Archive for February, 2009

Lanzarote & The Cool Canary Island

It may lie just seventy miles off the coast of West Africa. But the small Canary Island of Lanzarote is Spanish owned. And has long been a hot favourite with British and Irish tourists – who accounted for over one million visitors last year.
Attracted by a delightful year round climate, good quality holiday accommodation and the island?s unique volcanic scenery.

Flights to Lanzarote depart on a regular basis from most European countries, and once you arrive there are some fantastic villas in Lanzarote for you to stay in or you could choose a hotel or apartment depending on your preference.

Lanzarote is just four hours flying time from the UK – making it the closest winter sun destination to Britain and Eire. And is serviced by numerous low cost flight operators, such as Monarch, easy Jet and Thomas Cook. Making it possible to book flights to Lanzarote from around ?200 per person – depending of course on the time of year.

Despite the number of tourists visiting the island there is only one international airport on Lanzarote – and it?s named after the nearby island capital of Arrecife. Although locals refer to it as Gaucimeta. Thanks to its central location and the small size of the island transfer times to the three main resorts are very quick. Averaging out at only twenty minutes.

The majority of visitors to the island arrive on package holidays. So they are usually transferred to their resort on board coaches provided by their tour operators. But Lanzarote is also very popular with independent tourists who like to make their own travel arrangements. And they rely on either taxis or hire cars to get them to their resort accommodation.

Hiring a car in Lanzarote is surprisingly cheap in relation to many other holiday destinations around the world. As it is possible to rent a basic class C vehicle for as little as €20 per day. Whilst petrol is also much more affordable than in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.

As you’d expect from a popular holiday island there’s no shortage of good quality accommodation. The best Lanzarote hotels are located in the islands southern most resort of Playa Blanca. Which is also the gateway to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura. The resort also offers the biggest selection of Lanzarote villas.

Whilst the bulk of the best villas in Lanzarote are located in and around the resort of Puerto del Carmen. Which was once known as a small fishing village called La Ti?osa before package tourism first really took off on the island. Transforming it into the most popular resort on Lanzarote.

Lanzarote also offers holiday makers plenty to do. As the island boasts lots of natural beauty – such as the Valley of 1000 Palms and the famous Green Lagoon at El Golfo. Along with some incredible man made attractions – such as the Mirador del Rio and the Cesar Manrique Foundation. Which was constructed by the island bon artist of the same name from five underground bubbles in the lava flow. And which is – by some distance – the most unique property in lanzarote.

For more great travel articles visit the vacations and world travel blog.

The World Traveler

The World Traveler

Planning a trip? How to choose travel guide books that are a good investment? If you’re going far a field from your home base, you know that travel guide books are a requirement . You need as a minimum one common travel guide book which covers the basics. Sightseeing must-do’s, getting around, some restaurant and hotel recommendations, and a brief recap of museum attractions are all you need, right? Not so fast! If your itinerary involves traveling from city to city, your hotel accommodations become more important.

You’ve been saving up all year long for your dream vacation. You go to sleep with visions of adventure, sightseeing and a fresh viewpoint of the world at large. You’ve taken care of your airfare, transportation, insurance and a general route. If you’re not a seasoned traveler, you might be shortchanging yourself with the basic, all-around travel guide book. Let’s take a look at some of the common travel guide books that can make all the difference between a ho-hum experience and a truly enchanting and unforgettable trip.

make sure your bookstore for travel books that review hundreds of hotels, residencies and B&B accommodations. Such books are written by dedicated and frequent travelers who search out those inexpensive sleeps and out of the way hotels, with an eye to value, charm and amenities. Such a travel guide is value its weight in gold. Wouldn’t you love to stay in a medieval castle with modern plumbing, for the same price as a plain-Jane chain hotel? If your stay is comprehensive , wouldn’t you like to know where you can stay in a fully-furnished apartment for the same price as a hotel? Take advantage of this type of travel guide book.

If you’re into museum hopping, make the most of your trip with a travel guide devoted to museums. Your trip time is limited . A museum guide can help you zero in on the ones you’d kick yourself for missing. If you love shopping, or are on a business buying trip, investing in a shopping travel guide book pays you ten times over. This diversity of travel guide book is written by a shopaholic, well versed in those little out of the way shops you’d never find on your own, except for perhaps by accident. Comprehensive descriptions of the type and quality of goods available in any given shop will save you lots of time and research, leading you by the hand to insider gems.

Come to think of it, perusing the travel part in your local book store just adds to the pleasure of your upcoming trip. A great way to stretch your travel dollar and your memories, once you’re back home. If you’re going to a non-English speaking country, a travel guide book of informal phrases can be very useful! Such books cover a lot of common foreign dilemmas. When are the banks and post offices open? What’s the present etiquette on tipping? How about ordering at a restaurant? Where do you do your laundry? This type of travel guide keeps you on the planet, so to speak, in a foreign country.

Discover Useful Advice About Puerto Vallarta Lodging and attractions

Puerto Vallarta sits serenely between the Bay of Banderas and the Sierra Madre Mountains on Mexico’s west coast. Puerto Vallarta still has the look of a small town with narrow cobblestone streets, red tile roofs on top of homes, and small sun-bleached store fronts. Puerto Vallarta has seen a steady stream of visitors since 1963 when the first movie “The Night of the Iguana” was filmed there. Since then, Puerto Vallarta resorts has seen several properties being built and new ones popping up every year.

The area’s main attraction is by far the beautiful climate: hot sun with light ocean breezes. During the months of June, July, and August expect your sunshine to be broken up with a rainshower. The rainy season peeks in September and October, so plan your visit in view of that.

There are several Puerto Vallarta Mexico hotels that are so huge and elegant that you wouldn’t have to leave the property till you’re ready to leave. So your major decision will be having to decide how much time to spend relaxing and how much time you will spend exploring the area. A usual day at one of the many Puerto Vallarta resorts might include relaxing by the beach or by the pool, taking some time for tennis, water skiing, or, maybe, parisailing might be your thing! Not so adventurous? How about a relaxing spa treatment?

Shopping can be done in the hotel shops and even on the beach where local store owners offer a variety of merchandise. If you’re lucky, you might even run into one of the young boys carrying around 3′ to 4′ iguanas. For a couple of green backs, they will let you take pictures with the animal.

Puerto Vallarta resorts boast beautiful dining rooms. Most have
a few. They can range from relaxed to formal. They have a perfect pallet to create a very intimate feel. The food is wonderful and the menus offer a nice selection so everyone can find something there they like.

There are also many attractions outside the hotel. Visitors can take day trips into the jungle by either horseback or jeep. One can also spend the day on a fishing trip. If golf is your game, Puerto Vallarta also offers manicured courses with a scenic landscape to enjoy.

After a day of fun and the sun goes down, there is still more fun to be had in Puerto Vallarta. There are several clubs to go dancing or you can catch a variety of shows. You can also indulge in a sunset dinner cruise or lobster dinner cruise.

At the end the day Puerto Vallarta is a exciting destination spot. If you ever get the opportunity to explore, you have to go. You will leave with smile on your face and a lifetime of memories.

For the information about luxury vacation home – please visit this blog.