cheaper than in the UK, at just 0.80 euro per litre.

Good quality accommodation options are available across the island too.  With the bulk of the best Lanzarote villas and hotels located in the two main resorts of Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca.  Whilst chic countryside fincas and hotels cater to a growing demand for rural holidays.

Plymouth Weekend City Breaks and Tourist Attractions to Visit

October 20, 2009 · Filed Under Travel · Comment 

Vacations in England seem to be amazingly popular at the moment, most likely due to the present depression and the low value of the pound Sterling. The UK has a large number of top class tourist destinations including London (the capital city of England) and other interesting cities plus a fine collection of seaside resorts such as; Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bognor Regis and Brighton. One place often overlooked is Plymouth in the south of England.

First appearances are that Plymouth appears a little plain and principally modern, but investigating a little deeper and you will quickly find that the city of Plymouth has a rich history and a long association with the sea. As far back as the 16th century the town has had a busy port. In fifteen eighty eight Sir Francis Drake set sail from the town’s port to successfully defend the English by defeating the Spanish Armada. Another moment in history occurred in 1620 when the Pilgrim Fathers embarked from the port.

It is possible to enjoy inexpensive Plymouth weekend city breaks by making a reservation in bed and breakfast in Plymouth rather than booking a expensive hotel. A quick search on Google will show that you can book a room for as little as £29 a night and some places offer dinners at a very reasonable rate, often equivalent to, or less costly than local restaurants.

Places To Visit In Plymouth

There are a great many interesting places in the town which are worth a visit. Popular visitor attractions include; the old quay at Sutton Harbour, the National Marine Aquarium, Merchant’s House Museum and the Barbican district. A trip on a boat around the naval base is an excellent way to spend some time and if you have more time why not take a day out to other places near to Plymouth, for example; Buckland Abbey, Mount Edgcumbe or Saltram House.

Saltram House is a pretty Tudor Mansion which is found 2 miles east of Plymouth, Mount Edgcumbe is another superb Tudor house with parklands, coastal paths and landscaped gardens, and Buckland Abbey, roughly 6 miles away from Plymouth, is a Cistercian abbey which was at one time by Francis Drake and was at a later date converted into a family home.

If you are in the process of deciding upon spending a few weeks in the city of  Plymouth it is crucial that you book your  rooms at the earliest moment because, sadly hotel and guest house accommodation in Plymouth tend to be alarmingly busy and are commonly fully booked for a long period in advance. If you are travelling in a large group you might find that apartment accommodation in Plymouth are a cheaper option to Plymouth bed and breakfast. If you are visiting Great Britain from abroad then you should consider making a reservation for a room in hotels in London to take in the attractions of the capital city of England too.

The Tsar’s Sanctuary in the Medieval Capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Turnovo

October 11, 2009 · Filed Under Travel · Comment 

The name of Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria is directly connected with the Medieval Hill Tsarevets. And with reason – Veliko Turnovo had prospered for more than 200 years and was compared with Constantinople, called The Second Constantinople. Its fortified fortress walls cover three hills. They seem to be an extension of the rock string, separated by the meander of the Yantra River. The Tsarevets Hill is the most gorgeous one. The main fortress is there. The two main institutions of that time were situated there – The Tsar’s castle and the Patriarchate.The fortress wall is 2km long and 2.6m wide. It distinguished with the many covered towers. Three entrances were available in the fortress. The main entrance is situated on a narrow rock isthmus with three consecutively situated gates, guarded by towers. The rock isthmus at the first gate is cut (4.50m width) and connected with a draw-bridge, which was up at night or when the fortress was in danger and was down during the day and in peaceful times. The other two gates, situated on several meters one from each other, also obstructed the aggresors’ way. The patriarch complex, the “St. Ascension Day” church, the bell tower and the patriarch’s residence (surrounded by a separate fortress wall) are situated on top of the hill. The Tsars’ castle is situated on the most comfortable place, on smooth terrain – a real citadel (inner fortress), which covers 5 decares of land. The thick fortress wall with the five towers could hold off a siege for long time, after the outer fortress wall was destroyed. {The limited area of Tsarevets made it impossible for all the noble people to live in there}. Thus, it is supposed that the closest relatives of the tsar and his husband settled in the rest of the area along with the rest of the noble population, called Bolyari. There were about 110 families, according to Constantine Kostenechki. A part of them settled down on the hill of Trapezitsa, which formed as a aristocratic quarter, surrounded by a strong fortress wall with five towers and three gates and numerous churches, a part of which were family ones.
The city formed as a center of political, spiritual, economical and cultural life. The name of the capital of Bulgaria was spoken with respect in whole Europe. It became a center of development of the Slav writing and culture. There were the Evtimieva literary school, the vocal school of Joan Kukuzel, The Painting and Architectural school of Turnovo. The most famous literature pieces of art that have reached to nowadays were written by the men of letters Patriarch Evtimii, Grigorius Tsamblak, and Kiprian.

If this article has intrigued you, you can always find accommodation in Bulgaria – in Veliko Turnovo or in the nearby resort villages, such as Arbanassi. You will enjoy the combination of history, nature and modern entertainment.

BnB Network

May 20, 2008 · Filed Under Accommodation · Comment 

Welcome to the Bed and Breakfast Network website. We arecurrently featuring Bed and Breakfast providers operating in the Gympie and Sourth Burnett Region.  The featured BnB facilities are current members of the Gympie Hosting Directory and are listed here:

Amamoor Homestead – Amamoor

Eastwood Farm – Gympie

Gympie Golf Retreat – Gympie

Rossmount Rural Retreat – Goomboorian (near Gympie)

Staple House BnB – Woolooga

Tiaro Tourist StopOver – Tiaro

We have also compiled a list of other accommodation venues operating in the Gympie and South Burnett region including BnBs, hotels and caravan parks.  If you operate an accommodation venue and would like to be listed on these pages, send your details via the form on the Bed and Breakfast Network Contact Page.

Site advertising enquiries may also be made through the Bed and Breakfast Network Contact Page.