Archive for July 15th, 2010

Yachting in Croatia

Croatia is one of the countries well-known as nautical paradises. The nature is still untouched and the coast remained unpolluted and free of huge building and houses. Alongside its 5800 km long coast there are thousand islands which are very tempting for ones who want to explore. Numerous small bays and crystal clear sea are one of the reasons why passionate yachtsmen often visit Adriatic. The Croatian coats is relatively near the Middle-European cities ( a flight from London lasts for 2hrs , from Munich for just one hour ).

The ancient towns that origin from Roman Empire as well as many archeological sites and cultural heritage prove that the Croatian coast was interesting to many even at that time. Therefore, these sites should be found in every yachtsman’s itinerary. The ancient times left a trace even in a traditional Croatian cuisine. All of the specialties ( mostly based on fish and Mediterranean spices ) can be tasted in many restaurants and small taverns spread all over the coast.

The weather is ideal for sailors. Because of numerous islands alongside the coast the navigation between them is very pleasant. There are no huge waves which would cause problems to inexperienced, as well as to experienced yachtsmen. Thanks to the number of islands the long voyages is almost impossible without being nearby one of the islands where you can anchor and enjoy. Numerous bays also provides a shelter, so the threat of sudden bad weather is very low. Of course, that does not mean that the yachtsmen do not have to regularly pay attention to weather forecast and plan their navigation accordingly. For the sailboat fans , it is necessary to note that there is always North-West wind during the summer alongside the coast -”maestral”. That wind gives you a refreshment in summer heat. It starts at noon and become weaker in the evening.

Along the Croatian coast there are about 50 marinas most of which belonging to a famous marina chain ACI. The prices for berth in marina are shown at ACI – Adriatic Club International web site www.aci-club.hr . If you are visiting Croatia with you own boat , please note that you have to own a season vignette. A crew list can be changed only for limited number of times during the season. For yachtsmen who do not have their own vessel the prices for charter of almost every charter company are listed at Yacht Charter Croatia , Charter yachts – Croatia , Yacht charter & rent-a-boat .

According to Croatian law the vessels which are in charter in Croatia must sail under Croatian flag . That law was issued recently – just a couple of years ago. Boat leaders must possess a boat leader’s license. Until recently, beside its own , Croatia had recognized all the licenses issued by foreign state institution. Meaning that various diplomas of some local sailing clubs or associations were not accepted. Recently Croatia stated that it would acknowledge only boat leader’s licenses issued by the countries with which the mutual contract has been signed. The matter of fact is that this contract was signed with only 2-3 countries, so it is considered that Croatia would stick to the rule “if the license is valid in your country, it is valid in Croatia as well”.

However, Croatia has been recognized as a top nautical destination by numerous nautical magazines from all over the world.

Chocolate Hills, Philippines – Bohol Nature Tours Services

Coming To The Philippines

In coming to the Philippines, it could be an easy trip going to Manila, the capital city due to frequent flights from any countries. It could also be possible to land at the Cebu International Airport.

Tourist That Arrives In Manila Going To Bohol

At the Domestic Airport or any ticketing office in Manila, it is very simple to book a flight at the Philippine Airlines office or PAL ticketing outlets and Cebu Pacific office or ticketing outlets for flights going to Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Airport

Tourists that arrived in Tagbilaran via the airport are being met by the representative of Bohol Nature Tour. . . The representative will be holding a Welcome note with the name/s of the guests. . . The guest then will be introduce to the tour driver. Upon loading the guests and the baggages to the car, the tour driver will then proceed to the reserved hotel or resorts either in the city of Tagbilaran or in the island of Panglao.

Pier

Tourists that arrived in Tagbilaran via the pier are being met by the representative of Bohol Nature Tour. . . The representative will be holding a Welcome note with the name/s of the guests. . . The guest then will be introduce to the tour driver. Upon loading the guests and the baggages to the car, the tour driver will then proceed to the reserved hotel or resorts either in the city of Tagbilaran or in the island of Panglao.

Tourists from Cebu has an option to arrive in Bohol via the port of Tubigon thereby easy to have the tour start in Sagbayan Peak, and the next spots are Chocolate Hills, Hanging bridge, Tarsier and the Floating Restaurant in Loboc. Later in the day to stay in any of the resorts in Panglao or hotels in Tagbilran City. Therefore, the representative from Bohol Nature Tour or Tour Guide will meet the tourist in the port of Tubigon.

City Tour

A package tour includes the Cathedral church of Tagbilarn City, the Bohol Museum, at the Malls of Tagbilaran, the City Hall of Tagbilaran and the Bohol Provincial Capitol.

Beach Tour – Panglao

Tour at the Bohol Bee Farm, the resorts at the white sand beaches in Alona Kew, Alona Tropical, Lost Horizon Resorts, ISES, Bohol Divers Resorts and the Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis and the Panglao Island Nature Resort.

Chocolate Hills Tour

A package tour that pass to the historical Blood Compact site marker at Baranggay Bool, Mansasa, The Baclayon Church and Museum in Baclayon, (first town after Tagbilaran City), Python Snake at Alburquerque, the Tarsier in Loboc, Loboc Church and Museum, Cruise at the Loboc river with the floating restaurant going to Busay water falls (served buffet lunch while cruising and with singer serenading). The Hanging bridge plus the added attraction of Buko King peeling off coconut with his bare teeth. The Man-Made-Forest (Huge Mahogany tree plantation). Butterfly Dome in Bilar. The Chocolate Hills in Carmen town.

Sagbayan Peak Tour

A package tour includes going to the Mag-aso Falls in Antiquera. It is also in Antiquera that the famous souvenir crafts and weaving are made and being displayed. It will also go to the historical site of Punta Cruz in Maribojoc town. Up until it reaches the Sagbayan Peak (another version of Chocolate Hills) facing the island of Cebu.

East Side Tour

A package tour that includes the Heritage Residence of former Senator Clarin. Passing to the beautiful ocean view surrounding the new road installed under the administration of President Gloria Arroyo. At the town of Valencia, the Badiang, water falls supplying water at the two swimming pools. Up until reaching the Roxas Park with swimming pool in Garcia Hernandez.

Bohol Landmarks/Spots

Tagbilaran City = The capital of Bohol

Bohol Museum = Located in C.P.G road under the establishment of Provincial capitol office.

Cathedral Church = Located in front of Plaza Rizal facing the provincial capitol office. Saint Joseph is the patron of the Church

City Hall = Location of the new City Hall office is in Dao district.

Provincial Capitol = Located in front of Plaza Rizal facing the Cathedral Church of Tagbilaran City.

Blood Compact = A marker of the friendship treaty between Boholano chieftain Datu Sikatuna and Spnish conquestadores Miguel Lopez de Legaspi which occurs way back in the year 1565.

Baclayon Church and Museum = Baclayon church was established in 1595 by Jesuit priests Fr. Juan De Torres and Fr. Gabriel Sanchez and in 1727 the stone church was built and considered the oldest Stone church in the Philippines.

Python Snake = Located in the town of Alburquerque.

Sen. Clarin Ancestral Residence = The ancestral residence of former Sen. Clarin located in the town of Loay.

Loboc = It is an interior town and considered one of the oldest town in Province. Founded by Jesuit priests, Fr. Juan De Torres in 1602. Distance of 24 km from the capital city of Tagbilaran and about 35 minutes travel time.

Loboc Church and Museum = Considered one of the oldest church in the province and the original paintings remain intact. Museum is located adjacent to the church and the relics, clothes, and history of the Loboc children’s choir are reserved.

Tarsier = Primate like monkey with a soft furry body and a slender limbs. It has a goggled like eyes adopted for the animal’s nocturnal lifestyle.

Loboc-Floating Restaurants = Floating restaurant which served lunch with a folk singer serenading while cruising the Loboc river going to the Busay mini water falls and passing the nature scenery and back to its dock in ii front of Loboc church

Hanging Bridge = A hanging bridge located about 1 kilometer from the main highway going to Sevilla. It is secured with a cable wires up to the other end of the canal.

Buko King = A man at the edge of the Hanging bridge peeling-off coconut with his bare teeth with a very limited time.

Man-Made-Forest = Huge mahogany plantation planted 1.5 metes apart located at the end part of Loboc and partly in the town of Bilar.

Chocolate Hills = One of the world’s wonder. Thousand cone-shaped hills of about 100 feet high with grassy covering that turn chocolate brown during dry season.

Mag-aso Falls, Antiquera = Waterfalls found in Antiquera.

Punta Cruz, Maribojoc = Old lighthouse still from Spanish occupation an still existing as it served as a navigation landmark.

Sagbayan Peak = Another version of Chocolate hills. At this site the island of Cebu is visible.

Badiang Falls, Valencia = Waterfalls that supply water into two swimming pools facing the seaside located in the town of Valencia.

Roxas Park, Garcia Hernandez = Park and swimming pool with nature scenery located in Roxas Park, Garcia Hernandez town.

Hinagdanan Cave = Cave with cold water located in Dauis.

Panglao White Sand Beaches = white and fine sand.

Panglao Island = small island connected with two bridges to the mainland of Bohol. It has two municipalities namely Dauis and the center of the island is Panglao Municipality.

Chocolate Hills Tour

Car – One up to three persons, fully air-conditioned

Inclusion:

Entrance fees at all tour spots

Meals at Loboc Floating Restaurant cruising the Loboc River

Mineral water per pax

Snacks at Clarin Ancestral Home in Loay town

1 person = P3,200 solo pax

2 persons = P1,960 per pax

3 persons = P1,544 per pax

Option: Bohol Nature Tour offers Budget Tour

>For the entire Chocolate Hills Tour 1 up to 3 pax – only Entrance Fees included in the package. Meals and snacks excluded.

P2,940

Van – Minimum of 3 up to 12 persons, fully air-conditioned

Inclusion:

Accredited Tour Guide

Entrance fees of all tour spots

Meals at Loboc Floating Restaurant cruising the Loboc River

Mineral water per pax

Snacks at Clarin Ancestral Home in Loay town

3 persons = P2,280 per pax

4 persons = P1,825 per pax

5 persons = P1,552 per pax

6 persons = P1,370 per pax

7 persons = P1,240 per pax

8 persons = P1,143 per pax

9 persons = P1,067 per pax

10 persons = P1,006 per pax

11 persons = P 956 per pax

12 persons = P 915 per pax

Option: Bohol Nature Tour offers Budget Tour

>For the entire Chocolate Hills Tour 3 up to 12 pax – Tour guide and entrance fees are included in the package. Meals and snacks are excluded.

P5,580

Coaster – Minimum of 10 up to 24 persons, fully air-conditioned

Inclusion:

Accredited Tour Guide

Entrance fees of all tour spots

Meals at Loboc Floating Restaurant cruising the Loboc River

Mineral water per pax

Snacks at Clarin Ancestral Home in Loay town

10 persons = P1,326 per pax

11 persons = P1,248 per pax

12 persons = P1,182 per pax

13 persons = P1,127 per pax

14 persons = P1,079 per pax

15 persons = P1,038 per pax

16 persons = P1,002 per pax

17 persons = P 970 per pax

18 persons = P 942 per pax

19 persons = P 916 per pax

20 persons = P 893 per pax

21 persons = P 873 per pax

22 persons = P 854 per pax

23 persons = P 837 per pax

24 persons = P 821 per pax

Option: Bohol Nature Tour offers Budget Tour

>For the entire Chocolate Hills Tour 12 up to 24 pax – Tour guide and entrance fee are included in the package. Meals and snacks are excluded.

P9,700

Bus – Minimum of 20 up to 40 persons, fully air-conditioned

Inclusion:

Accredited Tour Guide

Entrance fees of all tour spots

Meals at Loboc Floating Restaurant cruising the Loboc River

Mineral water per pax

Snacks at Clarin Ancestral Home in Loay town

20 persons = P1,175 per pax

21 persons = P1,140 per pax

22 persons = P1,110 per pax

23 persons = P1,080 per pax

24 persons = P1,055 per pax

25 persons = P1,031 per pax

26 persons = P1,010 per pax

27 persons = P 990 per pax

28 persons = P 970 per pax

29 persons = P 955 per pax

30 persons = P 936 per pax

31 persons = P 920 per pax

32 persons = P 910 per pax

33 persons = P 895 per pax

34 persons = P 880 per pax

35 persons = P 870 per pax

36 persons = P 860 per pax

37 persons = P 850 per pax

38 persons = P 840 per pax

39 persons = P 830 per pax

40 persons = P 820 per pax

Option: Bohol Nature Tour offers Budget Tour

>For the entire Chocolate Hills Tour 20 up to 40 pax – Tour guide and entrance fees are included. Meals and snacks are excluded.

P15,500

Travel To Thailand

If you are perhaps wondering where to travel to on your next big vacation and are just fresh out of ideas then we have a suggestion for you. After traveling through Thailand with a friend several years ago, I just fell in love with the place. Prior to that most of my trips had been to the States, Caribbean and Europe and I thought that after listening to my friend talk about Thailand and seeing his videos and pictured that maybe I should check it out for myself. He was planning a trip there and asked if I wanted to tag along with him and his wife and best friend. I thought this would be a good opportunity to go somewhere different and go with someone who had travelled there many times before so would be a great way to know where to go, where to avoid, etc etc. So we went and I just couldn’t get enough of the wonderful country. There really is a suitable type of holiday for absolutely everyone, singles, couples, families, newly-weds, gay and lesbian couples you name it Thailand caters for all needs and they have one of the best tourist infrastructures in the world as far as giving the customer what they want and looking out for their wellbeing. How many other countries in the world do you know that has an army of “tourist police” in all the major towns and cities to take care of tourists and visitors? I truly believe that you haven’t experienced REAL customer service anywhere unless you have experienced the customer service in hotels, restaurants etc in Thailand.

People there are genuinely pleased to help and it seems to have been passed down through the generations as it is now as if  second nature to the Thai people.  Great customer service aside what else does Thailand have to offer? I’ll tell you. It has tropical beaches on sun-kissed tropical islands where you can eat and drink and stay as cheaply or as elaborately as you wish from straw huts on the beach to multi million dollar villas available for rent, and where you decide the pace of your holiday. It also has vibrant, pulsating cities where you can shop (again as cheaply or as exorbitantly as you like)dance, eat, and visit beautiful landmarks and structures some of which are thousands of years old and stay in hotels that have set the mark for top hotel standards the world over, the original and best. Thailand has every conceivable type of landscape from tropical beaches to desert, flat plains and some of the most unspoiled rainforests in the world where you can glide through the canopies with the gibbons and feel at one with nature. Another great thing about traveling in Thailand is how easy it is to visit several of the above mentioned areas within a single trip. As no-where is more than a little over an hours (very cheap) flight away it is possible to take several trips in one vacation so you can do the city, do some extreme sports, visit rainforests and then hit a tropical beach all in a few weeks, hows that for breaking up the monotony and telling your friends what you did on your trip? As I mentioned before it really is up to you how much you want to spend on accommodation you can stay in a hut on a beach which is some peoples idea of heaven I know for as little as $10 or $15 US or stay in a perfectly good hotel for just a couple of bucks more. If you are getting married or just want to stay somewhere private, luxurious and away from the crowds then maybe renting a private villa could be for you. Prices for these villas are again quite flexible and you can get one for not much more than the price of a hotel room and even thousands of dollars a night if you want some kind of estate, but all are possible (think Miami but way way less in price).  All in all there is a reason that Thailand is such a top tourist destination. A combination of favorable prices, awesone service multitudes of activities spectacular scenery and much much more has secured Thailand as a top destination for a good time to come yet. They call Thailand the ‘land of smiles’ and you really should get over there and find out why for yourselves and you will see what I mean.  

If you are perhaps wondering where to travel to on your next big vacation and are just fresh out of ideas then we have a suggestion for you. After traveling through Thailand with a friend several years ago, I just fell in love with the place. Prior to that most of my trips had been to the States, Caribbean and Europe and I thought that after listening to my friend talk about Thailand and seeing his videos and pictured that maybe I should check it out for myself. He was planning a trip there and asked if I wanted to tag along with him and his wife and best friend. I thought this would be a good opportunity to go somewhere different and go with someone who had travelled there many times before so would be a great way to know where to go, where to avoid, etc etc. So we went and I just couldn’t get enough of the wonderful country.

There really is a suitable type of holiday for absolutely everyone, singles, couples, families, newly-weds, gay and lesbian couples you name it Thailand caters for all needs and they have one of the best tourist infrastructures in the world as far as giving the customer what they want and looking out for their wellbeing. How many other countries in the world do you know that has an army of “tourist police” in all the major towns and cities to take care of tourists and visitors? I truly believe that you haven’t experienced REAL customer service anywhere unless you have experienced the customer service in hotels, restaurants etc in Thailand. People there are genuinely pleased to help and it seems to have been passed down through the generations as it is now as if  second nature to the Thai people. 

Great customer service aside what else does Thailand have to offer? I’ll tell you. It has tropical beaches on sun-kissed tropical islands where you can eat and drink and stay as cheaply or as elaborately as you wish from straw huts on the beach to multi million dollar villas available for rent, and where you decide the pace of your holiday. It also has vibrant, pulsating cities where you can shop (again as cheaply or as exorbitantly as you like)dance, eat, and visit beautiful landmarks and structures some of which are thousands of years old and stay in hotels that have set the mark for top hotel standards the world over, the original and best. Thailand has every conceivable type of landscape from tropical beaches to desert, flat plains and some of the most unspoiled rainforests in the world where you can glide through the canopies with the gibbons and feel at one with nature.

Another great thing about traveling in Thailand is how easy it is to visit several of the above mentioned areas within a single trip. As no-where is more than a little over an hours (very cheap) flight away it is possible to take several trips in one vacation so you can do the city, do some extreme sports, visit rainforests and then hit a tropical beach all in a few weeks, hows that for breaking up the monotony and telling your friends what you did on your trip?

As I mentioned before it really is up to you how much you want to spend on accommodation you can stay in a hut on a beach which is some peoples idea of heaven I know for as little as $10 or $15 US or stay in a perfectly good hotel for just a couple of bucks more. If you are getting married or just want to stay somewhere private, luxurious and away from the crowds then maybe renting a private villa could be for you. Prices for these villas are again quite flexible and you can get one for not much more than the price of a hotel room and even thousands of dollars a night if you want some kind of estate, but all are possible (think Miami but way way less in price). 

All in all there is a reason that Thailand is such a top tourist destination. A combination of favorable prices, awesone service multitudes of activities spectacular scenery and much much more has secured Thailand as a top destination for a good time to come yet. They call Thailand the ‘land of smiles’ and you really should get over there and find out why for yourselves and you will see what I mean.

http://besthotelbangkok.net 

Information About Guadeloupe

A Reservation in an Hotel on Guadeloupe is something that many people do, but if you just fancy the look of the hotel but know nothing about Guadeloupe Island, it might be a good idea to do some investigating .

Guadeloupe isn’t France but a French Overseas Department, and in many ways is more France than its homeland itself. It is to France what Hawaii is to the United States. Until 2003 St Barthelemy, otherwise known at St Barts and St Martin were part of Guadeloupe but are now independently affiliated to France.

To look at Guadeloupe on a map and it looks butterfly wings connected by a bridge, and is in fact two islands, and the more north east wing is Grande-Terre, where Pointe-a-Pitre the main centre for commerce and the main seaport is to be found.

It is known for its white sand beaches, rolling hills, cane fields and this is almost certainly where your Guadeloupe Hotel Reservation will be made if you decide to come here. The best white sand beaches on Grande-Terre includes Ste. Anne, St Francois and Le Moule

The south west wing is called Basse-Terre, which is the larger of the two islands, where you will find waterfalls, a botanical garden, and a volcano which overlooks the waterfalls which in turn spray cool mists to soak the too adventurous visitor.

There is no doubt that Basse Terre has the main tourist attraction in La Soufriere Volcano almost five thousand feet above sea level. It is surrounded by the National Park a renowned rain forest, and in turn by beautiful deep blue seas. This is where you come for the diving which is so good it has been described as world class. There are darker sand beaches here, amongst the best of which are Grande Anse, and Deshaies.

The two butterfly shaped joined islands of Guadeloupe do have a number of things in common which includes delicious cuisine and genuine West Indian hospitality from really friendly people.

So you want to make a Reservation for an Hotel in Guadeloupe, and you want suggestions. This is always very difficult because reviews are so subjective, but the number one hotel in Basse Terre is probably Caraib’Bay Hotel. The top hotel in the St Francois beach area is the Amaudo Hotel. Close to the white sand beach of Ste. Anne your best bet may well be the Hotel Le Diwali. Of the hotels in Terre de Haut you couldn’t do better than L’Auberge les Petits Saints aux Anacardies.

If you want to stay in Gosier then choose Le Mahogany Hotel , and the top hotel in Pointe-a-Pitre is Le Jardin Malanga, or go to Marie-Galante and choose the Cap Reva.

Whilst the list isn’t endless, there are 94 hotels on Guadeloupe that you could make a reservation at, and so you are very much spoilt for choice.

Guadeloupe has much for its visitors to do from beachcombing, sea diving, jungle exploring, or just lying relaxing on a white sand beach. Why not make a Reservation in a Guadeloupe Hotel, and find out for yourself.

By the way the food owes much to its French origins, as does the wines, so you can expect fresh food, which is fabulous, with a leaning towards seafood, all of course with a strong Caribbean influence.

For more information about Caribbean Vacation Spots go to http://www.caribbean-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

Flying Start For 2008 Holidays

As regular as Santa coming down the chimney at Christmas, the travel industry gives a dire warning of hard times for the year ahead, prices rising, and bookings looking poor.

But 2008 has been an exception with what could be record numbers booking for not just winter holidays but putting deposits down for a summer holiday.

Nearly all traditional travel agents and on-line travel sites report a surge of interest with many translating into bookings around the Christmas period.

ABTA, The British Association of Travel Agents, who safeguard consumer interests for the travelling public in the UK, put the rise in holiday bookings down to the awful weather in the country last summer.

The weather ABTA refer to were floods that affected large parts of England, claimed four lives, and left a hundred thousand homes without water for two weeks in parts of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Insurance companies have warned that the floods will ultimately cost small businesses millions, and insurers have processed tens of millions in claims from homeowners. The British government has given emergency aid to the worst affected areas to help with the cost of the clear-up. Yorkshire in the north of England saw some of the heaviest flooding, with thousands of homes left without power and three people dying.

Included in the holiday areas that have benefitted from the booking surge are Malta, Tenerife, Menorca, Majorca and Lanzarote – some of the favourites from previous years.

Early reports from Malta suggest that the holiday island had a best ever year for tourism in 2007, and is now considering how she can broaden her appeal to entice more tourists to the Mediterranean sunshine isle. Malta Airport saw a record number of passenger flights arriving in 2007 thanks to the low cost airlines bringing in extra visitors, and 2008 looks set to be busier still as more competition arrives.

The Canary Islands are hosting a winter festival of classical music and hopes to boost its visitors before the summer begins. The fourth largest island of Lanzarote, named for its red mountains, will host several of the festival’s upcoming concerts. Lanzarote is well known for its picturesque volcanic landscapes. It is perhaps also just as well known for its futuristic appearance and controlled development of wildlife and plant life.

Another of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, is known for its great winter climate and attracts nearly three and a half million tourists a year to its scenic 2,034 square kilometers. Most of Tenerife’s tourism comes from the United Kingdom, followed by Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Italy and France, among many others. The island is home to many beautiful resorts, including the Playas de las Americas and Los Cristianos. In fact, recent legislation was passed to ensure that any future resort construction must either be of five-star status or offer resort luxuries like golf courses or banquet facilities.

It is likely that both Tenerife and Lanzarote will see their first quarter tourism numbers up for 2008, and if bookings continue as they have been can look forward to a good 2008.

Is a change as good as a rest?

Is a change as good as a rest?
Have you heard the saying “A change is as good as a rest?” Well, I don’t buy it! There’s lots of change going on in my life, and as wonderful as those changes are, it’s not restful.[...]

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