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Luxury Australia Travel – 7 Of The Best Attractions To Visit On Your Melbourne Australia Travel

March 12, 2012 by

Article by Helen Palmer

Luxury Australia travel has got to be one of the best ways to see one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world. This huge continent which is split into 6 states and 2 territories covers an area of some 7,617,930 square kilometers or 2,941,299 square miles. The largest state alone, Western Australia, is approximately 5 times the size of Texas, USA!

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and one of the most popular destinations for travellers to the continent. So what are the best things to see and do?

Luxury Australia travel does not have to be expensive – lifestyle in Australia comes as a given – it’s the way of life in this part of the world, so add a little luxury into your Australia travel with some of our suggestions.

Take a tour to Phillip Island, home to the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, an easy 90 minute drive from Melbourne itself and you will discover a world of contrasts.

Billed as Victoria’s wildlife island, you will be surprised to find the Grand Prix circuit nestles close to the world famous Penguin parade, the Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Island Heritage Farm and the Nobbies Centre, a marine attraction where you can uncover the secrets of the Southern Seas with interactive displays allowing you to intermingle with seals, sharks and dolphins that abound in these waters.

I did say that it was a world of contrasts, so don’t forget the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory in your itinerary, where you can buy the delectable hand-made chocolates made on the Island.

Take a spectacular sunrise balloon ride over the Yarra Valley, one of Victoria’s beautiful winery regions. Home to 90 vineyards, surrounded by mountains you fly for approximately an hour over the early morning vineyards before ending your experience with a sumptuous champagne breakfast.

Caf? culture abounds in St Kilda and you will want to browse this fashionable bayside suburb of Melbourne with its diverse range of shops and eating venues. Don’t forget the Luna Park amusement park built in 1912, complete with its wooden roller coaster and other historic rides.

For the sports fans amongst you there is the very popular Sports Lovers Tour. Billed as city sightseeing with a difference you will explore the history and excitement of sporting Melbourne. Whichever sport is your particular favourite, be it tennis, cricket, rugby or football, find yourself sitting in the coaches’ box, imagining filing that important media story in the media facilities or smelling the liniment in the changing rooms!

For dinner with a difference, the Colonial tram car dinner is perfect! 1920’s splendour, but with modern day facilities so that not even a crystal glass quivers in your cosy, colonial period dining car. One way glass ensures privacy while traditional silver and white linen don the tables. This is one train ride you won’t forget in a hurry and booking is a must with the restaurant selling out weeks in advance.

Hop on the City Circle Tram ride for a free central Melbourne tour. Steeped in old world charm, these 1920’s brown and gold liveried tram cars are an appealing way to discover the city centre sights. The conductor on board provides valuable knowledge about the tourist attractions you might wish to see.

Spectacular Rhododendrons greet you as you head to The Dandenongs for the Spring flowering. Less than an hours drive from Melbourne, lies this rich hillside area which grows all manner of good things to eat, drink and appreciate, such as the display of Spring bulbs, Devonshire Cream teas and the Puffing Billy Steam Train that gently meanders its way through the beautiful landscape.

I think you will agree that luxury Australia travel is what you make of it. The luxury is in the doing!

I invite you to use these ideas to make the most of your luxury Australia travel and Melbourne.

About the Author

And With your permission, I’d like to offer you free access to my short report, “Sure-fire Australia Destination Travel Ideas That Will Guarantee You Have THE Luxury Australia Vacation You Desire” as a gift. You can download it by going to Tailor Made Australia Travel From Helen Palmer – The Exclusive Vacations Guide and Tailor Made Australia Travel

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Some Good Reasons Why Barcelona Spain Travel Is Such A Great Alternative

March 11, 2012 by

Article by Jeremy S. Abrahamson

Of late, Barcelona has earned a big name because of the recent successes of its football team, though there is plenty more for which this city is also famous for. Barcelona Spain is an excellent tourist destination both for taking short term vacations as well as to enjoy the excellent Mediterranean climate throughout the year. Arriving by air is a good Barcelona Spain travel option and there are in fact three major airports serving this capital city of the province of Catalonia.The El Prat Airport

The first airport that you can choose when arriving at Barcelona is the El Prat that is located twelve kilometers from the center of the city. However, to ensure that nothing spoils Barcelona Spain travel you should try and avoid traveling during the crowded public holidays when you could get lost in the high volume of traffic that comes to Barcelona Spain.

Barcelona Spain travel is an option that is very suitable even for a traveler that speaks a language other than Spanish and English because each tourist office has enough staff that are multilingual and so will be able to help you out in another language besides Spanish and English.

But what makes Barcelona Spain travel so attractive is the excellent accommodation available in this second largest Spanish city. It is possible to live in a one-star hotel for a rent of less than 20 Euros per night or you can choose to rent out the wonderful villas as well as apartments that are available for rent on a weekly basis.

Another good reason to consider Barcelona Spain travel is that this city provides great culinary fare and in fact Barcelona is really famous throughout Spain for its excellent restaurants that offer meals at fixed prices though the choice can sometimes be quite limited. However, for cheaper bites you can choose to eat at the numerous cafes that are mostly crowded with budget tourists and locals but where the food is tasty and well cooked as well as affordable to every kind of tourist.

Sea food is obviously a great option because Barcelona Spain is a major Mediterranean port and the fish named Graellada de marisc in particular is truly amazing and well worth a try. There are excellent shopping opportunities as well and the antique market in particular is very famous and popular.

Barcelona Spain tourism is a major money spinner for the city and a lot of the popularity of the city can be attributed to the excellent weather conditions found in this part of Spain. Being a major port on the Mediterranean you can see the influence of the sea on the climate and people there simply cannot get enough of the cool as well as warm sea breezes that make this city so enticing for not only the locals; but, also the millions of tourists that come here each year.

About the Author

If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article’s author on moving trucks rental and trucks for rent.

It is always interesting to hear what people have to say about their city. In Barcelona I interviewed Nick Musgrave, an englishman who moved from London to pursue photography splat-photo.com and Pilar de la Pena Sanchez, who believes the streets of Barcelona act out like a movie. Siempre es interesante escuchar lo que la gente tiene que decir acerca de su ciudad. En Barcelona me entrevisté con Nick Musgrave, un inglés que se mudó de Londres para seguir splat-photo.com la fotografía y el Pilar de la Peña Sánchez, quien cree que las calles de Barcelona actúan como una película. Translation – Miguel Antón Ámez Segovia. Thanks Miguel Music by Richard Tedesco of www.kanela.com.au

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Some Money Saving Tips For A Carnival Cruise

March 9, 2012 by

Article by Michael Chastain

So y?u’re thinking ?f going on a Carnival cruise! Here ar? ??m? helpful tips t?at ar? ?ure to ?e?p ??u save money ?nd enjoy ??ur cruise t? th? fullest! These 7 cruise tips for Carnival cruises ?r? guaranteed t? maximize y?ur cruise experience.

Cruise Tip #1 – Book ??ur next cruise while still aboard th? ship. Carnival cruises wi?? man? times offer great incentives ?nd discounts wh?n ?ou t?k? advantage of this offer. Many ships wi?l have ?n agent ?n board t? serve y?u with significant savings and credits t? passengers w?? t?ke advantage ?f th?s great option. You ??way? h?v? the option t? alter ?r cancel the reservation if your plans happen t? change. Carnival cruises wil? allow ?ou t? alter t?e reservation with n? penalty ?f ?t ?s done 75-90 days ?n advance of ??ur date ?f sail. If ??u c?n’t t?k? advantage ?f booking whi?? ?n t?e ship, timing i? crucial ?n getting the be?t price off board. The best wa? to g?t discounted pricing on cruises ?? to ?it??r book f?r in advance ?r e?se take advantage of ???t minute deals. The furt?er in advance you ?r? able t? book ??ur cruise, t?? cheaper it w??l be. Carnival cruises als? alw??? prefer t?e?r ships to be full, ?o they offer fabulous discounts ?nd incentives av?i?able ??r? ?ast minute. This i? a wonderful option if you live ne?r a cruise port ?r ?ave a flexible schedule.

Cruise Tip #2 – Try to stay ?wa? fr?m the casino ?nd gambling areas, ?s w??? a? ?th?r costs that ?re n?t covered ?n your cruise fee. Carnival cruises are pretty good ?b?ut b?ing all-inclusive, ?owev?r many ships do n?t ha?? gambling as a covered cost. Try t? ignore t?? temptation, ?s t?? ships are commonly designed t? draw ?ou in w?th th?? extra expense. Stick to t?e activities t??t ar? ??re?dy covered…such a? movies, cooking classes ?r ?th?r demonstrations. There ?re plenty of free options that w?l? k?ep ??u busy ?nd entertained. Many Carnival cruises w?ll offer great options suc? a? wine tasting ?? a quality alternative t? gambling.

Cruise Tip #3 -Always pay for your gratuities in advance w?en Carnival cruise offers ?ou this option. Many experts in t?e cruise industry talk ?b?ut t??? in depth. It’s customary f?r m??t cruise lines to pay tips to t?? crew, ?nd m?n? times t??s is done t?e l??t night. However, if ?ou ???e t?e option t? add ?t int? ??ur initial expense, take advantage ?f it! This ?? ? great budgeting tool be?aus? it g?t? th?? cost out ?f th? w?y early ?nd wi?l h?l? you to make ?ure ??u stay wit??n ?our designated budget amount.

Cruise Tip #4 – Be adventurous! Try exploring a port on ??ur ?wn ?s opposed to paying for an expensive on shore excursion. You’ll b? amazed ?t how mu?? mor? ?ou ??n immerse your?elf in t?? culture ?nd feel ?f th? place ?f y?u on?? stay open t? w??t you m?ght discover on y?ur own. You c?n ??so fend for y?urs?lf wh?n ?ou’re on shore ?nd book ?our own tours! If you prefer a guided tour ?r experience, try booking directly t?rough ? vendor up?n your arrival ?? y?u wil? skip th? cruise lines expensive mark-up. Carnival cruises make a ton ?f money on th?se day trips fr?m ??rious ports. If ??u book your day trip ?t t?e actual port directly thr?ug? a vendor, y?u will be sur? to skip t?? inflated cruise cost offered. Many popular options ?u?? ?? nature tours, tequila tasting ?nd pirate tours ?re ???i?abl? t? anyone, n?t ?ust cruise customers. It’s re?l?y easy t? book all ?f thes? excursions ?n y?ur own!

Cruise Tip #5 – You can ha?? ?our massage and n?t pay ?n arm ?nd a leg for it. Inquire w?t? t?e on-board spa if it offers day port specials. Many Carnival cruise ships offer th?s option. Cruise Diva author Linda Coffman recommends t??? option ?? massages c?n be pricey. However, spas ?n board ?omet?mes struggle to attract customers w??n th? boat ?? ported, and wil? offer impressive discounts to t?ose wh? tak? advantage ?f port days. If you don’t mind missing s?me ?f your time ashore, explore t??s option. Another way to tak? advantage ?f spa facilities ?s to find ?ut wh?ch spa comforts are free and use t??m ?? muc? a? possible. Much of t?i? information ?s n?t publicized and c?n b? re???y u??ful if ??u’l? ?nly ask! Many Carnival cruise ships ?av? free saunas, steam rooms and d?n’t forget t?e pool! You w??? usu?lly ?av? access to th? exercise equipment ?? well. Ask if ?our Carnival cruise offers complimentary exercise classes ?r facials through out the cruise.

Cruise Tip #6 – If ??u ??k? t? partake in alcoholic beverages, pack y?ur ?wn booze! Bringing your own alcohol may be discouraged, but mo?t Carnival cruises will all?w ??u to bring ?t aboard. Prices ?n t?e ship ?re drastically inflated, n?t to mention the gratuity fee we ??r??d? discussed b?ing added, ?nd th? liquor ?ou buy ?t duty free mu?t be set as?d? till t?? trip ?s over. That b?ing said, if ??u plan t? drink, you ??ou?d t?k? advantage of whate?er allowance y?u can bring ?n board. Free drinks ar? ??met?me? handed ?ut ?t events ??k? t?e captain’s welcoming reception or t?e cruiser’s return party. Make ?ur? ?ou kn?w w??n these events are and make good use of them. Also, ?f you do drink ?t meals, y?u ?an avoid the corkage fee by ordering room service ?r bringing t?? food back to your room.

Cruise Tip #7 – Stay committed! You’ve don? your homework ?nd kn?w t??t Carnival cruise suits your needs. Now make sure ??u’r? rewarded f?r staying t? committed t? th? ??me line. If ?ou do, ??u ??n ?ft?n get large discounts f?r customer loyalty. After y?u’r? ?n th? mailing list ?ou’?? b? abl? to t?k? advantage ?f disounted rates on cruises, ?nd you’ll g?t special offers and perks, including on board credits and free on board meal upgrades.

It’s n?t hard t? s?? t?e appeal of taking a cruise f?r ?our ne?t vacation. We know t???e cruise tips for Carnival cruises w??? ?elp ??u save so mu?? money th?t ?ou can easily control ??ur costs ?nd continue to cruise for years t? come!

About the Author

My wife and I are avid cruisers You can read all of our carnival cruise ships reviews at our latest site at http://www.thecarnivalcruiseships.com

www.theperfectcruise.net See how a Royal Caribbean Cruise can be the vacation of your dreams. There is so much to do and it’s all right at your fingertips. Grab my FREE GUIDE on how to Book The Perfect Cruise at www.theperfectcruise.net
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Choose All Around Australia Travel Insurance

March 8, 2012 by

Article by Jill Clark

No matter how determined you are to experience the Australian way of life you must be practical. You must make certain you have Australian travel insurance in place before you depart. Taking out a policy need not be a headache. In fact, it will immediately give you peace of mind. You need not go to any extra trouble in order to make certain you have insurance while traveling throughout Australia. To be more accurate, you will have insurance cover from the minute you step on the plane to begin your journey. A travel website that is designed to equip visitors to Australia with all they need will help you with insurance needs.

There are different kinds of Australia travel insurance. The best kind of insurance while traveling is one that will take care of you, your possessions and your luggage. Australia has a very good reputation for travel efficiency but it is possible that the unexpected can happen. Your luggage may go missing or you may lose your camera. If you have insurance you will be reimbursed without any effort. Another area where things could go wrong is if you are involved in a particular activity. You could scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef or horse riding in the outback. If there is an accident your medical costs will be paid.

You may intend backpacking throughout Australia. Working your way around this enormous country can take up to twelve months and you can get Australia travel insurance that is valid for this length of time. Australia travel insurance should be an automatic inclusion when you make your travel arrangements. There is no worse way to spoil your trip if you have an unexpected accident that you can?t pay for. The medical amenities in Australia are world class you want to be sure the bill is taken care of.

About the Author

If you want to learn more about Australia travel insurance then you should check out our Australia travel blog for helpful articles and informative videos to help you plan your next trip down unda at JillandStaceyDotheRoo.com

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California Travel: Must See Places in California

March 6, 2012 by

Article by Gokhan Ozbal

How many songs have been made for this place? How many scenes of serials or movies belong to it?So many… California is not just a state that houses ordinary cities to live in. It owns and offers more…It is the golden place that makes the lives shine and the travellers have fun.?On the West Coast of the United States, California offers plenty of travel ideas. It is mainly because of the reason that it is geographically diverse and each diversity results in its own beauty. It is one of the largest state  in the United States regarded as the Golden State due to its historical past. The state is one of the most visited travel destinations not only just by Americans but also by people all around the world.Monterey was the state capital once. However, being located in the central part of the state, Sacramento has been the capital city of California. Los Angeles is the largest and most populous city. Among the popular cities of California there are San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Palm Springs, San Jose, Long Beach, Berkeley, Oakland, Santa Ana, Anaheim,  Santa Cruz, Fresno, Bakersfield, Pasadena etc. Most of these cities are popular with their beauties as they are worldwide famous. For example, Los Angeles called as the “City of Angels” is the most populous and charming city in which many celebrities live.The regions of California are mainly: San Diego County, Deserts,  Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, North Coast,  Shasta Cascade, Central Valley,  Gold Country,  High Sierra.As a travel destination California houses National Parks & monuments, amusement and theme parks, natural attractions, wineries, spots for outdoor activities and beaches.In order to learn tne meaning of “having fun” amusement and theme  parks of California must be visited. Among them there are Disney Land, Universal Studio, SeaWorld, Marine World, Hurricane Harbor, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Earthquake, Knotts Berry Farm, Lego Land, Funderland, Scandia Amusement Park, Six Flags Magic Mountain,   Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Marine World, Paramount’s Great America. These are all mustsee places for the visitors.California has many beautiful National Parks, State Parks and Monuments such as Channel Islands National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Death Valley National Park, Redwood National Park, Sequoia National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Point Reyes National Seashores, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Lava Beds National Monument, Cabrillo National Monument, Lassen Volcanic National Park etc.The state also presents architectural landmarks and museums.  In Los Angeles, casinos offer top class entertainment. No need to tell how much popularity Hollywood owns. Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood Wax Museum, Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo in Carmel, The San Francisco Opera, The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Alcatraz are also places to see.For the ones who love outdoor, California offers mountains, deserts and coastal areas to explore. All kinds of activites are available: rafting, birding, hiking, biking, water and snow skiing, caving, watersports etc. Also, there are wildlife viewing areas. A wide variety of flora and fauna exist in California.The wineries are also popular places to visit. Here one can go on winery tours which mean tasting gourmet food and wonderful wines.Situated along the west coast of the United States, California has always been attractive. If you would like to watch videos about this entertaining state which is also a popular travel destination, you can visit travelovideo.com.

– Copyright © 2008 Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos -Not: Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine with the information about author/website info & links is included. (URLs in should be set as hyperlinks)

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Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos – the place to watch travel videos online for free. Visit Travelovideo.com to view California travel videos and places to visit in California.

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Must See California Travel Destinations

March 5, 2012 by

Article by Dave Text

Travelers will enjoy everything in this beautiful state of US from wine to art roller coaster rides. California is very popular and is not very hard to see.

California is one of the third largest states in US. It has the great appeal for the visitor as of its varied culture plus the star magnitude. Golden State is also the home of the Hollywood, Oakland also the capital city of the Sacramento. The humid climate plus the different things to do all over the place where the visitor goes, it is of no surprise that the California travel is the most popular in the entire world.

The west coast request gives the California travel the environment of great journey. There are some large cities in the California. The huge amount of attractions that are spread out all along the United State. California travel is very diverse there is something for each one in this state.

The Los Angeles is situated in the Southern California also home to the extra people than any of the other city in state. Los Angeles has the great attractions like the Hollywood is diverse in different cultures.

The Venice Beach in your California travel destination is the most desired destination for the travelers across all over the globe. It is unlike with any of the place on Earth, very well known for artists, the street performers as well as funky atmosphere. It is the virtual festival running every year round with the free admission. Venice Beach, south of the Santa Monica, is eclectic, funky, plus unique place where the sidewalk purveyors line the walkway selling their goods, many of items are homemade; and the street artists entertain passing crowd by showing their unusual talents. It is in the south along the walkway, displaying bike path, the beach, exhibition area as well as the beautiful Pacific Ocean. One of most attractive times to view the Beach Cam is all during the weekend, about 150,000 of people a day also visit this thrilling place of the Venice Beach.

San Francisco Bay In the United State is the house of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the architectural miracle. The Oakland as well as the Silicon Valley can also be found in the Bay area. This division of the California is also very well known for all its broadminded views as well as the home to the appreciated Stanford University. One of the great well known prison Alcatraz can now also be found in this Bay area.

Napa Valley also offers the California’s wine country. The Sonoma is also now located here at the north of the San Francisco. There are other numerous wine tasting the establishments to now visit here.

In addition all the great cities, California travel as well offers some of the very great attractions. The Disney World, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Six Flags are no more than a few of the well liked tourism destinations. There is rebelliously no lack of things to do a lot in California.

California travel is one of the diverse range of lots of activities as well as places.

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Bangkok River Cruise – Cruising upon the famous Chao Phraya in Thailand

February 29, 2012 by

Article by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

Drift through a historic river as far away on either side, the ancient heritage of Thailand unfolds like a storybook with lofty mansions, palaces and temples. Listen to a dreamy melody and savor some exquisite Thai cuisine at a dinner cruise.

The bright illuminations bordering the Chao Phraya River spill over their light into its tiny rivulets creating a swirl of light that can be seen from a long way off. It is easy to forget the existence of a world other than the magical one around you, while drifting upon this many years old watercourse that seems still young and ageless. Nourishing the country and nurturing many generations for centuries has left no signs of weariness on the river. While it absolutely glitters by night, it unfolds like a page from a book of history under the daylight with imposing palaces, majestic mansions and graceful temples etched against the skyline on either side of the river banks.

With a length of 370 km, the waterway is not only the longest in the country, but also the one where the Thai civilization sprang up from. Therefore the Chao Phraya may as well be the life and soul of the country. Today a cruise on the waters opens up a glorious cityscape. Along your journey, stopover at the Ratchwong pier after you glide past the waterfront hotels that rose to fame by celebrated writers who used to stay in them. The memorial bridge devoted to King Rama I is another unique sight but from among the 8 bridges that cross the watercourse, the suspension bridge of King Rama VIII takes up most of the attention with its long suspensions spread like a giant harp across the river. Drift down further to get a view of the Fort Vichai Prasit as well as the ‘Temple of Dawn’. One should not miss out the spectacular sight of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The Chao Phraya is not only famous for its cruises but also for some fabulous Bangkok River Hotels that have taken up their station at this enviable location sharing their beauty with the river and vice versa. The Peninsula Bangkok is placed diagonally over the river in a classical ‘W’ shape taking full advantage of the ravishing view of the river. With spacious, opulent suites, panoramic views and riverside dinners under the starlight, this is one Bangkok Hotel that can definitely enhance your stay in the city in more ways than one.

About the Author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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Leisure Travel – Enjoy the Breathtaking Leisure’s of Christchurch, New Zealand

February 27, 2012 by

Article by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

Christchurch New Zealand, a destination with a magnitude of serene comforts, attractions and a wide selection of travel adventures is a must for the discerning traveler. The city offers a visitor with a perfect ambience that overflows with picturesque attractions, a bountiful of nature and a plethora of leisure parks to choose from. This metropolis also known as a seventh heaven provides hours of entertainment for the youth, the not so young and the old. A visit to Christchurch, considered by many as the “garden city” of New Zealand is an ideal choice when organizing your travel itinerary. A city that boasts many leisure activities amongst the blood rushing adventures will definitely leave you breathless. At Christchurch, travelers will come across many recreational activities, considered leisure; some of these are the Caterpillar Garden tours (within the spectacular Botanic Gardens, located at the city centre), hot air balloon rides (covering Christchurch’s geography and overlooking picturesque mountains, oceans and plains).Further, visitors can also enjoy the walking tours around the city, mountain biking, mountain hiking, nature walks, tramping, camping and bird watching. Indulgent travelers will be able to absorb the rich environment and the clear air that New Zealand offers, while on each expedition. A number of wineries can be found in Christchurch such as; the Canterbury Wine Tours, the Mudhouse Winery and Waipara Valley situated to the north of the city are attractions well worth discovering.One of Christchurch’s foremost leisure travels is the sea expeditions, where travelers can experience unique cruises on board luxurious ships. These tours often encounter visits from dolphins, whales, seals and penguins. Visitors can also make a trip down to Akaroa Harbour to discover the plethora of marine life. Other adventures also include visits to the Air Force Museum, Canterbury Chocolate Factory, Canterbury Aviation Museum, the Christchurch tramway, wildlife safaris and the hassle free tour around the city. Travelers looking for a Christchurch New Zealand hotel for preferred accommodation requirements will find Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central as the ideal lodging option. This luxurious hotel in Christchurch boasts fine facilities, scrumptious dining venues and hospitable services for a fulfilling stay.

About the Author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

www.ArbogastRvs.com USED 2007 LEISURE TRAVEL VAN FREE SPIRIT MODEL 210B CLASS B MOTORHOME at Dave Arbogast RV and Boat Depot in Troy, Ohio. 1.877.844.0475

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Thailand Travel Guide – Important Facts You Need to Know Before Going to Thailand

February 24, 2012 by

Article by Bernie Chan

This Thailand Travel Guide combines useful information about Thailand in many aspects in order for travelers who wish to experience this country to have a brief view of the nation. The Guide will first explain about the country in general before describing what it has in each region so that travelers can decide where they want to go to make the most out of their trips.

One of the distinctive points about Thailand is the Thais. Many people know this nation as the Land of Smiles as the Thais are easy-going and always smiling. Thai people are normally kind, warm and welcoming to foreigners. Tourists can feel quite comfortable asking for directions or helps from Thai strangers during their trips. Some believe that this is the influence of Buddhism, which is the religion that approximately 90% of the population is believed in.

Besides the friendly people, the country has a great combination of unique culture, interesting long history, amazing cuisine and beautiful nature. As a result, Thailand has a vast variety of holiday destinations and activities for tourists to enjoy. Tourists can choose to experience many things in this territory from thick jungles, all-night parties, stunning beaches or something else that would appeal to everyone. Besides the tourist attractions, Thailand is also an excellent place to shop due to the incredibly low price items available. To make this article the easy and the best Thailand travel guide, the content in terms of attractions will be divided into regions, North, Central and South; due to the distinctive characteristics of each part of the country.

As mentioned, each part of Thailand has different characteristics and cultures. To the north of Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, you will find some beautiful mountain landscape with many orchid farms and elephant training camps which would give visitors some unique experience that hard to find elsewhere. Up To Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle area, travelers can visit the hill-tribe people that still have strong native culture and rituals. With the extremely different way of living for these hill tribes, travelers can experience another world on this same planet. In addition in this area, tourists can have a chance to see nice view of Me Kong river, one of the World’s greatest rivers originated from Tibet area and divide Thailand territory from Laos. Moreover, if ones wish to enjoy camping in the greenish forests up the hills, this can also be done in the northern region due to plentiful of the green areas that still beautifully exist in this part of the land.

Next is the best Thailand Travel Guide in the central part of the country. In this part, there are still a lot of natural attractions in boundless national parks with some stunning waterfalls. Additionally, there are more of the ancient cities with the existed ruins in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai that can say a lot about the long history of the nation. Last but not least, the capital city, Bangkok, is also located in this region.

To introduce Bangkok separately as it is the place where most visitors begin their journey in this country due to that Bangkok International Airport is the major arrival spot from flights around the world. Bangkok is one of the most crowded cities in the world with lots of traffic congestion, large amount of population and high-rise buildings; yet, it is the city with complete facilities, convenient transportation systems and large shopping malls and streets.

Finally for this best Thailand Travel Guide is the southern region, the slimmest and longest area of Thailand. This region is the land in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea so that beaches are the highlights of this area. Tourists are guaranteed to experience amazing beaches, stunning beautiful tropical islands and sparkling blue water. Moreover, many alternative western-standard accommodations are available from world-class hotels to backpacker places that can be matched with every taste and budget. Due to the existed beautiful reefs and underwater creatures, Scuba diving and snorkeling are normal activities visitors often choose to enjoy in this area.

There is a Thai joke saying that there are 3 seasons in Thailand: hot, hotter and hottest. Normally, most Thailand travel guides would say that the most recommended season to come to Thailand is during November to February as it is the least hot period, yet, the sun still shines beautifully. March to May is considered too hot as it is the hottest period, which could be less tolerable for visitors especially westerners. And as the rain would then arrive during June to October, it is considered as too wet in the monsoon season of Thailand. However, this Best Thailand Travel Guide would choose to also recommend travelers to consider this wet season because this would be less crowded time to visit many attractions such as well-known beaches, ancient cities or temples. The best thing is that during this time with occasional rains, travelers can pay for much less for air fares and accommodations. Well-known hotels can reduce their rates up to 50-60% so that visitors can enjoy superior facilities at minimal expenses. For best deals of accommodation in Thailand for every season, you can check at www.thailandcheckin.com.

To explore further information about Thailand, you can visit www.thailandguideblog.com.

About the Author

Bernie was born in Thailand and attended in Mahidol University International College where she majored in Tourism and Hospitality Management. With a strong passion that she has in her graduated program, she then decided to start her carrier as a tour guide and continued working in tourism related positions for many years. She has traveled to every parts of Thailand and got many valuable experiences around the country that she would like to share.

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The California Travel And Tourism Commission Is A Great Touristic Resource

February 23, 2012 by

Article by Mike Selvon

It has been said that those who are considering vacation travel to the great, golden state of California really have an underlying desire to “be Californians,” even if it’s only for the brief time that they are vacationing there. As a result, more and more potential California vacationers are looking to the state’s completely redesigned travel and tourism website to help them learn all about becoming a “temporary Californian.”

The state of California has an official department, or commission, that is structured to help promote and encourage people to travel throughout the vast state to take in all of the sights and wonders of the many tourist attraction destinations. It is the California Travel and Tourism Commission, or CTTC, which began promoting the idea of calling vacation travel visitors “Honorary Californians.”

The essential idea of this nomenclature is to encourage tourists to do much more than just visit the various tourist destinations. Instead, the California Travel and Tourism Commission wants vacationers to embrace the full experience of California’s easygoing, laid-back lifestyle and soak up the culture just like a local.

The CTTC has put together an extensive website. The impressive online presence is an attempt to compete aggressively for the attention of those planning to travel and who are looking for vacation ideas, for the ideal family vacation and great tourist destinations. They have provided an online tourism and travel guide that is intended to help potential visitors to the state to fall in love with the destination even before they arrive.

The CTTC website has gone a long way in accomplishing this goal by giving the website visitor a great deal of information about the “must see” tourist attraction options, as well as highlighting the many world renowned landmarks around the state. And, if that were not enough, there is also extensive revelations about “inside scoops” that further give people insights about where to go and what to see to make the vacation travel visitor feel even more connected and like a Californian, honorary or not.

And, true to the very image of style, fun and uniqueness, the state’s website provides all of this information, and much more, in a way that is visually appealing, engaging, and fun. This approach certainly helps to set the stage for the California experience and helps to draw people in and retain their attention. In the highly competitive world of travel tourism, this is very important and the consensus is that the CTTC has done a very good job at providing a compelling tourist guide.

From where to gingerly sip a trendy drink at a casual Los Angeles hideaway, to catching the rays on a sun-baked San Diego beach, to soaking up the high life at a posh Napa Valley spa, the California Travel and Tourism Commission’s website, at “Visit California”, has captured and cataloged the local California hotspots and revealed hidden state treasures. For travelers who like to pre-plan their itinerary, the site even offers an extensive menu of trip ideas, complete with Google maps.

About the Author

Mike Selvon portal offers free articles on vacation rentals. Find out more about travel and tourism, and leave a comment at the travel and tourism blog.

*** Thank you for helping us win YouTube’s January 2012 On the Rise competition! *** California travel expert Veronica Hill (www.CaliforniaTravelExpert.com) and the California Essential Guide (http introduces her web series, California Travel Tips. These California travel videos include Veronica’s personal picks for the best California attractions, restaurants, resorts and hotels — along with a few little-known gems. We are so honored to be chosen as the January 2012 winner of YouTube OntheRise. We want to thank AsktheBuilder.com for being our mentor and supporter for 5 years (and tirelessly helping us promote the contest); Meghan Carter (AsktheDecorator) and her brilliant fiancé Brent Walter for their expert video tips and advice; my parents for keeping the kids entertained as we film our videos; traveling YouTubers like pdrop, overlander and waydesworldhawaii for their last-minute support of the competition; sportstalk4kids and cheapfamilytravel for their constant enthusiasm for our channel; and all of our faithful viewers, whose kind words have kept us motivated all these years. Most of all, we want to thank the YouTube community and everyone who voted. You guys are awesome, and we couldn’t have done it without your support! SUBSCRIBE for free alerts every time we post a new video at www.youtube.com

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